Track Listing

1. The Spirit Of Radio
2. Freewill
3. Jacob's Ladder
4. Entre Nous
5. Different Strings
6. Natural Science

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3534 in Music
• Released on: 1997-07-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 36 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of Rush's finest moments, second only to Moving Pictures. This album includes two classic songs, "The Spirit of Radio" (which has one of the most recognisable guitar riffs in all of rock) and "Freewill". There's also the epic-feeling "Jacob's Ladder", as well as "Entre Nous", a sort of intellectual love song (if such a thing can be said to exist). The introspective "Different Strings" and the anthemic "Natural Science" (which clocks in at over nine minutes) close the album. Though there are only six songs on Permanent Waves, it's enough; the material is rich enough that more of it would be like overdosing on chocolate. -- Genevieve Williams

CD Description
Falling somewhere in between heavy metal and AOR, Rush wereone of the success stories of the period from 1976 to 1986--all the more surprising because few Canadians manage to break out from the land of the maple leaf in this area of music. Much of their following idolised Alex Lifeson, who was a guitar hero with the technical ability of a Page or a Beck. Occasionally Neil Peart's lyrics leave a little to be desired: "the shifting shafts of shining, weave the fabric of theirdreams . . ". Jon Anderson from Yes was afflicted with the same condition of pretentiolyricitus. That aside, the music is faultless.

Customer Reviews

Short but oh so sweet !
The first album release of the 1980's ! This was a terrific transition from Rush's earlier 70's progressive rock to the electronic influenced 1980's. A 'mini-moog' keyboard finds it's way into several songs, opening with Rush's classic (and biggest UK hit single) 'Spirit of Radio' - always a live favourite. Every song is a winner, beautifully melodic and culminating with the magnificent 'Natural Science', one of Rush's finest musical moments, a 'Xanadu' for the 1980's. Why the band stopped at 6 songs is a mystery, especially when they were in such fine form, but it still sounds fantastic 20 years on.

It certainly did make waves
This is probably the first mainstream album that Rush produced that appealed to anyone outside the heavy/prog rock fraternity. They had never really had radio play before, but 'Spirit of Radio' changed all that and propelled this album into the Limelight.

It has the feel of a band confident in their ability to entertain whilst no losing their grip on their personal musical direction. There are still songs of epic proportions here, such as 'Natural Science' and 'Jacob's Ladder', but they have come a long way since the early epics.

For me 'Jacob's Ladder' stands out as it has such simple riffs yet a lot of experimentation. There is one point where all 3 of them are playing in different time signatures but they are still producing music that is accessible.

One of their best!

...at their very best
This album, instead of being rated by stars, should be rated by galaxies!

Never before have I witnessed such perfect equality by all members mutually contributing to one rock group until discovering Rush, the Rush trio are at their very best in this 1979 recording, and this album is perhaps their very best, every track is a reward, and must be heard again and again and again, seemingly with no vanishing point in enjoyment.

For me this exceeds all Rush's previous albums combined, and that perceivably is a difficult thing to achieve, unless you are Rush!.

The style of track composition is similar and often reflective of that of their previous 'musical journeys', though with a marked tone down in epic proportion, but taken 'as a whole', it far transcends the standard set by the last albums!

Incredible time shifts and lightening pace in playing feature often. Beautiful acoustics, drums, guitar and bass grace. An improvement by all the musicians is to be noted... it is unbelievable!

Listening through the album (in trance mode), I eventually reach the track entitled 'Natural Science' (Gasp!). I rate this track upon the finest of Rush tracks ever! If you want to hear it? It's on here!, and my goodness, it rocks!