ROLL THE BONES

Rush's Roll the Bones becomes their first release of the 1990s and continues the trend of fewer keyboards first started with their previous album Presto. Indeed, Roll the Bones is very similar in delivery and style as Presto, almost to the point of being formulaic. Although following a formula suggests a band has ran out of ideas, and I think that suggestion has merits in this case, Rush did make some improvements over Presto. Roll the Bones seems much better produced and clearly is more energetic, particularly on songs like the title track, Dreamline, and the incredible instrumental Where's My Thing? It also borrows some funk elements and even a hip-hop moment on the title track (I recall some controversy over that among their die-hard fans at the time).

This is probably their best effort since Power Windows, and the most they rocked since Grace Under Pressure or Moving Pictures. A very high quality effort, though quite accessible, but still deserving of four stars to this listener's ears.