10 Greatest Rock Instrumentals
1. La Villa Strangiato - Rush
Rush is the one band that you could say perfected the hard rock instrumental as we know it. Coming from the prog school of songwriting, these guys were able to put together disparate sonic passages effortlessly and take their audiences on a journey through the power of their music. Though Hemispheres was the band's masterclass in complexity, "La Villa Strangiato" stands out as one of the greatest musical moments of the band's recording career.
Earning it's subtitle of "An Exercise in Self-Indulgence," this track is where every single member has a chance to flex his chops. As usual, Geddy Lee's bass playing is some of the most impressive in the rock genre, as he annihilates his strings without the need for a pick. Right by his side, the guitar work that Alex Lifeson plays throughout has both a forceful attack and an understated beauty, which is evident when his solo builds from smooth and silky to an absolute shredfest. Holding it all together though is Neil Peart, whose manic performance proved that he was the greatest drummer that the rock world has (or will) ever see.
The song was so daunting that even the band were fatigued by it, eventually giving up and recording the song in 3 parts. While many prog hopefuls will flex their chops with a version of "YYZ," only the brave dare to touch "La Villa Strangiato."