Customer Reviews

Snakes And Arrows (Ltd Ed) (DVD Audio)

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

 

 

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

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...!"

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).

The Songs are all good.

The booklet is very attractive (very nice photos...).

It's Heavy! (it reminds me the first albums before Moving Pictures).

The best album since Signals.

The Musicians are awesome (do I really have to say so....It's Rush!).

You will buy this album because you know you're intelligent....

Ahhhhh, RUSH!

After several albums that seemed to be lacking a certain something despite some outstanding tracks and the ever-smart lyrics, S&A is an album that takes the same mix, but includes a lot of emotion too. It doesn't sound like it's trying too hard like the previous albums did and is far, far better for it.

The mixing is great too - you can hear Alex playing again rather than his guitar just being part of a 'wall of sound'.

Thanks guys for re-finding the space between the notes as that's where much of the feeling lies! Faithless brought tears to my eyes on the first listening. They were tears of joy that you were back in the groove!

I'll be cheering you at the NEC in October on the UK tour. :)

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.
If you heard of Rush, want to discover them but don't know wich album to choose, this is the one.
If you are of fan of the older Rush 70's early 80`s. Grab this album, they will put you back IN THE MOOD you where a long time ago.
This is acording to me there BEST ALBUM ever. Yes, better than 2112, better than Moving Pictures. How can I say that ? On what basses ?
All of the 3 dudes are playing there instruments better than they ever did before. Phrasing, Feel and Tecnique. Neil`s lyrics are more mature ( Man the guy just wrote 4 world best selling novels ! I believe he knows how to tell a story ! )
The Production, the art work, everything is perfect, everything. 13 songs, not 8. Three songs are instrumentals: Alex plays solo, Geddy on a Jaco Pastorius Freetless bass and Neil on a small practice kit.
Geddy`s voice is beautifull, can`t say that about 2112, Yes he has more soul then he had 30 years ago.
Personally, I preffer Permanet Waves to Moving Pictures. There is no song like Natural Science on MP.
Most Rush Fans will be to stuborn to admit this one is the best ever... but I least, they will say that it is the best since Permanent Waves

This is a fantastic release from Rush. They are totally energized and on the mark through this entire album. If you remember the Rush of 25 years ago, there are hints of that music in this release, but only hints. This is music for today. This is the evolution of that Rush from 25 years ago. Lyrically, these songs are about today. The things that trouble the world, the things that trouble are hearts and minds. There are not flights of fancy here, just solid rock and words to provoke you. This is a great record whether you've never bought a Rush album before but really love good hard rock, this is a great record if you were a fan 25 years ago but then lost touch with the band and haven't listened to them for a while, and this is an outstanding record if you have been with them for the past 30 years and just keep loving them more and more.

All the cool extras, such as the 5.1 mix and the 45 minute documentary make this DVD package worth the price!

Having been a Rush fan since 1975, I have very disapointed in the recent ablums ( Test to Echo and Vapor Trails ), but this back to what this trio is all about.The music is much more raw and fresh, back to the era of " Moving Pictures".
I read some "true rush fans " saying not to buy album, as it is a waste of money and time, maybe they felt the same way about "Subdivsions"

SNAKES AND ARROWS is indeed a RUSH recording for the serious fan, a must-have for the collectors of essential RUSH discography. I say that because though I sometimes pretend to be "the greatest RUSH fan of all times", I do not own every single record, tape, CD, DVD, Tour shirt, program and beer bottle opener ever made. Nor do I know all of the album and tour statistics since 1974. I do know that the band had recorded many of the classic albums (and 8-tracks) overseas in the UK but in recent years had recorded in Canada and the US.

I, like most fans, had high hopes for S&A and it turns out that the concert tickets in my area went on sale before the CD release date. Many non-fans would not take the chance but being "the greatest RUSH fan of all times" we wanted to see the guys One Last Time.

On May 1, I put on SNAKES AND ARROWS and pretty much skipped through alot of the songs, thinking some of the vocals and writing seemed "Rushed". I know, a silly metaphor. By the second or third listen I liked many of the songs and LOVED "Armor and Sword", "Main Monkey Business" and "Faithless". By the June 23rd show in Bristow, VA I pretty much liked every song and good thing because they played NINE SONGS off of S&A!!

Of all the fans I spoke with at the show, the consensus is that this has been the greatest RUSH tour and quite possibly the best RUSH album! And of course when 'other fans' were sitting down for the new stuff, I was on my feet singing every word and shaking my rock-n-roll fist to the sky . . . just like in the good ole days.

I guess that makes me the greatest RUSH fan of all times (ever).

Sincerely,
Seth Talmadge

I am a long-time Rush follower. My absolute favorite band. I know we all have our favorite albums and won't necessarily agree (mine is Grace Under Pressure).

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not qualified to give an insightful music review, but I just wanted to say... if you don't care for this album right off the bat, give it a chance.

For myself, it's usually about the 3rd or 4th "listening" of an album that my enjoyment of it really peaks, and I love it the most. For this album, that didn't happen until about the 7th or 8th listen.

Don't get me wrong, this album is AWESOME! It just seemed to take a little longer for it to grow on me. So if there is anyone reading this who has listened to it only a couple of times and may think it isn't one of Rush's better efforts, listen to it again, and again, until you love it. If you are a Rush fan, it WILL happen!

Great job Neil, Geddy, and Alex!! Please don't ever stop making great music!