A FAREWELL TO KINGS

While Rush had completed in making a commericial success, the band would need to make a more experimental success. This album is in the middle of a line of fine Rush releases, as the band, from 1976-1982, would start making essential listening and, ultimately, rewarding albums. The band had hit a stride with their 1977 release and did not intend on giving it up.

1.A Farewell to Kings - Though not the longest or most bombastic track, it is a top cut. The shear power and complexity in songwriting make up for the slightest of shortcomings. Sweet and gentle acoustic guitar from guitar virtuoso Alex Lifeson makes this track melt with a classical feel, as Geddy Lee's moogs, bass and vocal take forefront during the main sections of the song. The track has a certain feeling to it, combined with the excellent lyrics from Neil Peart and the impressive instrumentation has a very professional and progressive feel. A short masterpiece, and an amazing start to this album. (10/10)

2.Xanadu - Easily the best song on the whole album, without a doubt in my mind. The song combines elements of ambient, oriental, romantiscm, heavy metal and symphonic all in one track. The song is indespensible from the Rush collection due to it's completely symphonic metal nature and wide variety in music. Lee's vocal on the adaption of Samuel Coleridge's short poem is amazing, as his high register voice has never been put to better use. The slight repetition of the amazing riff and melody after the ambience is needed to make the outstanding track complete, as Lifeson, Lee and Peart roll out some of their sweetest riffs, melodies, rhythms and makes them unique with the hard rock edge of their music. This song is enough to buy the album. (10/10)

3.Closer to the Heart - Though not as intense as the first two tracks, it's amazing that this is one of their most known songs. It's got single written all of it, but the band plays it off very well. Lifeson's acoustics and solo's have never sounded sweeter or tastier, as are Lee's soft vocal performance and gritty bass lines. Pearts drumming is an art form, as are his truely impressing lyrics. An awesome way to rock without selling yourself out. (10/10)

4.Cinderella Man - The song has recieved harsh critism for the inferior songwriting, especially coming off of the two last tracks, yet it's an interesting song. The music isn't really suprising, but it dosen't bore as their is a lot of energy and synergy within the band. The hard rocking verses are coupled with the softer acoustics of the chorus and totally sounds groovy with the movie-uinspired Lee lyrics. In fact, this is one of the few tracks not having lyrics from Peart. It's an intense track that is often overlooked. (9/10)

5.Madrigal - The shortest track of the bunch, and possibly one of the oddest. The song doesn't have a normal Rush feel, as the heavy phasered electric guitar and the Tolkein inspired lyrics play with the acoustic guitar and fretless bass. The song is very soft and is a very interesting and almost psychedelic attempt at fantasy-inspired lyrics. (9/10)

6.Cygnus X-1: The Voyage - One of my favourites off of the album (even if most of them are my favourites...). The song starts off with the cheesey narration of The Necromancer from the commercial flop that was Caress of Steel, yet it's much more acid-trip inspired and almost electronic in nature. After that, it's pure symphonic acid metal. The trip begins with Lee's slow and excellent bass playing, as he is defined by the amazing Rickenbacker 4001 sound. Lifeson's guitar and Peart's drumming cannot be missed either, as the almost punk speed of the track is amazing. Riff after riff and amazing cosmic lyrics conclude at a slower guitar section, where Lifeson's psychedelia really comes in handy. After the bad trip experience, the song goes back into the heavy metal riffing and sounds so fresh to the ears, as it's pulled with fashion and grit. The quintessential heavy metal track of 1977. (10/10)

The album is near flawless all the way through, as Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart join their large mind into one and become the King; albeit the king of heavy progressive rock. The album recieves a full 5 stars for it's musical variety, heaviness and complexity. This album you NEED in your collection of Rush albums, or even albums in general.