Relayer2112

My votes: Something for Nothing (a vocally toned down version) Countdown Afterimage Available Light Carve Away the Stone (I'll probably take flack for this choice) I tried to keep my list realistic based on Geddy's current range.

I've heard in several interviews that they just didn't bother developing a song if it wasn't working. Bits and pieces of those songs that they liked would wind up in something else. I would bet money that they have plenty of outtakes of early versions of released songs which would be an interesting listen, but I don't think the band would agree. I know that for several years they would have a short tour prior to going into the recording studio where they would play songs that were not yet released, but were being developed for a new album. Subdivisions was played during one of these short tours prior to Signals release and is definitely a different version of the song (albeit slightly). The closest mention of something unreleased that I have heard was that evidently "Natural Science" originally had much different lyrics. Evidently Neil was trying to work the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight into that music and they just couldn't get it to work. The lyrics were scrapped and we are left with the absolute gem that wound up on the record. I would love to hear a version of that song with the original lyrics.

For me, "Who Are You" was the last credible material released by the band and even on that one there are some duds. Evidently they had to dumb things down a bit because Kieth was so far gone that he couldn't play anything but simple timing anymore. Once he was gone, that was pretty much it and they became a Pete Townshend solo act from then on.

I fondly remember renting the "Exit Stage Left" VHS tape (probably around 1983) and was totally in bleep'n awe of it. I hadn't seen the band live yet (my first show was on the Presto tour) and this was my first glimpse of them performing. When I eventually bought the video myself, I would play the beginning of "The Trees" over and over trying to emulate on my guitar what Alex was playing. My poor VCR never recovered from the rewind/replay. A little off topic, but it was Blue Oyster Cult performing on Don Kirshner's rock concert that got me to buy a VCR in the first place. I had to tape that show.

Not sure if this was addressed previously in the post, but I think the key to the timing in that song is the sequenced keyboard that fades in and provides the background for the entire song. Neil can pretty much play anything he wants on the high hat, bass drum as long as he stays in time with the sequencer. Just start tapping your foot to the beat of the keyboard pulse and you're on your way.

With Marillion, there will always be the question of "What could have been?". It's a shame that things went wrong with Fish when they were at their peak. I think both sides ended up creating great music after the fact, but the question remains.

I think both parts of their career (Fish and Hogarth) have great music to offer. I do agree that Steve's voice does get a little tiresome after a while. He's got a great voice and all, his delivery is just a little blah sometimes. I enjoy the old stuff, it just doesn't seem to have aged as well with me as old Genesis has. Too much 80's style keyboard in some of their earlier stuff. I have been fortunate enough to see live both Hogarth era Marillion and Fish by himself (for Sunsets on Empire). Both are great acts that seem to be losing some traction as the years go by.

Having the day off of work before the end of the year grind.

The Trees Circumstances La Villa Hemispheres (a little too self-indulgent, still great though)

Just checking how many Rush people out there also like Marillion?

I would agree that it's pretty darn cool.

Xanadu Closer to the Heart A Farewell to Kings Cygnus X-1 Cinderella Man Madrigal

Does anyone else believe that the studio portion of Keys to Ascension 2 was the last quality music put forth by Yes? I'm certainly in that camp.

Presto was the first album where I got the impression that the music was becoming more of a hobby to the trio than the end all, be all of their lives. Who can blame them? After so many years on the road and the pressure that they'd been through, it was time. Presto is not a bad album, it's just one that gives the impression that the band was not collaborating artistically a whole lot outside of the recording studio.

You're probably right. Drama is not very representative of them on the whole. I just like it because it rocks harder than most of what they've done.

I could certainly see a Rush fan not necessarily being a Yes fan. Yes is more of an artsy/psychedelic act vs. Rush's more hard rock work. Also, if you are into meaningful lyrics, Yes is probably not your best choice. For a Rush fan experimenting with Yes, I would recommend The Yes Album and Drama.

Seconds Out is the clear winner. Phil Collins singing all of Supper's Ready. That wins it right there.

These days...Ian can do little more than talk. If you watch any clips on youtube of him performing on the Thick as a Brick 2 tour, you can't help but get a sore throat yourself...he struggles that much to sing anything.

I can't, and have never been able to, listen to Union to this day without cringing (this coming from a guy who saw them twice on the Union tour just to see them play Awaken). It's just a very mediocre album and a project that was clearly put together just to make money. There is no artistic value in that album at all. I hope nobody is offended by that opinion.

Every band has superficial songs. I figured I'd list one that I find superficial that shouldn't have been. Neurotica...a totally potential kick-ass song with an awesome power guitar riff reminiscent of their younger days (I even like how the song opens) and then...the chorus kicks in.

I'm thinking Duke is the best with them as a threesome. To me, it was their last truly progressive album. Of the others listed, I also like "And Then There Were Three" and "Abacab". The former suffered a little bit because of the transition to a threesome and the latter is good, but no longer what I would consider progressive.

I saw a list of superficial Rush songs. "The Big Wheel" would fit that category. Not a bad song, just kind of blah.

There is a better chance of peace in the Middle East than Rush playing any of "The Necromancer".

I have to thank my brother for my initial musical tastes. I was the athlete and he was the artist. I heard him listening to these great 8 track tapes (yes...I'm that old) and as he started progressing to standard cassette tapes, he would give me his old 8 tracks. One of them was Moving Pictures. My life was changed forever.