SNAKES & ARROWS

They're old, they're just not yet retired, but does Rush still rock at the average age of 54? I like most of their albums, although I have some trouble getting into Caress of Steel and Vapor Trails, for obvious reasons (obvious to those who know Rush' history that is).

The opening track Far Cry provides us with a great wall of sound - tons of Geddy's amazing bass work and many megawatts of energy from all three band members go into this track. Luckily, the band has mercy on us and slows down a bit on Armor and Sword, which is more in the vain of the 1990s. It could have been found on Counterparts had it been written at the time. To me, it brings recollections of Nobody's Hero and Resist. On Working them Angels an interesting mix of electric guitar and acoustic guitar shows us what Rush is about - an opinion that only gets stronger after seeing the band perform it live at Rotterdam. Too bad it gets followed by the more straight forward rocker The Larger Bowl, which has only a very brief guitar solo to distract from the long windedness of the track. The second single from the album,Spindrift, makes up a bit for that, even if not my favourite track on the album. With The Way the Wind Blows, we are back at the Counterparts level - could it be that Counterparts is the beginning of the Rush era of which this album is also part, despite the fact that there's a live DVD in between the two? A real modern Rush track, from the drums and the bluesy guitar at the intro to the last note. Faithless fits the same model, but has a more melancholic atmosphere to it. There's a hint of the early 80s Rush work in this one, it could fit in with the work on Signals or Grace under Pressure, even though the keyboards are less prominent compared to those two albums. Bravest Face is one of the best tracks on the album, together with Working Them Angels and Armor and Sword. Same type of cooperation between acoustic and electric guitar and solid bass work. Good News First is the orphan track of the album - which means that it is that one track that I enjoy when I hear it, but that I always have to look up and play to remember how good it is. Closing track We Hold On is a typical modern Rush track, and a great outro for the album, that shows the composition and playing skills of all band members, and the power of lyricist Neil Peart - lyrics wise this could have been part of Hold Your Fire.

All of the above is interleaved by three instrumentals. The Main Monkey Business (a real band effort and very strong composition), Hope (Alex flashing fingers on a bouzouki) and Malignant Narcissism (Geddy in a - narcissistic? - lead role, causing a lesser balance than The Main Monkey Business) really show the quality of these three instrumentalists. Rush at their best, even though these tracks will never beat La Villa Strangiato and YYZ.

All in all, this album is a landmark in the career of the band, being the first studio release after their 30th Anniversary tour. Subject to discussion - have they lost it, are they still prog and, darkest of all, will this be their last? Disucssions that are all valid, and in the conclusion of which the album itself has a strong vote. Being a long time Rush fan, this is one of my favourite releases of 2007, but definitely not the strongest Rush release ever. Still, any serious Rush or prog lover should consider this album, which allows only one score on the ProgArchives scales.

Snakes & Arrows may well be one of their best efforts in a while, probably since the early eighties. If I still have this much energy at their age, I'll make a Snakes & Arrows of my own. For now I'll just admire this one.

Brought to you by the letter 'A'.

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