Customer Reviews

Ultimate Drum Play-Along Rush: Authentic Drum (Book & CD) (Ultimate Drum-Along)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It would be hard to overstate how much I was looking forward to this book/CD. I've been a drummer and a Rush fan since 1982. Ever since I bought the Jamie Borden DVD, which was advertised as including drumless play-along tracks, but did not, this has been something of a quest. I pre-ordered this book at first notice, and when it was delayed, ended up ordering another version from the UK (different cover, same book/CD). So, now I have two copies of the same, woefully executed book.

Having enjoyed other books of this type, especially the Hal Leonard Drum Play-Along series, I reluctantly wish this one had not been released. Rush has sometimes been criticized for "protecting their fans" from allegedly substandard products bearing their name. Well, I wish they'd do something about this one. Specifics:

An obnoxious, never-ending click track permeates throughout the play-along tracks. I love having a count-in, but we *really* don't need 8th notes running all the way through "Anthem", or any of the other tracks. It completely kills any fun that we might have hoped for. Other play-alongs do not do this, which makes them more realistic and more challenging. If a click is mandatory, why not a quiet hi-hat click every bar or two?

The music and notation are often incorrect. The end of the "YYZ" intro is one example. 13-tuplets?... no, it's not. Nor are Neil's YYZ solo fills written/played close to the original. "The Spirit of Radio" intro is tricky enough to nail exactly right. If you can do it, don't bother with this, because it isn't even close.

At the end of the day, this is only a product, and only cost $15-$20. So, it's not the end of the world. But, it is a waste of money. Joe King has some great renditions of Rush songs out there, that *are* fun to play along with. Save your money, and go search those out.

If anyone affiliated with Rush is listening: There is a market for this kind of thing. Please consider releasing your own authorized "music minus one" sets. Dave Weckl's band does a great job with this, as did David Garibaldi with Code of Funk. If you make it, we will buy it!

Just a note to all drummers and Rush fans out there - this item does not contain the original recordings of the songs by Rush. The Amazon listing does not state this anywhere and after receiving the item, I was only able to find a small notation of this on the back of the outside packaging, even though there is a very large picture of drummer Neil Peart and the Rush name in a Rush-style font on the front. Deceiving packaging by the publisher and an oversight by Amazon to not note this.

I'm giving this two stars because it still serves it's intended purpose - you can read the sheet music for several Rush songs and play along with songs created by Rush. But the whole thrill of putting your own drums to Rush songs doesn't work when it's a completely re-recorded song by a very average group of unknown musicians.

I'm not writing this review to be snarky in any way - I just want to warn people and help them save their money if they came here expecting to drum along with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee.

This is in response to all those who were disappointed that there was a click track throughout the "minus drums" versions of our tracks. Thank you for your input and we hear you. We have remixed and now have those tracks avialabe without click throughout. When the books are reprinted the CDs will contain these new mixes, in the meantime if you have purchased the book and would like the tracks without the click you can contact me (astang@alfred.com) or (customerservice@alfred.com) and we will provide the new tracks to you at no cost.

Thanks,
Aaron Stang
Alfred Music Publsihing

If you value your hearing stay away from this product. I cannot comment on the music becaus you can't hear it over the click track. It's not a subte cick track but an annoying click track that with headphones suonds like your brains are being sucked out.

Several commenters complained about the loud click tracks on this Rush drumset play-along CD. Aaron at Alfred Publishing posted a reply saying remixed tracks with no clicks were now available for the asking. I had this CD and liked it, but thought it would be even better without the clicks, so I asked for the remixed tracks and got them via e-mail right away. They are great! There are only the lead-in clicks, then the music starts and the drums are all up to you.

Of course, these are not the original Rush songs absent drum tracks, they are cover versions without vocals. But for learning to play the parts, they are perfect. Any hard rock drummer (like my teenage son) knows Neil Peart is the greatest, the pinnacle of the art. The best thing about this CD and book is being able to learn his parts for some of the favorite Rush songs--slightly simplified, but who in real life has a replica of Neil's full kit anyway? I mean, really.

Buy the CD and ask the publisher for the click-free remixes, and you won't be disappointed.

Very disapointing...It is not only that is band track that do not honor what really rush musicianship, and level of perfection that a Rush fan may expect, they will be disapointed... it is the anoying click!!! you can not play along with this!!!!

Clicling must be at leat an option for you activate...I do not think even Neil Peart has ever heard or could try to play this...

This should be called Rush Clicking Play Along!

They should fixed and send an upograde for free to all of us that were caught with this clicking product....