Hemispheres Songs Ranked

Hemispheres is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in October 1978 by Anthem Records. After touring to support the band’s previous release, A Farewell to Kings, during which the group gained popularity in the UK, Rush started work on their next album. As with the band’s previous studio album, Hemispheres was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire and Trident Studios in London with longtime engineer and arranger, Terry Brown. Rush continued its progressive rock sound with the side-long “Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres” and the nine-minute instrumental “La Villa Strangiato”. The album was re-released in various expanded formats on November 16, 2018, as part of the band’s ongoing 40th Anniversary editions, including the previously unreleased live set by the band at the Pinkpop Festival from June 1979. Here are all of Hemisphere’s songs ranked.

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4. Circumstances

“Circumstances” is a proggy little rocker that is very catchy at the same time. It is basically Neil Peart’s introspective take on the time he spent living in the UK which is where both “A Farewell To Kings” and this album were recorded.”

See more: Rush Albums Ranked

3. The Trees

“The Trees” remains one of my favorite shorter RUSH tracks which allegorically uses the examples of the different species of trees in competition for the sunlight to represent the trials and tribulations of humanity’s own internecine competitive nature to dominate resources for political control. Alex Lifeson just nails it on the beautifully composed classical guitar which belies the hard rockin’ tale of the trees that abruptly ends by hatchets, chains and saws.”

2. Hemispheres

The title track is just a bit over eighteen minutes in length. While it’s shorter than 2112, the instrumental writing is much better. Not only is it more concise, it’s more palatable, and it’s even more complex, with very odd chord voicings, harmonics, and tricky time signatures throughout… Not to mention one of the most memorable solos in Alex’s career. As a song alone, Hemispheres is virtually without fault, and that’s saying a lot about the talent that these three guys have.

See more: Rush Songs Ranked

1. La Villa Strangiato

“La Villa Strangiato” like “Xanadu” is one of my personal all-time musical compositions which has the honor of taking more time to compose and record by itself than most of RUSH’s earlier albums. It has also been cited as the straw that broke the camel’s back in the tension created by ever upping the progressive ante but what a way for RUSH to end their full-on prog stint. This 9 ½ minute masterpiece is divided into 12 parts which all string together effortlessly. There is even a 20 second part that begins at 5:49 into the song which uses a riff called “Powerhouse” written by cartoon jazz master Raymond Scott.”