So, I sat down and listed all of their original studio recordings (no live albums, no cover songs), and proceeded to rank them all. All 19 original albums worth. First, I took the list and graded each from "A+" to "D-". This broke a stellar body of work into more manageable chunks- sort of. C and D-list Rush songs are still better than most others bands A-game, but that's just my opinion. Then I could start my list with "A+" grades - rank those, then move down to "A", "A-", etc.
After much gnashing of teeth, pulling out of hair, and re-listening to much of the catalog in question (I've really suffered to put this post together, heh), here is my list, with selected commentary. As always, your mileage may vary.
The Top 165 Rush Songs Of All Time
(Part 3 of "The List")
165. "Mystic Rhythms" (D-) -- Nearly 30 years of listening and I just don't dig this song. Sorry, I've tried.
164. "Witch Hunt" (D) -- This is an auto skip for me.
163. "Tears" (D)
162. "Jacob's Ladder" (D)
161. "Peaceable Kingdom" (C-)
160. "Here Again" (C-)
159. "Rivendell" (C-)
158. "Good News First" (C-)
157. "BU2B2" (C)
156. "Madrigal" (C)
155. "Take A Friend" (C)
154. "Nocturne" (C)
153. "Spindrift" (C)
152. "What You're Doing" (C)
151. "The Weapon" (C)
150. "Sweet Miracle" (C)
149. "Vapor Trail" (C)
148. "Out Of The Cradle" (C)
147. "Armor And Sword" (C)
146. "Bravest Face" (C)
145. "Ceiling Unlimited" (C)
144. "The Stars Look Down" (C) -- As you may have guessed by now, "Vapor Trails" and "Snakes & Arrows" aren't doing too well on this list. Neither of these albums really grabbed me.
143. "The Main Monkey Business" (C)
142. "The Way The Wind Blows" (C)
141. "Tai Shan" (C)
140. "Speed Of Love" (C)
139. "Working Man" (C)
138. "In The End" (C)
137. "Freeze" (C+)
136. "Time And Motion" (C+)
135. "The Necromancer" (B-)
134. "Halo Effect" (B-)
133. "The Garden" (B-)
132. "Malignant Narcissism" (B-)
131. "The Color Of Right" (B-)
130. "Earthshine" (B-)
129. "Half The World" (B-)
128. "Anagram (For Mongo)" (B-) -- Can anyone tell me what this anagram ACTUALLY is?
127. "Chain Lightning" (B-)
126. "Lock And Key" (B-)
126. "Lock And Key" (B-)
125. "Xanadu" (B-) -- Controversial opinion time!! This may upset some of twitter's #Rushfamily, but I think I would like this song more and it would work better (to me) as an instrumental.
124. "Chemistry" (B-)
123. "Before And After" (B-)
122. "A Passage To Bangkok" (B-)
121. "Bu2B" (B)
120. "We Hold On" (B)
119. "The Larger Bowl" (B)
118. "Carnies" (B)
117. "Hope" (B)
116. "How It Is" (B)
115. "Workin' Them Angels" (B)
114. "Carve Away The Stone" (B)
113. "Neurotica" (B)
112. "Between Sun And Moon" (B)
To Be Continued...
