Schro Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I had a thread a bit ago on Rush songs that took awhile to grow on you. This might be related but I still thought it justified a new topic. (if it doesn't I'll just be talking in my corner here by myself lol - won't be the first time) My question here: Rush has always been evolving - which songs do you think they pushed outside themselves the most? These are Rush songs you like that, if you could step outside yourself, you would be a bit surprised you that you like them, because they carried a different sound than you were used to hearing from the boys. Here's a couple from my list: Jacob's ladder Aside from the odd time signitures, one could make an argument that this doesn't seem like a Rush song. It repeats alot, not very reminiscent of the band. There's no aggressive bass line for Geddy. No guitar solo. Obscure (even for Neil) lyrics. At many points, there's just a simple single-note keyboard melody driving the entire song. But damn if I can't get enough of this song! Despite the above, I must say that it takes me to a very Rush-like place. It's about atmosphere and building momentum. It captivates me. Middletown Dreams I had a really hard time with this album in general when it first came out. But MD was one of those that especially didn't click with me. Melody-wise it was a bit confusing, you couldn't tell if the guitar was driving the song or the keyboards. Neil goes into story-telling mode that seems to go all over the place, and the drumming seems a bit subdued. But now I like the story Neil tells and don't mind how it wanders around a bit. And I don't see the guitar and keyboards competing so much as bouncing off each other. I think it helped introduce me to a different way a song can be held together. Let's hear from you guys, Schro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yyz Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I guess Chemistry and Analog Kid expanded me some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RushGuru Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Hmmmm... These are hard to think of. One that springs to my mind is Cold Fire. When I first that first line it kind of suprised me. I hadn't heard Neil write an almost love song before. To me it didn't really sound like the boy's style music or lyric-wise. This song took me a long time to get to like. I felt like Neil was starting to be like everyone else, writing songs about relationships and whatnot. I don't mind anymore. It's still not one of my favorites, but it has a good melody and mood. It's just different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaine mac Roth Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 If you don't mind me saying, I think that, in some ways, this is a slightly redundant topic. The one thing that has always attracted me to Rush is that fact that, although they have a signature sound, the only thing you can expect from Rush is that they will do something unexpected. That said, the times they have caught me on the hop are: Red Lenses - If any song, by any band, defies categorization, its this one. A mixture of feels, rhythms and moods, coupled with lyrics that are almost stream of consiousness, makes this a song in a genre of its own. Summertime Blues: Rush doing a cover!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleAgent420 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I don't really like Fountain Of Lamneth but it was the forefather of epics like 2112 and Hemispheres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowdog Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I agree with Slaine, Red Lenses is definitely a song that pushed them in an unusual direction. And for some reason, I've always loved this song. It's a complete departure from anything they've ever done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new19world91man Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Ceiling Unlimited I love that song but i don't really like anything else off of Vapor Trails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Porschetta Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Double Agent and all of Feedbacl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Well originally being a lover of their old material as I was introduced to them with the likes of Hemispheres. AFTK, Fly By Night etc, I would say that the first songs that I thought was a bit diverse for them, that I found myself liking were 'Time Stand Still' and 'Red Sector A', also 'The Body Electric' and 'Emotion Detector'. I think its no surprise after listing these, that they all come from the mid-80s era, a kind of transitional period for them in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus_X1 Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 QUOTE (rickyrob @ Feb 22 2005, 02:27 AM) Well originally being a lover of their old material as I was introduced to them with the likes of Hemispheres. AFTK, Fly By Night etc, I would say that the first songs that I thought was a bit diverse for them, that I found myself liking were 'Time Stand Still' and 'Red Sector A', also 'The Body Electric' and 'Emotion Detector'. I think its no surprise after listing these, that they all come from the mid-80s era, a kind of transitional period for them in my opinion. Couldnt have said it better myself. The first Rush albums I heard where 2112, AFTK and Hemispheres so the stuff they did in the 80's period I found very diverse compared to the older stuff. Manhatten Project is a good example for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pratt Boy Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 When I first heard 'Red Lenses', I thought it was something a Big Band would play. 'Scars' was quite different for me, too. I love them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 A song that fits the proposed description for me would have to be KID GLOVES. When i first heard that song it was when i had bought GUP and my first reaction was what a cool intro!! the song continued and it did have a lot of Rush elements, however, there was a certain feeling to the song that touched me in a different way than most Rush songs. It could be because the song somewhat escapes the theme of the other songs on the album.....at least musically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 A lot of the songs from Signals for me. Analog Kid, Chemistry, Digital Man, The Weapn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anagramking Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I agree with the Middletown Dreams assertion made earlier, and Scars as well. Roll the Bones was one that was a departure for them. Rap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let The Fray Begin Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Mystic Rythms. I absolutely hated that song when I first heard it. For me, it didn't sound like Rush's other work... slow and overly drawn out... however, I have come to like the song as much as any other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 QUOTE (Let The Fray Begin @ Feb 23 2005, 09:50 PM) Mystic Rythms. I absolutely hated that song when I first heard it. For me, it didn't sound like Rush's other work... slow and overly drawn out... however, I have come to like the song as much as any other Great song. Much better live than on Power Windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amrush Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 The first song that really jumped out at me and screamed 'OK, this is different' was "Natural Science". Plenty of others followed, but that was the first... AM Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 When I first listened to Rush, I started with Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves, Signals followed not more then a couple weeks later. So most of that material didnt seem that different to me. Then I started working my way through thier back catelog and eventually picked up the Rush album maybe a year later. I had heard Working Man on the radio a bit, but was actually suprised with the direction of most of the material on that album. Songs like Take a Friend, Need Some Love, What You're Doing, to me those all seemed like songs that could have easily been Led Zeppelin covers. I was used to hearing music from a band that wrote completely original and complex material, and now I'm hearing them play could-be Zep tunes. I am sure not many of you can relate here, as thier first album was probably one of your first, but for relatively new fan such as myself (didnt even hear of them until about half a year before Geddy's solo album), I was suprised at that material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let The Fray Begin Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 QUOTE (Moonraker @ Feb 25 2005, 12:01 PM) When I first listened to Rush, I started with Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves, Signals followed not more then a couple weeks later. So most of that material didnt seem that different to me. Then I started working my way through thier back catelog and eventually picked up the Rush album maybe a year later. I had heard Working Man on the radio a bit, but was actually suprised with the direction of most of the material on that album. Songs like Take a Friend, Need Some Love, What You're Doing, to me those all seemed like songs that could have easily been Led Zeppelin covers. I was used to hearing music from a band that wrote completely original and complex material, and now I'm hearing them play could-be Zep tunes. I am sure not many of you can relate here, as thier first album was probably one of your first, but for relatively new fan such as myself (didnt even hear of them until about half a year before Geddy's solo album), I was suprised at that material. Wow. My best friend was sitting in my room listening to Rush with me, and he even commented "These could be Zeppelin covers." This wasn't more than a week ago, striking coincidence I'd say... its clear they changed their musical direction a bit for Fly By Night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus_X1 Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 QUOTE (Let The Fray Begin @ Feb 25 2005, 12:03 PM) its clear they changed their musical direction a bit for Fly By Night. God bless Neil Peart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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