'Power Windows' is a masterpiece, and in my top 3! It is the perfect melding of conventional instruments with synths and sound effects, and they complement each other perfectly! The synths are used at just the right moments to convey emotion, dread, joy, concern, etc.! For example, in the song 'Territories', the synths come in just at the right point musically and lyrically to convey a foreboding of what's ahead subject-wise! It's very powerful stuff!
The problem with ranking Rush albums is that their stuff seems to grow on you over and over. Tracks you used to skip suddenly leap out of the blue. Not really a problem. Went to see them on the Signals tour way back when and can still remember folk saying that this wasn't the 'real' Rush of the concept albums. I like the 70's stuff but for me Signals to Presto represents Rush's zenith. At least today!
I know! The Signals-HYF era Rush is what got me hooked on them back in 1998. Throughout the years I liked songs from other eras, too, but recently their work from AFTK-MP has been my favorite...at least for now. Liking Rush is like being a fan of several different bands.
Vapor Trails Clockwork Angels Snakes & Arrows Rush Power Windows Counterparts Hold Your Fire A Farewell to Kings Roll the Bones Caress of Steel Fly by Night Grace Under Pressure Presto Permanent Waves 2112 Hemispheres Signals Moving Pictures Test for Echo #1!!!!
I agree whole-heartedly. Rush albums grow on you over and over. Thought that Test for Echo was lousy. Then listened to it for 5 consecutive days. Wow, this Test for Echo stuff is fantastic!
So true. The first maybe five times I struggled through Clockwork Angels this summer I thought wow I just don’t get it. It’s the worst album. Steadily creeping up the list …. Listening to it a lot. Keeping me interested.
I’m 23 and I fell in love with rush when I heard La Villa Strangiato last year on UA-cam. Been obsessed with them ever since. Still have to listen to all of their albums but have everything from caress of steel to grace under pressure on vinyl. I love them all
This was actually the first Rush album (okay, cassette) I bought. I was initially introduced to them by a couple of the "nerds" I knew in HS, but Power Windows was where I got hooked.
@@Hamptainment No way. Necromancer and Fountain of Lamneth are undeniably flawless epics. Lakeside Park and Bastille Day are also Rush classics. I Think I'm Going Bald is lyrically stupid, but that song's riffs crush. I reach for that album all the time.
I wasn't crazy about 'Grace Under Pressure' at first but after seeing them on that tour I had a better appreciation for the tracks. Live 'Red Sector A' was driving hard.
My fave Rush album is also Grace Under Pressure. Very dark lyrically with the best playing ever by Peart and Lifesons best solos. Very melancholy and not very dynamic because the chord sequences are just so stunningly creative. Afterimage is my fave Rush song, Red Sector A is top 5, and Beneath The Wheels is hauntingly beautiful with my fave Lifeson solo ever. A masterpiece done their way.
My Top 5 1. Hemispheres: Incredible album from front to back. I think the title track is one of the most incredible pieces of music ever, not to mention one of the greatest prog instrumentals ever on side 2. 2. Moving Pictures: Not much has to be said about this album. Every song on this is a rock classic. 3. Power Windows: Not sure why but for years this album has really resonated with me. Love the production, the songwriting, everything. 4. Permanent Waves: Spirit of Radio got me into Rush so this album is very near and dear to me. 5. 2112: When the record company wanted more singles after the commercial failure of CoS, Rush hit them with one of the most epic long songs in history. Not to mention an impressive batch of songs on side 2.
My favorite album is Grace under Pressure, but I'd have to say Moving Pictures is their best. A truly perfect album from every aspect. Proggy, poppy, heavy, groovy, melodic, has an all time instrumental. Truly a legendary album. Witch Hunt and The Camera Eye need to be talked about more
Marhill77: I have great affection for 'A Farewell To Kings'; my first Rush album but 'Moving Pictures' is PHENOMENAL. I got to see them on that tour, New Orleans' Municipal Auditorium Easter Sunday, 1981. Simply amazing.
@@guyboost7311: that is easily one of their most underrated songs EVER, just as great as all of the hit songs on Moving Pictures (actually even better than some of them).
All the albums I chose are epic and are all close enough to call my favorites. 1) Hemispheres 2) A Farewell to Kings 3) 2112 - My first Rush album. I used to play along with it about every night of my Freshman year of high school. Definitely helped me with my guitar playing. Kept me enthused 4) Caress of steel 5) Fly by Night
Thank you sooooooo much for your ranking the Rush albums/CD'S! I love rush alot! There's so many great albums/CD'S of Rush! I love bands with alot of guitar and drum playing!🎤🎸🎵🥁
1. Moving Pictures (amazing album from start to finish. first half is flawless.) 2. Hemispheres (only four songs, but four perfect ones.) 3. Permanent Waves (these top 3 albums could all be the #1. they're all great.) 4. A Farewell to Kings (only an inch below the top three) 5. 2112 (the title track is just the best song Rush ever made.) 6. Signals (cool sounding record, very comfortable to listen to) 7. Fly By Night (classic Rush with a small hit of prog. the last songs drags it down a bit.) 8. Counterparts (man, 'Cold Fire' and 'Alien Shore' are just incredibly underrated.) 9. Caress of Steel (can't say much other than UNDERRATED!) 10. Rush (i wish i could put this one lower but i can't. definitely a classic.) 11. Power Windows (too much synth and reverb but nice songwriting) 12. Grace Under Pressure (this album is slowly going down on my list, i just find it pretty weak) 13. Test for Echo ('Time and Motion', 'Driven' and the title track are top notch. pretty heavy album.) 14. Vapor Trails (i enjoy listening to this album, and i'm talking about the original mix. 'Earthshine' is such a gem.) 15. Hold Your Fire (weak but still a classic) 16. Roll the Bones (why is this here? because it's here. roll the bones.) 17. Presto (this was dead last on my list but it started to grow on me) 18. Clockwork Angels (solid songwriting. not much fan of the sound tho, plus geddy's vocals are a little weird here. i don't play it that much) 19. Snakes & Arrows (there are only 2 songs i really like on this record.) My list changes like everyday, sometimes I just wanna mix it up, idk. And I've been listening to Rush for only 2 years or so, though.
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nJur YES! Glad I'm not the only one who actually likes Test For Echo MORE than Roll The Bones! There is a god, after all...…………………………….. (Oh, and I also like the original mix of Vapor Trails, even if I'm in the EXTREME minority).
I came to appreciate Vapor Trails a lot more after reading Neil's book Ghost Rider, which details his grieving process after losing his daughter and first wife. The album is basically the book in musical form, and I would recommend both to anyone recovering from a personal tragedy.
Test for Echo is not considered one of their most loved albums, but there is some excellent music on there. Title track, Driven, Color of Right to name a few. It was my very first Rush album and I saw them on this tour, so it holds a special place in my heart. Great video, Pete. Just subscribed!
B H like you mate, my fav album is the last one I bought. Up to peart’s death I’d only ever listen to Tom Sawyer and spirit of radio. Now I’m a fanatic.
I simply can't list them. They're like picking between your kids. Every time I try to pick one for the bottom, I just can't, when I listen to it again, there's too much there to like. But, I think most would agree with Moving Pictures - if a friend asks you "what's so great about Rush, where should I start?", that would be everyone's answer. Besides, "Red Barchetta" is still the best driving song ever.
I think that Moving Pictures is the best answer for their greatest album. It's got the perfect blend of their late sound, being keyboards and their early hard rock sound. Mostly radio ready songs with one long one. Best place to start. If you are digging the keys than go further, digging everything else, go back
@@tepidtooth8539 I never thought of it that way before; you make a good argument. MP did not draw me in on its own; I had to hear HYF, GUP, and 2112 as well to get a better "feel" for Rush. Their incredible RANGE (i.e. the fact that they take "risks" over the years) is a big part of their appeal to me, and I don't think one album can capture that. MP was the 1st Rush album I owned but it wasn't enough for me to "get" them. Thank God for my friend who introduced me to more of their music ! : )
Thanks for doing all these ranking videos Pete. I am sure everyone is asking for a lot of bands for you to do. Thanks for doing the greatest band of all time.
Their run of albums from 2112 through Hold Your Fire is incredible; probably the strongest consecutive period of strong material and progression in sound of any band in music.
@@Hamptainment i have presto last by a mile. been a huge fan since '78. at the time it came out i could name every song on every album, in order. on presto, i cant name a single song. i have revisited it, and then stored it away for another 2 decades. its just weak.
Michael Hampton - Calling someone a fool because their personal taste is different than yours is immature and adds nothing of value to the discussion. Disagree all you want, but do it with respect, otherwise you undermine your own opinion and reveal yourself to be the fool.
@@TheSighphiguy When i first saw the beginning of this video Presto came to mind, and when he said it, i gave him a thumbs up..There are a 'few' good songs,but they did go down hill in the late 80s...
2112 was my first Rush album. The title track blew my mind and opened the door for the wonderful world of prog. Never heard anything like this before and I instantly became a fan. I've also happened to come across the band when I was at the lowest point in my life. When I was reading their lyrics I've finally felt like there's someone out there that can understand me.
Just getting into Rush, im gonna listen to them in order. I have to say, I think the debut is brilliant especially considering im a huge led zeppelin fan lol
Top 5 for me: 1. Hemispheres 2. Moving Pictures 3. Permanent Waves 4. Farewell to Kings 5. Signals Hemispheres will always be my fave. First Rush album I ever heard. Took it from my sister's record collection and never gave it back.
'Hold Your Fire' isn't generally considered among Rush's best work, but it's their one album more than others that consistently gets spin time on road trips. Kind of a hypnotic & soothing vibe. Especially like 'Open Secrets', 'Second Nature', and 'High Water'.
Before watching : good luck with this one, Pete. I don’t think I could EVER rank these albums. Haha! Keep up the awesome videos. You’re doing all my favorite bands as of late!
Thanks for doing your video podcast channel. Man, you touch on so many of my favorite bands and I enjoy your opinions. This Rush cast is spot on. Love it man, keep doing more topics with popular music(and/or selective). My favorite Rush album is Hemispheres by the way.
I’m a new fan. I love heavy metal, since the 80s, and never really heard anything of them. With the emergence of the mp3 I started to put individual songs my first ever iPod, and Tom Sawyer and spirit of radio made the cut, becoming 2 of the 500 mg of songs that I had on it. Then I saw the documentary on Netflix, thought it was really interesting and really dug the friendship between the three of them. Then I found out about peart’s death, and felt really sad. One day, sitting in a mall in Santiago, Chile, red barchetta popped up as a suggestion on you tube. That night I got moving pictures. A week later I got 2112, then moving pictures, then hemispheres... every week I get another one. Funny, Presto is one of my favourites. What blows me away is the versatility. From prog rock to that 80s big synth to the 90s heavier stuff, their versatility is amazing. The changes are organic... nothing calculated. Love em.
Thanks, Pete! I was hoping you'd do a video. I thought you needed time after the shock to get to it. I'm still in shock. Like you, I will always miss Neil Peart. I also liked your worst to best of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. In some ways, your video was like a phone conversation with a good friend. "Hey, I know I promised you and I keep my promises, ok?" My top 10 1. Permanent Waves 2. Moving Pictures 3. Hemispheres 4. A Farewell To Kings 5. Fly By Night 6. Caress Of Steel 7. Signals 8. Power Windows 9. Counter Parts 10. Clockwork Angels Have a safe trip! San Antonio is a beautiful city!
So right about Signals. It really opened me up. The album is so so good that I had to reassess my notion of what a great Rush album could sound like. It really broadened my musical tastes.
Instead of doing a rank of them all, I will give a personal favorite from each decade. RIP Mr. Peart. 70's - Fly 80's - Grace 90's - Counterparts 00's - Feedback (yes it's a covers album, but hearing Rush do Mr Soul and Crossroad is bliss!) 10's - Clockwork
For me personally, their sweet spot was 1979-1984 (Permanent Waves to Grace Under Pressure). I loved how they began to incorporate the sounds of the New Wave (The Police, etc.) and yet retained some prog elements (tricky times signatures and great instrumentation).
When you said Presto was at the bottom of your list I couldn't help but think, Wow! This guy REALLY likes Rush! Great album! Thanks for sharing! Long live Rush!
The great part about music is there is always something to discover. I think in the last couple weeks Rush finally clicked with me. Thanks for kicking me off on this journey.
You come away hugely impressed with both the quality and duration of their discography. It's a vast catalog with countless hidden gems. Peart was a vastly underrated songwriter.
Going through all the comments, what an amazing mix of views on favorite albums. Just shows how the vast array of tunes appeals to different tastes in music. Myself, I lean towards the earlier albums up to Signals. I used to listen to Anthem off the Fly by Night tape cruising around in my 1977 Trans Am. The sound is forever pierced in my brain. Spotify is a great bit of technology for those who don't own the complete set of CD's. Just listened to Hemispheres. Have to say La Villa Strangiato is some unbelievable instrumentation from just three guys... Wow.
I’m happy caress of steel is getting love. I feel fans are predetermined to hate it because it wasn’t successful and the band didn’t like it but they really shouldn’t. It’s one of their best.
I have to agree with most of this, although my favorite of all time is Permanent Waves, and the second is Hemispheres. And I love Caress of Steel. Thanks for sharing this.
Rush became my favorite band in 1981 and still are today, 40 years later. Probably always will be. I love them all. My list, if I had to make one, is pretty close to yours, Pete. Thanks for this video.
Three years ago and I pretty much agree with your selection, particularly agree with your views on Caress of Steel. Great and still relevant review, Thank You, love watching what you’d do and I have used your channel to run with and explore new band. Keep it going!
i only recently got into Rush, maybe around 7 months ago. Although 2112 was my introduction, it was Moving Pictures that grabbed me, then Power Windows and Grace Under Pressure sealed it. So much fun buying their albums and hearing all the different era's.
I have been going through the Rush studio albums after watching this post. First thing to say - what a catalogue. Just an amazing body of consistent work. I, like you, lean towards the LP's that I grew up with ( Fly By Night through to Grace Under Pressure - 2112 was my first Rush LP purchase and it amazed me ) but definitely the latter material grows and grows the more ear time one gives it. Counterparts is really good !
I haven't listen to all the rush albums, but I can give a top 10. 1. 2112 2. Caress of Steel 3. A Farewell to Kings 4. Hemispheres 5. Moving Pictures 6. Permanent Waves 7. Grace Under Pressure 8. Signals 9. Fly By Night 10. Rush And yes I do like them all.
Moving pictures for me. Just so complete. 2112 was where I got into them and bought the import live album. Farewell....because of the tour I saw them on. Stunning. Hemispheres was great, Waves if only for spirit of radio. A band that will be influencing players for years in the way Floyd or Yes did
I'm your newest subscriber. I've watched several of your videos and we agree on some and disagree on others. Your knowledge of the material is right up there with my own. Please keep up the good work.
Hey Pete, recently found your channel and instantly subscribed. First saw Rush live on Hemispheres tour and to me, the late '70s is the sweet spot: 1. Farewell to Kings 2. Hemispheres 3. 2112 4. Permanent Waves 5. Caress of Steel If I HAD to pick a favorite Rush song (if possible), it would probably be Permanent Waves' Natural Science
My favorite thing about Rush's 'Test For Echo' album was the tour......it was the only time they actually performed the song '2112' in it's entirety. I played the CD quite a bit from '97-'99 as well.
Utterly fantastic. I love prog/jazz rock. I just ordered MOVING PICTURES and HEMISPHERES remastered on CD after seeing your ranking, then sampling them on UA-cam. 👍
I dismissed "Signals" for 15 or 20 years because it was such a huge departure from "Moving Pictures." Now, it's in my top 5. "Losing It," without a doubt, is one of the greatest songs they've ever written.
Here's my list: 1) Hemispheres (So many great memories listening to this with my dad on hunting and fishing trips. Such a perfect album top to bottom) 2) Permanent Waves (Every single song is a masterpiece. Different Strings and Natural Science get me each time.) 3) Moving Pictures (They were firing on all cylinders at this point. "Witch Hunt" is my favorite off this album. This song sure applies today doesn't it?) 4) A Farewell to Kings (I love how much they changed on this album from their sound on 2112.) 5) Fly by Night (The first Rush album I ever listened to. It was in the truck's CD player on each hunting and fishing trip along with Fragile by Yes and Leftoverture from Kansas) 6) Signals (I really like the use of synths on this album. I have always appreciated for Rush for never trying to make the same album twice. This was a good transition from Moving Pictures) 7) Power Windows (Manhattan Project is one of my favorite songs of all time; the lyrics are just so powerful. Territories and Middletown Dreams are the 2 others that really stand out to me on this album) 8) Grace Under Pressure (Alex's guitar sound is so aggressive on this album!) 9) Hold Your Fire (This album may be a little more mellow, but it's really hard to beat "Force Ten," "Time Stand Still," "Mission," and "Turn the Page." The instrumental section in "Mission" is top tier Rush.) 10) 2112 (This is a great album, but I think that some of the tracks bring it down a little bit on my list. I'm talking about "Twilight Zone," "Tears," and "Lessons.") 11) Caress of Steel (A very strong start to their prog era. "I Think I'm Going Bald" is still one of the best worst songs ever.) 12) Presto (I know this lands at the bottom of a lot of lists, but the bass playing in "Show Don't Tell" is some of Geddy's best. "The Pass," "Scars," "Red Tide," "Hand Over Fist," and "Available Light" are all underrated gems on this album in my opinion.) 13) Counterparts (Great return to a hard rock sound from these guys.) 14) Clockwork Angels (Some awesome tracks on this album. Every time I hear "The Garden" I tear up. One of there best. My appreciation for this album increased a lot when I saw them on this tour. Some of the riffing they did in "Carnies," and "7 Cities of Gold" was awesome!) 15) Snakes and Arrows (The instrumentals on this album are fantastic! Some of the tracks I could do without, but there are some that are so poignant. "Faithless," "The Larger Bowl," "The Way the Wind Blows." 16) Test for Echo (Production is great with some great tunes. Some of the tunes are not very memorable. The video that Neil put out at this time with the drum parts for many of these songs really helped me to appreciate the intricacies of this album more. 17) Roll the Bones (There are good songs, but I think this album sounds thin.) 18) Rush (Some good songs, and I'm not denying Alex's playing, but I don't feel it stands out from a lot of the other hard rock stuff from the 70's.) 19) Vapor Trails (Probably the only album that I somewhat dislike. There isn't a single guitar solo on the album, and moving from 1 track to the next everything sounds the same.)
I totally get you on The Garden. I like putting all of Rush's studio discography on shuffle, and when it comes up it's just kinda sad to know that it is their last song. Along with the emotional impact of it, it really hits hard.
Pete, I enjoy your videos and the way you do it... Thanks for your Rush ranking, I respect that. Here is my top 10 list: 10. Hemispheres 9. Clockworks Angels 8. A Farewell To Kings 7. Rush 6. Counterparts 5. 2112 4. Signals 3. Fly By Night 2. Moving Pictures 1. Permanent Waves
RIP Neil Peart, as a 25 year old Canadian, Rush was my favourite band growing up, had the chance to see them in Toronto in 07-08 on the Snakes and Arrows Tour when I was 12, happy I got the chance to see Peart live and Rush, I’m a new follower to your channel too Pete, your a cool cat for sure and love your reviews and insight on music. Lakeside park as a song holds a special place in my heart, is about a place called Port Dalhousie which is a part of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada where Peart grew up, only 20 minutes from where I live! Go fishing there quite often, nice place to visit in the summer.
Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures are the strongest transition albums from any classic prog act moving into the 1980s without completely reinventing the group.
Great list. Ranking Rush albums is difficult to do as they really haven't made a bad or terrible record. I've given it a bash but it will probably change. The reason for me rating Presto a lot higher is that I think the song writing is some of the best they've done, especially Neil's Lyrics. The major thing I think that lets down is the production and the guitar sounds weak. Same can be said for Roll the Bones which has travelled further down the list as time goes on for me. Test for Echo is not terrible by any stretch but it just didn't stick with me, same with Vapor Trails. The top four could honestly all share the number one spot. It's tough to separate them but I think Permanent Waves is a perfect compact record with every tune being un-skippable. 19/ Test for Echo 18/ Vapor Trails 17/ Roll the Bones 16/ Rush 15/ Caress of Steel 14/ Grace Under Pressure 13/ 2112 12/ Snakes & Arrows 11/ Signals 10/ Fly by Night 9/ Clockwork Angels 8/ Counterparts 7/ Hold Your Fire 6/ Power Windows 5/ Presto 4/ A Farewell to Kings 3 /Moving Pictures 2/ Hemispheres 1/ Permanent Waves
Great video Pete. Love your channel!! I was in high school in the mid seventies so I caught Rush from their first album. Here are my top 5. #1-2112 #2 Rush #3 Moving Pictures #4 Hemispheres #5 Fly By Night.
@@TheHumbuckerboy sublime track! Listening to it right now-awesome shout out, amigo! RIP Neil Peart ("The Professor" on the drum kit!) we won't see another one like him!
I grew up with the 80's Rush, the atmospheric 80s keyboards, the incredible bass from Geddy and more specially Lifeson's guitar was what sold me out. The efficient, very short solo in Marathon from Power Windows remains my favourite Alex Lifeson solo. Big Money? Ugh, amazing solo as well.
Pete, great comments. Especially agree with your take on Signals. We are the same age and followed the band in a similar fashion. When the local radio station, KY-102 told us in a few days they would play the new single, we couldn’t wait! Got to the radio at the appointed time and heard New World Man and thought it was short and too synth focused. Saw the tour in KC and was blown away. Something many folks have failed to note-and perhaps one of the reasons many like the band’s output pre-GUP was the producing of Terry Brown. I always felt he got the fullest sound for the trio-esp. Neil’s old Slingerlands and well as the Tama’s . Keep up the good work!
I totally agree about the number of tracks on the later albums. The beautiful thing about the Iconic Rush albums was that they always left you wanting more.
There is no doubt in my mind that Rush are the number one power trio of all time, incredible talent! I am definitely more drawn to their earlier material, but a lot of the albums later on in their catalogue have some good stuff on them. Here’s my ranking: 1. Permanent Waves 2. A Farewell To Kings 3. Hemispheres 4. Caress Of Steel 5. 2112 6. Moving Pictures 7. Rush / self-titled 8. Fly By Night 9. Power Windows 10. Signals 11. Grace Under Pressure 12. Clockwork Angels 13. Counterparts 14. Test For Echo 15. Vapor Trails 16. Presto 17. Snakes & Arrows 18. Roll The Bones 19. Hold Your Fire
This is perfect... I have seen Rush at least a dozen times over the years.. .going back to the 70s .. but this countdown s making me want to revisit so many albums.. especially the later ones...
I'm so happy to see another person whose life changed after hearing Moving Pictures. I borrowed my brother in laws US original Mercury Presswell white font SRM-1-4013 😃...which I still have btw!....and my musical life completely changed. Most important album in my life, and set me on a course for a career in music education for over 25 years now. The crazy part is that I can still crank this on my turntable anytime now and its an incredible experience. My fav absolute era of Rush is Hemispheres through Grace Under Pressure, but Caress of Steel exists on an island! All amazing albums. Cheers Pete.
Counterparts is amazing. It is clearly of its time, some of it is even a bit 80's sounding still in 1993. But I've really learned to appreciate the songs over the years. Also represents Geddy's last absolute best vocals.
Will be awesome a ranking of ELO or The Alan Parsons Project... by the way nice Rush ranking, Moving Pictures is my favorite too. Greetings from Perú Pete.
Oh, you broke me when you said Presto was your least favorite. LOVE PRESTO. Such a good album. I saw the tour, love the music, love the lyrics. Sorry, one of my faves.
Yeah that was a very unusual choose, doesnt really make any sense. I dont think he's listened to his bottom 5 more than twice. The Pass alone is better than the entire Test For Echo album.
@@seaoftranquilityprog while I do agree with Michael's statement on The Pass (Good lord that's one of their crowning achievements in my opinion) .. you are right Pete, these are all our own opinions and we are right to choose and pick what we like and dont like etc. Everyones different and through those differences we can see different view points and enjoy hearing another side of the story. If we all were the same what fun would that be. Cheers, stay well and safe during the virus everybody. Thank you for your work
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the 80s albums gained positions in your playlist. Lately I myself became more and more appreciative of this era, truly a lot of amazing music lies there too!
Pete, I owe you a beer, simply for talking about Rush albums for half an hour.
I will second that--where and when?
Keyboard players in hard rock bands learned to respect the 80's Rush.....
How about a couple two or three beers and we'll also talk about Blue oyster cult
Cranberry juice for me
Rush had an identity problem in their 80s output.
'Power Windows' is a masterpiece, and in my top 3! It is the perfect melding of conventional instruments with synths and sound effects, and they complement each other perfectly! The synths are used at just the right moments to convey emotion, dread, joy, concern, etc.! For example, in the song 'Territories', the synths come in just at the right point musically and lyrically to convey a foreboding of what's ahead subject-wise! It's very powerful stuff!
Completely Agree!! It’s a fantastic Album… ❤ it’s simply perfect for me too!!
Sounds so perfect with a good hifi system 👌!
Agreed. People sleep on PW and don't realize the ambition and innovation. Probably among the best produced albums of all time.
I think Neil’s best playing is on PW
Agree, one of my favorite albums!
My favourite album. Great production, lyrics, album art, and music. Such life memories from this album.
The problem with ranking Rush albums is that their stuff seems to grow on you over and over. Tracks you used to skip suddenly leap out of the blue. Not really a problem. Went to see them on the Signals tour way back when and can still remember folk saying that this wasn't the 'real' Rush of the concept albums. I like the 70's stuff but for me Signals to Presto represents Rush's zenith. At least today!
I know! The Signals-HYF era Rush is what got me hooked on them back in 1998. Throughout the years I liked songs from other eras, too, but recently their work from AFTK-MP has been my favorite...at least for now. Liking Rush is like being a fan of several different bands.
Picking your favorite Rush album is a little like picking your favorite child. That said, my fave is Hemispheres. :)
Vapor Trails
Clockwork Angels
Snakes & Arrows
Rush
Power Windows
Counterparts
Hold Your Fire
A Farewell to Kings
Roll the Bones
Caress of Steel
Fly by Night
Grace Under Pressure
Presto
Permanent Waves
2112
Hemispheres
Signals
Moving Pictures
Test for Echo #1!!!!
I agree whole-heartedly. Rush albums grow on you over and over. Thought that Test for Echo was lousy. Then listened to it for 5 consecutive days. Wow, this Test for Echo stuff is fantastic!
So true. The first maybe five times I struggled through Clockwork Angels this summer I thought wow I just don’t get it. It’s the worst album. Steadily creeping up the list …. Listening to it a lot. Keeping me interested.
I’m 23 and I fell in love with rush when I heard La Villa Strangiato last year on UA-cam. Been obsessed with them ever since. Still have to listen to all of their albums but have everything from caress of steel to grace under pressure on vinyl. I love them all
Power Windows ,...is an unheralded masterpiece !
I totally agree !
totally agree. My favourite album - by any band. Good job Pete. Thanks
the album that made me sit up and take notice. marathon is one of my faves
@@danprice6361 Agree. Marathon is one of my favs along with Mystic Rhythms and Territories. I love the live version of Big Money from A Show of Hands.
This was actually the first Rush album (okay, cassette) I bought. I was initially introduced to them by a couple of the "nerds" I knew in HS, but Power Windows was where I got hooked.
Caress of Steel - even though not a monetary success, is easily one of greatest musical sojourns ever recorded.
Here, here!
Naw, it’s not that great. It’s fun to say it’s underrated, but it’s a rough draft of what’s to come w 2 rockin stand alone songs on it
@@Hamptainment Personally I would put it in my top 5 Rush albums, I like it better than 2112 or Fly by Night
@@Hamptainment No way. Necromancer and Fountain of Lamneth are undeniably flawless epics. Lakeside Park and Bastille Day are also Rush classics. I Think I'm Going Bald is lyrically stupid, but that song's riffs crush.
I reach for that album all the time.
Cody Wilson hey that’s rad! Rush rules
You got me listening to Grace Under Pressure again and I agree with you. It is a great album.
I wasn't crazy about 'Grace Under Pressure' at first but after seeing them on that tour I had a better appreciation for the tracks.
Live 'Red Sector A' was driving hard.
Grace has always been a top 3 fave. 1, 2, and 3 rotate as my actual favorite
Grace under pressure 👌
Astonishing / heavy album.
My fave Rush album is also Grace Under Pressure. Very dark lyrically with the best playing ever by Peart and Lifesons best solos. Very melancholy and not very dynamic because the chord sequences are just so stunningly creative. Afterimage is my fave Rush song, Red Sector A is top 5, and Beneath The Wheels is hauntingly beautiful with my fave Lifeson solo ever. A masterpiece done their way.
Great ranking Pete! I agree with most of all the rankings, personally I'd put Hemispheres at number one instead of Moving Pictures.
Yeah, those top few are so close. I went with Moving Pictures because of how much it's meant to me over the years.
Love the rankings! Here’s my top five
1: Farewell to Kings
2: Moving Pictures
3: Hemispheres
4: 2112
5: Permanent Waves
Amen. Although in a different order for me. These top 5 are the gold standard for Rush, and in any order can’t really put up an argument
I second that. Those are also my top 5 but in a different order as well. Cheers, fellow fans
David: Those are my Top 5 too but in a different order.
Swap MP and Hemispheres and our list is equal
My Top 5
1. Hemispheres: Incredible album from front to back. I think the title track is one of the most incredible pieces of music ever, not to mention one of the greatest prog instrumentals ever on side 2.
2. Moving Pictures: Not much has to be said about this album. Every song on this is a rock classic.
3. Power Windows: Not sure why but for years this album has really resonated with me. Love the production, the songwriting, everything.
4. Permanent Waves: Spirit of Radio got me into Rush so this album is very near and dear to me.
5. 2112: When the record company wanted more singles after the commercial failure of CoS, Rush hit them with one of the most epic long songs in history. Not to mention an impressive batch of songs on side 2.
Nice to see Power Windows in your top 5, I always thought it didn't get the love it deserves, I think Alex's solo on Marathon is one of his best.
'Power Windows' is my favourite with 'Middletown Dreams' being my favourite song on the album.
@@TheHumbuckerboy I love that song.
My favorite album is Grace under Pressure, but I'd have to say Moving Pictures is their best. A truly perfect album from every aspect. Proggy, poppy, heavy, groovy, melodic, has an all time instrumental. Truly a legendary album. Witch Hunt and The Camera Eye need to be talked about more
Side 1 of Moving Pictures - one of the best sides of a record, ever!
Marhill77: I have great affection for 'A Farewell To Kings'; my first Rush album but 'Moving Pictures' is PHENOMENAL. I got to see them on that tour, New Orleans' Municipal Auditorium Easter Sunday, 1981. Simply amazing.
@@guyboost7311: that is easily one of their most underrated songs EVER, just as great as all of the hit songs on Moving Pictures (actually even better than some of them).
Funny you say that. Nowadays , I tend to listen to side 2 much more. I feel that side one has been played to death on radio. Side 2 is awesome though.
Side B is still great
True, although Red Barchetta is my least favorite from the album
All the albums I chose are epic and are all close enough to call my favorites.
1) Hemispheres
2) A Farewell to Kings
3) 2112 - My first Rush album. I used to play along with it about every night of my Freshman year of high school. Definitely helped me with my guitar playing. Kept me enthused
4) Caress of steel
5) Fly by Night
Thank you sooooooo much for your ranking the Rush albums/CD'S! I love rush alot! There's so many great albums/CD'S of Rush! I love bands with alot of guitar and drum playing!🎤🎸🎵🥁
"Grace Under Pressure" is my favorite. A stone cold classic.
Not my favourite but definitely an awesome albums
1. Moving Pictures (amazing album from start to finish. first half is flawless.)
2. Hemispheres (only four songs, but four perfect ones.)
3. Permanent Waves (these top 3 albums could all be the #1. they're all great.)
4. A Farewell to Kings (only an inch below the top three)
5. 2112 (the title track is just the best song Rush ever made.)
6. Signals (cool sounding record, very comfortable to listen to)
7. Fly By Night (classic Rush with a small hit of prog. the last songs drags it down a bit.)
8. Counterparts (man, 'Cold Fire' and 'Alien Shore' are just incredibly underrated.)
9. Caress of Steel (can't say much other than UNDERRATED!)
10. Rush (i wish i could put this one lower but i can't. definitely a classic.)
11. Power Windows (too much synth and reverb but nice songwriting)
12. Grace Under Pressure (this album is slowly going down on my list, i just find it pretty weak)
13. Test for Echo ('Time and Motion', 'Driven' and the title track are top notch. pretty heavy album.)
14. Vapor Trails (i enjoy listening to this album, and i'm talking about the original mix. 'Earthshine' is such a gem.)
15. Hold Your Fire (weak but still a classic)
16. Roll the Bones (why is this here? because it's here. roll the bones.)
17. Presto (this was dead last on my list but it started to grow on me)
18. Clockwork Angels (solid songwriting. not much fan of the sound tho, plus geddy's vocals are a little weird here. i don't play it that much)
19. Snakes & Arrows (there are only 2 songs i really like on this record.)
My list changes like everyday, sometimes I just wanna mix it up, idk. And I've been listening to Rush for only 2 years or so, though.
nJur YES! Glad I'm not the only one who actually likes Test For Echo MORE than Roll The Bones! There is a god, after all...…………………………….. (Oh, and I also like the original mix of Vapor Trails, even if I'm in the EXTREME minority).
@ I like the original mix better as well. Same reason I like Metallica's St. Anger. I like the grit.
Snakes and arrows is 2nd
I've listening to Rush for almost 40 years and I'd move your 9, 10 and 12 up a little and move yer 5, 6 and 8 down a little, but ya, pretty close!
First three songs on roll the bones are some of my fav rush songs but after that not sure what they were doing
I came to appreciate Vapor Trails a lot more after reading Neil's book Ghost Rider, which details his grieving process after losing his daughter and first wife. The album is basically the book in musical form, and I would recommend both to anyone recovering from a personal tragedy.
Test for Echo is not considered one of their most loved albums, but there is some excellent music on there. Title track, Driven, Color of Right to name a few. It was my very first Rush album and I saw them on this tour, so it holds a special place in my heart. Great video, Pete. Just subscribed!
My top five:
1 Hemisphere…… by a mile
2. Farewell to Kings
3. 2112
4. Caress of Steel
5. Fly by night
They just kept getting better.
Geddy said it was his fave too
Now THAT’S a ranking I can get behind!
Becoming my fav band as we speak as I've only heard 4 albums, time to dig deeper.
B H like you mate, my fav album is the last one I bought. Up to peart’s death I’d only ever listen to Tom Sawyer and spirit of radio. Now I’m a fanatic.
I envy you so much. May you have a wonderful journey.
Hello from Ireland! Great job on the ranking! Loving the CD wall you got going on there! 🙂👍
I simply can't list them. They're like picking between your kids. Every time I try to pick one for the bottom, I just can't, when I listen to it again, there's too much there to like. But, I think most would agree with Moving Pictures - if a friend asks you "what's so great about Rush, where should I start?", that would be everyone's answer. Besides, "Red Barchetta" is still the best driving song ever.
I think that Moving Pictures is the best answer for their greatest album. It's got the perfect blend of their late sound, being keyboards and their early hard rock sound. Mostly radio ready songs with one long one. Best place to start. If you are digging the keys than go further, digging everything else, go back
For someone who's never heard Rush before, Moving Pictures is probably the best album to introduce them.
While Hemispheres is my favorite, I agree. Moving Pictures is the starting point.
@@tepidtooth8539 I never thought of it that way before; you make a good
argument. MP did not draw me in on its own; I had to hear HYF, GUP, and
2112 as well to get a better "feel" for Rush. Their incredible RANGE (i.e.
the fact that they take "risks" over the years) is a big part of their appeal
to me, and I don't think one album can capture that. MP was the 1st
Rush album I owned but it wasn't enough for me to "get" them. Thank
God for my friend who introduced me to more of their music ! : )
Thanks for doing all these ranking videos Pete. I am sure everyone is asking for a lot of bands for you to do. Thanks for doing the greatest band of all time.
Their run of albums from 2112 through Hold Your Fire is incredible; probably the strongest consecutive period of strong material and progression in sound of any band in music.
Totally agree with your thoughts on Caress of Steel but have a hard time seeing Presto at the bottom.
Jason Smith Presto is my #10, this guy is a fool. Nobody has Presto last
@@Hamptainment i have presto last by a mile.
been a huge fan since '78.
at the time it came out i could name every song on every album, in order.
on presto, i cant name a single song. i have revisited it, and then stored it away for another 2 decades.
its just weak.
Michael Hampton - Calling someone a fool because their personal taste is different than yours is immature and adds nothing of value to the discussion. Disagree all you want, but do it with respect, otherwise you undermine your own opinion and reveal yourself to be the fool.
@@TheSighphiguy When i first saw the beginning of this video Presto came to mind, and when he said it, i gave him a thumbs up..There are a 'few' good songs,but they did go down hill in the late 80s...
@@TheSighphiguy maybe try again. Show me dont tell is a monster. war paint and presto are very good. I even like Available Light.
To each it's own.
2112 was my first Rush album. The title track blew my mind and opened the door for the wonderful world of prog. Never heard anything like this before and I instantly became a fan. I've also happened to come across the band when I was at the lowest point in my life. When I was reading their lyrics I've finally felt like there's someone out there that can understand me.
Great selections!
I particularly love side 2 of Moving Pictures!
1) Hemispheres
2) Moving Pictures
3) Permanent Waves
4) A Farewell to Kings
5) 2112
I can go along with that list.
Just getting into Rush, im gonna listen to them in order. I have to say, I think the debut is brilliant especially considering im a huge led zeppelin fan lol
Top 5 for me:
1. Hemispheres
2. Moving Pictures
3. Permanent Waves
4. Farewell to Kings
5. Signals
Hemispheres will always be my fave. First Rush album I ever heard. Took it from my sister's record collection and never gave it back.
That is my exact top 5 and Hemispheres was also the 1st Rush album I heard.
SIGNALS AT 5?!?!?!?!
1. Moving Pictures
2. Permanent Waves
3. Farewell to Kings
4. Hemispheres
5. 2112
As a drummer Moving Pictures is my favorite rock drumming album of all time
'Hold Your Fire' isn't generally considered among Rush's best work, but it's their one album more than others that consistently gets spin time on road trips. Kind of a hypnotic & soothing vibe. Especially like 'Open Secrets', 'Second Nature', and 'High Water'.
How can you possibly rank Rush albums. Even their bad ones are like bad pizza or bad sex..They’re still pretty good!
Perfect!!! Just like to add that Twilight Zone is a very underrated song
2112 was what got me into RUSH, and still is my favorite
Before watching : good luck with this one, Pete. I don’t think I could EVER rank these albums. Haha! Keep up the awesome videos. You’re doing all my favorite bands as of late!
Thanks for doing your video podcast channel. Man, you touch on so many of my favorite bands and I enjoy your opinions. This Rush cast is spot on. Love it man, keep doing more topics with popular music(and/or selective). My favorite Rush album is Hemispheres by the way.
Thanks for this Pete! I didn’t think you were gonna do this one so quick!!!!!!
I’m a new fan. I love heavy metal, since the 80s, and never really heard anything of them. With the emergence of the mp3 I started to put individual songs my first ever iPod, and Tom Sawyer and spirit of radio made the cut, becoming 2 of the 500 mg of songs that I had on it. Then I saw the documentary on Netflix, thought it was really interesting and really dug the friendship between the three of them. Then I found out about peart’s death, and felt really sad. One day, sitting in a mall in Santiago, Chile, red barchetta popped up as a suggestion on you tube. That night I got moving pictures. A week later I got 2112, then moving pictures, then hemispheres... every week I get another one. Funny, Presto is one of my favourites. What blows me away is the versatility. From prog rock to that 80s big synth to the 90s heavier stuff, their versatility is amazing. The changes are organic... nothing calculated. Love em.
Thanks, Pete! I was hoping you'd do a video. I thought you needed time after the shock to get to it. I'm still in shock. Like you, I will always miss Neil Peart. I also liked your worst to best of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
In some ways, your video was like a phone conversation with a good friend. "Hey, I know I promised you and I keep my promises, ok?"
My top 10
1. Permanent Waves
2. Moving Pictures
3. Hemispheres
4. A Farewell To Kings
5. Fly By Night
6. Caress Of Steel
7. Signals
8. Power Windows
9. Counter Parts
10. Clockwork Angels
Have a safe trip! San Antonio is a beautiful city!
Love your enthusiasm and honesty. Great stuff pete.
So right about Signals. It really opened me up. The album is so so good that I had to reassess my notion of what a great Rush album could sound like. It really broadened my musical tastes.
Instead of doing a rank of them all, I will give a personal favorite from each decade. RIP Mr. Peart.
70's - Fly
80's - Grace
90's - Counterparts
00's - Feedback (yes it's a covers album, but hearing Rush do Mr Soul and Crossroad is bliss!)
10's - Clockwork
I can agree with that. Good choices.
Good idea to rank by decade! My picks:
70s: Hemispheres
80s: Signals
90s: Counterparts
00s: Snakes
10s: Clockwork
70s: A Farewell to Kings
80s: Signals
90s: Counterparts
00s: Snakes and Arrows
10s: Clockwork Angels
‘70s - A Farewell To Kings
‘80s - Moving Pictures
‘90s - Roll The Bones
‘00s - Snakes & Arrows
‘10s - Clockwork Angels
For me personally, their sweet spot was 1979-1984 (Permanent Waves to Grace Under Pressure). I loved how they began to incorporate the sounds of the New Wave (The Police, etc.) and yet retained some prog elements (tricky times signatures and great instrumentation).
Agree, except I would say Hemispheres -> Grace under pressure. Their golden age for me.
Lars Bjerregaard True...I agree.
I would actually extend that period from 2112
Thank you, I dig what you're doing!! I appreciate you bro!! music is the universal language!!! God bless.
Presto got me through some tough times so I rank that one high.
Michael Bohlman Especially The Pass...…………………..right?
So many great albums! For me, Hemispheres and Farewell To Kings are tied for #1.
Yeah I can never pick between those two because they're probably my favourite albums ever
When you said Presto was at the bottom of your list I couldn't help but think, Wow! This guy REALLY likes Rush! Great album!
Thanks for sharing! Long live Rush!
The great part about music is there is always something to discover. I think in the last couple weeks Rush finally clicked with me. Thanks for kicking me off on this journey.
Great ranking Pete My first rush album was caress of steel. Still hold it very dear to my heart. I loved your comments on it. Thanks!!!
You come away hugely impressed with both the quality and duration of their discography. It's a vast catalog with countless hidden gems. Peart was a vastly underrated songwriter.
Going through all the comments, what an amazing mix of views on favorite albums. Just shows how the vast array of tunes appeals to different tastes in music. Myself, I lean towards the earlier albums up to Signals. I used to listen to Anthem off the Fly by Night tape cruising around in my 1977 Trans Am. The sound is forever pierced in my brain. Spotify is a great bit of technology for those who don't own the complete set of CD's. Just listened to Hemispheres. Have to say La Villa Strangiato is some unbelievable instrumentation from just three guys... Wow.
Thank you for this. Been waiting for this.
Pete I love your channel so much... Can't wait for your new video... You are awesome dude 😁
I’m happy caress of steel is getting love. I feel fans are predetermined to hate it because it wasn’t successful and the band didn’t like it but they really shouldn’t. It’s one of their best.
Who says they didnt love it . . . They have stated the opposite .
I have to agree with most of this, although my favorite of all time is Permanent Waves, and the second is Hemispheres. And I love Caress of Steel. Thanks for sharing this.
Rush became my favorite band in 1981 and still are today, 40 years later. Probably always will be. I love them all. My list, if I had to make one, is pretty close to yours, Pete. Thanks for this video.
Three years ago and I pretty much agree with your selection, particularly agree with your views on Caress of Steel. Great and still relevant review, Thank You, love watching what you’d do and I have used your channel to run with and explore new band. Keep it going!
Moving Pictures, Hemispheres and 2112. My favorites.
5. Permanent Waves
4. A Farewell to Kings
3. Hemispheres
2. Moving Pictures
1. 2112
@@tylerpatterson4787 your is very close to mine, and the epic 2112 is what got me hooked and still is my favorite
i only recently got into Rush, maybe around 7 months ago. Although 2112 was my introduction, it was Moving Pictures that grabbed me, then Power Windows and Grace Under Pressure sealed it. So much fun buying their albums and hearing all the different era's.
Rock on man!
I love your shows Pete. So cool!
I have been going through the Rush studio albums after watching this post.
First thing to say - what a catalogue. Just an amazing body of consistent work.
I, like you, lean towards the LP's that I grew up with ( Fly By Night through to Grace Under Pressure - 2112 was my first Rush LP purchase and it amazed me ) but definitely the latter material grows and grows the more ear time one gives it.
Counterparts is really good !
I haven't listen to all the rush albums, but I can give a top 10.
1. 2112
2. Caress of Steel
3. A Farewell to Kings
4. Hemispheres
5. Moving Pictures
6. Permanent Waves
7. Grace Under Pressure
8. Signals
9. Fly By Night
10. Rush
And yes I do like them all.
Moving pictures for me. Just so complete. 2112 was where I got into them and bought the import live album. Farewell....because of the tour I saw them on. Stunning. Hemispheres was great, Waves if only for spirit of radio. A band that will be influencing players for years in the way Floyd or Yes did
Blows my mind all the folks who say MP was too "commercial" ... BULLSHIT
I'm your newest subscriber. I've watched several of your videos and we agree on some and disagree on others. Your knowledge of the material is right up there with my own. Please keep up the good work.
Hey Pete, recently found your channel and instantly subscribed. First saw Rush live on Hemispheres tour and to me, the late '70s is the sweet spot:
1. Farewell to Kings
2. Hemispheres
3. 2112
4. Permanent Waves
5. Caress of Steel
If I HAD to pick a favorite Rush song (if possible), it would probably be Permanent Waves' Natural Science
Fly By Night second and Caress of Steel almost a tie...2112 and A Fairwell to Kings ....oh screw it this is too hard.
My favorite thing about Rush's 'Test For Echo' album was the tour......it was the only time they actually performed the song '2112' in it's entirety. I played the CD quite a bit from '97-'99 as well.
Steve, You do an excellent job of reviewing. I am hooked!!...🍁
Caress of Steel, #1 as of forever......🍁
At long last! Been waiting for this :)
I'm probably the only person but Rush's self-titled debut album is my favorite.
No Brian,you are not the only one.😀🤘🤘
Brian, you're not alone!
And a CLAP CLAP to Hugh Syme and some of the greatest and most iconic album covers ever!
@Martin Kulkarni I can only imagine! He's a talented guy!
Love Hugh Syme's work. Presto is my fave cover but least favorite album.
Utterly fantastic. I love prog/jazz rock. I just ordered MOVING PICTURES and HEMISPHERES remastered on CD after seeing your ranking, then sampling them on UA-cam. 👍
Wow great list and great video!!
I dismissed "Signals" for 15 or 20 years because it was such a huge departure from "Moving Pictures." Now, it's in my top 5. "Losing It," without a doubt, is one of the greatest songs they've ever written.
Signals is underrated for sure.
Here's my list:
1) Hemispheres (So many great memories listening to this with my dad on hunting and fishing trips. Such a perfect album top to bottom)
2) Permanent Waves (Every single song is a masterpiece. Different Strings and Natural Science get me each time.)
3) Moving Pictures (They were firing on all cylinders at this point. "Witch Hunt" is my favorite off this album. This song sure applies today doesn't it?)
4) A Farewell to Kings (I love how much they changed on this album from their sound on 2112.)
5) Fly by Night (The first Rush album I ever listened to. It was in the truck's CD player on each hunting and fishing trip along with Fragile by Yes and Leftoverture from Kansas)
6) Signals (I really like the use of synths on this album. I have always appreciated for Rush for never trying to make the same album twice. This was a good transition from Moving Pictures)
7) Power Windows (Manhattan Project is one of my favorite songs of all time; the lyrics are just so powerful. Territories and Middletown Dreams are the 2 others that really stand out to me on this album)
8) Grace Under Pressure (Alex's guitar sound is so aggressive on this album!)
9) Hold Your Fire (This album may be a little more mellow, but it's really hard to beat "Force Ten," "Time Stand Still," "Mission," and "Turn the Page." The instrumental section in "Mission" is top tier Rush.)
10) 2112 (This is a great album, but I think that some of the tracks bring it down a little bit on my list. I'm talking about "Twilight Zone," "Tears," and "Lessons.")
11) Caress of Steel (A very strong start to their prog era. "I Think I'm Going Bald" is still one of the best worst songs ever.)
12) Presto (I know this lands at the bottom of a lot of lists, but the bass playing in "Show Don't Tell" is some of Geddy's best. "The Pass," "Scars," "Red Tide," "Hand Over Fist," and "Available Light" are all underrated gems on this album in my opinion.)
13) Counterparts (Great return to a hard rock sound from these guys.)
14) Clockwork Angels (Some awesome tracks on this album. Every time I hear "The Garden" I tear up. One of there best. My appreciation for this album increased a lot when I saw them on this tour. Some of the riffing they did in "Carnies," and "7 Cities of Gold" was awesome!)
15) Snakes and Arrows (The instrumentals on this album are fantastic! Some of the tracks I could do without, but there are some that are so poignant. "Faithless," "The Larger Bowl," "The Way the Wind Blows."
16) Test for Echo (Production is great with some great tunes. Some of the tunes are not very memorable. The video that Neil put out at this time with the drum parts for many of these songs really helped me to appreciate the intricacies of this album more.
17) Roll the Bones (There are good songs, but I think this album sounds thin.)
18) Rush (Some good songs, and I'm not denying Alex's playing, but I don't feel it stands out from a lot of the other hard rock stuff from the 70's.)
19) Vapor Trails (Probably the only album that I somewhat dislike. There isn't a single guitar solo on the album, and moving from 1 track to the next everything sounds the same.)
I totally get you on The Garden. I like putting all of Rush's studio discography on shuffle, and when it comes up it's just kinda sad to know that it is their last song. Along with the emotional impact of it, it really hits hard.
Pete, I enjoy your videos and the way you do it... Thanks for your Rush ranking, I respect that.
Here is my top 10 list:
10. Hemispheres
9. Clockworks Angels
8. A Farewell To Kings
7. Rush
6. Counterparts
5. 2112
4. Signals
3. Fly By Night
2. Moving Pictures
1. Permanent Waves
RIP Neil Peart, as a 25 year old Canadian, Rush was my favourite band growing up, had the chance to see them in Toronto in 07-08 on the Snakes and Arrows Tour when I was 12, happy I got the chance to see Peart live and Rush, I’m a new follower to your channel too Pete, your a cool cat for sure and love your reviews and insight on music. Lakeside park as a song holds a special place in my heart, is about a place called Port Dalhousie which is a part of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada where Peart grew up, only 20 minutes from where I live! Go fishing there quite often, nice place to visit in the summer.
For me Permanent Waves is their best album. Love the songs and the sound.
2. Hemispheres
3. Moving Pictures
4. 2112
5. A farewell to kings
1) HEMISPHERES, 2) 2112, 3)A FAREWELL TO KINGS, 4) PERMANENT WAVES, 5) MOVING PICTURES.
Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures are the strongest transition albums from any classic prog act moving into the 1980s without completely reinventing the group.
Great list. Ranking Rush albums is difficult to do as they really haven't made a bad or terrible record. I've given it a bash but it will probably change. The reason for me rating Presto a lot higher is that I think the song writing is some of the best they've done, especially Neil's Lyrics. The major thing I think that lets down is the production and the guitar sounds weak. Same can be said for Roll the Bones which has travelled further down the list as time goes on for me. Test for Echo is not terrible by any stretch but it just didn't stick with me, same with Vapor Trails. The top four could honestly all share the number one spot. It's tough to separate them but I think Permanent Waves is a perfect compact record with every tune being un-skippable.
19/ Test for Echo
18/ Vapor Trails
17/ Roll the Bones
16/ Rush
15/ Caress of Steel
14/ Grace Under Pressure
13/ 2112
12/ Snakes & Arrows
11/ Signals
10/ Fly by Night
9/ Clockwork Angels
8/ Counterparts
7/ Hold Your Fire
6/ Power Windows
5/ Presto
4/ A Farewell to Kings
3 /Moving Pictures
2/ Hemispheres
1/ Permanent Waves
My ranking is somewhat similar. I have 2112 as my number one Rush album. Really enjoy the channel! Thank you for this.
Great video Pete. Love your channel!! I was in high school in the mid seventies so I caught Rush from their first album. Here are my top 5. #1-2112 #2 Rush #3 Moving Pictures #4 Hemispheres #5 Fly By Night.
'Power Windows' is a very under-rated album IMO.
YES! Mystic Rhythms simply glorious! Great mention!
@ Treff Bennett ... Yes, it's a great track. The whole album sounds glorious from start to finish and I personally also love 'Middletown Dreams'.
@@TheHumbuckerboy sublime track! Listening to it right now-awesome shout out, amigo! RIP Neil Peart ("The Professor" on the drum kit!) we won't see another one like him!
Agreed !
It was certainly a LOT better than the awful "Hold your fire"!
I grew up with the 80's Rush, the atmospheric 80s keyboards, the incredible bass from Geddy and more specially Lifeson's guitar was what sold me out.
The efficient, very short solo in Marathon from Power Windows remains my favourite Alex Lifeson solo. Big Money? Ugh, amazing solo as well.
Power Windows is a brilliant masterpiece IMO !
Hemispheres , A Farewell To Kings , Moving Pictures , Clockwork Angels , Permanent waves , OMG they are all addictive.
Pete, great comments. Especially agree with your take on Signals. We are the same age and followed the band in a similar fashion. When the local radio station, KY-102 told us in a few days they would play the new single, we couldn’t wait! Got to the radio at the appointed time and heard New World Man and thought it was short and too synth focused. Saw the tour in KC and was blown away. Something many folks have failed to note-and perhaps one of the reasons many like the band’s output pre-GUP was the producing of Terry Brown. I always felt he got the fullest sound for the trio-esp. Neil’s old Slingerlands and well as the Tama’s . Keep up the good work!
I totally agree about the number of tracks on the later albums. The beautiful thing about the Iconic Rush albums was that they always left you wanting more.
Agreed!!
There is no doubt in my mind that Rush are the number one power trio of all time, incredible talent! I am definitely more drawn to their earlier material, but a lot of the albums later on in their catalogue have some good stuff on them. Here’s my ranking:
1. Permanent Waves
2. A Farewell To Kings
3. Hemispheres
4. Caress Of Steel
5. 2112
6. Moving Pictures
7. Rush / self-titled
8. Fly By Night
9. Power Windows
10. Signals
11. Grace Under Pressure
12. Clockwork Angels
13. Counterparts
14. Test For Echo
15. Vapor Trails
16. Presto
17. Snakes & Arrows
18. Roll The Bones
19. Hold Your Fire
If you move 2112 to the Top we are SAME
but I really need to listen to Power Windows apparently
I own it and I have never listened to it once
@@ozonebaby5161 It’s a great album, despite it being very synth-driven.
This is perfect... I have seen Rush at least a dozen times over the years.. .going back to the 70s .. but this countdown s making me want to revisit so many albums.. especially the later ones...
I'm so happy to see another person whose life changed after hearing Moving Pictures. I borrowed my brother in laws US original Mercury Presswell white font SRM-1-4013 😃...which I still have btw!....and my musical life completely changed. Most important album in my life, and set me on a course for a career in music education for over 25 years now. The crazy part is that I can still crank this on my turntable anytime now and its an incredible experience. My fav absolute era of Rush is Hemispheres through Grace Under Pressure, but Caress of Steel exists on an island! All amazing albums. Cheers Pete.
I agree with you Pete Power Windows has grown on me over that last year
Counterparts is amazing. It is clearly of its time, some of it is even a bit 80's sounding still in 1993. But I've really learned to appreciate the songs over the years. Also represents Geddy's last absolute best vocals.
Love these worst to best videos, got me digging into cds I haven't listened to in years.
Will be awesome a ranking of ELO or The Alan Parsons Project... by the way nice Rush ranking, Moving Pictures is my favorite too. Greetings from Perú Pete.
Oh, you broke me when you said Presto was your least favorite. LOVE PRESTO. Such a good album. I saw the tour, love the music, love the lyrics. Sorry, one of my faves.
Yeah that was a very unusual choose, doesnt really make any sense. I dont think he's listened to his bottom 5 more than twice. The Pass alone is better than the entire Test For Echo album.
@@Hamptainment And you would be wrong. We all have our favorites. There is no law that says my favorites have to match with yours.
@@seaoftranquilityprog while I do agree with Michael's statement on The Pass (Good lord that's one of their crowning achievements in my opinion) .. you are right Pete, these are all our own opinions and we are right to choose and pick what we like and dont like etc. Everyones different and through those differences we can see different view points and enjoy hearing another side of the story. If we all were the same what fun would that be. Cheers, stay well and safe during the virus everybody. Thank you for your work
Agreed. Presto last? How's that even possible?
Presto is for sure in my top 5
Watching this ranking made me want to listen to every Rush album again. Great review!
Thank you for doing this.
Yes Pete, Caress of Steel is amazing!!!! I get lost in that album every time!! Great list buddy!!!!
Would love to see a show on Magnum at some point in the future, another hard rock band with a proggy edge
Moving Pictures is one of Rush's best albums. Red Barcetta is my favorite track from that album.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the 80s albums gained positions in your playlist. Lately I myself became more and more appreciative of this era, truly a lot of amazing music lies there too!
Love your list, Pete. Your top 5 I totally understand 👍‼️