When you watch the Rush In Rio concert and you see the absolute MADNESS the crowd has for the songs….know all the lyrics, and even sing the instrumental riffs….it chokes me up at the beauty of the music and how it is so sublime in how it binds humanity together. Just brilliant
That is a really special gig for a rush fan, to see them get the response from the crowd they have always deserved still moves me to think of it. Shame about the bloody mixing though
I actually really love 'Grace Under Pressure' because that was my first introduction to them as a kid. Then from there I found 'Moving Pictures' and the back catalogue. I really didn't like 'Power Windows' and so, like you, dropped out for a while. I only recently started listening to the later ones and now consider 'Counterparts', 'Snakes and Arrows' and 'Clockwork Angels' and 'Vapour Trails' among some of their strongest material. Okay, so not as great as '2112', 'Signals', and 'Hemispheres', but great! Thanks for another great video.
Rush really are such a special band! There is just so much to endear you to them in their friendship and lack of egos and never compromising on their vision, the depth of neils lyrics, the level of their playing, how they always progressed, how brilliant clockwork angels was and being able to write masterpiece songs like the song clockwork angels and the garden. I really think they never made a bad album theres lots to enjoy on every album. Power windows is mega underrated, I think its compositionally as well realised as moving pictures, counterparts is real underrated too. They just pretty much have the perfect story of a band and I never get bored of their music.
Signals was my introduction to Rush and they've been my favorite band ever since. Your tribute to them at the end of your video is perhaps the best I've ever heard. You know a true fan when you hear them speak about a band the way you did.
You're absolutely spot on with the ten album thing. All of the albums with Terry Brown are crucial slices of Prog. TB was like the fourth member of the Band.
Rush hit their pinnacle with Signals. It strikes a perfect balance of rocking guitar/bass riffs with synths, progressive songwriting and lyrics. If I could only listen to one Rush album for the rest of my life it would be that one. They carried this through Grace and Power Windows. "The Enemy Within" and "Red Lenses" off of Grace are two of their best. Power Windows stands up to any of their albums. Grand Designs, Manhattan Project, Marathon, Mystic Rhythms... What?!?!?! They mostly lost me after Power Windows, but man what a catalog.
Counterparts, and Test for Echo, are two great albums too. They just turned to a more pop mainstream sound rather than those great 70s albums... but... they're my favourite band, and I got to them first with Roll the Bones, which many people hate, but I happen to love... hehe and also 2112 and Caress. Then I bought Rush, then Fly, then Waves, Signals... etc... they're my fav dude, give those late albums after roll the bones a shot, I just love em and neil's passing hurt every bit as much as my dad's. Those guys have been by my side forever making my life and world a lot better! Cheers dude.
I agree that they hit a little bit of a creatively weak period with hold your fire, presto and roll the bones, although there are still a few songs from each album I really like. From counterparts onwards though I think this is where they really come back as a strong rock band albeit a little more straight forward than their golden period the playing and song writing is strong. They also totally knock it out the park with clockwork angels
Presto was my first Rush album and I still love it. I recommend you should give it another try. "Show dont Tell", "Presto", "Available light", they may not be epics but there are not boring songs either. I was 16 and just started trying to learn how to play and I had no idea what to expect. I bought the record because my friend told me this was the band the "guy on the Ludwig ad on Modern Drummer Magazine" played. When I heard "Show dont Tell" I was all in 100%. Nice tribute to Neil Peart at the end, that was very nice!!!
1. 2112 2. Moving Pictures 3. Hemispheres 4. Permanent Waves 5. Grace Under Pressure 6. Fly By Night 7. A Farewell to Kings 8. Signals 9. Power Windows 10. Clockwork Angels 11. Rush 12. Caress of Steel 13. Counterparts 14. Test for Echo 15. Roll The Bones 16. Snakes and Arrows 17. Hold Your Fire 18. Presto 19. Vapor Trails
I watched this video twice. I never listened to Rush and do not own any of their albums (after 50 years of listening). Andy, you made a strong argument for their proginess; so, I’m ordering Farewell to Kings. I appreciate your loyalty to the bands you love and your encyclopedic knowledge, which you deliver with passion, humor, and authenticity. Good luck with your new creative space and ventures.
Permanent Waves and Moving Picture are also the top for me. But I would add that I think this is where Neil becomes a truly great lyricist. Freewill and Entres Nous are absolutely brilliant -- the beauty of the language, the word play, the structure, the rhyme schemes, the deep philosophical themes. As poetry they stand completely on their own. I think they are leagues beyond what he did before, which was already great. And then it continues with songs like Limelight, Witch Hunt, Subdivisions, Kid Gloves, The Enemy Within, Grand Designs, Time Stand Still. It's shocking how one man could be a world class lyricist and instrumentalist. But then again, maybe it makes perfect sense...
Thank you for this tribute, I appreciate hearing such heartfelt comments from true fans of the band. I too discovered them in 1981 when I was 14 years old and from thereafter they have always been my favourite. It often felt that their music was so perfect for me that it seemed they were put on this earth for that reason alone. I was blessed that they made such music throughout my life. Btw, the only records that didnt do it for me were Counterparts and Test for Echo (although each of them had a few gems). I thought Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows, and Clockwork Angels were great records, capturing their evolution into their new form, recognizing that they could never just try to duplicate what they did in their past.
Thanks for this Andy. A fitting tribute to Neal Peart but the love for Rush can never be dimmed. I got into Rush through a compilation release in the 1990's - Chronicles. I found the first disc more to my liking than the second half of disc 2 - which was loaded with synths - too cheesy pie for me then. My favourite albums of Rush would be Caress of Steel through to Moving Pictures - I can't really separate them. I then got into the later releases Snakes and Arrows and the marvellous Clockwork Angels - brilliant concept album - who knew that this would be the last musical statement?!
Hello from Montreal, thank you. Brain washed at 15 in 1980 with Permanent Waves and I still love this band. I think the last three albums brought back their progressive roots and I really find them as a more mature genre of rock music. Appropriate for their age and mine. I do love clockwork Angels as a lovely story. Have you read the books? Take care
Well done . I liked your perspective on this band , which I have a special fondness for . They are , after all , my hometown band , I used to see them playing in clubs (and the occasional college ) around Toronto in the early 70s , before they recorded their first album . It was great seeing them up close and personal , and you could tell that they would be going places . Every time that I think about ranking their albums , I find it difficult because I bought the albums when they were first released , and have spent a long time with each of them. First place is usually either Moving Pictures , or Signals , depending on the day . Followed closely by Permanent Waves , A Farewell to Kings , Hemispheres , 2112 , Rush , and Grace Under Pressure . I also really like Fly By Night ,Counterparts and even Roll the Bones . Another band that I link to Rush , is the great Max Webster , who used to tour with Rush , and played many clubs around Toronto in those days as well . If you aren't familiar with them , do yourself a favour and check out High Class in Borrowed Shoes , and Mutiny Up My Sleeve . Their debut , and A Million Vacations are also great albums . To me , they're like. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band meets Frank Zappa meets 10CC . Thanks for the video !!!
Had to watch the Rush vid as they were the only band I ever found that moved me more than the Beatles. I was at a dorm party as a freshman in college and my buddy was complaining about having to listen to Song Remains the Same. I asked what he would rather hear and he said, “Rush were truly great musicians and their live stuff destroyed any Zeppelin show.” I became intrigued and a week later he played me 2112. I was BLOWN AWAY and began collecting Rush albums in 1983. I agree with you totally Andy; when Terry Brown left they lost their soul and sense of adventure. Grace Under Pressure was a decent transitional record but Power Windows really lost me. I never bought another album but did warm up to Windows, Presto, Counterparts, and Clockwork Angels; still I hardly ever listen to them on Spotify.
Long time Rush fan here, I pretty much go with your ranking although I stuck with them up to and including Presto. For me it was when Roll The Bones and the rest of their 90's albums came along it should a weakness of ideas but they did get their form back for Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork Angels. Another very enjoyable analysis, thanks Andy.
Try and keep me away from a Rush album countdown 😆 I've also got the grey archives vinyl, so damn good. I did wince when you slated power windows tho lol, love that album. Totally agreed with side 2 of 2112, way better than side 1 👍 So many more great albums tho like Roll The Bones and Test For Echo. Great vid mate, keep em coming 😉
I think as a kid I got Moving Pictures then after that they seemed to move away from that sound. So I suppose I was comparing to Moving Pictures. Yes, they did some great stuff but I just love them when they are proggy...
Just discovered your channel, great stuff. was lucky to see them in the Glasgow apollo for farewell to kings and hemispheres tours. Agree with the top 10, I also lost interest after Grace under pressure, my top 4 would be the opposite order working backwards from moving pictures to farewell to kings.
My journey with Rush was almost the same as yours. But my start, my first was Permanent Waves, which came out just after I’d heard FTKs. I was awestruck and began going backwards and buying all the classic albums. THEN I heard Tom Sawyer on the radio, the new one was out - Moving Pictures. Bought it on release and still listen to it. Saw them live in N England (Leeds) on that tour. Amazing. THEN signals came out. Stopped listening to them. Shame. I thought it was a dreadful album. Even though I loved the new wave stuff coming out at the time. It just wasn’t Rush in my eyes. But admire them for pushing forward. Still talk about Peart with my friends. Still listen to those albums up to Moving Pictures now. Brilliant.
2112 was my entry point. Blew me away. Soon picked up Archives and ATWAS. Brother bot Farewell. I grabbed Hemispheres then Permanent. Then I drifted towards Punk and Wave. Recently I have been picking up what I don't have in their catalogue, but they don't have the memories for me like those earlier albums.
If I could change one thing about the world of classic and prog rock, I would eradicate '70s bias. Many people listen to albums that came out after 1990 and without hearing one note they decide that it won't be as good as the band's early stuff. Of course, it then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Quite a few legacy bands have released very strong albums in the latter stages of their careers but they were largely ignored. That's regrettable.
I grew up on Rush, Closer to the heart and Temples of Syrynx was my entry point, through to Signals was my era.. saw Hemisperes and Moving Pictures live.. so great! Loving your commentary
I got to see them in Dublin in 2011 having been literally obsessed from the second a drummer mate of mine turned me onto them just over a decade previously. This video literally captures everything I feel about them. I do love the 80’s stuff though, but impossible to argue with anything mentioned here from 2112 onwards. Also, glad to finally find someone who could put into words what I’ve always felt about..2112. Very cool album but nowhere near their best. I’d find it hard to choose between Waves and Pictures but all that matters is they both exist.
I have the same top 4! Predictable but they’re by far their four best and it’s all building to Moving Pictures. I differ though where I love Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows (give this one another chance, very consistent throughout), and about half of Hold Your Fire.
Totally agree with your summary of perusing what you love and finding an audience (the holy grail for all musicians one would think) don't agree on your album choice (everyone has their own choice of course), I think for me I split them up in to decades so mine are: 70's Hemispheres 80's Grace Under Pressure 90's Counterparts 00's Vapor Trail
I am massive rush fan, have all the albums and love all the epics but the best Rush album for me is Power Windows. It is where the electrics, guitar, musicianship and songs come together. A Farewell to kings is second and Permanent waves third. After Hold Your Fire Rush are very hit and miss. Power Windows is cinematic. Great video.
I'm also very impressed because I started too my own "Rush" LP collection with the "Moving Pictures" album too! just like you! and later on my next 4 "Rush" albums came to me almost in that same order as what you had! and I even got for me also that same 3 LP compilation with their first 3 albums! called "Archives"! Besides that my own ranking is almost in the same order as what you have! and I also must be almost in that same age as what you have! Therefore I believe that you too had also a very wonderful time with them! maybe almost just as good as mine! and that maybe it could have even have been also during those very same years as it was for me! Man you did a great job on this video by remembering all of that great musical joy too! those were also other great days! other great musical works! and other great everything! Thanks!👍
Rush is my favorite band. Moving Pictures was my introduction. It's hard to rank them but my favs are (similar to yours): 1. Moving Pictures, 2. Permanent Waves, 3. Hemispheres, 4. Farewell to Kings, 5. Signals, 6. Power Windows, 7. 2112, 8. Fly By Night, 9. Rush, 10. Roll the Bones.
CHEERS! Thanks. RED SECTOR A! Sonic sculpturing. ... How many bands mastered the 3 phases from 1 classic rock, 2 Prog,. 3. New Wave, and sound uniquely themselves?
Great video Andy! What you liked in Rush is exactly what I liked about them. I call it "essential Rush". With that in mind, my list would be something like this: 1. Hemispheres 2. A Farewell to Kings 3. Permanent Waves 4. 2112 5. Signals 6. Moving Pictures 7. Fly By Night 8. Caress of Steel 9. Test For Echo (essential Rush: Time and Motion, Driven and Title Track) 10. Grace Under Pressure (essential Rush: Between the Wheels and The Body Electric)
I have had Hemispheres as my number 1 Rush album but I think Permanent Waves is slowly taking over. I am enjoying that album the more and more as I listen to it. Moving pictures is #3, side 1 is amazing and side 2 is good but it's weaker.
I like your ranking by in large. My ranking is slightly different, but with most of 7 or 8 of those. Caress Of Steel is not in my top 10 and I have a ranking video on my channel as well.
a lot of people started with Moving Pictures... perfect entry point... Peart's passing was deeply saddening to me, but his legacy WAS the music, not personality. As a Canadian I felt pleased Rush was our ambassador to the world. Such skilled musicians, and pleasant guys, who managed to get people who perhaps weren't into them to at least appreciate the skill, the effort. I actually did fade away somewhat after the eighties albums like yourself, but found Counterparts to be sufficiently punchy, like a return to the first album but with a superior drummer (all due respect to Rutsey). the easiest gloss I had to get to the later Rush albums was a greatest hits package. But I always have Moving Pictures on Vinyl and whatever current format (right now digital iPhone). Fave pleasure while awaiting the followup to Moving Pictures was Exit Stage Left, which I listened to ad infinitum on Vinyl, as well... Yes, Tracks from Permanent Waves, Farewell to Kings, etc... but a great live album
As you say, Andy, the 80's were a tricky time for 70's rock bands seeking to evolve or modernise their sound. Rush coped pretty well with the early 80's; drawing on new wave influences whilst maintaining many of their prog credentials. Moving Pictures, I think of as a masterpiece. It's hands down their best album IMO. My top 4 is the same as yours. As for GUP, it took me a while to tune into this album when it came out. The sound was so different, but I grew to love the album and it's probably my number 5 choice. I prefer it to Signals, which has a banging side 1 but a somewhat weak side 2. It also has a muffled sound, and although Alex plays a cracking album, Terry Brown did seem intent on relegating him into 4th place behind the keyboards. I like the fact that on GUP, despite all the synths, Alex's guitar does often come screaming to the foreground. His playing style was different on GUP too. He seemed to be influenced more by the likes of Andy Summers and that bloke from Simple Minds. Legend has it that they approached Steve Lillywhite - a 'trendy' and very good producer of post punk/new wave artists - to produce GUP. He was up for it, but apparently got a more lucrative offer from Simple Minds, so dropped them. Enter Peter Henderson..
My 14-year-old son who plays drums got a "PRESTO" shirt recently. He loves all their albums, but he pronounced "Subdivisions" as their most perfect album.
Sorry, I meant "Signals", not "Subdivisions" as far as the album title, lol. My son, when he was about 12, performed "Subdivisions" on a recital, however.
Andy, do yourself a favor and listen carefully Counterparts, it is very melodic, heavy on certain parts, yet progressive, which was my entry point to Rush along with the great live concert Exit Stage Left, I love both of them. The "new" 1981 live concert released along with the Moving Pictures 40th remastered edition has taken the number one live spot for me.
I came to know Rush around 1980-81. While I had heard Closer to the Heart prior to that, it was hearing the Spirit of Radio on the radio at home with my older brother that blew musical world wide open! I remember my brother and I looking at each other after the song going "WTF was that?!!" I had never heard anything like that. It grabbed me and never let go. Like you I went back through the catalog, and really loved 'Farewell" and Hemispheres. My first show was on the Signals tour. As a 12 year old I was blown away at the musicianship and the show. I liked G/P more than you did. The second side of the album to me was excellent. I think with a better producer, it could have been a better album. While the material from the later 80's was not the old Rush, It to me offered a challenge and enjoyment to grasp. If that makes sense? I loved Power Windows. There are some epic Rush tracks on that album. One thing to that solidifies them as one of the greatest bands of all times, is how much they evolved over a short period of time. I can't think of another band who grew so much musically as they did? Think of the time line from even 2112 to moving pictures. Only 4 years! Thank about that. Who they were then to that album, or even Permanent Waves to Power Windows. So drastically different in only 5 years! Constantly evolving. I loved how you finished with (paraphrasing) " how many bands owe their career to Rush?!" SO true! I really appreciate the thought and effort put into this video. Cheers!
A Farewell to Kings was my first Rush album - borrowed from my Aunt. The opening acoustic section followed by the power of the band and Geddy’s voice. Second album was a Christmas Present from my grandmother - 2112. I haven’t looked back since. I have all of the albums but also tend to prefer the material up to Moving Pictures. There are good tracks after that but I don’t think the albums as a whole were as good or as groundbreaking. Moving Pictures doesn’t have a bad track on it. Permanent Waves likewise. I’ll always have a bias for a Farewell to Kings as it was my first. Hemispheres is a brilliant album.
S Tier: Moving Pictures Hemispheres Permanent Waves A Farewell to Kings Signals A Tier: Power Windows 2112 Grace Under Pressure Fly By Night Clockwork Angels B Tier: Hold Your Fire Counterparts Snakes and Arrows Roll the Bones Caress of Steel C Tier: Rush Presto Vapor Trails D Tier: Test for Echo
Like you my introductions to Rush was Moving pictures and like you I purchased all the albums until Grace Under Pressure. Since the 80's I probably went to 30 rush concerts and started to hear some awesome tracks through the years. Instead of albums, I started to buy their concert dvd to watch the boys live, so yeah there's a ton to love post GUP. For me .Signals is a top 3 album. GUP would be around 6th or 7th in my top 10. My favorite Rush song is Xanadu off Exit Stage Left. I just love "The Fear Series" as a trilogy. Maybe that's why I'm not a big fan of their 4th addition to the series "Freeze". Just might be Rush's worst song.
For me knowing Rush was a really different experience. At the time of ‘80s I was really a big The Police fan, a Stewart Copeland aficionado, and Power Windows reminded me a lot of them so I liked it quite a lot, also because it was the first time of musical videos. Then I discovered Yes 90125 and Mike Oldfield Crises and after that I changed the music I was listening going from 80s rock music (Police, Big Country, U2 …) to full prog. I discovered the Close To The Edge album and after that the Rush albums … wow, fantastic journey! I luckily seen them at 30th year anniversary concerts and I really was blown away from their music and precision. The Rush music I prefer so goes from 2112 (but not my fav one) to Signals included (all lp for this era) but also Power Windows and after that Counterparts was a really powerful album with Neil Peart doing a fantastic drum work. Lately I also dig into the lyrics of Rush, something normally don’t do (Yes music for example is fantastic but … lyrics are quite nonsense)
Neil Peart wrote every part of his drumming like a classical composer and it was a composition inside the composition itself Very unique in the rock prog genre Carl Palmer did that too on Karn Evil 9 and Tarkus
Picked up 2112 and played it on rotation through the night when I got it home. Unfortunately, that was just after their recent UK tour, so didn't catch them live until they returned with Farewell To Kings. Saw them twice on the Hemispheres tour (where I got to meet and have a nice chat about guitars with Alex Lifeson: what a lovely human being) and once on the Permanent Waves tour. They lost me as they moved away from the guitar based lengthy pieces and as I started to listen more closely to the often cumbersome and awkward lyrics. Glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity, YEAH! - is still the clunkiest (and least Rock'n'Roll) line in any Rock song that I have ever heard. For me, Xanadu, La VIlla Strangiato and YYZ are their greatest tracks (no lyrics in two of them. :)). Alex's solo work on all three of those tracks blew my mind and led me to musicians like Allan Holdsworth. Man, what a guitar player Alex Lifeson is. All of Rush are/were wonderful, creative, intelligent musicians.
My favourite Rush album is A Farewell To Kings. Like Moving Pictures for you, it was my first Rush album. Xanadu for me is THE perfect Rush track, beautifully composed, arranged and played. I struggled somewhat with Permanent Waves as I could see the beginning of the move away from the epic prog songs but have come to appreciate PW and Moving Pictures over the years. I was fortunate enough to see them on the PW Tour at Manchester Apollo after standing in line all night waiting for the box office to open when the tickets were first released. Those were the days! I have to admit to jumping ship after Moving Pictures and know little of anything after. At the time I had a fear of 'new'. Anything new by a band was never as good as what came before. It took a long time for me to learn to re-open my ears. I always loved the idea of Caress of Steel but could never get totally on board, because as you say, they were still searching and working out how to write long form music. A great concept but sadly a bit lumpen and poorly executed. It still seems odd that 2112 which came out as punk was just hitting in 1976, was such a big album but shows that there was still an appetite for prog despite the oncoming storm.
Love Andy and 100% agree that everything went downhill after Signals (although Power Windows has some gems). My Rankings: 1. Signals 2. Permanent Waves 3. Moving Pictures 4, Hemispheres 5. Farewell To Kings 6. Caress Of Steel 7. Power Windows 8. Fly By Night 9. Rush (self-titled) 10. 2112 (Sorry, just not a big fan, but oddly, the Twilight Zone is one of my all time fave Rush tracks) Name one bad song in my top 5. You can't do it.
My favourite Rush albums are sort of similar to yours though my all time favourite is A Farewell to Kings followed by Hemispheres, as thouse two were the first ones I bought at the time they were released however I first got into them with the All The Worlds's a Stage live album after hearing Bastille Day on the radio. While I still regard it as an absolutely superb album, I dont have as great a love for Moving Pictures as many others have - Side 1 is killer however although I get where you're coming from with The Camera Eye, I find the keyboard intro that is repeated before the second verse to be a bit unnecessary, and to me it doesn't really add anything to the track and is a bit annoying, so I did my own edit removing those bits which chopped off around 3 minutes and personally makes it a better listen. Theres a lot I like on all their albums but my top ten is made up of the nine albums from Rush to Signals, with their last, Clockwork Angels, in at number 10.
First Rush album I bought at the time it came out was Power Windows so it has a special place for me but Hemispheres was always my favourite…Grace Under Pressure is a fantastic album, the guitar solo in Kid Gloves should make it an essential album
Ah, first time i've heard love for the Kid Gloves solo. It's fantastic! Was far more into Permanent Waves and earlier, and although GUP didn't really stir me much, i'd still buy it for that song....and that solo! : )
They did do a good Job moving with the change of the times , I do think power windows was good for the time and counter parts in which was put out in the times of grunge and is very guitar driven with plenty of good songs . I also like the early stuff better ,not to crazy about Caress of steal , the first one was great but got dwarfed by what came later ! 1 Moving pictures, 2 permanent waves, 3 hemispheres, 4 farewell to kings 5 fly by night 6 signals , 7 2112 , 8 counter parts, 9 power windows, 10 roll the bones . thats my 10 i think !! because I also enjoyed Hold your fire , rush 1 , and presto
I discovered Rush at the same time and tend to share your opinion and list, but I’d replace the debut with Clockwork Angels, which is an incredible swan song.
Another fact regarding Rush, they never had any controversy, no one spun out on drugs, there were no fights between them, and treated their fans with total respect. From an interview of Geddy Lee, he said everything was split 3 ways as far as who wrote what and publishing too. That's a blueprint for bands to follow, because it seems after 30 years the problems are always rooted in money.
I consider myself a lucky Rush fan; I like ALL the 80s albums - and out of those Moving Pictures is my least favorite, lol. I can live without Tom Sawyer, YYZ and Witch Hunt. I do love Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and The Camera Eye. Limelight I've learned to like more over the years, couldn't stand it when I first heard it...! Hemispheres was my introduction to the band in 2003 and I was in my early thirties already so not a kid anymore. For somebody who wanted to jump into the world of prog rock, that was the perfect starter album and I'm very happy that I didn't go for the obvious choice, Moving Pictures, haha. My ten favorite Rush albums include all the 80s records, with Permanent Waves, Grace Under Pressure and Hemispheres constantly vying for top spot amongst each other. I also love Caress of Steel and 2112. I can't stand A Farewell to the Kings, never listen to that one... And after Presto it gets very very spotty, there are individual songs here and there that I like but by and large Presto for me is their last hurrah.
If I only had one Rush album it would be Moving Pictures. they seem to all be as one on that album. Totally symbiotic. And I also think that period was the best in terms of recording technology. Enough there to record the a group beuatifully but not enough technology to squeeze all reality out of the performance...
I think those first two records you mentioned " Moving pictures " and "2112" kind of cover their spectrum ... ain t much more to discover unless you re a drummer and you wanna hear what Neal could do otherwise ... they became a Police cover band and I actually closed the book ...
.... specially Andy Summers guitar sound and style of playing opened the door for a lot of guitar players, like Gilmour, Lifeson, ok Steve Howe couldn t cut it, that s why Trevor Rabin came in ...😉
Who else created that much variety in ten albums all made with care attention and skill as well as awesome ness in the rock and progressive genre? IMO the Greatest rock band ever because of this slightly higher than zepp Floyd etc.
Fly b night thru grace are awesome. Like you Andy I left the building for awhile but show of hands 1988 brought me back, better retooled versions of the 85 to 87 era. My top three have been permanent waves 2112 and signals always battling for the crown.
I'm with you in terms of moving away from Rush after "Grace Under Pressure"; disagree slightly in that I think "Signals" is their worst album by far. I'd probably go debut album 9th, "Caress of Steel" eighth, "Grace Under Pressure" 7th. I'd put "Farewell to Kings" and "Hemispheres" in the 6th and 5th slots, "Fly by Night" 4th, "Permanent Waves" 3rd, "2112" second, "Moving Pictures" best.
Mostly era 2 & 3 for me, with the obvious one from era 1, plus their last two. Didn't rate the Presto to Vapour Trails era as highly... they seemed to lose an edge (possibly through the tragedies in Neil's personal life), though Counterparts was great. Even then, those albums were still Rush and that's all that needs to be said. 1. Moving Pictures 2. Grace Under Pressure 3. Signals 4. 2112 5. Hemispheres 6. Permanent Waves 7. A Farewell to Kings 8. Clockwork Angels 9. Power Windows 10. Snakes & Arrows Honourable mentions... Hold Your Fire and Caress of Steel.
i Like Rush, saw them a few times. moving pictures is great. HOWEVER, considering prog, when I listen to their prog stuff they sound like a teenage band compared with Yes, or King crimson. A little, thin, basic, a bunch of guys jamming in a garage.
Andy your list of bands in the first few minutes sounds like my old jean / denim jacket read. Full of badges and heavy rock bands. Kerang was great. Exit stage left was one of my first intros to Rush and that set me off down the route of odd time signatures. Your Rush / Police mashup reminds me of a band I played in where we played Rush and Police covers. Thanks for the memories. 🧐
I recognise a lot of this 😂. My cousin lent me the Chronicles triple album. I then went and bought their latest one GuP (which I loved) and filled in the gaps. I hated Power Windows. Gave up at Presto (hideous album cover) but rejoined for Snakes and Arrows and remembered how obsessed I was as a teenager. What a wonderful wonderful band.
Moving Pictures is the one that blew our minds. Everything about it. Stunning drum, guitar and bass sounds. To me doesn't sound dated at all. We'd already heard the earlier stuff but Moving Pictures was the one! ❤️ I'm the one at odds who loved Signals just as much though, GUP not so much, sounded too dark and dense but then went Wow again when Power Windows came out. Great lyrics and a massive sound and production for its time . So for me top three are Moving Pictures, Signals and Power Windows. After that my choice would change weekly.
My three favorites are, in no particular order: Signals Hold Your Fire Counterparts I liked the more textural side of Rush that emerged in the mid-1980s. I also thought that was when Geddy pretty much quit screeching and became a solid singer. A lot of "guitar dudes" hated that era because of the keyboards, but I thought sonically it was amazing. When I started playing guitar Alex was one of my first heroes, but it wasn't "Moving Pictures" Alex that caught my attention. It was "Hold Your Fire" Alex, the huge Pete Townshend-meets-Jamie West-Oram chords.
Actually you need to do sth on the Police. .... as the transition of Prog Rock going Pop .... whether it s Yes, Rush, Genesis or even Pink Floyd ... they were all infected by the Police bug 🤗
Blasphemous at it may seem, but to me The Camera Eye came across as a underwhelming epic. It's good, there's great bits in it, but it doesn't compare to Natural Science.
Just a bit older, Andy. I was so lucky that I had already been listening to Zappa and Stanley Clarke, etc, before I saw Rush on their first headlining tour in 1976. Blew my tiny hippie mind. I already knew Hawkwind, Gong, Horslips and Gentle Giant. Etc, etc. But that Rush show in late 1976 has stayed with me to this day. I loved early Zeppelin and Purple...and I really hate what metal has turned into. I did grow bored with Rush in the 80s, but they were the sht back then when they unexpectedly exploded.
When you watch the Rush In Rio concert and you see the absolute MADNESS the crowd has for the songs….know all the lyrics, and even sing the instrumental riffs….it chokes me up at the beauty of the music and how it is so sublime in how it binds humanity together. Just brilliant
That is a really special gig for a rush fan, to see them get the response from the crowd they have always deserved still moves me to think of it. Shame about the bloody mixing though
I actually really love 'Grace Under Pressure' because that was my first introduction to them as a kid. Then from there I found 'Moving Pictures' and the back catalogue. I really didn't like 'Power Windows' and so, like you, dropped out for a while. I only recently started listening to the later ones and now consider 'Counterparts', 'Snakes and Arrows' and 'Clockwork Angels' and 'Vapour Trails' among some of their strongest material. Okay, so not as great as '2112', 'Signals', and 'Hemispheres', but great! Thanks for another great video.
Rush really are such a special band! There is just so much to endear you to them in their friendship and lack of egos and never compromising on their vision, the depth of neils lyrics, the level of their playing, how they always progressed, how brilliant clockwork angels was and being able to write masterpiece songs like the song clockwork angels and the garden. I really think they never made a bad album theres lots to enjoy on every album. Power windows is mega underrated, I think its compositionally as well realised as moving pictures, counterparts is real underrated too. They just pretty much have the perfect story of a band and I never get bored of their music.
Signals was my introduction to Rush and they've been my favorite band ever since. Your tribute to them at the end of your video is perhaps the best I've ever heard. You know a true fan when you hear them speak about a band the way you did.
You're absolutely spot on with the ten album thing. All of the albums with Terry Brown are crucial slices of Prog. TB was like the fourth member of the Band.
Rush hit their pinnacle with Signals. It strikes a perfect balance of rocking guitar/bass riffs with synths, progressive songwriting and lyrics. If I could only listen to one Rush album for the rest of my life it would be that one. They carried this through Grace and Power Windows. "The Enemy Within" and "Red Lenses" off of Grace are two of their best. Power Windows stands up to any of their albums. Grand Designs, Manhattan Project, Marathon, Mystic Rhythms... What?!?!?! They mostly lost me after Power Windows, but man what a catalog.
Counterparts, and Test for Echo, are two great albums too. They just turned to a more pop mainstream sound rather than those great 70s albums... but... they're my favourite band, and I got to them first with Roll the Bones, which many people hate, but I happen to love... hehe and also 2112 and Caress. Then I bought Rush, then Fly, then Waves, Signals... etc... they're my fav dude, give those late albums after roll the bones a shot, I just love em and neil's passing hurt every bit as much as my dad's. Those guys have been by my side forever making my life and world a lot better! Cheers dude.
Roll the Bones RUUUUUUULLLLLLEEEEEESSSSSSSSS
I agree that they hit a little bit of a creatively weak period with hold your fire, presto and roll the bones, although there are still a few songs from each album I really like. From counterparts onwards though I think this is where they really come back as a strong rock band albeit a little more straight forward than their golden period the playing and song writing is strong. They also totally knock it out the park with clockwork angels
Presto was my first Rush album and I still love it. I recommend you should give it another try. "Show dont Tell", "Presto", "Available light", they may not be epics but there are not boring songs either. I was 16 and just started trying to learn how to play and I had no idea what to expect. I bought the record because my friend told me this was the band the "guy on the Ludwig ad on Modern Drummer Magazine" played. When I heard "Show dont Tell" I was all in 100%. Nice tribute to Neil Peart at the end, that was very nice!!!
1. Moving Pictures
2. Permanent Waves
3. Hemispheres
4. A Farewell to Kimgs
5. Fly By Night
6. 2112
7. Grace Under Pressure
8. Counterparts
9. Vapor Trails
10. Clockwork Angels
1. 2112
2. Moving Pictures
3. Hemispheres
4. Permanent Waves
5. Grace Under Pressure
6. Fly By Night
7. A Farewell to Kings
8. Signals
9. Power Windows
10. Clockwork Angels
11. Rush
12. Caress of Steel
13. Counterparts
14. Test for Echo
15. Roll The Bones
16. Snakes and Arrows
17. Hold Your Fire
18. Presto
19. Vapor Trails
Side Two of 2112 is quite weak in terms of Rush classic and I always thought after a really incredible start 2112 meanders a bit here and there....
2112, Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, A Farewell To Kings, Permanent Waves, Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel, Rush, Clockwork Angels, Grace Under Pressure
I watched this video twice. I never listened to Rush and do not own any of their albums (after 50 years of listening).
Andy, you made a strong argument for their proginess; so, I’m ordering Farewell to Kings. I appreciate your loyalty to the bands you love and your encyclopedic knowledge, which you deliver with passion, humor, and authenticity. Good luck with your new creative space and ventures.
Permanent Waves and Moving Picture are also the top for me. But I would add that I think this is where Neil becomes a truly great lyricist. Freewill and Entres Nous are absolutely brilliant -- the beauty of the language, the word play, the structure, the rhyme schemes, the deep philosophical themes. As poetry they stand completely on their own. I think they are leagues beyond what he did before, which was already great. And then it continues with songs like Limelight, Witch Hunt, Subdivisions, Kid Gloves, The Enemy Within, Grand Designs, Time Stand Still. It's shocking how one man could be a world class lyricist and instrumentalist. But then again, maybe it makes perfect sense...
Thank you for this tribute, I appreciate hearing such heartfelt comments from true fans of the band. I too discovered them in 1981 when I was 14 years old and from thereafter they have always been my favourite. It often felt that their music was so perfect for me that it seemed they were put on this earth for that reason alone. I was blessed that they made such music throughout my life. Btw, the only records that didnt do it for me were Counterparts and Test for Echo (although each of them had a few gems). I thought Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows, and Clockwork Angels were great records, capturing their evolution into their new form, recognizing that they could never just try to duplicate what they did in their past.
Thanks for this Andy. A fitting tribute to Neal Peart but the love for Rush can never be dimmed. I got into Rush through a compilation release in the 1990's - Chronicles. I found the first disc more to my liking than the second half of disc 2 - which was loaded with synths - too cheesy pie for me then. My favourite albums of Rush would be Caress of Steel through to Moving Pictures - I can't really separate them. I then got into the later releases Snakes and Arrows and the marvellous Clockwork Angels - brilliant concept album - who knew that this would be the last musical statement?!
Hemispheres, MP , Signals, grace , power windows, 2112, farewell, fly by night, clockwork and permanent waves
Awesome...accurate Reviews....I love this channel
Great great vídeo! Rush is and always have been my favourite Band. The Rush legacy lives on.
It is great that Rush appeals to the youth throughout their career. They appeal to the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and maybe even the 2010s youth.
Hello from Montreal, thank you. Brain washed at 15 in 1980 with Permanent Waves and I still love this band. I think the last three albums brought back their progressive roots and I really find them as a more mature genre of rock music. Appropriate for their age and mine. I do love clockwork Angels as a lovely story. Have you read the books? Take care
Well done . I liked your perspective on this band , which I have a special fondness for .
They are , after all , my hometown band ,
I used to see them playing in clubs (and the occasional college ) around Toronto in the early 70s , before they recorded their first album .
It was great seeing them up close and personal , and you could tell that they would be going places .
Every time that I think about ranking their albums , I find it difficult because I bought the albums when they were first released , and have spent a long time with each of them.
First place is usually either Moving Pictures , or Signals , depending on the day .
Followed closely by Permanent Waves , A Farewell to Kings , Hemispheres , 2112 , Rush , and Grace Under Pressure .
I also really like Fly By Night ,Counterparts and even Roll the Bones .
Another band that I link to Rush , is the great Max Webster , who used to tour with Rush , and played many clubs around Toronto in those days as well .
If you aren't familiar with them , do yourself a favour and check out High Class in Borrowed Shoes , and Mutiny Up My Sleeve .
Their debut , and A Million Vacations are also great albums .
To me , they're like. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band meets Frank Zappa meets 10CC .
Thanks for the video !!!
Had to watch the Rush vid as they were the only band I ever found that moved me more than the Beatles. I was at a dorm party as a freshman in college and my buddy was complaining about having to listen to Song Remains the Same. I asked what he would rather hear and he said, “Rush were truly great musicians and their live stuff destroyed any Zeppelin show.” I became intrigued and a week later he played me 2112. I was BLOWN AWAY and began collecting Rush albums in 1983. I agree with you totally Andy; when Terry Brown left they lost their soul and sense of adventure. Grace Under Pressure was a decent transitional record but Power Windows really lost me. I never bought another album but did warm up to Windows, Presto, Counterparts, and Clockwork Angels; still I hardly ever listen to them on Spotify.
Long time Rush fan here, I pretty much go with your ranking although I stuck with them up to and including Presto. For me it was when Roll The Bones and the rest of their 90's albums came along it should a weakness of ideas but they did get their form back for Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork Angels. Another very enjoyable analysis, thanks Andy.
Try and keep me away from a Rush album countdown 😆 I've also got the grey archives vinyl, so damn good. I did wince when you slated power windows tho lol, love that album. Totally agreed with side 2 of 2112, way better than side 1 👍 So many more great albums tho like Roll The Bones and Test For Echo. Great vid mate, keep em coming 😉
I think as a kid I got Moving Pictures then after that they seemed to move away from that sound. So I suppose I was comparing to Moving Pictures. Yes, they did some great stuff but I just love them when they are proggy...
Just discovered your channel, great stuff. was lucky to see them in the Glasgow apollo for farewell to kings and hemispheres tours. Agree with the top 10, I also lost interest after Grace under pressure, my top 4 would be the opposite order working backwards from moving pictures to farewell to kings.
My journey with Rush was almost the same as yours. But my start, my first was Permanent Waves, which came out just after I’d heard FTKs. I was awestruck and began going backwards and buying all the classic albums. THEN I heard Tom Sawyer on the radio, the new one was out - Moving Pictures. Bought it on release and still listen to it. Saw them live in N England (Leeds) on that tour. Amazing. THEN signals came out. Stopped listening to them. Shame. I thought it was a dreadful album. Even though I loved the new wave stuff coming out at the time. It just wasn’t Rush in my eyes. But admire them for pushing forward. Still talk about Peart with my friends. Still listen to those albums up to Moving Pictures now. Brilliant.
Good analizing. Agree with your top 3. Some live stuff I like even more.
2112 was my entry point. Blew me away. Soon picked up Archives and ATWAS. Brother bot Farewell. I grabbed Hemispheres then Permanent. Then I drifted towards Punk and Wave. Recently I have been picking up what I don't have in their catalogue, but they don't have the memories for me like those earlier albums.
If I could change one thing about the world of classic and prog rock, I would eradicate '70s bias. Many people listen to albums that came out after 1990 and without hearing one note they decide that it won't be as good as the band's early stuff. Of course, it then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Quite a few legacy bands have released very strong albums in the latter stages of their careers but they were largely ignored. That's regrettable.
I grew up on Rush, Closer to the heart and Temples of Syrynx was my entry point, through to Signals was my era.. saw Hemisperes and Moving Pictures live.. so great! Loving your commentary
I got to see them in Dublin in 2011 having been literally obsessed from the second a drummer mate of mine turned me onto them just over a decade previously. This video literally captures everything I feel about them. I do love the 80’s stuff though, but impossible to argue with anything mentioned here from 2112 onwards. Also, glad to finally find someone who could put into words what I’ve always felt about..2112. Very cool album but nowhere near their best. I’d find it hard to choose between Waves and Pictures but all that matters is they both exist.
I have the same top 4! Predictable but they’re by far their four best and it’s all building to Moving Pictures. I differ though where I love Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows (give this one another chance, very consistent throughout), and about half of Hold Your Fire.
the non compromising factor you mention is very true. Fun fact, Neil spent alot of time in the British music scene. His drumming was affected by
Totally agree with your summary of perusing what you love and finding an audience (the holy grail for all musicians one would think) don't agree on your album choice (everyone has their own choice of course), I think for me I split them up in to decades so mine are:
70's Hemispheres
80's Grace Under Pressure
90's Counterparts
00's Vapor Trail
Yes..it's very subjective...I would find it hard to rate Grace over Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves or even Signals though :)
I am massive rush fan, have all the albums and love all the epics but the best Rush album for me is Power Windows. It is where the electrics, guitar, musicianship and songs come together. A Farewell to kings is second and Permanent waves third. After Hold Your Fire Rush are very hit and miss. Power Windows is cinematic. Great video.
I'm also very impressed because I started too my own "Rush" LP collection with the "Moving Pictures" album too! just like you! and later on my next 4 "Rush" albums came to me almost in that same order as what you had! and I even got for me also that same 3 LP compilation with their first 3 albums! called "Archives"! Besides that my own ranking is almost in the same order as what you have! and I also must be almost in that same age as what you have! Therefore I believe that you too had also a very wonderful time with them! maybe almost just as good as mine! and that maybe it could have even have been also during those very same years as it was for me! Man you did a great job on this video by remembering all of that great musical joy too! those were also other great days! other great musical works! and other great everything! Thanks!👍
There are a lot of comments like this on my channel. It's strange how music can make people from all over the world have such similar experiences
Rush is my favorite band. Moving Pictures was my introduction. It's hard to rank them but my favs are (similar to yours): 1. Moving Pictures, 2. Permanent Waves, 3. Hemispheres, 4. Farewell to Kings, 5. Signals, 6. Power Windows, 7. 2112, 8. Fly By Night, 9. Rush, 10. Roll the Bones.
CHEERS! Thanks. RED SECTOR A! Sonic sculpturing. ... How many bands mastered the 3 phases from 1 classic rock, 2 Prog,. 3. New Wave, and sound uniquely themselves?
Great video Andy! What you liked in Rush is exactly what I liked about them. I call it "essential Rush".
With that in mind, my list would be something like this:
1. Hemispheres
2. A Farewell to Kings
3. Permanent Waves
4. 2112
5. Signals
6. Moving Pictures
7. Fly By Night
8. Caress of Steel
9. Test For Echo (essential Rush: Time and Motion, Driven and Title Track)
10. Grace Under Pressure (essential Rush: Between the Wheels and The Body Electric)
Thanks for sharing!
I have had Hemispheres as my number 1 Rush album but I think Permanent Waves is slowly taking over. I am enjoying that album the more and more as I listen to it. Moving pictures is #3, side 1 is amazing and side 2 is good but it's weaker.
I like your ranking by in large. My ranking is slightly different, but with most of 7 or 8 of those. Caress Of Steel is not in my top 10 and I have a ranking video on my channel as well.
a lot of people started with Moving Pictures... perfect entry point... Peart's passing was deeply saddening to me, but his legacy WAS the music, not personality. As a Canadian I felt pleased Rush was our ambassador to the world. Such skilled musicians, and pleasant guys, who managed to get people who perhaps weren't into them to at least appreciate the skill, the effort. I actually did fade away somewhat after the eighties albums like yourself, but found Counterparts to be sufficiently punchy, like a return to the first album but with a superior drummer (all due respect to Rutsey). the easiest gloss I had to get to the later Rush albums was a greatest hits package. But I always have Moving Pictures on Vinyl and whatever current format (right now digital iPhone). Fave pleasure while awaiting the followup to Moving Pictures was Exit Stage Left, which I listened to ad infinitum on Vinyl, as well... Yes, Tracks from Permanent Waves, Farewell to Kings, etc... but a great live album
As you say, Andy, the 80's were a tricky time for 70's rock bands seeking to evolve or modernise their sound. Rush coped pretty well with the early 80's; drawing on new wave influences whilst maintaining many of their prog credentials. Moving Pictures, I think of as a masterpiece. It's hands down their best album IMO. My top 4 is the same as yours. As for GUP, it took me a while to tune into this album when it came out. The sound was so different, but I grew to love the album and it's probably my number 5 choice. I prefer it to Signals, which has a banging side 1 but a somewhat weak side 2. It also has a muffled sound, and although Alex plays a cracking album, Terry Brown did seem intent on relegating him into 4th place behind the keyboards. I like the fact that on GUP, despite all the synths, Alex's guitar does often come screaming to the foreground. His playing style was different on GUP too. He seemed to be influenced more by the likes of Andy Summers and that bloke from Simple Minds. Legend has it that they approached Steve Lillywhite - a 'trendy' and very good producer of post punk/new wave artists - to produce GUP. He was up for it, but apparently got a more lucrative offer from Simple Minds, so dropped them. Enter Peter Henderson..
My 14-year-old son who plays drums got a "PRESTO" shirt recently. He loves all their albums, but he pronounced "Subdivisions" as their most perfect album.
Sorry, I meant "Signals", not "Subdivisions" as far as the album title, lol. My son, when he was about 12, performed "Subdivisions" on a recital, however.
Andy, do yourself a favor and listen carefully Counterparts, it is very melodic, heavy on certain parts, yet progressive, which was my entry point to Rush along with the great live concert Exit Stage Left, I love both of them. The "new" 1981 live concert released along with the Moving Pictures 40th remastered edition has taken the number one live spot for me.
I came to know Rush around 1980-81. While I had heard Closer to the Heart prior to that, it was hearing the Spirit of Radio on the radio at home with my older brother that blew musical world wide open! I remember my brother and I looking at each other after the song going "WTF was that?!!" I had never heard anything like that. It grabbed me and never let go. Like you I went back through the catalog, and really loved 'Farewell" and Hemispheres.
My first show was on the Signals tour. As a 12 year old I was blown away at the musicianship and the show. I liked G/P more than you did. The second side of the album to me was excellent. I think with a better producer, it could have been a better album. While the material from the later 80's was not the old Rush, It to me offered a challenge and enjoyment to grasp. If that makes sense? I loved Power Windows. There are some epic Rush tracks on that album.
One thing to that solidifies them as one of the greatest bands of all times, is how much they evolved over a short period of time. I can't think of another band who grew so much musically as they did? Think of the time line from even 2112 to moving pictures. Only 4 years! Thank about that. Who they were then to that album, or even Permanent Waves to Power Windows. So drastically different in only 5 years! Constantly evolving.
I loved how you finished with (paraphrasing) " how many bands owe their career to Rush?!" SO true!
I really appreciate the thought and effort put into this video. Cheers!
I need to do another Rush video, I was thinking of looking at the first three albums...
A Farewell to Kings was my first Rush album - borrowed from my Aunt. The opening acoustic section followed by the power of the band and Geddy’s voice. Second album was a Christmas Present from my grandmother - 2112. I haven’t looked back since. I have all of the albums but also tend to prefer the material up to Moving Pictures. There are good tracks after that but I don’t think the albums as a whole were as good or as groundbreaking. Moving Pictures doesn’t have a bad track on it. Permanent Waves likewise. I’ll always have a bias for a Farewell to Kings as it was my first. Hemispheres is a brilliant album.
S Tier:
Moving Pictures
Hemispheres
Permanent Waves
A Farewell to Kings
Signals
A Tier:
Power Windows
2112
Grace Under Pressure
Fly By Night
Clockwork Angels
B Tier:
Hold Your Fire
Counterparts
Snakes and Arrows
Roll the Bones
Caress of Steel
C Tier:
Rush
Presto
Vapor Trails
D Tier:
Test for Echo
Like you my introductions to Rush was Moving pictures and like you I purchased all the albums until Grace Under Pressure. Since the 80's I probably went to 30 rush concerts and started to hear some awesome tracks through the years. Instead of albums, I started to buy their concert dvd to watch the boys live, so yeah there's a ton to love post GUP. For me .Signals is a top 3 album. GUP would be around 6th or 7th in my top 10. My favorite Rush song is Xanadu off Exit Stage Left. I just love "The Fear Series" as a trilogy. Maybe that's why I'm not a big fan of their 4th addition to the series "Freeze". Just might be Rush's worst song.
For me knowing Rush was a really different experience. At the time of ‘80s I was really a big The Police fan, a Stewart Copeland aficionado, and Power Windows reminded me a lot of them so I liked it quite a lot, also because it was the first time of musical videos. Then I discovered Yes 90125 and Mike Oldfield Crises and after that I changed the music I was listening going from 80s rock music (Police, Big Country, U2 …) to full prog. I discovered the Close To The Edge album and after that the Rush albums … wow, fantastic journey! I luckily seen them at 30th year anniversary concerts and I really was blown away from their music and precision. The Rush music I prefer so goes from 2112 (but not my fav one) to Signals included (all lp for this era) but also Power Windows and after that Counterparts was a really powerful album with Neil Peart doing a fantastic drum work. Lately I also dig into the lyrics of Rush, something normally don’t do (Yes music for example is fantastic but … lyrics are quite nonsense)
Neil Peart wrote every part of his drumming like a classical composer and it was a composition inside the composition itself
Very unique in the rock prog genre
Carl Palmer did that too on Karn Evil 9 and Tarkus
I agree, at that he was untouchable....
Picked up 2112 and played it on rotation through the night when I got it home. Unfortunately, that was just after their recent UK tour, so didn't catch them live until they returned with Farewell To Kings. Saw them twice on the Hemispheres tour (where I got to meet and have a nice chat about guitars with Alex Lifeson: what a lovely human being) and once on the Permanent Waves tour. They lost me as they moved away from the guitar based lengthy pieces and as I started to listen more closely to the often cumbersome and awkward lyrics. Glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity, YEAH! - is still the clunkiest (and least Rock'n'Roll) line in any Rock song that I have ever heard. For me, Xanadu, La VIlla Strangiato and YYZ are their greatest tracks (no lyrics in two of them. :)). Alex's solo work on all three of those tracks blew my mind and led me to musicians like Allan Holdsworth. Man, what a guitar player Alex Lifeson is. All of Rush are/were wonderful, creative, intelligent musicians.
My favourite Rush album is A Farewell To Kings. Like Moving Pictures for you, it was my first Rush album. Xanadu for me is THE perfect Rush track, beautifully composed, arranged and played. I struggled somewhat with Permanent Waves as I could see the beginning of the move away from the epic prog songs but have come to appreciate PW and Moving Pictures over the years. I was fortunate enough to see them on the PW Tour at Manchester Apollo after standing in line all night waiting for the box office to open when the tickets were first released. Those were the days!
I have to admit to jumping ship after Moving Pictures and know little of anything after. At the time I had a fear of 'new'. Anything new by a band was never as good as what came before. It took a long time for me to learn to re-open my ears. I always loved the idea of Caress of Steel but could never get totally on board, because as you say, they were still searching and working out how to write long form music. A great concept but sadly a bit lumpen and poorly executed. It still seems odd that 2112 which came out as punk was just hitting in 1976, was such a big album but shows that there was still an appetite for prog despite the oncoming storm.
Rush are their own musical force, Punk could not touch them. They are apart from all other prog bands because I think they rock.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer And as you've said elsewhere, Punk didn't kill off Prog at all.
Love Andy and 100% agree that everything went downhill after Signals (although Power Windows has some gems). My Rankings:
1. Signals
2. Permanent Waves
3. Moving Pictures
4, Hemispheres
5. Farewell To Kings
6. Caress Of Steel
7. Power Windows
8. Fly By Night
9. Rush (self-titled)
10. 2112 (Sorry, just not a big fan, but oddly, the Twilight Zone is one of my all time fave Rush tracks)
Name one bad song in my top 5. You can't do it.
Madrigal
My favourite Rush albums are sort of similar to yours though my all time favourite is A Farewell to Kings followed by Hemispheres, as thouse two were the first ones I bought at the time they were released however I first got into them with the All The Worlds's a Stage live album after hearing Bastille Day on the radio. While I still regard it as an absolutely superb album, I dont have as great a love for Moving Pictures as many others have - Side 1 is killer however although I get where you're coming from with The Camera Eye, I find the keyboard intro that is repeated before the second verse to be a bit unnecessary, and to me it doesn't really add anything to the track and is a bit annoying, so I did my own edit removing those bits which chopped off around 3 minutes and personally makes it a better listen.
Theres a lot I like on all their albums but my top ten is made up of the nine albums from Rush to Signals, with their last, Clockwork Angels, in at number 10.
10-Rush; 9-GUP; 8-COS; 7FBN; 6-Signals; 5-2112; 4-PermWaves; 3-MP; 2-FTK; 1-Hemispheres
First Rush album I bought at the time it came out was Power Windows so it has a special place for me but Hemispheres was always my favourite…Grace Under Pressure is a fantastic album, the guitar solo in Kid Gloves should make it an essential album
Ah, first time i've heard love for the Kid Gloves solo. It's fantastic! Was far more into Permanent Waves and earlier, and although GUP didn't really stir me much, i'd still buy it for that song....and that solo! : )
They did do a good Job moving with the change of the times , I do think power windows was good for the time and counter parts in which was put out in the times of grunge and is very
guitar driven with plenty of good songs . I also like the early stuff better ,not to crazy about Caress of steal , the first one was great but got dwarfed by what came later !
1 Moving pictures, 2 permanent waves, 3 hemispheres, 4 farewell to kings 5 fly by night 6 signals , 7 2112 , 8 counter parts, 9 power windows, 10 roll the bones . thats my 10 i think !!
because I also enjoyed Hold your fire , rush 1 , and presto
Love it
Your earnest affection for the band really shines through. Well done!
Thanks Donald
I discovered Rush at the same time and tend to share your opinion and list, but I’d replace the debut with Clockwork Angels, which is an incredible swan song.
Another fact regarding Rush, they never had any controversy, no one spun out on drugs, there were no fights between them, and treated their fans with total respect. From an interview of Geddy Lee, he said everything was split 3 ways as far as who wrote what and publishing too. That's a blueprint for bands to follow, because it seems after 30 years the problems are always rooted in money.
I consider myself a lucky Rush fan; I like ALL the 80s albums - and out of those Moving Pictures is my least favorite, lol. I can live without Tom Sawyer, YYZ and Witch Hunt. I do love Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and The Camera Eye. Limelight I've learned to like more over the years, couldn't stand it when I first heard it...!
Hemispheres was my introduction to the band in 2003 and I was in my early thirties already so not a kid anymore. For somebody who wanted to jump into the world of prog rock, that was the perfect starter album and I'm very happy that I didn't go for the obvious choice, Moving Pictures, haha. My ten favorite Rush albums include all the 80s records, with Permanent Waves, Grace Under Pressure and Hemispheres constantly vying for top spot amongst each other. I also love Caress of Steel and 2112. I can't stand A Farewell to the Kings, never listen to that one... And after Presto it gets very very spotty, there are individual songs here and there that I like but by and large Presto for me is their last hurrah.
If I only had one Rush album it would be Moving Pictures. they seem to all be as one on that album. Totally symbiotic. And I also think that period was the best in terms of recording technology. Enough there to record the a group beuatifully but not enough technology to squeeze all reality out of the performance...
I think those first two records you mentioned " Moving pictures " and "2112" kind of cover their spectrum ... ain t much more to discover unless you re a drummer and you wanna hear what Neal could do otherwise ... they became a Police cover band and I actually closed the book ...
I'm going with Hemispheres as #1. Was lucky enough to see them 17 times.
About the same number of times for me. Caught them at least once every tour since Power Windows.
@@norwegianblue2017 For me, every tour at least once since Signals.
Fly by Night still remains my favourite
.... specially Andy Summers guitar sound and style of playing opened the door for a lot of guitar players, like Gilmour, Lifeson, ok Steve Howe couldn t cut it, that s why Trevor Rabin came in ...😉
couldn't cut it?? Howe was taking in the cash with Asia
Who else created that much variety in ten albums all made with care attention and skill as well as awesome ness in the rock and progressive genre? IMO the Greatest rock band ever because of this slightly higher than zepp Floyd etc.
Fly b night thru grace are awesome. Like you Andy I left the building for awhile but show of hands 1988 brought me back, better retooled versions of the 85 to 87 era. My top three have been permanent waves 2112 and signals always battling for the crown.
I'm with you in terms of moving away from Rush after "Grace Under Pressure"; disagree slightly in that I think "Signals" is their worst album by far. I'd probably go debut album 9th, "Caress of Steel" eighth, "Grace Under Pressure" 7th. I'd put "Farewell to Kings" and "Hemispheres" in the 6th and 5th slots, "Fly by Night" 4th, "Permanent Waves" 3rd, "2112" second, "Moving Pictures" best.
Mostly era 2 & 3 for me, with the obvious one from era 1, plus their last two. Didn't rate the Presto to Vapour Trails era as highly... they seemed to lose an edge (possibly through the tragedies in Neil's personal life), though Counterparts was great. Even then, those albums were still Rush and that's all that needs to be said.
1. Moving Pictures
2. Grace Under Pressure
3. Signals
4. 2112
5. Hemispheres
6. Permanent Waves
7. A Farewell to Kings
8. Clockwork Angels
9. Power Windows
10. Snakes & Arrows
Honourable mentions... Hold Your Fire and Caress of Steel.
i Like Rush, saw them a few times. moving pictures is great. HOWEVER, considering prog, when I listen to their prog stuff they sound like a teenage band compared with Yes, or King crimson. A little, thin, basic, a bunch of guys jamming in a garage.
Andy your list of bands in the first few minutes sounds like my old jean / denim jacket read. Full of badges and heavy rock bands.
Kerang was great.
Exit stage left was one of my first intros to Rush and that set me off down the route of odd time signatures.
Your Rush / Police mashup reminds me of a band I played in where we played Rush and Police covers.
Thanks for the memories. 🧐
I think this was the experience of many musicians our age, but it never gets said that much...
I recognise a lot of this 😂. My cousin lent me the Chronicles triple album. I then went and bought their latest one GuP (which I loved) and filled in the gaps. I hated Power Windows. Gave up at Presto (hideous album cover) but rejoined for Snakes and Arrows and remembered how obsessed I was as a teenager. What a wonderful wonderful band.
Moving Pictures is the one that blew our minds. Everything about it. Stunning drum, guitar and bass sounds. To me doesn't sound dated at all. We'd already heard the earlier stuff but Moving Pictures was the one! ❤️
I'm the one at odds who loved Signals just as much though, GUP not so much, sounded too dark and dense but then went Wow again when Power Windows came out. Great lyrics and a massive sound and production for its time . So for me top three are Moving Pictures, Signals and Power Windows. After that my choice would change weekly.
My three favorites are, in no particular order:
Signals
Hold Your Fire
Counterparts
I liked the more textural side of Rush that emerged in the mid-1980s. I also thought that was when Geddy pretty much quit screeching and became a solid singer. A lot of "guitar dudes" hated that era because of the keyboards, but I thought sonically it was amazing. When I started playing guitar Alex was one of my first heroes, but it wasn't "Moving Pictures" Alex that caught my attention. It was "Hold Your Fire" Alex, the huge Pete Townshend-meets-Jamie West-Oram chords.
Clockwork Angels is leaps and bounds better than the 1st 3 records. It grows on me more and more. It's in their top 10.
But exit.... is my favourite rush album
It happened to me the same thing it did to you.
Actually you need to do sth on the Police. .... as the transition of Prog Rock going Pop .... whether it s Yes, Rush, Genesis or even Pink Floyd ... they were all infected by the Police bug 🤗
I have a done a video on The Police
Blasphemous at it may seem, but to me The Camera Eye came across as a underwhelming epic. It's good, there's great bits in it, but it doesn't compare to Natural Science.
Don't compare it to it then. Compare it to 'I Should Be So Lucky' by Kylie Minogue and it will seem much more epic
Maiden are Heavy Prog though, aren't they? They don't do songs about sex, cars and beer. Maiden are Prog, IMO.
I have done a video on Iron Maiden. I think they are prog too
Damn...
How old is yer mom?
Just a bit older, Andy. I was so lucky that I had already been listening to Zappa and Stanley Clarke, etc, before I saw Rush on their first headlining tour in 1976. Blew my tiny hippie mind. I already knew Hawkwind, Gong, Horslips and Gentle Giant. Etc, etc. But that Rush show in late 1976 has stayed with me to this day. I loved early Zeppelin and Purple...and I really hate what metal has turned into. I did grow bored with Rush in the 80s, but they were the sht back then when they unexpectedly exploded.