2112

So, according to most critical aclaim, this is when Rush has a breakpoint. In my opinion, this is the start of there prime era. It was when they got a good grip on prog, however Caress of Steel is still a pleasent album. Alex, Geddy, and Neil bring us 2112, with a 20 minute title track telling the story of a dystopian future where some man rediscovers music but is denied to make it. The album is very good, however, not in a way of instermentation, but in concept, which of course is an important factor in prog.

So we start with the one song A-Side, "2112." This begins with futuristic sounds ahead of there time! A very good intro. Then we get a few licks from Alex, they eventually start to repeat and echo-soon it changes-and then a riff-add acoustic-add Geddy-add power! This is the amazing overture taking us into the year 2112. This entire overture is basically a...well overture, playing some music we will soon be hearing again through the song. The overture ends with an explosion and Geddy sings "...And the meek shall inherit the Earth." Immediately, there is a riff for "The Temple of Syrinx." This part is describing the rulers if the dystopia. The song is very good and is played a lot live with the overture. Anyway, the next part gives us a sound of a river and a gutiar. The part is when music is rediscovered by our protagonist. "Discovery." So, you can hear him teach himself guitar. However, he must be a genius because he taught himself to play very well within three minutes. I mean, he probably doesn't even know what a scale is and all and...oh forget it. So he teaches himself gutiar, and goes to the Preists to show them in one of my favorite sections, "Presentation." What's awesome is how Geddy basically makes the two characters, like, "Listen to my music." "YES WE KNOW." I was very happy seeing that in the set list for R40, they will be including this part with 2112. This part is concluded with some heavy double guitar soloing. Things start calm in "Oracle: The Dream." It's calm at first, and grows in a strange way when it gets heavier-a very cool section for sure. I guess he has a dream about how the Priests gained power and it wasn't always like this. Our river sound is back in "Solioquy." Like the last part, it starts calm and acoustic. Then the riff comes in, one of the best ones. It's very underrated. Ten comes "Grand Final." A few riffs are played, and some back noises are heard. It all ends with a robot voice saying "WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL." Rush has assumed control.

Now "A Passage to Bangkok" starts with a regular riff and then gets Asian. The riff repeats and Geddy songs about ridding to Bangkok, which is probably an analogy for Weed. Close to 2 minutes has a strange transition into a great gutiar solo. Afterwords we get Asian again and Geddy sings the melody. Not a bad song, but not the best.

The next song is "The Twilight Zone." After the 30 second intro, the song becomes very spooky. Geddy starts with a "I ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni." The lyrics of this song are very creepy, though I wish they had the spooky part be the majority of the song and, with the end and the spooky part going on, some more "i ni ni's" would make it perfect.

"Lessons" fades in on acoustic guitar. Slowly we hear Neil join in on drums. This is a simple song, and get's great when the electric guitar kicks in! I like this song, it should be appreciated more.

The most bitter sweet part of the album is in this next one, Tears." With an acoustic intro, guess what's next? Mellotron! They have a guest mellotron and flute. That is what makes this song so beutiful as a prog rock song. It's usually great when tye have a fourth member with them. Anyway, the song ends with an amazing meletron.

The final song is "Something for Nothing." Like most f the songs on the album, it starts acoustic and then electric gutiar kicks in. This one has a few great gutiar riffs, it also has powerful lyrics. This song is one of the best on the album. It fades out, and I love when albums end with a fade.

I was gonna give this 4 stars, but I think it deserves 5. It's skilled, powerful, has great concept. However, it isn't Rush's best album. That would probably have to go to Moving Pictures, or maybe Permanent Waves or Hemispheres.

Song Ranking: 1. 2112 2. Something for Nothing 3. A Passage to Bangkok 4. Tears 5. The Twilight Zone 6. Lessons

Favorite quote from the album: "Listen to my music, and head what it can do." -From "2112"