Neil Peart down on band's 70s work

ProgMetaller2112 wrote: Mirror Image wrote: I never thought of Rush as a prog metal band and I never will. Then again it's hard to categorize them as just a Prog Rock band

Mirror Image wrote: I never thought of Rush as a prog metal band and I never will.

I never thought of Rush as a prog metal band and I never will.

Metalmarsh89 wrote: ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: I agree with him but I'm not the biggest Rush fan--there's a sameness to their sound that I can take in small doses--I have like 4 of their albums. How the heck is there sameness to their sound? So, Caress of Steel,2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves sound the same?? What the?? That's such a broad, vague statement.Can you elaborate,twosteves? lol--can I elaborate? That's what I hear---For me 3 piece bands are usually not my favorite---think it's hard to get the complete sound I like---I'm more a 5 piece kind of sound---I know they are talented but I've  never been a Rush fanboy---, I love some of their songs but not a real metal rock kind of prog fan--- I know that's what you hear and that's fine but you didn't elaborate on why you think that "there is a sameness to their sound". I don't really see it either. Geddy's voice didn't change a whole lot really until Permanent Waves where he begin singing closer to his speaking range. Before that, he was much higher, almost wailing. But there was the big switch over to adding keyboards on A Farewell to Kings that gradually became more pronounced after that with the later inclusion of synths. Neil's kit was getting bigger and more diverse with each ensuing album. His lyrics were also changing with the style of music, going from storytelling narratives, to philosophical observations. Alex's guitar tones went from the bluesy sound of their debut album to the heavy metallic tones we hear on Caress of Steel and 2112, to a lighter but still heavy tone on Hemispheres. His playing also continued to evolve during this process, as his sound still seemed to stand in front of the rest of the band. Sure it's all heavy prog during this era, but I don't think it's all the same heavy prog.

ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: I agree with him but I'm not the biggest Rush fan--there's a sameness to their sound that I can take in small doses--I have like 4 of their albums. How the heck is there sameness to their sound? So, Caress of Steel,2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves sound the same?? What the?? That's such a broad, vague statement.Can you elaborate,twosteves? lol--can I elaborate? That's what I hear---For me 3 piece bands are usually not my favorite---think it's hard to get the complete sound I like---I'm more a 5 piece kind of sound---I know they are talented but I've  never been a Rush fanboy---, I love some of their songs but not a real metal rock kind of prog fan--- I know that's what you hear and that's fine but you didn't elaborate on why you think that "there is a sameness to their sound".

I don't really see it either. Geddy's voice didn't change a whole lot really until Permanent Waves where he begin singing closer to his speaking range. Before that, he was much higher, almost wailing.

But there was the big switch over to adding keyboards on A Farewell to Kings that gradually became more pronounced after that with the later inclusion of synths. Neil's kit was getting bigger and more diverse with each ensuing album. His lyrics were also changing with the style of music, going from storytelling narratives, to philosophical observations. Alex's guitar tones went from the bluesy sound of their debut album to the heavy metallic tones we hear on Caress of Steel and 2112, to a lighter but still heavy tone on Hemispheres. His playing also continued to evolve during this process, as his sound still seemed to stand in front of the rest of the band.

Sure it's all heavy prog during this era, but I don't think it's all the same heavy prog.

twosteves wrote: ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: I agree with him but I'm not the biggest Rush fan--there's a sameness to their sound that I can take in small doses--I have like 4 of their albums. How the heck is there sameness to their sound? So, Caress of Steel,2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves sound the same?? What the?? That's such a broad, vague statement.Can you elaborate,twosteves? lol--can I elaborate? That's what I hear---For me 3 piece bands are usually not my favorite---think it's hard to get the complete sound I like---I'm more a 5 piece kind of sound---I know they are talented but I've  never been a Rush fanboy---, I love some of their songs but not a real metal rock kind of prog fan---

Well, I do know what you're talking about. I don't know if I can explain it, but I do find something in their sound that is too similar, and after a while it starts sounding a bit tired. However, getting some later time live albums, it has kind of helped. They got a somewhat heavier sound that helps some of those older songs... actually, I'd like to get a couple more live albums from them, since I've been liking their sound a bit better that way. The one bad thing about their later live albums is that Geddy's voice has lost it's edge... so it's one thing or the other.

ProgMetaller2112 wrote: twosteves wrote: I agree with him but I'm not the biggest Rush fan--there's a sameness to their sound that I can take in small doses--I have like 4 of their albums. How the heck is there sameness to their sound? So, Caress of Steel,2112, A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves sound the same?? What the?? That's such a broad, vague statement.Can you elaborate,twosteves?

twosteves wrote: I agree with him but I'm not the biggest Rush fan--there's a sameness to their sound that I can take in small doses--I have like 4 of their albums.

I just aint going to waste time listening to any shorter stuff when I have more epic prog to seek out and sample....

M27Barney wrote: Well Neil, I reckon you've got your head firmly up your arse! Rush's OUTPUT CEASED TO BE with Moving Pictures..... But I suppose that's not an opinion that would be shared by too many, even on this website! I saw a tribute band belt out 2112 in a tiny pub in Bolton a few months ago - and I can remember Rush doing the same in the late 70's - and that piece alone has more balls and power than EVERY fookin thing they did after 1980....Mind you signals was so sh*t - I haven't even bothered listening to much after that, and when I did I thought it was short track tripe....but hey It's de-rigour to Sl*g off the seventies!

Sure 2112 was ballsy based on their situation and the time period, but it really wasn't that much different than there previous release Caress of Steel. It was definitely better, but it was still epic, hard rocking music, and still without the fluid transitions between songs (something they seemed to figure out in the next couple albums). And really, the back side is a bunch of "short track tripe" as you put. I personally like their shorter stuff from all over their discography, but I'm just keeping things consistent with your description. If you ever decide to give Presto a listen, that's about as that was a pretty ballsy album. But unlike 2112, they were very well established already, and so their careers were not in jeopardy at all.