100 Great Songs to Publish a Book to, #67: Rush, Cygnus X-1, Book 2: Hemispheres

For Rush’s science-fiction storytelling, most fans would make a beeline for the 1976 classic 2112, with its gripping future-dystopia narrative.  As great as 2112 undoubtedly is, I’m going with 1978’s opener on Hemispheres.  A rocking ding-dong between Apollo and Dionysus battling for the soul of man, until Cygnus comes along and gives the pair of them the god-like equivalent of a slap upside the head.  This track has an outstanding intro, and the plaintive closing lyric is one of Rush’s best.

Onslaught is available for pre-order at the special introductory price of $2.99 in the US here, in the UK here, in Canada here, and in Australia here.