7. The Spirit Of Radio (Permanent Waves, 1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQUDiCiNlqQ Fortunately for posterity, Rush themselves were exhausted after making Hemispheres and resolved to try their hand at crafting shorter, more radio-friendly songs. The band began implementing new wave and reggae influences and honed their sprawling soundscape into tighter, edgier tracks. Peart also moved away from fantasy-based lyrics and turned his mind toward more humanistic themes, producing miniature think-pieces for the bands 1980 album Permanent Waves. The Spirit of Radio, one of Rushs most enduring songs, leads off that album with an iconic noodling Lifeson riff before launching its lament over the state of the corporatized airwaves. This is Rush at its most refinedits almost a pop song, with the only semblance of prog being the oddly-timed bridge. The highlight is the Police-esque breakdown at the end that leads into Lees warning of the SALESMEN who pervade the music industry, followed by a torrid Lifeson solo. The Spirit of Radio was Rushs greatest success to date, it proved that they could write catchy non-epic music, and it set the table for their masterpiece the following year.