Like I said, I need to really listen more closely to DT's albums, I've heard all of them at least once (some many times) but only a few have I really concentrated on, most were just kind of background music when I heard them. Maybe if I could ever stop playing the new Rush album (and all their albums for that matter, got to get ready for the tour!
) I will sit down to them all and listen to each a few times at least!
My gf has all of DT's albums, including this one she just got today, so that should be no problem to do. Then I'll get back to you guys with a more informed opinion. :thmbsp:
But as of now, I think they are a better cover and jam band than a original song writing or compositional band. I think they have talent in this way, and when I saw them live they were great, but listening to them is kind of just like listening to a band jam in circles with no apparent direction (besides a few of their more concise songs). It's good, they can play, but in the end, why am I listening to it? :scratch2: But maybe this is all because I have yet to really learn their songs, or I don't particulary like that kind of music (I'm not too big on classical either).
Anyway, I do take issue with the band members themselves. For it is no secret that their drummer is totally full of himself; he's said that in high school everyone went around calling him the "next Neil Peart" and he thought to himself "yea, that's what I'll be".
Even if he was that good or even better (he isn't, not by far, at least from what I've heard and comparative discussions I've read like this one:
http://www.rushmessageboard.com/cpmb/index.php?showtopic=11285, and there's much better drummers than him that are comparable or better than Peart) that's highly egotistical.
Also, the whole band has this thing about Rush not making anything worthwhile listening to since Signals in '82, they've said they won't listen to any of their output after that (like it's not worthy of their time).
It's fine if they privately think that way, that's their opinion, and I know some (all?) are big fans of Rush (although I don't understand how you can love a band if you don't like at least most of their output, not just their "golden era": that's a very casual or fair weather fan, the kind that turns on the radio and hears a hit and listens to it but wouldn't dare sit down and listen to an album from the same band that's unpopular or unknown to the general rock fan), but to be in a professional band and say publically of another band that they haven't put out anything for 25 years worth listening to is really, really, arrogant and a deliberate put down of that band. It's exactly like saying that you think your band has never put out anything of dubious quality or at least all of it is better than the band you judge to be unlistenable to after a certain album, and so you have the right to look down on other bands that you think have put out flawed albums, and in Rush's case, over a dozen albums not worth listening too. What the hell? :nono:
And lest you think I find this attitude of DT's repugnant because of what they have said about my favorite band, that's entirely not the case. For instance, I'm no Yes fan at all, but I think DT has said the same things toward them. And here's a direct quote from Portnoy from an interview about two bands that I like, but not incredibly so:
"What hard rock/heavy metal band should give it up and call it a day?"
"Metallica and Queensryche...Both bands made some of my favorite records of the 80's and some of the biggest piles of **** in the 90's.."
(He goes on to say later in the interview that Neil Peart should "give it a rest" and puts down about 5 other drummers as well, most of which are better than him. And just check out #11 on that interview, yes, I'm sure he made a tribute album with a lot of washed up bands not for any money. Oh really? Well he's a millionare, I'd believe him if he refused any royalties from that album or donated all of them to some music institution dedicated to bringing music to impoverished kids. Also, Rush is very popular outside of the US and Canda, talk about being sore. What does popularity have to do with talent anyway? And Neil was popular enough for Portnoy to interview for a drum magazine, or did he sell his integrity for the money he got from doing the interview with someone he doesn't respect, at least not anymore? Actually, just reading the whole interview this guy sounds like an ungrateful pretentious asswipe one second and then a seemingly nice guy and remembering his place in the next. He sounds like a schizo. This guy is so very precious, what a douche.)
http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=202&Itemid=52
So DT (or at least Portnoy) seem to like to deny the talent of the very bands that have inspired them and that they stole half of what they know from (and yea, he is right about 90's Metallica, but 80's Metallica kills all DT, and Queensryche's last few releases were at least as good as any DT I've heard), all the while playing covers of their music and making $$$ from doing so. That's really messed up. (No wonder he's a recovering alcoholic, he had to use something to drown all of that guilt until he lost all humility and became a megalomanic self professed incredible drummer and drummer/music critic). Hell, I wouldn't care if they said the same things about Bananarama and they were totally correct, it's just sheer arrogance to put down another band publically if you youself are in a band. You might as well say: "They're good, but we're better." Or: "They suck, and we're way better." Not cool.
Anyway, didn't mean to steal the thread, and this is all jmho anyway and perhaps I'm entirely wrong so don't take offense anyone!
