Review Summary: I was gone: Clear head, life ahead - It's time I was king.
Following their admirable but unimpressive debut, Rush was finally getting back on their track. They had booted Rutsey (RIP) to the curb due to his fierce diabetes - where he pretty much disappeared - Rush hired a beanie-wearing, slack-jawed fellow by the name of
Neil Peart: who screwed his drums enough to make Keith Moon wince and the energy of a child downing cup after cup of Starbuck's espresso, they were about ready to prove the world they were better than just making songs for Cleveland. They took matters into their hands rather quick, and moved beyond their original "garage" sound.
Fly by Night is probably the most crucial album in Rush's library, and took a step into the direction they best needed: progressive music.
The album's length is still relatively short, clocking in at a mere thirty-seven minutes.
Night does feature a good mix of longer-running songs and shorter tracks, each one with its own positive and negative aspects - at the time, it was pretty impressive for a band who overspent their budget half the time; compared to their debut, the right matter of execution that Rush had looked for finally runs well at the game table, and more based around complex melodies and time signature changes.
It's definitely a good leap for Rush, considering they got better and better as time went on - like fine wine, with age the taste. Album opener
Anthem introduces the band's sound and ear for hard rock, featuring sturdy guitars and the usual furious bass from Lee: Peart comes onto the album with a
bang, giving off hard rockin' progressions, mini-solos, fills, and rolls like whipping the set into shape was second nature - although not nearly as good as his later style, Peart is a good addition and uses his drum set in more different ways than Rutsey did. Songs such as "
By-Tor & the Snow Dog" introduce the more 'progressive' side of the album, incorporating the elements of the genre well - guitar, bass, pianos, organs; it's definitely most of the band's stronger points on here. This is evident in album closer "
In the End", a very satisfying end to a refined LP.
Okay, sure they were still young men who drink too much coffee... and maybe it can get very barren at times... but things were slowly getting better for this odd trio. Some sections on the album feel like they're just picked out, in particular some shorter tracks (not withstanding
Fly by Night) that don't reach the 4-minute mark. But for an album with soaring guitars, the always high-screaming voice of Geddy Lee that would make Ian Gillan voice cry in his sleep, and a thumping bass with a badass new drummer; why complain? It may not be up to par with the classics that followed, but it's definitely one to rock your cock to.
Recommended tracks:
By-Dor and the Snow Dog (Because it's about a German Shepherd and a chihuahua trying to jump a roadie, that alone makes it badass)
Anthem (Very thumpin' riff)
In the End (Awesome album closer. Did I mention the owl is cool?)
