PW is certainly up there. Probably my second favorate album and not a bad song on it. I thinkI read that the Wal's electronics have just become too unreliable to gig with. Plus with the Fender signature deal I dont see much changing although I would love to see it. Hard to believe Ged has not played a Wal on an album in 18 years. I remember the day RTB came out.
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Geddy Lee since "Counterparts"
- Thread starter Eyesee7
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Vapor Trails is a sonic mess ... every single track is clipping. Very unprofessional.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Oh wow, that just brought back some memories! I couldn't wait for that flippin' record! School let out, garage band buddies & I made a flying trip to the record store, brought home the cassette
and listened non-stop 3 or 4 times through. Then, of course, we went and played something that may or may not have sounded like Where's My Thing? for hours on end..... Man that's a cool record. Thanks for the memory
as a early rush fan,i have seen the bands progression both in playing ability and in their songwriting. As far as Geddys tone is concerned his Rickenbacker days had the punch and growl and the Fender added to his bottom but i agree with most of you that his Wal days were were he matched his tone and slap style with song writing ability.
I feel too that he needs to use some tube amps onstage-andhis tone has gotten muddier-but his bass parts underlying the singing has become somewhat simplified . He needs to go back and use his Wal with a mountain of amps
I feel too that he needs to use some tube amps onstage-andhis tone has gotten muddier-but his bass parts underlying the singing has become somewhat simplified . He needs to go back and use his Wal with a mountain of amps
I'm on the same page. I don't particularly love his sound on the recent albums. Two things he's been doing a lot of are using that flamenco style, which IMO doesn't work so well; and, he's also been recording several bass lines rather than a single passage throughout the whole song.
There are a few songs that flamenco style seems to work (for my ears), but gone is that signature Geddy attack (which IMO was most prominent with the Wal, before he ever used this style). In fact a recent live recording of YYZ has him now playing flamenco 16th notes throughout the bridge; gone was the counterpoint!
I don't really care that he tries to use a new technique to change things up a bit, but this flamenco BS isn't very interesting to me.
There are a few songs that flamenco style seems to work (for my ears), but gone is that signature Geddy attack (which IMO was most prominent with the Wal, before he ever used this style). In fact a recent live recording of YYZ has him now playing flamenco 16th notes throughout the bridge; gone was the counterpoint!
I don't really care that he tries to use a new technique to change things up a bit, but this flamenco BS isn't very interesting to me.
I've recently been getting back into Rush after some time away. As a result, I've been playing catch-up with the recent stuff (basically, everything after 'Presto').
I really like it - they're the same band, but different - it's great the way that they don't sound like 1975/85, etc.
Also, I love his J-bass sound. Like many others, I always assumed the MP album was Ric - Tom Sawyer in particular - so having found out it's his jazz, I've got nothing against it today.
In fact, the 'Snakes And Arrows Live' album, I think, has a lovely sound to it.
Studio-wise, I think it's just a sign of the times. IMHO, so many records this decade have suffered with a muddy sound, reallly losing the bass and drums dynamic. I do prefer a clean sound, and that's prehaps why the 'S&A Live' versions sound fine to me.
I really like it - they're the same band, but different - it's great the way that they don't sound like 1975/85, etc.
Also, I love his J-bass sound. Like many others, I always assumed the MP album was Ric - Tom Sawyer in particular - so having found out it's his jazz, I've got nothing against it today.
In fact, the 'Snakes And Arrows Live' album, I think, has a lovely sound to it.
Studio-wise, I think it's just a sign of the times. IMHO, so many records this decade have suffered with a muddy sound, reallly losing the bass and drums dynamic. I do prefer a clean sound, and that's prehaps why the 'S&A Live' versions sound fine to me.
My favorite Rush albums are from 2112 to Power Windows.
The four best albums from my perspective are Hemispheres, Farewell to Kings, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures.
I'm not very interested in the flamenco style.
I got into Rush while in high school and I kind of hated their stuff from Grace Under Pressure to Vapor Trails. I actually delayed buying their CDs for the albums that were out during those years, I just couldn't stand their wimpy pop music sound.
You've got these amazing guys that were monster's of Prog Sci-Fi rock, then they still rocked hard with Permanent Waves to Signals, then they got all preachy and worldly, and their music changed too, guitars faded back, synth came forward, bass changed from the Steinberger sound to the Wal (which I kind of liked), then to the Jazz.
The harder stuff came with Counterparts, which when I listen to that, Test For Echo, Vapor Trails and S&A, I have to turn the volume right down, the noise levels are just pushed too far.
In fact it's because of that (and with CDs from other bands in recent years) I went back to vinyl. I picked up a sweet, mint, early 1970's full stereo system and turntable, and I've been spinning my Rush LP collection (even picked up Presto and now S&A on vinyl). I enjoy it more than the starkness of the CDs.
Anyway, getting back to Ged's playing and tone; after I saw him use the Jaco tribute fretless and wail out Malignant Narcissism, the tone blew my mind. I still love his Ric tone, and sometimes the Wal, and I really do like his Fender Jazz tone, but the Jaco tone was a beast, his playing and tone did it all for me.
You've got these amazing guys that were monster's of Prog Sci-Fi rock, then they still rocked hard with Permanent Waves to Signals, then they got all preachy and worldly, and their music changed too, guitars faded back, synth came forward, bass changed from the Steinberger sound to the Wal (which I kind of liked), then to the Jazz.
The harder stuff came with Counterparts, which when I listen to that, Test For Echo, Vapor Trails and S&A, I have to turn the volume right down, the noise levels are just pushed too far.
In fact it's because of that (and with CDs from other bands in recent years) I went back to vinyl. I picked up a sweet, mint, early 1970's full stereo system and turntable, and I've been spinning my Rush LP collection (even picked up Presto and now S&A on vinyl). I enjoy it more than the starkness of the CDs.
Anyway, getting back to Ged's playing and tone; after I saw him use the Jaco tribute fretless and wail out Malignant Narcissism, the tone blew my mind. I still love his Ric tone, and sometimes the Wal, and I really do like his Fender Jazz tone, but the Jaco tone was a beast, his playing and tone did it all for me.
Me, I'm a big Rush fan. I've got all their albums on my iPod, and it's a given that I've got to listen to at least one Rush song a day. It's all good IMO, but as far as Ged's tone goes, the Wal is my favorite. I especially love the tone he gets on Open Secrets (HYF) and Chain Lightning (Presto). But as far as I'm concerned he could be playing with a Squier Affinity J and I'd still like the tone!
I'm also one of the ones that tend to break out the older albums. I quit listening to the band for a long time. Pretty much after Signals it started sounding too processed. Too much keyboard and they started doubling his vocals on the voice tracks which I really dislike. The nice thing about the older albums was the "space" that they played around. There was more air in the tracks, if that makes sense. It was simplier, each instrument was clear and easily heard. Now there's just too much music static, and not enough room in the songs. I do really like Snakes and Arrows, but it could be better. The instrumentals are the best songs on the album, IMO, because they're not as busy. I think Rush needs to go back to a simplier way of recording and playing. Get rid of about 90% of the keyboards.
I love the bass sound on Counterparts and the newer albums. I was never a big fan of his 80's bass tone, it always sounded thin and sterile to me.
His 70's tone was awesome too. I've always liked a bass sound with a bit of hair on it
His 70's tone was awesome too. I've always liked a bass sound with a bit of hair on it
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Here's what Geddy said about using this technique on the July 2007 issue of Bass Guitar Magazine:
Bass Guitar Magazine said:
As all of you know for sure, "Animate" is the opening song from 1993's "Counterparts".
One Little Victory is one of my favorite bass tracks from Geddy. Live in Rio especially. And Driven is also a great, great track (though an earlier CD)
And while I agree that his Flamenco style is a flurry of notes, Geddy seems to have no trouble with the classics played live. Though with this style even they (Rush's classics) are played differently. Listen to a live cut of YYZ from the Moving Pictures era and listed to YYZ from Rio or later.
You've brought up a bunch of other issues I have with recent Rush, such as the double-tracked vocals and all the extraneous bells and whistles that they can't reproduce live without the use of triggered samples.
My take is that the band is flourishing at the moment: The production is stellar and the songs are some of their strongest in years. At some point people will accept that Rush wont go back in time to please anyone but themselves- most of the fans get that and welcome the diversity that the guys continue to explore...
What I really like is that they focus on live production. Having seen them many times- and recently as well- I think they are as good as ever in concert, and the show (lights, media, sound) is top notch. I can truly say that after all these years the shows are still always better than the previous ones in my opinion... and I cant say that about many bands (if any).
Geddy isnt about virtuosity- but rather serving the song. But after 30+ years of writing, recording, and performing- he knows how to fill the void between playing for the song and growing as a player. I think he proved a long time ago that he had chops- now he has cultivated a sound that pleases him and ties the band together nicely. Yeah- there will always be those who want Rickenbacker Geddy, Wal Geddy, Moog Geddy, etc... I hope they stay the course and continue to evolve. Let the backward thinkers listen to the old records- thats what they are for
What I really like is that they focus on live production. Having seen them many times- and recently as well- I think they are as good as ever in concert, and the show (lights, media, sound) is top notch. I can truly say that after all these years the shows are still always better than the previous ones in my opinion... and I cant say that about many bands (if any).
Geddy isnt about virtuosity- but rather serving the song. But after 30+ years of writing, recording, and performing- he knows how to fill the void between playing for the song and growing as a player. I think he proved a long time ago that he had chops- now he has cultivated a sound that pleases him and ties the band together nicely. Yeah- there will always be those who want Rickenbacker Geddy, Wal Geddy, Moog Geddy, etc... I hope they stay the course and continue to evolve. Let the backward thinkers listen to the old records- thats what they are for
I guess that is fair statement because nothing they have done over the past 10 years has been overly impressive. I am glad S&A works for some people. God knows we need more Rush fans and that they need more press. They have been a marketing machine lately with the tours, DVDs, live performances etc. Its nice to see them in the news with regularity because many of us probably were Rush fanatics long before the internet existed and there was never any news on the band except what you could find in a music magazine.
I dont even listen to rush for the chops anymore granted some of their songs are still fun to play/sing. Geddy is a great player and certainly extremely impressive to a novice but once you become a skilled and developed player you look at him and his playing differently. Now if I want chops there are a ton of other players I turn to. I dont really care about his tone either and never really have. For me, like any music, its about good songs which is why I like a wide range of music. Like them or hate them albums like Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, Power Windows, Signals, HYF, Counterparts, and Grace Under Pressure had great songs on them. In fact I would say that with the exception of a couple of Counterparts tunes and there is not a bad song on any of those albums. VT had a couple of cool tunes on it but I thought Snakes and Arrows was totally forgettable, boring, and uninspired. I was shocked how pedestrian the instrumentals were and like I said earlier I expected more from a band that seasoned and talented with 5 years to prepare. Whatever...
Not that I like bashing my favorite band but I felt if you put Joe Satriani, Dave Larue, and Steve Smith in a room together (3 people who have never played together) and had them jam it would be more interesting than the S&A instrumentals. Whatever.....
I was also disappointed with Geddy using a fretless but not playing fretless. It did not make sense to me. Whatever.....I feel I have earned the right to say my piece on them since I have worshiped them for 25 years... Rush is probably the most polarizing band ever though. What does make them great is that they can completely change their sound which is why you have many people who like certain periods of Rush.
I dont even listen to rush for the chops anymore granted some of their songs are still fun to play/sing. Geddy is a great player and certainly extremely impressive to a novice but once you become a skilled and developed player you look at him and his playing differently. Now if I want chops there are a ton of other players I turn to. I dont really care about his tone either and never really have. For me, like any music, its about good songs which is why I like a wide range of music. Like them or hate them albums like Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, Power Windows, Signals, HYF, Counterparts, and Grace Under Pressure had great songs on them. In fact I would say that with the exception of a couple of Counterparts tunes and there is not a bad song on any of those albums. VT had a couple of cool tunes on it but I thought Snakes and Arrows was totally forgettable, boring, and uninspired. I was shocked how pedestrian the instrumentals were and like I said earlier I expected more from a band that seasoned and talented with 5 years to prepare. Whatever...
Not that I like bashing my favorite band but I felt if you put Joe Satriani, Dave Larue, and Steve Smith in a room together (3 people who have never played together) and had them jam it would be more interesting than the S&A instrumentals. Whatever.....
I was also disappointed with Geddy using a fretless but not playing fretless. It did not make sense to me. Whatever.....I feel I have earned the right to say my piece on them since I have worshiped them for 25 years... Rush is probably the most polarizing band ever though. What does make them great is that they can completely change their sound which is why you have many people who like certain periods of Rush.
