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Rating:
After the success of "2112," the Rush gift us with another masterpiece that is perhaps even more convincing than the previous one. If "2112" highlighted a certain experimental attitude of the group, this album further accentuates this tendency and presents itself as much more progressive. This is due to a more complex structure of the songs, a more massive use of keyboards (rather neglected in the previous album), and a lower rate of influences from classic hard rock.
And if the morning shows the day, then the innovations can be noticed already in the first eponymous track: it begins with a classical guitar arpeggio accompanied by sweet melodies played with keyboards, then progresses in a direction towards more classic rock and concludes with another arpeggio. The masterpiece of the album par excellence is, however, "Xanadu" with its hefty 11-minute duration: it starts with strange sound effects, bird chirping, percussion, guitar effects, and bell sounds, then an alternation of lively guitars accompanied by the magic of synths and more melodic parts with powerful synth riffs and delicate guitar arpeggios. "Closer To The Heart" is also to be appreciated, with the guitars increasingly in a psychedelic key. More direct and less laborious is "Cinderella Man", while "Madrigal" with its mere 2 and a half minutes offers another moment of pure psychedelia, thanks to sweet guitars and excellent melodies with the keyboards. To close, we hear a roaring "Cygnus X-1": the first minutes of pure experimentalism characterized by electronic-space sounds, then a nice bass riff introduces us to the more material part with frantic and energetic guitars not left alone by the synths.
Excuse me, but... with all due respect to its predecessor, the true masterpiece of Rush is this one; without a doubt the most inspired album of the Canadian band. An example.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 A Farewell to Kings (05:53)
When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance
Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise
The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of Truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find the minds that made us strong?
Can't we learn to feel what's right
And what's wrong?
What's wrong?
Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise
Can't we raise our eyes and make a start?
Can't we find the minds to lead us
Closer to the Heart?
02 Xanadu (11:07)
"To seek the sacred river Alph
To walk the caves of ice
To break my fast on honey dew
And drink the milk of Paradise..."
I had heard the whispered tales
Of immortality
The deepest mystery
From an ancient book. I took a clue
I scaled the frozen mountain tops
Of eastern lands unknown
Time and Man alone
Searching for the lost - Xanadu
Xanadu -
To stand within The Pleasure Dome
Decreed by Kubla Khan
To taste anew the fruits of life
The last immortal man
To find the sacred river Alph
To walk the caves of ice
Oh, I will dine on honey dew
And drink the milk of Paradise
A thousand years have come and gone
But time has passed me by
Stars stopped in the sky
Frozen in an everlasting view
Waiting for the world to end
Weary of the night
Praying for the light
Prison of the lost - Xanadu
Xanadu -
Held within The Pleasure Dome
Decreed by Kubla Khan
To taste my bitter triumph
As a mad immortal man
Nevermore shall I return
Escape these caves of ice
For I have dined on honey dew
And drunk the milk of Paradise
03 Closer to the Heart (02:54)
And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
to mold a new reality
Closer to the Heart
Closer to the Heart
The Blacksmith and the Artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Closer to the Heart
Yea, Closer to the Heart
Philosophers and Plowmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the Heart
Closer to the Heart
Yeah ah
ohhh ahh
(Solo)
A Wooah, Wooo
You can be the Captain
And I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the Heart
Closer to the Heart
Well,Closer to the Heart
Yeah, Closer to the Heart
Closer to the Heart
I said, Closer to the Heart
05 Madrigal (02:35)
When the dragons grow too mighty
To slay with pen or sword
I grow weary of the battle
And the storm I walk toward
When all around is madness
And there's no safe port in view
I long to turn my path homeward
To stop a while with you
When life becomes as barren
And as cold as winter skies
There's a beacon in the darkness
In a distant pair of eyes
In vain to search for honor
In vain to search for truth
But these things can still be given
Your love has shown me proof
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Other reviews
By Senmayan
"Hard rock becomes a garnish that serves only to give power to the songs, but the core is entirely progressive."
"A great album for a great band. In other words, even Americans know how to do prog without just copying!"
