Rush is the most successful and talented Canadian rock band ever. They've been around so long and pumped out so many albums, I thought I'd rank and review them for you.
1. Moving Pictures (1981) - Even Neil Peart says this was the pinnacle album. “The Camera Eye” rules - even my dad liked it when he heard it. The album has everything you want - even a mob of drunken people chatting outside the studio in the cold (beginning of Witch Hunt). Crenching lyrics: "The night is black without a moon. The air is thick and still."
2. 2112 (1976) - This epic song, "2112", is divided into parts and tells the story of a man who rebels against an oppressive regime using music. A futuristic adventure plus many other great tunes from hard rock to subtle ballads. This album exploded Rush into the U.S. market.
3. Permanent Waves (1980) - Two tunes make the album awesome and truly Rush: "Jacob's Ladder" and "Natural Science". Of course, "Spirit of the Radio" and "Freewill" are the popular ones, but that's the beauty of Rush, usually their singles aren't the best songs on the album.
4. Hemispheres (1978) - Another album with an epic song of the album title. This continues the song of the story of blackhole of Cygnus X-1 - along with the telling of Greek gods. "La Villa Strangiatto" is the greatest rock instrumental of all time. And like Ricky says "I don't fucking understand Bubble's obsession with Rush. Fucking trees are talkin' to each other. Now Helix - 'Rock You' - that's something I can identify with."
5. Counterparts (1993) - Just a full prog rock album. The band returns to a harder edge and Neil is on fire.
6. Vapor Trails (2002) - Heaviest album. Neil is back after a 5 year hiatus riding his motorbike all over North America after his daughter and wife died. He gets fucking angry with his drumming and lyrics - especially in Ghost Rider - "Pack up all those phantoms..."
7. Presto (1989) - This is the album that got me hooked on Rush. Phonics too. A well produced album with a variety of songs. Many singles off this one.
8. Signals (1982) - Keyboard time - classic new wave '80s. I like the keyboards and can play every song on album.
9. Grace Under Pressure (1984) - Again, lots of keyboards combined with grooving bass lines. Neil goes nuts on electric drums -
10. Farewell To Kings (1977) - Any album that has a song about a black hole ("Cygnus X-1") has to be good. Bubbles' favourite song is on this one too ("Closer to the Heart"), but "Madrigal" has got to go.
11. Fly By Night (1975) - An unofficial Lord of the Rings soundtrack. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" make the album good.
12. Power Windows - (1985) - It's sequencer time! Perhaps too much sequencer.
13. Roll the Bones (1991) - Rap shit sucks ass, but the rest is a pretty good listen.
14. Hold Your Fire (1987) - Still a lot of keyboards. "Mystic Rhythms" video shows Neil's 360 degree drum set from above. Cool.
15. Test for Echo (1996) - Some songs just don't do it for me. No passion on this album. Songs could be faster and have more groove.
16. Caress of Steel (1975) - With a song called "The Necromancer" you know it's gonna be neat. The band really experiments with epic style song structures and writing.
17. Rush (1974) - "Working Man" is the theme of all theme songs. Still heard on the radio, but I never listen to it at home. No Neil Peart, so it's at the bottom.
If you haven't seen the DVD "Rush in Rio" you must. All the fans in Brazil knew all the lyrics.
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