2/27: The Seeker
Please enjoy Rush covering this song by The Who (because I sure won't).
They call me The Seeker.
I've been searching low and high.
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die.
While I love the conceit of Feedback—Rush recording an album of cover songs!—I want to get “The Seeker” out of the way early so we can focus for the rest of the year on the songs that spark joy.
You see, this is one of those times when I can't be objective about the song—not because I love Rush, but because I despise The Who.
I know, I know. The Who are deeply influential! They are all very talented musicians! The movie version of Tommy is kind of amazing! Also their music is nails on a chalkboard and reminds me of every terrible neckbeard who’s ever cornered me at a party.
There are some bands you never truly get, no matter how much you hear from them, no matter how passionate their fanbase is. I think we, as Rush fans, have firsthand experience of that phenomenon! We all have that one artist or band who might not deserve our scorn, but who receives it anyway.
Well, just as Rush is that band for some folks, The Who is that band for me. Sorry, y’all. Not even my boys covering a The Who song can get me to like it. But I sure as hell hope you will! Give this deep cut a spin below:
Ha! I hope that felt cathartic, getting that off your chest. I personally really like The Who (not love, though). But I know one other person who really dislikes The Who. Music critic Jim DeRogatis. He cohosts, with fellow critic Greg Kot, one of my favorite music radio shows cum podcasts, Sound Opinions.
In a recent piece on great drumming in rock, Jim went off about how much he hates Keith Moon. It was hilarious. Here's the link in case you want to hear it.
https://soundopinions.org/show/951
There are very few artists or bands that I actively dislike/hate, but I have never been able to get into Bruce Springsteen. There are many songs that I can appreciate why other people really love them, so it's more an ambivalence than dislike (except for everything on Born in the U.S.A. which was omni-present back in 1984 and drove me insane).
It's a good prompt for an essay, though. Not that I want to bash other people's favorite band/artist. But like you say, everyone has that critically and commercially acclaimed artist that makes them crazy. I'm drawing a blank on any others, but I know there are many. Rush might top that list if I were to take a poll -- which only makes us fans love them more.