2112 is incredible but I chose the era with Grace Under Pressure. I'm really partial to that album for some reason and is my most listened to Rush CD. I haven't heard the new one yet.
I like 'em all, but Signals through Hold Your Fire have a strange allure for me. Funny too, because generally speaking I'm more of a guitar/art rock kind of guy. Still, they were writing with such great emotion in that period. Subdivisions, The Mission, Time Stand Still....great stuff.
A Farewell To Kings/Hemispheres/Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures .... because Permanent Waves is my favorite Rush album. But it is very hard vote as I love Grace under Pressure and also Presto a lot, not to forget A Show of Hands which is a great live album.
Cheerz
The second period is my vote as it contains three of my four fave Rush albums, Hemispheres/Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures. 2112 is #1 in my book though.
Second Period with me....but I have every album, and the only one I'm not too fond of, or at least listen to the least is Roll the Bones. My top 3...
Permanent Waves
Hemispheres
Caress of Steel
Had to go with A Farewell To Kings/Hemispheres/Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures even though Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures are not high on my list. My favorite is Hemispheres...then Farewell To Kings/Caress of Steel/2112
I went with A Farewell To Kings/Hemispheres/Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures with Hemispheres being my favorite. After Moving Pictures their stuff is a bit spotty with me.