Best (mass- Market) Rock Album in the last 20 years!
OK... I know I'll be getting myself into it here!... YES music is subjective! Of course!
That said: we've talked music here before... & I know there's a lot of very knowlegable guys in that regard reading Scuppers! Yes, I consider myself one of them!
My mission is to do a favor for all those who really love & appreciate "quality/ Classic" Rock! Most of my tastes/ bands personally fall into that category... but let's face it: that's a very big sampling of incredibly diverse music & styles! To know where I stand personally... I see music this way: there's Pink Floyd!... then Jimi Hendrix (Exp.)... then Rush... THEN everybody else! (Yes, EVERYBODY!) Clear on my taste/ biases?
OK, so anyway-- to the favor:
I'm sure 98% of you missed this album... esp. as their last one was their worse ever by far/ no contest! (though the last 3 cuts were killer to redeem a bit...)
BUT: "Snakes & Arrows"... the "new" Rush album now 9 months out or so... IS the very best (mass- Market) Rock/ Modern music album/ CD I've heard in the last 15 years easily!-- maybe 20! ("Diary of a Madman" the last "great" album made besides Rush?)
It is an INCREDIBLE album! -- EVERY cut is beautiful/ "killer", with vituoso instrumentals/ intense layered arrangements, & poetic/ intellectual/ relevant lyrics too (as usual for them... but really better than most of their stuff in a LONG time). Yes, "Moving Pictures" & "2112" & "Permanent Waves" were them at their height-- BUT that was a completely different band & sound compared to what they are today. MUCH different sound/ approach now: less "metal- ish," more melodic & intricate... but a "9.5" nevertheless IMO!
My message: if you take music seriously... & haven't heard this album yet (or not closely/ carefully)... GET IT IMMEDIATELY! Then go ahead afterward & tell me a better Rock (or music) album/ CD released in the last 15 years! If there really IS one better than this... I WANT to know what it is! (Doubt it highly though! )
Last edited by LeCounts1099; 04-11-2008 at 05:07 PM..
You do know they're doing another summer tour don't you? I have three tickets for the Tweeter Center up in MA.
Snakes and Arrows is an excellent work for sure. My four year old loves Far Cry while I'm a bit partial to Armor and Sword...but I'd generally agree, the songwriting, performance and production of this album is really top notch...even for Rush
Not bad for a bunch of 50 somethings who can out rock anybody playing today. Their live sound quality is really amazing...so loud, so raw and so pure...
I'd also encourage you to pick up my more recent favorite band Mastodon. Blood Mountain is one of the best new records in recent memory, perhaps even better than some of the work by Tool.
I will give it a try. I used to be a fan. Saw them in the late 70's at music hall in boston but haven't given them a second though in at least 20 years. Thanks
"A beach is a place where a man can feel he's the only soul in the world that's real"
Spence, that's great news! I DIDN'T see them last... for the first time in many tours... 'cause I was SO disappointed in "Vapor Trails" (I think I recall you liked that one?)... (Again: last three cuts specifically/ only, I love too!)... I'll check out Mastodon!
"Far Cry" from the new one has a guitar riff that just goes right through you... and masterful/ enlightening lyrics! "Faithless" is my GFs favorite song now, & I see the beauty in it too-- there is NO song on this album less than great! Seriously!!
I'll be there this Summer for sure! Front row/ center if I have the $! I'm so proud of the Boys!
Look now because tickets are already on sale for most shows.
I saw Rush 5 times during the Roll the Bones tour...Twice from front row
Vapor Trails was very good, R30 even better but the Snakes and Arrows tour last summer was really, really incredible. I just can't believe how they rocked it out and how LOUD it was. If memory serves me correct someone on the board here who lives nearby said it was the loudest show since the Allman Brothers, and they are known for being, well, louder than anyone.
As an aside, isn't Live at the Fillmore East one of the best live recordings like...ever?
I've taken my stepson to three shows now and am almost thinking of getting a few grass seats for my 4 year old and wife
Jealous beyond belief Spence: "Roll the Bones" was another great album of theirs! Saw them once that tour from the nosebleeds!
"R30?" Lost me?
"Live at the Fillmore East" as I've written here before is tied with 2 others for "greatest Live album ever" IMO! (Other two: "Jimi Hendrix & Band of Gypsies Live"... & "Jeff Beck Live w/ Jan Hammer Group")
Rush might be a little loud Live for a 4 yr. old Spence? Too... they are a very "adult"/ intellectual band! (Though I was in love with Yes' "Roundabout" & Skynyrds' "Free Bird" at an age not much more than that!
After Vapor Trails, Rush did a 30th year anniversary tour where they played a compilation set from every album called R30.
I highly advise you to buy the special edition package that has DVD's from the show as well as the audio CD's...cause it's like really that good.
They do a 15 min opening medly of obscure stuff they didn't play in the show which is really cool. Not exactly the easiest transitions and they of course make it look easy.
I'd only let the 4 year old go if it was a grass seat where it's not that loud, and someone else could take him out mid concert
The last show on Roll the Bones I had front row center, literally...and these were bought at a Ticketmaster outlet. Can't do that any more
I won't weigh in on the best live album because my tastes are so varied now that i can't say anymore, but AB live at filmore is a sweet album. My favorite song has to be stormy monday . I have always love a particular part of stormy monday when Duane plays that simple little riff at about 2:50 of the song right after greg sings lord have mercy after which someone in the crowd lets out a yell. to me that little riff is the best part of the whole album. Still gives me a rush when I hear it for the 1000th time. I also really respect duane more now as I recently read one of his favorite albums to listen to was Kind of Blue, miles davis, which i also love.
"A beach is a place where a man can feel he's the only soul in the world that's real"
Bass player Johnny B. Gayden,s bass solo on "Cold Cuts" is about the sickest bass I've ever heard .. Its on an Albert Collins (master of the telecaster) album .. live show ,, forget name of album . Matt ... Like that Rush youtube ,, thanks ,, ..
You want to hear the sickest Bass playing you've ever heard? (Geddy 'natch...)
Find:
"Analog Kid" from Subdivisions...
"Natural Science" from Permanent Waves...
"Neurotica" from Roll the Bones...
"Lessons" from 2112...
"Dog Years" from Test for Echo...
"Best I Can" from Rush (first album)...
"Countdown" from Subdivisions...
If any of these songs are on Youtube anyone... please post them here (I'm computer illiterate! Don't even have speakers on my Computer... but I do have a Bang & Olafsen! )
Big Rush fan, saw them over a dozen times. First concert I ever went to was a Rush concert @ New Haven colisseum back in the day - was Moving Pictures tour. I'll have to check out the new album.
As far as the greatest rock albums in last 20yrs, To me, its something by Fishbone. Maybe not classic rock, but extremely talented musicians with tons of influences. If you've never heard of them pick up the cd Truth and Soul
YES music is subjective! Of course! 
then Jimi Hendrix (Exp.)... then Rush... THEN everybody else! (Yes, EVERYBODY!) Clear on my taste/ biases? 
(though the last 3 cuts were killer to redeem a bit...) 
)
(Again: last three cuts specifically/ only, I love too!)... I'll check out Mastodon! 
I also really respect duane more now as I recently read one of his favorite albums to listen to was Kind of Blue, miles davis, which i also love.
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Hybrid Mode
