Cranked & Ranked: Rush - part 1

[@monsterdoc]

What isn't to love here? I've been listening to Rush since the late 70s, early 80s. RIP N.P.

[@porkins74]

About to watch Part 2! Great show guys. 19. Snakes and Arrows 18. Presto 17. Clockwork Angles 16. Vapor Trails 15. Counterparts 14. Power Windows 13. Rush

[@mattw4461]

19) Presto 18) Hold your Fire 17) Power Windows 16) Caress of Steel 15) Snakes and Arrows 14) Test for Echo 13) Rush Rush is one of those bands that I was born into because my parents listened to them. They've always been in my life. As you can tell, I'm not too crazy about the later 80's synth rock era but I respect it.

[@jimmypage9540]

Yay, another long anticipated 3 parter! I failed trying to rank these albums using my brain, so I went with my heart here. This way it hurt, but at least my brain didn't explode: 19. Hold Your Fire 18. Test for Echoes 17. Clockwork Angels 16. Snakes & Arrows 15. Grace Under Pressure 14. Roll the Bones 13. Counterparts

[@kingIgor]

19. Rush (only time they were a hard rock band even then they had metal tendencies) 18. Presto 17. Hold your Fire 16. Test for Echo ?. Vapor Trails (not sure might rank higher/lower order could change) ?. Caress of Steel (Progressive Metal) ?. Power Windows 🤘Heavy Prog (70' Metal) Giants

[@CatCaregiver-ie1ej]

I started with Rush after hearing "Dreamline" on Zrock. At first, in my young mind, brought up in the macho, conservative south (barf), I was thinking "this band looks and sounds like a bunch of vegetarians." But I liked it anyway. Got Roll the bones, then Chronicles - a very well done double album compilation. The more songs I heard, the more I liked them. I eventually started finding all of their stuff on cassette and even "Moving Pictures" on vinyl (GOD! I wish I still had that) got all the old stuff in bargain bins, thrift stores and pawn shops. I never thought I'd say this, but I do miss the 90s. You know how a lot of people say "As soon as I heard Nirvana, I realized that all hair metal was bullshit," yet they are completely full of shit and that's not what happened - MTV just told them hair metal wasn't cool anymore and stop playing it, and most people just took that as an order. Well...I sort of, maybe went down that path after Rush. I think I just gradually became less interested in bands whose members seemed dumb, like Motley Crue, after Rush nudged me in another direction. I eventually found out about the "prog rock" of the 70s from Rock books, and compilations. I eventually got into Yes, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It all started with Rush ! Or maybe, "The Grand Illusion" by Styx. Whatever. "There is no f*@$ing drummer better than Neil Peart ! " - Chester the Cheetah after doing cocaine.

[@andrewtoole1222]

So I’m 26, and wasn’t raised on any rock of any kind. Discovered Rush a couple years ago and they’ve become my favorite band. Like I said, I have no memories attached to Rush whatsoever, but I do have a musical background, soI approached this about as objectively as possible. With that said… 19. Caress of Steel (1975) - Their first big experiment in prog-rock (I know ‘By-Tor’ is prog, but I consider this their first all-in prog attempt), so props for the experimentation that would take them to new heights, but it didn’t work here. Both ‘The Necromancer’ & ‘The Fountain of Lamneth’ are long and a bit clunky. ‘Bastille Day’ is great, but at the end of the day, it’s the last of theirs I want to sit down & listen through. 18. Presto (1989) - Not unlistenable by any means, but virtually every track sounds the same to me. ‘Anagram’ and ‘Presto' stand-out for me a little, but this album is what none should be…pretty forgettable for Rush. 17. Test For Echo (1996) - Unfortunately, it seems like Rush lost their way a bit here and are suffering from creative burnout. A few good tracks in ‘The Color of Right,’ ‘Resist,’ and ‘Carve Away the Stone,’ but none are true stand-outs; a pretty basic 90s rock album. 16. Hold Your Fire (1987) - This one gets a pass from me for ‘Time Stand Still’ being a personal Top-10 song; Prime Mover’ is also an underrated gem and ‘Mission’ is ok, but the rest of this album is pretty unremarkable. 15. RUSH (1974) - Rush comes out swinging with an early Zeppelin/Cream-esque sound that smacks you upside the head; some cringy lyrics, but just a fun, 70s rock album. ‘Finding My Way’ and ‘Working Man’ stand out. 14. Fly By Night (1975) - This is probably my most controversial ranking, but it’s also a frustrating one for me, because instrumentally, I love this album, and it’s a big step up from their debut. Neil's drumming is absolutely phenomenal, and Rush is clearly on their way. However, I’m not as big of a fan of Geddy’s vocals on this one, so I don’t find myself returning to it as often as some others. 'Anthem,' ‘Best I Can,’ ’Beneath, Between, Behind,’ Making Memories,' and ‘In The End’ are all a good time when I do listen through it though. Title track isn’t that great to me…sorry 13. Snakes and Arrows (2007) - Some good tracks, but this album, much like "Vapor Trails," is just a bit too long. Still, a solid offering from their later era. 'The Larger Bowl' and the instrumentals 'Hope' and 'Malignant Narcissism' stand out.

[@tylerport7909]

19. Test for Echo 18. Hold Your Fire 17. Snakes and Arrows 16. Roll the Bones 15. Presto 14. Counterparts 13. Grace Under Pressure

[@timjohnson8902]

You both work very well together I thoroughly enjoyed the banter . What I would say is that I have to work on clock work angels which as you stated will grow on you so that's good. Vapour trails was a bit of a disappointment initially however twenty years on I think its great. How do you rate rush albums when all of the albums have something to say. But you did a great job on an impossible task. Tim uk

[@CatCaregiver-ie1ej]

Rush is one of those bands where any 2 fans will have some match ups and some almost polar opposites if you compare their rankings. Except for the guys who rank single every album from the synth era lowest, and every single album from the 70s highest. I think those guys could best be summarized by a joke from Family guy where Rush fans surround Peter because he isn't wearing a black shirt and tan pants - "get him, uncles who vote libertarian ! " Mine could and has changed so many times, so I'm going to go by memory and probably do a Rush binge really soon. I enjoy this show so much, that it will probably help me pay attention to some of my least favorite better and really give them another chance. Even if my ranking doesn't change, I might like them a little more. I have a ton of contrarian picks for Rush 19 - Clockwork Angles - sorry, I just don't get it. 18 - Vapor Trails - the first thing I noticed was the awful production. I love awful production for some stuff, but not Rush. Also, just the idea of what I think the lyrics would be for this album has always pushed me away from it. When I heard about what happened with Neil's family, the thought of it made this album too sad for me to take. I'm going to try the remastered version and have a feeling that I might really love it, but still won't listen to it that much. 17 - Hold your Fire - I'm really going to have to listen to this again after this segment. I didn't like this particular 80s sound for Rush, although there are other 80s albums at the top of my list. This seemed less new wave and experimental and more yuppie weak tea. I was always turned off by some random chick popping up on time stand still. Like, who the hell is she? I always thought since no one ever guested on a Rush album before, that it had better be someone of Ann Wilson caliber if they do. 16 - Test for Echo - Some great songs, but some of it just sounded like A-chord acoustic church music to me. I don't know anything about music, so I have no idea why I think that. Stuff like that optimistic internet song sounded corny and dated to me the second it came out. 15 - Caress of Steel - kind of a beautiful mess. I love it, but also understand why the label hated it, and Kiss and Ted Nugent just kind of stood there with WTF faces when they first heard it. Lakeside Park is perfect, but Necromancer is Spinal Tap. 14 - Power Windows - some cool stuff, but there's some way better 80s Rush out there 13 - Counterparts - some awesome stuff on this one. Pretty straight ahead rock, so not as interesting to me as other albums, but totally solid. I do think it's overrated only in the sense that way too many people consider it a return to greatness with the opinion that Presto and Roll the Bones were weak. I will never agree with that.

[@Awwsteen]

I'm here for more Mariah Carey Sparxx, PBP🤘

[@jensbaumann6945]

Love everything rush! Depends on my mood... if i listen to farewell no moving pictures would do... if i listen to Power Window (Marathon) i dont want hemispheres... if i want snakes and arrows i dont want fly by night.. So... clockwork Angels is one of the best final Albums ever.even test for echo Presto or roll the bones have great Songs... so yes, theres no bad rush album. Ppl just prefer different things, thank god👍 For me almost impossible to rank, my favorites: farewell to kibgs/hemispheres Prefer permanent waves to moving pictures... love Power Windows. Clockwork Angels... and counterparts? I guess.... but 🤔 grace under pressure, vapor trails? Fuck it... its not my job🤣 so go ahead sirs😎

[@Borg14]

What is the band and track of the opening music? Badass!

[@OldHead]

Thanks! It’s an original of mine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3SuaGaaq7-rec0

[@stevejohnson6155]

Rush lost me at Power Windows and I didn't really come back until Counterparts or so. I just can't do the 80's stuff.

[@youtoo2233]

Really?? Rush 80's has some great stuff, Permanent waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Presto, etc

[@stevejohnson6155]

@@youtoo2233 Yes, I love those albums, they are actually some of my favorite Rush. I meant from Power Windows on I can't get in to.

[@daanthing6002]

My least favorite Rush albums: Rush Caress of Steel Hold Your Fire Roll the Bones Counterparts Test for Echo Snakea & Arrows