HOLD YOUR FIRE

This album is not a very good prog album, but it is a good rock or crossover prog album. No doubt that RUSH moved a lot towards commercial FM-music, as many reviewers report, compared to their 70's albums, so in progressive sense HYF is not so exciting.

Still - one thing few reviewers write about - and what I find a good thing with the later RUSH albums: GEDDY LEE sings much more enjoyable on these. His voice is warm, sonorous and deep, no screaming anymore (I find the music on earlier RUSH albums more progressive but LEE's singing (or screaming) rather awful.)

Another thing that has improved on this and other later RUSH albums is simply the songwriting. More melodic and catchier songs, more beautiful compositions. Alright, the verse-refrain-bridge-form of the songs is not an improvment but TIME STAND STILL is to me, because of its beautiful melody and (simple) chords, a more enjoyable song than the rather dull CAMERA EYE from MOVING PICTURES (which many reviewers love).