Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[Snow Dog]

Least favorite songs per album? Okay, I’ll play..

Rush - Need Some Love
Fly By Night - Rivendell
Caress of Steel - I Think I’m Going Bald
2112 - The Twilight Zone
A Farewell to Kings - Madrigal
Hemispheres - The Trees
Permanent Waves - Different Strings
Moving Pictures - Tom Sawyer
Signals - Chemistry
Grace Under Pressure - The Body Wlectric
Power Windows - Mystic Rhythms
Hold Your Fire - Tai Shan
Presto - Superconductor
Roll the Bones - Heresy
Counterparts - The Speed of Love
Test For Echo - Carve Away The Stone
Vapor Trails - Out of the Cradle
Snakes and Arrows - The Way the Wind Blows
Clockwork Angels - BU2B2 (which is more of a segue than a song. Seven Cities of Gold takes this spot otherwise)

And Kattoelox is on my shit list for putting down Freewill, Between the Wheels, and Losing It. Some of my favorite Rush songs ever...

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Ok, I'll try this "least favorite from each album" nonsense...

Take a Friend
Rivendell
I Think I'm Going Bald
Lessons *
Closer to the Heart *
Circumstances *
Different Strings *
Limelight *
Countdown
The Body Electric
Grand Designs *
Tai Shan
Superconductor (by a light year)
Roll the Bones
Stick It Out
Dog Years (I really feel like this could have been a great song with some tiny tweaks here and there)
Nocturne
Workin Them Angels
Wish Them Well

Ones with * are still fantastic songs, but if you put a gun to my head those would probably be my answers for those albums....maybe..

[fadetoblackdude7]

Grand Designs least fav? That’s probably my 2nd favorite off that one under Marathon.

[jammindude]

In the Mood
Rivendell
Lakeside Park
Something for Nothing
Madrigal
Circumstances
Different Strings
Vital Signs
Digital Man
The Enemy Within
Emotion Detector
High Water
Hand Over Fist
Neurotica
Between the Sun and Moon
Totem/Dog Years (tie)
Nocturne
Good News First
Seven Cities of Gold

In all the early albums, this was nearly impossible.  I even love Rivendell.   With the later albums, some were easy, and some weren't.    Even though TFE is still my favorite of all the 90s albums, the two clunkers that are tied for last are pretty terrible.   

[AngelBack]

Least favorite songs per album? Okay, I’ll play..

Rush - Need Some Love
Fly By Night - Rivendell
Caress of Steel - I Think I’m Going Bald
2112 - The Twilight Zone
A Farewell to Kings - Madrigal
Hemispheres - The Trees
Permanent Waves - Different Strings
Moving Pictures - Tom Sawyer
Signals - Chemistry
Grace Under Pressure - The Body Wlectric
Power Windows - Mystic Rhythms
Hold Your Fire - Tai Shan
Presto - Superconductor
Roll the Bones - Heresy
Counterparts - The Speed of Love
Test For Echo - Carve Away The Stone
Vapor Trails - Out of the Cradle
Snakes and Arrows - The Way the Wind Blows
Clockwork Angels - BU2B2 (which is more of a segue than a song. Seven Cities of Gold takes this spot otherwise)

And Kattoelox is on my shit list for putting down Freewill, Between the Wheels, and Losing It. Some of my favorite Rush songs ever...

Agreed, Freewill can never under any circumstance be on a "worst" of anything list.

[The Curious Orange]

Hmmm - It's hard, as some of those albums don't have a single bad song on them...

Need Some Love
Making Memories
The Fountain of Lamneth
Lessons
Madrigal
Armaggeddon (The Battle of Heart and Mind)
Entre Nous
The Camera Eye
New World Man
The Body Electric
Middletown Dreams
Lock and Key
Anagram (for Mongo)
Heresy
Nobody's Hero
Dog Years
Nocturne
The Way the Wind Blows
Wish Them Well

[The Walrus]

Freewill is the most annoying Rush song. I strongly dislike the bounciness of the guitar and vocal parts. Spirit of Radio is sooo much better. 

[AngelBack]

Freewill is the most annoying Rush song. I strongly dislike the bounciness of the guitar and vocal parts. Spirit of Radio is sooo much better. 

OK, your CHOICE, lol.  One of Alex's best solos, Geddy in full on "witch" mode, amazing lyrics.  Top 5 for me!!

[The Walrus]

The solo and lyrics are good! But that scratchy guitar riff, the bouncy lead line, the vocals that match it make me want to break things. You know what's better? Every other song on PW.   

[Stadler]

Seeing Something For Nothing and The Camera Eye on these lists makes my spleen hurt.

[Lethean]

Freewill is all kinds of awesome live.

[Architeuthis]

Freewill is all kinds of awesome live.

This!  The Exit Stage Left version rocks, and on the Time Machine blu-ray Alex rips the solo, Geddy nails the vocals and bass lines, and Neil goes superhuman on us...   

[ProfessorPeart]

I tried to build a least favorite list. Just couldn't so I gave up. I can't, in good conscience, pick a least from every album.

The best from every album list was way easier. This was just impossible for me.

[pg1067]

. . .
A Farewell To Kings: Madrigal (Cinderella Man is close)
. . .
Signals: Losing It
. . .
Vapor Trails: Earthshine (or Freeze, unsure on this)
Snakes And Arrows: Armor and Sword
. . .

More (good natured) rebuttal:

  BLASPHEMY!!!   Cinderella Man is such a great song and so often overlooked.  The chords Alex plays are so nuanced, and the way that the three of them play their various parts around each other is just amazing.  Of course, AFTK is one of those albums without a bad note on it (although I could probably live happily without hearing Closer to the Heart again -- even though I like the song, I've heard it enough).

I've always loved Losing It.  I was going to say it was so very different from anything they'd done to that point, but it's actually reminiscent of Tears and Madrigal.  Seeing Rush play this song live at the last show on the R40 tour was one of THE highlights of my concert going life.

I would say that Earthshine and Armor and Sword are my favorite song on those two albums.

[pg1067]

Clockwork Angels: Mom, not played it enough but I enjoy it all when I do

Pretty sure my Mom has not played it enough either.


 

I enjoyed your mom when I played her too.   

[pg1067]

Freewill is all kinds of awesome live.

This!  The Exit Stage Left version rocks, and on the Time Machine blu-ray Alex rips the solo, Geddy nails the vocals and bass lines, and Neil goes superhuman on us...   

Agree, agree, and agree (although I can understand that the melody line of the verses is a bit sing-songy)!

When I finally was able to play the solo section all the way through on bass, it was one of those moments you never forget as a musician.

[Architeuthis]

Nice! That would be a tough section to play on bass for sure.. Awesomeness!

[The Walrus]

. . .
A Farewell To Kings: Madrigal (Cinderella Man is close)
. . .
Signals: Losing It
. . .
Vapor Trails: Earthshine (or Freeze, unsure on this)
Snakes And Arrows: Armor and Sword
. . .

More (good natured) rebuttal:

  BLASPHEMY!!!   Cinderella Man is such a great song and so often overlooked.  The chords Alex plays are so nuanced, and the way that the three of them play their various parts around each other is just amazing.  Of course, AFTK is one of those albums without a bad note on it (although I could probably live happily without hearing Closer to the Heart again -- even though I like the song, I've heard it enough).

I've always loved Losing It.  I was going to say it was so very different from anything they'd done to that point, but it's actually reminiscent of Tears and Madrigal.  Seeing Rush play this song live at the last show on the R40 tour was one of THE highlights of my concert going life.

I would say that Earthshine and Armor and Sword are my favorite song on those two albums.

  I don't think they're BAD! Just underwhelming. Well, Madrigal and Cinderella Man are a bit of a drag, but out of 19 albums, having a tiny handful of 'boring' tracks isn't such a bad record I'd rather have a boring track than an annoying one like Freewill, hehe.

[Architeuthis]

 I will choose Freewill,   I chose to like that song!

[KevShmev]

Freewill is awesome.

Least favorites:

Take a Friend
Rivendell
I Think I'm Going Bald
Lessons
Madrigal
Circumstances
Entre Nous
Vital Signs
Countdown
Red Lenses
Emotion Detector
Second Nature
Superconductor
You Bet Your Life
The Speed of Love
Time and Motion
The Stars Look Down
Far Cry
BU2B

[ytserush]

Favorite songs? Impossible.

Least favorite?  Easy.

You Can't Fight It
Need Some Love
Working Man
Fly By Night
Limelight
Superconductor
Face Up
The Speed Of Love
Carve Away The Stone
Crossroads (Clapton cover)

[Architeuthis]

Favorite songs? Impossible.

Least favorite?  Easy.

You Can't Fight It
Need Some Love
Working Man
Fly By Night
Limelight
Superconductor
Face Up
The Speed Of Love
Carve Away The Stone
Crossroads (Clapton cover)

Limelight? Working Man? Crossroads?     Wow man!  Lol

[ytserush]

Favorite songs? Impossible.

Least favorite?  Easy.

You Can't Fight It
Need Some Love
Working Man
Fly By Night
Limelight
Superconductor
Face Up
The Speed Of Love
Carve Away The Stone
Crossroads (Clapton cover)

Limelight? Working Man? Crossroads?     Wow man!  Lol

Totally cool with not liking them much.

[jammindude]

Seeing Something For Nothing and The Camera Eye on these lists makes my spleen hurt.

Consider the albums they are coming from. 

That being said, SFN was a favorite of mine from 2112 when I first heard the album, but time hasn't been kind to it.  It's a bit too repetitive for long term repeated listens. 

[Stadler]

Superconductor... 

By the way, Feedback is excellent.   You can have Crossroads (that's more about the song itself than the interpretation) but the first four songs on that are amazing.  Mr. Soul?   They MUST be Canadian to out-do Neil Young! 

[romdrums]

Least faves per album for me:

Need Some Love
Beneath Between and Behind
I Think I'm Going Bald
A Passage to Bangkok
Madrigal
The Trees
Different Strings
Vital Signs
Countdown
The Enemy Within
Mystic Rhythms
Tai Shan
Red Tide
Roll the Bones
Animate
Dog Years
Earthshine
Bravest Face
The Wreckers

[romdrums]

Favorites per album for me:

Working Man
By-Tor and the Snow Dog
Bastille Day
Tears
Xanadu
Circumstances
Natural Science
YYZ
Analog Kid
Between the Wheels
Manhattan Project/Marathon/Territories (tie)
Force Ten
Available Light
Where's My Thing?
Everyday Glory
Driven
Freeze
The Main Monkey Business
Clockwork Angels/The Garden (tie)

[Polarbear]

Least favorites?

Need Some Love
Cinderella Man
Hemispheres
Tai Shan
Dog Years
Seven Cities of Gold (Intro to this song is great though!)

[The Walrus]

Lots of people putting Need Some Love on their least favorites... damn! I love that song!

[pg1067]

Seeing Something For Nothing and The Camera Eye on these lists makes my spleen hurt.

Consider the albums they are coming from. 

That being said, SFN was a favorite of mine from 2112 when I first heard the album, but time hasn't been kind to it.  It's a bit too repetitive for long term repeated listens.

My feelings exactly.  I'm sure I heard both the album version and the live version on ATWAS fairly close to the same time (sophomore or junior year of high school in 82 or 83), and it was such a kick-ass song.  Nowadays, thought, I can take it or leave it.  I also agree that the only reason there are "least favorite" songs on 2112 through Moving Pictures is because those albums are perfection or near perfection from top to bottom.

By the way, the only reason Superconductor isn't the worst song on Presto is because Scars and Hand Over Fist exist.  Superconductor could've been good; the main 7/4 riff isn't bad; but the prechorus and chorus with that "other" voice that says/sings "superconductor" are just embarrassing.

[pg1067]

Favorites per album for me:

This is nearly impossible for some albums, but I'll take a stab:

Working Man
By-Tor
Bastille Day
2112 (if I have to narrow it down, I'd go with Soliloquy/Grand Finale)
Xanadu/Cygnus Book 1 (this is a true 1a and 1b situation, with the title track and Cinderella Man being a VERY close 2a and 2b)
La Villa
Jacob's Ladder/Natural Science (another 1a/1b situation)
Tom Sawyer/Limelight
Subdivisions
Between the Wheels
Marathon
Mission
Available Light
Ghost of a Chance (honestly hard pressed to find a song on RtB that's worthy of being called a "favorite")
Stick It Out
Driven or Resist
Earthshine
Armor and Sword
Headlong Flight

As with the "least favorite" list, I skipped Feedback, which I listened to once when it came out and haven't listened since and probably won't ever do so again.  It's fine for what it is, but I have no interest in it.

[Stadler]

By the way, the only reason Superconductor isn't the worst song on Presto is because Scars and Hand Over Fist exist.  Superconductor could've been good; the main 7/4 riff isn't bad; but the prechorus and chorus with that "other" voice that says/sings "superconductor" are just embarrassing.

Probably the coolest part of the song.  I like that it's something different.   Then again, I think "Presto" is one of their best albums, so there's that.

[pg1067]

By the way, the only reason Superconductor isn't the worst song on Presto is because Scars and Hand Over Fist exist.  Superconductor could've been good; the main 7/4 riff isn't bad; but the prechorus and chorus with that "other" voice that says/sings "superconductor" are just embarrassing.

Probably the coolest part of the song.  I like that it's something different.   Then again, I think "Presto" is one of their best albums, so there's that.

I think Presto is their best album released between 1983 and 2001.   

[The Walrus]

That's a funny way to spell Power Windows 

[pg1067]

That's a funny way to spell Power Windows 

I can't say Presto is light years better than Power Windows.  In fact, I'd probably rank Power Windows second in that period, but that's really not saying much.  For starters, Presto has about 12 minutes of content more than Power Windows, so the comparison is a little unfair.  As I've mentioned, Presto has some of Rush's all-time clunkers:  Scars, Superconductor and Hand over Fist.  But Show Don't Tell, The Pass, Presto and Red Tide are all strong songs, and Available Light is Rush's single most underrated songs.

Power Windows, on the other hand, has only two high points:  Manhattan Project and Marathon.  From a sonic point of view, Power Windows is an improvement on the very harsh and trebly tone of Grace Under Pressure, but the problem isn't, by any means completely gone, and Geddy's bass tone is worse.  Marathon is a great song as it is, but I would love to hear a studio version of the song with a full acoustic kit, Geddy playing the Rickenbacker or Fender Jazz, and Alex with his Permanent Waves era tone.  The blasting synth/sequencer sounds pervade the album, starting with The Big Money, which is probably the third best song on the album.  The rest of the album, including all of side two has very little worth listening to.