ROLL THE BONES

By the time Roll the Bones rolls around, Rush has devolved into a formulaic band, offering nothing really new. Basically you get more of the same from Presto, Hold Your Fire, etc but with fewer songs hitting and more songs missing.

RTB starts off promising with Dreamline (think Show Don't Tell redux) and Bravado (think The Pass redux) and the title track (kinda interesting overall but has the band rapping...yes rapping....to ill effect). Face Up is a mediocre attempt at rock (think Turn The Page redux). Things brighten briefly with the instrumental Where's My Thing (the only song where the band shows off their prodigious musical chops).

Unfortunately, from there, things fall apart. None of the remaining songs stand out in any way and blend into an unending stream of mediocrity. The one positive I can say in the lyrical gamble theme prevalent throughout. Peart does a terrific job of tying capturing the idea that life is a gamble, at all times, and sometimes you just have to Roll the Bones.

A borderline 3 stars.