_hi_water._ ranks all 173 Rush songs

[_hi_water._]

3 hours ago, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

 

FINALLY.

 

In case no one's noticed based on my previous annoying posts in this thread, this is a bottom-1 song for me. Maybe even lower than that. Why? Any song that sounds like it was written for Celine Dion does not belong on a Rush record. This is the same band that wrote Hemispheres? That's messed up, man.

Just knew that you would be losing it over this one.

[goose]

On 6/29/2023 at 5:26 AM, Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios said:

I Love Time & Motion and would place it as high as in my Top 80 ⭐️

[laughedatbytime]

17 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

134. "Second Nature", Hold Your Fire (1987)

Hold Your Fire - Entry 2 out of 10

 

Besides "Tai Shan", this seems to be the other Hold Your Fire song that gets called for as being filler. With lyrics like "No one is blameless/But we're all without shame/We fight the fire/While we're feeding the flames", no way this is bottom of the list material. Although, it is a ballad like this one where you can really hear Rush get into the phase of needing to put an end to the synths.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)

 

How is this album holding up?

10. “Tai Shan” (#165/173)
9. “Second Nature” (#134/173)

High Water isn't going to be #1, is it?  

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

2 hours ago, laughedatbytime said:

High Water isn't going to be #1, is it?  

 

73 is getting concerned!

[TheAccountant]

On 6/30/2023 at 7:20 PM, _hi_water._ said:

134. "Second Nature", Hold Your Fire (1987)

Hold Your Fire - Entry 2 out of 10

 

Besides "Tai Shan", this seems to be the other Hold Your Fire song that gets called for as being filler. With lyrics like "No one is blameless/But we're all without shame/We fight the fire/While we're feeding the flames", no way this is bottom of the list material. Although, it is a ballad like this one where you can really hear Rush get into the phase of needing to put an end to the synths.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)

 

How is this album holding up?

10. “Tai Shan” (#165/173)
9. “Second Nature” (#134/173)

For me both this and Tai Shan are good songs.  Defiantly in the top 100.  I rank them both much higher than you do but hey, thats just me.  How high in the top 100?  Hmm, must confess I have not thought that through.  But overall HYF is a really great album for me.  Rush's 3rd best IMO.

[Mosher]

High Water is actually my second favorite off HYF, and it's in the top 40. I don't agree with Hi_Water on many things, but presumably we agree that High Water is a great song. 

Second Nature, on the other hand, is in my bottom 10.

Edited July 2, 2023 by Mosher

[Mosher]

Should note I still like Second Nature, I don't think Rush has many actually bad songs. There are only three I pretty much always skip.

(Need Some Love, Tears, and Stick It Out)

[_hi_water._]

133. "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)", Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Snakes & Arrows - Entry 5 out of 13

 

Like Presto, this is another album I wish I could really get into more than most people do. Snakes & Arrows is definitely a better album for me, especially when it comes down to lyrical content and its instrumentation. This is a simple, but perky song about social inequalities, and fares well better than most of Presto. Good stuff.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)

 

How is this album holding up?
13. “Bravest Face” (#171/173)
12. “The Way the Wind Blows” (#160/173)
11. “Spindrift” (#157/173)
10. “Hope” (#150/173)
9. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” (#133/173)

[grep]

It's not really a bad song if one is smoking a bowl, man.

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

20 minutes ago, _hi_water._ said:

133. "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)", Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Snakes & Arrows - Entry 5 out of 13

 

Like Presto, this is another album I wish I could really get into more than most people do. Snakes & Arrows is definitely a better album for me, especially when it comes down to lyrical content and its instrumentation. This is a simple, but perky song about social inequalities, and fares well better than most of Presto. Good stuff.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)

 

How is this album holding up?
13. “Bravest Face” (#171/173)
12. “The Way the Wind Blows” (#160/173)
11. “Spindrift” (#157/173)
10. “Hope” (#150/173)
9. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” (#133/173)

 

This and Bravest Face are my least favorites from S&A. I'd have ranked this way lower. Hopefully we'll see Good News First soon because that one ain't great either.

[laughedatbytime]

43 minutes ago, _hi_water._ said:

133. "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)", Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Snakes & Arrows - Entry 5 out of 13

 

Like Presto, this is another album I wish I could really get into more than most people do. Snakes & Arrows is definitely a better album for me, especially when it comes down to lyrical content and its instrumentation. This is a simple, but perky song about social inequalities, and fares well better than most of Presto. Good stuff.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)

 

How is this album holding up?
13. “Bravest Face” (#171/173)
12. “The Way the Wind Blows” (#160/173)
11. “Spindrift” (#157/173)
10. “Hope” (#150/173)
9. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” (#133/173)

Remember when your mom told you if you couldn't say something nice about something you shouldn't say anything at all?   This song provides the perfect opportunity to exercise that advice, albeit, one I didn't take advantage of.

 

I should probably feel worse about it.

Edited July 2, 2023 by laughedatbytime

[Mosher]

44 minutes ago, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

 

This and Bravest Face are my least favorites from S&A. I'd have ranked this way lower. Hopefully we'll see Good News First soon because that one ain't great either.

This is interesting because for that album Bravest Face is my worst track, it's in my bottom 10 for all Rush songs. Good News First is in my bottom 12 and it's my second to last on my list for Snakes.

But I like Larger Bowl, it's fourth on that album for me. 

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

1 hour ago, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

 

This and Bravest Face are my least favorites from S&A. I'd have ranked this way lower. Hopefully we'll see Good News First soon because that one ain't great either.

 

41 minutes ago, Mosher said:

This is interesting because for that album Bravest Face is my worst track, it's in my bottom 10 for all Rush songs. Good News First is in my bottom 12 and it's my second to last on my list for Snakes.

 

 Yeah, I could see ranking those two that low. I didn't mind Good News First at first but the vocals wore thin real fast.

 

Quote

But I like Larger Bowl, it's fourth on that album for me. 

 

That's a song like Second Nature that for me just doesn't feel like a Rush song. It's kind of country-ish or something.

[grep]

10 bucks is still 10 bucks, right?

Edited July 2, 2023 by grep

[Mosher]

8 hours ago, 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 said:

 

 

 Yeah, I could see ranking those two that low. I didn't mind Good News First at first but the vocals wore thin real fast.

 

 

That's a song like Second Nature that for me just doesn't feel like a Rush song. It's kind of country-ish or something.

I absolutely see that. When you described Second Nature in similar terms I knew what you meant immediately, and as I run Larger Bowl's prettiness through my mind it does come across as as perhaps a bit overly much. 

But that album isn't particularly strong in my mind, so being 4th puts it high on that album, it's only 95th on my overall list. I don't generally like any of the "whoa----oah" on Snakes at all. They made it hard to get through Snakes. Far Cry tricked me. as to what was to come. Those instrumentals were essential on that album. 

[TheAccountant]

17 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

133. "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)", Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Snakes & Arrows - Entry 5 out of 13

 

Like Presto, this is another album I wish I could really get into more than most people do. Snakes & Arrows is definitely a better album for me, especially when it comes down to lyrical content and its instrumentation. This is a simple, but perky song about social inequalities, and fares well better than most of Presto. Good stuff.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)

 

How is this album holding up?
13. “Bravest Face” (#171/173)
12. “The Way the Wind Blows” (#160/173)
11. “Spindrift” (#157/173)
10. “Hope” (#150/173)
9. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” (#133/173)

One of the many awesome songs on this album.  Easily in the top 100 for me.

[goose]

21 hours ago, Mosher said:

There are only three I pretty much always skip.

(Need Some Love...)

[goose]

10 hours ago, Mosher said:

Those instrumentals were essential on that album. 

[_hi_water._]

132. "Red Tide", Presto (1989)

Presto - Entry 8 out of 11

 

I know, right? A Presto deep cut that escapes my bottom 40! This was one of the few Presto tracks that always stuck with me a bit after listening to it, even though it is still somewhat pedestrian late 80's adult contemporary.  "This is not a false alarm/This is not a test/Nowhere we can fly away/Nowhere we can rest" is definitely one of my favorite moments throughout the album.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)

 

How is this album doing?

11. “Anagram (for Mongo)” (#172/173)
10. “War Paint” (#162/173)
9. “Hand over Fist” (#158/173)
8. “Superconductor” (#149/173)
7. “Available Light” (#144/173)
6. “Scars” (#142/173)
5. “Presto” (#135/173)
4. ”Red Tide” (#132/173)

[laughedatbytime]

47 minutes ago, _hi_water._ said:

132. "Red Tide", Presto (1989)

Presto - Entry 8 out of 11

 

I know, right? A Presto deep cut that escapes my bottom 40! This was one of the few Presto tracks that always stuck with me a bit after listening to it, even though it is still somewhat pedestrian late 80's adult contemporary.  "This is not a false alarm/This is not a test/Nowhere we can fly away/Nowhere we can rest" is definitely one of my favorite moments throughout the album.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)

 

How is this album doing?

11. “Anagram (for Mongo)” (#172/173)
10. “War Paint” (#162/173)
9. “Hand over Fist” (#158/173)
8. “Superconductor” (#149/173)
7. “Available Light” (#144/173)
6. “Scars” (#142/173)
5. “Presto” (#135/173)
4. ”Red Tide” (#132/173)

These Presto songs are all just a big gray uninteresting ball of wet newspaper.

[Nova Carmina]

23 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

133. "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)", Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Snakes & Arrows - Entry 5 out of 13

 

Like Presto, this is another album I wish I could really get into more than most people do. Snakes & Arrows is definitely a better album for me, especially when it comes down to lyrical content and its instrumentation. This is a simple, but perky song about social inequalities, and fares well better than most of Presto. Good stuff.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)

 

How is this album holding up?
13. “Bravest Face” (#171/173)
12. “The Way the Wind Blows” (#160/173)
11. “Spindrift” (#157/173)
10. “Hope” (#150/173)
9. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” (#133/173)

 

Oh, this one should be higher, certainly. One of my favorites from that album. It is good stuff.

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

3 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

132. "Red Tide", Presto (1989)

Presto - Entry 8 out of 11

 

I know, right? A Presto deep cut that escapes my bottom 40! This was one of the few Presto tracks that always stuck with me a bit after listening to it, even though it is still somewhat pedestrian late 80's adult contemporary.  "This is not a false alarm/This is not a test/Nowhere we can fly away/Nowhere we can rest" is definitely one of my favorite moments throughout the album.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)

 

How is this album doing?

11. “Anagram (for Mongo)” (#172/173)
10. “War Paint” (#162/173)
9. “Hand over Fist” (#158/173)
8. “Superconductor” (#149/173)
7. “Available Light” (#144/173)
6. “Scars” (#142/173)
5. “Presto” (#135/173)
4. ”Red Tide” (#132/173)

 

2 hours ago, laughedatbytime said:

These Presto songs are all just a big gray uninteresting ball of wet newspaper.

 

This. Another utterly forgettable filler track.

[grep]

16 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

132. "Red Tide", Presto (1989)

Presto - Entry 8 out of 11

 

I know, right? A Presto deep cut that escapes my bottom 40! This was one of the few Presto tracks that always stuck with me a bit after listening to it, even though it is still somewhat pedestrian late 80's adult contemporary.  "This is not a false alarm/This is not a test/Nowhere we can fly away/Nowhere we can rest" is definitely one of my favorite moments throughout the album.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)

 

How is this album doing?

11. “Anagram (for Mongo)” (#172/173)
10. “War Paint” (#162/173)
9. “Hand over Fist” (#158/173)
8. “Superconductor” (#149/173)
7. “Available Light” (#144/173)
6. “Scars” (#142/173)
5. “Presto” (#135/173)
4. ”Red Tide” (#132/173)

And this Red Song sucks for sure....

[TheAccountant]

17 hours ago, _hi_water._ said:

132. "Red Tide", Presto (1989)

Presto - Entry 8 out of 11

 

I know, right? A Presto deep cut that escapes my bottom 40! This was one of the few Presto tracks that always stuck with me a bit after listening to it, even though it is still somewhat pedestrian late 80's adult contemporary.  "This is not a false alarm/This is not a test/Nowhere we can fly away/Nowhere we can rest" is definitely one of my favorite moments throughout the album.

 

 

 

Previously on my list...

141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)

 

How is this album doing?

11. “Anagram (for Mongo)” (#172/173)
10. “War Paint” (#162/173)
9. “Hand over Fist” (#158/173)
8. “Superconductor” (#149/173)
7. “Available Light” (#144/173)
6. “Scars” (#142/173)
5. “Presto” (#135/173)
4. ”Red Tide” (#132/173)

This won't be a shock, but this is another top 100 song for me.  

 

I agree that the lyrics you mentioned are among the best from the song

 

Keep this thread coming.  Even where I don't agree I find it very interesting.

[_hi_water._]

This is how my list is holding up so far! Just about 25% through!

If there's anything I can do to improve my future posts, let me know! 

 

173. “Half the World” - 1/11, Test for Echo (1996)
172. “Anagram (for Mongo)” - 1/11, Presto (1989)
171. “Bravest Face” - 1/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
170. “Virtuality” - 2/11, Test for Echo (1996)
169. “Dog Years” - 3/11, Test for Echo (1996)
168. “Seven and Seven Is” - 1/8, Feedback (2004)
167. “BU2B2” - 1/12, Clockwork Angels (2012)
166. “Face Up” - 1/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
165. “Tai Shan” - 1/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
164. “Peaceable Kingdom” - 1/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
163. “You Bet Your Life” - 2/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
162. “War Paint” - 2/11, Presto (1989)
161. “For What It’s Worth” - 2/8, Feedback (2004)
160. “The Way the Wind Blows” - 2/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
159. “Neurotica” - 3/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
158. “Hand over Fist” - 3/11, Presto (1989)
157. “Spindrift” - 3/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
156. “Shapes of Things” - 3/8, Feedback (2004)
155. “Out of the Cradle” - 2/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
154. “Rivendell” - 1/8, Fly by Night (1975)
153. “Need Some Love” - 1/8, Rush (1974)
152. “The Color of Right” - 4/11, Test for Echo (1996)
151. “Mr. Soul” - 4/8, Feedback (2004)
150. “Hope” - 4/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
149. “Superconductor” - 4/11, Presto (1989)
148. “Carve Away the Stone” - 5/11, Test for Echo (1996)
147. “Madrigal” - 1/6, A Farewell to Kings (1977)
146. “I Think I’m Going Bald” - 1/5, Caress of Steel (1975)
145. “Crossroads” - 5/8, Feedback (2004)
144. “Available Light” - 5/11, Presto (1989)
143. “Double Agent” - 1/11, Counterparts (1993)
142. “Scars” - 6/11, Presto (1989)
141. “Roll the Bones” - 4/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
140. “Here Again” - 2/8, Rush (1974)
139. “Between Sun & Moon” - 2/11, Counterparts (1993)
138. “The Stars Look Down” - 3/13, Vapor Trails (2002)
137. “The Big Wheel” - 5/10, Roll the Bones (1991)
136. “Time and Motion” - 6/11, Test for Echo (1996)
135. “Presto” - 7/11, Presto (1989)
134. “Second Nature” - 2/10, Hold Your Fire (1987)
133. “The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)” - 5/13, Snakes & Arrows (2007)
132. ”Red Tide” - 8/11, Presto (1989)