7/10

With his latest collection '20,000 Years & Still Going Strong', New York composer Chris Bush (working under the moniker Computer Nerd) delivers a sprawling, 55-minute saga that feels both theatrically grand and emotionally intimate. Framed as the journey of an ageless man who has witnessed millennia of human innovation, the record unfolds like a futuristic stage production scored by a band unafraid of excess, drama, and introspection.

At its core, this is a story about isolation in an age of artificial intimacy. Our eternal protagonist has survived ice ages and revolutions, only to find himself confronted by a seductive machine intelligence offering companionship without vulnerability. The tension between simulated comfort and authentic connection drives the narrative forward, giving the album its emotional gravity.

Musically, the project embraces the full sweep of progressive rock tradition, with intricate arrangements, shifting time signatures, and soaring vocal passages, while infusing it with a theatrical flair that nods toward musical theatre’s flair for spectacle. Nearly a dozen collaborators lend their voices and instrumental talents, creating a rich, ensemble-driven sound. Guitars spiral into extended solos, keys shimmer and swell, and rhythmic turns keep us constantly on edge.

Yet for all its cosmic scale, the most striking moments are the quiet ones. Bush’s lyrics dive deep into self-examination, drawing on literary intensity and psychological nuance rather than relying solely on sci-fi tropes. There’s a palpable sense of yearning threaded through the album, offering a reminder that even immortality cannot replace the fragile magic of being truly seen.

What makes '20,000 Years & Still Going Strong' so compelling is its refusal to play small. It demands time as themes recur, motifs evolve, and emotional payoffs land hardest when you’ve committed to the full arc.

In all, this is a deliberate, immersive journey that wrestles with technology, eternity, and the very human need for love.