HEMISPHERES

While often one of Rush's overlooked album, Hemispheres, as well as its predecesor, A Farewell to Kings, highlights Rush's musical and lyrical epoch. The title track, part two to the closing song on the previous album, is one of Rush's greatest epics, shy of 2112. Consisting of the whole of side 1, it tells a tale of the battle between love and reason, between Apollo and Dionysus, the god of knowledge, and the god of indulgence, respectively. The next two sengs, Circumstances and The Trees are another example of Rush displaying their godlike musicianship and lyric writing. The last song on the album, La Villa Strangiato, is another one of Rush's greatest moments. A ten minute long instrumental subtitled 'an exercise in self-indulgence', it showcases Rush's influences in Jazz and early prog, and fuses the styles into a progressive rock milestone.