Another great record. 36 minutes of pure, proggy awesomeness!

me like

This is my favorite Rush album, just slightly over Moving Pics. When I saw Rush in 1981, I remember they used backgrounds to emphasize the songs. I distinctly recall at the end of a song (probably Xanadu) It was dark and then suddenly the big brain appeared on the screen. The Coliseum went nuts. These were true Rush fans, they knew every lyric of every song and I'm sure most of them saw this track in it's entirety back in '78. Anyway, They kicked into the shortened version of the title track, basically the "Prelude" and man, that was awesome! Something I'll never forget.
While the lyrics to the entire side 1 are purely fantasy Greek Mythology, the music is stellar. In an age of the 3 to 5 minute song, most people dont have the patience to stick it out or go with the song but for me, once I realized it wasnt a quick climax like most songs but a growing anticipation over 18 minutes, I knew it was pure genius. The self-indulgence and musical "wankery" to me is the very best that Rush ever was; Ive heard this album a billion times and I never get tired of the entire Hemispheres epic.
Circumstances is maybe my least fave on this album but then again, the least on this album is probably better than 85% of anything theyve done since. In the middle of the song after the second chorus, the xylophone and Geddy's semi-cheesy lesson in synthesizer scales, the section where Alex comes in and the music rises to a climax, that part still gives me chills. Listen to it again and you'll know what I mean.
The Trees has always gotten alot of flack for the multi-dimensional meaning ( to me it has the flavor of something to do with a civil rights issue but many believe it is a more inner human nature battle and others believe it is like a Lord Of The Rings thing, but Neil claims it means absolutely nothing, yeah right.). Musically it packs quite a punch in only 4 and a half minutes and really takes the listener along for this ride through the forest, so to speak.

The absolute pinnacle of Rush's masterful career is La Villa Strangiato. Maybe not to most but for my personal musical tastes, it is their greatest song they ever made and maybe in my top 5 favorite personal favorite songs ever. yeah, ever. I'd rather hear this than Stairway To Heaven and Freebird and most of the greatest songs ever written. But that's just me. Not much more I can add to what's been written about this track other than I would stack this up against any band in any genre as far as sheer talent and catchy drums rolls and technical approach, guitar riffs and textured layers and sheer brilliance on the doubleneck, and bass-til-your-fingers-fall-off by Gary Lee Weinrib the legend himself. I have about 12 live versions of this track on my iPod, that's how much I love this song.

*whew*....so I guess I like this album just a little bit.

IMO the only bad thing about this album, the only drawback is that they over-indulged musically so much on this record that after this, they grew tired of epics and fantasy and extended songs that they moved towards an entire different direction and would never be the same again.

but they still had a few progressive rock tricks up their sleeves on the next 2 albums, more on that later.....

Hey Detuned, how's that for a review!

This isn't one of my favorite Rush albums. But it's good all the same.

I really enjoyed both A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres.....

Farewell just has this feel of overcast in an isolated valley somewhere.... misty mountains and rain.... lovely stuff...


Hemispheres for a while I liked better than 2112, because the title tune is continuous... I thought it had an epic close and I love that.... Powerful....

There was a picture disc made for this album as well...

"...for the words of the prophets were written on the studio wall, concert hall."

PERMANENT WAVES - (released Jan 1st, 1980)

Permanent Waves is a true watershed album for Rush, they successfully made the leap to a more commercially accessible sound while losing none of their creativity or compromising at all. It's truly amazing that only 6 years had elapsed since the release of the debut, because by the time P.W. came out they had matured into a completely unique band.

The unfortunate thing is this album is a little forgotten these days (aside from the two singles), probably due to the massive success of Moving Pictures a year later...it deserves to be revisited.

The Spirit of Radio is one of the most bizarre radio hits of all time. There are more time changes in the introduction than most songs have in their entirety. But Lifeson's guitar introduction is so memorable, it immediately hooks you into the song and it's all so effortless you can groove right along and not even notice how complex it is. This song has been a perennial concert favorite ever since.

Free Will was another minor league radio hit and it's another fantastic song. Lifeson again kicks off the proceedings with a signature guitar lick and another memorable riff. This track is a great example of how far their songwriting had improved in such a short time, here everything truly falls into place...Peart's lyrics, Geddy's interpretation of them, the arrangement. This also features one of my favorite Lifeson guitar solos...a complete MONSTER solo!

Jacob's Ladder is the first "epic" on the album. Stylistically similar to the arrangments on Hemispheres and Kings, it's a multi-layered track that goes through several mood changes during it's 9 minute running time. Starting off as a bizarre march, it evolves into a slow, heavy, brooding number that captures the tone of Peart's lyrics perfectly. This song is criminally underrated.

Entre Nous is a great little pop-rock tune, another good example of how the complexity of the arrangement is hidden by the overall groove. I've always loved the way it switches to acoustic guitars in the chorus. Another completely forgotten Rush song and one they thankfully added back into their setlist on the Snakes & Arrows tour.

Different Strings. Now, Rush ballads have always been a point of contention, but in this case it's a really great song. The reason this one works is the arrangement, there's a bit of a jazz vibe in the mid section...and it closes out with a killer groove (that is unfortunately cut short by a fadeout).

Natural Science is yet another "lost classic" Rush song. This tune is a monster, the most progressive and intense piece on the album. Not many bands would attempt songs as different as Entre Nous and Natural Science on the same album...but Rush makes it all work as a seamless whole. This song was also revived on recent tours.

I don't think I really appreciated this album when I was younger, it's not as "immediate" as a record like 2112 or Moving Pictures...it takes a little while to sink in. All I know is that in the year 2009, it STILL sounds amazing.

Another good Rush album - this one is more accessible than past past Rush albums with no side long suites. Rush still was writing prgressive art rock, but making more commercially viable. This is a trend that would continue on the next release when Rush would hit the big time.

Ohhhhh, panties. I remember when this came out the kids in my school who knew about this seemed to only know the album cover. Some great songs on this thing and it's held up well, maybe because it doesn't get the overplay stuff after this did.

Great album. It's definitely in the upper half of their catalogue for me.

Permanent Waves is simply awesome! The whole album is just solid and I love every track here. It's truly amazing how Rush were able to craft such catchy hook filled tunes that retained all of their trademark complexity yet still hit it big on the radio.

It's just one of many Rush albums that I don't seem to ever tire of.

One of my favorite Rush albums and the first Rush album I ever heard. Excellent songs through out and lyrically I can relate to some of the tunes.

"We are Planets to each Other/Each one's Life a Novel/ No One else has read" excellent lyrics.

Once again it is about the deep cuts on this album that really stand out. 'Jacob's Ladder' 'Natural Science' and 'Different Strings' all excellent songs.

another page is turned in an ever changing story... great band...great lp... and another interesting lp cover. Alex does alot of kewl lil things. Me like

Great album. "Free Will" was the song that really got me hooked on Rush. One of the few instances of Neil Peart's lyrics being actually kinda good.

Another great Rush album from their prime years, This record was the beginning of their ascent(descent) into commercial success. My favorites are the non-commercial tracks, although "Entre Nous" is probably the only real pop-ish track on the album.
"The Spirit Of Radio", like Detuned said, is an unusual radio hit, as it is basically a slam against radio and it's over-commerciality and spiral downfall of artistic creativity and integrity. It was here that Alex's newfound discovery of bands like The Police began to show itself in the form of white man-reggae(or Reggatta De Blanc as it were) and would continue for at least half a decade. This track is still a concert fave and even though it is played on the radio everyday who could ever really tire of such a great song like this?
"Freewill" is a flat our rocker not really heard from Rush since the 2112 album. And yes, the solo is scorching! Ive never really been a big fan of the lyrics; not sure if Neil is slamming christianity or not but I get the gist of what he's talkin' about.
"Jacob's Ladder" is basically an instrumental with about 12 lines of lyrics, not unlike "Cygnus X-1" but with less lyrics. In fact the tracks seem very much alike musically as well. This track couldnt be more proggy, and to me that is just awesome, right where I want Rush to be. When Rush is progressive to the point of excessive, there isnt a bigger Rush fan in the world than me.
"Entre Nous" is certainly the most pop-oriented of the album, right out of the same page as "Closer To The Heart" and helping to set up the next decade of Rush's success in the commercially viable department. I'm still not sick of this song yet after almost 30 years, maybe because surprisingly it never was a big hit and thank God for that.
"Different Strings" is maybe their best ballad, if you want to call it a ballad. This song seems to echo the theme of half of the album; that of we can all live together despite our differences. Humanistic or not, it does make for a nice lyric while not coming across as too preachy. I always dug the piano(IMO sounds more like a harpsicord) played by occasional 4th member/graphic designer Hugh Syme. Sometimes I wonder what this track wouldve sounded like if it would have gone on for maybe 2 to 2 1/2 minutes more with a proper ending, maybe a time change after the solo. Oh well seeing that it has never ever been played live, we will never know.
"Natural Science" Hmm, where to begin. Progressive rock meets modern sci-fi meets Rush just seriously kicking major A**!! Easily one of the best songs they ever recorded. Yeah, I said it. Nothing about it sucks, everything about it is perfect. Some of Neil's best lyrics here. They played this song live for roughly one and a half tours and brought it back in 1996 again, realizing even though it clocks in at 9 minutes, it is still a crowd pleaser even to the modern Rush fans. One of the last truly goosebump-inspiring tunes they would ever make again, including about half of the next album......

Permanent Waves is another awesome Rush record, and starts a string of perfect albums that would go through Grace Under Pressure. It's also got my favorite Rush song of all time, Jacob's Ladder

Great album. They started to venture away from their prog roots, but it's still a great early prog metal record.

It was originally going to be called Wavelength. Permanent Waves was released on January 1, 1980. Only six songs so it comes in under 40 minutes. I have a tendency to think that the band really likes this album more than many others, on the last several tours they've played 2/3 of the album live. On the Snakes and Arrows first half they trotted out 'Entre Nous' for the first time ever. They've also brought out a re-worked version of 'Natural Science' which includes and additonal 'chorus' portion ('wheels in wheels...').

The production on this album is crisp and bright. That goes with the tighter and shorter song elements. Yes there are still two longer pieces but it's clear the direction Geddy, Alex, Neil are going. Shorter and more melodic songs. By the time they had finished 'Hemispheres' Rush was having a harder time putting those longer pieces together because they couldn't get the type of perfection in studio they were after. "La Villa..." from "Hemispheres" was recorded in 4-5 different parts and 'glued' together in the studio.

Clearly two of Rush's best known songs appear here with 'Spirit of Radio' and 'Freewill'. Both are perenial live staples and receive constant airplay these days.

For myself I didn't care for 'Different Strings' until the last 5-7 years or so. A production piece that I now find very moving and introspective. Good stuff.

Rush were still playing large halls and doing some 'special' guest slots, but the disc opened the door for what was to come. A live album was actually planned after this tour, but instead Rush delivered their 'calling card' album. For us fans I'm glad they did....

"Exit the warrior, today's Tom Sawyer he gets high on you..."

MOVING PICTURES (released Mar 12, 1981)

Very simply, this is my favorite Rush album and a certified classic. I still remember hearing Tom Sawyer on the radio late one night and I became instantly obsessed. The DJ didn't say the name of the band so I called the station to find out what it was. I was 10 years old and had just become a Rush fan for life...

Alot of people had the same reaction I did to Tom Sawyer. There is something almost supernaturally catchy to that tune. It's actually heavy as hell, but sounds very commercial at the same time. A song that can appeal to numerous audiences...enough technical wizardry for the prog fans, enough melody for the AOR radio stations. After leading this direction on Permanent Waves, they finally hit the bullseye, the perfect combination they had been looking for. Tom Sawyer STILL sounds just as awesome now as it did in 1981, great songwriting doesn't date.

Red Barchetta was another fave tune as a kid, the whole sci-fi edge to the story clicked with my interest in writers like Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury. One of Peart's best storyteller moments. Most of the songs on this album became concert favorites, this one was no different.

YYZ is basically the perfect rock instrumental and I played it TO DEATH for years and years. All of the bands prowess is on display, but unlike the countless attempts by others since...Rush had the songwriting chops to back up their instrumental chops. The version of this song on Rush In Rio is amazing, hearing the crowd sing the melody and even the guitar lines!

Limelight is another classic radio hit and kicks off with one of Lifeson's best riffs. Honestly, there's not much need to go into more detail, if you don't hear the greatness your not listening.

what a classic album side, huh?

Side Two kicks off with my personal favorite song, The Camera Eye. This is basically the last extended Rush song...and it's a whopper. This song both tips the hat to the future (the primarily synth driven segments) while still carrying on the tradition of heavy riffs alternating with acoustic parts. Every single second of this song is amazing, I've studied it for years, dissecting it...listened to it and tried to focus only on specific instruments...then focus only on the production, etc. No matter how many times I play it though, it always blows me away. Lifeson's guitar solo is genius and the bass Geddy lays down underneath it is some of his most kick ass playing.

Witch Hunt. I have always loved the creepy vibe of this song, Rush at it's darkest. Lifeson's guitar tone is just HUGE on this song and Peart really works in so many different layers to the arrangement. Another tune that was tailor made for the stage.

Vital Signs is an okay tune, but it's never had the same impact on me as the rest of the album. Nothing wrong with it, but not up to the same standards as the rest.

The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts and has surpassed quadruple platinum status.

Moving Pictures is simply one of the best rock albums of all time!! It's for my money one of the most perfect records ever.
If any complaint could be leveled against this album it might be that Vital Signs was a bit of jumping on the reggae bandwagon that was popular with so many bands at the time. With that being said I personally love the song and it's a favorite of mine to hear in concert.

A high point of my then young pup status was hammering out YYZ with the neighborhood dudes in various garages & then of course tossing it out there one night at a keg party. We were kings for a night.

Me like this lp

This was the album that fooled me into thinking the sound of early Rush was coming back. I was sorta disappointed in Hemispheres and Permanent Waves but then Moving Pictures came out and I loved it.

Sadly, this is the last Rush album I liked.

Rush continues in the shorter song, more melody vein that started on Permanent Waves, adding a bit more synth to the album. Tom Sawyer was released as a single and became a huge hit for the band, propelling Rush multi-platinum status and moving them out of the medium sized halls/theaters to arena headlining status.

Great album, their most accessible to date. But, the managed to keep some of their proginess. Peart's awesome drum playing propels Rush above any other commerical band of the life. Of course, Geddy Lee is still sucking on the helium ballons before he records his vocals. Side on of the album is just a monster of a first side to an album and got the most play anytime someone threw it on the record changer. Side two was played more by the real rock fans and not the general public. Camera Eye is a great prog song and the longest on the album. This would be the last song that was over 10 minutes long that Rush would ever record to date.

This is an album (like 2112) that belongs in ever record collector's collection.

Excellent album, not much I can add to what detuned wrote, I remember seeing the early live clip of ' Tom Sawyer' on MTV when they actually used to play videos.

'YYZ' has always been a favorite and one of the first instrumentals I got into when I was a young metal lad.

The only thing I can add to the converstion is that Neil Peart's lyrics have improved a great deal and the lyrics are more universal. The lyrics to 'Tom Sawyer' are excellent, using a literary charater to illustrate a point in the power of individuality. 'Limelight' which could come off as a rock star moaning about the lack of privacy success can bring, deals with the subject with sensativity and gives a realistic point of view while expecting this is the life they choose.

Excellent review. When I was a kid, Witch Hunt creeped me out and i'd listen over and over in my room with the lights out. Of course there were the breaks as i'd rewind the tape.

LOVE this album!!! Easily in my top 3 favorite Rush albums ever!!!

My favorite songs are: "Red Barchetta", "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight". In that order. Every song on here is good though. This is truly a masterpiece!

There are soo many memories that flood my mind when this album comes on. Takes me back to my high school days and all the parties I'd go to. You could usually count on this album being played around a bonfire up in the Colorado mountains somewhere.