My favorite band, so a tough call.
I'd have to go with Xanadu.
As always, I'll also give my under-rated gem - Between the Wheels. That song has probably my favorite Lifeson solo.
Between the Wheels is a great tune. I also like Red Sector A and Afterimage from that album.
I always thought that Rush would have been better served to turn down the synthsizers, but I guess that's also what made them "prog-rock". The song Afterimage would have been amazing if the synths had been removed or subdued.
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
No one mentioned "Working Man", one of my all time favorites.
definitely "working man" i'm not crazy about the vocals but the guitar solo in that song rocks!
Thinkin' bout the times we had
Some were good and some were bad
guitar fightin' the tv
i was thinkin bout you and me
I always thought that Rush would have been better served to turn down the synthsizers
I agree with this to an extent. It all began with Geddy's use of Taurus bass pedals and slowly came on stronger with each album. I'd say it started to get a bit out of hand with Grace Under Pressure, but really became a mess with Power Windows.
That's why the new album "Vapor Trails" is their best work since Moving Pictures in my book. NO keybaords. Also, however, very little solo work by Alex... as if he wanted to do the Tool thing for a bit. Alex is a huge Tool fan, BTW. It is a very passionate album (given Peart's horrid time over the death of his daughter and his wife) and I'll tell you what, the song Earthshine from that album is as good as any Rush ever done... it is an instant Rush classic. The whole album is excellent though, imo.
They are working on thier next studio album as we speak. I read some comments by them... they are doing this one a bit differently. Usually Geddy and Alex will jam for hours and then they go and select musical ideas that they like from those jams and run with them. Two or three songs could result from the same jam "grouping". This time, they are going to focus on one song at a time.
We can expect this album probably in early 2007.
but really became a mess with Power Windows.
That's why the new album "Vapor Trails" is their best work since Moving Pictures in my book.
Totally agree! I love Earthshine and One Little Victory.
The whole period between Grace and Vapor Trails should be stricken from the discography. Well, alright, there were a few catchy songs in that era, and you can sorta hear them getting back to basics on Test For Echo, but Vapor Trails is definitely their best work in decades.
I'm looking forward to the new album. Any word on a tour to follow? R30 was fun.
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
The whole period between Grace and Vapor Trails should be stricken from the discography.
Yeah, some good moments from those albums. You could probably rip and burn one good CD using select songs from those years. Some of those songs were still flat out good, like Between the Wheels and Ghost of a Chance.
I am sure the boys will tour their little butts off after the album's release. I always thought they overdid a few things... live and compilation albums for one, and massive touring for another. I saw them three times in a single year after "Vapor Trails". At the beginning of this period they were playing the Tweeter Center and The Fleet Center in Boston. Near the end... they were doing casino's in Rhode Island. I'm like... time to go home guys! lol
I always had great respect for these gentlemen though, if for no other reason than they seem to have avoided the drugs/groupies/back-stage parties thing.
but really became a mess with Power Windows.
That's why the new album "Vapor Trails" is their best work since Moving Pictures in my book.
The whole period between Grace and Vapor Trails should be stricken from the discography. .
The tunes I would pick out from those "forgotten albums"
Grand Designs
Marathon
Territories
Time Stand Still
Show Don't Tell
The Pass
Presto
Available Light
Dreamline
Bravado
Ghost of a Chance
Nobody's Hero (maybe)
Alien Shore
Cold Fire
Half the World
Color of Right (I like the guitar)
Totem
Dog Years
Some you may agree with, others not, but that's my list...
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
Ok, maybe two CDs. lol
Countdown, Chemistry, Middletown Dreams, Kid Gloves, LOSING IT (I LOVE that song!!!), Time and Motion....
:)
I would say that Counterparts and Hold Your Fire were exceptionally weak albums.
And there is one Rush tune that I actually hate with all my passion... New World Man. (puke)
I didn't include the Signals album.
I like New World Man... funny. I can't stand Manhatten Project or Big Money.
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
I just went through the "forgotten albums" to see if there was some gem I had, um, forgotten. Other than Dreamline, there's not one tune from Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, Presto, Roll The Bones, or Counterparts that I'd keep. And from Test for Echo, I really only like the live acoustic version of Resist.
Dang, that was a bad stretch for the boys.
And following Peart's personal tragedies, the rocking Vapor Trails album seems all the more astonishing to me.
Hey what do you all think of Feedback? Kind of a throw-away, but kind of fun at the same time. Seemed appropriate as a tie-in for the R30 tour to show some of their early influences. I actually like what they did with Crossroads. :)
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
I listened to feedback everyday for about 3 weeks and then I lost interest. I still listen once in a while. It was a fun album.
Funny, I'm not that big on Vapor Trails. I think for me the emotion is lost from Geddy's voice...
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
The Spirit of Radio. good song
Feedback is what I would classify as an "interesting Rush moment", along with Bob & Doug McKenzie's Great White North, Max Webster's Battlescar (Bust The Busters - Screw The Feeders - Make The Healers - Feel The Way I Feel... I'd beat up your dog for a copy of this on CD :D), and beleive it or not a cut titled "Start Today" from Alex's solo album called Victor. Why is Start Today an interesting Rush moment? Alex found a female singer who does a fantastic impression of Geddy's voice from the early shrill days. It's a great tune and sounds a lot like old Rush (at least during the refrain). :)
As an aside about Victor, all guitarists with a sense of humor should hear "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar". :lol:
I know Alan Green is a big Rush/Lifeson guy. He must be on vacation. :)
Limelight - check it out on the Rush Live in Rio DVD
Earthshine - definitely worth a mention
For me though anything off Moving Pictures - first album of Rush's I bought and love every minute of it.
Bob :wink:
You are what you eat, eat well
Bob, no question that Rush in Rio DVD is an excellent set.
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
We mustn't forget 2112. I love that whole album.
