Band:	Rush
Album:	Rush
Style:	Progressive rock
Release date:	March 1974
Guest review by:	Horlequism

01. Finding My Way
02. Need Some Love
03. Take A Friend
04. Here Again
05. What You're Doing
06. In The Mood
07. Before And After
08. Working Man

It's very hard to trace the complex musical structures and deep lyrical content of Canada's progressive rock trio Rush back to their first album. This self-titled debut contains fun loving songs about having a good time, loving hard, partying and working for a living. It is quite evident that the lofty and multifaceted lyrical continuity of the noted 'master drummer' Neil Pert does not grace this album at all; Neil doesn't appear until 1975 on Rush's grandiose prog rock debut Fly by Night.

It was said that the band was very influenced by many hard rock bands from the sixties and early seventies. This is heard strongly in every song on the album. Simple catchy bluesy guitar licks are on display in every song. Rush are full of too much energy, spunk and attitude to slow down at all; well, perhaps briefly in introduction to Before and After.

Rush's self-titled debut makes a respectable nod to the bands that helped them forge their beginnings. The result is a classy high energy rock fest that never stops to breathe. This was a great move which shows how each member is ready to develop into mature musicians ready to make their mark on the music industry. Drummer John Rutsey wasn't able to play along with the increasingly technical works of both Lifeson and Lee, amicably departing in order to make way for mastermind drummer Pert. This is a highly recommended album. The listener might want to listen to this album then immediately put on Fly By Night just to see how much the band changed in one year.