Rush - La Villa Strangiato (REACTION!!) | Prog Epic Friday (Ep. 10)

[@nodrush80]

The greatest rock instrumental of all time, with one of the greatest guitar solos.

[@5foot2eyesofblue13]

Right? Everyone forgets this one cuz YYZ is so much more well-known. YYZ is great, don't get me wrong, but I think LA Villa Strangiato is better without a doubt.

[@BK-oc6lb]

I heard this when first dropped- Can only imagine the joy in listening to this for the first time today. Well done 👍🏻

[@samuraikaito]

That must've been awesome hearing it at the time though!

[@jamzales]

No slide guitar. Alex achieve a "slide" sound with a Morley Volume Wah pedal. Moog Taurus bass pedals. No pads. Mini Moog synthesizer.

[@bobcarn]

Their first instrumental. When this came out, we all didn't quite know what to make of it. It wasn't just rock, it was all jazzy and progressive and all over the place! It was a blast in concert. Actually, this whole album was played in concert. This whole album is just prog heaven, and they did it justice in concert.

[@NONE_SO_VILE]

I'm 25 years old and telling people this is my favorite band of all time makes them shocked... only seen them once in 2015 during there R40 tour. Best show iv ever seen. I listen to Death Metal mostly now but Rush is my most nostalgic band ever. I have 20 Rush shirts and only wore Rush shirts threw High School and my English teacher once said to me a group of friends isn't complete unless you have 1 friend who is totally obsessed with Rush... I'm happy to say that was me!

[@steveg5591]

I’ve seen a ton of reactions channels to music and you bring a musical knowledge to the fore that is refreshing.

[@samuraikaito]

I appreciate that! I'm glad I can provide a different perspective

[@markferrett700]

Three masters of their art and instruments. Lyrically unequalled. Absolutely amazing Three piece band. I'm sure in a hundred years from now Rush will regarded as Classics.

[@rinaldocoutinho7028]

Masterpiece!

[@samuraikaito]

No doubt about it

[@Matty0923]

Wow heard you talk about Alex's phrasing in his guitar solo. Kirk Hammett said in an interview what a huge influence this song was on him and also talked about Alex's phrasing during his solo. Great stuff!!

[@carlbusque1856]

Great review, love it, you know your music!

[@araaaraa9765]

I like the way you managed to analyse this. You managed to take the perspective that this was 40 years ago. Lots of bands at the time sounded like they were playing through tin cans. This still sounds very solid and strong today.

[@sealiferr]

The world’s smallest symphony!

[@thegman8968]

Great track and reaction. Loved your reference to Jeff Beck! 🏆

[@samuraikaito]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@revdmcspumcsb]

This is a great landscape story telling song. It's based on a series of nightmares that Alex was having. It builds up from falling asleep to the dream like scenes until the monster shows up. There's the not knowing, the looking around as the monster moves in the shadows. Finally being chased, running away, almost being caught and the end is when you abruptly wake up, look around, check yourself and sigh that your still alive.

[@samuraikaito]

Oh damn, I would've never imagined this was about a nightmare!

[@bobbyscarfo2544]

They should've named this tune.... Time Signatures

[@Fred-vy1hm]

Geddies voice is polarizing but he's one of the few artists that can make Neil's lyrics lyrical and he does it while playing technically difficult bass lines which is a feat in itself. You should check out Xanadu or The Fountains of Lamneth to get a better appreciation for him as a singer.

[@surfeit5910]

Have to ask how much mid-career Rush you've heard? When you mention the keys, it makes me wonder if you've heard them throughout 1982-1987 or so, when they reallly added the synths? When you mention not liking Geddy's voice, do you mean the screechy 70's, the whiny 80's or the mellow 90's sound? Rush changed sounds every 5 or so years until 2002 when they stuck with one final sound. What you dislike one decade rarely applies in the next.

[@minalmovies8091]

Play one of those guitars on the wall ...your facial reactions to La Villa' shows you're connected

[@calvingreen5202]

Great reaction and commentary!!! I appreciate your analysis on Rush and this song. I am an avid Rush fan, so I actually appreciate Geddy's vocals...but it did take some time. I've always loved their musicianship...top notch. I think you should listen to Where's my Thing and Leave that thing Alone. Two more instrumentals, that highlight their skills. Check it out...see what you think.

[@samuraikaito]

I'll check those out! But yeah, I definitely don't dislike Geddy's vocals but just not something I gravitate towards.

[@calvingreen5202]

This may sound "cliche", but the more you listen to his vocals, they grow on you. There are so many amazing songs, that wouldn't be as impactful, without his vocals. Freewill, Vital Signs, Natural Science, Analog Kid and Between the Wheels are just a few examples of how Geddy conveys the meaning and the feeling of the song, with his voice. Check them out...see what you think 😏

[@carlbusque1856]

Nice guitars, need a Godin semi Montréal!

[@garya7893]

Jimmy Page got me wanting to learn guitar in 79 After learning Some Sabbath tunes Priest and others I started to favor Alex he never played 3 4 chord progressions and i learned more chords and Rush was more fun to play i found. And at 58 im still playing early Rush

[@samuraikaito]

I've gotta learn some of their tunes. Never gave it a shot tbh

[@elvwood]

Heh, I like Geddy's voice, but I listen to less Yes than I otherwise would because I'm not a fan of Jon Anderson's vocals! Go figure. LVS is certainly my favourite Rush instrumental, one of my favourite pieces of theirs overall, and one of my favourite instrumentals full stop. For me it's a triumph.

[@compnnburns8831]

totally disagree - this is like classical music - timeless masterpiece which i have listened to for 40 years and I still get goose bumps every time - synthesizers cheesy? I suppose french horns on Mozarts compositions are old hat?!

[@samuraikaito]

Nope. Just personal preference. Old =/= dated

[@greymattervandal]

@@samuraikaito I've been a fan long enough that I bought this album when it first came out, and while Rush is one of my absolute favorite bands, I'll actually agree with the synth-sound assessment. It's not so much that they've aged and dated, more that they sounded dated at the time. There were better possibilities to choose from imo. But still, a minor demerit - this song is just fun!

[@samuraikaito]

@@greymattervandal Glad to know a Rush fan agrees with that. Interesting to hear that they sounded dated even at the time though - I wouldn't have guessed that. But yeah, definitely a small thing and doesn't ruin the songs at all