The solo record from Alex is called Victor and it’s……..interesting. It’s not what you will expect.

@geddylee501

Жыл бұрын

Great album

@dkrom

Жыл бұрын

My second favorite from this album. So dark, melodic and groovy.

@leemiracle6840

Жыл бұрын

I love the Victor album.

@jimtatro6550

Жыл бұрын

@@leemiracle6840 it’s definitely a acquired taste.

@juliebrockett3471

Жыл бұрын

Hey Jim, Merry Christmas to you and yours! I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say what you think of his project with Envy of None! That album really surprised me! I’ve always wanted to hear an Alex Lifeson classical album! I wonder how close it would be to his early classic work like Broons Bane.. it would be interesting! Y’all be well, my friend!!

Interesting hearing you talk about Alex. I have heard from friends who are musicians say that Alex is actually the key to their music being better. Everyone gets so enamored with Geddy and Neil. Love your reactions to this stuff and thanks for following through.

You're gonna love Victor. It is when I finally understood Alex. The album is written for a seasoned listener. The song Start Today, the vocals are amazing.

This is the wildest, weirdest Rush song since The Necromancer…. I love it so much!!!!😂🔥👍🤘🏻🎧

Glad you liked this one! It's a SMASH! It's been one of my favorite Rush songs since Counterparts was released. The guitar tone when the second "Where would you rather be" chorus section hits gives me chills. When you listen to the album more I think you'll realize this, and Animate, are as good as anything they've ever recorded. Which is pretty damn impressive considering we're talking about their 15th album! But then again they had a LOT of smashes on their final three albums. Wow, haven't thought about Victor in a long time. Can't even remember the last time I listened to it. I think I'll give it another listen soon. I remember liking it back in the day, so we'll see how that potentially changes.

This song is my favorite on the album, and in my mind, marked their return to greatness. I know you're not a lyric guy, but this is some of Neil's best work IMO. The imagery in his words here are stunningly awesome. Shield of rusty wire. That which I imagine is that which I believe. Some are phantoms, some are real.

@paulsiebeneicher4536

Жыл бұрын

Yeah man, I'm enjoying this channel but personally I think the best songs marry great music with great lyrics (Pink Floyd is my favorite band). I wish Justin had more appreciation for lyrics, but I'm really enjoying his takes on the music.

When they played this song in concert, when they get to the "cross of holy fire" line, cool pyrotechnics get set off. Yeah, this is a great song, albeit a tad quirky. I'd put "Alien Shore" and "Everyday Glory" ahead of it, but this song never fails to give me a little energy boost.

@paulstratis5579

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Double Agent I really dug after seeing it live, I like how Geddy said prior to performing it describing it as “demented “

@rimskykorsakov2892

Жыл бұрын

Everyday glory is "meh" and the worse track on the album

I love this song. So heavy! Geddy has a solo album as well…”My Favorite Headache.” Thanks!

@grahamkey8496

Жыл бұрын

Geddy's album was fantastic. With longtime friend and collaborator Ben Mink on guitars, and I think the drummer from Soundgarden on drums?

@jasonwilliams6005

Жыл бұрын

Awesome album

Longish story. At 14 I saturated listening to Rush. It was GUP that hat made me love them because I was impressed that Alex could simulate accurately live what they had put down in the studio. I always thought Alex got little respect. Fast forward to my 40’s and I worked with a big much of old fogie guitar ensemble enthusiasts who heard me listening to Rush. They knew Rush but didn’t really follow them. So we all went to a Rush concert together and they were blown away. They visited every album they could and I would texts and emails from them about how complex and amazing Alex was. Through their fresh eyes I had a renewed sense that Alex was the goat.

@nickavenoso7851

Ай бұрын

Nice! But did you mean “started?” Lol.

I never really liked this song, or most of this album when it came out, but I’m listening with different and older ears and this is a great song and I’ve basically found this a great album.

@paulsiebeneicher4536

Жыл бұрын

That's a cool evolution. I had a similar journey with Bruce Springsteen in general. In my teens I thought he sucked, because his voice wasn't the traditionally great voice I liked and because his music didn't seem bluesy/groove-based enough for me, but once I started not just playing other people's songs on guitar and bass but also writing and singing my own songs, I developed a whole new appreciation for Bruce and thought he was great.

your review of this song has made me fall in love with it! It's one that I always kind of overlooked. I have a newfound appreciation for this album in general listening to your reviews!

finally we are there,back on the track,no more (i love to love)l.o.l that song punch,great one,(the choice between darkness and light)🤘🤘🤘

This whole album is brilliant. This song is no exception. Some the heaviest, nastiest drumming in RUSH catalogue.

Justin the rest of Rush’s albums are all guitar driven Alex has assumed control from here on out and Victor is a very dark record,but it rocks!! The track with Lisa Del Bello singing is like a female Geddy from his heyday…Mr X is a killer cut,Shut up shuttin up is hilarious and Strip and go naked is Alex at his best! I hope you will check out Geddy’s solo album? Killer!! And also Feedback keep rockin brother 🤘🤘🤘🤘

Envy of none is not a solo album. It’s a group he’s part of and is very not Rush-like.

As a guitar player, the two things that stick out on this tune: Alex sliding just octaves up and down the neck during the second chorus. So cool. And the solo - he's just running his hand lightly down the strings bashing the harmonics... It's so random... It's like the three of them got baked before recording this one. Don't do drugs kids.

I'm stoked to hear you're going to check out Victor. You should also check out Geddy's solo album, My Favourite Headache. It's interesting to hear these two writing apart, because you definitely hear who brings what to Rush.

@paultoliver6823

Жыл бұрын

Both of those albums were recorded during the time when Neil lost his loved ones and off on his motorcycle to find himself again. No one was sure if the world ever get back together again.

Another banger song off the album! The guitar work is really interesting. 🔥🔥🔥

I really, really like Victor (Alex's solo record). Envy of None is really a group that Alex is part of and the music is significantly different, but good. I think Geddy's spoken word delivery is really cool here...reminds me of a private detective narrating a whodunnit

Arguably the heaviest song on the record. I consider this a direct descendent of Cygnus X-1 Part 1 because it goes pretty wild to reinforce the story. I didn't know what to make of it the first time, but I really like it now. Alex's Envy of None record sounds almost exactly like the mid-90s Garbage records (Butch Vig and Shirley Manson). I was really into those records at the time, so I really like Envy of None too. It's curious after all his previous complaining to see him make a record in which he's mostly hiding his guitar behind a wall of synths though.

@carlgibbons5777

Жыл бұрын

Sounds like Garbage if Garbage had no guitar players. lol Hard to even find the guitar on Envy Of None. I do like the record though as I like atmospheric pop.

This and Leave That Thing Alone.🤟🔥

Oyy...come on Cold Fire...

I loved this song and album . The tour was awesome too!

What you want more of will be something to behold on their last album Clockwork Angels where Nick R (the bass player with a pick and kimono from the RnR Hall of Fame Ceremony) agreed with them to do what they do best and he pushed them to throw in more intricacy as Rush are known for. An example being one of the drum fills on Caravan where he has Neil come down the toms then run all the way back up them producing a fantastic dynamic that really stands out to the listener. When recording the drums on CA, he stood in front of Neil like an orchestra conductor and air drummed what he was feeling while Neil used that to influence/guide his drum parts. Double Agent is a brilliant surprise, quite a different song and unlike any other I think. Regarding Victor, I initially thought leave it until after but your decision to do it in sequence makes sense to me now given you want to hear where Alex was at and how it affected the Rush songs. As others say, it would make complete sense to do Geddy’s My Favourite Headache album too which came out just before Vapor Trails. I have to disagree with others in that the Envy of None album doesn’t form part of the Rush discography, Alex is a collaborator on the album and adds guitar textures to the songs but they are not his songs like on Victor. Of course it could be interesting to listen to it, I just don’t see it as within the sphere of Rush. PS You’ll probably have heard by now that Alex goes all “cowboy” on Cold Fire 😄

Enjoying this journey of my youth. NP made me realize I needed to practice more and more and more... Open my world to other drummers...

Glad you liked this one ! Vapor Trails, 2002.....has a raw sound. Nice guitar layers .......just wetting your appetite for more Rush ! Enjoy the rest of Counterparts, Test for Echo, Different Stages, then Vapor Trails !!!!

One of my top Rush tunes by far. You'll notice how, " Leave that thing Alone" plays next within a heartbeat. Genuise!

“More of that.” My thoughts exactly. Always liked this one - a LOT. That one section is kind of a cross-between the Mission Impossible theme (which was obviously the idea), 20th Century Schizoid Man, and 2112’s Grand Finale. Rippin’. Victor will likely take a few listens. It’s… Alex.

This is still one of my all time favorite songs.

The guitar arrangement on the second chorus is amazing

I’ve always really liked this song! It sounds a lot like their version of the grunge stuff going on at that time! Good one!! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!

This is the last tour that i got to see them! Another Great show...

I listen to most are all of Victor a few weeks ago, have to go back and double check on that, definitely not necessarily what I would have expected but I really enjoyed it and his playing on that album. He has several different singers and few different styles of music on that album. And I'm hearing for the first time from you that he has a second album released I'm going to go up to go check on that one too now!

Geddy’s solo album featured Matt Cameron, the drummer for Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and now Pearl Jam

One of my fave tracks from.90s.

One of my favorite tracks on the album.

A great song, great guitar work. Victor is a brilliant first solo album, Alex is amazing on it, Mr X reminds me of something Joe Satriani would do and you've got Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains vibe, with a bit of counterparts grunge. Envy of None is completely different to anything I've heard, maybe nine inch nails, but also amazing, great reaction Justin

god i remember holding that album for the first time in my hands and the ensuing memories. good days

The best of the album

Love this song

Good morning JP. Been a great ride so far. 'preciate ch'ya.

This was such a wonderful surprise! A "rave"? Yeah, it sounds kinda like one. I love it when they get self-indulgent and add in a whole bunch of the unexpected! And yeah.... this is better than a rap. Oh, and if you do listen to Envy of None, remind yourself that it's not just his album. It's fully a group collaboration. It's techno, industrial, atmospheric... something.

'Counterparts' is the best Rush album of the 90s, and the best (IMHO) until their swan song record, 'Clockwork Angels' in 2012. I'm glad I saw them for this tour! 🎸 I have a demo copy of 'Victor' and it's "different" but more like this song.

Refreshingly different yet still Rush. I love how Neil plays across the riff. The spoken word reminds me of Zappa. VICTOR is less like Rush than you might expect.

The vocals during the verses always struck me as a bit odd, but musically this is one heckuva banger. And it's largely overlooked by the fanbase. "Where would you rather be? Anywhere, anywhere but here". What a line that is. I can tell that you're really digging this album and it puts a goofy smile on my goofy face. Cheers!

Alex & Neil are rockin' like Soundgarden on this one, Awesome 👌. I like the 1/4 notes on the china cymbal with the heavy guitar.

One of my faves!

This song is worth the price of admission!

Justin...I am always right....😁✌️

Lol Justin the one song I thought you would hate. Every time I listen to this album I love it more and more. Permanent Waves is my 2nd favorite album by them behind Moving Picture’s !

Victor is awesome - as is My Favourite Headache 🤘

Envy of None began when fellow Canadian, Andy Curran, asked Alex just to help him with a couple songs he was writing. It became a little project & they recruited a then 24 yr old independent singer-songwriter Curran had heard named Maiah Wynne. I read Alex say after the harder edged Rush years, he wanted to do more try doing "atmospheric" tones on the album. They put out a 4 track EP in early 2022.

Hard to believe this album is almost 30 years old...wtf where did the time go? I still think of this and Test for Echo as thier new albums...lol

I like it when they try different things. Drums! +++

Yeah, "Victor". It's a must listen. I was eventually going to mention it.

Yep a driver no doubt love the Neil Peart triplets and quads

Great song off this album!

Saw this live here L.A.. INGLEWOOD... SICK!!!!😲👍🏾

Yes! Take a journey into Alex World.

I knew you'd like this track !!!

Really like this one.

This is what I meant when change was coming after roll the bones. Seen these guys live on this tour . Thought I was at a kiss concert cause huge fire explosions and OMG the sound was spot on !!! You could hear every part so clear nothing was drowning out the other part. The surround sound in the back almost knocked u on your ass. Was very loud! I was impressed to say the least.

You’ll like Driven from Test for Echo, similar pace and guitar sound. Victor too

I absolutely love the groove on this one it's so hyped up it can't help but get you jazzed up for your day so I was happy to hear it this morning. The narrations a little strange though but I get why they did it. I just find it to be a bit of a distraction

You may as well listen to Geddy's solo..."My Favorite Headache"...I enjoyed it.

What's wild is it actually has shades of "Cygnus X-1" in there. And it's another example of an Alex anti-solo. Maybe what's most important about this song is that after the safeness of the previous several albums anything this unpredictable and a bit sideways was VERY welcomed.

You will also want to check out Geddy's "My Favorite Headache"...

Yes, you should definitely do both Victor & Envy of None. Very different from each other. You should also check out Geddy’s solo album, My Favourite Headache.

Pure Rush..you never know what's coming next...except 'In the Mood''

So Envy of None is not really a solo record. It's a project that Alex was a part of. It's got a strong indy vibe and sounds nothing like Rush. However, it's really good although it took me several listens to get it. And, honestly, the singer Maiah Wynne, is the spotlight. Her voice just has this great tone. Just beautiful. Plus she's good at producing vocals. There is so much subtle vocal layering that you only realy catch with headphones.

You gotta check out Geddy's solo album " My Favorite Headache" That is one great album!

I'm thinking you will like "One Little Victory" from Vapor Trails

I would suggest listening to Alex's solo work (Victor) and Geddy's solo (My favourite headache). It gives some insight into who created some rush songs parts as they are very different.

Interesting that Alex and Geddy each put out solo records, at similar times, and I prefer Alex’s disc. It’s weird and surprising. Also, I like Envy of None. It has its detractors, but I like it. Opinions, we all have em. Decide for yourself when the time is right.

8/10. Reminds me of their Vapor Trails album which is one of my faves! Very self-indulgent album!

Victor is a great solo album. Envy Of None is quite different but I like it a lot.

Envy of None is a band he recently joined. Victor is interesting, but in my opinion not very good. Alex, though I love him, left to his own devices musically is dangerous. Just like letting him speak at the HoF induction. Geddy's solo album is pretty good.

You can review this song live as they only did it on the counterparts tour

Definitely like this song. Sounds a bit like some of Vapor Trails to me.

This song is out there but... one of the coolest tracks on the album. Considering how late this was in their career... I thought it was pretty fresh sounding. BTW... Lifeson has one solo album (Victor)... it's "ok"... Geddy has a solo album too (My Favorite Headache)... it's not bad. Neither are Rush though...

You will like Alex’s guitar work on most of Vapor Trails if you dug it in Double Agent

Envy of none is not an Alex Lifeson solo album. It’s a collaboration with other great musicians.

I like the next one Test 4 Echo far more than Counterparts, Alex had struggles with recording mainly because he wasn't as prepared as Geddy, Geddy had started using the keyboards as a writing tool and when they came to record because he was more prepared than Alex they tended to do the keyboards before Alex, the problem then was that when Alex came to record his guitar parts the musical space that they would sit in had already been taken by the keyboards, this led to all kinds of frustration in particular for Alex who even considered leaving Rush.

You were mentioning about Geddy's rapping, I pretty much agree, especially after hearing him tell the story of the original idea for recording it. Apparently they wanted to get somebody with a posh British accent to record it (John Cleese was mentioned), but that didn't pan out for some reason, so they just pitched Geddy down. I love the rap, it's some great writing but falls flat as is. They could even have got a real rapper in, wouldn't that have been silly?

Best, most unique song on the album. It's amazing. You should also listen to Geddy's solo album. Btw..Envy of None is a band, not solo. And it's WAY different from rush

Envy of non is a colab/band whereas victor is very alex

Geddy says: Now I’m Dick Tracy with my narrator voice!

Yeah, I always Loved the music on this song. The spoken word kind of gives me a film, noir vibe, or a detective vibe as your wife would say.😂! I’ll admit, it took me a little bit to get used to that part. So you want more of this musically from Rush? Vapor trails is your album. It is one of my favorites for sure. Since you are ahead in the recordings, please allow me to make a suggestion now. There is a big debate amongst the Rust community about vapor trails, because of the original production (it is very distorted and compressed). So they not only remastered the album, they remixed it as well. So the debate is some people like the original mix while others like the remix. I would recommend listening to each song back to back. The original, then the remix. You could do it as two separate videos, and judge for yourself! I’ve never seen a reactor do that before and I think it would be really cool!

@surfeit5910

Жыл бұрын

Alex doesn't solo. Once. Ever. At all in 67 minutes worth of songs. 'Nuff said about that blasphemy of an album 😠

@richierich398

Жыл бұрын

@@surfeit5910 guitar solos, pretty much disappeared from rock in general for a period of time. They did add a solo to ceiling unlimited on the remix

You have to do Geddys solo album too

For me Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, and Clockwork Angels are my favorites. This album comes close because when it came out I like the turn of direction Rush was taking. Test for Echo is hit and miss for me. But after? Vapor Trails and Snakes and Arrows? Solid albums! What I love about Rush is how different their periods are. They are not afraid to reflect their influences in their music. Cold Fire is one of my tops from this album, but many others stand out as well.

I love this song. The music is dark and driving, and Geddy’s low and dark lyrical treatment is different and interesting. It feels like a bit of a freewheeling jam, not quite as tight and programmed.

You mentioned Envy of None. Outstanding album. Very different. Hard to even place it in a genre. Some songs are like a way cooler Enya.

Listen to the next drums!

Bro. You gotta check out Envy of None. They’re fantastic.

Rush fans love their self indulgent stuff. 😊 Victor and Envy of None sound nothing alike. Alex has no bounds for his creativity

I was surprised when they did this on the counterparts tour. My questionable recollection was that the Geddy spoken parts were not live. It was great to watch though.

Oh yeah, just as an extra. Try listening to La Villa Strangiato in Rio Brazil. A weird , Lerxst, surprising middle section might throw you a little off, hopefully, in the good way. Another Lifeson comedy bit. 🤔

The albums you eventually need to listen to are the Alex ones, geddy’s my favorite headache and the two burning for buddy albums Rush did (Neil only plays on 3 or 4 as there are a ton of guest drummers) As for victor, it’s all over the place. It’s like he had been building up all these ideas and rather than release any few albums that have an expected flow, he did it all on one and it is tough to follow in some cases. He’s joked about how successful it was and why another album like that won’t happen. I believe it cost more to make than it earned. lol. Without spoiling anything, he has multiple guest singers and even sings himself. Well, not really singing. More spoken word….a song I hated at first but actually love now. In recently listened to it again and the stand out song is called start today. The woman singing almost sounds like early Geddy. Just a powerful strong song. Geddy’s album has some crazy moments but it much more commercial and flows better. But I don’t know if you’ll be moved as much. Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam played drums for it and did a decent job. The burning for buddy albums are AMAZING if you love big band jazz music. And if you are a drum fan. Finally this song, yeah it’s a great song but you’ll be disappointed watching the few live versions of it because geddy does not do the vocal speak like. It’s a track. He does sing the other parts though.

Many fans will claim Double Agent is the best song on Counterparts and I can’t really disagree with them. A very different track for Rush. For me it’s tied for first place with Animate and Between Sun and Moon. Rush only played Double Agent live on the Counterparts tour in 1994.

Next one is a banger Justin. Proggy,groovy, hard ,jazzy. No rap lol