Best "Synth Era" Rush Song?

[maplelevy]

Too many great choices.

 

Subdivisions would be the easy answer, given that it kicked off the era on Signals and is its iconic song.

 

Ironically, some of my favorites on the list really are more guitar than synth-driven. Analog Kid, Marathon, and Middletown Dreams.

 

But, I voted for Between the Wheels. The R30 live version is one of their heaviest, classically rock-driven songs in their massive catalog. Also, one of Alex's best solos and they all seem to really enjoy playing it.

[lifeson90]

Had to be something from HYF for me and chose Second Nature but truth is coulda been any one of em

[Mr. JD]

Second Nature. Then Mission.

[The K Man]

Marathon, by a nose over Mission.

 

Territories and Subdivisions were not far behind.

[Eel Yddeg]

Subdivisions is a masterwork, possibly a top 10 song by them.

 

The Big Money, The Enemy Within, and Mystic Rhythms are behind.

[_hi_water._]

Subdivisions

[Entre_Perpetuo]

Marathon, but I had to think about it.

[Vectorman]

I thought about it for a minute and there's no way I could land on just one, since this list encapsulates most of my favorite era of Rush. I guess "Force Ten" would be a strong contender, though. It shows Rush using the skills they had built over the preceding years in a very sophisticated and considered fashion. It doesn't need over-the-top, bombastic playing because the core ideas are strong and it has a very unique atmosphere. It's a great example of Alex's adaptability and attention to detail at the time, coming up with parts that are unusual and yet just right for the moment. I know when he talked about the album in hindsight, he felt like the keyboards were starting to cramp his style, but I think it forced him to rise to the challenge and be even more inventive. Really, it's just the sort of song that is so unusual and distinctive that it's hard to imagine any other band having come up with it.