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2112

Rush - 2112 Audio CD

A fair review of the Rush "2112" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Rush reviews here, or go back to the Rush tabs.

Band: Rush
Title: 2112
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-05-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: 2112: Overture/The Temples of Syrinx/Discovery/Presentation/Oracle: The 2: Passage to Bangkok 3: Twilight Zone 4: Lessons 5: Tears 6: Something for Nothing

2112 ...... awesome but funny in a way.
He finds a guitar in a cave, figures out a little bit how to play, then goes to the temple and tries to join his church band. 2112 is a story about a guy in the future. But the guys in the band think he sucks, so they smash his guitar. He goes home all sad, has a dream about a world where everyone gets to be a rock star, wakes up depressed, then kills himself. Cool, huh? Well, the concept is kinda comical in a way, but the music just rocks. A must-have for any rock collection. If you buy 2112, Moving Pictures, and Permanent Waves, you'll have all the very best work of Rush.
.

Hello RUSHIANS!!
They are my favorite band of all time. Hello fellow fans of the mighty Canadian power trio RUSH! I have been a Rush fan since the 1970's and I love them more even today. Too many people always say that they are geeks, but they just simply rock, from the guitar riffs of the 1970's, to the keyboard 1980's, 1990's and present. They are more than just great musicians, but very low key professionals. I love the fact that they have never been a "look at me" type of band. Unlike most bands of today which hunger the spotlight, they have kept their devoted fans like myself and still pack up a pretty full house at every show. My favorite bass player in the world will always be Geddy Lee. What a guy! To be able to play bass, keybords, foot pedals, and sing, WOW!! Alex is a fantastic guitar player with a style of his own. And Neil? What can I say! My favorite drummer of all time. Their music has always put me in a good mood no matter how depressing a day might be. With so much bubble gum spoiled bratts, recovered addicts bands, rap barking thugs, or "cool" country B. S. ; I just put my RUSH on the stereo and enjoy their music all night or day. Thank you Neil, Geddy, Alex, for saving me every time I have been low. Your music is already programmed to play at my funeral. No geek here, just a true fan till the end. Forever and ever beyond 2112a. d. !!!!!!!.

Why are the lyrics backwards?
But I have only 1 question. The music is fine. Why are the lyrics backwards? Is the listener supposed to hold up the "liners" to a mirror while indulging in the awesomeness of Peart, Lee and Lifeson? I don't get it? Was this another "Japanese boo boo?" Aiya! Disappointed, yes! Wanting to get the GOLD version, ALSO YES! But will it matter? I dunno. The GOLD version is way more expensive, true! (Yet ALSO "courtesy" of Japan. ) Has anyone else noticed this "issue," or am I the only idiot that cares about reading lyrics and liner notes, NORMALLY and NOT IN REVERSE? Pshaw! Ugh! Whoever remastered the music, UNmastered the lyrics. MASTERFULLY so! Yak! The lyrics may as WELL be in Japanese. And no offense to Japan either. I guess the real question is, why are all the remasters NOT done in their studio of origin (e. g. , Toronto; or wherever)? Why do we constantly put pressure on the Japanese "to make things right," when it's impossible for them to do just that. I pity them. As I pity all those such as myself who are are stuck with an insert that is VIRTUALLY ILLEGIBLE (without a mirror). Seriously! This is NOT professional, folks. Not. Not. Not. Unless we've all given up reading, and just twitter away our days from now until the end of our days. Pray that's not the case. TEEWT! TEEWT! TEEWT! What an embarrassment for Rush. And a lot LESS of a rush, for the intelligent listener/reader, whom Rush unceasingly endeavors to indulge.

One of their most definitive
"2112" is a progressive rock classic, evidenced by its popularity at Rush shows and its themes about the individual versus the collective. I remember first listening to this album and being astonished by how good a job these guys did. Listening to the entire thing is a real experience, and although some parts of this song are a little weak (I don't really like the "Discovery" section, for example) it is nevertheless full of epic sounds, glorious guitar riffs, slightly fuzzed solos, and Geddy's high pitched banshee wail. This is hands down their best extended song, a highly politicized drama which owes its existence to Neil Peart's ongoing obsession with Ayn Rand. The entire song is, in fact, dedicated to her and her philosophy. Whether or not you agree with her ideology, you can't deny this album showcases Rush's considerable musical prowess. My favorite song, and a definite concert favorite, is "A Passage to Bangkok," an ode to the joys of marijuana. "Something for Nothing" is a fairly straightforward rock song, all about becoming your own person and seeking your own ideology. The other songs are OK and still enjoyable, even if they don't rock as hard as the aforementioned songs.

Rush fans are certainly a fanatical bunch, and its pretty much a given that if you like this album, you will like all the rest of the Rush CD's. I would certainly check out this CD, its a real trip and is a great representative of what Rush is all about.

A Masterpiece For Its Time
In fact, it irritated me to the point that I'm going to go over to CD Universe and order the CD (which I thought of today and realized that after buying the album on 8-track, vinyl, and cassette, I don't currently have it in my CD collection). I agree with another reviewer's assessment here that Michael Ruby's editorial review misses the mark. So, on to the review:

The first Rush album I ever purchased was "All The World's A Stage" soon after it came out. I didn't "get" it, and it didn't get much play. A few months later I decided to give Rush a second chance, and I bought "2112". Now THAT did the trick. Geeky, whiny vocalist and nerdy drummer notwithstanding, "2112". . . for a kid growing up in the 70s when it came out, was, and is, simply the definitive prog-rock album of all time. Wouldn't work if it came out today, but the point is, it didn't come out today.

Now, I'll grant you that just like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and many other greats, Geddy Lee's vocal is an acquired taste. . . but Neil Peart is an intelligent, literate, most interesting fellow (I've also read all of his books), and gifted lyricist. Ruby's assessment of him as "nerdy" simply reflects current anti-intellectual sentiments in our nation. . . these redneck half-wits who have to defend their own stupidities by criticizing people who do this thing called "thinking", "reading", "reasoning". . .

OK, I'm getting worked up now, so I'm off to CD Universe to order "2112".

--BB.

You can see a complete list of all Rush discography, or go back to the Rush tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.