Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[IDontNotDoThings]

Screw you guys.   War Paint is AWESOME....

War Paint is okay, but it works more as an album-building track than a standalone song

[TAC]

It actually works much better as a non album track.

[RodrigoAltaf]

War Paint works even better as a non existent track

[jammindude]

War Paint Neurotica works even better as a non existent track

FTFY 

[IDontNotDoThings]

*sigh*

Well I guess since we're being negative anyway, I'm curious. What's everyone's LEAST favourite Rush album?

For me it'd have to be Roll The Bones, that album just seemed way more one-dimensional than their other work & some of the later tracks are straight-up bad (Heresy, Neurotica). All in all it seems like it was trying to be such a singles-oriented album, but the singles are *at best* on-par with the rest of Rush's 80s & 90s singles (if not slightly below).

[jammindude]

*sigh*

Well I guess since we're being negative anyway, I'm curious. What's everyone's LEAST favourite Rush album?

For me it'd have to be Roll The Bones, that album just seemed way more one-dimensional than their other work & some of the later tracks are straight-up bad (Heresy, Neurotica). All in all it seems like it was trying to be such a singles-oriented album, but the singles are *at best* on-par with the rest of Rush's 80s & 90s singles (if not slightly below).

I agree with all of this.  RTB is by far my least favorite album.  And I consider Neurotica, Face Up, Heresy, and You Bet Your Life to be the top 4 worst Rush songs ever made....and The Big Wheel isn't much better.   The other 5 tracks save it from being a total loss.

[Mladen]

The very early stuff is not my cup of tea. The debut would probably be my least favorite. As far as the later ones go, Test for echo would be at the bottom, but even the less good albums from the 90s and 2000s have their share of truly fantastic songs.

[Architeuthis]

*sigh*

Well I guess since we're being negative anyway, I'm curious. What's everyone's LEAST favourite Rush album?

For me it'd have to be Roll The Bones, that album just seemed way more one-dimensional than their other work & some of the later tracks are straight-up bad (Heresy, Neurotica). All in all it seems like it was trying to be such a singles-oriented album, but the singles are *at best* on-par with the rest of Rush's 80s & 90s singles (if not slightly below).

I agree with all of this.  RTB is by far my least favorite album.  And I consider Neurotica, Face Up, Heresy, and You Bet Your Life to be the top 4 worst Rush songs ever made....and The Big Wheel isn't much better.   The other 5 tracks save it from being a total loss.

That pretty much sums it up.. However, Dreamline is one of my concert favorites with high energy. Especially on the Vapor Trails and R30 tours that song was smokin good, and the lasers too...
Heresy seems like an attempt to make a song similar to Wind of Change by Scorpions, but fell short.

[?]

The very early stuff is not my cup of tea. The debut would probably be my least favorite. As far as the later ones go, Test for echo Vapor Trails would be at the bottom, but even the less good albums from the 90s and 2000s have their share of truly fantastic songs.

Fixed for me.

[Polarbear]

For the record, I like both War Paint and Neurotica!

The very early stuff is not my cup of tea. The debut would probably be my least favorite. As far as the later ones go, Test for echo would be at the bottom, but even the less good albums from the 90s and 2000s have their share of truly fantastic songs.

T4E would be my least favorite Rush album also, not much apart from the title track grab me.

I also agree about their early stuff. I have to be in a very special mindset to listen to stuff like Caress of Steel or Hemispheres. While I can put on Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures or Power Windows etc, at any time regardless of the mindset...

[Cruithne]

Well I guess since we're being negative anyway, I'm curious. What's everyone's LEAST favourite Rush album?

Tie between their debut, which doesn't really feel like proper Rush for various reasons, and Caress Of Steel where their grasp exceeded their reach by some way.

There's a big run of albums from 2112 right through to Vapor Trails (though it took the remix/remaster to bring that to life for me) that I rate highly. I appreciate why T4E doesn't sit well with people as it's fallen down in my estimation over the years somewhat, but it was actually the first full Rush album I heard so I have a big soft spot for it.

After that, Snakes & Arrows was bland as all hell except for a couple of songs and Clockwork Angels simply doesn't work for me anything like as well as it seems to for many. If they do ever make another record I really hope they don't use Nick Raskulinecz again as I don't like what he did to their sound on those two records.

[KevShmev]

Test for Echo is easily my least favorite.  It's not bad, but there is nothing on it that is great, and it sounds like a band that was desperately in need of some time off (which they ended up getting for all of the wrong reasons).  I won't use the term "phoned in," but Test for Echo sounds like a tired band that didn't sound the least bit inspired.

[axeman90210]

Claiming reply #2112

[RodrigoAltaf]

Test for Echo is easily my least favorite.  It's not bad, but there is nothing on it that is great, and it sounds like a band that was desperately in need of some time off (which they ended up getting for all of the wrong reasons).  I won't use the term "phoned in," but Test for Echo sounds like a tired band that didn't sound the least bit inspired.

I like T4E, there are a few good songs here and there. Itīs the first album where Neilīs drumming didnīt sound jaw dropping to me, although Iīve grown to appreciate what he did in the album later on. But hey, it was the tour that started the "evening with" format, with the greatest setlist ever...

[Stadler]

*sigh*

Well I guess since we're being negative anyway, I'm curious. What's everyone's LEAST favourite Rush album?

For me it'd have to be Roll The Bones, that album just seemed way more one-dimensional than their other work & some of the later tracks are straight-up bad (Heresy, Neurotica). All in all it seems like it was trying to be such a singles-oriented album, but the singles are *at best* on-par with the rest of Rush's 80s & 90s singles (if not slightly below).

Have I mentioned here how much I dislike p/g?   Don't like the sterility (yes, I understand that is what they were going for; still don't like it), don't like Neil's sound, and but for a few moments - the fill before "I hear the gunfire at the prison gates...." and all of "Between The Wheels", there aren't as many "Neil, dude, WTF?" moments as on other records. 

I concede it is a lyrical success (for the most part) and I think Alex Lifeson plays his tits off, even if I don't care for the stylings.   But it is in the bottom five for me and may be the least favorite in the catalogue. 

[Snow Dog]

The debut and Caress of Steel are likely the obvious answers for most, and I'd fall into that category as well. Where I'll likely ruffle some feathers is in saying that Signals is next in line for least favorite for me. Not to say it doesn't have its bright spots, as Subdivisions and Losing It are absolutely brilliant and Analog Kid is pretty good as well. But the rest of the album pretty well does absolutely nothing for me. It's the one spot from A Farewell to Kings to Power Windows that ruins a nearly perfect seven-album run for me.

Yes, that also means I really like Grace Under Pressure (sorry, Stadler... ). Funny how we hear/experience the same thing and can have completely different reactions to it.

[TAC]

I made amends with Grace Under Pressure some time ago.


For me, Roll The Bones. And Test For Echo. And Snakes And Arrows.

[Big Hath]

After that, Snakes & Arrows was bland as all hell except for a couple of songs

yeah, S&A is the Rush album I rarely if ever feel like listening to.  Even live, I didn't care much for those songs outside Far Cry and maybe one or two others.

[TAC]

Thank God I have someone else with me on S&A. I just find that there's not much there. It sounds awesome though.

[Big Hath]

I remember everyone being excited before it came out with that "hemispheres chord" in one of the teasers.  I got it home and after a few listens it seemed like the songs just weren't that great.  Pretty bland for the most part.

[TAC]

Yeah. It actually felt like the music was written to the lyrics.

[Snow Dog]

After that, Snakes & Arrows was bland as all hell except for a couple of songs

yeah, S&A is the Rush album I rarely if ever feel like listening to.  Even live, I didn't care much for those songs outside Far Cry and maybe one or two others.

And this album is just above Signals in my list, coincidentally enough. This one literally put me to sleep midway through the first time I popped it in the player.

[KevShmev]

Test for Echo is easily my least favorite.  It's not bad, but there is nothing on it that is great, and it sounds like a band that was desperately in need of some time off (which they ended up getting for all of the wrong reasons).  I won't use the term "phoned in," but Test for Echo sounds like a tired band that didn't sound the least bit inspired.

I like T4E, there are a few good songs here and there. Itīs the first album where Neilīs drumming didnīt sound jaw dropping to me, although Iīve grown to appreciate what he did in the album later on. But hey, it was the tour that started the "evening with" format, with the greatest setlist ever...

Yep, the set list that tour was great, despite the inclusion of too many TFE songs.  It saw the return of Natural Science and 2112 in its entirety for the first time ever.

The debut and Caress of Steel are likely the obvious answers for most, and I'd fall into that category as well. Where I'll likely ruffle some feathers is in saying that Signals is next in line for least favorite for me. Not to say it doesn't have its bright spots, as Subdivisions and Losing It are absolutely brilliant and Analog Kid is pretty good as well. But the rest of the album pretty well does absolutely nothing for me. It's the one spot from A Farewell to Kings to Power Windows that ruins a nearly perfect seven-album run for me.

Yes, that also means I really like Grace Under Pressure (sorry, Stadler... ). Funny how we hear/experience the same thing and can have completely different reactions to it.

I like Signals a lot, but it gets less plays in my CD player than the other synth era albums.

After that, Snakes & Arrows was bland as all hell except for a couple of songs

yeah, S&A is the Rush album I rarely if ever feel like listening to.  Even live, I didn't care much for those songs outside Far Cry and maybe one or two others.

Songs like Armor and Sword and The Main Monkey Business are really good on the album, but were a bit too plodding live.  Workin' Them Angels worked pretty well live, I thought; that song just has very high energy.

[jammindude]

I feel so alone in my adoration of TFE.....which is just compounded by my not getting the often revered Counterparts. 

After the extremely bland RTB, they realized that they needed to get their balls back.   But CP *to me* just sounded like they were trying WAAAAYYY too hard to be relevant during the grunge movement.   Stick It Out *to me* is the most blatant attempt to cash in on what was cool at the time that I've ever heard them be guilty of.   Nobody's Hero comes across as hammy, heavy handed and preachy.  I do like Cut To the Chase, Alien Shore, and Cold Fire.  Everyday Glory is very meh....but it sounds too much like a lame attempt to redo Available Light.  Animate is OK I guess.

But TFE sounds more like the guys found their "sweet spot".   After trying too hard to prove they were heavy again, they took a step back and made it their own.   The first 5 songs on that album are (again...to me) one of the greatest opening 5 in their ENTIRE catalog.  The only real klunkers on the entire album are Dog Years and Totem.   Also don't get the hate for Virtuality.   In spite of the somewhat dated lyrics (which aren't nearly as cringeworthy as some people try to make them out to be) DAT RIFF is seriously one of the GREATEST RIFFS that Alex has ever written.   It more than makes up for B-level input from Neil.    Other than the two aforementioned tracks, every other song on that album is absolutely 10 on a ten scale.   And I say TFE is a top 5 (maybe 6 after Clockwork Angels) Rush album.

[TAC]

I feel so alone in my adoration of TFE.....which is just compounded by my not getting the often revered Counterparts. 

   The first 5 songs on that album are (again...to me) one of the greatest opening 5 in their ENTIRE catalog. 

J Dude, what the f'n f are you smoking?

[Mosh]

TFE is easily the worst Rush. I can remember maybe two songs on there I like.

[jammindude]

I feel so alone in my adoration of TFE.....which is just compounded by my not getting the often revered Counterparts. 

   The first 5 songs on that album are (again...to me) one of the greatest opening 5 in their ENTIRE catalog. 

J Dude, what the f'n f are you smoking?

Apparently, not the same stuff that the CP lovers are on....cause that stuff is so strong, it will make you stop and wait at a green light. 

 

[Lethean]

I love Counterparts and Test for Echo, so there.

(Stick it Out is a great song)

[Architeuthis]

Nobody's Hero is a great song but the opening verses are cringeworthy.

[Art]

I love Counterparts and Test for Echo, so there.

(Stick it Out is a great song)

Yep, me too. 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Nobody's Hero is a great song but the opening verses are cringeworthy.

I remmember when this song came out, in less PC times, weīd put it on at parties and say "hey buddy, I found this song, and apparently it was written for you - listen to the first verse!!!"

[King Postwhore]

Nobody's Hero is a great song but the opening verses are cringeworthy.

So Neil writing about a real friend who's sexual orientation was different was cringeworthy?

[TAC]

Nobody's Hero's verses are AWESOME!!!!! Awesome!

[King Postwhore]

The only song on Counterparts which I didn't think matched all the others songs in quality was The Speed Of Love.  They talked about the trouble they had writing the song and to me is just felt unfinished.

[TAC]

Yes, that song blows.