Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=130222
Printed Date: July 19 2025 at 07:01
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Topic: Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Subject: Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 13:27
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So many to choose from, so hard to decide! The choices above are not meant to imply that none of his solos after 1981 are worth mentioning, but simply that these are the ones I've heard the most discussion about. If I've left out any iconic Lifeson solos, feel free to choose "Other" and tell us about them!
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Replies:
Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 13:36
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Good poll - LVS for me. ------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen |
Posted By: Necrotica
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 13:37
As much as I love the solos listed, my personal favorite has always been Kid Gloves. Really cool to hear him unleash his inner Allan Holdsworth and put out something so fusion-esque and irreverent  ------------- Take me down, to the underground Won't you take me down, to the underground Why oh why, there is no light And if I can't sleep, can you hold my life https://www.youtube.com/@CocoonMasterBrendan-wh3sd |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 14:12
| All the solos listed are superb, but the one on 2112 slays, and always thought the solo on Working Man is timeless. |
Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 14:23
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I'd have to go with Limelight. ------------- Welcome to the middle of the film. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 15:39
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Other: 1. Analog Kid 2. Limelight 3. Between the Wheels ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 16:08
| Other. Analog Kid. Free will, La Villa Strangiato and Camera Eye are all great too though. Great poll! |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 16:52
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Great poll......of whats listed La Villa for me.....but man there are so many others. -------------   
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Posted By: Jaketejas
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 17:23
| Among the critics, La Villa Strangiato is considered his best solo, but Free Will is my favorite as he interweaves with the bass solo. There should be some love for his workout solos in Working Man, which are ranked among the top of the heap in guitar mags. As far as songs go, I love his classical guitar inspired parts in Broon’s Bane, Xanadu, The Trees, Closer to the Heart, and others. He’s such a versatile and creative guitarist. |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 17:31
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LVS ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 20:55
| Of this list, La Villa Strangiatio. Alex has so many great solos, it’s hard for me to choose a particular one. |
Posted By: axeman
Date Posted: December 15 2022 at 22:18
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I'm going to have to say Subdivisions. ------------- -John |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 00:42
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When it is about guitar solos, I hoose Strangiato. ------------- 
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Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 03:16
Totally agree with you. ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Catcher10 wrote:Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 06:34
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LVS ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: rushaholic
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 06:51
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Nice poll. La Villa Strangiatio gets my vote. A lot of bests there. Best guitar solo on the best song of the best Rush album. Love it. Never gets old even after more than 40 years.
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Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 07:41
| Voted for LVS but there are several later solos he did I like a like. Ghost of a Chance , Mission, Cut to the Chase & Analog Kid to name a few. |
Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 07:49
| I like his short sweet solos like Between the Wheels |
Posted By: VianaProghead
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 09:12
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La Villa Strangiatio. ------------- "PROG IS MY FERRARI". Jem Godfrey (Frost*) |
Posted By: Jaketejas
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 10:15
| I know my eyesight is progressively getting worse, but am I correct that 2112 isn't listed among the top prog albums on Progarchives? That seems odd. It's not my favorite Rush album by a long shot, but it is the one that is usually placed on the prog pedestal. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 10:21
| La Villa Strangiatio |
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 10:21
On this site, 2112 is the 5th highest rated Rush album. Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, A Farewell to Kings, and Permanent Waves (in that order) are ranked higher. I personally feel 2112 is vastly overrated. "Side One" is fabulous, but "Side Two" is just plain mediocre.
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Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 10:25
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La Villa for me but the Freewill solo is killer Also, honorable mention for Emotion Detector. A song on Power Windows that gets overlooked. I love what Alex does in that song ------------- We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain. My face IS a maserati |
Posted By: Jaketejas
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 11:12
Well, 2112 is really not my cup of tea. I prefer A Farewell to Kings through Power Windows and then a hodgepodge of songs from other albums. But, if you ask many Rush superfans, they'll usually say "2112!!!" as if it is an end to any argument. 2112 has its moments, as does Caress of Steel, but I feel at that point that their cohesive sound was still in the early stages of development. It is fun to listen to early albums like that, especially for the explorations in creativity. 2112 seemed a bit gimmicky, though. I'm just surprised it isn't listed at the top of the heap for the Rush albums due to its supposed "suprem-o progressiveness". |
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 11:21
While I have issues with 2112, I really love Caress of Steel. Yes, it's very primitive, but the inspiration level is so high on this album (even "I Think I'm Going Bald") that all other defects can be overlooked. It's one of their heaviest albums, and one of Alex's best performances throughout. I very seriously put Caress of Steel among my Top 5 favorite Rush albums. And that solo on "No One at the Bridge"!
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Posted By: Jaketejas
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 11:47
Yes, Caress of Steel has some highly creative moments. I love No One at the Bridge. And, there are many parts of Fountain of Lamneth that I enjoy. Also, the bass line in the Necromancer, and the strum in Bastille Day. When I'm practicing my strums, I often play that one and the Police song Canary in a Coalmine. |