RUSH

This is the first Rush album I have heard. It's far from being a bad release , just happens that when we put Rush's career in perspective , their debut does not have the characteristics of their progressive period. There are no sci fi epics , no thought provoking lyrics , no premiere drumming and no synthetizers. This is a typical hard rock album from the 70's.

However , since Led Zeppelin is my favourite non prog band and being this debut really zeppelinesque , I happen to enjoy this record quite a lot. Even more than the ones in their post Power Windows period. Here the instrumentation is simple and the lyrics deal with typical issues such as love , frienship and broken hearts. Much like some LZ releases. That being said , from the first time you heard the opening riff of Finding my way you can tell this guys had great potential , this songs are addictive and energetic enough to give you a good time. Some songs on this record will become permanent part of the band's live acts such as the blues based Working Man or the rocker In the Mood.

Even if it's a little unoriginal for 1974 and it pales in comparaison to their prog milestones , Rush debut is a very well crafted hard rock album that fullfills it's purpose.