Here's something a little different.... I'll take a look at the solo albums, just one apiece, by the two axe-wielding members of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush, guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist Geddy Lee.
In today's instalment, I'll look at Lifeson's one and only solo release, from 1996, Victor. This recording doesn't sound at all like Rush music, instead giving us a peek into our beloved six-stringer's hidden arsenal of songs and sounds. We've got near-metal noise (Don't Care), melodic rock (Promise), experimental oddity (At the End), and an assortment of other genre dabbling.
He chose a number of cool collaborators to accompany him as a band and to front the proceedings on vocals. Take for example the song Start Today, which features female singer Lisa Dal Bello. She's got the high wailing prowess of ol' Geddy in his early days. Amid the jumpin' riffing and trademark arpeggios, there is pretty acoustic strumming and an absolutely ripping solo. Yep, leave it to Al.
There is some definite weirdness here, too, as demonstrated on the instrumental entitled Mr. X. There's a bit of a Joe Satriani feel, though with a bit of a demented jolting quality that screams Alex. At the End is a spoken word piece (Alex on the mic!) backed at first by an eerie synth, then building textures of percussion and guitar. Odd yet beautiful in its way. Sending Out a Warning is less pretty, but nicely contrasts chiming verses and abrasive choruses. Speaking of abrasive, how about Shut Up Shuttin' Up (a line from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon)? Alex's playing is weird and wonderful, unlike the vocals, which are two women (one was his wife) yapping away mindlessly. Kinda funny, but not what I want to hear very often. Very Zappa-esque.
Strip and Go Naked is a front porch foot-stomping acoustic dream, overlaid with tasteful and ethereal licks and soloing. Just a little noise thrown in for good measure, and you've got yourself a wonky and fun instrumental.
The Big Dance steps and shuffles around moods and rhythms, some smooth and some gritty. Funny that title track Victor is so rife with synthetic programming, electro percussion and accents in abundance, spoken word story again by Alex on the main mic. There is an analogue horn, though! Unusual and creative, so I can enjoy it on a certain level.
Wrapping up the album is rocker I Am the Spirit, with singer Edwin (of I Mother Earth) hollering against the wall of guitars and drums. You might consider banging your head to this one.
Lifeson's distinctive guitar sound and style make this album a treat for fans of his axe-work with Rush. I think most Rush fans are open-minded enough to appreciate at least something in this smorgasbord of sonics and song structures. I don't love it all, but there are some very cool things going on here. I admire Alex's boldness to go way beyond the constraints of a Rush song on Victor. He takes risks, not always entirely successful, but does show us there's more to this guy than we ever knew before.
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