New World Man: A Tribute to Rush

By: Dr Matt Warnock

Having recently had a chance to preview the new documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, I was looking forward to checking out the latest compilation record from Magna Carta Records, New World Man. The album features a who’s who of the prog and metal worlds including Sebastian Bach, Stu Hamm, Andreas Kisser, Dave Martone, Vinnie Moore, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, Kip Winger and Alex Skolnick. With a lot of compilation albums, the final product ends up sounding like it was thrown together quickly, lacking the chemistry that a working band would normally have. Such is not the case with this record. Every one of these fine musicians brings their A game to New World Man, producing an album that can be enjoyed by Rush fans and newbies alike.

The tracks on the album run the gamut of Rush’s long and highly-productive career. There are fan favorites “Tom Sawyer,” two versions, “Limelight,” “Subdivisions” and Fly by Night.” But, there are also some more obscure, yet just as enjoyable, songs such as “The Trees,” “Mission” and “Force Ten.” The arrangements stay fairly close to the originals, with the exception being Skolnick’s jazz-fusion treatment of “Tom Sawyer.”

Check Out GI’s Review of Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

Having said that this is not simply a group of great musicians doing covers of great tunes, there is enough personality injected into each groove, melody line and solo to lift these tunes beyond the realm of imitation. In fact, this is one of the reasons the album succeeds as it does. If this was a collection of completely rewritten versions of classic Rush tunes, or simply exact copies even by great players, it wouldn’t have passed muster with die-hard fans. Instead, the subtleness of each new twist and added turn to the arrangements is quite enjoyable. It’s just enough to create interest without losing the listener along the way.

Check Out GI’s Interview With Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson

As one would expect from an album where perennial shred-master Vinnie Moore is playing rhythm guitar, the lead playing is world class. Dave Martone, Andreas Kisser and Dominic Cifarelli are all at the top of their game as they tip their hats to Alex Lifeson before taking their solos to the next level. As well, Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci lays down a solo on “Jacob’s Ladder” that is out of this world, absolutely killer. But would one expect any less from Petrucci?

Though the guitar parts are hard enough in any Rush song, the drums, vocals and bass lines are just as hard, if not more difficult. It takes a certain kind of player to tackle these tracks and players such as Hamm, Portnoy, Sheehan and Mangini take the opportunity to prove why they’re who they are. Each nails down these tricky parts, making them sound easy in the process. On the vocal side, Bach and Winger provide some of the best cuts on the album, with Winger’s version of “Limelight” being a particularly inspired performance. He weaves in and out of Geddy Lee inspired vocal tones, before bringing it back into the grinding timbre that only he can pull off.

Check Out GI’s Interview With Ian Grandy, Rush’s First Roadie

Overall New World Man is a well thought out compilation that was put together with the best of intentions. Sometimes these albums can seem like quick cash grabs from a record company. But in this case the music is front and center, which is the way it should be when putting tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time.