The progressive/hard rock band Rush has never been as popular as it
is now. A documentary film about the band, Rush: Beyond the Lighted
Stage, which was released in the summer of 2010 has been
universally well received. They had a cameo in the movie I Love You
Man. Their seven-part song "2112" was included in a version of
"Guitar Hero" released in 2010. The group even appeared on The
Colbert Report. And now this, a book about Rush written for a
general audience and geared towards issues concerning popular
culture and philosophy. There has been a recent explosion of Rush
onto the popular culture front, and how ironic for a band that has
spent the early days of their career on the outside of mainstream
popularity. Even legendary trios such as Led Zeppelin, Cream, and
The Police don't enjoy the commitment and devotion that Rush's fans
lavish on Alex, Geddy, and Neil. In part, this is because Rush is
equally devoted to its fans. Since their first album in 1974, they
have released 18 additional albums and toured the world following
nearly every release. Today, when other 70s-bands have either
broken up or become nostalgia acts, Rush continues to sell out
arenas and amphitheatres and sell albums--to date Rush has sold
over 40 million albums. They are ranked fourth after The Beatles,
The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or
platinum albums by a rock band. Rush's success is also due to its
intellectual approach to music and sound. The concept album 2112
made Rush a world-class band and cemented its reputation as the
thinking-person's progressive rock trio. Rush's interest in
political philosophy, mind-control, the nature of free-will, of
individuality, and our relationship to machines makes Rush a band
that matters and which speaks to its fans directly and honestly
like no other. Lyricist Niel Peart has even built a following by
writing books, both about his motorcycle travels and about the
tragic death of his daughter, which have only furthered the respect
Rush's fans have for (arguably) rock's greatest drummer and
lyricist. Fiercely independent of trends, Rush has maintained a
clear mission and purpose throughout their career. With a unique
sound, best described as the "Rush sound," the band has been able
to blend thought-provoking lyrics and music for almost four
decades. The Rush style of music can trigger the unusual
combination of air-drumming, air-guitar, singing along, and
fist-pumping, just as much as it can thoughtful reflection and deep
thinking, making Rush "The Thinking Man's Band." Rush and
Philosophy does not set out to sway the public's opinion, nor is it
an awkward gushing of how much the authors love Rush. Rush and
Philosophy is a fascinating look at the music and lyrics of the
band, setting out to address thought-provoking questions. For
example, elements of philosophical thinking from the likes of Jean
Paul-Sartre, Ayn Rand, and Plato can be found in Peart's lyrics;
does this make Peart a disciple of philosophy? In what ways has
technology influenced the band through the decades? Can there be
too much technology for a power-trio? Can listening to Rush's music
and lyrics lead listeners to think more clearly, responsibly, and
happily? Is the band's music a "pleasant distraction" from the
singing of Geddy Lee? In what ways is Rush Canadian? How can a band
that has been referred to as "right-wing" also criticize big
government, religion, and imperialism? Rush and Philosophy is
written by an assortment of philosophers and scholars with eclectic
and diverse backgrounds who love Rush's music and who "get" the
meaning and importance of it. They discuss Rush with the enthusiasm
of fans and the seriousness of college professors. The book will be
a must-read for the many fans who have long known that Rush
deserves as much respect as the ideas, concepts, and puzzles about
human existence they write and compose music about.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
