Classic Rock Album of the Day- Rush- Caress of Steel (1975) **** 1/2
You might have noticed I haven't reviewed any very early Rush yet, and thought I'd take on maybe the toughest one to discuss, "Caress of Steel". For me, and IMO it is one of the strangest for me to pan or love...... from even day to day. On certain days, I see this as a 5 star LP, and another feel 3 instead. It is no secret that the critics hated this LP, and from documentary account, it almost finished them as a band.... Before they threw the dice big time with "2112". Analysis is like an abstract painting. You hear it differently each time you slap in on the turntable.
First let me give the Jekyll side of the view. This album was the exact moment that Rush morphed from being a rock and roll band, and aptly to the Prog genre. (mid way through side 1). I know some might argue Fly By Night has that mantle, but in its purist form, this is more the vehicle. Today there is a pretty good consensus that most think Rush is in the top 5 of the genre. The Necromancer was that exact moment that the band said, You know what .... we're getting pretty good at what we are doing..... So let's see how we can do with more of a "Yes" approach than Zeppelin; with that, COS is Very groundbreaking in their discography. It has moments of where you can see the seeds germinating into a brain expanse and the wheels spinning in their head around their songwriting. And like 2112, the band's first half of Side 1 is standard hard rock in nature. And some very strong moments at that.
Now Hyde..... Lamenth is a hot mess and hodgepodge of Progressive vignettes that are pieced sloppily into a mosaic of one big Pollock like paint slinging. We now all know that these were the inner and earlier thoughts of the 2112. Sure, there were nice interlocked pieces that were nice, but the epic strange transitions were boring, and there is a that bit of unevenness that mar the LP. I always wondered if Rush had a little more time, could they could have focused on the music more that what appears to try to link the lyrics to strained blues (in some parts), and some uninteresting lyrics to the story. Necromancer seems a little more in line what would be the norm in Rush's prog structural approach. And as with the prior, how Peart included the cerebral content, is up there conceptually with his future. Necromancer? Think Lameth, but just a tad less experimental. We can't forget that Rush weren't stars yet, and had to provide LP's on a timed basis, based on the record company's expectations.
Like in every Rush album from 1974 to the mid 1980's, you can see an obvious gradual step change in their musical abilities. Rush was the gold standard as far as bands who massively improved as their career progressed. Caress of Steel is no exception. And in Lameth, you see something unlike they haven't done before. In some respect, I think Lifeson's early 70's style reliance on shreds was a so-so awkward marriage at first. It was like they were struggling in coming out of that genre cocoon.
Otherwise, as in several other prior reviews with Rush, I can not subdued by singing of this band's praises. I for forever, have thought that this was Rush's most fascinating album for the very reason that my opinion of it changes daily. As bad as this album was panned by the critics, I think we should all be thankful that they didn't abandon the prog direction. The seeds were planted, and 2112 wouldn't have happened, or Rush as a prolific band either.
Fun Fact: The Album was supposed to have a silver background to give it a steel appearance. Printing error, and they came off Gold. that error was not corrected for economic reasons. (Imagine that). 50 years later? I just can't picture that album in that color anyway.
Side 1-
---------
Bastille Day- I love Rush Anthems, and this is among their best in that area. Great message, great playing, and worth buying the LP alone. I was sad that Rush seemed to play this less and less as their career continued. Peart's libertarian tunes rubbed some the wrong way, and Peart himself seems to have reversed this leanings here, and to Ayn Rand herself, too. Too bad 1
I Think I am Going Bald- Another racious rocker that sounds like more of what they would give us back in the debut. I always speculated that this was a bone added to make sure that some of Rush's older fans weren't put out by the big Prog turn. 4
Lakeside Park- Nicely hooked, written, pleasant, and simply presented. I know other Rush fans who love this one, and liked it the best. Great song, but we are talking about Rush, and we all know how high that bar is. 3
The Necromancer- The prog journey begins. Has its ups and downs, The narratives are off-counter to how the music flow. We do however first see and feel Peart's amazing ability to create a persona where the old time rock drummer accompanies is more pronounced. Peart's percentage of the song spotlight increases from this moment forward And thus...... How the band the band functioned as not only as ensemble, but one who had the uncanny ability to come off as an orchestra. One thing is for sure.... In this one, Peart raised some eyebrows. I think we all knew he was good on Fly by Night, but by this one it is when he started really getting noticed. And on this one, I would be really wrong, not to give props to the chordal progression and lightness at the end, to bring it home. If you want a prehistoric progressive sample of Rush, between Necromancer and Lamenth, I choose this one. 2
Side 2-
----------
The Fountains of Lameth- Outside of my discussion above, I think the listener should judge the content on what was intended, rather than what was presented. I can see Peart/Lee/Lifeson almost wanting to create 2112, but with no true coherent concept. Maybe weak concept. They did do great mythical prog numbers, but this was not one of them. Wait.... maybe it is.
5
You might have noticed I haven't reviewed any very early Rush yet, and thought I'd take on maybe the toughest one to discuss, "Caress of Steel". For me, and IMO it is one of the strangest for me to pan or love...... from even day to day. On certain days, I see this as a 5 star LP, and another feel 3 instead. It is no secret that the critics hated this LP, and from documentary account, it almost finished them as a band.... Before they threw the dice big time with "2112". Analysis is like an abstract painting. You hear it differently each time you slap in on the turntable.
First let me give the Jekyll side of the view. This album was the exact moment that Rush morphed from being a rock and roll band, and aptly to the Prog genre. (mid way through side 1). I know some might argue Fly By Night has that mantle, but in its purist form, this is more the vehicle. Today there is a pretty good consensus that most think Rush is in the top 5 of the genre. The Necromancer was that exact moment that the band said, You know what .... we're getting pretty good at what we are doing..... So let's see how we can do with more of a "Yes" approach than Zeppelin; with that, COS is Very groundbreaking in their discography. It has moments of where you can see the seeds germinating into a brain expanse and the wheels spinning in their head around their songwriting. And like 2112, the band's first half of Side 1 is standard hard rock in nature. And some very strong moments at that.
Now Hyde..... Lamenth is a hot mess and hodgepodge of Progressive vignettes that are pieced sloppily into a mosaic of one big Pollock like paint slinging. We now all know that these were the inner and earlier thoughts of the 2112. Sure, there were nice interlocked pieces that were nice, but the epic strange transitions were boring, and there is a that bit of unevenness that mar the LP. I always wondered if Rush had a little more time, could they could have focused on the music more that what appears to try to link the lyrics to strained blues (in some parts), and some uninteresting lyrics to the story. Necromancer seems a little more in line what would be the norm in Rush's prog structural approach. And as with the prior, how Peart included the cerebral content, is up there conceptually with his future. Necromancer? Think Lameth, but just a tad less experimental. We can't forget that Rush weren't stars yet, and had to provide LP's on a timed basis, based on the record company's expectations.
Like in every Rush album from 1974 to the mid 1980's, you can see an obvious gradual step change in their musical abilities. Rush was the gold standard as far as bands who massively improved as their career progressed. Caress of Steel is no exception. And in Lameth, you see something unlike they haven't done before. In some respect, I think Lifeson's early 70's style reliance on shreds was a so-so awkward marriage at first. It was like they were struggling in coming out of that genre cocoon.
Otherwise, as in several other prior reviews with Rush, I can not subdued by singing of this band's praises. I for forever, have thought that this was Rush's most fascinating album for the very reason that my opinion of it changes daily. As bad as this album was panned by the critics, I think we should all be thankful that they didn't abandon the prog direction. The seeds were planted, and 2112 wouldn't have happened, or Rush as a prolific band either.
Fun Fact: The Album was supposed to have a silver background to give it a steel appearance. Printing error, and they came off Gold. that error was not corrected for economic reasons. (Imagine that). 50 years later? I just can't picture that album in that color anyway.
Side 1-
---------
Bastille Day- I love Rush Anthems, and this is among their best in that area. Great message, great playing, and worth buying the LP alone. I was sad that Rush seemed to play this less and less as their career continued. Peart's libertarian tunes rubbed some the wrong way, and Peart himself seems to have reversed this leanings here, and to Ayn Rand herself, too. Too bad 1
I Think I am Going Bald- Another racious rocker that sounds like more of what they would give us back in the debut. I always speculated that this was a bone added to make sure that some of Rush's older fans weren't put out by the big Prog turn. 4
Lakeside Park- Nicely hooked, written, pleasant, and simply presented. I know other Rush fans who love this one, and liked it the best. Great song, but we are talking about Rush, and we all know how high that bar is. 3
The Necromancer- The prog journey begins. Has its ups and downs, The narratives are off-counter to how the music flow. We do however first see and feel Peart's amazing ability to create a persona where the old time rock drummer accompanies is more pronounced. Peart's percentage of the song spotlight increases from this moment forward And thus...... How the band the band functioned as not only as ensemble, but one who had the uncanny ability to come off as an orchestra. One thing is for sure.... In this one, Peart raised some eyebrows. I think we all knew he was good on Fly by Night, but by this one it is when he started really getting noticed. And on this one, I would be really wrong, not to give props to the chordal progression and lightness at the end, to bring it home. If you want a prehistoric progressive sample of Rush, between Necromancer and Lamenth, I choose this one. 2
Side 2-
----------
The Fountains of Lameth- Outside of my discussion above, I think the listener should judge the content on what was intended, rather than what was presented. I can see Peart/Lee/Lifeson almost wanting to create 2112, but with no true coherent concept. Maybe weak concept. They did do great mythical prog numbers, but this was not one of them. Wait.... maybe it is.
5
