2112

To be honest, when I first played this album, I did not understand how it was the masterpiece it 's supposed to be. But, like with a lot of good prog albums, it takes a few listens to fully appreciate it. The first thing that strikes me is the astounding musicianship. Geddy Lee's Bass playing is simply phenomenal, and being a bass player myself, I appreciate this a lot. Peart's drumming is out of this world. Alex Lifeson is also a superb guitarist and really shines on this album. And Lee's individual vocals are very awesome as well.

So first up is the famous 20+ minute title track. Sometimes this feels like several short tracks rolled into one, but i can also see how this is a single piece. All the parts are really effective from the grandiose Overture, the hard rocking Temples of Sarinx, the subtle Discovery, all the way through to the haunting Grand Finale.

With the first listen I didn't think the other tracks could match up to the title track, but i have grown to love a few of these. First there's the ever so slightly cheesy, A Passage to Bangkok, about a journey through Asia. The lyrics are nowhere near as sophisticated as the previous song, but it's an entertaining little tune. This is followed by the creepy Twilight Zone, which is very spooky and atmospheric, though not as much as the later bits of the title track. Then there's the mediocre Lessons. This is Lifeson's composition, and is probably the weakest track here. It's not that it's a bad track, it just doesn't stand out in the midst of the masterpieces. No worries though because the next track is the beautiful Tears. This is Lee's track and it is simply sublime. It mixes beautiful music, with even more beautiful lyrics. This is my favourite short song on the album. The final track is the fun rocker, Something for Nothing. Very upbeat, with a political hint in the lyrics. In fact the tune is something of a contrast to the lyrics, which aren't particularly cheerful.

So ends 2112. This album is an absolute must have, but I don't think it quite gets the 5 star status, as it does have its flaws, and falls just short of a masterpiece.

4.5 stars