RUSH

Rush have never been a band to rest on their laurels and have been through many different styles throughout their thirty plus years career. On this, their 1974 debut they were pretty much a straight Heavy Rock band with no sign of the Progressive elements they would soon be displaying in their music. There's no doubt and the band would readily admit that they were heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin at this point. But that's no bad thing; after all, if you're going to be influenced by someone it may as well be the best. The album is notable as their only one to feature original Drummer John Rutsey who would be replaced of course by Neil Peart for Fly By Night.

The album features a few early favourites that would stay in the live set for the next few years at least. Namely Finding My Way, In the Mood, What You're Doing and Working Man and they're all great examples of seventies Heavy Rock. I was really reminded when I saw Rush on the R-30 tour a few years back what a great riff Finding My Way has as it was used as the intro to the R-30 medley that they opened the show with. Brilliant stuff!

The rest of the album is pretty good too though, especially the more laid back, seven and a half minute Here Again which has a fine solo from Guitarist Alex Liefson. The album is well produced with a nice bottom end and the band play well throughout and although Rutsey could never match the chops of Peart he shows that he's a good solid player.

Not an essential Rush album then but it's an impressive debut many lesser bands would have killed to have made.