I hate Rush - Tell Me Why I'm Wrong

I hate Rush. I remember hearing them in the late 70's and hating them then. I could never get into them when all my friends were going crazy for them. I admit they are crazily talented, but for some odd reason they don't click with me. I think it's Geddy's vocals which are like sandpaper on my soul.

Can you guys suggest some Rush that will help me understand them? I feel like I should like them so help me out here. What are some great songs by them (hopefully not any "hits") that might change my opinion. Thanks.

If you hate any of these songs, you won't like any Rush song -- ever.

Entre Nous


Red Barchetta


Cinderella Man


Anthem


There are tons of great songs to be found that aren't hits.

I'm not much more than a casual Rush fan myself. The only albums I own are the 2-CD CHRONICLES collection, and a vinyl LP of FLY BY NIGHT that I picked up at a yard sale years 'n' years ago.

I don't hate 'em, but I've never felt particularly compelled to dig deeper into their catalog either.

Witchfinder wrote:

I hate Rush. I remember hearing them in the late 70's and hating them then. I could never get into them when all my friends were going crazy for them. I admit they are crazily talented, but for some odd reason they don't click with me. I think it's Geddy's vocals which are like sandpaper on my soul.

Can you guys suggest some Rush that will help me understand them? I feel like I should like them so help me out here. What are some great songs by them (hopefully not any "hits") that might change my opinion. Thanks.

I hate Rush after the Moving Pictures era and for my money they'd been in a slump after Hemispheres to that album.

Try the 2112 album or Fly By Night. If neither of those hook you, you just don't like Rush. Which is understandable because Geddy Lee's vocals are an acquired taste IMO.

Geddy Lee's vocals are indeed an acquired taste, but suit Rush's music rather well.

Required Fields wrote:

Geddy Lee's vocals are indeed an acquired taste, but suit Rush's music rather well.

This.
I couldn't imagine Rush without Geddy's vocals.

Metal-On-Metal wrote:

Required Fields wrote:

Geddy Lee's vocals are indeed an acquired taste, but suit Rush's music rather well.

This.
I couldn't imagine Rush without Geddy's vocals.

Me either but that's because I more or less grew up with Rush. I do recognize how people could be turned off to his vox though. Same thing with Jon Anderson and Yes; if you like Yes, you say his vocals help define the band but if you don't like them, he's generally the main reason.

tohostudios wrote:

Metal-On-Metal wrote:

Required Fields wrote:

Geddy Lee's vocals are indeed an acquired taste, but suit Rush's music rather well.

This.
I couldn't imagine Rush without Geddy's vocals.

Me either but that's because I more or less grew up with Rush. I do recognize how people could be turned off to his vox though. Same thing with Jon Anderson and Yes; if you like Yes, you say his vocals help define the band but if you don't like them, he's generally the main reason.

Nailed that one on the head there. I, for one, love Rush and Yes, but I can definitely see why people could be turned off by both.

What's odd is that I like King Diamond's vocals as well as Tim Baker's (Cirith Ungol) and they have weird stylings. I thought I would give Rush one more shot to see if maybe they "clicked."

You are either going to like them or not, they are that type of band.

If you dislike Geddy's vocals you can try the later albums where he's mellowed out and sings in a lower register, but essentially he has remained the same.

I love Rush, I like all of their albums (in varying degrees) and they are easily in my top 5 favorite bands of all time.

But it's futile to try and "convert" someone to Rush, in my experience people either like them or dislike them immediately.

S.D. wrote:

I love Rush, I like all of their albums (in varying degrees) and they are easily in my top 5 favorite bands of all time.

But it's futile to try and "convert" someone to Rush, in my experience people either like them or dislike them immediately.

I agree fully with both things you said. I absolutley LOVE Rush and I am perfectly ok with most of the world not liking them.

I am a latecomer to Rush. I couldnt get over the vocals and got really tired of Tom Sawyer but after listening more i began to like them. I only have 4 albums but I like what i have.

exact33 wrote:

I am a latecomer to Rush. I couldnt get over the vocals and got really tired of Tom Sawyer but after listening more i began to like them. I only have 4 albums but I like what i have.

That includes 2112 and Fly By Night, right?

I have:

2112
Power Windows
Caress of Steel
Moving Pictures

exact33 wrote:

I have:

2112
Power Windows
Caress of Steel
Moving Pictures

IMO, you are severely lacking one Rush album then.

Fly By Night.

Must. Buy. Now.

IMO, that is...

ok. Ill add that to the list. I paid $1.98 for those 4 btw.

One of my best friend's literally HATED Rush when we were teenagers, we'd have these huge arguments about them, neither side giving an inch, just a bunch of posturing on both our parts. We learned to just not talk about them and that was that.

Anyway, about 5 years ago he let me know that he saw the "Rush In Rio" concert video at a co-workers house...and he finally "got it". He now has their entire discography.

Our tastes change over the years, he just evolved to a place where Rush finally made sense to him.

...of course I had to give him a little grief about all those old arguments.

exact33 wrote:

ok. Ill add that to the list. I paid $1.98 for those 4 btw.

I couldn't care less about Power Windows but I think those other 3 are essential.

S.D. wrote:

One of my best friend's literally HATED Rush when we were teenagers, we'd have these huge arguments about them, neither side giving an inch, just a bunch of posturing on both our parts. We learned to just not talk about them and that was that.

Anyway, about 5 years ago he let me know that he saw the "Rush In Rio" concert video at a co-workers house...and he finally "got it". He now has their entire discography.

Our tastes change over the years, he just evolved to a place where Rush finally made sense to him.

...of course I had to give him a little grief about all those old arguments.

nothing like an "I told you so"

Can't tell you you're wrong...I hate them too.


Arttie

exact33 wrote:

ok. Ill add that to the list. I paid $1.98 for those 4 btw.

Fly By Night is a great record.

All their albums from the debut through Grace Under Pressure are in my opinion "must-haves". I like all their albums, but if you're just starting to get into them I'd just hit all the other discs chronological, it's fascinating to hear them develop through the years.

One of the best live bands too, at least one Rush live album should make your shopping list.

i love Rush & still think their first album is one of the greatest debuts of any band ever.

mc666 wrote:

i love Rush & still think their first album is one of the greatest debuts of any band ever.

Definitely. It ranks up there with the first Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin albums in my little twisted universe.

"Rush" was the first album I learned on guitar from beginning to end, I figured if I could play everything on the debut I was making progress.

Their popular albums suck, honestly. Check out their early stuff. Rush and Fly By Night are killer hard rock albums.

I consider myself a Rush fan but unlike others I can admit that they've recorded tons of filler and can be unbearable at times.

Try these songs:
Spirit of Radio
Bastille Day
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
Show Don't Tell
Freewill
Working Man

If you hate them all then don't bother picking up any of their albums.