Time to get back to reviewin' me some albums

Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy - The Refreshments

There was a time when I would frequent record stores and pull CDs to listen to based on the covers. Occasionally a record store would have a listening station set up, and I would peruse it until something caught me eye. Well, that is exactly how I came to own Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy by The Refreshments.

I couldn't help but be drawn to that wonderfully vintage, bomber art cover (take a gander at that cover and you'll fall instantly in love!) It took me a couple of listens to know I couldn't live without it. I returned to the store at least twice, (I couldn't get "Mexico" and "Sucker Punch" out of my head) and I finally bought it. The best way to describe this album is infectious. Once it burrows into subconscious, there's no turning back.

One of my fondest memories of this CD is listening to it on a road trip to the heart of Virginia wine country (yes they make wine in Virginia - pretty good wine, as a matter of fact) with my buddy Rich. I had turned him on to the CD and we were listening to it on the way down from DC. We had the windows down and were both singing at the top of our lungs (or screeching - depending on your point of view). This CD just cries to be listened to a maximum volume, while you're barreling down the open road. On that trip, the two of us confirmed what we already suspected: this album is built for a road trip.

Standouts for me are the aforementioned "Mexico" and "Sucker Punch" as well as "Down Together," "Mekong" and "Banditos" (which happens to be the BIG single of the record), but all of it is immensely entertaining.

One finally word, I was listening to this with my oldest daughter in the car. When it was finished, she asked to hear it again. It is now one of the CDs she request when I ask her what she wants to listed to in the car. I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel watching her sing along with the CD. There is nothing better than being able to share music I love with her. It makes listening to it that much better.

All the world's indeed a stage...

Well, I saw the Rush documentary this week Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. It is fantastic. It was only out theatrically for a limited time and will be released on DVD and on VH-1 at some point later this month. It won the audience award at the Tribecca Film Festival, and its well deserved.

Seeing this film made me proud to have had the good sense to be a Rush fan, something I haven't felt for sometime. Its full of old footage and funny as hell, to boot. I had a smile on my face almost the entire time. I highly recommended it and its not just for Rush fans either. It is simply a great documentary and tells a great story.

I do have to say after having some time away from the screening, I realize watching it was like running into an old friend that you haven't seen in years. You know what I'm talking about: being reminded why you were such good friends and being reminded how sad it was that you've grown apart over the years. Not to sound hokey (I realize I'm failing miserably at it) but Rush and I have grown apart, and that makes me feel a little melancholy. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not interested in the "new" Rush. It bores me to tears. I'm past the point of being angry about it, and except that the band's sound has move away from me.

However, like all great friendships, I'll always have my memories. I have tickets to see them this fall and they will be playing Moving Pictures in its entirety. So, while we don't see or speak to each other everyday anymore, we can still get together and relive old times. At least I have that going for me, which is nice.

Rush to Judgement

My name is X-Ray, and I am a Rush fan. It's often not an easy thing to admit, but it has been down right difficult over the last 5 years or so because I've had to come to grips with the fact that the Rush I knew and loved (often to the detriment of picking up really hot chicks), no longer exists.

You see, somewhere along the way, Rush decided to give up on any semblance of melody and dive head first into sludge rock. Even in the past, when their songs were loud and crunchy ("Anthem", "Temples of Syrinx", "Something for Nothing"), or monster slices of tightly-wound progressive, power trio goodliness ("Cygnus X-1" or "Hemispheres"), the songs were still tuneful. You could sing along. You could hum the guitar solos. Hell, more often the not, the base lines were catchy little ditties!!

Now unfortunately, all Rush songs sound the same, and that same ain't good. Their songs are more often than not muddy, tuneless, and plodding messes. The playing on their last couple of albums has been uninspired. Their lyrics are just plain horrible, but to be fair, they have been since Presto. And I can't for the life of me understand why Geddy is so obsessed with double tracking his vocals. I had to come to the painful realization years ago that I wasn't doing myself any favors continuing to listen to their new music.

However, that being said, old geek habits die hard. I have continued to see them live (seen every tour since Power Windows more than 25 years ago) and have bought tickets to the upcoming tour. Last night I showed my true geek colors by staying up until midnight because the new Rush single was being release online, and I wanted to hear it.

I know you are waiting with baited breath to see if this story has a happy ending and whether the lack of sleep was worth it. You may even be hoping that Rush redeemed themselves, that the songs (for there was a b-side as well) were a breath of fresh air. A return to the understanding of what made their music so great to begin with. Well, dear readers, I am afraid that I cannot report as such. They suck, plain and simple. Loud and pointless seems to be the standard by which all future Rush music will be made, and that my friends, is a damn shame.