$UPER THANK$!!! Thanks for watching my videos! Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel!! I appreciate it! Check the Description for Amazon Affiliate Links to VINYL/DVDs/Books, Bass gear, Music gear, and other cool products related to this video! If you want to support the channel you can Super Thanks, direct Paypal or Venmo, hit our Mailing Address or our Amazon Wishlists... ALL IN THE DESCRIPTION! Check the description for a link to Camilla's TH-cam channel! Thank you everyone!
Grace Under Pressure is an album that needs to be listened to while considering the context of the times in which it was released in. This is the album that got me into Rush. At it's release in spring of 1984 I was 14 years old, and living smack-dab in the middle of the Reagan presidency. The cold-war was just as visceral then as it was in the 1950's. This album captures the feel of those times, without actually vocalizing the literal then-current events. It felt modern... even futuristic. Not in a sci-fi way, but really cutting edge... as if this is the way rock music was progressing to; it fit right in. An album of it's time, for it's time.
One thing I've noticed in your journey and it kind of rings the same for me, is that those who grew up in the album era of side A and Side B, the B sides always seem to have the biggest impact. Most bands, Rush included had most of thier "hits" or "singles" splashed mostly on side A, I find myself drawn into more of the B sides or "deeper cuts". I look forward to your videos every morning!
The depth of Neil's verbal (or numerical) punnery is priceless. 1001001 is 73 in decimal which is the 21st prime and its reciprocal 37 is the 12th prime. 2112! Oh Neil, you were the epitome of nerdy goodness.
While I understand the instinct, it's always been one of my pet peeves that people want bands with this much success to just keep doing the same thing. This album is incredible. Yes it's different, yes it's still Rush. It's art, literally. They are expressing themselves in the culture in which they live, at that moment in time. If you isolate the lyrics, the guitar, the bass, the keys, and the guitar, they are all still killing it, and bringing it back together in a sound that, granted is totally different than some of their other albums. When Picasso does a painting that's different than the last do we criticize? Maybe, but in retrospect it is still a masterpiece. I agree with your take that there are hidden gems on every album and on this album in particular, I think the more times you listen the more hidden gems you will find :-) I would highly encourage all Rush fans who have discarded this album from their listening to listen to it four or five times more with an open mind and active ears. You won't be disappointed.
I bought moving pictures when I was a freshman and I graduated when this album dropped. This song was always my favorite off the album for the reasons you stated. Kid Gloves has a great solo. And Red lenses is well Red Lenses. Between the wheels is a close Second. Thanks again Justin! Can’t wait for the recap.
I'm with you on this, it is one of the few songs on this record that I really like, still some dark themes but it has a real nice vibe and groove to it. Great reaction Justin.
‘The Body Electric’ is a song about robots of a dystopian future, thus the “robotic” drum part. Painting a cinematic picture with music is one of the best aspects of Rush.
Discarded?! P/G is brilliant, yes it put off some older fans that refused to accept Rush can adapt and produce more than a single style/sound palette. I love the older stuff too, but this is also very good and following the trends of the day, adapt or die…
Nils drum part on this is so driving, and Alex’s court choices sublime, they kind of melt into this beautiful interplay in the homestretch with Neil going off, this track has grown on me overtime to be my second favorite on the record. Thanks
don't forget Geddy is singing and playing bass. he blows my mind when you see it live n he is not looking at what he is playing. n hitting every note on point. you have a great ear teach. you make me listen to parts of the song more. thanks
I remember how excited I was in the 80's when it came time for a new album because I knew them well enough to expect the music to be different but I also knew that it was still going to be cool because, after all, it was another album by Rush.
Glad you liked this one. It is a unique song in their catalog. I don’t remember it getting any radio AirPlay but the blade runner-esq video got heavy MTV airplay back in the day. This wasn’t one of Rush's most popular songs but I always enjoyed it. It was only played live on the GUP Warm-Up shows at Radio City Music Hall in 1983. This warm-up tour was a few months prior to the release of Grace Under Pressure. They played 3 GUP songs on this mini-tour. They played the pre-release versions of Body Electric, Kid Gloves and Red Sector A. Body Electric was never played on the GUP proper tour in 1984 nor anytime thereafter.
I'm with you on this one buddy! This is one of my two favorite songs on this album. In my old age I have gotten more into listening to lyrics and this one has a sci-fi-like tone to it! Subbed!!
Alex has said in interviews that the guitar solo in "Kid Gloves" is his favorite solo because he he actually deliberately wrote/planned it out beforehand instead of his usual improvisation style. I tend to think that's what makes his solos so unique and fun, but whatever! Also, I think you will enjoy "Red Lenses" because it's also quirky and different and unlike a lot of what they've done before...
I’ve gone through this album again and think you will be surprised how many of these songs are keepers in the long run. I wouldn’t skip a single track on this album if I hit play. I still don’t love the sound but the songs kill live and it makes me appreciate the source performances.
The drum intro of this song is my ringtone. Not all Rush is for all listeners. But, whether it's a riff, chorus, or poignant lyric, theres something in every Rush album that anyone can like.
They grow on you like a fungus. I remember when this came out - It was so disappointing. BUT - I kept listening and listening and next thing you know it... I loved it.
This is what I meant when I previously commented that, after Signals, the albums contain occasional gems. The Body Electric is such a track. The rest is just prog pop with the exception of Between the Wheels, which is another worthy prog rock track on this album.
That's a very fun song! It was a surprise and joy to hear it in their Clockwork Angels tour. Though I'm surprised Red Sector A didn't rate higher with you. It's such a powerful song. Hmmm, maybe not too surprising. I've found a lot of my favorite songs from them are ones that grew into that after a few listengings.
This song is TOUGH AS BALLS to play on the drums. No two parts are the same through the whole song. This is the magic of Neil in the 1980s.... every verse, pre-chorus and chorus has different phrases, which are themselves big hooks in the song. And Neil designed those hooks to work around the vocals. Very cool. Very influential on a lot of drumming through the rest of the decade.
I think this song is a good fit for the future album that will be Roll the bones. It has a similar sound and make up as many of the songs from that album do. Maybe it's just me, but as soon as Geddy started singing, I instantly thought of that record.
Many people are not fans of Rush’s “synth period”, but I love the 80’s albums. The sounds changed, but there is still a edgy, driving energy. Rush was still very creatively experimenting and dynamic. IMHO, the 90’s albums lost some of that edge and are much more uneven overall. They rediscovered their mojo for their final three albums, producing some of their best work. I’ve mention this before, but many of the songs off this album (and the next two) were much harder and heavier live in concert. Love that you are doing the whole catalog , seen others attempt it but pretty sure you’ll be he only one to do all 175+ songs. Thanks!
I "discovered" the band in the 80's and I was actually slightly disappointed when I went back and listened to the early records.They didn't compare in my mind although I still liked them.
Hey Justin, here's another suggestion for your Rush file - "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Music of Rush". You can find the vids on youtube. They do Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, Tom Sawyer, among others. It is a very interesting listening experience, I think you might dig it. Cheers 🇨🇦
@@JustinPanariello I know some think it's one of the weaker songs but I've always liked it. This is one of the reasons I like good reactions/reviews like yours - a different perspective
This album is pure Cold War 80's, and a great companion piece to Signals.. Compare it to most synth Rock from the era and it Rules, especially Live.. Yes, it is not Hard Prog Rush, but Rush always fluctuated with the times.. It has a great concept, lyrics, compositional flow, and intellectual connections, making it a Top 10 Rush album, and a definite favorite. As with Signals, the whole record must be absorbed..
I am pretty sure I have seen him playing this and he literally pulls on the bass strings perpendicular to the surface of the bass rather than plucking them with his finger in the sections where you hear that popping bass sound.
@@JustinPanariello Exactly... I am not sure I have seen it done that often where someone is popping without slapping but then come to think of it I can't think of Geddy ever using the slap technique. That brings me back to you being adamant that they were not funky a couple of albums ago... slap bass is almost obligatory when it comes to funk. :)
GUP is definitely a multiple listen record...I think you'll like it much more with a few more listens. Even so, it probably only beats out Hold Your Fire among Rush's 80s stuff
The video for this song got a fair amount of airplay on MTV. It's sort of a low-budget Blade Runner kind of thing (there was a lot of that happening back then), but it's worth checking out. The song was on the radio for a while, and Rush didn't shake it from their setlists through most of the 80s. It's definitely one of the better fusions of their classic power trio approach and the synth-forward 80s sound on the album. I'm not a fan of Geddy's popping thing, but it was definitely a phase he went through. I agree it's one of the better songs on the album. Grace Under Pressure is one of those albums where you have to wait a while to get to the better songs.
"The Body Electric" was another song that was made into an official video. It wasn't played too much on MTV because the channel was pretty much an American thing. The UK audience has always had a more diverse appetite than the US. Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/r3Dju2i4FZw/w-d-xo.html I think you'll enjoy at least 2 of the final 3 songs. 🎼✌😉😊
This song's a banger. Plus I'm a sci-fi nerd. Hits all the right buttons for me. Also has one of the best "misheard lyrics" from Rush ... a hundred years of poutine... bows its head and prays to the mother of all the cheese! Edit: I predict you will like Kid Gloves.
Grace Under Pressure was not "discarded". It was a somewhat divisive record among the Rush purists and the newer Rush fans when it came out, but now it sits among the top 5 records or so of too many rush fans to mention. Always been in my top 5.
Dude, you kill me! Lol! You love, and hate, the most unexpected songs! But that's ok, I'm still with you man! My personal favorite from this record is "Red Sector A." "Kid Gloves" is pretty good too, it has a "Free Will" kinda feel to the guitar, but I'm getting ahead of you a bit! Lol!
This is definitely the best song on the album. You should watch the original music videos for this album, low budget surreal oddness. As others have pointed out 1001001 if ASCII code for "I" as in "I am".
Around 1975, the record industry changed big time, with the issuing of Greatest Hits album's! Artist's like the Eagles,Olivia Newton John, Elton John, made a fortune ! Sure, Greatest Hits are more economical but they lack soul! Hate to say how much money I have spent in my lifetime on music! I'm a purist! Much prefer listening to album's! You get to hear the good, bad and ugly! It's great that you are being honest and not sugar coating your reactions!
This bassline, always makes me think of John Taylor from Duran Duran, who was also having his time in the limelight around the same time this album was released. I don’t know if there is a direct line of influence in either direction, or if both of them were just being influenced by he sounds of the time.
I love this album! But then again, I’m a super fan without a favorite era. I’ll never understand how so many Rush fans wound up believing the “progressive” in progressive rock means “stay exactly the same for 40 years.”
Couldn't agree more. Neil's lyrics went from sci fi, to love (Entre Nous), to contemporary issues (Second Nature), to history (Manhattan Project), etc. It's called growth and creativity. You don't stay around for those 40+ years without growing and changing.
I like this song!! Question: (because I’m not a bass player…lol) is “popping different than “slapping” ? Ive Iseen him many times grab a string and let it go, but I’ve only seen him slap the strings to creat a sound a couple of times. Just wondering which one your referring to. Good song! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!!
yes they are different. slapping is with your thumb. Sometimes people will just say slapping and it could mean both slap and pop. But Geddy is not slapping. He's just popping. Putting his right hand index finger underneath the string, pulling the string up and letting it go creating a 'popping' sound on the note. Snap could be another good word for it, but not an 'official' terminology at all. For more on the topic watch any Marcus Miller live to see it in action, he is a master and one of the only players I'd say who can musically slap on any damn style he pleases lol.
@@JustinPanariello thank you! I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him “popping” quite a few times! Like in Leave that thing alone and Where’s my thing. Appreciate your time in answering!
Rush: The Next Generation. You’ll be over 6K subs when you get to Vapor Trails, which I personally have not heard. Supposedly it’s good. This song? We went from The Temples of Syrinx to 100 100 1? Yeah…SOS.
When I bought this album I have to admit that I didn't like it. I was just getting use to Signals! But the more you listen to it the more it grows on you.
Yeah, he's popping. It seems that it was the prominent bass technique in the 80's. I'm not sure if it started in the 80's, but that's when it picked up steam with the likes of Mark King of Level 42. He was a big influence for that. I think Body Electric, Kid Gloves, and Red Lenses are the only interesting songs in this album, imo. Everything else seems to be lack luster and depressing.
Uggghh! This keyboard era is interesting at best to me. There are a handful of good tracks packed in but a lot of onion to peel to get there. Just aint feeling it. Poured over a large portion of known Frank Zappa catalog during this period. I love these guys, but the lion share of the keys driven stuff is forgettable to me. Good reaction Justin.
I never could get into this song. There are bits of it I like but I think it's too bright for me overall. I also don't care for the mix. Just my personal opinion.
@@denishamelin8683 And It’s not even just random ones and zeroes to sound like binary. Converting 1001001 to ASCII gives you the capital letter “I” … in a song about individually and identity. The man’s genius was limitless!
@@Bass17yl As well read as Neil was, I also imagine that he read about the number 73 (a star number en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_number) that has many sexy factors and relationships with prime. I assume the fact that 73 in binary is a palindrome also caught his eye. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/73_(number). Yep, the man’s genius was limitless!
$UPER THANK$!!!
Thanks for watching my videos! Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel!! I appreciate it!
Check the Description for Amazon Affiliate Links to VINYL/DVDs/Books, Bass gear, Music gear, and other cool products related to this video! If you want to support the channel you can Super Thanks, direct Paypal or Venmo, hit our Mailing Address or our Amazon Wishlists... ALL IN THE DESCRIPTION! Check the description for a link to Camilla's TH-cam channel! Thank you everyone!
Grace Under Pressure is an album that needs to be listened to while considering the context of the times in which it was released in.
This is the album that got me into Rush. At it's release in spring of 1984 I was 14 years old, and living smack-dab in the middle of the Reagan presidency. The cold-war was just as visceral then as it was in the 1950's.
This album captures the feel of those times, without actually vocalizing the literal then-current events. It felt modern... even futuristic. Not in a sci-fi way, but really cutting edge... as if this is the way rock music was progressing to; it fit right in. An album of it's time, for it's time.
Long time Rush fan. I did not care for this when it came out. But it grew on me. Really like this one.
Alex's guitar is so HUGE on this song and album!!!
One thing I've noticed in your journey and it kind of rings the same for me, is that those who grew up in the album era of side A and Side B, the B sides always seem to have the biggest impact. Most bands, Rush included had most of thier "hits" or "singles" splashed mostly on side A, I find myself drawn into more of the B sides or "deeper cuts". I look forward to your videos every morning!
The depth of Neil's verbal (or numerical) punnery is priceless.
1001001 is 73 in decimal which is the 21st prime and its reciprocal 37 is the 12th prime.
2112! Oh Neil, you were the epitome of nerdy goodness.
Also, if I remember correctly, back when this song came out, decimal 73 was equivalent to the keyboard letter 'i' as in 'I am'.
Thanks Droopy for the trivia. That is a good one.
I bow in reverence to an ubernerd. I feel ashamed that I never thought of that.
@@LateGroomer Rise young padawan. Ubernerdness is still within your grasp. 🤓
Rush wrote a song about artificial intelligence
in 1984.
AMAZING!
Don't forget Styx "Mr. Roboto" from 1983. Domo Arigato
While I understand the instinct, it's always been one of my pet peeves that people want bands with this much success to just keep doing the same thing. This album is incredible. Yes it's different, yes it's still Rush. It's art, literally. They are expressing themselves in the culture in which they live, at that moment in time. If you isolate the lyrics, the guitar, the bass, the keys, and the guitar, they are all still killing it, and bringing it back together in a sound that, granted is totally different than some of their other albums. When Picasso does a painting that's different than the last do we criticize? Maybe, but in retrospect it is still a masterpiece. I agree with your take that there are hidden gems on every album and on this album in particular, I think the more times you listen the more hidden gems you will find :-) I would highly encourage all Rush fans who have discarded this album from their listening to listen to it four or five times more with an open mind and active ears. You won't be disappointed.
Even the album cover is modern art.
@Spiffy-well stated, AND my feelings exactly on it.🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎤🎹
@@ZIG4ZAG20 Awesome! There's at least two of us haha
P/G is the last truly EPIC Rush album.
@@spiffymick7073 three already...
I bought moving pictures when I was a freshman and I graduated when this album dropped. This song was always my favorite off the album for the reasons you stated. Kid Gloves has a great solo. And Red lenses is well Red Lenses. Between the wheels is a close Second. Thanks again Justin! Can’t wait for the recap.
Red lenses is not blue.
Kid gloves has a wicked solo section
1001001001. Every garage door on my street goes up.
As a drummer I love this song, it’s a lot of fun to play.
Yeah. I still can’t play red lenses though😂
@@richierich398 me neither.🤣👍
I concur with you both! The Body Electric is super fun to play! I can't figure out how to play Red Lenses for the life of me!
First time I've heard this with the cans. I heard details I never noticed before, pretty cool.
I'm with you on this, it is one of the few songs on this record that I really like, still some dark themes but it has a real nice vibe and groove to it. Great reaction Justin.
‘The Body Electric’ is a song about robots of a dystopian future, thus the “robotic” drum part. Painting a cinematic picture with music is one of the best aspects of Rush.
Kid Gloves, Red Lenses, Between the Wheels still to come - yeah, Justin is gonna like this album a LOT by the time he's done.
‘They’re Rush again’….dude, they’re always Rush whatever they do…just because some people don’t like synths that’s you. Rush has it all!
Everything Rush did was a reflection of the world and music around them, translated and rephrased as only Rush could do it.
"The Body Electric" and the next two are my favorites on the album.
Boy was I wrong! haha I'm pleasantly surprised! \m/
Discarded?! P/G is brilliant, yes it put off some older fans that refused to accept Rush can adapt and produce more than a single style/sound palette. I love the older stuff too, but this is also very good and following the trends of the day, adapt or die…
Nils drum part on this is so driving, and Alex’s court choices sublime, they kind of melt into this beautiful interplay in the homestretch with Neil going off, this track has grown on me overtime to be my second favorite on the record. Thanks
don't forget Geddy is singing and playing bass. he blows my mind when you see it live n he is not looking at what he is playing. n hitting every note on point.
you have a great ear teach. you make me listen to parts of the song more.
thanks
I remember how excited I was in the 80's when it came time for a new album because I knew them well enough to expect the music to be different but I also knew that it was still going to be cool because, after all, it was another album by Rush.
I like this track. That drum beat is very catchy, and Geddy's bass popping fits right in.
I think the title references “I sing the Body Electric”, a book by Ray Bradbury. Great song! I predict that you’ll like at least one more track.
Which in turn is a Walt Whitman reference: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Sing_the_Body_Electric_(poem)
The Body Electric and Kid Gloves are the redeeming songs on Grace Under Pressure.
Between The Wheels has always been the best song on GUP:)
@@carlgibbons5777 You're not wrong!
Glad you liked this one. It is a unique song in their catalog. I don’t remember it getting any radio AirPlay but the blade runner-esq video got heavy MTV airplay back in the day. This wasn’t one of Rush's most popular songs but I always enjoyed it. It was only played live on the GUP Warm-Up shows at Radio City Music Hall in 1983. This warm-up tour was a few months prior to the release of Grace Under Pressure. They played 3 GUP songs on this mini-tour. They played the pre-release versions of Body Electric, Kid Gloves and Red Sector A. Body Electric was never played on the GUP proper tour in 1984 nor anytime thereafter.
It was also in rotation during the Clockwork Angels tour.
@@basketcasedrummer oh yes you’re right. They didn’t play it at the show I saw but they did play it on occasion during that tour. Thanks!
Awesome song! Glad you enjoyed! Hidden gem for sure. Looking forward to the rest of the album and the next album Power Windows!
Geddy’s all over that bass on this one!!
Love this song they played this on one of the later tours awesome!
You are one cool dude. You are my mornings coffee.Thanks!
I liked your reaction and assessment of the album!! This is one of my favorite albums!! Always loved this song!!
I never get tired of listening to side 2 of P/G.
I'm with you on this one buddy! This is one of my two favorite songs on this album. In my old age I have gotten more into listening to lyrics and this one has a sci-fi-like tone to it! Subbed!!
Thanks Robert!
Alex has said in interviews that the guitar solo in "Kid Gloves" is his favorite solo because he he actually deliberately wrote/planned it out beforehand instead of his usual improvisation style. I tend to think that's what makes his solos so unique and fun, but whatever! Also, I think you will enjoy "Red Lenses" because it's also quirky and different and unlike a lot of what they've done before...
Yes the B side of this record is amazing. Great reaction.
I’ve gone through this album again and think you will be surprised how many of these songs are keepers in the long run. I wouldn’t skip a single track on this album if I hit play. I still don’t love the sound but the songs kill live and it makes me appreciate the source performances.
Great reaction!
The drum intro of this song is my ringtone. Not all Rush is for all listeners. But, whether it's a riff, chorus, or poignant lyric, theres something in every Rush album that anyone can like.
Yep! This album is killer! My guess is that after you have heard it multiple times it will grow on you.
Yeah, the deep cuts although they did do a video for this one. The drum parts on this one are so cool, definitely one of my favs as well.
I had forgotten about this song. My bad. Love the drums bass and guitar. Like you said Rush again but different. Bam!
First album I ever bought on cassette. I was a freshman in high school when it came out, and this has always been my favorite song on the album.
hi justin, i was pretty sur you gonna like this one, cool song about robot, btw, your cover of neil young is very cool.🎤🎸
They grow on you like a fungus. I remember when this came out - It was so disappointing. BUT - I kept listening and listening and next thing you know it... I loved it.
This is what I meant when I previously commented that, after Signals, the albums contain occasional gems. The Body Electric is such a track. The rest is just prog pop with the exception of Between the Wheels, which is another worthy prog rock track on this album.
I forgot about this song and yes I like this one. It has a groove to it and I like Alex's solo. So far we are on the same wavelength. LOL
That's a very fun song! It was a surprise and joy to hear it in their Clockwork Angels tour. Though I'm surprised Red Sector A didn't rate higher with you. It's such a powerful song. Hmmm, maybe not too surprising. I've found a lot of my favorite songs from them are ones that grew into that after a few listengings.
Well said.
Grown on me over the years...the music video was cool. RUSH has many deep cuts that are outstanding.
This song is TOUGH AS BALLS to play on the drums. No two parts are the same through the whole song. This is the magic of Neil in the 1980s.... every verse, pre-chorus and chorus has different phrases, which are themselves big hooks in the song. And Neil designed those hooks to work around the vocals. Very cool. Very influential on a lot of drumming through the rest of the decade.
another classic
I think this song is a good fit for the future album that will be Roll the bones. It has a similar sound and make up as many of the songs from that album do. Maybe it's just me, but as soon as Geddy started singing, I instantly thought of that record.
Many people are not fans of Rush’s “synth period”, but I love the 80’s albums. The sounds changed, but there is still a edgy, driving energy. Rush was still very creatively experimenting and dynamic. IMHO, the 90’s albums lost some of that edge and are much more uneven overall. They rediscovered their mojo for their final three albums, producing some of their best work.
I’ve mention this before, but many of the songs off this album (and the next two) were much harder and heavier live in concert. Love that you are doing the whole catalog , seen others attempt it but pretty sure you’ll be he only one to do all 175+ songs. Thanks!
Many people consider 80's Rush their favorite. It all depends when you discovered the band.
I "discovered" the band in the 80's and I was actually slightly disappointed when I went back and listened to the early records.They didn't compare in my mind although I still liked them.
@@carlgibbons5777 Same with me. However Rush is now my favorite band and I like everything they've done.
Body Electric is one of my favorite deep cuts. The bass popping is Ged's version of popping
Hey Justin, here's another suggestion for your Rush file - "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Music of Rush". You can find the vids on youtube. They do Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, Tom Sawyer, among others.
It is a very interesting listening experience, I think you might dig it.
Cheers 🇨🇦
The chorus melody without lyrics caught you.
Picking this as your favorite from this album so far is a bold choice lol
wait til Red Lenses! lol
@@JustinPanariello I know some think it's one of the weaker songs but I've always liked it. This is one of the reasons I like good reactions/reviews like yours - a different perspective
Nothing but cool.
I have a sneaking suspicion that you'll like Red Lenses and especially Between the Wheels... killer.
This album is pure Cold War 80's, and a great companion piece to Signals.. Compare it to most synth Rock from the era and it Rules, especially Live.. Yes, it is not Hard Prog Rush, but Rush always fluctuated with the times.. It has a great concept, lyrics, compositional flow, and intellectual connections, making it a Top 10 Rush album, and a definite favorite. As with Signals, the whole record must be absorbed..
I am pretty sure I have seen him playing this and he literally pulls on the bass strings perpendicular to the surface of the bass rather than plucking them with his finger in the sections where you hear that popping bass sound.
yes. he's popping. As in Slap and Pop... but Geddy is just popping.
@@JustinPanariello Exactly... I am not sure I have seen it done that often where someone is popping without slapping but then come to think of it I can't think of Geddy ever using the slap technique. That brings me back to you being adamant that they were not funky a couple of albums ago... slap bass is almost obligatory when it comes to funk. :)
GUP is definitely a multiple listen record...I think you'll like it much more with a few more listens. Even so, it probably only beats out Hold Your Fire among Rush's 80s stuff
The video for this song got a fair amount of airplay on MTV. It's sort of a low-budget Blade Runner kind of thing (there was a lot of that happening back then), but it's worth checking out. The song was on the radio for a while, and Rush didn't shake it from their setlists through most of the 80s. It's definitely one of the better fusions of their classic power trio approach and the synth-forward 80s sound on the album. I'm not a fan of Geddy's popping thing, but it was definitely a phase he went through. I agree it's one of the better songs on the album. Grace Under Pressure is one of those albums where you have to wait a while to get to the better songs.
"The Body Electric" was another song that was made into an official video. It wasn't played too much on MTV because the channel was pretty much an American thing. The UK audience has always had a more diverse appetite than the US.
Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/r3Dju2i4FZw/w-d-xo.html
I think you'll enjoy at least 2 of the final 3 songs. 🎼✌😉😊
This song's a banger. Plus I'm a sci-fi nerd. Hits all the right buttons for me.
Also has one of the best "misheard lyrics" from Rush ... a hundred years of poutine... bows its head and prays to the mother of all the cheese!
Edit: I predict you will like Kid Gloves.
Grace Under Pressure was not "discarded". It was a somewhat divisive record among the Rush purists and the newer Rush fans when it came out, but now it sits among the top 5 records or so of too many rush fans to mention. Always been in my top 5.
There's some great lines in the lyrics. I was wondering if you'd think this was too nerdy of a song to like and enjoy. :)
Dude, you kill me! Lol! You love, and hate, the most unexpected songs! But that's ok, I'm still with you man! My personal favorite from this record is "Red Sector A." "Kid Gloves" is pretty good too, it has a "Free Will" kinda feel to the guitar, but I'm getting ahead of you a bit! Lol!
This is definitely the best song on the album. You should watch the original music videos for this album, low budget surreal oddness. As others have pointed out 1001001 if ASCII code for "I" as in "I am".
Anytime I hear this I think of the movie short circuit. Lol.
5 Alive!!!!
I always thought of star wars because of the line '...in the desert sun'.
Around 1975, the record industry changed big time, with the issuing of Greatest Hits album's! Artist's like the Eagles,Olivia Newton John, Elton John, made a fortune !
Sure, Greatest Hits are more economical but they lack soul! Hate to say how much money I have spent in my lifetime on music!
I'm a purist! Much prefer listening to album's! You get to hear the good, bad and ugly!
It's great that you are being honest and not sugar coating your reactions!
I've always thought that this is THE album where Geddy is at his vocal best!🏆🏆
Clockwork Angels
This bassline, always makes me think of John Taylor from Duran Duran, who was also having his time in the limelight around the same time this album was released. I don’t know if there is a direct line of influence in either direction, or if both of them were just being influenced by he sounds of the time.
After this album is finished I uploaded some live Rush clips I reacted to and I mention Alex looks like he belongs in Duran Duran lol
@@JustinPanariello Or his 'Flock of Seagulls' phase
I love this album! But then again, I’m a super fan without a favorite era.
I’ll never understand how so many Rush fans wound up believing the “progressive” in progressive rock means “stay exactly the same for 40 years.”
Couldn't agree more. Neil's lyrics went from sci fi, to love (Entre Nous), to contemporary issues (Second Nature), to history (Manhattan Project), etc. It's called growth and creativity. You don't stay around for those 40+ years without growing and changing.
@@cocoboobenstein Unless you're AC/DC.
@@Newworldman66 Good point lol
PS, I think the first two tracks you will get to appreciate with more lessons as well
I like this song!! Question: (because I’m not a bass player…lol) is “popping different than “slapping” ? Ive Iseen him many times grab a string and let it go, but I’ve only seen him slap the strings to creat a sound a couple of times. Just wondering which one your referring to. Good song! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!!
yes they are different. slapping is with your thumb. Sometimes people will just say slapping and it could mean both slap and pop. But Geddy is not slapping. He's just popping. Putting his right hand index finger underneath the string, pulling the string up and letting it go creating a 'popping' sound on the note. Snap could be another good word for it, but not an 'official' terminology at all. For more on the topic watch any Marcus Miller live to see it in action, he is a master and one of the only players I'd say who can musically slap on any damn style he pleases lol.
@@JustinPanariello thank you! I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him “popping” quite a few times! Like in Leave that thing alone and Where’s my thing. Appreciate your time in answering!
When you talk about legacy bands having throw away stuff that''s how I feel about Styx after the mid 80s
If you translate 1001001 from binary code to text, you get....... " I ".
❤ ❤... ❤
It always sounded to me as if geddy was really mad at his bass
Rush: The Next Generation. You’ll be over 6K subs when you get to Vapor Trails, which I personally have not heard. Supposedly it’s good.
This song? We went from The Temples of Syrinx to 100 100 1? Yeah…SOS.
😂
When I bought this album I have to admit that I didn't like it. I was just getting use to Signals! But the more you listen to it the more it grows on you.
yeah i didn't like it initially either, I loved Signals. After a couple listens I really like this album.
Yeah, he's popping. It seems that it was the prominent bass technique in the 80's. I'm not sure if it started in the 80's, but that's when it picked up steam with the likes of Mark King of Level 42. He was a big influence for that.
I think Body Electric, Kid Gloves, and Red Lenses are the only interesting songs in this album, imo. Everything else seems to be lack luster and depressing.
Uggghh! This keyboard era is interesting at best to me. There are a handful of good tracks packed in but a lot of onion to peel to get there. Just aint feeling it.
Poured over a large portion of known Frank Zappa catalog during this period. I love these guys, but the lion share of the keys driven stuff is forgettable to me.
Good reaction Justin.
I never could get into this song. There are bits of it I like but I think it's too bright for me overall. I also don't care for the mix. Just my personal opinion.
You can not understand this in one listen. No one can.
Live better. Poor sound. But a a Great tune
The mix is thin and WAY off! *SIGH* I love RUSH, but this is probably my least favorite album. Good songs, duff mix!
The music video for this song
Is awful! You gotta watch it…
Great song otherwise.
Who would sing 100 100 1 in distress ? They destroyed a good song with a silly chorus line...
😂😂😂😂😂
Peart’s imagination was awesome…using binary code and speaking the droids language…sorry you didn’t understand the genius behind it.
@@denishamelin8683 I did.... But I don't feel the urge to butter up Neil Peart's skills.
@@denishamelin8683 And It’s not even just random ones and zeroes to sound like binary. Converting 1001001 to ASCII gives you the capital letter “I” … in a song about individually and identity. The man’s genius was limitless!
@@Bass17yl As well read as Neil was, I also imagine that he read about the number 73 (a star number en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_number) that has many sexy factors and relationships with prime. I assume the fact that 73 in binary is a palindrome also caught his eye. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/73_(number). Yep, the man’s genius was limitless!