I’ll do a full write up at the end of the week, but I am so disappointed at the low placement of Hemispheres. Possibly the greatest rock song ever written, and certainly by far the most fluid side long song I’ve ever heard. As much as I like 2112, it’s really just Fountain’s big brother. The parts are much better, but it suffers from the same choppy stop/start lack of “flow” that Fountain does. I had it at 22 for nostalgic reasons because I do love the individual bits.
But Hemispheres is entirely superior in every way. Each part fits the narrative perfectly and blends seamlessly. Some people said to cut the soft part at the beginning of part V
Seriously? Why not just cut off the first 3 minutes of Xanadu while you’re at it? That part is PERFECT! It literally makes me feel the narrative. Like I’ve just entered Olympus and I’m processing this change that’s happening to me. It’s absolutely brilliant.
I often flip between Hemispheres and Supper’s Ready as the greatest composition in the history of rock music (maybe all music) but Hemispheres was definitely my first love.
And again, the lyrics that preach the importance of “balance” on a very young impressionable teenager with a tendency towards extremism cannot be understated.
But ya…14 is far far too low for such a perfect song.