$UPER THANK$!!! 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!
Yes, a dystopia called Nazi concentration camps. Geddy’s family went through it, and many of his relatives were killed there. On a second listen to any Rush song, read the lyrics, as they’re very important for all of their work.
Well said, the lyrics are very deep in mostly all rush songs, but SPECIFICALLY this song… Incredibly deep an meaningful… I read that when Neil wrote these lyrics he did a ton of research an sit downs with Geddy’s family to get their deepest insights into the holocaust an how they survived such horrors
Thank you for posting that. My grandparents were Czech, and also the Polish went through the same thing. It's a very personal thing since I wouldn't be here typing if certain people hadn't escaped in time.
"I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gates/Are the liberators here, do I hope or do I fear/For my father and my brother, it's too late/But I must help my mother stand up straight." These are some of the most powerful words in Rush's entire discography, and the pure, raw emotion in Geddy's voice really brings them to life. With anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred on the rise, it's a powerful reminder that we must do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. Great reaction as always; Rush on!! 🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🔥 🔥 🔥
The title for Red Sector A is drawn from an area at Cape Kennedy, from when the band visited for the Shuttle launch. The song itself has always had an Alien feel to me, something from another world. Neil does draw on first hand reports from holocaust survivors, this brings the piece right into reality, the lyrics Neil writes are simply brilliant, he captures the feeling of dread, hopelessness and ultimately a feeling of relief. I know this personally because I am a son of a holocaust survivor, my father; 14 years old at the time was liberated from Dachau concentration camp (his family perished in Auschwitz) he was liberated along with Geddy's father, this is a deep personal connection that I have with Geddy (unknown to him of course), coincidently, I grew up not too far from Alex and Geddy. This song while other worldly in feel and style, it is firmly grounded in our reality. This song has always been hard for me, but it is necessary, we must never forget the events of the Second World War.
Hi Justin, I do hope my short report sheds some light on the heavy lyrics and the very heavy subject of this song. Love your diligence in staying on this journey, it is worth taking. Westie
Yeah, according to Geddy, his parents met in a German concentration camp. They lost touch when they were separated, but after the war they reconnected and got married. Dark song, but very well done!
Great song. Geddy's parents and relatives were all in a concentration camps, I believe in Bergen-Belsen. Neil had interviewed Geddy's mother and wrote this song about the end of her time there. Most of Geddy's relatives were killed there. I believe his parents didn't see each other again until years after the war. If I'm wrong, someone will correct me. The drums are echoing the sound of gun fire.
This is one of Rush's most beautiful songs. Alex's guitars paint a landscape of despair and horror that even surpass Neil's haunting imagery. Geddy's vocals fill out the scene, and his synthesizers smartly take a backseat to just add ambiance. This song was used a lot in concerts as it's not only one of their most powerful but is also based on Geddy's heritage. On their Clockwork Angels tour, they kept the string section onstage for this song to add even more impact to it.
The lines “Are we the last ones left alive? Are we the only human beings to survive?” are based on the attitudes and beliefs of many holocaust concentration camp survivors (of which were both Geddy’s mother and father). The belief being that conditions were so very terrible that they would certainly be liberated because how could civilized countries NOT come to their rescue. That is, unless those countries HAD been defeated and those in the camps WERE the last ones left alive, the only ones left to survive (as horrid as it was). I can’t imagine.
@martydavis547 - I've always wondered, though: Why did Geddy change the melody around the lyric "All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive" for the live performances? Did he possibly think it was too catchy?! 😅
This is, in my humble opinion, the best track on the entire album. I am a fan of all Rush albums, but I will say that my level of fandom varies from album to album once we get past Signals. This song absolutely rocks live, however.
Wait for Red Lenses....that funky bass and drum section in the middle is just so cool to me. If you turn it up, you can hear Geddy letting out a yelp of pure delight when they are grooving big time. it was clearly recorded as one take (maybe many takes, but I get the sense that the yell is because this is a good one), its about the 3:18-3:20 point. Its just such a cool beat that I certainly could never be bothered to try to figure out on the drums. I see red....hurts my head gotta say.
Geddy’s mom and dad really thought they were the last ones left alive in Auschwitz! After the war Geddy’s dad found his mother, and they were married at Bergen-Belsen internment camp! Very deep and disturbing song about real evens his parents to endured! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!
Watch Geddy's interview with Dan Rather.. he talks about his family being in the Holocaust.. and also about some of his other interests in life. It's a very good interview.
Right when you made the monster face it would have been perfect if kitty came up to bump you and say hi. :) I thought I heard bass playing on Afterimage but perhaps that was what you were calling synthbass...
It may be 80s sounding, but it’s Rush’s version of 80s sound, if that makes any sense. And to me it’s not only that shimmery synth sound, and total lack of base on some songs, but also Alex’s guitar tone that make this album to sound so different than all the other Rush albums.
Red Sector A is a very cool synth-heavy song. A very emotional song too (lyrically and musically). It's probably the most electronic song on the album. Yes, there is no bass guitar on Red Sector A, Afterimage and Between the Wheels. All synths. Red Sector A was played live almost as often as Distant Early Warning. It was played live regularly throughout the 80's and again for a few tours from 1996 to 2004. The title is taken from the VIP viewing area at Kennedy Space Center where Rush watched the first Space Shuttle launch in 1981. But the subject matter is completely different and very powerful. It alludes to the horror of the Holocaust. Both of Geddy's parents were holocaust survivors.
@@lucasburigo you’re right. Thank you for the correction. He does play bass on the chorus. I re-listened to the studio version and the bass is there too although not as prominent as when played live.
Between the Wheels has bass in the pre-choruses and the Guitar Solo. The bass line in the guitar solo is fantastic. That guitar solo has to be one of my favorite instrumental sections in their entire catalog. Great technique...the way all the instruments come together...just great!
This was definitely Geddy getting lost in his shiny new keyboard toys. I have a soft spot for this album because it was the first tour that I saw them live. Never missed one from then on. This track actually blossomed live, You should check the GUP tour live version to see what I mean. But in hindsight, Geddy not playing bass was likely not the best move but he got passed it eventually ;)
You nailed it with the term "dystopian," which what Neil was going for. While the song uses Holocaust imagery as a device, it was not, contrary to what I thought when I first heard it, specifically about the Holocaust. It was actually set in some sort of nameless, timeless dystopian world, which Neil explicitly stated back in '84. The sequencer and omission of bass add to that alien feeling. I just love Alex's chordal playing and Geddy's impassioned vocals on this one. I still think this is an early high water mark for Geddy as a writer. Also love the fact that the electronic drum sounds here were largely samples of Neil vocalizing/impersonating electronic drum sounds. Again, big change in direction, but an interesting one. They started started losing me on the next album, which I wouldn't fully appreciate until decades later. Can't wait to hear what you think of Enemy!
There is no bass guitar on this track. The P.P.G. wave 2.2 was one of the main synthesizers on this album. The bass is a Minimoog and Moog Taurus bass pedals This song also features Neil playing the Simmons electric drums kit. I am surprised you did not hear that. This is the best track on the whole album
Musically this song is OK but it is the lyrics with this one that stand out. Both Geddy's parents were Holocaust survivors and Neil sat down with Geddy's mom to hear about her experience and that is what this song was about. I feel the same way you do about this album.
Well said, I have always felt that this is Rush's darkest record. Neil drew quite a lot from first hand reports of other survivors, he did his research and he did it very well.
One of my favorite songs from the apocalyptic album GUP. Rush began more of humanistic journey to their messages. This album was released during the Reagan years when the rhetoric between the US and Soviet Union was ramping up. I was nearing the end of my second enlistment in the Navy. Rush was also one of the first bands to use computers to run their light show and one of the first to use green lasers!! And yes, Geddy spends all of "Red Sector A" behind the keyboards. Here's a link to the song being performed: th-cam.com/video/B3ytkyn3vUU/w-d-xo.html
Strangely I think now for me it's a mixed bag of greatness and ok. Back in the 80s when I bought it I thought every track was great but then that was the 80s. I still think between the wheels is in my top 5, the laser show live on red sector a was great.
No bass guitar on either Afterimage or Red Sector A. Brilliant songs, and just a testament to how Rush was challenging themselves to evolve and absorb the current times in music. As different as these tunes were from previous records, it still sounds like them, which is a heck of an accomplishment and they would continue this for decades. Pretty obvious u aren't feeling this record, it's ok. Rush gained, and then lost many fans throughout their various phases. Then there is a group of core fans that stuck with the changes and ended up evolving with the band. RIP professor
Another song that’s really MORE played live. One of less than a handful that Ged performs NOT even wearing a bass😱🤯But the subject matter, and haunting music is a perfect marriage, that should/will bring a tear to the eye once fully researched and understood. Your right, NO BASS GUITAR but bass programming is in it.🎹🎸🥁🎤🤘🖖✌️
The synthh on this album was a little hard for my ear at times. I still like the songs, and this one is a favorite on the album for me. I have not listened to the whole record for a long time, so hopefully Justin will find some forgotten gems here.
This album is from a dark time looking back at dark events, worried about the future. I can see why it’s difficult to get into really. It’s very much of its time and mindset. And a lot of pop music of the time deflected away from that as music often did. But not Rush, and a number of “lesser known bands” channeled that anxiety and fear. I think this one will grow on you as well, but the lyrics are critical. Neil’s lyrics mostly get better and better as they go along.
Oddly enough, I've noticed you doing background reads lately on songs before you listen to them. This is one I think would have benefited from that more than the others. This is a more personal song to Geddy as Limelight was to Neil, as it paints a picture of the Nazi horrors experienced by his family in the concentration camps. In that context, the music fits very well.
Since you're on a bit of a Rush journey, currently live in London, the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert w/ Geddy and Alex playing Rush music for the 2nd time since Neil's passing (they did Closer To the Heart at the South Park anniversary show a few weeks back. Here is a link to the video, of which was live @ 3 our time and 8 in London. They do 2 songs w/ Dave Grohl and YYZed w/ the great Omar Hakim on drums. It is around the -1:04:23 mark in the video. th-cam.com/video/LOnjLuBBkhU/w-d-xo.html
Geddy’s parents and relatives went through the holocaust and that might have something to do with the subject matter. What strikes me about this album is how lyrically dark it is throughout. As far as the sound goes, it took me quite a few listens to get this record and it actually became one of my favorites. I think it’s their last great record for quite a stretch although certain things still evolved like Neil’s lyrics and his drum work was always great. There’s a lot of cool drum stuff on this album for sure, but as you noted, the bass is pretty lacking in a couple songs already, although it reappears as you get further into the album.
After listening to this song it is worth checking out this clip from an interview Dan Rather did with Geddy where he asked him about his parent's holocaust past. It is under 5 minutes and is exclusively about that topic... th-cam.com/video/FRXgEjAe0xM/w-d-xo.html
Yes i know sorry. What I heard was great. For some reason this album and my ESL videos audio sucks. Doing same process as all my videos so idk. Frustrating
GUP suffers from what I call the Dram Theater affect, where the keys and guitar are so in synch, it's difficult to tell where one begins and the other ends. When you see them play it live, you can see Lifeson playing what you could have sworn were keys, and vice versa. And the guitar on this album has a very definite feel to it, even when his playing is obvious - Lots of high end, tons of mid range, almost no low end or bass, and all of the effects. The next album dials it back down to a heavier, deeper tone while the synths play back and forth more with the guitar, not as much overlapping. I absolutely love songs off of this album, but it's still not my favorite overall (wait for Red Lenses and have a barf bag ready 🤮 ).
This song bugs me because they played it on almost every tour after this album came out towards the end of the night. I think this is either because of Geddy's connection to it or because it's a song he could play totally on synth with no bass strapped on at all.
Lol I told you goes in a different direction. There is one song on here I don't like it doesn't matter how much I listen to it. I will reserve which one cause I'm curious to see what u think. As always enjoy your honest straight forward reactions.
I've seen Rush fans say they've learnt the guitar solo. I think really, just sounds like U2/Simple Minds harmonics. You're right, no bass and the keyboard playing isn't exactly Rick Wakeman. Is better live but apart from the lyrical sentiment is one track I skip.
This song succeeds for me where "Afterimage" did not. Geddy's vocal works better, Alex's solo is more focused, but it's still burdened by the same glossy synth-tastic production, and yet again -- no freaking bass, Geddy? And how many Rush songs up to this point were written in a minor key? The dystopian sci-fi lyrics just put a cherry on the top of some dark music.
I remember referring to this album, for a couple of decades, as "Disgrace Under Pressure.' While not being a total disgrace, it is one of Rush's overall weakest albums. Even Neil's drums sound muffled and displaced by the synths!
Always liked this song but for some reason the line "I must help my mother stand up straight" just sounded too corny and tried to hard to make it rhyme with the previous line
This album came out at the time we were under a nuclear threat from the USSR. I think a few of these songs are influenced by that time. Just my opinion. This is one of my least favorite albums because the lack of bass guitar, lead guitar and Neil using Electric drums.
@@DionysusAlS Allegedly? Yeah, whatever buddy. The earth is flat. Climate Change isn't man-made. The moon landings were faked. Trump is a smart businessman. Right? You probably believe all those things, right?
$UPER THANK$!!!
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!
Yes, a dystopia called Nazi concentration camps. Geddy’s family went through it, and many of his relatives were killed there. On a second listen to any Rush song, read the lyrics, as they’re very important for all of their work.
Well said, the lyrics are very deep in mostly all rush songs, but SPECIFICALLY this song…
Incredibly deep an meaningful…
I read that when Neil wrote these lyrics he did a ton of research an sit downs with Geddy’s family to get their deepest insights into the holocaust an how they survived such horrors
Thank you for posting that. My grandparents were Czech, and also the Polish went through the same thing. It's a very personal thing since I wouldn't be here typing if certain people hadn't escaped in time.
Grace under pressure. No truer words for this subject matter. Alex has the most creative use of harmonics of any guitarist I have ever heard.
"I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gates/Are the liberators here, do I hope or do I fear/For my father and my brother, it's too late/But I must help my mother stand up straight."
These are some of the most powerful words in Rush's entire discography, and the pure, raw emotion in Geddy's voice really brings them to life. With anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred on the rise, it's a powerful reminder that we must do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. Great reaction as always; Rush on!!
🎤 🎹 🎸 🥁 🎸 🔥 🔥 🔥
The title for Red Sector A is drawn from an area at Cape Kennedy, from when the band visited for the Shuttle launch. The song itself has always had an Alien feel to me, something from another world. Neil does draw on first hand reports from holocaust survivors, this brings the piece right into reality, the lyrics Neil writes are simply brilliant, he captures the feeling of dread, hopelessness and ultimately a feeling of relief. I know this personally because I am a son of a holocaust survivor, my father; 14 years old at the time was liberated from Dachau concentration camp (his family perished in Auschwitz) he was liberated along with Geddy's father, this is a deep personal connection that I have with Geddy (unknown to him of course), coincidently, I grew up not too far from Alex and Geddy. This song while other worldly in feel and style, it is firmly grounded in our reality. This song has always been hard for me, but it is necessary, we must never forget the events of the Second World War.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Justin, I do hope my short report sheds some light on the heavy lyrics and the very heavy subject of this song. Love your diligence in staying on this journey, it is worth taking. Westie
@@lvgelfling72 Thank you for reading it, it is a very hard subject and I hope it helps to put the song in context.
Geddys mother and father were both in concentration camps. This was written for them. Thank you Neil, you are so good at stirring emotion.
The Enemy Within rules! You’ll hear some bass on that one.
Of all of RUSH's library, this is the most visual song for me.
Alex’s chord progressions in this track are awesome. It’s all so another track that should be experienced live to fully appreciate it.
Will never happen again
his guitar playing is so underrated
Yeah, according to Geddy, his parents met in a German concentration camp. They lost touch when they were separated, but after the war they reconnected and got married. Dark song, but very well done!
Great song. Geddy's parents and relatives were all in a concentration camps, I believe in Bergen-Belsen. Neil had interviewed Geddy's mother and wrote this song about the end of her time there. Most of Geddy's relatives were killed there. I believe his parents didn't see each other again until years after the war. If I'm wrong, someone will correct me.
The drums are echoing the sound of gun fire.
totally agree... I am amazed at how things play out. all of the time...
Also Alex guitar makes a rifle sound
This is one of Rush's most beautiful songs. Alex's guitars paint a landscape of despair and horror that even surpass Neil's haunting imagery. Geddy's vocals fill out the scene, and his synthesizers smartly take a backseat to just add ambiance. This song was used a lot in concerts as it's not only one of their most powerful but is also based on Geddy's heritage. On their Clockwork Angels tour, they kept the string section onstage for this song to add even more impact to it.
rush is playing live on youtube right now on the taylor hawkins tribute concert at wembley stadium :)
The darkest song in the catalog by far, this was a staple in the live show.
Funny fact that they filmed R30 in Frankfurt, they did Red Sector A there as well same hall where Hitler speeched
The first album I listened from Rush. I loved the 80s Rush
My favourite Rush tune. Ever.
The lines
“Are we the last ones left alive? Are we the only human beings to survive?”
are based on the attitudes and beliefs of many holocaust concentration camp survivors (of which were both Geddy’s mother and father).
The belief being that conditions were so very terrible that they would certainly be liberated because how could civilized countries NOT come to their rescue. That is, unless those countries HAD been defeated and those in the camps WERE the last ones left alive, the only ones left to survive (as horrid as it was).
I can’t imagine.
Red Sector A, the name of the song came from where Nasa seated Rush to watch the 1st space shuttle Columbia launch in 1981 (the song Countdown).
Powerfull song
Can´t wait to see Geddy and Alex playing today in London!
When they played this live it was amazing! Neil patterns and Alex's guitar blend well together and geddys vocals!
@martydavis547 - I've always wondered, though: Why did Geddy change the melody around the lyric "All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive" for the live performances? Did he possibly think it was too catchy?! 😅
For your between albums break before Power Windows (my fave), watch the video of this from the same tour you watched Witch Hunt.
Solo in Red Sector A shows Alex taking a page from The Edge with shimmery harmonics.
This is, in my humble opinion, the best track on the entire album. I am a fan of all Rush albums, but I will say that my level of fandom varies from album to album once we get past Signals. This song absolutely rocks live, however.
There is a music vid on YT which is this song playing over Band of Brothers footage from the liberation episode. It’s absolutely gut wrenching
Wait for Red Lenses....that funky bass and drum section in the middle is just so cool to me. If you turn it up, you can hear Geddy letting out a yelp of pure delight when they are grooving big time. it was clearly recorded as one take (maybe many takes, but I get the sense that the yell is because this is a good one), its about the 3:18-3:20 point. Its just such a cool beat that I certainly could never be bothered to try to figure out on the drums. I see red....hurts my head gotta say.
Yep, no bass on Afterimage and Red Sector A.
Very emotional song for Geddy 😢😢😢😢😢
My favorite track off this album for sure!
Geddy’s mom and dad really thought they were the last ones left alive in Auschwitz! After the war Geddy’s dad found his mother, and they were married at Bergen-Belsen internment camp! Very deep and disturbing song about real evens his parents to endured! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!
In case anyone thinks they heard some bass in the song, watch the live performance. Geddy doesn't even have his bass strapped on.
Watch Geddy's interview with Dan Rather.. he talks about his family being in the Holocaust.. and also about some of his other interests in life. It's a very good interview.
Amazing interview
Right when you made the monster face it would have been perfect if kitty came up to bump you and say hi. :)
I thought I heard bass playing on Afterimage but perhaps that was what you were calling synthbass...
This song regularly made their setlists ever since ’84.
It may be 80s sounding, but it’s Rush’s version of 80s sound, if that makes any sense. And to me it’s not only that shimmery synth sound, and total lack of base on some songs, but also Alex’s guitar tone that make this album to sound so different than all the other Rush albums.
Red Sector A is a very cool synth-heavy song. A very emotional song too (lyrically and musically). It's probably the most electronic song on the album. Yes, there is no bass guitar on Red Sector A, Afterimage and Between the Wheels. All synths. Red Sector A was played live almost as often as Distant Early Warning. It was played live regularly throughout the 80's and again for a few tours from 1996 to 2004. The title is taken from the VIP viewing area at Kennedy Space Center where Rush watched the first Space Shuttle launch in 1981. But the subject matter is completely different and very powerful. It alludes to the horror of the Holocaust. Both of Geddy's parents were holocaust survivors.
They also played Red Sector A during the Clockwork Angels tour on some nights.
Between the Wheels have bass yes! Just checkout R30
@@lucasburigo you’re right. Thank you for the correction. He does play bass on the chorus. I re-listened to the studio version and the bass is there too although not as prominent as when played live.
Between the Wheels has bass in the pre-choruses and the Guitar Solo. The bass line in the guitar solo is fantastic. That guitar solo has to be one of my favorite instrumental sections in their entire catalog. Great technique...the way all the instruments come together...just great!
This was definitely Geddy getting lost in his shiny new keyboard toys. I have a soft spot for this album because it was the first tour that I saw them live. Never missed one from then on. This track actually blossomed live, You should check the GUP tour live version to see what I mean. But in hindsight, Geddy not playing bass was likely not the best move but he got passed it eventually ;)
You nailed it with the term "dystopian," which what Neil was going for. While the song uses Holocaust imagery as a device, it was not, contrary to what I thought when I first heard it, specifically about the Holocaust. It was actually set in some sort of nameless, timeless dystopian world, which Neil explicitly stated back in '84. The sequencer and omission of bass add to that alien feeling. I just love Alex's chordal playing and Geddy's impassioned vocals on this one. I still think this is an early high water mark for Geddy as a writer. Also love the fact that the electronic drum sounds here were largely samples of Neil vocalizing/impersonating electronic drum sounds. Again, big change in direction, but an interesting one. They started started losing me on the next album, which I wouldn't fully appreciate until decades later. Can't wait to hear what you think of Enemy!
There is no bass guitar on this track. The P.P.G. wave 2.2 was one of the main synthesizers on this album. The bass is a Minimoog and Moog Taurus bass pedals This song also features Neil playing the Simmons electric drums kit. I am surprised you did not hear that. This is the best track on the whole album
LOVE the guitar on this album as well as Signals.
Musically this song is OK but it is the lyrics with this one that stand out. Both Geddy's parents were Holocaust survivors and Neil sat down with Geddy's mom to hear about her experience and that is what this song was about. I feel the same way you do about this album.
Well said, I have always felt that this is Rush's darkest record. Neil drew quite a lot from first hand reports of other survivors, he did his research and he did it very well.
Both Geddy's and Alex's Mothers lived into their nineties, Rush represents three amazing band member families.
After "The Weapon" (in some sense a dance song about the manifestation of fear in religion), they decided to do a dance song about the Holocaust.
One would require a third leg to dance to 'The Weapon'. 😊
One of my favorite songs from the apocalyptic album GUP. Rush began more of humanistic journey to their messages. This album was released during the Reagan years when the rhetoric between the US and Soviet Union was ramping up. I was nearing the end of my second enlistment in the Navy.
Rush was also one of the first bands to use computers to run their light show and one of the first to use green lasers!! And yes, Geddy spends all of "Red Sector A" behind the keyboards. Here's a link to the song being performed: th-cam.com/video/B3ytkyn3vUU/w-d-xo.html
Check out Rush doing this song along with Between The Wheels and Distant Early Warning live...Amazing work when it is done live!
Strangely I think now for me it's a mixed bag of greatness and ok. Back in the 80s when I bought it I thought every track was great but then that was the 80s. I still think between the wheels is in my top 5, the laser show live on red sector a was great.
The song is about the perspective of somebody in a ww2 concentration camp which btw Gesddys parents were in and I think even Alex's ?
Awesome...read....
It’s about the Holocaust. Great tune!
Best album ever....Todd from Ohio...
No bass guitar on either Afterimage or Red Sector A. Brilliant songs, and just a testament to how Rush was challenging themselves to evolve and absorb the current times in music. As different as these tunes were from previous records, it still sounds like them, which is a heck of an accomplishment and they would continue this for decades. Pretty obvious u aren't feeling this record, it's ok. Rush gained, and then lost many fans throughout their various phases. Then there is a group of core fans that stuck with the changes and ended up evolving with the band. RIP professor
Initially i was alright with Afterimage and this one. Wasnt until the second side that i was like phew ok im digging this..
Another song that’s really MORE played live. One of less than a handful that Ged performs NOT even wearing a bass😱🤯But the subject matter, and haunting music is a perfect marriage, that should/will bring a tear to the eye once fully researched and understood. Your right, NO BASS GUITAR but bass programming is in it.🎹🎸🥁🎤🤘🖖✌️
Geddy's mother was in a concentration camp during WW2. Based around that,
The synthh on this album was a little hard for my ear at times. I still like the songs, and this one is a favorite on the album for me. I have not listened to the whole record for a long time, so hopefully Justin will find some forgotten gems here.
Second half of this record was a hit I thought
This album has something different...I don't know exactly..kinda creepy, eerie...
But freaking awesome 🤩
This album is from a dark time looking back at dark events, worried about the future. I can see why it’s difficult to get into really. It’s very much of its time and mindset. And a lot of pop music of the time deflected away from that as music often did. But not Rush, and a number of “lesser known bands” channeled that anxiety and fear.
I think this one will grow on you as well, but the lyrics are critical. Neil’s lyrics mostly get better and better as they go along.
Oddly enough, I've noticed you doing background reads lately on songs before you listen to them. This is one I think would have benefited from that more than the others. This is a more personal song to Geddy as Limelight was to Neil, as it paints a picture of the Nazi horrors experienced by his family in the concentration camps. In that context, the music fits very well.
Since you're on a bit of a Rush journey, currently live in London, the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert w/ Geddy and Alex playing Rush music for the 2nd time since Neil's passing (they did Closer To the Heart at the South Park anniversary show a few weeks back. Here is a link to the video, of which was live @ 3 our time and 8 in London. They do 2 songs w/ Dave Grohl and YYZed w/ the great Omar Hakim on drums. It is around the -1:04:23 mark in the video. th-cam.com/video/LOnjLuBBkhU/w-d-xo.html
There's the Holocaust Memorial Day video version of this that gives the context.
Geddy’s parents and relatives went through the holocaust and that might have something to do with the subject matter. What strikes me about this album is how lyrically dark it is throughout. As far as the sound goes, it took me quite a few listens to get this record and it actually became one of my favorites. I think it’s their last great record for quite a stretch although certain things still evolved like Neil’s lyrics and his drum work was always great. There’s a lot of cool drum stuff on this album for sure, but as you noted, the bass is pretty lacking in a couple songs already, although it reappears as you get further into the album.
After listening to this song it is worth checking out this clip from an interview Dan Rather did with Geddy where he asked him about his parent's holocaust past. It is under 5 minutes and is exclusively about that topic... th-cam.com/video/FRXgEjAe0xM/w-d-xo.html
Yes you are correct, Geddy does not play bass on this track.
Watch Red Dawn…, you’ll understand the lyrics.
3️⃣💗💗💗
Fear series 'rawr' lol
Interesting song sonically. Not one of my faves, however I find the lyrics to be very moving.
A very bleak soundscape to match the story. Epic live.
I hope for your sake you actually had a HiFi signal to your monitors, cause out here! it sounded like AM Radio thru a transistor unit. Lol !!
Yes i know sorry. What I heard was great. For some reason this album and my ESL videos audio sucks. Doing same process as all my videos so idk. Frustrating
GUP suffers from what I call the Dram Theater affect, where the keys and guitar are so in synch, it's difficult to tell where one begins and the other ends. When you see them play it live, you can see Lifeson playing what you could have sworn were keys, and vice versa. And the guitar on this album has a very definite feel to it, even when his playing is obvious - Lots of high end, tons of mid range, almost no low end or bass, and all of the effects. The next album dials it back down to a heavier, deeper tone while the synths play back and forth more with the guitar, not as much overlapping. I absolutely love songs off of this album, but it's still not my favorite overall (wait for Red Lenses and have a barf bag ready 🤮 ).
This song bugs me because they played it on almost every tour after this album came out towards the end of the night. I think this is either because of Geddy's connection to it or because it's a song he could play totally on synth with no bass strapped on at all.
Yeah mid 80's cheese synth. Will always love Rush but this had core Rush fans burning their albums.
All about the Nazi concentration camps and the fact that Geddy's Father and Mother were both survivors of the horrors.
Lol I told you goes in a different direction. There is one song on here I don't like it doesn't matter how much I listen to it. I will reserve which one cause I'm curious to see what u think. As always enjoy your honest straight forward reactions.
I liked Red Lenses
@@JustinPanariello Funny. I love every song on this album, the only one I'm not crazy about is Red Lenses.
@@danielwolski873 i could tell immediately when I heard it that most Rush fans probably wouldnt be into it. I dug it tho.
@@JustinPanariello I still don't mind the song, it's just my least favorite on the album.
I've seen Rush fans say they've learnt the guitar solo. I think really, just sounds like U2/Simple Minds harmonics. You're right, no bass and the keyboard playing isn't exactly Rick Wakeman. Is better live but apart from the lyrical sentiment is one track I skip.
This song succeeds for me where "Afterimage" did not. Geddy's vocal works better, Alex's solo is more focused, but it's still burdened by the same glossy synth-tastic production, and yet again -- no freaking bass, Geddy? And how many Rush songs up to this point were written in a minor key? The dystopian sci-fi lyrics just put a cherry on the top of some dark music.
I remember referring to this album, for a couple of decades, as "Disgrace Under Pressure.' While not being a total disgrace, it is one of Rush's overall weakest albums. Even Neil's drums sound muffled and displaced by the synths!
Lyrics are about the Holocaust.
Always liked this song but for some reason the line "I must help my mother stand up straight" just sounded too corny and tried to hard to make it rhyme with the previous line
This album came out at the time we were under a nuclear threat from the USSR. I think a few of these songs are influenced by that time. Just my opinion. This is one of my least favorite albums because the lack of bass guitar, lead guitar and Neil using Electric drums.
Not dystopia... it's history, unfortunately.
Allegedly.
@@DionysusAlS Allegedly? Yeah, whatever buddy. The earth is flat. Climate Change isn't man-made. The moon landings were faked. Trump is a smart businessman. Right? You probably believe all those things, right?
Holocaust bro.
And distant early warning was all bass. But the steinberger had a dull almost synth sound