Anything I really need to hear? Personalized song & album reviews!👇🏼 ko-fi.com/musickingdom/commissions I’ve reviewed a lot of great songs, but I rarely add them to my own library. I added this one. Agree or disagree? What’s the best Rush song ever made? Share your thoughts!
If you’d like a taste of their more classical progressive side, although most of their songs are progressive, check out Xanadu! Its one of their top 5 works and a personal favorite. It’s still 11 minutes but a bit more palatable time wise than their longer pieces, aka; The Fountain of Lamneth, 2112, or Cygnus X-1 Book 2.
Well, they made music for 40 years resulting in plenty to choose from and a "best" to fit the mood of the day. Can't imagine trying to pick one. Permanent Waves is a masterpiece of an album and certainly one of their best. Enjoy.
"Limelight" Is another good music industry song. Only it's told from the POV of a reluctant performer. Neal Peart was never comfortable with the roll of being "in the Limelight" and this song really explores how it made him feel.
“Glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity.” They never bowed to critics and for that they will always be one of the greatest bands in rock history.
You can never go wrong with Rush. One of the greatest bands of all time. Very progessive, complex and yet totaly accessable. Three of the best musicians of all time.
Nice. As noted, you may do this as a passion project, but I have to say you're so insightful it's a joy to watch these. Bravo to you. And yeah, Rush... just 3 master musicians constantly creative.
As a Rush fan since ‘74, when i heard a commercial for the album Fly By Night, then being a selfish little 12yo, I shoplifted a copy because I just HAD to own it! I love to see new younger fans discover and really appreciate what has gone before. Love your content here in Detroit!
This is very well done. While I am aghast that anyone could not label this sound a "masterpiece," you have presented seemingly expert analysis, which I appreciate [as a professor of Critical Thinking and an AP English teacher]. Your work shows insight and a lack of bias...which is how all music should be judged. So, I am a Rush fan who appreciates your intellectual integrity in analyzing this song. I will follow your work.
Hey, just found your channel. You have a very interesting and unique approach to song reactions, which I like. You're a tough grader, but that's fine, you're not prone to hyperbole. I see a lot of reaction vids, and I feel some YT channels tend to overdo their reaction to make the viewers happy. I also really like the expert's corner, with a look at the details. The video for this song is really fun, I understand it was done after the death of Neil Peart, and it really chronicles Neil's love of listening to the radio as a kid.
GOTTA mention it on this one as well, but DEFINITELY listen to the studio version of, “Working Man” and back to back it with their live version in Cleveland decades later..top 3-5 level of talent in one group of all time! I think you’ll LOVE both and their SO different
I love both Rush and YES. Intelligent rock'n'roll. Thinking persons' music. Always a message, or a story, or a lesson in them. Fly By Night is my favorite by Rush, then maybe Red Barchetta, and The Trees.
💯🔥Headlong Flight is so overlooked. I all but stopped listening to new Rush during the Time Stands Still days. Yeah, hate me. But Headlong Flight stands out. Hits that prog, not too proggy... radio, not too radio-friendly sweet spot. Everyone gets a chance to shine. It's in my Top 5 for sure.
I know absolutely nothing about music (like from an actual musician's angle) but I LOVE when songs change tempo. This is one of my all-time favs from Rush.
As you mentioned once this was a "Bat shit crazy" + good review. Some like me enjoy songs but cannot put their finger on why. I now feel more comfortably "Bat shit crazy" about this song by Rush, but now with sound reasons. Thanks.
I would say you're pretty spot on with the various grades. Regarding Geddy's vocals, for a long time, he pretty much just belted. He had the range and power and he used it. Around the time of Moving Picture and Signals, the range started to drop a bit but still with the belting. By late 1980s he was belting less often and began to explore other facets of his vocals as a result. By the time you arrived at "Rush 2.0", after their mutli-year hiatus, his singing had really matured and he had developed a lot more "character" to his voice. I believe their last 3 original studio albums reflect that.
The "twinkles" that you were talking about, Neil was a percussionist not just a drummer, those were real bells on his drum kit just like the chimes, tubular bells and wood block percussion that he played and of course a gong.
In case you didn't know, Neil wrote most of the lyrics to their songs. Geddy and Alex would put together the music, and then Neil would come out with lyrics and composes the percussion (he was very compositional). As you can probably see from the difference between this one and Tom Sawyer, Rush liked to try different things and their music ranged from upbeat, energetic rockers (Spirit of Radio) to ballads to heavier serious pieces to long compositional contemplative pieces. They loved making music.
Great reaction! Permanent Waves is where Rush started to perfect taking their 'prog' epics and compress them to a 5-6 minute song, digestible to more radio stations. You noticed the smooth transitions, this was also what they were honing. Next album was Moving Pictures, where they had it down to a science! Can't say I abide with the 6.5 on composition...even with few 'key' & signature changes, the instrumentation has a lot going on...again a hallmark of Rush - the smallest orchestra on the planet. Don't worry, we will wait (albeit anxiously) for 2112, but it must be done at some point. Suggest Subdivisions, Limelight, Red Sector A, Afterimage, Losing It as next tracks. The latter is more of a deep cut.
I would consider it a prog masterpiece, who makes this many transitions in such a short message. Brilliant. 10 out of 10. Those metal songs are almost always just a demonstration of how talented they are playing their instruments, meanwhile sacrificing the song, sometimes less is more.
Good review. Not sure about the expert. He dismisses the interesting bits that connect the relatively simple melodies. I would say that interesting bit that connects the parts are what makes Rush so accessible. They make complex music that is more easily understood than just a bunch of cord changes. They make a song first and worry about showing off their talent second.
Wait, there IS other music besides Rush. I'd almost forgotten. With a discography of approximately 180 songs, with a mere 10-12 I can take or leave, plus an incredible cover album of 60's classics, I need no other music. With a career spanning more than 4 decades of progressive rock by three virtuoso musicians, masters of the craft, that literally progressed and changed with the times, but always unique and original to anything else, I actually find it difficult and nearly have to force myself to listen to any other groups/bands or types of music. I do, occasionally, but it all just makes me long to hear Rush as nothing else compares on any level to me. I'd heard about a dozen Rush "radio friendly" songs back in the day, over the years, during my formidable years, and really liked everything I heard by them on the radio. But for some reason that now baffles me I'd never listened to a Rush album or owned one. I'm turning 55 this summer, and rediscovered or truly discovered Rush only a mere two years ago. Slightly less actually. I experienced them through reaction videos on RU-vid, while looking into what reactions videos themselves were all about, wondering why anyone would want to watch a reaction to something from a stranger. Well I got hooked on Rush reaction videos and have since spent thousands of dollars upgrading my audio equipment just to listen to Rush off of audiophile quality vinyl LP's I also spent hundreds of dollars on. In short order I started buying everything by Rush, including a second copy of everything on CD format to listen to while in my vehicles. I still chastise myself for waiting until after the band had retired and Neil's death to really give them the time of day. I'm just thankful that I did discover/rediscover them before I kicked the bucket. To me, a life without Rush's music would have been a Shakespearian tragedy like a life never seeing the sunshine, never breathing fresh air and never falling in love. I can honestly and proudly say that my favorite guitarist, bassist and drummer are all in the same band, three GOATS who's musical legend will live on and grow into timeless classics equal to the greatest writers and composers of history. Third, behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones with the most consecutive gold and platinum rated albums; rare company to be amongst indeed. And I believe they will one day be considered equals to the great writers, composers and thinkers in history by the world. Their popularity still grows even today, though the band is no more, thanks to media formats like RU-vid that have spread Rush to all the world like never before.
Well... if you don't have the time for 2112 @ 20 minutes, perhaps Xanadu (from A Farewell to Kings album) at 11:10 could be a compromise. Other Rush suggestions: YYZ and Limelight from Moving Pictures La Villa Strangiato from Hemispheres Thank you Francis. Nice to find your channel for the first time, and to see a different reaction format than the norm.🎸🎸🥁☺️
Using music to recreate the sound of moving up and down the radio dial looking for something to listen to is pure genius. They literally play what it sounds like multiple times while discussing radio history. 😮💨 No one ever talks about that!
Interesting. I would consider more factors than just chord progressions into “composition” and bump that score up. I also wouldn’t take any of the other scores down. But strangely, an 8/10 seems spot on to me! You should check out Natural Science from the same album
The history of 2112 is that the record company told the band they wanted more Radio friendly songs or lose the contract , But the band decided to go all out and write not a song but an opus of 21 minutes in parts ,
Great editing, and song. It's amazing and sad. I was a teenager when this came out, I've heard and partied to it countless times. I still don't know the works. Well, I know them better know.👍
This has always been my favorite Rush song, and it brought me joy to see how excited you were to hear it. This is not, however, the only song I love from them, as a large portion of their music from all four of their decades of music, is amazingly creative. Another great lyrical song is Subdivisions. I will be very happy to see you review it 🤘😁
For those of us who grew up to this music, sad to say, we kinda take Rush's musicianship for granted sometimes, so hearing it through fresh ears and broken down really brings back the enjoyment and appreciation of experiencing it for the first time. That being said, as a long-time Rush fan, I'm inclined to agree with the score. Not their best work, IMO, but, as you mentioned, Francis, a 5-minute, radio-friendly song with all the bells and whistles as this one is practically unheard of. And, I have to add, LEAGUES away from any popular music out today.
I’m wondering if it’s how the rhyme scheme works with the meter that threw you off. It’s definitely there, in regular intervals. Unobtrusive, elusive, mood; fingers, lingers, solitude; energy, free; open-hearted, charted, honesty; prizes, compromises, integrity (hey, they both end with ty, and it’s far from the most a poetic license has been stretched for imperfect rhyming 😉); wall, hall. Okay, ‘salesmen’ isn’t given a rhyme, but neither is ‘silence’ in _The Sound of Silence._ While it’s not the only reason, the fact that you pronounced Peart correctly is part of what has earned you my sub. 👍
The top Rush songs I always suggest people when they first start getting into the band are limelight, subdivisions, Tom Sawyer, YYZ, freewill, and la Villa strangiato
I know you don't like starting with Live Performances - but to understand RUSH, you need to watch THIS particular live performance FIRST: Best Live Performance OF ALL TIME RUSH - Xanadu - Live In Montreal 1981 (2021 HD Remaster 60fps) Alex Lifeson - 6 string guitar, 12 string guitar, pedal synthesizer, volume pedal; Geddy Lee - Vocals, bass guitar, 6 string guitar, foot pedal synthesizer, electric piano/synthesizer; Neil Peart - Lyrics, Drums, orchestra bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, crotales, timbales, timpani, gong, temple blocks, bell tree, triangle, and melodic cowbells. Based on Kubla Khan (Xanadu) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Coleridge composed his poem, ‘Kubla Khan’, in a state of semi-conscious trance either in the autumn of 1797 or the spring of 1798 and published in 1816. The whole poem is pervaded by an atmosphere of dream and remains in the form of a vision. The vision embodied in Kubla Khan was inspired by the perusal of the travel book, Purchas His Pilgrimage. Coleridge had taken a dose of opium as an anodyne, and his eyes closed upon the line in the book, “At Zanadu Kubla Khan built a pleasure palace.” But this opened his creative vision, and the poem of about 200 lines was composed in this state of waking dream. On being fully awake, he wrote the poem down. The theme of the poem is unimportant. It describes the palace built by Kubla Khan, the grandson of Chengis Khan, the great rule of central Asia. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2byjJkN_nVY.html
I agree. The song is epic and to see them pull it off live is nuts- -all sounds are accounted for with no cheating, tracks, or other bs. One note: Geddy's double neck actually has a 12 string under the bass. It's hard to tell in the video because rickenbacker arranged the tuning pegs oddly, but it's a 4080/12. You can hear it's a twelve when he plays it at the end. Somehow, that just makes it cooler. :o)
The true measure of a song is the reaction of people listening to it. The math, the formula and the complexity don't mean anything if the emotional component isn't there. Great songwriting is independent of virtuosity very often. RU-vid is full of technical wonders, but none of them can write a unique or memorable song or riff on average. Bolero is a very simple composition, but it is loved by generations.
While Led Zeppelin, The Who, Yes, and Genesis are often cited as Rush's major influences, The Police were just as influential on Rush in the early-mid '80s.
Hey Batshit Crazy... if you're a fan of lyrics, then Rush's lyrics are for you... they're for the thinking man, there's always pearls of wisdom in each and every song. Early on when Rush was initially getting started, both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson both noticed drummer Neal Peart was always reading so they wisely made him the band's lyricist.
So this. In Russian history was definitely transitional. They had just come off their most complex Progressive album to date in the form of hemispheres which really apparently burn them out to that kind of album long concept record format. So much so in fact that they would not explore it again until almost 25 years later their final Studio album. There was a real emphasis here on trying to write shorter songs it delivered a lot in a more concise manner, while simultaneously sneaking very complex things past the ears of the average listener. There's a lot going on in this song by any standard of Pop radio or classic rock as would come to be known... It is the black sheep that manages to get in under the radar and still sell a gazillion albums. Something Rush were ahead of the pack when it came to Progressive bands.
Prior to this album, Rush was far more progressive rock (except, arguably, their first album). This album was their foray into the 80's music sound and radio-friendly songs. Try either La Villa Strangiato or YYZ for some excellent instrumentals.
Liking music about music, you should *definitely* listen to Music by Nightwish. Its story, i.e. lyrics + song progression, should be right up your alley. And they have an official lyric video which would suit your purposes.
You may have to suck it up and move to some of their longer tunes. They are the die hard classics. “Natural Science” ( talk about lyrics) and Xanadu come to mind immediately.
Great reaction! Now, Rush is the band which taught me that the last cut on an album can be the very best of the entire work. That said, you now need to react to Natural Science (final song on Permanent Waves) to understand the cover-art of that album - it'll give you a new perspective on the world in which we live!
Rush's La Ville Strangiato or Xanadu would be good choices.I would suggest some Steely Dan ,maybe Aja,Green Earrings or Kid Charlemagne. Rikki don't lose that number as well.
This is one of my fave happy melodies in rock. Even though lyrics show how the industry sucks, the music still can't help but shine. Love the scale. Stay strong. The whole point of this channel gets lost if 9s and 10s start slipping out like Milli Vanilli Grammy candy. (No diss Rush fans, this song is legend!) Headlong Flight - Rush Right in Two - Tool The Beautiful Ones - Prince Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
Please listen to Nighttime disguise - Leprous, and if you are feeling adventurous, equus - ne obliviscaris, the second one has frequent harsh vocals togrther with cleans
I hear what you're saying about 2112. If you did spend that time on making the video you wouldn't consider it time wasted or be sorry you did. It's that good. 🔥🔥🔥
I'm waiting to see your expert give Rush a better grade ... curious to see which song will get there (I know nothing of composition) - - My vote goes for 2112 ... second would be LaVilla Strangiato
You're going to need a new lyrics scale if you already gave this one an 8.5! Just some subject matter Neil has covered with his lyrics - The Holocaust, Manhattan Project, teenage suicide, death & loss, anagrams... literally almost an entire song written in anagrams, aging and growing old... Once he got the typical Progressive Rock phantasy crap out of his system and grew up, Neil wrote some profound lyrics in his career!
Your reactions are really enjoyable! Rush’s catalogue is so big, it’s just a journey you’ll have too take 🤘 I’d say Natural Science should be on ur list, this song displays their seamless signature changes like no other along with incredible lyrics and as per usual insane musicianship…
You will eventually have to go down the Pink Floyd pathway and their huge library of some of the greatest music ever. You will NEVER hear another band quite like them. Ever. They, imho, are the greatest, ever. Some, many, of their songs have such deep and emotional meanings and literally take you away from our Planet like a serious head trip through space. Anyway, great job, great reaction. PS. NOT to take ANYTHING away from Rush. Another SUPER Band, imho.
I don't know why people have trouble pronouncing Neil's family name, so let me lend a hand. Say this name, "Pearl", now change the L to a T. I grew up in Toronto from 63 to 77, always enjoyed Rush, but they were my least favorite Prog band. The Toronto based radio station was actually in Bramton (where I moved in 77), CFNY, featuring David Marsden - great station. It was a nod to David's many years of promoting the band on his channel.
I have to say, your compossion critic is "our to lunch", or hasn't experienced enough RUSH. Maybe he should look at Neil Pearts' 9 minute drum solo live in Germany. I do not think there is a studio version of this solo. I think he only did it live. Also RUSH is only a Trio, Neil looked after the percussion and lyrics, Geddy took care of the vocals, key boards and bass (even at live shows). Alex added his great tallent on guitaur. Neil Peart is considered one of the top 2 greatest drummers ever. If you watch the live drum solo you will see why. Many drummers from other bands named him the "Professor" even tho he had no degree. He was also the main lyrisist. I being Canadian may be biased, but many top drummers considered hin the best. I think all 3 members would rank in the top 10 all time. Listen to Geddy's bass in 'tom sawyer".
Need to do a deep cut. Stop with the Radio plays. Try Xanadu, BastilleDay, CygnusX1, or any of their deeper cuts. All of their radio music is great. But it's restricted Rush.
You should put the whole rating idea aside until you have listened to several (8-10) of their tracks. You are doing yourself an injustice trying to figure this power trio before you know what they are all about
Ok, I'm a fan, but grading the composition down because it's not supper complex is not a good way to grade stuff. I guess "Hallileaue" by Lenerd Cohen is a -5 then. copposition is more than jamming a bunch of notes into a music bar. Bad take, IMO!
Yeah I really wish there was some kind of harmonic development in this song, one of their weak tendencies at times. Even something like a related key change for the reggae section or guitar solo at the end, to break the monotony, but as it is the song ends leaving you feeling like something was missing in the journey. Rhythmic complexity and good production are not quite enough to make a great song. "Different Strings" and "Entre Nous" from this same album are richer and stronger songs in that sense, even if they're less energetic than Spirit of Radio. "Free Will" the other radio single from Permanent Waves is also a better song as far as the writing; it has more harmonic development to sink your teeth into, and also more instrumental intensity. And the transitions are even more fascinating. So I'd recommend Free Will!
Thanks for this. Rush was at their best from Permanent Waves through Signals. This is definitely one of my favorite songs from them. I'd recommend Red Barchetta from Moving Pictures. Another one of my favorites from them. A little less radio friendly, but still every bit as good as Spirit of Radio..
No offense, but your musical "expert" couldn't write a song this brilliant if his life depended on it. Critics will be critics and Rush will always be the most talented band in rock history. Subscribed anyway:)
First time hearing spirit of radio? Is this guy serious. There are indigenous tribes in the impenetrable Amazon jungle that have never seen a white man, ..that know this song.
