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A Farewell To Kings vs Hemispheres


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  1. 1. Which one is the best album?



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Can't really compare the two since they're so different.

I wouldn't say they're that different. About as different as Power Windows and Hold Your Fire
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Can't really compare the two since they're so different.

I wouldn't say they're that different. About as different as Power Windows and Hold Your Fire

 

I think they're very different stylistically. AFTK has more of a feel like COS whereas Hemispheres is a huge leap forward as far as musicianship and songwriting goes.

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Can't really compare the two since they're so different.

I wouldn't say they're that different. About as different as Power Windows and Hold Your Fire

 

I think they're very different stylistically. AFTK has more of a feel like COS whereas Hemispheres is a huge leap forward as far as musicianship and songwriting goes.

Maybe so, but they're definitely comparable IMO
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Can't really compare the two since they're so different.

I wouldn't say they're that different. About as different as Power Windows and Hold Your Fire

 

I think they're very different stylistically. AFTK has more of a feel like COS whereas Hemispheres is a huge leap forward as far as musicianship and songwriting goes.

Maybe so, but they're definitely comparable IMO

 

That's fine that you think so but they're not to me, which was what I meant.

Edited by EagleMoon
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As the official unofficial ambassador of the majesty that is A Farewell To Kings (see my sig), I think it's pretty obvious which album I believe to be the greatest of the two.

 

I actually had mixed feelings about Hemispheres the first few times I listened to it; it just seemed too too precise and clean and perfect (not in the sense one might normally use the term) to me, and I had to let it grow on me over time. Of course I do recognize its consistent brilliance, but let's just say "The Trees" has always been my favorite on the album as an indicator of the kind of seventies Rush sound I find to be the most awesome. In my opinion, "The Trees" has more AFTK sound in it than the rest of the record as it's not quite so serious and isn't quite so pristine and perfect as the rest of the album (well at least Hems and La Villa, Circumstances is cool but it's a little like side two of 2112). All in all Hemispheres is like a solid brick of super serious seventies Rush, whereas A Farewell To Kings is a musical journey with a greater variety of sound.

 

A Farewell to Kings is my absolute favorite Rush album of all time ever and shall never be dethroned (pun intended) from this position. I mean, the title track alone is Rush's most underrated opener, not to mention a heck of a powerhouse rocker with such a pretty, folky mix of acoustic guitar and mellotron to open the opener (making the electric guitar breakthrough all the more exciting and surprising, even more than that of Xanadu). And speaking of Xanadu, A Farewell To Kings is the album which contains Rush's best about ten minute epic (though actually not my personal favorite) which doubles as one of Neil's most awesome studio drum performances ever. Words cannot describe the majesty of Xanadu, which I'm sure you're all already aware of, so I'll skip ahead. Closer To The Heart is incredibly poetic, not to mention quite catchy and the song which sparked my initial curiosity for this "little" band called Rush (*Closer To The Heart plays as my dad's ringtone a few years back* "Hey, Dad, is that a girl singing?" "No, son, that's Geddy Lee." "Who's Geddy Lee?" and thus it begins...). Altogether short, sweet, simple (for Rush), and wonderful. Then comes Cinderella Man, possibly Geddy's best lyrics ever plus one of the best riffs they barely used to open it. As well as these two great factors, the music is highly underrated and sweet during the choruses. Moving on to Madrigal, yes it's not epic, it's not hard rocking, it's not really one of Rush's masterworks or anything to that extent, but this may be the best example of genius song placement in the entirety of Rush's catalogue. The song itself is kind of silly and short, but the mellotron is pretty and the lyrics, while also a little silly, are actually very nice as well. But the best part of Madrigal is the fact that it serves as the mystical quiet before the cosmic storm of Cygnus X-1, my absolute favorite Rush song of all time. The first part of the Cygnus duo is easily the superior part, journeying from the depths of space, down to earth, back into space, and into the heart of a black hole, seemingly never to return. It's got everything, some of Neil's best drumming and other percussion (he tears his kit up at the end in a way he wouldn't do again until Headlong Flight), one of Ged's best ever basslines (and the way it fades in, like he's walking slowly closer, so cool), awesome guitar soloing and riffage from Mr. Lifeson (speaks for itself), not to mention Ged's highest ever sung note right at the end in probably the most intense moment in their entire discography. I love this song to death, and the cliffhanger at the end is just so sci-fi in the most classic way. This album takes one on a musical journey with peaks of intensity and moments of more carefree fun. Nothing compares

 

(In my best Cousin Vinny) Everything that guy just said is bullshit.... thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But seriously, I respect your opinion but... too precise, clean and perfect? Book II is aggressive yet poetic and beautiful. The greatest combination of musicianship, lyrics and vocals you'll ever hear. I am a Hemispheres ambassador and can tout the majesty of AFTK. Both albums are absolutely phenomenal. Edge to Hemispheres, though.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Hemispheres, too. It's probably my favorite of what I consider to be the second tier Rush albums, but something about it just fails to thrill me or come anywhere close to the fear and excitement brought on by Cygnus X-1 Part One, the genius songwriting and astonishing clarity of Xanadu, the raucous majesty and severe underratedness of the title track, or the simple and understated poeticism and sheer beauty of CTTH. Add that to the belief the Cinderella Man is really quite good and more interesting than Circumstances and Madrigal is the best example of perfect track placement in their whole catalogue and you've got yourself a winner in my book. I suppose La Villa and The Trees come closer than the time track and Circumstances, and they could probably overtake Cinderella Man and Madrigal, but that's about as far as Hemispheres comes battling AFTK in my mind. Hems just seems less exciting or too calculated or something to me, right down to the thickness of the artwork.

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Ugh, I suppose Hemispheres just based on musical advancement. But, both are completely awesome in their own way.
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At the moment, my number one spot for a Rush album is divided between: AFTK, Hems, MP and HYF.

 

A four way split, with each of these albums included.

 

AFTK has been my firm, absolute favourite for the longest, and in all honesty, I still think it has a magic, a certain spark, lacking from Hems.

 

AFTK for today...by a whisker...

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Hemispheres is the 15th best Rsh album and A Farewell to Kings is the 16th best, so I voted Hemispheres.

 

:o

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Hemispheres is the 15th best Rsh album and A Farewell to Kings is the 16th best, so I voted Hemispheres.

 

What?! No way.

 

...Hemispheres is 18th best.

 

:rage:

Edited by Super25Smasher
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AFTK it will always be. Never changes and never will. Two favorite studio albums on the planet for me are AFTK and Going For The One (written and recorded by Yes for those who don't know). They were both recorded the same year too. Imagine that? What a great time it was... :)
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Hemispheres is the 15th best Rsh album and A Farewell to Kings is the 16th best, so I voted Hemispheres.

:sigh: :o I hope you are really young or just kidding and I mean that with all sincerity. Having said that we are all entitled to our opinions... :cheers: and good luck with that one Edited by Narps
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I love both equally, but had to give the nod to Hemispheres just for the length of the epic they produced on that album.

 

I know the latecomers to Rush will flame my drawers for this, but the golden age of Rush really was from AFTK through Moving Pictures. They experimented and dabbled and grew and put out some of the most unique, yet beautiful rock ever, then found their groove in MP and just rocked on from there and continued to evolve. No one, NO ONE else in music has evolved like that, not even King Crimson or Yes or the Moody Blues.

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I love both equally, but had to give the nod to Hemispheres just for the length of the epic they produced on that album.

 

I know the latecomers to Rush will flame my drawers for this, but the golden age of Rush really was from AFTK through Moving Pictures. They experimented and dabbled and grew and put out some of the most unique, yet beautiful rock ever, then found their groove in MP and just rocked on from there and continued to evolve. No one, NO ONE else in music has evolved like that, not even King Crimson or Yes or the Moody Blues.

Not to nitpick but it seems that Yes did and right around the same time as well. It doesn't get much better in my view than 70's Yes save for one or two albums. The 80's were a totally different sound as was Rush's sound. I see more parallels than differences in those eras...
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Hems is joint number one with AFTK, HYF and MP.

 

I think as it was for me, for some peeps this is an acquired taste. It is such a deep, and complex album it needs a patient ear for some to find the joy of it.

 

Once it hooked me (the lyrics did it), I was sold for good.

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