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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

2112

Rush

1976

Buy At Rough Trade
2112
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.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.38

Votes

14513

Genres

  • Hard Rock

Reviews

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Aug 16 2021
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2

Sonically good. Too long. Does not stick. Story not interesting. Also, fuck Ayn Rand.

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Oct 11 2022
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2

Prog for people who want to dismantle Social Security.

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Feb 05 2021
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2

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

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May 07 2021
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5

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!

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May 18 2021
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5

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.

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Nov 29 2022
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5

Come on man, it's Rush! Progressive Canadian Kings! 100% deserves to be on this list. Everyone should at least listen to the overture.

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Dec 18 2020
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4

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.

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May 13 2021
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5

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

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May 31 2021
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5

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.

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Jun 21 2022
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5

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

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Oct 28 2023
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4

I liked this. Thought all the playing was great. Especially the drums and bass. Not enough albums start with a 20 minute track about mad priests who worship computers. It's all quite indulgent but if you can't do that on a 70s prog album then when can you?

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Oct 01 2021
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2

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

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May 18 2021
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5

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

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Jan 14 2023
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5

Man finds guitar and starts playing. 5/5.

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Oct 26 2023
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5

The epitome of musical integrity. Last album didn’t sell well? Fuck you here’s a 20 minute epic. The other tracks are good too, Lessons and Something For Nothing being my favorites

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Feb 13 2024
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4

I know Rush isn't many (most?) people's favorites, but if we're talking about a band's great albums, it's hard to ignore 2112, or at least Side A. I first listened to this somewhere around 6th-8th grade, and it never occurred to me that this was corny or might be somewhat painful to listen to decades later (besides, I was and am a big sci-fi fan). And as much as the other side of this record has pretty much *nothing* to do with the 2112 story, I've always enjoyed those songs too. Music-wise, I think I'd rank "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures" as my favorite Rush albums, but it's fun to re-listen to Rush's more prog-rock-oriented stuff too (and cringe at some of those photos from that era). A solid 4! (And for those who can't really enjoy (too) much of Rush, just remember Dave Grohl's great homage to Neil Peart after his untimely death: "I still vividly remember my first listen of 2112 when I was young. It was the first time I really listened to a drummer. And since that day, music has never been the same. His power, precision, and composition was incomparable. He was called ‘The Professor’ for a reason: We all learned from him.")

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Mar 05 2021
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2

why do ppl make 20 min songs, i'm sorry

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Aug 12 2021
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5

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

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Apr 04 2022
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5

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.

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Jan 09 2023
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5

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.

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Nov 03 2023
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5

Very solid album with a great opening. The later tracks are not as memorable as the first half but still great.

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Mar 12 2024
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3

You want an album where one track takes up over half the runtime. Boy do I have news for you

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Mar 10 2022
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2

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.

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Mar 08 2024
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2

Pretty over-bloated wank as far as I'm concerned. Pretty sure it is of it's time and hasn't aged well. Voice is annoying, lyrics are awful. Some quasi racially inappropriate Asian riff on the Bangkok song. Definitely all very good musicians, some good riffs here, but it's lost in the muck, doubtful of a second listen.

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Mar 22 2024
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2

If you like Rush then you're going to love this album! If you don't like Rush then you can go ahead and pass on this one. I'm going to pass on this one

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Feb 07 2022
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1

Poor. Hackneyed lyrics. Pedestrian tunes

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Jan 21 2021
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5

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

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Jul 05 2021
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5

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

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Mar 02 2021
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5

The best Rush album. This is the one that turned them into the holy triumvirate.

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May 25 2021
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5

The album that made them. The first Prog Metal album and work of art.

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Dec 28 2021
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5

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

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Jan 17 2022
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5

Killer prog rock with sci-fi lyrics? That’s my shit.

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Jan 20 2022
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5

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.

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Jan 31 2022
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5

One of their best. Classic Peart storytelling, side one is ONE song. Fantastic all across the board.

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Jun 02 2022
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5

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.

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Jun 14 2022
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5

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.

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Jul 22 2022
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5

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

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Sep 28 2022
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5

A pillar of prog rock excellence

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Mar 23 2021
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4

I put off listening to rush because I thought it was widdly widdly nonsense for Middle Aged men. Turns out I really like it. Am I a Middle Aged man? First track seemed almost prog-metal

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Dec 01 2021
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4

Such a weird and talented group made up of a bunch of dorks. Love it.

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Jan 18 2022
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4

good album, the first one i've listened to of Rush, not disappointed. Would probably be more 3.5, but here's 4 for our Canadian friends.

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Aug 08 2023
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4

2112 the song is incredible. The rest of the album i don’t care for as much and I’d give 3. it averages at around a 4

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Aug 11 2023
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4

Enjoyableeee. Really wish the first song was seperated but they're all amazing. Favorite one is Something For Nothing

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Mar 24 2024
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3

I've never been able to get fully into Rush, so what a perfect opportunity right now! Thanks 1001albumgenerator.com! The music is pretty solid (what up prog), but the one thing I feel like has always bothered me about Rush was Geddy Lee's voice. Just have never been able to get over it. It's ok in small samples for me but over a whole album it's a lot. The first song was by far the best part of the album to me. Started to falter after that a bit, but still solid. Going high 3 here and my inability to get into Rush continues.

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Mar 24 2024
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3

I like Rush as much, if not more than the next guy, and I understand the significance of this album to the fan base. That said, for me, I've never been able to shake the feeling that this one is severely over-hyped. In traditional prog-fashion, the album is composed as a two-sided adventure where the first side is a long-running, multi-part odyssey featuring widely varied instrumentation, storytelling, and technical focus. The second is devoted to more-consumable "single"-formatted tracks. 2112 is a nerdy dedication to one of the shittier philosophers to grace our planet in the past 100 years: Ayn Rand (who dedicated her life towards the proliferation of the idea of rational self-interest; basically the idea that one should value their own objectives and interests above all else). Shitty inspiration aside, the song certainly has some chops to it and I found a few of the sections to be really enjoyable. Overture and The Temples of Syrinx are the highlight in my mind with some weakness towards the middle. Also, by contrast to other prog acts (like Yes) who put together long-running opuses that actually blend from section to section, this song is very Rush in the sense that it is pretty formulaic and feels more like a distinctly segmented opera. Great instrumental work throughout of course -- I'd be lying if I wasn't drumming along while listening to this. Side two is weaker than most of their records IMO. I love Passage To Bangkok (top 7 Rush song for me) and Something For Nothing, but the rest is pretty throwaway for me. IDK man, I was excited when this came up on the list, but tbh it just doesn't clear a 3 for me.

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Jan 21 2022
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2

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.

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Jul 04 2022
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2

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.

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Feb 13 2024
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2

Out of the incel frying pan and into the fire! There are Rush songs I like but none of them are on here. The best thing I can say about this album is, like my favorite dental procedures, it's over before you know it!

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Mar 04 2024
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2

Pretty much a straight forward pop-guitar album with some weird time signatures that give fedora-wearing a/v kids a pass to listen to pop music.

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Jan 21 2021
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5

I never equated Rush and Led Zeppelin so closely before. Also an old friend.

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Feb 12 2021
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5

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

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Feb 06 2021
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5

I think I just discovered I love Rush

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Mar 17 2021
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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.

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Mar 09 2021
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5

Solo escuchar a Neil Pert es una maravilla. UN disoc de su época, que es la mía,

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May 30 2021
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5

Super Album. Hätte damit nicht gerechnet liegt aber voll auf meiner linie

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May 06 2021
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5

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

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Jul 28 2021
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5

I’ve always skipped over this Rush album, didn’t have much of an understanding of prog rock. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

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Sep 15 2021
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5

If someone asks what the definition of Prog Rock is, this is the answer.

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Sep 17 2021
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5

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.

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Oct 25 2021
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5

Second side was slightly disappointing but the song 2112 earns a high score on its own. 9/10

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Jan 04 2022
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5

Fantastic, a new rush fan is born

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Jan 11 2022
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5

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.

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Jan 25 2022
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5

The hard rock end of prog. Briliant.

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Feb 05 2022
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5

A banda tem uma qualidade excepcional, gostei muito da sonoridade desse álbum. Minha preferida foi: The twilight zone

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Mar 21 2022
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5

THAT WHOLE TIME, I WAS ON THE FIRST TRACK?!

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Mar 22 2022
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5

It's rush what can you say. Sonically amazing and epic lyrics.

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May 12 2022
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5

Rush is the goat. It's cool how their music sounds so similar but also so dynamic and different

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Jul 08 2022
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5

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.

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Jul 08 2022
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5

LOVED it, especially the first song.

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Jul 26 2022
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5

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.

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Jul 28 2022
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5

Incredible album, a full sonic experience with incredible production throughout

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Aug 01 2022
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5

Another classic in my collection. I've loved this album since I was in elementary school

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Aug 23 2022
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5

Not an east one to go back to, but a great album!

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Aug 25 2022
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5

I'm definitely going to listen again to this album, need to pay closer attention to the lyrics

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