HEMISPHERES

I really wanted to love this album. I've been going on eBay, filling in the gaps in my collection. I won both Hemispheres and Moving Pictures, two albums I had never owned. I got Moving Pictures first, and rated it five stars. Then I got Hemispheres.

I can't put my finger on it, but this album mostly leaves me cold. I'm not sure why, but it doesn't grab me like Moving Pictures. Perhaps it's because I'm more familiar with the songs on Moving Pictures.

I will mention those things I really liked about this album.

1) Alex Lifeson's use of accoustic guitars. 2) The lyrics to The Trees. "the tress are all kept equal. By hatchet, Axe, And saw ..." After all the political correctness crap that passes for political discourse, it's good to see a contrary view. I just wish the song was better.

I also keep getting more impressed with the various colors that Neil Peart uses in his drum kit. Neil can keep the music moving without being stuck in the bass, snare, hi-hat, cybal, tom-tom paradigm.

However, just because this album doesn't grab me like Moving Pictures, its still a very good album.