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What is Rush's worst album?
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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Yeah, no "u" in vapor trails. ;)
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Most post-Presto releases are subpar.  Hard to rank one higher (or lower) than another.  The exception (to these ears) is Clockwork Angels, which was a fine bookend.
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Originally posted by Disconnect Disconnect wrote:

Most post-Presto releases are subpar.  Hard to rank one higher (or lower) than another.  The exception (to these ears) is Clockwork Angels, which was a fine bookend.

I think mostly Rush were a great band up to Signals with their album run from 2112 being one of the identifiable better album runs covering 6 albums. Possibly the band started to run low on inspiration around the time of Grace Under Pressure (although personally I rate that album very highly). Power Windows is the album that maybe divides opinion most and could be rated anything from 2 stars to 5 stars legitamately. Just depends on taste. HYF is where most agree the band truly dipped and I think generally it was a time where pop and rock music was in the gutter. Rush were not the only band churning not very interesting stuff. Once we got to the 90's there was a full on rock revival and with it 'traditional' sounding progressive rock came back. The bands that were the pillars of the movement back in the day (Rush included) could not turn the clock back that easily even when as in the case of ELP and Yes they wanted to. Rush decided they had paid their dues but at least carried on putting out great live shows. Different Stages is a testament to that. Vapor Trails was a return to form but by this time they had become (or reverted to) a hard rock band with few pretensions. This trend definitely started with Roll The Bones as the art side of the music was largely removed. Presto was an anaemic album and not a great measuring stick and showed them at a crossroads. 
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Possibly the band started to run low on inspiration around the time of Grace Under Pressure (although personally I rate that album very highly). Power Windows is the album that maybe divides opinion most and could be rated anything from 2 stars to 5 stars legitamately. Just depends on taste. HYF is where most agree the band truly dipped and I think generally it was a time where pop and rock music was in the gutter.


HYF isn't as strong as GUP or PoW but those two proved to be hard acts to follow, for any rock band.

The only negative sentiment surrounding Grace that I recall back then came from much older fans who didn't like the band using synths.

Then, when HYF arrived, the next set of fans were going "Well, it's good, but it's not Signals nor GUP..."
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I've been listening to the band discography and yeah, the dip is evident with HYF. The mix is considerable worse than Power Windows and surprisingly already reminds me a bit of Presto, with less synths than the predecessor, but a lot of the tracks are lighter and I would even say more "romantic". IMO the album is closer to Presto/Roll the bones instead of PoW or GUP.

Saying that, there are still too many great songs in late 80's/90's Ruah. Removing 2 songs from HYF/Presto/RTB/TFC already make these albums a lot better, especially because they usually have 50 minutes or more of music anyway
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Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Possibly the band started to run low on inspiration around the time of Grace Under Pressure (although personally I rate that album very highly). Power Windows is the album that maybe divides opinion most and could be rated anything from 2 stars to 5 stars legitamately. Just depends on taste. HYF is where most agree the band truly dipped and I think generally it was a time where pop and rock music was in the gutter.


HYF isn't as strong as GUP or PoW but those two proved to be hard acts to follow, for any rock band.

The only negative sentiment surrounding Grace that I recall back then came from much older fans who didn't like the band using synths.

Then, when HYF arrived, the next set of fans were going "Well, it's good, but it's not Signals nor GUP..."

I generally agree....I personally love both GuP and PW and enjoyed that era of the band where they were moving forward with synths to accompany Lifeson's guitar.  Regarding HYF, for many years I couldn't stand to hear any tracks from it.  In the past few years it has grown on me so I no longer throw shade on it.  
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Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

The only negative sentiment surrounding Grace that I recall back then came from much older fans who didn't like the band using synths.

It was a lot more than that (they were getting that bogus 'synth-band' critique back for Signals and even Pictures)--- It was clear something severe and quite disruptive had happened. And of course much had indeed occurred with Terry Brown, the commercial expectations of the time, even the image the band had of itself.   Just look at the band photo for that record and it's like "Yeesh-- what the hell happened, boys?!"
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy
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Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Just look at the band photo for that record and it's like "Yeesh-- what the hell happened, boys?!"


What, the absence of Neil's handlebar moustache? You could still look to Triumph's Mike Levine for a satisfactory helping of facial fur.
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(Yes, I know Neil had been clean-shaven since PeW.)
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There is no such thing as a good Rush album.  We almost agree  Wink
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Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

It was a lot more than that (they were getting that bogus 'synth-band' critique back for Signals and even Pictures)--- It was clear something severe and quite disruptive had happened. And of course much had indeed occurred with Terry Brown, the commercial expectations of the time, even the image the band had of itself.   Just look at the band photo for that record and it's like "Yeesh-- what the hell happened, boys?!"


Around the time of Grace Under Pressure, there were continuous rumors about the band taking a "solo album sabbatical" due to all of the "record biz" frustrations they were dealing with at that time. No, they didn't hate each other, nor were they considering breaking up, but all three members also had growing kids and were concerned that the "album - tour - album - tour" cycle was becoming too hard on their families. So with all the "nuclear war" headlines, the record biz issues, and the personal issues, it's no wonder the resulting album is really kind of a downer and more difficult to listen to than the other albums from that same decade.    
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Originally posted by Steve Wyzard Steve Wyzard wrote:

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

It was a lot more than that (they were getting that bogus 'synth-band' critique back for Signals and even Pictures)--- It was clear something severe and quite disruptive had happened. And of course much had indeed occurred with Terry Brown, the commercial expectations of the time, even the image the band had of itself.   Just look at the band photo for that record and it's like "Yeesh-- what the hell happened, boys?!"



Around the time of Grace Under Pressure, there were continuous rumors about the band taking a "solo album sabbatical" due to all of the "record biz" frustrations they were dealing with at that time. No, they didn't hate each other, nor were they considering breaking up, but all three members also had growing kids and were concerned that the "album - tour - album - tour" cycle was becoming too hard on their families. So with all the "nuclear war" headlines, the record biz issues, and the personal issues, it's no wonder the resulting album is really kind of a downer and more difficult to listen to than the other albums from that same decade.


They came up with some of their best melodies & lyrics. Alex's solo on "Between the Wheels" is one of my favorites. I love the album. It's perfect as is.
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On Presto 'the Heavy Prog Midi Orchestra' Rush had run out of ideas, the chemistry was gone, Rush started to sound boring, who had expected that with albums like A Farewell To Kings, Moving Pictures and Power Windows ...?!
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The ideas were flowing again on Counterparts.
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Originally posted by Steve Wyzard Steve Wyzard wrote:

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

It was a lot more than that (they were getting that bogus 'synth-band' critique back for Signals and even Pictures)--- It was clear something severe and quite disruptive had happened. And of course much had indeed occurred with Terry Brown, the commercial expectations of the time, even the image the band had of itself.   Just look at the band photo for that record and it's like "Yeesh-- what the hell happened, boys?!"
Around the time of Grace Under Pressure, there were continuous rumors about the band taking a "solo album sabbatical" due to all of the "record biz" frustrations they were dealing with at that time. No, they didn't hate each other, nor were they considering breaking up, but all three members also had growing kids and were concerned that the "album - tour - album - tour" cycle was becoming too hard on their families. So with all the "nuclear war" headlines, the record biz issues, and the personal issues, it's no wonder the resulting album is really kind of a downer and more difficult to listen to than the other albums from that same decade.

Good insights.   It was a difficult time.
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I remember when HYF first came out, not too long after I saw Powerwindows in Costa Mesa. I remember thinking, "A new album? Already??" I was excited about it. My friend bought the CD and we had a listen. Force Ten rocked! Cool!! This is gonna be awesome! Time Stand Still was great, too. But then,....the album took a nosedive. I remember we were sitting there laughing at it after a few more songs. The lyrics were so hokey and cliche. Mission was the song. We turned it off. I still can't get through that album. Hands down the worst Rush album. 

Up to that point, pretty much every album had my attention. Only COS seemed weak. But I regained faith in the band with Presto, an album that many here seem down on. That's OK. The thing about Rush is that they were certainly not "one-note." Their heavy reliance on synths was a bit challenging. But their guitar-heavy albums really pump.

Signals remains my favorite Rush album of all time. 
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Originally posted by Ziggy C Ziggy C wrote:

I remember when HYF first came out, not too long after I saw Powerwindows in Costa Mesa. I remember thinking, "A new album? Already??" I was excited about it. My friend bought the CD and we had a listen. Force Ten rocked! Cool!! This is gonna be awesome! Time Stand Still was great, too. But then,....the album took a nosedive. I remember we were sitting there laughing at it after a few more songs. The lyrics were so hokey and cliche. Mission was the song. We turned it off. I still can't get through that album. Hands down the worst Rush album.


I hope you eventually finished the album, as the song that follows "Mission" is "Turn the Page," which quite a few Rush fans rate as the album's best. The live versions are usually better since the bassline is more audible (HYF's production wasn't as kind to Geddy's bass as the albums immediately before it).

Originally posted by Ziggy C Ziggy C wrote:

Up to that point, pretty much every album had my attention. Only COS seemed weak. But I regained faith in the band with Presto, an album that many here seem down on.


Presto (which I played a lot when it was new) is a bit uneven, but has some killer songs, like "Show Don't Tell" (an honest-to-goodness rock song with a bass solo got FM airtime), "Chain Lightning," "Scars," "Available Light." But overall a solid Rush album.

Roll the Bones is a big step down and hasn't aged as well, at least not for me. But they recovered brilliantly with Counterparts. And that was a great concert, too.


Originally posted by Ziggy C Ziggy C wrote:

That's OK. The thing about Rush is that they were certainly not "one-note." Their heavy reliance on synths was a bit challenging. But their guitar-heavy albums really pump.

Signals remains my favorite Rush album of all time.


Their heavy reliance on synths was challenging but your favorite album is Signals?

(Mine was Signals, too, for many years. It's now Grace Under Pressure.)


P.S. Welcome to the forum! Lots to discuss here.
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Since the thread is still ongoing I'll toss this out.....the lowest rating on PA is Test For Echo at 2.89 with Rush-ST at 2.95.
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Originally posted by dr wu23 dr wu23 wrote:

Since the thread is still ongoing I'll toss this out.....the lowest rating on PA is Test For Echo at 2.89 with Rush-ST at 2.95.
The people have spoken. Wink

what's "ST"?! Confused
is it "self titled"? Ok... Big smile


Edited by Cristi - April 21 2024 at 15:40
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^I don't have any problem with Rush being the lowest rated. I never listen to it. (For that matter, I never listen to FbN, either.)

However, T4E is better than Roll the Bones. Here's why. (I'm going to cheat and post a live performance. )
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