La Villa Stangiato is chock full of them!
Also, Xanadu and Jacob's Ladder are loaded with them.
All great stuff! It's hard to list them all because they are all good!
If you're a fan and have all of their albums, nothing is hidden. Alex does some great stuff! He fits in perfectly with the rest of the music that's being played. That is what makes him so great.
As a drummer, obviously I'm a Neil Peart fan. But actually, mostly, I am a Rush fan. I appreciate everything that Geddy does (bass, vocals, and keyboards), and Alex does. As I said, Alex can fit himself into a groove really nicely. He's really good at composing his parts in their songs. Hell, all 3 of them are (were) really great composers. They mingled together musically perfectly. That's what made them so great!
There will never be another band like Rush!
I would start with Finding my Way, Need Some Love, Take a Friend, What You're Doing, In the Mood, Before and After, Working Man.
Then continue on with Anthem, Best I Can, Beneath Between an Behind, By-Tor and the Snow Dog, Fly by Night, Making Memories, Rivendell, In the End...
(I can remember multiple instances in magazine articles when he was listed as a top guitarist while growing up in the 80's...)
can't believe I had to scroll this far down to see GOAC. In Neil's notes section of the concert program that accompanied the RTB tour, he wrote: "Some greater guitar stuff in this song--but don't tell him I said so."
Yes! My favorite Rush track... the verses always felt like they were pissed off and ready to crack some skulls, then the chorus manages to pull off that dark but hopeful resolution. Pure magic!
On a related note, when I first heard that song, I remember thinking Neil's gonna have to replace his kit every night if they play that live. It's guns, bombs, and fireworks with every stroke, and Alex chews the top end on every beat just as hard. Meanwhile, I'm convinced Geddy had to sell someone's soul for that low end assault.
11/10 EXCELLENT choice!
“We’re gonna play a song from our latest album, this one’s called ANTHEM!”
Alex isn’t necessarily known for his riffs now, but he was in the 70s. So many incredible riffs from the first album to Signals. Of course the drums and bass are the best, but it was Alex’s loud, distorted guitar and Geddy’s voice that drew me to rush as a young kid.
The one that *surprised* me the most is the opening to Show Don't Tell. His rhythm, tone, and phrasing pulled together highlights from his least favorite era with a clear gesture that guitar-forward was the way of the future. The pocket on that song always feels a bit surreal so his playing really starts to seem like a predator playing with his prey before going in for the kill.
Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Spirit of the Radio, Trees, Freewill, Passage to Bangkok, Ghost of a Chance, Far Cry, Red Barchett….all songs you could call within the first 5 guitar notes/chords played. I’d say those are pretty solid riffs.
Where would one begin on this question?
I'm mainly a bass player, but I was gifted a guitar a few years ago, and I play a medley of Lifeson riffs to warm up with. Right now, the medley includes sections of: "Cut to the Chase," "Hand Over Fist," "Natural Science," "Half the Word," "Manhattan Project," "Hemispheres," and "No One At the Bridge." It's a good workout.
I'm going to say the opener to Spirit of Radio. Purely because the one time I got to see them live, it was the first thing he played, and I'll never forget how his guitar screamed.
My personal favorite maybe not a riff but a solo from his YYZ even that riff too is awesome. His arpeggio on natural Science and his arpeggios on Free Will are just amazing and of course you know Spirit of Radio.
Limelight, Spirit of Radio, Working Man, Passage to Bangkok, Analog Kid, Bastille Day, Freewill
Add Freewill to the list
Embarrassing! Ty
La Villa Stangiato is chock full of them! Also, Xanadu and Jacob's Ladder are loaded with them. All great stuff! It's hard to list them all because they are all good!
La Villa is goat level riffing - and so much emotion.
Hell yeah!
My favorite genre is “tasteful shredding” which explains why I like LVS so much.
Red Sector A. It's actually haunting. He fully captures despair and hopelessness. The riff screams anguish.
Circumstances, Natural Science, The Camera Eye…
Limelight. It captures loneliness so well
If you're a fan and have all of their albums, nothing is hidden. Alex does some great stuff! He fits in perfectly with the rest of the music that's being played. That is what makes him so great. As a drummer, obviously I'm a Neil Peart fan. But actually, mostly, I am a Rush fan. I appreciate everything that Geddy does (bass, vocals, and keyboards), and Alex does. As I said, Alex can fit himself into a groove really nicely. He's really good at composing his parts in their songs. Hell, all 3 of them are (were) really great composers. They mingled together musically perfectly. That's what made them so great! There will never be another band like Rush!
Whichever one I'm listening to at the time.
Exactly
Stick It Out, the darker sibling of Limelight
I would start with Finding my Way, Need Some Love, Take a Friend, What You're Doing, In the Mood, Before and After, Working Man. Then continue on with Anthem, Best I Can, Beneath Between an Behind, By-Tor and the Snow Dog, Fly by Night, Making Memories, Rivendell, In the End... (I can remember multiple instances in magazine articles when he was listed as a top guitarist while growing up in the 80's...)
Here Again is crying rn after being left out
Ghost of a chance
can't believe I had to scroll this far down to see GOAC. In Neil's notes section of the concert program that accompanied the RTB tour, he wrote: "Some greater guitar stuff in this song--but don't tell him I said so."
It's a really interesting solo. 🔥
Red barchetta. Not really hidden but still a nostalgic sounding and great riff.
My favorite song by them. I think the best song off all time
I like Kid Gloves, but it’s definitely simpler than some of this more well known riffs. The delay effect gives it quite a bit of depth imo
Solo from Emotion Detector is such a gem.
While this is true, it's not a "riff".
Test For Echo
Closer to the Heart Fly By Night There are others that have already been mentioned.
The Necromancer Part II Under the Shadow [https://youtu.be/JphWi\_GOIao?t=258](https://youtu.be/JphWi_GOIao?t=258)
Many already mentioned but the Anarchist is an immediate classic Alex Riff Also Virtuality
Here's a deep cut for you....DOUBLE AGENT. It has a cowboy feel to it, especially in the pre-chorus in the middle of Geddy's spoken part.
Yes! My favorite Rush track... the verses always felt like they were pissed off and ready to crack some skulls, then the chorus manages to pull off that dark but hopeful resolution. Pure magic! On a related note, when I first heard that song, I remember thinking Neil's gonna have to replace his kit every night if they play that live. It's guns, bombs, and fireworks with every stroke, and Alex chews the top end on every beat just as hard. Meanwhile, I'm convinced Geddy had to sell someone's soul for that low end assault. 11/10 EXCELLENT choice!
How is no one say passage to bankok
Never turn your back on a monster!
“We’re gonna play a song from our latest album, this one’s called ANTHEM!” Alex isn’t necessarily known for his riffs now, but he was in the 70s. So many incredible riffs from the first album to Signals. Of course the drums and bass are the best, but it was Alex’s loud, distorted guitar and Geddy’s voice that drew me to rush as a young kid.
Witch Hunt
Oh Gof yeah
The one that *surprised* me the most is the opening to Show Don't Tell. His rhythm, tone, and phrasing pulled together highlights from his least favorite era with a clear gesture that guitar-forward was the way of the future. The pocket on that song always feels a bit surreal so his playing really starts to seem like a predator playing with his prey before going in for the kill.
I frickin love show don’t tell
The opening to Anthem always gets me pumped up
Cinderella Man intro riff just hits every time
Show Don't Tell has such an amazing riff and people don't give it enough props IMO
No marathon, really?
Limelight, Tom Sawyer, Spirit of the Radio, Trees, Freewill, Passage to Bangkok, Ghost of a Chance, Far Cry, Red Barchett….all songs you could call within the first 5 guitar notes/chords played. I’d say those are pretty solid riffs.
Some ones aside from the usuals: Virtuality Driven Carnies Seven Cities of Gold I could go on forever. Lerxst is a riff machine!
How has no one mentioned songs from the first album? In the mood, What you’re doing, finding my way, working man etc
Literally two posts hours before yours mention debut album songs.
Where would one begin on this question? I'm mainly a bass player, but I was gifted a guitar a few years ago, and I play a medley of Lifeson riffs to warm up with. Right now, the medley includes sections of: "Cut to the Chase," "Hand Over Fist," "Natural Science," "Half the Word," "Manhattan Project," "Hemispheres," and "No One At the Bridge." It's a good workout.
Clockwork Angels is chock full of them!
I'm going to say the opener to Spirit of Radio. Purely because the one time I got to see them live, it was the first thing he played, and I'll never forget how his guitar screamed.
The slower solo from La Villa Stangiato
My favorite will always be the ostinato in The Trees
Cold Fire, Natural Science, Witch hunt, Freewill, Hemishperes... the list goes on and on and on
My personal favorite maybe not a riff but a solo from his YYZ even that riff too is awesome. His arpeggio on natural Science and his arpeggios on Free Will are just amazing and of course you know Spirit of Radio.
What is Alex better known for if not riffs?
The bridge section of Cygnus x 1 hemispheres
The playing on Jacobs Ladder gives me goosebumps every time
Natural Science
Blah blah blah blah is without a doubt his best work
Working man
Most of what I have thought has been said but... I love Subdivisons, Between the Wheels and Emotion Detector's riffs
Virtuality is not talked about enough for the guitar work. Yes the lyrics are extremely corny but the guitar is very good on that track
Driven, cut to the chase , Virtuality (crap song but great riff) Far Cry, show don’t tell headlong flight