Snyder80 Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 7/10. A great album but I'm not as obsessed with the prog, 70's material, as others are. Closer to the Heart, Cygnus X-1, Xanadu are all must haves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerofthor Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 All in all, as great as it is, it probably is their most overrated album. At least going by all the 10's its getting here. For me, Xanadu and CTTH are the only true classics, but I find them unlistenable on this album and would rather hear them on ESL. The title track is great and Cygnus has its moments, but is a little bit goofy. The other tunes are ok, but something about the production turns me off the whole thing. Its almost too crisp and shrill to my ears. Still, it warrants a strong 7.5, rounded up to an 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 9 If I hadn't heard Hemispheres first then I might have thought a little better of AFTK. I learned at that point to start from the beginning when you discover a new band. I started with Permanent Waves and All The World's A Stage followed by Hemispheres and then A Farewell To Kings. It was an odd way to get into the band and after that I started from the beginning and went forward. AFTK is a big change from 2112. It's almost as big a change as the one between Moving Pictures and Signals. Yeah it was still the Rush from 2112, but the keyboards and percussion were adding more color to the songs. Alex was moving beyond just blues-based playing. And let's face it, Rush was going Prog. And we liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New World Kid Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 The title track is a great lyric. Musically, it feels slightly disjointed in a few places. I think it might be Neil's drumming, honestly. He's putting a lot of weird snare hits in places, and intentionally pushing the rhythm, particularly in the verses and instrumental. This isn't helped by the tempo and dynamic changes. It's not bad at all, don't get me wrong. It just sounds slightly disconnected. Xanadu is brilliant. The story is one of my favorites, and the music sets the mood. Like I said for 2112, I typically have a dismissive attitude toward the longer songs, but Xanadu just works. It sets up a brilliant mood. Closer to the Heart is a masterpiece. I think the fan base is less receptive of it because 1) it's been played live for eons and 2) it's short. Cinderella Man, musically, is very awkward. Like AF2K, it's disjointed feeling. And unlike the title track, I don't think this pulls it back together. Maybe it's the pauses, coupled with, again, Neil putting snare hits in places that remove the rhythm. Madrigal is nice, but forgettable. Cygnus X-1 Book 1 doesn't irritate me as much as Book 2. The introduction is brilliant I think, and then the song falls off a bit. The song itself has some off-putting banshee wails from Geddy. I was so much happier when he did away with this from Permanent Waves onwards. Musically, this is a success. Lyrically it's passable. Vocally it's a mess. The instrumental int he beginning I love. From there... meh. This gets a 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silas Lang Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I give it a 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 as of this date, excluding those who voted "1" (in this case, no one did ) the overall TRF rating of this album is: 87% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 QUOTE (English Muffin @ Apr 30 2012, 05:44 PM) When the classical guitar opens the album. When the bells/chimes accompany the guitar. When the classical guitar ends... You know it's gonna be epic. Agreed! I still didn't give it a 10, because Madrigal and Cinderella Man aren't ALL that great; they're all right. But the first side of the album and then the last ten minutes are completely epic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCM Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 This has long been my favorite Rush album, it was the first one I owned and it was the album that made me want more. I love the whole album, especially Cinderella Man which seems to be getting some hate in this thread If given the option I would give it a 10.2 so it would be just a little bit ahead of Hemispheres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losingit2k Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 QUOTE (ALifeson85 @ Apr 30 2012, 08:03 AM) Gave it an 8 (more like 8.5). The Good A Farewell To Kings Xanadu Closer To The Heart Cygnus X-1 The OK Cinderella Man The "Meh..." Madrigal This Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyfriar Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 10 for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 QUOTE (default236 @ Apr 30 2012, 07:33 AM) My third favorite behind Counterparts and Hemispheres Another lover of Counterparts...and Hemispheres! Right on. Well done, and pleased to meet you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 QUOTE (Animate @ Apr 30 2012, 07:19 AM) I give AFTK a total score of eleventy billion. Rounded down to "10" for this poll. Hahahahaha! Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presto-digitation Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I'd say 8. Their first really great album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merely Space Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Not only a 10, but my favorite album of theirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gompers Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Na na na Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 9 - yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 8. That rating is mostly for Closer to the heart and Xanadu. Oh and I quite like Cinderella Man. The rest is ok. Cygnus....... Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Does this explain it? I AM LORD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 10! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chronos Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Cygnus bumps this down from a 10 to a 9 for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
len(songs) Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Shame on you, len. If the only song on it was Xanadu, it would deserve more than a ten. I'd like to know who gave it a one so that I can . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
len(songs) Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Shame on you, len. If the only song on it was Xanadu, it would deserve more than a ten. I'd like to know who gave it a one so that I can .Agreed, but CTTH and Madrigal keep it from a 10 for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 But Xanadu makes up plenty for what they lack. I wish they had made these polls open so I could see who the tin ear brigade is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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