A FAREWELL TO KINGS

My first introduction to Rush and my favourite Rush album so far. Not a weak track, inspired lyrics, warm and uplifting (with the exception of Cygnus) hard rock mixed with folk and exotic percussion, I've listened to this album to death. My only complaint would be for a newbie to Rush (such as I was a couple of years ago) will likely find Geddy's vocals to be annoying and comic, but you'll have to look past that because this album is a real gem fully inspired songwriting reaching highr levels of maturity,the first track starts of as a pleasant acoustic track with pleasant synths and percussion then the upbeat rocker starts thats to Alex Lifesons terrific unique style, it reminds me of the Who, Geddy's bass rumbling and Peart fantastic drumming there is a real depth to this song with excellent textures, and great instrumental a grand introduction to this album. Xanadu, again influenced by the Who - Geddy singing a bit like Roger Daltery, took a little longer for me to appreciate I used to skip it but it eventually grew on me, it begins with great guitar percussion and sound effects giving it both a soothing and exotic oriental feel to it the synth pieceand the vocal style add mystery to the song which is a reference to Coleridge's poem; Kubla Kahn (several of the lines come straight out of that poem. It sounds to me that this song influenced Guns 'n' Roses (whom I have very little tolerance for), it is a mixture of ambient music and hard rock, I love the synth parts in it,although brief they add a lot to the music a kind of melodic delicy in contrast to the more rocking parts. I could just about summarise Xanadu in saying its ambient music meets hard rock. Closer to the Heart (which, according to their Rush in Rio DVD, is very poular with the Brazillian Rush fans) is a more succinct and mellow piece, the intro - was stolen and made into the hugely successful single "There she Goes" in the 1990s (I don't remeber the bands name), a great and memorable piece highly pleasant and melodic, yet rich and deep. The next track another short piece lyrics penned by Geddy, based on the film Mr Deeds Goes to Town, it is again uplifting and fun piece I love the line "...Because he was human, because he had Goodness..." The tune Madrigal, is my favourite of the three shorter tracks, I love it Geddy actually sounds like he can sing on this piece, and a nice quiet respite before the darker piece Cygnus part 1. many fans consider Madrigal to be filler but I love it. Cygnus is the piece everyone talks about on this album, I love its sci-fi theme and narration at the beginning, the dark bass playing with its Zep influenced funk and its repetivie musical intro anmd sci fi synths before the vocals is pretty thrilling,resurrecting our inner child othat is excited about fantasy.Then Geddy sings and guides us through the stars in this thrilling dark piece This piece reminds me of doctor Who, Sapphire and Steel and sci fi radio shows made before I was born. Cygnus part 1 is the heaviest piece on the album which make it relatively dark compared to the other tracks with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty in it as well as sci fi eerieness, it is a link to Rush's metal past with many stops and starts excellently executed, and the cliff hanger at the end makes you want to go out and buy Hemispheres to find out what happens next (a great marketing ploy). I give this album five staers its my favourite by them, there is a real richness to the music and at the same time quite its quite relaxing and pleasant with the exception of Cygnus part1 which is more unnerving at places. Just about every song will make you feel good and I recommend it to the clinically depressed (just don't listen to Cyg) or if you are feeling flat - thats the magic of Rush. Five stars I love every track, every one is a masterpiece, brilliant musicianship, fine textures Rush have come of age on this album! Perfection (newbies will have to get over Geddy's vocals)