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.

 

[paligap]

I'm not sure how many of their songs I would consider progressive rock, but they recorded "epic" songs at least since By-Tor and the Snow Dog on Fly By Night. My favorites of their epic songs are The Necromancer and The Fountain of Lamneth.

 

[JulesRules]

Personally, I think both books of Cygnus X-1 are much more daring and impressive than The Camera Eye, which is fine for what it is but not groundbreaking and fearless like Cygnus X-1 Book I in particular. Book II also succeeds in taking me away to a world all of its own, like all the best prog.

Canada

Funniest autocorrect I've seen in a while

 

[stoopid]

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

The entire opening has me wanting to punch my speakers for the 30 years I've been listening to this track [not just lyrically, but also how Geddy delivers the lines]

When the ebbing tide retreats along the rocky shoreline
It leaves a trail of tide pools in a short-lived galaxy
Each microcosmic planet, a complete society
A simple kind of mirror to reflect upon our own
All the busy little creatures chasing out their destinies
Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea

But the rest of the song is f^&%ing killer, and also probably their heaviest/most 'metal' song in their entire catalog. I've learned to plug my nose (and ears) to get to the good stuff. Cygnus would be another 'heaviest' candidate.

 

[jimfisheye]

Cygnus X-1 Book I is one of my favorite Rush tracks! So happy AFTK was the one album that ended up getting a true surround remix for that. So disappointed that this Hemispheres remix is one of the more insulting non-mixes I've ever heard. All the Chycki remixes are bad but this one might genuinely be the worst. So happy that all the original stereo mixes are pretty darn good and were finally released unmolested in 24 bit!

The awesomeness of Book I doesn't keep the same energy on side one of Hemispheres but I love the audacity and quite a few moments. Liked the red vinyl too! Still have the poster on a wall. And yeah, side 2 is a monster!

Hemispheres is also the beginning of the end of Geddy's voice. He's talked about it in interviews. They skewed above his range in the music writing and he just powered through it. Listening to the live recordings from the tour makes you wince in hindsight as you listen to him self harm.

If some of Rush's side long tracks are a little silly... I'm a big Yes fan too and especially their dedication to being difficult. Love Tales, but there are a few long winded passages throughout and this from the "prog masterpiece".