Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion - Page 6

Aaron Silverman · 05-04-2007, 05:01 PM

Someone involved with the recording of GUP was killed in an accident on the way to the studio, which led to the depressing lyrics and melancholy tunes. Something along those lines, anyway.

Aaron Silverman · 05-04-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul.S

"Warner Spins DVD-Inspired Physical Format, Lots Of Extras"

Against that backdrop, Warner Music Group showcased a new physical concept called MVI, a modified DVD that stands for Music Video Interactive. Among the guinea pigs is a new Rush CD, Snakes & Arrows, delivered by the wholly-owned Roadrunner. According to retail information, the album will receive a limited-pressing of 25,000 MVIs, a format that stuffs a number of video, audio, and digital assets into one disc.

Limited edition. I don't understand the reference to Roadrunner Records and think that's a mistake.

The article also says that the MVI will play in CD-ROM drives. I sense. . .player compatibility issues, Captain Picard.

Mark Paquette · 05-04-2007, 05:14 PM

I thought the turmoil around Grace Under Pressure was due to being under pressure from the record label to put out an album while also looking for a new producer. They had just let Terry Brown go and were having a hard time finding someone to replace him. I think they had someone lined up and he backed out at the last minute.

Paul.S · 05-04-2007, 05:39 PM

Aaron:

Someone involved with the recording of GUP was killed in an accident on the way to the studio, which led to the depressing lyrics and melancholy tunes.

Neil had said that everything from the Korean Airlines jet crash to acid rain's impact on Canada was in the news, in his regular Globe and Mail reading and on his mind/heart during the GUP writing phase. I don't think it's fair or accurate to say that any one event (Robbie Whelan's death) is the reason for the "depressing" lyrics.

Aaron Silverman · 05-04-2007, 06:34 PM

Fair enough -- that was certainly a part of it though.

Nathan Eddy · 05-04-2007, 08:47 PM

God, I hate to open up this can of worms . . . I've been listening to this album in headphones all week. It has sounded fine, but I've heard some pops and crackles that I thought was merely a limitation of my $30 Sony headphones. No big deal. So now it's the weekend, and I'm cranking it.

I can't stand it. It sounds horrible. It's another repeat of Vapor Trails. No matter how I tweak my system, it sounds like crap. I'm very upset. The highs sound harsh and abrasive. The lows are boomy. The soundstage seems distorted and *distant.* The lower tom-tom drums sound waaay too boomy. The bass drum and bass guitar are horrible. Undefined and, again, "boomy." And I think there's some clipping. Maybe even a lot of clipping. It's hard to listen to. It hurts my ears no matter what volume I have it on.

Surely I'm not imagining this. Does anyone else have similar experiences with this CD? My system is not super expensive. But I've got lots of CDs that sound A LOT better than this. Sure, Vapor Trails isn't one of them. But it's not far behind.

Paul.S · 05-04-2007, 08:56 PM

Nathan, do you have Foo Fighters' One By One (preferably the DVD-A) and, if so, would you offer any comparative s.q. comments?

Nathan Eddy · 05-04-2007, 10:43 PM

No, I don't have that one. And I hate to bash this one. I honestly am not a perfectionist. I'm VERY happy with the R30 DVD, for instance.

I've been gushing about this CD all week. I love it. And I love Vapor Trails. I'm just really disappointed with the production. Believe me, I'm not trying to troll or start a flame war. I'm not trying to be provocative. I WANT to love this CD. More than any other CD on the market. And I don't believe I have unrealistic expectations--or lowered expectations due to Vapor Trails. Like I said, I've been listening on headphones for 4 days now and I've been happy. I've chocked up any limitations to my headphones. I was looking forward to cranking it on my main system. I was proud of it like it was mine--and wanted to show it off to my wife. I was willing to make excuses for it. . . to be a Rush fan boy. But I can't deny the obvious. It sounds bad. I'm really bummed.

DavidJ · 05-04-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul.S

I stated earlier that Hold Your Fire was one of my favorite Rush albums and it deals with all sorts of "world" problems, but to my mind it is filled with more hope.

That was 20 years ago.

Sometimes our familiarity with a record/movie/text we love anesthetizes us to gripping just how long ago it was created.

A lotta life happens in 20 years' time.

Maybe I have been spending too much time listening to "Time Stand Still."

Brian Perry · 05-06-2007, 10:47 PM

Just picked this up last night. I have no problem with the sonics; however, the album just isn't my cup of tea (just like the last several Rush albums). Far Cry is probably my favorite track.

I will continue to buy anything Rush puts out, even though the odds are slim that they would ever give us something like Hemispheres or Moving Pictures again.

ElevSkyMovie · 05-07-2007, 08:57 AM

I heard "Far Cry" for the first time on the radio last night. Wow, did it sound bad. Flat and lifeless. The guitars were non existant, the drums sounded like cardboard. Geddy's voice and his bass sound ok, but that's it. Compression really ruins it for all of us. Why can't the artists and labels see that?