Zappa vs.Tull vs. Rush - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Rush !!!

I voted for Rush but Tull and Zappa are tops so I had to think about it.

Totally unfair to put Zappa against anybody

The Wham Daddy

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

DarkTower wrote:

Rush by a mile. Easy choice.

Me too. I don't dislike Frank but I've only heard a handful of his albums. I like Rush way more(and more than Tull too). I'm sure those who like Frank Zappa more than Rush haven't heard many Rush albums either so it all evens out. However, I do plan on getting more FZ at some point although I don't think it will change my mind about Rush. Rush have excellent musicianship, great songwriting and arrangements and very intelligent and often thought provoking lyrics. What's not to like?

I like Zappa more than Rush and know more Rush than Zappa. I've heard most of the Rush studio albums in full, and have heard all of the Rush studio albums up to the end of the 80s multiple times (and I've owned quite a few of them) and I know the first three live albums well. I have a friend who was very big on Rush, and we shared a house up at Whistler (a ski resort area) for quite some time. I got really sick of hearing Rush. I actually haven't really been into Rush since I was a teenager. I don't much like Gedddy Lee's vocals, while there is hard rock I like, it's often too hard rock for me, and too AOR often. I like some Rush, but overall it's not really my style. I also don't much like much of the lyrics. I don't find Rush that deep (in "Free Will", for instance, I don't think its profound, and I am a determinist). I find Robert Wyatt's "Free Will and Testament" a more interesting take. I'm not keep on Ayn Rand, which they were into. Bumped an old poll of mine, even though I wasn't very deep with my comments.

For me it's between Zappa and Tull and I vote for Zappa. I don't like everything Zappa, but what I do, I often love.

Personally, I'd take this over anything Rush as it's more my kind of style:

And this is what got me into Zappa after hearing it on the radio:

(twas big love on first listen).

I like Zappa's playfulness.

Edited by Logan - April 12 2019 at 10:43

Zappa. I don't even care for much of his work after 1974, but the early stuff is immortal. The other two just don't register in comparison.

Edited by Mascodagama - April 12 2019 at 16:10

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Rush started to be pretty good in 78 but only lasted until 82. Zappa was pretty good from 72-83 but pretty crappy before 72 apart from Hot Rats. Love Tull from 69-82. With all Tulls bonus tracks on the remixes, I wonder who has more studio tracks from 68-82 out of Tull and Zappa

All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.

Rush became, for the most part, boring post Grace Under Pressure. I find many things interesting on the mainstay of 'Tull albums.

"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno

ZAPPA Genius ZAPPA

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All three artists are unique and worthy of winning such a poll!

I have heard all the studio albums by all three artists (and most of the live ones too), and while I personally think Zappa is even more special than the others, I also think it a bit silly to compare three otherwise very different artists. Each stands pretty close to the top of their genres, so in some respects isn't this just a comparison of different styles?

Fischman wrote:

Love all three, but it's gotta be

Rush
Tull
Zappa

Same here(in that order)

Poll Question: Which Of these do you prefer?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Frank Zappa	24	[30.00%]
Jethro Tull	26	[32.50%]
Rush	30	[37.50%]
You can not vote in this poll