First up is the Zeppelin-like "Finding My Way". A massive sound from a trio, Geddy Lee sounds fantastic here on bass and vox. Surely attempting to sound somewhat like Robert Plant, but with great results. Alex Lifeson produces a great riff and a killer solo, and its amazing that the band were so young and so talented. A great track, an early Rush classic. I love the sound of Geddy's love bass notes hitting at the same time as the drums hits of the sadly-departed John Rutsey, a great racket. "Need Some Love" is a classic boogie-like rocker. Also quite influenced by Zeppelin, it nonetheless has a unique quality due to Geddy's high voice, intricate bass playing, and Lifeson's unconventional playing. Lifeson somehow skirts the notes that you expect him to play. A great tune.
"Take A Friend" steers away from Zeppelin and sounds more like label-mates "Max Webster". A very "Can-rock" song, its one of the weaker songs on the album. Not really bad, but kind of boring and typical for a band that constantly makes new ground. Rush would move away from such a conventional sound after this album, but it's interesting hearing them trying to be contemporary on this album. A progressive-like riff does come in at the end of the song, adding a unique touch to the album. "Here Again" slows down the action. Jazzy in nature, it's a great chill-out song. Rutsey seems a little more uncomfortable with jazzy drumming, and perhaps he was a little limited in terms of flexibility when compared to the mighty Neil Peart. I dig the song, similar to the sound that the band would take for my favorite Rush album, "Caress of Steel".
Side 2 opens with "What You're Doing". The song reminds me of Deep Purple, with a great sway and funk to the main riff. A great Lifeson riff and solo, the only issue I have with the song is Geddy's vocals. Far too many effects cover his voice. Rutsey's manic drumming is always a highlight, the band were literally a power-keg ready to explode at this point, a very high-intensity song and album. "In The Mood" is one of the most well-known tracks on the album. The style of the song is pretty typical for the early 1970s. The sexually-charged, almost "cock-rock" lyrics seem comical coming from Lee, but the song is great in its innocence. A very catchy Rush staple, I enjoy the song despite being pretty standard-sounding.
"Before and After" shows the early signs of the band's progressive tendencies. The first half of the song is a dreamy instrumental. I love the bass playing during this section, proving that Geddy is a force on the four-string. The song kicks into one of band's most raw and garage-sounding songs. Very Zeppelin-esque, it reminds of Moby Dick by said band. Geddy hits some pretty high notes here, and its amazing how high his voice actually was during the early days of the band. I like the song, but not among the album's best. The album closes with the song that many consider to be the crown jewel of the album. "Working Man" is a masterpiece of rock music, and is one of the best Canadian songs ever written. A massive riff accompanies Geddy's love letter to the working classes. The song helped break the band, and it is a staple of classic rock radio. If you haven't heard it, what's wrong with you? Hear it now!
"Rush" is a great album for a first effort. It's not perfect, and like many first albums, suffers from production issues. It is however, their most straightforward rock album, lacking most of the complex progressive experiments of later albums.
Rating-8.5/10
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