CARESS OF STEEL

This album is so underrated. Even the tour with it was dubbed the "Down The Tubes Tour." Caress Of Steel basically takes Fly By Night and kicks it up a notch (actually a couple of notches). The band rocks, especially with "Bastille Day" and the middle portion of "The Necromancer." Man, that bass line kills with that wicked solo. Anyway, besides the humourous yet whimsical "I Think I'm Going Bald" and the nostalgic "Lakeside Park," Caress Of Steel houses to behemoths: "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain Of Lamneth." The former is obviously inspired by The Lord Of The Rings with the spoken parts basically mirroring the basics of those novels. It begins with a slow jam with some nice guitar before heading to the previously mentioned middle section. That part kills like none other. It ends with some nice repeated guitar melodies and solo. What's really overlooked on this album is the 20 minute "The Fountain Of Lamneth." Basically, it's a story of a young man that seeks the fountain, only to return to the exact same spot. "The Fountain Of Lamneth" is constructed like so epics that's more like a handful of songs shoved together with some repeating melodies throughout (a la "Supper's Ready" by Genesis). But that's not a bad thing. It features a wicked solo by Peart too. This is required listening for any Rush fan.