Silas Lang

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Aug 13 2012, 10:54 AM)QUOTE (Queslington @ Aug 11 2012, 11:45 AM) QUOTE (ColdFireYYZ @ Aug 11 2012, 12:39 PM) QUOTE (Nate2112 @ Aug 11 2012, 10:50 AM) I've never bothered to check out ELP Most people here would tell you not to bother, but check out Tarkus and the self-titled debut. A lot of people here seem to dislike them, but I really like them. They are about as prog as it gets. Listen to Karn Evil 9 and Tarkus. ELP are great, but often with them, like Dylan, a little can go a long way. Their music can be a bit strident after awhile. That said, they do have a lot of GREAT songs, but suffered from mostly inconsistent albums. It's too bad King Crimson never achieved their level of popularity as they deserved it more. I'm not clear on why you say Crimson deserved it more - the bottom line is ELP gave the people at the time what they wanted to hear and KC had a different singer/lineup on just about every album which probably didn't help them. What you call strident I would describe as intensity, which is one of my favorite aspects of ELP. On each of their classic albums, however, there would always be lighter moments - whether it was softer acoustic guitar ballads or piano interludes as well as their little humorous tracks (KC could've used a bit of humor now and again). If we're talking consistency, I've yet to hear one King Crimson album that even comes close to ELP's first five. Plus ELP's lyrics were a lot better.

I think it's pretty awesome that Plant actually recognized Geddy and initiated the conversation, and Alex's enthusiasm is so real and clear. I love his description of how Page was his major influence. All four of them to me represent the epitome of cool, class and the respectable way of doing things. It's cool to know that Page and Plant have that respect for Rush - that means more to them than any hall of fame, I'm sure.

QUOTE (Powderfinger @ Aug 13 2012, 06:11 PM)Pink Floyd - Echoes. By no means a new discovery; I've been listening to if for 20 years. But I've recently reconnected with it. Of all things, you know what I've been most impressed by on recent listens? Waters's bass part. He's typically dismissed as a hack, and to be sure, I've lodged that accusation a few times myself. But his basswork on Echoes is so fluid, smooth, and warm--just perfect for the song. His playing may not be considered great or complicated or whatever but he had a natural feel and instinct that was a key element of the unique Pink Floyd sound and magic, which is even more evident in the live recordings I've heard from around then. He certainly had an individual style of his own that fit the music like a glove. Oh yes and edited to add Queens of the Stone Age - In the Fade

1/1a. Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures - the twin peaks in the Rush canon and the point at which Rush gained enough confidence to move beyond their early influences while absorbing new ones and meld them all into a sound uniquely their own, in the process creating two flawless masterpieces 3. 2112 - Rush throws down the gauntlet and makes their stand in the ultimate philosophical and emotional statement of purpose. The first side on its own is so powerful it's pretty much inconsequential what side 2 (which ain't too shabby in its own right) consists of. 4. Grace Under Pressure - one of their most powerful and passionate efforts that perfectly reflects the dark and uncertain times in which it was made. The first sense of a musical/lyrical maturity following the band's 'adolescent' years. Icy stabbing synth lines, slashing metallic guitar chords along with some of Peart's finest lyrics combine to create a cold, mechanical feel that's purely awesome. 5. Caress of Steel - an atmospheric journey into dark, forbidding musical lands resulting in many moments of incredible power, majesty and beauty. A great adventure indeed! 6. Rush - people hearing this on Cleveland radio in '74 thought it was LED ZEPPELIN for fukks sake and there's a reason for that: it's great rock & roll, period 7. A Farewell To Kings - the first three tracks are among their very best, giving it the slightest edge over... 8. Hemispheres - where they push themselves to the limit in terms of complexity, vocals and musicianship. Geddy has said that around this time they were out to prove that they could play and they did that here without any doubt. 9. Power Windows - the ultimate blending of guitar and keyboards for Rush, as Geddy said. What truly shines hear though is the songwriting and lyrics with the first five tracks being particularly top-notch. 10. Clockwork Angels - every song on here is excellent and extremely well written and they're playing with as much fire as ever...astounding and pretty much unprecedented really for a band's 19th album. Listen to the music that's there without constantly trying to compare it to prior eras and you could be rewarded. There's enough diversity and depth that any Rush fan should be able to connect with some of it. I'm not sure about declaring it a masterpiece quite yet but it's about as close as you can get (perhaps in the fullness of time). 11. Vapor Trails - hardly an embarrassment...far from it actually. Rush returns with an album full of passion, energy and tremendous spirit with nearly every song a gem...excellent stuff. 12. Fly By Night - it's ridiculous that an album this great is so far down the list but there you are. Side one kicks a ton of ass but isn't quite as monumental as say, 2112. Side two is similar and certainly comparable to 2112's. 13. Counterparts - several great real rockers on here (their best in a while) with an underrated closer. still this far down an album I would call great overall. 14. Test For Echo - pretty much the equal to Counterparts in my mind, even slightly more musically interesting and adventurous at times 15. Snakes & Arrows - maybe not as diverse and varied as other albums but still a lot of strong material 16. Signals - Rush refuses to become complacent or coast on their breakthrough success. A brave effort and a necessary step for them at the time but for me their weakest up to that point. Mostly good though with a few great songs. 17. Hold Your Fire - I agree with Neil here in that they were going a bit too far with the keyboards. Their heavy rock edge, while still present at times, was largely in absence. Still half of it is really great. 18/19. Presto/Roll The Bones - Their first attempts to correct the HYF issue and get back to a heavier guitar/bass/drums oriented sound didn't quite get there since the production team in place couldn't get the job done. They're not terrible albums just rather bland, unexciting and unspectatcular.

They're all (except KC) among my favorite bands but I'll go with the Floyd cuz of the Barrett factor

Great riff, great playing from the whole band (duh!) with a blistering Lifeson solo but I don't think I would say it's one Rush's greatest. There's some serious competition to reach that level. The chorus is kind of a let down and a bit melodramatic, not one of their strongest relatively but that's a minor criticism. No problem with anyone who loves it but I'd rate anything from MP or GUP above it.

Working Man Anthem The Necromancer 2112 Xanadu Hemispheres Freewill Tom Sawyer Subdivisions Between The Wheels Marathon Prime Mover Red Tide Dreamline Time and Motion Ceiling Unlimited The Way The Wind Blows Caravan

Permanent Waves

The Anarchist is just rifftastic! Great solo - up there with the title track, the Garden, 7 Cities (wicked!) and Caravan.

The first three tracks from each album I'll call a draw. Between the side one closing epics, By-Tor's great and all but for me doesn't nearly match The Necromancer. The Fountain of Lamneth I consider much stronger than side 2 of FBN. Caress of Steel it is.

Early 1981 when I was given the albums Rush, Caress of Steel, 2112 and All The World's A Stage. By the end of that year I had bought the rest and listened to them obsessively in '81-'82.

The albums Rush, CoS, 2112 and ATWAS made me a fan in late '80/early '81. Through Exit Stage Left I loved everything immediately. The synth era I didn't like nearly as much at the time and largely ignored Rush after Grace until Presto which I enjoyed more then. Only later on did GUP and Power Windows really become firm favorites while Presto and RTB haven't measured up as well over time. From Counterparts forward S&A was the one I didn't like so much initially but after a few years I've changed my opinion on it significantly.

spuds

Tom Sawyer is my pick. Other great ones are: The Fountain of Lamneth Caravan The Body Electric The Wreckers In The Mood The Garden Best of the rest: The Color of Right, Take A Friend, Fly By Night

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jul 30 2012, 01:31 PM)Its an important part of the story. And a very good composition for Geddt with strings. But yes its the worse track on CA, only cause all the others are so damn great! I think of Clockwork Angels as having 11 songs with the story having 12 parts, using one song twice in different ways. It's like the songs 'Sgt Pepper' or 'Another Brick in the Wall' - appearing more than once on an album but it's the same song.

QUOTE (OGr8imL84AD8inF8sBlackSedan @ Jul 28 2012, 06:59 AM)I like this thread but I'm only gonna comment on What You're Doing...I can't believe they haven't pulled this one off the shelf..An awesome rocker!!! Beneath, Between & Behind The Necromancer Lessons A Farewell To Kings Jacob's Ladder New World Man The Body Electric Mystic Rhythms Turn The Page Red Tide Heresy Between Sun And Moon Carve Away The Stone all of VT We Hold On Wish Them Well

As much as I love Rush and many of the other great prog bands for their complexity and virtuosity, those elements are completely worthless without memorable and catchy tunes to go along with it. I'm a huge Rush fan yet I also like a band like Fleetwood Mac an awful lot too. There's really great and really bad in nearly every style of music there is. There's some great tunes on Something/Anything? for sure.

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jul 25 2012, 09:36 PM)Maybe I didn't express myself correctly, I think TMMB is a good instrumental but it may have been a Great Instrumental if Nick would have pulled more out of Neil like he did on Mal Nar and on CA. I think the drumming lacks a tad on that one. I don't agree at all that Neil was dragging the music down on S&A but his drumming on later albums is kinda disappointingly unspectacular and subdued (quite understandable though in the case of VT). It's so great to hear on the new album (still feels so good to say that ) insane and entertaining drums fills like I haven't heard since the '80s. TMMB rocks like a mo-fo anyway!

Just a fukking great song, insanely catchy, fantastic melody...and the instrumental part underlines it's rock & roll attitude and swagger

Caravan

QUOTE (treeduck @ Jul 14 2012, 03:26 AM)Another heavy metal RUSH classic! no least favorites on CA for me

QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ Jul 25 2012, 03:58 PM)cheesy is a good word. Is it really? I consider it rather flimsy and vague. I've never been completely clear on what it's supposed to mean anyway.

QUOTE (SchemingDemon @ Jul 24 2012, 07:40 PM)When did people start ripping on the wary/contrary rhyme? I certainly don't think it's cringeworthy at all It's not...that's simply what the nattering nitpickers of negativity do.