Rush: Classic or Dud?

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No one has asked this one yet (and I have a sneaking suspicion I know why, but I'll ask it anyway)...

What do you think of them crazy prog-rockin' Canadians, then? Super? Sucky? Somewhere in the middle? Please write your response in the form of a haiku.

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

"Why I Like Rush: A Haiku" by Alex in NYC

Rush Rock Like No One Ex-Cept May-Be Pla-Ce-Bo Neil Peart, Wow, He's Good.

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Rush -- i get high on

you and my spacey invade

ers get by on you

― Mark, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hi points - the drum beat of "Tom Sawyer" (as everyone knows by now), & one of the best fake-Led-Zeppelins ever in "Working Man" (great gtr solo!). Other than that, they can go & read the complete works of Ayn Rand. (I'd rather attempt to eat the entire works of Ayn Rand).

― duane, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hilarious fact abt Ayn Rand: when she went round in the 60s giving lectures on how unfettered capitalism was the BEST BEST BEST, she wd wear a black cape covered in gold $ signs!!

― mark s, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

As a band: dud. As a rite of passage: classic.

― scott p, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'd like Rush a lot more if they wore black capes covered with gold $ signs...

― duane, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I think Rush sucks. Any band where the drummer writes the lyrics is bound to suck. Do you know what RUSH stands for? "Running Under Satan's House." I did learn something in school... "Anti-Christ Devil Child," "We Are Satan's People,""Knights in Satan's Service," etc.

― andy, Thursday, 21 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

---------> "Je suis Le By-Tor."

"Non. Vous etes Le Chien d'Neige." <------------

"Les pommes frites! Mon dieu!!!"

― Jean-Luc Godard, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The good woman claims to like Rush, although I've never seen any evidence of this.

― Dirty Vicar, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The only Rush track I've heard is 'The Spirit of Radio' from 'The Permanent Waves alb (1980). It was the nearest thing Rush had to a hit single in the UK (top thirty?) Now I don't know what Canadian radio was like back when this single was released, but English pop radio at the time, which for me basically meant Radio One, was horrendous. The 'Breakfast Show' was the station's prime time biggie, only entrusted to Radio One's biggest 'personalities'/tossers - Noel Edmonds, Dave Lee Travis, Steve Wright, all endlessly yakking over the few pop hits they played in-between their 'banter'. So the lyrics to 'Spirit of Radio', clearly written to suck up to radio station DJs, were not only v. horrible, but also a million miles from the truth. Here's the opening verse:

"Begin the day with a friendly voice/A companion, unobtrusive/ Plays the song that's so elusive/And the magic music makes your morning mood"

Dud for that alone.

― Andrew L, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

they were good before
Lee's voice dropped, and Lifeson
stopped using distortion

― tarden, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Rush are r0x0r, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Check out the k-kewl sartorial elegance displayed on the back cover of "2112" if you don't believe me. Stylee! Neil Peart's RAD, d00d (etc etc)

x0x0

― /<-r/-\/>, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I am proud to say that I once voted Rush the greatest band of the 80's. They had a lot of good moments, 'Xanadu' appeared in Tommy Vance's poll for the top ten rock tracks of all time throughout most of the 1980s. I think they peaked with 'The Weapon' on Signals (1982). They differed from their contemporaries in being more interested in playing around with the time-signature of their tracks. But ultimately, in an oft repeated pattern, instrumental virtuosity ceased to be musically interesting and just became self-indulgent.

― Conor Kostick, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

But ultimately, in an oft repeated pattern, instrumental virtuosity ceased to be musically interesting and just became self-indulgent.

Are you describing your personal development or that of the band? Because, if anything, the band got less and less showy as the years went on. "Counterparts" (the last one I heard) was even "grunge" influenced, allegedly. Rush was my favorite band all throughout high school.

― Kris, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hey, it's supposed to be a HAIKU, people !

Guitar mag gruel
Less smart than it wants to be
Pretty harmless now

Hey, gimme a break, I've never written a haiku before.

― Patrick, Friday, 22 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Stoner's favourite

'Tom Sawyer' plays through art class

Turn that shit off now!

― suzy, Saturday, 23 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Geddy Lee = King of the Mullet People

― Kim, Sunday, 24 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'm in Canada I like said prog band less Than I did before

― Dave M., Sunday, 24 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Truly dreadful, they Give "chops", prog-rock a bad name. Two good songs* -- rest's dud.

*( I reluctantly but freely admit that both Tom Sawyer and YYZ are both decent songs.)

― Phil, Sunday, 24 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Oh dear, where did my line breaks go...

― Phil, Sunday, 24 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Childhood memories
Older brother worships them
Despite this, they ROCK

― Dan Perry, Monday, 25 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Repeated listens
Render it annoying, eh
Still, sentimental

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 25 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

I'm so bored tonight that I'm reading vintage "classic or dud"'s, and I have to say that the stipulation of submitting answers in haiku format is pure, unhomogenized genius. More please!

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

Objectivist Rock a la Ayn Rand = DUD!

― Jack Cole, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

"Unhomogenised
Gen-i-us?" You would say that,
Since you started it!

― Jeff W, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

BA da BA BA BA

da BA BA BA BA da-da

BA da BA BA BA...

― Joe, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

Neil Peart squeals, righteous in his Objectivist zeal but all their songs suck

― Shaky Mo Collier, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

Drummers Who Write songs
Didn't make Hüsker Dü suck
it was Geddy's voice.

― Mr Noodles, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

They may be cheesy
But add rocking conviction
Who else but Rush eh?

― piers (piers), Friday, 8 October 2004 04:13 (8 years ago) Permalink

Rush sucks my big dick
Geddy lee is a scourge on Earth
prog rock motherfucks

― The TAO that can be Posted is not the TAO! (The Tao that can be Posted is), Friday, 8 October 2004 04:42 (8 years ago) Permalink

more rush haikus please

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 8 October 2004 04:48 (8 years ago) Permalink

Andrew L missed the whole point of "Spirit of Radio"! TAO: Your second line would actually fit haiku conventions if you made it "Geddy is a scourge on Earth".

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 8 October 2004 04:57 (8 years ago) Permalink

Fly by night limelight
Too many notes played at once
Blame's on Toronto

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 8 October 2004 05:26 (8 years ago) Permalink

thank you sweet sundar, you are correct. that is what i meant to do. *tries to awkwardly plant a kiss on sundar's cheek and is promptly slapped on the face* ouch.

― The TAO that can be Posted is not the TAO! (The Tao that can be Posted is), Friday, 8 October 2004 05:47 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ayn Rand prog rockin'
Canadian eunuch squeals
You people so dumb!

― Confucius, Friday, 8 October 2004 06:13 (8 years ago) Permalink

moving pictures has
the very worst cover art
which is such a shame

subdivisions rocks
which counters all that i've been
told about this band

the lyrics are too
obvious but what can you
expect from hosers?

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 8 October 2004 06:38 (8 years ago) Permalink

'Limelight' licks are great
'Signals' is a true classic
The rest smells like wee

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 8 October 2004 07:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

Once I crossed the street
Geddy Lee almost hit me
In his Land Rover

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 8 October 2004 07:32 (8 years ago) Permalink

CLASSIC as long as this man was Prime Minister:

DUD thereafter

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 8 October 2004 09:45 (8 years ago) Permalink

[...wish I coulda found a picture of him riding on a train & flipping off protesters thru the window!]

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 8 October 2004 09:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

Rush is good
for opening up my pooper
so other men can do me

― Good Dog, Friday, 8 October 2004 10:45 (8 years ago) Permalink

. . . Or maybe not

Space-jazz-rock-tronic
If rednecks didn't like them
They'd be Kraftwerk-hip

Geddyvox

Less boy or girl than
Alien; Precise
Enunciation

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 8 October 2004 15:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

fact checkin cuz to thread

― sleep (sleep), Friday, 8 October 2004 16:02 (8 years ago) Permalink

Songs(works) and arrangements: Classic
Lyrics and vocals: Dud

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 8 October 2004 22:33 (8 years ago) Permalink

I love Rush probably more than any other band....I don't think there BETTER than alot of bands, but they were a big part of my childhood....

Great band, I think.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 8 October 2004 22:50 (8 years ago) Permalink

Young Black Teenagers
Seeking the phattest of shit
Sample Tom Sawyer

― dlp9001, Saturday, 9 October 2004 00:01 (8 years ago) Permalink

has anyone seen the episode of "trailer park boys" where they kidnap alex liefson?
i gained new respect for the man after watching that.

― m0stly clean (m0stly clean), Saturday, 9 October 2004 13:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

I have no haiku to offer which I why I didn't say anything before. But great, of course.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 9 October 2004 13:46 (8 years ago) Permalink

i was at a party with some guys who were really entranced with some kind of video of stevie ray vaughn stranglin' the blues back in the '80s. doo-rags. these guys were such geeks, glued to the tube while there were girls to hit on and barbecue to scarf. then they got into "moving pictures," talking about the "production values" and saying things like "you can't deny the musicianship," while trying to be "ironic" about the whole stinkin' thing. typical night with people in nashville trying to be hip about not being hip or whatever that convolution is. then, everyone got drunk the host attempted to explain the shaggs to these geeks and everyone *listened hard and they got it*!! ahh. so, rush sucks and that's it, that's just like being "ironic" about kiss or worryin' about montgomery gentry, i think (as in the video where that goober takes off his cowboy hat to reveal an expensive-looking doo-rag/headwrap of some kind), and only the man upstairs can say whether rush is great or not...yes, rush did a record of covers i understand includes a version of eddie cochran's summertime blues done like blue cheer! so, they have roots like the rest of us, cuz.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Saturday, 9 October 2004 15:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 971 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

finger on trigger...

― my other pug is a stillsuit (Jon Lewis), Saturday, 1 December 2012 18:55 (5 months ago) Permalink

Wow that was insane. 70% of Sector 2 and Sector 3 were claimed in less than 1 minute. Managed to get both for $59 total w/shipping.

― my other pug is a stillsuit (Jon Lewis), Saturday, 1 December 2012 19:03 (5 months ago) Permalink

100% gone in less than four minutes, unreal. I got Sector 2, thankfully.

― A. Begrand, Saturday, 1 December 2012 19:06 (5 months ago) Permalink

Gonna have to keep these at work for awhile so my wife doesn't know i spent the money. That's ok-- I do 90% of my listening there anyway.

― my other pug is a stillsuit (Jon Lewis), Saturday, 1 December 2012 19:14 (5 months ago) Permalink

I missed out on the sectors deal, but my consolation prize is that I got to see them live in San Antonio last night with my wife and son and it was awesome!

I'm still amazed that they did 5 tracks off of Power Windows: a dream come true. Really loved the strings and the whole run of Clockwork Angels songs and oldies plus strings.

― Moodles, Saturday, 1 December 2012 19:50 (5 months ago) Permalink

I saw Rush in Dallas the other nite. Apparently they filmed it for a DVD. This was a good choice of a gig to do so, because the place was PACKED. Not my favorite setlist (I would prefer a heavy dose of 70s), but overall a great show.

― One Way Ticket on the 1277 Express (Bill Magill), Monday, 3 December 2012 15:41 (5 months ago) Permalink

Looks like they're off to England. Hopefully they'll tour America again. They usually do a couple per album.

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 3 December 2012 17:11 (5 months ago) Permalink

Rush finally got into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame!

And yes, they've already announced that they will have more US dates in the Spring and Summer.

― Moodles, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 20:16 (5 months ago) Permalink

Public Enemy, Heart, Randy Newman, Albert King, and Donna Summer. Lou Adler and Quincy Jones

Best all-star jam ever!

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 21:26 (5 months ago) Permalink

Minus Donna, RIP.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 21:26 (5 months ago) Permalink

Bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee told Rolling Stone, "It's a terrific honor and we'll show up smiling...It made my mom happy, so that's worth it." He added, "It was a cause [Rush fans] championed," he says. "I'm very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure."
The band also issued an official statement: "We are honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 3 of us are especially appreciative of our loyal fans whose support and dedication has gone a long way to making this possible. P.S. And special thanks to our moms for voting 6000 times!"

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 21:28 (5 months ago) Permalink

Mixed feelings. Love Rush, hate the Hall of Fame. If they're happy, I'm good.

― One Way Ticket on the 1277 Express (Bill Magill), Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:00 (5 months ago) Permalink

Does Rutsey get in?

― One Way Ticket on the 1277 Express (Bill Magill), Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:01 (5 months ago) Permalink

The Hall of Fame is ridiculous, but it still felt like a massive injustice that Rush was overlooked for such a long time.

― Moodles, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:03 (5 months ago) Permalink

Does Rutsey get in?

― One Way Ticket on the 1277 Express (Bill Magill), Tuesday, December 11, 2012 4:01 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

not sure, i think all members get in? at least the chili peppers had the older members onstage and mentioned frusciente even though he didn't show up

― Andrew WKRP (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:43 (5 months ago) Permalink

Fleetwood Mac didn't include everyone.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:56 (5 months ago) Permalink

I think it's up to the bands themselves. Heart's had tons of lineup changes, and I don't think they're on the best of terms with some of the original members, so it'll be interesting to see who gets in.

(also, John Rutsey passed away in 2008, but yeah, it'd be a nice gesture if they let him in)

― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 11 December 2012 23:03 (5 months ago) Permalink

A very long wait.
Eligible fourteen years.
Rush is in at last.

― Edward Bax, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 05:44 (5 months ago) Permalink

Fuck the Hall of Fame.
They can have them if they want
But Rush is still ours.

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 12:39 (5 months ago) Permalink

I think when Sabbath got in, it was only the 4 originals. No Dio, sadly.

― One Way Ticket on the 1277 Express (Bill Magill), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 14:34 (5 months ago) Permalink

I can't wait to hear
Public Enemy rapping
The words to Limelight

― SongOfSam, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 15:49 (5 months ago) Permalink

"...For the words of the prophets were written on the studio walls/Rock fame halls" *cheers*

― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 18:16 (5 months ago) Permalink

Looking forward to Geddy Lee singing "I Feel Love"!!!

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:19 (5 months ago) Permalink

hoping for "MacArthur Park" personally

― I loves you, PORGI (DJP), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:21 (5 months ago) Permalink

Geddy doing "911 is a Joke" would rule.

― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:21 (5 months ago) Permalink

public enemy doing 'roll the bones'

― mookieproof, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:22 (5 months ago) Permalink

"I work hard for the money/They call me the working man"

― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:26 (5 months ago) Permalink

hah, both of those songs were on my labor day playlist this year!

― Moodles, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:27 (5 months ago) Permalink

"Uncle Tom Sawyer/Mean mean pride"

― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:28 (5 months ago) Permalink

On the (Spirit of the) Radio would be kinda pleasantly weird

― passion it person (La Lechera), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:28 (5 months ago) Permalink

oh man: Chuck D rapping the "Roll The Bones" part.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:29 (5 months ago) Permalink

i could kinda hear it in chuck's post-terrordome type flow

Jack, relax.
Get busy with the facts.
No zodiacs or almanacs,
No maniacs in polyester slacks.
Just the facts.
Gonna kick some gluteus max.
It's a paralax, you dig? (Flavor does this line)
You move around
The small gets big. It's a rig
It's action -- reaction
Random interaction.
So who's afraid
Of little abstraction
Can't get no satisfaction
From the facts?
You'd better run, homeboy (Flavor does this line)
A fact's a fact
From Nome to Rome, boy.

― Andrew WKRP (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:35 (5 months ago) Permalink

It's a paralax, you dig? (Flavor does this line)

laughed so hard at this

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:49 (5 months ago) Permalink

LOL

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 December 2012 19:52 (5 months ago) Permalink

It must happen!

― grandavis, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 20:12 (5 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Intriguingly, the Rush installment of the "Rockabye Baby!" series credits the guys with their given names: N. Peart, G. Weinrib, A. Zivojinovich.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 February 2013 01:22 (3 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/arts/music/rock-hall-of-fame-embraces-randy-newman-public-enemy-and-others.html?hpw

As the night went on, the mood continued to lighten. Flavor Flav of Public Enemy no doubt assumed he had given the longest, most haphazard speech when he went on about his children and the clock he wears around his neck (among other subjects) until even his band mate, Chuck D, was giving him wrap-it-up signals on the stage.
“I only get to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame one time in my life,” Flavor Flav said. “I’m enjoying this.”
Not to be outdone, Alex Lifeson, Rush’s singer and guitarist, then gave an acceptance speech in which he repeated “blah blah” over and over for several minutes while aggressively gesticulating, leaving the crowd in hysterics.

― j., Saturday, 20 April 2013 16:36 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

I'm so psyched for this collab:

― Moodles, Saturday, 20 April 2013 17:19 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

apparently Rush fans behaved boorishly?

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 April 2013 17:22 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

who are all those old men standing next to geddy lee

― j., Saturday, 20 April 2013 17:42 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

the universal dream, for those who wish to seem

― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 20 April 2013 19:25 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

tom hanks accepted on behalf of the band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7M7AEi68a20#!

― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 20 April 2013 19:39 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

apparently Rush fans behaved boorishly?

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, April 20, 2013 1:22 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i imagine many of them were socialized at hockey games

― some dude, Saturday, 20 April 2013 19:49 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 20 April 2013 22:17 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

i imagine many of them were socialized at hockey games

you meant subdivisions

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 20 April 2013 22:18 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

any escape might help to mellow the unattractive truth

― reggie (qualmsley), Saturday, 20 April 2013 22:21 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLOUgvsfDtg

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 21 April 2013 01:09 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

This so should have been a roast of Rush.

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 21 April 2013 01:10 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-xEr489gHY

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 21 April 2013 01:12 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

miles of smiles

― I have many lovely lacy nightgowns (contenderizer), Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:10 (4 weeks ago) Permalink

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