THE SHAMING OF THE TRUE

There are few perfect albums in the world, even in the great progressive rock world. I don't give out 5 star reviews all the time, and even when I do, the album rarely is complete perfection and without any flaws. The Shaming of the True is one of these perfect albums. It is completely flawless, and is one of the greatest albums of all time. It tells probably the greatest story of all time in progressive rock history.

The Shaming of the True is a concept album about (who originally was) an ambitious young man named Johny Virgil with a love for music wanting fame, but also wanting to make the music he wanted to. Record labels turn him into somebody he never wanted to be, and before you know it, he's caught up in drugs, sex, and no longer values his life. He eventually is trying to find the "way back home" and sees a homeless man on the sidewalk who claims he is Jesus. Johny asks the man if he knows how to get back home, and the man says the answer is love. This leaves questions of whether or not the man really is the second coming of Jesus. By the last song Johny is an old man who's lived most of his life, and is clearly unhappy. He hears his songs on the oldies radio, and ends on the note that started the album. This is followed by rain on a windowsill.

Clearly, I believe the story and lyrics are incredible (though there is some profanity, that is all in context and actually is used well). The music lives up to the same high standard as the lyrics. "Suit Fugue (Dance of the A&R Men)" is one of the finest A Capella fugues I've ever heard. While most of the music isn't extremely complex, it is all perfectly written. It has a perfect mix of emotional and hard rock songs, with enough oddities that make it excellent progressive rock.

All in all, this album is a masterpiece. It's upsetting that Kevin Gilbert had a tragic death before the release of this album, and never got to see his dream of making a rock opera. I'm giving this incredible album its 23rd rating, which proves how overlooked this perfect album is. This truly is a hidden gem, and almost everyone that I've discussed this album with loves it. This ranks up there with Selling England, Close to the Edge, and Wish You Were Here, but sadly doesn't have the popularity these albums have.

Fully deserving of a 5/5 star review.