01011001 is the seventh studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's long-running Ayreon project. The title is the binary representation of the ASCII value of the letter Y.
01011001 is a concept album that tells the story of aliens called the "Forever", who create humanity, only to later endanger it by providing it with technology.
Seventeen singers in total, including Lucassen himself, contributed to the album, more than any other Ayreon album. Apart from Lucassen, only Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) and Floor Jansen (After Forever, Nightwish) had sung on previous Ayreon albums, on Into the Electric Castle and Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer respectively.
It also stars, among others, Bob Catley from Magnum, Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian, Jørn Lande, and Steve Lee from Gotthard in his final guest appearance before his death in 2010. The album was a commercial and critical success.
Reception
AllMusic reviewer Cosmo Lee praised the album, saying that it has "pristine production [and] byzantine songs that feel like full albums." He went on to say that "Music this over the top almost defies criticism. Reviewing it is like reviewing the world's tallest building. It doesn't care; it just goes on and on." Exclaim's Laura Wiebe Taylor felt that the album had some great songs, such as "Liquid Eternity" and "E=mc2," but that some of the other songs were weaker, including "Newborn Race" and "Web of Lies." She concluded her review by saying that "ultimately, 01011001 is a hard rock extravaganza."
Chad Bower, in his review for About.com, said that 01011001 "has something for everyone," and that the album is "a musical tour de force that takes the listener on a musical journey with an interesting storyline and very well-written songs." Record Collector's Tim Jones noted the differing styles of the album's songs, saying that "The Truth is in Here" is similar to the music of Blackmore's Night, that "River of Time" is reminiscent of Jethro Tull, and that "Beneath the Waves" reminded him of Pink Floyd.
Track listing
Personnel
Vocalists Bob Catley (Magnum) – Forever Tom S. Englund (Evergrey) – Forever Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) – Forever Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation) – Forever Floor Jansen (Nightwish | ex-After Forever) – Forever Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) – Forever Jørn Lande (ex-Masterplan) – Forever Steve Lee (Gotthard) – Forever Magali LuytenForever Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) – Forever Arjen Anthony LucassenMr. L on "The Truth Is in Here", and backing vocals on "Connect the Dots" Liselotte Hegt (Dial) – Mr. L's nurse on "The Truth Is in Here" Simone Simons (Epica) – Simone on "Web of Lies" Ty Tabor (King's X) – an average middle-class worker on "Connect the Dots" Marjan Welman (Autumn) – a 21st-century scientist on "E=mc2" Wudstika 21st-century scientist on "E=mc2" Phideaux XavierPX on "Web of Lies"
Instrumentalists Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings) – synthesizer solo on "Waking Dreams" Joost van den Broek (After Forever) – synthesizer solo and piano on "The Sixth Extinction" David Fabercellos Jeroen Goossensflute; soprano and tenor recorder on "The Truth Is in Here"; bass flute on "Unnatural Selection"; tin whistle on "River of Time" Lori Linstruthguitar solo on "Newborn Race" Arjen Anthony Lucassenelectric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, mandolin, keyboards, synthesizers, Hammond, and Solina Ben Mathotviolins Michael Romeo (Symphony X) – guitar solo on "E=mc2" Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater) – synthesizer solo on "The Fifth Extinction" Ed Warbydrums and percussion
Production Arjen Anthony Lucassenrecording, production, mixing, and mastering Joost van den Broekengineering assistant Jef Bertelscover painting Yvette Boertjeimage for "The Truth Is in Here" Felipe Machado Francolay-out and illustrations Simone van Vegten3D illustrations
Charts Chart (2008) Peakposition Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) 80Belgian Albums Charts (Wallonia) 96Dutch Album Chart 2 French Albums Chart 90 German Albums Chart 18 Swedish Albums Chart 54 Swiss Albums Chart 85
References
External links