TILES

Rush is a tricky band to emulate. Tiles does it properly and with originality by carrying on in Rush's harder-edged footsteps without trying to replicate them. This American foursome (the bassist guests) is a good group on their own merit with Chris Herin in charge, dropping some top-notch guitar riffs and cool licks in the chorus footpedal-drenched school of Alex Lifeson, and a bit of heavy metal for flavor. The rhythm section aint bad either and are very tight if a bit lackluster; Mark Evans on drums and Kevin Chown's bass. Paul Rarick's voice doesn't make a big impression, but then neither do many singers in rock.

The first cut, 'Analysis Paralysis', has a neat middle section but, sporting Rarick's high nasal whine, could have been put at the end or tossed all together and doesn't contribute much to the record. It's the follower 'Token Pledge' that brings the fire to the party, a classic hard-progger with killer playing and a toned-down vocal performance. 'Retrospect' is a pastoral acoustic guitar solo, 'Trading Places' and 'Bridges of Grace' are pop ditties that echo an early Boston sound, 'Dancing Dogs' and 'Scattergram' both return to a Rush palette circa mid-1980s, and 'Dress Rehersal' flat out rocks with chunkiness and slippery playing from Herin. The ballady 'Supply and Demand' finishes and the rest are bonus tracks of varying quality.

Not a a great album, not a bad one, just some honest, heavy prog rock from worthy musicians.