Rush - 1974 Rating:
Poor production and no Peart on drums. The songs are more straight-forward rock tunes
than other rush albums. The most passible album for the most part.
Highlights - "Working Man", "Finding My Way", "In The Mood".
Fly By Night - 1975 Rating:
The first album with progressive elements largely due to the presence of Neil Peart.
Very good combination of the rock tunes from Rush and the more complex songs
to come in later albums. Highlights - "Anthem", "Beneath, Between, and Behind", "By-Tor and the
Snow Dog", and "Fly By Night".
Caress of Steel - 1975 Rating:
Probably the most underrated Rush album. Their first attempts at a lengthy conceptual
songs are found with "The Fountain of Lamneth" and "The Necromancer"(a continuation of the By-Tor
saga). There also is a hint of the old rock tunes with "I Think I'm Going Bald".
Highlights - "Bastille Day", "Lakeside Park", "The Necromancer", "The Fountain of Lamneth".
2112 - 1976 Rating:
One of the definitive classic albums. Here is the side-long "2112" epic along with
many other great songs.
Highlights - All of 'em.
A Farewell To Kings - 1977 Rating:
My personal favorite Rush album. The first use of synthesizers by Geddy and great all around
performances.
Highlights - "A Farewell To Kings", "Xanadu", "Closer To The Heart", and "Cygnus X-1".
Hemispheres - 1978 Rating:
Possibly the most technically impressive work by all three members is found here. Another side-long epic
in "Hemispheres: Cygnus X-1 Book II". Also the amazing "La Villa Strangiato" instrumental.
Highlights - "Hemispheres", "The Trees", "La Villa Strangiato".
Permanent Waves - 1980 Rating:
A conscious effort to shorten their songs was taken by the band on this album, but the songs still remained
complex. This marked the first time Rush would get lots of radio airplay with "The Spirit of Radio".
Highlights - "The Spirit of Radio", "Freewill", "Jacob's Ladder", "Natural Science".
Moving Pictures - 1981 Rating:
This is largely considered Rush's best effort by most fans. It is definetaly a masterpiece from beginning to
end and also helped make Rush one of the most popular bands in the early '80's.
Highlights - All of 'em.
Signals - 1982 Rating:
This album marked the first instance of prominent keyboard use within the songs. There were also two hit
songs "Subdivisions" and "New World Man" which helped Rush maintain their popularity at the time.
Highlights - "Subdivisions", "The Analog Kid", "The Weapon", and "New World Man".
Grace Under Pressure - 1984 Rating:
This is probably the darkest album released by the band. It is the first album without Terry Brown as producer
and was also recorded under "stressful" circumstances which give it a darker feel.
Highlights - "Distant Early Warning", "Red Sector A", and "Between the Wheels".
Power Windows - 1985 Rating:
This is usually cited as the best keyboard period Rush album. Heavy usage of keyboards and sound samples which
make the sound quality very rich in texture(sometimes a little too much). Also considered a classic by some fans.
Highlights - "The Big Money", "Grand Designs", "The Manhatten Project", "Marathon", and "Mystic Rhythms".
Hold Your Fire - 1987 Rating:
One of my favorite albums and a progression of the writing style developed in Power Windows. Overall better
sound quality and better songs than it's predeccesor in my opinion.
Highlights - "Force Ten", "Time Stand Still", "Prime Mover", and "The Mission".
Presto - 1989 Rating:
A slight departure from the heavy synthesized sound present in the previous four albums with a return to a more
"spaced" mix where all the instruments are separated. Some believe this album sounds thin but I like the mix. Overall the
album has a great feel to all of the songs.
Highlights - "Show Don't Tell", "Chain Lightning", "The Pass", and "Available Light".
Roll The Bones - 1991 Rating:
Runs along the same lines as Presto with an overall theme of "Fate" running through most of the songs.
One of my least favorite Rush albums due to the fact that the second half is very weak.
Highlights - "Dreamline", "Bravado", "Roll the Bones", and "Where's My Thing?".
Counterparts - 1993 Rating:
A more stripped down album with almost no keyboards and heavy guitar. One of the strongest post-HYF albums.
Has a theme of gender relationships running through most of the songs.
Highlights - "Animate", "Stick It Out", "Nobody's Hero", "Leave That Thing Alone!", and "Cold Fire".
Test For Echo - 1996 Rating:
Following along the lines of Counterparts as far as sound production goes with even less keyboards.
The songs are more complex and progressive in nature than in the previous three albums.
Highlights - "Test For Echo", "Driven", "Half The World", "Resist", and "Limbo".
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