Hold Your Fire [Remaster] - Rush (CD 1997)

It's hard to believe that a band like Rush could release an album more experimental and more controversial than any of their previous records. However, any respectable Rush fan knows that the band likes to push the envelope and 1987's "Hold Your Fire" is a clear example of how far they are willing to push it. Interestingly enough, way back in '87, this Canadien power trio referred to the music on this album as being "their sound." And while it was a new and fresh sound for the band, a lot of longtime fans didn't buy into it at the time. Nevertheless, it was pretty evident that the band really felt a connection with the music they created on this album, and I think if they could do it all over again, knowing that they would lose some of their fans in the process, I don't think they would change a thing.

That's not to say that Rush turns their backs on the fans. I just think that Rush has always been about the music and nothing else. They never wrote songs that appealed to the masses. They never seemed angry that their songs weren't really given much airplay on the radio. Simply put,they wrote music that gave them the chance to express their thoughts and feelings about life in an original and highly creative way. In the process, they have earned the respect of millions of fans around the world who found a connection with this soft-spoken rock group from the Great North.

Now I really enjoy this album as a whole. Although I have not followed the band as long as some of their truly diehard fans, I have become quite the Rush fanatic in a short amount of time. I have come to appreciate all of their albums, and I applaud the diversity and uniqueness of each one. Without question, Rush is one of the most talented bands of all time. Bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee is a master at his art--his soft, high-pitched voice makes him stand out against a backdrop of other good vocalists, and his bass playing is easily recognizable with his unique, one-of-a-kind bass lines. For most Rush fans I am sure that nobody can capture our feelings and emotions like Geddy can when he sings and plays.

But this is no one man show, folks. Guitarist Alex Lifeson is a brilliant guitarist, and one that had inspired me to pick up a guitar and play just like him. He literally makes his guitar sing on every track he has ever played on--his tone is happy and peaceful one minute and angry and fierce the next. I think he puts more fire and emotion in his playing than any other guitarist out there plain and simple. The third piece of the puzzle is drummer Neil Peart, who is an expert when it comes to playing the drums. His innovative, never stale drum beats and signature time changes demonstrate the vast knowledge this man has about his instrument. He is also the band's main lyricist, and he writes some of the most creative, thought-provoking lyrics about life, nature, relationships, among many other things.

"Hold Your Fire" is a much more laid-back album than most of their previous work. The softer, mellower sound turned a lot of fans off, because they were used to heavier, guitar driven epic songs centered around fantasy themes and mystical places. The truth is that "Hold Your Fire" wasn't the first album to stray from that formula. After 1981's "Moving Pictues" Rush brought a new instrument to the forefront, the synthesizer. Although this new addition to their musical family drowned out much of Lifeson's guitar, the overall sound seemed to maintain its hard edge, and although the songs ended up being shorter in length,
they still were of epic proportions and appreciated by most of their fans.

While this album does tone things down quite a bit from previous efforts, the lyrics, which are mostly spiritual and inspirational, compliment the softer, almost peaceful sound to a tee. I think this album delves deeper into the human psyche more than any Rush album before or since.

So lets have a look, shall we?

The opening track, "Force Ten" starts things out with a bang with some heavy guitar work, pounding percussion, and driving bass lines. Geddy's voice is in fine form and the lyrics are motivational. Geddy urges us to fight adversity and defy the odds. He gives us the inspiration to work through tough times

"We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers under cover"

The next track, "Time Stand Still" is probably the most-talked about song on the album. It was this song that the band brought in a female singer to add a vocal line to the chorus. When Aimme Mann of Till Tuesday fame came into the studio, everything seemed to change for this album. Never before had Geddy shared the microphone with somebody outside of the band. In my opinion, however, this little experiment worked perfectly. Geddy's soft, almost peaceful voice complimented Mann's perfectly. It was a beautiful collaberation, and the mid-tempo pace keeps things moving nicely.

"Time stand still
I'm not looking back-
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now

Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away...

Time stand still"

This is a wonderful song about keeping our most cherished memories of a loved one alive forever.

The following two songs, "Open Secrets" and "Second Nature" explore the innerworkings of the human condition. The former talks about the secrets between friends and/or lovers, while the latter talks about the importance of taking the responsibility for the choices we make in life. Both songs are softer, and they seem to be more relaxed than the first two tracks on this album. While both songs sound great in their own right, the lyrics are the true engines that drive these songs.

After that comes two more tracks in the same vein as the last two. "Prime Mover" seems to pick up the pace a little bit and even sounds a little "funky" at times. It's a decent track that shows off Lifeson's amazing guitar work. Up next is "Lock and Key," which again focuses on the human condition. Neil writes about how we all have tendencies that we chose to keep locked away, but one day we will have to confront the "killer instinct" in all of us.

The next track, "Mission" is perhaps the most laid-back song on the album. It is definitely a new sound for Rush, but is still a good song nevertheless. Basically it talks about the "missions" we seek out in order to fulfill our dreams. Unfortunately, at this point in the album, the mellow sound grows a little stale.

Next up is my all-time favorite Rush song. "Turn the Page" picks up the pace tremendously and brings new life into the album. This mid-tempo rocker is chock full of fast drum beats and harsher guitar tones. The balance between the keyboard and Lifeson's guitar is a perfect combination here. Geddy's voice is so powerful and so moving, and the lyrics are some of the best that Neil Peart has ever written

"Everyday we're standing
In a time capsule
Racing down a river from the past
Everyday we're standing
In a wind tunnel
Facing down the future coming fast

It's just the age
It's just the stage
We disengage
We turn the page"

Basically the lyrics are telling us to not let the negatives slow us down in life. There are a lot of bad things going on in the world, but we just have to press forward and "turn the page."

"Tai Shan" follows and slows things down a lot. It is a historical piece written by Peart about the Chinese people and their elaborate history. It is very spiritual and uplifting, although it's not my favorite track here.

Finally, "High Water" closes out the album. Peart wails on the drums throughout the song, and the beat is actually quite catchy. It's another fine mid-tempo number talking about the spiritual connection between humans and the waters of the ocean. Nothing spectacular here, but a decent album closer.

Rush is a band that has stood the test of time, and they have not stopped to make even an "average" album. They always keep their fans guessing, and although their experimental sound on this album didn't go over as well as they might have hoped, it still is a great effort and marked a new direction for the band. I recommend that the hardcore fans give this album another chance, and I hope that fans first being introduced to Rush will find an appreciation for this album sooner than later.

Track Listing:
1. Force Ten
2. Time Stand Still
3. Open Secrets
4. Second Nature
5. Prime Mover
6. Lock and Key
7. Mission
8. Turn the Page
9. Tai Shan
10. High Water