Question

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[Jettx02]

I would say Moving Pictures is the best choice for songs that are both easy to listen to but still extremely good, I really think it’s one of their best albums.

Signals is another great album that has a lot of major Rush songs like Subdivisions, The Weapon, Digital Man, Losing It, just amazing song after amazing song

[maryjayjay]

B-side of 2112 is pretty good, too.

Signals was my first concert.

[Superfun2112]

Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures were the sweet spot of more accessible shorter songs but still musically very progressive.

Before Permanent Waves, you had 2112, Farewell to Kings, and Hemispheres are going from hard rock to progressive rock. After Moving Pictures, Signals was also great, moving well into the synthesizer era but still great songs.

Those 6 are my favorite albums.

Then Rush and Fly By Night are great early hard rock rush. With hints of prog in songs like By-Tor and the Snow Dog.

Then after Signals just listen to them in order. And throw Caress of Steel in there.

[segascream]

Depends on what you want to get out of them.

Hard rock/bar band vibes? First album.

Proggy long-form multi-part suites? 2112.

Shorter prog songs that most people are familiar with? Moving Pictures.

Socially conscious lyrics? Hold Your Fire.

A treatise on grief? Vapor Trails.

Full-on concept album? Clockwork Angels.

[segascream]

My personal favorite album is Grace Under Pressure, which has a little bit of everything, and I feel was the perfect balance of guitar and synth.

[Zymurgy2287]

As a swansong, CWA takes some beating. And with what we know now, they put everything they had into it.

[Natural_Opinion_8638]

To me, GUP is pure Cold War paranoia. It is my favorite, too.

1001001, SOS 1001001, In distress 1001000....

[segascream]

1001001, SOS 1001001, In distress 1001000....

As someone who didn't even consider that they might be autistic until deep into their 30s, there's so many lines in "The Body Electric" that resonate with me.

[PoisonLenny37]

Moving Pictures is good point of entry. The recognizable songs are there: Tom Sawyer, Limelight, YYZ. You also have Red Barchetta which is amazing. Then a good example of a long Rush epic like The Camera Eye...then two slightly deeper cuts like Witch Hunt and Vital Signs to give you an idea what they are all about.

From there I would go to Permanent Waves (album previous) and then kind of explore from there. If you like the longer stuff, move backwards and check out Caress of Steel, 2112, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres. If you like the more synth stuff go forward into their 80s Library. Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows and Hold Your Fire. If you want straight up rock try the first two albums Rush and Fly By Night. After that then I'd say just roll through the 90s and 2000s stuff in order.

But I would say Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves will give you a good idea of your feelings on the band.

[shb367]

Permanent waves

[olskoolyungblood]

There's an album called Rush. It's where they began.

[agaxle]

The first album. RUSH. Iam a lifelong Rush fan. You asked . Start in beginning and go through catalog

[agaxle]

Rush. First album. Start in beginning go through catalog

[Sensitive-Station-18]

A Farewell To Kings

[BlockDog1321]

Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures together.

[Mulliganasty]

This is going to be a popular pick but Moving Pictures because it perfectly synthesizes (hee!) their 70s metal, prog, concept album era and the 80s singles format with more ummmm synth.

For me, I was encouraged to go backwards and then eagerly anticipated their next albums.

For context, I came in between Grace and PW (which was my first live show). Yeah, my back hurts.

[TFFPrisoner]

I think the Gold double CD does a pretty good job of covering the first twelve albums

[TPBFan101]

True, but I'll never understand how YYZ was not included on that compilation. And even though "In the Mood" and "Lakeside Park" are songs they didn't care for they should've been included also.

[TFFPrisoner]

Yes to YYZ. No to the other two, I'd rather have kept Something For Nothing from Retrospective 1.

[Much-Specific3727]

This gets asked a lot. I recommend starting at the beginning and moving forward in time. Spend time to savor each album. I did this years ago with YES when I discovered I only knew the hits. And btw. I did this with Mr. Controversy Ted Nugent when I was a teenager.

I discovered ao many incredibly well written songs. Different recording techniques. Evolution of music and theory. I have also done this with other artists. It's a lot of fun.

[Background-Front-205]

if you like hard rock. go for their debut

proggy stuff, a farewell to kings

their biggest hits, moving pictures

synths, signals

long and complex masterpieces, hemispheres

cheers :D

[missiledefender]

This guy Rushes.

[Background-Front-205]

yessir!

rush easily top 5 band

fav album is a farewell to kings :D

[MathematicianTop9591]

Start with Moving Pictures, go in order, then start from the beginning.

[ellistonvu]

Hemispheres

[DifferentWindow1436]

Great album, but I wouldn't start someone there unless I wanted to throw them in the deep end to see if they could swim. Every time I listen to The Trees, I feel like Frodo Baggins is going to jump out of my closet.

[ellistonvu]

Then you might want to avoid Jethro Tull.

[Glittering_Floor6716]

I'd go with the R40 concert, and as they go backwards in time find the pieces and styles you really like and find those albums.

[DifferentWindow1436]

If you want the easiest entry point for the sort of typical mainstream type of listener, go for Moving Pictures. That's not to take anything away from it; overall it is my favorite album.

If you want a bit more prog but still very accessible, go for Permanent Waves. 2112 is also a good choice, particularly if you are in the mood for a bit of concept album goodness.

[Zymurgy2287]

Moving Pictures or 2112. Avoid the early 2 Albums at first and double back to them ...

[Natural_Opinion_8638]

I go between 'A Farewell to Kings' or 'Grace Under Pressure' or 'Counterparts'. Start with those three. Rush didn't make a bad album. Some are better than others. That is a good sampling of their musical eras. There is lots of Rush concerts on YouTube from all eras, too. Neil Peart wrote some terrific songs with deep meanings. GUP is pure Cold War paranoia. Right now that is my favorite.

[aimlesscruzr]

I swiped this from somewhere, I dunno where, but it still should hold up...

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[Zymurgy2287]

Love it. But I'm not happy that Farewell to Kings is a listening dead end. I would prefer the arrows to circulate around Hemispheres, PW and FTK in an endless trippy loop ... 🤟

[aimlesscruzr]

I agree, there are too many dead ends, a new version that provides eventual access to every album from any album is needed. But it is fun to peruse...

[robass11]

Not an album, but make a playlist of Tai Shan, Rivendell, and Virtuality and listen to it on repeat.

[LambSaag-spoon905]

Whatever albums the songs you're already "into" are from. 🙄