It's crap

Rather disappointing I must say. I listened to the new single from Rush's web site. There's not much melody there.. the lyrics are forgettable. The music is bland and uninteresting. It's obvious they can afford the best recording gear in the world, but that doesn't mean much when the song goes in one ear and out the other.

As most know, I've been a huge Rush fan for ages and ages. I'm just a progressive rock nut. Back in the '70s, you could hear the Led Zepplin inspiration in a lot of Rush music. They riffed, and the lyrics were cool, and you remember the songs for decades.

All of us have analog sound recorders built into our heads. When we want, we can play the song back, in many cases in it's entirety. All you might need is a little trigger. It could be a riff, or it could be a lyric. For example, read this lyric and if you've heard the song before, it starts playing back in your head.

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality

Everyone knows it.. Closer To the Heart.

How about this? Does it play a song in your head?

Begin the day
With a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays that song thats so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood

How about the intro to Tom Sawyer? Just that one down beat to start the song is enough to remind you of the whole thing.. Even in the 80's and into the 90's, there were some unmistakably "Rush" songs. It's not that I want "pop" Rush. Heck, my sound recorder has all the more obscure Rush recordings in it. I could listen to the entire Farewell to Kings, or Hemispheres album in my head if I wanted to. That's not the point.

The problem with the new Rush song, and I assume the entire album will follow suit. It's just so forgettable. If they had hired me to produce the album, they would have done a sequel to 2112 - a concept album, and it would have rocked.

As it is, I'll go see Rush on tour as I always do, but you kind of have to feel for them. When they play a new song, there's polite applause. When they play an old one, the crowd roars.

I remember the last Rush show that we went to a few years ago. There was a kid a few seats to the left who looked to be about 10. He was standing on his seat, singing along with the songs (the old ones).. and he was playing air-drums in near perfect sync with Neal Peart's drumming.. on the old songs... and when it came to something new, he just sort of stood there like the rest of us, waiting for them to get it over with so they would play Limelight.. or Fly By Night.. or Free Will or Subdivisions.. or Working Man. It was obvious the kid's father had him listening to Rush, but I wonder if his collection ended at Power Windows? Is there a point to going beyond it?

That's sad.. and I don't think they need to record new music or tour to make money. There's no risk in putting out a concept album with 10 minute songs that showcase their writing and playing skills.

I just don't get it. In the last 10 years, Rush has released 1 new, original, recording; Vapor Trails. It wasn't a bad album, but nothing that anybody is likely to remember. The rest of their releases for the entire decade consist of "best of" and live recordings. Yes, I know the band members had personal tragedies and so on. Nobody can blame them for taking a break, but if they're going to do a new album, I would think they would want it to rock, not suck.

And ya.. I'm basing all of this on the one and only song we've been allowed to hear so far. The rest may be different.. but I can't imagine they'd go through the track listing, find the only song that sucks, and say "hey.. lets use that as our debut single!".

Uh Huh..

Listen up Geddy, Alex.. Neil.. If you want a new album that blows away your old fans, and makes you legions of new ones, while once again proving you still have awesome new music to offer the world.. hire me to produce your next album. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing other than reminding you of what Rush is.