What 3 Rush albums are the most overrated?

I don't find any of them overrated, some are really famous but they deserve their fame. 

Because more people like it / think it’s better. Pretty simple answer. I’ve never rated a Rush album on this site, or even looked at the rankings here, and I have to admit I’m not really familiar with which albums (apart 2112 and Moving Pictures) are viewed as classics - but Power Windows is easily my least favourite Rush album, so I’d not just rate Counterparts higher, but every other Rush album, too!

Before I got into Rush, and before I’d ever heard a note, the only two Rush albums I knew of were 2112 and Moving Pictures, and even if I’d not put them both in my own top five Rush albums, I can hear and understand why both are so loved. So I’d definitely not call either of those two overrated, even if Moving Pictures doesn’t do so much for me personally. As for the second side of 2112, well of course that’s as subjective as everything else. I really don’t think it’s that much of a drop off from the first side. Or, at least, anything is going to seem lesser compared to 2112. But I still like every song on the second side more than a heck of a lot of any on some other Rush albums.

Farewell to Kings is not overrated either, in my opinion. I guess it all comes down to preference, and that some people can’t appreciate why others may enjoy what they don’t so much. If everyone loved Power Windows and routinely stated it were Rush’s greatest album and achievement, I wouldn’t really understand that, and definitely wouldn’t agree on a personal level, but I would never suggest it were overrated.

I sometimes wonder if it’s possible for something to be overrated. If an album is that popular, and that revered, there is probably a good reason for that. It is definitely easier to argue that an album is underrated, than overrated.

If that’s the case, maybe using the term “overrated” was the wrong choice? Because the way you’ve defined it is probably not how most people understand the term.

I definitely don’t really understand why Moving Pictures is as popular and revered as it is, but I’ll never call it overrated.

Had you asked which Rush albums seem universally popular, but don’t strike a chord with you, then it would probably get the same answers, without needing to resort to using the term overrated?

I like Test For Echo, Tai Shan and Signals, so I guess I like what the band doesn’t. For me Signals is everything Moving Pictures was trying to be, but didn’t quite get there. If I had to choose only one ‘80s Rush album, I would have no hesitation in choosing Signals.

I shall just restate then, in case you missed it, Power Windows is easily my least favourite Rush album. I didn’t realise it was a highly rated album until now. So it didn’t surprise me that Counterparts was rated higher. I thought (perhaps wrongly) that most people weren’t great fans of ‘80s Rush (with the exception of Waves and Pictures). 🤷🏻‍♂️

Maybe Signals. I adore it, but I think it has a relatively high score for... PA stantards.

Up until the 90's I thought they were generally overrated but now would be in my top five favourite bands (maybe No 3) 

The only album I don't connect well with is Hemispheres and that is the one generally considered their best on prog sites. I think there are weaknesses on all their seventies albums and a feeling they were a bit 'after the fact' with making only borderline prog albums. Their success came from being a phenomenal live band in that period not great albums imo. Moving Pictures can never be overrated. Tom Sawyer , Red Barchetta, YYZ and Limelight is about as strong a start to any rock/prog album I've ever heard.