TEST FOR ECHO

Rush's worst album to date. Period. Even the synth-driven pop of the 80s was more inventive than this. The band really drops the ball here after the excellent Counterparts. However, just as Rush has never made a full masterpiece, so too have they not made a complete failure.

The title track is intense with some fabulous lyrics and great singing. Driven has some great riffing, though the live versions complete with a stunning bass solo is so much better. Limbo is an instrumental with some neat bass from Geddy, though it is vastly inferior to YYZ and La Villa Strangiato

Dog Years is awful, it is certainly the worst song here and one of the worst Rush tunes ever. Pretty much everything in between Driven and Limbo fails to excite, which the exception of the lyrically superb Resist.

This album would be the start of hard times for the band, particularly Neil Peart, who received a double tragedy that nearly ended Rush. Thankfully, this is not their swan song. Things would improve dramtically on Vapor Trails, though its production is awful.

Grade: D