Ranking Every Rush Studio Album from Least Favorite to Most Preferred: The Priests of Progressive Rock Albums
Rush, the Canadian trio comprised of Alex Lifeson (guitar), Geddy Lee (bass, lead vocals, and keyboards), and Neil Peart (drums and lyrics), embarked on a musical journey that spanned 19 studio albums and over four decades. Their music, described as progressive hard rock, was continually redefined across this impressive body of work.
The band's debut album, Rush (1974), featured a heavy influence of Led Zeppelin in Lifeson's guitar playing and Lee's vocals. However, it was with the addition of Neil Peart in 1975 that the band found a more refined power. Fly By Night, their first album with Peart, marked a significant turning point.
A Farewell To Kings (1977) is often hailed as a milestone in Rush's career, featuring the 11-minute fantasia Xanadu, inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem Kubla Khan. This album also introduced Canada's unofficial rock anthem, Closer To The Heart.
Signals (1982) saw a greater use of synthesizers, with the reggae influence first heard in The Spirit Of Radio. Digital Man and New World Man, two tracks from this album, have a reggae influence at their heart. Subdivisions, another powerful, expertly crafted song from Signals, is an anthem about adolescent yearning.
Permanent Waves (1980), produced by Terry Brown, was a game changer for Rush. The band's virtuoso chops were combined with a zinging pop sensibility, as evidenced by tracks like Tom Sawyer and Red Barchetta. Natural Science, a new kind of Rush epic, also featured eco-conscious lyrics.
The band's career reached a global audience with Moving Pictures (1981), their masterpiece. YYZ, a tricksy instrumental, and the clean, lean power songs Tom Sawyer and Red Barchetta became instant classics. The Camera Eye, an homage to Genesis, also found a place in this iconic album.
Power Windows (1985) featured a greater emphasis on synthesizers, with Lifeson playing brilliantly in keyboard-driven tracks. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails considers Power Windows to be the greatest of all Rush albums.
Roll The Bones (1991) was produced by Rupert Hine and considered a "very playful Rush album". Geddy Lee delivered a goofy rap in the title track due to John Cleese's unavailability. Bravado, one of Rush's most powerfully emotive songs, also hails from this album.
Grace Under Pressure (1984) is a lesser-known album, but considered a connoisseur's choice by some Rush fans. Alex Lifeson called Grace Under Pressure "the most satisfying of all our records".
Hold Your Fire (1987) was co-produced by the band and Peter Collins, who incorporated "hi-tech sounds of the '80s" into the album. Limelight, a song that signals a retreat from fame in Peart's lyrics, is a standout track from this album.
Vapor Trails (2002) was Rush's comeback album after Neil Peart's departure. The album was well-received, and it marked a return to the band's roots.
"Clockwork Angels" (2012) was Rush's last album and a grandiose concept album, their first complete concept album. The album was a fitting swan song for the high priests of conceptual rock.
Rush achieved career sales of more than 40 million records with artistic integrity fully intact. Their music continues to resonate with fans, solidifying their place as one of the most influential bands in rock history. As Kirk Hammett, Metallica's guitarist, aptly put it, "Rush are the high priests of conceptual rock."
