FLY BY NIGHT

3.5 stars - Rush have yet to reach their progressive streak at this point, but the wheels are already turning. It's amazing how quickly Neil Peart's entrance changed the whole ethos, sound, and sophistication of the band. Rush still have obvious influences throughout their music, but so much has progressed from their debut. The lyrics have changed from sex, alcohol, and rock and roll to fantasy epics and philosophical statements. The playing from all fronts have greatly surpassed that of the debut. Most importantly though, the composition offers much more than your standard Cream/Zeppelin blues rock.

In the way of pure prog we really only have one track "By-Tor and the Snowdog" which still remains one of the bands finest tracks. The instrumental middle section really hint toward the more ethereal work the band would later produce. The other tracks are all steady rockers some more complex than others. I enjoy all of them thoroughly. They're very intelligent and show the band playing great as a unit, amazing for their first album with a new drummer. I especially admire the growth of Alex's playing from essentially a Page wanna-be to the great varied riffs he lays down here. Also, while he solos are not nearly as imaginative as in his prime, he produces some of the greatest hard rock solos I've ever heard all with a strong identity of their own.

I can't honestly say this album has any weak tracks. "Best I Can" and "Making Memories" are a bit generic and leave some to be desired, but if taken for what they are, they deliver. "Rivendell" receives a lot of hate, as would many similar tracks throughout Rush's career. I know it's a rather simple ballad, but there's a certain appeal to it. I can derive plenty of emotion from it; I wish the band would play it live. Whether this be from me being a Tolkein nerd, or a Rush nerd, or a combination of the two I do not know.

I have very little in terms of formal complaints about this album: The band's great, the writing's great, Geddy vocals are perfectly abrasive. However, given this is a prog site I must rate with some discretion. Overall, this is not a progressive album. It has only one song I would call such, and moments in one or two others which have an odor of prog. Fans of Rush, harder edged prog, or 70s rock a la Zeppelin will not be disappointed.