Rush, "Far Cry": A disappointingly familiar sound

[elfs]

It's unusual to review a single song, but right now all we have from the new Rush album Snakes and Arrows is the single "Far Cry." And if this is what I can expect from the album, I must say that this might well be the first Rush album I don't run out and buy the week of its release since, oh, 2112.

I've heard "Far Cry" a number of times now on various outlets, and it doesn't sound like anything I haven't heard before. It's got Neal's angsty youth-versus-reality theme, it's got Alex's guitar, it's got Geddy's ever-deepening, ever-weakening voice as age creeps up on all three of them.

There's just no there, there. And I can't really recommend it.

I guess what's really sad is that I keep wanted the musicianship of Rush to be more interesting, to branch out. No evidence of that in "Far Cry." If your idea of great Rush is pieces like "YYZ" or "Gangster of Boats," I'll just have to re-recommend Maximum Indifference and their album The Transmutations of Supposed Angels Or Beings That Were Once Girls, which is basically fifty minutes of the finest instrumental rock in the Rush tradition ever.

Comments

[sirfox.livejournal.com]

completely unrelated, but your mention of arrows reminded me.

Have you seen this? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi2t58CRmbU)

Come on...

[(Anonymous)]

I have no idea why someone should judge an entire album before its release based solely on the single. It's a SINGLE! I am confindent that Rush won't let us fans down on this one. I really liked the production of the single, which is great IMHO. For the rest, I am glad Geddy doesn't sing as high-pitched as once... And Neil's drumming is great as usual, the lyrics are good, fine guitar sound, a "Hemispheres chord" in the intro and end as a reminder of times past... I like it, but I am sure the album will be much better.

Re: Come on...

[elfs.livejournal.com]

A single is supposed to be the best song on the album, the one that gets people to buy it. This one just doesn't cut it for me. Sorry.

Rush, "Far Cry": A disappointingly familiar sound

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I just heard several songs on music-on-demand before the album release. I must say that Far Cry is certainly the best song on the album. There are a couple of other "good" songs too. Some great riffs on ...

* Workin' Them Angels
* Bravest Face
* Spindrift

And frankly, I can't find ANY fault with Far Cry. Fantastic song.

I'm sure, as a life-long Rush fan since I was 9 years old (I'm 39 now)that this album will grow on me. It reminds me of a mix between Test for Echo and Hemispheres. Hemispheres had some good music, but never quite hit it on target (Side 1 that is; side 2 with Circumstances, Trees and La Villa was great). TFE had a great song in the title song "Test for Echo", but the rest of the album didn't quite hit it either. Driven, Time and Motion, and Resist were great.

Some of the Snakes & Arrows songs are a little repetative. Some can't decide to be blues songs, rock songs, or mid-70s guitar songs. But that's ok. Rush has taken us in new creative places in the past. Some misses. Many hits. And I'm here for the ride a long as it lasts!