 |
The Philosophical Vision of Rush by Carol Selby Price and Robert M. Price November 1997 |
In the late 1970s, during the golden age of FM Rock Music, a group emerged from Canada which was utterly different from all the rest. Where other musicians sang of suicide, betrayal, and drugs, Rush talked about motivation, the realization of dreams, and the future. Here were albums filled with ideas, not ennui, ideas whose voices could not be shouted down. Here were three modern-day philosophers — Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee — wondering aloud, in perfect rhythm, about modern-day issues that affect us all. Here was a trio of songsters trying to awaken a sense of curiosity in their listeners, trying to spark interest in man's creations and in life itself, trying to show us both the important and the unimportant things in modern civilization.
Carol Selby Price & Robert M. Price have selected for discussion many of the best-known songs of Rush, organizing them into seven chapters based around general themes. The pieces lend themselves to such treatment quite naturally, since there is a consistent development in Rush from the very beginning of the group to modern times. Rush's lyrics are complex, and the ideas in them not always easily understood. Mystic Rhythms will provide the key to these lyrical puzzles, provoking as much thought as the songs themselves.
Complete with Chronology, Discography,Videography, and a Selected Bibliography of books about Rush and related topics.
Wildside Press P.O. Box 45 Gillette, NJ 07933-0045 www.wildsidepress.com $15.00 U.S. / $18.00 CAN
CONTENTS
Dedication and Acknowledgements
Introduction
A Rush Chronology
Chapter 1: Fear
Chapter 2: The Mass Production Zone
Chapter 3: In Touch with Some Reality
Chapter 4: Castles in the Distance
Chapter 5: The Sounds of Salesmen
Chapter 6: The Fabrice of Their Dreams
Chapter 7: Machine and Man
Chapter 8: Conclusion: Not Looking Back
A Rush Discography
A Rush Videography
Selected Bibliography
Index