FEEDBACK (released June 29, 2004)

To celebrate 30 years of their recording career, Rush decided to let their hair down and have some fun. They picked 8 songs that helped influence their early musical careers and recorded quick, dirty and energetic versions for this EP. While the pessimistic outlook would be the EP was an "excuse to tour", I see it as a welcome glimpse into the background of a group who developed their own sound so long ago...that you tend to forget what influenced that sound in the first place.

Going by the song choices, the mid 60's were the catalyst that spurred these guys on their quest.

A strutting, wailing version of Summertime Blues kicks off the proceedings. Alex Lifeson plays a little tribute to "Foxy Lady" in the intro before the song kicks into full gear. The arrangement is basically the version that The Who played on the Live At Leeds album (with a little bit of Blue Cheer's proto-doom stomp thrown in). Lifeson's guitar sound flat out roars.

Heart Full Of Soul is a very pleasant song selection, Geddy proving he has the vocal chops to pull off this Yardbirds gem. Again the guitar really stands out here, Alex gets the chance to layer some acoustic and electric tones to great effect and captures the vibe of the original recording perfectly. Geddy gets the overall nod for his passionate performance.

The first of two Buffalo Springfield covers follows next. Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth" may seem like an odd choice at first, hearing a Canadian band play this San Fran hippie classic...but they pull it off with the sophistication of the arrangement. Lifeson weaves in all kinds of psychedelic guitar flourishes and Geddy's layered vocals provide a modern sound to the proceedings.

The Seeker is pretty much a straight-forward rendition of the classic single by The Who. Even though it's a rocker, Rush doesn't quite have the rhythmic drive to really sell this one accurately. It's a perfectly acceptable version, but Geddy is no Roger Daltrey and thus much of the venom in the lyrics is lost. This version is okay, but the original Who single sounds like it's going to kill your Mother.

Mr Soul is our second Buffalo Springfield cover, courtesy of Neil Young. This one scores a home run! By slowing down the tempo and concentrating on the underlying dirge-like riff, Rush transforms this into a foreboding little nightmare ditty. Alex painstakingly achieves the exact same guitar tones used for the variety of short solos (covering both parts played by Young & Stills). This tune is so awesome it should be permanently added to Rush' setlist for the rest of their career.

Probably the most left-field cut of the bunch, Love's Seven And Seven Is is taken at a frantic breakneck tempo, with Peart delivering a text book lesson in how to play the snare. This song veers the farthest from the original source, but the performance is so passionate and fun that it doesn't matter.

We return to The Yardbirds for a little Jeff Beck worship on Shapes Of Things. Geddy's vocal is a little too pedestrian on this one, not quite delivering the desired reaction. Lifeson's kick ass performance salvages it.

The album ends in slamming fashion with a fantastic spin through Cream's version of Crossroads. Listening to this tune, you can imagine what a treat it would have been to see Alex and Geddy in a garage somewhere jamming this. The guitar solo section is just SICK, with Geddy's underlying bass line just as impressive and badass as Alex's solo. It's like temporarily time traveling back to 1974 and seeing these dudes in some dive bar...oh how awesome that would have been!

Overall, maybe just a footnote in Rush' discography...but one that proves these guys still know how to have fun and play kick ass r'n'r 30 years down the road...

I thought this was a nice EP of cool tunes that influenced these guys.... Especially after reading Pearts first two books 'Ghost Rider' and 'Traveling Music' (I realize the cycling africa book was before these but not as easy to find)

I enjoy the album and I really liked their version of 'The Seeker'... thought it rocked... "Summer Time Blues" was crankin' as well.

Saw this 30th anniversary tour and had a blast....

The EP is going to be one of those forgotten discs within 3-5 years (if not already...)

I've only heard The Seeker off this and found it bland so I skipped it. Maybe I should check it out, your descriptions intrigue me.

I don't own this EP as of yet but will be buying it eventually, also interesting that both Rush and Alice Cooper covered the same Love song.

Feedback is the lone Rush cd in my entire collection. I dig cover albums.

I used to own the 2-cd set Chronicles, but traded it off long ago. Too much classic rock radio burnout. A few times, I've thought about going back and getting a few of their earlier discs, but then I hear one of their "hits" and think "Nope. Not this time.".

I also have a Rush tribute cd called Working Man that has some great covers of the slightly more obscure songs. So that and Feedback will have to suffice for now.

SNAKES & ARROWS (released May 1, 2007)

The recording of the Feedback EP and the R30 tour seems to have energized Rush into a particularly strong songwriting mode; because for the most part, Snakes & Arrows is an impressive listen. This album is actually the most "progressive" Rush had recorded since the Permanent Waves era...tempered with the pop-sense they have accumulated over the years. The secret weapon to this album is how quickly it was recorded; 5 weeks total (it took the band over a year to record Vapor Trails). That spontaneity is apparent in the final product.

The album kicks off in stellar fashion with "Far Cry". While I'm not usually a huge fan of Peart's lyrics, this song is excellent. The vocal layering heard on Vapor Trails is still in evidence, though it's been more fully integrated into the overall sound. I love the doubling of electric & acoustic guitars on this song, complementing a great driving riff.

"Armor & Sword" immediately entered classic status as far as I'm concerned. The introduction is a nice little homage to King Crimson (circa Larks era) and then develops into a beautiful, ever-shifting arrangement. This song is a textbook example of the breadth of styles this band can tackle. Easily my favorite song on the album.

"Workin' Them Angels" is a meaty mid-tempo rocker with a memorable chorus, ready made for arenas.

While earlier I complimented Peart's lyrics in this very same thread...they drop the next song "A Larger Bowl" into a much lesser category. A shame really, it's a nice little melodic rocker...but the whole "such alot of pain on the earth" schtick sinks it fast.

"Spindrift" is a bizarre little number with a nice undercurrent of menace running throughout (helped along by some dissonant note choices in Geddy's bass part). The end result doesn't quite add up to a really memorable song though;; but it's an interesting experiment.

The first of the album's three instrumental tracks is up next. "The Main Monkey Business" is unfortunately quite dull until around the 2:30 mark, then picks up for the guitar solo section...with a little trimming it would be a good track.

We continue down the "unfortunate" path for our next song...if the band actually stuck with the bluesy Cream-riff that opens "The Way The Wind Blows"...it could have been killer. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes apparent that it was essentially a "joke beginning" to a fairly mediocre track. Peart again steps to the front with some insanely gag-reflex inducing lyrics...blech.

FINALLY...past the rough patch.

"Hope" is a stunning acoustic guitar number from Lifeson. Ever since Broon's Bane on Exit...Stage Left I had been waiting for a proper acoustic number...it only took 26 years. It was worth the wait...I find it impossible to listen to this song only once, I HAVE to back it up and play it again.

"Faithless" returns us to the progressive vein of Armor & Sword. The first time I heard this song I just didn't quite "get" the arrangement, it seemed very odd (especially during the first 1:30)...but when that Mellotron & acoustic guitar introduce the chorus section I realized that it's essentially a variation on Floyd's "dark/light" (think Comfortably Numb) vibe. This song also contains one of Lifeson's most impressive solo of the album.

"Bravest Face" is another killer little offbeat track. Here the band lets it's hair down and has a little fun. Geddy gets his best cynical sneer going for the verse sections (with Lifeson adding colorful musical commentary) and then gets "epic" for the chorus section. Overall, Geddy is in truly impressive voice on this album. Lifeson at his absolute bluesiest is the icing on the cake.

"Good News First" is quite similar to Spindrift in tone, it's also equally as schizophrenic, so ends up falling a little flat overall.

"Magnificent Narcissism" is the instrumental that Rush fans have been waiting for since YYZ. Here they just show off the chops and have a BLAST! This song kills.

"We Hold On" is a killer track that somehow got stuck ALL the way at the end of this 62 minute album. If you swapped this song for Spindrift the album would flow much better.

In conclusion, the only downside to this album is that it's about 10 minutes too long. Snakes & Arrows debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts. The obligatory live album followed...

I do like this album. I agree that it is about 10 minutes too long, but I think it's the best album they've done in awhile.

"Magnificent Narcissism" is an awesome track.

"Working Them Angels" was a pretty big hit around here, and I always liked it. Unfortunately, that's the only song I know from this one.

I do not own this album yet so I can't comment on it, but I think detuned as done an excellent job so thank you.

Working Them Angels had me excited, after hearing it on the radio, thinking that they'd done something incredible. And while very good I don't feel this tops Vapor Trails. I totally agree that We Hold On should be further up on the track list and I would totally drop, The Main Monkey Business. I'm not a huge fan of instrumentals and while Rush does them better then most, three is overkill and this one isn't good.

Here's the review I wrote here back in 2007 when Snakes and Arrows first came out.....


How much speculation and anticipation could there be about what this disc would sound like. "Will it sound like Moving Pictures?, Will it sound like Vapor trails? Will it sound like 2112?"
Will it sound like classic Rush????

I believe the answer would be a hearty yes to all of the above. First, if I hear one more person who is disappointed because it's not Tom Sawyer pt 2 or Passage to Bangkok pt
2.... Sawyer was written over 25 years ago and Bangkok was written over 30! wow.

Opening with the lead single 'Far Cry', Geddy, Neil and Alex show they've not forgotten how to rip it up. Heavy guitar with a great hook and groove, it's one of the few positive tunes lyrically on this disc. The chorus on this song breathes with openess and is a great
positive anthem.

What becomes apparent after 3-4 listens is that there is a lot going here musically. Even when the arranging goes from dense to a much more open feel. Prime example is the verse in 'Working them Angels' (should be a great song live, a true classic !) the verse is breathing and sparse almost like a folk song but then the powerfull chorus with a memorable melody. Some 70's feel as it were with the acoustic/electric interplay.

'Armor and Sword' has a great mid song break, time change and melody change, reminiscent of anything from the 'early days'(another live choice for sure).
The most up tempo tune 'The Way the Wind Blows' starts with Neil setting a tempo on the drums, but what steels the show for me is Alex's lead guitar tone and solo.
Very much a 60's70's throwback (like hendrix?).

Many of his solos (yes there are several !) have almost a bluesy feel to them! 'Wind' is
the most syncopated rythym from Rush in a very long time.(secret agent oncounterparts?)...

At times 'Spindrift', 'Faithless', 'Good News First' I feel have a lot of 'old school hard/prog rock' seeping into thevery 2007 production and song arranging. Very cool indeed. There is a
lot of energy in the songs on this album. I didn't catch that the first time through. The first time through I had the 'it's one long song feel'. It seemed that there were to many tempos that were to similar. But on repeated listenings I was able to start hearing the subtleties
and that made all the difference.

Speaking of 'Faithless' what a chorus ! wow and that guitar solo. Alex wins for best lead tone ! Speaking of perfomances all three of them have really come through. Some may say Neil is very subdued, but his playing the material that they're writing. It's not 'Xanadu', but I don't want that rehashed and neither do they. Geddy's singing and bass playing are there usual best.

There is a lot of acoustic guitar on this disc which when getting back to 'classic rush'
how can you forget "closer to the heart", "making memorries","natural science" and "the trees" which to me just means roots. In many ways this album brings a vast array of 60's- present sound and feel comes up with something new.

Not to ignore the 3 instrumentals but 'Malignant Narcissim' is a real treat. enjoy !!!

In a nutshell this is Rush 2007, but many of their roots are here. I've read "the intensity of 2112 with the flavor of Vapor Trails" that's a pretty good synopis.

3 songs clock in over 6 minutes (if anyone is counting), and there is a vast array of
heavy rock influences. Neil said their song writing has always been organic, I trully believe him. Rush isn't for everybody, never has been but if you are already on board you're gonna dig this.....

Will there be any discussion of the two new songs that are out for the upcoming tour?

Yeah, I'm going to write something up for the single as well as tackle a few of the live recordings we didn't get to yet.

cool.... waiting with baited breath..... Retrospective 3 has some remixes worth discussing as well.....

the new documentary is FABULOUS!!!! saw the edited version on VH1C last nite and now I'm beyond pumped up for this..... Been waiting for over a year!

Rush is such a sick band. I was listening to A Farewell To Kings, and realized that they weren't like any other band. Their lyrics are crazy, and everything was so tight. It amazes me how there are only 3 guys in the band, but they make it seem like 5. It just blows my mind

an interesting tidbit about Hemispheres.

In the new documentary, there is bonus footage cut out from the theatrical version, part of this is a short conversation about the recording of Hemispheres. It seems the band was so focused on getting the instrumental sections perfect, that they left the vocals until the very last minute.

and as soon as they tried to track vocals, they realized they had recorded everything a semi-tone too high! That of course is 100% the fault of the producer, even if they didn't say that in the documentary. So Geddy really had to struggle to cut the vocal tracks for that album and push himself uncomfortably far outside of his range.

The band indicates in the interview that they were so burned out after the recording of Hemispheres, they vowed never to try and record an album that complicated again. It cured them of the album-length tracks for the rest of their career.

I had read that in "Contents Under Pressure" by Martin Popoff. Hemispheres and Grace were pure hell for the guys...

If you've not read that particular book it's very well written and is 'authorized' by the band.... They discuss every album through Rush in Rio.... worth the money...

Thanks for posting these reviews. I learned much.

BTW, tomorrow's Geddy's 57th birthday. Enjoy it, frontman!!

FINALLY listened to the new Single..... both songs are Fantastic.... Heavy and melodic, definitely RUSH in 2010....


like it.....

I LOVE RUSH! I wish I saw this thread sooner!

I've been on a mad Rush kick lately can't get enough I absolutely love there two new songs I'm stoke beyond belief for Clockwork Angels to come out

The new Rush doc is killer too! Sam Dunn's best work IMO

"A SHOW OF HANDS" (January 10, 1989)

Intro (0:53)
The Big Money (5:52)
Subdivisions (5:19)
Marathon (6:32)
Turn The Page (4:40)
Manhattan Project (5:00)
Mission (5:44)
Distant Early Warning (5:18)
Mystic Rhythms (5:32)
Witch Hunt (Part III Of Fear) (3:55)
The Rhythm Method (Drum Solo) (4:34)
Force Ten (4:50)
Time Stand Still (5:10)
Red Sector A (5:12)
Closer To The Heart (4:53)


They say that the third time's the charm




SUMMARY: MY FAVORITE RUSH LIVE ALBUM. SOUNDS GREAT, AND THE MATERIAL REALLY SOARS. 8/10

Good review. I no longer own copies of A Show Of Hands or Different Stages, which is why I skipped them during the writing of this thread.

I actually don't mind the material recorded during the late 80s, it's the production that kills it for me. I'll need to give this album another shot at some point.

I prefer the Show Of Hands version of Red Sector A over the studio one. Yeah, A lot of these songs come alive, to use a phrase, on this album.

It is very good live album and I agree with Spec the live versions of these songs smoke the original studio versions.