Solitudeix

I guess perhaps the "taking things personally" thing might just come with the deception of seeing opinions that are so different from yours that you feel kind of detached from a discussion possibility, or when someone would quote someone and then drag it down... Kind of meaningless, cause we aren't really going to convince someone they do or don't like something. Me I think it is their best in a while. An album that I don't have to put on certain mental filters to really get into. For the last couple of albums it has been about 50 -50 for me and I kind of liked them just because I really wanted to get into them being a longtime fan. This one i can really sink into. The value of a certain level of complexity / writing / melodies is all relative to each person. What qualifies any of those qualities is too... I guess the one thing that gets me in the back of my mind is, after hearing all the stories of how involved Nick R was in the making of this is that I am wondering if I am not hearing mainly his influence, or if the guys we at this point already... maybe it would have been better if I hadn't read all that beforehand...Perhaps in the past they have been as "collaborative" with producers and just haven't discussed it as much. Not a problem really but I cant help feeling as if half the album was in part "written for them" and not coming from the source.... oh well. I do like it though.

QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ May 8 2012, 09:21 AM)Yeah, I still like it the same, I think... although I haven't been spinning it a lot. I still think the musicianship, especially the bass, is great on "Headlong Flight." It's a fast and fun song to listen to. But I'm off listening to different stuff these days, and seldom listening to Rush. It could even be said that Rush music doesn't have the same pull on me anymore than it did when I was in my teens and twenties or even my thirties. (Gasp!) They'll probably always be "my favorite band of all time," because of their impact on my formative years (if nothing else), but I'm not a daily Rush listener anymore by any means. When the full album comes out, perhaps it'll take over my listening time and maybe even dominate it for awhile. We'll see. I dont think I have ever read a post as much in line with what I feel as this one.

QUOTE (ucsteve667 @ May 30 2011, 02:02 PM) QUOTE (Sarge @ May 30 2011, 06:38 AM) QUOTE (Humbleanddumb @ May 30 2011, 12:10 AM) QUOTE (tangy @ May 29 2011, 11:01 PM) QUOTE (Cosy Toes @ May 29 2011, 05:55 PM) QUOTE (tangy @ May 29 2011, 04:39 PM) Pretty sure that New World Man is rushs highest charting song ever? if thats true than its hard to argue that momentum was lost?? I think The Spirit of the Radio (sic) was. But then Englandland has better taste than the USA perhaps fewer teeth leads to better taste........... ha ha, i can see that austin powers and the simpsons have done us in the UK no favours when it comes to the subject of teeth!!!! i still have a full set (touch wood) and i ought to point out that noone, absolutely no on in the UK talks like powers or like the simpsons UK voices! Yeah Baby yer still not getting what I mean anyway. yer think I mean some way of conforming to a fashion, trend, whatever.so I guess were at a standstill on it. I invited ya to talk about it in a more open way cause everything get sorta misconstrued generally in these posts. But you'd rather keep it in the threads here apparently, being that you started another thread on it and all. Well, so be it, guess it dies here as far as Im concerned. Shame tho, I tried the same approach with Rush Goober and I think we had a pretty decent discussion that laid out our our view in a much more expansive and comprehensive way. I 'd much rather talk for a half hr or hr than type it out 1700 times trying to get what I mean to read better. And then everyone can hear it and add to the conversation. Oh well and anyone can listen to marley, brutal truth, or what have you and not really get what we were up to back then were you talking to me? I didnt see my post in your quotes... But I would talk about it. I am actually tring to understand what you mean by an "open way" I guess I could start a thread about it... I guess we would also have to find what the point of what we are trying to say. Perhaps I would find out I am more "metal" than I seem to be... or what the definition of "metal" would be... I do know that most of the definitions I have heard and seen of what it is to be "metal" dont really apply to me. I dont fit into the most of the metal "scenes" I have been a part of... So no I dont really get what you mean... or where this was supposed ot be going. I dont necessarily think YOU are talking about conforming, but I sure do see that type of thought permeating most of the scenes I have been a part of.

QUOTE (ucsteve667 @ May 29 2011, 11:37 PM) QUOTE (Solitudeix @ May 29 2011, 11:31 AM) QUOTE (ucsteve667 @ May 28 2011, 06:26 PM) Metal has more to it than just the music, at least our crowd always thought so. And when was I a pussy for not being Metal. IMHO, one of the greatest shortcomings of the "Metal" tag. Needing to subscribe to a certain mindset to be considered "metal". I am not "metal". But I make "metal" music. i dont consider it a need to subscribe, but to say there isnt a certain amount of commonality in the genre I think isnt very accurrate. And if you "make Metal music, but I am not Metal" then that could open up a whole new avenue on motivation and what not that might be best discussed in a more open type of forum. Let me know if you'd like to discuss it for MY SHOW sometime. But I have to ask do you think RUSH was a Metal band with Signals and such before it? Or After? I think that a good portion of the music Rush was making from CoS - Hemispheres was more aggressive and "heavier" that most everything that was around at the time and considered "metal". off subject... but related to your motivation thing... I dont get into "scenes". I dont fit in any specific scene. Either by look or philosophy. That is all. And for music appreciation, I will listen to Bob Marley and Brutal Truth and Boris all in the same playlist without blinking an eye.

QUOTE (ucsteve667 @ May 28 2011, 06:26 PM) Metal has more to it than just the music, at least our crowd always thought so. And when was I a pussy for not being Metal. IMHO, one of the greatest shortcomings of the "Metal" tag. Needing to subscribe to a certain mindset to be considered "metal". I am not "metal". But I make "metal" music.

I think I understand where the OP is coming from. I personally have stopped posting in internet forums altogether 1. Because my opinion is only an opinion and I dont think it is worth anything more than another, I give it now and then, but dont expect anyone to care. 2. I think it is a waste of time because either positive or negative posts dont change much if anything at all in reality, and most forums simply get overpowered by people who seem to think that it does change something in the real world. 3..... That is actually all. I have never understood why anyone would take something personally when someone posts a negative opinion about a band. If they are not taking something personally and are just mad about it, I also wonder why. Is said person worried that it will hurt the bands feelings and cause a premature breakup or something? I dont understand. Yes I suppose that if I was to go to a social gathering in the real world, and everyone was bitching I guess I would be disappointed and would leave. But here, on the internets, a simple click and you are gone. No more seeing negativity. I guess some would find it annoying that their outlet to praise the band would be cluttered up by negativity, but then again, do people need to have their opinion validated? If I like a band, no amount of bitching will convince me to not like the band. On the flip side, if I dont like an album, or the current output of a band, feeling lucky that a band it at least out there doing something will not make me like it. Why would I feel lucky that a band is still going if they are not making music I like to hear? Great for them, but to me, my life stays the same. Fortunately I am still into Rush, though. But... yeah, one of the rare times I actually take 5 min to give my opinion... In short... its only the internet.

Love it. Very droney and hypnotic. Love this type of songwriting. No regard to commercial appeal. Just pure indulgence, which in my opinion is what being an artist is about. I dont think the term "self-indulgent" applies to music really. The artist should make the music for themselves first and foremost. We, the listeners, always have the choice to skip the song. Its a take it or leave it situation.

QUOTE (Tommy Sawyer @ May 2 2011, 09:06 PM) I was just thinking, FINALLY, thank goodness that guy's dead! I was just thinking that unfortunately, if its not him, it will be someone else. I guess I could have thought that he really really wanted to live if he hid out this long, but somehow I felt that being as extreme as he was, he had made peace with death long ago.

QUOTE (shaun3701 @ Nov 8 2010, 06:41 PM) QUOTE (Solitudeix @ Nov 8 2010, 05:56 PM) It did sound good live whatever it was. He really had a big, thick and raw sound this time out. The heaviness was a treat. I think that's because of the new amps he's using, not anything to do with changes to his bass. Perhaps. I suppose I don't really care about what made it sound that way. I should have said "on a side note". But if a change in the bass makes a change in the tone, then it would logically factor into the overall sound and it could change the verdict in my mind.

It did sound good live whatever it was. He really had a big, thick and raw sound this time out. The heaviness was a treat.

QUOTE (OldRod @ Oct 25 2010, 09:09 AM) If that had been Guns and Roses, or any one of another bunch of bands, Alex would have thrown down his guitar and walked off the stage. The fact that he didn't is part of what makes this band so awesome! In 10 plus years of playing shows averaging 3-4 bands per show, I have seen my share of technical mishaps and blown up equipment... I have never seen a band throw down instruments and / or walk offstage. I have seen delays of up to about an hour, because it just wasn't working, but never have I seen a band stop and refuse to continue if they had viable options available to them.

QUOTE (cygnus_thegodofbalance @ Oct 27 2010, 10:29 PM) Yeah, I think his voice is putting on the wooden overcoat if you know what I mean. ded?

QUOTE (ghostworks @ Oct 18 2010, 01:54 PM) QUOTE (danielmclark @ Oct 18 2010, 11:42 AM) QUOTE (nobodys hero @ Oct 18 2010, 06:40 AM) My daughter's boyfriend and his Mom wore these things when they went on an 8 mile hike up in Rocky Mountain National Park. Apparently they are super comfortable. I do agree with Mara though fugly they are! No offence DC None taken ...and you thought Ugg's were bad? I've seen two other people wearing these ridiculous things in the past month, and already: I've had enough. Both of these people, by the way, were in a completely urban (city) environment. They weren't hiking or running or on a walking tour or exercising or "experiencing the physical and visceral sensation of going barefoot and conquering the world as you did when you were a child" (paraphrasing from the Vibram site... ) No. They were wearing them as a 'fashion' statement. I almost punched them in the mouth on principle alone. People. Stop before you start. If they were wearing them for the technical aspects... would you still want to punch them in the mouth?

Probably the type of thing that sounds fine when your at the show and you have 10000 watts of Hemispheres blasting in your face, and not so when you play back the tape... but imho, his vox have changed quite a bit since even Different Stages so it might not be that great but who knows.

1st set - All of SnA 2nd set - All of CA Encore - Virtuality Roll the Bones The Speed of Love

I find it interesting the amount of posters saying basically "cut the guy some slack" I dont think that most of the people here are demeaning or reprimanding the guy for still giving it a good effort. I find it absurd to think that some people cannot hear that his range has changed and that his abilities are not the same as they once were... and in saying this I think it is obvious that this is the expected outcome of age and wear and tear and nothing to be ashamed of. He is not a lesser man because of it... If it doesnt bother you or you happen to like it like that good for you. But to deny it or take it personally when someone points it out, I dont get it. Me personally, although their songs are hard to sing,and although he gives it a great effort, and although I think he still sounds good for his age, I think this tour is the first tour where I thought that about halfway during the show his throat was going to seize up on him. I was not happy with myself for allowing myself to feel this way... I have, in the past, been an ardent and outspoken defender of his vocals.. but this time around I was really wondering how he was going to get through the songs after a certain point. It made my own throat feel strange... I have had a bout of (almost) vocal paralysis after some hard singing / screaming.... It just made me think back to that and feel it... somehow he kept going and made it through which amazed me, but I have to wonder how his larynx and the surrounding muscles feel after each show.

and another one to myself for continuing this (at myself)

QUOTE (daveyt @ Jul 29 2010, 01:00 PM) huh circumstances in a lower key rips! I agree.

QUOTE (trenken @ Jul 28 2010, 06:34 PM) QUOTE (hughes&kettner @ Jul 24 2010, 01:08 PM) QUOTE (trenken @ Jul 19 2010, 08:57 PM) QUOTE (crazygeo @ Jul 19 2010, 08:53 PM) I would say they were in their "prime" at this point.... I agree with you. That was when they were at their best, never as good since. that's bullshit. maybe the setlist hasn't been that good since...but their sound is like vintage scotch today... Your opinion. There is no way anyone is convincing me that any band of late 50 year olds sounds as good as they did in their mid 20s. For me Rush was at their song writing and performing prime in the very early 80s. Geddy did not have nearly as much trouble singing as he does now, Neil never screwed up fills or beats like he does now, and Alex was not quite as sloppy. Never as good since with the setlists or the quality of how the sounded. I can point you to MANY youtube vids of Neil screwing up on recent tours, Geddy struggling all the time, and Alex messing up solos, but it would not be easy for me to find any of that from the early 80s. And there are a ton of live videos on youtube of them from back then. I dont recall ever hearing a screw up or anyone struggling. All has to do with age, you're simply able to do more and do it better when you're younger. Im not even that old, 34, but ive been singing since I was about 6 or 7, just 5 years ago I could nail any Rush song, all the highs perfectly, with power too, but just 5 years later im struggling with it now. I know... its sad but true...and I dont mean that in a James Hetfield type of way.

QUOTE (Don Quixote @ Jul 27 2010, 08:16 AM) QUOTE (Solitudeix @ Jul 22 2010, 04:43 PM) And I use super light picks too... and strings that go from .70 - .14 (guitar). WOW. And I was thinking of switching to medium gauge to try them out. What are those? Super Heavy? well, I wish there was a set, because it is annoying to buy them all individually... I did some crackpot calculations and came up with a set that is: . 70 ( which is actually a bass string ) .56 - .58 (depends on my mood) .44 .30 .22 .14 I tune to low F# and have solid hardtail bridges on my electrics. I just like the feel and sound. My bassist has a bass custom made to be at low F# as well. we like lowness.

QUOTE (Mr. Krinkle @ Jul 21 2010, 10:52 AM) QUOTE (Sir Lerxst @ Jul 21 2010, 10:42 AM) QUOTE (moedrabowsky @ Jul 20 2010, 04:25 PM) And if the equipment is faulty every night, then it's on the guitar tech. He should be working round the clock to make sure that if it is faulty equipment, it's replaced or repaired. It hasn't been though. There have been maybe 3 shows where there have been equipment failures. One of which was a broken string, which is, no matter how you think about it, Alex's fault. Broken strings are most likely Alex's fault BUT, it depends on what strings are breaking. The thin, unwound ones......most likely Alex. The heavier, wound strings...can develop burrs in the bridge saddles and if the saddles are not properly filed out smooth, those burrs can actually cut the strings once they are under full tension. Happens to bass players too. These shows are outside as well and humidity can affect guitars too. It can take a perfectly straight neck and in hours turn it into a diving board causing intonation and fretting problems. Wireless units can have problems too. Like ATC signals bleeding through kind of like in Spinal Tap. Sometimes the tech is doing all he can and sometimes problems just keep happening. You cant blame anyone for that really. It's just sometimes a bad case of Murphy's Law. Play with some power in your strum and strings can break. It is simply a question of how long it will last (the string). I had a bout where I broke a string almost every show. It was frustrating. But it wasnt because I played any differently during the show. And I use super light picks too... and strings that go from .70 - .14 (guitar). I have a relatively uncompressed distortion sound, the impact really changes with the power of the palm mute or picking attack. I kind of brutalize the thing... but I dont have that problem anymore and I havent really changed anything in my style of picking. Perhaps a bad instalation, or unseen crimps or faults in the string... bah... thats in the past. hopefully.

Presto. A very important song for me. I'm very annoyed that I missed it live after waiting so long to see it. It was my fault but the amazingly bad traffic at every turn on the way from Montreal to Quebec wasn't on my side. I, myself, would be delighted if they kept it for the next tour.

QUOTE (J2112YYZ @ Jul 20 2010, 01:14 PM) Here's my first Rush set from the second night of the T4E tour. Buffalo, NY October 20, 1996 Intro (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) Dreamline The Big Money Driven Half the World Red Barchetta Animate Limbo The Trees Red Sector A Virtuality Nobody's Hero Closer To The Heart 2112 Intermission Test For Echo Subdivisions Freewill Roll the Bones Resist Leave That Thing Alone! The Rhythm Method Natural Science Force Ten Time and Motion The Spirit of Radio Tom Sawyer YYZ/Cygnus X-1 That was my first show too.

This is the version I saw. I loved it. I find Neil to be great in this version. Well, I really like the version all around, and the whole show was excellent too. (well what I saw... I missed the first 4 songs due to hooooooorible traffic so I still have NOT SEEN PRESTO LIVE.... ....) I would have to think it was one of the bigger crowds so far, estimated at over 80,000. There was a ton of people every freaking where. Edit... shit... and the version of Presto was really good.... dammit.

QUOTE (Alex @ Jul 14 2010, 09:15 PM) QUOTE (Solitudeix @ Jul 14 2010, 07:48 PM) Perhaps they are the cameras used for the video on the large screens? Yeah, its Rush's equipment. I hadnt seen the suggestion that it "might be the camera for the rear projection" mentioned earlier. Thought I would throw that out there as the reason for their presence.