New song by Rush (the band) is my new "Atheist Anthem"

[scheming daemons]

BU2B (Brought Up To Believe)

I was brought up to believe
The universe has a plan
We are only human
It's not ours to understand

The universe has a plan
All is for the best
Some will be rewarded
And the devil will take the rest

All is for the best
Believe in what we're told
Blind man in the market
Buying what we're sold
Believe in what we're told
Until our final breath
While our loving Watchmaker
Loves us all to death

In a world of cut and thrust
I was always taught to trust
In a world where all must fail
Heaven's justice will prevail

The joy and pain that we receive
Each comes with its own cost
The price of what we're winning
Is the same as what we've lost

Until our final breath
The joy and pain that we receive
Must be what we deserve
I was brought up to believe

[Touchdown]

1. It's sold with Caravan on iTunes for $2.49.

Is there an album or are they just these two singles?

[City Lights]

2. The album - Clockwork Angels - is in the works. nt

[Touchdown]

3. I saw that. Album in 2011. I'm downloading 'em now.

Thanks!:yourock:

[City Lights]

7. I don't rock.

Rush ROCKS! B-)

They played both songs when I saw them in early July on their Time Machine tour. I love the new songs. :bounce:

[asdjrocky]

4. Christ, I couldn't listen to Rush then and I sure won't start now.

Worst band ever.

[Fuzz]

6. Great musicians, but omg, Geddy Lee's voice. Watched a recent concert that was aired on TV.

Wow. His voice is a killer.

[asdjrocky]

10. Most pretentious band EVER.

Average musicians at best, with overblown egos.

[HughMoran]

12. Canadians have egos?

:rofl:

I really enjoyed them in concert. :D

[Township75]

20. Pretentious? Average?

I'm curious why you say that, because back when I played music, those three were considered Gods on their instruments. Since I don't play anymore, maybe perceptions have changed, but in the 80s and 90s everyone who played guitar or drums though those 3 had unbelievable talent (even if they didn't like their music

[asdjrocky]

25. A lot of it is going to come down to personal taste.

I worked in the music industry for better than 20 years in one way or another. It seems I'm of your generation and most of the people I knew liked Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Ted Nugent, Judas Priest, and the people that liked those bands tended to like Rush.

I did not. While they were listening to the latest 20 minute solo from Peter Frampton I was discovering the Ramones. When they went on and on about the latest song from April Wine, I wanted them to listen to the Gene Vincent records I'd found at the thrift store. I was listening to Social Distortion, Black Flagg, Dead Kennedys, and by the time the 90s came along there was mudhoney, Dropkick Murphys, Ice T and NWA.

So it comes down to taste. Could Rush play? Sure, but not well enough for me to want to listen to them play the same song for 20 minutes.

Yes, I feel the same way about Yes, Gentle Giant, Greatful Dead, and most jazz.

[miyazaki]

28. Ya, sounds like you don't know shit about Rush.

The usual spew from 'pretentious' music industry critics.

[XOKCowboy]

34. You working in the music industry and dissing Rush says a lot...

about the crap we're subjected to today by said industry.

[City Lights]

49. !

:thumbsup:

[asdjrocky]

53. You saying we're subjected to crap today says a lot about your closed mind.

There is great music being produced today, just like when you were young enough to listin to something new without a prejudice ear.

I said it comes down to a matter of taste, and I don't like 20 minute solos. Christ man, it's all scales.

[XOKCowboy]

58. Mylie Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Boys Like Girls. That's some great music there!

All style and zero substance. Typical of today's "music". Give me Rush (Neil Peart is one of the best drummers on the planet), Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa or even Merle Haggard any day. I like musicians that actually play instruments.

[City Lights]

59. You forget the Jonas Brothers!

Now there's a band for the ages!

:puke:

:rofl:

[sweetloukillbot]

60. 2010 has been a great year for music, tween pop notwithstanding...

I can think of over a dozen great albums this year already - The Hold Steady, Gaslight Anthem, The National, Gogol Bordello, Caribou, New Pornographers, Shearwater, Sleigh Bells, Massive Attack, Minus the Bear, M.I.A., Beach House, Broken Social Scene, Spoon...

None of them will get played on the radio (except for M.I.A. - and that will only be one song)but there is some great stuff happening right now just below the surface - check out NPR's All Songs Considered - you might find something new you love - and if you like Zappa, Rush and Jeff Beck, you should definitely check out Minus the Bear - one of the freshest prog bands I've heard in ages.

[XOKCowboy]

62. My point exactly

"None of them will get played on the radio" because the music business today has no need for real musicians and real music.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out on Pandora. :hi:

[Township75]

61. I can respect that.

It definitely is personal taste with music.

I don't think Rush has put out a good albumn since Counterparts back in...93? Not that I have listen to anything they put out since 2000, but the little bits I did hear were not impressive.

I went to the death metal mode in the 90s, but still listened to Rush. I hate most classic rock like the Eagles, Ted Nugent, etc but I think Rush's music evolved so they kept my interest.

Wiht that said, no one needs to justify to me why they think they suck, because it is taste. But I never heard anyone refer to their individual music talents as "average". That still is a shocker, but to each their own.

[kysrsoze]

27. If you were a band you'd be pretentious. Were the Ramones even average musicians?

[XOKCowboy]

35. Hey didn't you read? The poster worked in the "industry"!

I'd be surprised if said poster ever played a note professionally.

[asdjrocky]

54. Yes, the Ramones were average musicians.

Not even that great really, but they took a different path, they did something new and 100 years from now the Romones will still ring out while everyone is saying, Rush who?

[Dr. Strange]

46. Pretentious?

How does a band with three washing machines running on stage during a concert get labeled pretentious?

[City Lights]

48. Average musicians?

:rofl:

How many of their songs have you mastered?

[TwilightGardener]

52. Come on now, you may not like them, but average musicians they are not.

[HughMoran]

8. Good

I love Rush and it would be disturbing to me if you liked them.

[asdjrocky]

11. Right back at you.

I prefer real, honest music stripped of pretensions.

[HughMoran]

13. Well, just as you know the "truth", you know "real honest music"

Ummm, OK, this fits perfectly into the image I have of you.

Keep it coming, bro.

[asdjrocky]

14. Wow.

Honestly, I'm not even sure who you are and you spend that much time thinking about me? Weird.

So exactly how much space am I renting in your head anyway?

[HughMoran]

17. I am omnipotent

Don't worry about it - you'll get used to it.

Is this you?

[Tsiyu]

30. +1000

Rush? :puke:


Anytime I hear that whiney lead singer I cringe, thinking about my Repuke ex - who ADORED them and played that shit relentlessly - in between beating the kids and me.

bad, bad juju for me.

And back in the day only the wannabe musicians listened to Rush. The wankers.

Sorry for those yoot who love this band, but true.

asdjrocky, there were so many really great bands back then, eh?

But Rush was not among them

[Touchdown]

31. I think that had more to do with your Ex, than the band he listened to.

I can't stand to listen to Bob Seger because my asshole Step Dad, who took a belt to my ass, but never earned the right of father figure status was a fan of his.

I had a boyfriend in the 80s who loved Huey Lewis, and I got SICK of that one hit wonder as fast as I got sick of Helium Heels.

[Tsiyu]

33. Well, the words

like that fucking tree song just fit the ex's Randian nature.

i could not stand the lead singer's voice from the get-go

and the lyrics were contrived pablum to me.

To each his own, though. I don't think everyone who listens to Rush is a psychopathic, abusive Republican Crack-head. But I think their music is just not anything I could ever imagine enjoying.

But then, i listen to some weird stuff myself that the yoot sometimes don't like.

Peace

[MyNameGoesHere]

44. I like people that get locked into a musical taste

and are unable to understand music as a whole. I am sure you would bash me because I like Hungarian folk music, Hindi inspirational songs, and cranking the fuck out of Rush. But what do I know my tastes are not as refined as a music critics I am sure.

[MedicalAdmin]

51. You prefer real honest music without pretensions.

So are you talking about, like, garage bands? Or are you refering to only liking those who haven't mastered their instruments?

I was a pro musician for 30 years before moving on and getting off the road to my current gig. Among the musicians I know Rush is well respected for their attention to the art and of music as well as their technical mastery of their craft.

On the other hand Norman Dello Joio once told me that good music is what you like, not what the critics like. It's about personal taste.

[kurtzapril4]

15. As a musician

I appreciate their musicianship. That is all. Their Randian bs lyrics....not so much.

[Common Sense Party]

26. The Randian lyrics...which they haven't done since, oh, 1980?

[Touchdown]

29. I'd kind of argue that. Tom Sawyer skirts the randian thing a bit.

That was 1981. I know 1 year, big deal!:P

EDIT: but I think with Signals, they broke into other forms of social commentary.

[distantearlywarning]

37. Both of you are right.

:)

See my post #36 below for a more detailed analysis.

It really annoys me when people sum up 35 years of Rush lyrics as "Randian". Yeah, sure, Randian, if we're all still living in 1980. :eyes: Get with the times, people! :P

[sendero]

41. Once a douchebag libertarian..

... always a douchebag libertarian. Until I hear a direct repudiation, I still think Peart is a fucking idiot.

And while I'm at it, douchebag libertarianism aside, in the world of prog rock Rush is and always will be a second tier act.

[scheming daemons]

43. They haven't been "libertarian" since Carter was President.. pretty liberal for the past 20 years

In their early 20s, people are sometimes foolish.


Then they grow up.


Are you the same person you were 30 years ago?


Neither is Neil Peart. The past two decades, his lyrics have been fairly liberal and progressive. It has pissed off his right-wing fans and they've left the band in droves over that time.


Your statement "once a douchebag libertarian, always a douchebag libertarian" is the height of childish thinking. People change.

[madinmaryland]

16. +10000

[jah the baptist]

5. here is the best part

All is for the best
Believe in what we\'re told
Blind man in the market
Buying what we\'re sold
Believe in what we\'re told
Until our final breath
While our loving Watchmaker
Loves us all to death

[Edweird]

9. Hm. I was under the impression they were xtian.

[AnnieBW]

22. No, just Randian

Geddy Lee is a huge fan of Ayn Rand. :eyes:

[distantearlywarning]

23. Two things

1) Neil Peart is the lyricist, not Geddy Lee

2) They have indicated on numerous occasions that their Ayn Rand days are far in the past (like try prior to 1980) and were a product of youthful foolishness. In general their lyrics (of the last 15 years or so) are quite compatible with liberal/progressive sensibilities.

[chillspike]

24. That is somewhat true

and, I do believe Neil is trying to make up for his past philosophical errors in his lyrics but you can tell he still retains that "captains of industry are misunderstood" fantasy and the "individual drives all achievement" fluff. He may be liberal but he still uses that Randian language that makes you question how much he actually retains of her philosophy.

Plus I think the Ayn Rand philosophy plays or played a large part in convincing fans Rush was better musically than they actually were. Once you break that spell, you realize there are a lot better bands and artists out there than Rush.

[distantearlywarning]

36. you can tell he still retains that "captains of industry are misunderstood"

Sorry, don't see that one. Perhaps you can provide an example post-1982 or so to support your hypothesis?

Although I am personally not a big fan of Rush music prior to Moving Pictures (and thus not really an expert on lyrics prior to that album), I can't think off-hand of too many lyrics that really pushed that particular theme even from the very early days. The "individual drives all achievement" theme is, however, certainly part of their earlier stuff (e.g., The Trees; Something For Nothing). Then again, the "living in your mom's basement playing too much D&D" arguably forms a fair thematic percentage of that early work also (e.g., By-tor and the Snow Dog, quite possibly the most ridiculous song ever written). }(

In all seriousness, I would argue that if you look at the sum of Peart's philosophical leanings over the last 15-25 years or so that they are very much in line with the normative values of progressivism and liberalism in modern America, and represent topics that are discussed daily on DU. I also think this is why there are so many Rush fans on DU - many of us have noticed that Peart's lyrics support ideas and ideals we value and which we find currently relevant and interesting.

Some examples:

Racist Teabagger nutjobs - Witch Hunt, from Moving Pictures: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/witch-hunt-lyrics.html

Wealth Inequality - The Larger Bowl, from Snakes & Arrows: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/the-larger-bowl-%28A-pantoum%29-lyrics.html

Environmentalism - Red Tide, from Presto: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/red-tide-lyrics.html

War and Jingoism - Between The Wheels, from Grace Under Pressure: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/between-the-wheels-lyrics.html

American Imperialism & Jingoism - Territories, from Counterparts: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/territories-lyrics.html

Tolerance, Gay Rights - Nobody's Hero, from Power Windows: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rush-lyrics/nobody_s-hero-lyrics.html

Political Apathy - Turn the Page, from Hold Your Fire: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/turnthepage.html

Media Sensationalism - Test For Echo, from Test for Echo: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/testforecho.html

Peace, Tolerance - Peaceable Kingdom from Vapor Trails: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/peaceablekingdom.html

Evil corporate America (lyrics very much NOT supportive of "captains of industry") - Big Money, from Power Windows: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/thebigmoney.html

Religious Fanaticism (and also a little snark on Bush and NCLB) - The Way the Wind Blows, from Snakes & Arrows: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/thewaythewindblows.html


These are just a few songs I was able to think of just off the top of my head. It probably wouldn't be hard to make a more comprehensive list of post-very-early -80's Rush stuff that promotes quite liberal themes.


" Once you break that spell, you realize there are a lot better bands and artists out there than Rush."

This is a totally subjective judgment and thus difficult to argue about on the internets. To each his own, I guess. :shrug:

[sweetloukillbot]

38. Nice summation but a few comments...

I'd always taken Witch Hunt as anti-censorship, more left wing sort of song, but listening to it recently I heard almost the opposite - that its criticizing the "PC Left." The impetus was an argument with a wingnut friend who accused the Obama Administration of trying to do stuff "for the greater good" - which resonated with the line "Those who know what's best for us will rise and save us from ourselves."

I think "Red Barchetta" and to a lesser degree "Tom Sawyer" have strong libertarian bents as well.

Another big atheism song is "Freewill".

And the most ridiculous Rush song is "Fountain of Lamneth"

Rush was an important band in my formative years as a music fan - although I don't really listen to them much anymore I still buy everything they put out and see them in concert. Just wishing I could catch the Time Machine tour but alas, no Phoenix date.

[distantearlywarning]

39. I always thought Witch Hunt was totally about right-wingers

The whole censorship + xenophobia + fear of deviance thing is a very right-wing combination.

"They say there are strangers who threaten us
Our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness too dangerous
In our theaters and bookstore shelves"

"Those who know what's best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves"

Agreed WRT to Red Barchetta & Tom Sawyer - would argue that Moving Pictures (while a great album in general) was the last time you see social commentary with any kind of Randian element from Rush, and it is primarily contained in these two songs (although one could perhaps argue that Red Barchetta is a song about an unspecified totalitarian state, not necessarily a communist/socialist state).

[sweetloukillbot]

56. I'd always taken Witch Hunt about religious right myself...

But that recent discussion w/ my winger friend gave me pause (this was literally within the past two or three weeks). I see a little more ambiguity now, but that could be more from listening to wingnute claim how persecuted they are nowadays. Still my favorite Rush song...

When I was discovering Rush 30 years ago - I bought a copy of Atlas Shrugged because of the dedication on 2112 and quickly learned what an idiot she was - it didn't change my love of the music, but it did change me from thinking Peart was a lyrical genius to just a great drummer.
Honestly, I've always recognized the RW themes were in Rush's music but they never seemed predominant - Anthem, 2112, Something for Nothing, the Trees (which I actually remember reading somewhere was more directly about Quebecoise independence), the two songs mentioned above. That's about it.
At the same time Peart's lyrics have promoted atheism (Free Will) and smoking weed (Passage to Bangkok). Granted, both of those ideas also can fit the Libertarian viewpoint.

[sweetloukillbot]

57. Realization I just had...

ALL the hardcore Randian friends I have right now are drummers who were hardcore Rush fans in high school. So apparently that little dedication on 2112 did convert a few...

[chillspike]

42. There IS a highly liberal and progressive influence

in Peart's lyrics. And I would never argue that that doesn't make up the major percentage of the ideas, maybe even the entire percentage contained in the songs...But, every once in a while, there are flash backs or references from Peart that are a little more ambiguous, hard to pin down and personally, remind me of his past Randian influence. But again, that is not the major part of the material and is probably more my individual experience than any inherent conservative elements in Rush's work. Or perhaps my beef is not with Rush, but with the conservative element in their fans that hold on to an imaginary vision of Rush being a Right wing band. I could see that because sometimes Neil's word choices in his lyrics can remind me so much of Ayn Rand. And it just strikes me the wrong way and I believe feeds these misconceptions that Right wingers have about Rush. And I know they have them because my brother is one of them.


I am aware Alex Lifeson has said, on behalf or Rush, things like "We wouldn't have anything to do with Rush Limbaugh". So I do understand where you are coming from. And, as far as I am concerned, Rush fans are always welcomed in the progressive camp, not that it's my call or anything. I can't deny them a place at the progressive table and wouldn't. I used to be a pretty big Rush fan myself.

Those are very good examples you gave, and knowing Rush material very well myself, I know you can give addition examples.

[distantearlywarning]

47. Understood.

"Or perhaps my beef is not with Rush, but with the conservative element in their fans that hold on to an imaginary vision of Rush being a Right wing band."

You totally do see this on the internets - the Randians totally think that Neil Peart is one of their own, but the only songs they ever seem to cite to support this notion are The Trees and Anthem.

And thanks for engaging in a polite discussion. :)

[scheming daemons]

45. They haven't written anything remotely "Randian" in over 30 years

Inform yourself.

[Sebastian Doyle]

63. Geddy's Jewish

Not sure about Alex or Neil, but the only "religious" context I ever heard in any of their lyrics was Greek mythology in some of the older stuff.

[Touchdown]

64. There was the song about Auschwitz in the 80s.

The song came from a talk Geddy had with his mother or grandmother about the Holocaust.

"I hear the sound of gunfire from the prison gates.
Are the liberators here? Do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late,
But I must help my mother stand up straight."

[Iggo]

18. Kick!

:evilgrin:

[madinmaryland]

19. D'oh!

:D

[LAGC]

21. Atheists are the fastest growing minority in the United States.

Their growth numbers over the past 20 years have been nothing short of stunning.

Of course, they still have a long way to go before they upset the Establishment, but give or take a few hundred years or so and we may all be singing that anthem...

[Touchdown]

32. Funny! The word "Pretentious" is rarely used in internet debate.

... except when it is a thread about rock music. Then it gets thrown around like it's the only word to use.:rofl:

Just goes to show just how much influence Rolling Stone, Spin and other rock magazines have been. A derivative of 'Pretension' must be used in every review. It's a rule.

This obvious, and ironically pretentious post, with my whimsical attempt to be an impartial observer, and failing miserably at it, will now end.:hi:

[Delphinus]

40. Yowzers!

That's one amazing set of lyrics! Whew!

[paparush]

50. My name is Rush and I'm glad that Rush (the band) is making headlines instead of Rush (the asshat)

Whenever I meet someone and I tell them that my name is Rush, the first words out of their mouth is always "Oh, like Rush Limbaugh?"

Sigh.

My brief time on this orb of ocean happens to coincide with one of the world's worst present-day cretins, and we happen to share the same, somewhat unusual, first name.

[Touchdown]

55. I would ask... "Oh' Like Rush Hour 3?"

:rofl: