2112 reasons to buy this album (2112 - Rush)

Member Name: JCMilner

Product:	2112 - Rush
Date:	17/07/00 (222 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good listen

Disadvantages: Soaked in overblown 70s drama

Bands would never get away with releasing an album like this these days which is lucky because I don't know of any bands who would be capable of making such a masterpiece as this.

Yes, it's weird and it was probably weird in 1976 when it was first released. The fact that the whole of the first side of the original LP was taken up with one song is something that would make me wonder what the heck it's all about.

It's a story set in, believe it or not, in 2112. Quite simply, a man living in a controlled state finds a guitar, is amazed by it's wonders and presents it to his superiors, only to be ridiculed. That's basically it and you really need to hear the music for it is the music that helps tell the story. It's very intricatly played and the guitar is the dominating instrument here. Superbly played acoustically, electrically and classically by Alex Lifeson it's sound accompanies the story aided by those sound effects you'd expect from a 70s album. The song 2112 is 20 minutes long and split into several parts, each one a different chapter of the story. It must be listened to as a whole piece and it really is excellent bearing in mind it's age. The superb remastering has enhanced the sound incredibly and it's probably THE best sounding Rush CD on the market.

Of course, it would be a crime to forget the rest of the CD which contains a further 5 tracks including the excellent 'Passage To Bangkok' and the meandering 'Lessons' (my personal favourite).

Geddy Lee's screamy voice can get a touch irritating after a while but it suits the era that this was recorded in.

No way has this album stood the test of time but it's still worth the investigation to see what a different band Rush were in the 70s. If you treat it as a different era in the life of Rush then you won't be disappointed. And if you do find much to enjoy here then you'd be highly recommended t
o delve into the rest of the 70s Rush catalogue which are, with the exception of the Led Zeppelin-esque self-titled debut, all very similar.

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