Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Rush are a group that can easily be classified into various phases and so it depends on your taste really.

Best place to start though, would probably be their epic mid 70's prog phase, with albums such as 2112 and A Farewell to Kings, the sound is complex and heavier than most of their prog counterparts (listen to this loud) the stuff before 2112 is probably just for fans and less focused.

Then there is their late 70`s phase where the songs in general are shorter and the band bring in the keyboards, here listen to Permanent Waves and then follow this up with the definitive Rush album in Moving Pictures and regardless of music style certainly one of the best albums of all time.

Then there is their Rock/Pop phase typical of most bands in the early to mid 80`s and is definate keyboard territory but Grace Under Pressure is the album to listen to here, also listen to Signals (really just for the excellent Subdivisions) and Power Windows also has some good songs.

After this and your probably into their worst period with the final album in their pop phase Hold Your Fire and the move back into rock territory with Presto and Roll the Bones, are all pretty bad albums in fact things don`t get much better until Counterparts. Their real return to to form though is probably with Vapour Trails their heaviest in some time even. Can`t comment on their most recent Snakes and Arrows as I`ve yet to hear it.

All in all they make one hell of an impact for three musicians as did Cream before them.

Also check out their live albums again impressive stuff and if you want to just be impressed by Neil Peart`s drumming then check out the Live in Rio dvd especially the song O Bateria (Drummer in english) impressive stuff from a veteran drummer.