HOLD YOUR FIRE

Here is the first in a string of Rush albums I bought and thought, What were they thinking!?. I am not kidding when it took me years to get into it, and now I gladly do. Keep in mind I have purchased every Rush album as it was released since Moving Pictures. After a while it seemed it was more out of loyalty than anything. Hold Your Fire began that road until Counterparts.

Now I'm not saying this is a bad album. Every listener goes for something different. Only two songs are really strong on this release. Force Ten and Turn the Page. Everything else is, well, tame. But that being the case, there is a reason behind it. The album title says it. It is another of Rush's themed albums where Neil focuses on an idea. With this one, the theme is aggression, or rather holding back that aggression. The music and lyrics reflect that for the most part with one or two exceptions. And it is not to say that the album is gentle. Just, well, different. And I have to say this. Lee does not have a singer's voice. I know what you are thinking. When the song Mission starts, I feel embarrassed. Come on Ged, don't EVEN go there.

OK, enough of me being critical here. From the Progressive Rock musician technique stand point, oh yeah, they still got it and aren't afraid to show it. Not a lot of fancy time sig changes here, but go ahead and try playing these songs on your instrument of choice. You'll learn to respect it. I sure did.

So when the day finally ends, I look at this album from the outside and see that it is really one for the fans. Not a masterpiece but certainly no dog. I am a fanboy of Rush, but I think I can be partial at the same time. 3.5/5 stars