Tag: Rush

My Top 10 Rush Albums–Ranked

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music7 Comments

rush at 40.001 - Version 2

Just today, our own progarchist and professional classicist and philosopher, Chris Morrissey, challenged us to name our top ten Rush albums.  Not alphabetically, but actually in the order we love them.

So, I feel up to the challenge.

As I hope I’ve been clear in my writings here and elsewhere—I love Rush, and I have without interruption since I first heard MOVING PICTURES back when I was in detention in 7th grade!  Yes, that was the spring of 1981, only a month after the album came out.

I can never offer enough thanks to my fellow junior high detainees, Brad and Troy, for introducing me to this band.  At the time, they were shocked I knew everything about Genesis and nothing about Rush.  Thank God for their evangelism.

Now, thirty-three years later, I would give much to call Neil Peart my older brother.  That said, I can state unequivocally that in my own life, Peart’s lyrics have shaped me as much as any other great artist and thinker.  Really, he’s up there with St. Augustine for me.  As a Catholic boy (well, middle-aged, graying, Catholic man), this is saying a lot!

 

gup

Of course, such a list is subjective, and I might be tempted to follow up tomorrow with a slightly different list.  Regardless, here it is: as of June 30, 2014.

Grace Under Pressure.  Coming out in 1984, this album has ever since defined the meaning of excellence and seriousness for me.  I love the music, the flow, and, especially, the lyrics.  Not only have the lyrics prompted innumerable great conversations with friends, but I proudly wrote my major liberal-arts core paper (sophomore year in college, 1987-1988) using nothing but the lyrics from this album.  I argued that Neil Peart was a modern stoic, a philosopher of antiquity born in the modern world.  I earned an A!

Moving Pictures (1981).  I’m sure this isn’t controversial, except that most Rush fans would probably rate it number one.  It means a great deal to me, and it has formed me—for better or worse—in my own understanding of integrity.

Clockwork Angels (2012).  What a feast for the mind and the ears.  The flow of the album is gorgeous as are the lyrics.  Really, a great story—more of a fairy tale than anything else.  The story is essentially the story of Hemispheres, but it’s told with much greater finesse.  That it came at 38 years into their career is astounding, and it proves that the desire of each member of Rush to improve himself and his skills has not been a pipe dream.  Highlight, the single most un-Rush like song, is “The Garden,” a statement of republican liberty and individualism.  And, “Wish Them Well,” is the closest Rush will ever get to hippie/Beatle lyrics.  Let the air drumming commence!

Power Windows (1985).  As someone who loves both prog and New Wave, I heartily approve of Power Windows.  Lifeson’s guitar has much more in common with The Fixx than it does with Rush’s output in the 1970s, but it demonstrates and reveals a real willingness to explore new areas of music.  It’s fusion of New Wave and Prog was rivaled only by Yes’s Drama.  And, the lyrics. . . sheesh.  Neil is at his best.

Signals (1982).  I know a lot of old-time Rush fans think little of this album, as they see it as a betrayal of the “true Rush.”  But, schnikees has it meant a great deal to me.  The lyrics, especially, have given me great comfort.  Even this spring as I had make a major life decision, Peart’s words, “there are those who sell their dreams for small desires.”  The entire first side is masterful musically as well.  I don’t think side two is as strong, but it’s still quite good.

Caress of Steel (1975).  Man, is this album wacky or what?  And, in large part, I love it for being so weird.  Musically, it’s unlike almost anything else out there—by Rush or anyone else.  There’s as much acid folk on this album as there is hard rock and prog.  But, really, By-tor?  Snowdog?  The Necromancer?   I have no idea what Geddy, Alex, and Neil were thinking or smoking when they made this, but, wow, does it all work.

Vapor Trails (2002).  This album is nothing if not a pure statement of life.  “I’m alive,” Neil screams in every beat and every lyric of this album, especially after the horrific tragedies he suffered.  And, he most certainly is a live.  From the opening drums to the massive swirl of guitars and Geddy’s vocals throughout, this is a work of artistic brilliance, meaning, and drive.  I never tire of this album.

Snakes and Arrows (2007).  Again, this is part of Rush 2.0, the band that remade itself after Neil’s double tragedies.  Everything in Snakes and Arrows is perfect.  Again, the flow of the album just works brilliantly.  And, the fusions and various styles are just fascinating.  Neil’s lyrics are a bit angrier than usual, but still quite a effective.

A Farewell to Kings (1977).  What’s not to love?  The entire album reeks of integrity.  Kevin McCormick, on this site, has explained in loving and intricate detail the musical importance of the album in ways I never good.  But from the first notes of the guitar to the dire plight of Cygnus, I’m in!

2112 (1976).  As Drew commented on Chris’s original challenge, 2112 is a tough one to rank because side one is so radically different from side two.  I agree.  But, side one is so incredible that it makes up for any flaws in the album.  Who can’t just start head-banging when the Overture begins?  Who doesn’t want to just hate the priests?  And, who isn’t disheartened when the Solar Federation reassumes control.  Sigh. . . sci-fi loveliness.

2112

***

Long to longish progarchist posts on Rush
Hold your Fire -Rush’s finest? by Tad Wert (*progarchy’s single most popular post ever)

https://progarchy.com/2014/04/24/rushs-finest-album-hold-your-fire-until-youve-read-my-analysis/

***

Erik Heter on Moving Pictures as Synergy

https://progarchy.com/2014/04/27/synergistic-perfection-first-and-lasting-impressions-of-moving-pictures/

***

Discovering Rush on their 40th anniversary by Eric Perry

https://progarchy.com/2014/04/25/discovering-rush-the-40-year-old-virgin/

***

The first Rush album reviewed by Craig Breaden

https://progarchy.com/2014/02/22/rushs-first/

***

A review of A Farewell to Kings by Kevin McCormick

https://progarchy.com/2013/01/21/rush-a-farewell-to-hemispheres-part-i/

***

A review of Power Windows by Brad Birzer

https://progarchy.com/2013/12/14/power-windows-rush-and-excellence-against-conformity/

***

Kevin Williams on Clockwork Angels Tour

https://progarchy.com/2013/11/24/rushs-clockwork-angels-tour-straddles-the-80s-and-the-now/

***

Brad Birzer on Clockwork Angels Tour

https://progarchy.com/2013/11/27/rush-2-0-clockwork-angels-tour-2013-review/

***

Erik Heter on Clockwork Angels Tour Concert in Texas

https://progarchy.com/2013/04/24/you-can-do-a-lot-in-a-lifetime-if-you-dont-burn-out-too-fast-rush-april-23-2013-at-the-frank-erwin-center-austin-texas/

***

A review of Vapor Trails Remixed by Birzer

https://progarchy.com/2013/10/05/resignated-joy-rush-and-vapor-trails-2013/

***

A review of Grace Under Pressure by Birzer

https://progarchy.com/2013/02/21/wind-blown-notes-rush-and-grace-under-pressure/

 


And, our favorite Rush sites

(please support these incredible sites and the fine humans who run them!)

***

Power Windows: http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/Home.htm

***

Rush Vault: http://rushvault.com/

***

Rush is a Band: http://www.rushisaband.com/

***

Cygnus X-1: http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/index.php

All Rush Albums as ranked by 3RDegree’s Robert James Pashman @3RDegreeONLINE

On By Time LordIn Progarchy6 Comments

RUSH

To help you think about my “Top Ten Rush Albums EVER” challenge, here is a repost of a most excellent Facebook post by 3RDegree’s Robert James Pashman:

All Rush Albums as ranked by 3RDegree’s Robert James Pashman:

[from October 3, 2013 at 2:33am]

Caveat — even not so good “albums” have some, even many great “songs” so take the tendency toward judging Rush (and other bands) by ALBUM with a grain of salt.

1. Moving Pictures 1981

I’ve fought this forever, claiming my fave as Permanent Waves but its appeal is undeniable. Too obvious because it’s their best seller but it’s Rush at its Rushiest and is practically a greatest hits collection on its own. When there’s a Rush best of collection made, it’s often interesting to see what song from Moving Pictures is left off of it. Has probably the best album side ever made by anyone.

2. Permanent Waves 1980

I think this is the archetype for Moving Pictures and has an even better epic song on it than Moving Pictures does (“Natural Science” being better than “The Camera Eye”). Has 2 radio staples (“The Spirit Of Radio” and “Freewill”) and even 2 out-of-character love songs (or relationship songs) that are both home runs (“Entre Nous” and “Different Strings”).

3. Power Windows 1985

This one is chock-full of orchestration, keyboards and even a choir (all on “Marathon”) and has some of the best Peart lyrics ever committed to paper. It was used as a teaching tool in schools even.  Some saw this as the apex of the band getting in too deep with keyboards and far away from what made them great, but I see it as the band successfully staying relevant, strongly melodic and not afraid of dressing up the songs any way they saw fit.

4. A Farewell To Kings 1977

Probably the most interesting Rush album as it incorporates keyboards for solos and effect and includes lot of sci-fi overtones. The staple “Closer To The Heart” sneaks its way into the madness too.

5. Hemispheres 1978

More of the same from the previous album but with slightly more “filler” moments and perhaps a bit too much repeating of themes on the side one long epic.

6. 2112 1976

Many would have this higher but that’s probably based on how good side one’s title track epic is. It’s sort of legendary now if you’ve seen the documentary how this is the album that they held up a big middle finger to the music industry and got rewarded for it from fans and never had to answer to the “suits” again. For that alone, it’s totally cool.

7-9. Signals 1982, Grace Under Pressure 1984, Hold Your Fire 1987

I think all of these are pretty equally interesting, incorporating the keyboards of the time and reggae and pop stylings. I think Signals gets a little “samey” synth-wise, whereas GUP and HYF offer more variety but Signals has great lyrics and a few of their best (“Subdivisions”, “Losing It”) and their only Top 40 “hit” (“New World Man”). GUP has a dark feel to it and HYF the excellent underrated “Open Secrets”.

10. Clockwork Angels 2012

A band staying relevant decades into their career. The title track is one of their best songs ever. The album hasn’t a clunker really and it’s got an over-arching theme. It’s their first entire concept album.

11. Counterparts 1993

The best from the 90s. Has their answer to grunge (“Stick It Out”), a too-wordy but excellent emotional masterpiece (“Nobody’s Hero”) and their best instrumental out of the many they put out in the 90s (“Leave That Thing Alone”).  Also has one of my favorite dark horse tracks with “Double Agent”.

12-13. Snakes & Arrows 2007, Presto 1989

Two of the best of the “medium quality” Rush albums. S & A‘s “Far Cry”, “Armor & Sword” and “Spindrift” are hard hitting, excellent tracks and Presto‘s “Show Don’t Tell” signified the band with the guitar and the riff in the forefront after many albums with Alex sharing space with keyboards.  “The Pass” is one of Rush’s most emotional and melodic tracks with “Available Light” a close second.

14. Vapor Trails 2002

Strange with its orchestrated and overdubbed bass and guitar tracks on almost every track but has the standout “Ghost Rider” and ultra-strange “Freeze”. At this point, we were just happy to have them back.

15. Fly By Night 1975

Lots of interesting proto-prog (as pertaining to Rush only) mixed with single length tracks.

16. Roll The Bones 1991

Some of Rush’s best and worst songs are on this thin-sounding album. It’s probably their most overrated—if only because it did well at the time. “Face Up”, “Neurotica” and 2 others are just horrible. There’s way more interesting things about some of the worst tracks on other albums but these lesser-known RTB tracks are borderline embarrasing.

17. Test For Echo 1996

“Driven”, “Time & Motion” and “Totem” are really interesting but the rest of the album is just meh. Judging from Rush’s set lists, I think they agree with me.

18. Caress Of Steel 1975

They get an “A for effort” here but ultimately failed at the time only to try again and succeed with 2112. This album interests me when I hear it if only because I know it the least and it sounds “new”.

19. Rush 1974

Not bad, just not quite Rush yet.

Top Ten Prog Over Ten Minutes Long ★★★★★

On By Time LordIn Progarchy11 Comments

In order to meet the challenge of listing my own Top Ten Prog Albums EVER, I imposed upon myself an additional requirement over and above the ones Brad specified.

Each album on the list, I insist, must contain at least one song that is over ten minutes long.

And so, given that sonnet-like constraint, here is my list:

★★★★★

Big Big Train — The Underfall Yard (H/T: “The Underfall Yard” [22:54] and “Victorian Brickwork” [12:33])

Kate Bush — Hounds of Love (H/T: “The Ninth Wave” [= Side Two of the LP, clocking in at 27 minutes])

Flying Colors — Flying Colors (H/T: “Infinite Fire” [12:00])

Genesis — Foxtrot (H/T: “Supper’s Ready” [23:06])

Haken — The Mountain (H/T: “Pareidolia” [10:51] and “Falling Back to Earth” [11:51])

King Crimson — Red (H/T: “Starless” [12:26])

Rush — A Farewell to Kings (H/T: “Xanadu” [11:12] and “Cygnus X-1” [10:26])

Sound of Contact — Dimensionaut (H/T: “Möbius Slip” [19:36])

Transatlantic — The Whirlwind (H/T: The entire album is one song 78 minutes long! Or take “Dancing With Eternal Grace” [12:04])

Yes — Fragile (H/T: “Heart of the Sunrise” [11:33])

★★★★★

If I were allowed doubles then maybe I would substitute Yes’ Close to the Edge for the Haken and Big Big Train’s Far Skies Deep Time for the Sound of Contact.

But can I instead invent a new challenge?

How about the “Top Ten Rush Albums EVER”, ranked not alphabetically but in order of preference?

Jacob’s Ladder

On By Time LordIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

Jules Evans in a recent post — “Is pop music bad for your soul?” (June 25, 2014) — has some interesting observations. For example:

For ordinary people, pop music was our equivalent of Jacob’s Ladder. It was our way to climb up and see beyond our lives, to connect with the deeper and darker emotions which the shiny world of capitalism did not allow us to express during the week. Our way to express our loneliness and longing for togetherness, our way to express our hope for a better world. Pop music, not classical music, kept spirituality alive in the dry decades of the 20th century, and (to quote Dylan) it ‘got repaid with scorn’.

Read more at: Philosophy for Life

Rush MOVING PICTURES–reviewed in Notre Dame Student Paper 1981

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

My family and I are in the process of moving to Boulder, Colorado, for the upcoming school year.  One of the terrible parts of any move is the packing.  But, there’s a plus side–things thought lost reappear!  And, so it is with this review I found in a spring issue of the University of Notre Dame student newspaper, The Observer.  Dated April 23, 1981, pg. 11, by Tom Krueger.  Forgive the quality of the image.  It’s a photocopy from microfilm run through a Scansnap.  So, in terms of image–blah!  Still, good to have it posted for historical reasons.

rush moving pictures review nd 1981

Natural Science: Rush and Evolutionary Biology

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

I couldn’t resist quoting Rush in this book review that I did of Brendan Purcell’s From Big Bang to Big Mystery: Human Origins in the Light of Creation and Evolution (New York: New City Press, 2012):

For my part, after presenting the material of Chapter 9 (on Kierkegaard and how “we choose to choose”) in the third week of my seminar, I would enjoy citing Neil Peart’s lyrics for a famous Canadian musical ensemble: “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice” (Rush, “Free Will,” Permanent Waves).

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Receive Honorary Doctorates

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

From Detroit’s Classic Rock station, WCSX:

Foggy skies may have stood in the way of Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson from receiving their honorary doctorates from Nipissing University yesterday (June 12th) in person, but it didn’t stop them from recording very insightful speeches for the graduating class.

Embedded below, Lee and Lifeson’s speeches reflect on their past experiences, both personal and as bandmates, and drove home to the graduates the value of hard work and perseverance.

Clocking in together at just over five minutes, their speeches are short and straight to the point but pack a heartfelt punch.  If anyone in your family is set to graduate soon (or just needs a boost of inspiration), you’ll want to pass these videos on.

Enjoy: https://progarchy.com/2014/06/12/dr-geddy-lee-the-university-of-rush-studies/

Prog Studies: The University of Rush

On By Time LordIn Progarchy1 Comment

Dr. Geddy gives a lecture, dedicated to his Mom, on “the true Immigrant Song”:

Dr. Alex gives a seminar on the meaning of prog; i.e., how to make true progress in life:

The Dramatic Rock of Fire Garden’s “Sound Of Majestic Colors”

On By Kevin WilliamsIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

4PAN1T1PKSTC

During the month of May, some of us Progarchists switched into “Rush Appreciation Mode” as we paid tribute to the group that, for some of us, forever altered our view of what music could be on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut release. This very site is a reflection of our appreciation for a genre of music that, for so many of us, started with our first exposure to Rush. For so many, they were springboard into the world of progressive rock.

Of course, there’s another generation of progressive rock fans from the 1990’s who cut their teeth on prog through Dream Theater, while for some of us older folks, Dream Theater was the group that picked up the torch for progressive rock starting in the 1990’s, when iconic bands such as Rush and Yes had either changed their songwriting approach and/or gradually declined in popularity. Still other prog fans recently found their love of the genre through Tool’s and/or Steven Wilson’s works.

In the spirit of the more recent iconic, progressive hard rock groups such as Dream Theater, Chicago-based Fire Garden has released their first full-length album, “Sound Of Majestic Colors,” which follows their December 2012 EP release, “Prelude.” As is the case with most prog, repeated listens will reveal layers within the music, but the album is also accessible from the get-go.

Prog fans will have little trouble picking out styles and sounds similar to Dream Theater, but anyone who dismisses the group simply as a knockoff of DT does so at their own peril, for Fire Garden is very much their own band.

That said, the album opens with perhaps the group’s biggest nod to its Dream Theater influence in “The Joker.” Guitarist/songwriter Zee Baig channels John Petrucci’s guitar sound from “Train Of Thought,” there are echoes of the Derek Sherinian era DT with some nice organ work, some percussive keyboard patches that take from Jordan Rudess’ work in later years and even some fast kick drum work that might recall Mike Portnoy’s heavier playing prior to his departure from DT.  A vocal-heavy middle section breaks up the influences noted above, showcasing the group’s range.

Despite liking “The Joker” quite a bit over repeated spins, I was a bit fearful that I might be subjected to an album not unlike “Train Of Thought,” which is one of my least favorite DT albums, but oh, how Fire Garden quickly proved me wrong.

It’s rare that I’ll hear a succession of tracks for the first time and think, “This one’s my favorite!,” then say to the next, “No – THIS one’s my favorite,” but that’s exactly what unfolded during the first four tracks on “Sound Of Majestic Colors” as “The Joker” gave way to the soulful “Alone,” abandoning the bombast of the opening track for a slower, more atmospheric vibe. We then get a touch of “Images And Words”-era Dream Theater with the big-sounding “Time Machine,” but Fire Garden then shows us an altogether different side with “Endless Memories,” with bassist Barry Kleiber weaving melodic bass lines over acoustic/electric guitars, setting the tone for what is easily the most accessible track on the album. The track features a lovely, soaring chorus that’ll no doubt have audiences singing along.

This changing up and blending of styles that Fire Garden seem so comfortable writing continues throughout the album with a trifecta of big rtracks in “Redemption,” “Behind The Face”, and “Echoes Of Silence,” then broken up by the lovely, harmony-laden “Far From Grace,” and finally, the cinematic album ender, “The Last Step.” If rock radio was still open to progressive hard rock they way it was 20 years ago, tracks from “Sound Of Majestic Colors” would find a place in station’s rotation, to be sure.

It’s worth mentioning that throughout “Sound Of Majestic Colors,” singer Kevin Pollack does a fine job using his range – a bit lower but a welcome change from the wails of many prog/metal vocalists – bringing the proper measure of energy, emotion and, well, gravitas to each song.

The lyrics on the album tend to explore dark themes – battling demons both internal and external, sometimes literal – in “Alone,” “The Joker,” “Echoes In Silence” and “Redemption,” greed in “Time Machine,” love lost in “Endless Memories,” and finally, reaching for redemption/rejuvenation in “The Last Step.”

Half of the 10 tracks on “Majestic Colors” clock in between eight and nine minutes, giving the band plenty of space for stylistic exploration without falling into the noodling/padding trap that’s so often a cliche of prog.  They also avoid cramming as many time signatures into each tune as possible just for the sake of it, making the album quite accessible to those ears tripped up a bit by odd-meter shifts.

Fire Garden also gets it right with the album packaging and liner notes, very much reminiscent of Hugh Syme’s best work with Rush and Dream Theater, as each lyric is mated its own piece of artwork, beautifully complementing our listening experience in way that liner notes from the aforementioned bands do.

Knowing that the prog community is a tight-knit one, I would highly advise any reader with influence over any prog festival or cruise – as is the case these days – to quickly snap up Fire Garden as they’d be a worthy addition and sure-fire fan favorite. Better still, how’s about groups like Rush and Dream Theater consider the next generation of prog by dropping the well-worn “Evening with…” format and getting these guys out on tour to build as big a following as possible?

“Sound Of Majestic Colors” is more than enough evidence that Fire Garden has an extensive palette of talent and styles to “paint” with, making this release a more than worthy addition to prog fans’ libraries.  Dream Theater’s ridiculously, prodigiously-talented lineup may still have a tight hold on prog’s hard rock torch, but Fire Garden stands as a potential successor with “Sound Of Majestic Colors.”

Fire Garden Band Photo 1

 

Tempering Jingoism: Neil Peart’s Territories

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

Though I’m certainly no pacifist, and I rather love and owe allegiance to the American republic of the founding period, I can’t help but think of Peart’s lyrics when it comes to the beating of drums on Memorial Day weekend.

We see so many tribes overrun and undermined
While their invaders dream of lands they’ve left behind
Better people…better food…and better beer…
Why move around the world when Eden was so near?
The bosses get talking so tough
And if that wasn’t evil enough
We get the drunken and passionate pride
Of the citizens along for the ride

They shoot without shame
In the name of a piece of dirt
For a change of accent
Or the color of your shirt
Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colorful rag is unfurled

Amen, Neil.  It’s one thing to honor those who have given their very lives for us, it’s quite another to use those same sacrifices for nationalistic, egotistical, and nefarious agendas.