HiRez Poll Rush - HEMISPHERES [Blu-Ray Audio]

[SeeMoreDigital]

SW stated that he doesn’t like Hemi Side A.

Really... I think it has great energy, drive and flow!

 

[somethingcleveridunno]

SW stated that he doesn’t like Hemi Side A.

I guess he's earned the right to a bad musical take or two.

 

[SyrinxTemple]

SW stated that he doesn’t like Hemi Side A.

Thanks for the info. I did not know that. I'm sure he covered it in one of his Album Years podcast, but I haven't gotten to the 1978 episode.

 

[stoopid]

Hemisphere's (title track) isn't a favorite of mine, either. But I'd sure like to have the bluray anyway.

 

[JediJoker]

SW stated that he doesn’t like Hemi Side A.

For me, it has its moments, but is ultimately unsatisfying.

 

[edisonbaggins]

Hemi Side A is up there for Rush musical prowess, for me.
Proggy. Intricate. Alex SHREDS his solos.

Lyrically, the mythology thing was very cool in high school, but less so now.

I still love it, though. And I’m glad the Atmos sounds as good as it does.

That said, does anyone think there is now too much noise during the quiet, yet stormy, Cygnus part? There are noises in the original stereo, to be sure.

 

[SyrinxTemple]

In 1983, when I was 12 years old, I put on Hemispheres. I owned every Rush album up to that point, but really only knew two songs well (The Trees and La Villa), and that was because my first Rush album purchase was Exit...Stage Left. I had spoken to my dad on the phone (he and my mom were divorced) and he mentioned that I should check out Hemispheres again because he had really gotten into it. I put it on the turntable, and it did not come off the turntable for 47 straight days. I know because I counted. The only reason I took it off was because Grace Under Pressure had just been released. So, to say I have a love affair with that album is an understatement. I almost spit out my beer when they played Hemispheres Prelude on the Roll the Bones tour.

In saying all that, I do see how it may drag a bit during the Cygnus section of the song. However, I really love every note on that album.

Sorry if I have sidetracked things.

 

[Bender]

I REALLY wish a physical product was out there. For me, streaming is always so much worse than a disc. Could someone do this? Hey Rush, you always push a lot of product on your website. I think a stand alone Blu-Ray Atmos would sure look good in the collection. You could even do the whole catalogue by one. Or maybe Rhino or SDE for a special product???

 

[ssully]

Rush's attempts at a 'Close to the Edge' side-long are pretty silly.

Musically -- or as progressive rock -- Rush songs are really kind of basic, harmonically and melodically and structurally (and lyrically); what brio they have mostly comes from the rhythm section and Alex's crazy solos.

A lot of it is kinda dopey. It's prog with training wheels. In the 70s, it was considered prog for your younger brother or metalheads.

I'm talking about the era through Moving Pictures, couldn't care less about the 80s stuff and after..

Side two of Hemispheres is my favorite of theirs, specifically 'The Trees' followed by "La Villa'

 

[svtmike]

I've never been much of a fan of either of the Cygnus excursions... except for The Sphere, which is a sublime closer and a stark contrast to the preceding discord. Side B though... love love love.

Wish they'd make this available as a standalone Blu Ray.

 

[Thonolan]

I'm not the biggest fan of Rush's 'prog epics', generally speaking. Compared to the very best in the genre, by other artists (I consider Yes to be the gold standard in this respect, but there are more), Rush's attempts lack flow and enough musical ideas to justify the duration. That said, I think the "Hemispheres" track is pretty good, and I do enjoy it, but in my view the greatness of the album resides in side B, too.

I tend to find Rush's strongest efforts in stardard structure short-ish songs with slightly extended instrumental sections. They were incredibly good at it. "The Trees" is a perfect example of that. Gorgeous.

 

[edisonbaggins]

IMO, Xanadu, Natural Science and The Camera Eye are the greatest epic efforts by Rush.
They hold up, completely, for me and get lots of play. The others feel more like guilty pleasures. Plenty fun.

And it’s good that they’re different than Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson.

And plenty of complex, intricate, and virtuosic playing from all three members.

 

[himey]

IMO, Xanadu, Natural Science and The Camera Eye are the greatest epic efforts by Rush.
They hold up, completely, for me and get lots of play. The others feel more like guilty pleasures. Plenty fun.

And it’s good that they’re different than Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson.

And plenty of complex, intricate, and virtuosic playing from all three members.

If I was forced to pick one favorite Rush song, it would probably be Natural Science.

 

[cbmmm3]

Ben Mink losing it on the electric violin. And losing Mr Peart. A powerful song

 

[SyrinxTemple]

Rush wasn't initially inspired by prog, so it stands to reason they would be different from bands like Yes. Their influences came from the Mississippi Delta through England and then to Canada with bands like The Who and Cream. It was later that they got into bands like Yes, Genesis and King Crimson. Adding Neil didn't hurt.

Personally, I love songs like Cygnus X-1, Canada and La Villa Strangiato. Jacob's Ladder is in 13/8, so they could play in those strange time signatures. But those sideline epics were conceptual lyrically, but the music was more like separate songs that ran together. Although The Fountain of Lambeth does return to the opening theme.

I certainly don't think of them as straight prog. More of a hard rock with prog influence, if that makes sense.