2112

After three albums showing ever improving composition and song writing, Rush really broke through with 2112. Oddly enough, their record company was quite concerned when they made two conceptual tracks (both easily over 10+ minutes) on their previous album, Caress of Steel, and pressured them into making more commercially attractive numbers. Rush stuck to their principles and although side two of this album contains a number of decent songs suitable for radio play, the first side features the 20+ minute, seven-part title suite.

Lyrically and musically, the 2112 title suite was the most complex piece Rush had ever composed up to this date. I remember first hearing it back in the 1980s (I was too young in 1976, having been my Sesame Street years) and was utterly amazed by the performance. Almost 30 years later, I'm afraid the suite hasn't aged as well, mostly because it was from Rush's early growing years and obviously because Rush only got better and better with each album after this. Still, this song has a place in prog rock history because by this time period other prog bands were releasing rather embarrassing albums. Rush filled that void and would continue to do so well into the 1980s.

The tracks on side two aren't really in the same league as the title suite, nor are they as finely done as shorter pieces on later albums. Still, they are good songs, particularly A Passage to Bangkok, The Twilight Zone, and Tears.

Since the music on this hasn't aged as well as other later Rush efforts, and Geddy Lee's voice is a bit too raw for me (he'll improve considerably on future albums), I'm going to give this three stars (3.5 would be more suitable). A must have for Rush fans.