Rush

Permanent Waves marked a shift in Rush's tack when it appeared in 1980. With more accessible tunes ("The Spirit of Radio," "Free Will"), a heavier reliance on synthesizers and less lyrics about magical creatures and wizardly warlocks, the album was embraced by the public and became the first of several U.S. mega-sellers for the highly advanced hard rock progressives. The archetypal Rush riff opening and reggae section of "The Spirit of Radio," all of "Jacob's Ladder" and arguably their second-best album cover (after Rush) remain some of the band's best moments.

It's easy to criticize what you don't understand, which at least partly explains why
Canadian power trio Rush have suffered so much at the hands of rock journalists since the
band's debut album in 1974. Critics find bassist-lead singer Geddy Lee's stratospheric wails
and drummer Neil Peart's lyrical excursions into philosophy. science fiction and fantasy
easy targets, and usually dismiss Rush as a head-banger's Genesis. True, earlier L... More >