CARESS OF STEEL

Actually I would rate this hunk of meat 4.5/5, but since it's not possible here on Progarchives I have to choose from 4/5 or 5/5 ratings. The Choice was easy...

Their last album "Fly by Night" is an album many of us call the first REAL Rush album. And well, i am one of those guys. FbN was still very "Zeppelin-esque" much in the manner of their debut album. The track "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" gave us a hint what to expect from the next album. And they decided to give us their first true Progressive Rock album, Caress of Steel.

The Album opens with "Bastille Day" a song much in the vain of Anthem from the previous album. Bastille Day is a story about the French revolution. On 14th of July 1789 people stormed the Bastille and on that very day the modern french republic was born. Enough with the lyrics. Bastille Day has got to have one of the most effective Killer guitar riffs ever. A true Concert classic, too bad Rush doesen't play it anymore live. "I Think I am going bald" is one of the very very few Humour songs by Rush (If i remeber correct this wasn't even suppoused to be a "Funny" song). When talking about the worst Rush track ever this usually wins, but nah, it ain't that bad. Just blues rock with embarrising lyrics. "Lakeside Park" is my favourite song on this album, love the chorus. "Necromancer" is quite surely the most boring track on CoS. Seems to be about "Lord of the Rings". Boring instrumentation, stupid synchronized Narrator voice and too lenghty to be enjoyed. I usually just skip this one. Sounds like they are trying to be Black Sabbath. And the first true prog epic by the band, "The Fountain of Lamneth". Yeah, it maybe a bit pretendious and sometimes you really can hear they are trying too hard, but if you ask me, Fountain of Lamneth is better than their most popular epic "2112". Lyrics seem to be about life, from craddle to grave, you know? I truly like the lyrics, makes me think...

Rush intended CoS to be their breakthrough album, but it sold miserably and they even called the tour "Down the Tubes Tour". I don't know why people didn't like this back then (Or nowdays) to me it's one of the better Rush albums, even better than 2112. Lucky to us they made 2112, without it, the label would have had them dropped. Think about it, No Hemispheres or Moving Pictures for us!

Share this RUSH review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Wutu Banale
• Report this review (#101567)
• Buy RUSH music online with PA partners
• Show all RUSH MP3/Stream
• Go to RUSH page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Caress of Steel page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for RUSH related discussions