Rush: Classic or Dud?

True Rush low points are honestly few and far between. They never released a bad album, imo, just a couple I never want to listen to.

They could call it Basses Loaded

yesssss please

at least they'd be going out on top, clockwork angels is a monstrously good record.

Yeah, I actually really respect and admire that they're calling it quits with such a solid record as their final statement after such a long and productive career.

So now Geddy Lee is saying Neil's comments were specifically in reference to touring and they still haven't discussed what the future holds

I was listening to Clockwork Angels Tour this morning; Peart's playing is amazing. So high-energy and forceful, he sounds like Brann Dailor or something.

Basses Loaded makes me want to track down Big Bottom Pow Wow again

... "There's really nothing to say. I think Neil is just explaining his reasons for not wanting to tour, with the toll that it's taking on his body. That's all I would care to comment on it. We'll get together eventually and chat about things. But in my view, there is certainly nothing surprising in what he said. Neil just feels that he has to explain with all the thousands of people asking, 'Why no more tours?' He needs to explain his side of it."
Asked whether he feels Peart's quote was taken out of context, Lee adds: "I think that's absolutely right. That's their job. Talking about something when there's nothing to talk about." ...

New Modern Drummer cover story:
http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/modern-drummer-01.2016.php

I guess it's more or less now official that Peart is done touring:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alex-lifeson-on-rushs-uncertain-future-20160308

That is, until he's not done touring.

They should relax and chill out and maybe get together for the occasional studio album whenever they feel like doing one. I really don't think these guys have anything left to prove at this stage.

I think that is almost verbatim what Lifeson says they are going to do.

Geddy could tour w/ AC/DC

It all hinges on whether or not Peart actually wants to do any more studio work, though!

Surprising number of situations where you want to listen to heavy rock that isn't metal where Rush is the right answer.

The rest of the time that answer is BOC

I only hear 2 Blue Oyster Cult songs on "classic rock" stations

Surprising number of a great many

UFO occasionally fits that bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeJZR6vLMAs

Amazing drumming, and he makes it all look so fucking easy, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq3yjfoorsU

"When you're playing the drums ... is that hard?"

"Yes. It's hard."

Turrican, are you familiar with the Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage DVD set? It's the entire Time Machine concert shot from over the drum kit, with drums cranked in the mix, plus interminable Peart monologues about the songs and his drum philosophy. It's definitely worth checking out if you like to geek out on his superhuman drumming.

I haven't seen the whole thing, but I've enjoyed the bits and pieces I have seen of it.

I can never get over how close to the studio versions Rush's live recordings sound. Just from a recording standpoint, how is it possible to capture live sound that cleanly? Peart is in great form in that Signals video too.

I think there are live versions of Rush tracks that sound better than the originals, I definitely prefer how much louder Alex Lifeson's guitar is on more recent live versions of tracks from the 70s and 80s. Everything overall just sounds chunkier.

I don't know exactly how they do it, but there were definitely several shows I've seen on recent tours where the sound was both incredibly loud and incredibly clear. I've never heard any other loud rock band have such a crystal clear live mix.

I went through a phase where I was listening to Exit Stage Left far more than either Permanent Waves or Moving Pictures!

it's hard to believe seeing them live the volume of intricate sound those three generate

Someone told me the same thing about the (1980s) Police live. "They made a hell of a lot of music for three guys" was the quote I think.

I haven't heard any of The Police's live albums. I did see a video of one of the concerts from the Synchronicity tour and was quite surprised by how full the sound was. Part of me was wondering if it had been overdubbed.

Copeland used to trigger all kinds of things from back there, and also had drum machines going in tandem with his kit etc.

Ah, that makes sense! I like how a lot of drummers from that period weren't afraid to integrate more technology into their setup. The drummers often seemed more open to the possibilities of new technology than the guitarists were.

Let's take a moment to enjoy the wonder that is Max Webster and Rush performing together on "Battle Scar." This was an FM staple in Canada in the early 80s, but I never hear it on classic rock radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMM6Bhwpy0M

Some details here if unfamiliar...

http://www.2112.net/artifacts/volume1/track9/9.html

In the case of Rush, all three of them are triggering things while playing. Mostly synths and sequenced bits.

I often wonder how Grace Under Pressure would have sounded if Steve Lillywhite had produced it like he was meant to.

wow, I've never heard that Max Webster track before.

p/g would have sounded terrible with Steve Lillywhite producing

I've never heard that before either. The song qua song didn't do that much for me, and I've never liked Mitchell as a singer, but I enjoyed the instrumental/lead guitar bits.

New just hanging with the band doc:

http://www.avclub.com/article/see-time-stand-still-exclusive-trailer-new-rush-do-244343

Man, I'm such a sucker for their sentimental AOR stuff like "Time Stand Still" and "Marathon."

'Marathon' has grown into a favourite of mine, too.

I totally go see this, but I'm skeptical that they needed another doc.

xpost:

In fact, I now consider Power Windows to be one of their best ever records.

Power Windows is without a doubt and has always been my favorite.

Yah new wave Rush is the best

I unrepentantly adore "time stands still"

Totally listen to new wave rush way more than prog rush

Also listening to Clockwork Angels and still like it a lot would be a fitting end if it's the last one

That album is in a similar bucket to blackstar in that I still hadn't gotten/listened to it by the time it became evident it was the final one, and now I'm deliberately putting off hearing it until 'the right time'

I still consider Hemispheres to be my absolute favourite of theirs - probably the proggiest record they ever did, thinking about it... but yeah, these days I probably am more likely to listen to 1980-1985 Rush over 1974-1979 Rush.

I'm pretty happy all the way up to counterparts, then they lose me for awhile

Me too. And for "awhile" I mean basically just Test for Echoes. Then I'm back on board.