Geddy Lee’s influence on Rush’s music was profound, with his unique blend of Chris Squire’s progressive rock precision and John Entwistle’s fierce intensity, crafting some of the most memorable basslines in rock history.
His bass playing often took center stage, mimicking the presence of a lead guitar. Despite his prowess, the song ‘Neurotica’ from the band’s synth-heavy period didn’t quite hit the mark.
During what many fans consider the band’s keyboard phase, Rush’s sound underwent a controversial transformation. Their groundbreaking work on the album “2112” had solidified their status as progressive rock legends. However, the shift towards a synth-driven sound in albums like “Grace Under Pressure” puzzled many fans, especially those who cherished the band’s earlier, more Led Zeppelin-inspired rawness.
Despite the mixed reception to the synth era, this period in the 1980s produced several underrated gems, from the poignant ‘Afterimage’ to the reflective ‘Subdivisions’. Neil Peart, the band’s drummer, played a pivotal role in this shift, although he later acknowledged some missteps, particularly during the “Hold Your Fire” sessions.
For fans accustomed to the band’s classic albums like “Hemispheres” and “2112”, the new sound was a departure, especially evident in the lead single ‘Time Stand Still’, which featured a notable use of arpeggiated guitars. The band eventually aimed to move away from heavy synth use, a transition evident in the “Roll the Bones” album, although not without its own quirks, including Geddy Lee’s unexpected rap in the title track.
“Roll the Bones” signified a turning point back towards heavier music, yet it also included ‘Neurotica’, a track that Geddy Lee later reflected on with some bewilderment. Compared to the album’s more radio-friendly tracks, ‘Neurotica’ seemed like an attempt to merge different aspects of their sound, albeit not as successfully as hoped. Speaking with Classic Rock, Lee expressed his confusion over the track, highlighting it as an oddity within their discography.
Despite its odd place in Rush’s catalogue, ‘Neurotica’ underscores the band’s adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment, a trait that persisted through their career, culminating in their final concept album, “Clockwork Angels”. While ‘Neurotica’ may not be among Rush’s most celebrated songs, it exemplifies the band’s fearless approach to music, never shying away from taking risks, even if they didn’t always pay off.
