RUSH BLAST OFF INTO PROGESSIVE ROCK ORBIT FOR A CAPE CANAVERAL COUNTDOWN

In contrast to Def Leppard's EXCITABLE, re:previous post, I'm going out on a much more radical 80`s tangent with this most underated progressive rock classic from the veteran canadian 3-piece RUSH called COUNTDOWN. It is the last track off their 1982 album SUBDIVISIONS.


I don't normally go for progressive rock, my limit was always bands that combined progressive rock influences with rock and rhythm and blues, you know, like ELO and Foreigner, something more melodic and radio friendly.


RUSH always sounded too tinny most of the time if you ask me, and singer Geddy Lee's shrill voice was never equipped to deal with the heavyweight dynamics of Alex Lifeson's complex and muscular guitar work and Neil Peart's hard to sing along with percussion.


Lifeson is technically a great guitarist, dont get me wrong, heavily influenced by David Gilmour from Pink Floyd and Neil Young, Lifeson essentially can lay claim to being the godfather of alternative rock, even more so than Young or Black Francis, the kingpin of 80`s seminal alternative rock band THE PIXIES.


He might be considered one of the gods of progressive rock guitar and RUSH might be classed as metal, but Lifeson had a lot to do with the development of alternative rock. Occasionally, despite the vocal limitations of Lee, Rush cranked out a ripper of a song, COUNTDOWN is the best 80`s RUSH song besides a few pearlers off the definitive 1981 album MOVING PICTURES, the one and only RUSH album I like from start to finish.


The video clip which comes with the song here is not the official video of the band, rather just NASA footage of a space shuttle launch which has been quite expertly synchronized with the song by a dedicated RUSH fan.