With a mix of conceptual symphonic rock in the tradition of Yes and Genesis, and the equally British, early heavy metal (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath), the Canadian trio Rush brought prog rock to the New World with an enlarged and technical virtuoso sound. A Farewell To Kings (1977) is the follow-up to the acclaimed 2112 (1976). Although less consistent than its predecessor, this fifth studio album
… contains a number of songs that are among the audience's favorites to this day, such as the epic Xanadu and the lyrical Closer To The Heart. Complex passages are nicely counterbalanced by more melodic parts where singer / bass player Geddy Lee sings less shrill for the first time and seems to have found his own voice. This puts A Farewell to Kings with one leg in the group's past and at the same time looks forward carefully to the lighter, more song-oriented repertoire of Permanent Waves (1980). Later prog rock groups like Queensryche and Dream Theater have undoubtedly made plans for the future for this record. This re-release contains two extra CDs featuring a concert that Rush gave in London in 1978. (PdK)more
