Rush tries too hard... and on this album, they were really trying.

I always thought 80's Rush was better than 70's Rush

One of the greatest prog rock albums, the musical talents of all three members of the band are on display here, from the 18 minute opener to the 10 minute closer.

Ok, a bit of a guilty pleasure. Hemispheres the song is just 18 minutes of wild prog indulgence. The Trees remains a live favourite, despite the bizarre lyrics and La Villa Strangiato contains one of the all time best guitar solos. Classic

This is one of Prog Rock's greatest albums. It's certainly as close to pure prog that Rush would ever get. After this album, they rightfully switched gears; how could they top this? Only a few minor issues keep it out of my top tier.

The title track, Hemispheres, is their most cohesive 12+ minute epic up to this point. Sadly, it's a little -too- cohesive; it tends to get samey and overlong by the middle. Still, the musicianship, lyrics, and conclusion make up for any minor faults.

"Circumstances" and "The Trees" are very different shorter pieces. The former is a hard rocker, one of the best from Rush's 70s period, and the latter is an atmospheric/acoustic ditty that would eventually become Rush's third radio staple (after "Working Man" and "Closer to the Heart").

The true highlight of the album is the 10-minute instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato". Yes, it's 10 minutes, and yes, it's an instrumental. It's tight and it doesn't get boring; it's the fastest 10 minutes of the entire Rush catalog! The playing is absolutely stellar; this is the song, and the album, where Rush solidified themselves on the top tier of musicians in Rock.

la ville de strangiato is by far the most complicated and wonderful modern master pieces that you have never heard. This album has science fiction and and roman mythology mixed together. The original Acient Aliens. This is on my top five albums of all time and I'm a big time rush fan.

An album which deals with the battle of wisdom and love. Hmm... that sounds like the most whimsical and dreadful way to start anything, let alone an album review. I mean what could I mean by saying that. Well to quote the epic suite on the A-side wisdom can "build a world of wonder" and "make you all aware". Love on the other hand brings music, joy, tears, laughter, etc. Guess what? Love doesn't win here. No this isn't like the films. With love you get freeze outside with no clothes on get eaten by wolves. So yeah... that or you live in a world with no love. What is this!? Someone's idea of hell? It does seem that way. Both verses for love and wisdom are given very similar music to show how they are both one of same... or both inherently flawed. Regardless they fight in a fast passage near the middle before it goes out... quiet as can be. A single stage light is shone onto a strange figure. The voices of the gods echo all around like the trees on a windy night. Who is this mystery? They are Cygnus, the new god of balance. The song with an acoustic guitar and the singer telling how "We can walk our road together" and split from it when need be. Compromise rules the day and it certainly is a lovely tale. A bit simple though but it is something that a lot have to be reminded. Also... all those words I have put onto your computer screen don't do this album justice. This a huge feat in musicianship with Rush playing to their fall capacity. Up there with '2112'. Well what else do we have you ask? Well 'La Villa Strangiato' described in the album sleeve as "An Exercise in Self- Indulgence". It is random, sporadic and inspired by a nightmare the drummer had. Divided into more parts than the egg and tomato, I am not going to begin to describe what happens other than it's an instrumental with no rhyme or reason. 'Circumstances' and 'The Trees' are also present, both great early Rush numbers. Tranquil finger picking on the later before hitting full force electric guitar, bass and drums. Great stuff all the way.

Masterpiece!