Calling all Rush fans!!!

[stitchbass]

The time has come for me to get in to Rush and face Geddy's shrieking vocals once and for all!

I have never heard any but can't help but hear people rave about Geddy, in fact I have heard some, the only tune being Tom Sawyer which I dug....

Anyway, I am a music lover, everything from Pantera to Tool, Opeth, to chili peppers, rage against the machine, to disney and jazz and latin etc etc!!

So I plan to get 3 Rush albums first off and would like you fans to say which 3 are the most essential and best in your opinions!

cheers in advance

[Stabone1972]

2112
Moving Pictures
Hemispheres

[Baryonyx]

Power Windows
Hold Your Fire
Roll The Bones

I could go on for hours about how these three albums (the first two in particular) defy description with their beauty...

...but I'll trust you to hear it for yourself!

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by Stabone1972

2112
Moving Pictures
A Farewell To Kings

As good as Hemispheres was, a Farewell to Kings has the classics. Xanadu, Closer to the Heart.

-Mark

[Stu L.]

Originally Posted by stitchbass

disney...

I too love Disney

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Moving Pictures
Signals
Counterparts

You could also get the two disc Restrospective (I & II) which will take you up to about 1989 (not including Presto). Or Different Stages Live which is a two disc (3 if you get the bonus disc) that will give you a good representation.

[KYJazzy]

You said you dug Tom Sawyer. Based on that I'm going to recommend 3 Rush albums you're sure to love.

Moving Pictures.
This album is an absolute musthave and classic. It is near perfect from start to finish. A perfect blend of "early" and "later" Rush.

Hemispheres.
This is a great look into "early and polished" Rush. They have their definitive sound, and the musical journey this album takes is undeniable. More instrumental, less synth-y.

Grace Under Pressure.
An exceptional album start-to-finish and a personal favorite of mine. This is a masterpiece that I feel defines Rush during their 80s, a masterful mesh of instrumentation, songwriting and synth.

After you have those three, you can take some paths.
If you like Hemispheres, check out A Farewell to Kings, 2112, etc.

If you like Grace Under Pressure, check out Signals, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, etc.

A lot of times you'll find two different camps between Rush fans, the early bunch and the 80s bunch. And then the freaks who love it all. I noted you said "face Geddy's shrieking vocals." On two of the albums I recommended (MP and GUP), you don't have to. Geddy significantly lowered his register during these albums compared to earlier works.

Enjoy Rush!

[gribuski]

'Exit: Stage Left." Its a live album that has a little of everything. And, '2112' for sure. That's my fave actual album...

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by KYJazzy

You said you dug Tom Sawyer. Based on that I'm going to recommend 3 Rush albums you're sure to love.

Moving Pictures.
This album is an absolute musthave and classic. It is near perfect from start to finish. A perfect blend of "early" and "later" Rush.

Hemispheres.
This is a great look into "early and polished" Rush. They have their definitive sound, and the musical journey this album takes is undeniable. More instrumental, less synth-y.

Grace Under Pressure.
An exceptional album start-to-finish and a personal favorite of mine. This is a masterpiece that I feel defines Rush during their 80s, a masterful mesh of instrumentation, songwriting and synth.

After you have those three, you can take some paths.
If you like Hemispheres, check out A Farewell to Kings, 2112, etc.

If you like Grace Under Pressure, check out Signals, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, etc.

A lot of times you'll find two different camps between Rush fans, the early bunch and the 80s bunch. And then the freaks who love it all. I noted you said "face Geddy's shrieking vocals." On two of the albums I recommended (MP and GUP), you don't have to. Geddy significantly lowered his register during these albums compared to earlier works.

Enjoy Rush!

This is exactly what I was going to reccomend. Personally, my favourite Rush album, and probably my favourite album of all time, is Hemispheres

Graeme

[jazznrick]

Moving Pictures



Hemispheres


Permanent Waves

[tempo2112]

Hemispheres
Moving Pictures
Permanent Waves

[RAM]

Different Stages (I like this better than Rio, but R30 would substitute nicely)
Moving Pictures
Hemispheres

[Unknowndude]

Moving Pictures
2112
Hemispheres

Definately Moving Pictures and Hemispheres, anyway. 2112 is what got me into rush but the rest of the songs arent too strong.

[BassGod]

I agree about 2112. Tears, Lessons, and The Twilight Zone are all pretty weak in my opinion. If the album consisted only of the title track, A Passage To Bangkok, and Something For Nothing, it would be perfect.

Graeme

[Spencer!]

I'll recommend one from each decade.

Fly By Night
True classic rock Rush. This was the first Rush album with Neil Peart on drums, and it's a great way to get started with 70's era Rush. If you like this album, you should definately check out other classic 70's Rush albums like A Farewell To Kings and 2112.

Moving Pictures
It's a little cliche to recommend Moving Pictures, but it really sums up Rush in the 80's. Not much to say about this album that hasn't already been said. Tom Sawyer, Limelight, YYZ, all classics. Power Windows is another great 80's Rush album.

Counterparts
My personal favorite Rush album. This is much more hard rock than any other Rush album that came before or after it. Counterparts is much what Rush sounds like now. This is the first album that Geddy started experimenting with drop D tuning on, and consequently, it's darker and somewhat Tool-esque. Geddy's vocals are also much deeper and more mature, with no shrieking. If you like this era of Rush, Test For Echo and Vapor Trails are both excellent albums with a similar flavor.

[whamonkey]

I suggest any of the three concert vids recently released, I like R30 because they cover "The Seeker" live.....AWESOME. Rush in Rio is terrific sheerly for the energy level that crowd brings to the show, and Replay X3 is great because you get three vintage concerts for like $30.

I agree, Moving Pictures is a must own.......although I felt Signals was just as good.

Sample some older stuff..... 2112 is classic, as is Hemispheres.

Also, check out the book "Contents under Pressure"...very cool in that Alex, Geddy and Neil go over each studio album, how it was written, who produced it, favorites, likes-dislikes, etc. I really enjoyed it because it's not a band history as much as an album history.

Word of warning.....Rush is addictive and you will find that they dominate your listening habits from here on out. Good luck.

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by whamonkey

I suggest any of the three concert vids recently released, I like R30 because they cover "The Seeker" live.....AWESOME. Rush in Rio is terrific sheerly for the energy level that crowd brings to the show, and Replay X3 is great because you get three vintage concerts for like $30.

I agree, Moving Pictures is a must own.......although I felt Signals was just as good.

Sample some older stuff..... 2112 is classic, as is Hemispheres.

Also, check out the book "Contents under Pressure"...very cool in that Alex, Geddy and Neil go over each studio album, how it was written, who produced it, favorites, likes-dislikes, etc. I really enjoyed it because it's not a band history as much as an album history.

Word of warning.....Rush is addictive and you will find that they dominate your listening habits from here on out. Good luck.

Since you mentioned the song... on what album by The Who is The Seeker on? I have a few of their albums, but I'd like to find which one has that song.

Graeme

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Chronicles is a great 2-CD compilation that showcases the "best" of every Rush work up to "Presto". As for original albums, it's a tough call, but I'd go for Moving Pictures (Their Magnum Opus for me), Permanent Waves and Hemispheres.

But again, it's a tough call. Although I'm not a fan of post-"Exit... Stage Left" Rush, I'm in the process of becoming a completist after watching their latest DVD efforts, R30 and Replay.

[73jbass]

Just go ahead and get the entire collection. There really isn't a single bad album in the bunch. Everybody has their favorite era,and album.They are all unique,but the Rush formula is in each one of them. Pick any recording,and go for it.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Oh, and "La Villa Strangiato" from "Hemispheres" is my absolute, all-time favorite rock instrumental.