Rush

Hi Nuno I agree,the first album I tried was "The spirit of radio" I never play it now though but it was a good introduction to their music.Ihave since bought many more on the silver beer matt as well as the bigger black stuff.The sound of the band changes over their thirty or so years and I only just Googeled them the outher day as I was adding to my collection (wish I hade done this Before) as it would have given me a bit more idea which albums to add an which to avoid.I might just put that dvd on my wish list.

Nuno

yeah, great band been into them for 30 years

They are definitely one of the best groups ever.Most albums are great there live stuff.

I remember Whispering Bob playing the first track from the first album for the first time on the OGWT in the 70's. Loved that track and liked them for years. Just bought my first Rush album in years.

chronicals is good, but you might want to check for moving pictures album......one of the best!

I remembered in one of the video concert with "the greatest band in the galaxy" banner

Moving Pictures is a good starting point but TBH they have evolved so much and the catalogue is so comprehensive that you could start practically anywhere. They have not always been blessed with slick production and this respect Moving Pictures is one of the stronger packages.

Their last two studio albums have been destroyed by the stupid wall of sound technique now used by so many labels, resulting in no dynamic range or separation. The latest offering Snakes And Arrows is a very good effort. It brings me to tears to hear all that craftsmanship, skill and creativity mushed up into a thick unappetising soup. I just can’t listen to it on a decent system. It’s OK on the computer or in the car.

I’ve been a fan since the mid 70s. I think their live sets rank right up there with the very best. The R30 DVD is a good showcase of both the back catalogue (although digging through such a long history for a representative running order will inevitably fail to please everybody) and a band at the top of their game – and enjoying it.

Cheers

Harry,

Having been a fan since 1978 the quality of some recordings over the years have been dissapointing, especially on vinyl.
Having been unable to get a vinyl copies of Counterparts, Test for Echo and Vapour Trails, these only get played in the car or on an inferior CD midi system.
However, having both vinyl and CD versions of Snakes and Arrows, the vinyl copy is far better than any of the albums released in the late 80/90's. This is probably because the album was released as a double rather than cramming onto a single.

The irony of this is not lost on me. Having collected CDs for around 23 years and pushed all funds towards a capable front end to do so, do I now have to revert to vinyl? It’s a no brainer on the strength of a hand full of duff CDs but I think Snakes is a product of outstanding musical craftsmanship and I am irritated to the point of anger at not having access to it. I’m actually considering getting a Pro Ject USB TT and transferring it right. But on the strength of one CD this is not justified and the results may be less than perfect.

Sorry, just a rant really. Nothing to say. But I do feel a bit better for it.

Cheers

quote:

Sorry, just a rant really. Nothing to say. But I do feel a bit better for it.

Harry, I equipped myself with a Rega P3 to tranasfer the remaining LPs I had to CD as it was clear that the last forty odd were never going to appear on CD.

My transfers were very effective, and one day I was using one at a dem and the impressive quality of the recording was commented on! For me it remained surprising that such grand music making had never promted a CD issue! Pristine vinyl via Rega P3 with a Super Elys and recorded to CD with a Philips CD recorder.

I did not spoil the moment by explaining it was a home made transfer, but I smiled inside!

ATB from George

Food for thought George. Thanks. Maybe at some point I might do a project along those lines.

Cheers

I have to say that as far as Rush LP's go, I couldn't go without Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres, and 2112. Got all the records but these are the ones that keep getting played over and over again.

Ryan

I see Kings is coming out soon on Mobile Fedility. As per another thread in this section, remasters can be mixed but I think MF are as safe a pair of hands as you're likely to find.

Cheers

I agree with Ryan although I might add Fly by Night and Caress of Steel (oh, and perhaps Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures) I've got all of their albums but don't feel the need to listen to the later ones. S&A is definitely a better album than the previous 3 or 4 in my view. I have both vinyl and CD of S&A and I think the CD version is fine so I wouldn't worry about missing out Harry. It's the previous couple that sound poor on CD (but I don't have the vinyl versions of those so can't compare).

Gary - I think the CD of S&A sounds bloody awful. Better than Vapour Trails - but that wouldn't be difficult. It's sad because this is such a fine effort. A quick look in a sound editor shows the levels maxed out from start to finish, which explains why there seems to be no dynamic range. It sounds OK on a PC - maybe this is where we're all going?

Cheers

Not me Harry! I'd rather not buy any more CDs and enjoy the ones I have. If the industry isn't going to cater to those of us with more delicate sensibilities then so be it. I'd certainly have more money in the bank!

Not me either Chris. I do wonder if this is a markerting ploy to move us onto new formats? Like we have no memory and no properly produced CDs in our collections! The only thing this is going to drive me onto is vinyl - I never thought I'd be saying that. But like you and many, I have a nice fat collection of CDs that sound better and I really should listen to my old stuff more anyway

Cheers

Anyone go along to the Snakes & Arrows tour? I missed out, partly wasn't feeling up to much when they were over in Glasgow, and partly I left the R30 show just after half time because the sound was so unbelievably terrible (turn up the bass until it's an overbearing inarticulate grumble and leave it there, what a great idea...) :-(

Can't say I've had any sonic troubles listening to the CD of S&A though. Very good record.

Pete.

I agree Pete I think S&A sounds OK to me. This years tour was so much better than R30 sound wise at least at Wembley.Big smile afterwards gig.

Howard

Excuse me if I missed this in anyones earlier message but Permanent Waves is being reissued my Mobile Fidelity too.

oops my bad. Waves not Kings coming on MF.

Sorry about that.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Pete:
... and partly I left the R30 show just after half time because the sound was so unbelievably terrible (turn up the bass until it's an overbearing inarticulate grumble and leave it there, what a great idea...) :-(

Pete.

I only saw Rush once - back in 1981 on the Exit Stage Left Tour at that great music venue ... The Royal Highland Show grounds in a ... err concrete cattle shed with a flat floor and no balconies or seating of any kind. The sound was abysmal and since the stage wasn't very high it could have been the Monkees (or Bananarama) who were on stage.

Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of the early stuff up to Moving Pictures and then Exit Stage Left. When Signals came out I just got the impression they were bored and wanted to experiment with a new sound (very synthesised with the guitar taking a back seat). Anyway I flogged it on to a second hand dealer in Dundee and didn't buy another album until Snakes and Arrows this year.

Still not made my mind up about S&N yet. It's not bad but I still get the feeling that there's nothing on it that wouldn't be filler on their older albums. I'll keep at it though and I would definitely love to see them live again one day. I don't think they've ever been to Australia though ... certainly not while I've been here.

Cheers
Scott

A Farewell To Kings


Bravest Face


Madrigal


The Main Monkey Business


Progress?

Cheers

quote:

only saw Rush once - back in 1981 on the Exit Stage Left Tour

I saw them then too. Wasn't it the Moving Pictures tour? Or did they tour a couple of times around then? Anyway, the sound wasn't much better at Wembley Arena.

Harry,

That looks quite depressing, has it become the norm for new releases?

Steve

Harry K thanks interesting.Maxed out indeed.