COUNTERPARTS

A welcome change of sound and energy when compared to their past 3 (!) albums. Rush ditches most of their synthesizers and Geddy remembers how good of a bass player he is; "Counterparts" is a return to form.

Showing off everything that made their iconic albums great but in a more adult and cerebral way, "Counterparts" almost picks up where the band left off in the mid-'80's. All of the songs are close to 5-minutes and feature thematic lyrics focusing on relationships and individuality. The opener, "Animate" is a catchy and smart example, with "Alien Shore", "Speed of Love" and "Cold Fire" showing that the band has grown up a lot, and have some new stories to tell. Also new, is the emotional "Nobody's Hero", which shows a new level of sensitivity to Peart's lyrics.

As a whole, the group sounds tight and on their game, with Alex's guitar and Geddy's bass resurfacing after a long absence. Great, meaningful songs from start to finish.

Songwriting: 4 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 4 Style/Emotion/Replay: 3