2112

2112 is a fantastic album. i couldnt believe my own ears the first time i played this album. everything is close to perfect here, and so is side two. when it comes to the lyrics in the first side, it doesnt get cooler than this.

a young man, who lives in a distant past totalitarian society ruled by the priests in the temples of syrinx,is one day walking in the mountains when he discovers a guitar in a cave. "-what can this strange device be? when i touch it, it brings forth a sound...what can this thing be that i found?" beautiful demonstration of how to play guitar follows. he then brings the guitar back to the priests to tell them of the beauty of the music he can bring forth with the intrument ("i know that it will reach you, hear what it can do!"), but they wave it off with saying that "we have other work to do, another toy will help destroy the elder race of man, forget it, it doesnt fit the plan!"). the young mans reaction to this is of course whipping out the most intense guitar-solo you can imagine.

it doesnt get cooler than this. simple, yes, but works as hell! this is an album that is dangerous to traffic if you put it on in your car!

one more thing: every album after exit stage left are for completists only, but this one belongs in every serious progrock collection. if you dont like this you are probably deaf.