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Well, Rush’s new album came out yesterday in the US, so of course I snatched it up.

So far I’ve only given it one listen, with a few songs listened to twice.  So here is only a preliminary review/impression.

13 songs total, with 3 being instrumentals.

Overall I rate the album right now as “OK.”  Not great, not one of their top 5, or even top 10 albums.  But not garbage either.

Most notable thing about the album is it’s lack of notability.  Most of the music could have fit as filler in one of their last 3 albums, not much new musically here.  Most of the time the songs seemed like they were off one of their last few.
The second half of the album is much better than the first half.   A bit more diverse in styling.  SO far the only two songs I am liking come from the second half:
1) Hope - an instrumental and only 2 minutes long.  It’s an accoustic piece featuring just strings.  Very good, maybe even awesome.  It reminds me alot of the theme from Firefly/Serenity, which I liked, but more complex.  Well worth a listen and definatly one of Rush’s better instrumentals (and they do so many good ones).  And it was done all by Alex (Lerxst) Lifeson himself.  Wonder if he watched Firefly?
2) Bravest Face - this song is real good - lot’s of change ups in pace and styling, a truly original feel.  I can see this being a real crowd pleaser in concert - it would rock live.  This is the break out piece.
Lyrically, as always, the songs are amazing. Neil Peart can write like no other person.  His wordsmithing creates awe.

Vocally I am not impressed at all.  Geddy Lee has always had a strange voice, one some people hate.  I liked it’s differance.  But this album, like the last few, seems to overkill the mixing of his voice.  They do some kind of limited echo/reverb on it to make it sound like there a backup chorus of himself on it.  To me it’s really annoying and grating on the ears.  Those of us that have gone partly deaf due to rocking out loudly to 2112, YYZ, and all of Rush’s older stuff may have trouble understanding the vocals.

Now something non-musical: Album Art.   Hugh Syme once again did all of the illustrations/art/paintings for the album and booklet.  And as always he hit a huge homerun.  The cover is nothing to note really, and was done by someone else, but Hugh’s inner photos/photorealistic paintings are worth hanging in a gallery.

More to come as I listen to it more.