Rush "Snakes & Arrows" (in retrospect)

3 stars. Not amazing, but better than their recent output

Their best since Signals. I think that this is one of the most emotional Rush albums in decades. Perhaps it has something to do with circumstances in my own life, perhaps not. However this album made me reconnect with Rush, a band I'd loved in the 70s and early 80s but one I'd lost track of in the ensuing years.

ghost_of_morphy wrote: It's a bit early for a retrospective, isn't it?

Snakes & Arrows was swamped with early reviews that due to the way this site runs cant be changed easily and since after  so long minds can change  this was aimed at seeing how well it (Snakes % Arrows) was still going.  Yes in one sense you are correct but thats not the point with this poll


Edited by Yorkie X - December 05 2007 at 03:47

I'd say I was still at a 4 star, myself. I think the album is pretty strong throughout, really. Will it usurp 'A Farewell To Kings' or 'Moving Pictures' as my all time favourite? Of course not, but I'd agree that it's their strongest for some time- since 'Counterparts' I'd say. Surely, 'Far Cry', 'The Main Monkey Business', 'The Way The Wind Blows' and 'Spindrift' in particular are destined to be future classics, IMHO.

Interested about the tour though; I can't comment fully as I did not attend the gigs but I have to confess I felt the set was a bit top-heavy in terms of pushing the new material. Did the album stand up compared to the older classics in that context?

erik neuteboom wrote:          To be more precise E-Dub, it's the best thing they have done in 21 years  !

3 and 1/2. Good, but not GREAT. I was expecting less, so it was a nice surprise! 

Wait...I'm seeing something here that just had me step back. How does it rate as an CD not using the system. I mean The Who's "Who's Next" gets a 4.37? That is a Prog rating? I feel a disconnect. If S&A was treated in the same vein, does it garner a higher rating because it is not so much Prog? Anyone know what I'm getting at? Some people rate it lower because of it lacking Progness. 

A solid 4, nothing less. I'd definitely put it in Rush's top 8 albums- it's the best since Power Windows (but then again, I am kind of a Vapor Trails fanboy too...). The whole album is very consistent, something that was a little lacking in the late-80s through the 90s. In a way this feels like a whole new era for the band. They may be really old, but S&A really feels like the band has a renewed energy and excitement for it all.

Vapor Trails was a great comeback and Feedback/30th Anniversiary tour was kind of the "yeah, let's play the hits" and there the band could have stagnanted, but they didn't. They repeatedly said Feedback kind of refocused them or whatever and now they're still going strong.

I guess it was a longwinded way of saying it, but Rush is still definitely going strong and S&A proves they are still relevant and aren't resting on their back catalogue. I mean, they played nine new selections from S&A on their tour! They've never done that before. That's putting a lot of faith in the new material, and it seems to be paying off.

And I'm jealous that E got to meet Geddy and Alex backstage. Way cool!

Edited by Arsillus - November 29 2007 at 20:35

I seen Rush live in Kansas City and the material from Snakes and Arrows was amazing.  To me this is their best album since Moving Pictures.  4 stars

Best albums since Moving Pictures for me and my album of the year and deserving of 5 stars.