Rush | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Over the course of their decades-spanning career, Canadian power trio Rush emerged as one of hard rocks most highly regarded bands; although typically brushed aside by critics and rarely the recipients of mainstream pop radio airplay, Rush nonetheless won an impressive and devoted fan following, while their virtuoso performance skills solidified their standing as musicians musicians. Rush formed in Toronto, Ontario in the autumn of 1968, initially comprising guitarist Alex Lifeson (born Alexander Zivojinovich), vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib), and drummer John Rutsey. In their primary incarnation, Rush drew a heavy influence from Cream, and honed their skills on the Toronto club circuit before issuing their debut single, a rendition of Buddy Hollys "Not Fade Away," in 1973. A self-titled LP followed in 1974, at which time Rutsey exited; he was replaced by drummer Neil Peart, who also assumed the role of the bands primary songwriter, composing the cerebral lyrics (influenced by works of science fiction and fantasy) that gradually became a hallmark of the groups aesthetic. With Peart firmly ensconced, the band returned in 1975 with a pair of LPs, Fly by Night and Caress of Steel. Their next effort, 1976s 2112, proved their breakthrough release: a futuristic concept album based on the writings of Ayn Rand, it fused the elements of the trios sound -- Lees high-pitched vocals, Pearts epic drumming, and Lifesons complex guitar work -- into a unified whole. Fans loved it -- 2112 was the first in a long line of gold and platinum releases -- while critics dismissed it as overblown and pretentious; either way, it established a formula from which the band rarely deviated throughout the duration of its career. A Farewell to Kings followed in 1977 and reached the Top 40 in both the U.S. and Britain. After 1978s Hemispheres, Rush achieved even greater popularity with 1980s Permanent Waves, a record marked by the groups dramatic shift into shorter, less sprawling compositions; the single "The Spirit of Radio" even became a major hit. With 1981s Moving Pictures, they scored another hit of sorts with "Tom Sawyer," which garnered heavy exposure on album-oriented radio and became perhaps the trios best-known song. As the 80s continued, Rush grew into a phenomenally popular live draw as albums like 1982s Signals (which generated the smash "New World Man"), 1984s Grace Under Pressure, and 1985s Power Windows continued to sell millions of copies. As the decade drew to a close, the trio cut back on its touring schedule while hardcore followers complained of a sameness afflicting slicker, synth-driven efforts like 1987s Hold Your Fire and 1989s Presto. At the dawn of the 90s, however, Rush returned to the heavier sound of their early records and placed a renewed emphasis on Lifesons guitar heroics; consequently, both 1991s Roll the Bones and 1993s Counterparts reached the Top Three on the U.S. album charts. In 1996, the band issued Test for Echo and headed out on the road the following summer. Shortly thereafter, Peart lost his daughter in an automobile accident. Tragedy struck again in 1998 when Pearts wife succumbed to cancer. Dire times in the Rush camp did not cause the band to quit. Lee took time out for a solo stint with 2000s My Favorite Headache; however, rumors of the band playing in the studio began to circulate. It would be five years until anything surfaced from the band. Fans were reassured in early 2002 by news that Rush were recording new songs in Toronto. The fruit of those sessions led to the release of Rushs 17th studio album, Vapor Trails, later that spring. By the end of the year a concert from the supporting tour was released on DVD as Rush in Rio. In 2004 Rush embarked on their 30th anniversary tour, documented on the DVD R30, and in 2006 they returned to the studio to begin work on a new album that resulted in the 2007s acclaimed Snakes & Arrows. A documentary on the band assembled by Torontos Bangor Productions called Beyond the Lighted Stage appeared in 2010, followed a year later by another Bangor video production, Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland. Rushs 19th full-length studio album, Clockwork Angels, arrived in June of 2012. While the following year wouldnt bring a new album, it did deliver the next best thing by way of Vapor Trails: Remixed, which found producer David Bottrill revisiting one of the more notable victims of the so-called loudness wars. Along with a freshly repaired album, Rush also released Clockwork Angels Tour, a three-disc live album recorded during their 2012 tour. The band took the next year off, but returned in 2014 with the R40 video box set, which was released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Neil Pearts membership. The following year saw Rush embark on their North American R40 tour, which was purported to be their last large-scale tour. It was chronicled in the 2015 CD/DVD concert album R40 Live. Rush continued celebrating 40th anniversaries over the next several years by reissuing deluxe remastered versions of the catalog titles including 2112, A Farewell to Kings, and Hemispheres. The latter proved bittersweet: In January of 2018, Lifeson told Torontos Globe & Mail that: "We have no plans to tour or record any more. We’re basically done. After 41 years, we felt it was enough." | ||
 | Album: 1 of 35 Title: Rush Released: 1974-03 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Finding My Way (05:07) 2 Need Some Love (02:21) 3 Take a Friend (04:27) 4 Here Again (07:36) 5 What You’re Doing (04:23) 6 In the Mood (03:36) 7 Before and After (05:36) 8 Working Man (07:09) |
| Rush : Allmusic album Review : Rushs self-titled debut is about as uncharacteristic of their renowned heavy progressive rock (perfected on such future releases as Hemispheres, Moving Pictures, etc.) as you can get. Instead of complex arrangements and thoughtful lyrics, Rush sounds almost identical to Led Zeppelin throughout -- bluesy riffs merged with "baby, baby" lyrics. The main reason for the albums different sound and direction is that their lyricist/drummer, Neil Peart, was not in the band yet, skinsman John Rutsey rounds out the original line-up, also consisting of Geddy Lee (bass/vocals) and Alex Lifeson (guitar). Its nearly impossible to hear the anthemic "Finding My Way" and not picture Robert Plant shrieking away, or Jimmy Page riffing on the jamfest "Working Man," but Rush was still in their formative stages. Theres no denying that Lee and Lifeson were already strong instrumentalists, but such predictable compositions as "In the Mood" and "What Youre Doing" prove that Peart was undoubtedly the missing piece to the puzzle. While longtime Rush fans can appreciate their debut because they never returned to this style, newcomers should stick with their classics from later years. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 35 Title: Fly by Night Released: 1975-02-15 Tracks: 8 Duration: 37:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Anthem (04:27) 2 Best I Can (03:28) 3 Beneath, Between & Behind (03:05) 4 By-Tor & The Snow Dog: I. At the Tobes of Hades / II. Across the Styx / III. Of the Battle / IV. Epilogue (08:39) 5 Fly by Night (03:22) 6 Making Memories (03:04) 7 Rivendell (04:59) 8 In the End (06:48) |
| Fly by Night : Allmusic album Review : Prior to one of Rushs first U.S. tours, original drummer John Rutsey split from the band, since he wasnt prepared to commit to the bands rigorous touring schedule. And it proved to be a blessing in disguise, since his replacement was to become one of the most respected rock drummers of all time, Neil Peart, who would also steer the band towards success with more challenging material -- starting with Fly by Night. While the title track and the album-closing ballad, "In the End," still had Zeppelin roots, the album isnt as straightforward as the debut. Rushs first bona-fide classic, "Anthem," is included, while the over eight-minute "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" helped pave the way for the groups future epics ("2112," "Cygnus X-1," etc.), and introduced the fans to Pearts imaginative lyric writing, often tinged with science-fiction themes. The reflective and melodic "Making Memories" is an underrated early composition, while "Beneath, Between, & Behind" is a furious heavy rocker. Fly by Night may not be one of Rushs finest albums, but it is one of their most important -- it showed that the young band was leaving their Zep-isms behind in favor of a more challenging and original direction. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 35 Title: Caress of Steel Released: 1975-09-15 Tracks: 5 Duration: 45:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Bastille Day (04:40) 2 I Think Im Going Bald (03:41) 3 Lakeside Park (04:10) 4 The Necromancer: I. Into the Darkness / II. Under the Shadow / III. Return of the Prince (12:32) 5 The Fountain of Lamneth: I. In the Valley / II. Didacts and Narpets / III. No One at the Bridge / IV. Panacea / V. Bacchus Plateau / VI. The Fountain (19:57) |
| Caress of Steel : Allmusic album Review : When Rush finished their third album, Caress of Steel, the trio was assured that they had created their breakthrough masterpiece. But when the album dropped off the charts soon after its release, it proved otherwise. While it was Rushs first release that fully explored their prog rock side, it did not contain the catchy and more traditional elements of their future popular work -- its quite often too indulgent and pretentious for a mainstream rock audience to latch onto. And while Rush would eventually excel in composing lengthy songs, the albums two extended tracks -- the 12½-minute "The Necromancer" and the nearly 20-minute "The Fountain of Lamneth" -- show that the band was still far from mastering the format. The first side contains two strong and more succinct tracks, the raging opener, "Bastille Day," and the more laid-back "Lakeside Park," both of which would become standards for their live show in the 70s. But the ill-advised "I Think Im Going Bald" (which lyrically deals with growing old) borders on the ridiculous, which confirms that Caress of Steel is one of Rushs more unfocused albums. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 35 Title: 2112 Released: 1976-04-01 Tracks: 6 Duration: 38:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 2112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of Syrinx / III. Discovery / IV. Presentation / V. Oracle: The Dream / VI. Soliloquy / VII. Grand Finale (20:33) 2 A Passage to Bangkok (03:34) 3 The Twilight Zone (03:19) 4 Lessons (03:52) 5 Tears (03:34) 6 Something for Nothing (03:57) |
| 2112 : Allmusic album Review : Whereas Rushs first two releases, their self-titled debut and Fly by Night, helped create a buzz among hard rock fans worldwide, the more progressive third release, Caress of Steel, confused many of their supporters. Rush knew it was now or never with their fourth release, and they delivered just in time -- 1976s 2112 proved to be their much sought-after commercial breakthrough and remains one of their most popular albums. Instead of choosing between prog rock and heavy rock, both styles are merged together to create an interesting and original approach. The entire first side is comprised of the classic title track, which paints a chilling picture of a future world where technology is in control (Pearts lyrics for the piece being influenced by Ayn Rand). Comprised of seven "sections," the track proved that the trio members were fast becoming rocks most accomplished instrumentalists. The second side contains shorter selections, such as the Middle Eastern-flavored "A Passage to Bangkok" and the album-closing rocker "Something for Nothing." 2112 is widely considered by Rush fans as their first true "classic" album, the first in a string of similarly high-quality albums. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 35 Title: All the Worlds a Stage Released: 1976-09-29 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:19:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Bastille Day (04:57) 2 Anthem (04:56) 3 Fly by Night / In the Mood (05:03) 4 Something for Nothing (04:02) 5 Lakeside Park (05:04) 6 2112 (15:50) 1 By-Tor & The Snow Dog (11:57) 2 In the End (07:13) 3 Working Man / Finding My Way (14:56) 4 What You’re Doing (05:40) |
| All the World's a Stage : Allmusic album Review : The 70s may forever be remembered as the decade of the "live album," where many rock artists (Kiss, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, etc.) used the format for their commercial breakthrough. While Rushs All the Worlds a Stage is not as renowned as the aforementioned bands live albums, it is still one of the better in-concert rock releases of the decade, and helped solidify the trios stature as one of rocks fastest rising stars. Eventually, Rush would polish their live sound to sound almost like a studio record, but in the mid-70s, they were still a raw and raging hard rock band, captured perfectly on All the Worlds a Stage Comprised almost entirely of their heavier material, the album packs quite a punch -- "Bastille Day" and "Anthem" prove to be a killer opening combination, while over-the-top renditions of their extended epics "2112" and "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" prove to be standouts. Even their more tranquil studio material proves more explosive in concert ("Fly by Night," "Something for Nothing," "Lakeside Park," "In the End"). All the Worlds a Stage was a fitting way of closing the first chapter of Rush, as the liner notes state. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 35 Title: A Farewell to Kings Released: 1977-09 Tracks: 6 Duration: 37:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Farewell to Kings (05:53) 2 Xanadu (11:07) 3 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 4 Cinderella Man (04:22) 5 Madrigal (02:35) 6 Cygnus X-1, Book I: The Voyage (10:21) |
| A Farewell to Kings : Allmusic album Review : On 1977s A Farewell to Kings it quickly becomes apparent that Rush had improved their songwriting and strengthened their focus and musical approach. Synthesizers also mark their first prominent appearance on a Rush album, a direction the band would continue to pursue on future releases. With the popular hit single "Closer to the Heart," the trio showed that they could compose concise and traditionally structured songs, while the 11-minute "Xanadu" remains an outstanding accomplishment all these years later (superb musicianship merged with vivid lyrics help create one of Rushs best all-time tracks). The album-opening title track begins with a tasty classical guitar/synth passage, before erupting into a powerful rocker. The underrated "Madrigal" proves to be a delicately beautiful composition, while "Cinderella Man" is one of Rushs few songs to include lyrics penned entirely by Geddy Lee. The ten-minute tale of a dangerous black hole, "Cygnus X-1," closes the album on an unpredictable note, slightly comparable to the two extended songs on 1975s Caress of Steel. A Farewell to Kings successfully built on the promise of their breakthrough 2112, and helped broaden Rushs audience on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 35 Title: Archives Released: 1978 Tracks: 21 Duration: 2:02:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Finding My Way (05:03) 2 Need Some Love (02:16) 3 Take A Friend (04:27) 4 Home Again (07:30) 5 What Youre Doing (04:19) 6 In The Mood (03:36) 7 Before And After (05:53) 8 Working Man (07:07) 1 Anthem (04:10) 2 Best I Can (03:24) 3 Beneath, Between And Behind (03:00) 4 By-Tor & The Snow Dog: I. At the Tobes of Hades / II. Across the Styx / III. Of the Battle / IV. Epilogue (08:57) 5 Fly By Night (03:20) 6 Making Memories (02:56) 7 Rivendell (05:00) 8 In The End (06:51) 1 Bastille Day (04:36) 2 I Think Im Going Bald (03:35) 3 Lakeside Park (04:07) 4 The Necromancer: I. Into the Darkness / II. Under the Shadow / III. Return of the Prince (12:36) 5 The Fountain of Lamneth: I. In the Valley / II. Didacts and Narpets / III. No One at the Bridge / IV. Panacea / V. Bacchus Plateau / VI. The Fountain (19:44) |
| Archives : Allmusic album Review : By 1978, Rush was one of hard rocks most promising acts. 2112, ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE, and A FAREWEEL TO KINGS had all gone gold in the U.S., and the band began headlining arenas worldwide. Sensing that new fans were probably unaware of Rushs first three less commercially successful albums (1973s self-titled debut, 1974s FLY BY NIGHT, and 1975s CARESS OF STEEL), Rushs label at the time, Mercury, re-issued all three in the box set ARCHIVES. On its debut album, the trio apes Led Zeppelin musically, lyrically, and (most obviously) vocally, as original drummer John Rutsey makes his only appearance on a Rush album. Tracks like "Finding My Way" and "Working Man" remain fan favorites to this day. FLY BY NIGHT was the first record to include drummer Neil Peart, who immediately became Rushs chief lyricist, with the selections "Anthem," "In the End," and the title track proving to be vast improvements over those of the debut. With CARESS OF STEEL, Rush attempted to create an epic work, with lengthy tracks like "Necromancer" and "Fountain of Lamneth." | ||
 | Album: 8 of 35 Title: Hemispheres Released: 1978-11 Tracks: 4 Duration: 36:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cygnus X‒1, Book II: Hemispheres: I. Prelude / II. Apollo: Bringer of Wisdom / III. Dionysus: Bringer of Love / IV. Armageddon: The Battle of Heart and Mind / V. Cygnus: Bringer of Balance / VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream (18:08) 2 Circumstances (03:44) 3 The Trees (04:45) 4 La Villa Strangiato (09:35) |
| Hemispheres : Allmusic album Review : Rush began life as a power trio in the Led Zeppelin/heavy rock mode. Over the years the band refined their musical vision as they gained both instrumental and conceptual facility. 1978s HEMISPHERES marks their transition from heavy riff-mongers to full blown art-rockers. Lee, Lifeson and Peart employ a number of tricks from the prog-rock bag here; (very) extended songs, multi-part suites, long instrumental passages, rapidly shifting tempos and time signatures, complicated unison riffs and synthesizer orchestrations. Its to Rushs credit that these elements enhance their sound instead of obscuring it. In fact, "La Villa Strangiato" would become one of the bands best-loved 70s efforts and a long-standing concert favorite. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 35 Title: Permanent Waves Released: 1980-01-01 Tracks: 6 Duration: 35:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 2 Freewill (05:24) 3 Jacob’s Ladder (07:31) 4 Entre Nous (04:38) 5 Different Strings (03:52) 6 Natural Science (09:16) |
| Permanent Waves : Allmusic album Review : Since Neil Peart joined the band in time for 1975s Fly by Night, Rush had been experimenting and growing musically with each successive release. By 1980s Permanent Waves, the modern sounds of new wave (the Police, Peter Gabriel, etc.) began to creep into Rushs sound, but the trio still kept their hard rock roots intact. The new approach paid off -- two of their most popular songs, the "make a difference" anthem "Freewill," and a tribute to the Toronto radio station CFNY, "The Spirit of Radio" (the latter a U.K. Top 15 hit), are spectacular highlights. Also included were two "epics," the stormy "Jacobs Ladder" and the album-closing "Natural Science," which contains a middle section that contains elements of reggae. Geddy Lee also began singing in a slightly lower register around this time, which made their music more accessible to fans outside of the heavy prog rock circle. The album proved to be the final breakthrough Rush needed to become an arena headliner throughout the world, beginning a string of albums that would reach inside the Top Five of the U.S. Billboard album charts. Permanent Waves is an undisputed hard rock classic, but Rush would outdo themselves with their next release. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 35 Title: Moving Pictures Released: 1981-01 Tracks: 7 Duration: 40:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 2 Red Barchetta (06:10) 3 YYZ (04:26) 4 Limelight (04:20) 5 The Camera Eye (11:00) 6 Witch Hunt (04:45) 7 Vital Signs (04:46) |
| Moving Pictures : Allmusic album Review : Not only is 1981s Moving Pictures Rushs best album, it is undeniably one of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. The new wave meets hard rock approach of Permanent Waves is honed to perfection -- all seven of the tracks are classics (four are still featured regularly in concert and on classic rock radio). While other hard rock bands at the time experimented unsuccessfully with other musical styles, Rush were one of the few to successfully cross over. The whole entire first side is perfect -- their most renowned song, "Tom Sawyer," kicks things off, and is soon followed by the racing "Red Barchetta," the instrumental "YYZ," and a song that examines the pros and cons of stardom, "Limelight." And while the second side isnt as instantly striking as the first, it is ultimately rewarding. The long and winding "The Camera Eye" begins with a synth-driven piece before transforming into one of the bands more straight-ahead epics, while "Witch Hunt" and "Vital Signs" remain two of the trios more underrated rock compositions. Rush proved with Moving Pictures that there was still uncharted territory to explore within the hard rock format, and were rewarded with their most enduring and popular album. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 35 Title: Exit… Stage Left Released: 1981-10 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:16:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Radio (05:13) 2 Red Barchetta (06:49) 3 YYZ (07:45) 4 A Passage to Bangkok (03:47) 5 Closer to the Heart (03:08) 6 Beneath, Between & Behind (02:35) 7 Jacob’s Ladder (08:47) 8 Broon’s Bane (01:36) 9 The Trees (04:50) 10 Xanadu (12:10) 11 Freewill (05:32) 12 Tom Sawyer (05:00) 13 La Villa Strangiato (09:37) |
 | Album: 12 of 35 Title: Signals Released: 1982-09 Tracks: 8 Duration: 42:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Subdivisions (05:34) 2 The Analog Kid (04:48) 3 Chemistry (04:58) 4 Digital Man (06:22) 5 The Weapon (06:24) 6 New World Man (03:43) 7 Losing It (04:53) 8 Countdown (05:49) |
| Signals : Allmusic album Review : Instead of playing it safe and writing Moving Pictures, Pt. II, Rush replaced their heavy rock of yesteryear with even more modern sounds for 1982s Signals. Synthesizers were now an integral part of the bands sound, and replaced electric guitars as the driving force for almost all the tracks. And more current and easier-to-grasp topics (teen peer pressure, repression, etc.) replaced their trusty old sci-fi-inspired lyrics. While other rock bands suddenly added keyboards to their sound to widen their appeal, Rush gradually merged electronics into their music over the years, so such tracks as the popular MTV video "Subdivisions" did not come as a shock to longtime fans. And Rush didnt forget how to rock out -- "The Analog Kid" and "Digital Man" were some of their most up-tempo compositions in years. The surprise hit, "New World Man," and "Chemistry" combined reggae and rock (begun on 1980s Permanent Waves), "The Weapon" bordered on new wave, the placid "Losing It" featured Ben Mink on electric violin, while the epic closer "Countdown" painted a vivid picture of a space shuttle launch. Signals proved that Rush were successfully adapting to the musical climate of the early 80s. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 35 Title: Grace Under Pressure Released: 1984-04-12 Tracks: 8 Duration: 39:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 2 Afterimage (05:05) 3 Red Sector A (05:11) 4 The Enemy Within (04:36) 5 The Body Electric (05:02) 6 Kid Gloves (04:20) 7 Red Lenses (04:44) 8 Between the Wheels (05:44) |
| Grace Under Pressure : Allmusic album Review : Grace Under Pressure was the first Rush album since 1975s Fly by Night to not be produced by Terry Brown, who was replaced by Peter Henderson (Supertramp, Paul McCartney). The change resulted in a slightly more accessible sound than its predecessor, Signals, and marked the beginning of a period where many Rush fans feel that synths and electronics were used too prominently -- in effect pushing guitarist Alex Lifeson into the background. The songwriting and lyrics were still strong however, as evidenced by the video/single "Distant Early Warning" (a tale about nuclear war) and the often-overlooked highlight "Kid Gloves," one of the albums few songs to feature Lifeson upfront. Other standouts include a tribute to a friend of the band who had recently passed away, "Afterimage," the disturbing "Red Sector A" (which details a concentration camp), and one of Rushs first funk-based songs, "The Enemy Within." Whereas most other rock bands formed in the 1970s put out unfocused and uninspired work in the 1980s (which sounds very dated), Rushs Grace Under Pressure remains an exception. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 35 Title: Power Windows Released: 1985-10-14 Tracks: 8 Duration: 44:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Big Money (05:35) 2 Grand Designs (05:06) 3 Manhattan Project (05:07) 4 Marathon (06:09) 5 Territories (06:20) 6 Middletown Dreams (05:15) 7 Emotion Detector (05:11) 8 Mystic Rhythms (05:53) |
| Power Windows : Allmusic album Review : Like much of the bands 80s output, Power Windows finds Rush juggling their hard-rock heritage with new technology to mixed results. With Alex Lifeson choosing sparse, horn-like guitar bursts over actual crunch, Geddy Lees synthesizers running rampant, and Neil Pearts crisp, clinical percussion and stark lyrical themes (evoking cold urban landscapes), the result just may be the trios "coldest" album ever. Still, it does boast its share of important tracks in "Marathon" and "Manhattan Project," while offering an energetic, tongue-in-cheeck hit single in "The Big Money." In an album that rewards patience (repeated listens are the key), the most gripping moments are saved for last, with the beautifully eerie textures of "Mystic Rhythms," a song that was later used as a concert drum solo showcase for Peart. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 35 Title: Hold Your Fire Released: 1987-09-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 50:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Force Ten (04:32) 2 Time Stand Still (05:09) 3 Open Secrets (05:38) 4 Second Nature (04:36) 5 Prime Mover (05:20) 6 Lock and Key (05:09) 7 Mission (05:17) 8 Turn the Page (04:55) 9 Tai Shan (04:16) 10 High Water (05:33) |
| Hold Your Fire : Allmusic album Review : Hold Your Fire is an album in the purest sense; infinitely greater than the sum of its parts, it gradually draws in the listener by slowly revealing its nuances and secrets. While the use of keyboards is still overwhelming at times, Geddy Lee employs lush textures which, when coupled with a greater rhythmic and melodic presence from guitarist Alex Lifeson, results in a far warmer sound than in recent efforts. Of course, drummer Neil Peart is as inventive and exciting as ever, while his lyrics focus on the various elements (earth, air, water, fire) for much of the album. Opener "Force Ten" is the bands most immediate number in years, and other early favorites such as "Time Stand Still" and "Turn the Page" soon give way to the darker mysteries of "Prime Mover" and "Tai Shan." The multifaceted "Lock and Key" is quintessential Rush, and sets the stage for the albums climax with the sheer beauty of "Mission." As was the case with 1976s 2112 and 1981s Moving Pictures, Rush always seem to produce some of their best work at the end of each four-album cycle, and Hold Your Fire is no exception. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 35 Title: Presto Released: 1989-11-07 Tracks: 11 Duration: 52:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Show Don’t Tell (05:01) 2 Chain Lightning (04:33) 3 The Pass (04:50) 4 War Paint (05:24) 5 Scars (04:07) 6 Presto (05:46) 7 Superconductor (04:47) 8 Anagram (for Mongo) (03:59) 9 Red Tide (04:30) 10 Hand Over Fist (04:10) 11 Available Light (05:04) |
| Presto : Allmusic album Review : Throughout their career, Rush have always been a band that you could count on to push the boundaries of what rock was capable of, and their discography contains a laundry list of ambitious albums that helped to bring prog to a wider audience. Having said that, Presto is not one of those albums. On this return to a more guitar-oriented sound after the synth period that dominated the 80s, the bandmembers emerge from the electronic fog and try to reorient themselves to once again working with their more traditional setup. While none of the songs here are out-and-out terrible, listening to the album definitely gives you the sense that things just arent quite clicking, as if the band is just a little bit rusty after stepping away from this kind of songwriting for nearly a decade. This makes Presto a perfectly workmanlike album from a band that made a name for itself with its creativity, containing all the ingredients of a Rush album minus the sense of ambition and fun that ran through the veins of the groups earlier work. And though this isnt an album you necessarily need to run from, a brisk walk to their work from the 70s is advisable. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 35 Title: Chronicles Released: 1990-09-04 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:24:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Finding My Way (05:07) 2 Working Man (07:09) 3 Fly by Night (03:22) 4 Anthem (04:27) 5 Bastille Day (04:40) 6 Lakeside Park (04:10) 7 2112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of Syrinx (06:45) 8 What You’re Doing (05:40) 9 A Farewell to Kings (05:53) 10 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 11 The Trees (04:45) 12 La Villa Strangiato (09:35) 13 Freewill (05:24) 14 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 1 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 2 Red Barchetta (06:10) 3 Limelight (04:20) 4 A Passage to Bangkok (03:47) 5 Subdivisions (05:34) 6 New World Man (03:43) 7 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 8 Red Sector A (05:11) 9 The Big Money (05:35) 10 Manhattan Project (05:07) 11 Force Ten (04:32) 12 Time Stand Still (05:09) 13 Mystic Rhythms (05:42) 14 Show Don’t Tell (05:01) |
| Chronicles : Allmusic album Review : Though the band has since released four more albums on Atlantic Records, this double-disc set was the original, definitive Rush anthology, spanning the bands entire 15-year, 16-album relationship with Mercury Records. In fact, this set is virtually perfect, clearly illustrating the Canadian power trios evolution from Cream/Zeppelin enthusiasts into a groundbreaking, progressive hard rock unit. Acclaimed classics like "Finding My Way," "Fly by Night," "A Passage to Bangkok," "Closer to the Heart," "The Spirit of Radio," and "Tom Sawyer" are interspersed with less-well-known, but equally vital tracks like "Bastille Day," "La Villa Strangiato," "Limelight," "Subdivisions," and "Red Sector A" to paint a literal moving picture (pun intended) of the bands career. As a testament to its excellence, Mercury was incapable of improving upon this package when releasing the nearly identical Retrospective six years later on two separate CDs. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 35 Title: Roll the Bones Released: 1991-09-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 48:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dreamline (04:37) 2 Bravado (04:35) 3 Roll the Bones (05:30) 4 Face Up (03:54) 5 Wheres My Thing? (Part IV, “Gangster of Boats” Trilogy) (03:49) 6 The Big Wheel (05:12) 7 Heresy (05:25) 8 Ghost of a Chance (05:18) 9 Neurotica (04:40) 10 You Bet Your Life (04:59) |
| Roll the Bones : Allmusic album Review : From a lyrical perspective, 1991s Roll the Bones is quite possibly Rushs darkest album (most of the songs deal with death in no uncertain terms), but from a musical point of view, the record treads territory (highbrow melodic hard rock) similar to its recent predecessors, with only a few surprises thrown in for good measure. These include an amusing rap section in the middle of the title track, a welcome return to instrumentals with "Wheres my Thing?," and one of the bands finest songs of the 90s in the gutsy "Dreamline." "Neurotica" is another highlight which lives up to its title, and though their negative subject matter can feel stifling at times, fine tracks like "Bravado," "The Big Wheel," and "Heresy" feature wonderful melodies and arrangements. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 35 Title: Counterparts Released: 1993-10-19 Tracks: 11 Duration: 54:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Animate (06:03) 2 Stick It Out (04:30) 3 Cut to the Chase (04:48) 4 Nobody’s Hero (04:55) 5 Between Sun & Moon (04:37) 6 Alien Shore (05:47) 7 The Speed of Love (05:02) 8 Double Agent (04:52) 9 Leave That Thing Alone (04:05) 10 Cold Fire (04:26) 11 Everyday Glory (05:11) |
| Counterparts : Allmusic album Review : By 1993, alternative rock had arrived in a big way, and surprisingly, Canadian veterans Rush were game, releasing their most honest and organic rock & roll record in over a decade with Counterparts. Opener "Animate" is straightforward enough, but doesnt even hint at the guitar ferocity and lyrical angst of "Stick it Out," a song which undoubtedly polarizes Rush fans to this day. Intellectual melodic rockers like "Cut to the Chase," "At the Speed of Love," and "Everyday Glory" are also present (and less shocking), but diversity continues to rule the day with Geddy Lees bass taking charge on the amazingly somber "Double Agent" and the giddy instrumental "Leave That Thing Alone." Pure hard rock resurfaces on "Cold Fire," but it is the largely acoustic "Nobodys Hero" which provides the albums most gripping moment with an impassioned plea for HIV consciousness and understanding. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 35 Title: Test for Echo Released: 1996-09-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 54:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Test for Echo (05:55) 2 Driven (04:27) 3 Half the World (03:42) 4 The Color of Right (04:48) 5 Time and Motion (05:01) 6 Totem (04:58) 7 Dog Years (05:28) 1 Virtuality (05:43) 2 Resist (04:36) 3 Limbo (05:28) 4 Carve Away the Stone (04:05) |
| Test for Echo : Allmusic album Review : After flirting (albeit mildly) with alternative rock on Counterparts, Rush returns to classic progressive rock on Test for Echo. Cutting back many of the AOR production flourishes that hampered most of their late-80s and early-90s releases, the band concentrates on the sounds and styles that made albums like Moving Pictures huge successes in the late 70s and early 80s. Test for Echo is all instrumental gymnastics and convoluted song structures, all of which demonstrate each members skills. And the key to the album is the individual performances, since each song isnt particularly memorable as a song, only as a way to showcase the solos. With Rush, such a tactic isnt necessarily a bad thing, since they have always been better at playing than writing, and they have rarely played better in the past ten years than they have on Test for Echo. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 35 Title: Retrospective I: 1974-1980 Released: 1997-05-06 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:15:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 2 The Trees (04:45) 3 Something for Nothing (04:00) 4 Freewill (05:24) 5 Xanadu (11:07) 6 Bastille Day (04:40) 7 By-Tor and the Snow Dog (08:39) 8 Anthem (04:27) 9 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 10 2112: I. Overture (04:32) 11 The Temples of Syrinx (02:13) 12 La Villa Strangiato (09:35) 13 Fly by Night (03:22) 14 Finding My Way (05:07) |
| Retrospective I: 1974-1980 : Allmusic album Review : Retrospective, Vol. 1 (1974-1980) was designed to replace the double-disc set Chronicles, and it is, in fact, a better compilation than its predecessor. By concentrating on Rushs earliest albums -- from 1974s Rush to 1980s Permanent Waves -- the album draws an excellent portrait of the groups artiest work, leaving their hard rock radio hits for Retrospective, Vol. 2. Meanwhile, Vol. 1 contains nearly all of the highlights from their 70s albums, including "Closer to the Heart" and "Fly by Night," making it a nearly flawless encapsulation of their early career. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 35 Title: Retrospective II: 1981-1987 Released: 1997-06-03 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:17:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Big Money (05:35) 2 Red Barchetta (06:10) 3 Subdivisions (05:34) 4 Time Stand Still (05:09) 5 Mystic Rhythms (05:53) 6 The Analog Kid (04:48) 7 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 8 Marathon (06:09) 9 The Body Electric (05:02) 10 Mission (05:17) 11 Limelight (04:20) 12 Red Sector A (05:11) 13 New World Man (03:43) 14 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 15 Force Ten (04:32) |
| Retrospective II: 1981-1987 : Allmusic album Review : Retrospective, Vol. 2 (1981-1987) picks up where Retrospective, Vol. 1 left off, the time period when Rush became an arena rock sensation with each of their albums reaching the Top Ten. The set begins with several selections from their most popular album, 1981s Moving Pictures, and ends with 1987s Hold Your Fire. In between, many of the trios most familiar songs -- "Tom Sawyer," "New World Man," "Limelight," "Distant Early Warning," and "Time Stand Still" -- are featured, making this an excellent overview of the groups hard rock heyday. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 35 Title: Vapor Trails Released: 2002-05-14 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:07:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One Little Victory (05:08) 2 Ceiling Unlimited (05:28) 3 Ghost Rider (05:41) 4 Peaceable Kingdom (05:23) 5 The Stars Look Down (04:28) 6 How It Is (04:05) 7 Vapor Trail (04:57) 8 Secret Touch (06:34) 9 Earthshine (05:38) 10 Sweet Miracle (03:40) 11 Nocturne (04:49) 12 Freeze (Part IV of “Fear”) (06:21) 13 Out of the Cradle (05:03) |
| Vapor Trails : Allmusic album Review : Most longtime Rush fans realize that a new album from the Canadian trio in the early 21st century is quite an accomplishment. After drummer Neil Pearts much-publicized tragic turn of events in his private life not long after Rushs 1996 release Test for Echo (the death of both his teenaged daughter and wife less than a year apart), the groups future was understandably cast into doubt. Slowly but surely, however, the band regained their footing and issued their 17th studio album in 2002, Vapor Trails. You would think that a veteran band entering their fourth decade together would perhaps mellow out a bit, but this doesnt prove to be case, as evidenced by the leadoff track "One Little Victory," while the majority of the album follows the same direct and hard-hitting sound as their past couple of releases (fans of the groups more synth-based and sterile mid-80s style will have to look elsewhere). Peart, who remains the groups main lyricist, opts to conquer such challenging subject matter as the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on "Peaceable Kingdom," while bits of the lyric to "Ghost Rider" ("Pack up all those phantoms/Shoulder that invisible load") lead the listener to believe that perhaps the drummer is sharing his personal healing process with the fans. Other standouts include the melodic "Sweet Miracle," the explosive "Out of the Cradle," the mid-paced title track, and "Earthshine," the latter of which showcases how fine Lees voice has matured (especially when compared to his high-piercing shriek on Rushs early albums). All in all, Vapor Trails does an amiable job of signaling the welcome return of Rush. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 35 Title: The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 Released: 2003-02 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:19:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Working Man (07:09) 2 Fly by Night (03:22) 3 2112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of Syrinx (06:45) 4 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 5 The Trees (04:45) 6 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 7 Freewill (05:24) 8 Limelight (04:20) 9 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 10 Red Barchetta (06:10) 11 New World Man (03:43) 12 Subdivisions (05:34) 13 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 14 The Big Money (05:35) 15 Force Ten (04:32) 16 Time Stand Still (05:09) |
| The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 : Allmusic album Review : Although an actual description does not exist as to what songs can comprise a greatest-hits collection, it is generally assumed that the disc will contain the biggest and best-charting singles that have been issued by an artist. So it may seem odd for Rush to release a greatest-hits collection when the group has had just one Top 40 pop singles hit in their long career; but if you factor in the amount of rock radio airplay given to these songs, then The Spirit of Radio contains, in essence, the greatest hits of Rush. Spanning their 13-year association with the Mercury label, The Spirit of Radio contains 16 of Rushs best-known songs that have been floating around the rock radio airwaves for years. Arranged chronologically from 1974s Zeppelin-esque "Working Man," to 1987s majestic "Time Stand Still," this concise, single-disc collection represents Rush during their most productive period. Previous attempts by Mercury to summarize Rushs career have resulted in a pair of sprawling double-disc collections (1991s Chronicles, and 1997s two-volume Retrospective) that provided too much material for the casual fan. The Spirit of Radio trims the excess fat and presents a lean set of songs that showcase all the best elements of Rush: guitar-driven rock ("Fly by Night"), arena rock anthems ("The Spirit of Radio"), social commentaries ("The Trees"), epic sci-fi excursions ("2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx"), and bold synth experiments ("Subdivisions"). Along with what is arguably their most enduring classic track, "Tom Sawyer," and their biggest pop hit, "New World Man," the songs on this compilation have become radio staples that continue to garner airplay decades after their initial release. In that regard, The Spirit of Radio more than qualifies as a greatest-hits package, and provides an excellent overview of one of rocks most successful and innovative bands. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 35 Title: Feedback Released: 2004-06-05 Tracks: 8 Duration: 27:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Summertime Blues (03:52) 2 Heart Full of Soul (02:52) 3 For What Its Worth (03:30) 4 The Seeker (03:27) 5 Mr. Soul (03:51) 6 Seven and Seven Is (02:53) 7 Shapes of Things (03:16) 8 Crossroads (03:26) |
| Feedback : Allmusic album Review : This is a riot! Rather than put out some windy and dreary box set to celebrate their 30th anniversary, Canadas seminal power prog band and one of big rocks most enduring units turns the tables and lays out hot and heavy covers of eight classics from the annals of rock & roll history. The track list is amazing, and the cool thing is that the arrangements of these nuggets are not all ripped up and mutated, either. "Summertime Blues" may begin as a nod to Jimi Hendrixs "Foxy Lady," but it comes roaring back as an acknowledged homage to the Whos Live at Leeds version. The version of Stephen Stills "For What Its Worth" begins as a slippery little acoustic tune but quickly turns into a heavy, droning rock orgy. "The Seeker" goes for the jugular in the same way that the Whos did; Geddys sneer has a little less contempt than Daltreys but its just as hungry and desperate. "Heart Full of Soul" is pure psychedelic Yardbirds elegance with a bunch of space and dimension added to redeem the track for the 21st century. The backmasked guitars on "Mr. Soul" and Neil Pearts deliberate mix of thud and snap give the cut a solid footing for Alex Lifeson to unhurriedly coax Lees vocal along the lyric. The ringing of Lifesons chords that barely hold this side of overblown feedback is masterful in keeping the original spirit of the song while future-dating its sonics. Rushs read of "Seven and Seven Is" is much faster that Loves original, but its barely-on-the-rails tempo is welcome in lieu of the fact that these guys are all in their fifties and play like theyre kids. "Shapes of Things to Come" is fun, and a real attempt to provide nuance to a great song, especially the cross-channel fading in the guitar mix. But on "Crossroads," the other bookend of this EP, Rush give a romper-stomper wailing performance of Creams arrangement of Robert Johnsons seminal blues tune. Lifeson leaves Eric whats-his-name in the dust. Lee may not be the vocalist that Jack Bruce is but he kicks his ass as a bass player, and his moment of glory in this cut tears the roof off the song. None of these tunes are done with an ounce of camp. What the listener encounters is a Rush that has never ever been heard before: they indulge in the hero-worship and dream roots of the garage band that eventually became Rush, and they simultaneously search for the young garage band whose members never dreamed theyd be playing these tunes 30 years later as Rush. Anyone who thinks that there is no life left in the classics of the genre needs to hear this. That something this wild and freewheeling could only be pulled off by a band with 30 years experience is not only worth noting, but celebrating. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 35 Title: Gold Released: 2006-04-25 Tracks: 29 Duration: 2:35:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 2 The Trees (04:45) 3 Freewill (05:24) 4 Xanadu (11:04) 5 Bastille Day (04:38) 6 By-Tor and the Snow Dog (08:39) 7 Anthem (04:27) 8 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 9 2112 Overture (04:32) 10 The Temples of Syrinx (02:13) 11 La Villa Strangiato (09:35) 12 Fly by Night (03:22) 13 Finding My Way (05:07) 14 Working Man (07:09) 1 The Big Money (05:35) 2 Red Barchetta (06:10) 3 Subdivisions (05:34) 4 Time Stand Still (05:09) 5 Mystic Rhythms (05:53) 6 The Analog Kid (04:47) 7 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 8 Marathon (06:09) 9 The Body Electric (05:00) 10 Mission (05:16) 11 Limelight (04:20) 12 Red Sector A (05:11) 13 New World Man (03:43) 14 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 15 Force Ten (04:32) |
| Gold : Allmusic album Review : Not as expansive as the impressive Chronicles, this edition of the excellent Gold series covers many of the greatest hits from one of Canadas top exports and finest contributors to the rock & roll tapestry. Largely covering Rush during the 70s and early 80s, Golds track sequencing is wildly erratic with no real logic in place concerning how the songs blend into one another. But all of the hits are here, from the earliest -- "Working Man" and "Free Will" -- all the way up to the later MTV favorites. This covers pretty much all that a casual fan will ever need. Diehards will most likely own all of these songs thanks to Chronicles, but those who slept on that anthology would be well served in picking this up to fill holes in their collection. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 35 Title: Snakes & Arrows Released: 2007-05-01 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:02:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Far Cry (05:18) 2 Armor and Sword (06:36) 3 Workin’ Them Angels (04:46) 4 The Larger Bowl (04:07) 5 Spindrift (05:23) 6 The Main Monkey Business (06:01) 7 The Way the Wind Blows (06:28) 8 Hope (02:02) 9 Faithless (05:31) 10 Bravest Face (05:11) 11 Good News First (04:51) 12 Malignant Narcissism (02:16) 13 We Hold On (04:12) |
| Snakes & Arrows : Allmusic album Review : When Rush issued Vapor Trails in 2002, they revealed that -- even after Neil Pearts personal tragedies in the 1990s had cast the groups future in doubt -- they were back with a vengeance. The sound was hard-hitting, direct, and extremely focused. Lyrically, Peart went right after the subject matter he was dealing with -- and it was in the aftermath of 9/11 as well, which couldnt help but influence his lyric writing. In 2004 the band issued a covers EP that was in one way a toss-off, but in another a riotous act of freewheeling joy that offered a side of the band no one had heard for 30 years. There were a couple of live offerings and a 30th anniversary project as well that kept fans happy perhaps, but broke -- though Rush in Rio was the kind of live album every band hopes to record. Snakes & Arrows represents the bands 18th studio album. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, Superdrag), the record is another heavy guitar, bass, and drums...drums...and more drums record. The title came -- unconsciously according to Peart -- from a centuries-old Buddhist game of the same name about karma, and also from a play on the words of the childrens game Chutes and Ladders. Its subject matter is heavy duty: faith and war. From the opening track (and first single), acoustic and electric guitars, bass hum, and Pearts crash-and-thrum urgency in the almighty riff are all present. When Geddy Lee opens his mouth, you know you are in for a ride: "Pariah dogs and wandering madmen/Barking at strangers and speaking in tongues/The ebb and flow of tidal fortune/Electrical charges are charging up the young/Its a far cry from the world we thought wed inherit/Its a far cry from the way we thought wed share it...." At the same time, inside the frame of the refrain, Lee refuses to be conquered in the face of chaos: "One day I feel like Im ahead of the wheel/And the next its rolling over me/I can get back on/I can get back on." Alex Lifesons guitars swell and Pearts crash cymbals ride the riff and push Lee to sing above the wailing fray. Great beginning. "Armor and Sword" contains an instrumental surprise. After an initial ride-cymbal clash, the guitar and bassline sound exactly like King Crimson playing something from Red or Larks Tongues in Aspic. The theme is repeated on an acoustic guitar before Lee begins singing about the shadowy side of human nature brought on by the many times children are scarred in development. The boom and crackle of electric guitars and bass are all there, but so is that sense of melody that Rush have trademarked as Lee states, "...No one gets to their heaven without a fight/We hold beliefs as a consolation/A way to take us out of ourselves...." There is no screed for or against religion per se, but a stake in the claim of hope and faith as absolutely necessary to accomplish anything, hence the refrain. Peart beautifully articulates the dark side of lifes undersurface; he has been writing the best lyrics of his entire career on the bands last two studio records -- only two in the last ten years. The dynamic works against the melody and Lifesons brief but screaming solo is a fine cap on it. "Workin Them Angels" blends the acoustic against the electrics gorgeously, and Lee sings counterpoint to the guitars. "The Larger Bowl" is one of those Rush tunes that builds and builds both lyrically and musically, beginning with only Lees voice and Lifesons acoustic guitar. Its shift-and-knot rhythms and spatial dynamics offer the impression -- as does the rest of the album -- that the bandmembers are playing in the same room at the same time (it happened to a lesser degree on Vapor Trails, but here the impression is constant). The sounds -- both hard and soft -- blend together wonderfully. The live feel of the record with its sonic washes and overdubbed guitars and vocals creates near chaos without loss of control. Its like teetering on the edge of an abyss with one eye on both sides of it. Song by song, the notions of tension build, taking the listener to a place where hope and faith are challenged continually, not only in the face of the entire world, but in ones personal relationships -- check "Spindrift." Echoes of T.S. Eliots The Waste Land, Robert Frost, Matthew Arnold, and The Odyssey are glanced upon, as is The Dhammapada in the Buddhist scriptures -- with more of a thematic than referential purpose. Amid all this seriousness, there is a bit of humor. The instrumental track "Malignant Narcissism" references a line in the comedic film Team America: World Police from Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame. It comes from a line in the film that reveals how terrorists think. Its one of three absolutely stunning instrumentals; another is "The Main Monkey Business," which sounds like the closest Rush have gotten to jamming in the studio in over 20 years. Think of the intensity of 2112 with the musicianship of Vapor Trails, and you begin to get a picture: screaming guitars, deep bass thrum, soaring keyboards, and all those pop-and-boom drums from Pearts massive kit. "The Way the Wind Blows" is Rush taking on the blues in massive metallic style, and it feels more like Cream in the intro. Lees vocal drives deep inside the lyric -- its tense, paranoid, yet revelatory. Its about the perverse magnetism of religion and war, and how both are seemingly designed to be cause and effect: fanatical religiosity leads to war. There are different theories on this, but Peart distills them well, as if hes read (but not necessarily completely understood) René Girards seminal work Violence and the Sacred. The album changes pace a bit with the instrumental "Hope," a largely 12-string acoustic guitar piece played off a medieval theme by Lifeson. "Faithless" is anything but. Its one of those Rush tracks where counterpoint vocals against the guitars and basslines create that unique welling of sound that occurs when the band is at its peak on-stage. The set ends with "We Hold On," a track that expresses the sum total of all the struggles life offers and holds. Here Eliot the poet is quoted directly at the end of the third verse. Its anthemic, with backmasked guitars, Peart playing actual breaks, and Lees bass holding the chaos together with a constant pulsing throb, guiding the various knotty musical changes back to the center of the verse and refrain, which is the place where the cut just explodes in sonic fury. Snakes & Arrows is one of the tightest conceptual records the band has ever released. Musically, it is as strong as their very best material, without a lapse in texture, composition, production, musicianship, or sheer rock intensity. There are real heart and fire in this album. It was well worth waiting for. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 35 Title: Retrospective 3 Released: 2009-03-03 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:11:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One Little Victory (remix) (05:10) 2 Dreamline (04:39) 3 Workin’ Them Angels (04:46) 4 Presto (05:48) 5 Bravado (04:37) 6 Driven (04:27) 7 The Pass (04:52) 8 Animate (06:03) 9 Roll the Bones (05:32) 10 Ghost of a Chance (live) (05:51) 11 Nobody’s Hero (04:55) 12 Leave That Thing Alone (04:05) 13 Earthshine (remix) (05:38) 14 Far Cry (05:18) |
| Retrospective 3 : Allmusic album Review : Few bands warrant, let alone deserve, a three-volume retrospective. Rush, however, make the case. As a concern, Rush are still going strong -- perhaps stronger than ever as a live attraction -- and their studio albums in the 21st century have been as heavy as anything theyve ever cut, and very consistent in terms of quality. Rush have issued many compilations, but this makes three that bear the title Retrospective. The first volume covered the years 1974-1980, which addressed the period between their self-titled debut long-player and Permanent Waves; the second covered 1981-1987, bookmarked by the recordings Moving Pictures and Hold Your Fire; and this set covering 1989-2007 tracks the full-lengths Presto through Snakes & Arrows. Taken as a whole, these three CDs provide an excellent overview of a band that has continued to develop its sound, push its own boundaries, and remain timeless without concessions to trends or music biz nonsense. This third volume is on its surface the most unspectacular of the three, but appearances -- in this case at least -- prove deceptive. Arranged aesthetically rather than chronologically, Retrospective, Vol. 3 has been assembled to play through as an album. There are two tracks from each of the seven albums documented here, including "One Little Victory" and "Earthshine," both from the acclaimed return to hard-edged rock of Vapor Trails in 2002. In addition, there is a live version of "Ghost of a Chance," from 1991s controversial but underrated Roll the Bones. But what really transpires through this listen is the feeling that Rush are still very much a band; they reached the end of a lull only to get hungry again, reached for a new zenith, and shook off the complacency of their position as a ponderous and progressive veteran stadium juggernaut. In turn, they became a taut, wily rock & roll band again, putting on epic shows and creating thought-provoking, ass-shaking hard rock records. This is the latest evidence. Heres hoping there is a Retrospective, Vol. 4. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 35 Title: Time Stand Still: The Collection Released: 2010-03-22 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:03:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 2 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 3 Freewill (05:24) 4 Fly by Night (03:22) 5 The Big Money (05:32) 6 Time Stand Still (05:09) 7 Limelight (04:20) 8 Finding My Way (05:07) 9 By-Tor and the Snow Dog (08:39) 10 A Passage to Bangkok (03:34) 11 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 12 The Trees (04:45) 13 Closer to the Heart (02:54) |
 | Album: 30 of 35 Title: ICON Released: 2010-08-31 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:03:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Working Man (07:10) 2 Fly by Night (03:22) 3 The Necromancer (12:30) 4 The Twilight Zone (03:17) 5 Closer to the Heart (02:53) 6 Circumstances (03:41) 7 Freewill (05:22) 8 Limelight (04:20) 9 The Analog Kid (04:48) 10 Red Sector A (05:10) 11 Marathon (06:10) 12 Force Ten (04:31) |
| ICON : Allmusic album Review : Universal’s 2010 12-track collection Icon misses several major Rush tunes -- there’s no “Tom Sawyer,” no “Red Barchetta,” no “New World Man,” no “Subdivisions,” no “Distant Early Warning,” not even “Time Stand Still” -- but it does have “Working Man,” “Fly by Night,” “Freewill” and “Limelight,” along with several other well-chosen album tracks, making for an entertaining sampler of Rush at their peak. | ||
 | Album: 31 of 35 Title: Sector 1 Released: 2011-11-21 Tracks: 37 Duration: 4:01:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Finding My Way (05:07) 2 Need Some Love (02:21) 3 Take a Friend (04:27) 4 Here Again (07:36) 5 What You’re Doing (04:23) 6 In the Mood (03:36) 7 Before and After (05:36) 8 Working Man (07:09) 1 Anthem (04:27) 2 Best I Can (03:28) 3 Beneath, Between & Behind (03:05) 4 By-Tor & The Snow Dog: I. At the Tobes of Hades / II. Across the Styx / III. Of the Battle / IV. Epilogue (08:39) 5 Fly by Night (03:22) 6 Making Memories (03:04) 7 Rivendell (04:59) 8 In the End (06:48) 1 Bastille Day (04:40) 2 I Think Im Going Bald (03:41) 3 Lakeside Park (04:10) 4 The Necromancer: I. Into the Darkness / II. Under the Shadow / III. Return of the Prince (12:32) 5 The Fountain of Lamneth: I. In the Valley / II. Didacts and Narpets / III. No One at the Bridge / IV. Panacea / V. Bacchus Plateau / VI. The Fountain (19:57) 1 2112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of Syrinx / III. Discovery / IV. Presentation / V. Oracle: The Dream / VI. Soliloquy / VII. Grand Finale (20:33) 2 A Passage to Bangkok (03:34) 3 The Twilight Zone (03:19) 4 Lessons (03:52) 5 Tears (03:34) 6 Something for Nothing (03:57) 1 Bastille Day (04:57) 2 Anthem (04:56) 3 Fly by Night / In the Mood (05:03) 4 Something for Nothing (04:02) 5 Lakeside Park (05:04) 6 2112 (15:50) 7 By-Tor & The Snow Dog (11:57) 8 In the End (07:13) 9 Working Man / Finding My Way (14:56) 10 What You’re Doing (05:40) |
| Sector 1 : Allmusic album Review : Taking listeners on a journey through Rushs seminal, prog-heavy early period, Sector 1 is the first in a series of three box sets released by the band in 2011. Collecting the bands first five albums, Rush, Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, 2112, and the live album All the World’s a Stage, the set shows Rush finding their feet artistically as they grow from a Led Zeppelin-inspired blues-rock band on their debut to the wildly ambitious band that released 2112, an album with a 20-minute title track. As a bit of nostalgia, the albums are all repackaged in CD scale re-creations of the original LP jackets, giving Rush fans the opportunity to pour over these albums as they were when they were released, even if it’s in a somewhat diminutive form. Also, as one would expect from a reissue, all of the albums here have been remastered, and for the audiophiles out there, the set even includes a bonus DVD-Audio version of Fly by Night, which features both a stereo and a 5.1 Surround mix of the album, making Sector 1 a great way to experience the early days of Rush. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 35 Title: Sector 2 Released: 2011-11-21 Tracks: 36 Duration: 3:46:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Farewell to Kings (05:53) 2 Xanadu (11:07) 3 Closer to the Heart (02:54) 4 Cinderella Man (04:22) 5 Madrigal (02:35) 6 Cygnus X-1, Book I: The Voyage (10:21) 1 Cygnus X‒1, Book II: Hemispheres: I. Prelude / II. Apollo: Bringer of Wisdom / III. Dionysus: Bringer of Love / IV. Armageddon: The Battle of Heart and Mind / V. Cygnus: Bringer of Balance / VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream (18:08) 2 Circumstances (03:44) 3 The Trees (04:45) 4 La Villa Strangiato (09:35) 1 The Spirit of Radio (04:58) 2 Freewill (05:24) 3 Jacob’s Ladder (07:31) 4 Entre Nous (04:38) 5 Different Strings (03:52) 6 Natural Science (09:16) 1 Tom Sawyer (04:34) 2 Red Barchetta (06:10) 3 YYZ (04:26) 4 Limelight (04:20) 5 The Camera Eye (11:00) 6 Witch Hunt (04:45) 7 Vital Signs (04:46) 1 The Spirit of Radio (05:13) 2 Red Barchetta (06:49) 3 YYZ (07:45) 4 A Passage to Bangkok (03:46) 5 Closer to the Heart (03:08) 6 Beneath, Between & Behind (02:35) 7 Jacob’s Ladder (08:47) 8 Broon’s Bane (01:36) 9 The Trees (04:49) 10 Xanadu (12:10) 11 Freewill (05:32) 12 Tom Sawyer (05:00) 13 La Villa Strangiato (09:37) |
| Sector 2 : Allmusic album Review : Neatly chopping up the band’s career into three segments, Rush’s Sector series of box sets breaks the Canadian prog rockers early musical legacy into easy-to-digest morsels. On Sector 2, we find the band transitioning from its early developmental period into mainstream success with the albums A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, and the live album Exit...Stage Left. This period of Rush’s history finds the band gaining acceptance from a wider audience with songs like “Tom Sawyer,” “Closer to the Heart,” and “The Spirit of Radio” while still managing to push its sound into increasingly progressive territories with more complex arrangements, new styles of music, and a wider range of instruments. This remastered box set features these iconic records repackaged in scale replicas of the original vinyl LP jackets, and those interested in a new listening experience will want to check out the DVD-Audio version of A Farewell to Kings, which features both stereo and 5.1 Surround mixes of the album. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 35 Title: Sector 3 Released: 2011-11-21 Tracks: 49 Duration: 4:11:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Subdivisions (05:34) 2 The Analog Kid (04:48) 3 Chemistry (04:58) 4 Digital Man (06:22) 5 The Weapon (06:24) 6 New World Man (03:43) 7 Losing It (04:53) 8 Countdown (05:49) 1 Distant Early Warning (04:57) 2 Afterimage (05:04) 3 Red Sector A (05:10) 4 The Enemy Within (04:38) 5 The Body Electric (05:00) 6 Kid Gloves (04:20) 7 Red Lenses (04:44) 8 Between the Wheels (05:45) 1 The Big Money (05:37) 2 Grand Designs (05:06) 3 Manhattan Project (05:07) 4 Marathon (06:09) 5 Territories (06:20) 6 Middletown Dreams (05:15) 7 Emotion Detector (05:11) 8 Mystic Rhythms (05:53) 1 Force Ten (04:32) 2 Time Stand Still (05:08) 3 Open Secrets (05:37) 4 Second Nature (04:35) 5 Prime Mover (05:19) 6 Lock and Key (05:10) 7 Mission (05:16) 8 Turn the Page (04:54) 9 Tai Shan (04:17) 10 High Water (05:32) 1 Intro (00:53) 2 The Big Money (05:58) 3 Subdivisions (05:22) 4 Marathon (06:38) 5 Turn the Page (04:39) 6 Manhattan Project (05:18) 7 Mission (05:45) 8 Distant Early Warning (05:14) 9 Mystic Rhythms (05:33) 10 Witch Hunt (Part III: Of Fear) (03:57) 11 The Rhythm Method (04:37) 12 Force Ten (04:55) 13 Time Stand Still (05:12) 14 Red Sector A (05:17) 15 Closer to the Heart (04:53) |
| Sector 3 : Allmusic album Review : Sector 3, the third installment of Rush’s Sector series of box sets, finds the band diving headlong into the ‘80s with a more synth-oriented approach. Featuring the albums Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, and the live album A Show of Hands, this period of Rushs career finds them focusing more on Geddy Lee’s multi-layered synthesizer excursions and finds guitarist Alex Lifeson moving into more of a support role as he begins to experiment with a more effects-heavy sound. Despite these changes, it would still prove to be a strong period for them as three albums in the set achieved platinum status in the United States (with all five of them hitting platinum in their native Canada). Serving as a blast from the past, these remastered reissues are repackaged in tiny re-creations of the original vinyl LP jackets, and the set also features a 52-page booklet containing lyrics and unreleased photos from the era. Also of interest to die-hard fans and audiophiles, the set includes a DVD-Audio version of Signals that contains both stereo and 5.1 Surround mixes of the album for those who wish to explore all the sonic depths that the album has to offer. | ||
 | Album: 34 of 35 Title: Clockwork Angels Released: 2012-06-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:05:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Caravan (05:38) 2 BU2B (05:09) 3 Clockwork Angels (07:30) 4 The Anarchist (06:51) 5 Carnies (04:51) 6 Halo Effect (03:13) 7 Seven Cities of Gold (06:31) 8 The Wreckers (05:00) 9 Headlong Flight (07:20) 10 BU2B2 (01:27) 11 Wish Them Well (05:25) 12 The Garden (06:58) |
| Clockwork Angels : Allmusic album Review : Clockwork Angels has been a long time coming. Rush foreshadowed it in 2010 by releasing "BU2B," and "Caravan" to radio. The next single, "Headlong Flight," didnt appear until 2012. Co-produced with Nick Raskulinecz (who also worked on 2007s Snakes & Arrows), Clockwork Angels is a return to the concept album by the band that perfected it on 2112 in 1976. It centers on a loose narrative about a young man following his dreams. He struggles with inner and outer forces of order and chaos; he encounters an expansive world where colors, images, territories, and characters are embodied by pirates, strange carnivals, rabble-rousing anarchists, and lost cities. His enemy is the Watchmaker, a ruthless authoritarian presence who attempts to rule the universe and all aspects of everyday life with fascistic precision. Neil Pearts lyrics embrace notions of alchemy and steampunk sci-fi in his thematics. (The album is due to be novelized by Peart and sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson.) Musically, Rush step up the prog from Snakes & Arrows without losing the blistering riffs or hooks. Alex Lifesons acoustic guitars have an established place here, but his electric axes roar over them throughout. Geddy Lees bass is mixed further up-front than it has been in some time -- which makes his mind-blowing chops resound: there are amazing pizzicatos interspersed in driving hard rock fills and edgy, off-kilter funk riffs. His voice is more nuanced and more emotionally expressive. Pearts drumming is the catalyst: his technical mastery makes his playing sound purely instinctive. CA is full of dynamic surprises, wild rhythmic variations, and expansive textures. This set sprawls, embracing everything from metal and prog to electric jazz to flamenco touches -- and more. Varied musical shades jostle up against one another, keeping the listener not only engaged, but delightfully surprised. "BU2B" and "Caravan" are slightly different than their single incarnations -- more was added and for the better. There are nods to the bands past in the blistering intro to "Seven Cities of Gold" and the snarling rampage in "The Anarchist." Lifeson breathes fire on both. The title track is nearly a concept album by itself. It contains a grand Townshend-esque overture, punishing twists and turns, bluesy acoustic interludes, and a grand finish. "Halo Effect" is destined to be among the bands classic power ballads with a dramatic middle and end. The albums seven-minute tour de force, "Headlong Flight," careens across musical genres with ceaseless intensity. "Wish Them Well" is an anthemic hard-edged pop song, while closer "The Garden" is an intricate seven-minute ballad with numerous odd angles and labyrinthine sonic corridors. Ultimately, Clockwork Angels demonstrates why, after 36 years, Rushs fan base continues to grow. Its musical athleticism and calisthenic discipline are equaled only by its relentless creative drive and its will to express it in a distinct musical language. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 35 Title: The Studio Albums 1989–2007 Released: 2013-05-14 Tracks: 77 Duration: 6:05:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Show Don’t Tell (05:01) 2 Chain Lightning (04:33) 3 The Pass (04:50) 4 War Paint (05:24) 5 Scars (04:07) 6 Presto (05:46) 7 Superconductor (04:47) 8 Anagram (for Mongo) (03:59) 9 Red Tide (04:30) 10 Hand Over Fist (04:10) 11 Available Light (05:04) 1 Dreamline (04:37) 2 Bravado (04:35) 3 Roll the Bones (05:30) 4 Face Up (03:54) 5 Wheres My Thing? (Part IV, “Gangster of Boats” Trilogy) (03:49) 6 The Big Wheel (05:12) 7 Heresy (05:25) 8 Ghost of a Chance (05:18) 9 Neurotica (04:40) 10 You Bet Your Life (04:59) 1 Animate (06:03) 2 Stick It Out (04:30) 3 Cut to the Chase (04:48) 4 Nobody’s Hero (04:55) 5 Between Sun & Moon (04:37) 6 Alien Shore (05:47) 7 The Speed of Love (05:02) 8 Double Agent (04:52) 9 Leave That Thing Alone (04:05) 10 Cold Fire (04:26) 11 Everyday Glory (05:11) 1 Test for Echo (05:55) 2 Driven (04:27) 3 Half the World (03:42) 4 The Color of Right (04:48) 5 Time and Motion (05:01) 6 Totem (04:58) 7 Dog Years (04:55) 8 Virtuality (05:43) 9 Resist (04:23) 10 Limbo (05:28) 11 Carve Away the Stone (04:05) 1 One Little Victory (05:08) 2 Ceiling Unlimited (05:28) 3 Ghost Rider (05:41) 4 Peaceable Kingdom (05:23) 5 The Stars Look Down (04:28) 6 How It Is (04:05) 7 Vapor Trail (04:57) 8 Secret Touch (06:34) 9 Earthshine (05:38) 10 Sweet Miracle (03:40) 11 Nocturne (04:49) 12 Freeze (Part IV of “Fear”) (06:21) 13 Out of the Cradle (05:03) 1 Summertime Blues (03:52) 2 Heart Full of Soul (02:52) 3 For What Its Worth (03:30) 4 The Seeker (03:27) 5 Mr. Soul (03:51) 6 Seven and Seven Is (02:53) 7 Shapes of Things (03:16) 8 Crossroads (03:26) 1 Far Cry (05:18) 2 Armor and Sword (06:36) 3 Workin’ Them Angels (04:46) 4 The Larger Bowl (04:07) 5 Spindrift (05:23) 6 The Main Monkey Business (06:01) 7 The Way the Wind Blows (06:28) 8 Hope (02:02) 9 Faithless (05:31) 10 Bravest Face (05:11) 11 Good News First (04:51) 12 Malignant Narcissism (02:16) 13 We Hold On (04:12) |
| The Studio Albums 1989–2007 : Allmusic album Review : Exploring the bands return to a more guitar-heavy sound from their synth-drenched experiments in the 80s, The Studio Albums: 1989-2007 is a seven-album box set from Canadian prog icons Rush. Featuring 1989s Presto, 1991s Roll the Bones, 1993s Counterparts, 1996s Test for Echo, a remixed version of 2002s Vapor Trails, their 2004 covers album Feedback, and 2007s Snakes & Arrows, the set follows the band as Lifeson began to reassert himself, bringing the guitar to the forefront while the electronic elements began to take on more of a supporting role in the bands sound. Of most interest to Rush fans will be the remixed version of Vapor Trails, which finds the band and producer David Bottrill returning to rework one of the victims of the "loudness wars" that resulted in so many albums from that period being mixed and mastered far too loudly, crushing the dynamics and adding noise where it didnt belong. While die-hard Rush fans will no doubt own all of these records already, The Studio Albums: 1989-2007 is a perfect opportunity for casual fans familiar with the bands earlier, more celebrated work to dive into Rushs output during an era that found the band continuing to do what they do best, while the rest of the world was dealing with the rise and fall of grunge and the return of the boy band. | ||