COUNTERPARTS

This album was the beginning of the early revival for Rush. Long gone were the heavy synth lines, now they were being used as a background instrument again, and the guitar was taking the main stage again. Lifeson uses a rougher tone on this album, giving it a slightly grungy feel. Geddy's bass was now becoming as it once was, intricate and yet it hadd the power it used to. Peart was back writing thoughtful lyrics, but still was writing some mediocre stuff, and his drumming became more hard rock oriented.

Noteworthy tracks are the opener, Animate, which features a great Lifeson riff, and a very catchy chorus. Neil drums on this one are superb, especially the opening drum solo (so to speak). The heavier Stick it Out features one of Lifeson's rare tuning changes (Other examples are Between the Wheels, Resist, and most recently 2112). It has a slightly darker feel than the rest of the album, and yet still has a catchy chorus. Nobody's Hero, a song concerning the AIDS epidemic, features an orchestra, great acoustic work from Lifeson, emotional vocals from Lee, and some of the best lyrics Peart has ever written. And last, the instrumental Leave That Thing Alone! (which was nominated for a Grammy), featuring a funky bass groove from Geddy, a searing guitar solo from Lifeson, and some precision drumming from Peart. One of the best Rush instrumentals available.

Overall, this album, while not better than Roll the Bones, was good in its own right. It marked a new era for Rush, and it was a breath of fresh air for the aged rockers. 3.5/5.