RUSH: Still Important After All These Years
My interests tend to be very on again, off again. I’ll be heavily into something for a bit, and then I’ll leave it alone for a while. It’s just the way I roll. I never completely get rid of an interest, however. I’ll just leave it off for a bit, and later pick it up again. At that point there is a strangle feeling of newness coupled with nostalgia. Those who know me will attest to my “phases”.
Lately, I’ve been listening to Rush a lot. Rush is one of my favorite bands. They are in my top ten bands of all time, and believe me, there are some heavy hitters in that list. I got back into Rush by reading David Mack’s Star Trek: Destiny series (which, yes, I still need to review, I know). Mack is a fan, and there are subtle Rush references scattered throughout the books, as well as a Geddy Lee quote.
Rush is one of the most lyrically fascinating bands around. Combining science fiction and fantasy with a heavy dose of philosophy, including existentialism and Ayn Rand, this is a band with serious messages. No light and fluffy songs here. Humanism is a very strong motif in drummer Neil Peart’s lyrics. This appeals to me immensely, even if my own beliefs are spiritual and Christian in content. Combined with the exceptional musicianship of the band, this creates a heady sonic potion, sure to engage the listener both emotionally and intellectually.
Rush’s heyday as a band was the early to mid-80’s. After 1987’s Hold Your Fire, the band seemed to fade from popular consciousness. They are, however, still making important music. In fact, the band seems to have returned somewhat to its earlier style, which relied less heavily on synthesizers and more on guitars, bass, and drums. A testament to the continuing power of the band is the just released Retrospective Vol. 3, which covers 1989-2008.
There are some incredible tracks on this compilation, beginning with “One Little Victory”, a signature song from 2002’s Vapor Trails. Other standouts are “Dreamline”, “Ghost of a Chance”, “Earthshine”, and “Nobody’s Hero”. If anything, I would argue that the band sounds better than ever, as Geddy’s voice has deepen over the years, given the him more range in the lower registers. There is a richer tone to his voice now, though he can still hit the high notes of old when he wants to.
If you liked Rush in the past, but haven’t checked the band out in a while, I highly recommend this set. All 14 songs are winners. There is also a special edition with a DVD which mainly includes music videos, with a live performance or two and some interview footage.
Great stuff, all of it.
Check the Rush tag for a previous post on a Rush song.