Sphinx's Music Blog - Rush: Moving Pictures
Happy 2020 everybody! I hope your new year has been off to a great start. Unfortunately for the rock world, we had to say goodbye to another icon, as Rush drummer Neil Peart passed away on January 7 from brain cancer. It stinks that I’ve now written three of these music blogs in memoriam, as I wrote about Rick Ocasek (The Cars) and Ginger Baker (Cream) back a few blogs ago. Of the three of these I’ve written, this one has left the biggest impact on me. Rush was a band I got into at the end of high school, as many of their songs (from this album especially) appeared on the classic rock radio I listened to. But in addition, my father-in-law (who was not my father-in-law yet at the time) was a huge Rush fan, and when he noticed I was into classic rock asked me if I had ever gone into Rush’s catalogue of music. Like a lot of people, it took me awhile to get accustomed to Geddy Lee’s voice, but I’ve since bought 6 of their CD’s, and have 9 of the vinyl records. Of all of those, it is their album, Motion Pictures, that I most admire.
From left to right: Alex Lifeson (guitar), Neal Peart (drums, songwriting), Geddy Lee (bass, synths, vocals)
Released on February 12, 1981 the album reached #1 in Canada (where the band is from), and hit #3 in the US and in the UK. It has gone platinum four times, selling over 4 million copies in the US. The album name coincides with the album cover design, which is a play on words in 3 different ways. Right in the center is of course movers that are moving three works of art (which consist of Rush’s Starman logo, Dogs Playing Poker, and Joan of Arc being burned at the stake), and on the side are people crying as the pictures are being hauled away, “moved” by what they are seeing. Finally on the back cover, you see a production team filming a movie - a “moving picture”. Listen, Rush may be the nerdiest rock band ever, but I love the quirkiness in their humor here. All said, it cost nearly $10,000 to create this album cover, but their record label only paid for about $6,000 of it, leaving the rest for the band to “cover” (ah, see what I did there…).
The album itself was digitally produced, right in the beginnings of when we start to see digital recordings enter the mainstream. Many people also say this album was the first to see the band go real heavy with synthesizers, but I disagree: their previous album I would say is where we really see a transition in Rush’s sound (that album is titled Permanent Waves, another masterpiece). In addition, it would be the Permanent Waves album where the band started to focus more on individual songs that told a story, rather than the concept albums they had in the past. But Moving Pictures has them at their peak both in songwriting and popularity.
It kicks off with their greatest and most famous track of all time - Tom Sawyer. A real heavy and dark rocker with some now famous lyrics. Originally created during the band’s sound checks on their previous tour, the song evolved into what we hear it today. Neil Peart has stated that the lyrics are in a way autobiographical - the modern day rebel, doing what he wants and playing by his rules, doesn’t care how others perceive him. This is something that I personally can say I connect to as well. The track has such an awesome synth beginning to it, it is so recognizable and is often played in sports arenas. Peart's drumming moves from a simple 4/4 beat to utter chaos at the end, especially after Alex Lifeson finishes his guitar solo at the break. Geddy Lee has been quoted as saying that this song was a way for him to check his vocal registry, as he jumps from highs and lows all throughout the track (I think that’s the case for him throughout the entire album). The song has frequently been titled a “stoner anthem” for some, but I’ll leave you with these lyrics - “no his mind is not for rent, to any god or government. Always hopeful yet discontent, he knows changes aren’t permanent, but change is”.
Red Barchetta is the next track, and another classic. It has a great story adapted by an article Neil Peart read from a short story in a Road & Track magazine called “A Nice Morning Drive”. It mixes sci-fi and car lore all into one great song. Alex making his guitar sound like that of the Ferrari red Barchetta is great, and it’s another hard hitting track with some heavy riffs. Geddy Lee has some great bass work at the end, and Peart finds time to provide a great solo too. It’s what makes this power trio so amazing - they know how to showcase each other’s talents while also being able to play together so flawlessly too.
There is no better example of their impressive talents than what comes in the next tune, the instrumental track YYZ - My favorite rock instrumental track ever. In 5/4 time, all three are firing on all cylinders, with such amazing technical work. I love the part where they play a transition all in unison, that then resolves into the main melody line at about the 35 second mark. It’s awesome to hear every time. You can never grow tired of this song, there is so much going on here it needs multiple listens to catch it all. The song was actually nominated for a Grammy for best rock instrumental (it lost to Behind My Camel by The Police. Which is a good song but not as good as YYZ), but I remember this track most for being on one of the earliest editions of Guitar Hero for the video game consoles. It was always a blast to play with friends. The track’s name comes from the name of the Toronto airport, and the beat of the track spells out YYZ in morse code. Com’on now, that’s cool as shit.
Side 1 closes with Limelight - another track with some amazing autobiographical lyrics. Starting with a great stand alone guitar riff, Lifeson has said it’s his signature song and his favorite solo to play as he’s just screeching on that guitar the whole time. Peart’s lyrics are about the popularity and hysteria the band started to receive after the previous album and tour, as the band was moving from a cult band to arena rock superstars. Peart said he would be freaked out as fans would show up to his house, probably where the line “I have no heart to lie, I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend”. Neil’s fills at the end of the track are spectacular. Like, where is he going to land? Perfectly, that’s where. A few more great lyrics from the song: “Cast in this unlikely role well equipped to act, with insufficient tact, one must put up barriers to keep oneself intact”. Peart is telling the world being in the limelight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ironically enough, this song and this album puts them in their highest level of fame.
Side 2 unfortunately does not compare to the masterpiece that is all 4 tracks of side 1 (possibly one of the best side 1’s ever?). But, there is still great music to hear for the rest of the album. The Camera Eye is the longest track on the record at over 10 minutes long. Lot’s of heavy synth to start it off, giving it a very 1980’s feel. When the drums and guitars set in, we get a great instrumental that sets up the atmosphere of the tune. The tempo changes, orchestrated by the synths that bring in the main riff, and we get the lyrics in two parts, the first detailing Peart’s reflections of walking around New York City, and the second part when he is walking around London.
Witch Hunt is part of the fandom “Fear Series”, that makes up of 4 Rush songs on the central theme of the emotion of fear. I personally find it to be a hugely political tune, still very relevant today. In fact, the best Peart line ever may come from it “Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand”...nailed it.
Lastly we deal with Vital Signs, which has a reggae and punk feel to it. It’s a really cool track with the lyrics as it is using computer jargon to be a metaphor of going against conformity. I mean, this is 1981. The fact that Peart knows so many of these terms shows the geek that he is, and why all geeks love him and will miss him for his smart writing.
Which brings a thought I have: this band is such an enigma in how they have been perceived by listeners. Are they the most underrated band ever? At the same time, due to their heightened popularity the last decade or so, are they now over-hyped? I don’t have the answers, but to me, they are a great hard-rocking band with intelligent music that makes you think and provides songs that are very technical to pull off. The world will miss Neal Peart, and I for one have a deep regret that I never saw the band live. I almost went to their last tour in 2015, but the tickets were so expensive (again, over hyped?) that I passed on tickets. I deeply regret that now.
Have opinions on this album, on Neil Peart, or Rush in general? I’d love to chat about it! Send a message either on social media or on the Gamezilla Media discord. In addition, if you love gaming and movies, check out the five podcasts on Gamezilla Media, and consider being a patron on Patreon! You can find me on the Last Action Podcast or the Noobs and Dragons podcast.
You can listen to this album and the other albums I have reviewed here on my Spotify playlist (just updated!). Please consider being a follower on Spotify! It’s free to do!
Sphinx