Classical Composer Reacts to Permanent Waves (Side 1) - RUSH | The Daily Doug (Episode 566) 

RIP, Neilus Peartus Maximus

I know many prefer Moving Pictures as Rush's pinnacle but I'm a Permanent Waves guy. Great throwback review.

After 40 years I still haven’t tired of listening to Permanent Waves. Lyrically and musically IMO it is master class of its genre.

The thing I always loved about Rush is when you saw them in concert, they basically played their songs note-for-note. Such great musicians.

Al's solo on Freewill is one of the best ever put on tape! The whole album is killer.

I appreciate your reaction videos for many reason, one of them the choice of music you have. But the main reason is that you don't stop the music, interrupt the flow of it. Short comments here and there during the song and you save the lengthy comments after the song. Its such a much better format then constantly pausing the music and talking for minutes like so many other seems to do. Thank you.

Just here to give some love to Jacobs Ladder, which often gets overlooked due to just how tremendous the other two songs on this side are. It’s my personal favorite rush song. So many twists and turns musically and emotionally in that track. And at times when I feel my bass playing sucks I take comfort in the fact that I can actually play that song all the way through which is no easy feat!!

"Jacob's Ladder" remains my favourite Rush song, and it's not even that close. It encompasses the essence of Rush in one song. It's just so...them, y'know? A fairly long song (compared to the radio hits of their era), wild metric shifts and a polymetric section, where the drums, bass and guitar are in a 5/8, 6/8 repeating pattern while Geddy sings in 4/4, crazy chord progressions, a long synth-heavy section, and the beautiful, almost minimalistic poetry of Neil's lyrics. It's like they were flirting with heavy metal and atmospheric pop in the same song, and yet it feels just so...right. _Permanent Waves_ is also, in my opinion, Rush's best album. There's no fat, no unnecessary self-indulgence...it's Rush, put on the stove and slowly condensed down into a thick, extremely concentrated sauce. Don't get me wrong, I love the self-indulgence sometimes. But if I had one album to make someone a Rush fan, this would be it.

First time I read The Lord of the Rings, Jacobs Ladder was playing as I was reading the part where they were escaping from Moria and Gandolf fell fighting the Balrog...I visualize that everytime I hear this song.

"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Easily one of the most profound lyrics I have heard in my life and arguably the best single lyric line I've ever heard. It has affected my life, I'm here to tell you. The meaning to me is, don't let life decide for you and don't follow random paths (where possible). Act on your own behalf, rightly or wrongly; just do it with gusto. Bottom line: I need to listen to Rush far more often for my own sanity, such as it is. 🙂

The Spirit of Radio and Freewill among my Rush favorites. It brings me back to 1980 when I was listening to these Rush songs.

I got to see Rush on their final tour and they played Jacob's Ladder live for the first time in 35 years.

Took half of my life to decide.. This is my favorite Rush album. Jacob's ladder and Natural science two of my favorite Rush songs. ❤❤

Jacob's Ladder is one of their finest moments - they excel when they take a cinematic approach to songs and use extreme dynamics. It's too bad they didn't revisit that style in the 90s and 2000s.

"Neil, you're too smart for us" - There's the best summary of Neil's body of lyrical work. Thanks, Doug!

"Jacob's Ladder" is one of my absolute favorite songs from them. I think I recommended it to you a couple times as something you should check out. It's very much a prog piece, but it's so smooth and well-composed, it feels more like a classical composition than a rock song. It's very underrated as I think it's one of their best pieces. From beginning to end, the song is sublime. Rush was heavy into their "brilliance" streak with this..... the five albums from "2112" through "Moving Pictures" were absolutely brilliant.

I would have been a freshman, approaching sophomore in high school. My alcoholic dad wasn't physically abusive with me, but never had anything nice to say. One particular evening he was carrying on about how my music was just noise, etc. So I challenged him by offering to read the lyrics of my music to him. I clearly remember reading Freewill, but I read more than that. He was man enough to admit defeat (that night). Even my college attendee sister was impressed, lol. So much more related memories, but that's for another time and another place.

Can't wait to get to Natural Science. It's mind blowing. I saw them perform it live once and it just about blew away the 300 or so other songs they played that night.

Freewill's instrumental remains one of the most frightening 64 seconds in music of all times! Thanks for putting this up on RU-vid Doug, now I can share friends and family and hopefully draw more support for your channel!

I've been waiting to see when you finally dropped your reaction to Jacobs Ladder as I figured that it would a highlight. Glad that it didn't disappoint as Jacobs Ladder and Xanadu are my favorite Rush songs.

That fourth minute of Freewill is my favorite minute of any song they ever recorded.

The solo section in Freewill is basically all three instruments soling at the same time. It is truly amazing.

Personally, my favorite Peart lyrics are in the song Subdivision. Nothing too fancy, but the lyrics perfectly match the flow of the music.

No one ever comments on the best line in the album "(Blame) is better to give than receive." By replacing the word "It" they reverse the entire meaning. Also, this is the last song where Geddy reaches the super high notes ever again.

The tempo and genre changes in Spirit of Radio were meant to mimic pushing radio buttons and hearing different stations…

Rush, the thinking and feeling man's band. My favorite! This album was the beginning of my journey listening to Rush at age 11, 1980.

Saw this tour at 14, mind blowing. Alex is incredible on this album, really pushing his playing into new areas.

Geddy's bass lead into Alex’s solo and the solo itself in Freewill are so dirty I need a shower. Just. So. Good. Love the insights, Doug. Always great to understand the structure in the compositions. Cannot wait for side 2. Natural Science is my fav Rush tune,, if I had to pick one from all my favs. \m/\m/

Their storytelling with music is what helps set them apart. How Alex uses the guitar in The Spirit of Radio to evoke radio waves bouncing around, to the marching rhythm of Jacob’s Ladder to indicate the gathering of clouds, like soldiers, preparing to go to war with each other.

The thing about time signatures with Rush... They didn't write these songs with the intention of going 4/4, 5/4, 7/4, etc. They just played it how they felt it. If it fell into 5/4then 7/4 then 4/4 then that's what they were feeling when they wrote it. In fact, there was an interview where someone asked them about time signatures and how they handled them and I think it was Alex that said, "I couldn't tell you what time signatures we used because it's just the way we wrote it". Very cool technique for writing music!

For me side one of Permanent Waves is the best side of any album. It’s totally jaw dropping.

I was surprised that you didn't notice (or, at least, didn't comment) that the lyrics near the end of "Spirit of Radio" are a riff on the lyrics near then end of "The Sound of Silence". There's a nice play on the homonyms "prophets" (used by Paul) and "profits" (used by Neil).

That solo section in Freewill is among the best ever recorded anywhere anytime. 3 guys at the absolute peak of their ability going completely the f off. And it is seamless and perfect.

My favorite Rush album. The one that started my love affair with this incredible band.

This was my high school music. This album to me is probably the most important of its decade. After over 40 years it has never gotten old - it's like a car that has never lost its new car smell or the shine on the paint.

It's so great to see someone I respect musically really appreciate and even love my #1 favorite band for the last 46 years. So glad you like them, too!

The lyrics of Freewill are some of the best ever writen. I was disappointed you didn't talk about the final few lines as the are great.

My favorite Rush album of all time! There's not a single weak song on it. I was teary-eyed when they played Jacob's Ladder on the R40 tour. I didn't look online to see the set list as I wanted to be surprised.

I got so excited when I saw this drop on the feed! 😂 This is by far my favorite Rush album. There is not a single lesser track on this album. I am waiting with baited breath for side two! 🤘😎

One of my all time favorite Rush albums.All of the Rush albums up to Power Windows are masterpieces. But the crown jewels IMO are Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures & 2112.

The guitar on jacobs ladder is insane. So much emotion

Actually, Geddy also plays Synths: in concert he plays Bass and Synths simultaneously. One of their BEST Albums!

Permanent Waves does not sound like the 80s; The 80s sound like Permanent Waves!

This has always been my favourite Rush album! There's many close seconds though!

I found Rush in 1976, I was 13, as I grew so did Rush, we were always in sync, so at 60 I still love their music.

This is just a densely packed album. With this much absolute gold, you don’t need it to be longer. 🤷🏻‍♂️

freaking good songs on this album..zero waste of space..so tight..lyrics? wow Neil! we miss you..

Thanks Doug!👍 "Frickin Brilliant"😁 Love those Concise, Articulate, Appreciative expressions that describe the Wonder that is, RUSH!🥰 Mike in San Diego.🌞🎸🚀🖖

Begin the day With a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive Plays the song that’s so elusive And the magic music makes your morning mood My avatar thanks you! ;-) Peace!

The little sidebar section in "Spirit of the Radio" is a take-off of Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence" lyrically: Simon and Garfunkel: Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls In tenement halls" And whispered in the sound of silence Rush: For the words of the profits...Were written on the studio wall...Concert hall And echoes with the sounds of salesmen

These reactions are so so nice. It's so cool to listen to these songs again with comment and emotion. Really great album, love all of it. That solo section on Free Will is mind blowing...

This album is some of the best stuff RUSH ever did. Along with the "Moving Pictures" album.

I love everything about this album. A testament to the true genius of three incredible human beings and musicians 👍🏻

Permanent Waves was the epitome of releasing between the prog self-indulgence of playing for themselves of Hemispheres and playing for the song, or tunes of Moving Pictures. This was the perfect album. I call this one a tweener between Hemispheres and Moving Pictures. Witnessed them live on both of those tours! Absolute euphoric experiences!

The 1st verse of 'Jacob's Bladder' with Geddy singing in 4/4 over the Music alternating between 5/4 and 6/4 and its accents perfectly matching up with the vocals will never ever stop to blow my mind! 🤯 How were they able to come up with stuff like that?? 😅 The live versions of all three songs on 'Exit...Stage Left' are also great, despite Geddy's voice being a bit more buried in the mix 🙂

Looking forward to your side 2 reaction. "Natural Science" is a mood-lifter for me every time. I love the whole album. Permanent Waves is the first in a six-album run where nearly every part of every song speaks to my core. No music means more to me than Rush. R..i.p. Professor

Great reaction! I figured you would really like Jacob's ladder. It is a masterpiece.

you can't really compare bands to each other because they're all unique, they're musicians performing for you.

Thank you Doug for stating the fact that the music we hear means more because of the language embedded within. You have a gift with words also my friend!

Jacob’s Ladder. One of my favs. So gritty and progressive. Classic Rush.

What can be said about Rush that hasn’t already been said? They tried and did what no one else would or could do. Every band influenced by them sounds nothing like them, but try to emulate them in one aspect or another. Even bands from entirely different genres have been inspired and influenced by these guys. Their professionalism, dedication, work ethic you name it. They set the bar that musicians will forever be trying to reach.🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎤🎹

Having first heard them in 1978, this was my first "new" Rush album (And forever favorite album of any band) that I was able to go out and buy in 1980, then see them in May of that same year for the first of 31 times thru 2015. Seeing them live simply blew me away and left no doubt that they were going to be my band for life. Miss seeing them so very much. So fortunate to have grown up with Rush. Permanent Waves was the inflection point from the Sci-Fi epics to a more concise, yet still impactful hard rock format. The sonic quality is sheer perfection and Alex's tones really grabbed me.

In "Sprit of Radio" the last stanza reads "For the words of the PROFITS were written on the studio wall. Concert hall echoes with the sound of salesmen". Paul Simon's "Sound of Silence" closes with "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls, and whispered in in the sounds of silence". This, of course, was not a mistake. This song was written as an homage to a radio station in Toronto that played an eclectic mix of music in the 1970s. 20 years later the programming had changed to "alternative music" and one of my all time favorite bands, Catherine Wheel, covered this song and CFNY-FM, whose slogan was "The Sprit of the Radio" played the Wheel version to death, but would not touch Rush with a 20 foot pole.

I started listening to RUSH in 1974 in college when I heard "All the Worlds a Stage" and of course was hooked. I spent all my time in the car air drumming to try and learn each and every song !! Other people were drawn to the Rolling Stones and AC/DC, and I understand that, but for me, once I heard Neil play, I wanted to know, "How does he play that part ?!?". He helped me formulate my style for years to come. I am a better person, and of course, a better drummer for having heard them. Thank you guys !!!

Listening to RUSH just makes me so happy 😁 .... Three creative geniuses who laid down the soundtrack to so many lives. Not many bands literally become a way of life like RUSH and their music and lyrics will continue to grab and draw in new fans. Sadly we will never see another tour and Im sure they left everything in the studio when it came to albums but they will continue to entertain and inspire forever more

One of my favorite albums of all time. Hard to say if I like this or Moving Pictures more. Too close for anything but a tie with Signals close behind. Rush were amazing.

I first found Rush in 1978 at the age of 11 and have been listening ever since. Permanent Waves is a masterpiece. No other band will ever come close to their collective genius: each a virtuoso but somehow the whole is even greater than the individual parts.

Imagine being a 15-year-old kid it's early evening and you're older neighbor asks if you want to go to a concert with a bunch of other guys from the neighborhood. Now you've never been to a rock concert before and you've never heard of the band but you beg your mother anyways and she says yes... General admission show in the Springfield Civic center in Massachusetts and it was the permanent waves tour and I sat down and heard this album for the first time it was unbelievable. Actually I didn't hear the whole album because they've never played different strings live which is actually my favorite song on this album if you believe it... Three people putting out this quality and the stage performance was just phenomenal these guys all they do is care about their fans it's just amazing memories forever they became my favorite band instantly. I was also lucky enough to see them live for the next two albums. Definitely blessed.

RIP Rush❤ there will never be another like them. So glad that I got to exist while they did. Three musical geniuses who were placed on this planet. They’re coming together way back then can’t be just random luck. Neal… wherever you went, I pray they don’t make you play a harp.😊

"The sounds that they give us, they mean more, because of the words that are embedded within them" Speaking about Peart's lyrical prowess - this gentleman gives us Probably the best description I've heard anyone have of Rush music and why it has lasted so many decades for so many millions of us fans.

Another monster RUSH album. Jacob's Ladder is my favorite Rush song of all time....So good. I never tire of listening to this amazing band...and Rock Chalk Jayhawk Doug....25:44....nailed it

Just pause for a second to appreciate the fact that Getty, Alex, and Neil connected to create such a great catalog of music and we all get to listen to it.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Side 2 doesn't disappoint either

YUP, this one of my fave. I think this is Alex's best solo. And what a great transition out of the solo!

The fact that you couldn't say a word during Alex's solo, even though you were trying to, just reinforces my love of this band.

Shifting time signatures seriously messing with Doug’s head.

The middle section of Jacob's Ladder always reminded me of the movie Close Encounters. That synth melody could have totally come from that movie's final scene. The lyrics of the final verse fit too if you close your eyes and imagine the movie.

jacob's ladder is a very satisfying piece of music.

Yes, indeed, it is "fricken brilliant" indeed .. particularly their creations throughout the 80's were simply mind blowing works of art, both lyrically and musically. I am so glad I was able to live through that era and was able to enjoy RUSH in the ways that I did. They have had a HUGE impact upon my life. I feel fortunate and blessed.

You can't go wrong with this band. I was first introduced to Rush via Fly By Night back in 1978 when I was 10 and in total admiration of KISS. Rush came in and the counter balance of the music with Geddy's voice....I was SOLD, brother. I passed on this love down to my two daughters who are now 16 and 10. Gotta pass that torch.

You should do RAGE FOR ORDER by Queensryche. A masterpiece and totally before it’s time.

I think "Jacob's Ladder" would have sounded better as "Crepuscular Rays", but who wants to argue with Neil?

Great reaction to a great album Doug! You should check out the re-released version of "The Spirit Of Radio" that has a tribute to Neil at the end. It is an animated video and shows you some of the people that inspired the song's lyrics. One person that is shown is David Marsden who was responsible for CFNY in Toronto, where you would hear anything from Rush to Bob Marley to Miles Davis to U2. Usually in the same set. I listened intently and often for many years and became friends with David and a number of the DJs. From what David has told me, the other DJs in the video did similar things at their respective stations.

Hemispheres thru Power Windows is my favorite period. What an amazing, creative run of albums. Of course they have a lot of great music outside of that as well (Presto has some of my all-time favorite songs of theirs).

Entre Nous A Masterpiece. Thx for the breakdown Doug!

I think it was Eddie Trunk who said that "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures" are like brother and sister. They go together. I have to agree.

You committed the crime of talking through every guitar solo...

Hey, Hi, Rush is for many reasons the best group ever. If not, obviously they are in Canada.. I saw them 9 times on stage from 1981 to R40 Live 40th Anniversary Tour. Montreal. On June 21, 2015. Rush is for intelligent people. I can't tell you which song i prefer. There is so many. Three genuis of an art they elevate. The lyrics worth to be understand always, but sometimes it need some efforts to. research & open minded. I like to watch your video sometimes Thank You from Québec

Doug Helvering Thank you for showing me Rush. The band was not famous in Europe. But the more I hear of them, the more I love. The garden is a beautiful song.

Brother, I spent over 30 years in Broadcast Radio, FM, and being that I'm a seasoned citizen, I got to play, hear, and see most of the bands that we heard on the radio back in the 70's 80's and 90's, Rush has always been one of my favorites, right next to Floyd...love your channel, Rock ON!!!

Nothing comes close to Rush!🤘😎

It's always fun watching Doug try to figure out the time signatures when reacting to Rush or Yes! I think both bands had a similar attitude - "I wonder if anyone has ever written a song in 23/9 time, lets do it, then a few bars later we'll switch to 11/3, it will be epic!" LOL

I'm 47, to my disgrace I only found Rush about 6 months ago. I've been working through their albums from 76 to 81 so far. They are such an amazingly talented band. They deserve so much more recognition. Real genius at work.

Peart's last name is pronounced "PEER-t"

Howdy Doug. RU-vid a name "Tyler Warren". The guy is amazing and covers this album like nobody's business. He plays all instruments and the video is top quality. He has been drumming for Quuen as of late. #megatalented

My introduction to Rush aged 12 in 1980. My favorite Rush album alongside Grace Under Pressure. Love your videos. Great to see your reaction and take on songs.

Spirit and Freewill are my 2 fav short form Rush songs. Good examples of how good Neil's lyrics are. Even as one of rock's greatest drummers, he was an even better lyricist than drummer. That solo in Freewill is one of the few times Alex is impossible to ignore. Usually doing most of the work, while drawing the least attention to himself. Alex was the most talented member of Rush. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

This description by Doug about the immediacy and rawness is spot on. It’s what we all got attracted to in the first place. No need for padding.

Any great analysis of PW should include Tyler Warren's tribute to this album. He plays every instrument on every song. This is unbelievable if you haven't seen it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GD5Xo1Tkh4U.html

For the words of the profits Were written on the studio wall Concert hall Echoes with the sounds of salesmen Of salesman, of salesmen! sound familiar? And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls In tenement halls" And whispered in the sound of silence