So, this is one of Rush's "deeply meaningful" songs. This song marks Peart's departure from his earlier, sci-fi/fantasy/objectivist driven themes to more mature, deeply humanistic themes. As he grew as a writer, he moved away from his own experiences or beliefs (Anthem, Circumstances, Limelight), to explorations of others' experiences. At first I believed that Geddy Lee had written Red Sector A, for obvious reasons, but when I learned that Peart had written it, I realized he had truly arrived as a writer. I have this test to measure how meaningful a song is. I call it the Morrissey Test. In "Panic", Morrissey writes "hang the blessed dj, because the music that they constantly play says nothing to me about my life..." "Subdivisions" means so much to me personally because, like "Middletown Dreams" and "Ghost of a Chance", it says so much to me about MY life. I am not alone in this. If you ever were a kid, loner or not, you understand very well what this song is all about.
So many Rush fans jumped off in the 80's because of the musical change, but they missed out on some of Neil's best lyrics. ""Territories," "The Pass," "Grand Designs," "Middletown Dreams," "Mystic Rhythms," "Emotion Detector," "Red Sector A" and so many other great songs from the 80's period have Neil's best lyrics. This song in particular feels like a sequel to Malvina Reynolds' "Little Boxes," or more directly, the Who's "905." A major theme of the 20th century was the subversion of the individual into the corporate, the mechanical. We lost our individuality not for mutual benefit, but for corporate profit, for political isolation and control. It's all a resistance to, in Marxist terms, "alienation."
When I was 18 I got to see a Neil Peart drum clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This was back in about 1985 and Neil normally never did such events but it was done as a favor for the owner of Fort Wayne's Percussion Center, where he bought his equipment. I distinctly remember he played that last part of Subdivisions on request and ended it with a stick flip that went about 25 feet into the air and fell perfectly back into his hand. It was amazing.
I've a watched your Rush reaction videos four or five times now. It tickles me innards everytime drop your head, slowly shake it side to side whilst grinning ear to ear. Exactly what are you thinking in those moments
Generally, Rush fans are a collection of misfits, outcasts and, for lack of a better description “Nerds”. Rush was our safe haven, the music let us know that we weren’t alone and if being like everyone else was “cool”,we had no desire to be “cool”. This song was so relatable to each of us and IMO it still is to so many.
Uncool since 1977 as well. I switched from a public school to a private in 6th grade. I was immediately dubbed an outcast. Other than a couple of like minded classmates, I was ignored and bullied when I wasn't. Luckily, I found books and Rush to light the way.
Signals is Rush's most underrated album imo, most people don't give it nearly enough credit as it deserves. It's a 10/10 album start to finish, not a single bad or even so so song. By far the best of their 80's heavy synth phase albums.
Agreed. It's not far behind Moving Pictures imo. It is so consistently good, from start to finish. I was going to list the best tracks but then I realised I was typing them all!! Losing It is my favourite set of Neil's lyrics - particularly pertinent as you get older!
Neil Peart was a special musician and actually wrote all the lyrics too! Or did sadly he has left us now, I was lucky enough to see them live a couple of times! R30 anniversary tour and the Time Machine tour! Amazing live band but tinged with sadness as I won't get to see them again.
This is THE song that describes my youth. I discovered it about a year after it came out, and it has been my life's theme song for almost 40 years. It has shaped the way I raised my four sons. I was that teenager playing that video game in that neighborhood from that high school. I became a father needing my boys to have a perspective beyond their apparent world. So happy you liked it.
MY older friends tell me that Rush went downhill when it started using a lot of synth, but to me this song stands up against anything they ever did. The drums are amazing and this song speaks to how i felt growing up. It is a treasure in my life.
I was 14 years old when I got into Rush, at that point I had been playing drums in school band for about three years. A year later this album came out and my very first concert was the signals tour. My seat was stage left directly across from Neil, it was the first time I witnessed greatness. I was lucky enough to see them live 17 more times, my only regret is that I’ll never get to see them again.
It would be great to react to Neil's live drum solo. Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins said Subdivisions was his favourite song, and it got him through difficult times. It made him realise that somebody understood what he was going through
You’re only just starting you Rush journey mate.. what a ride you’re going to have!! Natural Science is a must but there’s so many more .. there really is !!
RIP to the master, Neil Peart. One of my favorite Rush songs. You seem to be starting to appreciate the details that Rush incorporated into their music. No one else did it like them, they were very unique musically and lyrically.
As a Canadian from Toronto, who was a teen when RUSH were in their prime, it makes me incredibly happy to see people newly exposed to the brilliance of the band. RUSH created the complex, layered, intelligent soundtrack for outcasts and misfits in the late 70s/80s.
This song has always been special to me. This song is the anthem of Rush fans in the eighties. They're most loyal fan base are the misfits, the dreamers, the readers, the guys who played D&D, the computer geeks, and the nonconformists. We took over the world eventually, and Rush became cool.
This song resonates with me, I grew up in the suburbs and the lyrics are a picture of my teenage years. " In the basement bars, In the backs of cars, be cool or be cast out"
Like I'm sure many of the Rush fans here, I've seen hundreds of reaction videos for their work. I've found yours superior by far in that not only do you energetically embrace the songs, but you have the ear, vocabulary, and insight to carefully crack them open and explain what's working and why. You don't pretend to have all the answers, but you are light-years ahead of the folks who are left with "wow!" Particularly like your idea that the songs have to work on the surface before anyone cares enough to peel it back and appreciate the perfect gears underneath. They're not showing off, there's a reason for their technical moves. Time signatures shift like gears in Red Barchetta, for instance, and the reggae beats in Spirit are very much against the grain of say, label expectation (which ties into what that song's about). Anyway, loving the channel and style. Please consider YYZ and Limelight from their catalog
This is one of the best reactions I’ve heard of this song. The drum part is extremely intricate each phrase is different. Spot on with the lyrical analysis as well. Nice work.
So glad I managed to see them live at Birmingham NEC. They added heart and soul to a sterile building and brought it to life. True artists in every sense.
Safe to say we all really enjoy your reactions and comments. On your own time; search Neil Peart isolated drums. I think you'll find what you're looking for.
Simply put. This song is the anthem for every square peg out there. For me, this is when the lyrics became the driving force to their songs. Still fantastic instrumentally, but the lyrics are what pushes the songs. You should really take a look at Xanadu live from Exit Stage Left. To see Geddy Lee sing,play bass, keyboards and Taurus pedals is incredible to see live. You should be able to find isolated drum tracks on a UA-cam platform. Take care ✌
Most Rush tunes are great right out of the box. Some are deep and heavy on the lyrics. Some are purely instrumental. All are masterful. If you give a first listen to a song and aren't sure if you really like it, try it again. Or, try it in the context of the whole album. I never tire of Rush because I can find new things to love decade after decade. Great reaction Tommy!
This brings back memories. Back in the days I was a UPS driver and that High school was on my route. I believe it was called L'Amoreaux. I only delivered there a few times but distinctly remember the round window you can see on this video. RIP Neil
Deep, deep, rabbit hole and there is no way back !!! Rush is brilliant and unique in the best way possible. Try ''Analog kid'' for another great Signals's song or go the opposite direction with a song like ''Available light'' for a totally different experience. The range of this band is like no other ever!
You _HAVE TO_ do "YYZ". Listen to the studio version first, b/c the audio quality is _MUCH_ better than the live version, but I will add you should _DEFINITELY_ check out the "YYZ: Live in Rio" version. The crowd is insane. It makes you wish you were there b/c they _ALL_ look like they're having a blast.
Alex's playing is almost always perfect, so when he misses a note it feels very strange to me. Did it bother anybody else that he missed the 3 harmonic notes that should have come at around 2:17 on the Live in Rio version, and are there at about 2:13 on the studio version? Watch Alex in the Rio version and you can see how he missed the notes.These notes have always felt like they were the response Alex gave to the riff Geddy had just played, so when those notes are not there it catches me every time I see that video. I love both versions, it is just so weird to me to miss those three notes. Maybe I have just listened to Moving Pictures too many times since 1981.
The drums are in the hand of Neil "The Professor" Peart. Your favorite drummers favorite drummer. If you want to drop your jaw for drum parts, listen to "Natural Science". It doesnt get any better than that. Love the drum sound on that song and the whole album is incredible! RIP Neil Peart!
Ask and you shall receive - here's the isolated drums done by The Professor himself (RIP Neil!): ua-cam.com/video/48IEOgnpZ84/v-deo.html This is the anthem of teenage life, ESPECIALLY if you're a geeky, awkward nerd, and don't fit in with the 'in' crowd (which lets face it, is most of us!) From day 1, this song has spoken directly to me (and so many others). Neil penned lyrics that empathized our situation, because they were his own (and Geddy and Alex's too). They were misfits in school, and they remained misfits even in the music world. Success came, but it was on their terms. You pretty much nailed the interpretation of the lyrics! Now add to it an amazing synth line (I get chills every time I hear the opening lines of keys Geddy plays), then the bass, guitars, and indeed, the incredible drums - you have perfection. This is long been my #1 Rush song, followed closely by 2112.
Tommy- Thank You for posting this. Loved your insights! Your journey has only just begun, you have barely scratched the surface. 2112, La Villa Strangiato, Xanadu, Red Sector A are just a few nuggets to consider before diving deep. You will really have your mind blown when you do Neil's drum solo in Frankfurt. Also YYZ Live in Rio. You should hear both the live and studio versions of YYZ.The Live in Rio version has the most amazing crowd energy, but the audio on the studio album is far superior.
Glad you brought up Peart . I've commented before that this is one of his most dominate performances in this song. What's so consistent about Rush is time signature changes. Get used to it. Magic.
"Working Man", "Limelight", "Free Will", "Time Stand Still", "Roll the Bones", "Cygnus X-1", "Bravado", "Camera Eye", "New World Man", "Ghost of a Chance" are all great Rush songs. Enjoy.🤘🎸🥁🎶
Your journey through the Rush catalog appears to be nicely progressing - and you’ve gotten your feet wet...only just! All sorts of delightful Rush surprises yet to come your way
This song comes from the album "Signals", which immediately followed "Moving Pictures"...which is where one finds "Red Barchetta". The entirety of "Signals" was a great deal more synth-heavy than anything Rush had done previously. Synths would play a major role in their music for at least two more albums, when they returned to their power-trio core.
Being a Canadian, from RUSH's hometown of Toronto, Canada seen highlighted in the video; to me it speaks of the feeling of isolation as a person, not quite fitting in with the crowd. The suburbs were an isolation from the "Big City" life that we all dreamed of experiencing. Interesting fact: this is the only Rush song that you hear drummer Neil Peart's voice. The word, "Subdivisions" heard, that is Neil, not Alex.
Great song!! One thing you will discover that is so great about Rush is how they changed their sound to fit the times. The early albums all have what us Rush fans would say is the "classic" Rush sound and longer epic feel to them up through Moving Pictures. Then Signals started the change to the more techy 80's feel. Its amazing that they were able to do that when hair metal was taking off and they made 3-4 great albums in that era. Keep it going!!
The smile and slight chuckle i had when you said you had to go back to appreciate the drum work, i wonder how many people listening to "The Professor" Neil Peart, have said that exact quote before lol
The amazing thing about Neil Peart is he wasn't just one of the best percussionists that ever lived, but he wrote most of their lyrics too. "The Professor" was an amazing man.
Just saw you for the first time, and as a fellow musician (drummer) I enjoyed your joyful reactions during the viewing, and your analysis. As Rush listeners, we KNOW when -those- superlative musical moments are coming and it just doesn’t matter: we’re going to love the greatness of it whether the first time or 81st time through it (Watching your face -totally- light up at Peart’s final drumming section was totally awesome as it was completely natural! SO refreshing!). Yes, Alex Lifeson, a brilliant and still-underrated guitarist had seemingly moved his style/tone more in alignment with Andy Summers at this point: lots of chorus, less overdrive, and solos that were more structured. He has always been a great melodic player, so for me it was just another evolution of his hard work. This type of melodic/chordal soloing can be heard on “Afterimage” off of “Grace Under Pressure”, the album following “Signals”. A poignant song and fine solo. This chorus-heavy tone reaches back to ~1978 and “Hemispheres”. My Lifeson standards will always be “Xanadu” (the slow build to the descending, melt-your-face-off runs with clarity and speed was an obvious raising of his own standard...the entire song was, in fact), and “Freewill” (plus the first ~35 seconds of “Show Don’t Tell”). In closing, I also wanted to add a “Thank You” for including lyrics in the analysis and for calling out specific players and sections of performance. Many “reaction” videos are nothing but 4-7m of barely-changing facial expressions. Please continue, here’s a sub (and a suggestion for Yes’ 1974 “Gates of Delirium”. It does clock in at 21:50, but it’s absolutely worth it: full of great performances, a deep, meaningful set of lyrics, Patrick Moraz on keys, and the most awesome Steve Howe on guitar, PLUS White, Squire, and Anderson. It’s ABSOLUTELY worth the time/effort.
Subdivisions came out as part of the Signals album in 1982. After what was (and still is) widely considered the band's best album, Moving Pictures, it was kind of disappointing to Rush fans who were used to a harder, more guitar-oriented sound. There were a ton more keyboards on this album, & I include myself in that group of fans who was initially disappointed at it. However, the lyrics more than made up for this & this song holds deep meaning for many Rush fans like myself who used to go to the city because the suburbs held no excitement for them. Whether consciously or not, my life has mirrored the lyrics in the song: "Well, some will sell their dreams for small desires Or lose the race to rats, Get caught in ticking traps And start to dream of somewhere to relax their restless flight. Somewhere out of a memory Of lighted streets on quiet nights."
The album Signals, is a masterpiece IMHO. I bought it brand new...it never gets old, and is by far my favorite Rush album, and I own them all. Great reaction...dive into this album, I dont see you being disappointed you did.
This album came immediately after Moving Pictures (Rush's master piece) in 1982 and it took me many years to accept it was a great album and it is and this is one of the fans favourites always played in concert and the drumming is deceptively difficult on this song in parts, spot on!
This is probably what you want, regarding the drums on Subdivisions: ua-cam.com/video/48IEOgnpZ84/v-deo.html I believe you've now done four Rush tracks, so far; all from 1980-82. You'll get numerous requests for the wonderful YYZ live in Rio; also from the same period... Limelight, Camera Eye, Analog Kid, Digital Man, Chemistry, Freewill, Natural Science ... All superb, but from the same period. Given the limited slots, and 40+ years with 19 (or 20 depending how you count) studio albums, you should do Working Man Live in Cleveland (performed 2011 but from first album in 1974 - John Rutsey was the drummer on the studio version. Peart arrived just after the album was recorded). Also, do 'The Garden' Live from Clockwork Angels Tour (last song, last album, this live performance drives me to tears, every time!). This will see the week end with numerous classics and wonders missing - there's not a bad Rush album - and even The Garden won't give a good sense of to where they evolved. The final album, Clockwork Angels, is an epic story through life (accompanied by a steam punk novel co-written by Peart), containing different musical styles. It's a deep hole, down which to dive; and even Rush month wouldn't be sufficient! Enjoy! 😊
Your reactions to Rush have inspired me to subscribe to your channel. It warms my heart and gives me hope to see a new Rush fan develop and join the rest of the very happy family. Your attention to the various nuances of their songs and sincere appreciation makes me RE-APPRECIATE what made me a fan in the first place. Keep up the great work, Tommy.
It's likely been said in the comments elsewhere but it bears repeating: Neil Peart is your favorite drummer's favorite drummer. When you check them out in the "YYZ Live in Rio" clip their mastery is on full display, and while their lyrics set them apart from other bands "YYZ" being an instrumental showcases their musicianship which also puts them head and shoulders above most other bands in rock history.
Love the message of this song. Neil was such a talented individual. He was always learning and evolving, whether it was thru him being an avid reader of books or using different techniques as a drummer. RIP Neil.
I had been a Rush fan for a long time by the time I was in high school....this began in 1979. I loved their sci fi, fantasy based luyrics and songs and as a Tolkien fan it was a band that appealed to me. Then, my junior year, Moving Pictures debuted...I of course loved it...it was powerful and inspiring....but...BUT...suddenly out of nowhere....EVERYONE was a Rush fan. And I thought to myself...."You posers." I was at a house party....Rush was playing...it was YYZ I still remember that. A classmate of mine approached me...."Hey, you know this band, you always talked about it. THREE guys make this music?" All I said was "Yeah." Posers.
Really great reaction. Your perceptions of RUSH are soooo spot on! They don't make you work too hard to enjoy the music like some bands do. A great live performance is "2112" from June 30th, 1997!!!
I love this song and the album it's from. It's so deceptive. I first heard it live before it was released but when I did sit down and listen to the original release it was the melody and the keyboards that got me, then the lyrics on another listen and then the drums. Holy cow the drumming in this is magnificent. It's a wonderful song from a great album.
Saw Rush while touring their Signals album. As a high school student at the time, this song resonated and still remains one of my favourites from their catalogue. Great reaction! Greetings from Canada
Here are some tracks that focus on Neil's Drums, and what he hears more then what the entire band is doing and they are also filmed from cameras surrounding him and his kit. ua-cam.com/play/PLq9XRmrA9nynjwYcVm77WzXt2dxUgNENX.html
Neil lyrics can really make you think. My classic rock station here actually played Vital Signs yesterday on the way home. Haven't heard that one in years.
There are 4 "eras" of rush, although they always evolved on every album, always experimenting with new technology, influences and sounds. Some may argue that there are, in fact, "bad" Rush songs but I would argue that Rush's "bad" songs are still better than other bands mediocre songs. The 4 eras would be 1974-1978, 1980-1985, 1987-1996(the most maligned era), 2002-2012. I would highly recommend selecting a couple of songs from each of the time periods to give yourself an idea of how this group evolved over 40 years. If you want to review another hidden Canadian Gem of a band, check out "Big Wreck", I would suggest "Ghosts" from the Suhr factory party on youtube. If you don't know this band (in particular the front man Ian Thornley), brace yourself, you're in for another virtuoso guitar player/vocalist/song writer.
I'd disagree slightly. It seems Rush had 2 transition eras between 1980-1982 and 1989-1991. Because Permanent Waves and Power Windows are much different sounds. And hold Your Fire and Counter parts (1987 /1994) are night and day!
I 100% agree you need to check out a few songs from each era because they really did change and evolve with the times and I noticed that as the times went on Getty's base got meaner and meaner and Neil's lyrics switched from like a sci-fi fantasy to politics and The human condition it's really interesting to see how Neil evolved over time.
RUSH are musical titans, to say the least! Clockwork, powerful songs that tell a story and paint sonic landscapes. When you get a chance, check out 'Under The Milky Way' by The Church, 'Dear God' by XTC, and 'Bury My Lovely' by The October Project. All masterpieces!
Great choice, and definitely a personal favorite. This was the anthem of every nerdy Rush fan that struggled to fit in during high school. It was the first track on Signals, which came out in 1982 right on the heels of the very successful Moving Pictures album (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Limelight, YYZ). Signals, however, marked a big departure in their style, brining synths to the forefront and delivering more of a pop-80's sound. Many fans were disgruntled, and they lost a few, but you have to change if you want to stay relevant for 40 years. When you hear their older work, you will hear the Zeppelin and Sabbath in Alex's playing, but as the synths started to take more prominence, he reinvented his style. The solo at the end is a great example - the use of whammy bar and harmonics (as you noticed again), and runs of dyads/triads to finish off - and this is a guy who can shred a blues scale, as you will see. On their later albums, Alex had even more tools at his disposal because of this period, and it makes him one of them of the most versatile rock guitarists ever. Also shocking to fans was the amount of time Geddy was on the keys, but he jumps on the bass and brings us into the chorus with that badass riff. And Neil - man, talk about a study in subtle mastery! His cymbal and snare work on this are incredible. His ride cymbal patterns are never a simple straight beat, and this is a great example of how he switches up his part on every verse. I saw someone else posted a vid of him playing this isolated - don't miss it. Also, here's another awesome one - all drum cam footage, live I think in Rio (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Watch him sneak those hi-hat hits in. ua-cam.com/video/T9-bh9kmpWk/v-deo.html Finally, the lyrics are just sheer poetry. A subdivision is a term in North America for those housing estates as you called them. Very typical of the suburbs like where I grew up - "in geometric order, an insulated border, in between the bright lights (the city) and the far, unlit unknown (the country)." What great writing. Looking forward to tomorrow's video. Cheers!
@NorthernEar - Subdivisions is also a play on words; referring first to a piece of land divided up into smaller plots for housing close together, like in the video "The suburbs have no charms to sooth the restless dreams of youth". Secondly, the subdividing of (especially youth) society into the different social groups from which some are then excluded or outcast, "Be cool or be cast out".
Yeah. Here in the States, a home builder will develop a certain section of land. It usually has only a couple entrances into the area. But it can hold dozens and dozens of homes. This is known here as a "subdivision". Basically, a self-contained neighborhood.
I think a lot of people miss the best lyrical twist in the song, at least upon their first listen. The beginning of the song laments how the suburbs are sort of a creative no-man's-land of cookie-cutter houses and social cliques that is missing the excitement of the city and the peaceful tranquility and natural beauty of the country (aka the "far, unlit unknown). These negatives are even more pronounced in the lives of the misfits and loners, but it seems everyone ends up in a soul-crushing 9 to 5 job. The often-missed twist is that for all of those caught in the "mass production zone" in their early lives who were looking for "any escape" from the boredom of the suburbs wind up pining for the suburban lifestyle once they get older and near retirement age. They tire of the rat race and dream of relaxing their "restless flight" by returning to the lighted streets & quiet nights of their suburban childhood which for now is "somewhere out of a memory". Neil was a lyrical poet. RIP Professor.
Rush weren't a band for 'everyone' when I was 16. Maiden, Sabbath, Rainbow were the patches on every rock fan's Wrangler denim jackets - including mine but the largest one, longest one was 'Rush', at the top. Black with red sparkly stitching - I can see it now. Never knew what eventually happened to that jacket. 😔
I can tell you this mate...I've been a musician for over 30 years...there is nothing simple about the music these guys made. These guys all played at the highest level of ability. The compositions are complex and multilayered. The lyrics are profound. True masters of their craft imho.
I don’t disagree, I guess what I mean is that it’s subtle. They’re not a complex listen. You can listen to this band very easily. They make their music very accessible
@@ThomasJ_Music So true...it's part of their enduring appeal. The fact that they were able to work in that complexity without making it feel overdone...the accessibility if the band as you put it...shows just how good they really were.
I think Rush being my favorite classic prog band, for all the reasons you're saying carry over to why Caligula's Horse are my current musical darlings. Yeah other bands are flashier, but the feels, and doing it so smoothly, creating melodies and traversing them in interesting ways so that even if your song is longer, you never felt like you've strayed off to another track, something many prog bands are guilty of.
They are masters at making the unnatural sound natural. Great examples of that are in Freewill and Jacob's Ladder where they have time sig changes - on every measure - for significant stretches of time. In Jacob's Ladder, they switch to 4/4 after a while, but the bass is still playing the exact same pattern as when they were alternating between 5/4 and 6/4. Except it's in 4/4 now. Freewill is probably the most unnatural natural sounding song ever, and the jam near the end is epic.
You've only listened to Rush songs from 1980 - '82 so far, so there are many more styles to hear from them. They started off very Led Zeppelin influenced. They gradually elaborated on that style. Then by the late 70s, they had reached the zenith of their prog powers. This early 80s stuff has them distilling their prog sound of the late 70s into more easily digestible chunks and bringing lots of contemporary influences. Rush always changed with the times.
Lol. Funny, because you don't know how many times I've rewound the ending again just to hear that drum part. One of the only fights I was in as a kid was at school because some other kid said Neil couldn't play the drums. I'm not even a huge Rush fan, but sometimes I just listen to them for their technical ability. Amazing stuff to be appreciated by anyone who plays.
Not sure what you have on your list for the rest of the week, but when you can fit it in, Natural Science is a brilliant, beautiful, complicated masterpiece. One of my top 3.
So, this is one of Rush's "deeply meaningful" songs. This song marks Peart's departure from his earlier, sci-fi/fantasy/objectivist driven themes to more mature, deeply humanistic themes. As he grew as a writer, he moved away from his own experiences or beliefs (Anthem, Circumstances, Limelight), to explorations of others' experiences. At first I believed that Geddy Lee had written Red Sector A, for obvious reasons, but when I learned that Peart had written it, I realized he had truly arrived as a writer.
I have this test to measure how meaningful a song is. I call it the Morrissey Test. In "Panic", Morrissey writes "hang the blessed dj, because the music that they constantly play says nothing to me about my life..." "Subdivisions" means so much to me personally because, like "Middletown Dreams" and "Ghost of a Chance", it says so much to me about MY life. I am not alone in this. If you ever were a kid, loner or not, you understand very well what this song is all about.
I love this comment. The Morrissey test! Love it! He got me through my teens!
Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone!
Best commentary on this song I’ve ever read. Bravo.
So many Rush fans jumped off in the 80's because of the musical change, but they missed out on some of Neil's best lyrics.
""Territories," "The Pass," "Grand Designs," "Middletown Dreams," "Mystic Rhythms," "Emotion Detector," "Red Sector A" and so many other great songs from the 80's period have Neil's best lyrics.
This song in particular feels like a sequel to Malvina Reynolds' "Little Boxes," or more directly, the Who's "905." A major theme of the 20th century was the subversion of the individual into the corporate, the mechanical. We lost our individuality not for mutual benefit, but for corporate profit, for political isolation and control. It's all a resistance to, in Marxist terms, "alienation."
I have nothing to add. Great comment.
When I was 18 I got to see a Neil Peart drum clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This was back in about 1985 and Neil normally never did such events but it was done as a favor for the owner of Fort Wayne's Percussion Center, where he bought his equipment. I distinctly remember he played that last part of Subdivisions on request and ended it with a stick flip that went about 25 feet into the air and fell perfectly back into his hand. It was amazing.
"Neil Peart - your favorite drummer's favorite drummer."
RIP, Neil.
I've a watched your Rush reaction videos four or five times now. It tickles me innards everytime drop your head, slowly shake it side to side whilst grinning ear to ear. Exactly what are you thinking in those moments
Generally, Rush fans are a collection of misfits, outcasts and, for lack of a better description “Nerds”. Rush was our safe haven, the music let us know that we weren’t alone and if being like everyone else was “cool”,we had no desire to be “cool”.
This song was so relatable to each of us and IMO it still is to so many.
TRUE
Well stated
I have been proudly uncool since 1977
🙋🏿♀️ ditto...... 🐰 #ENRGYZRBunny
Uncool since 1977 as well. I switched from a public school to a private in 6th grade. I was immediately dubbed an outcast. Other than a couple of like minded classmates, I was ignored and bullied when I wasn't. Luckily, I found books and Rush to light the way.
Rush is the thinking person's band.
I first saw Rush live on 11/11/1982, 38 years ago to the day =)
Say That!!! Tell It!!! Preach!!!
Grown men wept on UA-cam when Neil Peart died.
Keep going! 🇨🇦🔥
Signals is Rush's most underrated album imo, most people don't give it nearly enough credit as it deserves. It's a 10/10 album start to finish, not a single bad or even so so song. By far the best of their 80's heavy synth phase albums.
Agreed. It's not far behind Moving Pictures imo. It is so consistently good, from start to finish. I was going to list the best tracks but then I realised I was typing them all!! Losing It is my favourite set of Neil's lyrics - particularly pertinent as you get older!
Neil Peart was a special musician and actually wrote all the lyrics too! Or did sadly he has left us now, I was lucky enough to see them live a couple of times! R30 anniversary tour and the Time Machine tour! Amazing live band but tinged with sadness as I won't get to see them again.
Born in '68, this song just makes me melancholic. And I'm not even living in North-America.
Subdivisions is on the Signals album. Was a privilege to hear this one performed live in 2013. Goosebumps when that intro started! ❤
Loved the surround effect when they played it in arenas.
This is THE song that describes my youth. I discovered it about a year after it came out, and it has been my life's theme song for almost 40 years. It has shaped the way I raised my four sons. I was that teenager playing that video game in that neighborhood from that high school. I became a father needing my boys to have a perspective beyond their apparent world. So happy you liked it.
MY older friends tell me that Rush went downhill when it started using a lot of synth, but to me this song stands up against anything they ever did. The drums are amazing and this song speaks to how i felt growing up. It is a treasure in my life.
I was 14 years old when I got into Rush, at that point I had been playing drums in school band for about three years. A year later this album came out and my very first concert was the signals tour. My seat was stage left directly across from Neil, it was the first time I witnessed greatness. I was lucky enough to see them live 17 more times, my only regret is that I’ll never get to see them again.
Almost exactly the same for me, except I was 14 and the album was first 2112, and then Farewell To Kings.
It would be great to react to Neil's live drum solo. Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins said Subdivisions was his favourite song, and it got him through difficult times. It made him realise that somebody understood what he was going through
You’re only just starting you Rush journey mate.. what a ride you’re going to have!! Natural Science is a must but there’s so many more .. there really is !!
Permanent Waves is a complete beast.
RIP to the master, Neil Peart. One of my favorite Rush songs. You seem to be starting to appreciate the details that Rush incorporated into their music. No one else did it like them, they were very unique musically and lyrically.
As a Canadian from Toronto, who was a teen when RUSH were in their prime, it makes me incredibly happy to see people newly exposed to the brilliance of the band.
RUSH created the complex, layered, intelligent soundtrack for outcasts and misfits in the late 70s/80s.
This song has always been special to me. This song is the anthem of Rush fans in the eighties. They're most loyal fan base are the misfits, the dreamers, the readers, the guys who played D&D, the computer geeks, and the nonconformists. We took over the world eventually, and Rush became cool.
This song resonates with me, I grew up in the suburbs and the lyrics are a picture of my teenage years. " In the basement bars, In the backs of cars, be cool or be cast out"
There are more drums hit in this one song than most bands have on an entire album!
More drums hit, and also more drum hits!
You can crush it with these Rush reactions. Do them all. Rush is down with it. Fans love it. Keep it up.
Like I'm sure many of the Rush fans here, I've seen hundreds of reaction videos for their work. I've found yours superior by far in that not only do you energetically embrace the songs, but you have the ear, vocabulary, and insight to carefully crack them open and explain what's working and why. You don't pretend to have all the answers, but you are light-years ahead of the folks who are left with "wow!" Particularly like your idea that the songs have to work on the surface before anyone cares enough to peel it back and appreciate the perfect gears underneath. They're not showing off, there's a reason for their technical moves. Time signatures shift like gears in Red Barchetta, for instance, and the reggae beats in Spirit are very much against the grain of say, label expectation (which ties into what that song's about).
Anyway, loving the channel and style. Please consider YYZ and Limelight from their catalog
Thank you Ian! Glad you’re enjoying the vids!
It's quite good fun seeing the "Wow" though!!
This is one of the best reactions I’ve heard of this song. The drum part is extremely intricate each phrase is different. Spot on with the lyrical analysis as well. Nice work.
Thanks man! I appreciate this!
So glad I managed to see them live at Birmingham NEC. They added heart and soul to a sterile building and brought it to life. True artists in every sense.
Safe to say we all really enjoy your reactions and comments. On your own time; search Neil Peart isolated drums. I think you'll find what you're looking for.
Simply put. This song is the anthem for every square peg out there. For me, this is when the lyrics became the driving force to their songs. Still fantastic instrumentally, but the lyrics are what pushes the songs.
You should really take a look at Xanadu live from Exit Stage Left. To see Geddy Lee sing,play bass, keyboards and Taurus pedals is incredible to see live. You should be able to find isolated drum tracks on a UA-cam platform.
Take care ✌
Most Rush tunes are great right out of the box. Some are deep and heavy on the lyrics. Some are purely instrumental. All are masterful. If you give a first listen to a song and aren't sure if you really like it, try it again. Or, try it in the context of the whole album. I never tire of Rush because I can find new things to love decade after decade. Great reaction Tommy!
This brings back memories. Back in the days I was a UPS driver and that High school was on my route. I believe it was called L'Amoreaux. I only delivered there a few times but distinctly remember the round window you can see on this video. RIP Neil
Deep, deep, rabbit hole and there is no way back !!! Rush is brilliant and unique in the best way possible. Try ''Analog kid'' for another great Signals's song or go the opposite direction with a song like ''Available light'' for a totally different experience. The range of this band is like no other ever!
i one millionth Analog Kid.
You _HAVE TO_ do "YYZ". Listen to the studio version first, b/c the audio quality is _MUCH_ better than the live version, but I will add you should _DEFINITELY_ check out the "YYZ: Live in Rio" version. The crowd is insane. It makes you wish you were there b/c they _ALL_ look like they're having a blast.
I agree with the studio version YYZ. The production on Moving Pictures is phenomenal.
Alex's playing is almost always perfect, so when he misses a note it feels very strange to me.
Did it bother anybody else that he missed the 3 harmonic notes that should have come at around 2:17 on the Live in Rio version, and are there at about 2:13 on the studio version?
Watch Alex in the Rio version and you can see how he missed the notes.These notes have always felt like they were the response Alex gave to the riff Geddy had just played, so when those notes are not there it catches me every time I see that video. I love both versions, it is just so weird to me to miss those three notes. Maybe I have just listened to Moving Pictures too many times since 1981.
yes YYZ live Rio will give you an idea on how they are on stage ,, Also Working man live Cleveland
I would do the live Rio YYZ as the reaction so much to talk about
"I've never seen a crowd sing along with and instrumental"
"Subdivisions" is from Rush's 9th Studio Album "Signals", released in 1982.
The drums are in the hand of Neil "The Professor" Peart. Your favorite drummers favorite drummer. If you want to drop your jaw for drum parts, listen to "Natural Science". It doesnt get any better than that. Love the drum sound on that song and the whole album is incredible! RIP Neil Peart!
Ask and you shall receive - here's the isolated drums done by The Professor himself (RIP Neil!): ua-cam.com/video/48IEOgnpZ84/v-deo.html
This is the anthem of teenage life, ESPECIALLY if you're a geeky, awkward nerd, and don't fit in with the 'in' crowd (which lets face it, is most of us!) From day 1, this song has spoken directly to me (and so many others). Neil penned lyrics that empathized our situation, because they were his own (and Geddy and Alex's too). They were misfits in school, and they remained misfits even in the music world. Success came, but it was on their terms. You pretty much nailed the interpretation of the lyrics!
Now add to it an amazing synth line (I get chills every time I hear the opening lines of keys Geddy plays), then the bass, guitars, and indeed, the incredible drums - you have perfection.
This is long been my #1 Rush song, followed closely by 2112.
Tommy- Thank You for posting this. Loved your insights!
Your journey has only just begun, you have barely scratched the surface. 2112, La Villa Strangiato, Xanadu, Red Sector A are just a few nuggets to consider before diving deep.
You will really have your mind blown when you do Neil's drum solo in Frankfurt. Also YYZ Live in Rio. You should hear both the live and studio versions of YYZ.The Live in Rio version has the most amazing crowd energy, but the audio on the studio album is far superior.
Glad you brought up Peart . I've commented before that this is one of his most dominate performances in this song. What's so consistent about Rush is time signature changes. Get used to it. Magic.
"Working Man", "Limelight", "Free Will", "Time Stand Still", "Roll the Bones", "Cygnus X-1", "Bravado", "Camera Eye", "New World Man", "Ghost of a Chance" are all great Rush songs. Enjoy.🤘🎸🥁🎶
My high school days in the suburbs outside of New Haven CT....one of my favorite songs of all time.
Alex likes his harmonics 😀
have a listen to The Camera Eye next - pay attention to the bass
There are lots of isolated drum tracks out there
Your journey through the Rush catalog appears to be nicely progressing - and you’ve gotten your feet wet...only just! All sorts of delightful Rush surprises yet to come your way
This was my first Rush Concert, Subdivisions, Oct 8, 1982, the night I graduated from Boot Camp in the U.S. Navy.
Yes, one of the dopest drum tracks ever! Just feels like high school for many of us
"Conform or be cast out..." the dilemma facing many RUSH fan`s lives over the years...
This song comes from the album "Signals", which immediately followed "Moving Pictures"...which is where one finds "Red Barchetta". The entirety of "Signals" was a great deal more synth-heavy than anything Rush had done previously. Synths would play a major role in their music for at least two more albums, when they returned to their power-trio core.
Being a Canadian, from RUSH's hometown of Toronto, Canada seen highlighted in the video; to me it speaks of the feeling of isolation as a person, not quite fitting in with the crowd. The suburbs were an isolation from the "Big City" life that we all dreamed of experiencing. Interesting fact: this is the only Rush song that you hear drummer Neil Peart's voice. The word, "Subdivisions" heard, that is Neil, not Alex.
I believe Neil also had some voice narration on The Necromancer, from Caress of Steel
That is why he is called The Professor!! Such a talent!
More Rush please!!
Do Analog Kid, which is the following song on the album. It's my favorite song on the album, and it's the best showcase of guitar on the album.
The guitar solo is the closest he came to 'shredding' 😁
@@gibson617ajg I love that main riff too. It's like a proto Megadeth riff.
Great song!! One thing you will discover that is so great about Rush is how they changed their sound to fit the times. The early albums all have what us Rush fans would say is the "classic" Rush sound and longer epic feel to them up through Moving Pictures. Then Signals started the change to the more techy 80's feel. Its amazing that they were able to do that when hair metal was taking off and they made 3-4 great albums in that era. Keep it going!!
The smile and slight chuckle i had when you said you had to go back to appreciate the drum work, i wonder how many people listening to "The Professor" Neil Peart, have said that exact quote before lol
Listen to Neil's drum solo live from Frankfurt. An amazing performance. Love the fact you have found RUSH so amazing. They are a fantastic band.
The amazing thing about Neil Peart is he wasn't just one of the best percussionists that ever lived, but he wrote most of their lyrics too. "The Professor" was an amazing man.
There are many videos of his isolated drums. Amazing.
Just saw you for the first time, and as a fellow musician (drummer) I enjoyed your joyful reactions during the viewing, and your analysis.
As Rush listeners, we KNOW when -those- superlative musical moments are coming and it just doesn’t matter: we’re going to love the greatness of it whether the first time or 81st time through it
(Watching your face -totally- light up at Peart’s final drumming section was totally awesome as it was completely natural! SO refreshing!).
Yes, Alex Lifeson, a brilliant and still-underrated guitarist had seemingly moved his style/tone more in alignment with Andy Summers at this point: lots of chorus, less overdrive, and solos that were more structured.
He has always been a great melodic player, so for me it was just another evolution of his hard work. This type of melodic/chordal soloing can be heard on “Afterimage” off of “Grace Under Pressure”, the album following “Signals”. A poignant song and fine solo. This chorus-heavy tone reaches back to ~1978 and “Hemispheres”.
My Lifeson standards will always be “Xanadu” (the slow build to the descending, melt-your-face-off runs with clarity and speed was an obvious raising of his own standard...the entire song was, in fact), and “Freewill” (plus the first ~35 seconds of “Show Don’t Tell”).
In closing, I also wanted to add a “Thank You” for including lyrics in the analysis and for calling out specific players and sections of performance. Many “reaction” videos are nothing but 4-7m of barely-changing facial expressions.
Please continue, here’s a sub (and a suggestion for Yes’ 1974 “Gates of Delirium”. It does clock in at 21:50, but it’s absolutely worth it: full of great performances, a deep, meaningful set of lyrics, Patrick Moraz on keys, and the most awesome Steve Howe on guitar, PLUS White, Squire, and Anderson.
It’s ABSOLUTELY worth the time/effort.
Thank you! I really appreciate your kind words! Glad to have you with us! :)
Subdivisions came out as part of the Signals album in 1982. After what was (and still is) widely considered the band's best album, Moving Pictures, it was kind of disappointing to Rush fans who were used to a harder, more guitar-oriented sound. There were a ton more keyboards on this album, & I include myself in that group of fans who was initially disappointed at it. However, the lyrics more than made up for this & this song holds deep meaning for many Rush fans like myself who used to go to the city because the suburbs held no excitement for them. Whether consciously or not, my life has mirrored the lyrics in the song:
"Well, some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats,
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere to relax their restless flight.
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights."
Been a Rush fan my whole life, Glad other people are finely figuring what an amazing band they are.
The album Signals, is a masterpiece IMHO. I bought it brand new...it never gets old, and is by far my favorite Rush album, and I own them all.
Great reaction...dive into this album, I dont see you being disappointed you did.
Maybe as a bonus to Rush Week, react to Neil’s drum solo live from Frankfurt. Hard to argue that he’s not the greatest rock drummer ever.
Thanks for doing this one, it’s one of my favourites. Neil sounds particularly ‘busy’.
your reactions feel like the most genuine. for my personal neil peart drum section check out the second half of 'loosing it'. thank you.
This album came immediately after Moving Pictures (Rush's master piece) in 1982 and it took me many years to accept it was a great album and it is and this is one of the fans favourites always played in concert and the drumming is deceptively difficult on this song in parts, spot on!
Also worth mentioning is that, in America, a housing estate is called a "subdivision".
I love your analysis on Rush. There is so much in the music and lyrics that you need several listens to appreciate it. Rush is all about the details !
This is probably what you want, regarding the drums on Subdivisions: ua-cam.com/video/48IEOgnpZ84/v-deo.html
I believe you've now done four Rush tracks, so far; all from 1980-82. You'll get numerous requests for the wonderful YYZ live in Rio; also from the same period... Limelight, Camera Eye, Analog Kid, Digital Man, Chemistry, Freewill, Natural Science ... All superb, but from the same period.
Given the limited slots, and 40+ years with 19 (or 20 depending how you count) studio albums, you should do Working Man Live in Cleveland (performed 2011 but from first album in 1974 - John Rutsey was the drummer on the studio version. Peart arrived just after the album was recorded). Also, do 'The Garden' Live from Clockwork Angels Tour (last song, last album, this live performance drives me to tears, every time!).
This will see the week end with numerous classics and wonders missing - there's not a bad Rush album - and even The Garden won't give a good sense of to where they evolved. The final album, Clockwork Angels, is an epic story through life (accompanied by a steam punk novel co-written by Peart), containing different musical styles.
It's a deep hole, down which to dive; and even Rush month wouldn't be sufficient! Enjoy! 😊
Your reactions to Rush have inspired me to subscribe to your channel. It warms my heart and gives me hope to see a new Rush fan develop and join the rest of the very happy family. Your attention to the various nuances of their songs and sincere appreciation makes me RE-APPRECIATE what made me a fan in the first place. Keep up the great work, Tommy.
Thank you Chuck! Great to have you here and I will get back round to Rush very soon!
There are actually lots of isolated drum mixes with him out there. Another great reaction. Thanks. Can’t wait to see you do more.
It's likely been said in the comments elsewhere but it bears repeating: Neil Peart is your favorite drummer's favorite drummer. When you check them out in the "YYZ Live in Rio" clip their mastery is on full display, and while their lyrics set them apart from other bands "YYZ" being an instrumental showcases their musicianship which also puts them head and shoulders above most other bands in rock history.
Love the message of this song. Neil was such a talented individual. He was always learning and evolving, whether it was thru him being an avid reader of books or using different techniques as a drummer. RIP Neil.
I had been a Rush fan for a long time by the time I was in high school....this began in 1979. I loved their sci fi, fantasy based luyrics and songs and as a Tolkien fan it was a band that appealed to me. Then, my junior year, Moving Pictures debuted...I of course loved it...it was powerful and inspiring....but...BUT...suddenly out of nowhere....EVERYONE was a Rush fan. And I thought to myself...."You posers." I was at a house party....Rush was playing...it was YYZ I still remember that. A classmate of mine approached me...."Hey, you know this band, you always talked about it. THREE guys make this music?" All I said was "Yeah." Posers.
Really great reaction. Your perceptions of RUSH are soooo spot on! They don't make you work too hard to enjoy the music like some bands do. A great live performance is "2112" from June 30th, 1997!!!
I love how you can appreciate my favorite group that I’ve enjoyed for 45 years. Great reaction!
I love this song and the album it's from. It's so deceptive. I first heard it live before it was released but when I did sit down and listen to the original release it was the melody and the keyboards that got me, then the lyrics on another listen and then the drums. Holy cow the drumming in this is magnificent. It's a wonderful song from a great album.
Great reaction. Love listening to a musician reacting to music. Keep it up. Subbed.
Thanks Andreas!
Saw Rush while touring their Signals album. As a high school student at the time, this song resonated and still remains one of my favourites from their catalogue. Great reaction!
Greetings from Canada
Here are some tracks that focus on Neil's Drums, and what he hears more then what the entire band is doing and they are also filmed from cameras surrounding him and his kit. ua-cam.com/play/PLq9XRmrA9nynjwYcVm77WzXt2dxUgNENX.html
Neil lyrics can really make you think.
My classic rock station here actually played Vital Signs yesterday on the way home. Haven't heard that one in years.
There is an isolated drum track to this by Neil Peart,such an amazing drummer who will be sadly missed.
There are 4 "eras" of rush, although they always evolved on every album, always experimenting with new technology, influences and sounds. Some may argue that there are, in fact, "bad" Rush songs but I would argue that Rush's "bad" songs are still better than other bands mediocre songs. The 4 eras would be 1974-1978, 1980-1985, 1987-1996(the most maligned era), 2002-2012. I would highly recommend selecting a couple of songs from each of the time periods to give yourself an idea of how this group evolved over 40 years. If you want to review another hidden Canadian Gem of a band, check out "Big Wreck", I would suggest "Ghosts" from the Suhr factory party on youtube. If you don't know this band (in particular the front man Ian Thornley), brace yourself, you're in for another virtuoso guitar player/vocalist/song writer.
I'd disagree slightly. It seems Rush had 2 transition eras between 1980-1982 and 1989-1991. Because Permanent Waves and Power Windows are much different sounds. And hold Your Fire and Counter parts (1987 /1994) are night and day!
I 100% agree you need to check out a few songs from each era because they really did change and evolve with the times and I noticed that as the times went on Getty's base got meaner and meaner and Neil's lyrics switched from like a sci-fi fantasy to politics and The human condition it's really interesting to see how Neil evolved over time.
You can find a much older Neil playing "Subdivisions" in isolation. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/48IEOgnpZ84/v-deo.html. Enjoy!
The drumming is the stand out on this track closely followed by the keyboards. Great lyrical content.
RUSH are musical titans, to say the least! Clockwork, powerful songs that tell a story and paint sonic landscapes. When you get a chance, check out 'Under The Milky Way' by The Church, 'Dear God' by XTC, and 'Bury My Lovely' by The October Project. All masterpieces!
This marks the synthesized era of Rush, and yet, the truth of their music, and lyrics, remains.
III G.O.A.T’s
🎸🥁🎸
RUSH
RIP. Neil.
Great choice, and definitely a personal favorite. This was the anthem of every nerdy Rush fan that struggled to fit in during high school. It was the first track on Signals, which came out in 1982 right on the heels of the very successful Moving Pictures album (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Limelight, YYZ). Signals, however, marked a big departure in their style, brining synths to the forefront and delivering more of a pop-80's sound. Many fans were disgruntled, and they lost a few, but you have to change if you want to stay relevant for 40 years. When you hear their older work, you will hear the Zeppelin and Sabbath in Alex's playing, but as the synths started to take more prominence, he reinvented his style. The solo at the end is a great example - the use of whammy bar and harmonics (as you noticed again), and runs of dyads/triads to finish off - and this is a guy who can shred a blues scale, as you will see. On their later albums, Alex had even more tools at his disposal because of this period, and it makes him one of them of the most versatile rock guitarists ever. Also shocking to fans was the amount of time Geddy was on the keys, but he jumps on the bass and brings us into the chorus with that badass riff. And Neil - man, talk about a study in subtle mastery! His cymbal and snare work on this are incredible. His ride cymbal patterns are never a simple straight beat, and this is a great example of how he switches up his part on every verse. I saw someone else posted a vid of him playing this isolated - don't miss it. Also, here's another awesome one - all drum cam footage, live I think in Rio (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Watch him sneak those hi-hat hits in. ua-cam.com/video/T9-bh9kmpWk/v-deo.html Finally, the lyrics are just sheer poetry. A subdivision is a term in North America for those housing estates as you called them. Very typical of the suburbs like where I grew up - "in geometric order, an insulated border, in between the bright lights (the city) and the far, unlit unknown (the country)." What great writing. Looking forward to tomorrow's video. Cheers!
My personal favorite Rush song. Perfection.
I love Rush's earlier stuff but this has always been my favorite track. Thanks.
@NorthernEar - Subdivisions is also a play on words; referring first to a piece of land divided up into smaller plots for housing close together, like in the video "The suburbs have no charms to sooth the restless dreams of youth".
Secondly, the subdividing of (especially youth) society into the different social groups from which some are then excluded or outcast, "Be cool or be cast out".
Interesting. Didn’t know they used the term subdivisions specifically for housing! Nice
Yeah. Here in the States, a home builder will develop a certain section of land. It usually has only a couple entrances into the area. But it can hold dozens and dozens of homes. This is known here as a "subdivision". Basically, a self-contained neighborhood.
I think a lot of people miss the best lyrical twist in the song, at least upon their first listen. The beginning of the song laments how the suburbs are sort of a creative no-man's-land of cookie-cutter houses and social cliques that is missing the excitement of the city and the peaceful tranquility and natural beauty of the country (aka the "far, unlit unknown). These negatives are even more pronounced in the lives of the misfits and loners, but it seems everyone ends up in a soul-crushing 9 to 5 job. The often-missed twist is that for all of those caught in the "mass production zone" in their early lives who were looking for "any escape" from the boredom of the suburbs wind up pining for the suburban lifestyle once they get older and near retirement age. They tire of the rat race and dream of relaxing their "restless flight" by returning to the lighted streets & quiet nights of their suburban childhood which for now is "somewhere out of a memory". Neil was a lyrical poet. RIP Professor.
Rush weren't a band for 'everyone' when I was 16.
Maiden, Sabbath, Rainbow were the patches on every rock fan's Wrangler denim jackets - including mine but the largest one, longest one was 'Rush', at the top. Black with red sparkly stitching - I can see it now.
Never knew what eventually happened to that jacket. 😔
I can tell you this mate...I've been a musician for over 30 years...there is nothing simple about the music these guys made. These guys all played at the highest level of ability. The compositions are complex and multilayered. The lyrics are profound. True masters of their craft imho.
I don’t disagree, I guess what I mean is that it’s subtle. They’re not a complex listen. You can listen to this band very easily. They make their music very accessible
@@ThomasJ_Music So true...it's part of their enduring appeal. The fact that they were able to work in that complexity without making it feel overdone...the accessibility if the band as you put it...shows just how good they really were.
I think Rush being my favorite classic prog band, for all the reasons you're saying carry over to why Caligula's Horse are my current musical darlings. Yeah other bands are flashier, but the feels, and doing it so smoothly, creating melodies and traversing them in interesting ways so that even if your song is longer, you never felt like you've strayed off to another track, something many prog bands are guilty of.
They are masters at making the unnatural sound natural. Great examples of that are in Freewill and Jacob's Ladder where they have time sig changes - on every measure - for significant stretches of time. In Jacob's Ladder, they switch to 4/4 after a while, but the bass is still playing the exact same pattern as when they were alternating between 5/4 and 6/4. Except it's in 4/4 now. Freewill is probably the most unnatural natural sounding song ever, and the jam near the end is epic.
You've only listened to Rush songs from 1980 - '82 so far, so there are many more styles to hear from them. They started off very Led Zeppelin influenced. They gradually elaborated on that style. Then by the late 70s, they had reached the zenith of their prog powers. This early 80s stuff has them distilling their prog sound of the late 70s into more easily digestible chunks and bringing lots of contemporary influences. Rush always changed with the times.
Lol. Funny, because you don't know how many times I've rewound the ending again just to hear that drum part. One of the only fights I was in as a kid was at school because some other kid said Neil couldn't play the drums. I'm not even a huge Rush fan, but sometimes I just listen to them for their technical ability. Amazing stuff to be appreciated by anyone who plays.
Rush gives new meaning to “adult rock”.
I've always loved the ending of this song, more than all other Rush songs.
Not sure what you have on your list for the rest of the week, but when you can fit it in, Natural Science is a brilliant, beautiful, complicated masterpiece. One of my top 3.
10:40 Rush reference only true fans will recognize!