Rush - Progressive Rock?

If Rush isn't prog, exactly what is it? Surely you can't say they are mainstream or Pop/Rock just because of Vapor Trails? Look at Snakes and Arrows, it's not that mainstream considering it has 3 instrumentals, and songs like spindrift. Rush is a strange breed, but we love em that way. Don't sell them short by taking them out of a category they've worked hard to put themselves in.

Sasquamo wrote: If I progress my musical style from pop to punk does that make me progressive rock?

Well, everyone should know by now I'm a big Rush fan (my nickname has nothing to do with the recently released movie, and everything with the legendary trio from Toronto), though if you look at my reviews you'll see I'm perfectly capable of being objective.
 
However, I'd like to say just one thing to those who doubt Rush's progressiveness - are latter-day Porcupine Tree (a great band, and one I enjoy quite a lot), in spite of their longer tracks, so much proggier than Rush in terms of song structure? Do the fantasy-or sci-fi-related lyrical content or the length of the songs really make a band prog, rather than the approach to composition and the ability to reinvent themselves, to incorporate diverse influences into their music and reinterpret them, to never play it safe?

Rush took a big risk with "Vapor Trails", and I think they should be respected for that - much more than those bands who don't seem to be able to do anything but endlessly reproduce their one successful album, or even imitate music that was authentically progressive 30 years ago. Waiting for Rush to release "Hemispheres #2" is, in my humble opinion, not only unrealistic, but not very flattering to the band and their unique outlook on music.

If you are interested I can try and make my blog a team blog to add similar stuff (doesn't have to be Rush related at all).

http://masterliness.blogspot.com/

PM me if interested.

And good points salmacis

As far as I'm concerned, there's never been any doubt that Rush are a progressive rock band. They have the long songs, the fantasy songs, the concept albums, the technical stuff. It's pretty straightforward to me. It's just a question of genre.

Good points StyLaZyn and I can't wait to read the thread! 

Erik you can call me Ben instead of progismylife (if you want to) and I hope the new album is like A Farewell to Kings too but also innovative, I would not like it if they just continued with one style and stayed that way.


Edited by progismylife - March 07 2007 at 17:06

I myself would have waited an astonishing essay on how Rush would actually not be progressive rock (or art rock, haha to micky) at all. 

otherwise nicely said.

Good job. Nice read.

micky wrote: progismylife wrote: micky wrote: progismylife wrote: Thanks micky. I'll be sure to post reviews of Rush albums in the future(that are probably going to go into a little more depth than the ones on PA). As well as on my blog.   my two cents...  disect a theme.. not meerly a rehash of  reviews. .pick a theme... like what I suggested.. the evolution in their sound.. and let that be the theme that runs through each album's 'review'  Unlike a standard review.. no one is going to care what you personally think of the album... is it good..bad.. prog?.. yadda yadda...    take a theme.. make it interesting.  back off of the soapbox hahahha. I'll probably do what you suggest. Starting with the debut all the way up to their newest album (but I don't have Vapor Trails ) you're not missing anything hahhahaha (3 posts is my limit without saying something about Rush )  Talk with Tony and Raff as well.... they might have some good ideas as well.  That is a topic I find interesting.. but remember.. you should as well or you'll lose interest.  Personal experience speaking there from real life.

Lose interest? Me and lose interest in Rush?

But some good suggestions here and I'm working on one right now but I'll wait a while before I post it to make sure it works.