National Album Day: Moving Pictures by Rush

by | Oct 13, 2018

In 1987, I was nineteen years old (please don’t work it out). On a warm summer’s night and after an extremely alcoholic trip out, my friend Stuart James put on Moving Pictures by Rush. I didn’t know what it was and I’d not really heard much Rush to that point. I had them pigeonholed as a trio of very loud Canadian odd balls whose singer had a vocal register that put quizzical expressions on dogs’ faces. Within the first few bars of album opener Tom Sawyer, I wanted to know what it was. By the end of side one, I was mesmerised. That evening genuinely changed the way that I thought about music.

Whilst 2112 might have been the record which truly broke Rush as a major force, 1981’s Moving Pictures is the definitive Rush album. It perfectly links the early hard rock, high pitched screaming that had once put me off (but which, as an ardent fan, I now totally understand) with the keyboard infused and more accessible sound which Rush developed in the later eighties and nineties. It’s full of incredible songs and amazing musicianship. Listening to the opening quartet of Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, YYZ and Limelight is about the most satisfying way to spend twenty minutes I can think of. The production is quite simply stunning and it has a sound that I don’t think has been matched on any other Rush album. Everybody, and I mean everybody, should listen to it at least once. I’m never going to stop.

Moving Pictures by Rush, 1981. Chosen by photographer and writer Simon Reed

 

 

The Royston Club (Sam Crowston)

The Royston Club Reveal Tender New Single ‘Cariad’ Ahead Of Anticipated Second Album ‘Songs For The Spine’

The Royston Club are stepping firmly into the indie-rock spotlight with the upcoming release of their second album, Songs For The Spine, set for 8th August. Following the Top 20 success of their debut, the Wrexham quartet return with soaring momentum: vinyl pre-orders sold out in minutes, streaming numbers rising, and a loyal, lyric-chanting fanbase that packs out venues across the UK.

Kanadia (Andy Ford)

Kanadia Announce Third Album ‘The Fire That’s Tearing Through Our Home’ And Share Cathartic New Single ‘Too Late Now’

Oxford-based alternative rockers Kanadia have announced their third studio album, The Fire That’s Tearing Through Our Home, set for release on 26th September. A sweeping and emotionally charged 50-minute record, the new album is described as a sonic journey through the fragility and beauty of human emotion, with the band promising an abundance of dreamlike textures, massive hooks, and haunting melodies.

Of Mice & Men (Carissa Dugoni)

Of Mice & Men Announce New Album ‘Another Miracle’, Drop New Single ‘Wake Up’

Southern California metalcore stalwarts Of Mice & Men have announced details of their ninth studio album, Another Miracle, due out 14th November 2025 via Century Media Records. Known for their high-octane blend of crushing heaviness and melodic vulnerability, the band returns with what they describe as their most personal and expansive work to date.

Skunk Anansie @ Glastonbury Festival 2022 (Kalpesh Patel)

Skunk Anansie Unveil Powerful Visual For Deeply Personal New Single ‘Shame’

British rock legends Skunk Anansie have released a striking new video for their latest single Shame, a raw and emotional track that sees frontwoman Skin dive deep into her own past, confronting complex family dynamics and personal identity with unflinching honesty.

Sabrina Carpenter @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Jordan Curtis Hughes / Alfredo Flores)

An Explosive Sabrina Carpenter Show Keeps Drenched London Warm At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Hey London, how you doing? My name’s Sabrina — what’s your name?”. There is a daft cacophony of replies, that shows...
Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam @ BST Hyde Park 2022 (Simon Reed)

Matt Cameron Departs Pearl Jam After 27 Years Amidst Wave Of Drummer Changes In Rock

After nearly three decades behind the kit, Matt Cameron has announced his departure from Pearl Jam. The legendary drummer, 62, shared the news via social media on 7th July, marking the end of a 27‑year tenure that began in 1998. His departure comes in the wake of the band’s Dark Matter World Tour, which concluded earlier this year.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Shines In Mid-Afternoon Magic On The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

While headliner Noah Kahan was preparing to command the Great Oak Stage later in the evening, over on the Rainbow Stage a quieter but equally stirring performance was unfolding under the soft mid-afternoon sun. Georgia-born singer-songwriter Sydney Rose brought her headline tour to a moving finale, wrapping her journey in heartfelt lyrics and gently fierce vocals that captivated a festival crowd seeking intimacy amid the day’s growing energy.

Gigi Perez @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Gigi Perez Captivates London With Raw Emotion And Rising-Star Power At BST Hyde Park 2025

At just 25 years old, Gigi Perez has already carved out a reputation as one of indie-pop’s most compelling new voices — and her late afternoon set on the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park proved exactly why. Supporting headliner Noah Kahan and following a string of breakout moments this year, the Hackensack, New Jersey native delivered a deeply affecting performance filled with vulnerability, power, and soaring vocals

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing