Customer Reviews

Permanent Waves

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Canadian power trio Rush's eighth album(ninth technically if you are counting the Rush Archives 3-record set released before Hemispheres) entitled Permanent Waves was released in January of 1980. The album was Rush's first album of a decade where they would rule supreme, the 1980s. PWaves was a huge hit peaking at #4(Rush's first US Top 10 album). When I was 14, I first bought this album on tape in June of 1990 and loved it at first listen. This remastered CD, which was superbly remastered by Bob Ludwig, buries the original 80s CD issue and made the cassette sound bland. Plus, all of the artwork that was on the original album is restored as well. The album opens with the classic rock radio staple one-two punch of The Spirit of Radio and Freewill, both of which still get plenty of airplay on rock and roll radio today and Rush still perform those two tracks in concert today. Guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee were just on fire on these tracks and drummer Neil Peart shows why he became the successor to John Bonham for rock drummer supreme after Bonzo passed away later in 1980. Next is Jacob's Ladder which is a great near eight minue mainly instrumental epic with fantastic synthesizer work and a fantastic vocal from Geddy. Next is Entre Nous which is another good rocker. Different Strings follows and features Rush's version of Storm Thorgerson(Floyd's album cover designer) Hugh Syme on piano and this was the only track Neil didn't write lyrics for(Geddy wrote the lyrics). The album concludes with the nine minute plus epic Natural Science. The track is split into three sections and doesn't disappoint. Despite the fact the album only features six tracks and runs over 35 minutes, this album still remains a classic!

"Each of us a cell of awareness ..imperfect and incomplete, genetic blends with uncertain ends on a fortune hunt thats far to fleet....Been a big Rush Fan from their first album...This is definitely their "avant garde" peice,Geddy,Alex and Neil certainly at their best.Neil's lyrics is exceptional as usual and the whole album gives you a 'dreamy' feel.I wish after the 'Power Windows' album the band could have bring back Terry Brown and produce a couple more Masterpieces as this!!!

As far as albums go, 'Permanent Waves' is short at 35 minutes. That's almost an EP by today's standards. That was something that disappointed me when it first came out, but now I realize that they have managed to pack a whole lot of material into that slim 35 minutes.

The title of the album is a statement of defiance against the New Wave--ironic, considering how much it embraces the music, sounds, and lyrical style of that genre.

As a group they decided to focus on achieving in 4 to 5 minutes what had taken them 8 to 11 minutes previously.
'Permanent Waves' opens with one of the coolest opens in Rock. "The Spirit of Radio" really captures that joy of heading down the road listening to a good radio station. Does that happen for anybody anymore?

To my ear, musically, the song is almost like a pop rock version of "Circumstances" from 'Hemispheres'. It is a very fast tempo song compared to most of their previous work.

"Freewill" also has a flavour of 'Hemispheres', but it is lighter and has a distinct 80's feel about it. This song is probably one of the most important in the Rush catalog in terms of defining the philosophy of the band. They are about that is about personal drive, ambition, and the obsession with doing the best job one can possibly do. "Freewill" is about the broader choice in life. It is about the choice of how one lives one's life. Does one accept the blame for one's own mistakes and the accolades for one's own triumphs, or does one put it all on the shoulders of an imaginary being or a belief in the supernatural? Are we victims of circustance or are we the makers of our own destiny? The answer probably lies somewhere in between. "Freewill" is about being accountable for one's self.

I have tried really hard to like "Jacob's Ladder", but it is too long and plodding and repetitive. It could use some economy in its arrangement. Even though the band claims it is a tone poem, I never saw it that way. I always felt that it was about the triumph of reason over the darkness of superstition--especially since it is juxtaposed with "Freewill".

"Entre Nous" is a fun pop rock song. It is almost a love song! It is not overly complex the way many Rush tunes of the time were. I think that if it were more danceable, it would have been a hit single for them.

In stark contrast to the rest of the album, there is the brilliant "Different Strings". The song is beautifully unique. It forms a counterpart to "Madrigal" from 'A Farewell to Kings'. I love all the parts that float in and out, Geddy's clean, warm bass, the cold snap of Neil's drums and cymbals, and Alex's deadly guitar outro.

The album closes with one of the best songs in the entire Rush catalog, "Natural Science". It is in long form like many earlier compositions, but it is not so concentrated on Metal. You could almost
call this Progressive New Wave.

Unlike earlier long form compositions, the lyrics to this one deal with something concrete and relevant. It is not fanciful. The lines are all short and easy to sing, much like the New Wave songs of the time. To my mind, this is very close to a perfect song.
Both Geddy and Alex point to "Natural Science" as their favourite from the album and one of their all time favourites to play live.

Canadian power trio Rush's eighth album(ninth technically if you are counting the Rush Archives 3-record set released before Hemispheres) entitled Permanent Waves was released in January of 1980. The album was Rush's first album of a decade where they would rule supreme, the 1980s. PWaves was a huge hit peaking at #4(Rush's first US Top 10 album). When I was 14, I first bought this album on tape in June of 1990 and loved it at first listen. This remastered CD, which was superbly remastered by Bob Ludwig, buries the original 80s CD issue and made the cassette sound bland. Plus, all of the artwork that was on the original album is restored as well. The album opens with the classic rock radio staple one-two punch of The Spirit of Radio and Freewill, both of which still get plenty of airplay on rock and roll radio today and Rush still perform those two tracks in concert today. Guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee were just on fire on these tracks and drummer Neil Peart shows why he became the successor to John Bonham for rock drummer supreme after Bonzo passed away later in 1980. Next is Jacob's Ladder which is a great near eight minue mainly instrumental epic with fantastic synthesizer work and a fantastic vocal from Geddy. Next is Entre Nous which is another good rocker. Different Strings follows and features Rush's version of Storm Thorgerson(Floyd's album cover designer) Hugh Syme on piano and this was the only track Neil didn't write lyrics for(Geddy wrote the lyrics). The album concludes with the nine minute plus epic Natural Science. The track is split into three sections and doesn't disappoint. Despite the fact the album only features six tracks and runs over 35 minutes, this album still remains a classic!

Permanent Waves is easily one the best albums in the world, and possible Rush'e best after Vapout Trails, Fly By Night and Retospective Volume 1. From the thought provoking lyrics of Spirit of radio, which show just how they got their other name of 'The Thinking Man's Band' to the magnificent Bass solo in Freewill, this is a must for any fan of proper music.

If your just discovering Rush, start with "Permanent waves". From their 1974 selt titled album "Rush" to the latest studio release in the new millenium "Vapor Trails", "Permanent waves" offers the best example of this bands musical and lyrical talent. Released on January 1 1980 "Permanent waves" (Produced by Terry Brown)carried Rush from the depths of "Concept" or "Progresive" rock to a unique style that sets them apart from any other band.

All Rush albums showcase the abilities of this Canadian trio but "Permanent waves" stands out as a masterpiece. The 1981 release "Moving pictures" has a few more radio friendly tracks but lacks the ability to pull you as a listener and wrap you around entire album as one work instead of a collection of songs.

Start here... If you dont like it, you won't like Rush. If it opens your mind and ears to the world of Rush you have so much more to look forward too.

Neil Peart (Pronounced like a "pier" Piert not like the shampoo "Pert") is not only the greatest rock drummer in the world but one of the best lyricist ever. Read along as you listen and enjoy the ride that is RUSH.

i would have to say that this album is in the top 3 rush albums of all time. this, hemispheres, and moving pictures i believe are the band's best work. the one-two punch of spirit of radio and freewill is incredible. everything here is good though, including the extremely progressive jacob's ladder, and the dynamic epic natural science. for a starting point, it's either this or moving pictures.

Permanent Waves was a change in style for Rush. This was the album where they streamlined their sound while still continuing to compose the musically challenging epics that up to this point were their calling card. This album for Rush was equivalent to how Metallica's self-titled album was to them. But while Metallica's music would get noticeably weaker after they altered their sound, Rush would continue to make spectacular music for many years, not only with this album and their next release Moving Pictures, but also with more recent albums such as Counterparts and Test For Echo.

The high points of this album are the tracks "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Freewill", two of their most enduring tracks, which still get solid airplay on classic rock radio. "The Spirit Of Radio" is the best of both worlds, it maintains the complexity of their previous works and is also one of their catchiest songs. Like their future signature track "Tom Sawyer", you know the song immediately from its intro, in this case Alex Lifeson's memorable guitar riff. "Freewill" is one of their great radio-friendly rock tracks featuring excellent bass playing from Geddy Lee and a killer solo from Lifeson. Another standout track from this album, which the band has started playing again on their last couple of tours, is "Natural Science." This is one of their best long tracks and sounds similar in style to what progressive metal bands like Dream Theater would do in the '90s. "Entre Nous" is one of their more overlooked tracks and features some of Neil Peart's more personal lyrics. The remaining tracks, the subdued "Different Strings" and the sci-fi epic "Jacob's Ladder" are also strong tracks. A more commercial album but by no means a sellout, Permanent Waves remains one of Rush's best musical statements.

What can you say about an album that marks a band's turning the corner into newer, more fertile ground? Awesome!

I can't really amplify much what has been said already; suffice it to say that this simple, six-song album packs a wallop you find yourself never quite recovering from. Let's forget the popular "Spirit of the Radio" and "Free Will" for a moment, and consider that the whole album is filled with power and majesty. "Jacob's Ladder" is especially pleasing (you can almost feel the electricity coursing through it) and "Natural Science" goes from the grounded and organic to the fierce and cosmic and back again in only nine minutes.

If you were going to own only one Rush album, this would probably be it... not that you are, are you? ;)

"Permanent Waves" brought Rush's first big commercial success, "The spirit of radio", but I don't think the band was moving into a commercial way of life. In "Permanent Waves", from 1980, we can see a very mature band, playing very complex hard/progressive rock'n roll with a clean and well produced sound. After the excellent transitional albums "A Farewell to Kings" and "Hemispheres"", both incredible strong and very rich recordings, the band evolved in lyrics and sound production. In "Permanent Waves" their songs are much more tight, compact and melodical. The rhythm section is good as in the previous albums, but this time they're doing very riff-dominated progressive hard rock trough shorter compositions. The moog synth and other keyboards are present, and they fit perfectly! Peart's lyrics are notably good and Geddy's vocals are, finally, convicent! "Permanent Waves" has the typical Rush 70's sound with some elements of the 80's. "The spirit of radio" is a superb track, with so many good rhythm variations and riffs that really makes me shout ! "Freewill" is a great, great and decent Rush track ! I dont believe some people don't like this one! Why ? WHY ? There is a jam in the middle that you must listen to ! Pure Lee-Lifeson-Peart energy ! "Jacob's Ladder" has an introspective mood, good lyrics and an excellent big and compact instrumental part. Excellent. "Entre Nous" is a short Rush rock song, not as heavy as in the first albums, neither intense as in "Farewell..." or "Hemispheres". Just very good. "Different Strings" is a dreamy ballad, beautiful lyrics, some clean acoustic guitars and a great final part with a fat bass and an emotive guitar solo. The album finishes with "Natural Science". A typical rush progressive song. Some "profetic" lyrics acompannied by acoustic guitars and some...water in the intro. Then came a VERY GOOD riff with some synth, some Peart's goodies and the rest of the guys really kicking off ! There's a beautiful Lifeson's guitar solo and many other things that maybe makes this track the best in the album. "Permanet Waves" shows a band that are growing and making a lot of fans around the world with some excellent albums. This is the last Rush 70's sounding album,then the band moved into the 80's with synthesizers and many other influences that this decade brought to popular music. The next two albums are a perfect combination of this elements, classics, but in a few years we would see what was the 80's...