Artist: RUSH
Album: "SNAKES & ARROWS (CD)"

Year: 2007
Media type: CD

Let's face it Rush are blessed ! because when they release something good most fans will try and tell you it is great ... Well I`m not like that I took it upon myself to listen without any bias to this latest Rush promo CD "Snakes & Arrows" and let me tell you I sat for three hours with nervousness, I even felt a bit sick in the stomach before I got the courage to slip it in the CD player sit in the optimum position, crank up my Yamaha amp to a decent volume and indulge in this special recording. OK the first song Far Cry is a song that's been getting around the net for a few weeks , I`m sure most of you have heard it already , what you probably have heard is how fantastic the production is on a decent system ! this entire CD must be the best engineered recording I own in my (rather large) CD collection it is breath taking ! Far Cry probably had many of you thinking I wonder what the rest of the CD will be like ? Well then I will try and articulate some of what I know .. I know for a fact that there's many great songs on this CD like ... The Way The Wind Blows, The Larger Bowl , Bravest Face ,Good News First .. I also know that their isn`t a bad song on the CD just some others may take a little longer than others to digest properly. As far as the instrumentals there are some fantastic moments , check out The Main Monkey Business it is probably one of the best instrumentals I have ever heard.

Geddy does a fantastic job with the vocals yet again only this time he goes beyond the call of duty with harmonies and vocal styles that sound so magic its hard to believe . Alex Lifeson in many ways makes this CD ! his twelve String Guitar in many places filled the keyboard void so perfectly that I can honestly say I didn`t miss the keys at all. Mr Peart is always brilliant his drumming and sense of placement are second to none but his lyrics on this CD blew me away , his philosophical approach to his lyrics is so clearly put its a joy to experience mind candy that tastes so good ;) So now comes the part where I get to tell you how I feel about this latest recording and I also get to try and put my thoughts into perspective and justify them .. OK .. here goes ... cough .. cough . .. this is the best CD Rush have made since Hemispheres .. there you go I said it .. better than all the others dating way back to Hemispheres

Get this CD don`t even think about it .. Just get it asap

BTW I wasn't a huge fan of Vapor Trails.
www.progarchives.com

TRACKLIST:

1. Far Cry (5:21)
2. Armor And Sword (6:36)
3. Workin' Them Angels (4:47)
4. The Larger Bowl (4:07)
5. Spindrift (5:24)
6. The Main Monkey Business (instrumental)(6:01)
7. The Way The Wind Blows (6:28)
8. Hope (instrumental 2:02)
9. Faithless (5:31)
10. Bravest Face (5:12)
11. Good News First (4:51)
12. Malignant Narcissism (instrumental 2:17)
13. We Hold On (4:13)

Total Time: 62:50

LINE-UP:

- Geddy Lee / bass guitar, bass pedals, mellotron, vocals
- Alex Lifeson / six & twelve string electric and acousitc guitars, mandola, mandolin, bouzouki
- Neil Peart / drums, cymbals, electronic percussion, tambourine