Jump to content

Bravest Face: Magic Place or So Weak?


JohnnyBlaze
 Share

Bravest Face  

29 members have voted

  1. 1. Which thought is closest to yours regarding Bravest Face?

    • Honestly, it's my favorite Rush tune. It's perfect lyrically and musically.
      0
    • It's way up there. One of Rush's best for sure.
    • It's not in the upper echelon of Rush songs but I like it quite a bit.
    • It's an alright tune that's ripped too often.
    • I don't like it too much but there are other Rush songs that are worse.
    • I hate it. I skip it every time and/or haven't listened to it in a while.
  2. 2. What grade would you give Bravest Face?



Recommended Posts

Atonal, tone-deaf crap.

 

But...but...would tone deafness matter to atonality?

 

Tone deaf has to do with someone being unable to perceive pitch, atonal means not written in any key or mode.

 

So... :wtf: I dunno. Still results in discordant crap.

Edited by Alien Girl
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Atonal, tone-deaf crap.

 

But...but...would tone deafness matter to atonality?

 

Tone deaf has to do with someone being unable to perceive pitch, atonal means not written in any key or mode.

 

So... :wtf: I dunno. Still results in discordant crap.

 

 

More discordant atonality!!

 

Some combination of those words can also be applied to Good News First and We Hold On...discordant, atonal, tone-deaf, but most especially crap.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Atonal, tone-deaf crap.

 

But...but...would tone deafness matter to atonality?

 

Tone deaf has to do with someone being unable to perceive pitch, atonal means not written in any key or mode.

 

So... :wtf: I dunno. Still results in discordant crap.

 

 

More discordant atonality!!

 

Some combination of those words can also be applied to Good News First and We Hold On...discordant, atonal, tone-deaf, but most especially crap.

Except for the instrumentals, which are still nowhere near YYZ and La Villa, and Far Cry, S&A is filled with tedious demonizing set to dull, dreary music.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Atonal, tone-deaf crap.

 

But...but...would tone deafness matter to atonality?

 

Tone deaf has to do with someone being unable to perceive pitch, atonal means not written in any key or mode.

 

So... :wtf: I dunno. Still results in discordant crap.

 

 

More discordant atonality!!

 

Some combination of those words can also be applied to Good News First and We Hold On...discordant, atonal, tone-deaf, but most especially crap.

Except for the instrumentals, which are still nowhere near YYZ and La Villa, and Far Cry, S&A is filled with tedious demonizing set to dull, dreary music.

With the exception of those three songs (Good News First, We Hold On, Bravest Face-the trifecta of fillers), I actually like S&A. It reminds of good times...so I guess you could say it's a nostalgia album for me, which is funny in that it's only 10 years old.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This got posted on another thread as a reply, but I thought it really deserves to be here as a tribute to this great song. Sorry about the double post!

 

Bravest Face is one of my all time favourite RUSH songs. The lyrics are a big part of that, but even with just some nondescript lyrics, it would still rank very highly for me. Here are some of the things that get me most excited when I hear this song (excluding lyrics since we've gone over that):

 

1. The acoustic guitar riff on the verse: Every time I hear that riff it floors me. It is so intricate and delicate while being powerful. It makes move. It then gets layered with other guitar parts that really compliment its subtle awesomeness. It is such a different and interesting guitar part that I never get sick of it.

 

Do you all dislike the riff? Do you not think it is one of Alex's most interesting guitar parts? How or why does it not inspire you?

 

 

2. The verse melody: This is such a perfect compliment to the awesome acoustic riff. One of the things I love is how Geddy does the little high jump in the melody that plays with the key. You know, on the parts where he sings "wonderful" & "all the murders". It reminds me of the similar thing Kurt Cobain did on the chorus of Heart Shape Box. Very original and something not found on any other RUSH song to my recollection. Just another reason why this song is special.

 

Do you guys not hear the thing I am talking about? Do you not feel like the vocal melody by Geddy on this song is pretty different from almost anything else the band has done? Or is that the reason you don't like it, because it doesn't sound like RUSH to you? I find this melody to be quite unique and really engaging.

 

 

3. The chorus melody: I like the catchy stuff. I know many here do not. There is a lot of dislike thrown to RUSH's more "radio friendly" songs of the 80s. That is my favourite RUSH period, so I am bias to a nice catchy melody that makes me feel like singing along. This one is right up there with my favourites from the 80s. It has a really good sing-along quality, but it also has some desperation which I really like. A mix of catchy and desperation is not commonly found. In that sense it reminds me of Red Sector A, which is a very different song, but is also punctuated by a catchy chorus laced with a sentiment of desperation. I love it! I find it to be very intense, which is my favourite quality in music.

 

I am guess that people just don't find the chorus to be all that catchy or if they do it is not something that they care about. Do you not see how it has some similarities to Red Sector A in the way that catchiness is balanced with desperation? Is that not something that is interesting to you?

 

 

4. The guitar solo: I don't usually put a lot of weight on guitar solos when it comes to quality of songs, but this is one of my favourites by Alex. It's a little bit of a weird one, because in many ways it is a traditional blues solo, but the blues kinda works as a counterpoint to the background music. That to me is interesting and challenging. It is somehow mellow and quick at the same time. I like this a lot.

 

Do you guys just think it is too short? Do you not feel like it is kind of an unexpected solo choice for the background music that makes it something special?

 

 

5. The layered guitars all over the verses, pre-chorus & chorus: There are so many guitars on this song and they are all playing something different and interesting! I love that at the beginning of the verses you just get the single acoustic guitar riff and then there is the little Neil hi-hat taps that feel like they are pulling you back to signal the start of the vocals and all the layered guitars. They are everywhere and often playing very different parts that work both in concert and as counterpoint. It's just so great. There is so much to listen to in here and it really is intense the way the guitars work both together and against themselves in the song. It actually compliments the sentiment of the lyrics and brings the whole song together! It is absolutely brilliant and one of the songs I never get tired of hearing.

 

Do you hear all the layers of guitars? Do you not find the way they work off each other to be interesting? I know that lead riff in the verses can sound lazy to some, but it is meant to be be a counterpoint to the very fast playing on the acoustic riff. I personally really like that. Perhaps you just hear the lead and forget that it is working with all the other guitars?

 

 

6. The crescendo at the end with the acoustic outro: It keeps building and building until it is loud and intense and grabs you by your shirt and shakes you. And it is just at that point when you feel as strongly as you can, it takes you back down to the beautiful acoustic riff and Geddy's awesome melody. It almost brings me to tears because it is such a cool way to end a song!

 

 

Okay... so this is why I don't get all the hate. I could understand ambivalence towards the song, but the hate leaves me baffled. It is such a perfect song for me. It means so much to me, not only from a lyrical perspective, but also in all the ways I described above. I keep thinking how could a RUSH fan hate this song?!?!? That's what leads me to think it could be politics. Either that, or if you're one of the fans that thinks Hemispheres is the be all end all, because I honestly feel that album has very little to do with the RUSH I know and love.

 

For those reading this, if you want to reply please try to do so only with mature and considerate replies. If you only really have something insulting or derogatory about the song, album, or how I feel about it then it's probably best that you don't waste your time and move on to another topic.

Edited by diatribein
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to admit (ok, I don't have to, but I will), I skip a lot of those songs from the last 2 albums. I don't even know which song it is, but the one where he sings about the "big, steel wheels" gets stuck in my head and drives me nuts so I skip all of them just in case.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to admit (ok, I don't have to, but I will), I skip a lot of those songs from the last 2 albums. I don't even know which song it is, but the one where he sings about the "big, steel wheels" gets stuck in my head and drives me nuts so I skip all of them just in case.

 

That was very funny. :cheers:

 

Just hope that John Rogers doesn't see it. He'll demand your fan club card back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to admit (ok, I don't have to, but I will), I skip a lot of those songs from the last 2 albums. I don't even know which song it is, but the one where he sings about the "big, steel wheels" gets stuck in my head and drives me nuts so I skip all of them just in case.

 

That was very funny. :cheers:

 

Just hope that John Rogers doesn't see it. He'll demand your fan club card back.

I would've been kicked out years ago because I don't have a memory for stuff like that. To this day, I can't accurately tell you what album some songs are on or even what the song title is of some songs upon hearing them. But ask me about the Bay City Rollers...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...