The National Midnight Star #815

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 21:35:11 -0500 Message-Id: <9311120235.AA04150@syrinx.umd.edu> Errors-To: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu Reply-To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Sender: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Precedence: bulk From: rush@syrinx.umd.edu To: rush_mailing_list@syrinx.umd.edu Subject: 11/11/93 - The National Midnight Star #815
** ____ __ ___ ____ ___ ___ ** ** / /_/ /_ /\ / /__/ / / / / /\ / /__/ / ** ** / / / /__ / \/ / / / / /__/ / \/ / / /___ ** ** ** ** __ ___ ____ ** ** /\ /\ / / \ /\ / / / _ /__/ / ** ** / \/ \ / /___/ / \/ / /___/ / / / ** ** ** ** ____ ____ ___ ___ ** ** /__ / /__/ /__/ ** ** ____/ / / / / \ ** List posting/followup: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Administrative matters: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu or rush-mgr@syrinx.umd.edu (Administrative postings to the posting address will be ignored!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Midnight Star, Number 815 Thursday, 11 November 1993 Today's Topics: real quick Rush-N-Roulette '92 fan longevity who writes lyrics irc (none) Exit...Stage Left opening song. Not an accident, but cool anyway Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #812 *** Special Edition *** Rush (of course!) Hehe..We're like Beavis and Butthead..hehe British CP advert What the hey is NME? Counterparts Ad. Tee-Shirt highly recommended Roll the Bones opener. Re: Geddy's voice Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #813 various Opening songs RUSH on LSwDL the final(?) word on 1st song hiya too Gangster O' Boats More Binary . . . Re: My first time...hope it doesn't hurt 20th Anniversary GIFT COMMITTEE Alein Shore just a question CP Review from BYU Re: Fan Since 197* ... YYZ, LaVilla, on ESL, Headphones, Musicianship, Amazing... Blah-Blah-Blah... Nobody's Hero, stuff, in a mere 50 line post various things.. Xanadu on tour? I GOT A POSTCARD FROM NEIL!!! Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #814 Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. CTTC whispered lines Somebody's Hero RUSH And Rush (none) MTV.COM reviews again :) Counterparts CD liner images MTV review of Counterparts ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 19:28:01 -0500 (EST) From: jeff barnhill <jbarnhi@andy.bgsu.edu> Subject: real quick Just a couple of real quick questions/thoughts... Are the guys doing something specific for the 20th anniversary during the show or in the tour book or what ever, or is it just coincidence that they have been around for 20 years and they aren't going to acknologe it? IMHO the most underrated album side...side 2(last four songs for CD users) of p/g. Was the TV show that used "Mystic Rhythms" as it's theme music back in the mid-80's "West 57th"? If not, what was it? laters... ---------------------------------------------------------- From: lbutler@hubcap.clemson.edu (L Clator Butler Jr) Subject: Rush-N-Roulette '92 Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 20:04:15 -0500 (EST) I finally received my copy of R-N-R 92 last Friday and all I can say is that I am floored. Once again German engineering surpasses that of the Americans. But in this case, I can live with it. To anybody else that has this: Do you experience three soundless blips, one in the dialog before 'Dreamline,' in 'Show Don't Tell,' and in 'Xanadu?' It is almost trivial, but nonetheless noticible? I just wanted to make sure that I didn't have a bum disc. The reviews of it are pretty spot on; The engineering surpasses Broon's effort on _ESL._ In addition, I received my copy of _La Villa Strangiato_, the 1980 concert in St. Louis. IMHO, this sound is comparable to _ESL_, which really is not an insult. We are talking pro quality here. I suggest these highly; they are worth the wait (I had to wait 9 weeks). -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- | L. Clator Butler, Jr. | "The power to destroy a | | lbutler@hubcap.clemson.edu | single planet is insig- | | "Where the Blue Ridge yawns" | nificant to the power of the| | My views are strictly my own. | Force..." --Darth Vader | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 93 20:14:01 -0500 From: junoks@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Stacey Ksenzakovic) Subject: fan longevity I would just like to say that the first two Rush albums I owned were 2112 and RtB, both of which I bought this July but coveted since last year. Thank you. Juno <never use a sig that's longer than the letter> ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 93 21:36:21 -0500 From: junoks@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Stacey Ksenzakovic) Subject: who writes lyrics >From NMS 812, special edition: Bass Player mag: Why does Neil write all your lyrics? Geddy: Alex and I... feel as though anything we came up with would be crummy. Hey, I happen to really like Tears and Cinderella Man, and I have quotes from Lessons all over my math notebook. I want to hear more lyrics from Geddy! ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 21:07:06 -0600 (CST) From: Tom Servo <Z_CLARKDM@CCSVAX.SFASU.EDU> Subject: irc Help! What's this about irc, and #p/g? How do I do irc?? I mean, I know *what* it is, but not how to do it... Email replies would be most appreciated!!!!! [ IRC is Internet Relay Chat, on there are many different channels, the one a lot of NMS'ers are on is called #p/g! There's a lot of regulars out there who frequent the channel. If you want you can ftp to cs.bu.edu and get the IRC source code and compile a client, or maybe your system administrator can do it. It might already be on your system for all you know! Maybe a #p/g! 'er on here with more time can email you details. :rush-mgr ] The Analog Dan >.sigless twice in a row now!! ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 9 Nov 93 21:11:55 CST From: graves@zen.wes.army.mil (Mark R. Graves) If, as was inferred in the radio interview, this was RUSH's attempt to get back to the basics, then the picture of the rabbit on the turtle in the CD sleeve would have been a much more fitting (and interesting) choice for a cover. In my opinion, that is how fast they seem to be going on their journey to recapture their former glory. Animate is the only song which shows even a glimmer of the genius of the past. Before I get too many people worked up. Yes, I am a fan of the "old" Rush and I am not as young as most of you (turning 30 at the end of the month). Perhaps I am becoming too conservative...... Mark R. Graves graves@zen.wes.army.mil (Please don't use this address to flame me) ---------------------------------------------------------- From: daveh@shell.portal.com (Dave) Subject: Exit...Stage Left opening song. Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 20:39:53 -0800 (PST) I reference to the post regarding "Spirit Of Radio" or "Limelight" as the opening song on Exit...Stage Left, I was under the impression that they opened the Moving Pictures tour with "2112 Overture." Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thourhgt neither of those was the opener. -Dave P.S. Have a nice day. -- Remember: If you have to ask, you don't want to know why. -Dave Hamilton (daveh@shell.portal.com) ---------------------------------------------------------- From: sffrank@aol.com Date: Tue, 09 Nov 93 23:42:06 EST Subject: Not an accident, but cool anyway Hi, The best thing that I saw at a Rush concert, was at the RTB Tour at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Unfortnately, instead of opening on October 31st, they opened on the 1st of November. Besides having the show opener being Eric Johnson, during Roll The Bones someone threw a pair of fuzzy dice (like the kind you see in a car) onto the stage. Alex picked them up and hung them off of Neil's kit. Also funny was watching the roadies get exhausted when they had to make the rabbits move and bounce later in the show. SF Frank "Those who need to sleep, to dream" ---------------------------------------------------------- From: gt3144a@prism.gatech.edu Subject: Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #812 *** Special Edition *** Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 03:19:15 -0500 (EST) > "It takes a log of maturity to be able to write about the real world," > Peart added. "I hope I've reached that level of maturity." The "Special Edition" NMS with the interviews was great. It was good to see some journalists with positive things to say about Rush. I especially enjoyed the piece on "The Professor". ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1993 18:09:38 EST From: The Longshot <c2mxbir@fre.fsu.umd.edu> Subject: Rush (of course!) My friend gave me a treat last night. He let me borrow two cassettes which contained "Over The Europe" and "Electric Ladyland". It was most enjoyable. It reminded me of when I went to see them last time. I had to return them today though :^(>. On a non-Rush related note, can someone mail me any information on how I can attach .SIGs to my messages with a VAX? I can't seem to figure it out. l8r... Jason Birzer The Longshot c2mxbir@fre.fsu.umd.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1993 18:17:09 EST From: c2mxzei@fre.fsu.umd.edu Subject: Hehe..We're like Beavis and Butthead..hehe Hehe...Rush Sucks....that stupid song with that Paula chick in it No wait Beavis.....that..huhuh...that's not Rush you moron Oh...yeah...hehe...that's that druggy movie.. No you idiot...it's this group that is like 100years old or something Oh..yeah..yeah..hehe...they say stick it out...hehe hey Beavis do you sitck it out? [ Well, it's humorous in a way (for some of us:) but let's try and not get 3 million Beavis and Butthead jokes ok? I wouldn't want this digest to be full of these two characters. Huh huh.. :rush-mgr ] _____________________________________________ On another note...I think it can safely be said that the Opening tour song is not the first song on the thrid side of the last album after a blue moon. My personal theory is that they will open with something that is newer and that has pounding beginning...howabout...SUPERCONDUCTER?? Think of the intro going right into that....in the trad. of BM and F10 Hehe....like later dudes...huhuh ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 10:12:07 GMT From: brian@wet.sbi.com (Brian Agnew) Subject: British CP advert Someone mentioned the British advert for CounterParts, viz: >There's also a real cool advertisement, a 3 by 4 block with >pictures: > rush I don't know falling rocks > the new album what this is (traffic sign) > counterparts (some candy) > > a kind of bread whiskey glass an alarmclock > with ice and some on a rock > lemonade > > a famous guy Limited edition two black ankles > (I don't know cd with with some > who) special juwelry > (Cary Grant?) ** Deluxe packaging > > another kind of wooden horse (?) CD case-front > bread All the pictures represent rock of some kind. The candy is a stick of rock (I don't know if you get this in the US, but it's a solid cylinder or sugar designed to break your teeth) Falling rocks The bread might be a 'rock' cake. The whiskey is on the rocks The diamonds are 'rocks' The celebrity is Rock Hudson The second piece of bread has a plus sign by it (hence 'rock'n'roll') It's a rocking horse. The alarm clock - I guess it means 'time to rock', 'rocking time' ? > HOW MANY WAYS DO WE HAVE TO SAY IT? Perhaps if they said it in a different way... It took me ages to work out what they were on about Brian ---------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Agnew Salomon Brothers International Limited <brian@london.sbi.com> ---------------------------------------------------- Business Technology Organisation Tel: 071-721-2685 ---------------------------------------------------------- From: mfarah@ing.puc.cl (Miguel Farah F.) Subject: What the hey is NME? Date: Tue, 9 Nov 93 17:52:49 ADT A friend of mine lent me his copy of _Visions_ and when I got to the 2112 section I read about Rush being called nazi by an NME writer. Could someone tell me hwat the hey is NME? Thank you. -- MIGUEL FARAH F. // "Hey baby, it's a quarter to eight. mfarah@malloco.ing.puc.cl // I feel I'm in the MUD." #include <disclaimer.h> // - Alex Lee, Geddy Rutsey && John Lifeson ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Counterparts Ad. Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 14:54:06 +0000 From: cmackie@cs.strath.ac.uk I'd like to respond to SP ENNEMA who transcribed the interview from Metal CD and clarify the ad which he described. The theme for the ad is Rock and Roll (like the new album :-) and the my interpretation of the pictures is as follows- A stick of rock, Falling Rocks traffic sign A rock cake Scotch on the rocks (whiskey with ice) Clock on a rock Rock Hudson Jewelery, obviously containing diamonds (rocks) A rockinghorse And what looks like a salad roll. Rock and Roll. Not bad? Hmmm, far too subtle for a mag such as that.. Chris Mackie cmackie@cs.strath.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 00:59:53 CDT From: sempco!kavery@wupost.wustl.edu (Kevin M. Avery) Subject: Tee-Shirt highly recommended Hello fellow rush-heads, rushians, rushfans, I got my NMS tee-shirt today and it looks GREAT!!! Good job Meg! thanks, for everyone out there who is thinking about getting one DO IT! It's worth it. For more info e-mail Meg at meg@syrinx.umd.edu Looking forward to the Counterparts tour in St. Louis, I'll be wearing my NMS tee-shirt and I hope to see others there too. later, Kevin ### # # ### # | /// AMIGA 1200 "I know perfect's not for real" # # # # # | /// # # # ### ### | /// 50MHz '030 -Peart- # # # # # # | \\\/// # ### ### # # | \XX/ AWESOME! ______________________________________________________________________________ Kevin M. Avery - Paramedic/Firefighter - St. Louis - Missouri - USA INTERNET: sempco!kavery@wupost.wustl.edu UUCP: wupost.wustl.edu!sempco!kavery ---------------------------------------------------------- From: trwillia@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Travis Williams) Subject: Roll the Bones opener. Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 10:43:57 -0600 (CST) Someone had to do this... ON THE ROLL THE BONES TOUR, THEY OPENED WITH --FORCE TEN-- AND ONLY FORCE TEN. There is only the slightest possibility that this is incorrect. Trav. PS: And Jones Beach was FAR from the only complete show from The last tour. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 10:53:33 -0600 (CST) From: Mike Weston <westomd@mail.auburn.edu> Subject: Re: Geddy's voice In TNMS #809, Melissa asked if others liked Geddy's voice from the start, as opposed to having "to get used to it". I went to a Hold Your Fire concert having never been introduced to any of their music, and I am now a faoming fanatic :-) mostly due to Neil's AWESOME solo. I have always liked Geddy's music, from the throatiness (some call it screeching) of 2112 to the ddeper tones of P/G and Conterparts. Just my $0.02 for the record. Mike westomd@mail.auburn.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 08:58:27 PST From: rking@scopus.com (Robyn King-Nitschke) Subject: Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #813 Heyo, Just a few comments on #813: The Vortex says: > And finally, I kinda doubt the Blazy & Bob story, simply because I've always > had the impression that Rush don't base that much of their albums on "what > would go over well" with certain bits of the audience. It just never seemed > to be a big priority for them. I could be wrong, though. Yeah, I don't know where they heard that, either. Sounded kinda weird to me when I heard it, but since I hadn't seen it on TNMS yet, I figured I'd do my duty as a good Rush fan and post it. :-) Re: "Where's My Thing" and the chopped "thing": How 'bout "Losing It"? :-) David Whiteman says: > A friend of mine requested that I post his post his feeling that the > Girl in Nobody's Hero was not murdered ... she committed SUICIDE > after trying to bear the agony of living after having been raped. If > you have any thoughts on this, you can either post here or e-mail, and > I'll pass your comments along. I agree with this--that's what I thought too. Since the line is "As the years went by, we drifted apart/When I heard that she was gone, I felt a shadow cross my heart..." that implies to me that she was alive for quite some time after the event. I think this is a more plausible explanation than she was murdered (maybe not raped, but definitely something traumatic). Patrick Clauss says: > Red Barchetta: On the lyric sheet, it says, "Inspired by 'A Nice Morning > Drive' by Richard S. Foster," but I haven't been > able to find Foster's work anywhere. Friend of Peart's, > perhaps? It's in an issue of (I think) Road and Track (or was it Car and Driver? It's in the FAQ) from the 70s. It's not a very long story, so it's easy to miss. Try your library--that's where I finally found it. That's it for me--back to work. --Rat rking@scopus.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 14:22:30 EDT From: "Keith Berger" <kab6@cornell.edu> Subject: various It seems that no one has yet to point out that some of exit stage left was recorded on the permenant waves tour, not just MP. It it not clear if Spirit of Radio was the opener on the actual tour. "Limelight" opened the show on the video. Also, the PW tour opened up with 2112. Who has a Jones Beach Bootleg? About the words on CTTC, at first I agreed with 'Passion is the fire', but listening to it closely it doesn't sound like Passion. The first word is either a three syllable word or the first syllable is held. Also I just don't hear a P sound. I'm tempted to agree with 'Coersion' because it fits the word structure better. I agree with Dave's friend on "Nobody's Hero". When I heard the song I thought the girl had been raped. Why else woud he write 'As the years went by... When I heard thst she was gone.." Apparently he drifted apart from this family and later found out that she had died or comminted sucide later in life. In response to Patrick's interpretation of Colridge's "Kubla Khan", I agree with his viewpoint. I did an analysis of "Kubla Khan" for an English class last year and I found that Coleridge was into ancient religous ideas. One idea he liked was the connection between the sun and people that the Egyptians had and its respect to Christianity. The sun represents God and energy from the sun(God's love and power) flows to the people and allows them to grow. However, this connection was broken with the first sin. It was thought in some lore that Kubla Khan's family were direct descendants of Cain, the first murderer. Therefore, Kubla, normally known for his violent nature, built the pleasure dome to attempt to restore the connection with God because he fears death and believes that if he succeeds he will become immortal. The river, however, flows from a sunless sea, a metephor for the abscence of God, and the dome is destroyed as Kubla fails. The last part of the poem is the writer expressing his view point. He would build the dome in the sky so that the river could not destroy the pleasure dome. There is more to it and you can e-mail me if you want a copy of my research. I played 'Xanadu' in the class when I did my presentation. I used it to show Neil's interpretation of the ending of the poem that Colridge was never able to remember(the poem was never finished). Neil's lyrics are the answer to the ideas the narrator brings up at the end. Instead of literary devices, Rush used music(the beginning of the song) to set mood and tone. >..You may be right, it's all a waste of time.. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 13:23:33 EST From: MARK STAHL <stahl@bigvax.alfred.edu> Subject: Opening songs Hey all, First off i would like to extend a Happy Birthday to the list. I've only been on the list for a few months but I felt that since I'm part of it now I sould send out a hearty Happy B-day. And to all who keep this list going thanks for all the hard work especially the Rush mgr. Now to the point, I've been reading all this stuff on the opening song for past tours and I thought I'd throw in my two cents in. I saw them on the Presto and RTB tours and in both shows they Opened with Force Ten. I missed the HYF tour so I don't know what they opened up with. Have some of the consecutive tours opened up with the same songs or have most of the past tours opened with a different song. Just Curious. Also what song did they open with on the HYF tour? Thanks. Mark >From the Boonies of NY state Mark Stahl Stahl@bigvax.alfred.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 14:56:24 -0600 (CST) From: "Brandon Boger" <bab137@psu.edu> Subject: RUSH on LSwDL On alt.fan.letterman, I had herd a rumour that Rush would be preforming on Late Show with David Letterman. I have a list of Dave's guests up until 30 Nov 93 and on some of the days are TBA. Could they possible appear on one of those days or a suprise guest on another show. ======================================== == \\\/// Brandon Boger \\\/// == == oo oo == == \/ bab137@psu.edu /\ == ======================================== ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 14:23:07 -0600 (CST) From: Tom Servo <Z_CLARKDM@CCSVAX.SFASU.EDU> Subject: the final(?) word on 1st song Greetings and Salutations: Here is what I believe to be the best thing for our heroes to do for their first song of the show... Show Don't Tell. WITHOUT the drum intro. I think the coolest sounding thing would be for them to go straight from the animation (what happened to the 3 Stooges music?) to the blast of music after the intro. Know what I mean? The Big Money was a cool opener just because they went from the animation to that kickass B chord. Now whenever I'm watching the Stooges, I hear in my mind that B chord after the titles--like the opening of ASOH. Weird. But I still think that Show Don't Tell would be *much* better than Dreamline; Dreamline just doesn't open with a bang, ya know? The Analog Dan ******************************************************************************** * "I wanna decide who * "I was lined up for glory, but the tickets sold * * lives and who dies" * out in advance" * * - Crow T. Robot * -Neil Peart * ******************************************************************************** * Daniel M. Clark z_clarkdm@ccsvax.sfasu.edu * * Stephen F. Austin State University (409) 568-5541 * ******************************************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 14:36:30 -0500 From: jtstrzyn@papaya.wustl.edu (Jeremy Todd Strzynski ) Subject: hiya too to steve: > Hi. I just want everyone to know that the two worst songs on >the album Presto are Superconductor and Show Don't Tell. They are >excellent songs, but all the rest are better. I just thought you >should all be remminded of this. thank you so very much. and i think you should be reminded that as a physics/philosophy/anthro/psych major, you should be working, not spending all of your time reading NMS's like me. (to those who care, steve is this random in real life, too.) to brad: > shitesnake&slipofthe ^^^^ >tongue-whitesnake we all know you didn't mean it. just a slip of the finger perhaps? (it had to be said.) with so many people mentioning that their favorite lyrics from the album are the end of EG, i was wondering what everybody's favorite lyrical passage overall is. (Rush, of course. not all-time.) mine is the second verse from Avilable Light: play of light, a photograph, the way i used to be some half forgotten stranger, doesn't mean that much to me trick of light, moving picture, moments caught in flight make the shadows darker, or the colors shine too bright IMHO amazing lyrics, and the way Geddy sings them makes them all the more powerful. does anyone else have a favorite passage? jeremy ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 16:49:59 -0500 (EST) From: ASILVERM@umiami.ir.miami.edu Subject: Gangster O' Boats Hi gang Wasn't Gangster Of Boats the name they gave to the computer attached to Geddy's keyboards or used for some other purpose? A Macintosh, as I recall. Maybe Geddy and Alex wanted an instrumental so badly at that point that they called it that to make it too tough for Neil to come up with matching lyrics? Later, Aaron ASILVERM@UMIAMI P.S. Win one for the Jaw of Joe! (Get better soon. . .) P.P.S. Happy birthday, NMS! (Jeez, have I really been reading this for 3 years now? . . .) ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 14:12:46 PST From: sdm@oes.ca.gov (Scott McAfee) Subject: More Binary . . . Nikos Grammalidis Said . . . >Hey, >I just discovered another puzzle ( that exists at least in the Limited >Edition CD ) . . . It is in the inner circle of the CD along with >the CD number ( 7567-82528-2 WME ) And the non-limited edition one and Roll the Bones. Sorry . . . I too was crushed when the Morse Code theory did not pan out . . . scott ---------------------------------------------------------- From: paul@poboy.b17c.ingr.com (Paul Robichaux) Subject: Re: My first time...hope it doesn't hurt Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 16:24:51 CST In yesterday's digest, Eric Johnson (ericaj@acpub.duke.edu) wrote: >On another note, even though it may be somewhat heretical, I'd like >to know what people think is the WORST song Rush has done, and why. >My personal nomination is "Rivendell", for the sole reason that it is >so 70's drug-hippie-mellow, dude-cheesy. Tolkein would weep! The worst? I don't know if there's a single song that stands out as being by far the worst ever, but my nominations herewith: _Cold Fire_ _Speed of Love_ _Bet Your Life_ _Face Up_ Anyone notice the pattern? -Paul -- Paul Robichaux, KD4JZG | Caution: cutting edge is sharp. Avoid contact. Intergraph Federal Systems | Be a cryptography user - ask me how. ** Of course I don't speak for Intergraph. ** ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 12:37:24 HST From: puanani@wana.pbrc.Hawaii.Edu (Puanani Akaka) Subject: 20th Anniversary GIFT COMMITTEE Alright everyone! We're gonna roll the bones, now! (groan) In continuing with the efforts for the 20th Anniversary Gift to the band, a GIFT Committee will be formed hitherto forthwith and henceforth. The GIFT Committee will proceed with the planning of the project. ALL ideas will be considered. The Gift Com. will be responsible for finalizing the project on *behalf* of the NMS and the formation of the Committee allows the project to get done much quicker. The "Application" for Committee membership is open to ALL members of the NMS. If you're interested in being on the Committee, send e-mail to: Cheryl Crenshaw at -- crenshaw@paloalto.epri.com DO NOT send it to the NMS -- the list is already saturated with posts (as you well know) and the rush-mgr has enough to worry about... :-) Deadlines for those interested is next week Friday, NOV. 19. THERE IS *NO* GRACE PERIOD (unless Cheryl says otherwise). Also, the rush-mgr and I have compiled a list of all the posts that ever was (or ever will be" -- sorry, Carl Sagan quote) concerning the Gift idea. They will be put into one file and sent out as a Special Edition and on gopher, as well. This is to let all of you know what's been mentioned and also to give people an idea of what kind of support there has been. I don't want to step on rush-mgr's authority, so I'll let the rush-mgr fill you in on this whenever the time's right... :-) And again, IF YOU'VE GOT IDEAS, SEND 'EM IN. This is a serious effort, so put on your creative caps and go to it! Remember, this is our chance to thank them for 20 years of music. So send in those ideas, and send e-mail to Cheryl if you want to be on the GIFT Committee. Ho-hoo! puanani ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: 10 Nov 93 16:28:44 MST From: Bradley Simonin <bradley@nmdaibm.nmsu.edu> Subject: Alein Shore After listening to the blirp in front of Alien Shore MANY times I agree with Jim Collingwood. Its MEN ABOUT OARS! Actually I saw that saying from another post earlier this week. I almost missed this because it was from a guy who was talking about Rush Limbaugh and then in the middle of his note the Rush_Mgr broke in to tell him to take the Rush Limbaugh stuff elsewhere. The MEN ABOUT OARS appeared in the guys post right after or near the Rush_Mgr's comments. I was so amused with the comments that I almost did not see the MEN ABOUT OARS. Listen to Alien Shore; it fits in perfect. Why I thought it was from the Middle East I don't know..... ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 16:35:12 -0700 From: sl52t@hyrum.declab.usu.edu (869383 Endicott Sheila B) Subject: just a question Could I pose a far out question? What do you all think the possibility is of actualy getting some corespondance from Rush (or any close associates) is in the NMS? I know this is a really lame, far-fetched question, but I just had to get it out of me... [ Well, may not be as far out as you think! There's actually a few people very close to the band or have very good contacts with the band who read the list. :rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- From: "Michael G. Robertson" <ROBERTMG@cslabs1.cs.byu.edu> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 16:07:31 MST Subject: CP Review from BYU Here's a belated review of _Counterparts_ from our off-campus newpaper, the _Student Review_. Nuts and Bolts by J. Scott Craig _Student Review_ Nov. 10, 1993 " October 19th. I snatch the last copy of _Counterparts_, the fifteenth studio album (not counting three live recordings and a multi-disc "best of" collection) of Rush-the legandary Canadian power trio. The cover portrayed a simple drawing of a nut and a bolt. Pondering the apparent sexual symbolism, I placed the disc and some money on the counter. The exchange done, I pocketed my change, tucked the merchandise in my backpack, and hurried home. After a brief, but victorious, struggle with the recalcitrant plastic wrapping, I dropped the disc into my CD player. With lights dimmed, bean-bag chair aligned, and remote control in hand, I was prepared. Before one minute had passed, I was left perplexed, trying to follow the music and simultaneously interpret the lyrics. Rather than continuing with such divided attention, I determined to just listen to the music and leave the lyrics for later. The tunes were not accessible; not immediately, at least. Those familiar with Rush's work over the past twenty years are well acquainted with the trademark signature switches which render dancing virtually impossible (i.e. for bipeds). However, after hearing most of the songs a couple of times, one may establish a comfortable, albeit erratic, groove. Stylistically, the album has a different sound from Rush's previous work- a half twist of _je ne sais quoi_. It is still essentially heavy rock, if Rush can be so handily pigeonholed, but maintains distinctiveness from the genre. Performances across the board are superb. Geddy Lee's intricate bass work, recently showcasing a subtle funk flavor, takes prominence in many songs, vacillating between rythym and lead. Alex Lifeson continues his pattern of writhing, organic guitar solos, producing a fullness of sound which contrasts the pure, spare sound evident in earlier albums. And Niel[sic] Peart (the fifth inductee in the _Modern Drummer_ Hall of Fame) once again delivers an incomprehensible graduate seminar for percussionists the world over. Despite the complex interweaving of instruments and frequent meter changes, the execution is flawless- machine-like in its precision. Though remedial dance rythyms and tunes may have a place in popular culture, something must be said for skill in performance, notwithstanding some sacrifice in danceability. The musical component is only half the story, complemented by lyrics (crafted by Peart and sung be Lee) equal in complexity. The album marks a change from the more esoteric ground which Peart has been wont to tread. The problem of evil, questions of free will and determinism, the existance of God, Utopianism, Rand's objectivism, and the nature of man do not dominate the lyrical content as they have in past albums. Rather, as the title and cover indicate, the discussion is primarily gender related. Peart criticizes the polarizing nature of current gender perceptions. Though he readily acknowledges the differences between men and women, he claims that they are not so great as some would have us think. Further, the differences between the sexes are more productively viewed as compatibilities rather than as barriers (hence the nut and bolt portrayed on the cover). He pleads with the world's not-so-diverse population to build bridges- not to burn them. This idealistic nature, pitted against a darkly perceived reality, results in a disturbing tone which cannot be accurately labeled as optimistic or pessimistic. It does provoke thought, however. Fans of recent Rush recordings will be amply satisfied with the material. But if you are unfamiliar with this unique sound or are looking for easy-listening, both musically and lyrically, I would not advise the purcahse of this paticular album. However, if complex arrangements and critical-minded lyrics appeal to you, this is the place." |************************************************************| | Mike Robertson robertmg@cslabs1.cs.byu.edu | |************************************************************| | "...And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too | | I'll see you on the dark side of the moon..." -r. waters | |************************************************************| ---------------------------------------------------------- From: Nick_Bruels <nickb@hpcvsgen.cv.hp.com> Subject: Re: Fan Since 197* ... Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 16:23:05 PST Hi everyone, To Jay Harrison and rush-mgr: Thanks both of you for echoing my sentiments about being a (reasonably) long-time fan and liking C. Like it?!? H(*l, I LOVE it! I LOVE every Rush album. Thanks for tolerating me, Nick "since '77" Bruels ---------------------------------------------------------- From: Nick_Bruels <nickb@hpcvsgen.cv.hp.com> Subject: YYZ, LaVilla, on ESL, Headphones, Musicianship, Amazing... Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 16:24:21 PST 'nuff said... [ I agree! Ho-hoo! :rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 18:44:18 -0600 (CST) From: BEEZUS@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu Subject: Blah-Blah-Blah... Somehow I doubt that each and every NMS subscriber reads each ish in its entirity. That's all too apparent from the influx of posts that appear in each subsequent NMS. What I think happens is that subscribers zero in on topic headings that they deem "noteworthy" and say to hell with the rest. What an interesting forum... Oh, well, here's my latest of extremely unimportant Rush information: [ Well you're right about that! I doubt too that anyone *truly* reads the NMS in full length! I mean just the sheer volume!! Even myself, I try to but sometimes I just skim it.. speed read.. :rush-mgr ] SHOW OPENERS: The "Moving Pictures" tour opened with "Overture"/"The Temple of Syrinx." The "Signals" tour opened with "The Spirit of Radio." The "P/G" tour opened with "The Spirit of Radio." The "Power Windows" tour opened with "The Spirit of Radio." The "HYF" tour opened with "The Big Money." The "Presto" tour opened with "Force Ten." The "RTB" tour opened with "Force Ten." So much for all of those damn theories that "Rush opens each new tour's shows with a song from the previous release--except once in the case of the 'RTB' tour." No, that's not correct; please stop implying it is. You're wrong. THE BINARY CODE CONFUSEMENT: Stop it already with this! Supposedly one of the NMS managers "edits" each ish before it's sent. So, why have the majority of the last twelve or so digests been so chock-full of these tiresome posts?! It's a bunch of zeros and ones on the backside of the CD insert...there's probably a great reason why they're located there as opposed to, say, where the photo of Rush is on the *inside* of the CD insert. If one of you wizards ever get the opportunity to ask Ged, Al, or Neil what the zeros and ones mean, you'll most likely get an answer along the likes of Ged's answer about what the three balls on the cover of "HYF" regard: "Well, they can mean whatever you want, but they sure don't mean brown rice." Or, whatever. ---------------------------------------------------------- From: qsc@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Edward Grimm) Subject: Nobody's Hero, stuff, in a mere 50 line post Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 19:55:23 EST Are you guys all certain that this song has anything whatsoever to do with AIDS? I've listened to it several times now, and I can't find a single referance... To me, the guy is a role model, because he admitted to being different in a generally socially unacceptable way. The girl is a role model, because she was raped and struggled to carry on even with all of the pressures that added. Someone mentioned she committed suicide... I contest that... It was after 'years went by,' that she died. People who commit suicide because of rape generally do it much sooner than a year... People who are murdered also generally die much sooner than a year... Also, a quote from an earlier song: "Someone set a bad example Made surrender seem all right The act of a noble warrior Who lost the will to fight "... "No hero in your tragedy No daring in your escape No salutes for your surrender Nothing noble in your fate Christ, what have you done?" -Rush, Presto, 'The Pass' It seems that suicide would not make anyone a hero in Rush's collective eyes... (You might want to note that that 'Christ' is not taking TLG's name in vain... it's directed at his hugeness (vague MP reference here)) [ Oh boy! Just when the steam died down, let's not start The Pass thread if we can help it. Thank you. :rush-mgr] In another note, in Cut To The Chase, 'Emotion is the fire' fits, as well as 'Passion', but Coersion doesn't that well. Emotion and Passion are *much* closer to what I get by the rest of the song, as well. (Which by the way, is very close to where Juno's mind has reportedly been of late... (Someone just had to make a reference to Geddy and certain semi-voluntary noises to her...)) I can tell by all the Morse Code appearing here that I'm just going to *have* to pull my Boy Scout's Handbook out from under my pillow, and finally learn Morse Code... Unfortunately, that paticular pillow is an uncomfortable 179 miles from here (rather long streach in my opinion.) Zanono "How can anybody be enlightened? Truth is, after all, so poorly lit." (NP) All I need is one flashlight... one DAMNED *GOOD* FLASHLIGHT... "You know we've not told you before, but you heard us then So you still question why, you listened again" -the primary teaching method of the Purdue Computer Science Department ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: various things.. Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 20:02:39 CST From: Cygnus <harper!dbroucek@uunet.UU.NET> Hey ya'all, Just some various rambles - First, I'd bet money on Show Don't Tell being the opener for this tour; and the songs played from _Counterparts_ being: Animate, Stick it Out, Alien Shore, and Speed of Love or Cold Fire. I'd love them to play Cut to the Chase, as it is my fav from the album, but for the last 6 tours they never seem to play my favorite song from the newest album *sigh* :-(. Next, Glen the "Late Show" was great. Do you have any others to share with us? What About "Temples of Chemistry"? About the Gangster og Boats origination, try checking out the Rush release special that came out for _Roll the Bones_. If my memory serves correct I think that was mentioned on how the name started. Or maybe It was a another interview, on the singles maybe? Anyways I know I've heard from them how it started. Too bad I can't remember.. Russell, it always worried me to think where my stack pointers were at 5:50a.m.!!!!!!! Especially after starting a program the night before it was due! I can just hear Tom Servo "Stack pointer, Noooooooooo!" -- "A world of difference," Dave Broucek USP "A world so out of touch." University of Southern Palatine "Overwhelemed by everything," a.k.a W. R. Harper College "But wanting more so much." "Is it wrong?" - Kevin Mathews/Jimmy Shorts - You know who! uunet!harper!dbroucek & uunet!harper!brouceda ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 16:58:04 HST From: puanani@wana.pbrc.Hawaii.Edu (Puanani Akaka) Subject: Xanadu on tour? Good day! Just a thought -- wouldn't it be so incredibly bloody cool if they did "Xanadu" *in its entirety*, complete with *solo* on the tour??!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I think the crowd would go into an instant orgasm. Ho-hoo! puanani ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 22:02:38 -0500 From: junoks@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Stacey Ksenzakovic) Subject: I GOT A POSTCARD FROM NEIL!!! Hi. See I wrote to Neil about a month ago thru Modern Drummer saying I'd like to novelize 2112. I don't remember what all my letter said but he thought it was funny so he wrote back! He said it's already based on _Anthem_ so I should watch out for lawyers. :) Anyway I've been in this ecstatic state all day, and now everyone I know (except my oh-so-elusive roommate) knows about it. I think I seriously screwed up the results of a psych experiment due to this mood, which I am still in. In fact I'm in such a great mood that I decided to push my luck... There is currently a letter to Alex sitting in a mailbox addressed thru Guitar Player magazine. I went to the local newsstand looking for the right mag to use and saw this one had an interview with him. BTW, to any closet Alex-droolers out there, he wasn't wearing a wedding ring in the picture... Anyway, if my luck holds out and I get a letter from Alex, Geddy is my next (and final) conquest. Sorry to bug you all with this but I JUST CAN'T HOLD IT IN!!! BTW, does anyone else think "Vital Signs" sounds like something you'd hear on the radio while driving home very late at night? Other examples of this are almost any Queen and something called "Take the Long Way Home." Also Temple of the Dog's "All Night Thing." BTW, "Vital Signs" now holds the record for the song I listened to the most in a single 24-hr period: 8 times. Blessed be, Juno (aka Julie and Panacea) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ "Mysteries of night escape the light of day" ^ \ / ^ ^ (Mystic Rhythms) ^ ----><---- ^ ^ .. ._.. .. . _.. ^ / \ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Member, Society of People Who Would Love to See Rush Limbaugh Lose All His Money and Become Dependent Upon the Meager Beneficence of the Welfare State. 8^) or :^) ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 23:28:43 -0500 From: karaffa@scus1.ctstateu.edu (Gabriel Karaffa) Subject: Re: 11/09/93 - The National Midnight Star #814 Greetings Well, let me say first off, this is not a flame! I just have observed that these binary translations have, as of yet, offered no decent insight. To be completely honest, I believe it is quite possible that the codes mean nothing. As long as they represent some sort of "Counterpart" it would fulfill a meaning. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 01:12:32 -0500 From: dws@acpub.duke.edu (DANIEL SHIMA) Subject: Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. That's right, the more things change, the more they stay the same. What am I refering to? Counterparts, of course. These three guys have made an album with a different sound, different style lyrics, and different themes. But they still rock. I hope Counterparts is growing on everyone. Alien Shore's bass line rules. I can't wait to hear Stick It Out in concert!! In fact, I love every song, except for Nobody's Hero, which I hate. I'd rather hear Tears than NH. Hell, even Digital Man came out better than NH. Heeeeeroooooo (whine) Oy! Please, no more. Solves Great Mysteries, Writes Retarded Lyrics. Cures the wasting disease....yeah, about as inpiring as... Excitment so thick, You could CUT IT WITH A KNIFE!!!!! Ahhhh!! What was Peart thinking? Does anyone out there dislike Nobody's Hero as much as me? dws@acpub.duke.edu P.S. I love Rush [ I couldn't help but laugh when I read this. Except that I had the BSAM in mind. Ah ah ah to yes..oh yes.. sorry folks I just couldn't help it *<:-) The bit about Countdown was just the thing I was thinking about. Anyone notice the cliche's that pop up sometimes? "Where would you rather be? Anywhere? Anywhere but here?" etc.. I love Peart's lyrics the man is a genius, I just sometimes wonder though. :rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 02:54:51 -0400 (EDT) From: RBARNHARDT@delphi.com Subject: CTTC whispered lines Seeing as though just about everyone else has thrown their aural hat into the ring on the matter of the loud, funny words in CTTC... First line, "Passion is the fire." Second line, "[Now?] motion is the fire." >... and that's final. My hearing range is from whale moans to ultraviolet light, and I clean my ears every morning with an oxacetylene torch and a WaterPik, so there's really no question that I'm the authority on this. I'm also the guy who can't even keep the cities straight while I'm yodelling tunelessly along with The Camera Eye. "Grim-faced and forbidding, In a wispy white veil, An angular mass of New Yorkers." - Robert Barnhardt, aka "rbarnhardt@delphi.com". ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 07:44:53 EST From: ba02498@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu (Arthur Treacher) Subject: Somebody's Hero Boy, the discussions of Nobody's Hero gets WAY TOO SERIOUS so, in light of that, and the most recent Counterparts parody post (which was GREAT by the way, thanks to whoever did it), I thought I'd throw this at you all. The trials and tribulations of a lowly nerd as he/she tries to fit into a college life dominated by "cool" people. And here it is, folks, the world premiere of "Somebody's Beer. OH!" Somebody's Beer, Oh! -------------------- I felt strong desire for some hops and barley So I went out to parties as a nerd minority It never seemed a threat to my mediocrity It only introduced me to the greatest of stupidity As the hours went by, I drank quite a lot When they saw their beer was gone They threw me in the parking lot Hey, that's somebody's -- Beer! OH! -- Put it down you geek Go back to the library Beer, OH! -- Take your calculator Go do some chemistry Beer, OH! -- Here's a can of Cutter Pretend its beer you fool Beer, OH! -- You won't get a girl Doing so well in school You better get your hands off SOMEBODY'S BEER! OH! I didn't have a car, so I stole my roommates keys I drove to the frat house on the night of the big rush party They tried to carry on, tried to bear the sight of me They tried to ignore me like some sad case of charity As the hours went by, I drank quite a lot When they saw their beer was gone They threw me in the parking lot Hey, that's somebody's -- Beer! OH! -- Put it down and leave You poor unsightly slob Beer, OH! -- We don't want no nerds here So leave this house of snobs Beer, OH! -- Not the master drinker Who wins the quarters game Beer, OH! -- Not a glamour boy Go hang your head in shame Everybody's yelling SOMEBODY'S BEER! OH! As the hours went by, I drank quite a lot When they saw my beer was gone They threw me in the parking lot Beer. OH! Hope you liked it... :) Art (imitating life) ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 07:50:09 EST From: It's despair of obsolescence. <carlo@scoman.enet.dec.com> Subject: RUSH And Rush Hey, Was anybody listening to WBCN in Boston on Wed.(11/10) at noontime. I tuned in and much to my surprise they played Moving Pictures in its entirety. Ironically, after that was over they had a commercial for "The Howard Stern Show" and he was lambasting Rush Limbaugh with no mercy. It was great! Did anyone hear this? If you did, reply here or e-mail. ORQ:"Get out there and ROCK, and ROll the bones!" ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 07:57:45 -0500 (EST) From: Rolaant Loyd McKenzie <rlm@umich.edu> Subject: Hi fellow Rushians! Can any of you confirm that Rush's SUPERCONDUCTOR, played at Wembley Arena in England 4/17/92, has these 4 songs?: Not Fade Away You Can't Fight It Bad Boy Take Off (w/McKenzie Bros.) [ Yes, the CD has these 4 songs tacked on to the end. : rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 08:51:00 -0500 From: firebird@sage.cc.purdue.edu (David Bremer) Just some tour misfortunes for the pure of spirit...Ha! On the RTB tour in Pittsburgh (first time around), there were a couple of problems. At the very beginning of the show, one of Neil's cymbal stands either broke or came loose. The stand just fell from its pivot point. Immediately, one of the stage guys ran out and put the stand back using a roll of what looked like duct tape to keep it in place. Later on a fan threw a frizbee on stage and just narrowly missed hitting Neil in the head... ############################################################################### The... ********* * ********* ********* ********* * ********* ********* * * * * * * * * * * * * ******* * ********* ******* ********* * ********* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ********* ********* * * * ********* ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 10:59:22 -0600 From: irsman@iastate.edu Subject: MTV.COM reviews again :) I was just checking out xmosaic (too cool, get it!) and I discovered that the review of CP on mtv.com has been replaced with a much more knowledgeable and positive one. They give it 5/5 in general and 4.5/5 as a Rush album, which is pretty decent. I'm not gonna clog up the digest with it...go get it yourself :) [ It's in the post following this one, someone found it and sent it in. and you're right, anyone running X should check out xmosaic and the stuff at mtv.com : rush-mgr ] Ian Schmidt irsman@iastate.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 15:29:54 EST From: Douglas White <dwhite@dsys.ncsl.nist.gov> Subject: Counterparts CD liner images Well, it being a gov't holiday, I took the time to scan in the Counterparts CD liner art. Unfortunately, the whole thing won't fit in my scanner :-) so, I scanned in each of the 9 panels. I also recombined them to make the whole art in one bigger image. If you want the images, you can anonymous FTP to 129.6.50.1 (dsys.ncsl.nist.gov) , cd pub/dwhite/rush and grab 'em. Following is a directory listing, sizes & names. -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 246586 Nov 11 15:10 cp_back.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 486334 Nov 11 15:10 cp_cover.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 322676 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_a.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 282503 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_b.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 345271 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_c.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 375095 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_d.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 389164 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_e.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 362917 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_f.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 509319 Nov 11 15:10 cp_art_g.gif -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 656808 Nov 11 15:10 cp_liner.gif (whole thing) -rw-r--r-- 1 dwhite 254608 Nov 11 15:10 cp_cd.gif (the CD itself) Counterparts image layout : 9 separate panels, or 1 big one back cover art_a art_b art_c art_d ==> cp_liner art_e art_f art_g FWIW, my thoughts on the album are: I didn't like it at first. My knee jerk reaction was "what the &*%@ is _this_?!?", but there were a few bits and pieces I liked. I've been listening to it off and on, and catch myself singing along, or air drumming - so I think I'll keep it. :-) Musically, I agree with those people who were reminded of 2112 Finale, and I think I've heard some Cygnus-like phrases in there, too. I think this album could have been done in the AFTK or Hem. era, but Neil wasn't ready for this level of lyrics. I think this album will need to grow on me - it's a very dark/heavy emotion in it. (It took a year for HYF to grow on me... now I love it. I mention this because I do not like Nobody's Hero - I hated Tai Shan, but really like it now.) I find that the lyrics from the last 6 albums have come at extremely pertinent times in my life. GUP's "Wheels", PoW's "Middletown", HYF's "TSS", etc.etc. the song off CP that hits close to home for me is Cold Fire. ouch. Anyway, I like it. :-) And here's some images for ya! Enjoy! Doug Douglas White NIST Bldg 225, Rm. A216 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Phone: (301) 975-2182 FAX: (301) 840-8550 dwhite@dsys.ncsl.nist.gov * My opinions are not necessarily NIST's, nor theirs necessarily mine * ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 15:40:31 -0600 Subject: MTV review of Counterparts From: schave@cae.wisc.edu!the [IMAGE] ALBUM REVIEWS Rush, COUNTERPARTS Atlantic/Anthem ========================================================================== Reviewed by Paul W. Cashman Rush celebrates their twentieth year with the same personnel with this album and their forthcoming tour (starts January 22nd in Pensacola, Florida), and the cohesion really shows on COUNTERPARTS. A seamless presentation, this is Rush's best work since Hold Your Fire. COUNTERPARTS also signals a return by Rush to a simpler, in-your-face style: seldom do we hear Geddy's keyboards and fine synth work, but instead, a raw, guitar-borne groove not heard from Rush in this quantity on an album in nearly a decade. First, the packaging and design: first-class. A deceptively simple cover illustration of a nut-and-bolt drawn blueprint style is more than counterbalanced inside by an elaborate collection of images, depicting counterparts, complementing objects ("tooth and nail"), and even (gasp) a few non-posed pics of the band (Neil Peart on the throne with a mohawk? wow). There's a lot here for fans and casual listeners alike, including the ever-mysterious three lines of 1s and 0s which probably mean "DDD" in a bit of subterfuge designed, no doubt, to make diehard Rush fans dive for their ASCII and EBCDIC character tables. :) Songs in track order: Animate: Very good, should do well as a radio single. The Pearl Jam-style drums in the beginning are a kicker. Strong Jungian influence here on Neil's lyrics, as he's stated in interviews. At first glance the lyrics seem relatively simple -- for Rush -- but as usual with Neil's writing, secondary layers emerge upon closer examination. Stick It Out: First radio single. One of the hardest-driving Rush songs in recent years. Lyrics are a bit repetitive but the rest of the music carries it. Cut To the Chase: One of my favorite tracks; great 'groove' on this one. Fun to listen to, which is something not every Rush song in the past can claim. :) Nobody's Hero: For me, a stand-out track emotionally and musically; this is Geddy Lee's most emotive singing since "Available Light". The gay-positive lyrics are, for Peart, remarkably direct. Michael Kamen's background orchestration is tastefully understated, like most of MK's excellent work -- not overblown like, say, G'n'R's "November Rain". A tough song for Rush to properly reproduce live; I'd like to see it done right, though. Between Sun and Moon: at times poetic, at times just 'fun', the lyrics here are upbeat; this would be a good choice as a radio single in the months ahead. Additional lyrical credit to Pye Dubois, lyricist for the Canadian band Max Webster (Kim Mitchell) and Peart's co-writer on "Tom Sawyer." Alien Shore: Another good groove here; fun to tap along to. Another favorite track, with nice lyrical image- building to boot. Seamless melding of guitar/bass work during the in the middle. Speed of Love: my least-favorite track on CP; this one just doesn't seem to go anywhere for me. Maybe this one's a grower..... Peart has some nice upper-tom work on this one, but that's about all I can say for it. Double Agent: There's a lot going on, here. I like it, but it might be a bit too intricate as a singles release. Deliberately evocative of the halcyon days of "By-tor and the Snow- Dog", this is another favorite. Based on a forthcoming book, Peart says, about rivalry between the U.S. FBI and CIA. Leave That Thing Alone!: I like this instrumental more than "Where's My Thing," although not nearly as much as "YYZ" or "La Villa Strangiato." As usual, my steering wheel is abused during Neil's signature fills. :) Cold Fire: is growing on me. Rush does country-rock! :) Relatively simple, this tune might be a good choice as a singles release. Right now it's my second-least-favorite track, but it's still eminently listenable. :) Everyday Glory: terrific message here. This one has really grown on me! A fitting, upbeat way to end the last verse, and the last track on CP. The concept of individual responsibility in all its non-PC glory (a la Ayn Rand), no stranger to Rush songs, is back in all its tattered everyday glory. Overall impressions: this is Rush's best album since Hold Your Fire and a strong album to add to their repertoire. Lyrically Neil Peart shows that, while other bands merely whine about conditions around them, Rush looks forward and offers hope and solutions, a refreshingly nonPC viewpoint in a musical landscape so often populated by trendy negativity and despair. The attitude of personal responsibility, to elevate from the norm instead of wallowing in the miasma, is also welcome. Rating as a Rush album: 4.5 Rating as an album, period: 5 _______________________________________________________________________________ MTV.COM Album Reviews ----------------------------------------------------------
To submit material to The National Midnight Star, send mail to: rush@syrinx.umd.edu For administrative matters (subscription, unsubscription, changes, and questions), send mail to: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu or rush-mgr@syrinx.umd.edu There is now anonymous ftp access available on Syrinx. The network address to ftp to is: syrinx.umd.edu or 129.2.8.114 When you've connected, userid is "anonymous", password is <your userid>. Once you've successfully logged on, change directory (cd) to 'rush'. There is also a mail server available (for those unable or unwilling to ftp). For more info, send email with the subject line of HELP to: server@ingr.com These requests are processed nightly. Use a subject line of MESSAGE to send a note to the server keeper or to deposit a file into the archive. Gopher access is now available on syrinx! Use this command to access the gopher: gopher syrinx.umd.edu 2112 The contents of The National Midnight Star are solely the opinions and comments of the individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the authors' management, or the mailing list management. Copyright (C) 1993 by The Rush Fans Mailing List Editor, The National Midnight Star (Rush Fans Mailing List) ******************************************** End of The National Midnight Star Number 815 ********************************************