Say what you will about the influence of objectionable objectivist Ayn Rand on the side-length starblazing title track, its message of individuality has resonated across generations (and it avoids some of the thornier aspects of her bunk philosophy). This suite succeeds where their previous attempt “Fountain of Lamneth” failed; not just because its familiar SF storyline about a lone rebel standing against an authoritarian regime struck a chord with their teenage fan base (something George Lucas would also discover the following year), but also because it, for lack of a better word, rocked. “Overture/Temples of Syrinx” provided the necessary explosive start, but it’s the quieter moments (like the protagonist’s discovery of something called a “guitar” on “Discovery”) that gave the song its emotional underpinning. It’s a true tour de force they wouldn’t truly top until they tackled Mark Twain. The B side is nice, too.

– Jeff Treppel