gone are the side spanning epics that threatened to consign rush to the proggie bin forever.instead these songs show a new grip on reality that to this day makes this one of their better albums.the joyous `spirit of radio` kicks it off with its ode to music and the hope it brings.`freewill` needs no introduction and to this day,its still a concert fave.`jacobs ladder` is dark,vast in its scope and even at 7 & a half minutes,could have gone on longer.the relationship themed `entre nous` leads nicely in to reflective `different strings`with its message of tolerance or the lack of it.finally `natural science`.almost 10 minutes of twists,turns and time changes than you can imagine.still one of the greatest songs rush have ever done.a brilliant album from start to finish and a new chapter in the story of rush begins.

"Permanent Waves" is considered by many to a departure from Rush's early prog rock/metal style as it contains shorter, less complex radio-friendly tracks. While it's true that the tracks are shorter than on previous albums, they are still full of interesting odd time signatures and unconventional composition structures. On this album, Rush really managed to achieve a perfect equilibrium between complexity on the one hand and catchiness on the other hand, this is especially salient in tunes like "Freewill" and "The Spirit of Radio". And "Jacob's Ladder" is no less than a masterpiece. This album would be a good entry point for people who are interested in getting into progressive rock.