CARESS OF STEEL

"Caress Of Steel" has to be the most underrated RUSH album. I think this is an upgrade from the first two records as RUSH takes things in a new direction.This record would set the tone for the next one "2112". Although record sales for "Caress Of Steel" and the tour that went with it proved unsuccessful (although it sold 100,000 copies just like their first 2 records did), I give the band a lot of credit for sticking with this same formula when they recorded "2112". Peart said "It was weird. We loved it so much when we made it, and we were flush with the excitement of making it.Then when it didn't do well, we were kind of stung." He goes on to say "We see it as a bridge, though. We wouldn't have made "2112" if we hadn't made that. I can trace the roots of all our material fom our previous experiments."

"Bastille Day" was a concert opener for years and for good reason, as it got the crowd in the mood you could say for the whole show. "I Think I'm Going Bald" is a funny song about getting old. Love it when Geddy screams "I think i'm going bald".This one rocks out pretty good. "Lakeside Park" is a place in Neil's home town and it has a lot of meaning for me growing up in a tourist town also watching fireworks on the 24th of May and doing crazy things at the midway and on the beach.The lyrics hit home with me of a time gone by. "The Necromancer" opens with the "Into the Darkness" section, with monologue to begin the slow paced song before we are treated to some scorching guitar, and the main melody is great ! "Under The shadow" features outbursts of heavy drums and guitar as Geddy spits out the lyrics. The drums are really good and the guitar is fantastic. The final section "Return Of The Prince" is an upbeat song like light causing the dark to flee.

The second epic is "The Fountain Of Lamenth "RUSH's first side long song. Divided into 6 sections starting with "In The Valley" with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals to open before things get loud and Geddy lets it rip 2 minutes in. "Didacts And Narpets" features some amazing drum work and chaotic vocals. "No One At The Bridge" is a great section, with nice guitar melodies and incredible vocals. "Panacea" is a good song with acoustic guitar and gentle vocals. "Bacchus Plateau" opens with guitar, with vocals and drums to follow. And finally the last section "The Fountain" with a heavy intro and intense vocals that give way to a pastoral climate.This contrast of light and heavy continue throughout the song.

This really is the start of an amazing stretch of records where RUSH could do no wrong. So yes this is raw and certainly not perfect, but this is where the monster starts to rise.