HOLD YOUR FIRE

Uh oh. We'd seen Rush stagnate somewhat over their last two albums (both GUPRessure and PWindows lacked originality) but here we combine that lack of new ideas with a lack of good song-writing (a curse the would plague the band forever after). While in many ways similar to PWindows, HYFire simply doesn't compare because the songs just aren't as good. First, the songs are shorter. And while Rush had long ago abandoned the 10-minute opus many of the songs on Signals, GUP and PW were five to 6 minutes in length, allowing for extended intros and outros, solo opportunities and expanded arrangements. Here, that is all missing, replaced by a standard verse / chorus / break / outro arrangement leaving little room for instrumental work.

This is compounded by the fact the songs just don't work. Force Ten and Time Stand Still would be filler on previous Rush releases but here they are the standouts. Turn the Page is the only other song that really meets the mark. Most others are drowned by flat vocals lacking real melody. Coming on the heels of the underrated Power Windows HYFire was one of the most disappointing releases of my life. Not terrible, but clearly falling short of the high standards set by Rush.