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Originally posted by smithnsig:

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Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
I don't disparage the group. The vocals do hold them back. Listen to "The Trees". Could be such an iconic song, but as it it is recorded the vocals are often obscured into the music.

I heard the trees from a band with a female vocalist. She nailed it. It was fantastic.

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Originally posted by rusbro:
Rush is my favorite band, by a long shot. That being said, I do wonder how they would have sounded with a different vocalist. Speaking in terms of albums past, I don't think Geddy was a bad singer, I just think the quality of his voice, the actual sound, appeals to very very few people. As much as I love their music, to me it rarely if ever reached emotional places it could have with the right voice out front. Geddy could hit every note perfectly, do everything "right," but I still think he would always have been limited by the "hardware" he was given. He simply lakes an emotive sound.

As far as how he sounds in concert now, yeah, it's pretty bad. I only saw them live a couple of times, years ago, and I though he was fine those times, at least relative to other rock bands. Youtube has plenty examples of high-profile rock bands who's vocals sound as bad or worse than Geddy did/does. Plenty of rock vocalists struggle live, even when all they have to do is sing. Geddy spent decades singing all the while playing the most complex bass parts in rock, playing keyboards, AND playing pedals with his feet at the same time. On all but their most recent live albums Geddy's vocals were decently close to the studio versions.

All that being said, if they'd of added a vocalist, I think the odds go way up the band might have broken up/undergone lineup changes years ago just due to the increased odds of conflict in the group. From what I can tell, Geddy has always been the glue that held the band together, that brought the musical elements together molded them into complete songs, and he probably also did most of the work in terms of managing the band and keeping them generally happy and on the same page. So, all in all, I think it was for the best they didn't add a vocalist. There might have been some even better songs, but not nearly as many great songs over the decades, I suspect.

As far as "greatest trio," it's certainly a matter of personal preference as far as whose music appeals to you, but as far as longevity, body of work, and still attracting fans, I don't think anyone else comes close.

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Originally posted by ChuckFinley:

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Originally posted by smithnsig:

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
I don't disparage the group. The vocals do hold them back. Listen to "The Trees". Could be such an iconic song, but as it it is recorded the vocals are often obscured into the music.

I heard the trees from a band with a female vocalist. She nailed it. It was fantastic.

ANy chance there is a link online of the performance?

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Originally posted by amals:

"greatest musical trio ever"... Um, I think Cream could give them a run for their money. And The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Traffic from the John Barleycorn era, and...

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Originally posted by mark123:
I honestly can't stand listening to Rush. The vocals just ruin it all for me.

It's the same with every band I don't like. Can't listen to Pearl Jam, Guns n Roses, Pantera or Stone Temple Pilots for the same reason. Of course of all these bands, Rush is by far the cheesiest.

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Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

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Originally posted by mark123:
I honestly can't stand listening to Rush. The vocals just ruin it all for me.

It's the same with every band I don't like. Can't listen to Pearl Jam, Guns n Roses, Pantera or Stone Temple Pilots for the same reason. Of course of all these bands, Rush is by far the cheesiest.

Right there with you, Mark. Except swap out the last two bands you mentioned for Neil Young and Bob Dylan and those are my "can't stands." I struggle to put into words how negatively I feel about Geddy Lee's voice. If not for him, I could probably really enjoy the music and dig in, but as it is, whenever a Rush song comes on, I immediately change the station if I have a choice.

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Geddy's vocals, while creating a unique niche, held them back from being a superband.

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Originally posted by archerman:
I think that without Geddy Lee, Rush would not be Rush...

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Originally posted by Yamaha SHO:
Paul Rodgers singing for Rush??? I guess some people prefer mediocrity like Bad Company's pop/radio fluff to real musicianship with a distinct sound and quality lyrics. Hell, he couldn't even get it done with one of the top 5 guitarists of all time in Jimmy Page and The Firm.