Review Summary: Contrast at its finest, with a Rush twist.
Well, it was bound to happen, one way or another. Rush had no choice but to return to their guitar-heavy brand of rock music. This was the early nineties and the whole synth thing was starting to sound a tad dated. Bands like Alice and Chains as well as Pearl Jam and Nirvana were becoming more and more prominent, and progressive rock was starting to become a joke in the modern day and age. Rush, choosing to get with the times, decided to ditch the synth-heaviness and release an album full of guitar-heavy rockers... just not the one they probably should have.
Counterparts is a real mixed bag of an album. There's tons of moments on here that can be considered some of Rush's best, and some of their worst too. As opposed to going back to their usual progressive rock output, they've ditched that in favour of a more grunge-ish sound- a good yardstick reference for this would be the lead single, "Stick it Out". It begins with a rather dark and heavy riff, evolves into a catchy chorus then suddenly, an ultra-nineties chorus bursts out of nowhere. Now that's not to say that they've ditched prog completely on this album- instrumental track "Leave That Thing Alone", clever title aside, showcases Rush going back to their 70s instrumental routes, and it's a pretty good showcase for the band's talents. In fact, it's no surprise they've brought it back into the band's live sets as of recently.
Let's stop being all complimentary for a minute, though, and focus on exactly why the album is such a mixed bag: the lyrics. The lyrics are perhaps some of Neil's worst. As brilliant as Neil can be (note: can be), when he has his lows lyrically, they're super low ("Xanadu"). The majority of the lyrics on this album are crap. Right off the bat, we're greeted with the unintentionally hilarious lyrics to "Animate": "
Animate me/Complicate me/Elevate me...". One must wonder if this was meant to be an S&M track. It does get worse from here though: the colossal misfire that is "Nobody's Hero". I appreciate the message of the song that we must be more tolerant of other people's lifestyles and ways, but Peart comes off as sounding cringinly politically correct. If Peart wants to address such issues, he should do it objectively instead of, um, whatever these lyrics are supposed to be: "
I knew he was different in his sexuality/I went to his parties as a straight minority/It never seemed a threat to my masculinity/He only introduced me to a wider reality". This coming from Mr. Ayn Rand (something that even his biggest admirers make fun of him for)- and if Neil could do us all a favour and never talk about parties again, especially in a contrived rhyme like that. Then there's songs like "Alien Shore" and "Cold Fire", which really stand as some of the most unintentionally hilarious moments you're bound to hear from Rush.
However, the high points on the album really are high. Everything you've heard about "Cut to the Chase" is true- it's one of Rush's most brilliant and heaviest songs yet. Don't be surprised if you get caught speeding late at night and this song seems to be the cause of it- from it's brilliantly subdued opening to its explosive chorus, the track truly is a sparker. A lot of people hate the song "Double Agent" mostly because of the spoken-word part and the "Franken-song" quality, but I think it's perhaps one of their most brilliant moments yet, and surely one of their most underrated. "between the Sun and The Mood" shows Rush getting downright funky, with some bluesy licks and what not, but has an interesting contrast with Geddy Lee embracing his inner Robert plant. I'd even go so far as to say it's quite trippy and surreal. And even the lyrically dreadful songs have some decent instrumentation- like the aforementioned "Animate Me, which has Rush getting funky, almost in a
Skunkworks way.
In short,
Counterparts will leave Rush fans divided. A lot of people will embrace Rush getting in tough with their more raw side; some will be off-put by the sound of a trio of fortysomethings singing about being in touch with their feminine side. Some will not like the more experimental "Double Agent", others will think its a high point. Either way, if you're new to Rush, start with either
Roll the Bones,
Power Windows or more obviously,
Moving Pictures. This will probably come in somewhere in the middle.
