The Song Fight Bulletin Board

EmbersOfAutumn wrote: Was Van Halen's Eruption on that list?

Why do I think this is crappy when so many people love it?

I'm Canadian. I'm a guitar player. I can't for the life of me understand why people like Rush. To me it's math rock at its most dull and humourless. Geddy Lee's voice should be illegal. And Alex Lifeson's tone is horrible (it was okay to splatter chorus on everything...in the eighties) and his solos are largely pointless. And do not get me started on Neil Peart's lyrics. What am I missing? The right geek gene??

ujnhunter wrote:

EmbersOfAutumn wrote: Was Van Halen's Eruption on that list?

Why do I think this is crappy when so many people love it?

I remember when the first album surfaced. There was simply nothing like it. Eruption was jaw-dropping at the time. Now that it has been digested and regurgitated ad nauseum by many others since, it may be difficult to understand the impact it had then.

Jerry wrote:

ujnhunter wrote:

EmbersOfAutumn wrote: Was Van Halen's Eruption on that list?

Why do I think this is crappy when so many people love it?

I remember when the first album surfaced. There was simply nothing like it. Eruption was jaw-dropping at the time. Now that it has been digested and regurgitated ad nauseum by many others since, it may be difficult to understand the impact it had then.

I couldn't agree more. VH and Eddie's style was so new and amazing that the impact that it had on music was huge. I could never dislike it because of the memories that revolve around the original lineup.

Jerry wrote:I'm Canadian. I'm a guitar player. I can't for the life of me understand why people like Rush. To me it's math rock at its most dull and humourless. Geddy Lee's voice should be illegal. And Alex Lifeson's tone is horrible (it was okay to splatter chorus on everything...in the eighties) and his solos are largely pointless. And do not get me started on Neil Peart's lyrics. What am I missing? The right geek gene??

I'm Canadian too, and I couldn't agree more. I'm a huge prog freak, but I've never understood Rush. There's a few tunes that I like, but I just can't get past Geddy's voice. Not like I'm one to talk about terrible voices, but seriously - I think it's got a really annoying tone to it.

Geddy Lee doesn't have a bad voice, just different than the norm. And I LOVE Peart! Rush was a band that put some deep thought into music. Stories, drama, class, musicianship, PLUS they fucking rock(ed). You just go have another listen to Tom Sawyer and tell me that you aren't moved. I fucking love Peart in this song!

The Lime Light? Umm, this is rock! I want to sound like this!

I'm a car guy, so Red Barchetta was my love. I couldn't find an original music vid, but you get the idea.

Andrew, you're a drummer AND Canadian. I'm so disappointed in you right now!
...well, not really, but here's you and Jerry talking smack on Rush >> ...
.... << me hitting you two in the flapjacks.

Billy's Little Trip wrote: Rush was a band that put some deep thought into music.

Less thought. More soul. But I'm not dissing anyone who digs them. I'm just baffled is all. And I hear those songs every. stinkin. day. Whether I want to or not (NOT). Rage on, BLT.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:Andrew, you're a drummer AND Canadian. I'm so disappointed in you right now!

I never said I didn't like Peart. He's awesome. And I've heard all the songs you mentioned (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Lime Light) - I own them all. The truth is, I just can't get into it.

That's cool. I can't get into Bob Dylan.

FUCK ERUPTION. It's a big fat turd. Even EVH doesn't like it.

People are always so polarized, but I'd say that Rush is good, but not great. I might be the only person to think so.

Rush is one of my favorite bands ever, for decades they were my favorite band. I wanted to be Alex Lifeson. to a 12 year old the lyrics were profound. Now I've outgrown the lyrics, but the riffs are just so great. What's so great about them to me is that it turned the rock power trio format upside down and twisted. The guitar is the most steady rhythmic instrument with all kinds of interesting weird drums and super freaking melodic bassline around it. To me the best part of Rush are the bass lines. I also love the compositions of the Exit Stage Left era. I don't know about your soul, but my soul cries tears of bliss nearly every time I hear Spirit of Radio loud on a good system. I love them because of the interplay between the instruments. I understand the dislike of Geddy Lees voice, but I love it, it's an acquired taste to be sure.

One thing about Rush is I don't think the Radio serves them well, they're really an album band, and if you can't accept Geddy's voice there's no hope.

I kind of like that not everybody loves them, they're more of a pet band that way.

Van Halen- He didn't invent the tapping thing, Steve Hackett of Genesis did. That said, EVH made me want to be a guitarist. All of his rhythm playing is phenomenal, arguably the best around. I will always love those 1st six DLR albums. Eruption is silly. I like the Little Guitars part 1 much better.

glennny wrote:Rush is one of my favorite bands ever, for decades they were my favorite band. I wanted to be Alex Lifeson. to a 12 year old the lyrics were profound. Now I've outgrown the lyrics, but the riffs are just so great. What's so great about them to me is that it turned the rock power trio format upside down and twisted. The guitar is the most steady rhythmic instrument with all kinds of interesting weird drums and super freaking melodic bassline around it. To me the best part of Rush are the bass lines. I also love the compositions of the Exit Stage Left era. I don't know about your soul, but my soul cries tears of bliss nearly every time I hear Spirit of Radio loud on a good system. I love them because of the interplay between the instruments. I understand the dislike of Geddy Lees voice, but I love it, it's an acquired taste to be sure.

One thing about Rush is I don't think the Radio serves them well, they're really an album band, and if you can't accept Geddy's voice there's no hope.

I kind of like that not everybody loves them, they're more of a pet band that way.

Van Halen- He didn't invent the tapping thing, Steve Hackett of Genesis did. That said, EVH made me want to be a guitarist. All of his rhythm playing is phenomenal, arguably the best around. I will always love those 1st six DLR albums. Eruption is silly. I like the Little Guitars part 1 much better.

Spirit of Radio is indeed awesome. In case you didn't know, it's a reference to Toronto's main "new rock" radio station, CFNY 102.1... "The Spirit of Radio" was their tagline back in 70s/80s.