Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Rush songs were once a truly exciting event to listen to (their earlier stuff still is). Nowadays, for me, generic is the word that best describes their recent music, odd flashes of brilliance aside. I guess I just can't go with them on this part of their creative cycle, and yet I still buy their albums when they come out. It's hard to let go...

Robert, how dare you say it's better than Counterparts!

Ok, I agree it's good. I wasn't impressed with the Far Cry single until I listened to it a couple times. My high points so far (I've only listened to it maybe 4 times):

Bravest Face: Neil's lyrics are brilliant.
Spindrift: It's the new Earthshine.

I kind of like Armor And Sword, and I don't agree with the folks on the Counterparts forum (Best Rush song ever?!). The song itself is good, I just hate the intro.

Monkey Business was predictable. First time I heard it I was humming along and I got the changes right. C'mon. Still a cool song. They said they'rew doing it on the tour, so it should be neat to see live.

Hope was cute.

MalNar. Hmm.. it's like they're trying to be YYZ again. They even had two stops each for bass and drum fills.

I do think this it's a step in the right direction, but they need to get as heavy as Vapor Trials again.

Robert, Al will make up for the acoustic guitars with his PRS's live.

And btw, I don't care if Geddy's playing the Rick or not anymore. As long as he's still playing bass I'm happy. Hell, he could play a washtub bass and still get a crazy growl out of it. He does sound a little generic now, but how many generic bass players use that flamenco flick like he does?

Bruce, my dad feels like you do about the new ablum. He said everything they make now sounds like Presto. No change since '89. But he also says that Rush's best was from 75 - 78. I disagree. (Incoming push for Counterparts...) I think.. I'll shut up.

Nate, what the heck do I know. After all, Hold Your Fire is my favorite album of theirs. I always was a sucker for the keyboard era.

Don't say it like it's a bad thing. I like HYF too. Good album. It's soft and relaxing. I'm probably one of the only people to like Tai Shan.

I love Track 2- "Armour and Sword", great track

I like this album a lot, it's not a classic, but with CD's and album oriented rock fading-what is anymore!

IMO---If Geddy played a Rickenbacker (4000 or 4001 or 4003) again, people would not be so disappointed with their new stuff. Right??

No, I'd still dislike it as much as I do now. Rick or no Rick makes no difference to me on the song writing aspect.

Maybe not, but the sound would be killer!!!!
I think the songs are a lot better than on Vapor Trails. It seems to have the spirit of classic Rush.
The drums sound excellent. Neil Peart seems to be getting better and better.
Overall a good album, not great, but the Rush of olden times are dead and gone.
I'll always buy Rush albums. They're still my favourite group.

"I'm probably one of the only people to like Tai Shan."

Yeah, I'd have to say you are. Hehehehe . . . and no offense meant to "Counterparts", because I love that album ("Everyday Glory" . . . man, they should play *that* in a concert!), but this album has me captivated right now.

Honestly, I never expected Rush to be the same as they used to be . . . that's kind of the way Rush have always operated: "Presto" does not sound at all like "Signals" which doesn't sound at all like "2112" . . . and they're all fantastic. I heard "Vapor Trails" and it made sense to me, as far as musical progression goes. I hear "Snakes & Arrows", and the same thing is true, I feel. Just like people who heard "Hold Your Fire" in 1987 went "What the hell? Where's "Tom Sawyer?!", it's no surprise that this album is different from stuff that came before it. I can see where people are coming from saying that it's similar to "Test For Echo", but I disagree, mostly on the grounds that this album sticks together as a coherent whole, whereas "Test For Echo" was like, "good song, mediocre song, bad song, good song, okay song, whatever".

The only thing I'm really not a fan of was the multi-layered guitars. Rush can do without that, really; if Alex really wants to have acoustic and electric going at once, one or both need to be toned down enough that they don't cover up the bass. But yeah. I like it. I'm going to listen to it more than I ever listen to "Roll the Bones", "Test For Echo", "Fly By Night", and probably "Caress of Steel" (I tend to just listen to individual tracks on each of those), and probably more than "2112" as well.

Still waiting for a remaster of "Vapor Trails", though.

Caress of Steel is my favourite album. I think it is the one that 'hangs' together the best. All the songs are superb.
Once listened to it over and over all day. Still never tired of it. Fantastic!!!

For me Power Windows and TFE are their best overall albums. (Proper nod to Moving Pictures) Strongest writing and sound, IMO.

Mark, not to nit-pick, but the album that has "I Think I'm Going Bald" on it is their best album?

Yeah! 'Bald' is a superb song. Love the humour.
There's also Bastille Day, Necromancer, Fountain of Lamneth. I think they're all underated. I just love the energy and the sound.
Very raw, but the playing is great. I know Caress is one of Rush's favs and they're disappointed it didn't do better, sales wise.
Hence the anger of 2112 that followed.
Caress of Steel is a true prog classic IMHO!

I would say "Bastille Day" is one of their best songs, and that "The Fountain of Lamneth" is highly underrated, but I dunno about the rest of the album . . . I mean, I like it all, but imagine how crazy fantastically good "Caress of Steel" would be (and how mediocre "Fly By Night" would be) if you switched out "I Think I'm Going Bald" with something like "Beneath Between and Behind", and switched "The Necromancer" with "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", i.e.:

1.Bastille Day
2.Beneath Between and Behind
3.Lakeside Park
4.By-Tor and the Snow Dog
5.The Fountain of Lamneth

*That* is an album I would listen to all the time! Then again, that's just my opinion . . . I'm the guy who thinks "Signals" is the best thing they ever did, and I know a lot of people who disagree.

So is Caress of Steel Rush's Tormato? LOL. I personally think 2112 is weaker than Caress (dodging tormatos)...

Aside from the 'dodgy' lyrics, The Necromancer is again highly underated. Very angry middle section. I've never really cared for Beneath, Between and Behind.
Jo I agree with you about 2112. Personally I think it's one of their weaker albums, but there's no accounting for taste. Let's say that it doesn't get a listen too many times. Same with Vapour Trails.....
As to that heap o s***!!!!!!
LOL!