A Farewell to Kings (1977)
RushWhen playing Rush on vinyl one must attenuate a bit more. I thought A Farewell to Kings sounded dull and lifeless until I turned it up — and suddenly, there it was. Had I ever heard “Cinderella Man” sound this good? Geddy and Alex are tearing it up in the middle of that song.
I can’t express how much I enjoyed “Cygnus X-1.” This song rocks, and the story premise is epic.
Somethin’ Else (1958)
Cannonball AdderleySpinning Somethin’ Else after The Sidewinder feels like stepping out of a bustling city street into a dimly lit jazz club where everything is upholstered in midnight blue. The energy shifts. Hard bop’s attitude gives way to something cooler, sleeker—almost conspiratorial. And of course, Rudy Van Gelder is behind the console, shaping the soundstage like a sculptor working in shadows and brass. What struck me first is …
Moving Pictures (1981)
RushToday’s my birthday, and instead of cake or champagne, I decided to celebrate with one of the constants of my life: Rush’s 1981 masterpiece, Moving Pictures. I say “masterpiece” without hesitation. This album has been with me for as long as I can remember. I didn’t buy it the day it came out—1981 would have been too early for me to hit Camelot Music on my own—but I picked it up soon after. It was one of the very …
