VICTOR: s.t CD First solo album by Alex Lifeson the guitar player of RUSH. Check samples!

Line-up:
Alex Lifeson - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programming
Les Claypool - bass on track 9
Peter Cardinali - bass
Bill Bell - guitar
Dalbello - Lead vocal on track 3
Edwin - Lead vocals
Blake Manning - drums
Colleen Allen - horn
Charlene (Alex´s wife) - backing vocals on track 7

Track list:
01. "Don’t Care" – 4:04
02. "Promise" – 5:44
03. "Start Today" – 3:48
04. "Mr. X" – 2:21
05. "At the End" – 6:07
06. "Sending Out a Warning" – 4:11
07. "Shut Up Shuttin’ Up" – 4:02
08. "Strip and Go Naked" – 3:57
09. "The Big Dance" – 4:14
10. "Victor" – 6:25
11. "I Am the Spirit" – 5:31

Black Sabbath, Rush, ACDC, Iron Maiden, Robert Plant,
Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Transatlantic,
Marillion, Thunder,

5.0 out of 5 stars That rarest of creatures: a rock guitarist with a brain.
What kind of solo album would you expect from a lead guitarist in a progressive rock band? Endless noodling over obscure chord sequences, perhaps? Not when it's Rush frontman Alex Lifeson.
There's an almost wilful eclecticism here: from the self-mocking humour of 'Shut Up Shutting Up' to a synth-backed recitation of W.H. Auden's poem 'Victor' (yes, really), Lifeson seems to be enjoying his defiance of rock conventions. Not that there isn't plenty of rock to be found,too; Lifeson successfully exports the trademarks of early Rush - crushing guitar riffs in jarring, angular time signatures - in tracks such as 'Promise', 'Start Today' and 'Don't Care'. But he introduces a raw edge that is all his own, both musically and lyrically. With regard to the latter, the unfettered cynicism and sexual aggression of 'Don't Care' and 'Sending Out a Warning' are a million miles away from the intricacies and literary nods of Rush.

It's a pity that this album will never find a big audience outside of Rush fans that were mildly curious about a Lifeson solo project. It deserves more. Even though I don't think every single track is right on the money, it's varied, creative and fun. Oh, and the rock tracks really rock.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Alex Lifeson Rocks! - Free from the constraints of 90's Rush
Top album. Diverse, driven and raw. Alex Lifeson is one of the worlds most underrated guitarists, and takes this solo album opportunity to cut loose.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Blistering. A varied selection of outstanding songs,
Veteran Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson is the main force behind the Victor badge. Backing him are some very talented musicians including Edwin, who I think is from I Mother Earth.
The songs are varied, from the hard rock of Don't Care and Sending Out A Warning to the incredibly atmospheric At The End and the melancholic Victor. There is song sense of fun in many of these songs; Shut Up Shuttin' Up especially. You get the sense that the band had a great time making this album, and that sense if enjoyment and freshness is very apparent.

I would like to compare it to other bands' sounds but am unable to.

While I, obviously, highly reccomend this album I must stress that Rush fans may be disappointed. The style is very different, the lyrics especially; however, I bought it on the strength of Alex' previous work in Rush and was very impressed.