Various Artists - Tributes : Songs For Neil Volume 5
RUSHfest Scotland, the annual fan convention that celebrates the music of rock giants RUSH while donating all profits to charity (over £130k since 2014), is also responsible for the Tributes : Songs For Neil series of albums (where all profits, again, go to a great cause).
Honouring the memory of Rush drummer Neil Peart, who sadly passed in January 2020, the Songs For Neil releases feature a vast array of international artists covering Rush songs from across the band’s entire career.
Volume 5 features tributes from the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the US, with many of the covers staying fairly faithful to the originals; others however, bring interesting arrangements or fresh approaches to classic Rush songs and deeper cuts.
And with a double album’s worth of tribute tracks on offer (25 in total), you get more than your charitable monies worth.
Opening with a gorgeously atmospheric arrangement of the poignant 'Bravado' by John Mitchell and Leoni Jane Kennedy makes for a hard act to follow, but by continuing with faithful to the original takes of 'Best I Can' (US band Limelight) and 'Lakeside Park' (Canada’s 2112), both of which are great cover-examples of early Rush, follow it the album most certainly does.
Every other artist/ track is deserving of mention, but those worthy of special highlight include the ever-creative David King (a regular Tributes contributor) with his guitar-led instrumental version of 'Half The World' (with nice 'In The End' easter egg) and the violin-led instrumental arrangement of 'Different Strings' by Jonathan Dinklage.
Great violin also features in Brody Dolyniuk’s sympathetic arrangement of 'Losing It,' featuring classically trained violinist Nina DiGregorio.
Then there’s the impressive cover of 'Cygnus X-1 : Book I' by female fronted Brazilian band Karol & The Snow Dogs (the fact she captures that early, shrill Geddy Lee vocal so well only adds to the 'Rushenticity').
Other female voices leading the way include Solar Federation ('Witch Hunt'), Mood Lifters ('Grand Designs') and another Brazilian band, Fleesh, with their well-rounded interpretation of 'The Way The Wind Blows.'
Special mention also for two original songs, written and performed in tribute to Neil Peart – lyrical & musical Rush pastiche 'We Remember You' by The Veil and progressively shaped rock ballad 'Now You’ve Gone' (with alt-rock 'Tom Sawyer' nod) by Cathy Rankin. The latter is a true highlight of the album.
Songs For Neil Volume 5 closes out with the ultimate Neil Peart tribute, a live performance of homage drum solo 'Mystic Rhythm Method' by Pat Jean of French-Canadian band Trilogy (who also feature with their cover of Show Don't Tell').
With 25 tracks to play/ choose from, ranging from the pretty dead-on to the more diverse, not every song or interpretation will make a musical mark with every Rush fan.
But, equally, Songs For Neil Volume 5 (along with the four previous releases and their unique and striking album art, by long-time Rush artist Hugh Syme) is a true collector’s items for the Rush faithful.
More importantly, all profits go to FundingNeuro.com, who seek treatments and cures for all neurological conditions and cancers.
Songs for Neil Volume 5, produced by Steve Brown of premier Rush tribute band Moving Pictures (who chip in with their excellent rendition of 'Jacob’s Ladder'), was released on 12th September, Neil Peart's birthday.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Click here to head to Bandcamp to purchase digital download of the album, Ltd Ed double turquoise vinyl (w/ download copy), Ltd Ed double CD (w/ download copy) and high quality cover art prints.
Honouring the memory of Rush drummer Neil Peart, who sadly passed in January 2020, the Songs For Neil releases feature a vast array of international artists covering Rush songs from across the band’s entire career.
Volume 5 features tributes from the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the US, with many of the covers staying fairly faithful to the originals; others however, bring interesting arrangements or fresh approaches to classic Rush songs and deeper cuts.
And with a double album’s worth of tribute tracks on offer (25 in total), you get more than your charitable monies worth.
Opening with a gorgeously atmospheric arrangement of the poignant 'Bravado' by John Mitchell and Leoni Jane Kennedy makes for a hard act to follow, but by continuing with faithful to the original takes of 'Best I Can' (US band Limelight) and 'Lakeside Park' (Canada’s 2112), both of which are great cover-examples of early Rush, follow it the album most certainly does.
Every other artist/ track is deserving of mention, but those worthy of special highlight include the ever-creative David King (a regular Tributes contributor) with his guitar-led instrumental version of 'Half The World' (with nice 'In The End' easter egg) and the violin-led instrumental arrangement of 'Different Strings' by Jonathan Dinklage.
Great violin also features in Brody Dolyniuk’s sympathetic arrangement of 'Losing It,' featuring classically trained violinist Nina DiGregorio.
Then there’s the impressive cover of 'Cygnus X-1 : Book I' by female fronted Brazilian band Karol & The Snow Dogs (the fact she captures that early, shrill Geddy Lee vocal so well only adds to the 'Rushenticity').
Other female voices leading the way include Solar Federation ('Witch Hunt'), Mood Lifters ('Grand Designs') and another Brazilian band, Fleesh, with their well-rounded interpretation of 'The Way The Wind Blows.'
Special mention also for two original songs, written and performed in tribute to Neil Peart – lyrical & musical Rush pastiche 'We Remember You' by The Veil and progressively shaped rock ballad 'Now You’ve Gone' (with alt-rock 'Tom Sawyer' nod) by Cathy Rankin. The latter is a true highlight of the album.
Songs For Neil Volume 5 closes out with the ultimate Neil Peart tribute, a live performance of homage drum solo 'Mystic Rhythm Method' by Pat Jean of French-Canadian band Trilogy (who also feature with their cover of Show Don't Tell').
With 25 tracks to play/ choose from, ranging from the pretty dead-on to the more diverse, not every song or interpretation will make a musical mark with every Rush fan.
But, equally, Songs For Neil Volume 5 (along with the four previous releases and their unique and striking album art, by long-time Rush artist Hugh Syme) is a true collector’s items for the Rush faithful.
More importantly, all profits go to FundingNeuro.com, who seek treatments and cures for all neurological conditions and cancers.
Songs for Neil Volume 5, produced by Steve Brown of premier Rush tribute band Moving Pictures (who chip in with their excellent rendition of 'Jacob’s Ladder'), was released on 12th September, Neil Peart's birthday.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Click here to head to Bandcamp to purchase digital download of the album, Ltd Ed double turquoise vinyl (w/ download copy), Ltd Ed double CD (w/ download copy) and high quality cover art prints.