Victor, former Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson’s solo album from 1996 has a 2024 reissue with a remix by Alex himself.
On hearing the news, it prompted me to dig out my copy of the original as I’d not spun it for quite some time.
Alex does whatever Alex wants and the album is a rather interesting and rather varied listen. Perhaps not what you may be expecting.
Sure, this is Alex Lifeson so there is plenty of guitar. There’s also quite a lot going on which may surprise the listener – including a spot of poetry recital. Yes, really.
The album starts with a trio of quite heavyish rockers.
Don’t Care has the big meaty, churning riff with the song having a bit of a grungy/doomy feel. Well, this was the mid-1990s when grunge was big, right?
Promise is a proper good ‘un. Alex lets rip as he does. There’s a big melody and a big vocal too as the song pulses along with purpose.
Start Today is three and a half minutes which is as close to a Rush song you’ll get here – especially the vocal. If you heard it before you knew who it was you’d swear it was a long-lost Rush song.
Here’s Promise:
Mr. X a short instrumental with a sort of ambient keyboard intro before Alex goes on a wander. At the End is a weird one. Alex “speaks” the vocal with seemingly random elevator music in the background. This one goes on too long at six minutes and is a stretch to listen to.
Sending Out a Warning takes us back in to chunky hard and heavy territory then we have the unusual and quirky Shut Up Shuttin’ Up. I think I’ll call this a “talkstrumental. It’s Alex at his finest for the instrumental. The talk part is a funny conversation between Alex’s wife and two other women where they contrast and compare the shortcomings of their respective husbands.
Strip and Go Naked is another instrumental on which Alex does what Alex does best. The Big Dance is so-so then we have the title track, which is the poetry recital as Alex reads out the poem of the same name by W.H. Auden accompanied by weird synths and jazzy parts. Strangely compelling.
I am the Spirit is a nice heavy closer with some bite to it.
Overall, not a bad listen with the more experimental tracks not always working. By that I mainly mean At the End.
This reissue/remix includes revised artwork and the addition of four instrumental tracks which I believe were previously available only on Alex’s web site.
>> ALEX LIFESON VICTOR ON AMAZON <<
Geddy Lee’s solo album, My Favourite Headache, from 2000 has also been reissued. We’ll get to that one next.
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.