100 Great Songs to Publish a Book to, #19: Rush, Anagram (for Mongo)

Dyed-in-the-wool Rush fans are wont to describe all of their favourite band’s studio albums as being “like greatest hits albums”.  They have a point: from 1976’s 2112 through to 1993’s Counterparts, it is difficult to argue against the remarkably high level of song writing and musicianship on display.  For me, 1989’s Presto comes closest, as I could have easily included every song from it on this list.  However, Anagram (for Mongo) has a couple of things which sets it fractionally above the rest: firstly, the piano break in the middle is on exactly the same wavelength as my thoughts; secondly, all of the lyrics are cryptic crossword clues, and there is as much pleasure to be had with these clues as there is in listening to the music.

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