Classical Composer Reacts to RUSH: Permanent Waves (Side 2) | The Daily Doug (Episode 582) 

The biggest Rush fan here... Natural Science is EASILY my favorite Rush track. The lyrics blow me away. Neil was so insightful.

Entre Nous is such an underrated tune and one of my favorites.

“Computerized clinic for superior cynics who dance to a synthetic band. In their own image, their world is fashioned, no wonder they don’t understand.” Genius lyric.

Years ago a buddy made the salient point that Natural Science is everything Rush in nine and a half minutes.

"Oh! They went in another direction." Well that's just what Rush does. Ya' gotta love it. Never realized until this watch; Permanent Waves starts with Alex's radio wave guitar sounds on Spirit of Radio, and ends with the ocean waves of Natural Science. So many layers of thought are structured into Rush's music. Thanks Doug.

Neil Peart was an autodidact - not just in music, but in life. He read every book he could find. He was called "The Professor" for a good reason; his knowledge of the world was second to none. He could sit down and talk about anything. His desire to know and to learn was insatiable.

I sawRush 21 times. One show I was front row in front of Geddy and he winked at me. Never forget it!

I love Permanent Waves. It's truly a classic progressive album.

Love both Jacob's Ladder and Natural Science but in all honesty Different Strings is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

It's hard to pick a favourite Rush album, but this one is in my top 20.

Natural Science is an Unbelievable work of Musical Art…

Is there anyone like Neil? Will there ever be anyone like Neil again? Not in my lifetime. RIP Mr. Peart. Thanks for everything.

Thanks Doug! I agree with everything you said about Neil's writing. His worldview was unique and extremely intelligent and he was always able to channel it through his lyrics. Entre Nous is one of my favorites, lyrically. The man was a true genius in many ways, he is missed everyday by many, many people. RIP Professor 😢

The beauty of Rush - "they write ALL the melodies differently" What an absolute masterpiece, Rush at their apex, in my opinion!

This is my favorite Rush album, so incredible. Anyone who thinks John Bonham was the GOAT, has never listened to this album 😂

Natural Science is one of my all time favorites by these geniuses. The B-sides always have these hidden gems

Another wild reality check. This was their 7th album, 4 years after the band was signed and stepped out into the world with their first release. 7 albums in 4 years, and the evolution over that short span was incredible. Two years later, they recorded Moving Pictures. This span between 78 and 81 was a zenith for these guys, and they were 26 or so when they recorded Permanent Waves. It's absolutely incredible.

I was blown away by 'Natural Science' the first time I heard it around 1983, and it still blows me away.

I’m a 55 year old Canadian massive Rush fan and musician who’s been lucky enough to see them 10 times. I’ve heard all of the songs you react to multiple times, yet, when you break them down, I feel as though I’ve heard them for the first time and you introduce something new both lyrically and musically. Thank you for keeping both the music alive and the Professor’s spirit alive as well. Marc

I love your reaction to Natural Science. These guys know how to shift time signatures and keys and make it so effortless that you don't even know they are doing it. That's a true rare gift.

I'm instantly transported back to the summer of '80, when I spent a ridiculous amount of time learning Neil's parts for Natural Science. I was 12, and obsessed with Neil, as a drummer. He was the biggest influence on my playing style. RIP Professor.

Different Strings is such a hidden gem. Hugh Syme again appears to contribute beautiful keyboards and piano while Alex’s haunting harmonics makes this such an awesome tune. So underrated.

Entre Nous has by far my favorite Rush lyrics. It's so deep and meaningful.

"Tide after tide will flow and recede Leaving life to go on as it was" That's what he left us with.

Awe-inspiring is a good word for it. I have been listening to, and playing, RUSH music since the late 70's. I have heard their music 10,000 times or more, and to this day I am still awe-inspired and emotionally moved, every single time I hear their music. The world is fortunate to have been blessed with these people. They changed my life, in a BIG way.

From a band that didn't take part in the debauchery on the road like many 70's and 80's rock bands but instead could be found quietly reading books in their hotel room.

Their snakes and arrows live blu ray really brought a couple of these songs to the next level especially natural science

Now watch them do this live and it will put away any one’s thinking that they can’t do it , In fact it seems better live ,

Love this album. Love everything Rush did between 1975 and 1985...and some of the later stuff as well. But that ten years was my favorite.

The harmonic plucks in Different Strings are being played by Geddy on the bass - D & G string 5th fret harmonic nodes.

I was turned on to RUSH in my Freshman year of High School by a friend who was a drummer and it quickly became my favorite group. It is so gratifying to see someone who really knows the ins and outs of music breakdown these masterpieces. And thanks Doug, for having an open mind to give these progressive rock and rollers their due! I think you’re enjoying it!

In addition to the juxtaposition of "natural" and "synthetic," this song also contrasts the small (the tidal pools) and the vast (the formation of the universe) and how one can be unaware of the relationship between them - "Our causes can't see their effects." I feel a special intellectual kinship with Neil Peart and although it is often hard to be so these days, I appreciate his optimism. I believe "Natural Science" reflects his vision, hope and confidence in the power of the human intellect to bring balance and to unify nature and technology (not unlike the themes from Cygnus X-1, Book II on the Hemispheres album). He's well known for his prodigious talent, but I'm glad you're appreciating the under-appreciated: his prodigious faith in and love of humanity.

What is "permanent" about Rush, is that Rush will always be around for us. Neil's death hit me like a ton of bricks, but I was fortunate enough to have seen them live on many occasions, and I, we, will always have their incredible music.

For some 4 decades now, I've thought that if I had to pick one track for my favourite track _ever_ (you know, the one you save from the waves on Desert Island discs) it would be the Hyperspace segment of Natural Science. There is something amazing about that piece.

Natural Science. I keep coming back to it. It's too much to take in with just one hearing. Some of the most intelligent lyrics I've ever heard and they are wrapped in masterful musicianship and melody.

Just between us I think it's time for us to recognize The differences we sometimes feared to show Just between us I think it's time for us to realize The spaces in between Leave room For you and I to grow [Entre Nous]

Natural science has been my favourite Rush song for the last 20 years.... Amazing ! Permanent Waves is still my favourite album.

Natural Science was a last-minute thing. Peart had wanted to do a long piece based on Sir Gawain & The Green Knight before acknowledging that, at the dawn of the 80s, rock music based on medieval poetry would be seriously old hat. Rush had just about got away with Hemispheres in the era of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones but to stay relevant they needed a response to the post-punk music called New Wave. Not "New Wave" but "Permanent Waves" and hence the wave imagery of Natural Science. Permanent Waves was Peart's statement that Rush could survive the new music, learn from it and move forward.

As a Rush fan for 40 years I love the input from someone who can see the musicality within what the guys were doing for all those years that we just accepted as their innate genius. It's so good to hear it explained and appreciated by someone who knows what they are doing. Plus to see your reaction when you see just how good they were. PW is my fav album. MP was their move out of the prog stuff and I've always preferred the former.

Hey Doug, Eric, here. Different Strings has that lovely “D - G” harmonic melody, but it is in the bass part. I bought the Rush complete sheet music years ago, and that is how I know this to be true. Nice job, Doug! E

Natural Science is both challenging and fun to play on bass. RUSH.....LEGENDS!!!!!

I’ve listened to this album hundreds of times, but this time I listened to it differently (more analysing it rather than letting it flow over me) and I got an even greater appreciation of it. Thanks for that Doug.

This album in my opinion is their best

'The water doesn't come and go. The Waves do,' said Neil, at the time. The title was a bit of a dig at the (British) music press. One wave after another. I've always found this album to be a truly stunning development. There had been something called the New Wave happening for a few years and, on the basis of Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres, one could have been forgiven for thinking that Rush weren't paying attention. Then this...

There was one thing Rush couldn't do, they were terrible at making bad music, everything they did was perfect, always

I was fortunate enough to see the only tour where Entre Nous was in the setlist. I fell in love with that song when I first heard it in the early 1980's, and I don't know why they did not play it live more. The lyrics are beautiful and the music a perfect match. Notice no guitar solo?

i'm rush fanatic. i appreciated doug h's reaction especially to entre nous; the philosphical discussion.

Been a fan since 1981, right after Moving Pictures was released (sophomore in high school). My enthusiasm for that record led me to purchase all their prior albums and that was all it took. I still remember a weirdness that showed up on 2 separate purchases of this album though. Right as Geddy says "Our causes can't see their effects", the needle would jump backwards, so he would just keep singing "effects"..."effects"..."effects" until I bumped the turntable. It wasn't until I got it on CD that I finally got to hear the line uninterrupted. However to this day whenever I hear the line I subconciously expect it to repeat for a split second. Anyone else have the same experience?

I've always thought that Neil's song lyrics would make an awesome book of poetry. The guy was a very deep thinker, and was always trying to better himself as a human being as well as a performer. Sometimes they definitely leave us too soon. 😥

Doug, Natural Science is my favorite song Rush did live. The first time I saw Rush in concert in June 1997. The Test For Echo tour. When this song came up I was memorized. I was incredible live.

Wheels within wheels in a spiral array, a pattern so grand and complex!

The Permanent Waves tour was my first Rush concert and I never missed a tour from then to the end. This album... I've worn it out more than any other Rush album. Genius!

"That's what he left us with."

"Entre Nous" is clearly a love song, and a beautiful one at that 🙂

:) The whole album is great and I'm glad you got to listen to it in full as they put it together.

The entry and development of Neil's ride cymbal on the final passage of Natural Science is one of my top ten musical moments of all time

this album was my gateway to Rush and Natural Science in particular, and Neil’s drumming in particular open my eyes

What a great end for this day, to listen to one of the greatest bands and watching Doug air-drumming.

40+ years ago I was (and still am) distraught at the way Different Strings fades out so soon and in the middle of a solo. it is one of my favourites of their songs but also annoyingly too short. I love and hate it!

I remember an interview with Billy Corgan where he talked about how he was so withdrawn as a kid and had trouble communicating with anybody. One day he asks his mom to listen to "Entre Nous" and read the lyrics as it describes how he feels and how he hoped that could explain himself to his mom.

$1.79 a seat ...Saw these guys for the 2112 album ... Pat Travers, UFO and Head East ...At he time RUSH had the coolest road show. Video in backstage, smoke and some effective lights in the flooring and side stage. One of the best ever, on the top ten!

Natural Science is THE SHIT!!! One of the best songs in their entire catalog. Transcendent jam...full stop..

Side 2 is incredible. What a Record!

Doug and Rush is a great combo! ❤🍁🇨🇦

The songs, the performances, and the production are flawless. It's like you're in the room with the boys. My favorite Rush album. And as we all know, the competition for that honor is a fierce one! 🙏❤🌹Neil🌹❤🙏

Not often Doug gets thrown for a loop. This is a wonderful Rush song I can't say the best because they had so many

I live about an hour away from where Le Studio used to be, it's all gone now, what was left has been torn down and carted away, the property is up for sale, a sad ending for such an epic studio, that saw so much talent over the decades. I have planned to visit the studios where some of the boards have been relocated, Atlanta and LA if I remember correctly. It is one of my favorite albums, as soon as it came out, a great transition album from the 70s to 80s. It's always fun to watch someone listen to it for the fist time, and try to figure out the timings, which as soon as you think you've got it, it has changed and off in another direction. it's Rush, just sit back and enjoy :-)

The this my favorute album of Rush🤘🤘🎸🤘🎸🤘🥁🎹

My favourite side of the first album I bought at 14 years old, I'm 57 now and I still get goosebumps. So inspiring 😊

I can recall when I bought this album during my senior year in high school as a young guitarist in 1980!. I had been a Rush fan since 1978 and couldn't wait until their next release. Entre Nous was the first song on side two and it literally exploded off my speakers back then! Just Between Us...

Art as expression, not as market campaigns, will still capture our imaginations, Given the same...state of integrity, it will surely help us along...

It is now common knowledge that "Natural Science" was originally supposed to be a mini-conceptual piece entitled "Sir Gawain." That would have been interesting. But I'm glad that things worked out the way they did, as "Science" is one of their very best.

Their music just ages well. I can easily see it being studied 100 years from now.

I know Moving Pictures is the big one, and I love that album. But Permanent Waves is the Rush I album I'm taking to the desert island. Its impossible to listen to it without feeling better about existence.

I fell in love with this band with the release of this album. It wasn't until I was in my 50s that I made the connection between the Permanent Waves section of Natural Science and the album cover!

GENIUS, just genius. "Most endangered species, the honest man".

Doug, wonderful as always. The closure you sought at 23:44 was about to happen as the boys closed the circle with the tide roaring in to eventually leave a new galaxy of tidal pools. 😊

1985: A guy I knew from vocational electronics class was in a band that was to perform in a school talent show. They were told they couldn't play Natural Science (or most other rock songs). They listed an "approved" song, was granted to play it, but started playing Natural Science for quite some time before "they" realized it and cut the power and kicked them offstage to many shouts and boos.

This will be interesting !

Natural science has always been one of my favorite songs. Definitely underrated

Different strings was the song i sang my baby to sleep..... i love this album . I love that song... It will always be my favorite... they were a huge force to see live...I consider myself lucky.

Thank you Doug for bringing us another Rush episode! The best band ever!

Remarkably, "Entre Nous" only made their set-list on one tour for barely half the tour and that was the "Snakes & Arrows Tour" of 2007. It's always been in my 'Top 10' Rush tunes, but they obviously don't share my high praise of the song. Your 'air-drumming' always makes me laugh. Good stuff!!

Rush from the past and the future Husband took our daughter to RUSH 40 and she was blown away PS when my roommate and I were young girls in college we were both into RUSH ❤️ great way to chat up cool - intellectual guys 😂🎸

I grew up listening to CHEZ 106 in Ottawa and heard this album in its entirety on the radio when it was released. It absolutely blew my mind and kicked off my lifetime love of Rush.

In my opinion, Ente Nous is the best love song ever written.

Thank you Doug for recognising Neil Peart's mastery of prose, a true genius with words.

Permanent Waves to me, and many others too, is the ultimate Rush album. It truly brings together all their different sounds/eras they went through. Moving Pictures does to a degree too, but PW seems to have it all and a rawer sound too.

I love how much you appreciate the brilliance of this album. Discovering what I have loved for decades!! Great reaction, thanks

"That's a great echo." Yes Doug, it IS a great echo, because it's a REAL echo. Le Studio (where several of Rush's late 70s/early 80s albums were made) was in the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec and overlooked a pretty, mountain lake. The band put amps on the roof of the studio and used the natural echo of the studio's surroundings while recording those parts. They also used the oars from a rowboat to make the tide pool noises you hear. So... Rush did actually incorporate nature AND science into making the song!

One of my favorite most inspiring albums for me. Made me want to take up bass.

Entre Nous - I think the different chord progressions that you mention have things in common but have different homes is a perfect musical metaphor what Neal describes in the lyrics and in what he said about what the song means to him. It represents the commonality and stark differences between the personalities of two people.

Change time much? HAHA!! One of the greatest things I love about Rush is their ability to virtually, seamlessly change time signatures (Natural Science). I don't think anyone else has ever mastered that anywhere near these three legends.

Finally! Always wanted to see you react to natural science

Genius Lyrics, Genius Band.....masterpiece album..... awesome analysis as always thanks, Doug.

It just hits me hard every time I think we’ll never get to see Rush live again ! I personally have had the opportunity to see them about 12 times ! Just doesn’t seem like enough now ! Lol

You might have written the melody differently?!? Doug, don't try to find fault in Natural Science. There is none! Love this album and your reactions!

Yes I can watch this over and over again I have no problem one of my favorite albums especially this side....

Entre Nous, there is a story of the 12 string guitar sound here. I believe it was the fact that Alex's 12 string double neck guitar was damaged at a gig, and he did this with a 'Nashville' guitar tuning. I love Rush.

Neil Peart! genius Alex Lifeson! genius... Geddy Lee! genius.....