Should I drop Rush definitively after S&A

laplace wrote: well, I've read enough in this thread to convince myself to avoid this album. I don't need any straightforward rock records. ;P

I just want to point out, Snakes and Arrows is definitely not a straightforward rock record.  Vapor Trails and Counterparts are.  There are a couple of straight rock songs on this otherwise very solo-oriented and rather unusual album.  It's a mix...

erik neuteboom wrote: But to me it seems that many Rush fans in this thread appreciate this kind of straight rock, don't they miss the excitement of 'everlasting' epics?

I appreciate both.  But both have to be well-executed and interesting or moving in order for me to like them, and I find many of Rush's epics to be lacking in the interesting or moving category.  I prefer Yes, Genesis, Opeth, and Renaissance's epics, among others.  I find Rush's shorter songs to be better than shorter songs by any of those four bands.  :)

nuncjusz wrote: Musically, this album is something between "Counterparts" and "Test For Echo", so lots of noise, heavy guitar playing but nothing really progressive, not a lot of tempo changes and odd time signatures. Nothing really melodic either. But I have to admit that the production is perfect and the instruments sound really great. Of course the musicanship is high as always, Geddy, Alex and Neil just can't play bad. The problem is not HOW they play, but WHAT they play. The old Rush is gone and if you're looking to find it here, then skip it. Well, maybe 90% of the album, because the instrumentals are really good...

I mostly agree... except that this album sounds to me a lot more like the old rush than any of the recent albums.  The thing that I really agree with a lot, and that I was trying to say earlier but failed to explain well, is that there isn't anything melodic on this album and the problem is not how they play, but what they play.  I thought the songwriting was the thing lacking in this album, except for 'Far Cry' and the instrumentals... and one other song near the end, I'm forgetting which.  I like music that sounds like more than random noises to me, which is the same reason why I'm not crazy about Emmerson, Lake and Palmer's more experimental work.

MajesterX wrote: Don't give up on Rush, even playing more straight forward rock, they are better than any straight forward rock band our there today.

I guess that depends on what better means to you.  There are a lot of really good straightforward rock bands out there... if you like straightforward rock. :)  If you don't, then yeah I think your statement is true.  But I don't write off bands that aren't prog-rock, I enjoy lots of music, so that statement isn't true for me.


Edited by StarsongAgeless - May 02 2007 at 18:53

erik neuteboom wrote: But to me it seems that many Rush fans in this thread appreciate this kind of straight rock, don't they miss the excitement of 'everlasting' epics?

Yes.  I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But this does not make the album or music terrible.

paolo.beenees wrote: Opinions about this album may vary a lot (personally, I like it, great rock album. It reminds me of a heavier version of the Dave Matthews Band). Nevertheless, Rush on stage are a really exciting show, I wouldn't miss them, for sure! Also because they come to Italy so seldom...

October 28th in Milan...  we'll be there...



I know Raffaella picked it up today...  at BTF in Milan.

I'll pass on it...  I've got a  copy of Caress of Steel and Farewell to Kings when I need to nip the occasional Rush bug.

Angelo wrote: Brought to you by the letter A

That reminds me- what's the story behind the whole "brought to you by the letter...." in the album packets?

erik neuteboom wrote:                                             Hello fellow Rush fans.   I just read the 17 reviews about the new Rush album entitled Snakes & Arrows, the rating alternates between 2 and 5 stars. That sounds quite controversial to say the least! If I try to summarize the reviews I notice that the sound on Rush their new album is way from the Seventies and Eighties sound, it's all about accessible, melodic and simply structured rock music, played by great mucicians who has decided to focus on making songs, embellished with some guitar soli and two instrumentals (these are hailed in almost every review). Well, I am huge Rush fan but only from the era Rush-Hold Your Fire, I have visited every Rush concert in Holland (from the Hemispheres tour on the Pinkpop festival in 1979 until the R30 tour in Rotterdam Ahoy 2006) but I didn't buy the albums since Presto and at this moment I am in heavy doubt or I should even visit the two concerts in October because I am afraid that this is no longer my band although they will play early stuff to their many loyal fans. Is Rush really no longer an interesting rock band with great progressive ideas, should I drop Rush definitively, has this current Rush line-up become an average rock band?   I am curious to your opinions because I feel really bad about Rush and their latest effort and I still have to listen to that album  ...

I agree, you should assume the worst from this album without even listening to it.  That would be the intelligent thing to do.  In fact, we should all base our opinions of everything in the world on hearsay and stop experiencing things for ourselves.  It would be a much simpler way to live.

micky wrote: paolo.beenees wrote: Opinions about this album may vary a lot (personally, I like it, great rock album. It reminds me of a heavier version of the Dave Matthews Band). Nevertheless, Rush on stage are a really exciting show, I wouldn't miss them, for sure! Also because they come to Italy so seldom... October 28th in Milan...  we'll be there... I know Raffaella picked it up today...  at BTF in Milan. I'll pass on it...  I've got a  copy of Caress of Steel and Farewell to Kings when I need to nip the occasional Rush bug.

TheProgtologist wrote: micky wrote: paolo.beenees wrote: Opinions about this album may vary a lot (personally, I like it, great rock album. It reminds me of a heavier version of the Dave Matthews Band). Nevertheless, Rush on stage are a really exciting show, I wouldn't miss them, for sure! Also because they come to Italy so seldom... October 28th in Milan...  we'll be there... I know Raffaella picked it up today...  at BTF in Milan. I'll pass on it...  I've got a  copy of Caress of Steel and Farewell to Kings when I need to nip the occasional Rush bug.   I have tickets to the June 23rd show at the Nissan Pavilion,I was hoping you were going to attend because that is the closest venue to DC and Baltimore.

the Nissan Pavilion is right up the road from me damn...

well get a chance to meet Jody... I'll be back in Rome in June . and then we are coming back to to DC for July.  We'd definitely like to me you. 


Edited by micky - May 02 2007 at 22:25

I'm afraid I dropped Rush after witnessing the travesty that was the Roll the Bones tour.. but I would certainly give any new record a chance (though I would not buy it unheard).

I've never been a fan of Vapor Trails as an album, but oh boy how good it felt after about five listens of S&A. Yes, it's too long and the sound is pretty bad, but at least there's energy, some good riffs and some good melodies, all of which are almost completely absent from S&A. Now I've listened to it about 10-15 times, and I still can't get very excited. Far Cry is a definite highlight (couldn't have believed after hearing it the first time) and I like the instrumentals too, but some good parts aside the rest are (I try to think of a better word, but can't come up with anything better than) boring. But well, maybe it will get better. I hope so. Two stars so far.

This thread was meant to clear up things but after three pages I am even in more doubt  ... today I go shopping, perhaps I will buy the new Rush album, I am very curious to the two instrumentals on Snakes & Arrows. So don't be surprised when you take a look at the homepage today and you will notice a sheer euphoric review about the new Rush album by me  !