This is an older early access Patreon video guys fyi. Enjoy!

This song is LITERALLY a “shoutout to the free thinkers.”

Because he's in a band w/ Geddy Lee & Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson doesn't get enough credit for being the incredible guitarist that he is.

The bass line underneath the guitar solo is unbelievable.

Bringing up Godsmack in a Rush video is like bringing up a Honda in a discussion of Lamborghinis.

Reacting to Freewill is no reason to NOT react to Subdivisions. Subdivisions is its own, awesome thing.

Just a point in support of Geddy Lee's voice. He is so uniquely himself. You know who it is immediately! Cannot imagine Rush with any other singer.

Geddy Lee is singing, playing bass, AND playing keyboard at the same time.

How this can be perceived as having no “umph” is beyond me. Masterpiece.

Natural Science, from this album is a MUST!!! Transitions, lyrics and musical genius all in one song...you won't be disappointed 😌

Alex Lifeson undoubtedly one the most underrated guitarsts ever

In my opinion, the best instrumental breakdown section in Rush's history.

This song literally changed my life. Thirty-five years ago I was “stuck” in a bad home/relationship situation that was 360 degrees of toxicity. I had the opportunity to make a burning-bridges move to a city that I had never been to in which I knew basically no one. Fear of the unknown had me bogged down and unable to make a decision. This song came on the radio in the car and the lyric “If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice” stopped me cold. I looked at my life and thought, “I don’t choose this”. I packed up and left the next day.

Alex is one of the best guitarists in prog rock and yet many forget to mention him because of Neil and Geddy. Alex is incredible.

I saw Rush at least once on every tour starting in 1986. The single greatest performance I ever saw them do was Freewill in 2008. They were on it that night and it was amazing.

“Each of us, a cell of awareness, imperfect and incomplete. Genetic blends with uncertain ends on a fortune hunt that’s far too fleet.” Brilliant lyric, incredible song.🔥🤘🏻🎧

I saw them 49 times from 1982 never missing a tour through the last one. I was 12 in 1982 and 45 in 2015. They went from being almost other-worldly superheroes when I was a kid to almost friends that would come to town every couple of years and musically say "hi" and catch me up on what they were up to. That's a lot of life seeing these guys......I miss them terribly, but so grateful. Being their fan was and remains a privilege..

Red Barchetta is a definite sleeper, one of my favorites from Rush.

Fun fact: Alex's born surname is Zivojinovich, which translates in Serbian to "Life Son". His parents were 1st generation immigrants that fled war and turmoil in Yugoslavia.

Damn, man. I adore Geddy Lee's vocals. He sounds so sincere and he ranged in style over the years so well.

"You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill I will choose a path that's clear. I will choose Freewill" The chorus, hell, the entire song is thought-provoking, something that we need as a people need to listen to.

The live version of this on Exit: Stage Left is amazing. The crowd's deafening cheers after Lifeson's solo is exhilarating to hear

Everyone agrees Neil is a legend, and we all know how good Geddy is (the reason I started playing bass), but people forget that Alex Lifeson is equally as talented as they are, and I think it's because he's so selective of when to display his virtuosity, always careful to not go full McFly and shred the synchrony of the song

I love your reaction videos but please don't forget about Alex Lifeson. He is probably one of , if not the most underappreciated guitarist in prog/rock music history and it's a crime. Rush is the "Holy Trinity". Like a tripod, this group would not exist without all 3 members holding up their end. Alex does that as well as Neil and Geddy do. Thank you guys. RIP PROFESSOR PEART

Probably my favorite of Alex's guitar solos and I am a BIG Rush fan, especially of their earlier days. He kills this one.

Rush - Natural Science

I love the production on this! Crystal clear bass, drums, guitar...what are you looking for from a remaster?

I can’t believe y’all start each review with “shout out to the free thinkers” but didn’t comment on the awesome lyrics of “Freewill.” Did you read along while listening?

Watch this played live its unbelievable the sound coming from three musicians who have mastered their instruments!!!!

Jacob's Ladder from this release is outstanding as well. One of their best.

Another great song from Rush is Natural Science. Definitely check it out

Alex doesn't get left behind. Oh no. He's a master too. This is probably my favorite solo of his. Long live Rush

11:08 YES!!!!! Stank face is EXACTLY the reaction I was hoping for!! That solo section is probably Rush's most visceral piece of music in their entire canon! Yeah, it's DIRTY!! :)

There IS A Remastered version of this album! The 40th Anniversary edition has been released for several albums with Permanent Waves being the most recent release. I highly recommend checking out this song or any others you want to react to from those albums instead of the original releases if you want a more modern mix.

That section you love is basically all 3 dudes soloing at the same time. And it slaps. Unbelievable.

Life in one verse: “Each of us, a cell of awareness, imperfect and incomplete. Genetic blends, with uncertain ends, on a fortune hunt that’s far too fleet.” The music, the lyrics: my favorite song from my favorite band. Period.

Nah, it's an incredible song. Every guitar you hear on a Rush song is Alex Lifeson - so great but still underrated. This song needed more emphasis from you on the philosophy of Neil's lyrics. "If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice." Seemingly a simple concept but deep. This is the first time I've heard you guys say anything negative about Geddy's singing. His tone is unique. It may not be to everyone's liking but there's no way his singing is corny. It's always earnest.

I was watching Fraggle Rock in the 80's on HBO 😂 Definitely need to check out Subdivisions - huge hit. Both Subdivisions and Freewill also have really deep lyrics. Remember that Neil was the primary lyricist since he's been in the band.

Ryan - we gotta talk about the Loudness War, and why the production you're looking for has actually hurt the overall quality of music. There are some great examples of older songs remastered the way you're asking, with the end result being a loss of dynamics in the song, because everything is getting pushed up to a ceiling, resulting in less room for each instrument to sit on the recording. It's like raising the floor of your house 4 feet, but only raising the ceiling 2 feet. Yes, everything is higher, but it's more cramped. Music works the same way, there's a ceiling to these levels before they start distorting (called "clipping"), and so the ceiling of the music can't be raised that high. When you raise the floor, you lose the distinction in the instruments. You'd actually hear the bass less prominently, and you'd really, really lose things like the hi-hats and other percussion. Rush had some of the best engineers and producers in the world, they did it right the first time. Just turn the volume up and adjust your EQ to your preference. (You guys do use an EQ right?)

George, you cannot compare Geddy Lee’s amazing singing to Fragglerock! WTF?!!😂

Every few years a new generation discovers bands like Rush! Thank you for reacting to this!

Re: Ryan's request for remasters... the production on Rush's albums in the late 70s and early 80s is actually seen as an hallmark of "dry" production and fidelity. You don't have distortion and heaviness, but you have detail and a wide soundstage. It may not have a lot of effects, but it sounds more transparent and highlights the playing better. As for Geddy Lee's voice, his vocals post-1981 are mellower and lower. Try "Show Don't Tell" or "Bravado" (or for something heavier, "Far Cry" and "One Little Victory") to see how they evolved in their career.

Fun fact, Fraggle Rock is getting a reboot right now, and Foo Fighters have already done music for it! 😅👌 Great video, guys! I'm Canadian, so I grew up on Rush. 🇨🇦🤟

This song was great then, and this song is great now. There was NOTHING else like it on the radio.

Listen to the bass isolated during Alex's solo. Its pure madness!

Someone please tell Ryan that there actually are remastered versions available for many Rush albums, including this one.

Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize (Live in Tilburg) an absolute must in the progsphere

Natural science from this album.. It's definitely one of their best songs.. Transitions galore

Many people didn't care for Getty's voice until they listened to Many songs and just fell in to the songs! Getty's voice is an instrument itself in the music 🎶

Wikipedia: Lifeson says the guitar solo in the song is a "really hard solo to play", describing it as "frenetic and exciting" and "one of the most ambitious pieces of music Rush has ever done".

Rush is one of the few bands that while you won’t love every song you’ll love what’s being done in the song

The Best Intro Ever really displays how Rush can blend their transitions seamlessly even between songs with totally different timing.

Great song by a great band. You are still the only reactions I am still watching. Do Rush Witch Hunt please next.

Y'all need to do another Rush epic song like Natural Science off this same album!

It is mind-bogglingly insane to think that Geddy Lee is not respected as a vocalist by so many people. Anyone who knows singing knows that Geddy is great. His range and his control and everything is just phenomenal. Doing it all while also playing bass and sometimes keyboards just adds another layer. He truly is an underrated singer. He's secretly one of the best vocalists around. It's also insane that so many younger people around my age just seem to hate good singing. Man, there's nothing as exhilarating as a great singer who can blast out monster vocals in a powerful range. It's also why a great harsh vocalist is so captivating to me as well. And since it got brought up again, I need to rant about the extreme flaws of modern recording practices. Let me tell you, a record that sounds like this is something to aim for. There's nothing in this recording that lacks any kind of punch or power or fidelity or depth or whatever. That's all because it's mixed properly. The funny thing is, though we do have superior tech today, a lot of the "remasters" for records that have come out have just made the same ole mistakes of blasting up the volume and the bass and ending up with a record with worse audio quality as a result. If you've ever noticed at a live Rock concert, the guitar has more amps and they're bigger, while the bass guitar has fewer and smaller amps. That's because the human ear hears bass easier than treble and mids. So many younger people today are used to that, and just because they're used to it, they consider it better. I don't know, maybe it's like how many people today actually buy more fast food the more money they make, even though it's supposed to be a reverse good. Nowadays, good is bad and bad is good.

Nothing wrong with loving "Working Man". Rutsey was a great drummer. The reality was he was replaced by "The Professor".

Alex Lifeson rarely gets his flowers! He was/is ground breaking. Love Rush!

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

I’ve seen Alex nail that solo live several times. Amazing guitarist.

The music was created in a different era, and it is just fine. It is some of their most memorable work. Also, the lyrics are always very important in every Rush song. The message equally has just as much impact as the music.

Natural Science is a must from this album! You'll like the sound better compared to the more 80s sounding Subdivisions, which is also fantastic!

This was easily one of the top songs I wanted you to hear from Rush, particularly For the transitions and that break with the solo, amazing AF. Felt like a jam sessions and it was so fluid. Love you guys. Keep doing what you do.

In an Era (my time) originality was as important as any other aspect. Geddy Lee has a unique vocal that is RUSH.

Hey fellas, you both obviously know music and can appreciate the signature changes but their timing, no wasted notes always amazes me being a fan since the early 70's. Watching their maturation over the years has been a pleasure. Their love and friendship growing up together is what connects them and makes their timing flawless. FAMILY goes along way...dedication helps. Thanks guys. Appreciate you!

You got me with Fraggle Rock. The freaking memories flew outta my brain!

Subdivisions is a really interesting lyric... looking at teen alienation in suburbia. One of Neil's very best drumming compositions as well. You'd love it, George.

I was waiting for you to react to this one, absolute banger!

RUSH is 3 masters of their instruments cutting loose.Geddy's singing never gives me chills.

"Anthem" has an equally impressive solo that just goes bonkers with the bass, drum and guitar chaos.

Natural Science and Jacob's Ladder off of this album, are beyond beautiful. Half of the prog metal scene after them are copying these two songs. And if you want to hear something more modern from them you should check Counterparts.

Listening to these musicians show off has ALWAYS been a pleasure.

Great to see you guys again..and reacting to rush..awesome

Thank you for posting another Rush review! **edit** 'Subdivisions' - OH HELL YES! (Also, I'd really like you guys to do 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' and/or 'In The Evening' by Led Zeppelin, if possible.)

If you like “Working Man” so much, you should react to the live version from Cleveland, the “Time Machine” tour. Mind-blowing.

I thoroughly enjoy your guys videos! Awesome man!

You guys are still barely scratching the surface of rush!! Show don’t tell, cold fire, big money, one little victory, and earthshine just to name a few! I’ve been listening to rush since I was 2 years old and I get chills seeing people hear these songs for the first time. Great vid as always.

Wow, not my favorite reaction...This song is a masterpiece on many levels. No mention of the lyrics or how the music embodies "freewill," with the breakdown illustrating how "free" musical components can meld into such an amazing culmination of sound....Freak'n Fragglerock...?! Relisten and note the change after the break....Getty's vocals soared...just what one wants to accompany music that is cerebral, fluid and virtuosic, a sonic Kaleidoscope. Still enjoy your reactions...just one Rush fan's take....peace!

Sometimes "less" is "more" in music. Too much re-mixing and other enhancement tricks take away from the original sound. Thing about Rush is that their live performances sound like in the studio, and vice versa. Highly skilled musicians who can create a sound and play it faithfully in any situation. That is the real magic of Rush.

Remember they played it live just exactly like the Album they pulled off every song live exactly as you were used to hearing it, their live recordings are so good it's ridiculous......That was the most impressive to me!!!!!

One of the few songs where everybody does a solo at the same time and still sounds musical

This album is one of the best-engineered records of all time.

Being from Toronto, I obviously had alot of exposure to Rush growing up. You guys should check out the song Circumstances off the Hemispheres album. I would also recommend New World Man, and also the Anolog Kid from their Signals album, which also has Subdivisions 🤘

Haha man I've been waiting like three years for you guys to get to that solo.

You guys are awesome. Thanks for these videos.

Dude, it has been remastered. it was recorded back in the eighties so it's not going to sound like stuff you're listening to in the last 10-20 years even if it's remastered. They used completely different recording tools back then.

To George's criticism of the production, this song has been remastered multiple times through the years. What I would say is that bands like Rush and Sabbath sound like actual live bands. What you seem to be looking for is all the artificial layering and manipulation that goes with modern rock production that enhances the live performance. In other words, what you're used to isn't real. This is, for whatever that's worth.

Excellent reaction guys. Natural Science off this album is a must. You'll love the drums.

Greetings from a fellow Las Vegan (Blue Diamond). So glad I found your channel. You guys are great and your passion for this genre of music is impressive. Keep the excellent reviews coming. Rush is so epic and loved these guys since I was probably 10 years old. Cheers!

We don't actually hate Working Man at all. But we know that the best comes later

Great song! Now react to "Red Barchetta", "Subdivisions", "Time stands still" , "Roll the bones" "Distant early warning" " passage to bangkok"👍

This was the 1st tour I saw them on. They're tight as hell live. They're always locked in coming out of that solo. Amazing!

Eyyyyy back to Rush my dudes. Here for it!

You should react to this whole album. Six epic songs, all with their own identities.

UFO - LOVE TO LOVE...Strangers In The Night version. Please.

Man when I saw them do this live at I forget how many shows I saw Rush live, was just incredible!!

Very nice work fellas, again.

I really wish this album had the production quality of the next one, "Moving Pictures" which is their best sounding album. I believe the original tracks for Permanent Waves are lost which is why we haven't gotten a remixed version. Great reaction!

You guys REALLY need to hit 'Natural Science' from this album. Epic.

That solo section is indescribably good. Jaw dropping. Likely their best ever.

Been waiting for a rush reaction on here for a long time!