5 comments about Rush: Chemistry: The Definitive Biography.

1. I love the rock group Rush. I have every CD/DVD produced. Some folks criticized this book because of the lack of interviews....but I can see all those on any DVD they produced. This was an outsider peering in, which gave new insights to the group that has survived for over 30 years. If you love Rush like I do then have some fun as you turn the pages and think.."Oh, that is why they wrote that song".



2. Disappointing as to what I was expecting. The puzzling thing about this book, is that while it fairly well gushes about the band in the text; when it comes to capsule album reviews following description of the recording process for each album, this is where the criticism can become quite pointed. It's almost as if the author didn't want to offend the friends and co-workers of the band (it's obvious that Lee, Lifeson, & Peart didn't talk to Collins themselves), but then somewhat stuck the knife in when it came to reviewing the albums.
   
   I was expecting (& hoping) for a better overview of how the band and its members have evolved through the years. This is dealt with in only a superficial manner. The reader does not get a sense of the band and its times. Nor do we get a real feel for what Lee, Lifeson, and Peart are actually like as people.
   
   There is a definitive Rush biography to be written. Unfortunately, this is not it.



3. A very good over view of Rush's history. I would like to know more about the individual members of the band, but I understand they are very private.



4. For those RUSH fans who want to know about the making of the music, this is the book to buy. Great insights about the members and what they have gone through to bring us the best music ever.



5. At first I was happy at the level of detail in this book, especially as compared to "Contents Under Pressure". There was a lot of good information about the early years of the band. But as the book got into the albums I find the details mind numbing. And it seemed like the details were presented in some template fashion so that the description of each album followed an identical formula and only the names of the producer or the engineer was changed. There was very little about the message intended for any song. Even the personal problems faced by Neal Peart was were dealt with briefly while the discussion of the engineer on the next album went on into tedium. I guess this is a worthwhile book if you are a Rush fan, but it is very hard to read much at one time.

2 comments about More Drum Techniques of Rush (More Drum Superstar Series).

1. "more Drum Techniques of Rush" is another set of transcriptions of Neil Peart by Bill Wheeler. The second book is noticably thinner than the first (52 vs 80 pages), and the typesetting is different, which I found disconcerting at first, but all and all is just fine. While the first book covered a lot of the more popular "heavy-hitters" in terms of drum parts, this book covers a few tracks that are, frankly, not as difficult to transcribe. Still, the transcriptions are correct, illustrating, and generally well-done.



2. i rate this book.....5 milkyways

4 comments about Rush -- Guitar Anthology Series.

1. The transcriptions in this book may provide one with the ability to play something that sounds something like the recordings, but are not completely accurate. Tones are missing. Fingerings are incorrect. One may argue that the musicial notation is somewhat accurate, but the tablature seems to indicate that it was produced only by translating the notes, not by listening to the recordings (e.g., by listening to the recording one could determine whether a note was played higher on a low string or lower on a higher string).
   Pass on this book if you wish to play a Rush song exactly as recorded. Instead, look to back issues of guitar magazines (especially Guitar for the Practicing Musician, no longer in print).



2. I'm glad I got this book and can stop shuffling pages of printed amateur tab off the internet. However I do agree with the other reviewer that some of the fingerings indicated here seem to be inaccurate. I was watching the Tom Sawyer video from Rio and it's clear Alex is using different fingerings on the opening chords than indicated. Not a huge deal but a bit frustrating because one reason to buy these books is to play it "just like" your heroes. (To be fair, it may be that the book is an accurate rendition of studio versions and Alex changes his fingerings in concert for ease of play, lack of overdubbing etc...)Even with that quibble, any new or intermediate guitarist who likes Rush will like this book.



3. I saw Rush at the Chicago Ampitheater in 1981, for their 'Moving Pictures' tour. During the performance of 'Red Barchetta', at the break where there's that 'vroom-vroom' sound, on a giant on-stage screen there was displayed this cartoon footage of an undulating roadway. It was like, everyone in the audience became a Ferrari, dude.
   
   Yeah, thinking back it was kinda' cheesy, but at the time it was all totally cool and really freaky.
   
   So, do you know what 22,000 joints, bongs, pipes, and one-hitters sound like - as they're toked on all at once? Well, to paraphrase H. Ross Perot - it makes a giant sucking sound.
   
   Alex Leifson is a premier and singular guitarist. The solo riffs on 'Working Man' sound like a chainsaw cutting through a block of ice. Way cool!
   
   And this book fairly depicts what's going on. Although, a few of the chord voicings and phrasings aren't how I play. But, the key signatures and changes are there, as well as most of the notes. What's lacking, and rightly so as only play yields such secrets, are tips to things like wrist motion (loose) and fortitude (tight). Then of course there is the issue of phrasing. The solution? Practice! Experiment! Then practice some more!
   
   The transcriptions in 'Anthology' are quite similar, if not exactly the same, as any other proper transcriptions I've ever seen published elsewhere.



4. I've always loved to play guitar as well as keyboard. This book was very satisfying and when you see the details and complexities of Alex Lifeson's riffs and solos, you realize how underrated he is. The tablature makes it very easy for anyone to learn, particularly for beginniners. My only real complaint is that the book really should have had at least 5 more songs or so. The book does include 20 of Rush's greatest hits, all of them worth learning, but you can't help noticing that songs like Cygnus X-1 and 2112 are missing. Don't get me wrong, this is still a great book, and it even transcribes most of the keyboard/synth and bass guitar parts for guitar, which can help you stay with the music. For Rush fans as well as prog rockers who want to challenge themselves, this book is a trip worth taking.

3 comments about Playing the Violin: An Illustrated Guide.

1. I really love this book. It helped me correct the wrong
   posture and technique I used to do. It helped make things
   that were difficult to do a lot easier.
   
   It's packed with usefull tips and techniques.
   
   This guide is essential for any violinist advanced or
   beginner.
   
   I highly recommend it. Buy it enjoy it and be happy l
   ike me.



2. I am attempting to self-teach myself violin. (I am not entirely a newbie -- I play piano and guitar.) This book and a mirror are indispensable for setup (holding the violin, posture, holding the bow, bowing mechanics, etc). Be aware however, that that's what it is. It is not a method book.



3. i bought this book many for vibrato and how to hold the violin etc. this book is great. almost every aspect of this book is covered by a pro. picture.it teaches you posture and other things essential for self-teaching yourself the violin. this book is great for beginners and those that intermediates which need to fine-tune their skills
   
   matthew G

5 comments about Drum Techniques of Rush.

1. Considering that Neil Peart is best known for his precision and consistency, I was disappointed with this frequently inaccurate effort. The inaccuracies are sometimes amusing - Mr. Wheeler's 'imagined' fills are in places a bit harder and less intuitive than Mr. Peart's actual parts. Mostly I was disconcerted however that the author himself apparently has not quite mastered Mr. Peart's work and subsequently has misled rather elightened many students of the art. I'm curious to know if Mr. Peart was ever made aware of the errors and if so what his reactions must have been (he has said that he does not read music and hence did not review the transcriptions personally).



2. I've enjoyed going through this book and working out some of the parts. Some of the time signatures/changes were eye-opening, as you can get lost at times trying to decipher certain Rush tunes (well I know I do anyway).
   On the downside, a lot of it has been simplified - kind of like a "Here is the basic idea of what's being played" attitude (The Trees for example). There are occasional mistakes which I can live with, but some of it is flat wrong. Check out the beginning of Natural Science ("Wheels within wheels in a spiral array") - if you listen to the song while following the transcription, you will see that what is written is wrong.

   Overall I'd recommend this book - is there such a thing as a BAD drum book?




3. I'm not as good as I would like to be at hearing progressive rock music and understanding what is being played so I was very happy to see this book.
   
   Unfortunately the author isn't very good either. I've spent quite a few hours trying to reconcile what I was hearing with what I was reading.
   
   I would still purchase it for some clues, but you can't take it as gospel. The book states that the arrangements were prepared under the supervision of Neil Peart, maybe he wasn't paying attention. :)



4. I have been using this book for over 12 years now. I received it as a gift during my senior year of high school, and used the book so much that it was literally falling apart. I had to get a replacement. I have also used this book to teach to some of my drum students. Although I have found a few mistakes, the rhythms and time signatures are very accurate.
   
   I find it very useful to not only teach time changes and reading skills, but to teach continuity even when mistakes happen.
   
   Neil Peart's drumming exhibits finesse and is incredibly intricate. The drummer that uses this book will learn not the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) method to drumming and timekeeping, but the M.U.S.I.C. (make up something interesting and complimentary) method.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to any RUSH fan or intermediate to advanced drummer looking to add a few more "tools" to their percussive toolbox.



5. This book is incredibly useful if you are trying to learn Rush tunes. Sure you could just sit and learn them from the CD but also having the sheet music speeds things up quite a bit and you will catch things you didn't notice by just listening. People here are complaining a lot about the mistakes, which there are, but I think its a minor point. The fact is, most of the mistakes are totally obvious if you are listening the cd. I think maybe they are mostly transcription errors from the publisher. In any case, most of the book is quite accurate and it will give you a much greater appreciation of Peart's compositions than you ever have had.

2 comments about Bass Anthology Rush (Bass Anthology).

1. This book is complete on every song in it. Has both the tab and staff notation. I do not know if this is common practice as most tab books I get do not have it. All in all a good buy for someone wanting to study RUSH and Geddy.



2. Yep, if you can play this book, as cleanly and with Lee's tonal quality, you will be quite a bassist. But if you take just what's written and walk on stage with it, you might be embarrassed.

   Having gone through some of the music, there are errors. Sure, many might not be noticed by the audience, but an error is an error. Notes are written in the wrong octave. For instance, at times, a sequence of notes are written in the same octave, whereas Lee is clearly playing those notes more as an arpeggio through a couple scale ranges.

   Another example of fatal flaws can be seen in the ending measures of Tom Sawyer. I'm not sure where half the notes came from. Listen to the CD and vwala, you find you need to rewrite the music. Lee is not playing all that has been written there, and when it is what he's playing, it's out of sequence and/or not note for note. Try to play along, as I did, and you find you're playing two completely different things.

   I recommend this book for anyone wanting to play bass at this level. If you can play this book, you belong in the studio; but again, don't think you are getting what Lee is really playing. You often are not. If it weren't for the fact that this book is a true challenge, I would give it 1 star for its inaccuracy to the real thing.

No comments about The Roadshow Illustrated Companion.

5 comments about Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head.

1. Grab it while it is available. These punk rock music books suddenly go out of print.
   
   The level is a high end of intermediate.



2. I have been playing the violin for 9 years and teaching myself the piano on the side, so this book was a little hard for me. I loved the fact that these are the actual parts to the songs, not some simplified score that doesn't sound anything like the original. "The Scientist" was the first song I learned and by far the easiest. I recommend this book to any musically inclined Coldplay fan because you'll end up loving their music more.



3. This is a great set of tabs.. I never could have figured out the tunings or alot of the effects without many more years of experimenting.



4. It feels great to order something and get exactly what you intended and had in mind, all at the same time it being in wonderful condition. It was a smart order.



5. I look forward to going home every night (and probably much to my neighbors' and roommate's dismay) to try to play and sing at the same time. The music is for the piano to accompany the rest of the band, so it doesn't always carry the melody. But it's awesome and not too bad. The abundance of sharps and flats may scare some, such as me, but in the end the chords are not too difficult; there is a lot of repetition. I am particularly fond of many of the songs. I hope this helps! Personally, I prefer Parachutes.

5 comments about Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away.

1. I love this book!
   It also contains some fantastic pictures.
   If you are a Rush fan, this is a must have!



2. Nope. No amazing revelations. No juicy gossip. No dissing and hissing. What you get is the story (that everyone already knows) about three hard-working musicians from Toronto who made it big on the arena rock circuit. Loved by millions, and still in the business after 30 years, these guys are friends who love touring and playing their music for their fans. End of story. I guess that is the problem with Rush: they didn't get into the biz for the fame, money, and excess. Got in it for the career...boring. These guys are really accomplished musicians, but you are not going to find any of the wild tales that made the Stones, the Who, or Led Zeppelin legends. Treating being in a rock band on the same level as, say, running a law firm does take all the fun out of it. So, pass this one by, unless you want to hear about that story again about these hard-working musicians from Toronto who made it big...



3. "Contents Under Pressure", is a good book for the long time Rush fan who has fond memories of early Rush shows. The photography brought me back to certain eras of the long and illustrious career of one of the truly entertaining bands in the history of rock and roll. It also serves as an insight to the band for the recent Rush fan who may be interested in learning more about the journey that has been Rush since 1972.



4. Read only if you're a Rush fan. I've owned every LP and CD. I also have all their DVD's and seen them twice in concert. A great retrospective of their music with lots of photos. Not the wild party boys you'd expect from a rock band, but that's why they've not burned out and they continue to write great music. The only thing that might have made it better was more actual stories from the road of things they did. This is pretty laid back stuff and the guys are class acts. I enjoyed the book a lot. I think it's a book for long-time fans as lots of the early stuff won't matter to new listeners.



5. I enjoyed reading this book and was glad to learn what I did from it, but I felt like it could have had more details. I learned about certain aspects of their live career, sure, but I wanted some elaboration on how this song here was pivotal or how this tour here made them change as people. I mainly wanted to know more about their experiences on the road and how they managed to remain professional despite their adverse living conditions, rather than hear a little about what they did in their spare time. It's still worth reading though. It may change your perspective about the albums by telling you things about them you might not have noticed.

5 comments about Roadshow: Landscape With Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle.

1. Let me say that while I enjoy Rush's music, I'm not what you'd call a hardcore fan (I own only six of their albums). That said, I very much enjoyed this book and Peart's adventures on the road.
   
   I have to disagree with others who have reviewed this book. I didn't come away from ROADSHOW believing Peart "hates" his fans . . . he is simply uncomfortable with the in-your-face attitude of some of the more fanatical individuals out there. Also, I don't see how his comments on the church signs can be construed as anti-Christian. I'm not religious by any stretch of the imagination, but his comments seemed harmless; a mere voicing of his own opinion.
   
   As for the book . . . I breezed through it in several days and very much enjoyed Peart's writing style. It's relaxed and flows nicely with wonderful descriptions of his travels. It made me want to load the backseat of my car with CDs and hit the open road. Peart's passion for writing and life in general comes through page after page. This is a guy who harbors a wonderful fascination with the world around him, and I'm thankful he invited us along on this enjoyable journey.



2. I really enjoyed this book. If you are a motorcycle rider and like music, you will enjoy this book also. Great book for the winter when you cannot get out and ride because Neal takes you on a motorcycle tour and the rigors of being on a concert tour with a band. I like this book better than another Neal Peart book, Ghost Rider for personal reasons.



3. Every Neil Peart book is better than the last. Don't get me wrong, I like them all, but he is making incredible strides as a storyteller with each book. His writing is so good now that you really care what he's going to have for breakfast in Denver, or if he'll change his bike's oil in Dallas or Oklahoma City. Simple everday things, for sure. But the prose are so riveting, he makes you want to know.
   
   I admit I'm a huge Rush fan, and I know that influences my enjoyment of his books. But I am also a published author, and I can recognize the work of a talented writer. His musical talents aside, Peart can write, and it seems that he's found a perfect niche in these travel memoirs.
   
   Even if you're not into Rush, give this book (or one of his other books) a chance. His books are hidden gems in the literary world that I fear may not be fully appreciated.



4. I found this book very interesting as I am intrested in my favorite performers lives. The only reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is because of the constant Christian bashing. It's obvious Neil is very bitter about Christianity for whatever reason. He never really tells us why. He did mention that after the tradgedies happened in his life that the Bible was no help. He quotes all the church signs he comes across in his journeys through the US. I agree that some of them were over the top but others had a good message. As a Christian myself I am praying for Neil. I pray God will change his heart and turn his face toward Christ.



5. Full disclosure here; I've been a loyal Rush fan since I first heard them back in 1979. With that said, being a fan only adds to the enjoyment of reading the smooth and vividly descriptive writing of Neil Peart.
   
   He did a fantastic job of giving the reader a candid look at the band, their history, backstage antics and the more indecorous side of the music business. He does an equally impressive job of describing the freedom, beauty, aroma, and adventure of touring our beautiful country on a motorcycle. As a "Beemer" rider myself, I share his love for the open road. I can relate to the sights, sounds and exhilarating thrill each mile brings; I often found myself "riding with him".
   
   Throughout the book you will find many examples of his quest for perfection in his music, practice, and performance. (To those of us who've had the pleasure of attending a Rush concert, that discipline is readily apparent) At times he appears a bit fussy when things do not go according to his plans (but then, don't we all?). He reviews his performances probably more harshly than the most anal music critic, often not giving himself the credit due for such great performances; all while enduring the trials and tribulations of living on the road. The book describes in detail what it's like to tour with the band all that it brings, and at the same time portrays his private struggle of carrying on while overcoming insurmountable loss; pleasing everyone but himself. He describes the delicate balance of work and home life in living color.
   
   I came to admire his methodical, exacting approach toward his music, writing, and riding. In addition to the portrayal of one who is fun-loving and self effacing, you will also find by reading this book that he is an intensely private person with a close circle of steadfast friends, which I'm sure is a luxury at his status.
   
   In summary, Roadshow is a fantastic book for Rush fans and motorcycle travelers, and more so to those of us who are lucky enough to be both.