Rush is a Band Blog: Gregorian Masters of Chant cover of Rush's Bravado

Blogospheres

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Gregorian Masters of Chant cover of Rush's Bravado

Gregorian Masters of Chant Volume VIII Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment. Their most recent album in their Masters of Chant series - Masters of Chant Chapter VIII - was released this past September 30th and contains a cover of Rush's Bravado which you can listen to on YouTube below or at this link. The album can be purchased as an import at this link. Thanks to Power Windows for the heads up.

COMMENTS

#1 - Posted 1/22/12 @9:53PM by spineguru [contact]

First! Never done that before. Really did not live up to my expectations. :)

#2 - Posted 1/22/12 @10:17PM by losingit2112 [contact]

I remember studying a lot of Gregorian chant back in high school and always joking about adapting modern songs... This is beautiful.

#3 - Posted 1/22/12 @10:32PM by Nettie [contact]

Nice version.

#4 - Posted 1/22/12 @10:43PM by JonXKyl [contact]

Just a little bit lower than Geddy.

#5 - Posted 1/22/12 @10:59PM by RThompson150 [contact]

Love this song! I am sure Rush is making money off this version with royalties.
Nice song!

#6 - Posted 1/22/12 @11:26PM by Jim [contact]

A cover that I actually like .

#7 - Posted 1/23/12 @12:20AM by QweziRider [contact]

The mark of a well crafted song: it works in most any genre.

#8 - Posted 1/23/12 @12:56AM by musicofthespheres [contact]

gregorian chant fans who don't know Rush are probably blown away by that.

but Bravado live (Rio, e.g.) is among my top five favorite Rush songs ever, and this is not listenable to for me...

there's just no covering Rush, imo.

#9 - Posted 1/23/12 @8:14AM by vikJBtor [contact]

It would be cool to see Rush do this song as an acoustic version and play it right afer Neil's solo like they've done with "Resist". Well ... not THIS version of the song :)

#10 - Posted 1/23/12 @8:27AM by FlyingRoadstar [contact]

Not my style, personally, but I tip my hat to them. It is certainly a nice song to work with, one of Rush's more accessible pieces. Nice to see it spread around a bit.

#11 - Posted 1/23/12 @8:28AM by Get up and go the distance [contact]

I love it! I think the reason it works for me is that it is so completely from Rush's version - they're not trying to copy Rush. Gregorian chant is beautiful in its own way.

#12 - Posted 1/23/12 @9:27AM by UnstableCondition [contact]

Ahem. Well. At least it's better than Lulu...

#13 - Posted 1/23/12 @10:54AM by subdivincent [contact]

like it - it's a nice melody, which these guys accentuate.

#14 - Posted 1/23/12 @11:32AM by Modern-Day Warrior [contact]

Hehe, well that was good for a laugh. I actually agree with #7 though. This works in its own way.
Hey, I'd rather listen to this than MSI's Tom Sawyer.

#15 - Posted 1/23/12 @12:05PM by limelighter [contact]

i like it, but it sounds like my church choir. i am gonna do like neil does. listen to it once and then put it away to never listen to it again. he does this with rush videos as well.

#16 - Posted 1/23/12 @1:20PM by patrush

That cover just doesn't cut it for me.

#17 - Posted 1/23/12 @1:57PM by cpb [contact]

This freaked me out. I clicked on it and thought I was in a Starbucks in 1994 again.

#18 - Posted 1/23/12 @2:07PM by Rubinowits [contact]

Yuk!

#19 - Posted 1/23/12 @4:38PM by GoldenRushFan [contact]

I heard that the boys will perform this version on the Clockwork Angels Tour. ;-)

#20 - Posted 1/23/12 @4:48PM by Rushfreak [contact]

...its different, sound at first was wayyy out there, but as I it went on, it had a good feeling to it.. good job. "but I will take the Rush version anyday"..

#21 - Posted 1/23/12 @5:18PM by LanceTheShred [contact]

Rush fans are so damn critical! Everyone should be happy they are chanting up a Rush song as a tribute. Sure beats the hell out of Nelly Fertado!

#22 - Posted 1/23/12 @6:14PM by patrush

#21 - ha ha. You have a point there. But like you said, Rush fans are pretty picky. But the reason for that is that Rush have set a standard so high that nobody's ever going to he happy with any Rush cover songs.

That being said, for all the good intents that people have invested in trying to cover Rush songs, there have been some noteworthy attempts:

- Jacob Moon's version of Subdivisions (it earned Geddy's praises)
- the Sonic Reality covers are different and contain interesting elements.
- some folks (was it John Petrucci or Steve Morse, or both) have covered La Villa Strangiato. I'll give them points for technical ability, however, the covers are note-for-note reproductions and not much in the way of originality.

That being said, none of these covers come close to Rush's original versions. It's sad to admit, but it my be true that one simply cannot cover Rush.

I want to be proved wrong though. Lots of good musicians out there. Only a faction of them have tried to cover Rush. What if they all took a shot at it? Surely we would find something noteworthy.

#23 - Posted 1/23/12 @6:42PM by Rob [contact]

Holy Moly!

#24 - Posted 1/23/12 @7:36PM by snowdog2113 [contact]

#22 - Steve Morse only played the intro and the main solo part of LVS on the Working Man tribute album.

I actually like the Greg Howe version much better than the one with Morse (even though I'm a big fan of Morse). It still comes off as overly "shred-like" and trying too hard but it's a nice version on its own.

Greg Howe Ascend (1999) La Villa Strangiato
link

#25 - Posted 1/23/12 @8:16PM by What-A-Rush

Overall,this version of 'Bravado' is similar to the original,like most Rush covers,and respectful as well,for better or worse. I think most bands who cover Rush are fans themselves,so they probably just want to do faithful recreations as opposed to complete remakes. Neither good or bad,just the way it is. Of all the songs on 'Roll The Bones' this is probably the best song on there,along with the title track. Overall,not one of their better albums. Two stars. Thanks RIAB.

#26 - Posted 1/23/12 @11:35PM by patrush

#24 - Greg Howe, I forgot about his version. Yes, one of those two stood out as better than the other (and probably Howe's, I'd have to play the CD again, as I don't quite remember exactly).

That being said, all those cover songs are nearly identical to the original. The only thing that differs is the solos are more shredding. But honestly I couldn't care less for that. Alright, someone can play fast, but I say so what.

(And don't get me started on these disgusting death-metal covers of Rush songs - those were an atrocity.)

What I'd like to see is nice re-interpretation of the Rush songs. Take away the shredding. It could be a totally stripped down version, or a version where there are no guitar solos. I get impressed more by creativity than a perfect rendition with chops.

Jacob Moon's version of Subdivision was a great example of a creative cover that came out well. No guitar solos, heavily stripped down. But he had that really original way to play it all by himself without any accompanying musicians, and it turned out great. And let's face it, this is the only Rush cover that got the band's attention. I remember Neil Peart trashing cover bands a while back (and he later apologized to Dream Theater after he learned they'd covered them..)

#27 - Posted 1/24/12 @12:40AM by Tintin [contact]

Interesting cover. Here's one that deserves to be known. It's quite charming:
link

#28 - Posted 1/24/12 @10:55AM by Rubinowits [contact]

I often see pretty good Rush cover bands or bands doing Rush songs on youtube. I find when there is a female vocalist, it sounds better. Strangely, some of the guitarists pull off the solos better than Alex.

#29 - Posted 1/24/12 @12:07PM by broughttoyoubytheletterj [contact]

Always a dumbass ^^^^^^^^ posting on here somewhere

#30 - Posted 1/24/12 @12:51PM by Rubinowits [contact]

#29 And why am I a dumbass?

#31 - Posted 1/24/12 @1:41PM by Rubinowits [contact]

Perhaps I should clarify my #28 post. I didn't mean their guitar solos were better than Alex's studio solos - by no means. I was just saying that sometimes Alex chumps a guitar solo live and I've seen Rush cover bands wherein the guitarist doesn't chump Alex's guitar solo.

#32 - Posted 1/24/12 @2:25PM by marty from clayton [contact]

I kinda like this version of Bravado.
Favorite Rush covers are:
Jacob Moon's "Subdivisions"
link

and AndragoinA's "Cold Fire"
link

#33 - Posted 1/24/12 @2:27PM by marty from clayton [contact]

I should add that the hokey-est Rush cover is Available Light by the Wave Mechanics Union.
link

#34 - Posted 1/24/12 @4:37PM by LanceTheShred [contact]

#33 Hokey-er than this Marty?

link

#35 - Posted 1/24/12 @5:43PM by Tintin [contact]

That is hilarious, Lance. Thanks for posting it. I'll never hear YYZ the same way again :)

#36 - Posted 1/24/12 @6:00PM by Jimbo [contact]

Lance - oh man, that is freaking funny! Warms my heart on a cold winter day.

#37 - Posted 1/24/12 @9:03PM by hermy [contact]

There is always this classic cover as well.......

link

#38 - Posted 1/24/12 @9:37PM by marty from clayton [contact]

#34 Lance - That was sooo terrible it had to be a joke. Man that was funny. #37 Hermy - That was actually really funny too. There was a comment on YouTube for yours Hermy that said somethign like Neil would have listened for one second, Geddy would have listened to the whole thing and politely thank them, and Alex would have downloaded it and played it for Neil over and over just to annoy him.

PS When I said Wave Mechanics was hokey-est, I was merely including produced and distributed cover tunes - I never thought to unleash the beast of home-made hooch!

#39 - Posted 1/24/12 @11:21PM by bluebuttskunk [contact]

Love the song...but this cover version, while I applaud the artistic attempt...embarrasses me.

#40 - Posted 1/25/12 @4:21AM by MAVIII [contact]

Oh boy,

Yup, I agree with the assessment that Rush fans are picky AND I acknowledge that Rush set the bar pretty high but, if I ONLY had Rush music (that includes the Men in Rush as well) we would be pretty bored. Variety is the spice of life. As Rush were inspired by others, so are others by Rush.
See, I go with the thought, "Hey, maybe if these guys like Rush (because of their "sophistication" and a good ear), maybe they'll like THIS Prog Rock or Prog Metal band!" :D but no, seems the majority (NOT all) is "Its not Rush so it isnt good" :(. Though I am lucky to know many who put Rush on their Top 5 list but listen to other musics and Prog Bands too.
Its funny to that RUSH always represented to me keeping an open mind and have always mentioned bands that (again) inspire them or take notice. But personal attacks and insults ensue, but everyone has a freewill I guess and we'll hear the negative with the positive.

But . . .
Anyone should have thought right off the bat this would NOT be a "Rock" interpretation :p

And to #26 - Though I do heartily agree that the Death Metal Tribute CD "Red Star" is pretty awful (this coming from a Death Metal fan), unfortunately a great band that gets lost in-between is the Prog/Math/Thrash Metal band "Prototype" and their version of "Red Barchetta", keep in mind its "their interpretation" but basically, different voice, harder tone, but is faithful to the composition. And I personally know that Vince (vox/guitarist) and Kragen (lead guitarist) are HUGE Rush fans link (I mentioned that because its not like they were forced to play this song :p).

Also of note, on "Working Men", Fates Warning does a VERY faithful version of "Closer to the Heart, link with a very cool "ending" :).
And anyone checkout Mike Portnoy's "Cygnus and the Sea Monsters"??? I know the vox may not be your cup of tea, but the music is pretty incredible link .
Checkout (the DRUMS! and videos about it) Portnoy's Bass Heads :p!

Anyways I guess everyone should think about the Rush song "Territories", but you can go by "Stick it Out" as well ;).

#41 - Posted 1/25/12 @3:18PM by drmike [contact]

I rather enjoyed that. No, it's not the Rush version but I liked the vocals in a way. The music behind the vocals seemed rather Police-esque somehow and I didn't think it brought much to the song.

#42 - Posted 1/25/12 @10:51PM by Get up and go the distance [contact]

The link to purchase no longer works. Sold out already?

#43 - Posted 1/25/12 @11:49PM by patrush

#40 - you seem to think Rush fans only listen to Rush. And the basis for that is? I was only referring to the Rush covers and how Rush have set the bar so high for cover bands to surmount. I have over 7,000 records at home - so as you can imagine, Rush is only a tiny percentage of that. I'm sure many of those bands you've never even heard of.

#44 - Posted 1/29/12 @4:56PM by MAVIII [contact]

@ #43 Patrush-
Noooo . . . as you missed, and I quote, I included "but no, seems the majority (NOT all)". Look I dont mean to start any fights with anyone, but WHERE did I assume that ALL Rush fans ONLY listen to Rush when I clearly say "Though I am lucky to know many who put Rush on their Top 5 list but listen to other musics and Prog Bands too." (if I have friends that like Rush and other musics, then its natural to imagine that other folks out there like the same, the Prog audience is one of those rare exceptions that International acts and other musical influences and likes are easily accepted).
But I have met TONS of Rush fans (at shows and elsewhere) that leave me shocked that they only know "Classic" Rock bands and have missed out on other musics or the Prog scene (new or old).
I almost have the same amount of CD's and Records combined as you, I'm 48 and my childhood was filled with various musics of the day of any given Year in my lifetime (Including Latin musics). And lived through every "invention" of Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal and their sub-genres. My post was NOT a personal attack on "You" but only hoping that some Rush listeners keep an open mind and explore beyond what Radio has to offer.
I meant no dis-respect :).