2112

I think the key to understand 2112 (at least side A) is listening to it with the ears of a 16-year-old young man fed up with parents, school, all of it. Yes, for the first some spins it sounded like a complete crap, poor and raw sounding, weak production, parts of the epic falling apart, so I was wondering how so many of you could have given 5 stars to this. But then I imagined a boy coming home after school surrounded by hostile father and subtle mother, shutting the door on himself and starting to DREAM. Everything is possible in childhood's dreams, you can save the world with one damned guitar and lose all your life with the loss of it. I admit that the references to communism are constrained but the album was made during the coldest cold war, maybe it seemed a good idea to the company men... Musically I personally enjoy 2112 very much. The solo at 3:00 and the distorted guitar around 19:00 are wonderful, the vocal is passionate, playing two roles extremely well. NP is one of the best drummers ever. This is not a concept side or epic but a rock opera so there are different scenes and actors, it doesnt matter that the parts are not in the same key, tempo, whatever. They work together, thats enough. Side B is much better musically, the first two songs about marijuana dreams are very clever and intelligent, the lyrics fit them at the highest point. Mellotron is nice in Tears, but the mood recalls a bit King Crimson to mee. Anyway, I like it! :-) I dont know to what extent the boys stole from others at that time, but this music is lightyears better than Zep or Sab or Purple. The music is ingenious and exciting all the way. Just give it a chance! In its genre its definitely a masterpiece.