Artist: Various
Title: Subdivisions: A Tribute To Rush
Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Magna Carta
Website
This is the second installment of Rush tribute albums from the Magna Carta label. While the contributors are not rock heavyweights or household names, they do a nice job covering some of the most recognizable tracks in the Rush catalog.
Some of the vocalists try to do their best Geddy Lee imitations, which turns out fair at best, I must say. Well, there is nothing like the real deal, however I must give the nod to this group of fine musicians, they give it their all and make this an enjoyable tribute. Realistically, the 1996 tribute Working Man is a much better tribute in many ways. The difference is that the artists that paid tribute to the band in 1996 did not try to sound like Geddy, they do each song in their own voice without forcing anything, and they sound great doing it. The music is much more prog oriented and rockin’ as well. They should have left well enough alone and stopped with the first tribute.
I would have to say only the fanatical fan would want this in their collection, although that type of listener is liable to tear this CD to shreds with criticism. I would have to sight the musicianship as memorable and the vocals leaving much to be desired.
In the end, it was all great fun and a good listen but I found myself reaching for Working Man again.
March 22, 2005
Rating-6/10
01."Distant Early Warning"
Lead Vocals: Randy Jackson
Guitar Solo: Daniel J.
02. "Lakeside Park"
Lead Vocals: Sebastian Bach
Guitar Solo: Daniel J.
03. "Limelight"
Lead Vocals: Kip Winger
Guitar Solo: Andreas Kisser
04. "Subdivisions"
Lead Vocals: Randy Jackson
Guitar Solo: Dominic Cifarelli
Keys: Jeff Feldman
05. "Different Strings"
Lead Vocals: Robert Berry
Guitar Solo: Robert Berry
06. "Tom Sawyer"
Lead Vocals: Sebastian Bach
Guitar Solo: Dominic Cifarelli
Keys: Jeff Feldman
07. "Bastille Day"
Lead Vocals: Jani Lane with Dave Brooks
Guitar Solo: Alex Skolnick
08. "A Farewell To Kings"
Lead Vocals: Randy Jackson
Guitar Solo: Andreas Kisser
09. "Spirit Of the Radio"
Lead Vocals: Kip Winger
Guitar Solo: Jeff Stinco
10. "Didacts and Narpets"
Drums: Mike Mangini
11. "2112 Overture/Temples Of Syrinx"
Lead Vocals: Jani Lane with Dave Brooks
Guitar Solo: Vinnie Moore
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Article comments
1 - Aaman
Should be an interesting listen - thanks
2 - Tom Johnson
Realistically, the 1996 tribute Working Man is a much better tribute
And that was pretty much terrible crap . . .
I would have to say only the fanatical fan would want this in their collection
Here's a "fanatical fan" and this is about the last thing I want to see in with my Rush collection.
although that type of listener is liable to tear this CD to shreds with criticism
But not for the reasons you might suspect, at least in the case of me. In a cover song, I want to hear creative and intriguing interpretations of the music - I want to hear why artists picked a particular song, and I want to hear evidence of that artist's own sound in a cover song. These Magna Carta tributes are the exact opposite in most cases - they're prepared lists of songs and put-together bands running through them. There's no heart in a tribute like this - it's just a cash-grab by a relatively small label. I put these only slightly higher in terms of integrity than the many "Pickin' On (insert band name here)" tributes that are currently flooding store shelves.
3 - Mark Saleski
gross...that "pickin' on" series is just plain wrong (maybe with the exception of pickin' on the dead).
although i've gotta admit that i do like Hayseed Dixie. the bluegrass/acdc thing was just too much fun.