Rush - By-Tor and The Snow Dog

It is hard to imagine Rush without Neal Peart, yet he was not present on their debut album. It was not until “Fly by Night,” the second studio album, that Neal Peart joined with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to form Canada’s greatest rock band ever, but also, the greatest progressive rock band ever, Rush.

My favorite track from “Fly by Night” has to be the eight minute thirty-nine second battle epic “By-Tor and The Snow Dog.” “Fly by Night” is Neal Peart’s first Rush album, and “By-Tor and The Snow Dog” is Peart’s first appearance on a Rush song.

“By-Tor and The Snow Dog” is a song about the endless battle between good and evil.

“By-Tor, knight of darkness,
Centurion of evil, devil’s prince.”

Versus, the Snow Dog.

This is a very whimsical song.

Given By-Tor’s description I always incorrectly assumed that he was the necromancer in the follow up album “Caress of Steel,” but no, if you examine the lyrical content of that album By-Tor is the hero on that album. Maybe the Snow Dog redeemed him.

Despite the playful name of “Snow Dog” this track always still came across like an epic battle to me. But here is something I did not know until very recently, the names “By-Tor” and “Snow Dog” were created by Rush’s road manager Howard Ungerleider. Apparently, one night at a party there were two dogs, a German shepherd who was biting everyone, get it, biter = by-tor, and a nervous white dog, snow dog.

Very whimsical.

Neal Peart would become a major song writer for Rush, and unlike a lot of drummers, he really enjoyed writing lyrics. I do not know if Peart contributed to “By-Tor and the Snow Dog,” lyrically, but maybe it would be fitting if he did. His first song writing with Rush is an epic fantasy battle fought between two warriors named after two random dogs.

The lyrics are fun and all but the heart of “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” is the instrumental, which makes up the strong majority of the song’s run time.

“By-Tor and the Snow Dog
Square for battle, let the fray begin.”

What follows from this line is a nearly six-and-a-half-minute battle where lead and bass guitar fight for centre stage and the drums are a neutral constant that keeps everything together.

There are three movements in this instrumental section of “By-Tor and the Snow Dog.” The first is where Geddy Lee’s bass is most prominent, it growls with heavy electric distortion and functions as a really rough melody for most of this part, with Lifeson’s lead guitar stabbing out into the forefront frequently. This is the best part in my opinion, the two guitars beautifully battling each other for the lead.

Then in the second movement, we are treated to a drum solo by Peart, followed by a guitar solo by Lifeson. I guess you could argue that there are four movements, but these two solos blend together and lead into each other so seamlessly that I consider a single part.

Then we take a breath. Everything slows right now, and scant soft sounds echo out from both guitars and the drums march very slowly to a build up, where Lifeson’s guitar becomes the dominate force of the instrumentals finish.

Now what I am about to say is technically speculation on my part, but I am so confident I am going to write everything out as if it is fact; Alex Lifeson’s guitar represents the Snow Dog, and Geddy Lees’s bass represents By-Tor.

It makes perfect sense that Lifeson and Lee fight for the melody in the bulk of the song, this is the fray between the two opponents. The growling nature of the bass is not unlike a biting dog. Snow Dog is victorious, which is exactly why Lifeson’s guitar becomes the focal sound at the end of instrumental.

I have always assumed this is the case, but weirdly, I never hear anyone else talk about “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” with this perspective, which is very strange to me, because it seems obvious, but also, that is the best part of the song. Everything about Rush “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” is a great listen, the entire album “Fly by Night” is a great listen, but the creative ingenuity of having their guitars represent a mythical battle with just sound is just so fantastic.

On the back cover of “Fly by Night” Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee are identified at “Snow Dog” and “By-Tor” respectively. So yeah, confirmed as far as I am concerned.

Rush have many great long experimental songs, and I believe “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” is among the very best of them, and perhaps the most charming.

- King of Braves

Rush - Xanadu

Rush is Canada’s greatest rock band. I do not think there is much debate surrounding this, they are by far the most critically acclaimed rock band my country has ever produced, they have sold by far the most records of any Canadian group, and they are wildly popular inside our borders and well respected without, and their body of work continues to grow to this day.

I have not been a very good Canadian; I have never seen Rush live. I almost saw Rush in 2013 but the flood wrecked Calgary and Rush had to reschedule the event in Red Deer and without a car I was not confident I could get up there in time. It was the only time I had purchased insurance on concert tickets, so that worked out at least. Finally on July 15th of 2015 I will live the Canadian dream and finally see our greatest musical treasure live. All I have to do now is stay alive a few more days.

One of the things I love the most about Rush is that they were a band that basically broke all the rules and yet everything worked out brilliantly for them. Their second album “Fly By Night” was a commercial success so they were pressured to do more of the same, and instead they released a series of extremely experimental progressive rock albums, and defying all conventional wisdom at the time, all of them were critical and commercial successes.

In 1977 Rush released their fifth studio album, “A Farewell to Kings,” and on that album there is a song called “Xanadu.”

"To seek the sacred river Alph
To walk the caves of ice
To break my fast on honey dew
And drink the milk of Paradise...."

I love honey dew, it is probably my favorite fruit. I also love eleven minute rock epics with elaborate guitar solos and unique synthesizers, especially when the song is about the quest for immortality, so yes, I really like the song “Xanadu.”

Xanadu is actually a real place, as the alternate name for Shangdu a city in China, and was the temporary capital of Kublai Khan’s empire when he ruled the area. It is now the modern day town Dolon Nor, but like Arcadia, it has more poetic and symbolic cultural meaning then it’s real life historical existence. Now a day’s Xanadu/Shandgu mostly lies in ruins, but according to various accounts the city was once splendorous, and thanks to a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, titled “Kubla Khan,” the city has become more of a metaphor for paradise than anything else. 

"Xanadu" by Sarel Theron

In fact the definition of the word Xanadu is now “A place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment.”

A cursory glance at Rush’s lyrics for “Xanadu” and the lines from Coleridge’s poem, we see some very similar word choice for the description of the wondrous city, strongly suggesting an obvious influence.

Knowing all this helps understand the song “Xanadu” a little more, it makes sense for Geddy Lee to mention Kublai Khan since we are talking about his city and the line about the “pleasure dome” makes super sense when we recall the largest harem in history was Kublai Khan’s. Also knowing that Xanadu is a paradise as well as borderline mythical, it is a suitable location for our traveler to come to find the magical secret to immortality, presumably by drinking the milk of paradise, and eating the fruits of life, which is presumably honey dew since it is so delicious.

To be honest “Xanadu” is a rare example where I have never really paid the closest attention to the lyrics, which is unlike me. “Xanadu” has always been a song where I have just sat back and absorbed the sounds of the guitar, drums and keyboard. It hardly mattered what Geddy Lee was singing about, the sounds of the song were more than enough. It was a great song to get lost in and at eleven minutes and ten seconds there is plenty of time to wonder within.

It is a fantastic little trip, not just “Xanadu” but the whole album “A Farewell Kings.” It does not flow from song to song like one piece of music the way the two previous albums did, but there are plenty of long well crafted moments and the final product is very psychedelic, with the most psychedelic moment likely being “Xanadu.” I say likely, because the final song off of “A Farewell to Kings” is a wild ride called “Cygnus X-1 (Book 1)” which coincides with the first song off of the next album, 1978’s “Hemispheres” aptly titled “Cygnus X-1 (Book 2).” Normally this flow of one track to another does not transcend this way, but what I can say Rush is that progressive.

Well I learned a lot talking about this song and with any luck I might get to hear “Xanadu” on Wednesday.

Until next month, keep on rocking in the free world.

- King of Braves

Rush - 2112

“He had always wanted to write music, and he could give no other identity to the thing he sought. If you want to know what it is, he told himself, listen to the first phrases of Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto--or the last movement of Rachmaninoff’s Second. Men have not found the words for it, nor the deed nor the thought, but they have found the music. Let me see that in one single act of man on earth. Let me see it made real. Let me see the answer to the promise of that music. Not servants nor those served; not altars and immolations; but the final, the fulfilled, innocent of pain. Don’t help me or serve me, but let me see it once, because I need it. Don’t work for my happiness, my brothers--show me yours--show me that it is possible--show me your achievement--and the knowledge will give me courage for mine.”

- Ayn Rand; The Fountainhead

I could not find any other quote by Ayn Rand mentioning Tchaikovsky, but I could have sworn she mentioned him more than once. She wrote so much about the best and Ayn Rand lived in the times when Tchaikovsky was considered the epoch of music. Both Rand and Tchaikovsky are Russian; maybe that meant something to her, or perhaps that was a reason for her exposure to his music, or maybe I’m just drawing irrelevant lines. Still I feel pretty confident fictional musician Richard Halley in “Atlas Shrugged,” was meant to represent a second coming of Tchaikovsky and also there is another connection, no matter how strange, the “2112 Overture.”

Rush’s first album was good, but their second album “Fly at Night,” was great, and also a huge commercial success. Once the money started flowing the producers were ecstatic, their feelings were that whatever Rush did on “Fly at Night,” they needed to do it again. Rush did not do it again. Rush’s third album “2112” is a concept album, a concept album about objectivism, which means an entire album with lyrics inspired by Ayn Rand’s writings.

The idea of “2112” in theory should not have sold well. It was a weird idea which most people probably would fail to appreciate. Also it was a highly progressive and intelligent idea further narrowing the potential audience. Also objectivism is a very polarizing political view that has never caught on to the mainstream. The critics loved “2112,” but of course they did, no one had ever heard of anything like “2112” before, not in sound, nor in concept, but the consumers loved it too. It was kind of like the ultimate “fuck you.” Rush did everything they were told not to. They did everything theoretically wrong in regards to selling records. They had blatantly disobeyed orders and refused to sell out, and it worked. “2112” sold very well, and is one of the major factors that made Rush the fifth best selling rock band of all time. “2112” is regarded by many as Rush’s best album.

To break down “2112” lyrically would be a lengthy dialogue, but I will try to be brief. I always think of Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” at the beginning of this song, but then the “discovery,” happens. Instead of the character discovering the light bulb, like he did in “Anthem,” Geddy Lee sings about discovering music. It’s so perfect. The analogue of creating something from nothing, it’s so simple, yet so majestic. It is not random, writing a song, no, it’s brilliance. The touch of the strings and the bringing forth of sound is not some accident, just like the light bulb is no accident, both are products of the mind. For so long we have alienated art and science but it is the same kind of mind that discovers both, the human mind. The “presentation” in “2112” is similar to the presentation of the light bulb in “Anthem,” the fear of change and worship of mediocrity plagues the leaders of men. In “Anthem,” the man’s passion for progress drives him, in “2112” our protagonist’s passion for progressive rock drives him, and that just rocks.

And of course;

"I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days
I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes

They left the planet long ago
The elder race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home to tear the Temples down...
Home to change!"

I always think of the oracle as the statue of Dominique, the one molded by artist Steve Mallory who was commission by Howard Roark when he was designing the temple to the human spirit in “The Fountainhead.” The elders leaving home but only growing stronger and wiser, this must be the many heroes of “Atlas Shrugged,” leaving their home to return one day.

It is very inspiring and encouraging reflecting on the might of the human mind. A lot of people like to trash on Ayn Rand for a variety reason, usually in the form of ad hominem, but it always feels to me that everyone misses the point of objectivism. It is not an excuse for selfish behavior, but rather a demand for intelligent behavior, self preservation demands cooperation and self advancement is best achieved with tactical alliances and friendships which are always best forged with mutual respect. Objectivism is a call to arms, a reminder of the power of our intellect and a philosophy that suggests we embrace it. “Howard Roark was a man complete within himself,” there is so much strength in a line like that, a complete refusal to live by anyone else’s expectation, a healthy self respect and love. Rush captured the best of this, they have their own touch of weirdness with their psychedelic sounds, yet nothing feels clouded in “2112” the message in clear, creation and power is in your hands, embrace it for yourself. I think Ayn Rand would be proud, hell I suspect so would Tchaikovsky.

Until next month, keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly

Rush - Workling Man

A lot of people tell me they love my rants.

Which is great, because I do it a lot, and this way I know I’m not driving everyone around me crazy. They enjoy my ranting and raving about how fucked up everything is, and that’s good to know. Really good to know because I am unhealthily paranoid about such things.

I like making light of negative situation, my attitude has always been if I can laugh about it, then it is not as bad as it seems. If I can get others to laugh at it, then it is probably no big deal. I got a lot of problems, really who doesn’t, and I don’t mean to bitch and complain but rather point out how silly things are.

The world around me and all its problems, are just silly little flaws of complex human socialization. Maybe if I can point out how stupid and crazy we are sometimes, maybe we will laugh at ourselves and maybe even change ourselves for the better, because it is probably true that things are never really as bad as they seem. Myself as well, I’m quick to criticize myself when I know I’m wrong, trying to convince myself any and all of my emotional and psychological problems are not as bad as they seem, they are just silly little flaws, that can be fixed in time.

I’m a comedic bearer of bad news, trying to soften the blow of brutal reality. I try to make everyone look themselves in the mirror with the same sort of honesty that I do. I try to make everyone else look at the world around them with the same acceptance of waking human reality that I do.

That’s who I try to be. Unfortunately a lot of people don’t like the truth, so in turn, they don’t like me. They try to run away from reality and turn me into some kind of villain. Truth is I am a good guy I just behavior badly, it is what you do and not what you say, me speaking your evil is far less evil then you doing it in the first place.

I don’t like bitching and complaining and I hope that’s not how I am received. I have a brain that doesn’t rest and I observe things at a level of depth that few every do, because most would never bother. I see the bad in the world, but I can also see the good, the problem is, it is always easier to criticize.

A reoccurring rant of mine is that 'I don’t do happiness,' or 'happiness is for wimps.' If you possess any insight into people at all you might have guessed that I am trying to laugh off how generally unhappy I am with my life.

Don’t get me wrong I know its not that bad, I’m in school and doing okay. I have the financial wherewithal to never be bound paycheck to paycheck allowing me the freedom to quit any job I dislike at any time. I have an apartment downtown Calgary that rents out to me relatively cheap because I’ve lived there so long, plus I have a roommate that I have no problems whatsoever living with. I’m not diseased, I’m not crippled, I’m not stupid, I’m not starving, I’m not broke, I’m not dying, no major crisis whatsoever.

But still I am never satisfied with myself.

The self-labeling theorem (or self-fulfilling prophecy) is a concept in psychology that states if you continue to label someone as something; they will undoubtedly in time become the labels you gave them. I see this everywhere, and it is frightening to think of the consequence it entails. Stereotypes of all kinds are reinforced by this sort of dilemma, also people with darker disposition can almost never break free of their downward spiral once the rest of humanity begins to treat them differently. Know this, no one unhappy wants sympathy, they want empathy, they don’t want you to share in their pain, they just want you to understand theirs’.

For so long most of the respect and interest from others I received in my life has come from when I work at a job. After a while I started feeling more like a worker drone then anything else. I am damn good for something and that something is work. No one, and I am going to allow myself this statement of arrogant confidence, no one out works me. I am the hardest worker any of you know, because that’s all I got. It has gotten so bad that even when I’m relaxing I systematically change what I’m doing into some form of work.

There are times to this day that I do not feel like a man whatsoever. Now I am a man biologically, but not always emotionally, I feel like I identify more with a working robot, or perhaps some strange force of nature that just runs over everything that gets in its way. I get unnerved when people ask me how I am, because I have this nagging feeling that such a state of good or bad is completely irrelevant, because I don’t feel. I am not suppose to feel, and though generally unhappy, I am perfectly content with my gloomy little world, and as strange as that sounds, it is how I feel about myself. I am perfectly comfortable being unhappy because it is familiar territory and in the end I feel absolutely neutral. If I woke up tomorrow suddenly feeling happy it would scare the shit out of me, I honestly wouldn’t know what to do. They labeled me as a working maniac, and that’s what I become!

This is ridiculous! I am ridiculous! But even I have to admit to myself that this is pretty fucking funny. Hence how happiness is for wimps. And as long as I can laugh about being a miserable bastard one-day I just might turn it around on myself and that would be great, because unlike moron goths and emos who try to glorify their unhappiness, I want mine to end. I shouldn’t be so down on myself anyway, I really don’t deserve it.

Some of you told me you wanted a rant this month and I felt this was a good one, makes me laugh anyway, and the subject matter can only be offensive to me… I think.

The song in question that I think best captures this psychological problem of mine is actually kind of a happy song; Rush – 'Working Man.'

Surely you can see the relation to my madness in the chorus:

'It seems to me
I could live my life
A lot better than I think I am.
I guess that's why they call me,
They call me the working man.

They call me the working man.
I guess that's what I am.'

I do not know if it is charming of me to be so open and honest with everyone who dares listen to me, or perhaps I am an annoying pessimist. I assure you at least I try to be funny and charming, I like to believe there is a very enduring quality to such honesty. Then again I also know that sometimes the brutal truth is far more brutal then it is true, even when it’s perfectly true.

But there is something to feel good about and that is Rush!

These guys have always rocked, and they always will, Canada’s greatest rock group of all time. Sorry Guess Who, guess again. Rush have a whole library of awesome music but I think I’ve made my attachment to 'Working Man' very clear. It is one of my favorite songs of all time.

I have a lot of respect for the working men of real life, many of my closest friends are the ones I can identify with in discipline and work ethic. The only thing you can respect in this world is ability, and hard work is the greatest ability of them all. The greatest force there is, is indomitable spirit of man, and as long as we stay true to ourselves and work towards our goals and dreams with constant vigilance, impossible is nothing. Laziness and cowardice are the bane of humanity; hear my mantra; 'Victory always goes to those with courage!'

See that last paragraph was rather uplifting wasn’t it? I’m not all bad.

I hope everyone enjoys my music in reviews, at times I really feel like I’m putting myself out there, maybe embarrassing myself even. I only aim to please, tell you about some awesome music, maybe make you laugh. Hell I’m a good sport about it, go ahead and laugh at me. I am ridiculous, and now you know why.

Until next month, keep on rocking in the free world.

- Colin Kelly