Rush: Classic or Dud?

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.

I'm not a fan of Test For Echo either. At this point I'm ready to call it one of their weakest records, if not their actual weakest.

I chose my words carefully saying 'up to' rather than 'up through' counterparts; I have not found a way to love it

There was a time when I thought Counterparts was their best '90s album, but now I think it's pretty drab.

The remix of Vapor Trails was a huge improvement, btw; anyone who hasn't heard it really should.

I got a feeling they will eventually make another record.

Bands that don't like the bustle of touring as they get older, I'd think doing a residency at a smaller hall in some towns should be considered more of an option. I'm kind of surprised it doesn't happen more often to be honest, especially for a band like Rush that could actually get fans to travel as a vacation option to go see them play in some town.

Smaller halls are better for the fan anyway...I always thought it was cool that the Allman Brothers would do that theater shows in NYC every so often. I'd think it would be easier on the musicians as they could setup shop for a month or a couple weeks and have quite a bit more free time when not playing the gig. Seems a no brainer to me.

It seems less the bustle was an issue and more, in the case of Neil and Alex, actual physical discomfort, arthritis and the like.

Confession: while Power Windows is my favorite Rush record, the first one I was able to buy right when it came out was the Show of Hands live album, which holds sentimental value (and features many of my faves from PW and Hold Your Fire). Plus "Witch Hunt," which is cool.

Show of hands is great

I'm not a fan of Test For Echo either. At this point I'm ready to call it one of their weakest records, if not their actual weakest.

― pen pineapple apple pen (Turrican), Tuesday, October 18, 2016 5:59 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

test for echo is by far the worst they ever did

I think Roll The Bones is worse

gift – it's got "Ghost of a Chance"

*gtfo

both albums have some decent songs, neither is great, I will listen to Test For Echo deep cuts here and there, but there are a large number of tracks on Roll The Bones that I just won't listen to

Counterparts and Vapor Trails are both great! I was very relieved when Counterparts came out because it felt like a return to rock after the anemic Roll The Bones. My ideal version of Vapor Trails would include some original mixes and some remixed versions, neither one gets it completely right sonic-wise.

but yes, Dreamline, Bravado, and Ghost of a Chance are all keepers

I think Roll The Bones is worse

― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:31 AM (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i suggest u get busy with the facts

Yea that record isn't bad it just a parallax

You better run, homeboy

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