A FAREWELL TO KINGS

Rush followed the success of 2112 with A Farewell To Kings in 1977, and man this is one heck of a album, all three musicians are in fine form and it features some of Rush's Signature tracks. Geddy Lee plays awesome bass lines and his vocals are best in this album, Neil Peart or 'the professor' is brilliant as usual with deep philosophical lyrics and brilliant drum playing, with Alex playing some great guitar throughout the album

1. A Farewell To Kings- The intro by Alex is sure to get you hooked , I don't understand why is he so less known. Anyways, After some great guitar playing, Geddy follows with his unique and best vocals screaming and shouting, and then showcases his bass plating talent, this song is about common people were oppressed by kings and knights, and were helpless and showed no resistance, now the place is taken up by politicians but the pain remains the same. A perfect Start 10/10

2. Xanadu- I'll like to point out one thing in here, ALEX IS SO SOOOO TALENTED!!, I bet after hearing those mythical lyrics, and guitar playing along with other great song moments, you'll be forced to search for the Lost Xanudu, I love that part around 5:40 , that when the songs kicks in for me, one of the best rush moments, 10/10

3. Closer To The Heart- At around 3:00. in length and one of Rush's shortest its one of their best, what to say about this song, you gotta feel it by yourself, the lyrics show how everything can be accomplished if we work together and not be power hungry, 10/10

4. Often overlooked for its simplicity, its one of my fav lyrics ever, so I'll discuss it in detail, cause its my life story "A modest man from Mandrake, Traveled rich to the city He had a need to discover A use for his newly-found wealth

Because he was human Because he had goodness Because he was moral They called him insane"

How people like us, innocent, always helping, thinking good, trying to change the world are labelled as ' complex and insane', only because we are good and have moral values? I read somewhere Neil faced similar experience in school

"Delusions of grandeur Visions of splendor A manic-depressive He walks in the rain

Eyes wide open Heart undefended Innocence untarnished

Cinderella Man Doing what you can They can't understand What it means

Cinderella Man Hang on to your plans Try as they might They cannot steal your dreams"

Obviously that leads to depression, heart undefended might mean if someone close to you said all those? it hurts 1000 times more cause you wouldn't care if he was a stranger, Cinderella Man? the title suggest of being in love with someone, being nice, doing everything you could, only to be questioned. But one should not give up and continue with what he's doing, cause whatever may happen they can't take away your dreams

"In the betrayal of his love he awakened To face a world of cold reality And a look in the eyes of the hungry Awakened him to what he could do

He held up his riches To challenge the hungry Purposeful motion For one so insane

They tried to fight him Just couldn't beat him This manic-depressive Who walks in the rain"

How once you are betrayed like that, you only come back more strong, there is someone sarcasm at the person who betrayed him too ' a purposeful motion for one so insane' the last 4 lines? how you can't beat a damaged man because he knows he can live his life, once a person decides something nothing can go wrong

I find it strange that it is overlooked for simplicity, this song signifies that there's simplicity in all and one shouldn't be labeled as an outcast complex just goes he does thing , people don't understand overall 10/10

Madrigal: The simple acoustic piece, serves great for me after the dark Cinderella man, Love the way, you can forget all the pain around you, well said 8.5/10

6.Cygnus X-1 Book one the voyage: Great track, funny to end a philosophical album with a science fiction track, but who's complaining when its so well done, Great bass playing, lovely intro(scary tho) and you keep asking yourself what happens to the ship while it is sucked by the black hole, great way to end the album, I won't say much, there are some qualities review about this song in here, but why not forget it And feel it by yourself.