The Owl Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Here we are now, in the leadup to yet another studio album.... and I in the lead up bring you my review of every Rush album, track by track. (Stealing this Idea from Treeduck who did this in the leadup to Snakes and Arrows, gotta give credit where credit is due.) And I hope you might join me in my capade. Hopefully I time my reviews right to when I am done with the S&A review, CWA's release is a week or two away by then. I am gonna shoot for one or two reviews a week, but once we get a release date for Clockwork Angels I can do a bit more solid of a schedule.... P.S And stating here in the first post, I am going to try and be as objective as possible in these reviews, and in the ratings, but my results will largely reflect my own personal tastes and biases, as is the case with any review. P.P.S Just for the record these are the versions of the CD's I am using.. - Moving Pictures = Rush Sector Box Set versions Signals - Hold Your Fire = 97 masters versuibs Presto- CWA = Original CD release versions So without further adieu .., let us begin ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/92/Rush_self_titled.jpg/220px-Rush_self_titled.jpg / Self-Titled Debut 1974 - Track 1: Finding My Way Lets get this out of the way at the start, uninspired lyrics completely overshadowed by stellar music. This song is not only a great note to start an album up, with the build at the start, but it is also an amazing way to open up a career. (7.5/10) - Track 2: Need Some Love Simple short track, but good.. moves the album along and dosen't get stale, and some really good drumming by Mr. John Rutsey (7/10) -Track 3. Take a Friend Love the build on this track as well. The main riff and melody is great, but unlike the previous track it does kind of run on a bit long at the end... (6.5/10) - Track 4: Here Again Probably my favorite track on the album, This song is just stellar, Geddy's voice at some point on this album are very high, but here it feels balanced, the solos are great, and this track by far has the best lyrics on the album. (9/10) - Track 5: What You're Doing I was gonna wait till the album summary/final thoughts part of the review to draw comparisons to Led Zeppelin, but you can't ignore it in this song. It the Zeppelinesk feel to this song a bad thing? Not really.... It's another good driving rock song IMO, and you can leave it at that. (6.5/10) - Track 6: In The Mood MORE COWBELL!..... The same thing I've said about several of the tracks already can be applied here.... Good rocker, and not the best of lyrics... but in this case I can find some humor in them.... Geddy just want's him some. (6/10) - Track 7: Before and After This song almost had me, the first 2:30 are phenomenal, but after that it goes back to sounding like the rest of the album, not necessarily bad, but just redundant. The muisic is overall better than some of the other tracks on the album, to the point I think the lyrics could have been left out of the track altogether, and would have been better as an instrumental. (7.5/10) - Track 8: Working Man What more can be said about this song other than awesome, from the opening riff to the dynamic ending, just 7 minutes of epicocity. (Who's mayor has been missing on air waves). And we have to face it, if this track was never recorded, where would Rush be now? While this track musically feels like alot of the other tracks, It varies and is much more dynamic. The lyrics while (again) not the best are very relateable and moves the song along nicley.. (9/10) ---------------------------Overall and Final Thoughts------------------------- The Debut album is very much a matter of debate amongst Rush fans, while the album may not hold a candle to what was to come, you cannot deny that the album is a strong first statement from the (at the time) young Canadian band.....The album is not without it's faults either, the music at times can get repetitive and stale, and the lyrical direction is less than inspired most of the time. I avoided this in the song reviews, but you cannot deny the Zeppelin comparisons that many have drawn in regards to this album, the influence Zeppelin has made on this album cannot be ignored, at times Alex Lifeson's guitar reeks (not in a bad way per-say) of Jimmy Page, and John Rutsey's drumming of Bonzo. I'm not calling the album a rip-off or anything , but the style is there. And Speaking of John Rutsey, you can't criticize the guy at all, he did his job, and did it well, but hindsight is a 20/20 bitch, and knowing what was coming up, and what Mr.Peart would bring to the band, even his playing of the songs from the first album, it's hard not draw comparisons between Peart and Rutsey, and while it might not be fair to Rutsey it still has to be mentioned.. Overall Album Score: 7 out of 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 I also want to mention, I'm doing the track by track reviews as I listen to it. (or rather right after I listen to it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Sawyer Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I'd rate Rush a little lower, but cool to see your reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I'd definitely rate the debut album at least an 8.5 - a truly excellent underrated album. The only fault for me is some of the lyrics, but even those are undervalued - no, they're not Neil Peart, but they're damn fun and enjoyable. It's really one hell of a hard rocking classic. I'm glad you didn't throw it under the bus as many do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Feb 12 2012, 10:28 AM) I'd definitely rate the debut album at least an 8.5 - a truly excellent underrated album. The only fault for me is some of the lyrics, but even those are undervalued - no, they're not Neil Peart, but they're damn fun and enjoyable. It's really one hell of a hard rocking classic. I'm glad you didn't throw it under the bus as many do. I didn't feel like it was an album to throw under the bus, it's a good album... You didn't see yourself referenced in the review somewhere did you? lol Edited February 12, 2012 by The Owl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apetersvt Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I think your ratings for the debut are spot on from what I would rate as well. 7 out of 10 overall and you have the tunes rated more or less what I would do as well (Here Again and Working Man would be ranked highest, and Take A Friend, Need Some Love, and In The Mood the lowest). The only change I would have done would be to give What You're Doing some more points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt starman Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Thanks for posting up the review "Owl". I been a while since I listen the whole album. It was a good read. Overall all your points are on the mark. Working man being my personal fav. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good,bad,andrush Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 In the context of other songs I'd give all these tracks about half a point lower, but as a standalone I'd probably give them a full point higher Here Again however is a spot on 9 in any context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Cool thread! I'd give the debut an 8/10. Great, heavy blues-rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Nice to see all the love for Here Again. A truly great early Rush classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good,bad,andrush Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 QUOTE (rushgoober @ Feb 12 2012, 12:35 PM) Nice to see all the love for Here Again. A truly great early Rush classic. I wouldn't mind if that song was 17 minutes of that guitar solo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostworks Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 QUOTE (Good,bad,andrush @ Feb 12 2012, 12:38 PM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Feb 12 2012, 12:35 PM) Nice to see all the love for Here Again. A truly great early Rush classic. I wouldn't mind if that song was 17 minutes of that guitar solo +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandDesigner Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 The debut is fun to listen to every now and then. I do find Working Man to be a low point though...it just never did anything for me. Here Again and Before & After are really awesome. Wonder why they never played B&A live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReflectedLight Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 QUOTE (rushgoober @ Feb 12 2012, 12:35 PM) Nice to see all the love for Here Again. A truly great early Rush classic. one of my favs and is a gem from the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 Thanks for the feeback... gonna try and do Fly By Night on Thursday... For the overall Review I might actually go to a 100 point scale starting with FBN..... If I were to rate the debut out of 100 it would be at about a 72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Owl Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 And Treeduck, I tried to search for your original thread where you did the same thing, and insipired this thread... (and by inspired I meant I ripped it off...lol) but couldn't find it... reposting those here would be cool as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silas Lang Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 QUOTE (The Owl @ Feb 12 2012, 09:29 AM) The Debut album is very much a matter of debate amongst Rush fans, while the album may not hold a candle to what was to come, you cannot deny that the album is a strong first statement from the (at the time) young Canadian band.....The album is not without it's faults either, the music at times can get repetitive and stale, and the lyrical direction is less than inspired most of the time. I think it more than holds its own against at least half of the entire Rush discography. It's pretty much faultless to my ears and sensibilties. I don't find it stale at all but fresh, fun and invigorating. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the generally positive review. It's quite a refreshing change. I'm simply addicted to its raw explosive energy. Lerxst's playing on here just smokes! And with Geddy screeching for all he's worth and Rutsey kickin' ass on the drum kit, what's not to love? I'd give a 10 to Working Man, Finding My Way, What You're Doing, Before & After...hell I love em all! A stone cold pure heavy rock classic from the dazed and confused '70s. And yes, it must be said, better than anything Van Halen ever did. 10/10 in my book "I just want to rock & roll you, woman, until the night is done!" A moment of silence for John Rutsey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driventotheedge Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 (edited) QUOTE (GrandDesigner @ Feb 12 2012, 11:39 AM) ........ I do find Working Man to be a low point though...it just never did anything for me.............. And I'm the exact opposite....I've totally dug Working Man since I first heard it. Ah, "wouldn't it be a real drag if we were all the same?" Good review. 7 seems about right to me too though I'd likely bump Finding My Way another half point up to an 8. Edited February 13, 2012 by driventotheedge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silas Lang Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 QUOTE (driventotheedge @ Feb 13 2012, 02:48 AM)"wouldn't it be a real drag if we were all the same?" You dig Savoy Brown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandDesigner Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 QUOTE (driventotheedge @ Feb 13 2012, 02:48 AM) And I'm the exact opposite....I've totally dug Working Man since I first heard it. Ah, "wouldn't it be a real drag if we were all the same?" It's not a horrible song, but if I had a choice to hear any song off the album live, it'd be dead last (or tied for last with Finding My Way, another one I find unremarkable). The riff at 3:13 of Working Man is completely awesome though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastille Dave Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) good reviews. I don't think I could give unbiased reviews of albums I've been listening to for 25-35 years. I would probably rate everything a bit higher than they are supposed to be. I'd be better off rating the Rush albums from Presto-Now. My reviews of the debut to MP would be fanboy-mania and people would probably think I was insanely obsessed with Rush or something. Edited February 14, 2012 by Bastille Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of the 7 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 My boyfriend and I were just listening to this album yesterday, and when Here Again came on, I remarked that you could tell they were going somewhere with that one. So many other songs on the album are just fun...which is also a big part of their personalities to this day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driventotheedge Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 QUOTE (Silas Lang @ Feb 13 2012, 01:03 AM) QUOTE (driventotheedge @ Feb 13 2012, 02:48 AM)"wouldn't it be a real drag if we were all the same?" You dig Savoy Brown? Sorta.....always liked the sentiment in that song.....any blues based rock is good to my ears. Saw them about 6 or so years ago. Wishbone Ash opened. 800 seat theater. Damned good show. Good crowd that night which always makes for a better performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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