Rush Fan in Michigan

I bet it will always be available on iTunes.

I LOVE Time Stand Still -- it sort of changed the way I look at life. I wrote about it here: http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2015/05/rush-r40-countdown-at-no-2-hold-your.html

I like them both. I liked when the band played Superconductor in concert with the giant inflatable rabbits, and the rabbits were rocking from side to side as if they were dancing.

My second-favorite Rush album, for some very personal reasons. Rush R40 Countdown at No. 2: Hold Your Fire, Presto, life-changing albums without apologies

I've been blogging a ranking with my buddy as we prepared for the Chicago show, which was glorious! http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2015/06/rush-r40-countdown-at-no-1-moving.html

One of the reasons I think Moving Pictures is a perfect album is that even the cover art is amazing. Brilliant, and my fave. Test for Echo is really cool, too! And Exit..., if you count the entire cover, front and back.

We had a wonderful time at the R40 United Center show. Here's our write-up: R40 Chicago: 40 years, three musicians, two buddies, one awesome concert Did you guys like the show?

Remember when the show "Chuck" had an episode where "Tom Sawyer" played a key role in the plot and was deemed "the music of the universe?" Will and I wrap up our countdown as we prepare for the Chicago show on Friday night. No surprise at No. 1, especially since we billed the countdown as Rush "from least-glorious to Moving Pictures." We've had fun writing together again -- we used to work at a newspaper together and shared a column -- and extolling our appreciation for Rush. Loved all your comments along the way. Naturally, we had to dissect Moving Pictures cut by cut, reflecting on what the album meant to us. Enjoy. Rush R40 Countdown at No. 1: Moving Pictures, otherwise known as 'the music of the universe'

My buddy and I have been counting down our favorite Rush albums as we get ready for the Chicago show. He loves Presto -- ranking it No. 2. http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2015/05/rush-r40-countdown-at-no-2-hold-your.html

I love "Prime Mover" -- Anything can happen! "In the Mood" is pretty upbeat, as is "Fly Night"

I'm not apologizing for loving Hold Your Fire. This week's R40 Countdown entry focuses on "Time Stand Still." Will's No. 2 also is a surprise. Rush R40 Countdown at No. 2: Hold Your Fire, Presto, life-changing albums without apologies "Time Stand Still" has made a tremendous impact on me. Has a Rush song or CD done that for you? Thanks for reading our countdown. Love hearing your opinions.

"Totem," "Big Wheel" are some of my favorites.

Thank you very much for posting this! Just getting around to reading it.

Will had Permanent Waves at No. 4, I'm boldly putting it at No. 3. And there is no shame at being the third-best Rush album! Rush R40 Countdown at No. 3: Permanent Waves is a masterpiece, Signals recalls exciting times

Our R40 Countdown is at No. 4, and Will surprised me by tossing Permanent Waves in that spot. (I had Roll the Bones.) When I started my initial rankings for the project, I had Permanent Waves at No. 2 and assumed that was pretty much a universal thought that it was right behind Moving Pictures. Now ... it's wondering. What do you think? Here's our blog for the week: Rush R40 Countdown at No. 4: Roll the Bones and the death of baseball card collecting

Is there a Rush album that instantly transports you back to a specific time and place? I hear songs from Power Windows and I'm immediately back at the University of Missouri in 1985, far from home. Will has a similar connection to Roll the Bones. We're at No. 5 in our R40 Countdown. Chicago is getting closer! Can't wait for the show. Rush R40 Countdown at No. 5: Power Windows and Roll the Bones transport us to special times, places

Thanks for sharing. I don't get why people are mocking the source. It's not like he's building up to be be any better than it is. Take it for what it is worth and enjoy the discussion.

Right there with you! I love that song.

Will and I have had fun studying each album and reflecting on how they've affected us or how they relate to what was going on in our lives at the time they were first released -- or at least when we both discovered them. (We've probably spent more time talking about the personal stuff and less time on the music, but the memories come back in waves with each song. This might be a "turning 50" thing....) Anyway, as we've bantered back and forth in our emails, we noted that the very top of the countdown and the very bottom were pretty easy -- but the middle gets tough! I don't think the distance between No. 15 and, say, No. 5 is all that great. We're talking shades of awesome.

I like that we can have good discussions about my favorite band. That, and the Mets won their home opener today. It's a good day.

OK, we're at No. 6 in the R40 Countdown, and I confess my fondness for the unloved '"Test for Echo." I don't understand the hate. Tell me what I'm missing! And Will talks about his personal rehabilitation of "Grace Under Pressure." Rush R40 Countdown at No. 6: In defense of Test for Echo and rehabilitating Grace Under Pressure

"Time Stands Still" isn't just my favorite Rush song, it might be my favorite song period.

"Body Electric" for sure. "... clenching plastic fist!" And I don't like "Faithless" at all. This will get me in trouble, but I like "Half the World" and I love "Big Wheel." I like that we all love the same band, and love -- and not -- different songs.

Our R40 Countdown has Signals at No. 7. I worked with a guy who swore he was the "New World Man." Seriously. It's tough to follow up Moving Pictures. Rush R40 Countodwn at No. 7: Signals and the dangers of working in the bowling alley with the 'New World Man'

Good catch. I had it right elsewhere in the post. Not sure how that snuck in! Fixed now. But I'm unfamiliar with this concept of a mediocre Rush song. I know of some that are not quite as glorious as others... :)