It’s only June, but I’m ready to declare my choice for album of the year…
This thing works on so many levels: On first listen, it seems a simple rock record, ready-made for classic rock radio stations all across the U.S. There are hard hitting numbers, technical pieces and even a couple of “ballads”. Give it another few spins however, and it further opens to reveal complex arrangements, a unifying theme and brilliant interplay between all the players.
It continues Rush’s triumphant return, a magnificent display, dating back a decade now to 2002’s Vapor Trails. While it’s nowhere near as hard as a Mastodon or Baroness album, for some reason it feels just as raw, just as intense, and at the same time, just as measured. It’s also every bit as melodic as the latest Coldplay or Muse disc. What other band can draw comparisons as wide ranging as Mastodon and Muse? (Ironically, Rush has been cited as an influence on both.)
Get this album and listen to it. Repeatedly! It’s probably the best thing you’ll hear this year.
And read the liner notes: The concept (soon to be a novel, I hear…) places it within a category of its own, bringing them once again to the front ranks of Queensryche, Dream Theater and other virtuoso level proggers who take the time to weave a story with their lyrics each time out. Great stuff!
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