CLOSE TO THE EDGE

If there's a quintessential progressive rock masterpiece that everyone who's interested in the genre should listen to, it's Close to the Edge. It embodies progressive rock and is one of the greatest albums ever made in general.

The album consists of three songs, and all three of them, the title track, And You And I, and Siberian Khatru, are all of consistent quality, and this is one of the rare records where I found all songs to be as good as the previous.

The title track is probably the most popular one here. It's a sprawling, 18-minute track, featuring some of the greatest keyboard and bass guitar work I've heard in any song. Chris Squire's bass playing in this song might be my all-time favourite. It starts strong and powerful, with thunderous bass and fast-paced keyboard, before the vocals kick in. After that, there's an organ solo that'll lift your soul up to the heavens. It's perfect, there's literally nothing that'd make it any better.

And You and I is a relatively less overwhelming track than the first, but it shares the consistency and variety of the title track. In ten minutes, it manages to invoke a range of emotions in the listener.

Siberian Khatru is similarly amazing. It's more of a straightforward rock song than the previous two songs, but there are clearly progressive rock elements, like some amazing keyboard segments. It's a faster-paced, easier and more catchy song than the previous tracks.

Lyrically, I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't really get these songs. The title track is utterly dense, and it feels impossible to decode it. Maybe it's about the listener's personal interpretation rather than a fixed meaning, and that's fine by me. And You and I is similar. I noticed a theme of time and how it affects the entire universe in Siberian Khatru, but it's my personal interpretation.

Overall, this album is a masterpiece that all progressive rock fans should definitely listen to. It's in my top five greatest albums ever recorded list.

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