Why nobody likes Rush

Blacksword wrote: CaincelaOreinim wrote: Personally, I'm a Rush fan...however, I probably cannot listen to more than two albums before 1) Geddy's voice gives me a headache and 2) the CONSTANT upbeat to ALL their songs begins to bug me (seriously, find me one Rush song that at some point isn't upbeat and sprightly - Losing It and Different Strings not counting).  That aside, can't say much bad things about them. Rivendel The Fountain of Lamneth (has upbeat parts, but I'd hardly call them 'sprightly') Tears Madrigal Jacobs Ladder Wich Hunt The Pass Resist Nobodys Hero ..  There's always one, isn't there!

Not to mention almost the entire Grace Under Pressure album, The Necromancer (has the upbeat ending, though), Here Again, 2112 (Is there one upbeat thing about this song?), etc.

The main problem of Rush are some of their fans, Micky should remember that in DDD there wasn't a single day in which 2 or 3 "Hey why isn't Rush N° 1?" messages appeared.

I don't know if it was one fanboy with multiple identities or many fanboys with one identity , but it's common to see in many forums that some Rush fans believe you hate the trio if you don't admit they are the best band in the whole world, Alex Lifeson is better than Steve Howe, Steve Hackett and Paco de Lucia together, Geddy Lee sings better than Pavaroti, Neal Peart invented the drums and that their lyrics are the best in history.

Well, I don't hate Rush but:

1. I don't believe they even close to be the best band ever.
2. I don't believe Alex Lifeson is a great guitar player, slightly over the average but nothing more IMO
3. Geddy Lee is a great vocalist, but his voice is horrible.
4. Neil Peart is one of the top drummers
5. Their lyrics are good but not in the level of Genesis, Jethro Tull, Marillion  or VDGG.

Nothing is black or white only, there are lots of tones in between, Rush is good, maybe very good, but not a top band.

But still I have most of heir albums and all their DVD's.

Iván

s1ipp3ry wrote: Rush for  a three piece band cetainly have loads of talent in all areas  Imagine if they were a 6 piece band !

I believe it wouldn't had worked because

• Rush is close to early Metal, based in guitar and bass rather than in keyboards, and of course violin and/or flute are not instruments for their music.
• Neil Peart is a classic Power Trio drummer, good technique and strong,
• Geddy Lee does an excellent job with bass and vocals (Despite his horrible range, his voice is Rush's trademark).

Maybe adding a permanent keyboardist would have worked, but still not essential and a second  guitar, well maybe, but not sure.

I believe that Rush is a Power Trio and that works for them better than anything.

Iván

micky wrote: Rashikal wrote: wow rush lyrics are waay better than any genesis or yes lyrics, peart is a genius Rashikal wrote:   you make me sick hahahahhah yeah sure Peart is a genius.  Knock offs of Coleridge and Rand, a genius at work.

oh sure- thats a valid statement-

Peart IS a genius

ivan_2068 wrote: I don't know if it was one fanboy with multiple identities or many fanboys with one identity , Iván

I like some of what Rush does and I don't like other things.  The stuff I like I really like the other stuff I can tolerate.  It does mainly have to do with Geddy's vocals especially in the early albums.  It seems like Geddy did his best to should shrill. Later and when they became very popular he seemed to have found some balance to that. 

I also think there has been a down the nose look prejudice at North American progressive bands from the 70's as not as good as Euro.  I think it is because these bands used a more rock base to their music while Euro bands tended to deliberately stay away from that for the most part and hence people say not as good. I disagree.  It was just a different way of approching the music and what were your influences.

Having said that I think they are a band who's enormous popularity still promotes prog rock and that is a great thing.

ivan_2068 wrote: The main problem of Rush are some of their fans, Micky should remember that in DDD there wasn't a single day in which 2 or 3 "Hey why isn't Rush N° 1?" messages appeared.

You posted on DDD, too? What was your name on there? I used to post there for a while... My name on there is Kevin. Stopped posting there, though.

Sorry for replying without reading all the posts (so many, read a few pages) but here's my take on them:

Loved it when it was the only prog I knew existed.

For me, they are below average for prog.

Pros:

 Logical, religion- and superstition-free lyrics that I personally agree with most of

They're prog, that's enough isn't it?

consistent and didn't sell out too much as far as I know

Cons:

Too many lyrics (I usually prefer a lot less lyrics than most bands have)

They are very limited "tonally" Not enough variation of instruments

one thing I look for in prog is a sort of foreign or alien or weird sound that makes me forget they are playing instruments. g giant has it, rush doesn't at all.

Too much guitar and not enough keyboards for my tastes

only one vocalist most (all?) of the time, and one I don't like much

not enough "wood",  too much "tin"(make any sense to anyone else? hard to explain)

Sometimes the lyrics sound cheesy

not very progressive in the dictionary definitiion of the word. No one could do prog rock for 30 years and not cover a lot more ground than they have.

In a nutshell, better than most bands by virtue of being prog but withing prog, for what i've heard so far, a bit below average.

Just my take on an 80% subjective area.