Rush - Permanent Waves
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Free Music Notes for Permanent Waves
Free Music Review: The Lasting Effects of "Permanent Waves."
Hit: 5 Stars
On this date 30 years ago, Canadian prog-rock trio Rush released their seventh studio album, delivering perhaps their most commercial set of songs at the time while simultaneously helping to usher in a new era of music. "Permanent Waves" is that album, and its effects can be felt just as strongly today.
Opening with the arena-rock ode to music, "The Spirit of Radio," this six-song set injects not only a strong song-writing sensibility, but also tighter musicianship as well as top-notch production. In fact, it's one of the few rock albums from its era that still sounds fresh and lively long after its heyday has passed. Whether it's Geddy Lee's vibrant vocals and expressive bass-lines, guitarist Alex Lifeson's precise riffing or drummer Neil Peart's infallibility behind the drums, everything that served to define the band before is in full effect on this effort, only streamlined to express something entirely different.
Granted, "Permanent Waves" does find the band scaling back its grand approach to song-writing and song-structures, but everlasting hits like "Freewill" and the aforementioned "Spirit of Radio" are just as bold and hard-hitting as anything else in their back catalogue. "Entre Nous" is a slightly less-recognized cut, but is yet another example of the band's shift from prog-rock heroes to stadium rock Gods. Never fear, though, as "Jacob's Ladder" and the album's nearly 10-minute long closer, "Natural Science" show a more experimental and traditional side of the album while simultaneously complimenting the hits on hand perfectly.
Although it's admittedly more radio-friendly and commercial than the band's previous efforts, it holds up us one of Rush's most consistent and powerful records to date. To be honest, there is not a single flaw to be found, and the songs breeze by so fast, you'll feel compelled to start the album all over again just as soon as it finishes. "Permanent Waves" is a rock album that transcends genres from a band that has never been afraid of taking risks. One of the best in the band's career, as well as one of the best albums the 80's had to offer.
Free Music Review: Priqles "DIE" should go jump off a bridge
Hit: 5 Stars
I mean what a joke of a human being. Not only does he insult the legendary Permanent Waves but he even goes as far as disrespecting the great 2112. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the song "2112" alone destroys anything that this guy is interested in. Also, I've read this guys other reviews and guess what...never did I see one review that excelled above 1 star. This leaves me to believe that this c**khole dislikes music in general, and anyone who hates music has to be either A) an extremely boring ***hole with no social life, or B) a corpse. Seeing as how corpses cant log onto a computer and right a review I'm going to go with A, he's a boring @$$hole who hates music. I'm fine with that, but dont take it out on Rush ya f**k, a band that has had so many highlights that I couldn't list them all in just one review (Amazon would have to shorten it, otherwise it would be 50 pages long). Tell ya what "Priqles" (by the way, thats exceptional spelling [sarcasm]), if you acknowledge that Geddy Lee could tear you and your lifeless soul apart with his amazing basslines I may consider you human, but until then, you are a dormant emo kid.
Sorry about that, now onto Permanent Waves. This may be Rush's defining album, as it has some of their most famous songs on it. 'Spirit of Radio' and 'Freewill' are some of Rush's most famous songs, and for good reason. Although this was made well into Rush's career, I believe it was here where they found their one sound as prog. rock kings. Other than the more famous songs, 'Natural Science' and 'Different Strings' demonstrate Geddy Lee's abilities as an incredible bassist and good vocalist, Niel Peart's abilities as a phenomenal drummer and scientific lyricist, and Alex Lifesons abilities at the keyboards and guitar. 'Jabobs Ladder' and 'Entre Nous' are good as well, and are definitely worth several listens.
I would consider this to be the definitive sound of Rush, and I would rank up there with 2112 and Moving Pictures. I believe that Rush established themselves as legends with the preceeding three albums, so it would be a good idea to get them all (that includes this one).
Free Music Review: The spirit ever lingers
Hit: 5 Stars
Permanent Waves is one of those few special rock records that you should be arrested and incarcerated for not owning. I'm serious.Rush is more or less the smartest hard rock band to ever make music, and it's perfectly evident on here. The Spirit Of Radio is a cynical and tounge-in-cheek (and accurate) observation of the corporate radio scene, and is ironically the most radio-friendly tune Rush put out up to that point. Freewill includes some very clever lyrical wordplay (such as the famous line "if you choose not to decide / you still have made a choice"). It's also one of the heaviest songs Rush has ever done.
Jacob's Ladder is very ambiguous, mysterious and foreboding, both lyrically and musically. It starts out with a neat and clean bass beat, and then Alex Lifeson adds a medieval-sounding guitar riff that Neil Peart complements with a steady, military-like drum beat. It then jumps into a jam-based song that is never boring throughout its seven and a half minutes.
Entre Nous contains very intelligent and deep love lyrics courtesy of master wordsmith Peart. I'm really surprised this song was never released as a single! It could have been huge. Different Strings is a gentle ballad with a rare songwriting credit to Geddy Lee. It has a memorable acoustic guitar riff and a powerful piano part played by, of all people, Rush's album cover artist Hugh Syme.
Now we come to Natural Science. Being as it's my favorite Rush song, it'll be hard to accurately appraise it, but I doubt anyone can find anything wrong with it. In nine minutes it excites, awes, and pummels your eardrums with two headbanging riffs and two perfect guitar solos. And not to mention the lyrics, which are some of the best Peart has ever penned ("Wave after wave / Will flow with the tide / And bury the world as it does / Tide after tide / Will flow and recede / Leaving life to go on as it was." *Wow.*)
I don't know what else to say about this album. Everything about it is excellent. Even the sound quality is perfect. Get it now!
Free Music Review: Before MOVING PICTURES, there was PERMANENT WAVES
Hit: 5 Stars
Rush contains three of the greatest musicians ever formed in a rock band. With Geddy Lee's unique voice and awesome bass playing, Alex Lifeson's superb guitar solos, and Neil Peart's excellent lyrics and fantastic drumming, they knocked out fans and fellow musicians with their complex arrangements and lengthy epics. But with the release of their 1980 album PERMANENT WAVES, Rush's songwriting and musicianship began to take a new turn.With the '80s, the trio said goodbye to the concept albums and 18-minute-plus marathons of their '70s past. Although their songs were shorter, the complexity and intelligence were still there. As a band, Rush were stronger than ever. The album kicks into high gear with the energetic "The Spirit of Radio," Rush's first ever hit single. Featuring more time changes and switches than any other Rush song, this dedication to a Canadian radio station is a great intro to what will follow. "Free Will," another classic, features one of Alex Lifeson's most magnificent guitar solos as well as some of Neil Peart's best lyrics. The 7 minute epic "Jacob's Ladder" is mostly instrumental and the playing by all three is great, most notably Geddy Lee's bizarre synthesizer piece in the middle.
"Entre Nous" is one of the most realistic love songs I've ever heard and contains a lot of catchy hooks. "Different Strings" is one of the most powerful songs the band has ever laid down. It should get more credit than it deserves; it's one of their all-time best. The album ends with the 9 minute opus "Natural Science," which starts out as a slow acoustic piece, then picks up speed like a bullet train. There are only six songs on PERMANENT WAVES and it's a very short record (35 minutes), but adding extra bonus tracks or anything else would seem very wrong. Although I still believe MOVING PICTURES is the band's greatest album (and the best album ever made), PERMANENT WAVES comes awfully close. This is one of Rush's finest masterworks.
Free Music Review: One of the best rock albums ever.
Hit: 5 Stars
It is with Permanent Waves that Rush began to shed their progressive trappings and garner interest beyond the steadfast progressive crowd. Geddy Lee began to sing at lower ranges, complexity was trimmed, but excellence was preserved. It is a precursor to Moving Pictures; a bridge between their recondite progressive rock days and their immersion in the mainstream. But while most transitional albums merit dismissal, Permanent Waves remains one of the band's best releases, accessible to the band's aficionados from their progressive era or their lush pop/rock days."Spirit of the Radio" and "Free Will," both recipients of lucrative radioplay, prove that songs can be commercially accessible without sacrifice. Neil Peart's superb lyrics lift "Spirit of the Radio" from a mere tribute to radio in Toronto to something markedly intelligent (he could always make something simple seem deep), and it features some of rock's most memorable guitar riffs. "Free Will" is an anthemic piece with inspiring individualist lyrics and an energizing solo by Lifeson.
Beyond the album's most recognizable songs, there's plenty of great material. "Entre Nous" is a love song with brains, all the better because it never uses the word love (all of the best love songs eschew the word, I find). "Different Strings," featuring some piano during the chorus, is a pretty song, and my favorite of the band's ballads. "Jacob's Ladder" is one of the band's most mysterious compositions. The stormy arrangement is dense, with swirls of synthesizers and fierce, chaotic riffs. The pseudo-epic "Natural Science" is the closest thing to their previous epics, written in three movements and covering plenty of musical ground. It's as good as anything they ever wrote.
In the end, Permanent Waves is a rock milestone. A remarkable synthesis of progressive rock and commercial music, although there's nothing really commercial about it. Just great music, plain and simple.