MUSIC REVIEW: Rush - 2112

"Totally awesome rockin' prog and memorable sci-fi story of heroism."


2112 was an important album for Rush, because it combined with breadth of scope that they'd previously flirted with combined with tighter songcraft. Not to mention, absolutely memorable proto-prog-metal rockin' awesomeness. Up to this point, it was their best album. It was also their breakthrough record (well, comparatively speaking), and showed that lots of people would like a twenty minute epic if it was done so well.

2112 is NOT a concept album (a lot of people mistakenly label it as such). Anyone who says it is has the burden of showing how the title track is at all related to any of the other songs. Trust me, no such connection will be made unless you've hit the bong about 1000 times.

In any case, the big title track does tell a heroic story about one man who fights for individualism in a collective world. Ostensibly inspired by Ayn Rand's novella "Anthem," it uses a frightening sci-fi setting to tackle the good old debate of the individual vs. the collective. For the first time, the band writes an epic that seems about half as long as it really is, with inflections of driving riffery, soft acoustic moments, and virtuoso proficiency throughout. Reams of ear-catching riffs drench the "Overture," and the song progresses through its seven movements of rocking euphoria. This SOB is one of my favorite Rush songs ever, and it's the one that really got me turned onto the band.

The rest of the album is pretty good, but "2112" is what this disc is all about. A must own rock album.