Originally Posted by The Batlord

Like I said on page 1, the twenty-something minute title track is fantastic. Multiple listens are kind of dulling the effect, but it's still pretty awesome. The first part, "Overture" perhaps throws a few too many riffs out without sticking to them long enough, but for the most part they're high quality, and when it leads into "The Temples of Syrinx" the awesomeness kicks into high gear. With a beefier production it would actually be heavy as **** at times. As it is, it's still metal as ****.

This also contains my fav vocal performance of the album. Their singer has always been what got between me and liking this band. His voice is just borderline annoying. But his more raw singing style on much of this album really brings an energy that is just infectious, and especially during this part of the title track.

Third part, "Discovery" is one of several melodic interludes. I'm ignorant of songwriting in general, and with prog I'm pretty much adrift without a sail or an oar, so I have no idea why there should be a tempo shift here, or why the band should use this rather than that change. I'm still digging this though. Each softer part is unique, and when it gets more metallic the song is all the more intense for it. So I'm just gonna assume Rush know what they're doing.

That being said, many of the sections seem more like samplers of songs, and I actually think that stretching this out into a thirty minute long song would have made each one feel more complete. "The Temples of Syrinx" is just far too awesome to be only two minutes long.

I've given this album a few listens to let it sink in, and honestly, I think I'm starting to dig the second half even more than "2112". Being separate songs, they seem to be allowed to develop more than the different sections of the title track. They range from heavier numbers, to somewhat complex power pop, and even a rather awesome ballad. Not to mention a killer closer in "Something for Nothing".

I can see why Machine would say this was dated, but it's still an excellent album to start off with, and possibly the first step to me not hating Rush. We'll see.

Originally Posted by Musicwhore A-Z

Although I don't consider Rush to be "prog" in the purest sense, there's no doubt that it's a great place to start 'Batlord' if you want to objectively listen to progressive music. Personally, I prefer to call Rush progressive hard rock. They NEVER forgot the ROCK in their music, unlike some of the bands in that genre before them.

'Batlord', considering you're a fan of Queensryche, ( hugely influenced by Rush ) as am I, I'm surprised you haven't explored the Rush catalog already. Many of the bands you listen to also cite Rush as a prime influence. In short order, there would be no Queensryche without Rush paving the way for them.
Not to mention others like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Crimson Glory, and King's X.

Good luck on your quest for the best in prog rock ( ... ).

Originally Posted by Machine

Do you like Dream Theater, and I'd you do could you tell me why. I'm really truly interested because everything I've heard by them I've detested and I don't really have a good reason, the playing is excellent singing is usually good, but I feel like they make their songs over dramatic, and the 10 minute songs are just 3 minute songs and the rest is soloing.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Third part, "Discovery" is one of several melodic interludes. I'm ignorant of songwriting in general, and with prog I'm pretty much adrift without a sail or an oar, so I have no idea why there should be a tempo shift here, or why the band should use this rather than that change.

Originally Posted by Frownland

It's been years since I've listened to them, but I remember Images and Words having some good songs on it. Pull Me Under or something like that? I'm too lazy to look it up. There's an 8 minute song on Octavarium that's a good one too, but again, lazy. But ja, they're generally **** and I knew that even when i was a fan.

Originally Posted by duga

To this day I still struggle to enjoy ELP. Tarkus is pretty good, but I never understood why Brain Salad Surgery is heralded as such a prog masterpiece. Still...You Turn Me On is pretty good, but the rest is ridiculous keyboard noodling.

Originally Posted by Machine

I remember listening to Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence and pretty much quitting directly after.

Originally Posted by Frownland

Ah I hated that one too. Next time you feel the urge to throw on Wilco, you might as well give Images and Words a try. Both are wastes of time for the wealth of great music that's out there to check out, in any case.

Originally Posted by Machine

Dude I still don't get your problem with Wilco.