Rush is a Band

A blog devoted to RUSH:
Neil Peart, Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

Fri, Mar 29, 2024

Updates and other random Rush stuff

Sat, May 19, 2007@11:26AM | comments removed/disabled

The results of last week's poll are in and out of nearly 300 votes, here's what the readers of Rush is a Band think in regards to the question Snakes & Arrows is Rush's best album since .... The vast majority, about 80%, think that the album is at least their best since Counterparts. 20% think it's at least their best since Moving Pictures (this is how I voted). Since Signals, 25%. Since Grace Under Pressure, 31%. Since Power Windows, 38%. Since Hold Your Fire, 45%. Since Presto, 49%. Since Roll the Bones, 57%. 15% think it's their best since Vapor Trails which I think means that they just liked Vapor Trails better than Snakes & Arrows and don't necessarily dislike it. Less than 2% thought it's their worst album ever and 4% thought the opposite - that it's their best album ever. Thanks to everyone who voted - very interesting results indeed.

Since we've been inundated with reviews lately, I thought it was about time to give you guys the chance to give your rating of the album. I wasn't sure what the best scale to use would be, so I made a hybrid scale which has 11 options ranging from 0 to 10, 0 to 5 stars, or A through F. Use whichever is more comfortable to you and go VOTE!

It's been a relatively quiet week in Rushland. The big news wasn't good; that the Snakes & Arrows MVI release date has been pushed yet again to June 12th - the day before the tour begins. A 5-minute preview clip (a low quality one at least) of the documentary to be included with the MVI can be viewed here. We learned that Neil Peart will have a new book released this September titled The Roadshow Illustrated Companion, and a new Rush tribute CD called Run for Cover was released earlier this month. And don't forget to vote for the Far Cry video on MuchMoreMusic's Top 10 show; the video has been in the top 10 every day since its release last Friday.

The June 2007 issue of Esquire Magazine contains an article by Chuck Klosterman in his Chuck Klosterman's America column titled Radio is History. The article discusses the demise of radio in America and uses the Rush song The Spirit of Radio to illustrate the point. The article is on page 56 and begins thusly:

In 1980, one song...canonized everything that is great about listening to the radio. In 2007, those qualities face extinction. ... Originally written about a Toronto radio station I couldn't care less about, the primary detail modern audiences know about this song is that the intro would be almost impossible to play on Guitar Hero. This is the shortsighted view. I think about 'The Spirit of Radio' a great deal more than that, perhaps because I've faithfully listened to it (approximately) no less than seventy times a day for the past twenty-five years. Let us begin with an examination of Geddy Lee's opening gambit: Begin the day...

The article then goes on to break down each section of the song using it to bolster his argument. Thanks to readers Michael S, TheFountain and beekay20 for the info and excerpts.

Reader I am Jim let me know that there was a full page ad for the Snakes & Arrows CD and tour in this weeks Entertainment Weekly. It's opposite page 60 and lists all the tour dates as well as a blurb about the MVI.

We've known for a while now that Neil Peart graces the cover of the latest DRUM! Magazine. It's out on newstands now and several people have received/bought the issue. Lady April tells me that in addition to the Neil Peart article, the magazine includes a contest to win his Sabian cymbal setup. The magazine's website has also opened voting for their Drummies awards (takeoff on the Grammys). You can vote here. I shouldn't have to tell you who to vote for. :)

Here's one review for you. Andrew Matte of Canada's Regional Leader Post gives Snakes & Arrows 3.5 stars out of 5. And has this to say:

...With soulful rockers reminiscent of early '80s Rush contrasted with contemporary sounds, Snakes and Arrows, like most of Rush's post-Moving Pictures work, is a bit of a hit-and-miss effort. The single, "Far Cry" isn't the CD's best, but songs like "The Main Monkey Business" and "Workin' Them Angels" make this CD worth recommending. And three instrumentals might not be a good idea for most bands, but they work here. For those who never liked the band, Snakes and Arrows won't change your mind. But for fans, it comes recommended, even though it doesn't rate among the band's best work.

And I'll end with a bit of Rush humor courtesy reader Norm V. UrbanCougars.com is a website dedicated to older women who hunt for younger men. The site classifies these women in latin biology terms. One is categorized as: Genus: Felinae Americanus, Species: The Maple Leaf. The site warns that this species probably likes Rush. :)

Have a great weekend everybody!

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