My latest review has received less reads that ever since this new Ciao upgrade. Also on Dooyoo as xB...
My latest review has received less reads that ever since this new Ciao upgrade. Also on Dooyoo as xBorgx
Member since:16.08.2001
Reviews:261
Members who trust:180
This band don't just 'rock,' they ''wrowkk!''
I still have vivid memories of waking one Christmas morn to see that the big white bearded guy in the red outfit had left me this album in my Christmas stocking, along with another ''Rush'' album, 'All the world's a Stage.' I must admit that at the time I was more impressed with the latter of the two. I found 'Caress of Steel' a big fat disappointment. I had heard the opening track before and loved it, but the rest just seemed a bit lame.
Before I continue, I will just say a few words about Rush because there are always going to be people out there who wonder, ''Rush''? Who the heck are they then?' They were formed in Toronto in 1969 by Geddy Lee on Bass, Alex Lifeson on Guitars and John Rutsey on Drums. They started life as Led Zeppelin wannabes but soon developed their own sound and originality. Their first album was released in 1974 and was simply titled 'Rush.' Soon after John Rutsey left and the enigmatic and fantastic lyricist/drummer Neil Peart took over the stool and sticks.
The Tracks
****************
Bastille Day begins this album and it is a simple hard rocking number: 'And we're marching to Bastille Day, le guillotine will claim her bloody prize.' The bluesy and comical I think I'm going bald is next, followed by the gentle Lakeside Park, based on an actual park in Toronto.
The Necromancer is the forth song up and it is a beaut. I always loved this song, about the fantasy battle between mythic creatures. Very Lord of the Rings, which was what obviously inspired it, as Peart was reading all that sort of stuff at the time…
The Necromancer shifts between passion and anger and rolls onto the epic Fountain of Lamneth. At just under twenty minutes in length it begins crisply and shifts to higher levels of passion. I did not like it much when I first heard it, but it is a very accomplished and classy song.
The RUSH Sound
How can you explain the Rush sound? Early they were a heavy rock outfit, very similar to Led Zed and Cream and Free. They seemed to bypass the glam rock era though and still kept their rock, but in a fresher way. In later years they evolved even more, but here I am talking about the Caress of Steel age. They are absolutely fantastic musicians and the singer has a very unique voice, similar to Jon Anderson of Yes.
Rush have evolved during their time on this earth, immensely since their debut 'Rush.' In fact they seem to change just a bit each album and this, their third, is no exemption. They have not changed personnel in that time though, and the three members write all the song - Peart in the lyricist on all but a few on the songs and Lee and Lifeson write the music. 'Caress' is not an album I fell in love with immediately, but one which grew on me the more I did listened. It shows a maturity and also shows that they are not scared to break the mould.
BITS
Geddy Lee - Bass and Vocals Alex Lifeson - Guitars Neil Peart - Drums . Release date 1975 . Full track list . Bastille Day I think I'm going Bald Lakeside Park The Necromancer i Into the Darkness ii Under the Shadow iii Return of the Prince The Fountain of Lamneth i In the valley ii Didacts and Narpets iii No one at the Bridge iv Panacea v Bacchus Plataeu vi The Fountain
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I have seen Rush twice, the most recent being during there 30th anniversary tour (they 'wrowked' big time), and they are still going strong. Check them out, if you have not done so yet.
Review updated 2009
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I need to dig out my old vinyl copy of this and give it another listen. I'm a huge fan of Rush from 2112 onwards (despite its title track having unmistakeable shades of Spinal Tap), but never really got into their albums prior to that one as I found them a bit ponderous and pretentious.
M.Newcastle 18.10.2009 11:32
Great review, sounds like an intersting group and one I'd like x
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