Alex Lifeson	Dalbello	Les Claypool

What the Experts Say
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson’s 1996 solo project Victor, his first, released a self-titled album in 1996. Victor is an odd blend of modern hard rock and swirling, programming-heavy songs. Lifeson’s trademark Rush guitar style — ringing chords and sharp, brief solos — is utilized in some places, but not throughout. Guest musicians on Victor include I Mother Earth vocalist Edwin, Primus bassist Les Claypool and Lifeson’s son, Adrian Zivojinovich, who contributes programming. Musically, the songs with a traditional, straightforward structure are the least interesting, with the exception of “Promise.” It’s the odd material that stands out on Victor. Two instrumentals — the slow, quirky “Mr. X” and the atmospheric “Strip and Go Naked” — are noteworthy. “Shut Up Shuttin’ Up” — a title almost certainly lifted from one of Yosemite Sam’s many orders to Bugs Bunny — is practically a novelty song; two women carry on a man-bashing conversation before instructing Lifeson to “shut up and play the guitar,” which he does before interjecting his own yells telling them to shut up. Due to its complex music and lyrics, Rush is often incorrectly viewed as being comprised of humorless members, but die-hard fans know that Lifeson is the joker in the trio and this song proves it. The two best songs on Victor, “At the End” and “Victor,” are unorthodox in musical construction and lyrical tone. Lifeson himself doesn’t sing the lyrics, he recites them, often in a whisper. “At the End” is an intense, brooding song about an elderly widower whose soul-crushing loneliness after her death drives him to commit suicide. “Victor” uses a musical bed of programming and warm horns underneath the disturbingly vivid lyrics, taken directly from English poet W.H. Auden, about a cuckold who murders his cheating wife. — Bret Adams

 

1.   Don't Care (feat. Edwin vocals) 2.   Promise  (Edwin vocals) 3.   Start Today 4.   Mr. X 5.   At the End  6.   Sending Out a Warning (Edwin vocals) 7.   Shut up Shuttin' Up  8.   Strip and Go Naked 9.   The Big Dance (Edwin vocals) 10.   Victor 11.   I Am the Spirit (Edwin vocals)

Audio: The Big Dance.wav Don't Care.wav

What Alex had to say about Edwin:
"I was really impressed by Edwin's vocals; he had a quality--a menace, a cockiness, a toughness--in his vocals that I thought would suit a lot of the songs on my record. I Mother Earth are from Toronto and grew up with Rush, so for Edwin, it was an opportunity to work with someone that he admired. He came in really nervous, so I spent the first couple of hours just calming him down, `this is just fun, no pressure, let's just go for it, then we'll go out and have a drink after and see how it goes.' After he settled in and felt more comfortable, he did a great job. I was aiming for those first few takes of his because that's where he really shone. He came out of this project feeling much more confident about his abilities, and it really shows on their record. He recently played me some tracks, it sounds really good!" 

Reviews
Gerland Tan Music Review
Henry's Review
Rush Guitarist Taps New Energy with Solo Record

More Info
iMusic Showcase
Breakdown of Every Song on the Album