Rush is:
Geddy Lee- Vocals/bass guitar/keyboard
Alex Lifeson- guitars
Neil Peart- drums/percussion
I believe this is one of Rush's best records. A lot of people will tell you that either moving pictures or 2112 are Rush's best.
Funny thing, my keyboard screwed up after I started this, and then I log on another computer and all these flames... geez. On to the review.
If you're just looking to get into Rush, I wouldn't suggest starting with this one, unless you're progressive tastes are refined. I would most likely start with moving pictures and if you like 'Camera Eye' you'll love this one.
Hemispheres was relased back in 1978, a year after Pink Floyd's Animals was released. Rush and Pink Floyd practically ruled that time period. This is an amazing Rush album that I regard the most. It's only a mere four tracks, and it works out just perfectly fine. The muscianship is superbly top-notch and sets a good 'progressive' standard. It's a shame how they got simpler with moving pictures, not that that album is nothing short of phenomonal. This album however, is the definitive Rush album to me. The song hemispheres is divided in five parts, but I'm not gonna review it that way because the song is best experienced whole.
1) Hemispeheres (5/5)- Just wow. This is definitely the epitome of 'epic' Rush songs. It's a little over eighteen minutes long, and it constantly demands your attention the whole time. At first it's kinda simple and then around fourty seconds Alex Lifeson busts out with some arpeggiated chords that sound so lush and sweet. He's the master when it comes to that! :D Then around two minutes things get a little softer. Nice natural harmonics. Neil's drumming should be getting your attention. Then things progress a little harder and at three minutes Geddy starts singing. I havent gotten 'A Farewell to Kings' yet so I'm not too sure about how the content is. Apparently this song is like a continuation from that one. Around four minutes things slow down and then stop and wait a couple of seconds, then bursts back to the bars they were playing before geddy started singing. At six and a half minutes Alex lets out a pretty cool solo. It has to be noted that Geddy is amazing on bass, plus he can sing like that. It's pretty sweet. His riffing is phenomonal in this song, stands out very much. Then around nine minutes things progress to kinda like the cool sounding intro to this song. At nine and half minutes, theres this cool riff thats mixed stereo like. At ten minutes, Geddy is practically shouting, yet singing. Heh, it's pretty cool. Now at eleven minutes the songs kinda slowin down a little transitioning into what is the most intresting part of the whole song. Then Geddy switches to the keys and plays some rather eerie sounding background. It kinda creates a freaky, but yet serene atmosphere. Then he starts singing in a soothing, lulling voice. Then they really get freaky at around thirteen and half lyrics. Some thunder and stuff, really nice keys backing up the lyrics. Then around fourteen and a half they all start playing hard. Geddy just wails and wails, then around fifteen and a half minutes alex does another cool solo. Around sixteen miuntes they play the very beginning again. Neil executes a damn good fill around here. Then around 16:45 things go out with a GONG. Then the song ends on an acoustic bit, a very good way to end such an epic song. Very superb.
The next two tracks are kinda weaker, but they are still very good Rush songs.
2) Circumstances (3.5/5)- This song has a cool verse guitar/bass riff. It's a very catchy song. Neils frenetic drumming is legendary. As the characteristic Geddy Lee vocals reside in this song as well. At about 2:17 neil starts playing some bells (!) it's concert band like. And then the burst back in to some hard playing, pretty damn good drumming by Peart.. It's a good song.
3) Trees (3/5)- Meh, the lyrics are kinda silly. The only flaw. Very nice acoustic at first. Then it rocks pretty hard. It's not a bad song my any means. The song is basically about trees. "and the oaks just shake their heads.' I kinda shook my head too... :) Again, Pearts drumming is superb. Good song.
"and so..."
4) La Villa Strangiato (5/5)- Oh yes, the best Rush instrumental period. Starts out with some NICE classical/spanish guitar playing from Lifeson. Then some lush keys and arpeggios just float around. Leading into a rockin main riff the songs built on. It progressive so smoothly and theres a spanish like guitar solo thats so lush. I love the way Lifeson plays lush arpeggios and some pretty good riffs. This song is what really hooked me on to this album. The title means "weird city" roughly I think. A phenomonal instrumental. A well executed attack by Rush.
Yes, this album is one of those albums where you have to listen to the whole thing in one take. Yes, it is THAT good. I do recommend this album throughly. (4.3/5)
