Leaderboard

Me and my First Drum Set.[kit] http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%20me%20on%20my%20kit%20spring%2073.jpg Notice the Three Dog Night poster on the wall behind me. It was part of the "Golden Biscuits" album that came out in late '70 had all the hits up to the point it was issued, but that Next summer, "Joy To The World" came out, and it's included on that album as far as the CD goes..... http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Banana%20World/BananaDrumset.gif

Been a while.

Me and my other half at Kew Gardens. http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/Philippa_Basham/Facebook/Timeline%20Photos/14925293_1064939606957073_6938977274961545966_n_zpsefrwzfzn.jpg

Perhaps "failure" is not the right word .. In science, it's the great unknown - the never ending "why" and push for understanding .. Experimentation ... But in art, it is often written off as failure .. In certain circumstances, can a "successful" album simply be seen as giving the audience what it expects ?? Reading the thread about owning an artist's entire catalog got me thinking .. There is a lot of music that I don't know about, and some of that is because what I am familiar with from certain performers is what is well known - and perhaps I am not digging deep enough, writing off a performer simply because the well known music has not struck me as special .. And when I say "failure", I am talking about the albums some artists have put out, and for whatever reason, whether it be from the fans, the media or the artist themselves, that album or period has been shunned or written off as a misfire .. But that can be the most interesting or revealing of a career .. It can also be a springboard for understanding where the performer is coming from .. Two examples are Neil Young's "Trans" period and KISS' The Elder .. both came from left field and stand alone in their respective catalogs ... Do the failures sometimes give a better insight to the performer ?? .. And what are some other examples ?? Some bands and performers have extensive catalogs that in which at some point, they must have tried something .... I don't mean just the natural progression of a band ie Signals, Grace, Power Windows - I mean a one or two album period that was completely unexpected ... . .

P.S. that pic is from around Sept. of '73 ^^^^^ This one is from about a year later, Oct. '74, the Stereo Area, on top of a file cabinet. drumset's out of sight to the right. You'll notice from my posters That I've purchased the Beatles White Album that year, and a Beatles Fanzine with pics from the Magical Mystery Tour movie. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon", as well as Alice Coopers' "Billion Dollar Babies". Also a friend hanging there adorning my 'Lair' with it's skull, my fetish from childhood, Skeletons and Skulls. The Stereo consists of, a Sony 20 watt receiver, a Radioshack Lab 36 turntable,Rabbit ears antenna, some type of modern headphones and Realistic Full range loudspeakers, 6 full range speakers per cabinet. Had those until my purchase of the JBL L-100s in May of '78! http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%2074%20summer%20late%20The%20stereo%20area.jpg :banana:

:goodone: Wish I could like this post a thousand times, and that there were more posts like this. Well failures, are as subjective as art, but from what I understand, your post is suggesting, that an album that deviates from an artists typical style -that will likely bomb in terms of sales popularity - is viewed as a failure. But yes my view is that it can be extremely revealing and not necessarily a failure, and possibly far more rewarding, for engagement. I have always looked at it like this, and I suppose its like the digging deeper bit, you mention. That is I prefer seeing art before it is totally completed. It shows more of the thought process, bare,unforgiving, its just more damn exciting! The finished art, can be as the artist intended, yet concealing, in aspects. And my analogy is similar to what you suggest, I feel. Bands and performers put out albums that crash sales wise, due to a stylistic or songwriting change, but go a long way to giving a rounded insight to themselves as a performer. Always think of the sentiment in natural science. Must be difficult to balance creative forces with certain demands, that put an artist in the position they are in. I embrace artistic anomalies and frailties that come along from time to time, it can be satisfying and an interesting new perspective - like you say gives an insight to a performer..

Great thread idea! I'm oddly often drawn to albums that are considered their (relative) failures. Examples include The Doors Soft Parade, Suzanne Vega's 99.9 F, and RUSH's Vapor Trails. I think maybe there's an honesty to them that I like.

You guys look great and the fall scenery is lovely!

Me in the summer of '74 in the Music alcove area with my "BUDMAN" T-shirt. The Ian Hunter poster behind me was from my subscription to CIRCUS magazine. In later years' I took ads for RUSH albums from that same 'brand' magazine... if you go back to my RUSH SHRINE photos, you'll see those! http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%2074%20High%20summer%20Me%20and%20BUD%20MAN%20my%20Fave%20T-shirt%20at%20that%20time.jpg :banana:

Me Playing the 'new' kit, at a Day after Thanksgiving Party I had in my 'LAIR', at which girls from a family we'd met on a spring Band Trip to Indian River, Mi. attended! http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%2074%20Me%20playing%20my%20kit%20at%20Party%20night%20after%20Thanksgiving.jpg :banana:

Oct. '74, the first ADDITION to THE KIT. Metal flake Red, White and Blue striped Slingerlands, added to the champagne Premiers. http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%2074%20Fall%20New%20addition%20to%20drum%20kit.jpg :banana:

The next pic after that last one on this roll....the "Music Alcove" in my 'Lair' in Oct. '74. http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%2074%20Fall%20The%20Stereo%20area%20posters%20etc..jpg :banana:

This is their payback for the extinction of their brother, the passenger pigeon, a century ago!

Easily my favorite comedy of all time. Probably in my top 5 movies of all time, in the top 10 at the very least.

http://pics.filmaffinity.com/this_is_spinal_tap-129984257-large.jpg

I'll never see the word "babycat" in the same light again No one's grabbing me! :o

Probably the best Rush-related joke I've ever heard.

Here's the upgrade of the JAMS section after I'd moved it to the last place It was ensconced. the south end of the basement! This is Dec. of '78, the JBL L-100 loudspeakers are there, At this time I had a Marantz 2238 receiver, a BIC turntable, a JVC KD-35 cassette deck. The next upgrade came in May of '79, with my purchase of the LINN SONDEK LP-12 turntable... http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Me%20stuff/My%20memories-%20The%20Jams%20Dept.%20in%20The%20Lair%20Fall%2078.jpg :banana:

One album I swear most of the band died inside to have seen released was Kilroy. Everything from that time and since then makes me question how much was sincere about that album. I hate it so much but even if I remove my opinion I still think it's a piece of junk from start to finish. On every level. Just so bad. Even if it was a parody album I would hate it so much. I enjoyed the album and most people I knew at the time did as well. Concept albums weren't very rare at the time and it wasn't considered that unusual since we all were aware of the kind of music Dennis loved doing. To show how it wasn't universally despised my high school adopted "Don't let it end" as our senior song.

i agree here Goose me too. one album that fans AND the artist dismiss is Billy Joel's Streetlife Saranade. I love that record so much.......and billy thinks not, lol Mick

80's vocals, easily for me. He still sounds like Geddy but he also sounds like he knows how best to use his voice. And he hits emotions with a depth that he didn't have before PeW.

Perhaps in the sense it makes the artist focus on returning to the things that made him who they are after a poor but rxperimental release. For example supercollider by megadeth was just horrible imo. Then they returned with a couple better efforts in the next two. Those two releases set up arguably one of their best works with dystopia. Not sure if my point makes sense or not, but an interrsting thread

Art is a funny thing. I have albums by my fav artists that i absolutly hate. i mean loath, lol. but at the same time i have to step out of myself and Say wait.....while this was being made. they weren't making a "bad" album. they most likely were trying to build another facet to their story and had the guts to put it out there. now their opinions on their art may change too.......as we've seen from many many artists. but at the time of creation......i have to believe that they believed in their art. otherwise it wouldn't be here for us to explore.......and bitch about, lol

Actually I confess my appreciation for two more EP songs: Nocturnal Me and Missionary Man. Really. I can't stand the song Bible, though. From 1 to 10 I rank 5. Their concerts are excellent though! :clap: From 1 to 10 I rank 20!! :)

Lucas, very good question. I guess my comment on St. Anger is telling in this respect. My view on that is that I am truly drawn to artists that aren't content to do the same thing over and over. Art is an expression of the soul and if that is not growing and changing it is no longer alive. Now sometimes those experiments don't click with me or where I am, but I can still respect that they did what they believed in. I know I may have jested a bit to harshly, but it's how I feel about that particular album. I tried to like it but it just didn't work for me. On the other hand sometimes those experimental albums can be among my favorites; COS, Vapor Trails, Led Zeppelin III, Heritage are a few examples. So I honestly don't see them as failures per se, I assume the artists loved what they were doing and are happy with it, but possibly if a large segment of their fan base didn't relate to what they were doing it wasn't a "success" commercially. ETA: I would venture to guess that those albums do reveal a new side than had been previously explored and it may be the case that if it weren't, any new material might run the risk of becoming less than genuine. Does that make sense?

any musician/writer etc worth their salt should always be trying to do something new, as opposed to meaningless repetition. Lucas, I don't know how you feel about jazz, but Miles Davis has done some amazing, less-than-amazing, and quite lame stuff that be of interest. (Bitches Brew and Live Evil are pretty good places to start as they sound the most 'rockish'). Sly Stone is another one that seems to fit this bill. Syd Barrett's solo albums are totally revealing, but also very depressing for what they reveal. oh yeah: cough - Vapor Trails - cough :) An interesting question which I don't think I've answered. Will have to give it some more thought!

Randy Johnson will get them before they get us! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/1001001/gifs/dove-hit-ball_zpscwv19joc.gif

I'd like advice for slipping a Roofie in Alex's drink at a bar. To have a special night with him that he won't remember, it will involve wearing paper bags on our heads while wearing minimal clothing.

Hello

I listened to My Generation (the album) yesterday.

http://flickminute.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1976-Carrie_-Flick-Poster-Minute-DePalma.jpg

ARW at Borgata Casino NJ WOW WOW WOW First off, Jon sounds like he's 20 years old. Fantastic vocals on every song. Great evening of YES music. Loved this !!!

Forty-five years ago today, we lost Howard Duane Allman- in my opinion, one of the finest slide guitar players who ever lived.

Oh, look. It's a Huge Ackman!

1. 2112 2. Hemispheres 3. Xanadu 4. Cygnus X-1 5. Natural Science 6. By-Tor And The Snow Dog 7. Working Man 8. Tom Sawyer 9. Subdivisions 10. The Spirit of Radio

Goodnight everyone...everyone, everywhere!http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Kitty%20Stuff/funny_cat_pictures_005-1.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j223/OldRUSHfan/Banana%20World/Puple%20Banana%20dance.gif

https://www.facebook.com/jlbissonnette/posts/10210926876595759

She is the human possession of a very smart cat...

I skipped the earring and went straight for a Prince Albert. Does that make it spray funny?

Same.

Not really. I mean, Mrs. Chronos became a Rush fan thanks to 28 years of being married to me. http://i.imgur.com/ju6AwMHm.png

f***in nerd

i currently am and we're both meeting at Rushcon!

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/fuck-these-6-fish-in-particular.jpg

What aboot men without hats? They were a good band. :) One of my favorite songs/video growing up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM4okRvCg2g They used to play that video all the time on Night Flight in the early 80s.