Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

If you're a fan of a band with that much output over such a long period of time it's sometimes hard to reconcile one period with the rest. Their new record is a good Rush record, but for me it doesn't really compare to other more groundbreaking or exciting newer stuff that's out this year. Still, Rush went from meathead sub-Zeppelin hard rock, literate sub-Genesis prog, FM radio prog pop, slick '80s pop, late '80s dawn of adult alternative rock, '90s trying-to-stay relevant & going somewhat back to the roots, to 2007 where they are still kinda treading the '90s water with a slightly edgier rock sound. It's hard to stack Rush up against Power Windows because they are so drastically different.

I dunno, I appreciate every Rush era for what it is. I have favs like everyone else but there's really only one Rush album I don't really listen to (Test For Echo).

Leeroy Jenkins wrote: afterall U2 is as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.

??? you really think so? Maybe Boner is ...

Whoever created the flashing logo some of those guys use in their posts on that Rush board should be shot. Major annoyance.

Real luddite vibe coming off some of those guys.

As for John Rutsey I'd say he was probably the Henry Padovani of Rush. For those not familiar with him Padovani was the original guitarist for the Police. Andy Summers edging him out resulted in the Police developing the sound that made them famous.

This gem of a photo settles all arguments about Rush & synths, as far as I can see. And if you don't know which way it settles the arguments, you'll never understand.

Synths? I have my eye on that killer Ric 4080/6!!

I saw Rush in SLC last night. It was a great show but I was tempted about 50 times to sneak on stage and turn Lifeson's f**k reverb down.

Seriously, someone needs to tell him that guitar tone only sounds good when you're about 3 feet from from 8 4x12 cabs, like he is.

His tone was good on two songs and the rest was s**t. Geddy and Neil on the other hand...they played Digital Man, which was just a way for Geddy to show that he's got his tone back, after years.

The LP sounded fantastic, the sampled bits on Subdivisions was passable but still not great to my ear.

Finally, those idiots on the Rush forum sound like damned morons. I'm listening to La Villa right now and that bridge would be nothing without those sweet pads. So many Rush songs from 1975 on to 1982 would be ruined without synth parts.

I saw Rush last night at Red Rocks. Decent show. I give it a B-. I thought the song selection left much to be desired. They shelved Presto, Power Windows, Counterparts (no biggie there), Fly By Night, and Test for Echo in favor for some really crappy songs like Beneath the Wheel.

I agree that Alex's tone is reverberated c**p, but what's new. He's had s**t tone for years, although he finally got it right on S&A. The best part of the night was Geddy busting out the Ric 4001, but he only played it on one song. Too bad, because that thing shreds over the Fender. No comparison. The Ric has was warmth and HUGE bottom end.

Yeah, the LP souded great but it would have been nice to hear it used in more than 3 songs. Neil's kit sounded great. His solo was pretty good this time around. Overall it was a good show, but I just wished both Alex and Geddy would have busted out the double neck Rics for Xanadu. That alone would have propelled my rating to an A.

I too saw the RR show last night. I generally agree with LeRoy, while it was a good concert, a lot of folks were screaming for the old stuff. LP sounded awesome, as did the Ric bass on "Bangkok," so much more distinctive sound than his Fenders. While AL is one of the best guitarists around, sometimes he relies on too much chorus and reverb and that muddies his sound. I think they were having tech issues however, because the intermission seemed waaaaay too long at 30 minutes, and less than an hour into the show (they played 2 hours and 40 minutes.) Plus it was windy, and that messed with the sound a bit. They really dont like playing in outdoor amps because of this, RR and The Gorge in WA are two exceptions.

Most of all, Geddy was truly on top of his game, still able to hit most of the high notes, and I only noticed that his voice started to break towards the end, and playing his bass like a madman. Neal is Neal, a true stylistic combination of Buddy Rich and Keith Moon.

Overall I would give it a B+, for this is the first time in 5 outings for me dating back to the AFTK tour where they did not play part of 2112 or Working Man. However, they did play Circumstances and that f**k rocked, kind of a loping, irregular tempo that fit in well. And the Bob and Doug McKenzie and L'il Rush (South Park) snippets were soooo funny (Cartman: "I'm Geddy Lee and I can sing whatever lyrics I want." )

LP on Subdivisions and Tom Sawyer cut thru the mix VERY nicely. The Fantom sounded kinda weak, esp when emulating the PPG Wave on the mediocre Beneath the Wheels.

So it was a fun evening, maybe too much new stuff that's inconsistent and a lot of 90s stuff that's equally inconsistent, but the energy level was high and they were really having fun on stage. The instrumentals were top notch, and like the crowd in Rio, many folks sang along to the older more familiar songs, me included. IOW, I am hoarse this AM

Oh and did I mention LP sounded awesome, and actually dominated the show when (rarely) used? Even the drunk frat boys behind us dug it.

Thanks Rush!!!

It was interesting reading how many Rush die-hards are anti-keyboards. Funnily enough, Rush were a strong factor in getting me into keyboards when I started listening to them in the mid-late 90's.

That said, I can understand their sentiments though, as I used to hate synths of any description when I was a full-blown metalhead who listened to nothing else! (that's what overexposure to synths in the 80's does to you!)

As much as I love Snakes & Arrows, I'd still love a new album laced with keys!

About the time Rush started using synths is about the time that Rush started writing memorable pop songs too. True, A Farewell To Kings and Hemishperes have lots of extended prog suites too but there's also "Closer To the Heart" and "The Trees" too. Then as the band got really synth-crazy is when Rush found themselves with some Top 40 crossover. All the synths, Neil's particular lyrical bent and the better pop songwriting all came together to make the '80s my preferred Rush decade. Not that I don't still love the prog stuff because I most certainly do but the Rush records that have had the most personal impact on me are still the triumvirate of Signals, Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows. Songs like "The Analog Kid", "Losing It", "Between the Wheels" and "Middletown Dreams" connect with me.

Oh yeah, and I can't help but get the giggles everytime I throw a little modulation on my Source's preset #2 (just two saws) because it sounds so much like the Mini on "Tom Sawyer" or "Entre Nous".

Funnily enough, Rush were a strong factor in getting me into keyboards when I started listening to them in the mid-late 90's.

Pretty much the same here around 94, well i will admit Dream Theater's Images and Word's may have caught me first from a synthesizer point of veiw since i was into metal and that whole neo classical scene and practicing guitar for hours a day, non stop metronome,then i applied that same routine for piano but i wanted more when i heard Signal's and then Power windows ,Hold your fire it really opened my ears Fat polysynth texture's, warm pads ,Dx7 bells, D50 pads, samples sequencers it pulled me in and i have yet to come out.[/url]

.


Geddy Lee's "Kwipment List" in the S&A tour book lists the ROLAND XV-5080, Fantom X7 and . . .

MOOG Little Fatty DIGITAL Synthesizer



How could Geddy Lee, he of the most elite of the elite synth rank -- Original Masters of The MiniMOOG -- make such a factual blunder? The LP is absolutely ANALOG both in fact and in its adverstising!

Odd, eh?




.

Sad to hear you guys bagging Between The Wheels because I thought it was one of their best numbers. I've always considered the song good but the recording weak and thin sounding.

Hearing it live really helped because it was big and slow. They played it on the 30th anniversary tour too and I loved it there as well.

ronP wrote:.How could Geddy Lee, he of the most elite of the elite synth rank -- Original Masters of The MiniMOOG -- make such a factual blunder? The LP is absolutely ANALOG both in fact and in its adverstising!

Odd, eh?

Yes it is, eh? A real back-bacon blunder....

ronP wrote:.How could Geddy Lee, he of the most elite of the elite synth rank -- Original Masters of The MiniMOOG -- make such a factual blunder? The LP is absolutely ANALOG both in fact and in its adverstising!

Odd, eh?

Yes it is, eh? A real back-bacon blunder....