Gnoom

Okay, first of all, my sincere apologies for my poor forum manners of starting a thread and then abandoning it. It’s four months later, and I’m only just now getting back to this (sorry, all I can say is I’ve been busy and I’m easily distracted). Looking at the replies so far, I get what some of you are saying about how some songs wouldn’t work as instrumentals…and now I realize I probably should’ve chosen a different way of phrasing my initial question (and maybe shouldn’t have singled out T4E as a whole). My goal isn’t to create new Rush instrumentals, it’s simply to literally block out the vocals and song lyrics so I can examine the musical side of their performances in greater detail. Let’s face it, vocals demand a lot of attention — they’re the primary up-front instrument telling the story behind the song. They’re extremely difficult to ignore, and I’m not only hearing them but also thinking about what the words mean, usually at the expense of one or more other things going on in the song. It’s not uncommon for bands/artists to include bonus “sans vocals” tracks of selected songs in special release collections, rarities, box sets etc for the sake of presenting familiar and well-known tunes in a different perspective for fans to consume. I really get into stuff like this because it breathes new life into old favorites as well as tunes that might otherwise be overlooked. For a Rush example, I have the “Need For Speed” soundtrack version of “One Little Victory” sans vocals, and I really dig hearing all the little details in the music that normally get obscured by the vocals. There’s also a few similar Rush rarities like this that I was fortunate to come across over the years, and they’re all very interesting in their own way. I wish there was more stuff like this available. I mean in no way to discount Neil and Geddy’s wonderful lyrics and singing, respectively…I just think Rush is a prime example of a band that would benefit immensely from presenting their tunes in a just-the-music perspective for fans to experience their songs in an entirely different level of detail and enjoyment. I really wish there was a way this could become a reality, either in the form of official special releases from the band/record company or maybe even as a licensed fan project.

...if the vocal track was removed? (meaning, it would become an all-instrumental album). Same question applies to any unpopular Rush album/song. Nothing against Geddy’s singing, and I don’t mean to dog Neil’s lyrics, but my theory is the lesser popular Rush tunes would gain new life as instrumentals. Agree or disagree?

"The Analog Kid" would be so much better if it didn't slam into that abrupt tempo change. Same with many other Rush tunes constructed on a similar template. IMO, of course ;)

I almost always shun the studio versions of The Trees, Xanadu and La Villa in favor of the ESL versions. But that's just me. In this day and technological age, it would be cool if Rush did something like Phish does with an official website where you can download select live tracks or even entire shows. I realize no two Phish setlists are alike (making for a much much deeper selection and a better reason for such a site), but Rush could do a smaller scale version of this and include studio outtakes, etc. I'd pay a reasonable fee for quality "official" Rush boots. And for cripes sake (here I go beating this drum again) is there any way we can get Rush studio tracks with the vocal track removed? I'd pay for these in a heartbeat! This would breath new life into almost every Rush studio track (especially the ones with unpopular lyrics). My kingdom for more Rush instrumentals!!!

QUOTE (mazyyz @ Sep 13 2012, 06:59 AM) QUOTE (Gnoom @ Sep 8 2012, 01:22 AM) Absolutely ZERO tracks from 2112 on the Clockwork Angels Tour suggests Rush is purposely chilling their all-time classic for now...in order to bring it back in full form (all of side 1 anyway) for R40. This would also explain why certain other classics were omitted from the current tour...they're obviously saving the best for (not last, but) next. That's how I'm reading into it, anyway. What say ye? Yea, or nay? hmmmm? They're playing 2112 on this tour. Ah, well, I got a bit ahead of myself by reacting solely to the opening night setlist (I didn't guess there'd be alternating setlists, let alone that they'd be tweaked already). That's what happens when one jumps the gun. And while they ARE now playing 2112, I stand by my theory. The current tour is for showcasing CA, and there's a good reason why the filler is full of an odd-but-interesting choice of songs. My gut says the next tour will be vastly different and full of cool surprises. And they can always call it R41 or R42 if necessary.

Absolutely ZERO tracks from 2112 on the Clockwork Angels Tour suggests Rush is purposely chilling their all-time classic for now...in order to bring it back in full form (all of side 1 anyway) for R40. This would also explain why certain other classics were omitted from the current tour...they're obviously saving the best for (not last, but) next. That's how I'm reading into it, anyway. What say ye? Yea, or nay?

QUOTE (driventotheedge @ Aug 29 2012, 10:45 AM) Considering it was an AOR radio staple and considering Signals was quite successful, I am very surprised New World Man hasn't been played more often. Makes me think there's a very good chance it's on the setlist this time, especially considering it's the album's anniversary as well. The thing about "New World Man": it's popularity is in large part due to riding the coattails of Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves. As far as radio play goes, Rush was at their apex when Signals was released. The world was poised to devour any new music from them at that point in time, and the anticipation was at a fever pitch. So, in 1982 Rush could have released a cover of the theme to The Flintstones and it would have charted high. Not to knock New World Man, it's a good song...I just still have a hard time believing that (if not mistaken) it's their all time highest-charted single. And not meaning to shift the thread in a different direction, I'll get back on course and predict that "Losing It" will be the 'surprise' Signals deep track inclusion on the CA tour (not a stretch considering the string section on this tour).

It took several listens for Pet Sounds to grow on me, but once it did I was hooked and played it almost every day for months. Just peel back the many, many layers and you'll see the level of genius that was poured into this album. The little nuances here and there...the sheer dedication to making sure every note (and every instrument) had a distinct purpose...quite an amazing accomplishment, especially coming from a guy in his early 20's working through a persistent cloud of doubt at the time (his bandmates and the record company were not entirely on board with the project). And Smile picked right up where Pet Sounds left off, creatively speaking (too bad the "cloud of doubt" took over at that point, but it had a silver lining 40+ years later). It can take a while to "get it", but if you give it enough spins while also gaining an understanding of the level of commitment that went into making it, Pet Sounds will pay huge dividends.

Not only the music and the talent, but just the sheer versatility of the band as a whole. TSoR got my attention, but I was way more intrigued after hearing the rest of PW...then way more impressed with MP...then way more blown away by the back catalog. Every album was different, and nearly every song within an album had it's own style. It sure helped that the timing was just right...Rush came along right around the time I was first exposed to Album Oriented Rock (79-80), so I was eager to sample anything and everything from the "cool" bands being played on AOR radio. For me, no other band at the time had anything even close to the impact that Rush had.

Eh...I knew I should've been patient. I got the email from MusicToday last Friday, and the tickets showed up in today's mail. WooHoo! And, yes, the tickets are indeed enclosed in a plain white junk-mail-looking envelope with no indication of the contents or who it's from...I realize this is just echoing old news, but I had to say a huge THANKS to iluvgeddy05 for this heads-up thread because without it I too could have easily thrown this in my junk mail pile to be shredded.

Snakes & Arrows. "Presto" used to be my least favorite, but I was looking at SnA recently and noticed just how 'blah' the cover looks. The cover they used for SnA "Live" would have been a far better choice IMO (probably why it was chosen for the live album). HYF looks fine to me (although I agree with the fire juggler being a better choice)...I "get" the simplicity of the cover.

Looking at the poll results, I can't help but wonder how Caravan and BU2B would currently rate had they not been released two years ago (especially Caravan, which suffers from familiarity at this point). With the fresh perspective brought on by the album's concept, along with BU2B's added intro, both songs are now improved by a considerable measure (sound mixing aside). IMO, I think the pre-release did them both a disservice.

7CoG. At first I was "meh" to this tune, but at one point it just clicked and now I'm getting into it more with each listen. I dig the buildup & trademark Rush sound. Honorable mentions: Halo Effect - The odd thing about this tune is that (for me) nothing really stands out about it, but that same characteristic is what makes it appealing. Carnies - I described this one as "skippable" several weeks ago, but it's emerged from the ashes since then...still not totally sold on it just yet, but the potential is there.

Have any ATL goers heard from MusicToday yet? Still waiting on mine...I realize we're still a ways out (and that different venues play a part in the distribution) but if Tampa tix are being issued then it's easy to reason that Atlanta's would be sent around the same time.

a NICKEL! ...and that got me a bus ride to the show, a ticket, a sody pop, a stick of gum, and then a bus ride back home after the show...all for a NICKEL!! And back then, nickels had pictures of bumble bees on 'em ("Gimme five bees for a quarter", we'd say). Sorry...'was having flashbacks to Grandpa stories...actually, it was 10 bucks for the Spring Training '82 Tour (and another 10 bucks got me a tour shirt). And we got to sit/stand wherever we wanted (one standout memory: finding my way up close to stage left to watch Alex play his solo during La Villa). Ah, them was the days, I'm tellin' ya.