HOLD YOUR FIRE

Not essential on your Rush collection, but it has it's moments. To fully enjoy the complexity of Hold Your Fire, it's better to watch A Show of Hands. To me, Hold Your Fire is the top in efforts and musicianship in Rush history. Geddy uses his bass in a poppy and rapid way (Force Ten, Turn The Page, Time Stand Still). Lifeson has his moments too. But seems to be more on the background side this time. Peart is flamboyant. Most of the songs are a total work-out of technique and quickness. My hat to Peart, top of your drumming in this tour-de-force that is Hold your Fire. And it shows in the Tour video (Rythm method). Force Ten, Mission, Turn the Page and the very surprisingly catchy Point Mover, are lots of tracks that makes your feet stomp. Most of the songs of the albums are forgotten, by fans and maybe even by the boys themselves! The 80's feel is there, but 1988 was a new debut in rock. 1988 is a very decent year if your album's been produced in that period. It would be unfair to say that Hold your Fire is a bad album. Only girl-commercial-oriented. Technology in concerts and studios gave a crystal-clear sound and immaculate production. Remember in 1988 was also the release of Depeche Mode 101 with amazing sound and producted with advanced savoir-faire! Well, Rush always beneficied of the latest technology, studio or concert and it shows in here. Catchy tunes for almost every track, a lighter sound maybe more targetted to neo-prog fans that (unfortunately), can't get enough of Marillon.