This one goes out to my pal Mike who writes the informative, edifying, and wonderful Utah Beer Blog at http://www.utahbeer.blogspot.com/! Check it out!!
Today I am pairing "Victor," Rush guitarist, Alex Lifeson's 1996 solo album and Ayinger Brau-Weisse (Authentic Bavarian Hefe-Weizen.) My reason for pairing these two comes down to a one-word point - distinction. Read on...
When "Victor" was released back in 1996 it was not well-received... by critics (of course) or many Rush fans. Upon initial listening, the songs don't seem to completely fit together as an album and are quite the departure from the classic Rush sound and Alex Lifeson's signature guitar stylings. But upon further listening, one finds multi-layered motifs and complex song writing. Opening track "Don't Care" is hard hitting with a grunge-like quality. "Promise" is a poppy rock tune. "Start Today" is essentially straight ahead metal with an old-school Rush feel. Once those tracks are complete, Mr. Lifeson really departs with much more experimental tracks with industrial ("The Big Dance"), electronica ("At The End"), and acoustic ("Strip And Go Naked") influences and others like "Mr. X," "Sending Out A Warning," and the title track, "Victor". What I love about this album is that every track is distinct from the others. Lifeson really created a well-layered, diverse collection of songs that have touches of the Rush sound, but are very much embracing their own distinction. And this is the time period where he start to experiment with layered guitar tracks, which would filter into the Rush albums from that point forward.
As with "Victor," Ayinger Brau-Weisse is a distinctly flavored Bavarian unfiltered wheat ale brewed in accordance to the German Reinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516. Those who know me and my tastes know that I'm not usually a big Hefe-Weizen fan, but Ayinger does a great job in brewing the tradition, Bavarian style Hefe-Weizen, with complex notes of banana, subtle spice, rich malt, and a slight sharpness that lingers on the tongue. It pours a rich, cloudy golden rod with a well-sustained head. This is a refreshing, flavorful beer with a clean finish. A perfect beer for relaxing and giving "Victor" a spin on a hot day.
Learn more about Ayinger at http://www.ayinger.de/ and pick up a copy of "Victor" from your favorite local record store today!
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