Griffon Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 I think it's a strong enough album--there are really only two tracks I feel are a bit underwhelming--"Second Nature" never feels like it gets going and turns into something, and "Tai Shan" is kinda like that--well-intentioned, doesn't do much for me. Then there's that middle tier of stuff that I'd listen to if I'm in the mood for it--"Prime Mover," "High Water," "Mission"--but aren't what I would call the essential tracks. Those would be "Force Ten," "Time Stand Still," "Open Secrets," "Lock and Key," "Turn the Page" really--stuff that I'm always happy to listen to when it comes up on shuffle. I don't know--to use a baseball metaphor there are for me always grand slams, home runs, a few fouls, and the rare strikeout on Rush albums to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Cocky Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 In the other thread where I did my analysis of skip songs, I only picked 2 from HYF....Second Nature and Mission. Never did really get those two tracks. Best tracks for me are Time Stand Still, Turn The Page, and Force Ten. Allt he others are somewhere in the middle, not great, but not skippable either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Sawyer Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 QUOTE (circumstantial tree @ Jun 21 2011, 10:33 AM) Test for Echo proves that you can have no synthesizers and produce some of the most boring music. In other words, synths don't make or break a good album. Synth does not make or break an album, you are correct. I'd say MP had the perfect blend of guitar and synth. But to say TFE is boring? And there are some synths on that albums as well, but not many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 21 2011, 09:18 AM) QUOTE (drbirdsong @ Jun 21 2011, 08:05 AM) I heard an interview where Geddy said that his parts were finished first and so Alex had to find places to fit in. I think it was a Rockline interview so it may exist out there somewhere. That sounds EXACTLY how it was recorded. Unfortunately. I'm just wrapping up listening to it again, and while I can appreciate the album a lot more, it's not really enough to move it up on my list of Rush albums. The stuff above it is just too strong. Hence it remains 14th out of 18 for me. Or 19, if you count Feedback. I get what they (Geddy?) were going for on the album. My first thought when I heard it on its original release was "They finally have that grand sound they've been trying to capture over the past few albums". But so many other bands had already done that sound so much better... Was glad to hear them back as more of a power trio on Presto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fledgehog Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 nothing wrong with the synths on HYF, they're used tastefully. I agree, the production is a bit thin, but the quality songwriting and energetic performance makes up for it. Hold Your Fire was my avatar for about 4 years, i'll defend it to the death! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todem Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Amazing the wide range of likes and dislikes on this great album. Mission IMO is one of the great Rush songs of all time. Inspiring. The outro solo (especially live) is goos bump inducing. The lyrics are some of my all time favorites from Neil. The bridge is sick musically. AWESOME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystic Slipperman Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 The thing I like most about the "synth period" is that, out of necessity, it forced Alex to come up with different ways to use guitar and color for these song arrangements. ESPECIALLY on HYF. Maybe they're not to the "RAWK" audiences' liking. Oh well. I think what he came up with is brilliant and perfect. Lucky for me, not everything has to rawk all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowItIs Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 QUOTE (Mystic Slipperman @ Jun 22 2011, 01:31 PM) The thing I like most about the "synth period" is that, out of necessity, it forced Alex to come up with different ways to use guitar and color for these song arrangements. ESPECIALLY on HYF. Maybe they're not to the "RAWK" audiences' liking. Oh well. I think what he came up with is brilliant and perfect. Lucky for me, not everything has to rawk all the time. I absolutely agree. On this album and Power Windows, the guitar parts are so intricate and creative. And perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briremo Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 20 2011, 04:24 PM) QUOTE (metaldad @ Jun 20 2011, 05:21 PM) No. Don't do it, look away and run like hell . Your ears will thank me for it later Too late! The drum riffs at the end of Lock and Key are pretty kickass, I had forgotten about that. Like I said, Neil most definitely did his part on Hold Your Fire, and so that keeps this one a good distance from the cellar. Lock and key is awesome. the ending is phenominal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briremo Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 QUOTE (Todem @ Jun 22 2011, 06:35 AM) Amazing the wide range of likes and dislikes on this great album. Mission IMO is one of the great Rush songs of all time. Inspiring. The outro solo (especially live) is goos bump inducing. The lyrics are some of my all time favorites from Neil. The bridge is sick musically. AWESOME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadude69 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 too synth heavy and musically weak for me. the production is quite weak too. "Time stand still" is the only song I like from that album If i want a good synth album i'll play Signals or GUP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fledgehog Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jun 22 2011, 06:50 PM) QUOTE (Mystic Slipperman @ Jun 22 2011, 01:31 PM) The thing I like most about the "synth period" is that, out of necessity, it forced Alex to come up with different ways to use guitar and color for these song arrangements. ESPECIALLY on HYF. Maybe they're not to the "RAWK" audiences' liking. Oh well. I think what he came up with is brilliant and perfect. Lucky for me, not everything has to rawk all the time. I absolutely agree. On this album and Power Windows, the guitar parts are so intricate and creative. And perfect. ^^this. Some of Alex's best playing is from this period. his solo in emotion detector is one of my favorites. and EVERYTHING about his playing in middletown dreams is amazing...that opening/closing chord never fails to give me chills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaldad Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 QUOTE (Xanadude69 @ Jun 22 2011, 08:58 PM) If i want a good synth album i'll play Signals or GUP Bingo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummerrobin Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I've always found the synths in Signals and GUP to be more intrusive to the music than in the two albums after. I think Countdown would have been far better off without as much synth - I'd love to hear a rework of that song to see what they could really do with it. To me the synths in Power Windows and Hold Your Fire sound like they're playing a more integral role in the music, and less of an afterthought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadude69 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 (edited) QUOTE (Drummerrobin @ Jun 23 2011, 04:33 PM) I've always found the synths in Signals and GUP to be more intrusive to the music than in the two albums after. I think Countdown would have been far better off without as much synth - I'd love to hear a rework of that song to see what they could really do with it. To me the synths in Power Windows and Hold Your Fire sound like they're playing a more integral role in the music, and less of an afterthought. See, I think its the other way around. But hey everyone is different and that's why i love these forums, everyone has their own opinion. Edited June 24, 2011 by Xanadude69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Cocky Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 QUOTE (metaldad @ Jun 23 2011, 12:10 PM) QUOTE (Xanadude69 @ Jun 22 2011, 08:58 PM) If i want a good synth album i'll play Signals or GUP Bingo +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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