IGX

I can't figure out what the deal with some of the folks around here is with Rush.

I don't hate 'em, but... I when I hear their music, I feel like what I would guess it's like to play Dungeons & Dragons on acid.

Help me to see the light.

Try playing D&D on acid. Then you'll get it.

bigpeach wrote:Try playing D&D on acid. Then you'll get it.

Never done acid or played D&D. I did dabble with a little World of Warcraft for about a day before I realized I would look like this in no time flat:

Never understood the group either. I have asked friends to recommend something that would help me see how fantastic they are, though even that it's really very good.

I think that either fans have invested in them for so long they are unable to see that they aren't really that good or they are "talented" in a way that only people listening for specifics are able to understand.

Terry B. wrote:Never understood the group either. I have asked friends to recommend something that would help me see how fantastic they are, though even that it's really very good.

I think that either fans have invested in them for so long they are unable to see that they aren't really that good or they are "talented" in a way that only people listening for specifics are able to understand.

Rush's biggest problem is that they all have graduate degrees in music theory.

Geddy Lee himself said his biggest problem is burnouts who come up to him every day and say "I understand your music, mannnn! [stage whisper] They're coming from Pluto!"

WildGorillaMan wrote:

Terry B. wrote:Never understood the group either. I have asked friends to recommend something that would help me see how fantastic they are, though even that it's really very good.

I think that either fans have invested in them for so long they are unable to see that they aren't really that good or they are "talented" in a way that only people listening for specifics are able to understand.

Rush's biggest problem is that they all have graduate degrees in music theory.

Geddy Lee himself said his biggest problem is burnouts who come up to him every day and say "I understand your music, mannnn! [stage whisper] They're coming from Pluto!"

Really? This makes sense.

baffled wrote:

WildGorillaMan wrote:

Terry B. wrote:Never understood the group either. I have asked friends to recommend something that would help me see how fantastic they are, though even that it's really very good.

I think that either fans have invested in them for so long they are unable to see that they aren't really that good or they are "talented" in a way that only people listening for specifics are able to understand.

Rush's biggest problem is that they all have graduate degrees in music theory.

Geddy Lee himself said his biggest problem is burnouts who come up to him every day and say "I understand your music, mannnn! [stage whisper] They're coming from Pluto!"

Really? This makes sense.

Yes, it sort of does.

The last time that I asked somebody to recommend an album or two they told me that you needed to listen to all of them to really understand their music. Am I supposed to believe that a fucking band has the foresight to plan out a message in what they write over 40 years when George Lucas had a problem putting everything together over 6 films?

Also, come to think of it, I have never heard of a non-Canadian who really liked them.

PL54 has talked about them I think, and I'm pretty sure that Darf talks about them inbetween the other 1100 words of each post.

Neither are Canadians.

No word on whether Cunch likes 'em.

The fact that they have made great music and have evolved since 1974, with the same 3 guys since the 2nd album yet they fill Auditoriums and outdoor ampitheaters with virtually no love from the "In" music press. (That's starting to changes) Most radio stations play shit from about 3 albums, all from before 1984. The fact that they are more popular than ever says alot when most bands their age have atrophied musically says alot.

The phase from 86 - 90 was my (and many old fans) least favorite, Geddy got to into keyboards and Alex's guitar sound took a back seat whereas it was always up front before that. In 91 they started to recapture some of the older edge. 94's Counterparts was a real god album and they knocked the keyboards down to a smaller supporting role and Alex's guitars were back up front.

They took a 5 year break when the drummer lost his daughter in a car wreck and then his wife later that year to cancer. A big blow as they were all married tonthe same women through out their career. Other than lot's of pot they were never self destructive roadwhores.

The albums after that have been real good.

But the best thing is the live shows. Unlike alot of bands, they can sound just like the record, even with as intricate as some of their stuff can be but they can also improve like motherfuckers. They can still do this, without back up musicians after all these years unlike lot's of older bands who start out as 3-5 peice bands and then need an army of touring musicians to over their decay.

They do not have degree's in thoery, they are just that fucking good as musicianship goes.

As a guitarist, Alex Lifeson is one of the best al round guitarist. For me he, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and David Gilmour are my favorite guitarist. Rush is my favorite band that is still together.

If you want to give them a listen I'll make some suggestions.

If you'r a visual person, I would suggest their new live DVD Rush: Time Machine Live in Cleavland as it gives a great retrospective. Also the Rock Doc by Sam Nunn called Rush, Beyond the Lighted Stage. At first skip the Doc and just check out all the live clips and videos, it will give you a great overview. Then if you like what you hear and see, watch the Doc, their's is a cool story.

As for albums 2112 is IMO their heaviest of the 70s period.

The Live album All the World's a Stage has alot of the songs from 2112 and some great tracks from Fly By Night, Caress of Steel (My fave of the early days, NECROMANCER! is heavy as fuck) and their first albm, Rush.

If you like heavy progressive rock than Hemisphere's was their peak for that phase.

If you like heavy mixed with new wave, reggae and jazz influences than Moving Pictures, you've heard alot of this on the radio though (Tom Sawyer - Great Lyrics), but "Witch Hunt" Stands out as well as the insturmental YYZ.

Fuck the keyboard era, there is some good stuff from it and some stuff only a real Ruch head would love (and a few songs I cant stand) But if you must than A Show of Hands is a good live album from this time.

Counterparts is my fave from the mid 90s.

Of the last 10 years I like Snakes and Arrows alot.

Since they have been recording only 1 year shy of the 39 years I've been alive they have alot of good stuff. To bad you are not in my area. You could come over and slams some beers and shots while I give you the RUSHDOWN.

Try this.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5FrHuRcqoA

Graet song and it's not really about World Travel but virtual travel through the Bong.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjGFmyVi ... re=related

Great live medly of older stuff. The Bass solo in By-Tor and the Snow Dog shows you what all the fuss about Gedy Lee's playing is about. It's not a by yourself wank sols but within the song itself.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1hHzv-P21I
This is IMO the best of the "Keyboard" era. It's about the Holocaust. Geddy's Mom and Dad were both in the death camps. Neil wrote this after Geddy told him what his parents went through. His Mom lost her whole family there.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S9uNxUI9ng&ob=av2n
Newer stuff, cool vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78D00dYO ... re=related
IMO their best insturmental. Kirk Hammet from Metallica says he was heavily influenced by the playing on this.
I used to play this when I was auditioning musicians as this is a bench mark and "Gut check" in many musician circles. I never met a good drummer who did not play this.

DARTH,
Thanks.

Still not sure they'll ever be something I purposely queue up, but those stadium vids are fuggin' cool.

baffled wrote:DARTH,
Thanks.

Still not sure they'll ever be something I purposely queue up, but those stadium vids are fuggin' cool.

No problem, you actually helped me out as I can't fucking sleep right now and needed something to draw my my mind away from the Beehive of thoughts keeping me awake. Thanks Baffled.

This was a good talk.

baffled wrote:This was a good talk.

What did he say?

Terry B. wrote:

baffled wrote:This was a good talk.

What did he say?

Nice distraction, dealing with a bit of insomnia, helped take his mind off of some stuff.

Before that, he talked about different eras and the evolution of the band's musical style. In all seriousness, very informative.

I read his entire posts. I'm turning over a new leaf.

Terry B. wrote: The last time that I asked somebody to recommend an album or two they told me that you needed to listen to all of them to really understand their music. Am I supposed to believe that a fucking band has the foresight to plan out a message in what they write over 40 years when George Lucas had a problem putting everything together over 6 films?

Ha. No, but it would give you a great picture into their musical development over 4 decades. I think a less time intensive approach is to watch Beyond the Lighted Stage if you want to know about the band and their development. Some really good insights into why they developed the way they did and wrote like they did over the years.

Darth's suggestions are excellent for selections. La Villa Strangiato is definitely some amazing stuff.

Terry B. wrote:Also, come to think of it, I have never heard of a non-Canadian who really liked them.

Don't get out much, huh?

Baff: if you were to pick one album, listen to Moving Pictures - it has more recognizable music and feel than a bunch of their other stuff. Branch out from there.

Baff, they're a band for fellow musicians and people really interested in the nuts and bolts. I recommend this. Listen to YYZ. See if you can learn to drum along with your hands on a table in time with the intro. If you can, you'll get something from investing more in them. If not, pass.

When you see their live shows, most of the audience are air drumming along. It's clever stuff but not everyone would appreciate it.

baffled wrote:

Terry B. wrote:

baffled wrote:This was a good talk.

What did he say?

Nice distraction, dealing with a bit of insomnia, helped take his mind off of some stuff.

Before that, he talked about different eras and the evolution of the band's musical style. In all seriousness, very informative.

I read his entire posts. I'm turning over a new leaf.

As soon as I am in a building that doesn't block YouTube, I may even click on his links.

The Crawdaddy wrote:Don't get out much, huh?

Probably more than most. I know three serious Rush fans - all Canadians. I don't need sample sizes larger than that to draw definitive conclusions on social norms.

I will listen to the albums you suggested though - appreciated.

I`ve liked them since the early 80`s.Started with buying the first album and loved everything from the album "Rush" (1974) up to "Signals" (1982 I think).If you are thinking about getting something by Rush,I`ve always found the live albums to be great.
I`m not canadian by the way.

Well,I know at least 2 serious Rush fans (me included) and both are swedish.

Bobby wrote:Well,I know at least 2 serious Rush fans (me included) and both are swedish.

Stop. I live my life through stereotypes.

Terry B. wrote:

Bobby wrote:Well,I know at least 2 serious Rush fans (me included) and both are swedish.

Stop. I live my life through stereotypes.

Nice.

Try Power Windows after. Then, if you like 70's-style concept rock, listen to 2112.

They aren't for everyone, but most that have any musical inclination will acknowledge that they are arguably the best 3-piece rock band around. They put on a hell of a good show too, as their live sound is almost identical to recorded (imo). They take a break mid-concert nowadays since they aren't exactly spring chickens anymore.

It has a good beat and you can dance to it...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_scgP3FD-Q[/youtube]

Took my son to see them, who knew nothing about Rush, and he sat and watched captivated. May have had something to do with cloud generator group behind us. Or maybe 3 guys who can all really play and blend 3 their continous solos perfectly.