Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion - Page 2

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Yeah, Counterparts was the best of the 90s. I love Between Sun and Moon, and just about crapped my pants when they played it in 2002 on the Vapor Trails tour. I think I'd like RTB more if it didn't sound so thin and lifeless. The same songs played with a heavier sound might do it for me. However, I can't listen to Test For Echo at all. That's the only Rush CD I sold after buying it.

Back to Far Cry: after the opening "Jacob's Ladder" chords, the groove they settle into sounds very much like Neurotica off of RTB, right about 35 seconds into Neurotica ["Life is a diamond you turn into dust/Waiting for rescue, and I know that you just/Don't get it"]. Go and play the two side by side. Then it gets into that tuneless verse melody. I do like little parts of the song, the guitar breaks, the general tone of their instruments. I like the bridge, or chorus . . . it's hard to tell which is which, they just kind of blend together. I like that soft vocal melody at the bridge, too.

But the individual parts of this song don't build into anything. They don't climax or devleop. Just repetitions of the same three or so parts.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

You're out of your mind! Too much jangly guitars, not enough balls for this guy.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Power Windows does have some good music. But don't listen to it on the studio CD. Get the three DVD set which includes the A Show of Hands disc. Sounds much better.

I'm assuming everyone here has all 3 DVD sets offered by this band, right? The Rio set sounds bad, but R30 is wonderful. The Exist Stage Left/Grace Under Pressure/Show of Hands DVDs sound surprisingly good, too, considering their age. I love hearing Witch Hunt live!

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Actually, the Rio set sounds the closest to actually being at a Rush concert with 40,000 people going nuts. Personally, while it isn't perfect (Geddy's vocals could be higher in the mix), I find it more satisfying than some of the "cleaner" shows that are on DVD.

Jason

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Oh lordy, not this argument again.

The Rush In Rio disc is one of the best-sounding concert DVDs by any band, period. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't remember what it sounds like to be at a concert.

On the other hand, the crappy non-anamorphic video is inexcusable!

I don't have the latest DVD set (yet), but I used to listen to the A Show Of Hands CD all the time. In fact, for a long time I used it in my alarm clock. To this day I sometimes have flashbacks of that Three Stooges theme with the crowd noise when I wake up.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Yes please God. Go here if you wish to further spank that monkey.


LOL. "The Big Money" will def get you goin' in the mornin'.

Damn I wish we could look forward to at least a 2 ch high rez release of the new album.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Paul,

LMAO!!!!

In case anyone just can't wait until May, the track is now available for purchase on iTunes.....and before anyone thread craps, yes, I know, its a 128K AAC DRM riddled abomination.

But its new Rush music, and I am happy to give the band 99 freakin' cents to keep making music.

And at least on PC speakers, it doesn't sound half bad (better than the stream to my ears)...the bass and drums seem to have a nice swagger to them, and Lex's guitars is soarining above it all. The full LP release will not get here fast enough.

Brian

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Actually, I was one of the last people to post on that thread about a "fix" for the horrible DD sound.

Anyway, I don't want to start bashing Rio all over again. I just want anyone who thinks it sounds good to listen to ANY OF THE OTHER 4 CONCERTS ON DVD and try to defend it after that. It's the worst sounding of all 5. It's really obvious.

BTW, when I buy a concert DVD, I don't want it to sound like the mircophones were stuffed down the shirt of the nearesest South American. Sure, that might be the way a concert sounds in the middle of a crowd. But just as I wouldn't want to view the concert video from the worst seats, I wouldn't want to hear it from the middle of the crowd, either. Have you listened to any live music offered online at places like www.archive.org? When chatty people are sitting next to the microphones, it's horrible. But from that spot, it's entirely "real." There are degrees of reality. In my reproductions of live music, I prefer that scale tipped to the "sounds good" side, rather than the "sounds like crap," side.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Nathan, please. We're all capable of seeing who posted in that other thread. Many of the same people are here.

After saying you "don't want to start bashing Rio all over again," you then proceed to do precisely that. Please--'take it outside.'

This thread is supposed to be about the new record and, frankly, you're sh*tting all over my hopes that we won't have to re-visit s.q. issues once we all have the disc in hand.

Please. Stop.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Paul, I'm not sh***ing over anything. That's a tad strong for what I actually said. My point about my contribution to the other thread was that I added positive, constructive advice for others to enjoy it more. My contribution wasn't bashing anything.

My points this time around related to concert recordings in general--a response to someone's stated philosophy on concert sound (see above). My philosophy differs from theirs. I don't see the problem with stating it.

And my points about the GOOD sound quality of all the other 4 Rush DVDs is offered to all those here who might not have those particular DVDs in hand. I deduce this fact from their praise for the Rio DVD (since, if they think that one sounds good, it suggests to me that they haven't heard the others). So the sound quality of Rio is just a tangential issue. I'm NOT wanting to reopen old wounds. But at the same time, I don't appreciate you telling me what to talk about. I'm not a troll. I obviously love Rush very much. And like you, I'm anxiously awaiting S&A.

Take heart. If the R30 DVD is any indication, the boys have once again made sound quality a priority. Do you have that DVD? The SQ is breathtaking.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Wow Nathan--"you just don't [freakin'] get it." Yes, you ARE shitting on MY hopes that the new release will not have many of us arguing about s.q. Yes, although you state the contrary, you ARE re-opening an old wound.

Of course I've heard R30 but that--along with nearly everything else you state in your post above--is not the topic of this thread, which is not a litmus test of your love of the band but supposed to be about the NEW STUDIO ALBUM not catalog concert DVD sound quality debate. Granted, you're not the first to take it off topic, but you ARE the one who literally quoted my admonition about keeping it on topic and then ran afield into a contentious issue on which guys simply have fundamental disagreements that have been discussed/argued in more appropriate venues elsewhere.

This is not supposed to be a omnibus Rush thread. Just because it's Rush-related doesn't mean it's appropriate here. If you have a problem with staying on thread topic, your issues are not with me but rather with HTF rules.

AGAIN, PLEASE (and that's my fourth time to use the magic word)--let's get it back and keep it on topic.

Speaking of, the Universal e-list sent notice of the 'single' being on iTunes and it featured a very cool, (probably Hugh Syme?) image of a pier leading into a mildly choppy sea with a baby carriage at the end of the pier. There's a lightning bolt going into the carriage, and a rainbow and a hawk (?) in the sky. Beautiful but a little disturbing, like the Yousuf Karsh GUP cover.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

That baby carriage thing has been the home page of http://www.rush.com since the day the single came out (with thunder and lightning and all).

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Ah thx, Scott. It's a tough dance, wanting some info but largely trying to avoid "spoilers."

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Dog Years is one of my top 15 favorite Rush songs...

I am a lifelong Rush fanatic. I have been listening to them since 1976 and their music has been a huge huge part of my liffe for over 30 years. I'm probably one of the few Rush fans (and maybe any artists' fan) who feels that Rush can do no wrong.

Out of every Rush song, there are 5 that i really do not listen to..that's right only 5 songs that i don't like...Carve Away the Stone, High Water, Tai Shan, Heresy and Sweet Miracle...

I absolutely love the song "Far Cry". it's powerful and melodic something most music made nowadyas lack.

My first Rush concert was the Permanent Waves tour and that show is still my all-time favorite concert experience.

A new Rush album and tour is heaven on earth!!

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

i have been longing for another epic since 1981!!

Bytor is always in the running for my favorite song of all time by any artist..

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Just a quick note regarding the SQ of "A Far Cry", after running the iPod through the 2CH system.....

OK...it is a 128K download, and as expected the cymbals sound like crap...the usually swishy, swirly, noise that is the standard for low bit rate rips.

But put that aside, and there seems to be a nice bit of dynamics to the bass and drums, and in particular the sound of Neils snare and tom tom work.

It does not to me sound at all flat and lifeless, like a certain recent title, that dare not speak its name. I am cautiously optimistic that what I am hearing here is carried forth to the CD, minus the crap cymbals (!).

Brian

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

argh man, i used to really love rush. fave album = hemispheres. this track isn't doin it for me right now. i'll probably just d/l the album or just look for a cheap used copy.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

After one listen, I'd say I pretty much like the new song. It is a little heavier than their more recent stuff, especially Neil's drumming. The bass line generally isn't terribly complex, but it does have a really good, smooth sound to it. The guitar work seems like pretty typical recent Alex fare, which is fine, but I'm hoping for more interesting sounds from him on the rest of the album.

Virtuality is my favorite TFE track. Listen to the percussion!

And Power Windows is a good album. My latest favorite from it is Middletown Dreams. Alex's guitar work on it just does something for me, and the lyrics are thought provoking. I'm also liking more and more the keyboard driven Losing It from Signals.

This and Dream Theater are big releases for the summer, but don't forget about Planet X, too ("Quantum")! It's set for May 22.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Here is a more specific take on "A Far Cry"....not that anyone is asking:-)

Ten seconds or so in, you know its Rush, as they liberally quote from various bits of their Classic period output. Then a heavy riff reminiscent of tracks on VT, and a chorus that is not too dissimilar from stuff on "My Favorite headache".

Repeat liberally, and you have a new track that says to all the world that THIS IS RUSH. Works for me. Compared to 99.999999999% of what passes for "new" hard rock music, it sounds like a winner.

Ged can't nail the high notes any more.....not exactly a news flash, and IMHO, he is still in very fine voice.

No guitar solo? BFD. I am sure there will be room for solos on the rest of the LP, but really, what does anyone think can be done in terms of a guitar solo that has not been done before? I'll take a track with balls and hooks over one filled with un-needed wankery 10 out of 10 times. And this track has balls and hooks in spades. I played this sucker a 1/2 dozen times today, and its is securely stuck in my ear.

Damn, I can't wait for the rest of this LP!

Brian

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

I have a 320 kbps version of Far Cry, and I can say with pretty high confidence that unless all the other tracks were mixed differently, we won't have have the Vapor Trails debacle again.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

I tend to agree. Especially after seeing/hearing him on that new ESPN fantasy baseball commercial. For those of you that haven't seen it, I found it on YouTube:

ESPN Rock Opera

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

David, I love Sweet Miracle! But I agree with you about the others.

Paul, you're right. I don't get it. I don't get your single-minded campaign to control what I say, and yet the dozens of other off-topic comments by others here go completely ignored by you. Stop hiding behind forum rules elevate your personal attack upon me into something other than it is. Everyone here is clearly talking about more than just the new single. I will continue saying whatever I like until notified by an actual moderator that my comments are not wanted.

Sound quality IS an issue related to the new single, because the remaster of Vapor Trails--which was apparently completed last year--was being held back until the release of the new album. The reasoning was that since there were many of the original VT CDs still in stock, no need to release it yet. So many of us see this new release as a twofold reason to be excited. By choosing to tie the release of the new Rush CD to the remaster of VT, the band has directly connected S&A to those issues going back to 2002. Not me.

The new song is growing on my, btw. There are still parts about it that bug me, but I agree with Brian's assessment that it blends several distinct Rush periods. I still stand by my assessment that it lacks any climax or development.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Is this really true? Where did you hear it? That is great news if true!

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Nathan are you being disingenuous on purpose? Or are you truly that clueless? I'm not trying to control what you say. I am making an issue of where you're choosing to say it. And it's an admonition that applies to all, not just you.

Now you're wanting to move the goal post and say that my criticism was of any discussion of s.q. Wrong. Rehashing the Rio s.q. debate was/is what I'm saying is not appropriate here.

And I second Scott's inquiry about where you heard/read that the VT remaster's release is being tied to the new record. This is the first I've heard such.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

I just checked the old listing I left on my Amazon Wish List for the VT remaster. I added that on July 20, 2004.

Work may have commenced earlier and then ceased but I tend to doubt that the remaster was just completed last year. The label announced that release at the same time as all the other Atlantic remasters a few years ago.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

I wanted to add something else to this thread.

I just got done listening to "Far Cry" again, and I wanted to change my initial thoughts (or add to them). For some reason, when the singing began I couldn't help but think of "Dog Years" from "Test for Echo".

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

do any of you frequent the Rush message board "Counterparts" ?

www.rushmessageboard.com

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

Geeeebus titty f*ckin' Christ! I thought I'd never see this based upon Ged having said in interviews that he doesn't see the band using surround sound for anything other than live albums.

http://rush-preorder.shop.musictoday...2_10946&page=1

There's supposedly going to be a "DVD-Album" (the more mainstream consumer-friendly name used to refer to DVD-Audio discs in one of the format's last ditch marketing efforts) version of Snakes. Damn--I don't wanna get my hopes up to only have them dashed by the label calling 20-bit/48k "high resolution" (that's more like 'enhanced'), but daaaaamn!

And they're working with producer Nick Raskulinecz who co-produced Foo Fighters' One By One, the DVD-A of which was recommended to me by none other than George Massenburg, an amazing producer/recording engineer who's kind enough to respond to my e-mails despite being as busy as you'd have to be to chalk up over 400 album credits. I've had that on my Wish List since shortly after it won 2004 Best Rock Album and the DVD-A became available. Off to Elusive Disc to finally buy it.

Ugh--hate that the "DVD-A" will supposedly not be available until May 15.

Re: Rush: "Snakes and Arrows" discussion

http://www.rushisaband.com/

[Edit: Link to a blog with all the info at the Quad link and more.]