The Rush appreciation thread

Finnforest wrote: richardh wrote: Themistocles wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: So what do you guys think is the most underrated or underappreciated Rush album? I would say either Presto, Hold Your Fire or Test For Echo. I could say Roll the Bones but that one actually went platinum (as did Fly by Night). For me it is Test for Echo. I listen to it frequently and it is a great sounding album. Mixed by Andy Wallace and recorded at Bearville none of the albums after it sound as good. nowadays Grace Under Pressure. At the time many fans didn't like the direction they were taking but I think the cold war themes they utilised on this album have aged well and seem just as relevant as ever. Generally I like most Rush , nothing that I want to hate on. They did get a bit 'meh' around Presto but I think they were fatigued after making 7 albums in just 10 years and with the constant touring needed to rethink their scheldule a bit. I like all the 90's albums, some don't like the grungy sound of Test For Echo but I like it about the same as other albums around that time. Vapor Trails always sounded fine to me but I know that's been a bone of contention over the years! My opinion is an unpopular one, but for me GUP is their last great album. Alex is just on fire on that album, both smokin' and inventive. In comparison, Power Windows felt like an absolute collapse. Felt that way at the time and I still do. But I realize a ton of people love PW.

I rather like GUP too... it is very much of its time. I listen to A Show of Hands a great deal and all the GUP tracks included on the live album are strong.   For me it has that 80's quality and since I was a teenager in those years it resonates. I suppose some fans pushed back against them sounding more like 80's stuff but to me its a kind of obvious evolution. Hard to have a career as long as Rush did without adapting to the sounds of the various decades.

Vapor Trails Remixed was released twelve years ago. Remastering won't improve the sound further. I'm a weirdo who's fine with the original release (more oomph).

I love Power Windows. I’d put it up there with Signals. So many great songs! To me, it was their last great album. My favorite era is still A Farewell to Kings through Moving Pictures, but I also dig the 80s sound through to Hold Your Fire, as well as their earlier work. In fact, I prefer Caress of Steel to 2112, which always gets my friend’s dander up. It sounds like a DIY garage band making an epic and I love it’s raw sound.

verslibre wrote: Vapor Trails Remixed was released twelve years ago. Remastering won't improve the sound further. I'm a weirdo who's fine with the original release (more oomph).

I havent listened to vapor trails in a very long time but I revisited it last night comparing both versions. I prefer the remix but you are not crazy the original mix has more low end and low mid information, so ooomph. Im a dynamics aficianado and upper mids is the magic for me so the remix works. sure it could be improved but you have to draw a line some where ore it becomes an asymptotic crazy making machine for the band. Weve seen tons of remasters and some are Great (Gentle Giant) or are a bit pointless (Yes) so there's always a risk.

I prefer Test For Echo's original mix and mastering job. It is of its time with every drum having its own reverb situation. That's Just 90's production and the SSL 9000 sound.   

The thing with Rush is the drums are such a featured instrument so the transients really matter and shrinking the dynamic range kills that.   I still want a better mix of their final album because it does have some great songs and every swansong deserves to be heard at its best. But at a certain point a thing needs to bea product of its times. These days the loudness wars are over and dynamic range is coming back.   

Edited by Themistocles - May 07 2025 at 14:45

verslibre wrote: Vapor Trails Remixed was released twelve years ago. Remastering won't improve the sound further. I'm a weirdo who's fine with the original release (more oomph).

For me this album was 100% about Neil Peart and Rush are back!!! When I bought that CD I played it daily and I never complained much, because they were back!!

The remix version is pretty good, it did bring back some dynamics which helps a lot but overall this album IMO is such a great return to Guitar, Bass, Drums for Rush that IDC at the time.

I do spin the remix more than I play the OG compact disc I have.

Catcher10 wrote: For me this album was 100% about Neil Peart and Rush are back!!! When I bought that CD I played it daily and I never complained much, because they were back!!

Abso-freakin-lutely! I played the shuh-biz out of it. I was already hyped by the preview snippets of "Nocturne," "Earthshine" and especially "Freeze"! The boys were back in town!

Catcher10 wrote: And BTW.....I love Power Windows!! I remember buying that LP and was simply slammed by the music and songs like Manhattan Project, Middletown Dreams, Marathon and Mystic Rhythms. Plus it was mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisc and sounds fantastic!

Power Windows is essential Rush. E-s-s-e-n-t-i-a-l. That's the best Geddy's Wal bass sounded, along with "Show Don't Tell" from Presto (I love that song). I mean, the album only opens with one of their most powerful songs, continuing the streak begun with Permanent Waves (and continuing with "Force Ten" from HYF). The band was on fire, fire, FI-YAH!!!

My favorite Rush tribute band servin' up some Caress...

My dad is a lifelong Rush fan. When I was a teenager and got into music I was more into metal at first. I started getting into some progressive bands like Jethro Tull, ELP and The Moody Blues. I went to a record store with my dad and picked up a used CD copy of Moving Pictures. I immediately fell in love with Rush and dove deep into their whole discography. Rush is one of the greatest bands of all time. Every time I see the cover of Moving Pictures or hear a song off the album I remember being a teenager buying and listening to the album for the first time. Vital Signs (the link posed by AFlowerKingCrimson) is one of my favorite Rush songs.

They do a pretty mean Hemispheres as well...

^
That's a good one. There's a live video of "Territories" too on their YouTube page. For all of the many Power Windows fans.