Spirit of Radio - Flanger or Phaser effect pedal for main riff; piano at end of the tune (barely audible on RiR even with Dolby 5.1 and a surround sound system).
YYZ - the sound of a whip cracking air/gunshot followed by breaking glass; synth motiff before outro. Alex's choice of improvising with the 8-Tone Spanish Scale is truly indicative of his creative prowess. It reveals a new facet of the song, all being nicely tied together by the aforementioned synth section. Sweet!
Anthem - intro riff; odd time meters are my favorite!
Natural Science - sounds of nature
The Pass - acoustic & studio versions, the entire guitar arrangement is so moving and complimentary to the story told by the lyrics. One of Geddy's most passionate deliveries.
Earthshine - intro riff; my God that is one of the heaviest sounds I've heard from Alex. I caught myself headbanging on the first listen. Pounding!
Time Stand Still - odd time meter again; guitar parts are intense and perhaps Alex's best rhythm playing up to that album; subtle keyboard motiffs throughout; Aimee Mann's contribution.
Tai Shan/Mystic Rhythms - WOW! Talk about a song's power to take you on a voyeuristic journey of China/Far East.
Tom Sawyer - that opening synth line truly does not prepare the listener for the direction the song takes! Totally threatening and ominous.
Limelight - Fat, fat, fat tone from Alex here. One of my most favorite riffs to play and his guitar solo: tasty, tasty, tasty!
2112 - Overwhelming! Being a musician, I've always noticed Alex's penchant for layering an acoustic guitar track underneath his electric. This outing ranks as one of the best examples of layered textures.
Fly By Night - The simple, opening chords with such a lush humbucker pickup sound and then BAM! Geddy's bass riff is tops in complimenting the groove thrown down by Neil. Another example of layered textures (electric rhythm guitar parts over matching acoustic rhythm guitar parts). That song leaves me drooling for more to this day!
Bravado - mmmmm, Bravado
Roll The Bones - the keyboard riff during the skeletal rap section: how appropriate. Alex's guitar is sounding mighty beefy here; makes quite the statement. I adore the vocal harmonies in this tune.
Countdown - all of the sound effects of a launch. I live 15 minutes from the Space Center so each time I know a launch is planned, I load the CD and start playing the tune at the moment of liftoff; very cool. The synth riffs, main synth intro line, the lyrics. An astonishing song.
The Big Money - the thick keyboard arrangements complete with stabs, jolts, soaring runs and the unrelenting bass line. These guys are utterly the masters of rocking in 6/4 time.
La Villa - after the introduction, and a blistering classical guitar solo it is, the keyboard parts that set the tone for the emerging main theme (sadly missing on RiR version). Geddy's bass solos throughout. The utterly amazing tightness of drum and bass licks. This one, among many others, leaves me breathless.
Whew! I'm drained at the emotions and memories dredged up by this outing. Excellent thread!
Peace
