Rush 2112

                   

Origin: Canada 

Year: 1976

Subgenre:  Progressive, Hard Rock

Rating:  85  Essential To Any Collection

The Players:

Geddy Lee   Vocals, Bass

Alex Lifeson  Guitar

Neil Peart   Drums

    

"And the meek shall inherit the earth." With those words, Rush embarked on a fantastic journey into another world and time, chronicling the tale of the bleak planet Megadon, a world without music. As the story progresses, when our unnamed hero discovers an ancient guitar, all hell breaks loose. 2112 was arguably the first progressive-metal concept album; the wizardry of the instrumentation, superior production, and scientific vibe were awe-inspiring. It was also singularly important as the album that finally broke the band into superstardom. One of the prime movers of my early experiences with heavy music, 2112 had me hooked at the tender age of 12. I actually first heard it during "show-and-tell" at school (in retrospect, how twisted is that? Those were definitely the good old days !) and vaguely remember staying up into the wee hours of the morning to record it in its entirety off of the radio during one of those midnight album broadcasts. Even today, through my jaded and half-deaf ears, this album never fails to inspire and impress me. There is even a subtle (not so subtle?) message of anti-censorship permeating the storyline. The band's performance is, of course, flawless. Geddy Lee's high-pitched banshee screams and his superior bass-playing are as recognizable as the complex percussion alchemy of Neil Peart. Alex Lifeson, who for many years inspired me in every possible aspect of guitar playing, effortly traverses from power chords and fiery solos to lush, melodic passages. Let's not forget about the sterling and crystal clear production of the unheralded Terry Brown, who engineered the heaviest and most successful of Rush's albums.

The title track takes up the entire first side and is a technical and artistic achievement of the first order. Boasting seven separate parts to this epic monolith, Rush scampers from blistering metal to atmospheric, mood-enhancing melodies in an instant. Side two contains a myriad of different styles. A Passage To Bangkok, Lessons, and the fantastic Something For Nothing are the notable rockers here. This second half of the album is a bit of a hodge-podge and detracts slightly from the album's overall effectiveness, but after the stunning experience of side one's 2112 in all of its glory, who really cares that much?

After experiencing this album, it was obvious that Rush stepped up to the plate in a big way and led the path for all other heavy rock bands to follow. If ever there was a band that deserved all of the accolades of a generation, it was this exceptionally talented Canadian power trio. A hugely important release, 2112 was a major turning point for Rush, a great leap for heavy music in general, and massively inspirational to legions of fans, myself included.

2112                                       97
I. Overture
II. The Temples of Syrinx
III. Discovery
IV. Presentation
V. Oracle: The Dream
VI. Soliloquy
VII. Grand Finale

A Passage to Bangkok            90
The Twilight Zone                  79
Lessons                                   83
Tears                                       73
Something For Nothing          90