A FAREWELL TO KINGS

The songs are original and the musicianship is impeccable. If you like 70's progressive rock, this is a must-have. If you are new to Rush, I'd skip it. Gerald Ford was president when this came out. It's the type of CD that you sit in your living room and listen to -- it's not a cruising CD or one that you jog to. Geddy sings instead of screams -- a vast improvement over earlier 70's albums. Xanadu is my favorite - even though it's a bit too long. The shorter tracks -- Cinderella Man and Closer to the Heart -- are timeless and more mainstream. The rest of the songs may sound "dated" to some people. It's like your first beer -- an acquired taste. Cygnus X-1 really rocks (in a 70's kind of way) if you chop off the first minute of the track. Rush's 80's fans probably wouldn't like this one.