10 Greatest Ever Rock Concept Albums
4. 2112 - Rush
The fourth album from Canadian rock band Rush, 2112 is a sci-fi epic that tells the story of a city that is under the control of the evil Solar Federation that has banned creativity and individuality in all of its forms. The protagonist of the album, who is never named, finds an old guitar inside a cave, and sets out to return music and individual expression to the galaxy.
The majority of this album's runtime is taken up by the 20-minute long title track, "2112". Although 20 minutes might seem like an intimidating length for just one track, it never feels drawn out or tedious at any point. 2112 is split into seven distinct movements that each convey the direction and emotion of the story in unique ways. The opening instrumental "Overture" serves to build tension until the introduction of the antagonists in the second movement, "The Temples Of Syrinx". From here, the story builds up to emotive penultimate movement "Soliloquy", before coming to an explosive conclusion in "The Grand Finale", a shining example of why each of Rush's members are considered experts of their respective instruments.
The remaining five songs on the album, whilst not connected to the narrative of 2112, still stand out in their own right. The ode to cannabis that is "Passage To Bangkok" is dominated by a memorable heavy guitar riff, and has proved itself to one the band's most beloved songs since its release. "The Twilight Zone" pays tribute to the classic TV series, making use of a number of references to the show as well as eerie whispered vocals to add to the sense of mystery and confusion. Sad ballads "Lessons" and "Tears" stand out because of their normality amidst the rest of the album, and also highlight the lyrical talents of guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist Geddy Lee respectively. Closing the album is the upbeat "Something For Nothing" that makes use of interesting verse-chorus dynamics to end on a high note. Dripping with creative storytelling and unforgettable music, 2112 ought to satisfy any sci-fi/hard rock fan.