Rush Fan in Michigan Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) OK, I know there aren't a lot of 'Counterparts' fans in the forum. But I've been playing it a lot for this week's R40 Countdown entry, and it dawned on me that this is the best sounding Rush album. We all know about the issues with "Vapor Trails" and I've heard beefs about "Clockwork Angels." But playing "Counterparts" this week it seems crisp. Neil's drums, from the first strikes of "Animate," seem to hit right in the chest. There's breathing room around the guitar and bass and Geddy's vocals aren't dubbed into mush. I have no trouble making out everything he sings. I don't know if this is a mixing thing or a recording thing or an engineering thing. But it just jumps out of the speakers more so than other Rush albums. Am I alone here? As for the actual songs. there's a lot to like here. I confess I haven't dived too deeply into it in a while. But I ended up liking it more than I remembered. Love "Cold Fire" and "Everyday Glory." I still don't know what the heck is going on in "Double Agent." Anyway, here's our post for the week. I've got "Counterparts" at No. 8, and Will has "Hemispheres." Rush R40 Countdown at No.8: Complicated 'Counterparts' sounds superior Edited April 7, 2015 by Rush Fan in Michigan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclonus X-1 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts is a great album, and yes, it sounds great too. I've always liked the Hemispheres guitar tone, but I think Rush found their optimal sound with Moving Pictures. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaminbenb Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I always thought that the overall sound of Caress of Steel was amazing! And to think that it was done in the mid 70's is even better! Nothing like that thick old analog sound! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteen Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Agreed. Counterparts sounds great. All th instruments have space. And Geddys singing is good too. IMO sound quality went down hill after Countetparts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The song you called "Everyday People" is actually called "Everyday Glory". Of the two, I prefer The Sly and the Family Stone song to the mediocre Rush song. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalsBandGuy Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts is top 5 as far as good 'sounding' albums go. The Caveman really pulled it out of the boys. BUT, the BEST 'sounding' Rush album is Permanent Waves. The perfect blend of power, clarity, tone, mixing, etc. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts sounds really good. I also like Signals, Hemispheres and if you go by the Sector versions, even the debut sounds really good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powderfinger Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Best sounding album? Probably have to go with Moving Pictures, maybe Hemispheres. I prefer Alex's guitar tone from COS through Hemispheres. We should start a thread on Alex's tone. I'd like to know what others think on that topic. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 It's impossible to pick just one. I guess Moving Pictures or Caress of Steel or Clockwork Angels would be my choices. Counterparts sounds pretty good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driven_to_xanadu Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts and Test for Echo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Avatar Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Best Sounding Rush albums, in order (IMO): 1) Moving Pictures 2) Permanent Waves3) Counterparts4) Hemispheres5) Test for Echo Dominated by Broon and Peter Collins. Best producers they ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILSnwdog Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Vapor Trails. I kid. Moving Pictures is perfection. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Honestly I think they all sounded really good up through Signals. After that it was a bit hit or miss. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertrobyn Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 counterparts really really sounds great on SACD gold disc. I'm a big fan of high end audio 2112 also is outstanding bluray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 top 5 best sounding to me. no order 1. MP2.COS3. Waves4. Hemispheres5. CP (Awful Material though) Mick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grasbo Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts,Moving Pictures and ,ahem,i like the shiny panoramic sound of RTB(yes,i am ducking already,but i like RTB).As for Alex's guitar tone,GUP wins it for me because it was a turning point in his style and sound,away from the standard rock sound.Honorable mention to the debut ,it rocked.The worst VT and Presto for lack of balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Counterparts was a huge return to form sound-wise after the previous two albums' quietness and the 80sness of a number of other previous albums (not that that was necessarily a bad thing; it went well with the music at the time). It was about time Rush not only wrote mainly guitar driven songs that rocked hard (some of the eighties rocked hard and wasn't guitar driven, RTB was the opposite), but that they had a definite rock production as well. That said, Rush's greatest sound and production is undeniably found on PeW and MP. Those two albums are in a realm of their very own, perhaps that of the greatest produced albums of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddy's Soul Patch Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 A Farewell to Kings has a clear sound that no other Rush album has achieved 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The song you called "Everyday People" is actually called "Everyday Glory". Of the two, I prefer The Sly and the Family Stone song to the mediocre Rush song. :P I love both songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Vapor Trails. I kid. Moving Pictures is perfection. You are a funny man... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I agree with just about all that has been said here...I say Permanent Waves reached the apex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Best sounding album? Probably have to go with Moving Pictures, maybe Hemispheres. I prefer Alex's guitar tone from COS through Hemispheres. We should start a thread on Alex's tone. I'd like to know what others think on that topic. On the subject of Alex's tone, I'd say Hemispheres, without a doubt. He achieved a tone on that album that was unlike anything he's ever done, before or since. Just outta sight! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Fan in Michigan Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 The song you called "Everyday People" is actually called "Everyday Glory". Of the two, I prefer The Sly and the Family Stone song to the mediocre Rush song. Good catch. I had it right elsewhere in the post. Not sure how that snuck in! Fixed now. But I'm unfamiliar with this concept of a mediocre Rush song. I know of some that are not quite as glorious as others... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
condemned2bfree Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) Best sounding album is pw. Agree though cp is a great sounding album, the best of the' modern albums, though the definition of modern varies. There is an interview with Kevin 'caveman' shirley,; the guy who produced Counterparts. Kevin has a disdain for compression, stating he holds back on maiden albums, and has strong opinions on the overcompression with mastering trend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjr8Qq9laHI Doubt that mr shirley and rush will work again though Edited April 7, 2015 by condemned2bfree 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabesCavesOfIce Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 (edited) Of the later albums, CP is getting the most respect above. It could have been awesome. Too much damage done by the era that precedes it, the sophistication pretend era. Gotta find my swimmies. . Edited April 7, 2015 by Gabrielgil513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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