FLY BY NIGHT

Well, this album is pretty good. Its more hard guitar-driven rock than their later stuff, but some of it is not spectacular. Lots of 'Meh' stuff. This is also when Geddy used to kind of scream with his super high pitched voice, and then tends to turn some listeners off (personally, I prefer his later vocals, but these are great too). This is also Rush's first album with brilliant drummer/lyricist Neil Peart, so of course, all the lyrics and rumming are excellent. Anthem is a good opening hard rocker, with great riffing and a great solo from Lifeson. Best I can is one of those kind of boring 'meh' songs, which tends to recall the straight-forward hard rock of Rush's self titled debut. Beneath, Between and Behind is also kind of boring, and is simliar to Best I can. By-Tor and the Snow Dog is awesome, possibly the best song on the album. Its tells the story of By-Tor, the 'Knight of Darkness,' and his epic battle with the Snow Dog. Part III. Of the Battle is all instrumental, featruing great solos, and the dynamic playing from all actually paints pictures of an epic battle in one's head.

Fly By Night, the title-track, is a good song, and was a hit single, featuring classic Rush- style riffs and lyrics. Great guit-fiddle solo too. Making Memories, an acoustic song, is kind of 'meh' for me, but it is better than Best I can or Beneath, Between, and Behind. Rivendell is a very emotional song, played on a nylon string acoustic guitar. Maybe I just like this song so much because it references Lord of the Rings, but its great anyway. It is also very relaxing, too. The closing track, In the End, is great too, featuring an acoustic intro, and then it rocks hard for the rest of the song.

So this is a pretty good album, which even seems metal-ish at times (By-Tor and the Snow Dog, Anthem). Some boring 'meh' songs, not terrible, but with a band as full of great songs as Rush, there have to be a few mediocre songs.