Test for Echo
Encyclopedia
Test for Echo is the sixteenth studio album
by Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in 1996
. The album marks the final Rush work prior to the events in Neil Peart's life that put the band on hiatus for several years. Peart recorded a majority of his drum tracks for the album using traditional grip
, after receiving drum lessons from jazz instructor Freddie Gruber
.
The cover denotes an inuksuk
, native to the band's home country of Canada
, which is a stone figure in the shape of a human used to mark a food cache or hunting ground.
The title track reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock
chart. "Driven" became a bass showcase for bassist Geddy Lee during live performances, while "Resist" was rearranged as an acoustic song on the Vapor Trails
and R30 tours.
, Geddy Lee
, and Neil Peart
except where noted.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, released in 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
. The album marks the final Rush work prior to the events in Neil Peart's life that put the band on hiatus for several years. Peart recorded a majority of his drum tracks for the album using traditional grip
Traditional grip
Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks while playing percussion instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip...
, after receiving drum lessons from jazz instructor Freddie Gruber
Freddie Gruber
Freddie Gruber was a jazz drummer and teacher to a number of professional drummers.Gruber grew up in the nascent New York be-bop scene, and played with Charlie Parker, among many others. Gruber's student list includes Vinnie Colaiuta, Neil Peart, Steve Smith and Dave Weckl...
.
The cover denotes an inuksuk
Inukshuk
An inuksuk is a stone landmark or cairn built by humans, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. These structures are found from Alaska to Greenland...
, native to the band's home country of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which is a stone figure in the shape of a human used to mark a food cache or hunting ground.
The title track reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
chart. "Driven" became a bass showcase for bassist Geddy Lee during live performances, while "Resist" was rearranged as an acoustic song on the Vapor Trails
Vapor Trails
-Personnel:* Geddy Lee - bass guitar, vocals* Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic guitars, mandola* Neil Peart - drums, percussion-Album:Billboard Music Charts -Singles:...
and R30 tours.
Reception
Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Test for Echo a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, saying that Rush has "rarely played better in the past ten years than they have on Test for Echo."Track listing
All songs written by Alex LifesonAlex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
, Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
, and Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
except where noted.
- "Test for EchoTest for Echo (song)"Test for Echo" is the title track and second single from Canadian rock band Rush's 16th studio album released in 1996. The song's lyrics were written by Neil Peart and Pye Dubois with music written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart...
" (Lifeson, Lee, Peart, Pye DuboisPye DuboisPye Dubois is a Canadian lyricist and poet. He has worked with a number of bands, including Rush and Max Webster, with whom he was considered an unofficial fifth non-performing member. Dubois would accompany the band in the studio and wrote lyrics for each of their albums. Dubois was given lyric...
) – 5:56 - "DrivenDriven (Rush song)"Driven" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush taken from their 1996 album Test For Echo. 'Driven" was the third of five singles released from Test For Echo and reached #3 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. When played live, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee would often insert a short bass solo...
" – 4:27 - "Half the WorldHalf the World (Rush song)"Half the World" is a song from the progressive rock band Rush and was released as the first single from their 1996 album Test for Echo. A music video was made for the song. The song peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
" – 3:41 - "The Color of Right" – 4:48
- "Time and Motion" – 5:04
- "Totem" – 5:00
- "Dog Years" – 4:56
- "VirtualityVirtuality (Rush song)"Virtuality" is a song from the progressive rock band Rush and was released as the fourth single from their 1996 album Test for Echo. The song peaked at #16 on the U.S. Its lyrics deal of how the Internet technology affect the way relationships are carried on....
" – 5:43 - "Resist" – 4:22
- "Limbo" – 5:28
- "Carve Away the Stone" – 4:05
Personnel
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
- bass, keyboards, vocals - Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
- acoustic and electric guitars, mandolaMandolaThe mandola or tenor mandola is a fretted, stringed musical instrument. It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola , a fifth lower than a mandolin... - Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
- drums, percussion, hammered dulcimerHammered dulcimerThe hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
Sales certifications
| Country | Organization | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | RIAA | Gold (500,000) |
| Canada | RIAA | Gold (50,000) |
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Billboard 200 | 5 |
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| "Test for Echo Test for Echo (song) "Test for Echo" is the title track and second single from Canadian rock band Rush's 16th studio album released in 1996. The song's lyrics were written by Neil Peart and Pye Dubois with music written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart... "
|
| "Half the World Half the World (Rush song) "Half the World" is a song from the progressive rock band Rush and was released as the first single from their 1996 album Test for Echo. A music video was made for the song. The song peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.... " Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |
| "Driven Driven (Rush song) "Driven" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush taken from their 1996 album Test For Echo. 'Driven" was the third of five singles released from Test For Echo and reached #3 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. When played live, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee would often insert a short bass solo... " Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |
| "Virtuality Virtuality (Rush song) "Virtuality" is a song from the progressive rock band Rush and was released as the fourth single from their 1996 album Test for Echo. The song peaked at #16 on the U.S. Its lyrics deal of how the Internet technology affect the way relationships are carried on.... " Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |