It's Nice To Meet You Neil

This is where I've been all day. It's an awesome song to get lost in.




...more on my move to their second album Fly By Night later. I'm going on a road trip tomorrow and I'll be listening to it all weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Today is Alex Lifeson's Birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!!! I hope you are having the best Birthday and many many more to come.

Geddy Lee - If That's Your Real Name

Actually Geddy Lee's real name is Gary Lee Weinrib. Geddy was his high school nickname because of the way his Mother pronounced his name with her heavy accent. How cute is that? I know, he's part of Rush and they are not cute... they KICK ASS. But seriously, how cute?

Waiting With Bated Breath

I couldn't help myself. Last night I went out and bought Fly By Night. I wanted to wait until I got a chance to write up the first album before I started listening to the second. I've waited ALL day to listen to it on my way home from work. I'm FINALLY off work. It's like finishing the first episode to an epic tale, and going on to the next!!

Gotta go!!

Rush - Rush: My Thoughts On The Album

Songs on this album I knew previous to this project:
Finding My Way
Working Man
What You're Doing (I did not know the name to this song)

I've spent not even a full week with this album and already I'm sentimental to it. This album has officially become the soundtrack to my early days at Rush School. Just learning the ABC's of Rush.

This album reminds me of a summer you have when you are young. Fun, ingenuous, memorable and idealistic. Your summer starts out hopeful with Finding My Way, headstrong and true. Then you've got a little angst with Need Some Love. Who cares because you just Take A Friend and throw a BBQ. At that BBQ you run into your ex and find that you're Here Again, and you think you know What You're Doing. You learn you don't, and it's humbling but you bounce back better than ever. That alone is enough to put you In The Mood. It turns out you're fooling yourself, and find thoughts of Before and After your ex. Just when you are ready for another start, summer ends and you become a Working Man again.

I've had that summer. Rush's debut album would have been the perfect soundtrack to the summer I was 20. You can tell Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson may have been in an uncomplicated time in their lives when they wrote these lyrics. Focusing on this album made me recognize Alex Lifeson for putting out an amazing sound and wicked solos, Geddy Lee for his underestimate bass skills and untouchable vocals, and John Rutsey for impeccable timing.

What I also learned about this album is that it was originally recorded on a 8-channel multitrack recorders. Kind of old school for '74 don't you think? However, I think they made due. Also, the Rush logo was originally red on this cover but there was a printing error and it turned out more pink.

Let's take a moment to honor the three original co-founders of Rush Jeff Jones, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey. However, let's be eternally grateful for the members today Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.

I don't know about you but I'm ready to meet Neil Peart.

I'll Tell You What I'm Doing

I'm listening to What You're Doing... I love the guitar/drum solo. I've had this bit in my head all day. The day is that much more brighter when you can air guitar in your mind during a boring meeting. Also, makes me fall in love all over again with the key of E.

(That's right.. I said it)

I Have Awesome Friends

These belong to one of my friends. Although I don't think the holy trinity was meant to be in bobble head form, these are still wicked cool.
Complete with Frosty and Pluto roadies.

Lego My Rush

(Photo from Kaptain Kobold's Filckr page)

Peart Love

Here's some good news. I just read on the Official Rush Website that recently Neil Peart and his wife Carrie were blessed with a new baby girl they named, Olivia Louise Peart. Isn't that the sweetest name? Congratulations Peart Family.

Real Neil

I love this picture of Neil. I think it's the fact that he's reading a book backstage and not doing blow off some stripper’s ass.

Anyone know what he's reading?

(Photo from AC Olson Flickr page)

I Love The Sound Of Rush In The Morning

I was listening to Need Some Love this morning.... that sound isn't about Geddy finding a girlfriend is it?

And The Grammy Goes To... Not Rush

Only 6 Grammy nominations and no wins? Are you freakin' kidding me?!?! This is a crime in itself! I mean, IT'S RUSH! They are Officers of the Order of Canada for Tom Sawyer's sake. Also, why are they not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Anyone? Can anyone shed light on this for me? They've been around for more than 25 years AND have demonstrable influence and significance within the history of rock and roll.

I know I'm only on their first album, but I know and heard dozens of Rush songs and I feel they've been robbed. Stupid National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame people.

Rush Quotes

"For a start, the extent of my influence by the writings of Ayn Rand should not be overstated. I am no one's disciple." - Neil Peart

Jeff Jones

Jeff Jones was one of the co-founders of Rush along with other original members John Rutsey and Alex Lifeson. Jeff covered lead vocals and bass. From what I can gather, he played with Rush for the summer of 1968 then moved on to persue a solo career. Good thing he did, otherwise we wouldn't have the vocal genius that is Geddy Lee. I'm guessing if Jeff Jones stayed with Rush, this blog would cease to be.

Jeff Jones we salute you. (Mostly for leaving a gap for Geddy Lee to fill)

Click here to check out Jeff Jones website. It seems he has quite a career.

Rush - Rush

Rush - The Rush Remasters
1. Finding My Way
2. Need Some Love
3. Take A Friend
4. Here Again
5. What You're Doing
6. In The Mood
7. Before And After
8. Working Man

Released 1974 by Mercury Records

These days the only time I have to listen to music is in my car. I've listened to this album once over in my car and I can't wait to get back in my car to listen again. Riddle me this Batman, why is Rush the perfect driving music? I'm totally energized and relaxed all at the same time. Have you ever hear one of your jack-ass friends state "I drive better drunk"? Well, I drive better under the influence of Rush.

First of all, the intro to this album could not be more perfect. Finding My Way... forget about it. Geddy Lee had me at his first "oooh, yeah!" Call me sentimental and cheesy but I love Take A Friend. It's a simple and profound message. Seriously, what's better than having a good friend? And of course Working Man. Who doesn't like that song.

Don't worry I'll talk more about the music on this album soon. I think I need to listen a little more before I break it down. I can tell you one thing, this album makes me want to cut down my nails and pick up my guitar and walk the path of the righteous man. (Which of course means learning to play guitar)

Who The Hell Is John Rutsey?

As stated before, I went out this weekend and picked up my first Rush album. The debut self-titled album Rush. I was half way through track #3 Take A Friend when I was reading the CD insert and saw the early photos of Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee, and notice that Neil Peart looks so different. Wow has he changed... wait.... what? That's not even him. Who's John Rutsey? You mean... Neil Peart is NOT the original drummer for Rush? Why didn't anyone tell me?!? This is madness! My tiny Rush knowledge universe is turned upside down. Well, not really. I know nothing about Rush.

According to Wikipedia, John Rutsey was one of the co-founders of Rush along with Alex Lifeson and Jeff Jones. Uh..... Jeff Jones? WTF? Seriously? Who the hell is Jeff Jones? It says he was replaced by Geddy Lee. Ok, one original Rush member at a time. I'll get to Jeff Jones in a minute. John Rutsey played drums for Rush until '74. He had diabetes and had health concerns about touring. He then got into amateur bodybuilding. John Rutsey original co-founder and drummer of Rush died in his sleep on May 11, 2008 of a heart attack.

Wikipedia also mentioned that John Rutsey's family held a private funeral, but anyone who wanted to pay tribute to John Rutsey could do so by donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Canada. I just made a donation in memory of John Rutsey. If you would like to do the same click here.

The only album John Rutsey was with Rush was the first one. Well, John, you laid an amazing foundation to be built upon. I guess if I were to be replaced by another drummer, it better be the best damn drummer in the world.

It's True.

Some girls do LOVE Rush.  I do.  They are the second best thing to come out of Canada, next to my best friend Lena* who is from Regina, Canada.  (heh heh, Regina) I remember the first time I heard Rush.  My brother was taking me to school in his brown pick-up truck, when he put that tape in.  Yes, tape.  Ok, so I'm not very old at all.  I'm 31.  I'm just a baby.  So it's not like I heard Rush's debut on the radio or heard it on vinyl.  Driving to school, pretending to be cool by smoking with my brother in my school uniform and a hair scrunchie that matched.  DORK.  That's when I heard the beginning to Tom Sawyer blaring from the poo brown truck's shit-box speakers.  It was awesome.  

Here's the thing, I like music... all kinds of music.  I like a little bit of everything.  But I'm picky.  I hate HATE most country but I can listen to Pasty Cline for hours.  I hate most rap, but I loves me some Busta Rhymes and NWA.  I love punk rock, but can't stand the likes of 311, any Green Day other than the album Kerplunk! and Linkin Park.  Most Classic Rock can do no wrong.  I love Disco, the 70's singers and songwriters, and any and all Sinatra.  I'm very selective.  It has to be like nothing else you've ever heard, it has to move me in some way, and it most certainly has to be a little odd.  This is exactly Rush.  No one before or since Rush has a sound like them.  So ok... imagine the beginning to Tom Sawyer blowing my mind right... and then Neil Peart scissor kicks me in the head with a drum solo.  

From then on out I was proud to say I am a Rush fan.  A fan of Rush.  Yep, Rush-mania.   I was 13 at the time.  I'm 31 now.  Twenty years later, I realized about an hour ago that I don't know that much about Rush.  I mean I can name a handful of songs and I LOVE listening to them.  But I'm ... I'm a poser.  I don't own one album, I've never even heard the entire first self-titled album, and I've never seen them live.  I'm quite ashamed.  

However, that all changes now.  I'm going to get to know Rush album by album.  Just Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and me.  Starting with the debut album Rush and ending with well, I don't even know what their last album was?!?! (Sigh)  

I'll be picking up the CD this weekend.  In the meantime, feel free to leave comments of any information regarding Rush.  I wanna know it all.  Don't get me wrong I'm not going to become their "#1 fan" or anything.  My goal is to educate myself on one of the best and one of my favorite bands of all time.  

*Name has been changed.