TEST FOR ECHO

I don't get the hate for this album - it was, like the previous one, a warm shower after the freeze that set in in the mid 80's. I've read some reviews where some think that Rush were emulating Dream Theater here and I simply don't get that either as they are nothing like similar on this album. Sure the Rush sound on this album is heavier than it had been for a long while however why is that a bad thing? There isn't a track on here that is bad or even mediocre - I sense a backlash on the band for their 3 weaker albums in the mid 80's. Highlights are "Driven" and "Resist". Usually I like longer tracks than what are on offer through album but aside from that small point I like the album - a lot. I think that a mistake that many listeners make regarding music is to expect a band to continue with their successes of the past, truth is that doesn't really happen. Anyone expecting another 2112 would be kind of seriously let down - besides, the fact that I find 2112 great is due to the fact that there isn't another 2112. This was the nineties - not the 70's and this specific album is a good album for the 90's. I find that with most bands there is a peak period and it's usually downhill from that point - a strong band keeps the interest flowing however even though they can't reproduce the creativity and the formula that once made them great - with this release and the previous one my interest was definitely still flowing. So - a seriously under-rated album which I will happily award four stars to and mean it - and those who know me know that I can't abide what I believe to be bad music and above that I'm usually very outspoken. To the haters - give this album another couple of listens and then tell me that it's worth the average rating that it is presented with here.