RUSH

When I first listened to this album I remember thinking that it was good, but there is nothing at all progressive about it. I still believe this, I fail to see any strong progressive music in this album but then again this is the first album by the band. "Rush" is without a doubt a hard-rock album and it is really quite un-unique work in terms of progressive rock. The band has taken obvious influences from hard rock acts from around the same period. Another very obvious feature of the album is that legendary drummer/percussionist Neil Peart was not in the band at this time, instead John Rutsey takes up the role. He is by no means a bad drummer, he is actually quite good but Rush isn't all that innovative without Neil Peart who is in many respects the backbone of this band.

This album just to me says Led Zeppelin, I can't listen to "Rush" without thinking of Zeppelin. The band always had a Led Zeppelin Esq sound but here, in the early days of the band these influences are at their peak. These influences, how ever strong did not restrict the band from forging their own unique style which shows up on this album is some places. Most notably these moments occur in "Finding my Way", and "Working Man", the rest of the album is really, to say it plainly un-unique. In terms of progressiveness mind you. As a hard rock album "Rush" isn't half bad and most, if not all the songs are good in that sense. Alex Lifeson's guitar is the main stand-point of the music and he really just takes over in places, not dissimilar to later Rush though.

1.Finding My Way (3/5) 2.Need Some Love (2/5) 3.Take A Friend (2/5) 4.Here Again (2.5/5) 5.What You're Doing (2.5/5) 6.In The Mood (2/5) 7.Before And After (2.5/5) 8.Working Man (3/5) Total = 19.5 divided by 8 = 2.437 2 stars Collectors/fans only

Despite the two star rating, "Rush" is quite a good album but due to the fact that it has almost nothing to do with prog, apart from the fact that is was a base from the band, I can't rate too high. This album certainly influenced later albums by Rush and really this set the band up for later fame and fortune which can only a few years later. I'd recommend this album to any Rush fan looking to see the start of this great and wonderful band, if not it's probably best that you do not spend too much money on this. To close, if you are going to get this album I highly recommend getting the re- mastered version!