Wow....just wow!!
Coming off the last album 'A Farewell To Kings', I was a bit embittered, as it was the first album review where I found myself having a bit of trouble coming up with the right words to describe how I felt about the album. I have found myself having a similar problem describing 'Hemispheres'. Although for vastly different reasons.
'Hemispheres' may very well be my favorite Rush album so far in my journey of rushification! Although it is only four songs long, each one has it's own personality and vibe, each different from the last.
From the opening track 'Cygnus X-1 Book 2' (companion piece to the final track of the previous album), this album takes you for a wild ride filled with multiple rhythms/time signatures, amazing bass grooves and intricate guitar work. There's also a song that could be described as an homage to British satirical humour! It's crazy!
So now for a track by track breakdown:
Cygnus X-1: Book 2: Another side-spanning epic track! And a really good one at that. The standard music tricks are all put to effective use in this song including multiple time signatures, constant groove changes, effects heavy guitar work and slick bass licks.
Lyrical subjects seem to be heavily influenced by Greek mythology as seen through the sections dedicated to various Greek Gods such as Apollo and Dionysus. Personally, this epic didn't really strike any major personal chords within me and the lyrics seem to be very open to interpretation and without any clear cut linear story elements (such as those seen in 2112 or the Necromancer from previous albums) but when the musical element is as good as it is on this track, somewhat mundane lyrical work is forgivable.
Circumstances: Pretty much the only song that is radio-friendly enough to be a single (the next track was actually a single as well back in the day). This tune has an awesome groove, awesome lyrics that even have a couple of lines in french, as well as the same line in English "the more that things change, the more they stay the same". Overall a very strong Rush track, but probably the least interesting on the album....at least to my ears.
The Trees: Here we have a spectacular piece of music, juxtaposed against possibly the silliest Rush lyrics on any albums so far. It's basically a song about how oak trees are bigger than maple trees and how maple trees are pissed off and feel oppressed in the shade of their larger counterparts. Or I suppose it could also be a satirical metaphor for the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, with the former being the oaks and the latter being the maples...either way, there's trouble in the forest. If you can get past the lyrics it's actually a really great song sonically. But the lyrics kind of make me chuckle every time I hear the song. But I suppose it keeps with the theme throughout the albums of divides (read: Hemispheres...)
La Villa Strangiato: Quite possibly my favorite Rush instrumental track to date. Uses sections of the 1937 Raymond Scott Composition "Powerhouse" which you may recognize from 'Honey I shrunk The Kids' or just imagine a crazy factory scene and I'm sure you'll probably have this tune in the back of your mind. It should also be noted that at this point in thier career, Rush was still recording all parts in one solid take with no overdubs....so with that in mind, this song is all track long takes (apprently it only took about 40 tries to get it right....I think I would require about 4000 on any of the instruments)
Being that this was the last album released during the 70's, which is thus far my only real exposure to Rush, I have high hopes for the 80's! My understanding is that the 80's became somewhat of a synth-heavy, new-wave period for the band, followed by them returning to more rock n roll inspired sound sometime in the 90's.
Hemispheres was recorded during the summer of 1978 at Rockfield Studios in South Wales, UK and was produced by Rush and Terry Brown. This is the second album the band recorded in the UK and in my opinion, is far more enjoyable than 'A Farewell to Kings'
I give Hemispheres a recommendation of 8 out of 10.
Next up for review: Permanent Waves (1980)
Coming off the last album 'A Farewell To Kings', I was a bit embittered, as it was the first album review where I found myself having a bit of trouble coming up with the right words to describe how I felt about the album. I have found myself having a similar problem describing 'Hemispheres'. Although for vastly different reasons.
'Hemispheres' may very well be my favorite Rush album so far in my journey of rushification! Although it is only four songs long, each one has it's own personality and vibe, each different from the last.
From the opening track 'Cygnus X-1 Book 2' (companion piece to the final track of the previous album), this album takes you for a wild ride filled with multiple rhythms/time signatures, amazing bass grooves and intricate guitar work. There's also a song that could be described as an homage to British satirical humour! It's crazy!
So now for a track by track breakdown:
Cygnus X-1: Book 2: Another side-spanning epic track! And a really good one at that. The standard music tricks are all put to effective use in this song including multiple time signatures, constant groove changes, effects heavy guitar work and slick bass licks.
Lyrical subjects seem to be heavily influenced by Greek mythology as seen through the sections dedicated to various Greek Gods such as Apollo and Dionysus. Personally, this epic didn't really strike any major personal chords within me and the lyrics seem to be very open to interpretation and without any clear cut linear story elements (such as those seen in 2112 or the Necromancer from previous albums) but when the musical element is as good as it is on this track, somewhat mundane lyrical work is forgivable.
Circumstances: Pretty much the only song that is radio-friendly enough to be a single (the next track was actually a single as well back in the day). This tune has an awesome groove, awesome lyrics that even have a couple of lines in french, as well as the same line in English "the more that things change, the more they stay the same". Overall a very strong Rush track, but probably the least interesting on the album....at least to my ears.
The Trees: Here we have a spectacular piece of music, juxtaposed against possibly the silliest Rush lyrics on any albums so far. It's basically a song about how oak trees are bigger than maple trees and how maple trees are pissed off and feel oppressed in the shade of their larger counterparts. Or I suppose it could also be a satirical metaphor for the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, with the former being the oaks and the latter being the maples...either way, there's trouble in the forest. If you can get past the lyrics it's actually a really great song sonically. But the lyrics kind of make me chuckle every time I hear the song. But I suppose it keeps with the theme throughout the albums of divides (read: Hemispheres...)
La Villa Strangiato: Quite possibly my favorite Rush instrumental track to date. Uses sections of the 1937 Raymond Scott Composition "Powerhouse" which you may recognize from 'Honey I shrunk The Kids' or just imagine a crazy factory scene and I'm sure you'll probably have this tune in the back of your mind. It should also be noted that at this point in thier career, Rush was still recording all parts in one solid take with no overdubs....so with that in mind, this song is all track long takes (apprently it only took about 40 tries to get it right....I think I would require about 4000 on any of the instruments)
Being that this was the last album released during the 70's, which is thus far my only real exposure to Rush, I have high hopes for the 80's! My understanding is that the 80's became somewhat of a synth-heavy, new-wave period for the band, followed by them returning to more rock n roll inspired sound sometime in the 90's.
Hemispheres was recorded during the summer of 1978 at Rockfield Studios in South Wales, UK and was produced by Rush and Terry Brown. This is the second album the band recorded in the UK and in my opinion, is far more enjoyable than 'A Farewell to Kings'
I give Hemispheres a recommendation of 8 out of 10.
Next up for review: Permanent Waves (1980)
