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Victor Or My Favorite Headache, Which Solo album is better?


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  1. 1. Which Solo Album Is Better?



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Victor for me, and what would have made Victor even better is getting Dalbello to sing all of the record and not use Edwin at all. Or even Sebastian Bach, apparently he recorded a song with Lifeson early on in the project - Edwin's voice just isn't very interesting.
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Do I have to hand in my Rush fanclub membership if I admit that I haven't listened to either album?

I guess take my card too then...
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I'm not crazy about either record. I agree with those who say that these two projects demonstrate why Alex and Geddy need each other.

 

I only listened to Victor once and found it to be such a mess that I haven't had any desire to revisit it. I listen to My Favourite Headache from time to time, and it always appeals on a certain level because there's that familiar voice and that thing, whatever it is, about the way that Geddy plays bass that irresistibly attracts my ear, but ultimately I never find it very satisfying, and it just makes me want to listen to Rush.

 

So, in short, neither, really, but My Favourite Headache, because Geddy.

Edited by GeddysMullet
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I've just listened to both again. My opinion is unchanged as to which is best, but I will say that I too like MFH better than a few Rush albums. It really is very good. And I agree that I would rather Alex had went with another singer.

 

I'd welcome another Lee solo effort, and I would like to see Lifeson try again with more focus. On that note, I am fine with them working together.

 

Just don't call it Rush and it's no slight on Peart.

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"Taking a chance" does not necessarily make a record good. I've read elsewhere that because Geddy "played it safe" and Alex did things he couldn't do in Rush, that makes Victor a better record. Using that mentality, The Elder by KISS would be good too or Diamond Dave by DLR would be great. Edited by Fordgalaxy
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For my part I didn't say Geddy 'played it safe', I said it was safe. The former implies an attempt to release expected material, while the latter just means it was expected. I know you didn't single me out, I just wanted to clarify my own stance. I sounded like I really liked Victor, but the truth is that I really liked what Alex tried to do with Victor. Personally I assume Geddy tried to make a good album by his standards which unsurprisingly means sounding like Rush. Not saying he was consciously emulating Rush as much as that is what a Lee record sounds like.

 

With Victor I feel like I hear Alex trying to explore the whole map. That didn't make a good record, btw. But I like the challenge and I do think it was brave as their must have been pressure to do the expected once he decided to go very much another way.

 

I just respect the challenge and effort and I can see what he was going for. And I think it would have been a better record without Edwin's voice. I don't think he fit the songs in the style he chose. I might like it a lot better with a different voice.

Edited by Mosher
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"Taking a chance" does not necessarily make a record good. I've read elsewhere that because Geddy "played it safe" and Alex did things he couldn't do in Rush, that makes Victor a better record. Using that mentality, The Elder by KISS would be good too or Diamond Dave by DLR would be great.

 

The Elder has enormous kitch / nostalgic value .. I have no idea how it would sound to a first time listener today, and I hated it when I was 14, but there is something special in something that bad

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"Taking a chance" does not necessarily make a record good. I've read elsewhere that because Geddy "played it safe" and Alex did things he couldn't do in Rush, that makes Victor a better record. Using that mentality, The Elder by KISS would be good too or Diamond Dave by DLR would be great.

 

The Elder has enormous kitch / nostalgic value .. I have no idea how it would sound to a first time listener today, and I hated it when I was 14, but there is something special in something that bad

 

So bad it's good. Like, Plan 9 From Outer Space.

Edited by Fordgalaxy
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"Taking a chance" does not necessarily make a record good. I've read elsewhere that because Geddy "played it safe" and Alex did things he couldn't do in Rush, that makes Victor a better record. Using that mentality, The Elder by KISS would be good too or Diamond Dave by DLR would be great.

 

The Elder has enormous kitch / nostalgic value .. I have no idea how it would sound to a first time listener today, and I hated it when I was 14, but there is something special in something that bad

 

So bad it's good. Like, Plan 9 From Outer Space.

 

.. or Showgirls

 

In retrospect, the question could be "Is it that bad or is it ingenious satire" ??

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My favourite headache is one of my favourite albums by any artist. And it have listened to it too many times to count. I think I have listened to Victor....one or two times. And that was a struggle.
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I think one has to view the albums within the context of when they were released. Victor was more an experiment, a way for Al to do a few things he hadn't been able to do in Rush; I never thought of it as his attempt at a proper stand-alone solo album, but rather him just having some fun in-between Rush projects. Al was not thinking long term solo career.

Ged released MFH under the very real possibility that it would be the beginning of a reluctant solo career, since at the time it seemed Rush was done and over. So he was putting the same care and effort into it that he would a Rush album.

Interestingly, I think what Alex did on Victor did find its way into the DNA of Rush on Vapor Trails; and MFH seemed to inform Snakes and Arrows, while CA is almost a blending of the two. In that respect they were both important to what Rush would do on their future albums.

Edited by Wil1972
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I think one has to view the albums within the context of when they were released. Victor was more an experiment, a way for Al to do a few things he hadn't been able to do in Rush; I never thought of it as his attempt at a proper stand-alone solo album, but rather him just having some fun in-between Rush projects. Al was not thinking long term solo career.

Ged released MFH under the very real possibility that it would be the beginning of a reluctant solo career, since at the time it seemed Rush was done and over. So he was putting the same care and effort into it that he would a Rush album.

Interestingly, I think what Alex did on Victor did find its way into the DNA of Rush on Vapor Trails; and MFH seemed to inform Snakes and Arrows, while CA is almost a blending of the two. In that respect they were both important to what Rush would do on their future albums.

 

This is an interesting take that makes me almost want to listen to Victor again.

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I think one has to view the albums within the context of when they were released. Victor was more an experiment, a way for Al to do a few things he hadn't been able to do in Rush; I never thought of it as his attempt at a proper stand-alone solo album, but rather him just having some fun in-between Rush projects. Al was not thinking long term solo career.

Ged released MFH under the very real possibility that it would be the beginning of a reluctant solo career, since at the time it seemed Rush was done and over. So he was putting the same care and effort into it that he would a Rush album.

Interestingly, I think what Alex did on Victor did find its way into the DNA of Rush on Vapor Trails; and MFH seemed to inform Snakes and Arrows, while CA is almost a blending of the two. In that respect they were both important to what Rush would do on their future albums.

yeah i recall when album released thinking this is Al just p*ssing about experimenting a bit but, there's no two ways about it man, is just a sh*t album. failure simply cannot be excused for whatever reason, no doubt Al wanted to produce best solo effort he could as the committed professional he was and the simple fact is, Victor just doesnt match up in any way to MFH Which is a thoroughly fine artistic piece of work. both guys will have spent ample time working on their solo projects, one was a virtual waste of energy and the other was an exceptional album, it's ok to say that. the man is the most imaginative rock guitarist there'll ever be, but dont make excuses for his failures. Victor is sh*t :)

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I think one has to view the albums within the context of when they were released. Victor was more an experiment, a way for Al to do a few things he hadn't been able to do in Rush; I never thought of it as his attempt at a proper stand-alone solo album, but rather him just having some fun in-between Rush projects. Al was not thinking long term solo career.

Ged released MFH under the very real possibility that it would be the beginning of a reluctant solo career, since at the time it seemed Rush was done and over. So he was putting the same care and effort into it that he would a Rush album.

Interestingly, I think what Alex did on Victor did find its way into the DNA of Rush on Vapor Trails; and MFH seemed to inform Snakes and Arrows, while CA is almost a blending of the two. In that respect they were both important to what Rush would do on their future albums.

yeah i recall when album released thinking this is Al just p*ssing about experimenting a bit but, there's no two ways about it man, is just a sh*t album. failure simply cannot be excused for whatever reason, no doubt Al wanted to produce best solo effort he could as the committed professional he was and the simple fact is, Victor just doesnt match up in any way to MFH Which is a thoroughly fine artistic piece of work. both guys will have spent ample time working on their solo projects, one was a virtual waste of energy and the other was an exceptional album, it's ok to say that. the man is the most imaginative rock guitarist there'll ever be, but dont make excuses for his failures. Victor is sh*t :)

I'm imagining that you've got both hands covering your ears and saying repeatedly: "Victor is shit Victor is shit Victor is shit lalalalalalalalalala....." :LOL:

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Headache easily. It's just much more listenable with better songs and much more melody. Victor is a disappointment for me, not much good playing, no good songs. Seems like Alex is lost without Geddy and cannot find a good tune without him or even a good solo. He couldn't even find a good singer.
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