RUSH

Rush's debut album sounds exactly like that: like a debut. Their style and sound would vary on every single album, but on this one they were just pulling ideas from wherever they could. I am not a fan nor an expert on The Who and Led Zeppelin, but from what little I have heard of them it is clear that the Canadian trio drew most of their ideas from those sources. The shrieking voice of Geddy Lee, although it would remain shrieking for at least another 6 or 7 years, undeniably tried to imitate Robert Plant's. And the attempted harmonies and the lyrical themes were undeniably taken from The Who (at least the few songs I've heard from them).

Don't misunderstand me, I cannot say I dislike this album. Rush's youthful vitality and energy bubble forth on most of the tracks. From the opening song these young men show their enthusiasm and the desire to excel on what they were doing, and it shows on almost all of the album.

As an exception, I do find "Here Again" boring and repetitive, and the lyrics on most of the tracks, especially "Need Some Love" , "Take a Friend" , and "In the Mood" are so bland and uninspired that I haven't even cared to learn them after all this time. Yes, lyrically this is the band's weakest effort.

But those flaws aside, "Finding My Way", " What You're Doing " and especially the closer, "Working Man", established themselves as would-be classics for the band. The violent and shredding guitars of Alex Lifeson, and the pounding, unrelenting rhythm section of Lee and Rutsey were a sign of good things to come. Rutsey would leave the band after this release, and although his drumming would be surpassed by his successor, he has to be given credit for being co-founder of one of the most important and successful bands in the history of progressive rock.