ROLL THE BONES

ROLL THE BONES....Hmmmm....I honestly didn't know what to think upon first listen. Actually, because I went backwards through their catalog instead of starting with their 1st album, I said to myself..."Great...just what I don't need; another T4E." I thought that the production was too much of a carryover from their 80's discs(HYF, anyone?) and that it was a crutch they were leaning on.

I put the CD away for a few weeks, determined to come back to it with an open mind. Damn glad I did. This is actually quite a fun listen. And I also must thoroughly agree with reviewer Dave Connolly(what a sage!) when it comes to the "concept". The concept, in this case, is much more guarded than, say, COS or 2112. But Peart had always been careful to keep his lyrics from overstatement or getting TOO pompous. Alex's playing is shimmering, funky in spots(YOU BET YOUR LIFE) and always melodic. That's one thing I've always loved about the group: they've never been afraid to use their respective instruments to create flowing, shimmering melodies. Carlos Santana once told "Guitar World"that "There are a lot of melodies within the bell of a cymbal that most never even hear." If you listen to it often enough, you'll discover subtilties within each minute of each track, little bits within each song that perfectly combine to form a powerful listening experience.

The total is a breath of fresh air. Who'd have thought that Rush would ever get into RAP??? The video for the title track is a hoot! A rapping skeleton? WOW! Geddy's voice is warm, full, (c)overtly melodic, while his bass is never less than powerful. It is here that Neil truly earns the name "The Professor", with his most fluid playing since MOVING PICTURES. Alex's leads, while still few, are sweet, melodic, and always tasteful. He's not relying on speed here, as do other virtuosi of his ilk(VH, Schenker, etc.) That's what makes this such a pleasant listen...the tastefulness, the subtlety, the poesy...all this makes for a fun ride.