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The irony should not be lost that you release ForceTen during a hurricane that looks to swallow all of Florida. The universe is weird and strange. Stay safe all of you. I like Hold Your Fire. Think you might too.
I’ve always liked this album! Songwriting is fantastic. This is the only album my wife likes, funny enough. That’s the great thing about Rush. No matter what genre you’re in the mood for, they’ve got something for you somewhere in their catalog.
They opened with this the first time I saw them live, which gave me a whole new appreciation of it. Sound like a broken record, but it’s so much more direct and powerful live.
"Mission" from this album features what I think is one of the most emotive solos Alex has ever done. It is simple but one of those solos, when you hear live, gives you goosebumps almost like a David Gilmour solo.
@@richierich398 IMO, the best recorded version of it. Great song live. Also, the only song (not including drum solos) other than "Spirit of Radio" I'm aware of where Neil plays an actual marimba part on the MIDI marimba rather than using it to just trigger sounds.
I absolutely love this song but I can't think of it without thinking about flying sheep which is so appropriate considering the fact that a hurricane is headed your way :-) when you get to a show of hands you'll understand the sheep reference
I know this will probably be interpreted as a cop-out, but the songs on this album really are so much better live. The energy of these songs played live really bring them to life.
I still enjoy this track. There are some digital flourishes and sampler/sequencer parts, but the core of the song is the three piece band rocking out. Lots of good prominent bass work as well.
like the energie on that one,whit a french line(an air of joie de vivre)cool lyrics``attack the day like birds of prey``a good way to start a morning,i think you gonna like the last track,justin,one of my fav,but its gonna be long till you get there,l.o.l🔐🔒🔐
I love this record! OK, just because some people don’t like “Tai Shan” doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good song. Neil went to China and appreciated the legendary mountain that is considered a spiritual place. I love this song because it makes you think about the ancient Chinese culture and their spiritual nature. R.I.P. Neil Peart
Justin, I really enjoy your reaction videos! So many Rush reactions on youtube are people just acting like they're completely astonished by everything the band does...as if they are gods who walk among us as opposed to just above average musicians who make music that some people like and some don't. Your insights are interesting and comments like "good job" for the wiki writer make me laugh. I can't wait to continue the journey of discovery with you.
I’m enjoying following along with your progression… you, being a bass guy, will definitely appreciate the playing Dirk does on “Turn the Page”.. fantastic groove.. you’ll see what I mean. Hope you’re all safe, including “kitty”. 😄
You are a tough cookie! This is a solid song. I was glad to hear that you actually listen to each album a few times after the initial reaction to let things sink in a little bit. Thank you for that.
Count me in the "Hold Your Fire" cult. While I can't say it's solid front to back, I think the album has some of their best songs on it. Force Ten is a "medium" song for me. Parts of it sound like a "regular" pop song then it twists into a weird Rush direction. For example, the first few lines in the verse sound very "pop" then it goes into this weird part for the rest of the verson and the chorus is just out of nowhere. I think this album sounds much better than Power Windows from a keyboard perspective. Outside of Force Ten, there are not as many high-pitched stabs or repeating patterns. With regard to the "clean" sound. I think that is in part due to the loud keyboards which forces Alex to use a cleaner, more trebbly tone so I think that, in addition to the overall production make the record "clean" sounding. BTW, Geddy missed the low end on the bass as well! I think his switch to using the Jazz bass almost 100% was a reaction to missing that low end bass. Geddy liked the Wal because it had a "zippy" sound which worked well since Geddy could get low end with the keys but play busy bass parts with clear definition with the Wal.
I think you'll find Hold Your Fire very similar to Power Windows. It was recorded with the same production team and Rush is continuing in the same direction. It has the typical 80's production and lots of keyboard effects but perhaps not so much over the top as on Power Windows. While HYF did not sell as well as Power Windows and has the much-maligned Tai Shan, it does have some excellent songs. Several of the songs are just beautiful, very melodic, and Neil's lyrics just get better and better with each album. Mission is one of the most beautiful songs they ever recorded. I think you'll find HYF overall enjoyable but obviously not in the same category as Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals. Force 10 is a very cool and different-sounding song. Another lyrical collaboration between Peart and Pye Dubois. When it first came out as the advance single I clearly thought it was a departure from everything before it. But all the same, it grew on me and I continued to embrace Rush's new direction. My only real complaint about HYF is that it's the first Rush album in a very long time to have "filler" tracks. It doesn't need 10 songs. If they cut High Water and obviously Tai Shan, I believe the album would have been held in higher regard. Force 10 was played live frequently by Rush and was well received by fans. In addition to the HYF Tour, Force 10 was played live on most tours, last being played live in 2012.
This album has a lot of nostalgic value for me. I was using public transit every day to go to University in the late 80s. I listened to this album a LOT (on my Sony Walkman, lol). It is difficult for me to dislike it.
"Force Ten" is a pretty sweet song. It's got some great work from all three of them. I didn't know it was written only because the producer said they needed another one. That's like "Malignant Narcissism", which was written after everything else was done and their producer said "make a song out of this cool bass line you were playing".
It's in some sense fitting that you scheduled this to upload on hurricane day for you, given the lyrical content (and some of the atmospherics evoke that sense of being in a hurricane... that bridge being the "eye of the storm"). For Hurricane Bob, I was 9 and spent that weekend at my summer house. I snuck down to the beach (in the lee of a peninsula with most of the wind being parallel to the beach) in the middle of it. All I can say it was a transcendental experience, and the "Look in, look the storm in the eye / Look out to the sea and the sky" bit just reminds me of that, 30-odd years later.
That thumbnail! 😅 And it's great that you have your "comfort animal" to help you get through this album (what is her name?). But hang in there, Justin. Get through this one and it's uphill from there. Re: the Mac, in 1987 the top of the line machine would have been the Mac II (My first Mac, actually. Color! 40 MB HD! Up to 8 MB of RAM!) But IMO "Force Ten" was a good opener in terms of establishing the overall sound and style of the album, plus it's one of the better compositions. The arrangement is sort of scattered and jumpy, with a solo section that doesn't include a solo. They flogged this one in concert for years, so they must have liked it.
I think the description about the album you read at the beginning was pretty spot on. When this album came out I was not a fan initially. After a few listens and reading the lyrics, I began to appreciate a few of the songs on the album. Also, Neils drumming on this album is amazing as usual. Geddy and Alex are ok too🤣. I personally never really cared much for this song. Although for some reason this song is still in the musical rotation on rock radio stations when they play Rush.
This song was an epic concert opener with the huge stereo drums. This being the last song written, it points in some ways towards the next record Presto, which has less keyboards and more bass (including a bass solo in the album opener). Hope you're doing OK with the hurricane! I lived near Orlando for 17 years so I've had some run-ins with them.
Studio version is a complicated song, I like all the flourishes. I prefer this to live versions I heard. Did Kitty produce this video, her closing cameo saunter was a nice touch. Thank you for reactions.
Welcome to my favorite Rush album of the 80's! All the tracks are heavey hitters. Its funny i really love tai shan so im glad they kept it.(count down to Test for Echo 🕐 🙌)
are you seriously building hype for him to react to Test for Echo? Honestly he could skip that album and still live a full life, (most) of it is an uninspired jumble, like they were just trying to cram in a bunch of heavy riffs just to make up for synth-centric phases. The only Rush album I literally returned to the record store for my money back.
Belated Comment…..Been a Rush fan since the Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures albums. Great job on the reactions, although I was surprised at your reviews of some of the older stuff especially the first album. But in your defense, you listened to them decades after their release, while I delved into their back catalog right after Signals came out, only a few years after the fact. Rush, Caress of Steel and 2112 were my first samples of their pre-Permanent Waves albums and I thought all three were phenomenal with the first listen. As for Hold Your Fire, when the album’s advance track Force Ten was released (on a Friday, a week and a half before the album hit the stores - which was the standard procedure in those days), it became an instant rock hit. One of the local DJ’s remarked “That song is a rush” after playing it. I thought it was a great tune (for a post-Moving Pictures song). In hindsight, all of the keyboard embellishments during the second verse is overkill and Alex’s guitar sound isn’t heavy enough (a weakness throughout the album). A week after the song’s debut, the radio stations received advance copies of the album, resulting in Time Stand Still and Turn the Page receiving heavy airplay as well. Inexplicably, Turn the Page was never heard after the album was released. Time Stand Still on the other hand was an instant rock hit and had the distinction of having the greatest longevity of airplay, out of all of Rush’s post-Signals songs; released in 1987, you still heard it throughout the 90’s. Two months after the album came out, Lock and Key received a few weeks of airplay. I thought those four were the best songs on the album. Unfortunately, Hold Your Fire was their first release that contained songs I didn’t like (Second Nature and Tai Shan in particular). Second Nature, Mission and Open Secrets I thought sounded too adult contemporary, Open Secrets being the only one of those three that I actually liked. Prime Mover sounded too poppy, but I didn’t dislike it entirely, and High Water suffered due to following Tai Shan (a Working Man-type song was needed to wash the bad taste away). I never thought the album was a failure, however. The next album, though…..Presto was the only Rush album where I ripped the cassette out of my car’s player less than halfway through the songs while driving home from the record store on the day of its release, out of frustration of it sounding too close to a soft-rock album. Show Don’t Tell - that album’s advance track - gave me high hopes of Rush returning to a heavier sound (despite the guitar sounding too light in other parts of the song - particularly the chorus - and the section leading up to the bass solo sounding eerily similar to 80’s Heart). In an interview, Alex explained that during the development of Hold Your Fire, he was experimenting with guitar sound textures and became hooked on a series of guitars by Signature. He then used those same guitars for Presto, which he admitted was a mistake. Fortunately, each album after that became increasingly heavier, culminating with Test for Echo, my favorite post-Signals album. I viewed Victor as having a positive effect on that album (I always thought Victor was a very good album; you have to take into consideration that it seemed to have been produced by Alex himself, along with his son Adrian). It looked like Rush was on a roll until disaster struck for Neil.
@@JustinPanariello Hope all is ok in the end. I have a step-sister down in Chocoloskee and Dad has a place near Naples. Dad is up here now, but was going to be heading back soon. Now. No idea what will be happening when.
@@obiwanbenobi4943 im actually in Naples. Im east of 75 and its been fine here nothing insane at all. But I think closer to the gulf the got flooding and i imagine wind was worse too. Power stayed on all day. Friends in Fort Myers and people that stayed in my area all say shit is wrecked. And this is prior to storm surge coming to my area sooooooo. Idk what im gonna see when we get home.
Mmmm....There's never a tingle of excitement before giving H to the Y to the F a spin. But it's Rush...the songs are GOOD. Tai Shan is decent...the most exciting to me is Turn The Page....played loud of course 😁
Only saw Rush live once and I was during the Hold Your Fire tour. Sadly, it was in a terrible hall in the Glasgow SECC, so it is not an experience I recall fondly, but at least I got to see them. I also really like the album, including Tai Shan.
I think it’s the first album of theirs to NOT go platinum. 😢It was and still is a damn strong album IMHO, yet I do believe going forward from this point, each release would require more effort to get into. Not that they’re lacking, and I had become a major fan just kinda prior to this release, but because they got lyrically deeper, more musically experimental and REALLY by this point couldn’t give a fuck if they EVER had a number one album or hit single. True musicianship transcends fades, genres and flavor of the month jingles.🤘🖖✌️🥁🎸🎹🎤🥇🇨🇦🎼
This video got me to return to this album since it's release way back when. And after hearing Force 10 live, which is wonderful, this song and this album is growing on me. But I still prefer the older stuff.
This is Rush at the height of their synth experimentation, it would become less and less synth-y on future albums, with a gradual return to form of a more stripped-down 3 piece sound. I still enjoy this album quite a lot! They were never afraid to try something new, which is admirable.
"An air of joie de vivre" LOL..before Google, you had to ask someone that actually spoke French to find out what that meant. I'm a huge Rush fan, and I think I can say confidently this is my 3rd least favorite album, right behind their last 2. Good reaction, good opening info I never knew before. Good job.
this is absolutely one of those songs that translates way better live. Actually I think thats the case for this entire record. It lacks power that they had on the stage
Yes this is the last album with the rubber band sounding Wal bass! Thankfully lol. There are some really great songs on this album though, Time Stand Still is a classic and one of their best written songs ever in my view. It does however suffer the same fate as much of this album....over reliance on that jangly, super processed guitar sound of Alex's and so many thick synth pads in the back ground of everything. The drums sound kind of small and tinny too, no real oomph, especially the snare which is tuned too high. Some of the songs also reach the nausea point of electronic drums and it get's real challenging to listen beyond that. But the real highlight here is the songwriting, melodies, and lyrics. Rush really was starting to show a maturity and universal appeal to much of the themes here and I think this album has some of their best melody writing and actual harmonies as well. Alex does pull off some killer solos on here (still kind of processed sounding),and there are some monumental drum breaks and moments on songs like Lock and Key and Mission. Turn the Page is a real highlight as well with some crazy bass playing and incredible melody and lyrics. Overall though, sonically you will be happy that this album ends the super wet and heavy synth era. It got to be way too much here and by the end of this album you will be happy that they start to turn back to being a more organic sounding trio. Presto and Roll the Bones get more and more away from drowning things in synths (although they still are there), but the production remains really thin and small sounding until Counterparts rips your head off with the way Rush should be recorded!
I got no problems with HYF, I actually like it better than Power Windows as a whole. Like other fans I prefer the live cuts as the album production itself is kind of weak.
The WAL bass sounded much better than that goofy little Steinberger thing that had no character, but the Ric was always missed in the late '80's Rush sound; of course Geddy did eventually go with the J-Bass. Everything in the late '80s got "over-produced", super crisp and sparkly production, more layers of multi-tracking because they could, engineers went nuts with the digital mixing possibilities.
Justin you should listen to April Wine's Electric Jewels album. This whole album is awesome, Terry Brown didn't produce this album but he was the engineer. This would be pre Rush albums and it was recorded in 1973. The bass player was Jim Clinch who went on to play for BTO, he also sings lead vocals with Myles Goodwin.
"Force Ten" opens this 12th Rush album with a bang! The 'Hold Your Fire' record is another one that holds a special place for me. I mean, it was only released THIRTY FIVE years ago, and my wife was born in '87 as well. I don't understand all the hate. Yes, it's a tad overproduced and (at times) over the top for my favorite band, BUT it's the 80s and digital recording was still sort of in its infancy. For me, HYF is reminiscent of what people in the northern hemisphere say of March; it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.... 🔥🐑✌
I know I should wait for tomorrow, and Time Stand Still, but I also know you film stuff in advance, so I just wanted to throw this suggestion out for between album features. After Neil's death, the US Army band did an acoustic Time Stand Still, that is so beautiful and focuses on his lyrics. It's worth listening to. It can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/aAPSK_cV5n0/v-deo.html Anyway, thanks again for doing this series!
I'm not sure Geddy is using pedals like you may think he is. Watching it live it looks to me like he's playing bass chords in an arpeggio style. But I'm not a bass player (nor a professional musician), so what the hell do I know? Regardless, I believe he's using the same technique when you get to "Turn the Page".
Before you watch another video you've got to watch POLYPHIA- EGO DEATH feat. STEVE VAI , official music video. WOW WOW unbelievable, sit back and enjoy this unbelievable masterpiece, best wishes from the north east coast of England.
I always preferred the R30 live version of Force Ten to the studio recording. The live version isn't as "clean." The mix just sounds better imo. Keep in mind for a 'between albums' filler video?
I guess i'm the odd man out. Im not really crazy about anything after Grace Under Pressure. I had Hold Your Fire and a few others after GUP, but not the sound I like. Counterparts was a lot better. I really love the sound of a Les Paul through a stack of Marshalls. I would give my left arm to have the Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion that Alex had. On Signals and GUP the sound of those homemade strats through those Marshall Club and Country amps were awesome. I love the sound of the harmonics (pinch) that he was able to get. I guess I love the older stuff.
By 1987 I had discovered all sorts of new music and my girlfriend (and soon to be wife ) HATED Rush so my reaction to this album was lukewarm at best. There's some decent tunes and one absolute classic (Time Stand Still) but I always thought and still do, that it sounds thin and weedy and needs a good kick up the arse, production wise.
Yeah clean, just remember that when you get to 'Vapor Trails', although I like the original mix on that album. Kitty stole the show, much more interesting than the wiki input. And that ending, doesn't it want you to headbang just a little?
I'm pretty sure this was the album that Geddy switched to using Wal basses. I don't remember how many albums that lasted though. Edit: oh, haha... you knew that already. That's what I get for commenting mid-video.
That "snappy" sound from the Wal bass is even more pronounced on the "A Show of Hands" DVD. You'll see when you get there. I'm also not a fan of that tone.
Alex solo, solo, SOLO? OK, no then. There's more of a solo on the live version. This is one of two songs I can listen to off the album; the rest is hard work IMO. Wait for the Dean Friedman song, I won't give it away. The songs start to become too chop and change and lose the flow their earlier music has. You will find a part that you really like but just as you're getting into it, it goes off at right angles, almost like we can't play that part too long, we have to put a change in even when you say, man I was just getting into that part.
Personally I never cared for Geddy’s sound with the Wall bass. It’s more pop sounding and the low end is almost nonexistent. Thank god he went back to the Fender jazz bass starting with the album.Counterparts.
Tai shan is probably the only song worthy of a reaction,the rest if I'm honest is just ordinary....maybe Time stand still escapes that category. I'm a massive rush fan but I'm just being honest about MY reactions. Both Hold your fire AND Power Windows were really disappointing when you consider the albums they followed. They heralded a time of change for Rush. A change in sound,a change in Geddys' voice,a change in production....a change from being the most productive brilliant power trio to merely a very good band.
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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 UA-cam channel! Thank you everyone!
Time Stand Still is definitely an 80’s song but it’s lyrics also mean the most to me. Right up there with The Garden for lyrical impact for me.
The irony should not be lost that you release ForceTen during a hurricane that looks to swallow all of Florida. The universe is weird and strange.
Stay safe all of you.
I like Hold Your Fire. Think you might too.
Prime Mover...aye karamba...just rips. HYF is pretty damn good. I've been in a hurricane...stay safe man.
I’ve always liked this album! Songwriting is fantastic. This is the only album my wife likes, funny enough. That’s the great thing about Rush. No matter what genre you’re in the mood for, they’ve got something for you somewhere in their catalog.
Has your wife heard Presto?
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 Oh believe me, she’s heard them all! 😂😂
@@Bass17yl ha ha nice
They opened with this the first time I saw them live, which gave me a whole new appreciation of it. Sound like a broken record, but it’s so much more direct and powerful live.
"Mission" from this album features what I think is one of the most emotive solos Alex has ever done. It is simple but one of those solos, when you hear live, gives you goosebumps almost like a David Gilmour solo.
Really love the live version on show of hands.
Yes, very Gilmour-like!
@@richierich398 IMO, the best recorded version of it. Great song live. Also, the only song (not including drum solos) other than "Spirit of Radio" I'm aware of where Neil plays an actual marimba part on the MIDI marimba rather than using it to just trigger sounds.
I absolutely love this song but I can't think of it without thinking about flying sheep which is so appropriate considering the fact that a hurricane is headed your way :-) when you get to a show of hands you'll understand the sheep reference
Very powerful live to the point where it was the opening track, at times, on tour. I always crank up this track.
I'm calling it now. Justin bout to come out this saying Tai Shan was his favorite song 🤣
It's a beautiful song. I predict that he'll like Tai Shan just based on "it's not as bad as the haters say it is".
I've always liked this one. A hoot to play on the drums.
Force Ten is one of my all-time favs. This song just brings so much energy. The synths are so cool.
I know this will probably be interpreted as a cop-out, but the songs on this album really are so much better live. The energy of these songs played live really bring them to life.
I still enjoy this track. There are some digital flourishes and sampler/sequencer parts, but the core of the song is the three piece band rocking out. Lots of good prominent bass work as well.
like the energie on that one,whit a french line(an air of joie de vivre)cool lyrics``attack the day like birds of prey``a good way to start a morning,i think you gonna like the last track,justin,one of my fav,but its gonna be long till you get there,l.o.l🔐🔒🔐
I love this record! OK, just because some people don’t like “Tai Shan” doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good song. Neil went to China and appreciated the legendary mountain that is considered a spiritual place. I love this song because it makes you think about the ancient Chinese culture and their spiritual nature. R.I.P. Neil Peart
Justin, I really enjoy your reaction videos! So many Rush reactions on youtube are people just acting like they're completely astonished by everything the band does...as if they are gods who walk among us as opposed to just above average musicians who make music that some people like and some don't. Your insights are interesting and comments like "good job" for the wiki writer make me laugh. I can't wait to continue the journey of discovery with you.
I’m enjoying following along with your progression… you, being a bass guy, will definitely appreciate the playing Dirk does on “Turn the Page”.. fantastic groove.. you’ll see what I mean.
Hope you’re all safe, including “kitty”. 😄
You are a tough cookie! This is a solid song. I was glad to hear that you actually listen to each album a few times after the initial reaction to let things sink in a little bit. Thank you for that.
Count me in the "Hold Your Fire" cult. While I can't say it's solid front to back, I think the album has some of their best songs on it.
Force Ten is a "medium" song for me. Parts of it sound like a "regular" pop song then it twists into a weird Rush direction. For example, the first few lines in the verse sound very "pop" then it goes into this weird part for the rest of the verson and the chorus is just out of nowhere.
I think this album sounds much better than Power Windows from a keyboard perspective. Outside of Force Ten, there are not as many high-pitched stabs or repeating patterns.
With regard to the "clean" sound. I think that is in part due to the loud keyboards which forces Alex to use a cleaner, more trebbly tone so I think that, in addition to the overall production make the record "clean" sounding.
BTW, Geddy missed the low end on the bass as well! I think his switch to using the Jazz bass almost 100% was a reaction to missing that low end bass. Geddy liked the Wal because it had a "zippy" sound which worked well since Geddy could get low end with the keys but play busy bass parts with clear definition with the Wal.
all of this is spot on!
Stay safe man. Hope your house is not affected at all from the hurricane.
This song is beautiful 😍! Love it!
Love the album and also love Tai Shan. The lyrics are touching. Don't understand all the hate.
Me too. Really like Thai Shan.
Because it's dorky. lol
@@soundhealer6043 Half of their pre-Permanent Waves records were the soundtrack to a Dungeons and Dragons session, so dorky is very relative.
@@ischmidt Different kind of dorky. The "I stood at the top of the mountain, and China sang to me" kind of dorky. lol
Same, I get into Tai Shan moods where it's the only Rush song that will do. Love Tai Shan.
I think you'll find Hold Your Fire very similar to Power Windows. It was recorded with the same production team and Rush is continuing in the same direction. It has the typical 80's production and lots of keyboard effects but perhaps not so much over the top as on Power Windows. While HYF did not sell as well as Power Windows and has the much-maligned Tai Shan, it does have some excellent songs. Several of the songs are just beautiful, very melodic, and Neil's lyrics just get better and better with each album. Mission is one of the most beautiful songs they ever recorded. I think you'll find HYF overall enjoyable but obviously not in the same category as Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals. Force 10 is a very cool and different-sounding song. Another lyrical collaboration between Peart and Pye Dubois. When it first came out as the advance single I clearly thought it was a departure from everything before it. But all the same, it grew on me and I continued to embrace Rush's new direction. My only real complaint about HYF is that it's the first Rush album in a very long time to have "filler" tracks. It doesn't need 10 songs. If they cut High Water and obviously Tai Shan, I believe the album would have been held in higher regard. Force 10 was played live frequently by Rush and was well received by fans. In addition to the HYF Tour, Force 10 was played live on most tours, last being played live in 2012.
This album has a lot of nostalgic value for me. I was using public transit every day to go to University in the late 80s. I listened to this album a LOT (on my Sony Walkman, lol). It is difficult for me to dislike it.
Who cares what other people think of the album. If you love it, you love it.
"Force Ten" is a pretty sweet song. It's got some great work from all three of them. I didn't know it was written only because the producer said they needed another one. That's like "Malignant Narcissism", which was written after everything else was done and their producer said "make a song out of this cool bass line you were playing".
It's in some sense fitting that you scheduled this to upload on hurricane day for you, given the lyrical content (and some of the atmospherics evoke that sense of being in a hurricane... that bridge being the "eye of the storm").
For Hurricane Bob, I was 9 and spent that weekend at my summer house. I snuck down to the beach (in the lee of a peninsula with most of the wind being parallel to the beach) in the middle of it. All I can say it was a transcendental experience, and the "Look in, look the storm in the eye / Look out to the sea and the sky" bit just reminds me of that, 30-odd years later.
I Love this tune!! Great Jam going down the highway.
Some really great songs on this album. This is one of them.
I’m here for the “events” 😂
My favorite Rush album!! Neil's lyrics all throughout this album are particularly enlightening and profound. Enjoy!!
Hurricane Ian... awesome timing..Nice...
This song sounds far better in later tours when he went back to the jazz and grittier tone.
example from R30 (2004): ua-cam.com/video/TBKCg25RBpQ/v-deo.html
The first two tracks are gold for me. Stay warm and dry, man.
That thumbnail! 😅 And it's great that you have your "comfort animal" to help you get through this album (what is her name?). But hang in there, Justin. Get through this one and it's uphill from there. Re: the Mac, in 1987 the top of the line machine would have been the Mac II (My first Mac, actually. Color! 40 MB HD! Up to 8 MB of RAM!)
But IMO "Force Ten" was a good opener in terms of establishing the overall sound and style of the album, plus it's one of the better compositions. The arrangement is sort of scattered and jumpy, with a solo section that doesn't include a solo. They flogged this one in concert for years, so they must have liked it.
I think the description about the album you read at the beginning was pretty spot on. When this album came out I was not a fan initially. After a few listens and reading the lyrics, I began to appreciate a few of the songs on the album. Also, Neils drumming on this album is amazing as usual. Geddy and Alex are ok too🤣. I personally never really cared much for this song. Although for some reason this song is still in the musical rotation on rock radio stations when they play Rush.
The Synchronicity of you reviewing this song today is not lost upon me...Stay safe, brother! (and Kitty, too)
This song was an epic concert opener with the huge stereo drums. This being the last song written, it points in some ways towards the next record Presto, which has less keyboards and more bass (including a bass solo in the album opener).
Hope you're doing OK with the hurricane! I lived near Orlando for 17 years so I've had some run-ins with them.
Tai Shan lol the one song Geddie says he wished they had never done but it was a Neil thing so they went along even though they didn't understand it.
Studio version is a complicated song, I like all the flourishes. I prefer this to live versions I heard. Did Kitty produce this video, her closing cameo saunter was a nice touch. Thank you for reactions.
I still very much enjoy this album. Dated yes, but still great for car rides.
Sounds like RUSH in the 80's... LOL! Be well and God Bless Florida... We are praying for you all...from Texas!!
Ironic you're reacting to Force 10 as Hurricane Ian is bearing down on you (and me!)
That was okay. Hoping for good things on the rest of the album. I do like Aimee Mann on Time Stands Still.
The cat is like, who you talking to? there's nobody there, you're nuts !
Welcome to my favorite Rush album of the 80's! All the tracks are heavey hitters. Its funny i really love tai shan so im glad they kept it.(count down to Test for Echo 🕐 🙌)
are you seriously building hype for him to react to Test for Echo? Honestly he could skip that album and still live a full life, (most) of it is an uninspired jumble, like they were just trying to cram in a bunch of heavy riffs just to make up for synth-centric phases. The only Rush album I literally returned to the record store for my money back.
@@katskillz 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Test for Echo is my favorite album. 😍
Force 10 was the name as they had to force a 10th song
Hahaha, I love it. It truly feels that way. Force 10 is one of the few Rush songs I skip. It does feel forced.
@@mikemurphymagic I like it - a catchy rocker!
Belated Comment…..Been a Rush fan since the Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures albums. Great job on the reactions, although I was surprised at your reviews of some of the older stuff especially the first album. But in your defense, you listened to them decades after their release, while I delved into their back catalog right after Signals came out, only a few years after the fact. Rush, Caress of Steel and 2112 were my first samples of their pre-Permanent Waves albums and I thought all three were phenomenal with the first listen. As for Hold Your Fire, when the album’s advance track Force Ten was released (on a Friday, a week and a half before the album hit the stores - which was the standard procedure in those days), it became an instant rock hit. One of the local DJ’s remarked “That song is a rush” after playing it. I thought it was a great tune (for a post-Moving Pictures song). In hindsight, all of the keyboard embellishments during the second verse is overkill and Alex’s guitar sound isn’t heavy enough (a weakness throughout the album). A week after the song’s debut, the radio stations received advance copies of the album, resulting in Time Stand Still and Turn the Page receiving heavy airplay as well. Inexplicably, Turn the Page was never heard after the album was released. Time Stand Still on the other hand was an instant rock hit and had the distinction of having the greatest longevity of airplay, out of all of Rush’s post-Signals songs; released in 1987, you still heard it throughout the 90’s. Two months after the album came out, Lock and Key received a few weeks of airplay. I thought those four were the best songs on the album. Unfortunately, Hold Your Fire was their first release that contained songs I didn’t like (Second Nature and Tai Shan in particular). Second Nature, Mission and Open Secrets I thought sounded too adult contemporary, Open Secrets being the only one of those three that I actually liked. Prime Mover sounded too poppy, but I didn’t dislike it entirely, and High Water suffered due to following Tai Shan (a Working Man-type song was needed to wash the bad taste away). I never thought the album was a failure, however. The next album, though…..Presto was the only Rush album where I ripped the cassette out of my car’s player less than halfway through the songs while driving home from the record store on the day of its release, out of frustration of it sounding too close to a soft-rock album. Show Don’t Tell - that album’s advance track - gave me high hopes of Rush returning to a heavier sound (despite the guitar sounding too light in other parts of the song - particularly the chorus - and the section leading up to the bass solo sounding eerily similar to 80’s Heart). In an interview, Alex explained that during the development of Hold Your Fire, he was experimenting with guitar sound textures and became hooked on a series of guitars by Signature. He then used those same guitars for Presto, which he admitted was a mistake. Fortunately, each album after that became increasingly heavier, culminating with Test for Echo, my favorite post-Signals album. I viewed Victor as having a positive effect on that album (I always thought Victor was a very good album; you have to take into consideration that it seemed to have been produced by Alex himself, along with his son Adrian). It looked like Rush was on a roll until disaster struck for Neil.
I very much like this album, Tai Shen is amazing!
I'm watching this as the eye of the storm is landing.
I really enjoy this song.
Landing over my house
@@JustinPanariello Hope all is ok in the end. I have a step-sister down in Chocoloskee and Dad has a place near Naples. Dad is up here now, but was going to be heading back soon. Now. No idea what will be happening when.
@@obiwanbenobi4943 im actually in Naples. Im east of 75 and its been fine here nothing insane at all. But I think closer to the gulf the got flooding and i imagine wind was worse too. Power stayed on all day. Friends in Fort Myers and people that stayed in my area all say shit is wrecked. And this is prior to storm surge coming to my area sooooooo. Idk what im gonna see when we get home.
Mmmm....There's never a tingle of excitement before giving H to the Y to the F a spin. But it's Rush...the songs are GOOD. Tai Shan is decent...the most exciting to me is Turn The Page....played loud of course 😁
Only saw Rush live once and I was during the Hold Your Fire tour. Sadly, it was in a terrible hall in the Glasgow SECC, so it is not an experience I recall fondly, but at least I got to see them. I also really like the album, including Tai Shan.
I think it’s the first album of theirs to NOT go platinum. 😢It was and still is a damn strong album IMHO, yet I do believe going forward from this point, each release would require more effort to get into. Not that they’re lacking, and I had become a major fan just kinda prior to this release, but because they got lyrically deeper, more musically experimental and REALLY by this point couldn’t give a fuck if they EVER had a number one album or hit single. True musicianship transcends fades, genres and flavor of the month jingles.🤘🖖✌️🥁🎸🎹🎤🥇🇨🇦🎼
I quite like this one. Not wowing me exactly, but I remembered it when I heard it, which is a definite step up from the last album!
This video got me to return to this album since it's release way back when. And after hearing Force 10 live, which is wonderful, this song and this album is growing on me. But I still prefer the older stuff.
Cats can sense when Danger approaches!!!!!
This is Rush at the height of their synth experimentation, it would become less and less synth-y on future albums, with a gradual return to form of a more stripped-down 3 piece sound. I still enjoy this album quite a lot! They were never afraid to try something new, which is admirable.
"An air of joie de vivre"
LOL..before Google, you had to ask someone that actually spoke French to find out what that meant.
I'm a huge Rush fan, and I think I can say confidently this is my 3rd least favorite album, right behind their last 2.
Good reaction, good opening info I never knew before. Good job.
I always liked this song but I love the live R30 version.
this is absolutely one of those songs that translates way better live. Actually I think thats the case for this entire record. It lacks power that they had on the stage
Like this one but its better live. Brings back so many memories. Came out while I was in high school.
Gaaaah. I just can’t with this 80s Rush!! A few tracks on Roll the Bones.. Then 1993 and COUNTERPARTS!! = redemption!
Alex’s tone went full twang in his “solid state amp” era.
Great opening track, great album - as you will realised after a few listens 👍
This album got me into rush
Yes this is the last album with the rubber band sounding Wal bass! Thankfully lol. There are some really great songs on this album though, Time Stand Still is a classic and one of their best written songs ever in my view. It does however suffer the same fate as much of this album....over reliance on that jangly, super processed guitar sound of Alex's and so many thick synth pads in the back ground of everything. The drums sound kind of small and tinny too, no real oomph, especially the snare which is tuned too high. Some of the songs also reach the nausea point of electronic drums and it get's real challenging to listen beyond that.
But the real highlight here is the songwriting, melodies, and lyrics. Rush really was starting to show a maturity and universal appeal to much of the themes here and I think this album has some of their best melody writing and actual harmonies as well. Alex does pull off some killer solos on here (still kind of processed sounding),and there are some monumental drum breaks and moments on songs like Lock and Key and Mission. Turn the Page is a real highlight as well with some crazy bass playing and incredible melody and lyrics. Overall though, sonically you will be happy that this album ends the super wet and heavy synth era. It got to be way too much here and by the end of this album you will be happy that they start to turn back to being a more organic sounding trio. Presto and Roll the Bones get more and more away from drowning things in synths (although they still are there), but the production remains really thin and small sounding until Counterparts rips your head off with the way Rush should be recorded!
Lerch from the Adam's Family!
I got no problems with HYF, I actually like it better than Power Windows as a whole. Like other fans I prefer the live cuts as the album production itself is kind of weak.
Alex actually does have a full on studio in his home.
Im sure he does I would too
The WAL bass sounded much better than that goofy little Steinberger thing that had no character, but the Ric was always missed in the late '80's Rush sound; of course Geddy did eventually go with the J-Bass. Everything in the late '80s got "over-produced", super crisp and sparkly production, more layers of multi-tracking because they could, engineers went nuts with the digital mixing possibilities.
Good timing kitty
Justin you should listen to April Wine's Electric Jewels album. This whole album is awesome, Terry Brown didn't produce this album but he was the engineer. This would be pre Rush albums and it was recorded in 1973. The bass player was Jim Clinch who went on to play for BTO, he also sings lead vocals with Myles Goodwin.
"Force Ten" opens this 12th Rush album with a bang! The 'Hold Your Fire' record is another one that holds a special place for me. I mean, it was only released THIRTY FIVE years ago, and my wife was born in '87 as well.
I don't understand all the hate. Yes, it's a tad overproduced and (at times) over the top for my favorite band, BUT it's the 80s and digital recording was still sort of in its infancy.
For me, HYF is reminiscent of what people in the northern hemisphere say of March; it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.... 🔥🐑✌
I know I should wait for tomorrow, and Time Stand Still, but I also know you film stuff in advance, so I just wanted to throw this suggestion out for between album features. After Neil's death, the US Army band did an acoustic Time Stand Still, that is so beautiful and focuses on his lyrics. It's worth listening to. It can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/aAPSK_cV5n0/v-deo.html
Anyway, thanks again for doing this series!
they give each other nicknames and lerxst stuck. dirk lerxst and pratt as bobbleheads star in their fight against a dragon who burns up their store.
I'm not sure Geddy is using pedals like you may think he is. Watching it live it looks to me like he's playing bass chords in an arpeggio style. But I'm not a bass player (nor a professional musician), so what the hell do I know? Regardless, I believe he's using the same technique when you get to "Turn the Page".
I actually like this album. It had to grow on me though. It took awhile.
Before you watch another video you've got to watch POLYPHIA- EGO DEATH feat. STEVE VAI , official music video. WOW WOW unbelievable, sit back and enjoy this unbelievable masterpiece, best wishes from the north east coast of England.
It's got to be the best music video of 2022.
there are even parts of Tai Shan that I kinda dig
I always preferred the R30 live version of Force Ten to the studio recording. The live version isn't as "clean." The mix just sounds better imo. Keep in mind for a 'between albums' filler video?
I guess i'm the odd man out. Im not really crazy about anything after Grace Under Pressure. I had Hold Your Fire and a few others after GUP, but not the sound I like. Counterparts was a lot better.
I really love the sound of a Les Paul through a stack of Marshalls. I would give my left arm to have the Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion that Alex had. On Signals and GUP the sound of those homemade strats through those Marshall Club and Country amps were awesome. I love the sound of the harmonics (pinch) that he was able to get. I guess I love the older stuff.
By 1987 I had discovered all sorts of new music and my girlfriend (and soon to be wife ) HATED Rush so my reaction to this album was lukewarm at best. There's some decent tunes and one absolute classic (Time Stand Still) but I always thought and still do, that it sounds thin and weedy and needs a good kick up the arse, production wise.
I didn't know this is the last song written for the album. It's one of the better songs and they played it live quite a bit.
It's really good live...
"Where's the jazz bass?"
Just gotta get through this album and it comes back!
Presto first, then back to the Jazz!
Yeah clean, just remember that when you get to 'Vapor Trails', although I like the original mix on that album. Kitty stole the show, much more interesting than the wiki input. And that ending, doesn't it want you to headbang just a little?
The r 30 version is great
I'm pretty sure this was the album that Geddy switched to using Wal basses. I don't remember how many albums that lasted though.
Edit: oh, haha... you knew that already. That's what I get for commenting mid-video.
Rush released a ton of albums in the 70s and '80s. This one was probably my least favorite and may still be but it still has some good songs on it
I thought I would recognize every album name, but this one is new to me. The title did not ring a bell at all.
I Love Tai Shan. I don't understand the hate. It's different but we expect artists like Rush to experiment.
the lyrics seem like the tourist chinese restaurant. when china sang to me etc. music better but not a fave. i know neil went there but still
Get ready for no low end on the next two albums after this! 🤣
For some reason it kind of reminds me of heat seeker from ACDC.
P.S. Your cat is awesome...
❤ ❤... ❤
That "snappy" sound from the Wal bass is even more pronounced on the "A Show of Hands" DVD. You'll see when you get there.
I'm also not a fan of that tone.
Alex solo, solo, SOLO? OK, no then. There's more of a solo on the live version. This is one of two songs I can listen to off the album; the rest is hard work IMO. Wait for the Dean Friedman song, I won't give it away. The songs start to become too chop and change and lose the flow their earlier music has. You will find a part that you really like but just as you're getting into it, it goes off at right angles, almost like we can't play that part too long, we have to put a change in even when you say, man I was just getting into that part.
Stay safe Ian is not playing!
Personally I never cared for Geddy’s sound with the Wall bass. It’s more pop sounding and the low end is almost nonexistent. Thank god he went back to the Fender jazz bass starting with the album.Counterparts.
Those charts on the right are showing a heavy downdraft.
Tai shan is probably the only song worthy of a reaction,the rest if I'm honest is just ordinary....maybe Time stand still escapes that category. I'm a massive rush fan but I'm just being honest about MY reactions. Both Hold your fire AND Power Windows were really disappointing when you consider the albums they followed. They heralded a time of change for Rush. A change in sound,a change in Geddys' voice,a change in production....a change from being the most productive brilliant power trio to merely a very good band.