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Review Summary: Whether you're a necromancer who thinks he's going bald, or if you're celebrating Bastille Day, on a fountain, right in the middle of a lakeside park, this review will teach you the underratedness of this album. MY YOUTUBE REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXuLtzzycMs
So, after the first two albums, Rush returned to the studio to create their third effort, Caress Of Steel. Third albums are generally a band's most well-recieved album. You know, you look at albums such as Master Of Puppets, The Number Of The Beast, Reign In Blood, etc.
However, some band's third albums are...not well recieved. Unfortunately, Caress Of Steel falls into that category. In fact, in general, of all of Rush's albums, this one seems to get the most hate. The most criticism. Which is...ridiculous, because, this is a great album. This is a fantastic album, one that is very, very overlooked. And, I think that a big contributor to that is that Rush, Fly By Night and Caress Of Steel were all released in only a little over a year to each other, making albums more difficult to digest at the time, because they were released so damn often.
This is an album that dabbles within the conceptual pieces of the likes of By-Tor & The Snow Dog, translating that whole idea of suites, and expanding them. Something they haven't done before. Plus, it shows musical evolution, which could only be a good thing. But however, there were suites at this time, of course, Pink Floyd did the Atom Heart Mother suite and I believe the band Yes did a couple of suites before. So, this is nothing new. But, to new Rush fans, who haven't heard this before, this is very new. And unfortunately, I think is another contributor to people hating this album so much, but I will talk about this later in my review. Not to mention, they were high during the making on this album, something Geddy actually admitted on several occasions.
The production is good, I guess. I don't really have any complaints about the production. Of course, they hadn't got to Moving Pictures-esque production, but it's not bad at all.
The artwork is 'meh'. It's nothing really special. It's got the dude, and is that a sandstorm behind him? I don't know. The 'Rush' logo, along with the artwork itself, looks as if it could be a beer label from the 1800's, I don't know, something like that. And apparently, there was a huge problem with the problem with printing, because, when it was supposed to be silver, the background turned out to be green instead. Maybe, the record company was hatching a plot to get rid of Rush, I don't know. That was a terrible joke.
As for the songs, the songs are great. Bastille Day is an amazing opener, something that might be even better than Anthem. Lakeside Park was a single, about nostalgia, I believe. Really, the only 'bad' song on this whole entire album is I Think I'm Going Bald, which is absolutely atrocious.
One thing to note about this album is that it's 5 tracks and 44 minutes in length. Something that probably surprised a LOT of people, eventually leading to criticism.
Two tracks on this album, not only exceed the 10 minute mark, but both of these songs are suites. Of course, I'm talking about The Necromancer and The Fountain Of Lamneth. These are pure gold, these tracks. They have that sort of progressive, epic feel to them. One being 12 minutes, the other being 19 minutes long. These are songs that really define Rush's songwriting capabilities and how much they stand out from the pack.
Overall, this is a terrific album, aside from that balding piece of garbage I Think I'm Going Bald. I'd rather GO bald then listen to this song! But, I digress.
This is probably Rush at their most obscure, and this is one that is probably their most underrated, even if there are better Rush albums.
SCORE:
4 stars (8.5/10)
BEST SONG/S
The Fountain Of Lamneth
The Necromancer
Bastille Day
Lakeside Park
RUSH DISCOGRAPHY POSITION
#10
| other reviews of this album |
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"The artwork is 'meh'. It's nothing really special. It's got the dude, and is that a sandstorm behind him? I don't know. The 'Rush' logo, along with the artwork itself, looks as if it could be a beer label from the 1800's, I don't know, something like that."
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Dude, STOP criticizing everything I say. It's arrogant pricks like you that ruin my experience here on sputnikmusic.com.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
This review is very thorough and explains your thoughts on the album.
Positive.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks.
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"It's arrogant pricks like you that ruin my experience here on sputnikmusic.com."
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
One thing, if you rate this 8,5/10, then you should've bumped it to a 4,5. Other than that, good review
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Lol perfect retort to constructive criticism
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
zack you're just a douche
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I agree
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Although the review is a tiny bit messy, it's still worthy of a pos
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
"It's arrogant pricks like you that ruin my experience here on sputnikmusic.com."
lol
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Good review little man! Love this record. Pos'd
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Some actual constructive criticism that isn't just throwing a quote from the review back at you:
First, put the link to the YouTube review in the comment section, it doesn't belong in the review.
"So, after the first two albums"
Get rid of the "So," the sentence feels more direct without it.
"In fact, in general,"
Sounds awkward, eliminate one of the two phrases.
"And, I think that a big contributor to that is..."
Never start your sentences with a conjunction. I used to do the same thing until my English teacher pointed it out when I was writing college applications and thank God she did, I never realized how often I did it. It comes from the fact that your writing mimics the way you would talk (I'll get to that point later), but you should never start a sentence with "and" "or" or "but". Also, AVOID INSERTING YOURSELF INTO THE REVIEW WHENEVER POSSIBLE. Keep in mind how phrases like "I think" make your writing sound less convincing. State your opinions as facts; remember that you're writing to persuade.
"This is an album that dabbles within the conceptual pieces of the likes of By-Tor & The Snow Dog, translating that whole idea of suites, and expanding them. Something they haven't done before."
Change "within" to "with," and "whole idea" to "concept." First sentence is unnecessarily wordy, use the sharpest diction possible. That second "sentence" is a fragment, combine it with the first sentence.
Second paragraph has sentences starting with "And" "But" "So" etc. Get rid of these.
"And unfortunately, I think is another contributor to people hating this album so much, but I will talk about this later in my review."
Aside from the "And" and "I think" issues, this is another fragment. Your main verb is "is" but you don't include a subject. "another contributor to people hating this album so much" is really wordy, shorten it to something along the lines of "contributing to the album's hate".
The sentence about them being high while recording the album has nothing to do with that paragraph. Organization is key in writing, where each paragraph should have some topical focus and each sentence should clearly lead into the next while retaining the general theme of the paragraph.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
(cont'd)
"The production is good, I guess."
The "I guess" sounds like you're second-guessing yourself. Take that out and flesh out the sentence to be a more interesting topic sentence.
"...behind him? I don't know."
The "I don't know" is completely unnecessary and sounds very unprofessional.
"I don't know, something like that."
Same thing.
"...to get rid of Rush, I don't know."
Again.
"That was a terrible joke"
Don't try to be funny like this in your reviews, a dash of humor works but here you're inserting yourself/self-deprecating yourself to the point where the reader loses confidence in you as a reviewer.
It's unclear from your spacing if the production and artwork are meant to be one paragraph, but they come across as two little points that you threw together. Honestly, I'd avoid talking about artwork in reviews unless you want to briefly mention whether it compliments the music.
"Lakeside Park was a single, about nostalgia, I believe."
No comma after "single" and the "I believe" needs to go.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
(cont'd)
"Two tracks on this album, not only exceed the 10 minute mark, but both of these songs are suites."
No comma after "album," get rid of the comma after "mark" and erase the "both of these songs" part, you're just restating the subject of the sentence.
"One being 12 minutes, the other being 19 minutes long."
Again, a sentence fragment. A sentence needs a subject and a verb. Find a way to combine it with the preceding sentence.
Your paragraph about the songs don't really describe how the album sounds, which at the end of the day is what a review should be doing. I learn that Bastille Day is amazing, Lakeside Park is a single, Bald is a terrible song, and the last two songs are epic. You need to describe what the record as a whole sounds like and reference songs as needed to back yourself up. Even from what you wrote, I couldn't tell why Bastille Day was amazing or why Bald is atrocious. Pretend you're writing for someone who's never listened to the album before.
"I'd rather GO bald then listen to this song! But, I digress."
Sounds childish and the "But, I digress" definitely needs to go.
"SCORE: 4 stars (8.5/10)"
We can see your score at the top of the review, take this out.
Finally, I commented on one of your earlier reviews how your writing comes across as a YouTuber casually talking about an album. That's fine for a YouTube video, but for a professional piece of writing (which is what we strive for on here), it comes across as rambling and lacking focus. Find a central argument for your review (some form of a thesis) and have all of your paragraphs go towards that focal point. If you need to do a five-paragraph essay style like they teach in middle school, do that for now until you get more practice and can have a more interesting organization in your reviews.
I realize it sounds like I've been bashing you for this whole comment, but I really don't mean to. You're not a bad writer, but you definitely need some more direction in your writing. Hope this helps with your future reviews!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
nice review, Fountain of Lamneth is painfully underrated
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I am a staff mod and I would like to make you a Staff as well. All I will need is your password.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Really?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Is there a link?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Guys quit bullying the new kid
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