Two of my very favorite Rush tracks today!
Distant Early Warning was my number 7. Even though I knew lots of Rush songs from the radio, this is the one that I heard one morning soon after I first started getting into DT that made me go, “oh, that’s where DT got their style.” I’ve just always loved the energy of this song, how it starts off with that weird sound and bass line and explodes into that big keyboard theme. Great chorus, another great build in the instrumental/solo, with the kind of crowd noises during the big keyboard theme again. Just tremendous. The “Absolom, Absolom, Absolom” line is also one that really gets me. So good.
Available Light was my number 1, and I’m not surprised I was the high person on it, but I knew there were a few others who had it up there so I’m a little disappointed it finished at only 19 (and left off of 6 lists!). Everything comes together on this song. The lyric is really really powerful, and it’s easily one of Geddy’s finest vocal performances. I love how they really built the arrangement around him and let him be the center of the song. Still, a bunch of great performances though, from that subtle guitar riff in the verse and Alex’s bluesy soloing over the second verse, to Neil really cutting loose on the pre-chorus and chorus, and a really great middle section and solo. I also like the piano on the verses. Not a lot of that in Rush songs really. A bunch of Rush songs have choked me up, but this one especially does at times. And again, what a performance from Geddy on the chorus. If this one doesn’t do it for you, you might be dead!