Rush

A Farewell To Kings

"...nevermore to grace the night."

Review Score:

(8/10)
This is yet another of Rush's notoriously short albums. The running time clocks in just over 37 minutes so, by fan standards, there is no room or filler. However, like "2112," there is a song here that is essentially a throw away track: "Madrigal." Not that it's bad, really, but when compared to the other tracks here it doesn't hold up well. The favorite of Classic Rock radio here is "Closer to the Heart," which they play nearly as much as any Led Zeppelin tune. "Cygnus X-1" is justifiably epic with strange tempo changes and injected instrumentation. "A Farewell to Kings" is a really good track, as is the underappreciated "Cinderella Man." But the masterpiece here is "Xanadu." Musicians love to play this song, particularly drummers, with its majestic dynamics and excellent interplay. All in all, this is a strong album, slightly flawed here and there, but worth owning.

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