What is the best album by Rush?

From hard rock beginnings to prog epics to polished synth rock, Rush crafted one of the most ambitious and diverse bodies of work in rock history. Which album sits at the top?

Rush

Rush's 1974 self-titled debut album, a raw hard rock record influenced by Led Zeppelin, featuring the original drummer John Rutsey.

1/19

Fly by Night

Rush's 1975 second album, the first with drummer Neil Peart, signaling the band's shift toward progressive rock.

2/19

Caress of Steel

Rush's 1975 album featuring ambitious long-form compositions, a precursor to their prog rock masterworks.

3/19

2112

Rush's 1976 landmark album featuring the side-long sci-fi epic '2112', which established the band as prog rock icons.

4/19

A Farewell to Kings

Rush's 1977 album featuring 'Closer to the Heart' and 'Xanadu', cementing their status as prog rock legends.

5/19

Hemispheres

Rush's 1978 album, the culmination of their side-long suite era, featuring 'La Villa Strangiato'.

6/19

Permanent Waves

Rush's 1980 album featuring 'The Spirit of Radio' and 'Freewill', marking a shift toward more accessible song lengths.

7/19

Moving Pictures

Rush's 1981 masterpiece featuring 'Tom Sawyer', 'Limelight', and 'YYZ', widely considered their greatest commercial and artistic achievement.

8/19

Signals

Rush's 1982 album marking a shift to synthesizer-heavy production, featuring 'Subdivisions' and 'New World Man'.

9/19

Grace Under Pressure

Rush's 1984 album, a dark and intense record responding to Cold War anxieties, featuring 'Distant Early Warning'.

10/19

Power Windows

Rush's 1985 album featuring polished synth production, with 'The Big Money' and 'Marathon'.

11/19

Hold Your Fire

Rush's 1987 album with orchestral arrangements and pop-influenced production, featuring 'Time Stand Still'.

12/19

Presto

Rush's 1989 album, a stripped-back and introspective record featuring 'Show Don't Tell' and 'The Pass'.

13/19

Roll the Bones

Rush's 1991 album featuring the rap-influenced title track and the hit 'Dreamline'.

14/19

Counterparts

Rush's 1993 album, a back-to-basics guitar-driven record widely praised as one of their hardest-rocking efforts.

15/19

Test for Echo

Rush's 1996 album featuring the inukshuk stone sculpture cover, exploring themes of communication and identity.

16/19

Vapor Trails

Rush's 2002 comeback album after a five-year hiatus following Neil Peart's personal tragedies, featuring dense layered guitars.

17/19

Snakes & Arrows

Rush's 2007 album featuring intricate guitar work from Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart's exploration of spirituality and skepticism.

18/19

Clockwork Angels

Rush's 2012 final studio album, a concept record set in a steampunk world, hailed as one of their greatest late-career achievements.

19/19