Least Favorite Rush Songs (By Album)

[Liam]

This doesn't mean you hate the songs (or maybe it does) but I'm curious to what y'alls least favorites off of each album are.

Rush - Take A Friend
FBN - Rivendell
COS - Lakeside Park
2112 - Lessons
AFTK - Madrigal
Hemispheres - Since I have to pick over 4 songs...I'd say The Trees
Permanent Waves - Spirit Of Radio (OVERPLAYED...edit 2012. lol)
MP - Tom Sawyer (it's just REALLY overplayed)
Signals - Countdown
P/G - Red Lenses
Power Windows - The Big Money (Again...overplayed)
HYF - High Water
Presto - Superconductor
RTB - Face Up (love the lyrics...but the song just tends to irritate me)
Counterparts - Double Agent
T4E - Dog Years
VT - Out Of The Cradle
Snakes & Arrows - The Larger Bowl
Clockwork Angels - Carnies
And you....??

[MartyMoffatt]

Rush - What You're Doing (vocals too shrill)
Fly By Night - Best I Can (not a great song)
Caress of Steel - I Think I'm Going Bald (Not keen on the lyrics or the singing style)
2112 - Passage to Bangkok (no reason other than it is too plodding and slow paced)
Farewell to Kings - Madrigal (not bad but probably the weakest of some very strong songs)
Hemispheres - There are no bad moments on this album. If I had to pick something it would be IV. Cygnus: Bringer Of Balance, one of the segments from side 1
Permanent Waves - Entre Nous (again just the weakest on a very strong album)
Moving Pictures - Tom Sawyer (I've never really taken to this song)
Signals - Digital Man (Rush attempt at reggae)
Grace Under Pressure - The Enemy Within (one of the few Rush tracks I actually dislike)
Power Windows - Big Money (Can't understand why this track is so popular. It does nothing for me)
Hold Your Fire - High Water (Another VERY strong album, this is just the song I play least)
Presto - Red Tide (below par lyrics for one of rock's greatest lyricists)
Roll The Bones - Neurotica (Eek!)
Counterparts - The Speed of Love (below par lyrics)
Test For Echo - Dog Years (just don't like this)
Vapor Trails - Ceiling Unlimited (Geddy's voice grates on this)
Snakes & Arrows - Good News First (some of their strongest material for years, but this song is the weakest IMO)

Marty

[Liam]

ONE FUCKING REPLY???? C'MON...I KNOW there are more Rush fans out there. Post your opinions, damnit.

BTW...thanks Marty for your response.

[MMMS]

Hey!! I said gimmie at least a week to listen to them all again.

Patience, young master...

[stabbim]

Rush
Need Some Loveor Take A Friend

Fly By Night
Best I Can

Caress Of Steel
The Necromancer
(Many Rush fans consider this song the Holy Grail. I do not understand them.)

2112
Lessons

A Farewell To Kings
Cinderella Man

Hemispheres
Hemispheres
(Blasphemy again, I know...)

Permanent Waves
Freewill
(just tired of it)

Moving Pictures
Limelight
(ditto)

Signals
Countdown

Grace Under Pressure
The Body Electric

Power Windows
Emotion Detector

Hold Your Fire
Lock & Key

Presto
Red Tide or War Paint

Roll The Bones
Neurotica

Counterparts
Speed Of Love
(I like the bass in the bridge, though)

Test For Echo
Carve Away The Stone

Vapor Trails
Peaceable Kingdom

Snakes & Arrows
Good News First

Tough choices. In many cases (especially PeW, MP, S&A and Presto) I don't dislike any of the songs, as such.

[scottmet99]

This is VERY tough. I will need to think about this more and will reply, but off the top of my head definitely from HOLD YOUR FIRE, "Tai Shan" is my least favorite song.

[Liam]

This is VERY tough. I will need to think about this more and will reply, but off the top of my head definitely from HOLD YOUR FIRE, "Tai Shan" is my least favorite song.

You got the groove,bro. GO WITH IT.

[OzzMosiz]

This is VERY tough. I will need to think about this more and will reply, but off the top of my head definitely from HOLD YOUR FIRE, "Tai Shan" is my least favorite song.

I'm in agreement there.

[Liam]

Since we have a new album on the horizon, I figured that I'd Resurrect this thread, AND make an Edit to my least favorite Permanent Waves track.

[verslibre]

I can do w/o roughly half the songs on the following albums:


Presto
Roll The Boner (which has the worst Rush song ever: "You Bet Your Life")
Snakes & Arrows (the instrumentals and "Far Cry" make up for "Faithless" and some of the other tunes)


T4E has one or two I skip, but then I return to them.


I love VT from "starts to finishk"!


I haven't listened to the very first Rush album in umpteen years so I can't comment there. Pretty much every other Rush album is either solid if not exemplary or an out-and-out classic in my book.

[Liam]

I'm actually surprised about your opinion of S&A...but as with all Rush albums...SOMEONE is going to down it.

I'm with ya on VT, though. Most HATE that album due to the production. I love the muddy sound. It's SUPPOSED to be a dark album. LOOK AT THE LYRICS, and think of what Neil went through to lead up to that.

[verslibre]

I'm actually surprised about your opinion of S&A...but as with all Rush albums...SOMEONE is going to down it.

I'm with ya on VT, though. Most HATE that album due to the production. I love the muddy sound. It's SUPPOSED to be a dark album. LOOK AT THE LYRICS, and think of what Neil went through to lead up to that.

I liked S&A more upon initial listens, then, as opposed to an album that grows "more" on you, it did the opposite. "Monkey" and "Malignant" are amazing, "Far Cry" is a great song, but after that, it's really hit-or-miss. "Faithless" is boring and the insipid lyrics are beneath what Neil is capable of. "Workin' Them Angels" is decent, but it sounds more like Bones/T4E-era than it ought to.

OTOH, Vapor Trails is OUTSTANDING. I believe it's one of their best albums. All the lame-o's who can't get past the way it's produced/mastered or whatever are missing out. "Earthshine"..."Freeze"..."One Little Victory"..."Out Of The Cradle"..."Nocturne"...the album is stuffed with some of the best songs Rush has ever done. The first time I heard the preview MP3s of "Freeze" and "Earthshine" I lost my shit!!!

And that just happened with "Headlong Flight" again!

And yes, lyrically speaking, VT is also a high-water mark for Neil. I love the lyrics to "Freeze."

[Liam]

The lyrics on VT are INFUCKINGCREDIBLE. Ghost Rider (about his bike trip/anguish on it), Peaceable Kingdom (9/11)..the list goes on. Think I'll listen to that now.

[JrnyScarab]

The lyrics on VT are INFUCKINGCREDIBLE. Ghost Rider (about his bike trip/anguish on it), Peaceable Kingdom (9/11)..the list goes on. Think I'll listen to that now.

Man, I love that CD but the sound just rips my ears to shreds. I'm really sensitive to the harsh sound on the overly compressed recordings nowadays and there are WAY TOO MANY cd's that I love but are so hard to listen to without ear fatigue.

[JrnyScarab]

Rush - Here Again
FBN - Rivendell
COS - I Think I'm Going Band
2112 - Lessons
AFTK - Closer To The Heart
Hemispheres - Circumstances
Permanent Waves - Different Strings
MP - (So hard to pick. Love them all) .... Witch Hunt
Signals - Losing It
P/G - Red Lenses
Power Windows - Mystic Rhythyms
HYF - Tai Shan
Presto - Scars
RTB - Neurotica
Counterparts - Cut To The Chase
T4E - Time And Motion
VT - Ceiling Unlimited (Too U2 sounding)
Snakes & Arrows - Spindrift

[conversationpc]

Rush = Need Some Love
Fly By Night = Best I Can
Caress of Steel = I Think I'm Going Bald
2112 = A Passage to Bangkok
A Farewell to Kings = Cinderella Man
Hemispheres = Circumstances
Permanent Waves = Jacob's Ladder
Moving Pictures = Vital Signs
Signals = Digital Man
Grace Under Pressure = Red Lenses
Power Windows = Emotion Detector
Hold Your Fire = High Water
Presto = War Paint
Roll the Bones = Neurotica
Counterparts = Cut to the Chase
Test for Echo = Virtuality
Vapor Trails = Sweet Miracle
Snakes & Arrows = Faithless

[Liam]

Almost 5 years later, and this thread is FINALLY pickin' up steam.

[S2M]

Rush - In the Mood
FBN - Anthem
COS - I think I'm going bald
2112 - Tears
AFTK - Madrigal
Hemispheres - The Tress
Permanent Waves - Jacob's ladder
MP - The Camera Eye
Signals - Digital Man/Losing it
P/G - Afterimage/Red Lenses
Power Windows - All of it except Manhatten Project, Big Money, and Grand Designs
HYF - All of it except Prime Mover, Force Ten, and Second Nature
Presto - Superconductor/Red Tide
RTB - Face Up
Counterparts - All of it except Double Agent, Between Sun & Moon, and Leave that Thing Alone
T4E - *Nothing*
VT - Everything except Earthshine, Freeze, and One Little Victory
Snakes & Arrows - Too many to name. Maybe Hope, Spindrft, and We Hold On
Clockwork Angels - Carnies/the Anarchist

[Real rock fan]

Rush - Need Some Love
Fly By Night - Best I Can
Caress of Steel - I Think I'm Going Bald
2112 - Lessons
A Farewell To Kings - Closer To The Heart (over exposure, never listen to it anymore)
Hemispheres - Circumstances
Permanent Waves - Spirit Of Radio (over exposure, never listen to it anymore)
Moving Pictures = Limelight (over exposure, never listen to it anymore)
Signals = New World Man
Grace Under Pressure - Kid Gloves
Power Windows - The Big Money
Hold Your Fire - Second Nature
Presto - Hand Over Fist
Roll The Bones - Face Up
Counterparts - Cold Fire
Test For Echo - Dog Years
Vapor Trails - Out Of The Cradle
Snakes & Arrows - Good News First

[mrsromek]

This is a tough one for me, because I tend to skip over or just move the needle. However, despite rock radio still overplaying songs like Sawyer, Radio & Limelight, they never get old to me. Great songs while working out for sure and never skip them on the iPod.

I do however, have a songs that has irritate me forever: Closer to the Heart

I'm not sure why, but I've never liked that one.

[Liam]

The only song I tend to always skip is Tom Sawyer. Unless it's live, I don't need to hear it. Even with those incredible drum fills after the solo....infact...nevermind...I'm gonna listen to it.

[Liam]

I can do w/o roughly half the songs on the following albums:


Presto
Roll The Boner (which has the worst Rush song ever: "You Bet Your Life")
Snakes & Arrows (the instrumentals and "Far Cry" make up for "Faithless" and some of the other tunes)


T4E has one or two I skip, but then I return to them.


I love VT from "starts to finishk"!


I haven't listened to the very first Rush album in umpteen years so I can't comment there. Pretty much every other Rush album is either solid if not exemplary or an out-and-out classic in my book.

Remember what you posted in 2007. LMFAO

[verslibre]

I can do w/o roughly half the songs on the following albums:


Presto
Roll The Boner (which has the worst Rush song ever: "You Bet Your Life")
Snakes & Arrows (the instrumentals and "Far Cry" make up for "Faithless" and some of the other tunes)


T4E has one or two I skip, but then I return to them.


I love VT from "starts to finishk"!


I haven't listened to the very first Rush album in umpteen years so I can't comment there. Pretty much every other Rush album is either solid if not exemplary or an out-and-out classic in my book.

Remember what you posted in 2007. LMFAO

Nothing's changed, either! I stand by my remarks. I only hear the S&A songs when I play the live albums/DVDs.

[Liam]

I have to edit my Clockwork Angels pick....BU2B2 ties things together. My only problem is that I love all the songs on that album, so it's REALLY hard to choose.

[JRNYMAN]

Signals - Digital Man (Rush attempt at reggae)
Marty

I never thought about that! You're right. And now I'll never be able to listen to that song again without picturing Dirk in a Jamaican beanie hat sportin' dreads and singing that song wearing those tiny little glasses like Whoopie Goldberg wears.

Anyway.... what were we talking about...? Oh yeah...

My list echoes yours almost exactly except on RUSH I have to agree with Marty... Best I Can is just a different Geddy Lee altogether. Can't stand his voice on that one. And on PW, I'd go with Jacob's Ladder. Not sure why but I never connected with that one.
Oh and on Hemispheres where you listed The Trees, I'd go with that atrocity La Villa Strangiato..... complete trash! JUST KIDDING! If I absolutely had to pick one it would probably be The Trees as well. If for no other reason, it's the weakest on a list of incredible works. Other than that, my list is the same as yours.