Cygnus X-1 (Both Books) - Rush | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION!
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2024
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Finally back with a Rush Wednesday!! Was time to hit Hemispheres, been wanting to hit this one for a LONG time!! What’s next for Rush, will probably want a radio banger, a lot of you guys have been saying Fly by Night?? What’s the move?! 🙌🏻🔥
Perfect!
Both of em'......nice. Thanks guys.....
Andy & Alex fly by night by rush
Fly by Night is good but pretty safe. You might not be blown away. I suggest Freewill, Limelight, Vital Signs, Circumstances, if you want a shorter track
Just do something from moving pictures
Y’know, just the classic story where boy flies into a black hole to confront the warring sides of man’s psyche and bring balance to the universe.
Ya, that old nugget. lol
They must have been so high.
Lucie Melahn Yeah, that helps.
Lucie Melahn probably not as high as when they wrote Fountain of Lamneth, but pretty close
@@chillphysics LOL
Rush did it’s homework. Cygnus X-1 is one of the strongest X-ray sources seen from Earth. Discovered in 1964, it is believed to be a star AND a stellar-mass black hole in the constellation Cygnus, the swan. Widely studied and way cool. The black hole is pulling material from the companion star 💫
So, lyrically on-point. And trippy fun 🤪
Thanks 😊
There's a reason why Neil P was called the Professor.
Good point, Lucie.
It is an epic tale and a philosophical, astronomical, neurological, psychological feat of poetry, literature and music composition.
Plus, In 2011, science sided with Rush about the presence of a black hole in Cygnus ... when even Stephen Hawking had bet there was none there. Pretty insightful and amazing 😉
Its binary companion is HDE-226868. (Astronomy nerd here.)
@@michelemichele3375 Actually, Isaac Asimov referenced the idea in the 70's, in one of his science books Quasar, Quasar, Burning Bright: Essays on Chemistry and Physics.
So cool, Lisa. Thanks. I’m an Asimov fan also and enjoy his explanation of how Cygnus X-1 logically became proof of the existence of black holes. So ... Rush is combining science and art in a masterpiece about the balance of logic and emotion. Kinda reminds me of Escher’s hands drawing themselves.
Ok, nerdSis. 🤪 tyty
“Throw off those chains of reason and your prison disappears”...
RIP Professor 😔
A Farewell To Kings is a kick-ass album
Both and hemispheres too. Pry there most technical
My favorite 70’s rush album
John Petrucci of Dream Theatre spoke of his favorite chord It’s the opening chord from Hemispheres by Rush,” Petrucci replies. “It’s the F sharp major with the added 4th and the flat 7. That should really be named ‘the Alex Lifeson Chord,’ because he invented that.”
Yep, I was hooked on this album right from that first chord. Still gives me shivers sometimes.
It's also the same chord but suspended that is heard on Far Cry in the beginning before the jam shifts and at the very end.
@@glknott2001 also used in Xanadu
Damn skippy. That F# opening gives me goosebumps to this day.
Yep, that chord hooked me from the start. It could be one of the greatest openings to any album ever. It creates such an incredible atmosphere.
Dudes you'll have no idea. Imagine being 14 years old listening to book one and having to wait a year to be here book 2.
Listening to Rush In Those early years made my grades go up especially in Greek literature history and English.
Neil Peart taught me more about astrophysics than Carl Sagan ever could.
That's the great thing about progressive rock back then. There weren't many love songs, they tended to delve into other subjects.
Believe me, it wasn't any easier waiting from age 18 to 19
A black hole was THEORY at this point too, not seen or proven to exist yet
Not many channels will touch the long prog tracks like these but I’m so glad that y’all do. This was great. Brought back so many great memories. 🎧
My favorite show, 1977. They blew me out of the auditorium. I was 15 feet from Niel Peart. Thanks guys!!
Jealousy. In a good way.
Impossible!! 15 feet would have been inside his circle of drums! 😜😜😜😜😜
Wanna hear an amazing 70's band that is amazingly underrated and kinda forgotten about.....Uriah Heep....not a whole lot of reaction channels have hit'em either....
Quicksilver Messenger Service & Mahogany Rush
agrees
Rush was also their opening band
I'd love to see their faces listening to Salisbury
@@hugopolo3012 I sent them that album.
2112, Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres is the height of Rush's progressive/conceptual music. They took what they developed on these albums and condensed it into mostly shorter tracks on Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures. Always learning and growing musically.
Yes. Of all those, The Trees, told me Rush was crazy ... great, I mean.
My friends, you have just hit intergalactic gold. Your baptism to all things Rush is now complete. You have been rightly blessed by all things kick ass. Venture forth and conquer. The world is yours
Yes, they now qualify for the Rush Medal of Honor
Canadian medal of honor
Guys, remember that back when these albums came out Rush fans had a year to digest the rather musically dense Cygnus X-1 (Book 1) before Hemispheres came out. Also, Cygnus X-1 (Book 1) was an album closing track while Cygnus (Book 2) was an album opener. So their respective roles on their respective albums were different. Hence, the differing feel of the two.
Well said. Time does make a difference.
Morning brothers and sisters! Hump day is better with A&A!!!!
Hope you’re well J.
@@mikeymckinnon5778 I am brother! Still got issues but I'm stronger and better than I've been in years to a degree.
The blessings that A&A have bestowed and Lisa and you will ALWAYS be why I'm here and why I won't stop till I'm as good as I can get.
Morning/Afternoon John & Mikey! :))
Lisa W Hey Lisa. Hope you’re well too
@@Shadowrider1872 Aww! I'm honored, John. You keep going and putting in the hard work. We're all here for you!! Make it a great day! :))
Yay!!!!!!! Been waiting for this one for ages.
Alex Lifeson has such a unique sound... He's so under-rated!
Amazing guitarist you've never heard much about.
He is such a versatile guitarist and musician. Very humble...like all three.
Just the fact that he can keep up with Neil Peart and all those insane time-signature changes puts him right up there in the pantheon of Guitar Gods. :-)
He’s the GOAT in my book
I like how Alex, who plays guitar said, no one sounds like Alex Lifeson. I incorporated arpeggios and subtle tricks of his in my playing, ok I stole everything from Alex 🤣 but truthfully I cut my teeth on classical, Rush and Yes. Couldn't play it for 10 years, but when I was asked to join bar bands with 3 to 6 chords, it made it easier. Happy belated birthday Alexander, the reason I picked up guitar.
This is not for everyone, being a big prog guy I love it. It is like a symphony, multiple listens required. I got it at 14, didn't totally comprehend it, but knew I was hooked.
Y'all just did something really near and dear to my heart. Heart of the Sunrise, too. This is personal, emotional stuff to me. Life is tougher than usual right now. The littke escape you guys provide is much needed. THANK YOU.
The Camera's Eye, Jacob's Ladder, The Analog Kid, all Rush songs you would like
Chemistry, The Manhattan Project
Genesis “Dance on a Volcano”. You’ll never be the same 👍
That might be a good introduction, I don't think they have a better engineered album than Trick of the Tail. The songs are, as usual, brilliant.
Great tune! Squonk would be cool too...
They should listen to dance on a volcano and los endos together
I also requested "Dance On A Volcano" months ago. Turns me into an instant teenager.
@@rayeckert242 A&A are already pretty close.
My favorite Geddy bass licks and melodies are in Book Two....can't believe he sang and played these at the same time.
I saw Rush in Seattle in the early 80’s with a friend who had brought his nephew. I told the nephew he had picked a great band to see for his first concert. To which my friend replied, “actually you picked a bad one for your first show, because every show you see after seeing Rush will suck!
Wow, nice breakdown guys. I love both "books" as seperate songs without the mindset of trying to combine them.
I do however like the fact they mixed in some afterthought segments from Cygnus into Hemishperes. Clever stuff, and Hemishperes is definitely one of those tunes you have to absorb a few times. I still hear new things when I listen to it.
I read cygnus x-1 .. i read rush .. i click
On 'A Farewell to Kings', in the lyrics at the end of Cygnus was written "To be continued..." So all of us hardcore Rush fans could not wait for the next album to come out so we could hear the rest of the song. I mean we couldn't wait for their next album in any case but that added an element of NEED. Like waiting for the next Lord of the Rings movie, especially if you never read the books.
I read the books years earlier and I couldn't stand waiting for the movies every two years. It was a credit to the job Peter Jackson did on those movies.
We went to opening day of every LOR movie. We played DND to rush and floyd, soundtrack of my life. Good memories
In 2011, astronomers proved Rush right about the black hole part. Even Stephen Hawking had bet there was no black hole. Rush won that prediction. 🤪
Long time listener, first time commenter (here and anywhere on youtube, saving my first YT comment for you guys!). Happy y'all finally got to feast on this one. I'm so glad I got to hear Cygnus X-1 part 1 live; they played it on tour a few years ago and it sounded just as cosmic and rolling and impressive as you'd think it would. (e.g. at what would be about 8:40 in your video)
I think some of what makes Alex's guitar work so distinctive:
The chords he uses, which are often unusual and unexpected.
His mastery of bending notes with the strings.
And as you say, tone. He knows what kind of sound he wants, and how to use his equipment to produce it.
Of course, all three are masters on their instruments. Geddy's vocals are fantastic, but even he would struggle to reproduce them live, even on the tour for this album. Neither song often played in its entirety live, due to their length, and technical (and vocal) difficulty. But they have often used instrumental bits from these songs in medleys.
ISN’T IT SO COOL HOW THEY REFERENCE MUSIC IN THE FIRST SONG WHILE THE MAIN CHARACTER IS SPEAKING “as a disembodied spirit, I am dead and yet unborn” etc.
Geddy's Voice: S-tier
Geddy's Bass: S-tier
Alex's Guitar: S-tier
Neil's Drums: S-tier
The Lyrics: S-tier
FUN METER: S-tier
Technical appreciation meter: S-tier
Overall enjoyment meter (lol): S-tier
Party Song Meter: ... ... ok ok, not S-tier :-P
THIS is the pinnacle of RUSH!
THIS is a Prog Rock Masterpiece!
I gotta get me another meter :-P
I was told by the guy who introduced me to Rush that Cygnus X-1 Book 2 Hemispheres was their finest work, and "don't let anyone ever tell you differently". So, when I listened to it the first time, my expectations were that it would be like Tom Sawyer, only more catchy, more amazing and more accessible than Moving Pictures -- but I ended up so disappointed and I didn't like it at all. I was in high school, and I liked the more radio-friendly tunes like those from Foreigner and Journey, etc.. But each time I gave Hemispheres Cygnus X-1 Book 2 a chance, it grew more and more musically interesting. It took months, but it eventually became an A+++++++++++ -- the best album ever! I've listened to it now at least three thousand times, and it only gets better. If I could only take 1 album to listen to for the rest of my life on a desert island, I'd take Hemispheres, no question. The guy who introduced me to Rush was absolutely right. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Guys, listen to it again and again.
I can totally relate, but differently. I heard this when very little and it was so difficult, as I didn't know about mythology/subject matter, etc. but thought "neat story" and cool music. So, I don't count that as a true listen. I then heard it after Moving Pictures. I really liked it, but it still didn't speak to me. I wasn't in the right head space, I guess? Listening to it today, after many years gone by.... Masterpiece! I will be one who takes your advice given, and listen to it on a regular basis. :)
100% agree, Hemispheres is the greatest album ever.
YOU have NO IDEA what it was like having to wait a year to FINALLY hear the NEXT BOOK, at 16 years old, it was torture lol, but it was SO WORTH THE WAIT!
Great reaction guys, thanks and KEEP THEM COMING!!!!
Oh, speaking of Black Holes and things falling into them...another Canadian band, Klaatu, wrote a song that was released a year before "A Farewell to Kings" was recorded. The song is called "Little Neutrino" off the Klaatu album "3:47 EST". The best-known song off this album is "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft", which was famously covered by The Carpenters, which starts off the album. The album ends with "Little Neutrino", which is a song about a subatomic particle, a neutrino, and what thoughts it might have falling into the singularity. There is also a very strong connection between the Rush albums and Klaatu's...both were produced by Terry Brown.
Here is a link to a fan-made music video for the song:
ruclips.net/video/Jm2MB14JTSM/видео.html
I was going to suggest Klaatu for other Canadian band ideas. They should check out Madman too.
“Bastille Day” is a great banger! Best song on Caress of Steel album imo. And it’s only 4:39 long 🤗
You don’t rank it up there with I Think I’m Going Bald? Dude!
I second that, awesome tune!!
Mark Bell - Love that song too... and Lakeside Park. Album kicks off with those 3 songs and all are terrific. Album never got the respect it deserves.
PAUL ROGERS No, it didn’t. But I understand why. It’s pretty dark and dense, and to me parts of Fountains of Lamneth are over the edge. If you get Rush you can appreciate Caress of Steel, but it’s not a good one to introduce the group to anyone new to their music. They never sounded that harsh and edgy again, at least to me, until Vapor Trails. And, fwiw, I thought their remix of that a few years later took too much away for what little they added. I still listen to the original more often.
PAUL ROGERS Going Bald always made me laugh, then it gets all serious about growing up. The tune is like all Rush, really good. I laugh now for different reasons. If you could see my mug, you’d know why.
Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres is arguably the pinnacle of Rush’s early prog-writing prowess. Prelude unto itself is very powerful.
jetblast190 it’s their best song
That melody line with guitar harmonics is possibly my favorite Rush thing of all time.
I'd highly recommend 'Gates of Delirium' by 'Yes' for another big epic!
The live version from Yesshows has the best sound. The Relayer version seems so 'closed in.' But maybe that's just me.
@@lisagulick4144 Anything live by Yes is the greatest show on Earth.
@@lisagulick4144 Absolutely no live versions. The lp version sounds great.
You guys have covered Styx and Rush which has been great, but If you want to complete the North American prog rock trilogy you need to get into Kansas
They did Dust in the Wind already. Still waiting for Point of No Return and Carry On.
They are more than just a couple hits.
Example, the brand new album, just released, is phenomenal.
@@ravenwind1062 I could swear they already did Carry On.
@@Sixwheelin Yeah, The Wall and Miracles Out of Nowhere are great songs.
Song For America
One epic Concept, Neils Lyrics are incredible. And there’s loads of great songs off Fly By Night but u recommend the song - Anthem (First song with Neil On Drums)
Anthem is brilliant
Cadan Richards . Very Randian. Peart’s most hard core Ayn Rand parallel concept of all, more literal than 2112.
I know I’m in the minority here when I say, I was never a big Rush fan...but I have to say, I really enjoyed that!!
Book 1 vs. Book 2: Book 1 is to THE HOBBIT what Book 2 is to THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
Firth Of Fifth by Genesis. C'mon, guys. We're not going to leave you alone til you hit it. Make sure you crank up the headphones.
Time for some early Robert Palmer-SAILIN SHOES/HEY JULIA/SNEAKING SALLY THROUGH THE ALLEY
Back when I had this on vinyl, the quiet parts killed me with ticks, clicks and pops.
@Lwize I love all of those ticks, clicks, and pops. Part of the vinyl experience!
@@allisonreed7682 Maybe now for nostalgic purposes, but before CD's, MP3's and streaming, clicks & pops were the bane of my existence! ;)
MY favorite Rush album saw this tour in 1979 amazing show!!! Some of Alex's best solos especially the lead break between Apollo and Dionysus still make the hair on my arm go up! the power of 3 exceptional talents !! the most creative stage of their career IMHO. Rush Rules !
I too see this as the pinnacle of Rush. That's coming from a Prog guy though.....
Next really long epic song - Genesis - Supper's Ready
Yes they need to hop on the genesis train. I’ve been dying for them to supper is ready, it’s one of the most essential prog rock epics of all time
The live Steve Hackett version. 👍👍👍🐙🏴😺
Let them warm up with Firth of Fifth and the Cinema Show, then they can have their Supper.
Susan Klasinski also from seconds out version
@@bennyman1622 Ha good one! I'm just partial to Foxtrot, because it was the first thing I ever heard from Genesis. But those are good appetizers!
Rush made a song about how Geddy Lee’s family Escaped from the Holocaust. The song is one of my favorite “ RED SECTOR A” Please review this song! If you have a chance RUclips the interview of Geddy lee telling the story of how his Grandma saved the family lives!
As the kids say..."I was today years old" when I learned that that was the inspiration for Red Sector A.
Please Kansas
Yea, it’s all their missing they’ve already covered Styx and a ton of rush, need to complete the trilogy Lol
Magnum Opus
Al Rivers or Icarus
@Rodzilla They already covered two of Kansas' biggest hits. I think they need to hear songs from the first Album.
Icarus or Song for America - you boys will love either
For a good "radio" banger, might i suggest "Analog Kid", "Marathon", or "Red Barchetta"
Great selections!!
Damn, you guys are puttin’ in some WORK today!
Check out Kansas "miracles out of nowhere" for some excellent prog rock!
Kansas "the wall" too
Yes! Kansas is must hear prog rock.
"Song For America" is a must for any Kansas undertakings.
“Point of Know Return” as well
Welp, I never got into Rush in my yout'. I had friends at the time who told me I was crazy for my lack of enthusiasm. My tastes have always been extremely eclectic and continually reshape, but I still can't fully wrap my head around this. There are bits and pieces I like, but not necessarily the sum. The vocals still grate on my ears for some reason... Thanks anyway, A&A, for opportunity to revisit. Definitely worth the try! Keep rolling them out!
Fun fact: When Geddy went to record the vocals for HEMISPHERES, he found that the pitch was just a semitone higher than expected, and was a strain even for his high voice! Still, he troopered on with some of his best vocals of that wailing-siren era. (And you gotta love the vocal panning into "hemispheres"; such a great headphone moment.) But was ultimately the straw that broke that camel's back...
Someone should make a list of albums that destroyed the singers' voice. Under Wraps / Ian Anderson, Pussycats / Harry Nilsson, any others?
And then they gave up the epic concept song/album formula until the very end of their career
@@surfeit5910 At least we still got "Natural Science" out of them...
i wouldnt say that it broke the camels back. Saying that would have meant he completely lost his voice. He had to change how he came about vocals and look at it this way we ended up getting 13 banger albums from them so i'd say it worked out alright
thumbs up for the phrase "troopered on"
No one to my knowledge has done these songs back to back. Well done.👏. These epic songs by Rush require multiple listenings to really appreciate them fully. After Moving Pictures the guys ceased including them on their albums. An era had ended.
Hemispheres always topped 2112 in my head because Rush examines the psyche and sensibility of balance all the while playing jazz, blues, folksy, rock. They bring all these different styles together, killing the music instrumentally and vocally. It's a ride you want to repeat over and over because each listen brings some nuance that wasn't clear the first 12 times. haha. They never disappoint. My fave band for 41 years now. No one tops their originality and creativity.
Suppers ready by genesis will blow your mind
Both books are incredible pieces. Hemispheres is the best one, imo. Funny enough, Hemispheres sounds really smooth and all the parts fit together, but Rush said this album was a nightmare to make. For example, La Villa Strangiato was so hard, that Neil & Geddy had to do about 40 takes to get the sound that they really wanted. These two songs are some of the reasons why Rush is my #1 favorite band, their musicianship is just incredible. You should try Jacob’s Ladder off of Permanent Waves.
Hemispheres is a play on the two sides of our brain and the Gods in conflict reflect those two forms of consciousness.(Apollo and Dionysus) Cygnus was bestowed on them as the force that created a balance between the conflict in the end.
Kudos to you both for tackling Books 1 and 2 together. That's a lot to bite off all at once! You're right, these songs require multiple listens in order to fully appreciate the brilliance on display. But, not to worry, after 30 or 40 more listens you will have songs you will enjoy for the next 50 years! I salute you both!
Hi A&A! Thanks so much for reacting to this undeniable masterpiece. I agree with your rating and that you must listen several times to fully digest their "unique dynamic", and intellectual progressions. I've always been a huge fan and was lucky enough to see them twice in concert. They always blow my mind! Cheers!❤🤘🇨🇦
In Book 1, I always loved that the music told the story as much as the lyrics. When he descended into the black hole, the music descended to a crushing crescendo as well. I've never actually listened to both books back to back before. That was cool!!
So I said to myself today, I'm SURE Andy & Alex will NOW REACT TO Cygnus X-1 Book I 'The Voyage' and Book II 'Hemispheres', and LOOK, HERE YOU ARE. I must be a Prophet, LOL :-P
Awesome you played both tracks back to back. It was an epic journey...love the bobble heads :)
That rumble you just felt was the collective WHUMP of all your Rush fans passing out.
I am one of them. My daughter was born at 21:12! That was the last time I WHUMPED.
@@cwoolgar74 Please tell me you whumped in the delivery room when you saw it.
I’m pretty sure there was “WHUMPING” going on 9 months before the delivery room 🤷♀️😆
@@maryann1252 hubba hubba! lol
Lucie Melahn 🤣🤣🤣
Guys, I want to congratulate you on completing phase 1of your Rush education. What you have listened to thus far is the music that cemented their place as a headlining national act. Now it's time to move on to phase 2. Since I've been following the channel, I know you have made it as far as the Signals album. So I'd like to make some suggestions from the next records in the catalogue. From Grace Under Pressure I'd like to request "Distant Early Warning", "The Enemy Within", and "Red Sector A". And from the "Power Windows" release, I'd suggest "The Big Money" and Mystic Rhythems". Now depending on which Rush fan you ask you might get a few different songs requested from these albums. Personally I think there both some of their better works, start to finish, hands down. So that's my pitch, I hope you'll give these selections some consideration. PS: there all Bangers with some Sauce thrown in for good measure. 😎☮️
More nerdy fun: The ship they reference, is called the Rocinante. That could be a “nod” to a horse ... Don Quixote’s awkward, skinny horse. Often seen as Quixote’s “double,” as well, since they are both aging, clumsy and chasing things beyond their capabilities.
The Rocinante ship is also doomed. “My ship cannot resist her long” - hey, wait. Is it a black hole that “Drowns my heart, Every nerve is torn apart” ... OR is it a woman / relationship? Haha, wow 😳
And is also the name of the ship in The Expanse. :D
Interesting! Time to review Donkey Hoty!
This is my favorite epic from them. I could make a college course out of studying this song and the subjects involved.
Amazing, I haven't played this one for a looong time, and it blew my mind as much today as it did the first time I heard it in 1980 when I was 22. Time for a lie down I think 😊
My first concert, Rush 1978 Hemispheres tour, and I still haven’t recovered. At that show, you guys would’ve been the ones sitting next to me with your jaws on the floor.
Been reconnecting to the Beatles recently and found a song you might like it's called Dear Prudence. It is on the White Album.
The whole White album
I understand that Donovan was playing acoustic guitar in India with John. Donovan showed John a finger picking technique that changed not only the way he played, but also John’s sound. Dear Prudence was one of the first.
The White Album is a masterpiece hands down. One of my favorite songs, just based on sheer fun of singing along is Rocky Racoon. "Rocky had come, equipped with a gun. To shoot off the legs of his rival". Too good!! Ha.
Steve Getz, “His rival, it seems, had broken his dreams...”
@@wallihaley5194 "by stealing the girl of his fancy"....
What are you guys doing to me!?
I normally watch the show on my iPhone, in the gym, while on the treadmill. For this exercise in Galactic Greek Musicology, I had to call upon my smart TVs RUclips app so I could absorb the experience in its full 48 inch, home stereophonic glory. It definitely will take numerous listens before all the movements are effortlessly digested. This is the first time I’ve heard both books back to back. Much like Alex, I always preferred book two. But the epic nature of the entire piece, and the mind blowingly precise execution of the musical performance never gets old. 40-some years after its release, it seems my ear always picks up on a nuance I hadn’t heard before. Thumbs up guys.
I’ll keep preaching it - Jacobs Ladder off Permanent Waves, and The Camera Eye off Moving Pictures are epic pieces executed with greater focus and more visually stirring lyrics. But as always, job well done, folks!
I kind of get envious of those who get to hear this music for the first time that I've heard a thousand times before...
Though, we all grabbed the LP's when they were fresh...I'll always remember the excitement of that, and playing the records with friends.
This album still gets regular plays in my house.
Rock 🤘
I actually agree with both of you lol.
I think that Geddy played his most melodic bass lines on Hemispheres. I remember getting this album and having my mind blown.
Yes, would love for you to react to Fly by night. Also, Closer to the Heart.
Had to click this one fast 😀
If you want shorter bangers from their classic era: ‘Passage to Bankok’, ‘Anthem’, ‘Cinderella Man’ or a later song ‘ Nobodys Hero’
So glad they did both, back to back; 2 completely different sounding pieces, yet using the same recurring musical motifs.
Part 1 is a wild ride...that bass intro! And part 2, "Hemispheres", is
their compositionally sophisticated, refined musical masterpiece. Orchestral. Wagnerian. And does not feel like a long piece; so fleet-footed, it flows so well, like a well-paced action film. My favorite Rush song and album of all space and time.
They go from “The Bridge of Death was crossed” right into a killer, musical bridge. Brilliance!
To properly listen to these you need the lights off. Then you can almost feel you are in space. Like all awesome Rush songs of this period they tell a story with words and, especially, the music. You can tell the section in Cygnus X1 when the ship first enters the black hole. At first it’s eerie and sparse but as time goes it gets frantic and more chaotic as the ship nears its goal.
I can't gush about this epic enough, really. Neil's deep, philosophical lyrics, Geddy's creative bass fills, and Alex's broken arpeggios all over That Chord™ (F#7sus4, for those wondering); it all makes for an incredible experience. The mixing is also really tight - Rush always made special mention of one of their producers, Terry Brown, who worked on every album from Fly by Night to Signals.
That ending passage of Hemispheres is very pretty.
Was so up for this, then was just reminded by a friend that tomorrow is 30 years since SRV left us...hoping this will help
😟
Love me some SRV! Left us waaay too early. Not that I need a reason to crank him up but now I have one.
I remember hearing the news on the radio...I was parking the car and the news broke. I just sat there in stunned silence, forgetting everything else I needed to do. That was a devastating loss.
My manager at work gave me the news with tears streaming down her face. Such a tragic loss for his family most of all, but for those of us that appreciated his unique genius as well. Ah, what could have been.
Imagine being 16 years old when this album came out.saw BOC and Rush on this tour.Rush opened .
I brought this album to my philosophy teacher when I was in college. He freaked out he played all of cygnus x1 and also the fountain of lamneth for the class he printed out lyrics for everyone he said who is this some of the best lyrics I've ever read. I think I turned half of my class into rush fans they all said they never really paid attention before.
Great story lol.
Very cool story. The power of music.
Your teacher was a very good one, by the sounds of it. How fortunate when our paths cross with figures such as your example
Great choice for a deep dive into Rush. For the more casual fan who likes Rush they generally stay to the "Spirit of Radio/Tom Sawyer" type songs, but for the fans who really live and breathe Rush, while they love the more radio hits, this stuff is what gives them a musical boner and that's what helped to make Rush so great. There's something for everyone.
Guys, so happy to see Rush Wednesdays back. You should check out their final album Clockwork Angels. They went back to a theme-based storyline. Caravan/BU2B is a banger and The Garden will bring you to tears, especially since it's the last song on the last album before Neil Peart passed.
Back in the 80s, me and Bob and Johnny played this. Johnny learned it by ear after listening to it twice. It's fun.
Rush’s last studio album Clockwork Angels gets them back to the concept album. Neil Peart teamed up with Kevin Anderson to write the accompanying novel. There is also a graphic novel. Lots of great music in their last album and I would say they were at their peak of musicianship here. You should check it out.
The "hemispheres" right-left brain lyrical theme was based on a pop psychology book called POWERS OF MIND by Adam Smith. Also, relatedly, Apollo and Dionysus were used by Nietzsche in THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY IN THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC. Apollo = reason, Dionysus= emotion. Ayn Rand, whose work inspired "Anthem" and 2112 (and to whom that album was dedicated), had critiqued Nietzsche's use of these archetypes in her essay about the launch of Apollo 11 vs. Woodstock, in her essay "Apollo and Dionysus."
For me the 70s rush is my favourite era guitar driven as opposed to synth as in later albums
According to published and televised interviews, Alex Lifeson agrees with you
Alex knows his sh*t.
bws1971 lol
You are absolutely right, Bruce.
Music of the gods - LITERALLY.
This song and this album is why I play bass
GREAT reaction vid guys! It's been a while since I tuned in and hit like immediately so quick. What a wonderful journey.
Rush does have a unique situation in that Geddy has to take Neil's lyrics and interpret his meaning behind them. As it's not coming from the author, he brings his own take to what is written. Neil has gone on record saying that sometimes Geddy 'gets it' straight away, other times, he misses the mark and has to discuss the concepts with Neil. This, along with so many other aspects, is what makes Rush a complete, cohesive unit - a band in every sense of the word! No one person truly outshines the other!
A+ for both of these for me! First time I heard book one - I was immediately blown away. I'll be honest, Book 2 took a few listens for me to truly love! The winner on Hemispheres will always be La Villa Strangiato for me. Farewell's winner will always be Xanadu - but Cygnus is such a banging closer to the album!
I agree with your choice of 'winners'
This was my introduction to Rush, at the age of 10 or 11. Babysitter brought this over to play on my Dad's stereo, put this on and turned it up. My mind was blown.
speaking of RUsh and their greatness.time for some Budgie ! three piece godfathers of metal in the 70s.Welsh band ..you may know their big hit that has been covered by everyone but my dog..Breadfan ..suggests I turned to stone - Budgie
I like Budgie and appreciate what they did...sound mix might not have aged well tho....
Parents by Budgie. One of my favourite tracks of all time
Thanks guys... Made my day. Took me back to some tunes I haven’t listened to in awhile. I used to tell people, if you let it, this music will take you on a journey while listening to it. Have a great day.
Loved that the name of the space craft mentioned was the Rocinante. Don Quixote's horse, as well as the name of the ship in The Expanse series of books/TV show.
RUSH ROCKS! R.I.P. PROFESSOR🌹🌹🌹
Masterpiece! I hadn't heard this since it came out. I will say I do love Book 2 more. There's a beauty in it. Life lesson! Maybe it's the "Dionysus" in me? idk. You really can hear the brilliance of how they separated mind and heart, then brought together = Cygnus. The pure mastery of sound and expression of passion.. No more words. No grading. This piece of art (both books) stands timeless. One's mind does need to be in the right space to experience this. Thank you Andy and Alex. Beautiful day to you. :)
Love what you said here, Lisa. No wonder you love Prog : )
@@Lightmane Oh, thank you. Very kind of you to say! haha... I love Prog, but have missed out on quite a bit. I have a lot of catching up to do, as you know! I'll get there. Thanks for popping in! I saw your comment and "thumbed up" lol :) Have a wonderful day/night. Will "see" you next time... Later! :))
Hi Guys from England glad to see young guys loving proper music, try Peter Greens Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well, Green Manalishi, Man of The World, BB King said Peter Greens tone made him cry, also Hawkwind - Master of the Universe, Silver Machine, Sabbath- Planet Caravan, hope you enjoy them, you guys remind my of my friends and i going to each others house listening to each others albums, happy listening ! Bob (age 67 still got my hair like Alex)
Leftoverture would be perfect for a full album review, there's been requests for almost every song on there
Did Andy do Carry On...back before Alex joined in?
It’s pure perfection, instrumentation and vocals are S-Tier
As Seniors in high school in 1978, we saw the Hemispheres tour. They played both books back to back and had a video behind them of the Rocinante (The Spaceship) spinning faster and faster as it approached the black hole and then launched into Book 2 where the disembodied minds (brains) started throwing laser beams at each other (without bodies). So cool, we drove to the next city to see the show again the next night. Thanks for another excellent review. - Jeffrey.
Rush's masterpiece/s :D
Absolutely love your dissection of these epics! I really appreciate how in depth you went with it. Listening to these two back to back is almost overwhelming but you really explained it in a concise way. These songs almost feel like a very precise explosion of musical ideas in two songs. But what’s cool to see is how Rush took bits from all their early works and refined them into the songs in their later catalogue. They never stopped improving their abilities and refining their talent and it really shows. I agree with the other commenters that if you ever dive into Rush again you should most definitely check out their more recent music. There truly is a Rush song for every mood. I highly recommend Test for Echo (the song or literally anything on that album. I have a feeling you guys would love Test for Echo and Driven), Circumstances, Cinderella Man, Natural Science, Subdivisions, Far Cry, Headlong Flight, Distant Early Warning, and Afterimage. I could list so many more but I would really would love to hear your thoughts on these. Love your videos! It’s great to see other young people love and appreciate Rush!