ARCHIVES

Having added my 2 cents about every STUDIO Rush album, I figured it was time to move onto the live and compilation albums of my favorite artist, those amazing Canadians, Rush. So here we go.

Archives:

This was a budget package released for the band in the late 70s, it contains the first three studios albums (Rush, Fly By Night [FBN], and Caress Of Steel [CoS]). Really there's nothing to say about this package in terms of music (see my reviews for each album elsewhere), but there are some things to say about it as a whole. This is a good way to get all of the three starting albums by the band, although for the prog fan only the last (CoS) will really strike a chord. The compilation is only available on vinyl and is really (at this point) only for the fans. While there was likely a time where this would have been a fantastic bargain, it would likely be more worth your while now to actually go out and buy the individual albums, as in most used record stores this collection is more expensive than the other three put together. There's also the disturbing lack of any artwork or liner notes, something most people appreciate, ESPECIALLY on an album like CoS.

Really, in the end, this particular collection is for the fans and collectors only. However, if you really want to hear the first three albums on vinyl and don't want to buy them all individually then this might be your answer. More for bragging rights than anything else, this one gets 2 stars.

This is essentially just a box set composed of Rush's earliest three studio releases. While it's certainly good for fans of their better material to look into, 'Archives' cuts off the experience right as Rush begins to hit their quality streak. With 'Caress Of Steel,' things started picking up pace for this Toronto band, and within a few years they would be at their peak.

The first two albums (the self-titled and 'Fly By Night') share a similar style, although theres certainyl a heightened sense of style on the second. Neither really delivers alot more than a few good songs each to the table, and there's not a whole lot special going on with either, although the latter of the two has some really killer tracks, such as 'Anthem' and 'By-Tor & The Snow Dog.'

The third release and final portion of this boxset shows Rush really expanding their grasp of music and personal style. It is also by far, their most progressive accomplishment, complete with some intellingent art rockers and two epics to cover most of the length.

'Archives' really isn't the sort of thing a newcomer is going to get, but neither is a general fan going to purchase (under the assumption they probably have one of these three records already.) If anything however, this does show the band growing as artists; and with each new release, bringing something new and fresh to the table.