2112
Rush
1976
Album Summary
2112 (pronounced "twenty-one twelve") is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on 1 April 1976 (or March 1976, according to some sources) by Anthem Records. Rush finished touring for its unsuccessful previous album Caress of Steel, in early 1976. The band was in financial hardship due to the album's disappointing sales, unfavourable critical reception, and a decline in attendance at its shows. The band's international label, Mercury Records, considered dropping Rush but granted the band one more album following negotiations with manager Ray Danniels. Though the label demanded more commercial material, the band decided to continue developing its progressive rock sound. 2112 was recorded in February 1976 in Toronto with regular producer Terry Brown. Its centerpiece is a 20-minute title track, a futuristic science-fiction song that takes up the entire first side of the album. There are five individual tracks on side two. 2112 was released to favourable reviews from music critics and quickly outsold the band's previous albums. It peaked at No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 61 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape and was the band's commercial breakthrough in the country. Rush supported the album with a tour of the United States, Canada, and for the first time, Europe, from February 1976 to June 1977. 2112 remains the band's second-highest-selling album (behind Moving Pictures) with more than 3 million copies sold in the United States. It is listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and ranked second on Rolling Stone's reader's poll, Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time. 2112 has been reissued several times; a 40th Anniversary Edition was released in 2016 with previously unreleased material, including the album performed by artists including Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Billy Talent, Steven Wilson, and Alice in Chains.
WikipediaSonically good. Too long. Does not stick. Story not interesting. Also, fuck Ayn Rand.
Not bad music but kinda long songs and not particularly special to me. Reading the wikipedia helped me realize why this is included in this list, but overall I found it not that exciting
Side one is simultaneously rocking to the max, and geeky to the max. I love how this album opens, and the way the track 2112 begins by sketching out a blueprint of all the cool riffs you're going to encounter in this stupid dystopian space opera. Glorious. Side two has a song that makes doing drugs sound about as hip as voting Republican, a surprisingly touching ballad in Tears and a slamming track to wrap everything up. Full marks for prog rock's most notable Ayn Rand adherents!
Just 39 minutes but it feels much, much longer. This is the first album on this site that I played twice in a day. Not because I liked it but because I wanted to know if it made more sense with a bit more familiarity. Turns out no, the second time it still felt like lots separate bits of flashy rock of different levels of bombast stuck together in a random way. (And I am not particularly big on flashy, bombastic rock with a shouty singer to begin with). 4/10
Pretty much amazing all the way through. Brilliant vocals, closest reference for me is actually The Mars Volta. Perfectly delivery no matter how high he goes. Meanwhile some of the instrumental parts wouldn't sound out of place on a Queens of the Stone Age song. All this to say basically that this has aged amazingly well and I'm disappointed with myself for not getting into Rush sooner. Bass is absolutely brilliant.
It's hard not to appreciate the sheer musical powerhouse that is Rush. Lee, Lightson, and Peart are musical titans and, even if you're not a Rush fan (which I'm not), you can't deny their skill or impact on music in general. Just being Rush earns this album 3 stars right out the gate. That said, a 20-minute track is a hard pill to swallow. Especially as it contains a section around the 7-minute mark that's just guitar tuning. It's pretentious as hell and I'm not okay with it. The second half of the album is much more digestable and absolutely redeems the album from that 20-minute monstrosity.
The perfect album. Each song is exactly where it needs to be. 2112 opens with its legendary overture into geddy lee's controlling and sneering priests of syrinx. We get the catchy passage to Bangkok and the heartfelt Tears. The drums are spectacular throughout. A truly timeless album that has it all. You'd have to be deaf to give this anything under a 3
Loved this. Rush are a band I have never listened to despite being a massive Dream Theater fan and so I wasn't surprised by 2112. Found the storyline to be engaging and the music was great, especially for a three piece (and a session synth player). Liked the twist in the story at the end. Thought the B-side was better, the straight up rock songs and Geddy Lee's vocals were pure old school rock bliss. Never realised how good a singer he is, reminds me of Robert Plant but better. Instruments are all tip top and vocals were ridiculously good. Album sailed by and I loved every minute of it
The first half of this album is a prog-rock masterpiece. It is a highly influential conceptual piece that does so many things well. The rest of the album is pretty good too. 4.6/5
This album has its moments. Some of those moments are inside the side-long multipart first track, some on the tracks from side 2. I kind of wish the songs on side one were just separated out into distinct tracks of their own. Not being a big Rush fan I was unaware how much their earlier material sounds so much like a proggier Led Zeppelin. They seem to be on the road to their own more distinct sound here but it's still a ways off from something like "Moving Pictures," which I enjoyed much more. I can see why people like this, it's fun and sort of peak AOR classic rock in a way, but ultimately it's not for me. 2 stars for Ayn Rand references.
Fine, but a bit dull. Very long first track, which isn't a crime in itself, but it felt like four or five different tracks needlessly stitched together (although it is telling the one story). Other side of the album is a bit more accessible, but nothing that really stands out. I do like a bit of prog rock, but it needs to be a bit tighter and a bit cleverer than this. I came into this not knowing Rush at all, but am not particularly minded to investigate further. 2/5.
What an annoying voice this guy has. Really grating. Besides that, the songs are kind of boring. And also apparently these guys like Ayn Rand? I was going to rate it a 2 before I knew that but I almost deducted another star just for that.
2112 avoids the worst excesses of prog and keeps all the good bits, earning its place in the dad rock canon. The first side is discursive and indulgent, of course, but that's why you're here, and it's just half a record. For the rest of the runtime, we get songs, each distinct but tied together with instrumental chops and, most of all, Lee's wails. There's nothing mind-blowing here, and calling out those who say there is is fair play. But that doesn't make the music any worse.
Went in there expecting not much, having never listened to them before but I had a great time listening to this album and enjoyed it thoroughly. The more melodic aspect of this album hit exactly what I like in rock and I'm definitely looking forward to check out more of then
I never equated Rush and Led Zeppelin so closely before. Also an old friend.
Really good. Psychadelic and sometimes hard rock. The singing during the hard rock parts wasn't so great. but otherwise I really enjoyed it. 4.5
This album is epic. I was originally into rush during their peak, but enjoyed some songs. This is really adventurous and ambitious. Will definitely be listening to this on occasion.
Solo escuchar a Neil Pert es una maravilla. UN disoc de su época, que es la mía,
Five star streak continues. On Fourth of July no less! Great summer album. Priests of Syrinx and Train to Bangkok are tops. Not the best Rush album, but any early rush gets a 5 from me
The best Rush album. This is the one that turned them into the holy triumvirate.
Super Album. Hätte damit nicht gerechnet liegt aber voll auf meiner linie
We've taken care of everything The words you read The songs you sing The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes It's one for all and all for one
I’ve always skipped over this Rush album, didn’t have much of an understanding of prog rock. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
If someone asks what the definition of Prog Rock is, this is the answer.
Title track is of course an absolute epic. Most of the other tracks are banging as well, but not all. 2112 makes up for it though.
Second side was slightly disappointing but the song 2112 earns a high score on its own. 9/10
GREAT prog stuff I’ve heard Rush’s first three albums now and I feel like they keep improving with each one, the first was just your average prog rock, the second album really stepped up with more beautiful, dynamic sounds, and this third one got even better going all out prog in the best way 10/10, really want to hear their other stuff
Really enjoyed this one a lot. It's prog rock in it's purest form. The usual criticisms that can be made of the genre are applicable to this one as well. Songs go on for pretty long, focus on instrumental virtuosity over easy accessibility, etc. But I found the album very coherent and well-crafted. This is especially true when considering how long ago this one was made. It never felt like it became too meandering either. In terms of quality this is more of a 4.5 than an amazing 5. But I'm rounding it up for being an important part of the foundation many of my favorite modern bands built their own careers on.
I remember being completely blown away when hearing the song 2112 for the first time. At that point in my life (age 17? 18?) I had heard some proggy music but this was on a whole other level of sci fi wizardry.
One of their best. Classic Peart storytelling, side one is ONE song. Fantastic all across the board.
A banda tem uma qualidade excepcional, gostei muito da sonoridade desse álbum. Minha preferida foi: The twilight zone
04/03/2022 Really great stuff here. Loved the 20-minute opening track; it takes you on an entire journey from start to finish. So many ways this could have been awful, and there are already multiple albums on this 1001 list that have tracks that are SO much longer than is really necessary, but this one hit just right. Such a great listen.
Rush is the goat. It's cool how their music sounds so similar but also so dynamic and different
One of my favorite albums. 2112 transcends music for me, it is a piece of my life. The title track is one of the greatest pieces of music ever created. While the second half is a fun mix of complementary tracks.
2112 is an album I own (on cassette of all things), and I've listened to Rush many times. I have heard all of Rush's albums, except for perhaps the last 2 or 3, and 2112 is a favorite. This album is progressive rock, but a hard rock version of prog rock. Headphones make the listening experience better. I love the opening sounds, followed by the blast to the foundations of what you're listening to from the guitar and drums. The opening movement ("Overture") resolves with an explosion followed by quiet guitar and vocals. All of side A is full of these contrasts between blasting energy and quiet reflection. There are times when you have to concentrate to hear where the guitar and bass separate. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee give you plenty of music to listen to, and Niel Peart is not shy to show you what he can do with his drums. Above all the music, Geddy Lee's vocals on this album are in their most iconic form. Lee adds to the contrast between energy and reflection, using more than one voice to tell the story. Both voices are iconically Lee’s. Side A ("2112") is a progressive rock classic, and gets a full 5 stars from me. I've listened to Side A more often than I have the whole album together. Side B is good, but I would only give it 4 stars on its own. I will still give this album 5 stars, because it won't be long before I listen to this whole album again.
fucking amazing. a 20 minute sci-fi epic in 7 parts. this is everything I want out of music. the b side isn't bad, but I'm rating this 5 stars for the title track alone
Sorprendente discazo de progresivo. De eso que lamento no haberle entrado antes a Rush, pues los tenía en un concepto de indigestos y difíciles de apreciar, pero al menos este disco es muy muy bueno. Hay tres cosas que me gustan: la impresionante instrumentación, las letras locas, elaboradas y como futuristas, y la voz icónica. Con eso le alcanza para la 5a estrella.
I. Overture, II. The Temples of Syrinx, III. Discovery, IV. Presentation, V. Oracle: The Dream, VI. Soliloquy, VII. Grand Finale. - 10/10 A Passage to Bangkok - 9/10 The Twilight Zone - 10/10 Lessons - 10/10 Tears - 9/10 Something for Nothing - 10/10
Essential prog rock album. First half is a suite about a distopean future where individualism is banned. Music fades away as a result. The protagonist finds an a guitar and tries to influence his society with it. The powers that be banish him and he kills himself, refusing to live in a world without music. Tears is especially good on side 2 If you can stomach Geddy Lee's voice, this is a great intro to Rush.
Incredible album, a full sonic experience with incredible production throughout
Another classic in my collection. I've loved this album since I was in elementary school
I'm definitely going to listen again to this album, need to pay closer attention to the lyrics
My favorite Rush album. The title track is the standout for good reason, but the 2nd half is pretty awesome too. Something For Nothing, A Passage To Bangkok, and The Twilight Zone are songs I really like. There are many good to excellent Rush albums but this one will always be my #1
Awesome, I loved the sci-fi vibe and the riffs It's a classic for a reason, even if the main track is 20ish minutes long it doesn't feel like it is, it's really enjoyable
Come on man, it's Rush! Progressive Canadian Kings! 100% deserves to be on this list. Everyone should at least listen to the overture.
Brilliant album, brilliant first song. Absolutely loved it. Prog rock at its best Saved songs: 2112:Overture..., The Twilight Zone, Something For Nothing
The ultimate game of two halves album. Side one sheer prog heavy genius and batshit crazy. Side two some nice but ultimately unremarkable single tracks. Can't give it a five, much though I'd like to, for Tears (ballads always problematic for Rush with that voice), and the ridiculous orientatlism of the guitar lick on Bangkok. Four then. They got the 'long tracks/short tracks' balance better on the next two IMHO
Este disco se convirtió en uno de los mejores que escuché por la primera canción. Increíble sonido e historia
2112 is not for everyone. Listen to the last 30 seconds of the opening track as that tells you everything you need to know.
A landmark album for the band and for the prog rock genre as a whole. I remember "discovering" this record when I was in high school through friends (my dad was never a Rush fan) and it blew me away.
The priests have the same feelings toward guitars as most people at a party have when someone strikes the first chord of Wonderwall. My feelings toward this album is the exact opposite of that.
2112- ? (Too much to rate) A Passage To Bangkok- 8.7 The Twilight Zone- 8.5 Lessons- 8.6 Tears- 9.6 Something For Nothing- 9.1 Like a 4.6 out of 5... Arounded to 5 very good
Very solid Rush album. It doesn't have Tom Sawyer or YYZ on it, but who needs that for a beautiful rock and roll album?