Thursday, December 11, 2008

rush - Snakes & Arrows


Rush is a band of creative, skilled musicians; something we need more of these days. I also appreciate the variety of textures in each song. With only three band members, it can be easy to have the same sound all the time.
There are some great time signature changes in the song "Working' Them Angels"Musically they seem to want to avoid creating or playing anything that is too obvious or conventional."Armor and Sword", clocking in at over six and a half minutes, drags a bit, "The Main Monkey Business".After 30+ years of making music I can see how the typical rock song would be boring for these master musicians.There's also some limited keyboards on this record, Lee is credited solely with the melotron."The Main Monkey Business," reminiscent of their earliest work to the seductive almost folkloric urgency of "The Way the Wind Blows," which is as dangerous, anxious, and prophetic as anything that Arcade Fire or Mars Volta is doing currently. Main Lyricist Neil Peart has spent the last decade getting over the death of his wife and daughter, and those tragic events have given his songwriting more depth and gravity as he explores the strengths and limitations of faith in both metaphoric and literal detai.Alex Lifeson is credited in the liner notes as playing "six and twelve-string electric and acoustic guitars, mandola, and mandolin.As someone who's all for progress and has always loved Rush primarily for their willingness to keep looking forward and finding new sounds.

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