SNAKES & ARROWS

As always, a new Rush album is an event. Having been a fan for nearly twenty years, I have followed the band's career in an almost religious manner even though they gave up the prog epics long ago. Why ? Simply because of the 'what's next' factor. Ever since 'Permanent Waves' and 'Moving Pictures', though these albums marked a drastic change in the band's sound, they have always managed to update their sound to suit the current musical scene (at least what they liked about it) while still sounding like themselves. Their latest offering, 'Snakes & Arrows', is no exception.

Enter new producer and long-time fan of the band, Nick Razckulinek (given the guy's name, I hope you'll excuse me if it's not typed correctly!!!). This guy saw Rush for the first time when he was 11 years old, and somehow it shows. This may very well be the best sounding Rush album in a long, very long time, if not ever. He had a fan's point of view of how Rush should sound, and that's what he offered us. And to say that this acts as a relief after the musically exhilarating but atrociously sounding 'Vapor Trails' is an understatement.

Opener 'Far Cry' is probably the most 'Rush sounding' song on S&A. Great syncopated intro that ends with the 'Hemispheres' chord (cool!) and then mutates into a darker, straightforward rock riff with some weird chords thrown in. Nice verse, very catchy chorus, both musically and melodically.

'Armor and Sword' starts with a somewhat simple but efficient drum pattern and a few moments later the rest of the band kicks in. Quite a surprise to hear such a nice sounding acoustic guitar for the verse. Lyrically, the song deals with how the beliefs we inherit as children (armor) can become a weapon (sword). Great lyrics for a great song.

'Working Them Angels' is, lyrically, an idea taken from Neil's novel 'Traveling Music', in which he describes how he thinks he pushes his luck living on the edge (motorcycle touring, etc.). At first I didn't like the song very much, but Alex's beautiful guitars and that lovely infectious chorus redeemed it.

'The Larger Bowl' is, in my opinion, one of the weakest tracks here. Based around Neil's lyrics written in a pantoum (a clever alternance of repeating sentences in a different order to eventually return to the original order), the song reminds me of 'Anagram' and 'Hand Over Fist' from Presto, just a bit better. A forgettable song.

'Spindrift' is a treat. Dark patterns and interesting melodies and rythms. In the vein of 'Far Cry'.

'The Main Monkey Business' comes next, the album's first instrumental. And what an instrumental it is. As much as 'Leave that Thing Alone' was great, this is even better. Influences from Porcupine Tree and Tool can be heard here, yet this still sounds like Rush (a complete cycle, Rush having influenced both these bands). I CANNOT wait to hear and see this live.

'The Way the Wind Blows' has a few surprises. A very nice drum intro leaving place to a bluesy Alex Lifeson ! The verse sounds a bit like 'Driven' from Test for Echo, and then to a nice acoustice chorus. Love that song.

'Hope' is something we haven't been treated to in a while. A solo 12 string acoustic number courtesy of Lifeson, and a beautiful one at that. A bit reminiscent of Jimmy Page.

'Faithless' is an okay song, with a chorus that harkens back to 'Ghost of a Chance' from 'Roll The Bones', which I enjoy alot.

'Bravest Face', to me, is another so-so number that doesn't do very much for me.

'Good News First' is one I really love, with great guitar work and great vocal melodies. And hey, that's a mellotron ? Hope they will play this one live.

The albums last instrumental, 'Malignant Narcissism', despite being short, is a very intricate song. Neil recorde dit on a four-piece kit while Geddy used a fretless 'Jaco Pastorius' Fender Signature bass. Primus-esque, incredibly fun to listen to.

'We hold On' closes the album on a beautiful note.

Snakes and Arrows is an album on which Lifeson shines, from beginning to end. Wonderful acoustic guitars (in fact, no other Rush album has had that many acoustic guitars on it), a very rock approach, and still as textural as ever. Definitely his best album in a while. While S&A doesn't have as much energy as Vapor Trails had, the artistry of it makes it an album that is just as good (though VERY different). A very human, touching, beautiful album with a very few weak moments. Just keep in mind that Rush gave up the epics a long time ago, and expecting any here is a mistake. Rush moves forward, not backwards, and that is why they are still valid in this day and age.

A solid four stars.