2112

RUSH -2112 What to say about this album ? Its the one that got me started on Rush - though i was aware of them before this. It is as has been said a real progressive rock classic. The opening sounds of swirling space noises and stacatto riffs suck the listener in before it launches into The Overture and doesn't let go for the next 20 minutes. Its an epic piece of rock theatre and it never really gets old no matter how many times you listen to it - it will be a lot. If you have never heard this sort of thing before the sheer level of muscial skill and talent and the scale of ambition and vision from three truly gifted men - that just blows the mind away.

I don't know how many Rush fans are musicians themselves but I suspect it is a high percentage, and I can tell you that like Billy Corgan and myself they have all had a jam or three on this track. The reucrring riffs and the themes in the music and lyrics make it a true story telling masterpiece and a must have for Rush fans and really anyone who enjoys classic rock.

The second half of the record is still very stong if not quite at the same level. Train to Bangkok is an ode to everyones favourite medicinal herbal painkiller and really good fun. Twilight Zone has some really sweet atmospheric moments on the chorus with Lifeson injecting guitar wails over Geddy's quiet bass and Neil's restrained drumming. Lessons features a neat acoustic backing track and some decent rocking in the middle section - before an extended guitar solo fade out - its a good "finger to the Man" type of thing. Tears feature more nice acoustic work from Alex and also exposed vocals from Geddy - its a nice quiet track and makes the following blast of Something for Nothing seem even more muscular and energised. I have to give this 5 stars - not only becasue I love it so much but also because it is a masterpiece in the genre and a truly influential work that still sounds great.