Track Listing

1. Bastille Day
2. I Think I'm Going Bald
3. Lakeside Park
4. The Necromancer
5. The Fountain Of Lamneth

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22735 in Music
• Released on: 1997-09-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 45 minutes

CD Description
After building up a cult following with years of non-stop touring, Rush nearly lost their fans with CARESS OF STEEL. Taking their cue from British bands like Yes and Genesis, theybegan to expand their sound beyond that of a typical power trio. Gone were the riff-based songs and extended jams, replaced with more intricate arrangements, multi-part songs and deeper, introspective lyrics. Ironically, it was these elements that would later win them an international audience.
The album kicks off with "Bastille Day", a tough account of the French revolution, followed with an almost comical song "I Think I'm Going Bald", which finds Geddy Lee lamenting his advancing age (he was all of 21 or 22 at the time). The main reason to own this album is the second half: a song in six parts called "The Fountain of Lamneth" tracing the story of a boy who finds a purpose for his life and can not rest until it is fulfilled. After years of setbacks and dodging obstacles, he finally reaches his goal as an old man and discovers that the purpose is the journey. This theme would surface many times in later songs, the band adopting it as their philosophy.

Customer Reviews

A Small Piece of History
I had the original vinyl recording of COS and this was a replacement to a damaged CD version I had also bought.

Rush's first two albums were very rock-like, but COS marked the band's first foray into conceptual work. As I understand things, their label wasn't too impressed and wanted them to change it, but it has stood the test of time and marks the point where Rush turned from a normal rock band into a unique one.

The opening track Bastille Day was an anthem in its time, with its racing guitar and Rush's favoured stop-time approach back then. The last track on 'side 1' (in vinyl terms) was a mini-story (The Necromancer), with atmospheric sound effects mingling with strong instrumental work.

The remainder of the CD is another - more loosely defined - mini-story. It has a slightly folky feel to it, but shot through with the now-familiar Rush heaviness (though at the time the direction the band would subsequently take was in question).

Listening to any Rush work I find it hard to distinguish between new and old material purely in terms of quality. Rush has always been tight and clinical in their approach to studio albums - but I think COS was probably the one where they put down the rules for all their future work.

Again, this is a part of history, so I would recommend owning COS for that reason alone. Of course, no Rush fan would be without it anyway.

Caress of Steel
Heavily criticised upon it's release by critics this remains the least sucessful Rush album to date in terms of sales. This is a shame as there is much to commend it. Very much a precuser for the follow up 2112 album side 2 consits of a twenty minute melodic epic called ' The Fountain of Lamneth ' surprisingly my favourite track on the album. Also included are two tracks which should have been singles. ' Bastille Day ' about the French Revolution ' and ' Lake Side Park ' in which Neil Peart reflects on his days as a park attendant. There is one jokey song ' I'm think I'm going bald ' which for me is an ok filler and another epic track called ' The Necromancer '. Covering the popular mythalogy subject matter of the day. Again this is a bit hit and miss for me but it shows how this great band were developing as song writers. Not the easiest place to begin for a new fan, this album, but for an album the critics loved to hate I can't stop playing it. Long live Rush and their music !!

Not such heavy metal
Once again an excellent piece of work combining the musical talents and expressive lyrics of what must be one of the worlds finest bands. From the rouseing Bastille Day to the calm and peaceful Panacea this album covers a range of emotions. I Think Im Going Bald includes every one in the all to familiar fear of growing old but with a touch of humour while the haunting guitar work at the beginning of The Necromancer gives a real feeling of desolation and despair to match the lyrics. As the first three tracks on what used to be side two of the LP merge seemlessly into each other it does tend to wander a bit but the powerful underlying theme manages to give a sense of cohesion. The final track The Fountain almost seems to be two tunes in one alternating between the powerful and the tranquil yet again despair and hope but blended together as only Rush can.