wilb1972

I have always felt I was more accurately a Hard Rock musician. -Geddy Lee I think we're quite unique in that we do have our own sound and approach and we don't really care what's going on elsewhere... we've never wanted to be part of another trend or movement. -Alex Lifeson --from BrainyQuote.com QUOTE Presto is Hare Metal

Yeah MP is tough to beat. It would be tops on my list followed by: PW CP PoW S&A -- which incidently is one of my least fave records, but Nick R did a fine job, and seems to be going that way with CA too.

I like Carve Away the Stone, and I'm not quite sure why, but it's gotta be one of the catchiest songs on the T4E album because I can throw that album on in the car or at home, and when it's over and I am on to other things, I can find myself humming the melody to CAtS far more often than, say Half the World, or the title track. It just gets in my head. Driven does the same thing to me.

QUOTE Just like... the Roll the Bones rap. YOU WANT TO HATE IT BUT YOU CAN'T. No, trust me, I can! I remember hearing the live version of that song first, on the Chronicles CD, and thought, "This is pretty cool." I thought it was a better representation of that album than Manhattan Project, which is okay, but MR is far better. I love Mystic Rhythms. Cool video too.

A live CD with the DVD would be great. It would also be nice if they included some more 'goodies' as bonuses. I felt really let down by the Spirit of Radio soundcheck we got on the R30. It would be nice to have a full live version from the period as a bonus video, since they (strangely) did not make any PW videos. Or maybe PW -era "Jacob's Ladder" live.

Had to go with that little exercise in self-indulgence!

QUOTE Besides, in the past, they wrote on the road out of necessity more than anything else. There's no actual need for them to do that anymore. It's hard to imagine these days either Lee or Lifeson approaching the other in the middle of a tour before or after a gig and saying, "Hey, let's write some songs." I imagine they'd want to stay loose by relaxing...and from past interviews they've always said that the writing stage is very concentrated. True. Eh... maybe its just all wishful thinking on my part. I just want the album!!

QUOTE Cut To The Chase Ooooh yes, I would have to add that one to the list! Nice to see someone else appreciates this track.

QUOTE How could they possibly go right into the studio right now? Alex or Ged said recently only 6 songs were written, unless they want to slap the rest together in a studio, and I hate when bands do that. Rush seems to get their best work done when Geddy and Alex write alone. I would imagine it would take them a while to write 6 or 7 more songs. Then there's still a lot of work that needs to be done after that obviously. I really dont see them not taking a break after a tour. They ALWAYS do. Agreed. Just sayin its possible. And who's to say they aren't going really old school and writing while on the road. They seem really open to trying different things in their approach to this album (releasing new material way in advance of the actual release of the album, etc). Maybe Ged and Al are writing alone, just on the road. I am sure they have no trouble finding a quiet place to sit and write.

I've seen Xanadu, albeit in abbreviated form on the Counterparts tour, as part of a medley with the Hemispheres Prelude (which in itself was cool). But I would love to hear it in its entirety. Oh, and Jacob's Ladder...I'm lookin at you, Big Al!

Do we know for sure they are taking a break right now? I mean, for all we know they headed straight into the studio and are currently ensconsed in serious downright recording. Then they take a break between the mastering and the tour. I have a feeling the album will come out just prior to the tour starting.

QUOTE He quit. Don't bother.

I am working on one! But without all the commentary -- I am just too lazy for that! But if anyone questions why I ranked a particular song a particular way, I guess I can try to rationalize my thinking... Maybe.

I enjoyed the list as well! Even if I don't agree with everything on it!

Well crap... thought I would get all the way through this thread and find the top songs... guess I will sit and wait as well now...

Like others here, I too have been inspired to create my own list. Will have to pull it together and post it here. This is fun! I am still reading through this thread, so still don't know what the top 50 are yet, but thought I would go ahead and throw my hat in the countdown list ring.

QUOTE Yeah, I have thought that a DVD off that TFE tour (on DS) would be terrific... did they videotape any of those shows (just did not release)? I seem to remember reading somewhere that they did record some of those shows with the intention of releasing them but they had audio/video glitches of some kind, so the band shelved them. Wonder if the glitches could be fixed now and released?

QUOTE Where will you be when 2112 arrives? Appearing as an oracle in some dude's musical fantasy, on a spiral stair no less....

I really like the live version of 2112 on DS. But I also got to see them on that tour, so it brings back fond memories of finally getting to see the whole darned thing live, in its entirety. It is definitely one of their best live CDs. Too bad we couldnt have gotten a DVD of THAT tour!

I like Fricke's review. I had to smile though, because the first review posted by the OP compared Different Strings to Greg Lake; Fricke compares it to Genesis. Just a good example of how Rush wore their influences for all to see but channeled them into something unique.

I have to agree with everyone else about an R40 type show. And then they will stop touring. But I have a feeling they will keep making records as long as they can. I really think as long as they can write quality material they will do so, but just not tour it, or at the very least, play a select number of shows. As for what they will play specifically, I really doubt we will get a deep cuts tour. As much as they seem to be psyched about the new material I think we will see a lot from it, if not all of it. And then we might get Jacob's Ladder. Maybe.

I listened to it on YouTube and it is a nice album. It is also a little more mellow, as someone pointed out. Guess my expectations were for the title track to be a little more "Machine Messiah" than "And You and I". I think its a good sounding album, well made. Probably will buy it, too. I think for me I wanted more out of Alan White and Chris Squire in terms of complexity. Asking too much? I haven't dissected the music yet, just a quick listen on YouTube like I said, but its a pretty straight forward set of songs. It came across to me like a Drama-era Yes meets Asia meets the '80's. But since I like all that stuff, I can't complain! Just an aside: Been a lot of Yes fans giving the band hell about their first two nights with Styx on this tour, and Geoff Downes has a blog addressing some of those issues. Can't remember the addy, but over at Yesfans.com they have a link.

QUOTE your fave bands?, other than Rush, o'course.... =] Beatles U2 Yes Foo Fighters The Who King's X Rolling Stones Kiss Jethro Tull The Eagles Styx That's just off the top of my head...