I have never really rated the opinion of music critics - they largely seem to be bitter wannabe musicians with an axe to grind and a desire to like the "right" bands and to brainwash the gullible would be hipsters into toeing the party line. The NME is a classic case in point - pretty much the British equivalent of the "Rolling Stone", and a prime exponent of the vile "build 'em up yo knock 'em down" culture prevalent in so much of British journalism. They infamously described Rush as "Nazi Fascists" - which is surely particularly hurtful given that Geddy Lee's parents survived the Nazi Death Camps in WWII. Think of that and listen to "Red Sector A" again...
I don't care if people like Rush or not. Equally, I don't mind if other people do like them - I am not (or at least try not to be) an elitist. I would rather like it if people gave them a chance and due credit for being a talented, innovative, hard-working and influential band. Their music has spoken to me and many others) more than anyone else's, often describing the "view from the suburbs" - a middle class geek's view of the world. "Subdivisions" and indeed many of the songs from the album "Signals" deals with this sort of theme.
They are also an excellent live band who are never anything other than well-rehearsed and respectful of their audience - something that certain other Canadian artists could do well to learn. They are now members of a club that they never really cared for, but they recognised that many of their fans cared and when inducted had the decency to turn up and thank the people whose opinions do matter to them. Now it's back to the real business for them - see you in Glasgow on May 30th, guys!

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