Rush - Snakes and Arrows the Review........

Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

How much speculation and anticipation could there be about what this disc would sound like. "Will it sound like Moving Pictures?, Will it sound like Vapor trails? Will it sound like 2112?" Will it sound like classic Rush????

I believe the answer would be a hearty yes to all of the above. First, if I hear one more person who is disappointed because it's not Tom Sawyer pt 2 or Passage to Bangkok pt 2.... Sawyer was written over 25 years ago and Bangkok was written over 30! wow.

Opening with the lead single 'Far Cry', Geddy, Neil and Alex show they've not forgotten how to rip it up. Heavy guitar with a great hook and groove, it's one of the few positive tunes lyrically on this disc. The chorus on this song breathes with openess and is a great positive anthem.

What becomes apparent after 3-4 listens is that there is a lot going here musically. Even when the arranging goes from dense to a much more open feel. Prime example is the verse in 'Working them Angels' (should be a great song live, a true classic !) the verse is breathing and sparse almost like a folk song but then the powerfull chorus with a memorable melody. Some 70's feel as it were with the acoustic/electric interplay.
'Armor and Sword' has a great mid song break, time change and melody change, reminiscent of anything from the 'early days'(another live choice for sure).
The most up tempo tune 'The Way the Wind Blows' starts with Neil setting a tempo on the drums, but what steels the show for me is Alex's lead guitar tone and solo. Very much a 60's70's throwback (like hendrix?).
Many of his solos (yes there are several !) have almost a bluesy feel to them! 'Wind' is the most syncopated rythym from Rush in a very long time.(secret agent on counterparts?)...
At times 'Spindrift', 'Faithless', 'Good News First' I feel have a lot of 'old school hard/prog rock' seeping into the very 2007 production and song arranging. Very cool indeed. There is a lot of energy in the songs on this album. I didn't catch that the first time through. The first time through I had the 'it's one long song feel'. It seemed that there were to many tempos that were to similar. But on repeated listenings I was able to start hearing the subtleties and that made all the difference.

Speaking of 'Faithless' what a chorus ! wow and that guitar solo. Alex wins for best lead tone ! Speaking of perfomances all three of them have really come through. Some may say Neil is very subdued, but his playing the material that they're writing. It's not 'Xanadu', but I don't want that rehashed and neither do they. Geddy's singing and bass playing are there usual best.

There is a lot of acoustic guitar on this disc which when getting back to 'classic rush' how can you forget "closer to the heart", "making memorries","natural science" and "the trees" which to me just means roots. In many ways this album brings a vast array of 60's- present sound and feel comes up with
Not to ignore the 3 instrumentals but 'Malignant Narcissim' is a real treat. enjoy !!!

In a nutshell this is Rush 2007, but many of their roots are here. I've read "the intensity of 2112 with the flavor of Vapor Trails" that's a pretty good synopis.

3 songs clock in over 6 minutes (if anyone is counting), and there is a vast array of heavy rock influences. Neil said their song writing has always been organic, I trully believe him. Rush isn't for everybody, never has been but if you are already on board you're gonna dig this.....

Heart of Metal Age : 42 Joined : 23 Feb 2007 Posts : 584

Very good review mr.electric39! I liked Snakes and Arrows immediately, but I think with every listen it is getting even better. For me it is one of the highlights this year.

Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

Definately a great disc in their vast catalog !!.... thanks for the compliment... I've not writen a music review in about 18-20 years !!

Smile

i have a confession i have no rush in my collection at all the only rush song i have eber heard being on guitar hero

Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

Metal novice Age : 23 Joined : 26 Jul 2007 Posts : 26

One of the best releases of the year. Nice review too.

Metal graduate Age : 32 Joined : 30 Jul 2007 Posts : 108

Great Review. I am looking forward to seeing Rush live in St. Paul in September!
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Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

I'll make this short and painful, Rush for me, equals nails on a chalkboard!!! JUST CAN'T DO IT, I'VE TRIED! Sad

Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

Guest

Old thread, but I picked up Snakes & Arrows on my lunchbreak today. Wow, maybe my ears have matured since the last modern Rush album I heard (Counterparts) came out, but this album is very good. My first thought was that it is a smooth sounding album. It just flows very well.

Is Vapor Trails similar at all?

Metal graduate Age : 32 Joined : 30 Jul 2007 Posts : 108

Vapor Trails is a lot different than Snakes and Arrows. Vapor Trails is heavier and more modern in production. It also has very few guitar solos. It is also mastered louder than Snakes and Arrows with some noticable distortion in places.
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Heart of Metal Age : 40 Joined : 24 Feb 2007 Posts : 629

[quote="spectrefate"]Old thread, but I picked up Snakes & Arrows on my lunchbreak today. Wow, maybe my ears have matured since the last modern Rush album I heard (Counterparts) came out, but this album is very good. My first thought was that it is a smooth sounding album. It just flows very well.

Is Vapor Trails similar at all?[/qu

Vapor Trails is heavier than S&A and there is no acoustic guitar. There are some good songs on there, but S&A is better. The production on Vapor Trails is lacking. It is mastered too loud as mentioned above. It also felt very "dense" too me. I don't if that makes sense, but where S&A breathes, VT bowls you over.

If you find used I'd get it, If you liked the style of Counterparts I'd get it.
Truly though I think S&A will become one of their classic discs. The more times I hear it the more I think this is true.

Guest

Thanks. I'll most certainly pick up Vapor Trails........

I liked this album in my first listen itself, good effort and wonderful songs.

Administrator Joined : 04 Jan 2007 Posts : 6918

Finally picked this CD up with a Christmas gift certificate! Good album. I especially like the 3 instrumentals.
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Metal master Age : 40 Joined : 23 Jan 2007 Posts : 268

Great review. I completely agree with the "organic" nature of the songs. My standout favorites are the three instrumentals. I bought this for my drive from Portland to Bellevue, a solid three listens. I really like the album. It's hard to believe these guys have been around for over 30 years. I hope to see them this year on tour.

Metal graduate Age : 16 Joined : 24 Aug 2007 Posts : 189

i was afraid to by the album. I didn't know if it would be like Rush or not. But you've talked me into it.

Heart of Metal Age : 20 Joined : 13 Mar 2008 Posts : 665

Wow, thanks for the great review. When I have money again I'll defintaley pick that one up.

It's strange: for years I actually couldn't stand Rush because of Giddy's voice, but recently I realized I don't care anymore. Now, I love his voice. And once I got past that stupid judgment, I saw how incredible they are. I bought 2112 first (of course), and, man, it was like listening to Back in Black, Ride the Lightning, KISS Alive!, Led Zeppelin II, etc, all over again. I love that feeling of discovery. It doesn't come as often anymore.

Heart of Metal Age : 19 Joined : 28 Jan 2008 Posts : 569

I loved it. I can't wait to go to the concert in May.
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Heart of Metal Age : 19 Joined : 15 Jun 2008 Posts : 587

It's Rush. What else can you say?