 | ILikePie (49)
01/26/2008 |  Looking at the lineup on this album, you would think that it would be assured of five stars, and Moving Pictures' main [popular] contender for the title of 'best album'. But sadly, I do not think this is the case.
The opener, the Spirit of Radio, is one of Rush's most popular songs of all time, and I have seen it on a large number of rock compilation albums. With 'that' iconic opening riff, a finger tapping showpiece, we can see that Lifeson is going to feature heavily on this album. Although Spirit of Radio did not originally appeal to me a huge amount, I am now a fan, but I am not sure that it is particularly popular as a real favourite song fans hold dear to their hearts.
The same is true of the next four tracks on the album. Freewill, although a permanent fixture on live setlists, and among the band's favourites, does not seem to be held dear like other songs. Like the Spirit of Radio, it lacks the final killer factor, that final force of emotion which endears the song to everyone. Different Strings is effectively the ballad on this album, so you would think this would not apply, but Geddy sounds bored through his vocals. Although it is technically quite irritating (for guitar at least), there seems to be little passion in Different Strings.
The same cannot really be said about Entre Nous or the brilliant Jacob's Ladder, both of which I am very fond personally, but the latter drags on a little, and I rarely feel much compulsion to listen to either of them. This lack of passion in otherwise excellent songs seems to be bringing down the whole album. Although the songs themselves are brilliant, I would rarely listen to Permanent Waves (despite the fact the band seem to favour it themselves, playing four of the six songs live on their latest tour, which was the most of any album except the one they were touring), as the songs included do little to compel me to 'go out and get them', unlike other albums (for example my 'Red Barchetta' or 'Vital Signs' cravings...). Luckily the closing track (the resident 'epic'), Natural Science, is nine minutes long, and although it is not Villa or Hemispheres standard, it is still an excellent song, and by far the best on the album. The intelligent yet slightly nerdy and to an extent irrelevant lyrics are reminiscent of Cygnus X-1, as well as the simplistic yet excellent intro.
Permanent Waves is excellent, but is let down by its unattractiveness, and its general lack of passion with some of the lesser tracks.
(2 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 0 agree) |
