Best Rush album

The Ozzman · April 21st, 2008, 08:02 AM

Choose which one you think is the best and maybe a reason why you think it's the best

cherko · April 21st, 2008, 08:08 AM

Err, I haven't listened to Rush as much as I should, but I know 2112 is awesome, but so is A Farewell to Kings.

The Ozzman · April 21st, 2008, 08:24 AM

There are still a few I need to get, but it seems as though AFTK is many people's favorite Rush album.

I still need: Signals, AFTK, and Hemispheres as far as essential Rush albums

At the moment though, Grace Under Pressure is my favorite.

cherko · April 21st, 2008, 08:37 AM

Isn't 2112 quite popular? The title track is brilliant, but... I think A Farewell to Kings might be an overall more solid album.

Also, what about the first 3? I've heard they're supposed to be kinda bad, is this true?

The Ozzman · April 21st, 2008, 08:39 AM

They are different. The first one had John Rutsey on drums and the other two were when they were coming into the whole prog side of things. They are growing albums. I would imagine the first one isn't that bad though since it has a few songs I like on it. I have heard that Caress of Steel should be one of the last ones to get though.

2112 is hailed as their breakthrough album for good reason. That's probably the album that encapsulates what Rush is all about, but I like GUP more.

Axle · April 21st, 2008, 10:48 AM

It don't matter, but I'm starting to listen to Snakes And Arrows more.

Psychonaut · April 21st, 2008, 02:17 PM

While it may not be the best, my favorite is Grace Under Pressure. Something about the songwriting and flow of that album...

The Ozzman · April 21st, 2008, 02:27 PM

Indeed. Afterimage is such a great song.

ramses · April 21st, 2008, 05:33 PM

I remember this thread before, but you know, Rush is still in my top 10 bands of all time so...I picked Permanent Waves. It's a marriage of Rush's peak 70's material, and a more modern, faster sound to come on the next few. I have all their albums, and my next favorite albums tend to stray back and forth depending on mood. The order I like them/best song on album...
Permanent Waves-Natural Science
Hemispheres-Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemishperes
Caress of Steel-Necromancer(part 2 of By-Tor and the Snow Dog)
Signals-Analog Kid
A Farewell To Kings-Cygnus X-1
Fly By Night-Anthem
Power Windows-Grand Designs
Moving Pictures-Witch Hunt-part III of Fear Trilogy
2112-2112
Counterparts-Leave That Thing Alone
Hold Your Fire-Turn the Page
Test For Echo-Half the World
Presto-War Paint
Snakes and Arrows-The Main Monkey Business
Grace Under Pressure-Kid Gloves
Vapor Trails-Earthshine
Roll the Bones-Bravado
Rush-Here Again
The Rush Tribute Album-Working Man, is the best tribute album I've ever heard, even better than the Yes tribute. Portnoy On the first 7 tracks, Michael Romeo, James Murphy, Steve Morse, Lemur Voice, Shadow Gallery, Stu Hamm, Jake E. Lee, and quite a few others.

challenge_everything · April 21st, 2008, 07:43 PM

I've only heard 2112 and it makes me want to cut my ears off. It takes the worst excesses of prog rock, multiplies it by 10, adds in some pathetic attempt to make a 'concept' a la Pink Floyd's The Wall or Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage but without the intelligence or humour of either, beats you around the head with its obviousness and cheese and on top of all that you have to listen to the grating voice and sickly sweet pop melodies of Geddy Lee.