Rush's "Roll the Bones" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jupiter

This was pretty close to Hollywood in the second verse, but it was SHE that had a STAR MAP of Hollywood. Neil seems fond of switching stuff around in his lyrics. One would assume that you'd have a road map of Hollywood, and a star map of Jupiter, but I guess you could make the argument that you have Hollywood STARS. That doesn't make Jupiter make any more sense, though. Oh, well.

Answer: Dreamline

This is the second in a streak of four number one hits for Rush. Every album from "Presto" through "Test for Echo" had a song that hit number one in the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts.

Answer: Face Up

Answer: True

During the title track, "Roll the Bones", there's a memorable section in the middle where you hear a modified Geddy Lee voice doing a spoken section reminiscent of some hip-hop genres. This is indeed the first time Rush ever did this, and, to my knowledge, the only time.

Answer: B

This started on their 1985 "Power Windows" album, where 5 out of 8 songs had the letter "M" in the title, and it was brought by the letter "M". Special thanks to AESfan for informing me of this.

Answer: You Bet Your Life

"You Bet Your Life" has a slightly odd section in the middle and the end where it goes into this half-chanted verbosity. Other lines are "Armchair rocket scientist graffiti existentialist", and "Rational romantic mystic cynical idealist". It somewhat reminds me of "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel.

Answer: Heresy

The "Roll the Bones" album has markedly different lyrics, foreshadowing "Counterparts" by beginning to explore themes of love and emotion. However, "Heresy" is not one of these songs, rather exploring the feelings behind the recently-ended Cold War. Of course, the songs that DO have to do with love are not done in the classic fashion.

They're still just as deep and abstract as we've come to expect from Mr. Peart

Answer: IV

This was a sort of double in-joke. The first is that obviously, there are (usually, unless you're Douglas Adams) only three parts in a trilogy. The second is the "Gangster of Boats" part. Apparently, Geddy and Alex really wanted to call an album "The Gangster of Boats", but Neil put his foot down. And thus Neil's most frequently asked question is born: "What in the world does 'Gangster of Boats Trilogy, Part IV' mean?"

Answer: Now it's dark.

I noticed this for the first time just now, while writing this. Kinda weird. "Roll the Bones" was produced by Rupert Hine, who also produced "Presto".

Answer: Pours his life down the drain

"You Bet Your Life" is not Rush's best album closer, in my opinion. "Presto's" "Available Light" and "Counterparts'" "Everyday Glory" are much better. It lacks the punch of pretty much every other album closer. "Carve Away the Stone" from "Test for Echo" is the same way. Ah, well. "Roll the Bones" was yet another album recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights.