Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[TAC]

Honestly, considering Cygnus X-1 and Hemispheres one song seems goofy to me, especially since a) they don't sound alike really at all (in style, plus the sound of AFTK is pretty different from Hemispheres), and b) they weren't written at the same time.

Thank you.

[KevShmev]

The music perfectly fits each part of the story, and to me, the “callback” during the soft part of Hemispheres ties the whole thing together beautifully!

I think that "callback" moment is a superficial tie-in at best, similar to DT reusing the Metropolis intro at the beginning of The Dance of Eternity/end of Home (as a way of calling something Metropolis Part 2).

[ytserush]

A Farewell to Kings isn't connecting with me much. I like Xanadu and Cygnus is weird (in a good way), but Closer to the Heart is still annoying me from hearing it my whole life and the others I don't care for much. After a few listens it's probably my least favorite but maybe it's a grower? I'm more interested in hearing Hemispheres now so I'm going to check that out later today.

The studio version of Closer To The Heart is my least favorite version ever. Any live arrangement they've done since is preferable to the studio track. My favorite is still probably the Test For Echo Tour version (on Different Stages) where the ending jam is just off the charts good. I always wished they'd have done more of that stuff.

[ytserush]

Whoa. WHOA. Can we talk about Hemispheres now?!

This album RULES. Blows A Farewell to Kings right out the water and is easily my favorite Rush album so far, more than Moving Pictures even because it's just a solid 4 songs with nothing more, they captured magic on this one. Hemispheres (the song) destroys 2112 (the song) and The Trees and La Villa Strangiato had me grinning ear to ear with how cool they were. Circumstances is probably the weak link of the four but it's still really strong and man I just love that title track. I wasn't expecting too much after Cygnus Book 1 but they took that concept and ran with it. Jaw, meet floor.

Been looking into a box set of as many Rush albums as I can get but I only see collections from 1989-2007, and there are only 2 Sectors box sets available on Rush's website (2 and 3, can't seem to find 1 for some reason, and 3 only seems to go through the 80s). I was hoping there'd be something out there with everything from the debut to at least Snakes and Arrows since they even have skateboard decks and all sorts of other crazy stuff on their website. But I suppose I can just buy everything individually...

Get them individually and you will have the lyrics with the albums. The 3 Sectors combine the lyrics in one booklet per box and the I don't think the fourth has the lyrics at all (Haven't opened mine yet.)

[ytserush]

The title track is very quickly becoming one of my favorite super long epics ever. La Villa just flies by, in a good way.

I just came back from a friend's house and asked him if I could borrow some Rush, and without mentioning what I've heard or own, he comes out of the back room and lays Hemispheres and Permanent Waves down next to me.  I'll be blasting both on the way to DT this Saturday  

You doing the live albums?

[ytserush]

Hemispheres is an incredible album. So glad you're enjoying it this much.

La Villa is definitely my favorite instrumental. One of those songs that just doesn't feel as long as it is.

Agreed. My favorite version of La Villa is on the live album Exit Stage Left, Alex's solo in the middle section absolutely rips and slays the studio version!

I think so too. Xanadu sounds great on that also.

[ytserush]

The music perfectly fits each part of the story, and to me, the “callback” during the soft part of Hemispheres ties the whole thing together beautifully!

That was retrofitted to link the two. In 1977, there was no plan for a part II. It was an afterthought.

[Architeuthis]

Hemispheres is an incredible album. So glad you're enjoying it this much.

La Villa is definitely my favorite instrumental. One of those songs that just doesn't feel as long as it is.

Agreed. My favorite version of La Villa is on the live album Exit Stage Left, Alex's solo in the middle section absolutely rips and slays the studio version!

I think so too. Xanadu sounds great on that also.

Yes indeed! The transition from The Trees to Xanadu on ESL is just beautifully done, one of my favorite pieces of music ever.
Also Passage To Bangkok from ESL absolutely destroys the studio version. Alex's solo again rocks, and the drums are more powerful..

[The Walrus]

The title track is very quickly becoming one of my favorite super long epics ever. La Villa just flies by, in a good way.

I just came back from a friend's house and asked him if I could borrow some Rush, and without mentioning what I've heard or own, he comes out of the back room and lays Hemispheres and Permanent Waves down next to me.  I'll be blasting both on the way to DT this Saturday  

You doing the live albums?

I thought about it but nah, not right now. I got to Signals yesterday and it's stuck on my brain, this run from Hemispheres to Signals is insanely good. I love keyboards so this 80s sound is great. So 80s, in the best possible way. I like Signals way more than Moving Pictures.

[Architeuthis]

Signals is quite a departure from Moving Pictures but in a good way. Analog Kid being my favorite on the album. Countdown is a fun song about the space shuttle launch! New World Man is the weak link on that album for me, yet it still gets a lot of radio airplay to this day.. Shrugs !

[The Walrus]

The Weapon was an instant favorite of mine. I adore that beat, the synths, the solos, man is that a good tune.

[Architeuthis]

Oh yeah, great song. The Weapon almost has a Floydish feel to it.  Also,  "Losing It" is an amazing sympathetic song with deep lyrics.

[King Postwhore]

I can't wait for you to listen to Power Windows.  My favorite album of all time.

[KevShmev]

"Look at that guy dancing, he's scary!!"

[King Postwhore]

"Look at that guy dancing, he's scary!!"

You cant watch without your 3D glasses on.

[KevShmev]

Alex rolling around on the stage during that intro (The Weapon on Grace Under Pressure Live, for those unaware) and kicking his feet (which you see for like two seconds in the wide stage shot) is one of my favorite Rush live DVD moments ever.

[TAC]

I can't wait for you to listen to Power Windows.  My favorite album of all time.

You've only heard one album in your entire life?

[King Postwhore]

I can't wait for you to listen to Power Windows.  My favorite album of all time.

You've only heard one album in your entire life?

Man you suck at ribbing people.

[TAC]

Damn, that Power Window Bat Signal really works.

[King Postwhore]

 

Shit I'm blasting it tomorrow!!!

[IDontNotDoThings]

I did this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuebwfWPebM

[KevShmev]

Ouch.  Chopping it up to insert some of the vocal parts into the Prelude was a very bad idea. And when the first vocal comes in, that sounds completely unnatural as the first line of the song,  Delete that immediately and try again.

[Mosh]

Or just leave it alone. The song is fine as is.

[AngelBack]

Signals is quite a departure from Moving Pictures but in a good way. Analog Kid being my favorite on the album. Countdown is a fun song about the space shuttle launch! New World Man is the weak link on that album for me, yet it still gets a lot of radio airplay to this day.. Shrugs !

Agreed on all points.

[TAC]

Signals was the first Rush studio album I bought as a new fan. I was so disappointed.

[The Walrus]

I think Signals is honestly my second favorite at the moment behind Hemispheres. 

Gonna put on Grace Under Pressure later today.

[KevShmev]

Signals was the first Rush studio album I bought as a new fan. I was so disappointed.

I can see that.  Even though I like Signals a lot, the sound is oft-putting.  Neither the keys nor the guitars are as high in the mix as they should be, resulting in a weird overall mix.  Fortunately, the majority of the songs are great, but when you compare the sound of this record to the albums that came immediately before and after, its issues are glaring.

[TAC]

Signals was the first Rush studio album I bought as a new fan. I was so disappointed.

I can see that.  Even though I like Signals a lot, the sound is oft-putting.  Neither the keys nor the guitars are as high in the mix as they should be, resulting in a weird overall mix.  Fortunately, the majority of the songs are great, but when you compare the sound of this record to the albums that came immediately before and after, its issues are glaring.

It's aged pretty well, though.

I discovered them through Moving Pictures. I was in the 7th grade, and ESL came out while I was in the 8th. But in that time, I had accumulated everything they did (on 8 track!) and they were probably my favorite band at that point. I was so let down. My metal leanings would take over, and I basically ignored Rush for the next few years.

[Architeuthis]

I can see why many may have been put off with Signals when it came out. All the albums before that leading up to that point were heavier guitar and bass driven with a hard rock edge. When Signals came out all of sudden keyboards kind of took over and that trend lasted throughout the eighties. Alex himself was not liking that direction. On the Rush movie (Beyond The Lighted Stage) Alex expressed his frustration of the guitars getting put aside, and taking a back seat to keyboards being in a trio. Geddy was the one more bent on keyboards which Alex wasn't too happy about, and I don't blame him one bit..

[Orbert]

I'm in pretty much the same boat.  Moving Pictures is still my fave from them, and I had everything up through MP, including both live albums.  Signals was okay, but it didn't thrill.  We can see it now as a transitional album.  Geddy was still learning how to work with keyboards in the studio, really work with them, and it's a bit awkward.  I've come to appreciate the keyboard 80's phase more lately, but it's still probably my least favorite Rush period.  The keyboards on the next three albums got better, as they got more comfortable with the sound and learned how to work it.

[TAC]

Right. But I was listening to Rush allatonce. If I was old enough to pay attention, you could clearly see the trend from PW-MP-Signals.

[Orbert]

Kids these days.

[jammindude]

I did this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuebwfWPebM

This is like if there was a 3 minute version of Stairway to Heaven. 

[IDontNotDoThings]

I did this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuebwfWPebM

This is like if there was a 3 minute version of Stairway to Heaven.

I mean, if I thought Stairway to Heaven dragged on its length with too much repetition, yeah, I'd probably make a short version of it too. But I don't, so I didn't. What's your argument?

Ouch.  Chopping it up to insert some of the vocal parts into the Prelude was a very bad idea. And when the first vocal comes in, that sounds completely unnatural as the first line of the song,  Delete that immediately and try again.

How so? That part of the prelude is where the verse riff starts & I'm pretty sure it even goes into the acoustic section after that too. I guess if you meant that it was a weird spot for the intro to end, I guess I could see that argument, but I disagree. In my opinion, the prelude is already kind of fragmented there with how sudden of a change it is (even in the original version imo), so I don't think it comes off unnaturally or anything. Though of course, that's just my opinion.

[Podaar]

I did this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuebwfWPebM

I know it's irrational and stupid, but I got 2 minutes into this and I was starting to get angry as hell.