01011001
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 and Floor Jansen 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
reviewer Cosmo Lee praised the album, saying that it has "pristine production 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 – Forever
- Tom S. Englund – Forever
- Anneke van Giersbergen – Forever
- Daniel Gildenlöw – Forever
- Floor Jansen – Forever
- Hansi Kürsch – Forever
- Jørn Lande – Forever
- Steve Lee – Forever
- Magali LuytenForever
- Jonas Renkse – Forever
- Arjen Anthony LucassenMr. L on "The Truth Is in Here", and backing vocals on "Connect the Dots"
- Liselotte Hegt – Mr. L's nurse on "The Truth Is in Here"
- Simone Simons – Simone on "Web of Lies"
- Ty Tabor – an average middle-class worker on "Connect the Dots"
- Marjan Welman – a 21st-century scientist on "E=mc2"
- Wudstika 21st-century scientist on "E=mc2"
- Phideaux XavierPX on "Web of Lies"
- Tomas Bodin – synthesizer solo on "Waking Dreams"
- Joost van den Broek – 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 – guitar solo on "E=mc2"
- Derek Sherinian – synthesizer solo on "The Fifth Extinction"
- Ed Warbydrums and percussion
- 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