vegabass25
Awesome AK member.
Pink floyd is one ive really noticed.
Bands that got better
- Thread starter enricosonic
- Start date
I decided to round out my Talk Talk vinyl collection and am missing Laughing Stock. On eBay there's a buy-it-now of over $220 for that sucker. On MusicStack they want over $300
. I think the CD will do. It appears the secret's out on those out of print LPs.
marqueemoon
Gimme indie rock!
Crazy. I picked up The Colour of Spring on vinyl like a month ago for $8.
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
Mission is just a superb song!
Refined, polished, rocking, excellent lyrics, great vocals/dynamics...have you heard it on the SnA tour? WoW! But you got to see the PW and HYF tours! I was sooo born too late! :tears: First time I saw Rush was the Counterparts tour when I was 16.
Nobody's Hero is ok. Silly lyrics drag it down, but I like the acoustic parts. It has its moments like Counterparts and Test overall do.
And it IS nice they always changed or else they would of become so boring and died like so many other bands. MP and 2112 are great, but I don't need to hear new versions of them over and over again. I love every album from Signals to Roll The Bones and some of their best songs come from them...and they wouldn't have been made if Rush decided to just cash in on what works and keep making generic Rush albums lol.
Though it was confusingly stated I admit. :scratch2:
My answer: Because if a band is your favorite, then it is likely that their mediocre output will equal or even surpass any other band's best output (in your estimation). It's not a matter of diehards still sadly clinging to a band that has long since been over yet keeps putting out crap anyway, or listening to their lesser output for no other reason than that it is made by their favorite band even though they don't really even like it, but of those whose favorite band STILL (to them at least) continues to put out material that is equal or better than anything else they listen to, or whose "bad" material is equal or better than anything else they listen to as well.
This is how it is with Rush for me, their mediocre output is only mediocre in terms of THEIR talents, it is usually AS good and much of the time BETTER than any other band's BEST output that I listen to. Often when I'm listening to other bands (and I listen to many, really I do) I think to myself: "Why am I listening to this? I could be listening to Rush, even one of their "lessor" albums I haven't listened to in awhile", and then, upon that consideration, I switch to Rush and am glad for doing so. It's not because I'm some deluded fanboi who forces myself to listen to Rush material I really don't like when I could be listening to another band's excellent material, it's because THAT'S how much I love Rush! I'd most often rather listen to their "bad" material that I don't like as much as their rest (their first album, Caress of Steel, Counterparts and Test For Echo imo) rather than listen to the BEST output of any other band. After all, I only have so much time and I'm not wasting it on listening to things I don't like as much when I could be listening to that which I like the best, and that is Rush. :thmbsp:
(Right now I'm listening to Rush's latest, Snakes and Arrows, and it kicks the sh#t out of the best material of all the other bands I listen to as it is one of Rush's best, if not their best.)
As for all these "undiscovered masterpieces"; where are they? :scratch2: I'm constantly looking out for new music (either new or overlooked old music) and have tried band after band after album after album of supposedly "unknown jewels" that have turned out to be unlistenable at worst and mediocre (in overall terms) at best. SOMETIMES I do find something I've overlooked or did not know about/get into enough before and it's worth listening to or even pretty good, but usually not.
Actually, case in point: true story, I overlooked quite a few bands until I was about 25 and met my current gf who is a huge Rush/Queen/Dream Theater/Iron Maiden/Queensryche fan (yes, she rocks!
). I had heard all of these bands of course, but I never REALLY listened to them as I didn't hear anything before to make me want to really get into them. Well a couple of years later Queen became my second favorite band of all time (quite a feat to almost, ALMOST compete with Rush ), and I appreciate the rest like I never did before and am fan of all of them (good thing too as my gf will play them all the time lol!) though mostly lukewarm. So I'm not some stubborn rock fan who has "his bands" and won't listen to others because I'm so sure they won't be better than what I'm listening to now. I have changed my line up of favorite bands over the years, (although the basic 25 or so have stayed the same for the most part). I also have broadened out into areas I never really thought I would in the last few years, like 80's pop/rock/hair metal, 50's and 60's "golden oldies", 70's singer/songwriter, and even movie soundtracks, musicals, jazz, classical, acoustical, and blues.
But despite the hundreds of cd's I own and 150 gigs of FLAC I have on my computer (and I still have to rip most of my cd's!) and all of the diverse stuff I listen to, I STILL listen to Rush almost daily and find myself switching to them often when listening to anything else. I suppose this is because of two things: I have a strange and rare passion for them that many don't have for any band (at least off of boards like this, the average music fan), and I NEVER get tired of them! Ever! There has NEVER been a time where I've just "not felt" like listening to Rush. I may have not felt like listening to a certain album or era of Rush, but I've NEVER put on Rush and switched to something else (not even when others have asked like my gf who is more normal in her music listening and has cutoff points for any band where enough is enough
) besides, perhaps, another RUSH! Ok, well that was too long, sorry. Off to Rush out now!
:thmbsp:
iloveitloud
Active Member
KISS has ... They are better than ever. Kiss is known and loved by people from age 85 to 2, all over the world. The music itself may not be all that sophisticated, but the showmanship is better than ever. I saw Gene on TV the other day, saying that most "new" bands are getting are getting away with murder, as far as the quality of show they put on.-And I agree 100%. I saw KISS this summer, and they just absolutly kick everybody's butt all over the place. With the new album comming out soon, and the WALL MART deal, KISS will be RE-Introduced to another generation of fans, and hopefully show some of the younger bands out there what rock'n roll is all about. To me,(SEE IN MY HUMBLE OPINION), they are as good or better now than any rock show that has ever been.
mrt2
Super Member
Well, you sound like a pretty devoted fan of Rush to me. I must admit that Rush dropped off my radar sometime in the mid 80s, but I certainly do not begrudge you the joy that they give you as they are clearly your favorite band. After 33 years of collecting and listening to music, I cannot say that any one rock group has had that kind of staying power for me, to the extent that I listen to it every day.
As for "undiscovered masterpieces", I would point out that you would not have discovered Rush had you not decided to try something new at some point in your life. Though it doesn't happen every day, I have found things that somehow eluded me back in the day, sometimes very old stuff. Last year I went on a blues jag, and wound up picking up a pile of stuff from John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Muddy Waters. 3 or 4 years ago, the only Bob Marley I had was Legend. Long story short, eventually wound up buying all his Island studio sessions and his two live albums, and, IMO, every one of them is great, and at least 3 or 4 of them are masterpieces. Around the same time, started to listen more to Leonard Cohen. Same thing, eventually bought his back catalog. Among more contemporary bands, 2 years ago, had never heard of the Decemberists. After seeing them on Austin City Limits, picked up their record Crane Wife. Today, I have all 5 full length cds, and one ep. These guys are tremendous!
This is just the world of rock and pop music. The world of jazz is, IMO, even richer in that it is older than rock, the musical palette is much greater, and the level of virtuosity of the musicians smokes all but the very best rock performers. 15 years ago, I knew little about jazz, except for maybe the names of the iconic performers, Miles, Trane, Bird, Duke, and Diz. Today, maybe 60% of my collection is modern jazz.
Now, 10 or 15 years ago I could have said to myself that I would just stick with my old favorites from high school, college, and my young adult life. After all, why take a chance on something new when I could be enjoying classic rock, punk, 80s alternative/indie music? My answer is that the pleasure of discovering something new is far, far greater than hearing an old favorite for the 400 or 500th time.
hatrack71
distracted by everything
Steely Dan's later albums definitely get my vote as improved. As hard as it was to improve on sheer perfection, I felt Aja and 2 Against Nature were very sophisticated and well thought out jazz/rock records. In particular, I believe that Donald Fagen improved in his song writing going on to make such great albums as The Nightfly and Morph the Cat, my favorite. Steely Dan have put a band together and are touring right now. I am however not crazy about Walter Becker's solo attempts ever. Anyone who isn't familiar with the solo works of Donald Fagen should give him a spin as he releases on 180g vinyl. His arrangements and quality of recording are completely audiophile and remain a standard IMO which all artists should follow. I can't wait for his next solo album and if I could contact him I'd be like the little kid in the backseat on a family vacation asking, "Are we there yet?" I had to go back and edit my avatar pic as I have had my Rotel Rx-1603 on the shelf for quite a few years now. Steely Dan sounds better glowing in the dark anyway.
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Steely Dan. Sit down with "Can't Buy A Thrill" and work your way through the SD canon. You'll see the steady progression in songwriting, musicianship, recording technique. Some of the cognoscenti may differ, but I feel that "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go" are as good or better than "Aja" & "Gaucho"...even with a 20-year layoff.
Edit: Got interrupted while typing my post...see that hatrack71 & I are on the same wavelength here!
Double edit: I have to agree that Walt's solo work is an acquired taste...all I know is I was stuck with "Somebody's Saturday Night" from "Circus Money" as an earworm a couple days ago. Funky tune!
Edit: Got interrupted while typing my post...see that hatrack71 & I are on the same wavelength here!
Double edit: I have to agree that Walt's solo work is an acquired taste...all I know is I was stuck with "Somebody's Saturday Night" from "Circus Money" as an earworm a couple days ago. Funky tune!
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Jack Cheddar
Member
I play Aja at least once a week...Steely Dan offers songs that speak to you in different ways...and at different times. I need to find Fagen's work on LP again...Night Fly was great!
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
I think you misunderstood me, I'm NOT a devoted fan in the sense that I stick with Rush or any band no matter what. I AM a devoted fan in the sense that Rush (and a few other bands) have yet to really disappoint me so I keep listening to all their output. BUT if they come out with what I thought was unlistenable, then I would NOT hesitate to not listen to that material, and I never have nor ever will believe that no band can do no wrong, not even Rush (as the 4 albums I mentioned above should evidence).
Also, I probably don't listen to Rush every day, but it's pretty close.
However, I also listen to about 5-10 other bands almost every day too, however these are usually more random (as in not the SAME 5-10 bands every day, just that I listen to that many bands about every day overall). So even though I listen to a LOT of Rush, I also listen to a LOT of other tunes. And again I think you misread me: I DO look for new stuff all the time to try, and my collection and music genres keep growing. In the past year or so alone I must have added about 50 different artists to my collection or got deeper into some I had only a surface acquaintance with before (or filled out the rest of their catalogue), as diverse as Kraftwerk to Johny Cash to Michael Jackson (his "Bad" album is now on heavy rotation; I had only heard "Thriller" before and random other hits of his) to Diana Krall to Kamelot to Etta James to Nightwish to Carol King (to name a few).
What I meant was that no artist I have yet discovered can compete with Rush (the closest is Queen, but compared to Rush it's no contest
) and I have only found a very few of the supposed "undiscovered greats", let alone the "greats" that are well known but I just haven't really listened to yet, to actually be "great" (for example I can't STAND Steely Dan and they are supposed to be "great" and I really tried, I really did, to like them, but I just don't get it and could barely make it through their albums once, let alone several times, when I tried to give them a chance over a period of a few weeks--no offense to anyone, and I take none if people hate what I like).And while I'm still predominately in my rock stage, I have been listening to pop, classical, jazz, and blues ever since around age 20 (I'm 32 now). But I only listen these maybe once or twice a week. It's good, I enjoy it, but I'd most often rather listen to rock. I'm sure this will change within the next ten years. :yes:
So my opinion is that while discovering new music is a rewarding experience, NOTHING I've yet to discover can ever compare with my old favorites, especially Rush. I'd rather listen to almost any Rush album, much less the ones I really enjoy, before ANY other music/group. It's not that I don't like other stuff because I do, a lot even, it's just that nothing can compare. Yes it might be odd, but I'm not being stubborn or closeminded here. I have searched in some breadth the musical landscape for over 15 years now and I always, without fail, come back to Rush as my first and best choice. :thmbsp:
marqueemoon
Gimme indie rock!
Also, I picked up The Party's Over and It's My Life today on vinyl for $5.99 a pop.
Fast_Eddie
Upper-middle fi
The Police.
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
Ah, yes, of course! :scratch2:
Synchronicity is by far their best album, and one of the great albums overall. :thmbsp:
dodog
Addicted Member
I always thought "Synchronicity" was overhyped. Give me "Regatta De Blanc" or "Zenyatta Mondatta" anyday. Also, for the record, I don't know if they got better, but were always great and stayed great, with a slight dip-down at the end. My opinion, of course.
Also, I picked up The Party's Over and It's My Life today on vinyl for $5.99 a pop.
Very nice. But please... if you find Laughing Stock on vinyl, don't even tell me. The jealousy will consume me.:worried:
Fast_Eddie
Upper-middle fi
I'm partial to Ghost in the Machine. But I do love Synchronicity. I love all their records, but the last two are a huge leap forward in quality IMHO.
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
It's all just a matter of taste, but for me I don't like their earlier "skaish"/reggae sound as much as their later more rock/pop sound.
For me they started off good and then ended great. :yes:
I like Synchronicity the best because for me there's not one bad song on that album and every other Police album does have a bad song or two (even Ghost).
It also seems to flow together well as an album.
All of this is just a matter of opinion of course, and I admit that Ghost is a close second and that all of the albums contain classics.
For the record my favorite Police song is "Invisible Sun". Nice bass for subs in that one!
Fast_Eddie
Upper-middle fi
I like Synchronicity the best because for me there's not one bad song on that album and every other Police album does have a bad song or two (even Ghost).
It also seems to flow together well as an album.
All of this is just a matter of opinion of course, and I admit that Ghost is a close second and that all of the albums contain classics.
For the record my favorite Police song is "Invisible Sun". Nice bass for subs in that one!
We're on the same page- it's splitting hairs between the two. Ok, to sound like a record reviewer for a minute- I can see where Sync is a *better* record, but I enjoy listening to Ghost more. I like that there is still just a little bit of those punk kids who started the band in it.