COUNTERPARTS

Counterparts is the fifteenth full-length studio album by Canadian progressive rock act Rush. The album was produced by Peter Collins who had also worked with the band on Power Windows (1985) and Hold Your Fire (1987). Counterparts was released through Atlantic Records on the 19th of October 1993.

The music on Counterparts is a departure from the keyboard laden style of eighties Rush and boasts a much more guitar and bass heavy production and songwriting style. The keyboards are very sparse on the album and Alex Lifeson´s heavy guitar riffs really dominate. The production by Peter Collins is excellent and gives the music a much needed warmth. The songs are still rather simple rock tunes with only hints at progressive rock. The instrumental Leave that thing alone is one of the highlights of the album but I also enjoy Animate, Stick it Out and Everyday Glory but there are no weak songs on the album which comes of rather coherent. The musicianship is as always excellent.

While Counterparts is not my favorite album by Rush I think it´s a good album and another transition in sound for the band. One they would develop further on subsequent releases. 3 stars are deserved.