Classic Rock Album of the Day- Rush- Hemispheres (1978) *****
Rush had maybe 4-5 albums that I preferred over Hemisphere, but a band with (IMO) about 10- 5 star LP's, anyone of those 10 would be a fun choice to cover on any given day. Today, I chose Hemispheres for the fact that this was undoubtedly the most aggressively complex and most and difficult intense album they made. I always considered it a stylistic blend of a fully realized Caress of Steel, Side 1 of 2112, and melodic viewpoint and meter of Kings. As mentioned is their most complex LP, and from what I read it took a lot out them mentally, especially in composing the structural aspects of this installment of Cygnus. It was one of those rare moments in their career that the structure overwhelmed the auditory aspects. In a few ways their methodologies seemed more like how ELP would construct the concept than their own inner self's.
This is the last album before what became known as Rush's heavy electronic era, which allowed Geddy a more signifcant role in Band direction. At least in my case, this is more of an album less in aesthetic enjoyment, but more of one of admiration of the musical accumen. This album and esepcially Cygnus and all 6 movements is rife in signature and time changes that flash by you spiraling fashion. It almost it was like, hey not should we do it, but can we do it, and still corral it in what would infer a tangible musical product. To the old timey Rush purist this was their last foray into long prolonged mythological themes that was their trademark in the 1970's. This truly was the end of the pure proggy era of the band.
Side 1-
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In musical acumen to me this is (was) Lifeson's apex as a musician and his greatest contribution to Rush here was Lavilla Strangiato, which is his signature piece. Lerxt would be a legend singularly in any other band that didn't have Geddy or Peart. For percussion, this is as usual, techincally perfect, crisp, and near impossible to replicate. Geddy Lee's voice in this album by the band. and probably the subsequent 3 or 4 are at their strongest. Once you get past about say....Permanent Waves, the strain thought slight starts becoming evidient. But make no doubt about this is band of the ages, and with Side 1 (Cygnus X-1 (subsequent) , you get not only that level of complexity, but an aura of spacey-ness, mind bending and abrupt variability that makes this among the most unique full sides of Rush's catalog of work. Of the 4 discernable pieces of this LP, I rank it 2nd It moves and weaves like a 3 phased tapestry that in its chaos gels into a musical mosiac.
Side 2
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Iin the spirit of 2112 is more traditonal Rush, and just as spectacular. Circumstance is majestic, with legendary Peart fills, and chordal progressions that feed the lyrically genius of Peart and his message of personal retrospection is inspiring. All 3 on this one click so well 3. Rush made very few overtly political songs, but with Trees they pulled off a such an intentional allegorical musical directive, that was not only crazily noticiable, it was very pointed viewpoint about how their native land Canada was treated and dealt with on the world stage. Yeah, this is No. 4, but no less a Rush classic. And with LaVilla Strangiato, you get every Rush fan's favorite instrumental. As I mentioned earlier, this Alex Lifeson's masterpiece. But it can not be under-reported that this also contains some of the most revered Neil Peart drum work too. Chaotic, majestic and brash..... This is Rush at its greatest. 1
Fun Fact: According to Lifeson Lavilla Strangiato was inspired or based on strange dreams and nightmares.
Originally prepared April 18, 2023.
Rush had maybe 4-5 albums that I preferred over Hemisphere, but a band with (IMO) about 10- 5 star LP's, anyone of those 10 would be a fun choice to cover on any given day. Today, I chose Hemispheres for the fact that this was undoubtedly the most aggressively complex and most and difficult intense album they made. I always considered it a stylistic blend of a fully realized Caress of Steel, Side 1 of 2112, and melodic viewpoint and meter of Kings. As mentioned is their most complex LP, and from what I read it took a lot out them mentally, especially in composing the structural aspects of this installment of Cygnus. It was one of those rare moments in their career that the structure overwhelmed the auditory aspects. In a few ways their methodologies seemed more like how ELP would construct the concept than their own inner self's.
This is the last album before what became known as Rush's heavy electronic era, which allowed Geddy a more signifcant role in Band direction. At least in my case, this is more of an album less in aesthetic enjoyment, but more of one of admiration of the musical accumen. This album and esepcially Cygnus and all 6 movements is rife in signature and time changes that flash by you spiraling fashion. It almost it was like, hey not should we do it, but can we do it, and still corral it in what would infer a tangible musical product. To the old timey Rush purist this was their last foray into long prolonged mythological themes that was their trademark in the 1970's. This truly was the end of the pure proggy era of the band.
Side 1-
----------
In musical acumen to me this is (was) Lifeson's apex as a musician and his greatest contribution to Rush here was Lavilla Strangiato, which is his signature piece. Lerxt would be a legend singularly in any other band that didn't have Geddy or Peart. For percussion, this is as usual, techincally perfect, crisp, and near impossible to replicate. Geddy Lee's voice in this album by the band. and probably the subsequent 3 or 4 are at their strongest. Once you get past about say....Permanent Waves, the strain thought slight starts becoming evidient. But make no doubt about this is band of the ages, and with Side 1 (Cygnus X-1 (subsequent) , you get not only that level of complexity, but an aura of spacey-ness, mind bending and abrupt variability that makes this among the most unique full sides of Rush's catalog of work. Of the 4 discernable pieces of this LP, I rank it 2nd It moves and weaves like a 3 phased tapestry that in its chaos gels into a musical mosiac.
Side 2
---------
Iin the spirit of 2112 is more traditonal Rush, and just as spectacular. Circumstance is majestic, with legendary Peart fills, and chordal progressions that feed the lyrically genius of Peart and his message of personal retrospection is inspiring. All 3 on this one click so well 3. Rush made very few overtly political songs, but with Trees they pulled off a such an intentional allegorical musical directive, that was not only crazily noticiable, it was very pointed viewpoint about how their native land Canada was treated and dealt with on the world stage. Yeah, this is No. 4, but no less a Rush classic. And with LaVilla Strangiato, you get every Rush fan's favorite instrumental. As I mentioned earlier, this Alex Lifeson's masterpiece. But it can not be under-reported that this also contains some of the most revered Neil Peart drum work too. Chaotic, majestic and brash..... This is Rush at its greatest. 1
Fun Fact: According to Lifeson Lavilla Strangiato was inspired or based on strange dreams and nightmares.
Originally prepared April 18, 2023.
