One of my favorite albums of all time. My CDs of this and The Wall got me through high school and introduced me to the wider world of prog rock. I will argue that 2112 was Rush's greatest album, and that the singles on the B-side deserve way more love. Passage to Bangcock and Something For Nothing are masterpieces in their own right which would have shined had they not been bulldozed by the epic greatness of the title track. This is the album that saved Rush and paved the way for Canadian and American prog.
I listened to album once in high school then thought nothing of it and went about my life. A few years later while reading Ready Player One I got excited when it was revealed to be a hint for the protagonist to analyze. I ended up listening to it a couple of times after that and began seeking other artists and albums that do prog rock and metal. That album expanded my horizons so to speak.