I have never been the biggest Rush fan but goddamn have I always been a Neil Peart fan. When Peart joined Rush in 1974 the band transformed from a blues rock trio into a progressive rock powerhouse largely due to Peart’s intricate rhythms, polyrhythmic mastery and unmatched precision behind the kit. He was a professor in the truest sense, meticulously studying his craft, reinventing his technique later in life and inspiring countless drummers to see their instrument not just as a timekeeper but as a critical element to a song. From Mike Portnoy to Danny Carey to Travis Barker and the countless kids practicing “Tom Sawyer” in their bedrooms, Peart set the standard for what rock drumming could be: intelligent, powerful, and orchestral.
Nowhere is this more evident than on Moving Pictures, Rush’s defining masterpiece and one of the greatest drum albums ever laid to tape. “Tom Sawyer” alone is a study in controlled aggression with its crisp hi-hat work, explosive fills and that legendary mid-song triplet groove that demands attention. “YYZ” is a rhythmic playground, a call and response between drums and guitar that solidifies Peart’s love for complex patterns while keeping everything musical and propulsive. Even on more restrained tracks like “Limelight” his sense of space and dynamics elevates the song beyond a typical rock anthem into something more. It’s an album I consistently return to when I’m looking to break out of the 4/4 box that is so easy to get lodged into. Inevitably Peart leads me to the promised land.
Standout Songs: “Tom Sawyer”, “Red Barchetta”, “Limelight”, “The Camera Eye”
