A FAREWELL TO KINGS

At a little under 37 minutes for the entire album, Rush again values quality above quantity. (Even back in the days of the LP record, and album could contain upwards to 44 minutes of music easily).

Philosophic lyrics are uplifting and optimistic on fan favorites "Closer to the heart" and "Cinderella Man". Xanadu mines a fantasy story from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem. Was Peart subtly reaffirming the pro-drum message of "A passage to Bangkok"? Or was he fascinated by Coleridge's references to Greek mythology? Or both?

Cygnus X-1 closes the album in high form. We are pulled into a black hole with the promise of "to be continued".

The only dispensable song is "Madrigal", a short and pleasant piece that was composed in the studio. (Writing one mellow song in the studio become a de facto 'tradition' the band would continue with mixed success for years to come.)