2112

2112 marks Rush's first essential album. This album enjoyed commercial success despite its decidedly non-pop format. Pop songs are usually in the 3-5 minute range, and the title track is a whopping 20 minute opus. However, enough people stayed out a Studio 54 cocaine- and disco-induced haze to realize the raw talent of this trio from Canada. Today, the album stands as a hallmark of 70s prog.

2112 opens the album with electronic whirring, as if your record (or CD, as I'm used to) player was coming to life. Neil, Alex, and Geddy come in thunderous force and the opening movement is propelled with a mid-tempo rumble The guitars and drums give way to explosions until an brief silence falls with Geddy's spoken word "And the meek shall inherit the earth." The sonic bludgeon returns for "The Temples of Syrinx." Geddy shrieks the part of the priests, almost forcing you to sit up and pay attention. The lyrics give some background to the world in which the song takes place, a sort of 1984 meets Anthem (the author, Ayn Rand, is credited with the inspiration for this song) dystopia. The volume drops out completely and is supplanted with a lonely acoustic and nature sounds for "Discovery." This pattern will be the basis for the rest of the song (soft when the protagonist thinks, crashing, when under stress or when the priests are involved). The unnamed protagonist discovers a guitar in the waterfall behind his home. Alex's guitar chords become more and more complex to represent his learning to play.

The protagonist decides to show the instrument to the priests to gain their favor. "Presentation" marks the return of the rest of the band, furious as ever. The protagonist shows his relic to the priests and argues that it can educate people on the glory of the elder race (most likely humans from Earth). Geddy alternates between the priests' shrieks and the protagonist's soft pleading, and it stands as one of his finest vocal performances. Also a great solo from Alex *Concept ends here to avoid spoilers"

"Oracle" marks a return to Alex's acoustic, and is a fine continuation. "Soliloquy" alternates between soft vox and agonized screams. The song ends with bombastic instrumentation and a P.A. stating "Attention all planets of the Solar Federation, we have assumed control."

"Passage to Bangkok" opens side 2 of the album. The lyrics sound as if they were written by Kyuss, Monster Magnet, or another stoner metal band. The songs involves a journey through Asia, getting high. A cheerfully light tune to balance out the dystopia of the title track.

"Twilight Zone" is a quirky ode to the T.V. show of the same name. It almost sounds if the boys wrote while on the passage to Bangkok, if you know what I mean. The track is a little weak coming off of the other two songs.

"Lessons" is a mellower number, and not really that memorable.

"Tears" is a beautiful ballad that keeps things simple. It sounds out of place on this album, though.

"Something For Nothing" obliterates the softness of the last song with more heavy guitars. The feel of the song matches the lyrics, and the song is enjoyable.

2112 is a great album that gets hampered by one or two filler tracks. If you like prog, and I assume you do, this album is a necessary addition to your collection

Grade: B