2112

There's probably not a lot I can add to the numerous reviews written about this classic album, the one that catapulted Rush from being an interesting Led Zeppelin sounding hard rock band, to one that bestrode the global stage.

This was THE album that any self respecting rock fan in the 70's had to own, with its incredible cover, and the correct way of calling it twenty one twelve, as opposed to non initiates who would say two thousand & etc.

The epic track itself was inspired by the writings of Ayn Rand, a Russian-American writer who was a powerful exponent of libertarianism. There was an amusing incident upon the album's release, in that New Musical Express accused the band of being a bunch of fascists, a charge that led to a refusal to speak to the rag which exists to this day. The charge was grossly unfair to Rand as much as anyone else, given that she also hated the corporate fascism espoused by Mussolini and others, as well as state socialism.

The epic itself stands up very well to the test of time. A track of seven distinct movements, which veer from melancholic to grand to out and out rocking. At the centre of it all is quite the most incredible vocal performance from Geddy Lee, it has as its hallmark the best of all concepts - it tells a complex story very simply, and for that Peart must take a huge amount of credit.

Side two, I'm afraid, does not stand up so well. Good enough, but not much in a progression from the earlier fare as the epic itself. In fact, listening to them now, I realise it will be many more years before curiousity gets the better of me again.

For that reason, this does not deserve the epithet "masterpiece", although it is, to me, an album which most definitely should be an essential part of any self respecting prog collection, if only to appreciate a slice of rock history.

Four stars. If you are a young reader of this, and haven't got around to exploring what classic hard rock was like in my younger days, then here is where to start.