Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[Zydar]

Right now I'll go with Subdivisions.

[Cool Chris]

2112. The first real non-MTV/pop radio song I recall hearing. A song that long, with that many sections, that many lyrics that told that kind of story, and that many mind-blowing instrumental sections was more than 15 year old me could handle in the early 90s when my musical experience consisted of MTV and pop radio. Just the fact that it lasted more than 5 minutes was unfathomable, and it was 5 times longer than that.

And it still punches me right in the face just as much today.

[New World Rushman]

Xanadu

[Polarbear]

After giving way to much thought to this, I have to say Mystic Rhythms

The atmosphere in that song is unparalleled. But really, this is a nearly impossible question...

[DTA]

Available Light


yes, really

Thyat's a great song and a worthy favorite. I'd pick Grand Designs.

I as lucky to see them play that on the Power Windows tour as an encore. 3 times that tour.

I'm jealous, though you can't imagine how stoked I was that they pulled it out for the Clockwork Angels tour. I really thought it was destined to stay buried in the 80's with a bunch of their other synth-heavy songs.

[King Postwhore]

The joy for me on that tour was seeing the opening night of the tour so no spoilers online yet.  Ever 80's song they pulled out blew me away!

[Stadler]

This may be difficult, but if you had to pick one single favorite Rush song, what would it be?

For me its Anthem (particularly the live version from Different stages. Hot damn  )

Easy peasy:  La Villa Strangiato.

Oh, and Hemispheres Books I and II are two separate songs.  As well as books. 

[Snow Dog]

Favorite Rush song? Extremely tough, but I’m going with Natural Science. Between the Wheels, Subdivisions, and Available Light were also strong candidates.

[King Postwhore]

Favorite song for me is Marathon.

[The Walrus]

Favorite song for me is Marathon.

Marathon was the first one that popped into my head, followed by Grand Designs. Absolutely incredible songs. Could easily have been my picks. Hemispheres as a whole has them beat in my books because of how epic and long it is, and The Garden resonates deeply with me, but neither have the magic that the synths bring to Marathon and GD. Marathon's chorus brings a tear to my eye and GD has a vibe that I don't know how to describe - it just makes me happy.

[Zydar]

Marathon is on rotation for me as #1 (together with Subdivisions, The Camera Eye, and Xanadu).

[pg1067]

Available Light


yes, really

A criminally underrated song.  I would would argue it's Rush's best song released between 1986-2001.  I would probably rank Earthshine and Marathon higher, but it would close.

[pg1067]

After giving way to much thought to this, I have to say Mystic Rhythms

I think the question was BEST song, not worst.   

[fadetoblackdude7]

Marathon.

[The Walrus]

After giving way to much thought to this, I have to say Mystic Rhythms

I think the question was BEST song, not worst.   

Why do people hate on Mystic Rhythms? That's a great song 

[Ben_Jamin]

I'll have to say....Natural Science. So glad I got to hear that one live on the Snakes and Arrows tour.

[Architeuthis]

They did a smokin version of Natural Science on the Vapor Trails tour as well! 

[pg1067]

After giving way to much thought to this, I have to say Mystic Rhythms

I think the question was BEST song, not worst.   

Why do people hate on Mystic Rhythms? That's a great song 

It's run of the mill, generic 80s new wave.  It's flat.  It's a sissy song.  If all the Rush songs were picking teams for a schoolyard game, Mystic Rhythms would be picked close to last.  It has bad electronic drums, annoying synth patches, and ridiculous bird-call sound effects.  The bass playing is rudimentary, and there's nothing memorable about the guitar.  When I first heard it, I was embarrassed.  I thought my favorite band had gone over to the dark side and would never recover.

[Lethean]

After giving way to much thought to this, I have to say Mystic Rhythms

I think the question was BEST song, not worst.   

Why do people hate on Mystic Rhythms? That's a great song 

It's run of the mill, generic 80s new wave.  It's flat.  It's a sissy song.  If all the Rush songs were picking teams for a schoolyard game, Mystic Rhythms would be picked close to last.  It has bad electronic drums, annoying synth patches, and ridiculous bird-call sound effects.  The bass playing is rudimentary, and there's nothing memorable about the guitar.  When I first heard it, I was embarrassed.  I thought my favorite band had gone over to the dark side and would never recover.

I like Mystic Rhythms.  It might not be able to beat up the other songs on the playground, but it has its own positive attributes.   The bass playing may not be as good as in some of their other songs, but the vocal lines are awesome.  And the sound effects along with the drums create a very cool atmosphere.  I especially like the A Show of Hands version for this.

[jammindude]

Screw the Mystic Rhythms hate. It’s part of what makes Power Windows a nearly perfect album. That album has 6 - 10s and 2 - 8s (which would be Big Money and Emotion Detector)

[King Postwhore]

I will throw a thousand nut shots for those who do not like Mystic Rhythms.

[The Walrus]

 

[Adami]

I love Mystic Rhythms.


Then again, I love most Rush.

[KevShmev]

Mystic Rhythms is awesome.

Marathon is a borderline top 5 Rush song.

Power Windows is fantastic.

This post has brought to you by the letters "T-A-C S-U-C-K-S."

[King Postwhore]

 

[jammindude]

Boom

Boom chi chi

Boom

Boom chi chi PAAAAHHH

[Snow Dog]

They did a smokin version of Natural Science on the Vapor Trails tour as well! 

As they did the T4E tour. Got to watch them perform it for both that and the VT tours. Always a kick ass rocker that has so much more punch and energy than the album version (due mostly to PeW’s quieter mixing).

[IDontNotDoThings]

I'd probably argue that Mystic Rhythms & Between The Wheels are also contenders for my favourite Rush song.

This band was (& still is) just so good at closing tracks, maybe that's why I don't like RtB & CP as much.

[jammindude]

They did a smokin version of Natural Science on the Vapor Trails tour as well! 

As they did the T4E tour. Got to watch them perform it for both that and the VT tours. Always a kick ass rocker that has so much more punch and energy than the album version (due mostly to PeW’s quieter mixing).

Although I have always been annoyed that they drop a line from the Permanent Waves section.  And it can't be for time constraints because they add an extra chorus earlier in the song that pretty much cancels out the time it would take.    It's one of my favorite lines that gets dropped too.   The whole "art as an expression" part.   

I'd have to go back and check, but did they do it that way on the Permanent Waves Tour? 

[The Letter M]

They did a smokin version of Natural Science on the Vapor Trails tour as well! 

As they did the T4E tour. Got to watch them perform it for both that and the VT tours. Always a kick ass rocker that has so much more punch and energy than the album version (due mostly to PeW’s quieter mixing).

Although I have always been annoyed that they drop a line from the Permanent Waves section.  And it can't be for time constraints because they add an extra chorus earlier in the song that pretty much cancels out the time it would take.    It's one of my favorite lines that gets dropped too.   The whole "art as an expression" part.   

I'd have to go back and check, but did they do it that way on the Permanent Waves Tour?

The version of "Natural Science" on the PEW Tour was played as the studio release. The TFE Tour version (played on later tours as well), was re-arranged because the band felt like they could get away with re-arranging older songs to suit their tastes at the time. I forget who said it, if it was Alex or Geddy, but one of them had always wished the opening section had another verse/was longer than it was on the record, because they enjoyed playing that part a lot. I think they then wanted to axe the latter part, for one reason or another (time, just not feeling it, not wanting to play it anymore, etc.), and so the song remained about the same length when all was said and done. I'm sure there are interviews circa 1997 or 2002 that explain why "Natural Science" was re-arranged.

-Marc.

[Architeuthis]

Yeah they cut out the 2nd guitar solo later in the song on all the post 2000 tours. I can't remember if they did that on the T4E tour..

[Stadler]

I will throw a thousand nut shots for those who do not like Mystic Rhythms.

I feel like when I finally get the privilege to share a beer with the King, I won't be able to because I'll be reeling from the punch to the balls.  MR doesn't SUCK, but it's not legendary to me.

Manhattan Project
Marathon
Power Windows
Mystic Rhythms
Middletown Dreams
Territories
Grand Designs
Emotion Detector 

There's almost no difference between 1, 2, and 3, and there is a relatively large drop-off after number 5.

[King Postwhore]

OK.  I just flick yours.  It will sting for a few.

[Nick]

I will throw a thousand nut shots for those who do not like Mystic Rhythms.

I feel like when I finally get the privilege to share a beer with the King, I won't be able to because I'll be reeling from the punch to the balls.  MR doesn't SUCK, but it's not legendary to me.

Manhattan Project
Marathon
Power Windows
Mystic Rhythms
Middletown Dreams
Territories
Grand Designs
Emotion Detector 

There's almost no difference between 1, 2, and 3, and there is a relatively large drop-off after number 5.

I also love the song Power Windows.

[Stadler]

I meant "The Big Money".   Brain fart.