It’s been slowly growing on me as I listen to it a few more times. Sweet Miracle, Earthshine,, etc. etc. all quality songs, no doubts there. It’s funny, but I hadn’t noticed until Coldfire said so that there are NO GUITAR SOLOS on the album! Weird.
I still prefer the stuff produced prior to, say, Hold Your Fire, which for me was the proverbial “jump the shark” album. Everything they did between 1968 and 1988 was simply awesome.
But I must say that there are other bands I used to follow just as closely, who changed just as much as Rush has, and I threw them by the wayside never to patronize them ever again, those bastards (damn you, REM! “Green”? Your mother’s green); whereas with Rush I am sitting here sort of affectionately bitching about their new album (which I awaited greedily, even after a string of albums I didn’t care for so much) while stalking the concert listings for a local date, for which I will enthusiastically lay out an obscene amount of money for a pair of killer seats for me and m’lady.
DAMNIT! I have to wait until NEXT FRIDAY’S PAYDAY to buy tickets, and even then I’ll have to drive from GA to either NC or VA. But you know what? Doesn’t bother me a bit, although I would absolutely LOVE to see the boys at Philips Arena in Atlanta.
FANATIC NOTE: Last year, two of my friends and I drove 9 hours to Centreville, VA to see Radiohead. The concert was cancelled at the last minute due to storms/flooding. I think Rush may be the only band that would make me risk another long-ass drive to an outdoor summer concert.
Also: I’m not sure to which show I’ll be going, but when I get the tickets I’ll post. I know a gathering has been tentatively planned for VA, but it’s looking more likely that I’ll be attending one of the Carolina shows . . . if so, anyone there interested in a bit of festivity? I’ll certainly have a hotel room, so I wouldn’t mind donating it for a RushDope get-together.
Oh, and sorry for the duplicate thread, folks . . . didn’t think to search for another.
And might I say again that Vapor Trails ROCKS. End of story.
