Posted on 09/12/2006 11:51:45 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Rush Wrestling With Faith On New Album
Neil Peart
September 11, 2006, 3:50 PM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. Rush has penned eight songs for its next studio album, which should be out in early 2007, according to drummer Neil Peart. The artist tells Billboard.com his lyrics for the as-yet-untitled set were greatly influenced by his motorcycle journeys throughout the United States, chronicled in the new book "Roadshow: Landscape With Drums."
Peart says he was struck by the ubiquity of religious billboards that have sprung up on America's highways, which got him thinking about some weighty topics. "Just seeing the power of evangelical Christianity and contrasting that with the power of fundamentalist religion all over the world in its different forms had a big effect on me," he says.
"You try to put your own way of seeing the world into some kind of congruence with other peoples, and that's difficult for me," he admits. "I mean, I see the world in what I think to be a perfectly obvious and rational way, but when you go out into it and see the way other people think and behave, and express themselves on church signs, you realize, 'Well, I'm not really part of this club.'"
"I looked for the good side of faith," Peart says. "To me it ought to be your armor, something to protect you and something to console you in dark times. But it's more often being turned into a sword, and that's one big theme I'm messing with."
Musically, the new album is continuing in much the same vein as 2002's "Vapor Trails," which returned Rush to a more guitar/bass/drums-driven sound. But Peart is quick to add that the music is "remarkably organic in a way that I haven't heard [from Rush] before. We spent a month together in May working on those songs and developing our individual instrument parts for them. It's early to characterize it, but it's definitely fresh and different and that's certainly satisfying."
Peart, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson will regroup next month to finish pre-production and will begin recording in November. However, as Peart writes at the conclusion of "Roadshow," he is ambivalent about putting himself through yet another massive world tour.
"It is true that in 1989 I announced that I wasn't going to tour anymore, and have said that every time since and have gone back and decided [to do it] for all good reasons," he says. "One of the main ones to me is that a band plays live, so if I want to consider our band as a living, working thing then that's the case. I haven't in my own mind committed to [another tour] yet, but of course I haven't ruled it out, either."
That POV isn't exactly unheard of, after all.
To be honest...one of the things that bothers me in the article is the fact they are going to stick with the Vapor Trails trend. What a let down that is to hear that. You would think they would get over the whole "let's get back to basics" approach. It was the experiments and keyboards that made them who they are today.
I sooooooo was hoping for a musically experimental album this time around. The production of Vapor Trails is God-Awful..although songs like Freeze, Vapor Trail,Earthshine, and One Little Victory are intense and well written as anything on Moving Pictures.
Christian Fundamentalism got Bush elected...don't let anyone tell you different. The heart and soul of this nation which happens to be Christian...got him elected.
Wrong decade... early 80's dude.
They were way better before "Tom Sawyer."
Police and TOOL are two.
Add Dream Theater and The Mars Volta..Slayer is a possible addition to that as well.
I agree to a point. On the other hand, maybe they're just tired of being preached to by performers who feel compelled to 'change the world' with their music. Given every other artist out there is making music with political content, most of it 2x4 to the head leftwing, some overreaction can be forgiven.
My fav song though is the title song from Presto.
I really like some of those songs. The live renditions of "Earthshine" are generally really good. OTOH, I find "One little victory" alsmot unlistenable. Seemed like the mix was all wrong on it.
Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey don't write the lyrics for the band either.....
Read again what I said... "...threat to Liberty."
Nearly every religion in the world threatens individual liberty through its influence on government. I understand Christianity perfectly... one need only study history to see Christianity's assault on personal freedoms throughout the centuries.
Don't know Tool...and Stewart Copeland is great - no doubt. I just felt Rush is almost defined by their drums. Not saying you're wrong - it just leaves more of an impression on me. Enjoy!
CiNJ
My annoyance stems from the pinheads who only know the songs "Limelight" and "Tom Sawyer", know NOTHING about the band in general and only "jump on the criticism" pile because they think the article said that Neil was "anti-God".
And, I'm FAR from anti-Christian. I am anti-small mind and anti-ignorance though.
And thanks for clearing up the daughters death. I had read that she was killed by a drunk driver. What do you mean "her jeep was over-corrected"???
And, for me, Hemispheres was their best. As a guitarist, playing along with that album - especially "La Villa" - is still one of my favorite hours. "Moving Pictures" (sans T. Sawyer) is also awesome for me. And, I'll even give you "Signals" as one of the better ones. But, Grace and Power Windows were a little too sterile and synthesiser for my taste - not that I don't love them....I would just choose others if I were stranded on an island and could only take 1 or 2.
And don't call me "Fanboi" - I'm probably old enough to be your damn father.....
For a band of really smart guys they've had horrendous problems with completely botched mixes on multiple albums - Signals and Vapor Trails the obvious examples. On the other hand you have a mystically perfect mix like Power Windows. Don't understand it.
Also I always thought their concert mixes were incredibly muddy, compared to other bands I really liked - until the anniversary tour, where it was great.
TOOL features the best American rock drummer, Danny Carey. He reminds me a lot of Peart.
The only drawback is the singer is rather weak, but the rhythm section is awesome, and only one guitar so the sound doesn't get muddied.
They are alternative/metal. If you aren't into metal, I'd recommmend the album "Lateralus", which is their "lightest" one; if you are, I recommend Undertow.
I don't think they have many if any straight 4/4 songs; they prefer 5/4, 7/4, 11/4 -- the more challenging time sigs.
They are still drum-based.
My favorite style genre is the "power trio" where the writing is done in layers -- first the drums, then the bass, then voice, then guitar.
Drums and bass are cake. The rest is icing and sprinkles.
Hemispheres & Farewell to Kings are my personal favorites.
I like Permanent Waves.
I can't like 2112. The first time I listened to it was during one of the worst times of my life. It brings it all back when I hear the songs.
What band do you play for....seriously....you're obviously a musician...
I like One Little Victory for the opening 1:20 of the song alone...pure rage.
Doubt you are old enough to be my dad...anyway...over-corrected her turn meaning she judged the turn wrong with her steering wheel and lost control of her jeep.
Now for the music side of it...it's obvious to anyone with good hearing skills..that La Villa is their best instrumental ever written...I prefer the Exit version however over the studio.
Grace and Power have some of their most passionate music ever written and are HIGHLY underrated imo. People tend to forget keyboards were on just about every Rush album after Caress...so the anti-keyboard crowd doesn't make any sense to me when they say they love the old stuff better. The old stuff was layered with keys!
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