HEMISPHERES

This is a step back compared to AFTK. Especially because one side is filled with 18 minutes of Cygnus II that frankly doesn't bring what the first chapter did. The second side of the album starts off not much better. The album is saved by the closing two tracks.

Cygnus X-1 Book II - A very good track if it were around 8 minutes. However, it is 10 minutes longer. This makes it very repetitive which is a shame. 7.5/10

Circumstances - This starts as a nice straightforward rocker but it is elevated somewhere in the middle. 8/10

The Trees - Great musicianship and a nice synth section make this track. The album improves considerably towards the end. 8.5/10

La Villa Strangiato - This instrumental has the best of the best of Rush. This is brilliant. The real epic of this album. 10/10

Every track is an improvement to the one before. The album starts off rather disappointingly but ends with a blast. I hesitated to give 2 stars. But that would be unfair. It is a solid album. 3 stars it is.