2112

How is it that 2112 is so underrated here? This album, and everything about it, is fantastic. The title track is more or less a textbook example of the perfect progressive rock epic. The rocking instrumental sections in the "Overture" and "Grand Finale" meld well with the acoustic doodlings and lighter rock that comprise the middle, creating a most satisfying listen, and certainly the best side-long piece ever written. The second side, oft overlooked, has a lot of solid tracks as well. "A Passage to Bangkok" in particular is an example of Rush's dominance over the short-form progressive piece, and "Something for Nothing" is a perfect hard rocker. Nothing about this album disappoints, and I'm continually amazed at how overlooked it can be.