Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

[MatrixS2000]

Yeah, they were an amazing band, and (in this case) i'm very happy they resisted to carry on with a new drummer, technically it would certainly be possible, there are lots capable drummers around, but come on, these guys were practically family, so a good decision from them to not do it.

Considering how much of Rush was centred around drumming, I don’t think I could listen to Rush with a different drummer.

 

[MatrixS2000]

Hi Matt,

So, which one is your "Ultimate Favorite" it's a difficult choice for sure, but if i really have to, it's Hemispheres, closely followed by either 2112 or Permanent Waves.

I'm also a big time fan since 30+ years

I view Hemispheres as a continuation of A Farewell To Kings. When I listen to AFTK, Hemispheres is usually played next.

 

[AdrianusG]

I view Hemispheres as a continuation of A Farewell To Kings. When I listen to AFTK, Hemispheres is usually played next.

From that time period everything is great actually, up until Signals, after that it's getting a bit less, however Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows are great as well, this of course includes all the Live Albums.

 

[MattHooper]

From that time period everything is great actually, up until Signals, after that it's getting a bit less, however Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows are great as well, this of course includes all the Live Albums.

I’m in that crowd of Rush fans that got off the boat pretty much after signals, when they went mostly synthesizer.

It wasn’t just the change of sound, for me, like so many bands, Rush just ran out of hooks. I found this songwriting to become ever more bland - even when they got the energy back in the 90s, the songwriting still wasn’t as memorable or hooky. And then Geddy started losing his range. There’s a few tracks that I like in there later years.

I should give them another try.

 

[deweydm]

My comments would be on the 82 CD version as I was switching from lp to cd and replacing favorite lps with CDs. I have not heard other cd versions. I honestly thought it was just my subjective preference, I don't read the vinyl press, been digital since the Gen 2 CD players came out (83?). For me it was/is the mids and highs, wondering now if the 82 cd was flawed or is Anolog Planet in the everything sounds amazing better on wax camp.

Maybe the very early CD releases used pre-emphasis, or worse, used the same source as the LP, without accounting for the RIAA equalization. Dunno. CD copy I have is from ‘86 or later.

 

[Laika2]

Maybe the very early CD releases used pre-emphasis, or worse, used the same source as the LP, without accounting for the RIAA equalization. Dunno. CD copy I have is from ‘86 or later.

Yea, Who knows. I was surprised it was a issue that hit the analog sites. Thought it was just me.

 

[MatrixS2000]

From that time period everything is great actually, up until Signals, after that it's getting a bit less, however Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows are great as well, this of course includes all the Live Albums.

I’m in that crowd of Rush fans that got off the boat pretty much after signals, when they went mostly synthesizer.

I’m in that group too but I stopped at Moving Pictures, skipped 2, and also have Presto as my last Rush LP. I have their entire discography in digital although I rarely listen to anything after Moving Pictures. Presto is ok but not nearly the same as early Rush imo.

It wasn’t just the change of sound, for me, like so many bands, Rush just ran out of hooks. I found this songwriting to become ever more bland - even when they got the energy back in the 90s, the songwriting still wasn’t as memorable or hooky. And then Geddy started losing his range. There’s a few tracks that I like in there later years.

Agree, Presto really crystalized the blandness for me. There are some songs that I enjoy, but just not the same as early Rush. For example, I like The Pass from the Presto album but it is nowhere near a great as their early material. I think it is actually due to GL’s singing. Not sure if this the proper description but it is just too steady, almost mono tone on that album imo.

I should give them another try.

Try Presto - The Pass and Presto are the best songs on that album imo and see if you get the same feeling.

 

[AdrianusG]

I’m in that group too but I stopped at Moving Pictures, skipped 2, and also have Presto as my last Rush LP. I have their entire discography in digital although I rarely listen to anything after Moving Pictures. Presto is ok but not nearly the same as early Rush imo.


Agree, Presto really crystalized the blandness for me. There are some songs that I enjoy, but just not the same as early Rush. For example, I like The Pass from the Presto album but it is nowhere near a great as their early material. I think it is actually due to GL’s singing. Not sure if this the proper description but it is just too steady, almost mono tone on that album imo.

Try Presto - The Pass and Presto are the best songs on that album imo and see if you get the same feeling.

Where they really lost me though was with Test for Echo and Snakes and Arrows, they (partially) redeemed themselves again with Clockwork Angels, alas, it was to be their last album. but as already said, none of these albums come close to the early work, aka everything up-til Moving Pictures.

 

[AdrianusG]

I’m in that crowd of Rush fans that got off the boat pretty much after signals, when they went mostly synthesizer.

It wasn’t just the change of sound, for me, like so many bands, Rush just ran out of hooks. I found this songwriting to become ever more bland - even when they got the energy back in the 90s, the songwriting still wasn’t as memorable or hooky. And then Geddy started losing his range. There’s a few tracks that I like in there later years.

I should give them another try.

Related,

I recently viewed a concert (2023) by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, I think it's called Perpetual Motion Live, so they perform YES songs from their golden period, man i can tell you they sound just like YES of old and Jon Anderson's voice is still absolutely Amazing, now kinda feeling very sorry that i never saw that band Live at their best.
Anyway this is the closest you can possible get to that feeling, this band absolutely nails it.

 

[zhabotinsky]

Not sure if this paper has been mentioned. It's an ethnography. No measurements (of preferences) whatsoever. The writing style may be off-putting. The paper is open access.

 

[AdrianusG]

Not sure if this paper has been mentioned. It's an ethnography. No measurements (of preferences) whatsoever. The writing style may be off-putting. The paper is open access.

Ehm.... be that as it may, but when i see that new Vinyl in most cases = double the price of it's CD counterpart, (at least here in Holland) no thanks!

 

[MattHooper]

I wonder if the OP feels we’ve answered his question.

 

[antcollinet]

I wonder if the OP feels we’ve answered his question.

I wrote this in a reply to another's post (click link below to see quoted post) over 1 1/2 years ago. Sadly it was only 1/3 way through the thread we now have.

Still living in hope.

I live in hope that a post like this will come along, everyone will read it and go "Oh, OK then" and this thread will stop.

Who knows - perhaps this is the one.

 

[MattHooper]

Plenty of fun and sometimes informative conversations continue to flourish in this thread.

I can’t see any reason to wish for its demise.

(Unless perhaps somebody makes mistake of typing “warmth” on the thread again and the bat signal goes up for you know who )

 

[MattHooper]

I recently viewed a concert (2023) by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, I think it's called Perpetual Motion Live, so they perform YES songs from their golden period, man i can tell you they sound just like YES of old and Jon Anderson's voice is still absolutely Amazing, n

I grew up listening to YES, genesis, etc. And since I got back into records I’ve been spending quite a bit of time spinning YES and thoroughly enjoying a few of their albums.

That said…

I just watched a performance of honour of a lonely heart, YES performing at the Lugano Jazz festival in 2004. My God it was awful.
Steve Howe was playing at a level of “ should be put out in the pasture, past his selling date.”

Jon wasn’t sounding great either though I admit, I’ve never been a big fan of Jon Anderson’s singing to begin with.

 

[PristineSound]

Sorry if this is already discussed and brought up.

There is also a minor fad with cassette tape resurgent.

I fear the faithful defenders coming to the rescue of such prosecution of cassette tapes, please show mercy

 

[Laika2]

Sorry if this is already discussed and brought up.

There is also a minor fad with cassette tape resurgent.

I fear the faithful defenders coming to the rescue of such prosecution of cassette tapes, please show mercy

View attachment 447951

In this day and age why?

... Carefully inserts 8 Track to hear a song fade out, click clunky, fade back in 5 seconds latter. 8 Track, I feel many forget the warm midrange, the huge soundstage and sonically transparent sound of a mediocre and self destructive format.

 

[MattHooper]

Sorry if this is already discussed and brought up.

There is also a minor fad with cassette tape resurgent.

I fear the faithful defenders coming to the rescue of such prosecution of cassette tapes, please show mercy

View attachment 447951

People are attracted to the ritual of winding the slack tape with a pencil.

Streaming just doesn’t offer you that.

 

[EJ3]

People are attracted to the ritual of winding the slack tape with a pencil.

Streaming just doesn’t offer you that.

Let's not forget the BIC pens that seemed especially made for that✏
Although I have yet to have one of my decks produce a tape that needed that little extra bit of winding after removing the cassette from the machine.

 

[MatrixS2000]