If you aren't familiar with Exit.. Stage left you are missing a treat. Xanadu starts with some beautiful volume swells (aka violining) and Lifeson demonstrates what a brilliant comand he has of combining this technique with pinch harmonics which (if he uses his fingers and not a pedal for the swells) is mega-hard. As for La Villa.. the Ghost of Aragon solo for me is the definitive statement of why the E. Guitar is the best instrument in the world. The phrasing and tone are extremely beautiful and fluid and there are some really fast exciting runs and dramatic squeals too.
Alex also uses lots of Sus4 chords, these are chords where the intervals are 1,4,5 and so have neither major nor minor feel and somehow seem unresolved. Personally I dig them and they sound great with 7ths and 9ths too.
If I couldn't laugh at myself how could I laugh at someone less ridiculous?
