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		Rush releases concept album. But I repeat myself (torontosun.com)		143
		More: Obvious, concept albums

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sotua		2012-06-11 12:51:49 PM

logistic: El Freak: ComicBookGuy: logistic: I'm going to go out on a limb and say it sucks.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're going on my ignore list.

Wow, you take your crappy Ayn Rand-loving bullshiat prog rock really seriously.

LOL! Think of it more like someone shoving fingers in their ears and yelling "I'm not listening lalalalalala I can't hear you" when you try to tell them a harsh truth.

Rush fans are like that when you try to explain to them that Rush sucks.

I've seen people collapse on the ground in convulsions, chew off their own tongues and tear every last hair out of their head when the realization that they had wasted so much time listening to such a horrible band finally set in.

1/10

A pretty lame version of "your music sucks" troll

expobill		2012-06-11 12:56:51 PM

HalEmmerich:

Which is part of why A Matter of Life and Death is neat, there's no mastering done at all, it's the straight studio recording.

have we heard the final frontier?

AcneVulgaris		2012-06-11 01:01:53 PM

barefoot in the head: One hoser's opinion: They are very good players, although Alex strums a lot to fill it up. They are not great songsmiths and the lyrics are not particularly inspiring.

The lyrics on everything I've heard since Presto (and some of the songs on Presto) are indeed cringeworthy.

Moving Pictures though... perfection from start to finish.

maxx2112		2012-06-11 01:07:06 PM

Representative of the unwashed masses: Rush as a band has spent several decades preforming to sold out houses across the world. Their success today however is much like that of other generational bands. relying on substandard vocals and needlessly complex instrumentals in their songs. It's painfully obvious that Geddy Lee lacks the smooth vocal nuances of Axl Rose, or the writing abilities of the incomparable Kid Rock. The first and third tracks on the album show that there is something that just doesn't quite feel right with their music. But then again, it's like the great Gene Simmons once said, "Writing music isn't about inspiration, it's about hard work".

In short this album falls short of the subtleties that make it pale in comparison to some of the seminal albums of the early 21st century. Maybe if these dinosaurs were to incorporate some of the heart and soul that is so common in the modern masterpiece, "Burn it to the ground", by Canada's greatest treasure Nickelback then I might be talked into buying this album.

i1089.photobucket.com

/ pure genius . . . if I had two internets, you'd get one.

clkeagle		2012-06-11 01:15:12 PM

All Rush should do is concept albums. Quit trying to be radio-friendly. "Moving Pictures" was a watershed, but they will never reach that level again. They should stick to what got them their legions of fans in the first place and that is the Goddamned nerd rock complex cool shiat they were so good at making.

I've thought about that. Haven't heard anything one way or another from the band, but my guess is that they're trying to be more "concert-friendly" than "radio-friendly." With a shorter average song length, they can play more songs every night on tour and satisfy more fans.

Hell, they wouldn't necessarily have to cap at 4:30 or below on the album for radio appeal. Even Dream Theater mixes some of their 7:00+ stuff down to radio length singles (not that they get airplay, but still). Rush could easily do the same, if that's what they chose to do.

darch		2012-06-11 01:26:29 PM

I'll concede that VT has problems, but live, those songs are like Zeus throwing thunderbolts at giant dinosaur-hide drums.

THIS. Secret Touch live is devestating

PreMortem		2012-06-11 01:39:36 PM

Approves.

whither_apophis		2012-06-11 01:52:01 PM

Paleorific		2012-06-11 02:10:51 PM

Rush haters are funny, what drives you so?

Benalto		2012-06-11 02:12:48 PM

Vapor Trails surprised me- their early 90s 'return to rock' (Roll The Bones, Counterparts, and all that) I didn't really care for, and I liked the synthy Hold Your Fire kinda stuff. I didn't think they would rock again in any meaningful manner. But they started coming back around..."Feedback" was really good too, and Feedback was the first record since I think Moving Pictures where Peart tracked with the band instead of by himself, which made them sound better. I agree that VT was ....really, really badly dealt with from the final mixes on. Hope they don't repeat the same mistake. Anyway, I'll listen to Clockwork Angels but it's got 12 songs - I'd feel better if it had only 3. Old Rush fans, you know what I mean?? That'd be awesome!

kab		2012-06-11 02:18:36 PM

clkeagle: I've thought about that. Haven't heard anything one way or another from the band, but my guess is that they're trying to be more "concert-friendly" than "radio-friendly." With a shorter average song length, they can play more songs every night on tour and satisfy more fans.

Hell, they wouldn't necessarily have to cap at 4:30 or below on the album for radio appeal. Even Dream Theater mixes some of their 7:00+ stuff down to radio length singles (not that they get airplay, but still). Rush could easily do the same, if that's what they chose to do.

If you're going to concede that your 7:00 tune should be whittled down so your ADD fanbase can enjoy it, you're doing it very wrong to begin with.

In other news, lots of laughs at the rest of this, and every other Rush thread. Nothing brings emo music biatches together like a band that's cool to hate, especially when the most vocal apparently have no concept of avoiding that which they dislike.

They've made admittedly bad music, and they've made music that will be around LONG after whatever Pitchfork-approved flash in the pan that you're currently into becomes forgotten. And in the meantime, they continue writing, and having apparently successful and profitable tours whenever they like. I'm sure randoms on the internet are hurting their feelings enough to consider retirement however.

12349876		2012-06-11 02:24:50 PM

kab: In other news, lots of laughs at the rest of this, and every other Rush thread. Nothing brings emo music biatches together like a band that's cool to hate, especially when the most vocal apparently have no concept of avoiding that which they dislike.

Rush brings out the best in both music snobs and music anti snobs.

/only stupid people can't groove to 7/8
//how uppity of you to expect people to groove to 7/8

steve_s		2012-06-11 02:34:20 PM

Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

MBP2112		2012-06-11 03:04:47 PM

steve_s: Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

Bravo... a clean, crisp troll, so rare these days... 6/10

/I would have gone for 7 for a "Geddy/air raid siren" reference

sotua		2012-06-11 03:11:12 PM

steve_s: Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

I KNOW, RIGHT?
images.starpulse.com

/Neil is overrated, though, for exactly the reasons you state

sotua		2012-06-11 03:12:52 PM

MBP2112: steve_s: Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

Bravo... a clean, crisp troll, so rare these days... 6/10

/I would have gone for 7 for a "Geddy/air raid siren" reference

He may not be the most overrated, but he certainly can't swing - unless there's a tall tree and a noose involved.

AgonistAlex		2012-06-11 03:27:01 PM

ComicBookGuy: logistic: I'm going to go out on a limb and say it sucks.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're going on my ignore list.

Im going to go out on a limb and add you to my favorites list.

theorellior		2012-06-11 03:35:31 PM

Oh goody. It took a long long time for VT to grow on me, but now I love it. It's too bad it was recorded poorly. Only a couple duds in the list, and "Peaceable Kingdom", "Vapor Trails", and "Earthshine" really stand out. Alas, I still don't care much for SnA.

theorellior		2012-06-11 03:36:36 PM

steve_s: Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

I think he was once quoted as saying the best drummer alive was Stewart Copeland, who can swing and groove.

expobill		2012-06-11 03:46:36 PM

clkeagle		2012-06-11 03:59:16 PM

kab: If you're going to concede that your 7:00 tune should be whittled down so your ADD fanbase can enjoy it, you're doing it very wrong to begin with.

Just the opposite - it's done in the hopes of expanding the fanbase. Very few who are already in the fanbase prefer the single mixes to the album cuts. Though we do end up getting them for the sake of rock-nerd completeness. :)

/so many live variants of the same Rush songs in my collection...

Evil Mackerel		2012-06-11 04:02:29 PM

I thought Rush was still in cryo aboard the Destiny.

Betep		2012-06-11 04:26:55 PM

expobill: Cooper420: Was gong to see them at the ACC this time around, but the tickets were just too expensive even compared with 4 years ago. $30-$60 more per section... whomever promoted it is really gouging this time around... and I've paid lots of tickets before.
what recession, eh?
concerts are horribly over-priced, so i don't feel bad for ripping CDs for people
i have not seen them since "Hold Your Fire" or Presto, because i have seen them too much.

Yup. First saw Rush Sept. 27, 1980. Probably $9.50 General Admission.
Link
Stayed after school to do homework, rode my bike to my father's shop, stashed it and walked down the street to the show.

/Tee shirt is long gone
//so is the Cape Cod Coliseum.

AgonistAlex		2012-06-11 04:30:33 PM

WoodyHayes		2012-06-11 04:32:02 PM

Best concept album that ever done lived and one of the best albums overall.

WhiskeySticks		2012-06-11 04:57:17 PM

Going to pick the album up after work from the record store down the street...

Purchased my tickets to see em in Toronto in October, traveling from Wisconsin...

Get off my nerd train.

sotua		2012-06-11 04:58:53 PM

theorellior: steve_s: Neil Peart is the most over rated drummer of all time. The man can't swing or groove to save his life.

I think he was once quoted as saying the best drummer alive was Stewart Copeland, who can swing and groove.

Never heard that quote. I do have read on his blog of going to see Steve Smith play jazz "to keep himself humble".

Me, I take Peart over Copeland (though he swings and grooves a lot better). But I regard quite a few guys as better than Peart. Gavin Harrison, Marco Minnemann, Martin Lopez, Steve Smith, etc.

However, I finally saw Peart live, he blew me away. Such energy and precision... so awesome. "Swing? SWING? I DON'T NEED TO SWING. I'M NEIL PEART, BIATCH!". I still regard all those guys above as "better", but I found all the respect I had lost for Peart because he couldn't swing.

theorellior		2012-06-11 05:06:52 PM

sotua: Never heard that quote. I do have read on his blog of going to see Steve Smith play jazz "to keep himself humble".

It was in something like "Spin" in 1991, around "Roll The Bones", someone asked him what it was like to be the best rock drummer, and he said, "I don't know, ask Stewart Copeland."

sotua: However, I finally saw Peart live, he blew me away. Such energy and precision... so awesome.

He's a machine, inhuman timing. Sometimes that's good... sometimes that's bad.

Rev. Skarekroe		2012-06-11 05:19:39 PM

Dr. Whoof: New Rush album? And it's steam-punk/sci-fi?! And there's a novel to go with it?!!!

Sqe...wait...novel to be written by Kevin J. Anderson.

Well shiat. Nevermind, fanboy squeal cancelled.

They came up with the word "hack" to describe that guy.

Cletus from Canuckistan		2012-06-11 05:31:30 PM

sotua: Supposedly Alex listened to it on his car. So it's been a running joke between a group of rush friends that all you need to make VT sound good is an Audi A6 with a Bose sound system. LOL.

I have an Audi A6 with a Bose sound system and VT sounded like a raccoon being molested by a pneumatic drill.
I didn't even bother with S&A after that very unpleasant experience.

jj325		2012-06-11 05:33:23 PM

Rush and AC/DC are a lot alike. They have die hard fan bases who love their music, the music pretty much sounds the same from album to album, and I can't stand to listen to either one. That said, I have huge respect for both bands for the way they show a dedication and respect for their fans that is all too rare

GypsyJoker		2012-06-11 05:33:55 PM

theorellior: sotua: Never heard that quote. I do have read on his blog of going to see Steve Smith play jazz "to keep himself humble".

It was in something like "Spin" in 1991, around "Roll The Bones", someone asked him what it was like to be the best rock drummer, and he said, "I don't know, ask Stewart Copeland."

sotua: However, I finally saw Peart live, he blew me away. Such energy and precision... so awesome.

He's a machine, inhuman timing. Sometimes that's good... sometimes that's bad.

Read an interview with Peart not long ago, where he was asked what it was like to win so many polls and awards. He said "it's nice to be appreciated, but then I feel like I have to live up to them. And I never do."

LittleSmitty		2012-06-11 05:54:02 PM

I've seen Rush 4 or 5 times. The first time was the Moving Pictures tour. One of the best concerts I've been too.

Rush fan since I bought 2112 in 1978.

sidgoop		2012-06-11 06:25:49 PM

All of my friends have been trying to get me to like Rush for over 30 years. I just can't get past the fact that Geddy Lee has the vocal stylings of Edith Bunker.

FutureWars		2012-06-11 07:15:17 PM

For me, it's Presto onward in terms of good Rush albums. I'm listening to the new one now, and I really do enjoy it. Amusingly, I think the 3 tracks the released early were the 3 weakest ones.

Blame Hofmann		2012-06-11 08:42:22 PM

barefoot in the head: One hoser's opinion: They are very good players, although Alex strums a lot to fill it up. They are not great songsmiths and the lyrics are not particularly inspiring.

I'm in this camp. They're fantastic musicians, and I like other prog bands and expert musicianship, but Rush has a strange idea about what makes a song sound good. I've listened to most of there albums, and the only Rush songs I like are 3 from Moving Pictures.

By contrast, Led Zeppelin also features amazing musicians, but they wrote WAY more than 3 good songs. But that's just my opinion.

DanZero		2012-06-11 08:58:00 PM

misterhowl: But, for anyone interested, Rush did remix/remaster two songs from VT on a recent hits CD and they sound way, WAY better.

THIS THIS THIS THIS. It's unfortunate that I never listen to VT, the whole thing is just one big loudness war, especially on the last half of the album. Love me some Peaceable Kingdom (actually re-worked from instrumental to become about 9/11), and whatever they put out live from the Rio album.

Of course too, one can argue that they were just trying to get this album out after about a year recording it, and recovering from Peart's personal tragedies 5 years earlier that threatened to break apart the band, and the fact that it was just all a computer-assembled jam/recording session.

Lots more on the recording of VT can be found at the Power Windows VT News Archive

Recent news on VT re-master:

"We've been talking about [the Vapor Trails remix] for years but every time we try to make a move on it something else comes up and because it's a back burner issue it gets left. We were very close a while back and Rich was going to start remixing it when we finished this record but other things were slotted in but we'll get to it one of these days." - Alex Lifeson, Metal Express Radio, May 21, 2012

"[Remixing Vapor Trails and including it in a deluxe edition of Clockwork Angels] was an idea but it's now been shifted down. Rather than remix the entire album we might now take a bunch of different songs from albums and get different people to remix them for fun, rather than just do Vapor Trails. It's an idea in flux." - Geddy Lee, Prog #26, June 2012

S&A has its moments, in the first half. Sadly, the rest of it just trails off.

/earthshine remaster on Retrospective 3 is like NIGHT & DAY
//Presto is still my favorite, they got everything I like there RIGHT
///can't wait for tomorrow.

phygz		2012-06-11 09:01:59 PM

sotua:
However, I finally saw Peart live, he blew me away. Such energy and precision... so awesome. "Swing? SWING? I DON'T NEED TO SWING. I'M NEIL PEART, BIATCH!". I still regard all those guys above as "better", but I found all the respect I had lost for Peart because he couldn't swing.

Thanks for the inspiration ;)

fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net

expobill		2012-06-11 09:12:52 PM

ok we loike or love them hate snakes, but think VT should be remastered
anyways.....any read "ghost rider"? or ride?
what a fantastic read!

IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T		2012-06-11 09:13:25 PM

madgonad: Besides, bands really have no business doing concept albums when their members are all in their 60s.

Is that the arbitrary cutoff? When ALL of the members are in their 60's? Sweet, so we have another year or so to go before they have to honor your limitation:

Alex Lifeson - 58
Geddy Lee - 58
Neil Peart - 59

I believe the upcoming November show will be my 10th time seeing them, can't wait. :)

I eat mop		2012-06-11 09:16:38 PM

the correct answer to the greatest drummer of all time is:

elvin jones

Deadwing		2012-06-11 09:24:33 PM

Blame Hofmann: barefoot in the head: One hoser's opinion: They are very good players, although Alex strums a lot to fill it up. They are not great songsmiths and the lyrics are not particularly inspiring.

I'm in this camp. They're fantastic musicians, and I like other prog bands and expert musicianship, but Rush has a strange idea about what makes a song sound good. I've listened to most of there albums, and the only Rush songs I like are 3 from Moving Pictures.

By contrast, Led Zeppelin also features amazing musicians, but they ~~wrote~~ stole WAY more than 3 good songs. But that's just my opinion.

FTFY

bv2112		2012-06-11 10:44:26 PM

I hated this album when I first listened to it. It's growing on me now.

Your Average Witty Fark User		2012-06-11 10:50:55 PM

madgonad: MatrixOutsider: El Freak: ComicBookGuy: logistic: I'm going to go out on a limb and say it sucks.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're going on my ignore list.

Wow, you take your crappy Ayn Rand-loving bullshiat prog rock really seriously.

Leave this thread and go listen to your favorite band. Come back when they have been consistently successful for 38 years.

My favorite artist has been consistently successful for 48 years, what's you point? And FYI - Rush has been kicking around since 1968, so make that 44 for them. And yes, Rush is a great band.

But their best years are long behind them. Besides, bands really have no business doing concept albums when their members are all in their 60s. At this rate they will never get into the Hall....

38 years with the same lineup. Nobody gives a shiat about Rutsey and Jones. And I really, REALLY don't think they give a shiat about the RnR HOF. Their fans don't.

expobill		2012-06-11 11:00:42 PM

mc sorley's stick can now rest in peace

Mini Ditka		2012-06-11 11:24:49 PM

Dogfacedgod: Rush has 2 or 3 good albums...all from 30-40 years ago.

I have a funny relationship with Rush. I loved everything up through Grace Under Pressure. I spent my first several years learning to play the guitar through Alex. But I just don't feel anything for what they've done since 1985. I wish I did.

Mini Ditka		2012-06-11 11:36:08 PM

WoodyHayes: [i49.tinypic.com image 400x400]

Best concept album that ever done lived and one of the best albums overall.

*A challenger appears*

hhbrady.files.wordpress.com

/agrees with you about Mindcrime ;-)

whatshisname		2012-06-11 11:54:54 PM

AcneVulgaris: The lyrics on everything I've heard since Presto (and some of the songs on Presto) are indeed cringeworthy.

Their lyrics do not seem to have matured. They're like something written by a high school student. Or Sting.

demonfaerie		2012-06-12 12:53:09 AM

Rush is a band that in my opinion has never put out a horrible album, however they do have better albums than others. That being said, their entire discography is better than almost everything that has been popular in the last 20 years.

madgonad		2012-06-12 12:57:52 AM

WoodyHayes: [i49.tinypic.com image 400x400]

Best concept album that ever done lived and one of the best albums overall.

Yeah, that is my favorite concept album too. Amazing piece of music. Every damn track is perfect. I wish they would remaster and put it on BluRay. My VHS rip doesn't look great on a 1080p display.

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