Unpopular opinions you have about RUSH

[Presto-digitation]

Another of mine: I prefer both the 80s, 90s, and 00-to-present Rush over 70s Rush on the whole. I'd rather listen to Roll The Bones than 2112 19 times in 20. Edited May 7, 2012 by Presto-digitation

[danielmclark]

QUOTE (nobodys hero @ May 6 2012, 06:10 PM)

How many other 60 year olds can you say sing better than Geddy?

Seriously? There are a *ton* of singers in their 60's or better that are better singers than Geddy. Now, there aren't many that spent the first 30 years screaming like a banshee, so there's that. But if your only qualifier here is age, there are many, many singers who are better than Geddy at his age and older.

[hughes&kettner]

QUOTE (BigBob @ May 4 2012, 03:52 PM)

1) Best that I can - I love this song so much. It's just a great rock tune, without all the proggy  stuff. I love Prog Rush, but Rush playing straight rock tunes is just awesome. Which brings up point # 2 2) Feedback is just a blast to listen to. Not many people talk about this album, I don't know why. It's so much fun to hear the boys annihilate these songs (in a good way) 3) Making Memories - Boy I love that one little high pitched riff in the song. It's just got an epic feel to it. 4) Snakes and Arrows isn't gonna magically get better for all you S&A haters out there, so stop your bitchin! Just listen to S&A and enjoy. 5) I loved the Live from Cleveland. Even though I hate Cleveland. (Sorry I'm a Pittsburgh guy, and we rock a lot harder than cleveland) Cool, Glad I got that out of my system

rock a lot harder than cleveland? no fooking way broseph.

i have seen several bands on several tours in both cleveland and pittsburgh. the cleveland crowds are louder than every pitts. audience. we may not know how to win football games, but we rock harder than everyone- did ya hear the end of the time machine DVD?? best audience ever?????? geddy would know.

plus, no one wears ass-ugly black and yellow football jerseys here in c-town.

 

bands ive seen in both cities...

 

rush

metallica

alice in chains

iron maiden

van halen

 

cleveland crowds destroyed pitts. crowds, every show. always have always will.

we don't drink iron shitty beer either, and our weed is better.

[GangsterOnBoats]

Alright, let me see what I can conjure up...

 

I think Alex is the least talented musically out of the three. That is not saying he is a bad player, but his skills are not as developed as the other two. However, he is a funny personality, unlike the other two (for the most part).

 

That being said, I don't think Neil is the best drummer on the planet. I think there are plenty of drummers (Chad Wackerman, Bill Bruford) and heck, even Mike Mangini is more technically skilled, but I think Neil applies what he knows to the music better than mangini.

 

Also, I think that Caravan and BU2B are two of the weakest songs Rush has ever released, lyrically (I can't stop thinking big x40000) and musically (BU2B relies on four chords.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (danielmclark @ May 6 2012, 05:49 PM)

QUOTE (nobodys hero @ May 6 2012, 06:10 PM) How many other 60 year olds can you say sing better than Geddy? Seriously? There are a *ton* of singers in their 60's or better that are better singers than Geddy. Now, there aren't many that spent the first 30 years screaming like a banshee, so there's that. But if your only qualifier here is age, there are many, many singers who are better than Geddy at his age and older. I saw The Moody Blues 3 or 4 years ago and Justin Hayward literally sounded as good as he did in the late 60's. I was astonished at how well his voice had held up.

[friendlyfloridian]

1. Don't like 2112.

 

2. Love all of the 80's era.

 

3. Hated most everything 90's forward.

 

4. Neil is no longer inspiring as a drummer.

 

5. Rush no longer wows me with their stage acrobatics. Too easy looking these days.

 

6. Lyrics 90's forward also suck big time.

 

7. Overall sound of the band sounds weak. Arrangements are for the most part predictable since the 90's.

 

8. Lost interest in Neil's solos about 10 years ago. I LOVE electronic drums. Just not what he is doing with them.

Edited May 7, 2012 by friendlyfloridian

[cygnus_thegodofbalance]

For me, Rush didn't start until A Farewell to Kings. 2112, the song, is great and hard rocking, but Side 2 contains some of the worst songs of their career. Passage to Bangkok is good, but Tears, Lessons, and Twilight Zone are horrendous songs. Even Something for Nothing is average. Rush, Fly by Night, and Caress of Steel...

[Tommy Sawyer]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ May 7 2012, 03:10 PM)

QUOTE (danielmclark @ May 6 2012, 05:49 PM) QUOTE (nobodys hero @ May 6 2012, 06:10 PM) How many other 60 year olds can you say sing better than Geddy? Seriously? There are a *ton* of singers in their 60's or better that are better singers than Geddy. Now, there aren't many that spent the first 30 years screaming like a banshee, so there's that. But if your only qualifier here is age, there are many, many singers who are better than Geddy at his age and older. I saw The Moody Blues 3 or 4 years ago and Justin Hayward literally sounded as good as he did in the late 60's. I was astonished at how well his voice had held up. Jon Anderson says as well!

[Gompers]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ May 7 2012, 03:10 PM)

QUOTE (danielmclark @ May 6 2012, 05:49 PM) QUOTE (nobodys hero @ May 6 2012, 06:10 PM) How many other 60 year olds can you say sing better than Geddy? Seriously? There are a *ton* of singers in their 60's or better that are better singers than Geddy. Now, there aren't many that spent the first 30 years screaming like a banshee, so there's that. But if your only qualifier here is age, there are many, many singers who are better than Geddy at his age and older. I saw The Moody Blues 3 or 4 years ago and Justin Hayward literally sounded as good as he did in the late 60's. I was astonished at how well his voice had held up. Paul Rodgers from Bad Co. still sounds great too.

[jnoble]

If I never hear Tom Sawyer again....either on the radio or live in concert or even played by a tribute band that'd be fine by me.

 

Natural Science, The Pass, Signals, and Animate are overrated by fans.

 

Neil's drumming on Fly By Night...both the playing itself and the sound of his drums kicks ass and is much more enjoyable than his "more mature and technologically advanced Gruber-influenced" current style

 

HYF is underrated. Yes, it's not hard rock and it's lush and overproduced, but the song writing and arrangments are for the most part very very good.

 

Rupert Hine's thin production worked better for Presto than it did for RTB.

 

Geddy's Wal era bass playing was more enjoyable than his post Counterparts distorted Fender Jazz flamenco "play as many notes as fast as possible in every song" style

 

I like the narroration in songs like The Necromancer and Cygnus X-1

 

Geddy ability to compose and sing a decent melody largely disappeared around Test For Echo

 

I enjoy screechy '70s young Geddy's singing much more than straining cracking "more mature and soulful" Geddy of now.

 

VT is more listenable than the preachy borefest of Snakes

 

Neil Pearts ability to write enjoyable understandable lyrics started going downhill starting with Counterparts and got worse with every album since

 

Grace Under Pressure is an OK album but doesn't make me convulse with joy like most other fans

 

the three new songs, especially Headlong Flight, aren't all that great. Headlong Flight is overlong, needlessly complicated, and the melody is almost non-existant. Which is what I think of most of their stuff from the last 10 years.

 

Superconductor is a fun song I've always liked. Ditto Where's my Thing.

 

I'm tired of hearing the band and fans discuss Moving Pictures....either the songs themselves or the recording of it. And definatly I'm tired of hearing any of those songs on radio or in concert.

 

Drum solos bore me. The last Peart solo I liked was the one on ASOH.

Edited May 8, 2012 by jnoble

[Animate]

I think the word "tears" is overused in Rush lyrics.

 

Geddy and Neil are both guilty of this.

[BigBob]

I really can't stand Geddy's voice. They should get some one like Tommy Shaw or Denis Deyoung!

 

haha J/k

[Del_Duio]

QUOTE (jnoble @ May 8 2012, 06:12 AM)

Geddy's Wal era bass playing was more enjoyable than his post Counterparts distorted Fender Jazz flamenco "play as many notes as fast as possible in every song" style

I don't think this is an unpopular opinion

[Del_Duio]

QUOTE (Animate @ May 8 2012, 07:17 AM)

I think the word "tears" is overused in Rush lyrics. Geddy and Neil are both guilty of this.

I noticed awhile ago a lot of Rush songs had "like a (fill in the blank)" repeating theme.

 

Like an English rain

Like a force of nature

Like a rare and precious metal

Like a righteous inspiration

Like a teardrop in the ocean

Like a streak of lightning

Like a brilliant shooting star

Like a stranger coming out of the rain

Like a million little doorways

Like a million little crossroads

Like a torn up photograph

Like a shipwrecked mariner adrift on an unknown sea

Like a pair of vagabonds who wave between two passing trains

Like a ghost rider

Like a cornered beast

Like a stone in the river

Like a forest bows to winter

Like a flower in the desert

Like a steely blade in a silken sheath

Like a pillar of cloud, the smoke lingers

 

It's almost..

 

Like a spiral sea UNENDIIIINGGG!!!

[EmotionDetector]

QUOTE (Del_Duio @ May 9 2012, 08:24 AM)

QUOTE (Animate @ May 8 2012, 07:17 AM) I think the word "tears" is overused in Rush lyrics. Geddy and Neil are both guilty of this. I noticed awhile ago a lot of Rush songs had "like a (fill in the blank)" repeating theme.   Like an English rain Like a force of nature Like a rare and precious metal Like a righteous inspiration Like a teardrop in the ocean Like a streak of lightning Like a brilliant shooting star Like a stranger coming out of the rain Like a million little doorways Like a million little crossroads Like a torn up photograph Like a shipwrecked mariner adrift on an unknown sea Like a pair of vagabonds who wave between two passing trains Like a ghost rider Like a cornered beast Like a stone in the river Like a forest bows to winter Like a flower in the desert Like a steely blade in a silken sheath Like a pillar of cloud, the smoke lingers   It's almost..   Like a spiral sea UNENDIIIINGGG!!! Haha...that's a great observation.   I guess Neil uses it to help the listener in making a comparison. I wonder if he even notices how much he's used it?!

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (EmotionDetector @ May 9 2012, 05:46 AM)

QUOTE (Del_Duio @ May 9 2012, 08:24 AM) QUOTE (Animate @ May 8 2012, 07:17 AM) I think the word "tears" is overused in Rush lyrics. Geddy and Neil are both guilty of this. I noticed awhile ago a lot of Rush songs had "like a (fill in the blank)" repeating theme.   Like an English rain Like a force of nature Like a rare and precious metal Like a righteous inspiration Like a teardrop in the ocean Like a streak of lightning Like a brilliant shooting star Like a stranger coming out of the rain Like a million little doorways Like a million little crossroads Like a torn up photograph Like a shipwrecked mariner adrift on an unknown sea Like a pair of vagabonds who wave between two passing trains Like a ghost rider Like a cornered beast Like a stone in the river Like a forest bows to winter Like a flower in the desert Like a steely blade in a silken sheath Like a pillar of cloud, the smoke lingers   It's almost..   Like a spiral sea UNENDIIIINGGG!!! Haha...that's a great observation.   I guess Neil uses it to help the listener in making a comparison. I wonder if he even notices how much he's used it?! Like I doubt it.   I don't mind it, similes are a common and effective poetic/literary device.

Edited May 9, 2012 by rushgoober

[rushgoober]

If you really want to talk about an overused word in Rush lyrics, be prepared, because it's used A LOT!

 

Rock and roll-in's a scream, makin' millions my dream

A wondrous dream came into being

Fantastic dreams come true

The dreams's gone stale, but still, let hope prevail

We would sit and talk of dreams all night

Dreams of youth

And a dream must give it flame

V. Oracle: The Dream

Dream can't you show me the light?

The dream is still in my head

Not fade like all my dreams

Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams

Come explore your dreams' creation

No matter what your dreams might be

Try as they might They cannot steal your dreams

VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream

Things that I once dreamed of have become reality.

II. To sleep, perchance to dream...

The shifting shafts of shining Weave the fabric of their dreams...

To keep it as new has been his dearest dream.

Race back to the farm, to dream with my uncle at the fireside.

The universal dream

Will drag the dream into existence.

Nowhere is the dreamer Or the misfit so alone

The restless dreams of youth

Some will sell their dreams for small desires

And start to dream of somewhere To relax their restless flight

Dances on the edge of his dream

But most of us just dream about The things we'd like to be

Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams

I'm not giving up On implausible dreams-

From dreams to a bowl of dust

Big money make a million dreams

We break the surface tension With our wild kinetic dreams

While their invaders dream of lands they've left behind

Dreams flow across the heartland

Dreams transport desires

Dreams transport the ones Who need to get out of town

They dream in Middletown...

More things than are dreamed about

Dance and dream like lovers

Now I lay me down in Dreamland

Hold the flame 'til the dream ignites-

A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission

I walk through their beautiful buildings And I wish I had their dreams

But dreams don't need to have motion

In the dreams of a desert thirst

dreams are sometimes catching

Dreamers learn to steer by the stars

Dreamers turn to look at the cars

dreams for self-delusion

I had a dream of a winter garden

I had a dream of the open water

chase the dreams of merchandise

Dreamline

Wondering what our dreams might be worth

To leave you stranded in Dreamland

If the dream is won - Though everything is lost

Just another dreamer who was going too far

Evil as a murderer's dream

In the city where nobody smiles And nobody dreams

Live and love and dream

Dream of a Peaceable Kingdom

Dream of a time without war

You could look with pride On your world of dreams

Form a dream to rise to Earthshine

Did I have a dream?

Or did the dream have me?

Dream - Temporary madness

Dream - A voice in the wilderness

Dream - Unconscious revelations

Another world of dreams appears

Dream - A walk in the wilderness

Dream - Unconscious recreation

It's a dream for the waking

To the distant dream of the city

Edited May 9, 2012 by rushgoober

[metaldad]

Here is another one i just remembered . I think Fly By Night is the best of the first 4 albums

[Animate]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ May 9 2012, 08:14 AM)

If you really want to talk about an overused word in Rush lyrics, be prepared, because it's used A LOT! Rock and roll-in's a scream, makin' millions my dream A wondrous dream came into being Fantastic dreams come true The dreams's gone stale, but still, let hope prevail We would sit and talk of dreams all night Dreams of youth And a dream must give it flame V. Oracle: The Dream Dream can't you show me the light? The dream is still in my head Not fade like all my dreams Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams Come explore your dreams' creation No matter what your dreams might be Try as they might They cannot steal your dreams VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream Things that I once dreamed of have become reality. II. To sleep, perchance to dream... The shifting shafts of shining Weave the fabric of their dreams... To keep it as new has been his dearest dream. Race back to the farm, to dream with my uncle at the fireside. The universal dream Will drag the dream into existence. Nowhere is the dreamer Or the misfit so alone The restless dreams of youth Some will sell their dreams for small desires And start to dream of somewhere To relax their restless flight Dances on the edge of his dream But most of us just dream about The things we'd like to be Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams I'm not giving up On implausible dreams- From dreams to a bowl of dust Big money make a million dreams We break the surface tension With our wild kinetic dreams While their invaders dream of lands they've left behind Dreams flow across the heartland Dreams transport desires Dreams transport the ones Who need to get out of town They dream in Middletown... More things than are dreamed about Dance and dream like lovers Now I lay me down in Dreamland Hold the flame 'til the dream ignites- A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission I walk through their beautiful buildings And I wish I had their dreams But dreams don't need to have motion In the dreams of a desert thirst dreams are sometimes catching Dreamers learn to steer by the stars Dreamers turn to look at the cars dreams for self-delusion I had a dream of a winter garden I had a dream of the open water chase the dreams of merchandise Dreamline Wondering what our dreams might be worth To leave you stranded in Dreamland If the dream is won - Though everything is lost Just another dreamer who was going too far Evil as a murderer's dream In the city where nobody smiles And nobody dreams Live and love and dream Dream of a Peaceable Kingdom Dream of a time without war You could look with pride On your world of dreams Form a dream to rise to Earthshine Did I have a dream? Or did the dream have me? Dream - Temporary madness Dream - A voice in the wilderness Dream - Unconscious revelations Another world of dreams appears Dream - A walk in the wilderness Dream - Unconscious recreation It's a dream for the waking To the distant dream of the city

Great list!

 

Difference between Dream and Tears is that Dreams is an awesome word, where as the thought of any of the boys actually crying, or their girlfriends crying, or even the Necromancers crying tears of steel (or whatever, can't be bothered to look it up) is kind of annoying.

[The K Man]

Here are mine:

 

-Something for Nothing is the least best song on 2112 (but still really good).

-Everyday Glory is one of their five best songs of the last 30 years.

-Power Windows is better than A Farewell to Kings

-The rap in Roll the Bones is great.

-The studio version of Red Sector A is somewhat lifeless (yet it it still one of my favorite Rush songs, because the live versions are always so awesome).

-Tai Shan is a good song.

 

[Tick]

I think BU2B is a boring song.

I think half of Snakes is total filler material

I think Presto is a top 5 Rush album

I think Neil can stop doing a drum solo after nearly 40 years. Your good, we get it.

 

but all that being said...I LOVE !!!!!

[Dscrapre]

I like VT. A lot.

 

Secret Touch is one of the best songs that Rush has ever written.

 

If they changed the guitar solo in Caravan, I'm going to be pissed.

 

Headlong Flight's guitar solo is instantly forgettable. (That said, the little jam that contains the solo is still pretty neat)

 

2112 is good, Natural Science is great, and Hemispheres has its moments.

 

Fly by Night might be my least favorite Rush album.

 

If they didn't play The Spirit of Radio live, I'd be very angry.

 

All IMO of course.

[CrossedSignals]

QUOTE (Dscrapre @ May 9 2012, 03:58 PM)

I like VT. A lot. Secret Touch is one of the best songs that Rush has ever written. If they changed the guitar solo in Caravan, I'm going to be pissed. Headlong Flight's guitar solo is instantly forgettable. (That said, the little jam that contains the solo is still pretty neat)

[SchemingDemon]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ May 9 2012, 08:14 AM)

If you really want to talk about an overused word in Rush lyrics, be prepared, because it's used A LOT! Rock and roll-in's a scream, makin' millions my dream A wondrous dream came into being Fantastic dreams come true The dreams's gone stale, but still, let hope prevail We would sit and talk of dreams all night Dreams of youth And a dream must give it flame V. Oracle: The Dream Dream can't you show me the light? The dream is still in my head Not fade like all my dreams Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams Come explore your dreams' creation No matter what your dreams might be Try as they might They cannot steal your dreams VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream Things that I once dreamed of have become reality. II. To sleep, perchance to dream... The shifting shafts of shining Weave the fabric of their dreams... To keep it as new has been his dearest dream. Race back to the farm, to dream with my uncle at the fireside. The universal dream Will drag the dream into existence. Nowhere is the dreamer Or the misfit so alone The restless dreams of youth Some will sell their dreams for small desires And start to dream of somewhere To relax their restless flight Dances on the edge of his dream But most of us just dream about The things we'd like to be Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams I'm not giving up On implausible dreams- From dreams to a bowl of dust Big money make a million dreams We break the surface tension With our wild kinetic dreams While their invaders dream of lands they've left behind Dreams flow across the heartland Dreams transport desires Dreams transport the ones Who need to get out of town They dream in Middletown... More things than are dreamed about Dance and dream like lovers Now I lay me down in Dreamland Hold the flame 'til the dream ignites- A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission I walk through their beautiful buildings And I wish I had their dreams But dreams don't need to have motion In the dreams of a desert thirst dreams are sometimes catching Dreamers learn to steer by the stars Dreamers turn to look at the cars dreams for self-delusion I had a dream of a winter garden I had a dream of the open water chase the dreams of merchandise Dreamline Wondering what our dreams might be worth To leave you stranded in Dreamland If the dream is won - Though everything is lost Just another dreamer who was going too far Evil as a murderer's dream In the city where nobody smiles And nobody dreams Live and love and dream Dream of a Peaceable Kingdom Dream of a time without war You could look with pride On your world of dreams Form a dream to rise to Earthshine Did I have a dream? Or did the dream have me? Dream - Temporary madness Dream - A voice in the wilderness Dream - Unconscious revelations Another world of dreams appears Dream - A walk in the wilderness Dream - Unconscious recreation It's a dream for the waking To the distant dream of the city

 

Heh. See, I always noticed the word "heart" used a lot

 

Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind

Begging hands and bleeding hearts

Weakening the body and saddening the heart

Gives my heart no peace

My heart will lie beside you

Feel, my heart is pounding

See how it sings like a sad heart

Let your heart be the anchor

Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes

Can't we find the minds to lead us closer to the heart

Closer to the heart

Eyes wide open heart undefended

Headed for the heart of Cygnus

Sound and fury drowns my heart

In the heart's eternal light

And the hearts of men despaired

IV. Armageddon: The Battle of Heart and Mind

The universe divided as the heart and mind collided

For their hearts were so unclear

To the heart of Cygnus' fearsome force

With the heart and mind united in a single perfect sphere

All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted

Or playing from the heart? It's hard for one to know

Different hearts beat on different strings

Caught in the camera eye. I have no heart to lie

A vague sensation quickens in his young and restless heart

A wound that will not heal- A heart that cannot feel

A world of indifference heads and hearts too full

It's the color of your heartbeat

The heartbreak climb uphill

Dreams flow across the heartland

Right to the heart of the matter

In the secret wells of emotion buried deep in our hearts

Primitive things stir the hearts of everyone

Tough times demand tough talk demand tough hearts demand tough songs

Too-tender hearts upon our sleeves

Between these two directions my heart is sometimes torn

The heart of a lonely hunter guards a dangerous frontier

Read the words that touch my heart

Like the heart of the earth would burst

Staring down into a heartless sea

Here I hide in the heart of the city

When my heart still changes overnight

Take heart from earth and weather

Take heart from the harvest

I hear in the rate of her heart

Holding my hand to my heart

Holding my fist to my racing heart

On a desert highway straight to the heart of the sun

Memory a flickering light left behind in the heartland

My counterpart - my foolish heart

I felt a shadow cross my heart

At the speed of love my heart goes out to you

She said sure, my heart is boundless

The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond

Send your heartbeat round the world

A gentle hand, a secret touch on the heart

And the secret places of the heart

Memory humming at the heart of a factory town

Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture

Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter

Memories beating at the heart of an African village

 

I think your list is longer though

[Presto-digitation]

QUOTE (The K Man @ May 9 2012, 01:41 PM)

Here are mine: -Something for Nothing is the least best song on 2112 (but still really good). -Everyday Glory is one of their five best songs of the last 30 years. -Power Windows is better than A Farewell to Kings -The rap in Roll the Bones is great. -The studio version of Red Sector A is somewhat lifeless (yet it it still one of my favorite Rush songs, because the live versions are always so awesome). -Tai Shan is a good song.

I'm down with Tai Shan too.