PERMANENT WAVES

Following Hemispheres, the band shifted their writing style. The songs on 1980's Permanent Waves were shorter, more direct, and showed new influences, such as reggae and new wave, and synthesizers played a larger role. Additionally, Peart's lyrics shifted from fantastical sci-fi allegory to human emotion and everyday matters. The first two songs, "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill" exemplified many of those changes. They retained Rush's usual instrumental complexity, but they're more direct. The lyrics are more personal, and there's a reggae-flavored interlude in the former song.

"Jacob's Ladder" is more akin to their previous work. It describes a sunbeam breaking through clouds, but it's a dark, ominous piece full of uncommon time signatures, and some downright cinematic soloing from Lifeson. His guitar tone on this song is absolutely massive. This is also one of the first instances where Geddy's synths get a chance to take center stage.

"Entre Nous" is another pop-friendly piece of hard rock in the same vein as "Freewill", and "Different Strings" again demonstrates Rush were never very good at ballads. "Natural Science", though, saves side 2. A three-part suite, it starts off with simple acoustic guitar before delving into something stranger and more driving. It features several sudden shifts in time signature and tempo and is stylistically similar to "La Villa Strangiato".

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2020/04/27/deep-dive-rush/