Rush – Permanent Waves

IN SEARCH OF

Variant 2 or Variant 4 (RAYS on both sides A and B).

Anyone who has one to sell, please message me and/or include this Matrix / Runout information in your listing.

Ever noticed how Rush mirrored punk?? Grew in the mid to late 70s and peaked w hardcore in the early 80s?? They just chose the other end of the spectrum.

After decades of listening to the US Mercury first pressing, it was a thrill to hear it all over again in an expanded soundscape version afforded by this pressing. Mandatory upgrade for any fan of this Rush album.

my copy in hand is exact Anthem labels, Trident matrix etchings, and custom printed inner sleeve. but my cover is a US Mercury print. probably swapped out by a previous owner as i bought this copy from a low-rent junk shop 30+ years ago, but just wondering if theres the possibility of someone else out there having a similar copy in hand. who knows.

I stumbled across a NM copy of this today, didn't hesitate to buy it. Zero regrets, this sounds absolutely incredible. Highly recommend this first Canadian pressing, really great value.

Album review: "Permanent Waves"
This is an album that I don't have a lot of feelings about outside of the music itself. So I'ma get to it. This album seems to be just below the level of my favorite rush albums. I'd likely ascribe that to the fact that this album seems very much like Rush going into the studio and just churning out a solid record. I don't mean that in a bad way, just that the song writing is generally tight and to the point, not meandering as much as I usually like in my rush favorite rush records. Much of this is thanks to the first two tracks "the spirit of radio" and "freewill", being much more radio friendly and conventional than a lot of their material. I tend to prefer live versions of "Spirit..", and "Freewill" is always a pretty great listen. "Jacob's Ladder" is one of my favorite tracks on the record as Rush flashes their heavier and doomier composition style, as they did on the Hemispheres album. "Entre Nous" is one of my least favorite tracks from the classic era of Rush and feels forgettable. "Different Strings follows that up in a way that starts feelings much of the same, but is saved by some stop and start dynamics and interesting tempos. The closer, "Natural Science" is likely my favorite track on the album, and on it Rush once again shows that even into the 80s they still have that progressive rock spirit. This is one of the classic Rush epics in my book, with its numerous structural changes and atmospheric setting.
Overall I don't find this album as cohesive as Farewell to Kings, 2112, or Hemispheres, nor does it pack as many unforgettable tracks as Moving Pictures, but it is a borderline great record nonetheless, and a great snapshot of a band in the process of expanding its songwriting and mainstream appeal, while still holding onto and flashing their roots.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ten-Minute Record Reviews has a video review of this album here: https://youtu.be/xlnvCJvXQ94

HA .... i just realized i have this particular pressing ! (bought when i was a young teen) cut by ray staff ! it always sounded great, and now i know why !

this issue (in my collection) was signed both sides (labels) the same - #2 ... but i have mark it just after buying sometimes in early eighties...

Initially, I barely listened to this album compared to Signals, Moving Pictures and Grace Under Pressure. Only recently did I realize the power this album has. I'd even go as far as to say this is better than Moving Pictures (if it weren't for *cough*Different Strings*cough*, but the album is good as a whole) One thing that this album has over many of the Rush's other albums is one word. Alex. That's all. This album has probably the best damn solos he has constructed–sure, he has them on every album, but not this frequently. The album does give on a transitional feeling in that synth is much more prevalent on this album.

Spirit of Radio: I think all Rush fans/fanatics know the deal on this one, so I'll spare it from review. But for those who have barely listened to this song, you are seriously missing out (Alex Solo#1)

Freewill: This goes the same with Spirit of the Radio. The best part of this song is the shredding solo Alex performs on this song. Geddy's bass solo is a good transition in the song. Lyrics are simple and easy to follow. (Alex Solo#2)

Jacob's Ladder: Now that those two are out of the way, you get hit with Geddy's staccato bass bumps. This song is much more slower than the other two, including the 2-3 minute long synth interlude. Jacob's Ladder is more of a test than a nice listen; you have to bare yourself to listen to it. The best parts have to be the beginning and end of the song, but it's a good track to listen to over all. (Alex mini-Solo#3)

Entre Nous: We return with the second side of the LP. Now this is a more radio-friendly song like Spirit of. The best part has to be Peart's drumming and cymbal tapping. This song is a good listen, but is practically separated from the rest of the album by its style and delivery.

Different Strings: Different Strings would be good... if they hadn't faded out Lifeson's guitar solo at the end, which actually they do on a lot of songs–*cough*SomethingforNothing*cough*. That's what kills this song. But Alex is impressive on some acoustic guitar notes (hence "Strings") If you notice, this is the only song–with some seconds of Spirit of Radio–that contains some piano playing. This piano is practically the only time we hear anything from Geddy's key playing that isn't synth. Nothing from this degrades the overall virtuosity of the album (Alex Solo#4-cut short)

Natural Science: This is the masterpiece of the album. A three part suite comprising a good paced central theme. If you listen close enough the theme is frequently used even in main riffs, from beginning to end. Tidepools is a good introduction and continues with the acoustic sound from the previous song. Then we are taking into a faster riff with constant notes. After the quick introduction of the main theme, we are propelled into Hyperspace. This section allows us to hear some more Alexshredding, and the main theme of Hyperspace. Shifting further we are brought to final part of the song, Permanent Waves–cue Title Drop. This is a much slower part, but is the more singable part of the song. Another Alexsolo and then the tempo slows down even further. Some fake endings and some more slow jamming, the song then ends with the sounds of the ocean. If you can listen to sounds of ocean for 1.5 minutes, good for you. Me, I just turn off the record at this point. The live version is a good composition as well. (Alexsolo #5&6)

Permanent Waves is a classic Rush album and is up there with their more well known albums. For me, and probably most Rushgoers, I know that this album never gets old listening to once you take a liking to it. 5 stars.