Snakes And Arrows (Ltd Ed) (Vinyl): Rush: Amazon.ca: Music

Product Description

Amazon.com

A return to their former glory days, Snakes and Arrows shows this seminal prog rock band reclaiming some of the sonic territory that they'd lost over the past few years. It's not certain what contributed to this artistic rebirth, but Rush has crafted a historical and emotional odyssey that shows many both where they've been and where they're going--from the baroque soundscapes of "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 detail. While never didactic or ponderous, this disc is really an instruction manual for how one conducts themselves with grace and hope through unendurable pain and the vagaries of life. Gone is much of the shrillness of their earlier incarnations--Geddy Lee's trademark high pitch shrieks have mellowed considerably and Alex Lifesong's guitar playing has an assurance and freedom that can only come with age. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

The first original material from Rush in five years, Snakes & Arrows comes out big and bold. Full of thick instrumentation and virtuoso playing, Rush hasn't lost the qualities that makes them one of the most inventive and exciting rock groups in music.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My 2 cents!, May 30 2007

By

George Heckman "George" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Snakes And Arrows (Audio CD)

Here is my disclaimer: there is nothing that Rush has every recorded which I dislike.

That said, I've got my favourites, and Snakes and Arrows is definitely at the top of my list. While it's too early to call this CD a classic, there are definitely some pieces in this CD destined to become just that. My early picks for that title are "Armor and Sword", which in some respects I find reminscent of "Jacob's Ladder", "Faithless", and "The way the wind blows", which sounds like a Rush take on a cross between Cream and Led Zeppelin.

The most important aspect of this recording is that they are clearly cutting loose and having a lot of fun playing this music, something which has not been apparent in recent releases. The music draws upon Rush styles throughout their career, but the overall sound and feel is fresh. I definitely recommend this CD.

For those who expect another Moving Pictures, I have but one thing to say: a disk like that only comes along once in a band's career. Move on...

George

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rush is back in a big way!, May 16 2007

By

J. Brown (Montreal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Snakes And Arrows (Audio CD)

As with every Rush release I hope for and expect a lot and Snakes and Arrows delivers in a big way!

From the first radio play of "Far Cry" I was hooked and waited anxiously to tear off the wrapping and immerse myself into the the lyrics, the drumming and the overall feel of their latest effort.

Right from the first listen you can appreciate the time, energy and creativity that went into this album. SA goes back to the very roots of Rush with wonderfully textured melodies, off time signatures, meaningful lyrics and great overall ROCK sound on every track. (Alex is back!)

The sound is very well balanced, the music breathes and the pure musicianship shines through without all the keyboard parts "clogging the pores" as we've heard on past albums. The instrumentals are great and stand up well to being compared to YYZ. (Although they may not sing along live in Brazil to these ones.) Neil seems healed and has a new appreciation for life that really comes through with powerful, hopeful, even spiritual lyrics that meld well into the mix. (I find myself signing along to "We hold on".)

Whether you're a long time fan or just discovering Rush, this album has something for everybody and it just keeps getting better and better with every listen.

"Keep going until dawn...!"

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Takes a few listens to get into..., July 27 2007

By

Steve Fox "Sladester" (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snakes And Arrows (Audio CD)

Having been a Rush fan since 1975 I have followed the different paths Rush has taken. This latest effort seems to follow on the heels of their Feedback CD as far as raw energy. Many people were against Rush doing cover songs but the renewed vitality on this album is a direct result of the "having a good time in the recording studio" mini album Feedback. No longer is Alex buried in "the mix" below Geddy's bass, keyboards, and vocals - we now have the Alex of old - with screaming solos and interesting chord progressions. Lots of acoustic guitar work too - reminiscent of the "good old days" of Fly By Night, Caress of Steel and A Farewell to Kings.
Best 3 songs (not including the awesome instrumentals) are Armor & Sword, Spindrift, and We Hold On.
If I could sum up the album compared to the old stuff it would be a cross between A Farewell to Kings, Moving Pictures and Grace Under Pressure.
In 20 years they will be counting this Rush disk as one of the bands top 5.

I believe Rush have now recorded enough instrumental stuff to put it all out on a "Greatest Instrumental Hits" disk... (in case anyone from Anthem records is reading this).

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best since Permanent Waves
I am a big Rush fan and the first to say that Rush is not for everybody. Only one that can appreciate well craft music can fully enjoy a good RUSH. Read more

Published on Oct 9 2008 by Tchien Tchien Bouchard

5.0 out of 5 stars As strong as ever
This is a fantastic release from Rush. They are totally energized and on the mark through this entire album. Read more

Published on May 1 2008 by Matthew West