RUSH

Posted by: NaimDropper on 05 August 2002

Go see them on their Vapor Trails tour. You must if you've ever liked anything they do.
I saw them last night in Cincinnati (very, very hot but worth the sweat!). Everybody there knew the tunes and was there for the music. What a show!
Snagged 5th row center pit tickets from a scalper and took my earplugs!
The Northern Gentlemen are in fine form.
Geddy gets a great sound from his Maytags. If you've seen it, you know what I mean!
David
Posted on: 05 August 2002 by Bruce Woodhouse
Rush are one of those teenage bands I occasionally still own up to. Most of their first 10 years output is in my collection. I thought Vapor Trails was ghastly-overwrought and underinspired. Of recent stuff try Counterparts-good songs and less cringeworthy lyrics.


If you want something early-I'd probably pick A Farewell to Kings as my favourite.

Bruce
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by Bosh
I'm a big Rush fan and would love to catch them but doubt they'll come to blighty.

Not a fan of "Vapout trails" but my recent fave is also "Counterparts". Others well worth a go are "Roll the bones", "Presto", "Grace under pressure", "Moving pictures" and "Power windows".
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by Duncan Fullerton
Their last few albums have been a bit lacklustre for sure. They seem to be running out of ideas.

Mid-early stuff is their best, IMHO: Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, and Exit ... Stage Left has to be one of the best live albums ever recorded. One of my favourite hi-fi demo tracks is "The Trees" from Exit. I reckon if a system can sort out that mix, then it's got something going for it.
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by NaimDropper
I second Duncan's recommendations and would add Hemispheres, though it is a bit cerebral (sorry, couldn't help it!).
They lost me in the late 80's, but they played enough early stuff to keep my interest.
Even if you are not a fan, the energy they had in the concert was incredible!
Live music, with good musicians, even too loud, beats any Hi Fi experience, period.
David
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by greeny
quote:
What Rush album could you recommed?


Moving Pictures is a bit of a transitional album from the Prog of the 70s to more a more modern (read poorer) sound. Permanent Waves was before this and showed some signs of this transition. Signals the one after showcased their future 80s sound.

My favourate is also 'A farewell to kings' with honerable mentions to '2112' and 'Rush'. These are 3 of their first 5 albums from the early/mid seventies. Most of there stuff is pretty well recorded.
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by garyi
Will thirded 'Farewell to Kings'

The main downside to me listening to the 6 or so rush albums I have (never been played) is the serious leaning towards the treble side with a distinct lack of bass. This does not appear to be a problem on Farewell to Kings.
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by Duncan Fullerton
Garyi, talking of his 6 Rush albums reminds me that a couple of years ago I decided it was about time to get CD's of all their albums, strictly for the car only you understand! Anyway, I went to Amazon and ordered the lot which duly arrived a few days later. Being sad IT geeks it amused us to think that there might be some poor teckie sitting in a darkened room somwhere desparately searching for the bug in their software that dispatched the entire Rush catalogue when someone ordered a Rush CD!
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by Pete
The one that got me to appreciate them to start with was the Exit... Stage Left live album: a pretty good place to start, I'd say, as would be the "Different Stages" live set. I found "Show of Hands" a bit lacklustre, to be honest.

Of studio albums, depends what you're looking for... From Permanent Waves and on they've been into rather more concise and decreasingly pretentious songs. Moving Pictures is a high spot for many, though Presto is probably my fave. Counterparts is harder and in terms of arrangements simpler, Power Windows and Hold Your Fire 80s tech-rock (note that isn't a criticism). Never really got on too well with Grace Under Pressure. If you're into highly pretentious and loud 70s prog than you can do a lot worse than 2112, though you get the title track (all 20 minutes or so of it) on Different Stages anyway.

Pete.
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by Keith Mattox
Rush, like all other bands, have changed their style somewhat since they started.

They started out very album-oriented, culminating in 2112. I agree with the fella in an earlier post about their production - no bass, very "trebly".

They're a slightly different and more accessible band at around the time of Moving Pictures and Signals. Not quite as fun as their older work, but less chaff to sift through to get to the good stuff. They got a lot of FM play here in the states around then.

I've always felt that they lost the plot not long after Signals; the only album that I can remember from this most recent period is Counterpoint; I disliked this album enough to sell it back to store from which I bought it. Have they regained their old form; does anyone have recommendations of their later albums?

Which Rush album for newbies? My first pick is Moving Pictures. It's very well produced, is a lot of fun and doesn't have a single daft song. The followup album Signals is a good second recommendation if you like the sound of Pictures; however, their previous release Permanent Waves is a much better album.

Next would be 2112, a prevalent album in collections of all the metalheads that I've known. After that, hit the used record stores to get Caress of Steel, Farewell to Kings and Rush for cheap. The last one is solely for the song Working Man, as that album was cut before the brilliant Peart joined them. I'd also add Fly by Night but only for the reason that it has Anthem.

hey, they're not high art, but they're a fun listen. Thanks for bringing them up - they're on my turntable next.

Cheers

Keith.
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by NaimDropper
Come to think of it, the latest Rush album I bought was Signals... And I got it when it came out!
Not sure if I'll buy Vapor even after seeing the concert, but I may... Just to keep the boys on tour and coming back!
I may have to get Permanent Waves out tonight... Natural Science... They did that one at the gig and it really rocked!
David
Posted on: 06 August 2002 by David Patterson
I HAD THE OPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE RUSH COMPILATION ALBUM ON CD RECENTLY-THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD THEM SINCETHE PASSING OF MY LP12 10 YEARS AGO (KIDS CAME ALONG) THE ALBUM STARTS WITH OLDEST TRACKS UP TO ABOUT 1990 TRACKS. WHAT STRUCK ME WAS HOW LISTENABLE THE OLDEST RECORDINGS WERE COMPARED TO THE LATTER TRACKS.THE HEMISPHERES,MOVING PICTURES TRACKS SOUNDPRETTY BRILL ON MY SYSTEM.THE LAST TRACKS (NEWER )SOUNDED TERRIBLE.SAME MATE CAME ROUND WITH VAPOUR TRAILS AFTER I HAD JUST TOLD HIM ABOUT THE ADDITION OF 250. COMBINATION OF COLD 250 AND VAPOUR TRAILS WAS HORRENDOUS.THE DRUM SLAM ON MOVING PICTURES IS FAB THOUGH.
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Pete
quote:
Originally posted by Faust:
I know it's not in the "classic realm" of Rush but I've always been fond of this one


As have I: used to have a pair of large promotional cutout binoculars on my student bedroom wall! All the songs are good, and I've always enjoyed the way it sounds like it was recorded in a very large aircraft hangar!

Didn't realise the new one was out before reading this thread: is now in the post from A&B...

Pete.