What always astounded me about Rush was they put in real work on every song. When most bands run out of ideas after a few albums and tend to repeat themselves, RUSH always reinvented themselves from album to album. I was lucky enough to love every incarnation of this super pantheon of a band. Forever my favorite band...
They also didn't record a bunch of songs and pick the best of what they thought was it and discard the rest. They went in and did the songs for the album and give each one the best possible attention in their craft
@@scottshields113 I mean to have so many years of great song writing...who can you stack them up to? Each album was relevant. Not just some throw together music so they could tour. I mean, if we as humans didn't age, these gents could've rocked for 50 more years and still left music on the table.
You should watch “Leave That Thing Alone” live from the Time Machine tour. I never grow tired of watching these 3 Kings play live!! There’s no one that can top RUSH live. Keep on RUSHIN’ John. 🤘🤘🤘
Really good Album, glad you're covering it. Neil said he intended writing the album without a theme but most of the songs came out dealing w duality in things: individual psyche; men & woman; groups. Like in Animate- between the masculine & feminine charisms in people, like : "Spirit in my psyche Double in my role" "My counterpart, my foolish heart A man must learn to rule his tender part... A peaceful state, a submissive trait A man must learn to gently dominate" Alien Shore - felt like a reflection acknowledging differences that exist in humanity, sex, race, politics & as you said not letting them become negative barriers to conection.. just like you said. Anyhow, cheers John, have a great day.
Wait till the next jam. We never knew what Rush's next album would sound like. I was just happy to hear these guys after 5 years gap. You all know why my Rush fans!!!
Alien Shore is one of my favorites. As a musician I'm very impressed by the verses. If you sit back and give them an extended listen- you'll notice that the verses are derivative of funk. Like Parlament Funkadelic. It surprised me when I noticed it. The thing that makes it so confusing is Alex playing arpeggios over the verses. At the same time it's addicting.
After working with a drummer who was obsessed with Neal Peart I developed an aversion to Rush. But, I have to confess, I do like this album and Between the Sun and Moon is my favorite track.
The Counterparts theme is about relationships. Male, Female, Yin and Yang. Sun and Moon was inspired by a poem that Pye Dubois ( cowriter ) on the song Tom Sawyer. He was from Max Webster. Again Sun = Masculine, Moon = Feminine Just my take on that. I love this album and so glad they chucked the synth. At the beginning of the synth era it was a nice addition adding another dimension but by the mid 80's it had been overpowering. Alex's guitar tone has more depth to it again on this album. The synth era was a sign of the 80's and it's excesses. It goes along with the oversized clown clothes and the over the top hair. LOL Yes, I wore those fashions too.
The cover of 'Counterparts' did have a sexual connotations ("screw and nut") in an assembly diagram😂 ... I got the impression that Rush was going for aspects of art that they hadn't explored in a sound that went back to their roots. 'Alien shore' seems to be Neil reflecting on his relationship w/ the opposite sex... from the perspective of a man who is trying to understand a woman's mentality (which is so different; women have a much more complicated and frustrating logic and perspective than men). 'Between Sun and Moon' is the Earth... like a sanctuary from all the chaos. U have the heat of the Sun and the barren surface of the Moon - the contrast between those surfaces compared to the Earth is very striking when u are outdoors and hiking under the Sun and resting under the Moon.
They admired Yes and The Who very much. In some ways, their compositions can be seen as a blending of those two bands' aesthetics. Neil did his best Keith Moon impersonation for Sun & Moon.
This tune was introduced as a tribute to bass player John Entwistle of The Who when they played it live at the the first show of the Vapor Trails tour in Hartford CT...he had passed the day before...I was at the show 3 days later in Charlotte and it was a real treat!
Between Sun and Moon is fire! Alex's guitar is actually "growling". lol This is probably one of the hardest Rush song's ever to decipher from a lyric perspective. I usually have no problem in that department:)
Alien is one of my favorites ever. That on the and of one snare hit really moves the first verses. Alex's choice of chords and arpeggios brilliant and that bass line!!!
Neil was reading a lot about human psychology when he wrote the lyrics for this album. There's much about the yin and yang of male and female as well as the female in the male and vice-versa throughout the album.
John, so while I watch every day, I’ve never really posted all that much to the channel. Just wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed watching your Rush discovery. I guess it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Rush changed and progressed with each record. They never stood still. They tried and experimented with many styles, sounds and flavors. I understand that degree of change is not everyone’s cup of tea, but for some, myself included, Rush were just like a slot machine. Did you know that the slots a most major casinos spit out more than 85% of every dime they take in? Look it up. It’s true! But hell! Even Rush’s worst 15% is typically better than the best many bands have to offer.
Yeah what I love about Rush is they never were the typical "sex drugs and rock n roll" type of band, they were always very professional and always played solid!
Not about a relationship (you'll get to that in Cold Fire) Alien Shore is about gender and race discrimination. The first verse is gender (separated by a chromosome, slave to the hormone), second verse about race (just variations on a theme). The Alien Shore is a concept where people agree that differences in language, race, gender, color and culture don't matter, rising against the tide of discrimination and racism. Of course written so much more eloquently and beautifully by Neil. RIP Professor
Up next is going to be one of the absolute worst Rush song in my opinion...Speed of love. Boy I sure wish they had never wrote that song. A faux pas I guess...All good they are forgiven !!!!!!
@H C Well, Tai Shan has lyrics that I can appreciate and cool drumming at least but speed of love gives me nothing !! Poor lyrics, poor drumming, poor vocals, lame guitar and bass.... I just don't know what to like about it.
What always astounded me about Rush was they put in real work on every song. When most bands run out of ideas after a few albums and tend to repeat themselves, RUSH always reinvented themselves from album to album. I was lucky enough to love every incarnation of this super pantheon of a band. Forever my favorite band...
They also didn't record a bunch of songs and pick the best of what they thought was it and discard the rest. They went in and did the songs for the album and give each one the best possible attention in their craft
@@scottshields113 I mean to have so many years of great song writing...who can you stack them up to? Each album was relevant. Not just some throw together music so they could tour. I mean, if we as humans didn't age, these gents could've rocked for 50 more years and still left music on the table.
Here, here!!!
Or is is it 'Hear, Hear!!!'?
@@michaelakkerman407 absolutely 😉
You should watch “Leave That Thing Alone” live from the Time Machine tour. I never grow tired of watching these 3 Kings play live!!
There’s no one that can top RUSH live.
Keep on RUSHIN’ John. 🤘🤘🤘
I just love Alien Shore. Especially the lyrics and bass
Can't wait for your Double Agent reaction. I love that song.
On alien shore....the line...WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT ...is a quote from martin luther king
Geddy exercising his inner Flea on Alien Shore.
I just knew between Sun and Moon would put a smile on your face 🙂
Between Sun and Moon was the radio single during the album debut and tour start....really brings back feelings of Countdown
That little intro you heard was Alex holding his nose while saying "holding my nose." I read it in one of Martin Popoff's books.
2 of my all time favorite Rush songs that hardly anyone knows even exist. Man, this Counterparts album is the absolute bomb.
Really good Album, glad you're covering it.
Neil said he intended writing the album without a theme but most of the songs came out dealing w duality in things: individual psyche; men & woman; groups.
Like in Animate- between the masculine & feminine charisms in people, like : "Spirit in my psyche
Double in my role"
"My counterpart, my foolish heart
A man must learn to rule his tender part...
A peaceful state, a submissive trait
A man must learn to gently dominate"
Alien Shore - felt like a reflection acknowledging differences that exist in humanity, sex, race, politics & as you said not letting them become negative barriers to conection.. just like you said.
Anyhow, cheers John, have a great day.
Wait till the next jam. We never knew what Rush's next album would sound like. I was just happy to hear these guys after 5 years gap. You all know why my Rush fans!!!
The "ah-yes-to-yes" part is a description of "the space between wonder and why" that Neil refers to in the lyrics, and his brain's reaction to it.
Never noticed the absolute brilliance of the bass lines in this Alien Shore. Probably because it wasn't one of my favs on this record. Now I love it!
My favorite Rush song is always the last one I listened to. It is fun to go from the first to the last again. Thanks John!
local radio station in seattle was blown away by this album they couldn't stop talking about it
Alien Shore is one of my favorites. As a musician I'm very impressed by the verses. If you sit back and give them an extended listen- you'll notice that the verses are derivative of funk. Like Parlament Funkadelic. It surprised me when I noticed it. The thing that makes it so confusing is Alex playing arpeggios over the verses. At the same time it's addicting.
After working with a drummer who was obsessed with Neal Peart I developed an aversion to Rush. But, I have to confess, I do like this album and Between the Sun and Moon is my favorite track.
The bass part on Alien Shore is just a blast. I always turn the song up just to hear that!
they got a science fiction award for alien shore they are called the saturn awards
alien shore is very profound beautiful truths were said..and thats just the lyrics
The Counterparts theme is about relationships. Male, Female, Yin and Yang. Sun and Moon was inspired by a poem that Pye Dubois ( cowriter ) on the song Tom Sawyer. He was from Max Webster. Again Sun = Masculine, Moon = Feminine
Just my take on that.
I love this album and so glad they chucked the synth. At the beginning of the synth era it was a nice addition adding another dimension but by the mid 80's it had been overpowering. Alex's guitar tone has more depth to it again on this album. The synth era was a sign of the 80's and it's excesses. It goes along with the oversized clown clothes and the over the top hair. LOL Yes, I wore those fashions too.
The synth is still on this record quite a bit. It's pushed far into the background and work's well for additional atmosphere.
I wore those clown pants to the gym in the 80s , so did everyone else for that matter … lol. Your a plethora of info Debbie … 😉
@@fjhgh100 LOL I had a few pairs myself with a gazillion pleats!
The cover of 'Counterparts' did have a sexual connotations ("screw and nut") in an assembly diagram😂 ... I got the impression that Rush was going for aspects of art that they hadn't explored in a sound that went back to their roots.
'Alien shore' seems to be Neil reflecting on his relationship w/ the opposite sex... from the perspective of a man who is trying to understand a woman's mentality (which is so different; women have a much more complicated and frustrating logic and perspective than men).
'Between Sun and Moon' is the Earth... like a sanctuary from all the chaos. U have the heat of the Sun and the barren surface of the Moon - the contrast between those surfaces compared to the Earth is very striking when u are outdoors and hiking under the Sun and resting under the Moon.
Love your reaction videos, John. You need to watch the Rush documentary "Beyond the Lighted Stage".
This tour was excellent!!! The guys were extra proud of this one
And by the way you can Take Off…”Take Off” features Geddy on vocals and Bob and Doug Doing there thing
The lyrics reading of BSAM should be interesting 😊 Aah yes to yes to aah to yes. Also Alien Shore has the most amazing Geddy bassline
He actually says “out of my nose”. In the beginning. I always thought it was “Powder my nose”.
Yes to Yes to Ahh to Yes is an expression of wonder at the Sun. But, why the Sun? There's also the Moon. We exist somewhere in between.
They admired Yes and The Who very much. In some ways, their compositions can be seen as a blending of those two bands' aesthetics. Neil did his best Keith Moon impersonation for Sun & Moon.
This tune was introduced as a tribute to bass player John Entwistle of The Who when they played it live at the the first show of the Vapor Trails tour in Hartford CT...he had passed the day before...I was at the show 3 days later in Charlotte and it was a real treat!
@@markandersen5187 I was at the Hartford show. The intro was very emotional. The audience was so happy.
Alien Shore is my fave on Counterparts.
Between Sun and Moon is fire! Alex's guitar is actually "growling". lol This is probably one of the hardest Rush song's ever to decipher from a lyric perspective. I usually have no problem in that department:)
The opening sound you hear in Alien Shore is actually Alex pinching his nose and saying “out of my nose”
🤣
lol well of course
Really I looked it up but could find anything on it lol
Alien is one of my favorites ever. That on the and of one snare hit really moves the first verses. Alex's choice of chords and arpeggios brilliant and that bass line!!!
Men About Oars!
Alien shore is amazing
excellent engineering from Caveman on this album
Kevin caveman Shirley
Neil was reading a lot about human psychology when he wrote the lyrics for this album. There's much about the yin and yang of male and female as well as the female in the male and vice-versa throughout the album.
Speed of Love and Double Agent are about as opposite as you can get! Looking forward to Double Agent (yes, the omission is on purpose)
@16:51 - "I was giddy for synth".
Possibly giddy for Geddy?
I thought that as well! Hahahaaaa
when john Entwisle died bassist of the who
they dedicated sun and moon to him
I believe the voice at the beginning of Alien Shore says "man overboard." Someone that knows fact check me, please.
Those that feel that Neil can't swing or groove have never heard this album.
This whole album is about Relationships with women. "Counterparts"
John, so while I watch every day, I’ve never really posted all that much to the channel. Just wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed watching your Rush discovery. I guess it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Rush changed and progressed with each record. They never stood still. They tried and experimented with many styles, sounds and flavors. I understand that degree of change is not everyone’s cup of tea, but for some, myself included, Rush were just like a slot machine. Did you know that the slots a most major casinos spit out more than 85% of every dime they take in? Look it up. It’s true! But hell! Even Rush’s worst 15% is typically better than the best many bands have to offer.
The Who influenced Neil so much. I get the feel of the Who in Between Sun.
I can’t wait until you get to “Leave That Thing Alone”.
Dean Garcia of Curve put a little influence on Geddy this album and he has stated such. And Alien Shore shows it
🎸🥁🎸
By sex, Neil is talking about "gender" not a romantic relationship
Yeah what I love about Rush is they never were the typical "sex drugs and rock n roll" type of band, they were always very professional and always played solid!
Still double dog dare you to react to Edgar Winter Group “Frankenstein” Live video
Neil was ahead of the times “Alien Shore” is about diversity and embracing it.
Not about a relationship (you'll get to that in Cold Fire) Alien Shore is about gender and race discrimination. The first verse is gender (separated by a chromosome, slave to the hormone), second verse about race (just variations on a theme). The Alien Shore is a concept where people agree that differences in language, race, gender, color and culture don't matter, rising against the tide of discrimination and racism. Of course written so much more eloquently and beautifully by Neil. RIP Professor
"sex is not a job description" = "gender is not a job description"
Or relationships in general, but mostly with women.
👦👨🏻🧑🏻
🎼🔩🔩🔩🎶 🎙
Up next is going to be one of the absolute worst Rush song in my opinion...Speed of love. Boy I sure wish they had never wrote that song. A faux pas I guess...All good they are forgiven !!!!!!
@H C Well, Tai Shan has lyrics that I can appreciate and cool drumming at least but speed of love gives me nothing !! Poor lyrics, poor drumming, poor vocals, lame guitar and bass.... I just don't know what to like about it.