Rush released their fifteenth studio album, Counterparts, in 1993. I was thrilled with the revitalized heavy sound of this disc. Roll the Bones, the previous album, had its moments, but there were songs and portions of songs that annoyed me. A slightly weaker effort from the boys. Counterparts was another story.
Thick, loud guitars dominate the mix, but axe-man Alex Lifeson also slides quite seamlessly into his lighter mode on Nobody's Hero and Everyday Glory. While opening tracks Animate, Stick it Out, and Cut to the Chase set the hard rocking tone for the album, my favouite songs are a tangy blend of modern and slightly older Rush sounds. Alien Shore is built from Lifeson's jangly guitar style, reminiscent of his mid-to-late 80's output. The tension between verses and chorus, within the solo, and during the bridge, actively accentuates the otherworldly vibe described in the lyrics. Perhaps my fave on the album, Double Agent, incorporates the best of the two sides of Lifeson. The nervous energy of the percussion and guitars conspires with the paranoid lyrics to paint an unnerving picture. Not to mention the quietly spoken-word verses, adding yet another dark and unsettling quality to the song. And the stripped-down rocker Cold Fire burns with an intensity carried not only by catchy guitar parts but by Geddy Lee's melodically rambunctious bass.
A carload of my buddies and I hit the road in early May of '94 to see the Montreal show of Rush's Counterparts tour. The band ploughed through a massive set of prog-metal greats old and new. Highlights for me were The Trees, Xanadu, and Cynus X-1 (books I and II).... the last of which I believe had either never been played live before, or at least not in many decades. These classic Rush songs alone made the entire evening a worthwhile experience, though there were plenty more rockers to keep the arena crowd on its feet.
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