Rush Retrospective: Album 07- Permanent Waves

 

Album:  Permanent Waves

Year Released:   1980

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – lead vocals, bass guitar, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Minimoog synthesizer, Taurus pedal synthesizer, Oberheim OB-1 synthesizer
• Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, Taurus pedals
• Neil Peart – drums, timpani, timbales, orchestra bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, bell tree, triangle, crotales, cover concept

Overall Thoughts:

After the Tour of Hemispheres, the band took a break before working on their next album.  The previous two albums- Hemispheres and A Farewell to Kings- both had mixes of some great songs ("Closer to the Heart", "La Villa Strangiato") with long songs that often meandered, making both albums uneven.  With Permanent Waves, the hits are still there ("The Spirit of Radio", "Freewill")- but the other songs that didn't get as much airplay are much stronger, making a better overall album.  

The longer songs and prog themes are still there, but they are more streamlined and less excessive.  "Jacob's Ladder" starts off with a military march, changes into a heavy metal song, and finishes as a new age song, representing the sun breaking through the clouds.  "Different Strings" starts out as an acoustic ballard and ends with beautiful blues guitar work.  "Natural Science" jumps through a half dozen music styles and tempos at a rapid pace- the song is never boring.

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. 2112
2. Permanent Waves
3. Fly By Night
4. Rush
5. A Farewell to Kings
6. Hemispheres
7. Caress of Steel

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Working Man", Rush
2. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
3. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
4. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
5. "2112", 2112
6. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
7. "Making Memories", Fly By Night
8. "The Trees", Hemispheres
9. "A Passage to Bangkok", 2112
10. "A Farewell to Kings", A Farewell to Kings