People who don’t think music has the power to transport them haven’t heard the right kind of music. Put on your headphones, turn on Rush’s “Hope,” and close your eyes. You’ll soon find yourself rising. The lone guitar creates a cinematic atmosphere as it dances up and down the fretboard, stimulating the listener maximally while keeping the actual events minimalist.
Whatever sound Rush is trying to achieve, they are a band that never stops giving. They constructed some of their albums to be radio-friendly, while others revolve around intricate storylines and follow standard prog-rock formats. For example, the songs on their album Moving Pictures were somewhat shorter but still gave fans the complex nature of Rush that they were used to.
For Rush, the most crucial aspect was collaborating to produce such thrilling music. Since each member of the band was an expert on their instrument, it took teamwork. They combined their knowledge to create an album that would continue to please listeners. Fans accustomed to great music found this collaboration satisfying.
The band was able to accomplish that, for the most part, rather successfully. The collaborators well-received the albums. Although Geddy Lee acknowledged that he was never entirely satisfied with any of them, he attributed this to the difficulties of being a perfectionist rather than the band’s poor record production.
In an interview with The Guardian, he stated, “I never finished a record I was totally happy with. But I think it’s a fool’s errand [to redo it].” There is nothing I would want to redo. Let the warts and all represent what it was.
Though most of the band’s songs are the result of their collaboration, there are a few oddball tracks that are more like solo projects from individual band members. “Hope,” the previously mentioned transportive track, is one of these songs. Taking the lead on this song, Alex Lifeson creates an amazing instrumental that not only displays his guitar prowess but is also highly entertaining.
Rush’s decision to include a solo instrumental track on an album is daring. Many fans adore the band for their busy sound and innovative approach to song structure. For an instrumental track to be engaging, it must not stray too far from these characteristics. Nevertheless, the way Alex Lifeson delivers the thrilling assault of licks, chord arpeggios, and solos demonstrates why he is among the best.
The song is also a standout track on the album Snakes and Arrows. It provides listeners with a little respite before going back to their regularly scheduled programming. This instrumental track fills in the space between the songs “The Way The Wind Blows” and “Faithless.”
