Review Summary: Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: Rush have assumed control!
2112. What more to say about this album that hasn't already been said. This is an album that is iconic. This is an album that changed everything for Rush. This is album that put Rush on the musical map. It is a landmark album, a staple, and...kind of overrated.
I genuinely feel that 2112 is just given a little but too much credit, with many individuals citing it is one of the greatest albums of all-time (even though reviews at the release date if the album were extremely negative), when however (a there are better albums out there, even from Rush's own discography and (b this is not a perfect album.
I think the main problem with this album, is that it is very disjointed. Listen to side A, then listen to side B and tell me that they are not completely different. Every time I listen to the remaining 5 tracks, I always think to myself "Geez, I wonder if these are these outtakes from Caress Of Steel or something?". I know they're not, but they have that feel to it.
The song 2112 is the longest song that Rush has ever done, clocking in at about 20 and a half minutes long, taking up over half of the album. 2112 is a suite of 7 parts, telling the story set in the year 2112, when music is essentially banned, a man finds a guitar in the middle of nowhere. He shows it to the Priests Of The Temples Of Syrinx, who destroy it in anger. After being rejected, the man goes in hiding and commits suicide upon waking up, as he doesn't want to live in a world like this.
This song is extremely complex, with many twists and turns, keeping you interested from beginning to end and is one of Rush's best songs. 2112 isn't so much as a song, as it is a journey.
Side B is full of the shorter, radio-friendly songs. This was a result from the record company telling them to stop making long songs, after the commercial failure of Caress Of Steel (the tour of said album sold very few tickets and was jokingly named the 'Down The Tubes tour'). What Rush did in that regard is very clever, because they had side B full of songs the record company wanted and have side A the big long epic that Rush was still very fascinated with.
Probably my favourite song out of those remaining 5 tracks would be The Twilight Zone, because it is very melodic and somewhat dark. There are also references on this song, to episodes from the TV show of the same name, which had a big influence on pop culture.
The two weakest tracks would be Lessons and Tears. Not only are they a bit boring, but they are very similar songs, although Tears was Hugh Syme's first introduction with Rush.
Overall, 2112 is a bit overrated and a bit disjointed, but it's definitely not a bad release by any stretch of the imagination. This is a landmark album for the band, as they got the attention that they were hoping for. This album also marked the introduction of long-time artist, Hugh Syme, who is an iconic character in the musical universe.
BEST SONG/S:
2112
The Twilight Zone
Something For Nothing
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MY YOUTUBE REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TbH_jBhpMw
