Customer Reviews

Caravan [+Digital Booklet]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's always a nice day when I get to hear brand new Rush songs for the first time, and these two are a treat. The first song, "Caravan", is funky, yet hard. The instrumental section in the middle reminded me of "La Villa Stangiato", which can never be a bad thing. "BU2B" is one of the heaviest Rush tracks in ages and features a great chorus. "All is for the best/Believe in what we're told

Blind men 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". The purpose of this two-song download is to not only introduce the songs in time for the upcoming "Time Machine" tour but also to whet fans appetites for the new "Clockwork Angels" CD to be released next year. Job well done.

I've been a Rush fan for as long as I can remember, at least the late seventies. A Farewell to Kings was my very first real album, and they have shaped me in more ways than one. I can't even express what Rush means to me, they even introduced me to Tolkien through their conceptual work.

After listening to the new tracks all the way through, I have to say, as one of their oldest fans I approve! Caravan is just awesome, the clip doesn't to it full justice. And BU2B has all the power and drive of their best rock anthems. Get the full album, the digital booklet is beautiful, well worth the extra 29 cents.

Time to get out the Bass and learn some new riffs!

The two newest Rush songs, "Caravan" and "BU2B (Brought Up To Believe)" are great. I saw them live over the weekend in Milwaukee at Summerfest and they played both songs. They sound even better live (especially "Caravan" which was followed by an insane Neil Peart drum solo). The studio versions are excellent, too...and I'm really looking forward to the new CD "Clockwork Angels" coming out in 2011. These guys are still going strong, and still put on one hell of a live show. Go see the "Time Machine" tour this year if you can!

(45 year old SUPER fan since 2112)Both songs are good don't get me wrong but I just don't feel them. I think RUSH has gotten too hard? Where's the nuances? I miss Alex hitting those Edge like notes. I miss Geddy putting in a little bit of atmospheric keyboard work. I'm not airdrumming at all! I think a lot of old time fans have been somewhat put off since TFE? I'm sorry again but RUSH should not be a grunge band. They're way better than that. I wish they would take a cue from a band they inspired, Dream Theater. Black Clouds And Silver Linings is a masterpiece. The Count Of Tuscany is DT's Xanadu. I know that RUSH likes to keep moving forward but they should take some cues from there past now? I'll have to reserve my full judgement till Clockwork Angels comes out next year. The idea that they're doing an album length piece does give me hope. I just wish they would listen to Farewell To Kings before they start finishing the pieces though. RUSH 1976 to 1993 (5 super stars)

Like many Rush fans, I have been listening to Rush a long time - about 30 years, and they are my favorite band. I have learned that when I first listen, many songs don't always resonate with me and often require several sittings to fully grasp and appreciate...if there is anything to grab onto at all.

So after a couple of spins each, here is my impression:

While the musicianship and production are masterful as usual, I think these are compositionally kind of a mess and from what I can glean of the lyrics, a bit of a hackneyed retread of subject matter/voice for Peart.

It feels like Rush **rushed** these songs to market prior to their summer tour (which I will be attending of course).

Gone are the musical and lyrical refinement that they really brought to bear with noteworthy consistency on Snakes and Arrows. These songs feel like a regression to the period of Counterparts & Test for Echo as they battled themselves out of their synth period...as if they felt if they just played harder, it would redeem their foray into that experiment.

And seriously, Sir Peart: with all that you've written to me all of these years that really mean something to me, these lyrics seem to be a collection of unexamined cliches better suited to someone less experienced in lyricism and life. Please don't become a caricature of yourself.

While I imagine these will grow on me a bit like Rush always does, I REALLY REALLY hope that Rush spends some time refining these as well as those other songs due to be recorded after the summer tour.

Edit: Wow: upon further listening, these really don't cut the mustard. The last third of Caravan - the jam - barely saves this song from being a complete disaster. BU2B almost works...almost. It doesn't really begin to take off until it settles into a groove after jumping around musically and lyrically like a spazz garage band.

I think these sound like pieces of good things put together, but neither ends up being a complete song. They're lacking cohesion and mastery of songcraft unlike an innumerable number of their gems.

See you on tour anyway, guys: you're the best.

As a 21 year old, I have been a fan of Rush's music since I was 15. What really strikes me about these songs is Geddy's bass being higher up in the mix (and his taurus pedals too!!). Geddy also does a better job singing on both songs compared to what he did on Vapor Trails and Snakes&Arrows. However, I don't like the fact that Rush is being influenced by the muddy, droning rock sound that is prominent in today's music. From Rush to Presto all of their music was crisp. It was also easier to differentiate all aspects of their music (bass, guitar, synth, vocals etc...). But now everything just sounds so blended (almost stale and depressing). What ever happened to "happy" and "clean" sounding music like Led Zeppelin, Queen, Yes and Black Sabbath? Although many of these bands' have indeed released dark themed songs, the music itself still sounds happy and uplifting. Nevertheless, I am happy to see them return with these two songs and my hopes are high for their new album next year.

First off ditto a lot of what's been said. Been around and going to tours since Hemispheres. And yes these songs will probably grow on me. But certain parts of Caravan seem sloppy like they just couldn't quite finish the idea. There is some good stuff here it just doesn't go too far. The main riff from Caravan rocks and is definitely in your face Rush. BU2B....eh. Very grunge like and sloppy guitar in places. Almost "Victor" like. Maybe it will be better live.

One other gripe I have is if these guys are going to release things digitally then why do we have to suffer through these hollow tinny sounding MP3's? Where's the lossless download? How about a FLAC file? Come on guys. You're supposed to be on the cutting edge.

Great production and love the heaviness of it. Very complex and hard hitting stuff. But I find both songs to be merely okay. I downloaded this over a year ago and once in a while I will listen to it again and hope that it will really catch on, but it hasn't yet. I like the chorus for Caravan, but that's the only part I can recall while not listening to it. I like these songs, I guess, but as my duty as a long time Rush fan (since 1977, damn I feel old and I'm only 44!), I feel like I should like them more. As usual, love the playing, and some of the instrumental sections are exciting. But I feel that Geddy has to work on his vocal melodies. And I feel like they are trying to cram too many ideas into one song. Anyway, despite my slight disappointment, I will most definitely give both of these songs another listen or two or three and still very much look forward to the new album.

Quickly, and becasue i'm bored at work today. Caravan I think (per usual) after a listen or two is an excellent starting point for the new album. I really enjoyed the musical jam in the middle. New/cool drum licks there. I enjoyed the songs structure, and it's melodic flow. As stated earlier, on first listen it's not always ear candy, but ultimately it works, and I really enjoy that song.

Caravan on the other hand was a rather resounding disappointment. I'm don't know a lot about production value but from top to bottom i though it was rather bland. The lyrics, the chord progressions, and engineering of that song were all just lacking in my opinion. Sometimes Neil Peart can get away with a less is more approach to lyics, but in this case the endless repeating of the BU2B chorus was rather annoying.

Anyway my 2 cents. I've heard they went over well live and sounded really good. I'll know that for sure come March 27th.

I'll look forward to the next album, and even with what I consider a throw away song in BU2B, i think it'll be a strong effort by the band.

Cheers!

These are a couple of pretty interesting, quirky, sometimes exciting, but somewhat flawed tracks.

BU2B is way too loud and there is digital crackling in some of the more ambient/laid-back/quiet parts,

due to excessive compression.

The playing and music often hearken to other great Rush works, like Hemipheres and are a good blend of old, heavy,

proggy Rush and a more modern sound.

Besides the smashed-to-death compression on the tracks, I think the biggest flaw is the awkward vocal lines at times. Part of that awkwardness could be intentional. Rush are weird. But when a vocal line is still coming off weird to a long-time fan after a dozen listens or so, something might be wrong. This is coming from someone who gets and enjoys "Red Lenses," "The Fountain of Lamneth," "Limbo," "Peaceable Kingdom" and other Rush songs with weird melodies.

Give the tracks a chance and give them multiple listens. They "clicked" more for me after about a 1/2 dozen spins.

Rush have existed most of their career on the fringe of popular rock. In a way I'm glad they've created a couple of

not-entirely-accessible tracks. It beats the alternative of them trying to produce a popular work [cough Roll the Bones cough]...