Okay, in the face of gale force winds of Rush-mania , I address the mighty threesome via The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-87 collection that came out last year.
I realize the very notion of singles and radio and Rush is anathema to devotees, but since I'm not one, it seems like a reasonable place to start. Besides being the purported "hits," the collection also has the virtue of being in chronological order.
"Working Man" - A Sabbath-like metallic sludge-rocker, this has always been my favorite Rush song, not least because I used to be able to play it on the guitar and I love the mighty Gibson-and-Marshall roar (just guessing, never seen them live or looked into the matter) that guitarist Alex Lifeson - spitter of blood and defenestrator of cops - achieved on their very first album in 1974. The freakout solo is biting and cutting and rocks my melon. Bassist/singer Geddy Lee's Keebler yelp must be addressed, but sounds kind of cool here.
"Fly By Night" - The title track from their second album - with a sweet rolling arpeggioed rhythm guitar foundation from Lifeson and a nice burbling bass line from Lee, it sounds almost pop-rock, and at just over 3-minutes was actually radio-friendly. Lee's smurfiness becomes more pronounced, and Neil Peart joins on drums replacing John Rutsey, who didn't like Ayn Rand and wasn't very handsome.
"2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx" - Much portentious whooshing leading to stop/start unison band chording with busy fills from Peart and generalized overture-like bashing. Ooh, when we get to "The Temple of Syrinx" part, Lee, God love him, shrieks like he caught himself in his zipper, or something similar.
"Closer to the Heart" - very nice acoustic guitar strumming and a more relaxed Lee vocal on a notable melody, (well more relaxed until he gets to the high note of "heart," but I don't want to belabor this element of the band's sound), before it goes electric. I kind of miss the metallic roar, though. Also, Lee's bass, though intricate and musical, is in the prog-rock picked style of Yes or ELP and has that kind of tinny, trebly sound that says "this instrument isn't only for booty-shaking thumpers, and who cares if our groupies wear glasses?"
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Dude, had I more time and energy I'd get all up in your "I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, but they sure don't suck either" comment, but I'll have to let it slide for the moment. ;-) This review is proof, however, that you can "not get" Rush and show some appreciation for the band without resorting to insults. Geddy's voice really isn't that high for the most part - Robert Plant routinely hit higher more frequently in his heyday. I would, however, urge you to invest some time in Presto, a truly beautiful album that is quite different for them.
That said, I will still urge people to skip this best-of and find a used copy of the two-disc Chronicles. More comprehensive and digs a little deeper, of course. If you have to have the remasters (and they are worth it,) then the two Retrospective sets that Polygram put out in 1997 are a better bet.
2 - Eric Olsen
Indeed. Tom, it isn't the highness alone, it's the smurfyness, the munchkin-like tonality. It's a small and constrained voice that is also very high. I don't dislike it, though, usually, unless he's really straining and yelping.
I will investigate further and see what Presto is about - I don't have it.
3 - Mark Saleski
Presto has some great rhythm guitar and other riffage on it. it starts with "Show Don't Tell" and never lets up.
...and i think you will find the smurfyness toned down (don't hit me Tom)
;-)
4 - Chad Woodland
I have been a big Rush fan for over 20 years now (gad i've got old). I don't listen to rock much anymore except rush occasionally. new albums or tours which I never miss. There are no musicians in music anymore. No one seems to care how well you play or how far you can take it. I listen to electronic. The baby goes out with the bath so to speak. I couldn't name my favorite Rush album . Like everyone I was VERY angry when they went from Moving Pictures to the synth pop of Signals. Everyone went from loving them to hating them. But I'm glad they changed for had they continued to make the same music they would have long ago broken up.
cheers
5 - Eric Olsen
So people who don't much like rock like Rush? Hmm
6 - duane
My Dad hates Rush. And Led Zeppelin sends him into a rage. So, there's at least one counterexample, E.
7 - Chris Wilson
I used to not get Rush until I saw them in concert (around 1981) - and it was quite the kick ass epic. In fact, at that time, most people didn't get Rush. But once they were seen live, people immediately converted. It is difficult to convey just how extraordinary it is to see them in concert. One cannot truly appreciate the merit of Rush until viewing them playing their instruments. The growing reputation of their live concerts was really how they became popular initially. Later, when they began producing pop-friendly tunes, did the masses take notice......
8 - JohnnyLunchBox
Alex did not defenestrate anyone, fool. Alex was not doing a Gene Simmons impression either.
9 - Eric Olsen
you got me there - I just like the word "defenestrate"
10 - JohnnyLunchBox
It does have a nice ring to it.
11 - Paul
I’ve been an avid ‘Rock’ zealot for over 25 years and personally I feel that early ’70’s to late ‘80’s was the culmination of music when speaking in terms of lyrical and melodious creativity. Far too many of today’s so-called “Rock Bands” simply lacks ’what it takes’.
In short…we need to rejuvenate the British greats such as…sabbeth, zeppelin, the stones and deep purple etc.
12 - Kansas
I'm a 15 year-old kid, so most of y'all will tell me that I've no clue what I'm talking about. However, I was raised on the music of my parents (i.e., 80s pop and classic rock), and when, last year, I finally heard more Rush than just Tom Sawyer and Freewill, I fell in love with the band. I now know why my two uncles both have VERY extensive Rush collections in various places in their houses. I think that the style of Neil Peart, that style of absolute precision, it is so complementary to the rest of the music, and actually is a necessity. If it weren't for the awesome percussion of Neil Peart, Rush would be a fairly average band with a very high-pitched voice bleating out lead vocals. In short, RUSH IS AWESOME!!! THEY ARE MY FAVORITE BAND OFALL TIME!!!