1 of the 7

I concur with Seven Cities - that funky sound is new for them, and I want to see where they take it. BU2B2 has such a foreboding sound that it comes in a close second, and the synth in CA and the strings and acoustic wistfulness of The Garden make me want more.

I've never bought an audiobook, but hearing that Neil is going to read CA makes me consider my first purchase! I'd read the novel myself first.

Well, I did finish up Hemispheres with La Villa - their first instrumental, and a chance for all three of them to shine, sometimes at once. I do miss Geddy's vocals, though. This song, and a few others, are starting to feature the synths that would become one of my favorite aspects of the Rush sound. And then I got sick Tuesday night (stomach related) and spent most of the time I wasn't dragging myself to (and at) work, asleep. I also didn't want Rush associated with feeling horrible, so I haven't listened for days. And now the new album is about to drop on my doorstep, and I don't know if I'll be able to resist getting into it. So, I don't know if my listening marathon will go forward (in time for the new album) but I'll update if I make any progress.

The Universe divided

Our memories remind us

Grape juice

For the type(s) of music I like, you'd have to extend the timeframe from the early 60's through the mid-80's. There was some stuff I liked in the 90's, but nothing has set me on fire since the 80's (well, Rush, for example, is a notable exception). Don't care for the 50's, either - that sock-hoppy early rock is not my bag.

Hot air, if I'm talking to myself about it Home fresh air

Nice to see that a similar cover pic to the one that was on Classic Rock will be on the fan pack mag. Love that pic, and didn't get that issue of Classic Rock, so I'm psyched

For at least the Classic Rock and Prog mags, if you miss them in the future, myfavouritemagazines.co.uk should have back issues for sale.

I'll have a general idea right away (top third, middle of the road, bottom third). The finer placement will take a year or so. If it's on the edge of my top third, say, and drops, I can see it changing from a favorite to a second tier, for example.

Made some progress this weekend! Caress of Steel Bastille Day- We go from the U.S. in Beneath, Between, and Behind to the French Revolution here - both very colorful, helped by the intensity of Geddy's voice. "Power isn't all that money buys" are great lyrics. Love Alex's guitar here. Going Bald- I don't care what anyone says, I love it. I love the way Geddy sings certain parts: "i think I'm...I'm going bald. "I'll still be gray my way! YEAH!" Puts a smile on my face. Maybe those who get "so involved with life" are the haters? Lakeside Park- One of a growing number of songs immersing one in a place and time. It's grown on me quite a bit...I originally didn't dig Geddy's vocals here, which is weird for me, but I'm coming around. Necromancer- The only trouble with the narration for me is that it's hard to make out. LOVE the different styles of music in this song, and Alex is on fire. The changes in the music bring home the emotion; for example, Return of the Prince, when the prisoners are released, is pure joy. The Fountain of Lamneth- One of the biggest growers for me in the whole Rush catalog. Very personal for me after going through a huge number of deaths of family and friends last winter. I was doing a lot of thinking about life and death, and the song helped me work through it. What others see as disjointedness, I see as an accurate portrayal of the huge changes one goes through in life. I was also trying to nail down the vocals in case I'm called upon in a performance at the Bristow tailgate, and finding it a VERY tall order 2112 2112- An immediate sci-fi feel as compared to the epics on COS. Still some sweeping changes during the song, though maybe not as much as Fountain, but a signature emotional ending typical of all their epics. A great tragedy in the classical tradition, with our hero never realizing how close he was to freedom. More of the individualism theme, of keeping freedom alive in your heart, if nowhere else. Bangkok/Twilight Zone- More transporting us to different settings/places/states of mind. While I can't relate to the Bangkok experience, it sounds colorful Lessons-Great tune, but it often gets lumped in with Something for Nothing in my head. Tears- A nice little interlude between the adjacent rockers. Evocative of the 70's for some reason. Something For Nothing- Geddy's vocals are intense, but with lyrics as awesome as the whole "What you own is your own kingdom" bridge, nothing else would be acceptable! One of a growing number of songs where Rush gives out great advice - more directly than metaphorically here. A Farewell To Kings - the one album where I like all songs nearly equally. Love the Renaissance Faire-type musical theme (up until Cygnus). AFTK- Love the lyrical connection to Closer To The Heart. This would happen again and again. I still feel like we're living this song today. Xanadu- Love the birds chirping, the "moral of the story", and Alex's guitar. Another great tragedy. Closer To The Heart And now, a song so positive I use it for encouragement often...when in my snarkier moods, especially dealing with people, I ask myself if I'm really living closer to the heart? "You can be the captain..." just gets me every time - a short song that packs a punch. More good Rush advice. Cinderella Man - More "moral of the story" in regards to judging people. Madrigal- I said before that I envision Rivendell as a comforting message from Rush. If that were so, they have also written in this song what I would want to be my response. At this point in my listening, I thought about how comforting their music has become for me, and how fortunate I feel to have found them again. Cygnus X-1- Back to a sci-fi feel. KILLER bass! The different sound and cliffhanger ending make you anticipate the next album. I can't imagine what this must have been like back in the day when you had to wait for it. *While taking that CD out and putting in Hemispheres, I couldn't figure out why Rush was still playing. Turns out Fly By Night was on the radio! Had to stop and listen.* Hemispheres Hemispheres- I got caught up in this one. It doesn't just tell you to be balanced or illustrate why you should be, but makes you FEEL that way. I could tell, since I was both attentive to how bad the traffic was coming home, yet calmly dealing with it instead of getting stressed out. At times I see myself as the Dionysus of our relationship and my boyfriend the Apollo, but the truth is, we both, and we all, have our moments of each. It's good to have the other person around to well, balance you out. I've often thought that if we ever make our relationship "official", "Let the truth of love be lighted; let the love of truth shine clear" is going on the invitations. Circumstances- I love how the character retains his youthful quality, despite all the changes life has thrown his way. The GOOD things stay the same, too. The Trees- Maybe it's political on a larger scale, but this is another one I think of personal relationship-wise as well. Hopefully, hatchet, axes, and saws won't come into it! The Ren-Faire-y music seems to connect back to AFTK. And that's it...no La Villa coming home today because it was raining so hard I couldn't have heard it. Permanent Waves will be a bit tricky - only have that one on vinyl, so it'll probably be a listen at home tomorrow. Whew!

I've always thought the guitar sounded U2-ish. If I hadn't known it was Rush the first time I heard it, I wouldn't have guessed it was them until Geddy Lee started singing.

It's a big fave of mine, so if they could find a way to make it work live, I'd be ecstatic. Until then, I'll hope for Prime Mover...

And the gods watched from afar

A Snickers Peanut Butter Squared

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Hope you had a Rushtastic day, tel!

Wow. How alive they look! The people, their dress, and the buildings are obviously from a diffrent place and time, but the less mountainous surroundings look like they could be right around here.

Happy 7th Goober!

Happy Anni 4 to one of my neighbors to the west!

Happy 6th Ancient Ways!

Happy 6th workingman!

Happy 4th geedyfan! Make mine a chocolate malk!

Wow, that's horrible. Mine is a little funny - the last time I renewed, I actually went to the office instead of just mailing it in because I was upgrading to an enhanced driver's license so I can enter Canada. The lady asks me if I want a new picture, and I say yes, because my old pic was from the early 90's. The lady responds, "Well, I'm not supposed to say this, but you need one."