Rush-Counterparts (1993)


 

Artist: Rush

Title: Counterparts

Label: Atlantic/Anthem

Format: CD

Cat: 82528 2

Year of Release: 1993

Country and Year of Edition: US 1993 

Listed Condition: VG+/VG+

Sell Date: 8/23/22

Sell Price: $2.99

Discogs Last Sold: 8/7/22 VG+/VG+ $2.75

Low: $1.50

Median: $4.86

Average: $4.35

High: $9.98

Current low price:$1.95

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 46

Have/Want: 1325/61

Where Sold:  Mill Creek, WV

Time it took to sell: 10 years

Where and When Bought: promo

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B- 

Sad To See It Go: No

Rush for the grunge era sounds a little bit like a cross between mid-80's Rush on the Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows tours minus the synths.  When this came out, a friend of mine had a gig at Atlantic and sent me this promo and let me know that the new effort was "good."  In the grunge era that meant guitars up and synths down.

I don't remember getting past one listen of this, if I even went through that exercise.  I was pretty broke and living with a nurse girlfriend and her boom box in her hospital apartment on the Upper East Side, so I bet this got at least one play all the way through.

Occasionally, you get a feel of the heavier era Rush with the second track "Stick It Out," but then it's spoiled by the early 90's commercial alternative schtick of dropping all the music out to emphasize a lyric.  It worked for the Breeders and very little else.  The Michael Kamen orchestrated  "Nobody's Hero" brings up the topic of fallen former friends and acquaintances.  One was gay and one was the murdered daughter of family friends Geddy fell out of touch with.   Why not immortalize them in a song?    It's probably the most memorable song on the album as I get my second listen in today.

I can't seem to find any "videos" for this album i.e. hits.  The opener "Animate" had an air of familiarity.  7 of these 11 got live concert performances, the most being the instrumental jam "Leave That Thing Alone,"   "Between Sun & Moon" stood out for me even if it sounds like a musical rehash of past musical Rush highlights.   "Stick It Out," "Cold Fire" and "Double Agent" were played more often live.

On "Alien Shore" Geddy points out for him and I assume his lady (since he made a special point of noting his heterosexuality in "Nobody's Hero”),  sex is NOT a competition or job description.  I kind of like this one in it's awkward splendor.    This never got played live according to setlist.fm nor was "The Speed of Love," with Geddy's likable harmonies with himself,  "Double Agent," with it's spoke dialogue throughout the track and the closer, "Everyday Glory" 

In the bottom third of the catalog, for sure.

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