New York-based artist Computer Nerd delivers the latest release, 20,000 Years & Still Going Strong. Moving away from traditional song structures, this concept album functions as a rock opera, delivering exactly the grand scale its title suggests.
The record is defined by wide dynamics and theatrical elements, driven largely by a constant dialogue between layered vocals and a nicely saturated electric guitar. The vocal harmonies sound really organic and without heavy processing, they give the listener that raw, in the room energy of a live theatre performance. While the arrangements are enriched by organ solos and synth lines, the sound never moves to an electronic territory. Instead, the professional instrumentation maintains a natural, authentic vibe throughout, showcasing some really skilled improvisations.
Lyrically the premise is about the subject everyone is talking about. AI has moved from a futuristic experiment into a daily reality that is fundamentally reshaping how we work, create, and connect or, if you want to go even deeper, to question yourself what it actually means to be human. In this era, as we read in the album synopsis, we are in a new Ice Age where humanity has surrendered to AI, and our main character, an immortal man is left alone, him, and his memories. Haunted by the loves he’s lost, he faces the dilemma of choosing between the safe illusion of an AI companion and the risk of real human connection.
To really appreciate the craft behind this work, it’s essential to listen from start to finish. This is a narrative-driven rock opera and isolating a single track is like reading a single chapter out of a book, you might enjoy the prose, but you’ll miss the soul of the story. You need to travel the full 20,000-year journey with our protagonist. To get the most out of it, you should close your eyes and imagine you are experiencing this from the best row in the venue, straight from a West End theatre, the capital of musical theatre (sorry, New York).
What will become of the stage when you look down and all you see is a faceless audience? Do we really need an apocalypse when we have already surrendered our thoughts to the machine?
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