Review Summary: Rush is covering bands? Well. It's a good cover album. Some parts hinder, other parts are awesome and Summertime Blues is just too great.
Rush - Feedback
Line-up:
Bass - Geddy Lee
Guitar - Alex Lifeson
Percussion - Neil Peart
Original Release Date: June 29, 2004
Label: Atlantic
Rush. the most famous and powerful Progressive-Rock Trio from Canada, Releases a new album on 2004. But not an LP as many fans would want. Instead, they released an EP, called
Feedback which contains a little letter when you open it. It explain the reason for the existence of such album: The band wanted to Tribute in a way the bands that they used to cover back in the days, in their garages, when they weren't the super-known and recognized musicians they are at the moment. This is a conmemoration as well, for the thiry years they've been together, and pay tribute to those who learned and inspired from, all this in their own words. Even the artwork is oldschool, as you may see, with a very 60's-esque design.
So, you guessed. It's a cover album. Before you feel the need of rejecting this album, I ask you to, at least, give it a try, despite being conformed entirely by covers, (except for one original) it's a fun listen, anyhow. Geddy Lee's voice is a great strong point in here, because I'm not a huge fan of Geddy's early days voice, it sounded too... whinny. In this album (and about a while, as well) His voice has improved, making this album even better for me.
The album kicks off with
Summertimes Blues, original by
Eddie Cochran, But they say the covered the
Blue Cheer Version, but there's a real Rush Feeling to this. Completely old-schol in theme, heart and spirit, this song delivers and pretty much prepares the mood for the rest of the album. A definitive winner, and Rush's touch actually shows in the overall feeling of the song.
After this great track, follows
Heart full of soul, A cover of
The yardbirds song. This song is also amazing, and has a true old-school feeling to it. You almost feel back in the days with this, as corny as that may sound. The action soon jumps to
For what it's worth, a slower track, first recorded by
Buffalo Springfield, Which is also a nice spinoff of the original, and it's a fun song.
The who's The seeker Also gets a chance in here, and it's also pulled off greatly, Besides, Neil Peart gets a better chance of showing off in this song, as well as being an ultimate favorite of most people. Soon after,
Mr. Soul, another track by
Buffalo Springfield comes in to the mix, staying in the same mood of the past three tracks, more mellow than the first two. That makes them a little less of my favorites, yet I feel attracted by the solo in this particular song. As always, Geddy and Neil follow up with the album itself, but they aren't as present as they could be, maybe because of the covers themselves, But they are enjoyable songs, amyway.
Seven and seven is Is a strange track. It starts off kinda off-beat, but soon gets much better. Both Neil and Geddy finally get a chance to show what they are all about, Except it can be a little too repetitive at times.
Shapes of things, Another
Yardbirds cover, brings back the happier mood to the album, and they pull it off greatly. The drum line is amazing, and so is bass. Nonetheless, another favorite.
The cover
Crossroads Originally performed by the supergroup
Cream Is my favorite track off the whole album, Maybe because I felt that Geddy's voice is much clearer and brighter than the original track, and his bass playing is just top-notch in this one. Great way to finish the album.
PROS
+ Good covers: no butchering songs
+ Geddy's voice improved a lot from the early days
+ Overall Feeling of the album is really retro
+ Fun to listen
CONS
- A few strange track choices, such as Buffalo Springfield
- Too short
- Not a real album
And there you go. An EP by the progsters from Canada. It's indeed a great album, very fun to listen, as well as it must have been fun to record, yet, it's not what we expect after some years of no Rush. Nonetheless, we are still waiting for the new album, and covers don't really feed the hunger for new material. Classic Rock lovers will love this, bur Rush fans can be alittle dissapointed. don't let this stop you from giving it a shot and see for yourself.
