The Best Rush Albums Ranked: What Are The Top 5 Rush Albums?

What are the best Rush albums? We delve into the Canadian trio’s entire nineteen (studio) album back catalogue to identify the key albums in the band’s almost 40-year career.

Rush Best Albums: Quick Picks

(Click on album covers to view prices / reviews at Amazon.)

Moving PicturesHemispheres2112
Rush Moving Pictures Album CoverRush Hemispheres album coverRush 2112 album cover
Moving Pictures is often cited as being Rush's best album by critics and fans alike.Hemispheres finds Rush at their thrilling, inventive best.2112 is Rush's classic, sci-fi influenced prog rock album.
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Rush – A Brief History

Rush formed in Toronto, Canada, in 1968. At the time of their self-titled debut album, released in 1974, the band consisted of guitarist Alex Lifeson; bassist / vocalist Geddy Lee; and drummer John Rutsey.

Rutsey left in the same year to be replaced by Neil Peart, who, as well as taking on drummer duties, became the band’s principal lyricist.

The classic Rush lineup of Lifeson, Lee and Peart was to remained unchanged for the remainder of the band’s career, which spanned a further eighteen studio albums and went through numerous musical styles.

With Peart–one of the greatest rock drummers of all time–behind the kit, Rush were always going to have an advantage over other bands. But the beauty of Rush is that Peart’s genius was matched by that of Lifeson and Lee; they were a ready-made supergroup that would go on to become one of the biggest and most highly-respected bands in rock history.

Lacking the conflicting egos that detracted from the music of other bands, Rush were free to get on with what they did best: making intelligent, powerful rock music that appealed to fans of a wide range of musical genres.

One gets the feeling that Geddy, Alec and Neil were three normal guys who’d be happy playing music together in a Toronto basement if somehow their talent had gone undiscovered.

Putting together a list of the best Rush albums has not only been highly enjoyable, but also extremely difficult; not least because the band’s sound changed continuously throughout its lifetime. From their heavy blues-rock roots, Rush subsequently went through progressive rock, synth-rock, and finally prog-metal phases.

The list below contains what are 'generally accepted' to be Rush's best albums. We give a slightly different and more personal view at the end of the page.

Rush’s sound may have evolved through the years, but the band’s principal ingredients–powerful riffs, prominent bass lines, inventive arrangements and intelligent lyrics–remained constants throughout their near 40-year career.


The Top Five Best Rush Albums

(Click on the album covers to view the album at Amazon.)

5. 2112

rush album 2112

2112, Rush’s fourth album, was recorded in early 1976 at Toronto Sound Studios and released in April of that year.

At this stage in its career the band found itself under pressure from its record company after disappointing sales of Caress of Steel.

Rush’s unconventional answer was to write an album with–seemingly–even less commercial potential, the opening track “2112” being a 20+ minute science-fiction ‘concept song’.

Obviously, the band knew what it was doing; 2112 reversed the band’s fortunes, putting them on a course towards global recognition.

To many fans 2112 marks the pinnacle of the band’s prodigious output. Prog rock played by a metal band, with a deep seam of experimentation running through its tracks, 2112 was groundbreaking.


4. Permanent Waves

Rush Album Permanent Waves

Released in early 1980, Permanent Waves was Rush’s most commercially successful album (at the time of release). With several radio-friendly tracks including “The Spirit Of Radio” – one of the band’s best-known singles – the album marks Rush’s first steps away from the rawness of their early outings.

The production is cleaner and more focused, and the overall sound is less ‘metal’ and more ‘pop-rock’ than albums such as 2112 and Fly By Night.

This was the eighties, so big, chorus-ed guitars abound, and power chords have been replaced by arpeggiated riffs. Keyboards were becoming an ever-more prevalent part of Rush’s sound. Despite this, the album still rocks in places!

Although Permanent Waves has a more commercial sound than previous releases, fans of Rush’s proggier side won’t be disappointed; both “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Natural Science” feature the band at its prog-rock best, being more ‘compositions’ than mere pop songs.


3. Hemispheres

Rush Album Hemispheres

Want to get appreciative nods from hardcore Rush fans? Tell them that, instead of 2112 or Moving Pictures, your favorite Rush album is Hemispheres.

An outsider choice for ‘best Rush album’, Hemispheres, for many fans, represents the band at their peak.

This uncompromising album kicks off with “Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres”, an eighteen-minute prog-metal tour de force that continues the science-fiction concept begun in A Farewell To King’s “Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage”.

“Circumstances” fits numerous musical ideas into an exhilarating sub-four-minute track, while “The Trees” has echoes of A Farewell To King’s English progressive sound.  Closing the album is “La Villa Strangiato”, an almost ten-minute instrumental that highlights Lifeson, Lee and Peart’s musical prowess.

The overall sound of Hemispheres is – to our ears – tighter and better produced than 2112. For many, this is quintessential Rush, and the pinnacle of the band’s best period.

If your tastes extend more to seventies-style, guitar-driven heavy rock (with a progressive twist) than to either prog rock or more straightforward metal, then Hemispheres would be a good place to begin your Rush journey.


2. A Farewell to Kings

Rush Album A Farewell To Kings

A Farewell To Kings, Rush’s fifth studio album, was released in 1977. It followed Rush’s breakthrough album, 2112, and has a more pastoral, progressive rock feel than the previous album’s harsher rock sound.

A Farewell To Kings opens with a Spanish guitar intro that is highly reminiscent of Genesis, and that band’s (and English progressive rock in general) influence runs deep throughout the album.

The album was recorded in Rockfield Studios, Wales, and perhaps that country’s Celtic mythology had an influence on some of the album’s lyrical imagery. Ambient wildlife recordings made outside the studio enhance the album’s somewhat pastoral feel.

On the heavier side of most progressive rock of the time, A Farewell To Kings is, for us, the album on which Rush found their trademark sound, and the first in which they reach their full potential.


1. Moving Pictures

Rush Album Moving Pictures

No list of the best Rush albums would be complete without Moving Pictures. The band’s 1981 masterpiece is often cited by both fans and critics as being Rush’s best album.

Moving Pictures was recorded in late 1980 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, and released in 1981.

The album opens with perhaps Rush’s best-known song, the anthemic “Tom Sawyer”. The track’s radio-friendly production continues throughout the album. Indeed, the album as a whole marks the band’s progression towards commercial, tightly-structured arrangements and away from the raw, sprawling prog epics of earlier releases.

This is no pop album, however; the progressive elements of earlier albums are still there. There are plenty of time signature / tempo changes, and complex riffs keep you on your toes. This is especially apparent on “YYZ”, an instrumental workout that highlights the trio’s musical prowess.

Neither have the longer songs of earlier albums been entirely dispensed with; “The Camera Eye” is almost 11 minutes long.

Keyboards play an ever-more more central role, but are not overbearing. Moving Pictures is still very much a rock album at heart.

If you’re new to the band then Moving Pictures is probably the best first Rush album you should buy. It marks the epitome of what many consider to be the band’s golden age.


Best Rush Albums: Conclusion

The albums listed above represent what are 'generally accepted' to be the best Rush albums. Of course such a list is highly-dependent on personal taste. Rush went through several stages, each of which has its own particular set of fans.

If this was a list of our personal favorite Rush albums, then 2112, Permanent Waves and perhaps even Moving Pictures might find themselves usurped by the later 'synth-rock' era albums Signals, Power Windows, and Grace Under Pressure.

Also outstanding from the band's later, 'metal' era are Counterparts and the band’s last album, Clockwork Angels.

What are your choices for the best Rush albums? What's your favorite Rush song? Let us know in the comments section!

11 thoughts on “The Best Rush Albums Ranked: What Are The Top 5 Rush Albums?”

  1. My introduction into Rush was 2112, I fell in love with that album and saw Rush in Pittsburgh, in 1978. What a fantastic concert! It wasn’t until later I herd Tom Sawyer and Xanadu! Mind blowing! I studied to Hemispheres and Presto, loved them too! I have to say I have heard a Rush track that I hate. I even liked Tai Shan. I believe my top five would be:

    1) Farewell to Kings
    2) 2112
    3) Presto
    4) Moving Pictures
    5) Snakes and Arrows
    6) Clockwork Angels

    Sorry I gave a bonus! Depending on my mood Time Stand Still might trump any track! Best thing is Rush is a big enough house that we can all have favorites! Peace

    Reply
    • Absolutely, there’s a Rush album (and song) for most tastes and moods. Thank you for your list and thoughts!

      Regards,

      The Guitar Command Team

      Reply
  2. POWER WINDOWS is my undisputed favourite, followed closely by SIGNALS and MOVING PICTURES. CARESS OF STEEL and HEMISPHERES are my two favourite “epic” era albums.

    What I appreciate about Rush is that they are one of the few progressive rock acts of the ’70s to successfully navigate the ’80s without cheapening their sound chasing trends or letting egos grow. Their synth era is remarkably strong through and through; the musicality, lyrics, and energy are all still there. Whereas you have other progressive rock bands where fans bicker constantly about what the positives of their post-’70s output even *are*. (Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd)

    Reply
    • Agreed. Genesis in particular are like two different bands – you have to say “early Genesis” to make sure people know which one you’re talking about! It’s a shame, because (early!) Genesis (in our opinion) produced some of the most atmospheric and moving music of the whole progressive rock genre.
      The mess that Yes got into was also a real shame – almost comical – weren’t there two versions of the band touring at the same time? Thankfully I got to see them on the Union tour when the various members were briefly reconciled! Never did get to see Rush, though. 🙁
      Oh, and Power Windows is awesome!

      Reply
  3. All great picks. However, these are all from the bands’ early period and overlooks their later years when they also released some fantastic albums. My personal fave 5 would be:

    1) Moving Pictures
    2) Permanent Waves
    3) Power Windows
    4) A Farewell To Kings
    5) Roll The Bones

    I could also easily replace Roll the Bones with Clockwork Angels or Hemispheres, both excellent albums and in some ways better albums, but to me Roll the Bones is their most consistently solid album since the early 80s albums. I feel that after Moving Pictures, there are at least one or two songs on each album that I don’t like.

    At the bottom of my list would be Counterparts (not a good album that has aged poorly), Test For Echo (a few excellent songs but most of the album is poor), Caress of Steel (lacks focus, no good songs), and possibly Signals (many love this album, but I don’t get it; half of it is very good, but the other half not so much. And the overall sound is dull and cold (funny enough, the two albums after are often described this way but they sound far warmer and have much better songwriting).

    Reply
    • Good picks. Somehow Roll The Bones has passed us by – we’ll have to give it a few closer listens.
      Also agree that Signals is let down somewhat by poor production.

      Reply
  4. You know growing up in Buffalo, New York, my family transplanted from the suburbs of Toronto, CAN., RUSH was like World Famous “local band”!!! Getty, just like 100;s of other people I’m sure, was he reason I chose Bass as my is
    instrument. But the influence that these guys had/have on music is as important as any of the big Names, Zepplin, KISS, Rolling Stones, even the Grateful Dead, and on and on…But they are so often the ones forgotten. So I suppose the point of my comment is Thank You for giving them the recognition that they so completely deserve!! Oh and plus you know Canadians never miss an opportunity to talk about Musicians from Canada!!LOL.
    Thanks and CHEERS

    Reply

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