Snakes Arrows

Anthem/Atlantic recording group Rush return with its first new collection of original material in nearly five years, entitled "SNAKES ARROWS." The album was recorded in the fall of 2006 with Gammy Award-winner Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver) and Rush co-producing. "It's hard to describe," Geddy Lee recently told Revolver re: "SNAKES ARROWS.""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 ofthe songs, and there's lots of playing on it. " Rush - Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart - will trumpet the release of "SNAKES ARROWS" with a full-scale North American tour, the renowned trio's first since 2004's "An Evening with Rush: 30th Anniversary Tour."

A return to their former glory days, iSnakes and Arrows/i shows this seminal prog rock band reclaiming some of the sonic territory that they'd lost over the past few years. It's not certain what contributed to this artistic rebirth, but Rush has crafted a historical and emotional odyssey that shows many both where they've been and where they're going--from the baroque soundscapes of "The Main Monkey Business," reminiscent of their earliest work to the seductive almost folkloric urgency of "The Way the Wind Blows," which is as dangerous, anxious, and prophetic as anything that Arcade Fire or Mars Volta is doing currently. Main Lyricist Neil Peart has spent the last decade getting over the death of his wife and daughter, and those tragic events have given his songwriting more depth and gravity as he explores the strengths and limitations of faith in both metaphoric and literal detail. While never didactic or ponderous, this disc is really an instruction manual for how one conducts themselves with grace and hope through unendurable pain and the vagaries of life. Gone is much of the shrillness of their earlier incarnations--Geddy Lee's trademark high pitch shrieks have mellowed considerably and Alex Lifesong's guitar playing has an assurance and freedom that can only come with age. i--Jaan Uhelszki/i

With songs such as "Far Cry" and "Workin' Them Angels," Rush has, with iSnakes And Arrows/i crafted one of its finest albums of the decade and this new MVI DVD edition of the title allows you to experience the album in all its splendor. The MVI format (which works in all computers and DVD players but not in conventional CD players) allows you to hear the entire album in 5.1 surround sound (a must, especially for "Malignant Narcissism" and "Faithless"), to catch an in-depth documentary about the recording of this latest outing and extras that allow you to create your own ringtones, make wallpapers and much more. In order to fully enjoy the experience you may have to do some minor maneuvering with your stereo system or computer in order to fully appreciate what the MVI edition offers but any almost immediately proves worth the effort. Obsessives will want to buy the album in this format as it captures Rush in its true multidimensional element and everyone should own a small slice of Rush at this point in the game.––iJedd Beaudoin/i