Rush Pt 2: The Rise to Perfection - From Hemispheres to Hold Your Fire

[@jackkitchen737]

I had seen RUSH T-Shirts as a kid in the late 70's. But I didn't discover their music until May of 1981, as a 14 year old. Moving Pictures made me enjoy music in a way I was hoping was possible. I then bought Permanent Waves, and their debut album during that summer. I became a lifelong fan. Once Signals came out, they became my favorite band of all time. I am so blessed.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

You were so lucky to get to experience them in their prime.

[@eleventhhourmusic2024]

Rush are rock icons, for sure.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@@eleventhhourmusic2024 exactly! They were nerdy and rock icons at the same time - perfect combo 🤘🤘

[@AlfPane]

Incredible band

[@surfeit5910]

People are so quick to assume Signals is a "synth heavy" album when in reality, only 2 songs feature the synth at the forefront - Subdivisions and Countdown. Other songs that have a synth in them are no more intrusive than Tom Sawyer or YYZ - Chemistry, New World Man, Digital Man, etc. If anything, it was Alex's break from always playing a solo, that was the real change. Their only Billboard chart topper in their career featured a song that had no guitar solo in it, so his style and willingness to deviate from the norm (pun), paid off! "Power Windows" is basically musical perfection in my book! Geddy's clean and clear bass tone cuts through the layers and is right in your face, while in many of their classic works, it was overshadowed by the guitar-heavy sound. It's ironic that you mention his bass playing a secondary role, to synths and then move into "Big Money" which has one his catchiest bass riffs ever written. And I'm saying this a guitarist of 31 years, and a bassist of 1. And "Hold Your Fire" is basically a life changing album for anyone introspective enough to actively listen to Peart's lyrics. I pity the people who dismiss this album because it means they'll never feel the impact of a song like "Mission" or the hard hitting message of "Time Stands Still".

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Very good points - you know you're Rush bro 🤘🤘

[@joelclark9944]

Nothing but the best of the best 🎸🥁🎹

[@mr.timebombman2230]

The second half of Moving Pictures is the best part of the album imo. The Camera Eye, Witch Hunt especially

[@timmackenzie8145]

I remember being shown how to play Spirit Of Radio on guitar very early in my guitar playing journey. It was shown to me very slowly, and as I got better I kept trying to copy it until I finally got it. I still play it all the time. I can play most of the song, or maybe like, half or something. Great song. I’m gonna cut out at Signals. That’s where Rush and I separate for a few years. It wasn’t until well into the 90’s before I actually heard they were putting guitars back into the mixes of their records. I think it was Counterparts and the song Stick It Out that I really noticed it, although I had noticed it slightly with Show, Don’t Tell from Presto and Roll The Bones from that same album. But that was to come much later than Signals, where I sign out. Since I did this series backwards, this is where I finish. This was really great, thanks for doing it.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

It's funny I lost interest in them at about the same time. Spirit of the radio is a great lick - perfect guitar exercise too to get those pull-offs nicely timed. Love how they slip in the mix of the major and minor third in the main riff. First time I heard it I was surprised when they kicked into the reggae part LOL. When they were on fire they truly were on fire!

[@Wolf.51.50]

Awesome job as usual, my friend! I love Rush. Especially all their work in the 80s all the way from "Permanent Waves" to "Roll the Bones". Absolutely fantastic, groundbreaking, innovative musicians, source of inspiration for other amazing bands like Dream Theater. Keep it up! ❤

[@guitarmeetsscience]

@@Wolf.51.50 Thank you Wolf!!! I really appreciate it 🤘🤘

[@winstonlane708]

The hay day of 3 🐐🐐🐐

[@denoatorlibertarian5645]

Wow Great video. As a die hard fan of Rush's early power trio era I am not crazy about Rush's evolution into synths in the 80's but understand the band was a product of its time. Looking back I would put 2012 to Moving Pictures era to be the Bands most creative peak of their entire 50 year history. Still the greatest rock band of all time.

[@guitarmeetsscience]

Thank you! Agreed- the sound was pretty damn tight by the time they got to moving pictures. Of course a lot of there later work was great because they kicked it right back in pretty much picking up where they left off. Especially stuff like stick it out, they were on fire during that period as well

[@Ferd414]

Aside from their first album (which, even though my personal least favorite of their output, still has a few good tracks - Looking at you in particular, Working Man, with honorable mention nods to In the Mood and What You're Doing) there's simply no such thing as a bad Rush album. Out of their entire studio catalog, (again, skipping the first album) they might have a grand total of five whole "clinkers", and strangely enough, when my mood is right, even the clinkers sound good! Pretty impressive after almost 50 years, I'd have to say. Miss ya, Neil... If there's an afterlife, I know damn well they've got one helluva rhythm section with you on the throne to keep 'em in time!

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

❤❤❤ICONS FOREVER ❤❤❤

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😎🤘♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@Charles53412]

Fun Fact: Alex Lifeson has the largest guitar solo catalog of any one in the Rock genre.

[@benchipi2317]

There's two kinds of music, Rush!!!❤ And everything else...

[@guitarmeetsscience]

🤘😆🤘 oh hell yeah!!!!!

[@danebrackvitch4901]

Rush stopped being perfect after Moving Pictures.

[@gdx52]

peter collins ruined the band for me. power windows was ok, then........ only one good song: time stand still

[@trevski9265]

Sadly went to shit after moving pictures

[@RickKarkau]

For me it was after Hemispheres.

[@RickKarkau]

Sadly went urban.

[@jfbuff9]

They never went to shit. Loved that they explored different sounds instead of staying the same over and over. It’s what separated them from everyone else and made them a great band. So unique and authentic.

[@RickKarkau]

@jfbuff9 they went with music trends.

[@jfbuff9]

They went with what they were interested in at that time. I appreciate “Headlong Flight” just as much as I appreciate “Circumstances”. Different times, both great songs.

[@DAMON409]

Hold your Fire was terrible

[@johngalt1884]

You remind me of me! 😂🤘✌️

[@johngalt1884]

I'm gna be interred in a mausoleum (above ground, btw- I don't like dirt) soon... guess what's gna be my epitaph? Listen to Rush. ✌️

[@richardayala3748]

Enough with rush and van Halen. Good bands. But damn! Change it up a bit!

[@guitarmeetsscience]

I know ...I know... Lol. Rush turned into a 3 part series. It's done now, and I wanted to get the first 4 VH albums. After this week, I'll be changing it up I promise 🤘😆🤘