Rush

A Farewell To Kings

Putting the "class" in classic rock.

Review Score:

(10/10)
This my friends is a treasure. Even though I have not heard one Rush album I dislike, A Farewell to Kings is the album that establishes the band's signature sound. It shows the band moving ever so slightly away from the realm of hard rock and more into the keyboard friendly 80s. However, AFtK is not what you would call a "wimp out" album. If anything the riffs are just as heavy as ever and the song structures are more innovative. AFtK contains these six brilliant songs:

1. A Farewell to Kings - It stars out with a beautiful classical acoustic guitar intro before kicking into gear. The lyrics are about how our descendents will view us. By the way things look in the song, not too good.

2. Xanadu - An eleven minute epic about someone who seeks eternal life and finds it. The only problem is that the person cannot leave Xanadu without losing his immortality. Has nice bells and oriental keyboard effects.

3. Closer to the Heart - Probably the most famous song because of repetitive FM radio airplay. But still a great song with a message about everyone's role in society.

4. Cinderella Man - An optimistic and funky song that really shows how well the band plays. I'm surprised this song didn't get more airplay.

5. Madrigal - Maybe the least popular song. And I think the reason most people don't like it is because it doesn't rock out. It is a love ballad penned by Peart with medieval imagery, the way all songs should be.

6. Cygnus X1 - This clocks in at ten and a half minutes and is the first part of the Cygnus story. The second part is on the next album HEMISPHERS. Part I deals with a space traveller whose ship is sucked into a black hole. Perhaps the most complex song the band has ever accomplished.

Only one more thing to say before I submit my review. If you have any intentions on buying this album, you should also buy HEMISPHERES as well. The Cygnus story is told in two separate parts on both albums and it can't be called complete if you only own one.

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