A FAREWELL TO KINGS

I don't usually review an album on this site so sonn after purchasing it (8 days), but this one left such a good first impression and I know i will always love this album. Very rarely do I listen to an album more than once in a row, but I have done with this album several times. The only other album I do hat with is KC's Red. This album is phenomonal and Has reastablished my love for Rush after getting slightly bored with 2112 (my only other Rush album owned).

The classical guitar that introduces the title track is sublime. 'A Farewell to Kings'(the song) is a good showcase of how Ruch can combine progressive rock with hard rock seamlessly. 'Xanadu' is simply awesome and urged me to read Samuel Taylor Colleridge's poem that it was based (after already being familiar with 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'). I can honestly Rush's interpretation of the poem is better than the original, not merely because of the presence of astounding music, but it is worded in a way that creates more mystery and sorrow. 'Closer to the Heart' is short, sweet and utterly loveable. Rush seem to me like a ver socially conscious band and this song, along with the rest of the album, consolidates this observation. 'Cinderella Man' is a nice rock track, with good morally oriented lyrics. 'Madrigal' is a rather underrated little ballad. I love this track and only wish it was slightly longer. But maybe it's just perfect how it is. As a bit of a sci-fi afficiando I appreciate 'Cygnus X-1'. It creates brilliant moods, and rarly do I hear better screams than in the final moments, despite all my years of listening to heavy metal.

This album comes ever so close to perfection (a standard I measure in comparison to KC's Red, which is perfection). I can not and will not rate this album under five stars.