Interesting. While Presto was indeed released in 1989 I would not group it with the other albums they released in the '80s. It is, IMO, a seminal recording that announced a key change in musical direction leading them to where they are now.
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New Rush thread
- Thread starter fleabee
- Start date
1989
Definately a weird album, but absolutely brilliant all the same. They couldn't top Hold Your Fire by trying to repeat it, so a change of direction was inevitable I guess. How do you improve on perfect?
I guess you meant 1989, right ?
Anyway, I believe that Roll the Bones was the last one continuing their 80`s era (keys, clean guitars, Wal sound, etc). "Counterparts" changed the way they sounded and still remains till today.
Yes, I meant 1989. However, I still assert that the musical direction changed with Presto, and that Counterparts was the next step in the evolution. Roll The Bones sounds more like the '80s Rush than Presto does, and looking back seems to stand out as an odd musical statement in context. I like Roll the Bones less than most people do (and Presto more); it seems like filler to me.
They used to show a pattern of releasing a live album right before a change in their sound. For instance...a Farewell to Kings sounds markedly different from 2112, with All the World's a Stage between them. Signals was probably the most severe change of musical direction from Moving Pictures, with Exit Stage Left between them. Presto came after Hold Your Fire, with A Show of Hands between them. After that, they got a little crazy with the live recordings and messed the whole pattern up by releasing Rush in Rio and R30 so closely together. Oh well.
IMO Rush were at their best around the time of the albums Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals and Grace Under Pressure, with Moving Pictures still being one of my all time favourite albums.
Much as I think Grace Under Pressure is a great raw sounding album, when they split with Terry Brown after Signals their music lost a great deal, anything after that has left me pretty cold, with the odd song here and there being an exception.
All in my opinion though, Geddy has been a huge influence on my playing and no disrespect to those who still love their stuff.
Much as I think Grace Under Pressure is a great raw sounding album, when they split with Terry Brown after Signals their music lost a great deal, anything after that has left me pretty cold, with the odd song here and there being an exception.
All in my opinion though, Geddy has been a huge influence on my playing and no disrespect to those who still love their stuff.
Just got back from a 3 week road trip. "Snakes and Arrows" is a GREAT driving/travel CD! I hated it at first and was one of the listeners here who found it hard finding real melodies at first.
Too many expectations for me after "Vapor Trails" which is an incredibly complex album, with lyrics that stand on their own as good lyrics should, even without musical accompaniment. I consider it Rush's "Sgt. Pepper/masterpice". The muddy mix is a drag, unfortunately, but listening through quality headphones fixes that as does cranking up the volume (a lot) and listening in the stereo "sweet spot". I DO hope that Rush offers a remix/remastered version though!
After getting used to the rawness and concentration on rhythm over guitar lines on "Snakes and Arrows" and driving over hundreds of miles of rural and urban scenery while listening, I have to say that I can't imagine why I couldn't hear the ample melodies on this "album" initially. It's very melodic. It was such fantastic driving music that my wife who is NOT a hard rock appreciator, became a solid Rush fan and sang along with the CD in constant rotation. I hope that the boys keep this producer for at least one more project.
Rush has always been about trying out different styles/sounds and holding on to one particular sound (or several) favorite Albums of Old ( and trying to stay a fan) is just never going to "work" with this band. They like to change and grow and try different compostional "atmospheres" and once I gave Snakes and Arrows a solid chance with repeated listenings and on different highways, it's now a 2nd favorite for us after Vapor Trails.
"Snakes and Arrows" seems to be a "politically oriented/current events project with not so subtle allusions to the Iraq War,and how different the present world is to the one "we thought we would inherit" or at least Neal did, back in the '60's/'70's. It's been awhile since a good "protest" album has been heard. The line about "no child left behind" and the bits about our armor becoming a sharp and burning sword, especially indicate this
objective to my ears...anyway.
Anyone who hasn't read Neal's book "Ghost Rider" will possibly not appreciate that album as much as if just listening to it without the "back story".
I'm real dissapointed that I didn't buy tickets for the Auburn, WA/White River Ampitheater concert back in March :-( for our July wedding anniversary present to each other... The online prices now, are too prohibitive for us.
Anyone in the Seattle area who finds that they can't attend after all and has reserved seating in sections 100/200 and is willing to sell them for near their original "ticketmaster price", I'd be very interested. I can see a little last minute profit but not the scalping (scalped?) prices the online services are charging. My PM mailbox is always open!
I 'd like to know if they plan on issuing a live DVD from the present tour though if anyone knows. If so, I'm in!
Too many expectations for me after "Vapor Trails" which is an incredibly complex album, with lyrics that stand on their own as good lyrics should, even without musical accompaniment. I consider it Rush's "Sgt. Pepper/masterpice". The muddy mix is a drag, unfortunately, but listening through quality headphones fixes that as does cranking up the volume (a lot) and listening in the stereo "sweet spot". I DO hope that Rush offers a remix/remastered version though!
After getting used to the rawness and concentration on rhythm over guitar lines on "Snakes and Arrows" and driving over hundreds of miles of rural and urban scenery while listening, I have to say that I can't imagine why I couldn't hear the ample melodies on this "album" initially. It's very melodic. It was such fantastic driving music that my wife who is NOT a hard rock appreciator, became a solid Rush fan and sang along with the CD in constant rotation. I hope that the boys keep this producer for at least one more project.
Rush has always been about trying out different styles/sounds and holding on to one particular sound (or several) favorite Albums of Old ( and trying to stay a fan) is just never going to "work" with this band. They like to change and grow and try different compostional "atmospheres" and once I gave Snakes and Arrows a solid chance with repeated listenings and on different highways, it's now a 2nd favorite for us after Vapor Trails.
"Snakes and Arrows" seems to be a "politically oriented/current events project with not so subtle allusions to the Iraq War,and how different the present world is to the one "we thought we would inherit" or at least Neal did, back in the '60's/'70's. It's been awhile since a good "protest" album has been heard. The line about "no child left behind" and the bits about our armor becoming a sharp and burning sword, especially indicate this
objective to my ears...anyway.
Anyone who hasn't read Neal's book "Ghost Rider" will possibly not appreciate that album as much as if just listening to it without the "back story".
I'm real dissapointed that I didn't buy tickets for the Auburn, WA/White River Ampitheater concert back in March :-( for our July wedding anniversary present to each other... The online prices now, are too prohibitive for us.
Anyone in the Seattle area who finds that they can't attend after all and has reserved seating in sections 100/200 and is willing to sell them for near their original "ticketmaster price", I'd be very interested. I can see a little last minute profit but not the scalping (scalped?) prices the online services are charging. My PM mailbox is always open!
I 'd like to know if they plan on issuing a live DVD from the present tour though if anyone knows. If so, I'm in!
Since I`m a bit lazy right now, and I share several of your thoughts, I`ll quote some of your paragraphs, with your permission.
I still fit in that category, I guess. I`ve listened it 5 times now aprox. and still find it difficult to enjoy sometimes. Only 3 or 4 song have become my favourite.
Vapor Trails is a great album, I find it more interesting from an "instrumental" perspective. I prefer its complexity (from bass lines, to guitar parts).
I still fit in that category, I guess. I`ve listened it 5 times now aprox. and still find it difficult to enjoy sometimes. Only 3 or 4 song have become my favourite.
Vapor Trails is a great album, I find it more interesting from an "instrumental" perspective. I prefer its complexity (from bass lines, to guitar parts).
Jim T., I totally agree.. it's an excellent driving CD. I did a solo trip to Florida three weeks ago, 18 hours total, and I think I listened to it 4 or 5 times from start to finish. Even if I'm just going out to the store, I'll listen to one or two songs. There are a bunch of great melodies, some clever sonic allusions to previous albums, great lyrics, and the mix is about perfect. As a fan of the band for almost 3/4 of my life, I'm thrilled they made an album this good, at this point in their career.
My wife, 10 yr old son and were at their concert in WPB Florida on June 15. Amazing as always. These guys always make it look easy. Being a Rush fan for so many years, I think they get better every tour. They played a bunch of their older stuff. Tom Saywer, Limelight, YYZ, Circumstances. 3 hr concert.
Geddy sounded awesome, He was definately digging the crowd and playing great.
Neil.. well.. Peartfect. Great drum solo
Snakes and Arrows definately kicks as$. They went back and used a bunch of older analog instruments in recording. There is a ton of acoustic guitar and when I saw Alex busting out a mandolin on stage, I completely freaked.
You can always count on Rush to come through. I think Snakes and Arrows is an awesome cd and some of the best stuff they done. They went back to their roots on this one and you can definately hear it
Geddy sounded awesome, He was definately digging the crowd and playing great.
Neil.. well.. Peartfect. Great drum solo
Snakes and Arrows definately kicks as$. They went back and used a bunch of older analog instruments in recording. There is a ton of acoustic guitar and when I saw Alex busting out a mandolin on stage, I completely freaked.
You can always count on Rush to come through. I think Snakes and Arrows is an awesome cd and some of the best stuff they done. They went back to their roots on this one and you can definately hear it
Papersen,
Sure, permission granted
Try it in the car, on a long-ish trip where it can go round and round like those vinyl thingies used to. It's just not a "static" album. Gotta be hurtlin' through space, groovin' to the rhythm, apparently. I would prefer the complex/layered sound of Vapor Trails, but they haven't let me in the band yet.
Sure, permission granted
Try it in the car, on a long-ish trip where it can go round and round like those vinyl thingies used to. It's just not a "static" album. Gotta be hurtlin' through space, groovin' to the rhythm, apparently. I would prefer the complex/layered sound of Vapor Trails, but they haven't let me in the band yet.
Papersen,
Sure, permission granted
Try it in the car, on a long-ish trip where it can go round and round like those vinyl thingies used to. It's just not a "static" album. Gotta be hurtlin' through space, groovin' to the rhythm, apparently. I would prefer the complex/layered sound of Vapor Trails, but they haven't let me in the band yet.
Ok Jim, I`ll follow your advice.
Indirectly, you`re pushing me to buy a new car stereo
Saw Rush last night. The best seats I ever had for a concert, I was within 20 feet of Geddy when he went to the fron of the stage. They played nine songs from "Snakes and Arrows", the first eight an "Malignant Narcissism" The tracks hold up very well performed live. Other than some gray hairs and some jowly chins, you would have thought the were 15 years younger as they rocked out. It was refreshing to see such an established act play such meaningful new songs and also sprinkling in songs from different phases of their career without coming off as a nostalgia act.
I finally got my MVI Tuesday. Listened to it yesterday and was really under-impressed. But that is normal for me. I have not really liked any of the post Terry Brown albums the first time through. They just need time to grow on me. There were a couple of vocals that really did not do anything for me and some of the themes of songs left me a little miffed. I have not tried it through a 5.1 system yet to see how it sounds.
Only 63 days, 3 hours and 42 minutes until their concert starts.
Only 63 days, 3 hours and 42 minutes until their concert starts.
Is that the DVD/CDR? How are the sections on the making of the album?
(I'm a session guy and studio bum
Papersen, man, we ALL need a better stereo!
Anyone see any notated (not TAB) bass parts from this CD on the web anywhere? Or tunes from Vapor Trial?
(I'm a session guy and studio bum
Papersen, man, we ALL need a better stereo!
Anyone see any notated (not TAB) bass parts from this CD on the web anywhere? Or tunes from Vapor Trial?
How many minutes appox. is the studio/recording session section? Thanks.
Trying to decide whether or not to spend the extra dough after buying the stereo CD. I don't have 5:1 capability....
Thanks.
Trying to decide whether or not to spend the extra dough after buying the stereo CD. I don't have 5:1 capability....
Thanks.
yeah, i was wondering if the documentary was worth getting the album for.
also for those who haven't seen the tour yet, i hope you like the new album because it is HEAVILY featured on this tour. lots of good pics from the old stuff too! plenty of great surprises.
also for those who haven't seen the tour yet, i hope you like the new album because it is HEAVILY featured on this tour. lots of good pics from the old stuff too! plenty of great surprises.
Is that the DVD/CDR? How are the sections on the making of the album?
(I'm a session guy and studio bum
Papersen, man, we ALL need a better stereo!
Anyone see any notated (not TAB) bass parts from this CD on the web anywhere? Or tunes from Vapor Trial?
the making of was pretty cool IMO. it's amazing to see so many mic's on neil's drums. I think it's worth getting if your a fan. they looked like they were really enjoying themselves, which is everything I've read them say.
beyond the documentary, there isn't much extra stuff beyond wallpapers and a thing where you can make your own ringtones, BUT you still have to buy it. lucky for me my phone has a usb cable and I just made my own when I first got the cd. the main monkey business has been my ringtone for a few weeks..
lucky for me, my brother works in atlanta and has connections. he got backstage and got a copy of snakes and arrows signed by the whole band. I was gonna fly down there to see the first show of the tour, but got stuck in jersey.
he's still working on getting me backstage for the show friday here in jersey, keeping my fingers crossed, at least I got great seats. can't wait to see the new stuff live.
If your brother can get me backstage seats (2) for the Seattle/Auburn show on July 20, I'd gladly shine his shoes for him... It's our 27th wedding anniversary. If that helps any... I'm originally from Jersey.
Does that help?
Enjoy the show. Hope it works out for you! Jeez I gotta get me a brother too!
It's our 27th wedding anniversary. If that helps any... I'm originally from Jersey.Does that help?
Enjoy the show. Hope it works out for you! Jeez I gotta get me a brother too!
