Rush - Test for Echo
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CD Details
Artist: RushBrand: RUSH
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2004-08-31
Music Label: Atlantic
Product features:
- RUSH TEST FOR ECHO
- Test for Echo
- Driven
- Half the World
- The Color of Right
- Time and Motion
- Totem
- Dog Years
- Virtuality
- Resist
- Limbo
- Carve Away the Stone
Music reviews of Test for Echo
Music Review: 3.5 stars for TFE
Rating: 3 Stars
It took a few listens, but Test For Echo began to grow on me. I'd heard the full range of comments from "most underrated album" (on other sites) to "whoa, Nelly...move along, move along." I'd say my sentiment, after a careful and insightful number of listens, is somewhere between heaven and hell. I think those who think it's the best thing they've ever done need to give the preceding album another listen...and those who think it's their weakest record...well, you're just wrong. More on the overall assessment in a bit.
The opening and title number has really become a strong song to me. Love the beginning guitar part and Geddy's voice here. We then segue into a more frantic break and then into the first verse. Overall Test For Echo is a very good-to-excellent tune. The chorus is also frantic with the guitar ascension not terribly un-grunge-like....but like with Kiss (on Carnival Of Souls) that doesn't mean it doesn't work. I like the lyric's theme of our morality spinning out of control....trying to find some ground for the insanity, which the music kind of reflects.
The popular song to "like" from this record is Driven, a rockin' little strangely-tempo'd prog-rock diddy that delivers in a pretty big way. You can't help but start diggin' on the intro and the bass chords that follow after about two listens. Again, it's a bit prog, a bit modern (for '96)...but it works.
The one song that's flown under the radar is the rather delightful Half The World, which isn't the heaviest Rush tune ever penned, but really well-structured and another tune that grows on you with any kind of attention. The jangling guitars and smooth bass line work really well here. The lyrics have a purposeful monotony but there's a great message in there for us too.
Resist is the fourth of four strong tunes on the record. While, like most folks, I prefer the purely acoustic version found on the two live DVDs, the original isn't horribly different in terms of melody or tempo (more piano keyboard and chrunchy guitar background chords here) and so it really doesn't change my thoughts on this strong song. Good stuff. I love this tune.
Some songs border on really good, like The Color Of Right...which has a great melody and tempo. Time And Motion is another little gem that grows on you with some repeats. Again, there's a great vocal melody that pulls you through this thing. Strong little song that flies well under the radar. I'm probably going to get bitch-slapped for this comment, but I even like Totem fairly well. There's a really light feel to this song with some great tribal beats from Peart...and a driving melody. Nothing wrong with these songs, even though they are clearly tier two songs. These fall into that War Paint or Red Tide category (from Presto) or The Big Wheel or Heresy (from Roll The Bones). Above being blasse, without achieving greatness and therefore quite listenable.
There are a couple of glaring weak spots for sure, which I think colors people's perceptions of this record to the negative. Only the most ardent non-conformist is going to really go to bat for a song like Dog Years, which just might be in the top 3-to-5 worst Rush songs ever penned. I get what the band was after with the metaphor - a structure which almost always works for the band - but it ends up coming across cornball to the gag degree. Virtuality also has an eye-rolling chorus, though I must confess a penchant for the Living Color, Vernon Reid-inspired riff. Pretty tasty. Quite insightful lyrics too for 1996. Even though the net was up and running it remains a timely vision. The "net boy, net girl" chorus will try your patience and make you cringe.
Limbo and Carve Away The Stone are also pretty listenable-though-unexceptional songs. Neither of which touch the stink of a song like Dog Years, Face Up or You Bet Your Life (Roll The Bones). These are your typical blasse filler.
Look, this isn't the most easily accessible collection of songs in spots. They take a little saturation and maturation as well. It's there if you soak it in. I dare say I've probably listened to this album more in the last 72 hours than most of you have total times since you bought it in 1996. Wanna bet?
In the end this album generally lacks the balls and production quality that Counterparts proudly displayed, although the title track and Driven could've easily come from that record...in terms of attitude and brass. The rest of the songs have more of a Presto-oriented sense of melody and structure, and that's not a bad thing. In fact, it's more good than not in most places. (The structure and tempo of these songs elevates this record). There are a few wanker spots, but arguably nothing worse (is it?) than we see on the worst moments from Hold Your Fire, Roll The Bones, or Presto...which, I think, is about where this album deserves to be placed. Better than the first two, and pretty equivalent of the latter.
I'll definitely buy this CD...or you can just send me your re-master if you're tired of it.
Description of Test for Echo
RUSH TEST FOR ECHOClassic Rock CDs
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