Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Amaaaazing
Yeah, I'm a nerd that likes Rush. Gimme math equations to listen to.
I’m not even going to dignify this with a response. C’mon!
Finally an actually very good album again. We had another Rush album some 600 albums ago on which I criticized song length and pretentiousness (but still ended up rounding up to 5 stars). This one improved on those issues with much tighter song structures. The fantastic musicianship stayed the same. The blemish on this album is the final track, Vital Signs, which somehow blends reggae into their signature power prog rock. I absolutely loathe reggae and am strongly tempted to take a star off for that track alone. But even so, this is the best album we got in a long time.
Classic. One of the best prog rock albums out there.
I didn’t appreciate Rush until in my 40’s, I wish I had started listening to them 30 years ago. This album is a favorite and while it’s all great, Neil’s drumming is inspiring.
Great album!
Tom Sawyer and YYZ are enough for five stars.
It's rush, its fantastic, it's 5
Oh now we're talking. One of the best side As ever put together. Personally I love it all but those first four tracks are rock music at its very best
Wow, what an album. I was familiar with the opening track from the strong songs podcast, but I still wasnt quite sure what to expect from this one. The voice is fantastic, the feel is fantastic, all the quirky time signatures are fantastic. Loved it top to bottom!
Now that’s prog ! I’m not a fan of Geddy Lee’s voice but the musicianship of the three together is mesmerizing. Listen to that drum ! 5 stars
There is some great stereo usage going on here. I feel like a dweeb for liking this and I wonder if the mix of prog and Canadian is just too much for me to not feel a bit embarrassed about. This is a pretty wild album if you give it a chance. The drumming alone makes it world class.
Canada! Great mixing. Unique, yet interesting vocals. Amazing bass playing. Is there anyone else like Rush? Neil Pert killing it. Vital Signs is a great closing track. After my first listen I was leaning towards a 4, but on second listen I'm going 5. Canada
Incredible album. I thought at first it would only be on here for “Tom Sawyer,” as so many other albums seem to have made this list for just one hit song (looking at you, Ah-ha’s “Hunting High and Low” album). But this is genuinely a work of art produced by three immensely talented musicians. Yes, “Tom Sawyer” is amazing and deserves all the praise it gets. And you might worry that the album peaks with its first track. I’d argue it doesn’t. “YYZ,” “Limelight,” “The Camera Eye,” “Vital Signs” all shine on their own. Rush is an incredible band. I’ve always known this. But to witness such refined talent put on display in one album was an absolute treat and I’m thrilled this popped up for me. 5 stars. Standout tracks: Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Limelight, Vital Signs
It’s a classic for a reason!
One of those rare perfect albums. Every song is strong with original ideas and excellent musicianship. A true classic. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
easy 5 stars. Neil Peart stands alone
The album that kicked off my Rush fandom. The end of side 2 gets dark and it's fantastic.
Great album!
Really hits the spot for the prog geek in me: spiralling psychedelic bars, curious synths, great drumming, pushing away from tender melodies towards metal. Vocals slightly too Tenacious D, but hey, it adds to the esoteric charme. Kinda wanna buy a T-shirt.
Awesome classic and progressive rock album. Very hard rock influence, with an ode to progressive nature. Love them or hate them rush were at the top of their game in 1981. This remains my favorite non-concept album by Rush. Notable favorite Red Barchetta is always a fabulous song to listen to.
Holy balls, the musicianship on this album. Out of this world. I'm far from a prog head. I find it to be overly dramatic and pointless complicated more often than not. But not THIS album. THIS album is unbridled talent and feverish energy from needle drop to stop. Out of control good.
I liked this album a lot, as well as the album cover. It was pretty short and had fewer songs, which made it easier to review. There are definitely some longer songs, but the instrumentals on those grew on me.
Man within the first 2 seconds you get transformed into Rush world. Probably the most iconic Canadian rock band of all time, with their most successful album. They definitely come out blasting with the early half of the album, but even some of the later tracks I didnt know were very good. They almost didnt play out great listening to them back to back. But yeah easy 5 stars. Absolutely iconic.
Tuttua, tuttua. Lyhyt laaturykäsy.
Amazing!!!
Ég geng mjög reglulega um í peysu merktri 2112 sem er tribute í concept plötu Rush þannig að það ætti ekki að koma neinum á óvart sem þekkir til að þetta er gott stöff. Ég var samt ekkert mjög mikill Rush gaur þótt ég hafi alltaf fíla Tom Sawyer en þetta er bara svo gott stöff að það er ekki hægt annað en að elska þetta.
Like most albums of the time, not thematic but good rock music.
Good I think, should give it another listen when I’m not sick.
This one has been getting even better since it came out senior year of high school.
Great album. Rush's best one. Love it
I've listened to this one many many times ... for a reason. I won't gush. I'll just click the five stars and we can all move on with our lives.
One of the first I got for my record player-- Tom Sawyer is good but don't understand how it can be their most popular song when YYZ, Limelight, and The Camera Eye are sitting RIGHT THERE. The drums on this are insane, they tie together the instrumental sections perfectly. Alongside the guitar on Camera Eye, it just evokes something man. Great great album.
I love these little visits to my high school years. This is my senior year, and you can hear the little influences of new wave, especially The Police in this album by Rush. They weren't a favorite of mine then, except for a few songs- but I have no problem listening to the superior musicianship of this band these days.
A very fluid album. Even though it’s only 7 songs, the album has a definitive beginning, middle, and end.
Hah! I just listened to this a week ago. Very good album
just a killer album
TODAY'S TOM SAWYER MEAN, MEAN PRIDE love this shit. neil peart a legend.
This is a five star Canadian classic. If you’re into that kinda thing. The way of the road.
Oh baby. Top 3 Rush album. I forgot how good Witch Hunt is. Forgotten amongst Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Limelight, etc.
5 - Obviamente! Chulada de disco
Prog met new wave to form beautiful musical alchemy. Rush got the balance right here between the guitars, synths, and complex drum parts.
я прихожу домой поздно вечером. включаю этот альбом и начинаю танцевать. и мне вновь хорошо.
Great stuff. RIP Neal Peart.
big guitar hero vibes
Feel the power Kronk! Amazing album, I really enjoyed the drums and the ripping guitar. Lotta hits on here and some great vibes 9.4/10
Obviously... incredible
The first Rush album to achieve widespread mainstream success, Moving Pictures is a gem of an album. It has some of Rush's best songs (Tom Sawyer, Limelight - their first mainstream hit - and YYZ to name a few) but its strength is in its cohesion. While not a concept album, Moving Pictures hangs together like one. Songs flow naturally from one song to another without hiccups. Moving Pictures made Rush a household name. It may be the most "Rush" album Rush ever made.
Tom Sawyer
Great record. Classic and I will probably buy it at some point.
Iconic
I mean, side 1 is banger after banger. While side 2 is not as strong, it still contains such polished playing and production that I am giving out a 5.
wanted to listen to rush for a while now after enjoying other prog rock classics (still a beginner to the genre) but i really like this. i feel it sticks to a formula and is therefore great all the way through. still doesn't feel repetitive though due to the varying tempo making it have no downsides to me really.
I can see my dad tapping the steering wheel off rhythm to songs in the car when I listen to this <3
It’s Rush
Peak Rush, absolutely fantastic.
Slappa da bass
Great!
Wow, never listened all the way through before. amazing album. want to listen to more rush now
Standout Tracks: "Tom Sawyer," "YYZ," "Limelight," "The Camera Eye," "Vital Signs" Lyrics/Vocals- 4/5 Instrumentals- 5/5 Vibes 5/5 Overall 5/5 I've heard "Tom Sawyer" before and that's about it, but there were so many amazing tracks on this album. Track-wise it's pretty short, but each song feels like many different songs wrapped into one. The instrumentation in this album was insane. So many cool things going on at different times, one would think it would create a cacophony of sounds but in actuality it created what I would consider to be a complete masterpiece.
Classic. Some of the best drums, bass, vocals, lyrics, production, synth. I mean it’s so good. 9/10
It's iconic.
Really good album, peak prog rock
So good!! Love this classic rock band.
I was in 10th grade when this album came out. It was a huge deal. I used to listen to it over and over. It was nice to hear it again
To me, Rush perfectly represent prog rock's transition into the 80's. This was already an album I've listened to many times and love. It may not be an "everyday" listen for me, but when I'm in the mood, this really scratches a certain itch and helped progress prog into a more accessible, mainstream format.
Somehow I've never listened to this whole album and now I'm pissed. Will definitely go on my rotation now. :-)
RUSH!! They say that you always remember your first love and when it comes to discovering rock ‘n’ roll, RUSH was it! They were part of many musical first for me my first cassette tape, my first CD and my first concert. I remember vacationing on a small private island on Lake Erie with my best friend where we met other vacationing teens…Quickly forging that elusive bond that only seems to happen during summer vacations… and we spent the week riding around on a tandem bike, listening to “The Trees” from Hemisphere. From that week on it was a mad love affair with RUSH. for me, Moving Pictures is a masterpiece of imagery and emotion about the human condition. Tom Sawyer I think inspires individuality and creative and critical thinking. Red Barchetta for me evokes reminiscent of my own memories both of that feeling of excitement and discovery you get from bonding with a beloved adult when you share the same interest as well as just happy memories of adventure. It’s at once both invigorating and comforting like doing something new with an old friend. XYZ is beautiful instrumental. Limelight, The Camera Eye and Witch Hunt is an evolutionary & cautionary tale about to be be careful what you wish for… fame, fortune and the love of the masses can quickly turn into fear, alienation and persecution if you’re not who they want you to be. That’s never been more true than now either cancel culture on full rampage. Vital signs to me is about finding and making a human connection and understanding in a very deep and meaningful way. I think it’s about seeking a balance to the hollowness, misunderstanding and isolation that comes with fame. That vital element that we all need to thrive. Love this album so much. Haven’t listened in years though so I was excited to see the suggestion!
Easy 5, peak Rush and always a fun album to listen to.
A classic in its own right. A few elements are a bit dated but overall an album that lives up to the hype even for non-fans of the band. Some absolutely brilliant composition and musicianship.
A masterpiece of an album by a legendary band. The first synthesizer hit of "Tom Sawyer" is on the Mount Rushmore of musical moments. Music for the ages.
Great album
LOVED IT
This is as easy as it gets to rate an album. I must have listened to this 1001 times in high school, along with lots of other Rush albums. Coincidentally, I am just reading Geddy Lee's memoir and am at the chapter about this very album. Absolutely nails the best of the band and just flat-out sounds incredible. Every song is fantastic, love the mix of longer and shorter tunes, brilliant musically and lyrically. My fave line on the album, and one that made an impact on me as a young man: Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand/Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand. I am an unabashed fan of this band, and this is one of those rare albums that is adored by critics and fans and that really stands as one of the best albums in the group's catalog. LOVE it.
Rush was a lot of the soundtrack I heard pouring through my brother’s walls as a kid. I dug it and would get lost in their album covers when I’d sneak in his room and look at his albums. This one most certainly moved me. Later I’d come to Rush on my own. Probably through this album with Tom Sawyer playing endlessly on the radio. Andre really introduced me to their brilliance as musicians and songwriters and …. readers. We watched a documentary of the band that now allows me to hear more of their brilliance---like Neil's drums. Limelight demonstrates the substance of the band. I'll get lost any day in a Rush album...
Stunning album that made me fall in love with rush . And paul rudd
Such a classic album.
Side 1: 5/5 Side 2: 4/5 Side 1 is amazing...side 2 doesn't compare, but overall it is still very good. Standouts: Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Limelight, YYZ Overall: 4.5
The frames carried by the red suited men to the museum may very well contain the pictures of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, for their Moving Pictures is not only their finest hour but perhaps the purest distillation of what made their band Rush the kind of late 70s/early 80s prog rock institution that still amass acolytes and curious listeners to this day. From the moment Tom Sawyer starts (an opening track that should be considered amongst the absolute best of all time), Moving Pictures takes its place and asserts its dominance for all of its allotted forty minutes. A damn good place to start if you want to get into the band.
Classic Rating: 4.5
I know this album well. I've been listening to it since the 80s
The first 4 tracks were absolute highlights of my 20's. Neil's drumming inspired me to start playing again after having to give it up for a few years. One of Rush's finest albums overall.
Classic Rush! Always a great listen, no matter the mood
4 songs get 5 stars, 3 songs are solid 4 stars so it gets a 5. This is about as good as a prog rock album gets.
It's Rush. Was this the beginning of a really dark, synthesizer-heavy sound for them? Yes. Was it still better than 99% of the crap that would be 80s music? Hell yes. If you don't get it, then fine. If you don't like it, then that's okay too. You can be a little b**** and listen to your Yaz, Madonna, and Fresh Prince all that you want. And don't forget to push up the sleeves of your Miami Vice suits while flipping up the collar of your hot pink Izod shirts.
Great
Not every track hits as hard as Tom Sawyer but holy shit that song (prog) rocks.
Favourite tracks: yyz; limelight; tom sawyer; red barchetta; camera eye
This is a fun, great album - start to finish - it’s not pretentious or complicated. Just straight solid rock music with proggy hooks. Limelight has been a darling since the first time I listed to it driving around Toronto. I love it!
Love it. Great sounds. Great writing. Once you get over Geddys voice you can really appreciate the craft.
Neil Peart is the best. Tom Sawyer is one of my absolute favorite songs. The vocals, the bass licks, the solos. It's all just so fucking good.
Little known fact about Rush: The band was initially the brainchild of a consortium of Canadian music retailers strategizing to increase demand for music lessons and to sell more gear, particularly an overstock of kick drums and 5-string bass guitars. The rest is history. True story.
Album swung high and mellowed at times. Enjoyable ride, potential trip album. 9/10
5/5. One of the best albums I have ever listened to. Every single song is a standout. What a masterpiece by Rush!
Yep
Rush does not disappoint
Amazing.
Fantastic album, probably Rush at their best, Tom Sawyer and YYZ, superb.
One of my favorites ever
Fantastic. Outstanding songs on here.
I LOVE RUSH. This album is nothing but HEATERS from start to finish. One of the many Rush albums I would personally consider perfect. YYZ is one of the best songs ever made. RIP to the greatest drummer to ever live Neal Peart.
no words....RUSH is one of my all time favorite bands
This is an easy 5/5, YYZ is so good, and its one of my favourite songs to play on guitar
Good
Great album stacked with hits. 5 out of 5.
love the opening. Band has the patience to let the vocals carry without showing off their skills on their instruments (which they do so much of later).
Meilleur album de Rush, et fort probablement le meilleur album des années 80
Hook after hook
Tom Sawyer and Limelight; I first discovered these songs when I saw the movie I love You, Man.
This is the album that got me into Rush in the first place. Musically and lyrically brilliant. I know a lot of people who don’t listen because they do t like Geddy’s voice, but to think that three guys make all that music!! How can you not be impressed?
Aquired taste. The more I listen to it the better it gets.
Classic
5 stars - Mike
Awesome album.
It's a classic. Tom Sawyer and YYZ? Just great.
Great Album. 5
Camera Eye is perfection. Such a great album.
I own this on vinyl and have always loved it! Those opening moments of Tom Sawyer, awesome.
I usually only listen to Tom Sawer, but there are a lot more hits here. This would be a good one on the electric guitar.
The kings of late prog rock at their best.
Can’t believe I’ve never listened to this album all the way through. Tom Sawyer was a huge song for me in high school. Cohesive album with clear musical themes throughout — a great one is the use of timing — lots of jumped/uniquely timed measures and great riffs. Good arc as well — I could tell when it was the final song without previously knowing. Found myself head bobbing the whole time.
If not for geddy lee, rush would've probably been my favorite classic prog band. Still a five star though.
This is the last great album Rush put out in my opinion. The first few songs are just classics and the second half is excellent as well. I always think it's something of a feat when you can put a long song on an album and it doesn't feel like a long song. This definitely belongs on this list, but I could understand if Geddy's voice was a deal breaker for many.
This is what I imagine when I imagine Rush. It's pretty dang good, even if The Camera Eye almost took it down a notch.
One of my best friends in high school was a huge Rush fan and listened to this often. At the time I didn’t really get it. I do now! Moving Pictures is a fantastically ambitious album - a great entry point to the baroque stylings of Rush. Incredible music from incredible musicians at the height of their powers. Terrific!
Great album. The first time I really liked Rush!
YYZ
Damn this is great , first 2 songs automatic like and add to playlist
Ei suuntaa ja katoavia ideoita helppoja improvisaatioita.. helppoja ratkaisuja.. Proge höpöilyä...
Own it. Great.
One of my absolute favourites
idk why but i like it
HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH
Easy 5, love em or hate em. I'm in the love em camp and this album slaps.
Perfect
An absolute classic! About as good of a first half of a record as you can get. Just absolute incredible musicianship from the trio. Moving Pictures is Rush at their best.
Idk what to say it's rush so I automatically love it
Awesome
I love rush
Fuck yea babyyy it's Rush!
Not their best, but close. Definitely the best of the synthesizer era. (Not including Moving Pictures in that era). Just got my 40th anniversary box set a couple of months ago.
Fantastic. Love the interesting time signatures and chord progressions.
Don’t know if there will be many albums I love as much as this one in the list. RIP Neil the best drummer and lyricist of all time
One of my favorite albums of all time. This is practically a greatest hits record.
The greatest album ever drummed
I was a Rush fan coming into this album, but had never heard it all the way through. This album is a tale of two halves. The first four songs are some of Rush’s all time greats. Starting an album with Tom Sawyer is strapping someone onto the front of a bullet train for their morning commute. The last four songs are just fine and definitely set the tone for what would become Rush’s signature sound. It was like they made side A to sell the record and side B to satisfy their creativity. Really great stuff. 5/5
Love this album! A total classic! 5 Stars
Fantastic rock album. Strong production, cool composition, musicianship on a next level from all 3, and strong singles making it their most accessible work to one not particularly crazy for prog rock.
What a thrill again by Rush! Their second album on this list manifests my opinion that they are just the perfect combination of classic stadium rock but with a progressive edge that never is too weird!
Heard before: yes The first four tracks here are as good as it gets for pop prog rock. A perfect balance of the expansiveness, shameless curiosity, and virtuosity of prog, with the hookiness and restraint of great pop. Sure the lyrics can be a little on the nose, but the musicality - the forms, the playing, the melodies - more than carries the weight. And the production is immaculate - you can hear them as a trio build the sound. This hasn’t always been my favorite Rush, but let’s go prog nerds! Top tracks: Red Barchetta, Tom Sawyer, YYZ
DAMN I need to listen to more Rush. This album was great.
Brilliant album!
First rush album! which is weird because many people I know say they are their favorite band. anyways so good!
OBRA MAESTRA, PAPU
Absolute classic Rush album filled what you’d expect from them; great composition, insightful lyrics, and hit after hit.
Awesome Classic
so fucking iconic. one of the few good things to come out of canada. as most people know, canada is basically just america lite. it wants america’s culture so bad. everything anyone in canada does someone in the states is doing one thousand times better and is a thousand times more important. nothing about canada is significant or important. except for Rush. this album is so incredibly intricate without sacrificing memorability. one of their best for sure.
Kind of hard to separate myself from how much Rush I’ve heard and trying to listen to this with fresh ears. In the end, Rush is awesome.
Listened to this more times than I can count. A masterpiece in which there is no filler whatsoever. Sheer musical and lyrical genius. And how can you not love an album called "Moving Pictures" which has a bunch of guys on the cover "moving pictures"?!
Tom Sawyer is just an absolute classic song. The rest of the album is no slouch either though. I love the expanded instrumental palate of this album vs their earlier stuff.
Era justo y necesario que llegara este disco a mi. YWZ, Una gozadera. Si me guto 10/10
Mark Twain would be proud, even if the music would be alien to him. I can see it now - "A Connecticut Yankee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".
Corporate rock at its best. Every song is good to great.
One of my faves, Tom Sawyer, YYZ & Limelight are top songs, great listen!
Great album great band
El treball on totes les virtuts i característiques de la banda van trobar el seu punt àlgid. Els arranjaments, les melodies, la grandiositat musical del trio i vocal de Geddy Lee. Tenen un bon grapat de discos Top, però aquí és on més van excel.lir
I always thought he was saying "today's tom sawyer has a mean mean bride" "catch the mist, catch the myth / Catch the mystery, catch the drift" would translate to "?? the ??, blast(?) the ?? \ Fight the bullets, catch the ??"
1st of all it's "Y-Y-ZED" and 2nd of all it's impossible Good album
it actually slaps XD
Excellent
Great classic album.
rush my beloved
Discazo, tiene toda la energia y mas. instrumentalmente muy bueno y no t aburre ni 1 segundo
great
Uh.. how do I go back and lower all my previous ratings? This is Rush's best, and I'm sorry to all other artists but that's just the way it is. Rock on Peart, you legend \m/
Classic. Loved every second
Maybe a perfect prog rock record. Maybe every Rush album is a perfect prog rock record (or at least their first 9 albums). I have so much respect for this band - it's incredible that this band is able to create such a massive soundstage with only 3 members. The drumming is the best part of every Rush album for me, but there is so much to love about the bass lines, guitar solos, keyboard/synth grooves, and the imaginative lyricism that tells unique, creative and insightful stories with every track that includes vocals. Fave tracks: The entire album, front to back. YYZ takes the title of top track.
It's impossible not to give 5 stars to any Rush album I see. One of the greatest Prog rock outfits there ever was, backed by the incredible force that is Neil Peart, RIP. Fav Tracks: Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, Limelight, Vital Signs
Хорошее жесткое звучание, но в тоже время музыканты не потеряли мелодичность. Супер
One of the greatest rock albums ever made. Epic
i truly believe that Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, and Limelight is one of, if not THE, best 4 song run in any album ever.
No notes. 5
rush
3 albums in a row that I know back to front. Not my favorite Rush album, but great nonetheless
What an album!
Fav tracks: all of them
I've been meaning to listen to Rush for years, so glad to know that they live up to the hype. Limelight is an absolute classic
Masterpiece
Classic
If the intro on 'Witch Hunt' was just 20 seconds shorter, this album would be as perfect as Neil Pearts drumming.
The 80’s saw progressive rock groups exploring radio friendly material, leaving the 20+ minutes suites and incorporating more elements from pop music. Yes - 90125. Genesis - Invisible Touch. Pink Floyd - … Maybe not Pink Floyd. For Rush that album was Moving Pictures. A perfect collection of songs that I am nowhere near growing tired of. I begin smiling at Pearts first beat on “Tom Sawyer”. And that feeling doesn’t leave me until “Vital Signs” has faded completely.
Classic
Great listen. Very eclectic
When you have Red Barchetta, Limelight, Tom Sawyer and YYZ all on the same record, it's difficult to rate anywhere lower than 5/5.
Terrific album that I have listened to many times. Excellent musicianship between all three guys without overplaying, precise songwriting, great lyrics, legendary riffs. Such a unique band and overall sound. God damn legends. R.I.P. NEIL PEART
Nostalgisk og nice
Maybe I don’t hate prog after all! Or maybe CanCon rules have made this music part of my life for years. Whatever it is, between the incredible Neal Peart drumming and Geddy Lee’s bizarre voice and fantastic bass playing this works for me from beginning to end.
Deserves five stars just for Neil Peart's drumming
I imagine that folks who prefer other genres will still like this album. It's amazing how so few can do so much.
9/10 I love this album i just wish the lyrics were less corny
Great album. I remember listening to this while hanging out after coming back from the thrift store in the summer of 2017. 9/10
Absolute classic, easily one of the best albums of all time
Now that’s what I call rock n roll. I got past Geddy Lees jarring vocals and Neil Pearts occasionally silly lyrics so now I just love this album. YYZedd is the highlight of the album.
9/10
Haha, man vet hva jeg syns om dette albumet. yyz er jo fuckings legendarisk. 5/5
Finally something to give five stars to. Every band member going full out every track. Awesome rock, songs have good movement, creativity, and hype.
I've never spent the time to really listen to Rush, but my significant other considers them their favorite band, so I've been exposed to various songs by them for years now. So, after finally giving one of their albums a full listen, I've got to say I'm super impressed. I mean, it was slightly in good standings already, as I knew Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Limelight, and to a lesser extent Red Barchetta, which makes up more than half the album (number of songs wise), but I enjoyed the stuff I didn't know as well. I will say none of the songs really hit me with a strong feeling like other Prog Rock songs do (other than YYZ, that song has always, and will always, be one of my favorite instrumental pieces), but it was still all super solid and it's hard to say an album is anything but a five star when each song is good. It's a light five star, as I don't think the new songs will stick with me unless I give them a few more listens on my own time, but still a very good album I'm happy to have heard.
So this was not the first Rush album I owned. Neither is it the first one I bought (that goes to "Hold Your Fire" in 1987). The one thing you can really hear in this album is the embracing of the 80s sound, which is very different from how they were even 2 albums ago. Compare the style and sound to "Hemispheres" or "A Farewell To Kings." Let's get this out of the way: yes, "Tom Sawyer" is overplayed on the radio. But it's a well-crafted song. Their most well-known hit, and the band didn't mind playing it every night, because it's still a hard song to play well. "Red Barchetta" ... I have always liked the middle portion "wind, in my hair..." it's just such a great car song. "YYZ" what a great instrumental, really shows off all of their chops. "The Camera Eye" I always felt this was a bit of a weaker epic song in comparison to "Natural Science". Their last "longer song," but it still gets stuck in my head. "Witch Hunt" - it's interesting how that became part of a trilogy for the next few albums. I don't know a lot of bands that did this type of thing (Dream Theater did, for their 12-Step Suite). Both Rush and Portnoy played the suites / trilogies during one tour. Would have been cool to see either. "Vital Signs" is such an underrated song. It was nice to hear them pull it out for the last tour. I got to see the band play the whole "Moving Pictures" album live back in 2011 (wow it was that long ago?). I am not a fan of bands doing a whole album live, but it was still cool to hear. Rush is one of my favorite bands of all time, so this album ranks pretty high for me. I like other albums of theirs more, but I do come back to this one pretty frequently. So... yeah, 5 stars for me.
Yep, Canadian but nope, not a Rush fan growing up. I really only came to appreciate them during my second musical odyssey in the late 2000's (first one late 90's, latest one over the last few years including traversing this list). And this is the album I started with because of side one and how accessible it is. I can still get tired of Tom Sawyer (overplayed) but their musical mastery on it is undeniable. Red Barchetta is probably my favorite (maybe of all Rush songs) because of its mix of early Rush hard rock stylings (great Lifeson guitar riffs) and later Rush prog rock stylings (several subtle twists and turns though not as distinct as a 10min epic). And if you pay close attention, you hear all the Peart percussion layers and Lee multi-instruments. I'm not usually a fan of instrumentals but YYZ is crazy good - so much musical dexterity and mastery packed into a 4min song. Limelight was a big reason I started with this album; always a fan when it was on the radio even when I turned my nose up at other Rush songs. So Side One is perfect but what about Side Two? Less so, but The Camera Eye grew on me quite a bit (true prog and great musicianship again). Witch Hunt is a bit plodding; good but doesn't hit the same heights as side one songs. Vital Signs is sneaky good; a little unusual in its ska sound but Lee's synth kept me around for the other instrument layers (including Lifeson riffs) and Peart's lyrics make you think (as they often do). It is not a 5-star album in my opinion, but 4 stars might not do it justice either. Rounding up.
Rush is a band that pretty much shaped my musical identity for years to come. Funny enough, I think Moving Pictures was the 6th Rush album that I bought, with Hold Your Fire being the first (it was their newest album at the time). I already knew I was a fan before hearing the album but if there was even the slightest doubt (there wasn’t!) this sealed the deal. Every track is a classic. “The Camera Eye” has my favorite Alex Lifeson solo on it. I think he called it his Holdsworth solo in some interview I read from the past. Neil’s lyrics have evolved from the fantasy-based stories of previous releases and only continue to get better on each subsequent release after this. I could go on about how awesome each track is but for anyone reading this if Rush is your thing you already love it and if not, nothing I write about how awesome it is will sway any opinions. 5 stars isn't enough for how much I love this.
Full disclosure: I'm a huge Rush fan. Moving Pictures is the obvious pick for the 1001 Albums (2112 is in the list also) and deservingly so. Side one is absolutely perfect - every song a masterpiece. Tom Sawyer with its iconic opening chord and, well, iconic moments throughout. Red Barchetta - a great song for an afternoon drive with the windows down. YYZ - Want to pump up any Rush fan? Tap out morse code for Y-Y-Z. This is stupidly one of the first songs I tried to play on bass guitar. Thought I sucked because I couldn't play like Geddy Lee. Duh. Even more stupid, the Grammys chose the Police's lame Behind My Camel as best rock instrumental over YYZ. Seriously?? YYZ is a perfect instrumental and a showcase for the band's amazing musicianship. Limelight - the greatest song ever written about not wanting to talk with fans. Neil Peart turns misanthropy into a hit! Seriously, I love the guitar parts in Limelight. The second side is very good, but not as great as Side 1 (nobody's perfect, I guess). It's also not nearly as accessible to non-Rush fans. The Camera Eye was never one of my favorites - it's good, but to this day doesn't draw me in and always feels too long. Always liked Witch Hunt and its lyrics are as relevant as ever. Finally, Vital Signs is a fun track and a good hint of what was going to come on the next album. If someone were to ask me which Rush album they should start with I'd give a different answer depending on what they like, but you generally can't go wrong with recommending Side 1 of Moving Pictures. I've never gotten tired of this album and never will. Easy 5.
I was so excited to see that I finally got this album. I love Rush, but I somehow haven't sat down and listened to this album before. It was great. I know some people are bothered by it, but I love Geddy Lee's voice. I adore prog rock, so I'm excited to see what other prog albums are on this list. I'm sad that there isn't more Rush on this list than just the two albums, but I understand why. My favourite songs are YYZ and Limelight.
I liked i because it was really something different from what I'm used to listen.
yeah man yeah rush is basically all of the most talented people you know all put into a room, but they don't really mesh together. i love moving pictures, and i love the band rush, but oftentimes it just feels like they're waiting for one prodigy to be done so they can have their turn to solo. lee, peart and lifeson are all so talented, but they're less of a cohesive unit and more of a bunch of dudes. somehow, they still managed to make an incredible album with one of the most iconic songs of all time. tom sawyer's 7/8 time signature is iconic, and it will stand the test of time. also, none of the lyrics make sense. doesn't matter. fucking banger
So so, I'm not too into the genre, but it was pretty good.
Not my favorite or nor do I think it's the best Rush album but it was the first Rush album I ever heard. I was probably about 10 years old, sitting in my best Friends room when I the needle drop and I heard the first note of Tom Sawyer, I was a fan a fan for life after that. Therefore this album get's a 5 star from me, though it's probably a 4.5. I hope 2112 and perhaps my favorite Rush album Farewell to Kings makes the list but Moving Pictures seems to be the choice made by non die-hard Rush fans.
Love this record! Neil Peart’s virtuosity on drums is astounding, and I’m a fan of his lyrics as well. Lee’s vocals are some of my favorite on this record especially Limelight along with Lifeson’s guitar.
Amazing album. Great guitar, bass, and drums.
Love this album, another find from my 2022 dive into Prog. This has the perfect balance of short punchy radio hits in Tom Sawyer and Limelight, and longer more intricate tracks. The musicianship is great throughout, fantastic drumming from Neil Pert in particular (goes without saying really). I think I first discovered Rush from watching Freaks and Geeks actually, so this brought up some nice memories of Justin Segal's drumming scenes.
5 baybee
I Love You Man
My favorite Rush album. So many great songs. Neil Peart is ridiculous. So many awesome rhythms on this album. One of my favorite of all time.
10/10
Great record. I loved it.
Very unique sound and some bangers on this album
Excellent!
This one was killer!
Nothing to say here. Masterpiece.
RIP NEIL
Out of all the progressive rock giants of the 70s, Rush had perhaps the smoothest and most creatively fruitful transition to the 80s. They may have a slightly more polished sound on Moving Pictures, but they still retain their musical proficiency and intricate lyrics exploring themes like alienation and technology.
A previous favourite of mine - an absolute classic of the prog genre. Recommend Limelight in particular to anyone
One the classic Rush albums. 7 superb tracks.
One of the best albums ever
Here we go galaxy here we go! 👏👏 Slappa da bass, man
The holy triumvirate can do no wrong
One of my favourite bands of all time, with one of the best Rock records of the 80s. Side A is the perfect album side in my opinion.
Rush is undoubtedly one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time and this might be their best album. The musicianship on this album is insane. While Neil Peart is known as one of the greatest drummers of all time, Alex Lifeson’s idiosyncratic guitar lines and Geddy Lee’s piercing voice and acrobatic bass lines complete the package. Rush carved out a very distinct sound and this album proclaims that from the opening of Tom Sawyer to the very end.
I’m a simple man I hear prog-rock, I give five stars
One of the tightest prog albums out there. It isn't my favorite from them, but the catchy shorter songs and excellence on Neil Peart means this wouldn't be anything but a 5.
Absolute classic.
Great album. Love the musicianship of Rush. And what about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy? 4.5/5
Love me some Rush. This album has a few classics on it with Tom Sawyer and Limelight. YYZ and the other primarily instrumental tracks are great, and really benefit from playing at a high volume through headphones. I only wish this album was longer!
Vuelve a pasarme que, después de escuchar un disco de Rush, lamento no haberlos empezado a escuchar antes. Conocía Tom Swayer (de hecho de la época del CRTV del ITAM) pero no había explorado más y qué entretenido disco es. Más allá del virtuosismo para ejecutar, este disco no se pone aburrido nunca. De hecho escuché la versión del 40 aniversario, que luego se sigue con un concierto completo, y también lo disfruté mucho.
One of the greatest albums ever. The tracks flow well together and are fantastic at creating swells of energy. This album is one that I'd recommend to anyone at all interested in Prog music. Yes > Rush but this project is second only to Close to the Edge.
this is awesome
Who doesn’t love RUSH?!
Perfect
One of the best albums on this list. The canadian masters have spoken in a high pitched voice and we, mere mortals, listened with great enthousiasm.
I'm a prog fan, so...easily a 5 stars. Awesome vocals, arrangements, musicians at their best.
Very important album for me. I discovered it when I was a young teenager and it marked me for life. I still remember the first time I heard Tom Sawyer... That's when I really became aware of the instrument that is the synthesizer. I was also stunned, inevitably, by the creative and insanely skilled Neil Peart. I was equally fascinated by Alex Lifeson's badass guitar and Geddy Lee's unique vocals and versatility. This record opened my mind to music and was an invitation to discover rock in the broadest sense. Damn, let's say it, I love these guys from the bottom of my heart.
A top 100 album
top 100 album GOAT 9.9/10
Loved it, quintessential.
"Witch Hunt", "YYZ" and "The Camera Eye" are probably my faves. This album just never gets old for me.
Canada Rocks. Great Album
Un classique. Probablement l’album le plus accessible avec Permanent Waves. J’ai personnellement un grand attachement à cet album ayant joué YYZ en secondaire 3 et Limelight en secondaire 5. La voix de Geddy Lee n’est pas toujours trop aiguë et les basses sont superbes. On rentre tranquillement dans les années 80 avec cet album, mais pas trop.
Love this album.
Rush’s prog rock masterpiece
Gold
Perhaps they started as a Led Zeppelin kind of band, but from 1976-1987 Rush released 9 classic albums in a row with their own unique sound (every single album from 2112 to Hold Your Fire). Moving Pictures is a superclassic: one of these albums where it is difficult to pick out the best songs.. well thought-out lyrics, guitars, bass, synths, vocals...everything ties perfectly well together.
One of the best rock albums of the 80s, genius!
If there are only two Rush albums on this list, Moving Pictures should be one of those albums. I have listened to every Rush album released within 10 years on either side of Moving Pictures, and I have listened to Moving Pictures many times. I found Moving Pictures for the first time more than 5 years after it was released, but it was already a classic. Moving Pictures is Rush's bridge between Prog Rock and the pop side of Rock and Roll. "YYZ" (why-why-ZED) is there so you don't forget that Rush has heavy metal heritage as well. "Tom Sawyer" is one of the best opening album tracks of ALL TIME. Throughout the album, all three members of the band give you so much to listen to. Yes, there are only three people in the band. The first half of this album is some of the best music Rush has ever made. The second half isn't as strong, but it's still worth listening too. The album is an easy repeat. "Tom Sawyer", "YYZ", and "Limelight" are some of my all-time favorite tracks from Rush, but I have regularly come back to "Red Barchetta" and "The Camera Eye" for a re-listen. Witch Hunt" is the weakest track on the album, but it is only a minor imperfection in the total quality of the album.
Loved this album!! Saved!
Absolutely classic!
I had a Rush phase early on in high school and this was the prime album of it, although I did listen to most of their older albums at some point. I love this album, but I was perplexed when they started emulated The Police. I love the fact that my grunge band blew away a Rush cover band at a charity gig. Everyone wanted that grrrrrrUHNGe sound at that point.
IYKYK
My college roomate of three years had YYZ set as his alarm in the morning. It’s really a shame since it’s a great song, but I can’t stand it anymore.
Awesome as the first time I listened to it
I sure do love this stuff. A fine expression of what music can be. And certainly a singular experience live.
I don't think I had ever listened to this entire album, just tracks here and there. I wasn't aware that "Tom Sawyer" was the *opening track* to this masterpiece. An absolutely amazing rock album, through and through.
Great
4.5 - Fought myself for a while on this one. Big fan of Rush and have heard this CD before, so trying to weigh against my existing biases. The Camera Eye s the only one that lags behind the bar, but it's 1/4th of the album! It's still a good song, but Rush sets a high bar. In the end, there's too much good stuff on here.
So many good songs on this album. It may be Rush's best, certainly their most accessible. I mean what can you say about this music? It's a perfectly executed album by one of the most talented bands of that era. The band is absolutely at their best here. The arrangements are tight and the musicianship is ridiculously good. This is smart music that also rocks, which is a pretty rare thing. Fave Songs (All songs, in order from most to least favorite): Vital Signs, Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ, Witch Hunt, The Camera Eye
Wonderful album
Such a fantastic and easy album to listen to with two huge hits in "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight". 9/10.
Amazing - one of my top albums of all time. Top 10 album for me!
Easily one of my top 5 favorite albums of all time. It's tied for my favorite album by my favorite band. Rush is a band where all three members understood the assignment pretty much 100% of the time. I could go on about this album longer than anybody probably cares to listen. I love it so much.
Mi è piaciuto. Ma credo di averlo già sentito in passato.
👌
Classic. Maybe their most perfect album after 2112.
Awesome. Cool prog rock originals, great walking music or just music to put on when you want a good vibe.
A long time favorite. Canada's greatest rock band. Favorite song: YYZ
Brilliant! Fuck yes! Starting my day with Tom Sawyer is exactly what I needed. Rush is awesome, this album is awesome, it is undoubtedly a 5 star record. The musicianship on display here is mind-blowing. Neil Peart rules!!
One of my favourite albums ever so a bit biased here. A really great album to listen to while driving, though Red Barchetta might come with some speeding tickets. Every song is great, though can understand why some might find the vocals or synths a bit annoying as its not for everyone. The guitar solos and riffing is excellent, the bass parts are so beautifully complex, and the drumming stands out so much. An air guitar, bass and drum staple. The lyrics are awesome and meaningful too. Limelight might be my favourite song ever. Rush are practically ignored in Australia as you would never here them at house parties growing up, find their cds in music shops, or hear their songs on rock music stations who cherish their contempories and other hair metal and pub rock bands. Maybe they were not as commercial, or just too nerdy. Either way, I wish this was more exposed here as they would've been very important to me as a misfit in high school.
Ахуенно, хочу такого побольше
Canadian prog rock
Dit is één van mijn go-to albums als ik in een prog of 80's vibe zit. Tom Sawyer en limelight zijn masterpieces en dit album is gewoon zo goed. Vocals zijn in mijn ogen uniek en instrumentaal klopt dit album gewoon volledig.
Love it!
*****
All killer, no filler. A prog classic. So much to enjoy.
Classic coming of age album for me!
Progrock is altijd wel wat speciaal. Deze kon ik wel erg goed smaken vanwege de iets 'hardere' sound. Leuke verrassing
Best album ever. Rush at the pinnacle of their creativity
Loved this album, peaked Rush.
Very easy 5. All 3 of these guys are masters of their craft. Neil Peart is one of the greatest drummers of all time, AND Geddy is one of the very greatest bassists of all time. All the instruments are endlessly interesting to listen to. I really like the songwriting on the album. I think the synthesizers mix quite well with their brand of rock. Geddy's voice is quite interesting; there are songs where I love it, and moments where it kinda irks me lol. YYZ is one of the most badass instrumental tracks I've ever heard. I like Witch Hunt and Limelight a lot. Many of the prog bands I adore from the 70s diminished in the 80s; there are a select few that didn't just fade away, but their popularity even increased in the new decade: most notably Genesis and Rush (and perhaps Yes to a smaller extent). My very favorite Rush albums are from the 70s, but this is an 80s staple.
Excellent prog rock.
Badass
One of the best Rush albums! love every track
Never a fan as a teen, so I'd never heard the entire album. Oddly enough, my favourite song is the lengthy Camera Eye. The album is a solid rocker - didn't need to add, as it's already part of my music collection.