Post a controversial music opinion

Or maybe I should say "aboot."

xxxp In addition to her political sins and the malign influence she has had on generations of young men, Rand was just an execrable writer.

Richman to Rush, are we proceeding alphabetically?

I saw someone once loosely organize Rush's albums chronologically into pairs, with the first album being sort of proof of concept and the second one solidifying the idea/evolution. So, first album is their take on hard rock, second Rush album is where they come into their own with it. "Caress of Steel" dips its toe into concept album territory, "2112" nails it. And so on, with paired variations (prog, new wave, synths, AOR, back to basics).

Do you recommend the "Roadrunner" book?
― Lily Dale, Sunday, February 25, 2024 10:08 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
yes indeed.
― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, February 25, 2024 10:11 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

read most of it on the subway yesterday, it's really great, basically a big essay, propulsive like the song

TY JR&tB

I saw someone once loosely organize Rush's albums chronologically into pairs, with the first album being sort of proof of concept and the second one solidifying the idea/evolution. So, first album is their take on hard rock, second Rush album is where they come into their own with it. "Caress of Steel" dips its toe into concept album territory, "2112" nails it. And so on, with paired variations (prog, new wave, synths, AOR, back to basics).

This absolutely makes sense to me all the way through the 90s at least (Fly By Night as an extension of the self-titled is maybe a stretch but I’ll allow it) and I think I kind of vaguely do this in my head with their albums as well without being explicitly aware of it. The only point I’d disagree on is that it’s always the second one where they nail it…I prefer Caress to 2112, Permanent Waves to Moving Pictures, Signals to Grace, etc.

Also I think of Hold Your Fire and Presto as being a pair which leaves Power Windows as an odd man out (or as a threesome with the two albums prior).

I saw someone once loosely organize Rush's albums chronologically into pairs, with the first album being sort of proof of concept and the second one solidifying the idea/evolution.

I mean, they kinda did this themselves - for a while they were on a cycle of releasing a live album that documented each stage in their evolution:

Rush, Caress of Steel, Fly By Night -> All the World's a Stage
2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures -> Exit...Stage Left
Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire -> A Show of Hands
Presto, Roll the Bones, Counterparts, Test for Echo -> Different Stages

And Roll The Bones belongs with Presto and Hold Your Fire as Counterparts and Test for Echo

Richman to Rush, are we proceeding alphabetically?

I have some very controversial opinions on Jennifer Rush.

…seem to be their own thing

from abba to zappa

Zabba would be a crazy idea for a gimmick cover band

abba lend themselves to those much more easily than other groups

just recently i was thinking of an abba/springsteen gimmick band (bjorn to run/in the usa etc)

see also Gabba

Or maybe I should say "aboot."

https://e.snmc.io/i/600/s/197362394e445cd9d852fd80438e52d3/11151239/zabba-w-lindner-and-carsten-bohn-vollbedienung-of-percussion-cover-art.jpg

I hate Trees, it's like "we will, we will, oppress you."

Yeah, but it fuckin' rocks.

I used to know someone who swore blind that song was just about trees arguing with each other, and wasn't a metaphor of any kind.

it's a document of a conversation that Neil Peart overheard one day on a hike in a local forest

see also Gabba

i do loooove Gabba (cycling wet weather gear)

I used to know someone who swore blind that song was just about trees arguing with each other, and wasn't a metaphor of any kind.

OK, but . . . who's wielding the hatchet, axe and saw?

My apparently (and increasingly) controversial opinion is that Rush are a steaming pile of horseshit, whatever era.

That's not controversial, it's just wrongheaded.

I am an 80s person (for evidence, see my last seven thousand posts).

I will probably not put it as Tom D. has.

But I am never going to embrace Rush, Yes, Marillion, Dream Theater, Tool, etc. It's not my thing. No judgment on those who find those artists compelling.

Funnily enough that list contains two of my all-time favourite acts, two of my most hated and one I'm totally indifferent to. Prog - love it and/or hate it.

Rush, Yes, Marillion, Dream Theater, Tool, etc.

I would argue that there is a Grand Canyon-sized gulf between the first two artists on this list and the latter three.

Rush — I don't listen to the albums that often, but they were amazing both times I saw them live. Yes — one of my favorite bands ever.

I have never heard a Marillion song as far as I know, and I hope to go to my grave with that streak unbroken. Dream Theater are some of the nicest people I've ever met in my life but their music is agonizing. And Tool live up to their name in every way.

Xp Matt #2: of course, like what you like and dislike what you dislike. Just stating my own view here.

I graduated high school in 83, right when Rush had really hit their mid-career stride. And yes, they were great live--I saw them on the Moving Pictures and Signals tours, and despite major technical issues on the second, they were two of the best shows I've seen.

I kind of lost interest in them after that, though. It's only in the past ten years or so that I've rediscovered them.

I would really encourage people to listen to Dream Theater and how shitty they are before you even invoke them in a Rush conversation

The point I'm making is that, like Longfellow's little girl, when prog is good it's very good indeed, but when it's bad it's horrid. Apart from Fruupp who are kind of mediocre.

I 2nd everything that Unperson said. I don't think I can even make it through a song by Tool. The ICP of prog. Marillion and Dream Theater i never really listened to and there has to be a reason I have avoided them this long.

I've never warmed to Tool (heh), but their drummer is incredible.

every single person without exception - and there have been a bunch after 15 years of business - who has come in my store and asked if i had any Tool has never bought anything ever. they just want to ask if i have Tool. 99% of the time i don't because i hate them and avoid buying their stuff and 100% of those people don't look at a single record and then they leave. after annoying me by talking about Tool. i consider them an extra-musical rock band. you don't actually have to like music to be a fan. same with Phish people really. they never buy anything either. ever.

I vaguely remember the old Phish discussion board--Phishook?--being a hive of insufferable assholes.

Tool's drummer should start a band with the guitarist for RHCP because "he's actually really awesome have you ever heard his solo albums?". (i hear that a lot. and same with the tool drummer thing about how awesome he is.)

i'm glad they get a paycheck though. if they can stand playing that music for a sweet life of being a well-paid working musician more power to them.

A friend of mine (a good friend, really) showed me a 13-minute YouTube video of the Tool drummer in isolation. I had to admit, he is really skilled. But 13 minutes is a lot.

there are only a million metal and jazz drummers that good though. i realize he is respected by drummers.

i totally get people not liking Rush though. lots of people don't like Rush. Geddy can be a dealbreaker.

i have non-asshole phish head friends

i saw them last year on new years eve

it was kind of thrilling at first but i checked out after a while, because i think their music demands to be a closed-circuit thing. and i wasn't willing to cross that threshold, i resented being asked actually

I love Rush, absolutely cannot stand Yes, no idea abt Marillon, find Dream Theater too uh ornately technical to enjoy, and l am a fan of Tool

aw, its sad you don't like Yes. they are so lovely.

you are obviously the exception to the Tool fan rule. there have to be some. its the law.

i think people who get into phish a lot of the time listen them exclusively, or almost exclusively, at least for a while. because the requirement is that you shut everything else out.

i found it too insular

i should really love rush, i do in fact love them in small doses, and i"ve tried but never made it through an album. i either have to be more patient with rush, or give up.

The ICP of prog.

I just want this sick burn to get a bit more traction here, although in my world this gives Tool too much credit, ICP actually have worthy qualities

Tool is either the worst band you like or the best band you like

I love Rush, absolutely cannot stand Yes

yes is such a major influence on rush (according to rush themselves!) i can't imagine at least liking both

idk Rush has like this fierce rhythmic backbone that Yes mostly lacks, I say this as someone who prefers Yes but likes both

possibly not controversial opinion: Yes was not well served by having multiple drummers

my fave thing about phish is when you tell a fan that you don't like the records/songs you've heard and they say *oh don't listen to the records you have to hear them live* and then you say you have listened to live shows (or parts anyway) online and they say *oh no you can't listen to them online you have to GO to a show* and then you say would you please leave now wtf? because nothing says great band like a fan telling you not to listen to a band's records. in the end its good advice though.