New Music Monday: The Human Equation

I'm trying something a little different for New Music Monday today - an album that's not entirely new (alright, it was released in 2004!). But it is new to me. You see, one of my very dear friends, who knows that I am always searching for interesting new stuff, recommended this album to me.
The Human Equation is a concept album by the Dutch composer/songwriter/singer Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Ayreon. There have been several concept albums (such as the latest, 2008's 01011001) Lucassen has released before and since The Human Equation, but I'm inclined to think this one is the best.
The album caught my attention from the beginning with its use of diverse folk instruments from around the world, such as didgeridoos and fiddles, giving it a timeless, ethereal feeling, so that you feel after listening to it that this story could have happened anywhere, in any time period.
It tells the tale of a man named "Me," portrayed by James LaBrie of Dream Theater, who has had a mysterious vehicle accident and has fallen into a coma that lasts for twenty days. Each day is represented by a track on the album. Many other characters are present, such as the personifications of emotions like Fear (Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth), Reason (Eric Clayton of Saviour Machine), and Pride (Magnus Ekwall from The Quill); as well as Me's Wife (portrayed by Mexican chanteuse Marcela Bovio) and Best Friend (Lucassen). The album explores Me's life, which deals with abuse by his angry father and betrayal of Best Friend after being bullied mercilessly.
This is such a fantastic idea - I don't know why I haven't heard of it before. And there's little to find fault with here - the sometimes soaring, sometimes thoughtful, and always passionate musical backdrop provide ample ground for the characters to express their emotions, and if the lyrics can be a bit trite in places, well, the guy isn't even writing in his native language! All in all, you feel like you've journeyed deep into the psyche after listening to this album, and it's a delight, one that doesn't often grace the world of metal/hard rock.

Best tracks: "Day Sixteen: Loser," "Day Three: Pain," "Day Six: Childhood," "Day Eleven: Love"