I am going to either piss off people with this post, or get a lot of sympathy. Why? Well, it’s pretty simple: I’m having a tough time liking the new CD by Rush. I’ve written about my love for this group on this blog, so it’s no secret that I’m a fan of their music. However, on their latest CD, Snakes and Arrows, Rush has created thirteen songs that often sound aimless, but are peppered with really wonderful musical ideas that never really came together to create wonderful songs.
The lead single (and track) off the CD is “Far Cry†which starts out with a nod to their Hemispheres album – only updated with a more frantic feel. The song is certainly a rocker and signals that Rush is coming out of the gate swinging. But I think the song really shines in the chorus (Listen HERE) with lyrics that I think most can relate to. It took me quite a few listens to “Far Cry” before I really started to like it, and I was hoping it would be the same for the other songs on the CD. But… I’m not completely feeling it.
The exceptions to my “I’m All Out of Love†moments are the instrumentals on this CD. Rush usually has an instrumental on their albums, but Snakes and Arrows sports three of varying styles. “The Main Monkey Business†crunches and churns through most of the jam and then settles into a soft landing (Listen HERE).
“The Way the Wind Blows†(Listen HERE) is one of Rush’s most political songs to date with Peart signaling his disgust with the rise of fundamentalism, but the music sounds an awful lot like the jam on “The Main Monkey Business” and “Double Agent” from their CD Counterparts.
We can only go the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow
Now it’s come to this
Hollow speeches of mass deception
From the Middle East to the Middle West
Like crusaders in a holy alliance
Now it’s come to this
Like we’re back in the dark ages
From the Middle East to the Middle West
It’s a plague that resists our science
It seems to leave them partly blind
And they leave no child behind
While evil spirits haunt their sleep
While shepherds bless and count their sheep
“Bravest Face†has its moments, but where the song shines is in Alex Lifeson’s bluesy guitar playing during the bridge (Listen HERE). I’ve been listening to this band’s music for a couple of decades and I don’t think I’ve ever heard Alex play in such a relaxed manner. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that kind of lead break from him but, alas, it was all too short.
I think that’s part of the problem with this CD. There are surprises along the way, but they come in very small doses. Also, another problem is that Geddy Lee wasn’t able to take Peart’s lyrics and craft the kind of catchy melodies he has been able to in the past. Lee sings with earnestness (sometimes a little too much) but that’s not enough to convey the lyrical content of the songs – some of which have the style of bumper sticker slogans that made me cringe at times.
You have to know that it pains me to have so little praise for this CD. I really want to like it, but Snakes and Arrows has an overall coldness that prevents me from fully embracing it.
Rating: Fair
–PK
13 thoughts on “Snakes and Arrows”
Comments are closed.
Muh. I hate it when I’m SO looking forward to something, and then it’s just, eh, so so.
I’m kinda curious about the new Bjork CD now…it’s getting mighty good reviews…
I’ve read hot and cold reviews of Bjork, but it’s not hard to get the album (clicky-click and download). 🙂
Well, that sucks for you! It’s so disappointing when a group you love so much puts out not so good stuff.
That seems to be happening to me everytime U2 releases a new album…..
You know, when I heard this was going to be a “throwback” to old Rush (rather, 70’s Rush), I was excited. But the minute I heard the single, it sounded just like the last album to me. I was so looking forward to this cd, but my excitement has waned.
Thanks for the preview.
Scott
It may grow on you. Your girlfriends last CD was by far my least favorite. But it’s grown on me. I appreciate it more after watching the documentary.
Dude, that sucks.
Py, I’m with ya on this one. Everyone’s bending over backwards to praise this record, and like you, I’m just not feeling it. It saddens me to admit that I haven’t liked a Rush album since Counterparts. Sigh.
DMed: I agree. I think Counterparts was the beginning of the downward slide. There are some songs on Vapor Trails that I really like, but Test for Echo was really tough to warm up to.
Dot: There are about 3 songs that I like (not love, mind you), but far too many that just leave me kind of blank.
Malchus: I hope you enjoy the album more than I did.
Beenzzz: I would say that U2 is has a better track record than Rush has.
Ml: It really hurts to know they have so much talent, but can’t seem to find their muse. As Gina said, “Dude, that sucks.”
Py: I’m in your boat—longtime fan (from when “Hemispheres” was first released!), not too eager to bash anything from one of my faves, and very disappointed when I first heard this. The amazing thing for me was after repeated listenings, I finally got the gist of the album and began to appreciate it for what it was: a collection of songs from three guys who are physically and emotionally evolving, like it or not. This can’t be “Moving Pictures,” “Counterparts,” or any other album. This is what it is.
I’m also keeping in mind that some of the more tragic events in all their lives over the past ten years or so have permanently shaped their view of things—for better or for worse—and that a valiant effort (which this is) is better than none. I’m still holding out faith that they’ll someday release the penultimate statement, one that encompasses their entire body of work, and receive the kudos they deserve instead of getting bashed as often as they do.
And I agree…”Test for Echo” was…*ahem*…a little different. Great blog. Keep it up.
Thanks for stopping by, Todd. I really don’t want them to record another Moving Pictures or Counterparts, either. Part of their problem is that they are taking long breaks between albums. I know they are getting older and can’t record new material every 2 years or so, but I think the long breaks are really having an effect on their ability to make music that’s really great. I’m now up to 6 songs that I really like on Snakes and Arrows, so maybe there’s hope for me yet!
🙂
I totally agree. There are a lot of really good things about this new album, but it just doesnt hold my attention as much as most of their others. I LOVED Vapor Trails and was really excited by the guitar heavy approach they took on that album. But this one has a lot more of an earthy feel (lots of acoustic guitars, open ringing drums) which is not BAD at all… i’m just not feeling it. it harkens back to Test for Echo and even parts of Presto, just not the really good parts.
When I heard “Far Cry” I got my hopes up really high that the rest of the album would be even better. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. I have to agree that that the majority of this album is a hard pill to swallow. There are times of brief shining moments, but it just fizzles out.
My first problem is the constant cramming of lyrics that just do not flow well. There are very few songs that the lyrics flow smoothly. Second, the transitions of between versus, bridge, and chorus seem too cut and paste (not enough smooth transitions). Part of it was the writing of the music and others being bad mixing. Third, some the songs sound like they came off of Geddy’s solo album. Perhaps my expectations were way too high.
I just wonder how much different this album would have been if they lived closer together and wrote stuff together like they did in the old days.