Neil's Strongest Album Lyrically

[WCFIELDS]

QUOTE (Snyder80 @ May 8 2011, 01:11 PM)

I voted MP.  It was extremely tough to pick just one but Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and Witch Craft are three of his lyrical masterpieces.

Witch Craft, I like that one...

Edited May 9, 2011 by WCFIELDS

[Silas Lang]

Permanent Waves through Power Windows I think is Neil's peak as a lyricist. Since GUP has the least number of votes I'm picking it.

 

Of the 70s albums, the best are Caress and 2112 primarily because of the two side long epics. Post-Power Windows I'd say VT.

[An Enemy Without]

What? Nobody voted for RTB? But the rap in the title track is a classic...

[StellarJetman]

QUOTE (Silas Lang @ May 8 2011, 10:33 PM)

Of the 70s albums, the best are Caress and 2112 primarily because of the two side long epics.

Saying that 2112 is good because of its title track's lyrics is like saying that Vapor Trails is good because of its production.

[satchmothesnowdog]

They're all great IMO, but I keep going back to Hold Your Fire, Signals and Permanent Waves, with Permanent Waves winning by a nose.

 

Seriously, this is a stupid question as it's like asking which lobster tail you want to eat

[satchmothesnowdog]

Oh hell, I can't believe Fly By Night got a big zilch.

Beneath, Between and Behind and Anthem are early gems.

[LeaveMyThingAlone]

Ok, who voted for Test for Echo?

 

 

Dog Years? Virtuality? Time and Motion? Brutal...

[ghostworks]

there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll

 

at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration

 

that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically

 

that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless

[ghostworks]

QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ May 9 2011, 08:53 AM)

Ok, who voted for Test for Echo?

^ and yes, add T4E to my 'must have a zero vote' list

[ghostworks]

Presto [ 5 ] [8.93%]

^ embarrassing

 

Roll the Bones [ 0 ] [0.00%]

^ right on

 

Counterparts [ 1 ] [1.79%]

^ someone's favorite

 

Test for Echo [ 1 ] [1.79%]

^ same here - a sympathy/joke vote

 

Vapor Trails [ 3 ] [5.36%]

^ OLV, How It Is, Out Of The Cradle... ooops

 

Snakes & Arrows [ 2 ] [3.57%]

^ right - you two recall that WTA and Larger Bowl are on this album?

[savagegrace26]

QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM)

there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless

BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way.

[ghostworks]

QUOTE (savagegrace26 @ May 9 2011, 01:36 PM)

QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM) there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way. "...boys and girls together, paint the mirror black..."   "...pin the donkeys on her tail, fantasy for sale (that's entertainment)..."   ^ sorry, pal - I'm just not seeing "...science, like nature, must also be tamed - with a view towards it's preservation..." caliber lyrics here   Presto can't honestly be part of the discussion   unintentionally you've even supported my point by listing seven other songs from Presto that 'make up for' the weaknesses of WP and Superconductor   honestly discussing a topic titled 'strongest album lyrically' demands that you set aside favoritism and prejudice   there is no similar lyrical weakness (i.e. nothing to 'make up for') on an album like Permanent Waves - even if that was your least favorite album to listen to, it would deserve your vote

[Cosy Toes]

QUOTE (savagegrace26 @ May 9 2011, 06:36 PM)

QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM) there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way. I don't really care about lyrics, but Anagram doesn't work in any way, shape or form. All it does is say that NEP doesn't know what an anagram is...

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

QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 9 2011, 06:22 PM)

QUOTE (savagegrace26 @ May 9 2011, 06:36 PM) QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM) there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way. I don't really care about lyrics, but Anagram doesn't work in any way, shape or form. All it does is say that NEP doesn't know what an anagram is... Even if the lyrics were among Neil's best (which they're not), the music is so weak and uninspired it would make the lyrics completely moot.   Those pseudo anagrams are kind of interesting to read, but they don't make for good song lyrics. That whole song was completely mailed in. IMO.   (Sorry Pags....it's been a while since my last "Anagram"-bashing post. I was due! )

[An Enemy Without]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 9 2011, 05:29 PM)

QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 9 2011, 06:22 PM) QUOTE (savagegrace26 @ May 9 2011, 06:36 PM) QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM) there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way. I don't really care about lyrics, but Anagram doesn't work in any way, shape or form. All it does is say that NEP doesn't know what an anagram is... Even if the lyrics were among Neil's best (which they're not), the music is so weak and uninspired it would make the lyrics completely moot.   Those pseudo anagrams are kind of interesting to read, but they don't make for good song lyrics. That whole song was completely mailed in. IMO.   (Sorry Pags....it's been a while since my last "Anagram"-bashing post. I was due! ) I second that motion

[CMWriter]

So caught between AFTK, PeW, PoW, Signals, and maybe GUP or HYF.

They all have a song that just kind of fell through, though, imo.

I might've said Hemispheres but I'm not a fan of some of the construction on the title song. Since it takes up half the album.. yeah. No vote from me there.

 

But are we talking lyrical content or how it's put together, or both? Quality of construction and insightfulness of topic are two completely different things.

[HigherWater]

Good poll. I thought I would be in a serious minority with Power Windows. Surprise, surprise.

 

I think Neil was really in his element with Power Windows and Hold Your Fire. Tai Shan and High Water are bad songs because of the other two yahoos not Neil.

[savagegrace26]

QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 03:33 PM)

QUOTE (savagegrace26 @ May 9 2011, 01:36 PM) QUOTE (ghostworks @ May 9 2011, 09:19 AM) there are others that could be debated, but but Presto, RTB and CP shouldn't even appear on the poll at the barest minimum, War Paint, Superconductor, The Big Wheel, Neurotica and Everyday Glory preclude these albums from consideration that any one of those albums has anything other than a zero for a vote means people are voting for their favorite albums, not the strongest lyrically that behavior (too common) tends to make these potentially interesting exercises rather pointless BS. War Paint and Superconductor while not great lyrically are in no way horrible. Chain Lightning, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Red Tide, Available Light, Show Don't Tell lyrics are all excellent (and more than make up for the two you mentioned) and even Anagram and Hand Over Fist work in their own unique way. "...boys and girls together, paint the mirror black..."   "...pin the donkeys on her tail, fantasy for sale (that's entertainment)..."   ^ sorry, pal - I'm just not seeing "...science, like nature, must also be tamed - with a view towards it's preservation..." caliber lyrics here   Presto can't honestly be part of the discussion   unintentionally you've even supported my point by listing seven other songs from Presto that 'make up for' the weaknesses of WP and Superconductor   honestly discussing a topic titled 'strongest album lyrically' demands that you set aside favoritism and prejudice   there is no similar lyrical weakness (i.e. nothing to 'make up for') on an album like Permanent Waves - even if that was your least favorite album to listen to, it would deserve your vote Sorry. No "prejudice" here since Permanent Waves is my favorite Rush Album.   Seven out of eleven songs having an excellent set of lyrics is greater than three out of six having excellent lyrics (I consider the lyrics to Jacob's Ladder, Entre Nous, and Different Strings to be NO more than good).   But still, that's a stupid way of looking at it. It's about the whole package here not just quantity. And I consider to Presto to have the strongest overall writing from Peart. Even Superconductor and War Paint have some great lines and I consider them to be both to have good lyrics overall.   Don't accuse me of "prejudice". F**k off.

Edited May 10, 2011 by savagegrace26

[savagegrace26]

Disagree about Anagram. Neil managed to infuse some meaning into the lyrics. Considering the rules he imposed on himself that is hardly "mailing it in". Edited May 10, 2011 by savagegrace26

[1 of the 7]

Power Windows. Hold Your Fire is a close second.

[Ranger J]

Definately the GUP, PoW, HYF period for me.

 

GUP and HYF had a few songs that lyrically let down the remainder of a great album (i.e. The Body Electric for GUP).

 

PoW - simply magic.

[gotbass1228]

Hold Your Fire all the way!

[Checkster2112]

Power Windows. For me its not even close.

 

[Scars]

Power Windows by far, one of the many reasons it's my absolute favorite Rush album.

[GeddyRulz]

I was tempted to say Hold Your Fire because I like the underlying theme of the entire album...

 

But I went with my favorite album, Permanent Waves. Spirit of Radio, Freewill, and Natural Science are works of genius.