Make Me Not Feel Bored by Rush

Shrieking vocals, riffery, pounding drums... all tantamount to a sub-Led Zep, Rush has never done anything for me. Somehow or another, I've acquired seven albums by this band. Aside from the Police-tinged "Signals," none of them has struck me as even remotely remarkable. The less we say about the despicable philosophical basis for the lyrics, the better.

So here's what I've bought over the years:

Fly by Night
2112
A Farewell to Kings
Signals
Presto
Roll the Bones
Test for Echo

Now, will somebody propose a way to approach these in a manner that will keep me from yawning and switching to Zappa or Crimson?

Caress of Steel is my most liked Rush album.  The shrieky vocals, say in "Bastille Day", are all part of the fun (I like that track's rockin' punkiness). Interesting you have those, but not Hemispheres (which is what got me into Rush). I rather like Fly by Night, but don't care for the others in the initial list.

Do you have any Pavlov's Dog? Pampered Menial is a good album.  I only mention it because Surkamp has a similar voice to Geddy Lee's, though I prefer Surkamp, and it might help to appreciate Lee's vocals.



I don't like Rush as much as Zappa or Crimson myself, but I can still appreciate Rush for what it is.


Edited by Logan - June 10 2010 at 13:10

WalterDigsTunes wrote: Shrieking vocals, riffery, pounding drums... all tantamount to a sub-Led Zep, Rush has never done anything for me. Somehow or another, I've acquired seven albums by this band. Aside from the Police-tinged "Signals," none of them has struck me as even remotely remarkable. The less we say about the despicable philosophical basis for the lyrics, the better. So here's what I've bought over the years: Fly by Night 2112 A Farewell to Kings Signals Presto Roll the Bones Test for Echo Now, will somebody propose a way to approach these in a manner that will keep me from yawning and switching to Zappa or Crimson?

Or you could sell them with a 30% percent discount, buy stuff that you really like of that money, and end up "on plus"!

EDIT: btw like COnor said your Rush collection is not really well oriented. I would only keep A Farewell To Kings from those and add Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures.


Edited by harmonium.ro - June 10 2010 at 13:15

WalterDigsTunes wrote: I don't plan on spending on more Rush, though. The question is... what does it take to appreciate the stuff I've already got?

It either appeals or it doesn't. A new set of ears (ones that register different frequencies) or a brain transplant, maybe.  There's no reason why you should like what you have that I'm aware of.

Sell them on the eBay, then buy something better. 

Rush aren't that bad.  They're not my personal preference for a band I'd like to hear more of but the two albums I've heard are not grating at all.

I actually don't mind Geddy's voice now.

They just don't make music that really does much for me, from what I've heard.

So I'm not having a go at Rush, as Scott thought I would.


Edited by James - June 10 2010 at 13:54

WalterDigsTunes wrote: I don't plan on spending on more Rush, though. The question is... what does it take to appreciate the stuff I've already got?

Edited by Tarquin Underspoon - June 10 2010 at 14:40

That's true. I do like Valley Girl.

WalterDigsTunes wrote: Fly by Night 2112 A Farewell to Kings Signals Presto Roll the Bones Test for Echo

A Farewell to Kings is the only one of these I really like, and even that is not nearly as great as Permanent Waves, Hemispheres or Moving Pictures. So I guess you should either get more of their albums or stick to Crimson and Zappa.

So if you don't like it, stop listening to it