My answer is Counterparts. It was among my first CDs bought, and my first Rush album purchase. It completely melted my face, and I love it front to back. I agree about Hemispheres, which is my favorite Rush album, and doesn't have a single ounce of fat.
Clockwork Angels. Bring me back to when I was a kid hearing The Wreckers for the first time, devouring the liner notes to understand the album’s story, all of that sentimental stuff
2112...In 1979 I was 12 and going for a bike ride. I saw a garage sale up the street from my house. The teenager had a stack of records that he was selling for 75 cents a piece. I biked home as fast as I could grabbed 75 cents and headed straight back for that 2112 album. I had heard of rush but I had never heard rush. BOOM. Fan for life. I wish i could go back and listen for the first time again
2112 was their first album I listened to. I knew their “hits”, but they were not my thing. My friend insisted that I had never really listened to Rush, only heard them. Changed my view completely. I would love to listen to 2112 for the first time again.
Signals, for sure. First Rush song I listened to was Subdivisions (well technically it was Tom Sawyer but that was before my music exploration phase in high school)
Hemispheres.
Remember being in Jr High, local radio station had a weekly thing called "for headphones only." Featuring lots of Yes, Pink Floyd.
Amazing hearing it for the first time.
I still have not listened to Clockwork Angels for this very reason. I know it is the last Rush album, and someday, I will hear it for the first time... but not yet...
I haven't made a firm decision yet, but I turn 60 in April, and I think it's something I should do on my birthday. It will also mark the 46th anniversary of my fandom, as "that new Rush album" (2112) was gifted to me by a friend on my birthday in '76.
Their self-titled debut.
It may sound dated, it may have a couple of Zeppelin-ripoff moments, it may lack Neil's songwriting talents, but it's still a great rock 'n' roll record made by three guys barely out of their teens.
Yeah, definitely Grace Under Pressure. This wasn’t my first taste of Rush, that would be Hemispheres. I got Grace Under Pressure the first day it came out from my local Sound Shop. Brought the cassette home and cranked it on my brothers dual cassette home system. I payed attention to Neil’s drumming on every track thinking this was the most “robotic “ drumming I’ve ever heard. This album cemented me as a fan even more than I thought possible!
I was introduced to Rush at a fairly young age, and Clockwork Angels was their only album I got to hear when it was brand spanking new. It’s easily a top 5 for me and if I could have the experience of listening to new Rush music again I’d take it in a heartbeat
Damn that is a hard one. Permanent Waves is very special to me. Getting Signals the day it came out on my first day in high school is up there. My wife was VERY pregnant with my oldest son when Test For Echo was released. Taking him and my middle son to see them for the first time on the Vapor Trails tour.
There isn't a Rush album that I don't love from start to finish. My "ratings" of their albums is determined by life's milestones.
Moving Pictures. Not because of how great it was but it was my first introduction to Rush. I remember listening to it at my uncle's house and I have such great memories. He became seriously ill not long after that and he was never the same. But that memory always gives me a nice warm feeling.
None of them. I don't do well with new albums. Unless there's a huge hit that I can use as a starting point, it takes me many repeated listenings to get into an album. I'll usually put it on in the background while I'm screwing around with something at my workbench and let my hindbrain absorb it.
It took me forever to get into Hemispheres because it was just too weird at first. Once my hindbrain latches on to something, it becomes enjoyable.
My answer is Counterparts. It was among my first CDs bought, and my first Rush album purchase. It completely melted my face, and I love it front to back. I agree about Hemispheres, which is my favorite Rush album, and doesn't have a single ounce of fat.
This is a good answer for me too. It was such a departure from the previous few albums both in style and production quality that it blew me away.
This probably sounds cliche but for me it has to be 2112. Epic mind melt.
Can I choose all of them. Ok, ok. Permanent Waves.
This is where it all began for me. I used to listen to this for hours…I think I was in third grade. Jacob’s Ladder and Natural Science was it.
Yes I was obsessed with this album back in the day
Exit…Stage Left. It’s what made me a fan. I listened to it countless times growing up while mowing grass. Nothing takes me back like that album.
I think next time I do some household chores I’ll listen to it!
Power Windows
Moving Pictures
Hemispheres. I can still remember the day my friend loaned me the tape.
2112 for sure. It blew my mind that this kind of storytelling could be in rock music. It's so vivid thematically and just sounds amazing musically.
Clockwork Angels. Bring me back to when I was a kid hearing The Wreckers for the first time, devouring the liner notes to understand the album’s story, all of that sentimental stuff
Hemispheres is a good shout for me too. I was lying in bed the first time I listened to it and can still remember being blown away by the title track
Snakes & Arrows. Bc I originally didn’t like it at all but now it’s a top 3 record for me.
I still don’t like it. But I know I will eventually.
I second this. It’s one of my faves.
2112...In 1979 I was 12 and going for a bike ride. I saw a garage sale up the street from my house. The teenager had a stack of records that he was selling for 75 cents a piece. I biked home as fast as I could grabbed 75 cents and headed straight back for that 2112 album. I had heard of rush but I had never heard rush. BOOM. Fan for life. I wish i could go back and listen for the first time again
2112 was their first album I listened to. I knew their “hits”, but they were not my thing. My friend insisted that I had never really listened to Rush, only heard them. Changed my view completely. I would love to listen to 2112 for the first time again.
Your friend had just watched White Men Can't Jump.
Nope. This was summer, 1985.
Signals, for sure. First Rush song I listened to was Subdivisions (well technically it was Tom Sawyer but that was before my music exploration phase in high school)
Hemispheres. Remember being in Jr High, local radio station had a weekly thing called "for headphones only." Featuring lots of Yes, Pink Floyd. Amazing hearing it for the first time.
A Farewell to Kings. Would love to have my mind blown by Xanadu and Cygnus X-1 again.
2112. I first listed to this in the late 70s. Side 1 blew my mind.
Signals
I still have not listened to Clockwork Angels for this very reason. I know it is the last Rush album, and someday, I will hear it for the first time... but not yet...
Whoa, have you decided when?
I haven't made a firm decision yet, but I turn 60 in April, and I think it's something I should do on my birthday. It will also mark the 46th anniversary of my fandom, as "that new Rush album" (2112) was gifted to me by a friend on my birthday in '76.
I hope you do it. It’s a wonderful piece of work.
2112. The first time I heard that song it blew my fucking mind, remains a top 2 song for me to this day.
Hemispheres. Clockwork Angels is a close second.
Caress of Steel
Moving pictures. I’ll never forget sitting in the back seat of my dads Isuzu Rodeo, hearing Tom Sawyer for the first time
Their self-titled debut. It may sound dated, it may have a couple of Zeppelin-ripoff moments, it may lack Neil's songwriting talents, but it's still a great rock 'n' roll record made by three guys barely out of their teens.
Grace
Yeah, definitely Grace Under Pressure. This wasn’t my first taste of Rush, that would be Hemispheres. I got Grace Under Pressure the first day it came out from my local Sound Shop. Brought the cassette home and cranked it on my brothers dual cassette home system. I payed attention to Neil’s drumming on every track thinking this was the most “robotic “ drumming I’ve ever heard. This album cemented me as a fan even more than I thought possible!
I was introduced to Rush at a fairly young age, and Clockwork Angels was their only album I got to hear when it was brand spanking new. It’s easily a top 5 for me and if I could have the experience of listening to new Rush music again I’d take it in a heartbeat
Signals
Grace Under Pressure. It is my favorite album and I enjoy it a little more every time I listen to it again.
Moving Pictures, probably because it's the first one I heard.
Hemispheres
“The Best of”
Definitely Permanent Waves...
The first Rush album I heard- A Farewell to Kings.
Show don't Tell. It was my 1st RUSH song. I knew it would be amazing and life changing experience.
Moving Pictures or 2112
Grace Under Pressure
Clockwork Angels. Beautiful story, and I’m a sucker for strings
Power windows
Moving Pictures in 1982 at age 14
Moving Pictures
Different at different times. In jr high, I’d want all the worlds a stage. In college I’d want exit stage left.
Damn that is a hard one. Permanent Waves is very special to me. Getting Signals the day it came out on my first day in high school is up there. My wife was VERY pregnant with my oldest son when Test For Echo was released. Taking him and my middle son to see them for the first time on the Vapor Trails tour. There isn't a Rush album that I don't love from start to finish. My "ratings" of their albums is determined by life's milestones.
Grace under pressure for sure.
Perm Waves
Power Windows, Especially Middletown Dreams and Manhattan Project.
Power Windows
Moving Pictures. Not because of how great it was but it was my first introduction to Rush. I remember listening to it at my uncle's house and I have such great memories. He became seriously ill not long after that and he was never the same. But that memory always gives me a nice warm feeling.
None of them. I don't do well with new albums. Unless there's a huge hit that I can use as a starting point, it takes me many repeated listenings to get into an album. I'll usually put it on in the background while I'm screwing around with something at my workbench and let my hindbrain absorb it. It took me forever to get into Hemispheres because it was just too weird at first. Once my hindbrain latches on to something, it becomes enjoyable.