Album-a-Day #20: "Moving Pictures"

[AZCB34]

Band: Rush
Website: http://www.therushinteractive.net/
Album: Moving Pictures
Year Released: 1981
No. of Discs: 1
No. of Tracks: 7
Track Listing:

1. Tom Sawyer
2. Red Barchetta
3. YYZ
4. Limelight
5. The Camera Eye
6. Witch Hunt
7. Vital Signs

This album and the resulting tour has special significance since the Chicago stop to support this album was the very first concert I ever attended. I was jacked. I have since seen Rush a couple more times...never walked away anything short of amazed.

This album starts with power and doesn’t want to stop. That synth start to “Tom Sawyer” is one of those sounds that everyone knows what song it is from. This is a whirlwind of great lyrics (all by Neil Peart) and wonderfully orchestrated music (Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson). “Limelight” and “YYZ” along with “Tom Sawyer” represents the heart of this album but to overlook the other songs is to overlook the soul of the album.

I simply love “The Camera Eye” and “Witch Hunt”…just fantastically done tunes. “Red Barchetta” is just a solid tune as well.

This band holds within it’s ranks one of the best drummers ever IMO and one of the best bass players ever IMO. Lifeson is maybe the most under-rated and under-appreciated guitarists out there. They give their songs meaning through the words and power through the music.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I was actually going to consider doing this album myself.... I've always loved Rush ever since I can remember....Even though their most recent recordings arent up to par with their earlier material, they've still managed to put on the best live performances.... Again, another good choice....

 

[vince56]

My first really good band, about 7 years ago, well, we were all Rush fans and we'd cover YYZ live. Great great stuff!

 

[jw7]

Incredible album. Amazing how much sound 3 people can make. And arguably two of the best musicians ever at their craft - Lee on bass and Peart on drums. I bought that album on cassette as a kid and wore it thru from listening too much.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

YYZ Is one of my favorite songs ever.

 

[Jim O]

I love this album. In fact, I am going to put it on right now.

I saw the Metallica/Godsmack show three times in March (PHX, TUC, and Vegas) and Godsmack covered YYZ in their drum solo at every show.

Neil Peart is simply amazing and his drum solos are worth the price of concert admission themselves. Truly amazing sound and unbelievable live!