This is from The Rolling Stone Record Guide, edited by Dave Marsh with John Swenson (Random House / Rolling Stone Press, 1979), p. 336.
The review was written by “A.N.” which stands for “Alan Niester” who we are told (p. xvi) “is a high school teacher in Toronto who writes for a variety of American and Canadian magazines.”
For those of you not familiar with the rating system, a square means zero, or “worthless” (p. xiii).
Sorry, Alan, the first Rush album I ever listened to was A Farewell to Kings … and it is a five-star tour de force of excellence. “Xanadu” and “Cygnus X-1” are mind-blowing and innovative. I remember someone had left the vinyl gatefold album in the high school band room; I saw it at the end of the day there and borrowed it overnight. I returned it the next day, my life having been changed forever!
Wow … it seems Alan really hated the music that some of his brighter students were listening to!
To quote Spinal Tap: Alan is currently residing in The “Where Are They Now?” File.
Progarchy 
I’m AFRAID he was CONFUSING the band “KISS” for “RUSH”,when he wrote this ridiculous piece of garbage!!! To use one of his quotes: “POINTLESS” indeed!!!
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So much hatred. Thanks for this, Chris. As I mentioned on Facebook, if you put the reviews of Rush from Rolling Stone, CREEM, and NME together, you could fuel Hell for a year or more.
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Haha,EXCELLENT Analogy Brad!!! You read my mind on THAT ONE!!! 😉
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This is similar to some of the RS reviews of Queen albums, as well as reviews of anything remotely prog. In general, RS seems to really hate bands who actually know how to play instruments, write complex and interesting music, and don’t toe the usual lefty, trendy, PC line.
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What the #@%& Farewell to Kings is my favorite Rush album, and it gets a bloody “worthless?!” This Alan loser can jump in a lake. All the World’s a Stage is my favorite live Rush album too. What an idiot.
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