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Album Description
As they celebrate a thirty-year career of filling arenas, selling tens of millions of albums and playing songs with which a generation of rock fans came of age, visionary rock legends Rush decided to have a little fun with the music they grew up with. Featuring covers of songs by The Who, The Yardbirds, Love, Cream, Buffalo Springfield and more, the trio's new EP Feedback is a rocking good time for anyone who loves Rush or just classic rock & roll. Drummer Neil Peart, in the album's liner notes, explains, "It was April of 2004, but Geddy, Alex, and I were channeling back to 1966 and 1967, when we were thirteen- and fourteen-year-old beginners. We thought it would be a fitting symbol to commemorate our thirty years together if we returned to our roots and paid tribute to those we had learned from and were inspired by. We thought we might record some of the songs we used to listen to, the ones we painstakingly learned the chords, notes, and drum parts for, and even played in our earliest bands. The tracks on this collection are songs we liked from the era that we thought we could `cover' effectively (meaning not too many backing vocals), and have some fun with. The music celebrates a good time in our lives, and we had a good time celebrating it."

Customer Reviews: Read 203 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Now _this_ is a hoot August 28, 2004
67 out of 68 found this review helpful

What a great EP. These guys obviously had a great time recording it, too.

I assume you already know what it is: Rush (Geddy Lee, bass/vocals; Alex Lifeson, guitars; Neil Peart, percussion and -- on their other releases -- lyrics) decided to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band by recording some of the songs they themselves learned when they were kids in the 1960s. This eight-song collection (which is an 'EP' only by today's standards; it's as long as a typical vinyl LP used to be) is the result.

I'm probably fairly typical of their target audience. I'm just about exactly ten years younger than these guys, so I grew up listening to essentially the same stuff they learned their instruments on. And I'm also a longtime Rush fan. (My take, for reference: I started listening when _2112_ came out; I think _Moving Pictures_ is probably their greatest album to date but _Permanent Waves_ and _Presto_ are darned close; their mid-80s sound isn't my favorite but I think that era represents some of Peart's very best lyrics; I like all their more recent stuff and -- although I might possibly have advised against the rap section on 'Roll the Bones' -- I don't think they've ever put out a _bad_ album or even a bad song.)

And I _really_ like this release. If your musical history is at all close to mine, you probably will too.

Lifeson, one of rock's most protean guitarists, is in particularly fine fettle here. He does an excellent job, for example, channeling the spirit of Neil Young on the Buffalo Springfield's 'Mr. Soul' (a favor I think Young may have some trouble returning). And he burns up the air on 'Crossroads' -- a cut that will no doubt make Robert Johnson purists cringe even more than they did over Clapton's tribute CD (or, for that matter, over Cream's version of this very song forty years ago). He's got that ol' chunky Strat sound, and at first his solos sound like perfectly ordinary 'lectric blooze -- but he doesn't stick to the formula; by the time he's done, the blues have been (as Frank Zappa would have said) _permuted_.

Not that Lee and Peart are exactly goofing off, either. You might not expect Lee to be very credible in vocal parts originally sung by e.g. Roger Daltrey and Stephen Stills, whose voices are quite different from his -- but he does them proud. And neither his bass skills nor Peart's percussion skills need any special comment from me here; if you know who Rush are, you already know what to expect in those departments, and I assure you you'll get it.

Thanks, fellas. This is a blast.

3 out of 5 stars

Not the best - but an Interesting Spin on Some Classic Tunes September 6, 2004
19 out of 29 found this review helpful

Rush's "Feedback" EP is to commemorate the Progressive Rock trio's 30 year anniversary as a band. Rush is a band that has always done things their own way - in spite of the critics. Rush had recently already released two greatest hits collections ("Retrospective" and "Retrospective 2") and two live collections ("Different Stages - Live" and "Rush in Rio"). They could have also decided not to put out anything at all or put out any studio album. Instead, the band got creative and decided to go back to their early days as a band and put together a collection of covers of songs from the many artists that influenced the start of their careers. The result is something very different than has ever been seen from Rush. Rush really had no major track record of covering other artists material. Rush was one of the driving force and pioneering bands in Progressive Rock. This particular effort has much more grass roots based Rock songs and will take you on a musical journey back 30 years in time - in fact it will take you back nearly 40 years to the mid to late 1960s. Overall, I think the effort isn't bad. It is great to see a band like Rush cover some old grass roots tunes, but I wouldn't say that this is their particular strong point.

Rush terms this particular collection an "EP". For those who don't remember, EP stands for "extended play" as opposed to LP which is "long play". These terms go back to the days of albums. Basically an EP is a shorter version of the LP album. This particular collection contains eight tunes which I consider rather long to be an EP. In fact, if you go back to some of Rush's earlier albums, they have less tunes (i.e. "Moving Pictures" only has seven songs). I was always used to an EP being around 4 songs. Some examples of EPs like this are "Honeydrippers - Vol 1" and David Lee Roth's "Crazy From the Heat". I think Rush calls this particular collection an EP because it kind of gives it a retro feel - and maybe because there is only about 27+ minutes of actual music on this collection. It is still not a bad price considering you get 8 songs.

Four of the eight songs on the collection have were influenced by The Yardbirds and Buffalo Springfield. The Yardbirds are no big surprise to me. They were a pioneering grass roots band and produced three of the most legendary guitarists in history - Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. I can definitely see the connection between Page and Lifeson. It's great to see Rush tribute these guys, but I think its also fair to say they have one of the greatest guitarists in the Rock era in Alex Lifeson. Buffalo Springfield is much more of a surprise to me on this collection. While I was never much of a Stephen Sills or Neil Young fan, it is clear that Rush had an enormous respect for this band - thus included two songs on here. For the Yardbirds covers, Rush does a terrific job on "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things" bringing a true retro 60s feel to the songs. The cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" is a big surprise to me. I liked Rush's spin on this song, Geddy Lee's voice really pulls this off well - and Alex Lifeson provides some great guitar work. The cover of Buffalo Springfield's "Mr Soul" is ok - it isn't one of the stronger covers on the collection.

One thing that is disappointing is not all of the covers really showcase Neil Peart's drumming as well as I like. It isnt that Neil Peart drums bad - it is just we don't get those thundering drums that a Rush fan has come to know and love The two best tracks that showcase Peart are the cover of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" (Rush actually mentions how they coveted the Blue Cheer version of the song) and Love's "Seven and Seven Is". The cover of "Summertime Blues" is interesting because it puts a true Rush spin on this classic. I don't really care for "Seven and Seven Is" except for the fact that Peart has some great drumming. To a lesser extent, Peart's classic drumming is in the cover of The Who's "The Seeker". It's not my favorite track by any means, but I think Rush does justice to this song. "Shapes of Things" also has some of Peart's classic drumming to some extent as well.

The final track mentioned is a cover Robert Johnson's "Crossroads". I found this track a disappointing effort - especially for the close of the collection.

Another disappointment is the packaging of this collection - it is not packaged in a jewel case. It is packaged in a fold out cardboard like package where the CD slides into an envelope like opening on the side. The CD can easily slide out, so one must be cautious when handling. The reason the CD easily slides out is because the it is not the standard CD jewel size - it is slightly larger. As a result, what you will also discover is that this package will not fit into many CD racks because it's too big. I'm forced to keep mine on the side - and I consider that a big disappointment. I know Rush wanted to make the collection affordable, but the packaging for something to commemorate is an incredible disappointment. There are no lyrics included. When the package folds open, Neil Peart has a short writeup on the background behind making this collection.

I think this Rush collection will appeal to the Rush fan - and they probably will like Rush's spin on these grass roots classics. The casual fan might not be as satisfied with this collection.

5 out of 5 stars

A Short But Sweet Masterpiece...Get It Now! June 30, 2004
13 out of 21 found this review helpful

Feedback(2004). Rush's First EP, A Collection of Cover Songs.

After the magnificent Vapor Trails, Rush found themselves in the middle of a 30th Anniversary Tour with No new material. Geddy Lee was horrified of that, so he, Lifeson, and Peart teamed up to record Feedback, an 8-Song EP featuring classic covers of bands such as The Who, The Yardbirds, Love, Stephen Stills, and many more! Rush must be held in high esteem, for they released 8 New songs of material instead of a Overpriced Box Sets like most bands put out today! Rush manages to equal, and at times master the original songs, and their cover of "Summertime Blues" destroys ANY competition out there, and their other songs hold up better than the originals. Alex Lifeson, while staying true to the original chords of the songs, adds entirely new riffs and solos to the songs, adding new life to songs that have lost their edge and popularity among modern music. Neil Peart plays with his usual flair, showcasing how he single-handedly defines the word drummer. Geddy Lee vocals are excellent, sometimes better than the originals, and his bass playing is insane! After hearing many of the songs at the 30th Anniversary Concert in Charlotte, and hearing "Summertime Blues" on the radio, I knew I must have this CD, and I got it on the first day out! Read on to find out why this CD rocks!

Track Ratings-

Summertime Blues-Lifeson pays homage to Jimi Hendrix's "Foxey Lady" riff, but soon Lee's bass comes in, staying true to the original beat. Peart is spot-on, his exuberant drumming providing the backdrop for the song, and Lee's vocals are top-notch, perfectly hearable and catchy, and you will find yourself singing right along to this song! The best version of "Summertime Blues" out there!

Heart Full of Soul- Lifeson's riff sets the stage for "Heart Full of Soul", a slightly Old Western Beat(Think Blazing Saddles) infected with Hard Rock creates a bluesy rocker that truly stands out. Some of Lee's best vocals, the chorus is excellent, and Lifeson's riff afterwards is amazing!

For What It's Worth- Instantly recognizeable, Lifeson's light acoustic guitar and Lee's harmonic vocals provide the backdrop for most of the song, but during the chorus,"For What It's Worth" truly shines, and you just have to sing along to this one!Another bluesy rocker, this song beats the original!

The Seeker- Pure High-Octane Hard Rock, Lifeson's Eric Clapton-esqe riff screams out from the speakers, and Lee's vocals are very inspired, and fit in perfectly with the beat. Very catchy, "The Seeker" stays true to the original!

Mr. Soul- Lifeson's guitar riff echoes back to Vapor Trail's "One Little Victory", and Lee's slightly dark vocals make that a perfect analogy. Lifeson's guitar riff and solo are heavily inspired by Southern Rock, and it almost sounds like a "harder Allman Brothers". Great musicianship all around!

Seven And Seven Is- Another "Blazing Saddles" Rocker if you will, Lifeson's southwester acoustic riff and Peart's drumming almost put you in the Old West, like the click-clack of Horse's hoves(Very inspired)! Very Creative and excellent solo from Lifeson, this is some of Feedback's most inspired guitar. Lee's vocals rock as usual. Very interesting song!

Shapes Of Things-Lifeson's Electric Guitar attack breathes new life into this song, giving it a slightly metallic edge, and Peart's drumming is incredible, backing up Lifeson's solo like Best Friends. Lee's vocals are excellent, and they stand out even amongst the amazing instrument playing. Awesome "Feedback" from Lifeson's guitar at the end!

Crossroads- Eric Clapton who? Alex Lifeson kills him! Lifeson's instantly recognizable bluesy riff pulses throughout the songs, and his solo mid-way through is the highlight of the song. Lee's vocals may be better than Clapton's, and they did proper justice to this classic rock song. Lifeson is amazing, his two solos are truly brilliant!!!!

Overall, Feedback equalled and smashed all my expectations, and now is one of my favorite Rush albums.These songs inspire me to go out and buy the original artist's material, and ultimately I think this was Rush's hope, and they definitely succeeded! Truly brilliant covers that excell most of the originals, and speak highly of Rush's longevity in the musical world. Keep Rockin' Rush!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! PERFECT FOR NEWBIES WHO WANT SOME OF RUSH'S
90'S-00'S MATERIAL, AND A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO MANY NEW BANDS OTHER THAN RUSH! RUSH SEEM TO GET BETTER WITH AGE! ALTHOUGH VERY SHORT, THIS EP CAN BE FOUND CHEAP AT BEST BUY(IF YOU GET WITHIN A WEEK OF RELEASE) AND I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU DO THIS!

Also Recommended-

Moving Pictures-Rush
The Who- Who's Next?
Cream- Wheels Of Fire

Thanks For Reading!

4 out of 5 stars Rush Goes Back To Their Roots August 1, 2004
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

To commemorate their 30th anniversary together with their ongoing world tour, Rush did something for the first time in their 30-year career that no one expected them to do: make an entire EP filled with cover songs. Anyone who listens to the Canadian trio knows that they're not one to do cover tunes, even though they did a cover of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" in their earlier days, but that's it (and that was before Neil Peart joined). But as shown on their last album, the vastly underrated VAPOR TRAILS, and the follow-up live album RUSH IN RIO, Rush were a band reborn, and that energy shines through again on FEEDBACK, consisting of just 8 songs from different artists in the 1960s that influenced them when the trio was starting out. At a mere 27 minutes, Rush blazes through these classic '60s rock tunes with power and vigor and makes even some of the more familiar songs ("For What It's Worth," "The Seeker," etc.) sound fresh again.

They kick into high gear with a raw, powerful rendition of Blue Cheer's arrangement of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues." This is the heaviest the band has sounded in years, particularly Alex Lifeson, who sounds like he's in his early 20s instead of his early 50s. Great guitar work, and cool energy. Next up is a cover of the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul," which is surprisingly more emotional than the original. Nice blend of raw feedback with gentle acoustic strumming, and Geddy Lee's vocals on this track prove how much, yet again (there goes the word...again!), that he has improved.

The Buffalo Springfield classic "For What It's Worth" gets a faithful read, while The Who's "The Seeker" rocks hard. The second Buffalo Springfield cover called "Mr. Soul" is my favorite on here, as it features a tight groove fron Neil and some seriously catchy vocal hooks and guitar riffs. Very nicely done. Cream's version of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" is also excellent. Lifeson puts Eric Clapton to shame by perfectly mimicking and even outdoing his original solos. My only complaint, and the reason why I gave the EP 4 stars, is that the cover of Love's "Seven and Seven Is" and the second Yardbirds tune "Shapes of Things" are the least memorable of the bunch. It would've been cool to see the trio cover a '70s prog tune -- something by Genesis or Yes, since those bands influenced Rush later on. Oh well. Can't have everything.

Overall, FEEDBACK is a very fun and energetic disc and shows what bands led to the creation of Rush and led them to where they are now. A nice little treasure from the trio.

4 out of 5 stars With five stars being Sgt. Pepper... August 3, 2004
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I'm not a a Rush fan AT ALL...I only looked at this album a second time because over the years I have very much enjoyed interviews with the members of Rush, even without knowing their music. They seem like intelligent, down-to-earth, accomplished musicians. Still, when I've dabbled with their music, I've always been disappointed. I gave this a THIRD look because of the songs they chose to cover...

And you know what? This is a lot of fun! Their versions are faithful enough to be 'faithful', but imaginative enough to be worthwhile. "Summertime Blues" manages to give props to Eddie Cochran, Blue Cheer, AND The Who. The Yardbirds tracks keep the fuzztones, but have much better mixes than the originals, and in these especially, but really all of the tracks here, you can hear the acoustic guitars in among the electrics. Pretty savvy for a power trio, I think. Nice quote from "Eight Miles High" in among the sequential lead guitar "trades" in "Mr. Soul." If these guys WERE brave enough to tackle backing vocals, I would've loved to have heard them actually DO "Eight Miles High". Of course, an album like this gets you thinking about all the OTHER covers they should've and could've done here...

Finally, let me emphatically suggest that if you get this--and you really should...it's so much fun--LISTEN TO IT OVER SOME GOOD HEADPHONES. You'll be amazed. It's pure ear candy!

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