Lucas

That sucks. I can now honestly say that I know what you're feeling. I hope better days are ahead for you and your family. Did you get to see your sister recently before she died? Thanks Aiken ... yes, my sis and I were very close .... I am the middle of 3, and the three of us were basically inseparable, and had been since we were kids .... The loss is really tough, compounded by the suddenness But we take that and move forward - the inspiration and strength from her will be with me for the rest of my life - you can only try to become a bigger, better person from the experience Again, my best to you and your family

Aikenrooster, thank you for your post - I am sorry to hear about the recent loss in your life ... My dear sister recently passed very sudden and unexpectedly - my best wishes to you and your family

Geddy's bass in Vital Signs - not unexpectedly - is fantastic

I think the bond that forms during adolescence is something that lasts a lifetime - this can be very different than what might develop when people meet in adulthood ..... This is one thing that I feel makes RUSH a very special band

I'm going to add Different Strings I think this one is truly underrated - not simply lost in the midst of some classic songs, but a great song in its own right

During the past week I've been listening a lot to Permanent Waves, and my appreciation and liking for Different Strings is at an all-time high - great, great underrated song, with lyrics that, as time goes on in my life, have taken on some added sentiment .. Lyrically, I am hearing things Geddy might have intended to be for Alex ... To backtrack a bit, 1979-80 seemed like a transition time for RUSH - Neil has been quoted as saying that up thru Hemispheres, his time in the band had been a "dark tunnel" - the climate in the music was changing too, and RUSH was now mindfully moving away from the epic, album length songs that they had been successfully writing and performing for years .. Geddy and Alex had known each other since 8th grade, and while all indications are that the 3 members were highly compatible, I just sense that there is a special bond between Geddy and Alex - and that might have been part of the inspiration for Geddy All there really is The two of us And we both know why we've come along Nothing to explain It's a part of us To be found within a song When thinking of Geddy Lee and lyrics, the immediate thought might go back to the first album, before Neil had joined and began writing - but I have really come to love Different Strings, and the fact that the lyrics that are left open to interpretation ...... The only thing I wish they would have done different would have been to let Alex go for another few minutes at the end ... I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks about Different Strings, esp the lyrics And also, I am not too familiar with relationships between Geddy, Alex and Neil back then - obviously, their bond has stood the test of time -

You did, so I'll add The Body Electric and I Think I'm Going Bald. I will let "bald" slide as it was obviously not intended to be anything more than comic relief ... The way Geddy first says "I think I'm, I'm goin' bald" is delivered with perfect comic intentions ... RUSH was touring with KISS at the time, and has mentioned "Going Bald" as a sort of companion piece to KISS' "Goin' Blind" The really bad lyrics from Neil are the ones that are intended to be deep and fall short I'll toss out Red Lenses, Roll The Bones and basically anything from the 90s I still don't know what to make of Dog Years

Underrated: - Take A Friend - Alex on fire - A Farewell To Kings - What You're Doing - Losing It - Beneath Between Behind - Witch Hunt - The Necromancer ( neglected might be a better word ) - Jacob's Ladder - Circumstances - In The End

The criteria for this is hard, esp with the newer stuff ... But here goes: - Tom Sawyer - Show Don't Tell - Mystic Rhythms - The Weapon - Force Ten - Big Money - Roll The Bones - Time Stand Still - Red Lenses - Territories

Looking at some of the albums that were released that year - it is really mind boggling: - RUSH - 2112 and All The Worlds A Stage - Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak - KISS - Destroyer and Rock And Roll Over - Aerosmith - Rocks - Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny - Boston - S/T - Ramones - S/T - Rolling Stones - Black And Blue ( completely underrated, and a personal favorite ) - AC/DC - High Voltage and Dirty Deeds - ELO - New World Record - ABBA - Arrival ( admit it, it's classic ) - UFO - No Heavy Petting - Jeff Beck - Wired - Queen - A Day At The Races - Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear wow ... what a year for music . .

I think it is safe to say that 2112 has not only stood the test of time, but is an absolute classic - to RUSH fans, and to rock in general HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY ;) . .

lol wow oh boy 2112 was released 39 years ago today

In the case of an artist, writer, musician, etc, it is one thing to debate the sincerity, virtues or personal life of that person ... What effect that person - if any - has had on you is a completely different thing .. And while I am thoroughly enjoying the posts and comments here ( most, at least ), I will give an example of what I intended - RUSH was a fantastic band to me as a kid - Geddy's vocals were what first appealed to me, but as time went on, I began to think of RUSH as more than simply a band ... This led me to Rand's book ANTHEM, which to this day I still love ... RUSH created a snowball in me that made me step outside my comfort zone and look at what I was capable of, and first within myself, then, in my surroundings .... In other words - I build houses for feral cats, and I go to lyme disease meetings as a person who has fully recovered to support and help other people .... These things may or may not have ever dawned on me had it not been the springboard of 2112, Anthem and Rand's position of self-worth and "selfishness" I'm also going to try my hand at organic gardening this year ... My thanks to RUSH

Part of my point in creating this thread was to hear if people applied any of these things into their own lives - for example, volunteer work, teaching an instrument, starting and owning you own business, etc The truly inspirational bands can lead a person down some very positive roads ... After all the "polls" were moved, I thought this would be an interesting way to learn about the posters here, as I am still somewhat new to the forum ( .. I enjoyed the polls btw )

I got into RUSH when I was 10 years old ... what is the difference ? This has obviously stirred a lot of emotion in those who feel threatened by any discussion - D I S C U S S I O N - outside of their comfort zone ..... If you think of the myriad of things people can do with their time - anything ( there is a big world out there, maybe some of you don't realize ) .... And someone who chooses to come to the computer, seek out a particular message board, and involve themselves in a discussion in which they do nothing but ridicule and criticize .. I wouldn't even expect that rom a 14 year old Very sad

If you understood the question, it was not simply about Ayn Rand's work .. Another response completely void of content from you SOCN is for discussing politics, philosophy and other divisive and emotive subjects. Get it???? The thread seems to have found a place right here As for you, you are obviously in a lot of pain, and have serious issues with acceptance, criticism and self worth You actually have my sympathy

If you understood the question, it was not simply about Ayn Rand's work .. Another response completely void of content from you

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts in regards to RUSH, Ayn Rand, and the philosophies and beliefs based on their writings ... I know that Neil has since distanced himself a bit from Rand in particular - which is understandable as most who go through life will be in a perpetual state of growth and reevaluation ... But the foundation of being self sufficient, and making one's own existence the springboard for better contribution to the big picture, is something that I feel will be with me forever .. Growing up I knew nothing of Rand's work, and it was 2112 that led me to her ( fantastic ) novella ANTHEM ... I love ANTHEM, and I'd like to hear if RUSH have opened the door to any books, philosophies or other non-musical aspects in life ...

I absolutely love what RUSH accomplished during the 70s - my favorite era .... but SIGNALS is still very good, and I enjoy it a lot - RUSH still had a mystique and aura about them on that album ... I think the parting of ways with Terry Brown is something that isn't recognized enough, as subsequent albums seemed to lack that something intangible .. Really like "Losing It" and "Countdown" Hey, I just ordered a Japanese SHM CD of SIGNALS on eBay - that's my stamp of approval !!! :)

How could I have missed this thread ? There is no bigger KISS fan than myself, and their magic comes from the fact that no band ever - EVER - transcended music like they did I am not talking simply about stage show, make-up etc .... In 1975, it was very different, and KISS had a very very dedicated following of working class kids - KISS, at the time, was the embodiment of everything rock and roll represents, and an escape KISS appealed to the outcasts, the kids who had been ostracized, the dreamers, and those who felt no one understood them - they were a lifestyle, and a companion, if that makes any sense If you were a 12 year old boy with long hair that was habitually mistaken for a girl, KISS was your band ( me ) ... If you were the only black kid in an all white school, or, the only gay kid in a conservative community, KISS was your band ( my 2 best friends ) ... As for their musical ability - I still play the guitar, and as far as "favorites", I will forever put Ace circa 1973-77 right there next to the likes of Steve Howe, Al Di Meola, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Les Paul, etc ... He doesn't bring the chops like some of those guys, but he's got style, vibrato and, did I mention STYLE ??

Good to see Bob Welch and The Bee Gees get some love .... I really really like Welch's "Sentimental Lady"

I like FEEDBACK a lot, and I love that they did it ... as TexMike said, I had hoped it was sign that RUSH were scaling back and getting back to doing more of what made them pick up their instruments to begin with .. Summertime Blues is my favorite ... the album peters out a little, but it was their call, and I love that they did it

I got it at number two... oh come on Narpsberg, you're not gonna leave us hanging, are you ?!?!? Are you saying All The World's A Stage is number 1 ahead of Strangers In The Night! ??? ;) Fixed and yes... :) Not going to argue any of that - Three classic, all-time albums from a time that will never be duplicated or touched again

I got it at number two... oh come on Narpsberg, you're not gonna leave us hanging, are you ?!?!? Are you saying All The World's A Stage is number 3 behind Strangers In The Night and KISS Alive! ??? ;)

Countdown is pretty good, all things considered - and this coming from a guy who thinks Permanent Waves was the beginning of the end ;) I can listen, and enjoy - esp the sections at about 2:00 where I'm like "oh oh oh, yes, I hear RUSH in there somewhere" I do like the cheese keyboard - very R-Type or Zillion