6. Tom Sawyer (Moving Pictures, 1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auLBLk4ibAk That masterpiece was Moving Pictures, which further focused and perfected the multifaceted arena rock sound Rush had built on Permanent Waves. Lees synths gained a greater presence but still left room for Lifesons brilliant and emotive guitar work, and Peart tied each song together with dexterous cymbal hits and perfect control over his drums. Really, I could have picked any one of the tracks on side one of this albumTom Sawyer, the muscle car-turned-song Red Barchetta, the famously tricky instrumental YYZ, and the bands melancholy take on fame, Limelightas the definitive Rush song of this period. Theyre all timeless hits and together comprise one of the strongest album sides ever. But Tom Sawyer rose above its fellows with its signature opening growl, its powerful riff, its infectious keyboard lick, and its heart-stopping drum fills. The lyrical painting of Mark Twains literary hero as a modern day warrior renders the song as inspirational as it is technical. Theres no better showcase of Rushs ability to combine their unequaled instrumental prowess with their formidable and accessible songwriting skills, and as such Tom Sawyer is the song for which Rush will be remembered centuries from now.