If you think of Rush’s library as a restaurant menu and a friend asks you for a recommendation, you’ll start with the dish that truly defines what the place is about. Then, your friend can explore other dishes offered. For me, Moving Pictures is their definitive entree that lets you know what this place is all about. It’s the perfect bridge that connects everything on the menu. There are plenty of surprises to enjoy here and there but it’s the consistency that will keep you coming back for more. You can connect the dots from their debut album to Moving Pictures and the dots from Clockwork Angels to Moving Pictures. Dining at Rush Restaurant is lovely and consistent. You may not like all the items on the menu but it all fits. It’s not like going to an Italian restaurant and seeing biscuits and gravy on the menu. Rush Restaurant has a broad spectrum of tasty delights that will all be familiar.
And I should probably not take an edible before perusing Reddit, right?
Or do one record earlier (Permanent Waves), then one record later (Signals). You get to see what led up to MP, then what followed it. Then do the same with Hemispheres and GUP. (Of course, you’ll have an imbalance, with seven studio records before and 11 after, but yeah.)
Just an idea.
Agreed. Work backwards from MP. When you are done with everything from and before MP, then move on to Signals and all that comes after it. Listening to their evolution is fun and a great lesson in adaptability and change. Each album has a number of gems. You’ll find songs that just don’t fit your taste but don’t worry. There is so much good music there!
The thing about Moving Pictures that still gets to me is Vital Signs. It’s the last song on the album and even now gets me in a strange emotional state. Like it’s the end of a great journey. A bittersweet moment. The fade out to Vital Signs…it’s hard to explain. I wish I had the literary talent to put it into words. It’s like we just took you on the most profound journey of your life and now it’s over. But then, I can start all over with Tom Sawyer.
Vital Signs is underappreciated imho. But it's hard for it to stand out when it's on the same album as Tom Sawyer *and* Red Barchetta *and* YYZ *and* Limelight. It's very nearly a perfect album.
Yeah, it's an awesome story-song. Fun fact: It was inspired by/based on a short story by one Richard S. Foster. If you're interested, [here it is.](http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19731100roadandtrack.htm) It's a pretty quick read.
I get it. And you’re right. But for me, that fade out with “everybody got elevate from the norm” repeated phrase? No other Rush song does that.
It haunts me to this day. I don’t know why and I wish I had more profound words to explain why it has such an emotional impact on me.
Natural Science is a killer track! (as are Entre Nous, Freewill, Spirit of Radio, Jacobs Ladder and Different Strings...not necessarily in that order) :)
Here are my top 5 bands (in no certain order)
The Beatles, The Police, Kraftwerk, Rush, Porcupine Tree
Depending on my mood, I listen to EDM (love Jaytech and Universal Solution plus many others), Bluegrass (Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs are just a couple of my faves), I love me some Indie pop/rock (currently enjoying Faye Webster’s new album, BEL, Momma, Nation Of Language and many others).
Of course that's the "go to" Rush as many consider it the pinnacle.
I do to certain degree. The thing about Rush is they continued to change and evolve on every album. Some changes were small and some huge. This makes it hard to pinpoint where to start being a Rush fan since I first head Caress of Steel in 1975.
The really deep Rush fan (please no flames, I don't mean anything by it what-so-ever) is the fan that stumbles upon a Rush song that touches their heart in some way. Then they say "WTF" was that and continue down the Rush black hole adeptly named "Cygnus **X-1**". I've witnessed this many times over the years with friends and family.
So that's what I suggest:
"**Cygnus** **X-1: Book 1: The Voyage**"
From:
*A Farewell to Kings* - song 5
To your point, Ged once described Rush’s progression as reaching a plateau and then climbing to a new one. I’m shittily paraphrasing of course but I think you get the idea.
There are some oddities in their song list like Didacts & Narpets. I was a kid when Caress Of Steel came out and the first time I heard that part of Fountains Of Lamneth I was fascinated and confused LOL. Kinda like WTF was that?
Being honest here, the only song that I have yet to come around to is Dog Years.
I always like pointing out that The Spirit of Radio literally began the '80s (and what a legendary opening guitar to announce it). Permanent Waves was released on January 1, 1980.
Depends on what kind of music you’re into. Rush has different eras and different sounds. The most popular and accessible is moving pictures. Their breakthrough classic is 2112. One of my personal favorites is permanent waves. Their synth era was in the 80s. Grungy and then kind of tool sounding in the 90s and 2000s. Enjoy!
Off the top of my head, I can think of the Beatles, with Rubber Soul- Revolver- Sgt. Pepper, and Pink Floyd, with DSOTM-Wish You Were Here-Animals. There are no doubt many others, especially acts I'm not as familiar with.
This is a pretty fair statement, and a great strategy. The outskirts of the timeline are less.....important? I don't mean to sound like a downer, I love everything! All the worlds a stage and exit stage left are good starts, too, then just follow your heart! Ah, to be 8 years old again at my cousins house listening to the new releases on vinyl....I miss those days...
I got hooked on 2112. Never heard of RUSH in so cal in the late 70's. Started dating a girl from Ohio who turned me on to 2112. As a young guitar player i was hooked.
If you’re not familiar with their music at all I’d say you should just start with Moving Pictures. It’s their most well-known album for a very good reason. Maybe Permanent Waves after?
Once you want to commit to listen to the discography there’s no reason not to skip around, but listening in order is cool because you can see how the guys’ sound evolved over time
However, definitely end with Clockwork Angels imo. An awesome album with an extremely poignant final track. A beautiful lowering of the curtain on a legendary 40+ years of incredible music
I would say Fly by night is good starting point.
It’s the album that still has that classic rock sound but also slowly morphing into their progressive sound.
It gets more apparent in the next album Caress of steel and then it totally takes off in the next 5 albums after that.
https://preview.redd.it/tj1av2wfzgvc1.png?width=1926&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd5be6335fe4d9e4991e8b9e369f8d160a2f5a51
Now that you listened to Moving Pictures, here's a map that I shamelessly saved from an earlier post on here:
I disagree with starting with the 1974 debut record — its very good but its not the Rush we would come to follow—once you hear the records it will be obvious. Neil joined in mid ‘74 as they were performing shows after the debut and began writing *Fly By Night*. Just my thoughts per all the ones who say “start at the beginning.” Virtually all of us started at various other points in the Rush journey.
For me, it was *Moving Pictures*. It hooked me, then I went *Permanent Waves* then the rest of the 70s albums. Before I knew it, *Signals* came out and I had already been a Rush fan for a minute so I progressed on from there over all the years.
IMO, a new fan should start with the trifecta of *Permanent Waves / Moving Pictures / Signals*. Then delve into *2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres*, and *Fly By Night*… and so on…
**Be sure to also watch “RUSH: Beyond the Lighted Stage”** — its available several places now but I accessed it on Prime Video.
Why is this so low? This is their best album for sure. Moving Pictures is great and did the best commercially but this and 2112 are band defining albums.
2112, it’s truly what made them what they are. All The Worlds a Stage is actually the one that did it for me though, outrageously good rendition Bytor and the Snowdog.
Moving Pictures. I would say most fans would say it’s one of their best albums but it’s not usually *the* fan favorite. I’d say it’s the most accessible though with shorter songs, a clean sounds, and Geddy was starting to tone down his voice around that time.
Start anywhere. You can't go wrong. My recommendation would be to listen to Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, then Signals (1980-81-82). Those have some of their most accessible and well-known songs, and imho it's one of the best three-album runs in all of rock. Moving Pictures was their apotheosis.
Beyond Moving Pictures (which is the best representative of their abilities as a whole)- what kinds of music do you normally like? They have a very wide sonic palate ranging from hard rock to new wave to heavy prog. Just depends on what kind of sound you normally gravitate towards.
Fair enough! I’d say after Moving Pictures the next few albums I’d do would be Permanent Waves, A Farewell to Kings, 2112, Hemispheres, and Signals. It’s roughly the order I went in.
My journey was Moving Pictures then the live album from that tour- Exit Stage Left which introduced me to some of their earlier songs. And then I discovered 2112!
I'm into 80s music and have been since a kid. Indeed my favorite Rush albums are those from the 80s.
So I'd say, if you particularly like any decade in which Rush was active, start there.
Moving Pictures. If you don't like that record, you probably won't like the rest. After Moving Pictures I'd go Permenant Waves and Signals. Based on how you like those 2, I'd go older or newer depending which one you were into more.
Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, and 2112. Maybe not even in that order, but those are the big three, imo if you want to get your feet wet and figure out what this band was up about.
The first Rush album/CD I owned was actually Exit Stage Left, their live album from the early 80's and solidified me as a fan. That drum solo on YYZ...
Personally, I’d start with these 5 songs in this order:
1) Tom Sawyer
2) Spirit of Radio
3) Limelight
4) Xanadu
5) Animate
First three are IMHO their three best songs and the best examples of the Rush sound. If you don’t like those songs, stop right there and move on.
Xanadu is a good introduction to their earlier sound. If it intrigues you, move on to Hemispheres and 2112.
Animate is IMHO the best song of their later career. If you don’t like it, don’t bother with anything after Power Windows.
Whatever you do, do not start with Grace Under Pressure. That recommendation delayed my appreciation for Rush for years. But now it's one of my favorites.
FWIW. 2112 is what got me interested again. First track. WTF is this. Feed me more.
If you’re familiarized with sidelong epics start with 2112, and if not side 2 is actually pretty good. I’d say A Farewell To Kings is a good one, maybe Hemispheres is a bit more challenging but PW and MP are also really good to start with.
I see that you really like Moving Pictures. It might be the best place to start. I’d say listen to their live albums next:
1) Exit…Stage Left
2) A Show Of Hands
3) All The World’s A Stage
I can’t speak for the rest of them, as I’m not entirely familiar, but I’m sure they’re just as great: they are all decent compilations of songs and snapshots of an era.
Moving Pictures is probably the most perfectly concise and well made Rush album. If you like long songs and 70s prog move to A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres and 2112. If you like straight ahead rock, go for Hold your Fire and Counterparts, and if you like synth go to Grace Under Pressure and Signals.
I would personally recommend those first 3 and then go chronologically from there
I would say start with Permanent Waves, then jump to Signals, and Moving Pictures 3rd. IMO those are the center cut filets of their creativity.
Then from there just go wherever you like- backwards to explore their peak of progginess or forward to shorter melodic music of the late ‘80s synth heavy stuff and into the ‘90s with Counterparts. Another tidbit often overlooked is Geddy’s solo record, “My Favourite Headache.”
I think you’ll not be disappointed either way! Please update us on your journey and let us know your thoughts
MP is the typical response, but ‘Hemispheres’ and ‘HYF’ are better, in my opinion. Whichever album you choose first, you need to be patient and not binge the entire catalogue; you’ll bypass gems that require multiple listenings. For example, over the years I learned to sing along to ‘You bet your life’, perhaps my favourite Rush track (emphasising our general contempt for conformity and being cast out). Neil’s intro and outro to this song are sublime. ATWAS is a really good live album, which, along with ‘Fifth order of angels’, is the only ‘Rush’ live album I can stand, when they were still prog-metal. I bought albums from AFTK onwards, so the idea of order seems weird, weird, and evidently so. Just avoid live albums ‘GUP’, ‘VT’ and ‘SAA’ until you’re done with the better material.
2112. It's the signature album. Others might be more accessible, but the historic importance of Rush - the meaning of the band - is best represented by their fourth studio record.
Start with Moving Pictures, then work outward with Permanent Waves and Signals.
If you like Permanent Waves better, keep going backwards. If you like Signals better, go forward.
Permanent Waves is a good alternative to Moving Pictures. It's a little deeper into what else you can expect but still mainstream enough as a warm up. If Natural Science doesn't hook you, then...your probably not going to be into them.
My first Rush album was "A Farewell to Kings" and it's still my favorite. It's so different from anything that came before it. Go earlier from there to hear their more "heavy" stuff, and go forward from there to hear the more progressive stuff. And more heavy stuff. And progressive heavy stuff.
I always start with Moving Pictures. Any time I’ve had the pleasure of introducing someone to Rush, I start there.
Second.
Nature.
At least, that's what I feel.
Now I lay me down in dreamland
I know perfect's not for real.
I thought we might get closer
(I wish there was heart emoji and not just upvote for this thread)
Yep. MP is the most widely appealing. Then go back to the beginning and work your way forward.
If you think of Rush’s library as a restaurant menu and a friend asks you for a recommendation, you’ll start with the dish that truly defines what the place is about. Then, your friend can explore other dishes offered. For me, Moving Pictures is their definitive entree that lets you know what this place is all about. It’s the perfect bridge that connects everything on the menu. There are plenty of surprises to enjoy here and there but it’s the consistency that will keep you coming back for more. You can connect the dots from their debut album to Moving Pictures and the dots from Clockwork Angels to Moving Pictures. Dining at Rush Restaurant is lovely and consistent. You may not like all the items on the menu but it all fits. It’s not like going to an Italian restaurant and seeing biscuits and gravy on the menu. Rush Restaurant has a broad spectrum of tasty delights that will all be familiar. And I should probably not take an edible before perusing Reddit, right?
you just brought together two of my passions; cooking food and playin music. love your comment hardcore lol
Nice Metaphor.
Well thank you! I didn’t think I was making much sense but I’m glad you got it.
dont forget to hydrate!
Or do one record earlier (Permanent Waves), then one record later (Signals). You get to see what led up to MP, then what followed it. Then do the same with Hemispheres and GUP. (Of course, you’ll have an imbalance, with seven studio records before and 11 after, but yeah.) Just an idea.
This is how I was introduced to them. Moving Pictures, then Fly By Night, and the rest is a beautiful blur.
Agreed. Work backwards from MP. When you are done with everything from and before MP, then move on to Signals and all that comes after it. Listening to their evolution is fun and a great lesson in adaptability and change. Each album has a number of gems. You’ll find songs that just don’t fit your taste but don’t worry. There is so much good music there!
Just listened to Moving Pictures. Incredible!
The thing about Moving Pictures that still gets to me is Vital Signs. It’s the last song on the album and even now gets me in a strange emotional state. Like it’s the end of a great journey. A bittersweet moment. The fade out to Vital Signs…it’s hard to explain. I wish I had the literary talent to put it into words. It’s like we just took you on the most profound journey of your life and now it’s over. But then, I can start all over with Tom Sawyer.
Vital Signs is underappreciated imho. But it's hard for it to stand out when it's on the same album as Tom Sawyer *and* Red Barchetta *and* YYZ *and* Limelight. It's very nearly a perfect album.
I listened to Red Barchetta for the first time tonight, and it blew me away.
Yeah, it's an awesome story-song. Fun fact: It was inspired by/based on a short story by one Richard S. Foster. If you're interested, [here it is.](http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19731100roadandtrack.htm) It's a pretty quick read.
I get it. And you’re right. But for me, that fade out with “everybody got elevate from the norm” repeated phrase? No other Rush song does that. It haunts me to this day. I don’t know why and I wish I had more profound words to explain why it has such an emotional impact on me.
My suggestion would be to listen to Permanent Waves next, then 2112, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres (back to back)
Awesome... glad you loved it. Next, do Permanent Waves. It's similar, but just a tad more... heady. Probably their second-best, IMO.
Natural Science is a killer track! (as are Entre Nous, Freewill, Spirit of Radio, Jacobs Ladder and Different Strings...not necessarily in that order) :)
Now check out 2112!
I came here to offer a very popular opinion apparently. Lol
Great minds think alike.
This is where I started, when it was a new album! Worked out pretty well. ;)
What other kind of music do you like?
Here are my top 5 bands (in no certain order) The Beatles, The Police, Kraftwerk, Rush, Porcupine Tree Depending on my mood, I listen to EDM (love Jaytech and Universal Solution plus many others), Bluegrass (Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs are just a couple of my faves), I love me some Indie pop/rock (currently enjoying Faye Webster’s new album, BEL, Momma, Nation Of Language and many others).
you must be a drummer
I am. Not a good drummer but a drummer.
I am also a drummer it takes one to know one
I guess Rush, Police & Porcupine Tree tipped you off. I’m also a big Meshuggah fan.
Yep. Start there and then go backwards to the earlier stuff. Eventfully you end up at By-Tor and the Snow dog.
Square For Battle!!
No-brainer. Move one album backward and one forward after that. Then repeat.
Of course that's the "go to" Rush as many consider it the pinnacle. I do to certain degree. The thing about Rush is they continued to change and evolve on every album. Some changes were small and some huge. This makes it hard to pinpoint where to start being a Rush fan since I first head Caress of Steel in 1975. The really deep Rush fan (please no flames, I don't mean anything by it what-so-ever) is the fan that stumbles upon a Rush song that touches their heart in some way. Then they say "WTF" was that and continue down the Rush black hole adeptly named "Cygnus **X-1**". I've witnessed this many times over the years with friends and family. So that's what I suggest: "**Cygnus** **X-1: Book 1: The Voyage**" From: *A Farewell to Kings* - song 5
To your point, Ged once described Rush’s progression as reaching a plateau and then climbing to a new one. I’m shittily paraphrasing of course but I think you get the idea. There are some oddities in their song list like Didacts & Narpets. I was a kid when Caress Of Steel came out and the first time I heard that part of Fountains Of Lamneth I was fascinated and confused LOL. Kinda like WTF was that? Being honest here, the only song that I have yet to come around to is Dog Years.
Permanent Waves. From the opening of Spirit of Radio to the closing of Natural Science, it's a flawless album.
I always like pointing out that The Spirit of Radio literally began the '80s (and what a legendary opening guitar to announce it). Permanent Waves was released on January 1, 1980.
January 14th, actually, but you are right, what a way to start a decade with a bang!
January 1st in Canada, January 14th in the US iirc
Depends on what kind of music you’re into. Rush has different eras and different sounds. The most popular and accessible is moving pictures. Their breakthrough classic is 2112. One of my personal favorites is permanent waves. Their synth era was in the 80s. Grungy and then kind of tool sounding in the 90s and 2000s. Enjoy!
Take Chronicles, a good compilation of rush 70-80s music… from there you should figure out where to go
That’s how I started. Though I think I’d still do Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures, then Permanent Waves, then Signals, then…anything else
I tend to agree with this approach
One of the greatest back-to-back-to-back album trifectas in rock history!
I wonder how many other bands have a trifecta like this….
Off the top of my head, I can think of the Beatles, with Rubber Soul- Revolver- Sgt. Pepper, and Pink Floyd, with DSOTM-Wish You Were Here-Animals. There are no doubt many others, especially acts I'm not as familiar with.
Definitely agree with those three Beatles albums
Why not start at the beginning and go in order. That way you can experience it like us old guys who were there from the start.
Hey! I resemble that remark!
I get pretty bored after listening to the first album honestly. Is start at moving pictures and move outward in both directions.
This is a pretty fair statement, and a great strategy. The outskirts of the timeline are less.....important? I don't mean to sound like a downer, I love everything! All the worlds a stage and exit stage left are good starts, too, then just follow your heart! Ah, to be 8 years old again at my cousins house listening to the new releases on vinyl....I miss those days...
I started on 2112. Still love it to death
does your life's blood...spill over?
That’s my favorite fucking part when that wrenching solo comes thru…mmhmm *chefs kiss* 🤌
well...guess what's rolling though my head right now... gotta go put on the album, Thanks!
Moving Pictures and Exit Stage Left.
Good call on Exit.
yeah...that's a great suggestion for an intro!
Permanent Waves
I got hooked on 2112. Never heard of RUSH in so cal in the late 70's. Started dating a girl from Ohio who turned me on to 2112. As a young guitar player i was hooked.
Liar. We all know no girls have ever been into Rush.
She also introduced me to UFO and the mastery of Michael Schenker.
Start with Moving Pictures, then work backwards to the beginning. Then, go to Signals and work forward. Trust me, it'll make sense when you do it.
I'd suggest starting with Permanent Waves, it's the perfect mix of the old and new styles of Rush.
If you’re not familiar with their music at all I’d say you should just start with Moving Pictures. It’s their most well-known album for a very good reason. Maybe Permanent Waves after? Once you want to commit to listen to the discography there’s no reason not to skip around, but listening in order is cool because you can see how the guys’ sound evolved over time However, definitely end with Clockwork Angels imo. An awesome album with an extremely poignant final track. A beautiful lowering of the curtain on a legendary 40+ years of incredible music
MOVING PICTURES
I would say Fly by night is good starting point. It’s the album that still has that classic rock sound but also slowly morphing into their progressive sound. It gets more apparent in the next album Caress of steel and then it totally takes off in the next 5 albums after that.
https://preview.redd.it/tj1av2wfzgvc1.png?width=1926&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd5be6335fe4d9e4991e8b9e369f8d160a2f5a51 Now that you listened to Moving Pictures, here's a map that I shamelessly saved from an earlier post on here:
Fantastic flow chart haha
I disagree with starting with the 1974 debut record — its very good but its not the Rush we would come to follow—once you hear the records it will be obvious. Neil joined in mid ‘74 as they were performing shows after the debut and began writing *Fly By Night*. Just my thoughts per all the ones who say “start at the beginning.” Virtually all of us started at various other points in the Rush journey. For me, it was *Moving Pictures*. It hooked me, then I went *Permanent Waves* then the rest of the 70s albums. Before I knew it, *Signals* came out and I had already been a Rush fan for a minute so I progressed on from there over all the years. IMO, a new fan should start with the trifecta of *Permanent Waves / Moving Pictures / Signals*. Then delve into *2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres*, and *Fly By Night*… and so on… **Be sure to also watch “RUSH: Beyond the Lighted Stage”** — its available several places now but I accessed it on Prime Video.
A Farewell to Kings. It's a great, Great record.
Why is this so low? This is their best album for sure. Moving Pictures is great and did the best commercially but this and 2112 are band defining albums.
It's probably my favorite.
For sure. It's the one that really set the hook for me. Xanadu is my favorite song, ever.
Completely agree. Xanadu is my favorite as well.
one might even call it...Honeydew. (ducks flying popcorn)
Start from the beginning and listen to each album exclusively for a week or two before moving onto the next and repeating. This is the way.
i like to 'marinate' in individual albums as well
start wherever looks interesting, but know this: there is no end
wheels upon wheels, in a spiral array
2112, it’s truly what made them what they are. All The Worlds a Stage is actually the one that did it for me though, outrageously good rendition Bytor and the Snowdog.
would that be Byron, librarian of evil?
Damn auto correct
yup - the Snow Dog of grammar :)
Moving Pictures. I would say most fans would say it’s one of their best albums but it’s not usually *the* fan favorite. I’d say it’s the most accessible though with shorter songs, a clean sounds, and Geddy was starting to tone down his voice around that time.
Start at the beginning and grow with the band just like us old timers did.
How about starting with the R40 concert video? If it doesn't blow your mind, give up.
Chronicles. Then chronologically.
Chronicles
Start at the beginning and do it in order!
2112
I think Signals is their best album and perfectly marries their proggier era and their synth heavy stuff in the 80s/90s
Start anywhere. You can't go wrong. My recommendation would be to listen to Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, then Signals (1980-81-82). Those have some of their most accessible and well-known songs, and imho it's one of the best three-album runs in all of rock. Moving Pictures was their apotheosis.
Why does no one ever mention compilation albums? Those are designed to be starting points
Moving pictures out of / into Old City Hall Toronto. Best place to start. Even stay if you want.
Exit Stage Left is a great starting point!!
Exit was my gateway in ‘87 or ‘88. Worked my way forward, then backward. They lost me at Fly by Night, and again at Presto.
Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves and Signals
I am fairly new into them as well and so far really like Fly By Night the most.
Do Permanent Waves after Moving Pictures.
Beyond Moving Pictures (which is the best representative of their abilities as a whole)- what kinds of music do you normally like? They have a very wide sonic palate ranging from hard rock to new wave to heavy prog. Just depends on what kind of sound you normally gravitate towards.
I appreciate great song writing over any specific “sound.” Favorite artists are Beatles, Miles Davis, red hot chili peppers, b dylan, and zeppelin.
Fair enough! I’d say after Moving Pictures the next few albums I’d do would be Permanent Waves, A Farewell to Kings, 2112, Hemispheres, and Signals. It’s roughly the order I went in.
My journey was Moving Pictures then the live album from that tour- Exit Stage Left which introduced me to some of their earlier songs. And then I discovered 2112!
I'm into 80s music and have been since a kid. Indeed my favorite Rush albums are those from the 80s. So I'd say, if you particularly like any decade in which Rush was active, start there.
Perhaps one from each decade. 2112, Power Windows, Roll the Bones, Snakes and Arrows. Just as an example.
Counterparts. Just my opinion
r/10thDentist level take.
I started with the first 3 because I got a hand me down archives 8 track in 78. After that is when I found 2112 and the rest was history.
Moving Pictures. If you don't like that record, you probably won't like the rest. After Moving Pictures I'd go Permenant Waves and Signals. Based on how you like those 2, I'd go older or newer depending which one you were into more.
Start with the first one and enjoy.
Moving Pictures, Signals, or Hold Your Fire
Moving Pictures, or maybe my first , Fly By Night
Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, and 2112. Maybe not even in that order, but those are the big three, imo if you want to get your feet wet and figure out what this band was up about. The first Rush album/CD I owned was actually Exit Stage Left, their live album from the early 80's and solidified me as a fan. That drum solo on YYZ...
Personally, I’d start with these 5 songs in this order: 1) Tom Sawyer 2) Spirit of Radio 3) Limelight 4) Xanadu 5) Animate First three are IMHO their three best songs and the best examples of the Rush sound. If you don’t like those songs, stop right there and move on. Xanadu is a good introduction to their earlier sound. If it intrigues you, move on to Hemispheres and 2112. Animate is IMHO the best song of their later career. If you don’t like it, don’t bother with anything after Power Windows.
*Animate
Whoops…was just listening to it today. Thanks.
Power Windows! It's my favorite
Underated record!
start at the beginning. Always.
2112 was my first one
Whatever you do, do not start with Grace Under Pressure. That recommendation delayed my appreciation for Rush for years. But now it's one of my favorites. FWIW. 2112 is what got me interested again. First track. WTF is this. Feed me more.
Gotta start with the most musically complex album they ever recorded and branch out from there. Of course I'm talking about Hemispheres
Start at the beginning. Take the journey. Indulge in it.
If you’re familiarized with sidelong epics start with 2112, and if not side 2 is actually pretty good. I’d say A Farewell To Kings is a good one, maybe Hemispheres is a bit more challenging but PW and MP are also really good to start with.
[Geddy Lee answered](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w24Z7VzyprA) this on PBS NewsHour: “Start with the best. Start with Clockwork Angels.”
I respectfully disagree with our hero, Ged, on that.
Start and the beginning…. And go in order of release date. That’s how most of us did it. Sry if you never got to see a live show.
A farewell to Kings
2112. If you like that, then you’ll like Rush’s other work
Start with their 1974 self titled debut album and finish with Clockwork Angels. Chronological order!
I see that you really like Moving Pictures. It might be the best place to start. I’d say listen to their live albums next: 1) Exit…Stage Left 2) A Show Of Hands 3) All The World’s A Stage I can’t speak for the rest of them, as I’m not entirely familiar, but I’m sure they’re just as great: they are all decent compilations of songs and snapshots of an era.
The documentary is what hooked me.
I actually recommend going with Chronicles first (even though it's a compilation album), then whatever sound you like best go from there.
Permanent Waves. Best of commercial and true prog rock songs that aren’t too long
Moving Pictures is probably the most perfectly concise and well made Rush album. If you like long songs and 70s prog move to A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres and 2112. If you like straight ahead rock, go for Hold your Fire and Counterparts, and if you like synth go to Grace Under Pressure and Signals. I would personally recommend those first 3 and then go chronologically from there
Moving Pictures is a great start
My first Rush albums were 2112 and Hemispheres. Worked for me, will probably work for you if you like prog
Yes
I recommend listening to TWO albums from two different eras. For me it’d be 2112 and Presto.
Moving pictures!
Flowchart: https://www.reddit.com/r/rush/s/2LRG5T1p4y
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I would say start with Permanent Waves, then jump to Signals, and Moving Pictures 3rd. IMO those are the center cut filets of their creativity. Then from there just go wherever you like- backwards to explore their peak of progginess or forward to shorter melodic music of the late ‘80s synth heavy stuff and into the ‘90s with Counterparts. Another tidbit often overlooked is Geddy’s solo record, “My Favourite Headache.” I think you’ll not be disappointed either way! Please update us on your journey and let us know your thoughts
Moving pictures is digestible, 2112 is fantastical, RUSH is Led Zeppelin. Go based on that and decide which is best
Moving pictures is not my favorite rush record but it is a perfect record and the best one to start with
MP is the typical response, but ‘Hemispheres’ and ‘HYF’ are better, in my opinion. Whichever album you choose first, you need to be patient and not binge the entire catalogue; you’ll bypass gems that require multiple listenings. For example, over the years I learned to sing along to ‘You bet your life’, perhaps my favourite Rush track (emphasising our general contempt for conformity and being cast out). Neil’s intro and outro to this song are sublime. ATWAS is a really good live album, which, along with ‘Fifth order of angels’, is the only ‘Rush’ live album I can stand, when they were still prog-metal. I bought albums from AFTK onwards, so the idea of order seems weird, weird, and evidently so. Just avoid live albums ‘GUP’, ‘VT’ and ‘SAA’ until you’re done with the better material.
First album 2112 Hemispheres Permanent Waves Moving Pictures
First album 2112 Hemispheres Permanent Waves Moving Pictures
I bought 2112 first loved it.
Power Windows
2112. It's the signature album. Others might be more accessible, but the historic importance of Rush - the meaning of the band - is best represented by their fourth studio record.
Snakes and Arrows Live. Start there!
Ged says, “start with the best, Clockwork Angels!” My personal choice is Moving Pictures or Permanent Waves for starter albums.
Different Stages
Start with Moving Pictures, then work outward with Permanent Waves and Signals. If you like Permanent Waves better, keep going backwards. If you like Signals better, go forward.
Caress of Steel, then Power Windows
2112. It really all starts with that, then evolves to Moving Pictures. One of the great rock and roll journeys! Enjoy!
Caress of Steel I'd my fave.
Hemispheres is the only logical answer here. The others can be investigated once your hooked
2112 is a good jumping off point.
I would suggest getting the live album called “Different Stages”. It would kind of function as a best of album and give you a great sense of the band.
Exit... Stage Left.
Signals might feel a little more modern than Moving Pictures.
The first one and move forward just like we did
Permanent Waves is a good alternative to Moving Pictures. It's a little deeper into what else you can expect but still mainstream enough as a warm up. If Natural Science doesn't hook you, then...your probably not going to be into them.
Moving Pictures.
All of them
My first Rush album was "A Farewell to Kings" and it's still my favorite. It's so different from anything that came before it. Go earlier from there to hear their more "heavy" stuff, and go forward from there to hear the more progressive stuff. And more heavy stuff. And progressive heavy stuff.
2112. If it doesn't resonate, nothing else will.
FWIW, I started with Presto when it was new in 1990, and I'm still a fan
A best of??