21042014 - Rush "A Farewell to Kings"

No, I don't know the entire Rush catalogue by heart. So sue me. At least that's the perfect excuse to check out the essentials, and this is definitely one of those. Containing epic stuff like "Xanadu" and the lovely "Closer to the Heart", this is an album - er - close to the hearts of any Rush fan, but also one that's easy to get into for those not that familiar with everything they have released, but just knowing, say, the singles. Fanatics can say what they want, but of course no band should ever name a song "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage", much less follow up said song on different album, but this was another time. In 1977 the word "pretentious" meant something completely different altogether. Besides, this album has "Cinderella Man" on it, which is brilliant at barely beyond four minutes, as well as "Madrigal", which is a mere two and a half minute of beautiful!