Classical Composer Reacts to Permanent Waves (Side 1) - RUSH | The Daily Doug (Episode 566)
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- Опубликовано: 13 апр 2023
- #rush #permanentwaves
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm going back into the Daily Doug vault to access a previously recorded reaction to Permanent Waves by Rush. I recorded this last summer for my Patreon audience, and I'm pleased to release my reaction to side 1 on RUclips. I'll release side 2 soon! I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
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RIP, Neilus Peartus Maximus
The Professor. Forever alive.
nostalgia is a note away 🤔🙂
Neil not Neal
Hahaha
The goat
After 40 years I still haven’t tired of listening to Permanent Waves. Lyrically and musically IMO it is master class of its genre.
As well as Hemispheres…AFTK…Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures…no other band has had a run of superlative albums in my book ❤️
Yep, wore my original vinyl out. One of my all-time favorite albums by any band.
@@stephenwest673 How about Floyd, Meddle, Dark Side, Wish you were here, Animals, and the Wall. The greatest 5 album streak in history in my opinion.
@@JohnGault-sy2xx I agree
When I can’t decide on what I wanna listen to I always go to Permanent Waves and it hits the spot. I never get tired of it. It’s just such a positive, colorful and in your face album. You can tell they were rested up and having fun when they recorded it too. Hard to believe this was the album that followed Hemispheres. It’s the polar opposite of Hemispheres in every way.
I know many prefer Moving Pictures as Rush's pinnacle but I'm a Permanent Waves guy. Great throwback review.
For me its a toss up between 2112 and Hemispheres, but its Rush after all. Any of their albums is a forever memory in my mind.
Permanent Waves, Hemispheres, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure are all better than Moving Pictures or 2112, IMO.
@@JohnEinarsson Exactly. Its all a toss up depending on the day and mood. I think Doug said it best about Permanent Waves being the ending of one phase and the beginning of another.
Yes sir!
For me it's always the duology of A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres.
The thing I always loved about Rush is when you saw them in concert, they basically played their songs note-for-note. Such great musicians.
Same here. Looking back I'd have to say they totally spoiled me in that way.
one of the best live bands
I love that, too, but really it comes down to the basic musical philosophy of the performers. Rush were more like classical composers, where they compose a song or a piece and wanted it performed the same way each time. Some musicians, like Bruce Hornsby, are more jazz influenced, and jazz is less precise with their music, incorporating a lot of improvisation into their music. So a musician like that may play the song differently (with major or minor differences) each time they perform it.
Hi so it's I love Rush day
I was in 9th grade and having heard All the Worlds a Stage I was able to go see Permanent Waves tour
Rinse and repeat for Moving Pictures
So yeah I'm glad about that
Bless you all
And when they did deviate, it was to improve the song.
Alex's chord voicing is unique and worthy of praise on it's very own
It's phenomenal. He is the most creative rock guitarist ever.
Al's solo on Freewill is one of the best ever put on tape! The whole album is killer.
I always consider that the “holy triumvirate” solo to steal Paul Rudd’s line. They’re all creating something that shouldn’t work….but it does because, well, Rush.
Everybody's parts are ridiculously good during Freewill's solo - and what Rush does better than anybody is making it sound like everybody is musically going nuts and doing their own thing while still keeping everything tight and cohesive and then, when you least expecting it, BAM! - everybody is in perfect unison for a connecting bridge part/run and then seamlessly back into a next/previous movement (they use this formula with a great many of their songs - and I LOVE it).
They truly were the best of the best of the progressive rock movement (and its pool of ridiculously great talent) and had an incredible 40+ year run. But their music will live on... (especially in these YT reaction vids, lol)
RIP Neil Peart ("Exit the warrior...") 😢
"Neil, you're too smart for us" - There's the best summary of Neil's body of lyrical work. Thanks, Doug!
First time I read The Lord of the Rings, Jacobs Ladder was playing as I was reading the part where they were escaping from Moria and Gandolf fell fighting the Balrog...I visualize that everytime I hear this song.
I got to see Rush on their final tour and they played Jacob's Ladder live for the first time in 35 years.
I saw them perform it on the Permanent Waves tour in 1980, then got to see them perform it in the R40 tour in 2015, where it got the biggest applause of the night in Auburn Hills. A few drops of lacrimal fluid were emitted.
Jacob's Ladder is one of their finest moments - they excel when they take a cinematic approach to songs and use extreme dynamics. It's too bad they didn't revisit that style in the 90s and 2000s.
100% agree with you
Yes! Let's clap along with the beat of Jacob's Ladder in the middle section!
The thing about time signatures with Rush... They didn't write these songs with the intention of going 4/4, 5/4, 7/4, etc. They just played it how they felt it. If it fell into 5/4then 7/4 then 4/4 then that's what they were feeling when they wrote it. In fact, there was an interview where someone asked them about time signatures and how they handled them and I think it was Alex that said, "I couldn't tell you what time signatures we used because it's just the way we wrote it". Very cool technique for writing music!
"Jacob's Ladder" remains my favourite Rush song, and it's not even that close. It encompasses the essence of Rush in one song. It's just so...them, y'know? A fairly long song (compared to the radio hits of their era), wild metric shifts and a polymetric section, where the drums, bass and guitar are in a 5/8, 6/8 repeating pattern while Geddy sings in 4/4, crazy chord progressions, a long synth-heavy section, and the beautiful, almost minimalistic poetry of Neil's lyrics. It's like they were flirting with heavy metal and atmospheric pop in the same song, and yet it feels just so...right. _Permanent Waves_ is also, in my opinion, Rush's best album. There's no fat, no unnecessary self-indulgence...it's Rush, put on the stove and slowly condensed down into a thick, extremely concentrated sauce. Don't get me wrong, I love the self-indulgence sometimes. But if I had one album to make someone a Rush fan, this would be it.
Agree 100%. Love the "concentrated" comment
It's the album that made me a Rush fan. I don't think I'm alone in that
That and Natural Science (when he gets to side 2).
I was already a fan by the time this album came out but it was THIS album where I was old enough to be allowed to see them in concert and in the next city over (Hamilton, Ontario). Epic concert... never missed a tour from then until the last.
Agree. Honestly, that whole album encompasses all the Rush sounds in one album. ....perfect blend of all their different sounds.
That fourth minute of Freewill is my favorite minute of any song they ever recorded.
That Jam section gives me chills EVERY Time!!!!
I would have been a freshman, approaching sophomore in high school. My alcoholic dad wasn't physically abusive with me, but never had anything nice to say. One particular evening he was carrying on about how my music was just noise, etc. So I challenged him by offering to read the lyrics of my music to him. I clearly remember reading Freewill, but I read more than that. He was man enough to admit defeat (that night). Even my college attendee sister was impressed, lol. So much more related memories, but that's for another time and another place.
The tempo and genre changes in Spirit of Radio were meant to mimic pushing radio buttons and hearing different stations…
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
Easily one of the most profound lyrics I have heard in my life and arguably the best single lyric line I've ever heard. It has affected my life, I'm here to tell you. The meaning to me is, don't let life decide for you and don't follow random paths (where possible). Act on your own behalf, rightly or wrongly; just do it with gusto.
Bottom line: I need to listen to Rush far more often for my own sanity, such as it is. 🙂
Although your interpretation is certainly a possible one (and considering that art in general is subjective in nature) I believe that Neil here is talking more particularly about religion. You could choose any religion or no religion and that's as valid a choice as selecting one.
look into this one. a very rare case of geddy suggesting a change to neil's original lyric "if you choose not to decide you cannot have made a choice". the change just sounded better to geddy (fits better). so dont get too deep into any presumed meaning. (there plainly isnt one).
@@ice-iu3vv ...there is ALWAYS a meaning to everything......depends on who is hearing and what it means to them at the moment.....
@@ssnerd583 uh huh... well the band meant nothing by it. whatever neil meant by "cannot", was lost when geddy made a change (for the sake of rhythm, not with any meaning). so be as existential or philosophical as you wish regarding what things mean to the listener. there was no meaning behind the way the band presented it. and the point of this thread had been, what rush meant. which is still nothing. so, no to your fortune cookie wisdom between groups of dots (.....)
The Spirit of Radio and Freewill among my Rush favorites. It brings me back to 1980 when I was listening to these Rush songs.
Took half of my life to decide.. This is my favorite Rush album. Jacob's ladder and Natural science two of my favorite Rush songs. ❤❤
It just might be the closest second possible to A Farewell To Kings for me 😁
The solo section in Freewill is basically all three instruments soling at the same time. It is truly amazing.
This has always been my favourite Rush album! There's many close seconds though!
I was surprised that you didn't notice (or, at least, didn't comment) that the lyrics near the end of "Spirit of Radio" are a riff on the lyrics near then end of "The Sound of Silence". There's a nice play on the homonyms "prophets" (used by Paul) and "profits" (used by Neil).
This was my high school music. This album to me is probably the most important of its decade. After over 40 years it has never gotten old - it's like a car that has never lost its new car smell or the shine on the paint.
Just here to give some love to Jacobs Ladder, which often gets overlooked due to just how tremendous the other two songs on this side are. It’s my personal favorite rush song. So many twists and turns musically and emotionally in that track. And at times when I feel my bass playing sucks I take comfort in the fact that I can actually play that song all the way through which is no easy feat!!
But can you play the bass all the way through WHILE singing in a different time signature? 🙂 Yeah, it's my favorite Rush song too (on my favorite Rush album).
Another vote for Jacob's Ladder here. May just be my favourite Rush song, but it has so much competition! Love Neil's drumming in the 13/8 section.
I’m 100 percent with you. I absolutely LOVE Jacobs Ladder. When I found out it was on their set list for the R40 tour I think I squealed
I love Jacob's Ladder, and it's because it's, for lack of a better word, "accurate" to me. In order to explain what that means, I have to tell a story. You know how when you're sitting outside under cloud cover, and suddenly the sun comes out and your skin feels warm? My father used to build speaker systems when he was younger, and his own was phenomenal. You'd be consumed in your music or movie or whatever. But I remember listening to Jacob's Ladder in the dark with my eyes closed on that system. And the music captured the atmosphere so perfectly that at the transition where the heavy guitar fades out, symbolizing the clouds parting and the sun coming out in the synth section? Yeah, I could be sitting in that dark room with Jacob's Ladder on, and I could feel the heat of the sun on my skin after that transition. In the dark room, with my eyes closed. That's how powerful Jacob's Ladder is to me.
@@robhickford9169 I can air drum almost anything but that 13/8 section gets me every time.
That solo section in Freewill is among the best ever recorded anywhere anytime. 3 guys at the absolute peak of their ability going completely the f off.
And it is seamless and perfect.
The guitar on jacobs ladder is insane. So much emotion
Their storytelling with music is what helps set them apart. How Alex uses the guitar in The Spirit of Radio to evoke radio waves bouncing around, to the marching rhythm of Jacob’s Ladder to indicate the gathering of clouds, like soldiers, preparing to go to war with each other.
Can't wait to get to Natural Science. It's mind blowing. I saw them perform it live once and it just about blew away the 300 or so other songs they played that night.
I found Rush in 1976, I was 13, as I grew so did Rush, we were always in sync, so at 60 I still love their music.
Exact same here.
Me too ,in 1976 was 13 !!! Was the beginning of the journey
Me too, everything you said.
I was 12 in 1976, same!
same here, 12 in 1976.
Imagine being a 15-year-old kid it's early evening and you're older neighbor asks if you want to go to a concert with a bunch of other guys from the neighborhood. Now you've never been to a rock concert before and you've never heard of the band but you beg your mother anyways and she says yes... General admission show in the Springfield Civic center in Massachusetts and it was the permanent waves tour and I sat down and heard this album for the first time it was unbelievable. Actually I didn't hear the whole album because they've never played different strings live which is actually my favorite song on this album if you believe it... Three people putting out this quality and the stage performance was just phenomenal these guys all they do is care about their fans it's just amazing memories forever they became my favorite band instantly. I was also lucky enough to see them live for the next two albums. Definitely blessed.
The fact that you couldn't say a word during Alex's solo, even though you were trying to, just reinforces my love of this band.
The little sidebar section in "Spirit of the Radio" is a take-off of Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence" lyrically:
Simon and Garfunkel:
Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence
Rush:
For the words of the profits...Were written on the studio wall...Concert hall
And echoes with the sounds of salesmen
I was going to say the same thing. It's very poignant and would probably get you sued today.
Thank you for sharing that. Amazing!
Wow! I would love to find out how that happened!!
And then on the fourth song he writes “building hopeful bridges on a troubled sea”…hmmm…
In "Sprit of Radio" the last stanza reads "For the words of the PROFITS were written on the studio wall. Concert hall echoes with the sound of salesmen". Paul Simon's "Sound of Silence" closes with "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls, and whispered in in the sounds of silence". This, of course, was not a mistake.
This song was written as an homage to a radio station in Toronto that played an eclectic mix of music in the 1970s. 20 years later the programming had changed to "alternative music" and one of my all time favorite bands, Catherine Wheel, covered this song and CFNY-FM, whose slogan was "The Sprit of the Radio" played the Wheel version to death, but would not touch Rush with a 20 foot pole.
The lyrics of Freewill are some of the best ever writen. I was disappointed you didn't talk about the final few lines as the are great.
Actually, Geddy also plays Synths: in concert he plays Bass and Synths simultaneously. One of their BEST Albums!
Saw this tour at 14, mind blowing. Alex is incredible on this album, really pushing his playing into new areas.
No one ever comments on the best line in the album "(Blame) is better to give than receive." By replacing the word "It" they reverse the entire meaning. Also, this is the last song where Geddy reaches the super high notes ever again.
I've been waiting to see when you finally dropped your reaction to Jacobs Ladder as I figured that it would a highlight. Glad that it didn't disappoint as Jacobs Ladder and Xanadu are my favorite Rush songs.
Just pause for a second to appreciate the fact that Getty, Alex, and Neil connected to create such a great catalog of music and we all get to listen to it.
Rush, the thinking and feeling man's band. My favorite! This album was the beginning of my journey listening to Rush at age 11, 1980.
I appreciate your reaction videos for many reason, one of them the choice of music you have. But the main reason is that you don't stop the music, interrupt the flow of it. Short comments here and there during the song and you save the lengthy comments after the song. Its such a much better format then constantly pausing the music and talking for minutes like so many other seems to do. Thank you.
how about the level of musical knowledge he's dropping on the spot! 😁
@@FarazOloumi Like I wrote, I appreciate Doug for many reasons.
Doug is my favorite reaction channel. So much insight, I learn music theory, and Doug lets the song play to completion
I appreciate his comments and knowledge, but would actually prefer him to pause the music - I feel like he misses things by talking over them.
@@jasonwhowe Doug can talk and listen at the same time so I doubt very much that he misses anything.
I started listening to RUSH in 1974 in college when I heard "All the Worlds a Stage" and of course was hooked. I spent all my time in the car air drumming to try and learn each and every song !! Other people were drawn to the Rolling Stones and AC/DC, and I understand that, but for me, once I heard Neil play, I wanted to know, "How does he play that part ?!?". He helped me formulate my style for years to come. I am a better person, and of course, a better drummer for having heard them. Thank you guys !!!
I first found Rush in 1978 at the age of 11 and have been listening ever since. Permanent Waves is a masterpiece. No other band will ever come close to their collective genius: each a virtuoso but somehow the whole is even greater than the individual parts.
"Jacob's Ladder" is one of my absolute favorite songs from them. I think I recommended it to you a couple times as something you should check out. It's very much a prog piece, but it's so smooth and well-composed, it feels more like a classical composition than a rock song. It's very underrated as I think it's one of their best pieces. From beginning to end, the song is sublime. Rush was heavy into their "brilliance" streak with this..... the five albums from "2112" through "Moving Pictures" were absolutely brilliant.
My favorite Rush album. The one that started my love affair with this incredible band.
Having first heard them in 1978, this was my first "new" Rush album (And forever favorite album of any band) that I was able to go out and buy in 1980, then see them in May of that same year for the first of 31 times thru 2015. Seeing them live simply blew me away and left no doubt that they were going to be my band for life. Miss seeing them so very much. So fortunate to have grown up with Rush. Permanent Waves was the inflection point from the Sci-Fi epics to a more concise, yet still impactful hard rock format. The sonic quality is sheer perfection and Alex's tones really grabbed me.
Geddy's bass lead into Alex’s solo and the solo itself in Freewill are so dirty I need a shower. Just. So. Good. Love the insights, Doug. Always great to understand the structure in the compositions. Cannot wait for side 2. Natural Science is my fav Rush tune,, if I had to pick one from all my favs. \m/\m/
It's so great to see someone I respect musically really appreciate and even love my #1 favorite band for the last 46 years. So glad you like them, too!
For me side one of Permanent Waves is the best side of any album. It’s totally jaw dropping.
"The sounds that they give us, they mean more, because of the words that are embedded within them"
Speaking about Peart's lyrical prowess - this gentleman gives us Probably the best description I've heard anyone have of Rush music and why it has lasted so many decades for so many millions of us fans.
My favorite Rush album of all time! There's not a single weak song on it. I was teary-eyed when they played Jacob's Ladder on the R40 tour. I didn't look online to see the set list as I wanted to be surprised.
I never want to know what`s gonna be played, that way surprises and disappointments happen organically. Unless a band is playing a whole album.
You weren't the only one, Mark.
Freewill's instrumental remains one of the most frightening 64 seconds in music of all times! Thanks for putting this up on RUclips Doug, now I can share friends and family and hopefully draw more support for your channel!
My favorite section of anyone of their songs. Pure jam.
I count the return to vocals there as phenomenally heavy, but not in the stereotypical way.
Geddy’s bass playing there is just dirty and nasty… I love it…
Props to Alex Lifeson for maybe the most wacko solo to ever make it onto mainstream rock radio.
Would agree. Absolutely love it. The only comparable thing for me is the guitar solo section in the middle of Don't Fear the Reaper by B.O.C.
That too is vicious and foreboding.
One of my all time favorite Rush albums.All of the Rush albums up to Power Windows are masterpieces. But the crown jewels IMO are Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures & 2112.
Brother, I spent over 30 years in Broadcast Radio, FM, and being that I'm a seasoned citizen, I got to play, hear, and see most of the bands that we heard on the radio back in the 70's 80's and 90's, Rush has always been one of my favorites, right next to Floyd...love your channel, Rock ON!!!
These reactions are so so nice. It's so cool to listen to these songs again with comment and emotion. Really great album, love all of it. That solo section on Free Will is mind blowing...
I'm 47, to my disgrace I only found Rush about 6 months ago. I've been working through their albums from 76 to 81 so far. They are such an amazingly talented band. They deserve so much more recognition. Real genius at work.
I envy you being able to discover these songs now. But.. I'm 54 now and I remember listening to these as a teenager. Such great memories.
Enjoy the rest.
@@paulfromt.o.7384 cheers. I remember seeing people with the t-shirts at gigs but never had a look. That's much easier now of course with Spotify etc. You used to have to take a chance and shell out £10 for a cd not knowing what you were going to get. Thinking about it especially so with Rush as there music wasn't really radio friendly (excluding spirit of radio!!).
A pox on you for your unintended ignorance!!😅...Welcome to boundless entertainment my friend...been enjoying this band since 76
All their albums are great, the only one I don't really like that much is Vapor Trails but I know others love it. Get them all and enjoy!
(it's still worth getting for the first 6 tracks)
Listening to RUSH just makes me so happy 😁 .... Three creative geniuses who laid down the soundtrack to so many lives.
Not many bands literally become a way of life like RUSH and their music and lyrics will continue to grab and draw in new fans. Sadly we will never see another tour and Im sure they left everything in the studio when it came to albums but they will continue to entertain and inspire forever more
The 1st verse of 'Jacob's Bladder' with Geddy singing in 4/4 over the Music alternating between 5/4 and 6/4 and its accents perfectly matching up with the vocals will never ever stop to blow my mind! 🤯 How were they able to come up with stuff like that?? 😅 The live versions of all three songs on 'Exit...Stage Left' are also great, despite Geddy's voice being a bit more buried in the mix 🙂
Personally, my favorite Peart lyrics are in the song Subdivision. Nothing too fancy, but the lyrics perfectly match the flow of the music.
Mine too, along with Closer to the Heart, Just shows how you can be profound without being pretentious.
Jacob’s Ladder. One of my favs. So gritty and progressive. Classic Rush.
Thanks Doug!👍
"Frickin Brilliant"😁
Love those Concise, Articulate, Appreciative expressions that describe the Wonder that is, RUSH!🥰
Mike in San Diego.🌞🎸🚀🖖
I got so excited when I saw this drop on the feed! 😂 This is by far my favorite Rush album. There is not a single lesser track on this album. I am waiting with baited breath for side two! 🤘😎
You can't go wrong with this band. I was first introduced to Rush via Fly By Night back in 1978 when I was 10 and in total admiration of KISS. Rush came in and the counter balance of the music with Geddy's voice....I was SOLD, brother. I passed on this love down to my two daughters who are now 16 and 10. Gotta pass that torch.
Great dad!
I passed Rush on down to my daughter as I played it in the car all the time with her. Gotta educate them in good taste from an early age.
I love everything about this album. A testament to the true genius of three incredible human beings and musicians 👍🏻
freaking good songs on this album..zero waste of space..so tight..lyrics? wow Neil!
we miss you..
Doug Helvering Thank you for showing me Rush. The band was not famous in Europe. But the more I hear of them, the more I love. The garden is a beautiful song.
It's a travesty that the UK doesn't respect two of the best (IMO) bands from the 70's and 80's VH and Rush. Please guys, take that trash back called the Smiths - they suck the Mozzer AND their wildly overrated guitarist
The guys had a big following in the UK from the mid 70s into the 80s. Parts of Exit Stage Left (live) and all of A Show of Hands (live) were recorded in the UK. And they were still selling out stadiums over here from R30 onwards (recorded live in Europe). Snakes and Arrows (live) was also recorded in Europe. Unfortunately, they didn't make it here for R40, Neil's swansong. The Garden was indeed the perfect 'farewell'.
I love the garden
@@davidcanales975 @DM2022 Both Van Halen and Rush were big in the uk amongst the rock scene, but I doubt they broke the pop scene too much, although VH was a bit more pop friendly. They were definitely both massive bands in the uk.
Not famous in Europe ? I suppose that’s why they sold out the O2 and various enormodomes across the UK AND continent on the R30, Time Machine, Snakes and Arrows, Clockwork Angels tours in the 2000’s as well as numerous tours in the 70’s, 80’s 😂
Permanent Waves was the epitome of releasing between the prog self-indulgence of playing for themselves of Hemispheres and playing for the song, or tunes of Moving Pictures. This was the perfect album. I call this one a tweener between Hemispheres and Moving Pictures. Witnessed them live on both of those tours! Absolute euphoric experiences!
Begin the day
With a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays the song that’s so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood
My avatar thanks you! ;-) Peace!
I always find myself doing the 'Duck-Clap" during the chorus! 🖐🙂
This is just a densely packed album. With this much absolute gold, you don’t need it to be longer. 🤷🏻♂️
RIP Rush❤ there will never be another like them. So glad that I got to exist while they did. Three musical geniuses who were placed on this planet. They’re coming together way back then can’t be just random luck. Neal… wherever you went, I pray they don’t make you play a harp.😊
Yes, indeed, it is "fricken brilliant" indeed .. particularly their creations throughout the 80's were simply mind blowing works of art, both lyrically and musically. I am so glad I was able to live through that era and was able to enjoy RUSH in the ways that I did. They have had a HUGE impact upon my life. I feel fortunate and blessed.
Looking forward to your side 2 reaction. "Natural Science" is a mood-lifter for me every time. I love the whole album. Permanent Waves is the first in a six-album run where nearly every part of every song speaks to my core. No music means more to me than Rush. R..i.p. Professor
This album is some of the best stuff RUSH ever did. Along with the "Moving Pictures" album.
Agreed, along with "Power Windows" - one of their best according to Rush.
This album was released January 1, 1980... widely regarded as the first album of the 80s!!
One of the greatest albums of all time. Side 2 doesn't disappoint either
The middle section of Jacob's Ladder always reminded me of the movie Close Encounters. That synth melody could have totally come from that movie's final scene. The lyrics of the final verse fit too if you close your eyes and imagine the movie.
Great reaction! I figured you would really like Jacob's ladder. It is a masterpiece.
Great reaction to a great album Doug!
You should check out the re-released version of "The Spirit Of Radio" that has a tribute to Neil at the end. It is an animated video and shows you some of the people that inspired the song's lyrics. One person that is shown is David Marsden who was responsible for CFNY in Toronto, where you would hear anything from Rush to Bob Marley to Miles Davis to U2. Usually in the same set. I listened intently and often for many years and became friends with David and a number of the DJs. From what David has told me, the other DJs in the video did similar things at their respective stations.
During my time in Toronto in ‘76/‘77, I often heard Bob Marley and Peter Tosh on the radio.
In fact, after catching Rush at Maple Leaf Gardens on New Year’s Eve, I then saw Bob Marley at Landsdowne Park in Ottawa, several months apart.
YUP, this one of my fave. I think this is Alex's best solo. And what a great transition out of the solo!
Another monster RUSH album. Jacob's Ladder is my favorite Rush song of all time....So good. I never tire of listening to this amazing band...and Rock Chalk Jayhawk Doug....25:44....nailed it
Thank you Doug for stating the fact that the music we hear means more because of the language embedded within. You have a gift with words also my friend!
What can be said about Rush that hasn’t already been said? They tried and did what no one else would or could do. Every band influenced by them sounds nothing like them, but try to emulate them in one aspect or another. Even bands from entirely different genres have been inspired and influenced by these guys. Their professionalism, dedication, work ethic you name it. They set the bar that musicians will forever be trying to reach.🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎤🎹
They are what every band wanted to be in terms of fierce independence; I think that is what influenced other bands even if the styles were totally different.
Every other band wanted to write and play what they wanted to play without compromise but few if any achieved it. I don't know of any band that specifically handed to the record company that had threatened to drop them an album of pure conviction, ie 2112.
With acknowledgement to the genius of Ayn Rand, who was also fierce in her convictions.
Yea, cruising with music blasting through the car - among the best things in life. Last August, I drove back home from a vacation. Early Sunday morning. Sun rising, not a cloud in the sky. Road pretty much deserted. Ventura Highway playing. Sheer bliss.
jacob's ladder is a very satisfying piece of music.
Hemispheres thru Power Windows is my favorite period. What an amazing, creative run of albums. Of course they have a lot of great music outside of that as well (Presto has some of my all-time favorite songs of theirs).
Entre Nous A Masterpiece. Thx for the breakdown Doug!
This description by Doug about the immediacy and rawness is spot on. It’s what we all got attracted to in the first place. No need for padding.
Natural sciense is one of my best songs ever! Thanks god a heard it alive in Brasil , Rio de Janeiro, one of the biggest Rush show ever!
I saw them on this tour at the Hammersmith Odeon (downstairs) and three rows from the front....June 6th 1980, the day after my 17th birthday.....I went to school the next day with ringing ears.....
What a good album though.....and it still gets regular plays even now with me approaching 60.....Unbelievable band....
WOW! moving back into @ 22:14 , It has been ions since I listened to this album and the one I purchased in locked somewhere in storage i suppose. Anyway, @ 22:14, what a wonderful memory of once owning this album. Fantastic.
This is so much fun watching someone who really knows music critique one of my all-time favorite bands. This is RUSH in their heyday. Saw some of their shows at the old Capital Centre in Landover MD back in the late 70s-early 80s. Was fortunate enough to see them in 2012 in Tampa for the Clockwork Angels tour, and then again for the R40 tour in 2015. I'll never forget those last two concerts I experienced with them.
Watching you listen to this is a great delight.
I've been consumed consistently listening to RUSH for the better part of 30 years.
Hey, Hi, Rush is for many reasons the best group ever. If not, obviously they are in Canada.. I saw them 9 times on stage from 1981 to R40 Live 40th Anniversary Tour. Montreal. On June 21, 2015. Rush is for intelligent people. I can't tell you which song i prefer. There is so many. Three genuis of an art they elevate. The lyrics worth to be understand always, but sometimes it need some efforts to. research & open minded. I like to watch your video sometimes Thank You from Québec
My introduction to Rush aged 12 in 1980. My favorite Rush album alongside Grace Under Pressure. Love your videos. Great to see your reaction and take on songs.
Pausing here @ 17:47 here Doug, "Jacobs Ladder". Interestingly enough, I tried out a new venue here in Baltimore, well, nothing new anyway. And it is called the Brewer's Art Gallery. The drinks were good though the Artwork was amazing! There was one painting hanging on the wall and I was like "Did I read this in the Bible somewhere or what?" It was a piece of artwork of which displays a ladder standing at a leaning position though not leaning up against a building or anything else, and someone climbing up this ladder. Subsequently during the same evening, I looked up "Jacob's Ladder" and rather understood this is what this painting was about. This happened about 3 or 4 months ago. Maybe 2 months ago.
It's always fun watching Doug try to figure out the time signatures when reacting to Rush or Yes! I think both bands had a similar attitude - "I wonder if anyone has ever written a song in 23/9 time, lets do it, then a few bars later we'll switch to 11/3, it will be epic!" LOL
I loved hearing this album for the first time 40 years ago. And I envy you now for this current experience.
Agree with you about the solo break in Freewill...about as smokin' as you'll ever hear Rush. Just amazing.
Rush broke all the rules of music. Good for them! God Bless Rush!
One of my favorite albums of all time. Hard to say if I like this or Moving Pictures more. Too close for anything but a tie with Signals close behind. Rush were amazing.