No tracks from live albums?

Mostly went with higher seeds. Picked a couple of 18s and a 22. Later rounds should be interesting.

Limelight

Awesome!!!!!!

I like that you get to vote for War Paint twice

Ag 11 said:

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I like that you get to vote for War Paint twice

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Blame it on the Ardbeg.

I don't care for natural science.

AggieChemist said:

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I don't care for natural science.

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That's cool. It's your list. Mine would be different, but you are definitely the MAN for setting this up. I'll be here every day voting, and as a friend of mine puts it, RUSH is the GOAT.

OP missed a golden chance to match up Cygnus X-1 Book 1 verses Book 2. And of course the By-Tor death match of the heel By-Tor from By-Tor and the Snowdog versus baby face By-Tor from The Necromancer.

Seriously though well done.

To be honest, I put very little effort into the seeding, figuring the cream would rise and any accidental early faceoffs would generate angst and entertainment. Hell, I myself probably voted for 20+ upsets, and I made the damn brackets. Rush fans are kind of like libertarians. They can't get anything done for fighting amongst themselves.

As for Hemispheres... I love Hemispheres. The entire back side is here. Yes, Cygnus 2 should definitely be here instead of Tai Shan, but I figured I have to throw a bone to any fans that really like the esoteric stuff. Hell if this was just my preferences, there'd only be about 10 songs after 1980.

It will all shake out by the end. The round of 32 will start to get interesting.

And since I can see the results already, let me say some of you have really questionable judgement. If a couple of these songs lose already I'm going to be pissed.

I will let round one run through tomorrow afternoon so we can get the workday crowd's input.

Good answer. I look forward to seeing how it shakes out.

Ag 11 said:

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I like that you get to vote for War Paint twice

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And it will lose twice, too.

Fat Bib Fortuna said:

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Tom sawyer wins

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Not so fast, my friend. Maybe for the casual Rush fan, but if you ask hardcore Rush fans you'll get a lot more variety. I love Tom Sawyer, but it's not in my top 10.

Mathguy64 said:

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G Martin 87 said:

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Fat Bib Fortuna said:

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Tom sawyer wins

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Not so fast, my friend. Maybe for the casual Rush fan, but if you ask hardcore Rush fans you'll get a lot more variety. I love Tom Sawyer, but it's not in my top 10.

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I like Tom Sawyer but it's not even in my top 3 on Moving Pictures.

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I got to see Red Barchetta in R40. That and Xanadu with the double necks was the highlight. My only regret was they didn't play The Trees.

*** ROUND 1 RESULTS ***

Shout Out Award (100% Victory)

Tom Sawyer
Time Stand Still
Limelight
Closer to the Heart
The Trees
Red Barchetta
2112
Freewill

We also had several 50/50 ties which had to be resolved by coin flip. Two tracks from 2112 advance solely on the basis of a lucky flip (as an aside, what the hell is wrong with you people?)


BRACKET 1

1. "Tom Sawyer," Moving Pictures (1981) 100%
32. "Seven Cities of Gold," Clockwork Angels (2012) 0%

2. "Xanadu," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 87%
31. "Sweet Miracle," Vapor Trails (2002) 13%

3. "Subdivisions," Signals (1981) 96%
30. "Need Some Love," Rush (1974) 4%

4. "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 82%
29. "Lock and Key," Hold Your Fire (1987) 18%

5. "Jacob's Ladder," Permanent Waves (1980) 82%
28. "Mission," Hold Your Fire (1987) 18%

6. "Entre Nous," Permanent Waves (1980) 82%
27. "Second Nature," Hold Your Fire (1987) 18%

7. "Time Stand Still," Hold Your Fire (1987) 100%
26. "Anagram (For Mongo)," Presto (1989) 0%

8. "Superconductor," Presto (1989) 57%
25. "War Paint," Presto (1989) 44%

9. "Losing It," Signals (1982) 60%
24. "In the End," Fly by Night (1975) 40%

10. "The Big Money," Power Windows (1985) 68%
23. "Presto," Presto (1989) 32%

11. "The Garden," Clockwork Angels (2012) 40%
22. "Countdown," Signals (1982) 60%

12. "Bravest Face," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 45%
21. "Scars," Presto (1989) 55%

13. "Hope," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 39%
20. "The Body Electric," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 61%

14. "Wish Them Well," Clockwork Angels (2012) 38%
19. "The Fountain of Lamneth," Caress of Steel (1973) 62%

15. "Between Sun and Moon," Counterparts (1993) 27%
18. "Red Lenses," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 73%

16. "Witch Hunt," Moving Pictures (1981) 68%
17. "The Necromancer," Caress of Steel (1975) 32%

BRACKET 2

1. "Limelight," Moving Pictures (1981) 100%
32. "The Larger Bowl," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 0%

2. "Closer to the Heart," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 100%
31. "Time and Motion," Test for Echo (1996) 0%

3. "New World Man," Signals (1981) 92%
30. "In the Mood," Rush (1974) 8%

4. "Working Man," Rush (1974) 96%
29. "Here Again," Rush (1974) 4%

5. "The Trees," Hemispheres (1978) 100%
28. "Face Up," Roll the Bones (1991) 0%

6. "YYZ," Moving Pictures (1981) 96%
27. "Open Secrets," Hold Your Fire (1987) 4%

7. "Show Don't Tell," Presto (1989) 72%
26. "Turn the Page," Hold Your Fire (1987) 28%

8. "Lakeside Park," Caress of Steel (1975) 86%
25. "War Paint," Presto (1989) 14%

9. "The Camera Eye," Moving Pictures (1981) 87%
24. "What You're Doing," Rush (1974) 13%

10. "Far Cry," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 50%
23. "Bravado," Roll the Bones (1991) 50% WINNER (COIN FLIP)

11. "Kid Gloves," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 50%
22. "Lessons," 2112 (1976) 50% WINNER (COIN FLIP)

12. "Mystic Rhythms," Power Windows (1985) 46%
21. "Tears," 2112 (1976) 54%

13. "The Enemy Within," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 59%
20. "Chemistry," Signals (1982) 41%

14. "Madrigal," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 65%
19. "Not Fade Away," single (1973) 35%

15. "Leave That Thing Alone," Counterparts (1993) 29%
18. "Marathon," Power Windows (1985) 71%

16. "The Stars Look Down," Vapor Trails (2002) 24%
17. "Best I Can," Fly by Night (1975) 76%

BRACKET 3

1. "Red Barchetta," Moving Pictures (1981) 100%
32. "Out of the Cradle," Vapor Trails (2002) 0%

2. "Fly by Night," Fly by Night (1975) 96%
31. "Spindrift," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 4%

3. "2112," 2112 (1976) 100%
30. "I Think I'm Going Bald," Caress of Steel (1975) 0%

4. "La Villa Strangiato," Hemispheres (1978) 96%
29. "Peaceable Kingdom," Vapor Trails (2002) 4%

5. "Bastille Day," Caress of Steel (1975) 77%
28. "The Big Wheel," Roll the Bones (1991) 23%

6. "Freewill," Permanent Waves (1980) 100%
27. "Red Tide," Presto (1989) 0%

7. "Digital Man," Signals (1982) 87%
26. "Tai Shan," Hold Your Fire (1987) 13%

8. "Cinderella Man," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 87%
25. "You Bet Your Life," Roll the Bones (1991) 13%

9. "Circumstances," Hemispheres (1978) 73%
24. "Before and After," Rush (1974) 27%

10. "Beneath, Between & Behind," Fly by Night (1975) 59%
23. "Dreamline," Roll the Bones (1991) 41%

11. "Faithless," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 50%
22. "Making Memories," Fly by Night (1975) 50% WINNER (COIN FLIP)

12. "Middletown Dreams," Power Windows (1985) 59%
21. "The Weapon," Signals (1982) 41%

13. "The Wreckers," Clockwork Angels (2012) 50%
20. "The Twilight Zone," 2112 (1976) 50% WINNER (COIN FLIP)

14. "Distant Early Warning," Grace Under Pressure (1985) 96%
19. "Afterimage," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 4%

15. "Force Ten," Hold Your Fire (1987) 38%
18. "Red Sector A," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 62%

16. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog," Fly by Night (1975) 82%
17. "Armor and Sword," Snakes & Arrows (2007) 18%

BRACKET 4

1. "A Farewell to Kings," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 92%
32. "Freeze (Part IV of 'Fear')," Vapor Trails (2002) 8%

2. "The Spirit of Radio," Permanent Waves (1980) 92%
31. "Ghost Rider," Vapor Trails (2002) 8%

3. "A Passage to Bangkok," 2112 (1976) 96%
30. "The Color of Right," Test for Echo (1996) 4%

4. "Vital Signs," Moving Pictures (1981) 96%
29. "Neurotica," Roll the Bones (1991) 4%

5. "Roll the Bones," Roll the Bones (1991) 91%
28. "Heresy," Roll the Bones (1991) 9%

6. "The Analog Kid," Signals (1982) 91%
27. "High Water," Hold Your Fire (1987) 9%

7. "Something for Nothing," 2112 (1976) 86%
26. "Emotion Detector," Power Windows (1985) 14%

8. "The Pass," Presto (1989) 67%
25. "Ghost of a Chance," Roll the Bones (1991) 33%

9. "Different Strings," Permanent Waves (1980) 86%
24. "Take a Friend," Rush (1974) 14%

10. "Rivendell," Fly by Night (1975) 71%
23. "You Can't Fight It," single (1973) 29%

11. "Chain Lightning," Presto (1989) 33%
22. "Territories," Power Windows (1985) 67%

12. "Manhattan Project," Power Windows (1985) 62%
21. "Finding My Way," Rush (1974) 38%

13. "Anthem," Fly by Night (1975) 66%
20. "Between the Wheels," Grace Under Pressure (1984) 34%

14. "Headlong Flight," Clockwork Angels (2012) 50% WINNER (COIN FLIP)
19. "Grand Designs," Power Windows (1985) 50%

15. "Caravan," Clockwork Angels (2012) 65%
18. "Alien Shore," Counterparts (1993) 35%

16. "Prime Mover," Hold Your Fire (1987) 32%
17. "Vapor Trail," Vapor Trails (2002) 68%


Round Two will be up later today.

G Martin 87 said:

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KidDoc said:

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I how this gets more casual fans to listen to Clockwork Angels. That is an amazing work of art for their final LP.

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Clockwork Angels is my #2 album. Unbelievably strong album, start to finish. Released the same year my mother passed away, and it helped me through the grief.

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I almost didn't want to come on here and say it was Top 5 for me figuring I would get slammed. But #2 for you that's incredible - not arguing each to his own. It is certainly among their best.

I don't even have your context of loss but it was an incredibly moving album for me. And just that good. The story gripped me so much so that I read the accompanying book which really adds context (highly recommend it by Kevin J. Anderson with Neil Peart and includes some great art work in there as well from Hugh Syme who did all of Rush's album covers after Caress of Steel and albums for many other bands like Def Leppard and Iron Maiden). Very much dystopian sort of steam punk and disturbing world in the same way as Red Barchetta and some of their other pieces and not unlike a Hunger Games story. Like that the target audience seems a bit younger but it worked for me.

It was the first album I repeatedly listened beginning to end since Moving Pictures probably (except maybe BU2B and BU2B2 but even those are ok usually)

It is incredible that 38 years after they started they put out one of their best and it was the swan song.

I have it ranked as:
Moving Pictures
2112
Permanent Waves
A Farewell to Kings
Clockwork Angels

But my era of Rush was 76-82 when I was introduced to them and was 10-16 years old and became a drummer mostly because of Neil.

Your coin only got 1 out of 5 right. Boo.

My top 5 albums looks like this:

Moving Pictures
Clockwork Angels
Permanent Waves
Hemispheres
Signals

I count 2112 as a single awesome track with a lot of filler, to be honest. Good filler to be sure, but still filler. Counterparts and Vapor Trails (the remixed version, not the flawed original mix) are high up there for me too.

Round 2 is live...

https://forms.gle/iJhWxEYSqmQoxD3QA

BRACKET 1

1. "Tom Sawyer," Moving Pictures (1981)
16. "Witch Hunt," Moving Pictures (1981)

2. "Xanadu," A Farewell to Kings (1977)
18. "Red Lenses," Grace Under Pressure (1984)

3. "Subdivisions," Signals (1981)
19. "The Fountain of Lamneth," Caress of Steel (1973)

4. "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage," A Farewell to Kings (1977) 82%
20. "The Body Electric," Grace Under Pressure (1984)

5. "Jacob's Ladder," Permanent Waves (1980)
21. "Scars," Presto (1989)

6. "Entre Nous," Permanent Waves (1980)
22. "Countdown," Signals (1982)

7. "Time Stand Still," Hold Your Fire (1987)
10. "The Big Money," Power Windows (1985)

8. "Superconductor," Presto (1989)
9. "Losing It," Signals (1982)

BRACKET 2

1. "Limelight," Moving Pictures (1981)
17. "Best I Can," Fly by Night (1975)

2. "Closer to the Heart," A Farewell to Kings (1977)
18. "Marathon," Power Windows (1985)

3. "New World Man," Signals (1981)
14. "Madrigal," A Farewell to Kings (1977)

4. "Working Man," Rush (1974)
13. "The Enemy Within," Grace Under Pressure (1984)

5. "The Trees," Hemispheres (1978)
21. "Tears," 2112 (1976)

6. "YYZ," Moving Pictures (1981)
22. "Lessons," 2112 (1976)

7. "Show Don't Tell," Presto (1989)
23. "Bravado," Roll the Bones (1991)

8. "Lakeside Park," Caress of Steel (1975)
9. "The Camera Eye," Moving Pictures (1981)

BRACKET 3

1. "Red Barchetta," Moving Pictures (1981)
16. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog," Fly by Night (1975)

2. "Fly by Night," Fly by Night (1975)
18. "Red Sector A," Grace Under Pressure (1984)

3. "2112," 2112 (1976)
14. "Distant Early Warning," Grace Under Pressure (1985)

4. "La Villa Strangiato," Hemispheres (1978)
20. "The Twilight Zone," 2112 (1976)

5. "Bastille Day," Caress of Steel (1975)
12. "Middletown Dreams," Power Windows (1985)

6. "Freewill," Permanent Waves (1980)
22. "Making Memories," Fly by Night (1975)

7. "Digital Man," Signals (1982)
10. "Beneath, Between & Behind," Fly by Night (1975)

8. "Cinderella Man," A Farewell to Kings (1977)
9. "Circumstances," Hemispheres (1978)

BRACKET 4

1. "A Farewell to Kings," A Farewell to Kings (1977)
17. "Vapor Trail," Vapor Trails (2002)

2. "The Spirit of Radio," Permanent Waves (1980)
15. "Caravan," Clockwork Angels (2012)

3. "A Passage to Bangkok," 2112 (1976)
14. "Headlong Flight," Clockwork Angels (2012)

4. "Vital Signs," Moving Pictures (1981)
13. "Anthem," Fly by Night (1975)

5. "Roll the Bones," Roll the Bones (1991)
12. "Manhattan Project," Power Windows (1985)

6. "The Analog Kid," Signals (1982)
22. "Territories," Power Windows (1985)

7. "Something for Nothing," 2112 (1976)
10. "Rivendell," Fly by Night (1975)

8. "The Pass," Presto (1989)
9. "Different Strings," Permanent Waves (1980)

As I feared too many Clockwork Angels lost. Still a fun tourney thanks for putting it together!

Here's a quick rundown of how some albums fared.

Moving Pictures 7 of 7

Hemispheres 3 of 3, should be 4 of 4, as Cygnus book 2 is not here.

Permanent Waves 5 of 5, no Natural Science

Signals 6 of 8

Farewell To Kings 6 wins

2112 5 wins

Fly By Night 7 wins (due partly to weak competition)

Power Windows 5 wins

G/P 5 wins

For my money, the greatest string of 5 consecutive albums by any band ever is...

2112
A Farewell To Kings
Hemispheres
Permanent Waves
Moving Pictures

I would be very surprised if the winner doesn't come from one of these 5. There's lots of quality outside of these 5 obviously, but I'm always a little shocked when I hear other Rush fans put Snakes and Arrows so high on their list of Rush albums. Personally, there's only 3 or 4 songs on those 5 records that aren't better than any song on S&A. That's just me, but maybe I will give it another listen.