2112

by

Rush

Edit

I'm no die-hard Rush fan, but I know my rock history & Amazon's review(of an Amazon essential recording no less, now in the R&R HoF Definitive 200 albums list [#198])by Michael Ruby doesn't quite do justice to either the band or the album. The band has been around now for more than 35 years, but critics still harp on the same things: poor vocals, pretentious lyrics, & nerdy drummers, failing to take the band's progression into account & trivializing their early works.

Further, if someone only reads the Amazon editorial review, he(or she) would get the impression that after this record, Rush stopped making prog-rock records. I know for a fact that they didn't stop making songs under 10 minutes until 1982's "Signals". It's not as if they suddenly woke up and said, "hey, those rock critics are right, we ARE bombastic & pretentious".

The review also fails to mention that all three members of the band are respected BY THEIR PEERS & have each won awards for their musical skills. In the end, that's the problem with rock critics: they always have their reputations at stake, which is why the professional Amazon reviewer can't come out and say that he likes it without dousing his words in irony & campiness. It's uncool for rock critics worth their salt to actually admit that they like Rush; if it were cool, Rush would be in the R&R hall of Fame. So, dear reader, do me a favor & click YES if you agree the reviewer Michael Ruby hasn't done justice to the band or record in his review.

By the way, the live version of "2112" on "Different Stages" is an excellent example of how 1) Geddy Lee's vocals have mellowed over time & 2) Rush's musicianship has further improved since 1976.

Rewind: 1975 - Rush had high hopes for Caress of Steel, but faced savage criticism against that album, and since it tanked, the supporting tour was labelled "down the tubes", as in demotion back to the club circuit.

Rush didn't get mad, they got even. The 2112 epic (side 1 on the vinyl LP, for those who don't know from vinyl) has nothing to do with futurism, contrary to appearances...it is a criticism of 1976 pop culture(the priests) and the impassive music media (Temples of Syrinx and their great computers) that had no room for alternative ideas. In the song, the pundits are defeated by Rush, metaphorically, at the Grand Finale when "Attention all planets..." is iterated 3 times (one time per member of Rush, get it?).

There are other sub-interpretations within the song as well...In the plotline, the protagonist suicides after his guitar is destroyed and he dreams of a better world he'll never see under the rule of the priests. He dies, so he doesn't live to see the world freed from oppression. The deeper meaning is that if you (the listener)give up on your aspirations, you'll never realize them...if you hold on, you may live to see better times. The ironic Grand Finale serves as a lesson that we should all endeavour to see things through and not give up too soon.

'nuff said...so why only 3/5 stars? Because after "Passage..." the remainder of the album is weak by Rush standards. I believe Rush made better albums, and especially better concept albums that hold a concept all the way through. As a rock album vs other rock albums, I'd give it 4 or 4 1/2 out of 5.