Here are some Rush classics - and ones you will rarely (if ever ) hear on the radio. Anyone can say, "Listen to Subdivisions, listen to Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio, etc". But IMO these tracks are what make Rush special.
I can't force anyone to listen to these - but one request. If you do listen to a track, listen to the entire track.
2012, the title track from their Clockwork Angels album. Play this with good headphones. This is one of those "culmination" of many musical ideas over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P8EOOvaISg2007, from the Snakes and Arrows Album, a great track called "Workin' Them Angels". (Yes, you see a theme of "Angels")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGwI7YM0bIY2002, from the Vapor Trails album, a track called Earthshine. This song is just plain strange....but I have played it a million times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB3EXW1NFng1996, from the Test for Echo album, a track called Resist. Gives me chills when I see them play it live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6XGejCt-w1994, from the Counterparts album, a track called "Everyday Glory" - the story nearly brings tears to my eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3g3aJMq3zk1989, from the Presto album, a very reflective song called "Available Light". I was blown away when I first heard this, because they'd never tried something like this before. Great track and even better ending.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKHp2tgYYxc1987, from the Hold your Fire album....Rush was dabbling heavily with synthesizers, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but they produced this interesting little gem called Neurotica. Even when their lyrics aren't great, they still manage to make it work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL9g-3fk_cM1985, from Power Windows album - nice little track called Middletown Dreams. It's a bit sappy but I still like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t4SaJxu7SQ1982, from Signals album, a very sad track called "Losing It". I limit how often I listen to it, because it is so depressing, but I still think it's the best song on the album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEagi9co0Ko1980, from the Moving Pictures album, the live version of "Vital Signs" (from 1985 concert). Everyone picks Tom Sawyer and Limelight from this album. Vital Signs was a borderline exercise into reggae, and I thought it was the worst studio track they'd ever done. But then I saw them do it live and was blown away. This is one of my favorite live performances. Final minute is awesome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RPGC_Qfv4sAnd speaking of strange studio tracks that are awesome live - years ago I saw Alan Parsons in concert. You would think nearly everything they've done wouldn't translate well to a concert where they shared the evening with Kansas. But they did songs like "The Raven" and "Standing on Higher Ground" so cleverly, I couldn't believe it. They blew the place away.
