An album very much of its time. (2112 - Rush)

Member Name: Mr Chubbers

Product:	2112 - Rush
Date:	07/02/06 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice musical twists and turns

Disadvantages: Not for everyone

This was Rush's breakthrough album and it came out in that most derided of years, 1976. Oh yes, the year of huge flares, swervy haircuts and hyper inflation. The group photo herein, with silver kaftans and at least one cape thrown over a shoulder, only adds to the general feel of the time. Bands were moving away from prog to a smoother technical sound in the studio in those days, and here we have a record that falls between both stools of prog and hairspray metal; don't let it put you off, it's still pretty good and every 14 year old boy should be made to listen to this.

The centrepiece of the whole album is its 20 minute title track, the 2112 Overture, a rolling crazy musical ride through a theory loosely based on drummer Neal Peart's interpretation of Ayn Rand's philosophical works. Our hero, played by Geddy Lee (bass/vocals) finds a guitar and uses it to bring down the Priests Of Syrinx, who have "all the gifts of life, held within their world" etc etc. OK stop laughing at the back there. Musically it's a brilliant stop-start piece composed around a simple upper scale. I love the bit at the end where it goes "attention all planets of the solar federation...we have assumed control" over the sound of crashing buildings and guitarist Alex Lifeson's feedback.

After this ridiculously pompous but great opener the rest of the album is more straightforward rock tunes, Passage To Bangkok celebrates the joys of getting stoned, Twilight Zone is a rather strange number based on the US TV show of the same name and there's a nice little ballad with Lee singing over simple guitar, and we have one of Rush's best ever numbers Something For Nothing, with its storming chorus and finale.

This record does have its downside: as with all Rush albums Lee is what you'd call a show-off bassist, often leading Lifeson when it should really be the other way round; and that Twilight Zone song is so bad it's laughable. Somehow it all holds together though. Rush had laid down their template as a technical rock band here and the rest is history.

So mum, don't worry what your 14-year old son is doing upstairs; he's either knocking one out or listening to this. Or perhaps both simultaneously.

Summary: A clever musical album with good songs