4. The Seeker - This was a tribute song in its own right by The Who, invoking "Bobby Dylan, the Beatles, Timothy Leary" to help answer the fundamental questions of life. Surprising vocal range is displayed in this version, with a few brief, abrupt pauses that serve to set off the typical Rush slides into artistic, seamless fretwork.
I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking in at other
And we don't know what to do
5. Mr Soul - The Neil Young song is done in a voice eerily reminiscent of Neil himself. The theme is the price of fame, and the desire of the artist not to lose his 'soul' in the pursuit of success, a theme that Rush themselves are quite familiar with. Interesting analysis of the original song here. This version ends with a few taps on the steel drums (methinks) that linger for a long while.
In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
6. Seven And Seven Is - This relative unknown, originally by Love, is given the full Rush treatment. Hyperfast guitarwork and a deceptively simple beat by Geddy Lee mark this off as one the band is claiming for their own. The song itself seems to be about growing up and realizing that growing up isn't quite what one expects it to be when one is young.
When I was a boy I thought about the times I'd be a man
I'd sit inside a bottle and pretend that I was in a jam
In my lonely room I'd sit my mind in an ice cream cone
You can throw me if you wanna 'cause I'm a bone and I go
7. Shapes Of Things - Jeff Beck's poem set to music with the Yardbirds, about what lies ahead in life is possibly the weakest song in this Rush album. Although the song itself sounds pretty good, it seems too derivative and strained, expect perhaps at the very end, where Alex Lifeson leaves a few personal touches.
Shapes of things before my eyes
Just teach me to despise
Will time make man more wise
Here within my lonely frame
My eyes just hurt my brain
But will it seem the same
Article comments
1 - thrasher
Yes, a bunch of cool covers on Feedback. And hey, if it has a couple of Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young covers, all the better!
I hadn't heard about this release so I'll have to check out.
2 - DJRadiohead
Damn, I was hoping this was going to be about Otis Rush!
At any rate, good review. Interesting cover choices... I might like to hear some of those.