CARESS OF STEEL

Its a great moment when you hear your favourite artist striving to reach greater heights in their creativity. COS was that moment for Rush, and although I didn't discover all the Rush albums in order its always a pleasure to listern to listern to COS immediately after 'Fly by night'. Fans tend to rate 'FBN higher, but I disagree. COS has 'The Necromancer' and 'The fountain of Lamneth' Two very strong conceptual tracks that form the blueprints for the bands future legthy works. The tracks I tend to avoid on this, their 'difficult' third album, are 'Bastille Day' - although most Rush fans seem to regard this as an anthem - and 'I think I'm going bald' 'Lakeside Park' is a pleasant 'ditty' with a fairly personal and reminiscent lyric, but little more.

I give this album 4 stars for 'The Necromancer' and 'TFOL' and the heady mixture of sensitivity and drama that make them. The musicianship on FBN was good enough to be getting on with, but Rush make a leap on COS, and in some ways the playing is 'cleaner' than on 'A farewll to Kings' which came out two years later. The production too is 'clean' allowing the woody organic sound of Neil Pearts drums to come through. The album has a natural and rather laid back feel to it that appeals to mea great deal, and is a sharp contrast to the screaming rock 'n' roll of FBN. A fine album!