Album Rating: 4.5

This was so much better then I expected

A classic album in its own right, but many forget just how wonderful side B truly is. Take the song Tears for example. Tears is about someone who has had enormous emotional/existential struggles ("all of the seasons, all of the days..." for what seems like their whole life ("a lifetime of questions"), has always sought genuine understanding and empathy ("eyes that know why"), but has never found it. They feel totally alone in the world.

What I can't figure out is, when they see that the other person has cried for them, do they realize that that person truly understands what they're going through? The ending "I tasted the answers / and my body was weak / for you / the truth" seems to indicate that; but the part about "what would touch me deeper ... eyes that only cry ... or eyes that know why" might mean that they don't feel genuinely understood by the other person.


On a more intuitive level, this song made me imagine a grievous, emotionally draining relationship between two people. Perhaps they are so attached that it causes them great pain, or they desperately need each other but often wind up fighting. But in the pain they find great meaning; it proves how significant their relationship is. In the music you can hear the weakness the singer feels after being consumed by years of pain. I think it's beautiful how the music captures that feeling so poignantly.

My personal favourite Xanadu is about the story of one man who has a single goal: to find and live for all eternity in Xanadu. The promises of Kubla Khan of a wonderland where you may walk along the river Alph, explore and navigate the spectacular ice caves, and eat like a king on honey for all eternity in the beauty of nature. He finds it and is immedatly overbaringly excited and content. But, over a thousand years, he realizes what was once his paradise is now his prison, and wishes that he could escape this land.

Overall, I beleive the song is about self indulgence and greed, to major obstacles people face in life. This songs character decides that he will live there without any consideration of the future, his mind clouded by the idea of instant gratification. However, this was a bad choice and now, 1000 years later, he has come to know Xanadu as a prison, not a paradise.

This is undoubtedly one of my favorite Rush songs. It exemplifies the technical prowess of Alex Lifesons guitar playing, vocal range and bass/synthesizer playing of Geddy Lee, and unbeleivable percussion skill and song writing ability of Neil Peart. Xanadu steals the show on A Farwell to Kings, miles ahead of "Closer to the Heart", "Cinderella Man", and "Cyganus X-1".

whoa these ratings

Album Rating: 4.0

a whole group of frogs! climbing buildings! swimming in the lake!

Yeah not gonna lie, I can see this growing off me much more. We shall see

I don't like the term bedroom pop. can I call it something else?

Album Rating: 4.5

penis pop

baths invented bathroom pop

Album Rating: 4.5

robin i see the mind games you're playing with that 3.5

Album Rating: 4.5

what he really means is 5.0

there are just some songs on this i really never want to listen to. and then the other ones are absolutely awesome.

Album Rating: 4.0

Midnight City is probably soty

Album Rating: 4.5

tell us how you really feel robin

Album Rating: 4.5

so freaking good

Album Rating: 3.5

really good

Album Rating: 4.0

this is mighty long album



CARRY ON CARRY ON

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm not sure there is any song I could skip on this record.





mmmmm feels good.

Album Rating: 3.0

Pretty sure that "Intro" is the best thing Zola Jesus has ever been involved in

Album Rating: 4.5

Wait is becoming my favourite atm