Don't get me wrong, I have been a Rush fan since I was 13 (1974). I have seen Rush 3 times, admittedly not since the Roll the Bones tour, but my favorite material is from the first 4 albums. I wore out 2 copies of Fly By Night before 2112 came out. When I hear 2112 now on XM in my car, (about the only place you can hear the full album side), I want to pull off the road to listen, not very practical for 20 min, but still a thought. Maybe it's because of all the synthesizers that Geddy started to use, I don't know, but I know what I like.

The first time I saw Rush, at the Providence Civic Center, I recognized Howard "Herns" Ungerlieder from the road crew (Fly By Night album sleeve). I yelled out his name and he looked up at me and waved. Of course he didn't know me but it was very cool.

Rush is one of my all time favorites.

me too. The Trees is great...

My favorite from them since the album was new is "All the worls a stage" from 1976.Classic hard rock !

I'm kind of the opposite. I like/love everything they have done (even some of the just "ok" songs I find interesting and much better than many bands ok songs, sometimes even better than other bands "good" songs), but I haven't listened to the first Rush album, Caress of Steel, or All the World's a Stage for probably over a year. (Terrible I know).

My favorite Rush period is from '76 to '91. That's when I feel they made their classic albums and then later brought a new level of sophistication to their work (Hold Your Fire can just be sublime). And I love my synths!

Counterparts and Test For Echo are good, but not anything I listen to alot (love Animate though) either. Vapor Trails I thought was very interesting musically and pretty good, but the horrible sound production has made me only able to listen to it a few times a year. :no:

Snakes and Arrows, besides it's stupid generic 80's rock band title, is their best since Roll The Bones, if not Power Windows. It doesn't have the best recording either, but it is one of their best albums by far. It may even be my favorite. Amazing that a band who have been together for over 30 years and are in their mid 50's can make a new album that a fan like me (they've been my favorite group for about 17 years; I got into them when I was 14 with Roll The Bones, a very popular album at my high school, have everything they've put out and seen them 7 times on every tour since Counterparts), can consider if not their best, one of their best. I can't think of any other band I like that can do that! :thmbsp: Hell, most bands get about 10 good years at best and then someone dies or they breakup or reform and then every so often put out some dreadful crap and tour. :D

Tuff call from all their collected works but either Fly By Night or Caress of Steel are my favorite albums

Rush- Working Man- stone cold rock radio classic, you know a rock radio is serious when you hear this come on, and last time it did I turned it up loud.

Fly By Night- great album, "Anthem" still one of my faves.

I have a boot of a show after Rush but before Fly By Night- Neil was newly on board. The result, most of the Rush album with Neil on drums. F'ing excellent, one of my favorite CDs of all time.

Caress of Steel- there are some really great moments on this album. Good playing. Some of it is really spooky which I love. I like both long songs but I finally had to split up the Fountain of Lamneth into parts for the itunes playlist- I like to mix "No One at the bridge" and "Bacchus Plateau" in with stuff like Unwound and Peter Gabriel.

2112- Love some moments from this one too- "Something From Nothing" and "Passage to bangkok" are on my ipod, love to crank those. the Remaster of this album is incredible!

I've seen them several times from '76 to 2003 and everytime they deliver. The first time I saw them was during the 2112 tour and they blew me away. I've been a fan ever since.

Caress of Steel- there are some really great moments on this album. Good playing. Some of it is really spooky which I love. I like both long songs but I finally had to split up the Fountain of Lamneth into parts for the itunes playlist- I like to mix "No One at the bridge" and "Bacchus Plateau" in with stuff like Unwound and Peter Gabriel.



has to be my all time favorite work from Rush

My work to youtube

fountain part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_BYhxZ9lgY

fountain part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo8Empgp1Nw&feature=related

rush is one of the all time greatest bands from the rock era, but they died a slow death after signals.....................................

rush is one of the all time greatest bands from the rock era, but they died a slow death after signals.....................................

Or got better and more sophisticated. :D

Anything Moving Pictures and before is amazing. Farewell to kings is one of my favorites, especially the title song. Fly by Night is fantastic all the way through. Peart's drumwork on that album is unparalleled. That drumwork just before Lifeson's wondrous solo in By Tor and the Snow Dog is one of my favorite foundation crushing moments of rock. :yes: And is there any better intro than the one in Before and After? And have you ever seen them perform 2112? I have but only on DVD. hope they tour again in 09. rock on Rush fans! :music:

And have you ever seen them perform 2112? I have but only on DVD. hope they tour again in 09. rock on Rush fans! :music:

I have, twice, on the 2 legs of the Test For Echo tour, and they played it IN IT'S ENTIRETY (yes, all of it, including Oracle)! :ntwrthy: This was the first time they ever played the entire song live I believe, as even when they played it back when it came out they dropped "Oracle". It was kind of a 20th year anniversary of 2112 celebration. Man that was awesome to see! :banana: (I've seen them play abbreviated versions of 2112 a couple of times too on recent tours).

I'm surprised so many people here seem to like the first Rush album so much. As of now (and always) it's been my least favorite. I find it to sound "un-Rush-like", a collection of songs that don't cohere well and some of which even sound very different from each other (Working Man, the best on the album, doesn't sound a lot like any other song on there imo). It was like they hadn't developed their own sound yet and were mimicking other bands like Led Zep (I mean, "Finding My Way"? Come on!) or Cream; they seem to have a bluesy influence on this album. And the lyrics are nothing close to what Neil would later write, nor is the drumming (not being Neil) as focused and tight. The whole album doesn't impress me too much, and I find it sounds to basic, immature, and sloppy. But that's just mo!

Btw, I do like many early Rush songs (those before their "golden age" in my view of '76 to '91), including Working Man (especially the way they've been playing it live lately, it just kills!), pretty much all of Fly By Night but especially By-Tor (another that the way they've played it live recently is incredible!), Fly By Night, and In The End, and Bastille Day from COS.

I don't know if they'll tour again next year, I think it might be an writing year. As long as they're still going, I don't care! :thmbsp:

yeah, Neil was a key addition to the band. I just can't see them lasting for 35 years with Rutsey on the drums. Geddy and Alex, as talented as they are, just aren't very good lyric writers. Look at some of the songs on later albums they wrote, they really stand out from Neil's work. Like Best I Can on Fly by Night, sounds lots like the first album. And all of 2112 live!? wish I could have been there. :drool: I have to give mention to another favorite La Villa strangiato. :thmbsp:

Anything Moving Pictures and before is amazing.

:yes:

Yep, this is a good assessment. I was late seeing them, first show was Moving Pictures tour. (is that 80? 81?) When Red Barchetta would come on the radio, I almost always ending up speeding.

Incredible trio.

Here's a nugget for you Rush fans. My buddy was a drummer who was a fan of Neal Peart and told me I had to see this great new band. It was the first time Rush had ever played in NYC ('75?) at the old Palladium on 14th street. They were OPENING for Foghat, who they blew off the stage. I guess it was the Fly by Night tour. Good Show.

Opeth - Watershed

yeah, Neil was a key addition to the band. I just can't see them lasting for 35 years with Rutsey on the drums. Geddy and Alex, as talented as they are, just aren't very good lyric writers. Look at some of the songs on later albums they wrote, they really stand out from Neil's work. Like Best I Can on Fly by Night, sounds lots like the first album. And all of 2112 live!? wish I could have been there. :drool: I have to give mention to another favorite La Villa strangiato. :thmbsp:

Agreed, Neil was the "critical mass" component to push Rush from being a good but so-so band into the Hemisphere (haha) of epic rock bands. His lyrics and drumming brought a cohesiveness and focus to the band that just wasn't there before him. This is why Fly By Night is ten times the album the original Rush is. And Caress of Steel, well, let's just call it a failed 2112. It's not bad, and definitely interesting, but just not quite there yet. But it's certainly better than the original Rush.

But I do not mean to insult those who like the early Rush best, I just wanted to voice a counter opinion in here...any Rush is good! :thmbsp:

I've seen La Villa too, as well as Natural Science, Xanadu, YYZ, and By-Tor, although Xanadu and By-Tor were shortened versions. There is a great list of all the Rush tours and setlists here: http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/Tours.htm. As far as I know they are accurate, at least every tour Iv'e seen--from Counterparts to SnA I have seen them all--are correct.

If you haven't already, I strongly suggest getting the R30 concert DVD and CD's. I think it is their best live playing by far: they've gotten better live with age if that is possible. Rush in Rio is also excellent playing (and La Villa on it blows the version on Exit Stage Left away imo) but the sound isn't mixed properly (there's a whole story why, but it would take to long to tell here). However, the sheer intensity of Rush at that concert is incredible, as well as how growling Ged's bass sounds. Of all their live albums, I think the most recent ones are the best: Different Stages, Rush in Rio, R30, and Snakes and Arrows. They have a new concert DVD of the SnA tour coming out in Nov. :banana:

I love Rio, and I watched my friend's R30 about a million times. You can bet I'll be jumping on that new DVD as soon as it's released. Hope there's yet another version of Neil's solo on it. I love cranking up those solos on the 2235B and feeling every hit Neil executes. :music: Wish I had R30 myself so I could play that R30 overture on my system...Anthem on that DVD is fantastic. And who could forget Alex's solo in Crossroads on R30? :yes: Rush is so good, how do they do it at 60 or some odd years old? And hey, Permanent Waves, awesome screen name! :thmbsp: I think you should put the cover as your avatar...:D

Best concert- Aerosmith Get your wings tour with Rush Fly by night in 74 in old opera house seating 2500. Doesn't get any better than that in my book.

I love Rio, and I watched my friend's R30 about a million times. You can bet I'll be jumping on that new DVD as soon as it's released. Hope there's yet another version of Neil's solo on it. I love cranking up those solos on the 2235B and feeling every hit Neil executes. :music: Wish I had R30 myself so I could play that R30 overture on my system...Anthem on that DVD is fantastic. And who could forget Alex's solo in Crossroads on R30? :yes: Rush is so good, how do they do it at 60 or some odd years old? And hey, Permanent Waves, awesome screen name! :thmbsp: I think you should put the cover as your avatar...:D


Haha, cool, I thought you'd know about those concerts! :thmbsp:

The new DVD will most certainly have a Neil drum solo on it, a slightly different version than the one on R30. I also love the short Anthem section in that opening medley; as I have said I think they are playing better than ever and I love to hear how they play the older songs now in the more recent concerts. And yea, Alex shreds in Crossroads, shame he is virtually unknown and Clapton is universally admired. I think Alex's solo is better! Rush is actually in their mid 50's, and RiR and R30 were pretty much recorded in their early 50's. Still, quite a feat considering that their music has always been intense and fast paced: many another older band (Neil Young, Tom Petty) playing live at age 50+ these days isn't as impressive (IMO) since their music isn't as hard to play, it's slower and easy to begin with, not songs so energetic that it's best for those in their 20's and 30's to play them live.

Thanks for the compliment on my screen name, I choose it since I am a huge Rush fan and also because it seems fitting for this forum in that all of the music we listen to is really "...a timeless wavelength" that will exist as long as the universe does in the form of "permanent waves" drifting throughout space. Kind of poetic I thought. :yes: I used to have a pic of Geddy for my avatar, now it is a pic of my bike to remind me to get off of this site and the internet and go cycling a few times a week at least! :D Maybe I'll change it again soon. :scratch2:

Just to rub it in a little deeper. No just kidding this was a gift and it is great to hear that they are still performing a such a high level. I will have to get the DVD.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67755&d=1194710554

Nice gift Woofer! Did you know that the COS album cover was originally intended to have a steel/gray color instead of the bronze that it ended up being? And the original Rush cover was supposed to have red lettering instead of pink? I'm glad subsequent album covers turned out correctly as I've always loved the art of most of them.

I have 3 words to say about RUSH:
:guitar:
They Kick Ass!!!:guitar:

Yeah, I guess I'd put the cutoff point at Moving Pictures.

Favorite is probably Farewell to Kings.

That pink as always made me wonder what was up with that. Just such an odd color for a hard rockin' band to use on their first cover. I wondered what has happened to all the big "sheets" that use to hang behind the rock bands from the 70's. For example: The cover of "Fly By Night" was imprinted on such a cloth sheet for their tour of that LP. They are rather humongous but I'd find a use for one. Have you ever seen one on an auction site before? Didn't mean to get of subject but I saw that sliver of that LP cover on Permanent Waves signature and it brouuuuuuuuggghhhht back memories.

I can't even find a poster of the Fly by Night cover. Too bad, because it's the most awesome album cover Rush has, and they have lots.

Yea, the original Rush cover had red lettering on their Moon record label (a label that Rush co-created in order to get their first single and album out) that Mercury records for some reason (I think just a mistake) later changed to pink when they signed on with them.

Sorry to say that I don't even think I know what you're talking about with the huge sheets that used to be displayed at rock concerts. I'm trying in vain to picture something similar. Maybe I'm too young? (31). :scratch2:

I think I posted a link to this site before, but if anyone wants to look at all of Rush's great cover and inner sleeves art as well as read about some of the ideas behind it, there is an extensive collection here:

http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/Wallpaper.htm

I usually have one or another for my desktop. :thmbsp: Grace Under Pressure or Test For Echo's covers are great for winter! :yes:

Here's how the original Rush album was supposed to look:

The sheets were background to cover the stage behind the performers as they performed. Many, many bands used them. Some would just have the band's name in large print in the manor of their unique font and or colors.

We went and saw Rush back in the late 70's in Madison, WI and my buddies and I painted that logo from the first album on a giant bedsheet and hung it over the railing on the second level of the coliseum. It was there for 5 minutes and a bunch of assholes stole it. The band never even saw it.

That sucks. I grabbed the harmonica thrown from Steve Tyler at the Cal Jam II and had some asshole grab it when I held it up out of the shadows to get a look at it. I couldn't see who did it, everyone I looked at were looking at the show innocent looking. That bastard deserves an asskickin' to this day... EDIT: If it shows up on the auction site some day I'll hopefully track that bastard down.

I find it to sound "un-Rush-like", a collection of songs that don't cohere well and some of which even sound very different from each other (Working Man, the best on the album, doesn't sound a lot like any other song on there imo). It was like they hadn't developed their own sound yet and were mimicking other bands like Led Zep (I mean, "Finding My Way"? Come on!) or Cream; they seem to have a bluesy influence on this album.

I have a theory. Basically record companies and their producers still called the shots in '75, espically for new bands. Rush probably had their voice all along. Even if the market was ready for 'nerd rock' (I use this as a term of endearment) the label wouldn't let them put it out there.

I think that Peart brought the Rush sound we all know and love when he came to the band. Listen to works by Lifeson and Lee on Fly by Night for example, they sound a quite a bit like RUSH (the album). Best I can is a good one to listen to for an example of Lee and Lifeson's lyric work. I'd say 2112 is when Rush showed the full influence of Neil Peart on their music. the first 3 albums still have a little of that RUSH sound.

I think if you discount anything after Farewell to Kings, you would be discounting several great albums.

Starting with Hemispheres, this album follows in Rush's tradition put into place with Fly by Night and 2112. A full side of consisting of a concept with Cygnus X-1 Book II, which continues from Farewell to Kings. A fantastic album all the way through. On side two you have Circumstances, The Trees and La Villa Strangiato, all truly classic songs.

Next we have Permanent Waves, an album that continued to grow on me through the years. It was Rush's first Top 5 album in the US. With Freewill and the epic Natural Science, one of my true favorites to hear live.

That brings us to Moving Pictures with Red Barchetta, YYZ, Limelight and another of my all time favorites, Witch Hunt.

Based on these three albums alone, I think you do Rush a disservice by thinking that they didn't continue to do great work.

I must admit, I knew I would be "stirring the pot" with my original post. After reading these threads (multiple times), I will be going thru my Rush collection and listening to songs I have not listened to decades. (decades?)

I have a friend at work who play's the drums and is a Rush fan like I used to be.
I think we'll go out for a beer and talk Rush. :beerchug:

don't forget to give signals a listen too, it was actually a better commercial success than moving pictures. many great works on that collection too.

I also am going to give all Rush LPs a fresh listen. I put on Caress of Steel last night (CD version) which I haven't heard in 20+ years and was very impressed with the engineering of that collection. Although I only made through the first side (half) I was very eager to "get reacquainted" with it for the purpose of putting on my near mint LP of it for a real thrill. I only listen to most of my music when I can be in the "best" listening environment such as lights down with no distractions and preferably with no Sig. Other in the house so volume can be set at optimum enjoyment. This doesn't happen often enough for me and I feel this could take all winter. Let's hope not. Keep the thread alive and let's enjoy the journey together. Dawoofer.

The sheets were background to cover the stage behind the performers as they performed. Many, many bands used them. Some would just have the band's name in large print in the manor of their unique font and or colors.

Well, yea, that's actually what I was thinking of, but more of a banner I guess than a huge rectangular screen covering much of the rear of the stage. Where would you hang that again...? :D

I have a theory. Basically record companies and their producers still called the shots in '75, espically for new bands. Rush probably had their voice all along. Even if the market was ready for 'nerd rock' (I use this as a term of endearment) the label wouldn't let them put it out there.

I agree with one aspect of what you're saying, that band's didn't have much say in what went on their records back then, except that I think that the music industry "powers that be" always have had artistic control and that has never ceased, and maybe even increased.

But your hypothesis doesn't stand up for several reasons:

One, Rush's attitude their whole career: "We do it our way or we don't do it."

Second, and this is a main point: The fact that Rush had to create THEIR OWN record label (Moon Records) to distribute their debut album since they could get no record companies to sign them or to do so. So basically THEY started and owned the record label (along with Ray Daniels and Terry Brown), so they DID have artistic control over their output obviously.

Third, their debut album did not do too well commercially, and (after Neil signed on), neither did their next: Fly By Night. So they drastically changed course with their third album: Caress of Steel, which was supposed to be their breakthrough album and in the concept/lengthy format they wanted to pursue (nerd rock lol), but I believe became their worst selling album to date after it's release (or at least it did not sell well either), and they labeled the subsequent tour supporting the album as the "Down the Tubes" tour, only half jokingly. That album didn't do well mostly because of its format: 2 long songs taking up a whole side of the album. The record company (Mercury at this time, not their own) wanted them to drop a song or shorten one and they refused, hoping they would be justified by good sales of COS, which they were not.

Forth, they made a pivatol decision with their next album: 2112. The record company was pressuring them to do a more "radio friendly" album with no lengthy songs on it like COS or even FBN or RUSH, but Rush said no way, we do it our way or we quit. Thus 2112, the album and song were born. 2112 the song of course is about resistance to the oppression of the individual and his or her creativity by those with power and control, and it was a clear message to the record industry about how the art of music can never be suppressed, especially rock n' roll which is a musical genre based on rebellion against the collective. Rush has said that their anger at their situation back then (either they sell out and be "successful" cranking out "pop/radio friendly hits", or they keep their artistic integrity by creating the music they want to, but will be ultimately unable to make a living at their chosen career and life long passion for music all three members had), fired much of the passion and energy in that song. But they did make the rest of the songs on that album radio friendly length, kind of a prudent half compromise but still not supported by their "superiors". But when 2112 did cause Rush to finally break through with its success, they were given more creative freedom that they showcased with many more "epic" length "not radio friendly" songs they released on all their albums through Moving Pictures. Had 2112 done as poorly as COS, Rush would probably have quit way back then; :tears: they certainly would have had no more support from their current label at least, and they were not making enough money to continue on.

One last thing to mention is that Rush had also been around in various line ups since '68 (when Alex and Geddy played in the band when they were in high school), but they played mostly all cover songs and only had wrote a few original songs, none of which were recorded. They released a single in '73 which was a cover of "Not Fade Away" and an original song. The single did not have any commercial success, so they (again) formed their own label to in order to record and distribute their first album. But the point is that none of their earlier original songs made it on that album; they rushed (ha ha) to write all the tracks that were on it, and had no cohesive sound of their own yet: they simply jumped too quickly into getting an album out when they were still very young and finding their sound.

So all of these considerations leads me to believe that their debut album is exactly an example of a band who had not found their sound or format yet, rather than being pushed into a more radio friendly album by any record label (especially because, again, it was their OWN record label and there are also longer songs on it too as well that the record industry never wanted them to make, at least until the sucess of 2112). They simply had not developed their progressive style yet.

I think that Peart brought the Rush sound we all know and love when he came to the band. Listen to works by Lifeson and Lee on Fly by Night for example, they sound a quite a bit like RUSH (the album). Best I can is a good one to listen to for an example of Lee and Lifeson's lyric work. I'd say 2112 is when Rush showed the full influence of Neil Peart on their music. the first 3 albums still have a little of that RUSH sound.

Agreed, without Neil Rush would not be Rush. I don't think that they would have been successful at all and would have probably quit had he, or someone very similar to him, not joined the group. He brought structure and focus to their songs through his lyrics and meticulous drumming style. All three members are great musicians, but listen to Alex's or Geddy's solo albums and you can see that Alex is loose and unstructured (really all over the place) and Geddy is structured and a good song writer, but not creative enough, or doesn't let loose enough. Add Alex and Geddy together however, and they become a very good team, and then throw in Neil and the magic that is Rush culminates in a rare meeting of contrasting and complimenting talents and minds that just click. :thmbsp:

For all of you who will be revisiting your Rush albums, I hope you have some after '81 to listen too as well! :D

Maybe it's because between the ages of 14 and 16 I had acquired all the Rush albums to date at that time (ending with Counterparts) so I got into close to 20 years of Rush all at once and I associate them with my reckless youth and developmental period (and their last album before their hiatus, Test for Echo, came out when I was 19), but I love them all. :yes:

I can not understand, for instance, how anyone can discount such materpieces as Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, Presto, and Roll The Bones. Each one of those albums contains classics: well written, engaging, and sophisticated well polished songs. To name a few:

Signals: Subdivisions (wow!), Chemistry, Digital Man, The Weapon, New World Man

Grace: Distant Early Warning, Red Sector A (powerful, great imagery!), The Enemy Within, Between The Wheels (dense and complex, recently revived by Rush in live format)

Power Windows: The Big Money (great guitar work/solo), Marathon, Territories (very unique song), Mystic Rythms (another unique song)

Hold Your Fire: Force Ten, Time Stand Still (beautiful), Prime Mover, Lock and Key, Mission (again, beautiful)

Presto: Show Don't Tell (one of my favorites), The Pass (that one helped me through some rough times!), Scars (really interesting song), Presto, Red Tide (great message)

Roll The Bones: Dreamline (great "pop" song), Bravado (great guitar work, what a solo!), Roll The Bones (love the lyrics), The Big Wheel, Ghost of a Chance (love the lyrics again)


Any one of these songs rates up there with anything else Rush has done imho, they are all favorites. If anyone has any of these to listen to, I suggest you do! :thmbsp:

I haven't heard much of Rush's post '81 work, but I'll agree that Subdivisions and Roll the Bones are fantastic songs. Roll the Bones is especially creative, and has a fantastic bassline, what else do we expect from Geddy? I'm certainly glad Rush didn't go radio friendly, otherwise we wouldn't have 2112, my favorite Rush song (right now). It was 1976 after all, and Boston had their wildly successful debut that year, so I'm sure that influenced the public desire for radio friendly hits. Not anything against Boston, I like their first two, but Rush would not have been the same following the radio hit path. We wouldn't have had La villa Strangiato. :no: And I still think that Alex is one of the most talented guitarists out there. :thmbsp:

I'm missing quite of few LP (collections) of there library. Best hit the thrifts and look for some Cds. I didn't realize Boston's debut was in 76. I figured 77 from my memory, but it has been a few years. I know I didn't hear them until '77.

There's usually two types of Rush fans, those who are into everything '81 and before, and those who like all of their output. I, obviously, am into everything they have put out, but then they are my favorite band. :music:

I think many people who are casual fans of Rush or the ones who like all their old stuff would enjoy more songs and albums than they think that Rush made after '81 or '82. I recommend everything since then, although Counterparts and Test for Echo are my least favorite Rush albums besides the original Rush and Caress of Steel, and Vapor Trails has such an abysmal recording. Snakes and Arrows would be a great place to start as not only is it a great album (as I've said I think it is one of their best if not their best) it is also heavy, or more organic, and mostly devoid of keyboards, the two things the pre '81 fans of Rush complained about (and have been complaining about) ever since Signals.

JT: I'm surprised you like Roll The Bones that much, because although I have no problem with that song and really like it (and have ever since I heard it when I was 14 when it first came out), the fans of older Rush think that it represents exactly the aspects of the post '81 or '82 Rush they dislike: a "poppy" sound in a predictable format with even a mock rap section thrown in! :D

But yea, I love it, and it's especially great live. I really like Alex's acoustic guitar on that track. And speaking of basslines, I love the ones in The Pass and Scars from Presto. :yes:

I think what really matters here is that there are Rush fan, regardless of what period of Rush they prefer. :)

I still go and see Rush, but I will be honest, I haven't bought an album since Presto and before that, I think Power Windows was the last album I really enjoyed all the way though.

I appreciate all of their work through the years and always love to hear them come on the radio, like the other night when a station on Sirius played most of 2112. :)

I think what really matters here is that there are Rush fan, regardless of what period of Rush they prefer. :)

I still go and see Rush, but I will be honest, I haven't bought an album since Presto and before that, I think Power Windows was the last album I really enjoyed all the way though.

I appreciate all of their work through the years and always love to hear them come on the radio, like the other night when a station on Sirius played most of 2112. :)

Oh yea, of course, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise! :thmbsp: And if you hate Rush, that's fine too...it's not like I'm their disciple or anything, they are just a rock band afterall! :D

All I wanted to do in this thread is voice a counter opinion to those that like the earliest Rush the best (before '76) or even their debut album. Hardly anything wrong with that though! As for the two types of Rush fans, I was simply stating that as a fact, not a judgement. I've been friends with both and will be standing by (and have stood by) both at the next concert! :banana:

I will say though that most of those who like the earliest Rush the best seem to either not have heard later Rush or brushed it off fairly quickly because it didn't cohere with what they thought the band should be (as if anyone but the band can or should decide that!). Myself, as I said, prefer the '76 to '91 Rush era, but who am I to say that the pre '76 Rush isn't really true Rush or that the post '91 era (with the exceptions of Vapor Trails and Snakes and Arrows) isn't really either? That it doesn't sound Rushy enough to be real Rush? lol That's pure opinion, although Rush has said numerous times that when they started out they weren't that good and it took them awhile, a few albums, to get to a point where they were proud of their music and that they still have yet to make a perfect album (not even Moving Pictures?!) or song. They are certainly perfectionists and that's one reason they are still around, because they keep thinking they can do better on the next album (they have said this as well) which drives them to try new experiments in music instead of just trying to recreate their past (money making and popular) sound over and over again. The freshness and innovations found on every new Rush album combined with a sound that you know is distinctly Rush yet is so different from what they have done before is what excites me about the band.

Power Windows, btw, IS a great album and one that is frequently mentioned as their last great album. I, of course, totally disagree as on their very next album, Hold Your Fire, their 80's sound came to a peak of sophistication and subtle beauty. That album is truly enthralling and one of their best efforts, it is probably their most "musical". Then, on Presto (which is also a favorite and pretty "musical" with it's piano and synths like HYF), and Roll the Bones, Rush steamlined their sound again to try to make it more organic and raw sounding and really got back to a "bass, guitar, drums" approach with Counterparts. Test For Echo and Vapor Trails are somewhat the same, only the songs are denser and more textured or layered and also a little sluggish at times. Snakes and Arrows is, I feel, the album they have been wanting to make ever since Counterparts or even after Roll The Bones: It is heavy and dense and powerful, yet also musical and refined and well paced. I highly suggest you give it and Roll The Bones a close listen btw, if you haven't already.

Ok, I got to get to sleep so I'll shut up! :D

I didn't think you implied otherwise at all. I really appreciate your well thought out posts. They are very enjoyable to read. :)

I didn't think you implied otherwise at all. I really appreciate your well thought out posts. They are very enjoyable to read. :)

Since I'm still up I just wanted to say thanks, I appreciate that. :thmbsp:

I've always supposed to have been a "good" writer (good thing, since I'm terrible at math! my father is the same way, and is a retired English prof), and I try to write coherently and well, although I never really tried to practice or develop my writing, at least not since college, and not in any professional, systematic, or disciplined way in any case. I only write casually for the enjoyment I get out of the enterprise. Posting on forums is about as much practice as I get these days, though I do try to make my posts as comprehensible and "well thought out" (as you so aptly put it) as I can. I do feel that I am too verbose though, but that comes from reading too much philosophy I suppose (some of those guys write a page or two on what can be said in a sentence!).

So again I hope I have not offended anyone, and I'm glad someone else thinks that I haven't! It was not my intention. Rush on! :D :thmbsp:

I like Roll the Bones because it really shows the talent and diversity of Rush. Kinda like Led Zeppelin with all their different sounds. and hey, Alex's subtle soloing during the "rap" part of that song is pretty cool on the Rio DVD. :thmbsp: I really need to give their 80s work a try, I just haven't grabbed those albums yet, I've got all of them from 74-81, and Feedback. I think New World Man is the only song I've heard from the 80's period, it's pretty good. And isn't Leave that Thing Alone from Counterparts? that's a good song on the Rio DVD. Snakes and Arrows is a good album, I'll agree. I just go to the Rush site sometimes to hear one from that album. With all this Rush talk, I've got an itch to go crank up By-Tor on the Marantz. :D :music: great solo late in that song, by the way.

Lets not forget Driven, what an intense work that is

I like Roll the Bones because it really shows the talent and diversity of Rush. Kinda like Led Zeppelin with all their different sounds. and hey, Alex's subtle soloing during the "rap" part of that song is pretty cool on the Rio DVD. :thmbsp: I really need to give their 80s work a try, I just haven't grabbed those albums yet, I've got all of them from 74-81, and Feedback. I think New World Man is the only song I've heard from the 80's period, it's pretty good. And isn't Leave that Thing Alone from Counterparts? that's a good song on the Rio DVD. Snakes and Arrows is a good album, I'll agree. I just go to the Rush site sometimes to hear one from that album. With all this Rush talk, I've got an itch to go crank up By-Tor on the Marantz. :D :music: great solo late in that song, by the way.

Yea, I really like that song too, it is very catchy, I compeletly argee with the lyrical message, and it is a unique and creative song. Roll The Bones was a HUGE (for Rush at least) album in my high school during freshman year (probably because it's about the most mainstream or "radio friendly" oriented Rush album since Moving Pictures, so it attracted many non-Rush fans and got a lot of radio play). That album was probably actually the first Rush album I heard, or at least Dreamline and Roll The Bones were the first songs I heard from Rush, but for my first Rush album I bought Exit...Stage Left and then went from there. :D

But many of the Rush fans who like older Rush better dislike Roll The Bones, and some even hate the song Roll The Bones (especially the rap part: I think it's funny, and yes Alex's guitar is cool in it), and even the whole album. It is consistently ranked low (probably the lowest) among Rush's post '81 or '82 work by many fans who like older Rush. That's why I was surprised to hear that you like it, but I shouldn't have lumped you in with those others! And yea, it kills live as I've said, I've seen them play it live several times.

You definitely need to hear more 80's Rush! :nono: :D All those songs I listed are, imo, just supurb, as good as anything else Rush has done (just in different ways). New World Man is good, a catchy and pleasing melody, but try Subdivisions from that same album! That song is awesome! Leave That Thing Alone is from Counterparts, and a fantastic instrumental, and it is very well done on RiR. It's also on the live album Different Stages and is played well on there also. I love By-Tor on RiR too, and the cartoon that goes with it is hilarious!

I like Feedback as well, I generally don't like cover albums or covers of songs as I tend to be a "purist" (keep it as the original artists made it), but I think Rush did a wonderful job recreating these old songs, and I like most of Rush's versions better than the originals! It also has a great recording. Most Rush fans don't like Feedback much though, don't really know why.

How does that Marntz sound with Rush? I'm pretty new to this whole vintage equipment thing, but I bought two Pioneers based on what people said here about them sounding good for rock: bright, sharp, clear, fast, punchy, whatever. I also have a Kenwood (the sound of which sound I don't like) and a Sherwood that I do like, but is kind of too mellow or laid back for Rush (although it's bass is very deep and rich). I'd be curious to hear Rush through a Marantz, as from what I've read on here they are best for more subtle, polished, "musical" music. I'd love to have one to try out some Rush on though (and yes, other music! :D), those pretty blue lights! :thmbsp:

Lets not forget Driven, what an intense work that is

Have you heard it live? Geddy goes crazy, puts a nice bass solo in it. It's on Different Stages and RiR. Good stuff! :thmbsp:

OK, Waves, here you go. I run some Pioneer CS 77A's with my Marantz, the sound is fantastic. Strong, clean, fast bass, fat pleasing midrange, and may I say treble that dances wonderfully over the rich mid and bass. Like, for example, the thunderous drum roll in By Tor just before the solo at about 6 minutes into the song. That roll shakes the house and Alex's solo rips in with searing power. It's intense, but not the least bit harsh. I bet you've never heard anybody go off on gear like that. :D and speaking of hilarious Rush cartoons, how about the one in R30 just before Tom Sawyer? :thmbsp:

OK, Waves, here you go. I run some Pioneer CS 77A's with my Marantz, the sound is fantastic. Strong, clean, fast bass, fat pleasing midrange, and may I say treble that dances wonderfully over the rich mid and bass. Like, for example, the thunderous drum roll in By Tor just before the solo at about 6 minutes into the song. That roll shakes the house and Alex's solo rips in with searing power. It's intense, but not the least bit harsh. I bet you've never heard anybody go off on gear like that. :D and speaking of hilarious Rush cartoons, how about the one in R30 just before Tom Sawyer? :thmbsp:

Sounds pretty good. :thmbsp: I really don't have any idea what those speakers are (I should probably search them here) and have actually never heard any vintage speakers besides my dad's old Allied ones. I am thinking of getting some though. :scratch2:

I like the "intense but not harsh" description. That's what I like, energetic speakers/receivers that can crank, but also are subtle enough to capture the dynamics in the music. I love my little Usher's and my Pioneer 980. :music:

And oh yea, Rush has always had a great sense of humor, and their recent video intros are hilarious! The ones on the SnA tour are my favorite. You can find all of them on Youtube btw if you search for them.

My favorite Rush album: All of them!
My favorite Rush song: All of them!

Geddy Lee's solo album, "My Favorite Headache" is a great album as well.

My favorite Rush album: All of them!
My favorite Rush song: All of them!

Geddy Lee's solo album, "My Favorite Headache" is a great album as well.

Haha, good answer! :thmbsp:

I'm really kind of that way: they all have their place and I listen to different ones depending mostly on mood.

However I still have (as I said) ones that I don't listen to much and others I listen to almost daily. It's not so much that I don't like the other ones as I only have so much time so I just listen to what I like the best.

My Favorite Headache is a good album, it helped to get me through that Rush hiatus when Neil had those terrible personal tragedies. :tears:

I would just like to quote a line that's on the record sleeve of FLY BY NIGHT...........

"For Best Results- Play This Album"

Applies for any RUSH