CARESS OF STEEL

This third album is Rush heading very quickly in the direction of the fantastic 2112. Once again a marked prog jump from the previous album where Rush heads solidly into prog territory. The first Rush album was a credible rock album over shadowed by other acts of the 70's doing hard rock music. The second album begins the Rush identity and makes Rush an act to watch. This album puts Rush firmly into prog territory and starts to establish them as a world class act. Bastille Day - a good, strong album opener - anthemic. I think I'm going bald - silly rocker which is not part of the Rush thing as far as I'm concerned. Lakeside Park - I always enjoy the softer side of Rush The Necromancer - very different to previous Rush tracks, almost epic but it kind of stumbles in parts. The spoken lyrics are kind of too cartoonish for my taste for this kind of thing. Kind of like Goofy telling a tale. The Fountain of Lamneth - a musical patchwork quilt however there are parts of it that I enjoy very much. Interesting drum work by Peart.

I prefer the previous Rush album personally as a whole although there is no doubt that progressive wise this is an advancement for the band. My head tells me that I should enjoy this album more that the previous two efforts but I find it very patchy in places.