2112

Let's start with the story behind the "2112" song. It certainly gets ragged on a lot. Some say it's just cheap Ayn Rand, some say it's elementary school philosophy, others say it's overblown science fiction. Well, if the story's so bad, why was it made into a major motion picture in 1984?

It wasn't made into a movie you say. Oh, but it was. I'll give you a hint. It starred Kevin Bacon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and John Lithgow.

That's right, "Footloose".

Other than the fact that music is banned in "2112," and dancing is banned in "Footloose," the stories are the same. In "2112" the main guy presents his guitar at the temple hall and is voted down by the Priests of Syrinx. In "Footloose" Kevin Bacon presents his idea for a dance at the town hall and is voted down by John Lithgow.

See, it's the same story. But instead of committing suicide, Kevin Bacon just decides to have his dance in the next town over? seems like a better option to me.

I shouldn't make jokes, because "2112" the song is a tour-de-force. It is a perfect 10. They play the first two sections with such aggression and strength that it almost sounds live, and I don't think they ever again match that level of energy in the studio. From there, the song takes a breather with "Discovery," then continues to build up through "Presentation," until the song absolutely explodes in "Oracle: The Dream," with Geddy singing the "I stand atop a spiral stair" section. This type of crescendo becomes ubiquitous in Rush epics moving forward, and it absolutely got me hooked on their music. If you've never heard this song, you are missing out; buy it.

The second half of the album is not on the same level, but it's still good. "Something for Nothing" is the best here, and it ranks as a close third behind "Anthem" and "Bastille Day" as their best short early rocker. I'm not a big fan of "Tears". Greg Lake would have loved to have the lyrics, and if you drenched it in Emerson keyboards, it could have been an ELP hit, but that's not a compliment in my book. You also have "Lessons," which is not bad, but not memorable. Lastly there's "The Twilight Zone," which has a killer bass line and nice guitar parts, but the lyrics are certainly not their best.

From a historical perspective in Rush's career, this album was critical. The record company did not like "Caress," so "2112" was really make or break, and it turned out to be a huge success. "2112" hit number 61 on the pop album charts and eventually went platinum. More importantly "2112" gave Rush the confidence and artistic freedom to record whatever they wanted moving forward.

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