Rush are my favorite band but I hope the new album is better than "Vapor Trails" which I just could not get behind (what an awful mix).
From Blabbermouth.net:

RUSH drummer Neil Peart has posted a lengthy new update on his official web site. An excerpt follows:

"Exactly one year ago (to recap a story begun in earlier reports), my bandmates and I started talking about working on some new songs. Alex and Geddy got together in Geddy's home studio in Toronto and simply played, letting the new ideas flow out unguided and unedited, while 3000 miles away in California, I began drafting some lyrics and sending them up.

"In March, the three of us met at my house in Quebec, and Alex and Geddy played me the six songs they had been working on. All of us felt very positive about their direction, and agreed that we needed to spend some time working together. In May we moved into a small Toronto studio, and started refining those songs and writing a few others.

"As previously reported, in June I recorded three songs in Los Angeles with my friend Matt Scannell, and for me as a drummer, that was a challenging and inspiring experience. Also, the new set of purpose-built 'recording' drums that my friends at Drum Workshop put together for me, which were intended to be used on Matt's project and become my 'West Coast kit,' sounded so good that I had them sent straight east, to use on the new RUSH album.

"Later that month, I also fulfilled a longtime challenge as a motorcyclist, doing a 'Thousand-in-One' — 1000 miles in one day — in the course of riding my R1200GS from Los Angeles to Quebec, 3000 miles, in four days. (Yes, I was in a hurry!)

"Though obviously no leisure tour, it was still a powerful traveling experience, giving me what felt like a 'snapshot panorama' of a wide swath of North America — California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, and Quebec — in such a brief time.

"And even on that express route, mainly keeping to the 'mileage disposal units' of the interstates, and even in the fierce heat of early summer in the desert Southwest, there were still hours of sublime beauty: the Mojave Desert (always), I-70 through Utah and Colorado (perhaps the most scenic stretch of interstate in the country), and even the Great Plains. Unlike some travelers, I never find that part of the country boring. The highways are flat and straight, sure, but those endless green farmlands all around make a nice kind of 'intermission' in a transcontinental roadshow, opening with the deserts and mountains of the West, and closing with the forests and rocky bluffs of upper Michigan and northern Ontario. On a journey like that, the prairies were a welcome pastoral interlude."

Read the entire message at this location.

I'm glad a new Rush album is on the horizon. For a veteran band, they're always coming up with something fresh and aren't afraid to shake things up.

And of course, a Rush tour is always something to behold.

2007's looking better already!

My second favorite band behind Thin Lizzy, Rush will issue their new album in spring (I've heard May) and it looks like it's called "Snakes And Arrows"or possibly "Snakes And Ladders". Cool title, could be a great cover.

Can't wait for this but I disliked "Vapor Trails" so we'll see. From Blabbermouth.net:

According to a posting on the RUSH fan site Power Windows, current rumors suggest that RUSH's forthcoming album will be titled either "Snakes and Arrows" or "Snakes and Ladders".

RUSH is nearly finished recording its next studio album, which is expected later this year via Atlantic. The tracks were put to tape at Allaire Studios in upstate New York with co-producer Nick Raskulinecz. "I have never enjoyed the recording process so much, nor been so satisfied with the results," Peart wrote last month on his web site.

Peart previously told Billboard.com some of his lyrics for the new songs were inspired by his motorcycle journeys throughout the United States, chronicled in the recent book "Roadshow: Landscape with Drums".

"Just seeing the power of evangelical Christianity and contrasting that with the power of fundamentalist religion all over the world in its different forms had a big effect on me," he said.

---

01. Far Cry
02. Armor and Sword
03. Workin’ Them Angels
04. The Larger Bowl
05. Spindrift
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Way The Wind Blows
08. Hope
09. Faithless
10. Bravest Face
11. Good News First
12. Malignant Narcissism
13. We Hold On

Standard CD Album:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVIXFK/?tag=imwan-20

Limited Edition MVI DVD Album plus Bonus Interview CD:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OPOANE/?tag=imwan-20

Let's hope they can at least make this record sound good.

Gerry Rafferty had an LP titled Snakes and Ladders, but you can't copyright an album title. After all, the Replacements called one of their albums Let It Be.

Snakes and Ladders was also the title of a Faces compilation released back in the '70's. I don't think it ever made it to CD.

Oh yeah, that Faces comp! I have a Japanese CD of it that I bought many moons ago.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000563L9/?tag=imwan-20

Found one myself used as well, Japanese disc for $7.99.

Rick A.

Yes.

It'd be hard NOT to improve on the "wtf is THAT?!" value of Vapor Trails' cover.

I think I just wet myself. I heard a 15 second sample of "Far Cry" (the link is below) and it sounds like a cross between A Farewell To Kings/Hemipsheres-era Rush and Vapor Trails in terms of heaviness but not the over-compressed buttmunch mix.
I know it was only 15 seconds, believe me, but it sounds awesome!
Here's the link. I hope it shows up!

Canadian rock trio RUSH will release its new studio album, "Snakes & Arrows", on May 1 via Atlantic. A short audio sample of the CD's first single, "Far Cry", can be found at this location. The single is set to go for radio adds on March 13.

The tracks for RUSH's new album were put to tape at Allaire Studios in upstate New York with co-producer Nick Raskulinecz. "I have never enjoyed the recording process so much, nor been so satisfied with the results," drummer Neil Peart wrote last month on his web site.

Peart previously told Billboard.com some of his lyrics for the new songs were inspired by his motorcycle journeys throughout the United States, chronicled in the recent book "Roadshow: Landscape with Drums".

"Just seeing the power of evangelical Christianity and contrasting that with the power of fundamentalist religion all over the world in its different forms had a big effect on me," he said.

Rumored RUSH tour dates:

Jun. 13 - Nashville, TN @ Starwood Amphitheater
Jun. 15 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Sound Advice Amphitheater
Jun. 16 - Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheater @ Florida State Fairgrounds
Jun. 18 - Atlanta, GA @ HiFi Buys Amphitheater
Jun. 19 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jun. 27 - Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center
Jul. 02 - Wantaugh, NY @ Jones Beach Amphitheater
Jul. 04 - Darien Lake, NY @ Six Flags
Jul. 07 - Homdel, NJ @ PNC Arts Center

It should be noted that these dates have **NOT** been officially confirmed by the band or its management.

OK, that didn't work, so here's the link to the snippet.

http://www.rush.com/php/home.php?f=1

Sounds promising. A bit of a throwback, you're right.

Some more info on the album:

According to a posting on the RUSH fan site Power Windows, producer/engineer Rich Chycki has commented on the new RUSH album, "Snakes & Arrows", which he recorded and alongside Nick Raskulinecz. "Recording was completed at Allaire Studios in Shokan, New York during November/December 2006," Chycki writes on his blog. "I mixed the CD in the Neve 88R room (Studio D) at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. Experiencing their immense musical talent and personal integrity over the course of an entire CD was truly inspirational. And Nick is such an enthusiastic, focused talent as well — a rocker through and through too."

The first single from "Snakes & Arrows" will be "Far Cry". "Snakes & Arrows", their first set of new RUSH material since "Vapor Trails" in 2002, will be out May 1. If you go to the official Rush.com website, you can hear a short snippet of "Far Cry", which should be released in the next few weeks.

RUSH drummer Neil Peart previously told Billboard.com some of his lyrics for the new songs were inspired by his motorcycle journeys throughout the United States, chronicled in the recent book "Roadshow: Landscape with Drums".

"Just seeing the power of evangelical Christianity and contrasting that with the power of fundamentalist religion all over the world in its different forms had a big effect on me," he said.

The band will hit the road this summer behind the album, and guitarist Alex Lifeson recently said the tour would begin in mid-June. There have been rumors that opening night will be June 13 at the Starwood Amphitheatre in Antioch, Tennessee, though nothing's been confirmed yet.

"Then I ran the whole damn thing through a compressor because I thought, gee, how can I get that Vapor Trails vibe going on?"

The album has been moved back to May 8, although this article states May 1, so who knows? The track listing and cover art are now available to view!



RUSH's new album, "Snakes & Arrows", will be released on May 1 via Anthem/Atlantic. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Far Cry
02. Armor and Sword
03. Workin’ Them Angels
04. The Larger Bowl
05. Spindrift
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Way The Wind Blows
08. Hope
09. Faithless
10. Bravest Face
11. Good News First
12. Malignant Narcissism
13. We Hold On

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVIXFK/?tag=imwan-20

To view the cover artwork, visit Power Windows.

(Brought the image in-house. ~ Linda)

In a recently interview with Revolver magazine (web site), RUSH vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee stated about the upcoming CD, "It's hard to describe. It's big, it's bold, and I think it's some of the best work we've done in years. I'm really pleased with the quality of the songs, and there's lots of playing on it."

"Snakes & Arrows" promises to be the most organic-sounding RUSH effort in decades, having been influenced by their experience of making "Feedback", the band's 2004 EP of classic-rock covers.

"Playing those songs that we loved and grew up on, I think it helped us remember how sometimes it's the simplicity or the directness of an arrangement that really makes a great song," Lee told Revolver. "And the other thing is, we played all together in the studio for a lot of the 'Feedback' stuff. That's something that a lot of producers had been pushing us to do for a while but which we hadn't done in years. It was great to turn off the click and just play — you know, not worry so much about being so, quote, metronomic — and that definitely carried over into this record."

The tracks for RUSH's new album were put to tape at Allaire Studios in upstate New York with co-producer Nick Raskulinecz. "I have never enjoyed the recording process so much, nor been so satisfied with the results," drummer Neil Peart wrote in December on his web site.

Peart previously told Billboard.com some of his lyrics for the new songs were inspired by his motorcycle journeys throughout the United States, chronicled in the recent book "Roadshow: Landscape with Drums".

"Just seeing the power of evangelical Christianity and contrasting that with the power of fundamentalist religion all over the world in its different forms had a big effect on me," he said.

OK-the real cover is now online and is a huge improvemnet over what had been posted earlier.

Not sure if it's tongue in cheek or just laziness, but Hugh Syme does all of Rush's covers. I know he also did the Coverdale/Page cover-you can't tell me there's not something going on there! Perhaps CBK could co a compare/contrast with said covers?

Man, that will be another CD I pick up first day it is out.

Been too long without new Rush. Feedback just doesn't count, although it was a fun experiment.

Also, if anyone is not aware, radio is now playing the new single "far Cry." It is also available on the rush.com site.

Also, if anyone is not aware, radio is now playing the new single "far Cry." It is also available on the rush.com site.



And man, does it rock. Great riff, much, much better production/mix (to no surprise after Vapor Trails), but still...no guitar solo! C'mon Alex, you're why I learned to play guitar! Anyway, I'm most pumped for this album by my favorite band (or it's Thin Lizzy depending on the day)!

I too would like a guitar solo. Hopefully some of the other songs will have such goodness.

Still, I like what I hear.

I'd be curious to hear a Rick Rubin-produced Rush album.

For anyone interested, summer tour info will be announced tomorrow:

"Your wait for tour dates will soon be over! The Snakes & Arrows Tour will be announced on Monday, March 26th. Go to Rush.com for all the details including on-sale dates and pre-sale information."