A FAREWELL TO KINGS
| Rush
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
A Farewell to Kings is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 1, 1977 by Anthem Records in Canada and by Mercury Records in the United States. It was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and was mixed at Advision Studios in London. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Louder Sound
2017 - Kings is better than good. It’s Rush at their peak.
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Classic Rock Review
2012 - Although this concept would not be as coherent or as cohesive as that in 2112, it still makes for a very unique and entertaining listen.
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Ultimate Classic Rock
Rush masterfully juggle awe-inspiring musicianship and instinctive songcraft here like few albums in their mighty musical canon.
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Saint Louis University
The result is an album that is in places extremely brilliant and in others only average.
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Mark's Record Reviews
The music is pretty darn complex and interesting, especially in the complicated-and-beautiful multiple-parted 11-minute "Xanadu" and creepy oddly-time-signatured weird busy aggressive 10-minute "Cygnus X-1."
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Only Solitaire
Rush fans will certainly dig all this tripe.
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Adrian's Album Reviews
Neal Peart drums for his life on this album. He's superb and goes far beyond what a drummer should do, powering the songs forward melodically rather than just filling out the sound.
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John McFerrin Music Reviews
Were it not for the greatness of "Xanadu," this album would be in the range of a 3 or 4; as is, it's still easily Rush's worst album of the 70's. Fortunately, it was pretty much an anomaly; the band's best era was about to begin.
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Robert Christgau
The most obnoxious band currently making a killing on the zonked teen circuit. Not to be confused with Mahogany Rush, who at least spare us the reactionary gentility. More like Angel. Or Kansas. Or a power-trio Uriah Heep, with vocals revved up an octave. Or two.
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Rock n Load Magazine
2017 - It may not be a greatest hits collection to throw a newbie into, but it has an almighty collection of magnificent tracks on it to envelope and loose yourself in a flurry or bass and guitar runs that can blow your mind.
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All Music
Successfully built on the promise of their breakthrough 2112, and helped broaden Rush's audience on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Cygnus-X1
If you want to showcase the talents of Rush, this may very well be the best example of their collective work.
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Drew's Reviews
the A Farewell To Kings 40th Anniversary released on December 1 (finally arrived Dec. 8) is a handsome, well-thought and satisfying package of goodies in a rather large box set bringing some attention to this stuck-in-between of the concept albums 2112 and Hemispheres.
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The Odyssey
2017 - It has terrific story telling, excellent instrumentation, and is my favorite album that Geddy has done up until this point.
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Pure Grain Audion
2017 - it is a masterpiece and if you are a long-time fan of Rush, this is some essential listening
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Pop Matters
2018 - This 40th anniversary edition of A Farewell to Kings is a perfect excuse to revisit an album so important to Rush's musical journey. And luckily, we have the benefit of hindsight to appreciate this masterpiece, unlike a certain critic who at the time called Rush "the most obnoxious band."
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Mike Ladano
Whatever edition of A Farewell to Kings you decide to own (the most logical is the simple 3 CD anniversary set), you can rest assured you are buying one of the finest early Rush albums.
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Geoff Barton, Sounds
1977 - A masterwork.
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Paul Martz
2016 - Peart expertly jumps from one time signature to the next with alacrity. Such odd time signatures are the backbone of progressive rock, employed by bands such as Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Kansas, and Van Der Graaf Generator. A Farewell to Kings placed Rush among the prog rock giants.
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Amino
2018 - one of Rush's most career defining, innovative, and diverse records to date
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The Vinyl District
2017 - I will forever hold that the combination of Lee’s voice and the band’s preening progressive rock impulses are the very definition of obnoxiousness.
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Smart Bass Guitar
2014 - we’re now entering must-own Rush territory
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The Moshville Times
2015 - Rush are beginning to move away from lengthy epics but, while they are reducing the length, they are keeping the epic.
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Back Seat Mafia
2018 - With such a strong first half, and a pop-rock classic opening the second side of the album, it’s a bit of a shame then that A Farewell to Kings can’t quite maintain it’s momentum.
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Stereogum
2014 - A Farewell To Kings would influence a generation of young British musicians who would soon comprise the equally epochal New Wave of British Heavy Metal a couple years later.
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Kamer Tunes Blog
2017 - Thanks to impeccable performances and Terry Brown’s flawless production, it’s hard to believe such a vital recording is now 40 years old.
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