2112

The critical and commercial success of '2112' practically allowed Rush to continue existing as a band and while we might be able to evaluate from a contemporary point of view how important this album is for their creative evolution, it is also an excellent excursion into the overall growth of Rush as a trio, as the influence of progressive rock finally becomes prominent with this album and the complexity and depth of the compositions is expanded and experimented with. Obviously the massive title track, a 20-minute sci-fi suite made up of seven interconnected sections, becomes the album's centerpiece - here we have all the jarring memorable riffs, a fast-paced, energetic playing through which the electrifying guitars of Alex Lifeson and flying bass rhythms of Geddy Lee emerge. And even if the lyrics might often be cheesy and over-the-top, the entire piece is constructed so well and is performed so masterfully that you could hardly be unable to enjoy it. The acrobatic drums of Neal Peart do add another dimension to the dense, recognizable sound of Rush.

The second side of the album looks towards the band's hard rock roots as it presents five songs within the three-minute format which are all quite different but really good, from the mellow and sorrowful 'Tears', to the enigmatic piece title 'The Twilight Zone', there are also more straightforward rock songs like 'A Passage to Bangkok' and 'Lessons', and one might see how well the second part of '2112' works, despite being essentially different from the epic title track. So this album becomes not only a staple for the band but also a musical statement as we observe a refinement of the compositions and a solidification of the songwriting as an ardent progressive rock influence sweeps right into the musical world of Rush. Ultimately '2112' stands as one of the band's best efforts and has remained a pretty fine listen for all these years.