Welcome to the first part of my reaction to Rush’s album Snakes & Arrows!
We listen to the first four tracks, Far Cry, Armor and Sword, Workin’ Them Angels, and The Larger Bowl. And look at Neil’s lyrics for each song! I listen to a song and then I read the lyrics right after. Hope you all enjoy this ride with me! And stay tuned for part 2! Also the first 2 songs of Clockwork Angels is already uploaded on Patreon!
Full Album Reaction on Patreon! Patreon.com/johnslop
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Movie & TV Reactions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqgnu4lqBPRMNIFlstiCdFw
Robocop Reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ucZouaYC1M&t=150s
Alien Reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrtUESDz0Q&t=2s
Total Recall Reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8hVb2axvQ&t=1948s
source
Armor and sword live is awesome, must see.! Not bad for 3 dudes around 55 yrs. Old.
Far Cry: We were sold a bill of goods that did not happen. Get over your disappointment and realize there is a balance to life…I am Gen X/Boomer cusp but I caucus with Gen X. I think this is what this song says to me.
Also the documentary on this record worth a video for sure.
Snakes and Arrows is a game played in India (or at least originated there). We know it here as the pasteurized "Chutes and Ladders". It symbolizes life's dangers from above (arrows) & below (snakes).
One of my top five RUSH albums
The only Rush album I cannot recommend.
I said it.
Outside of 'Armor & Sword' it has little to offer. The producer seemed to dominate the sound – condense everything.
Armor & Sword is one of their best "later" period tunes. It's sooooooo intense and produced so well. This whole record was just "good" – not super-stellar…. it didn't really capture the greatness for me like other records did. But there were a few great ones like Armor & Sword.
Great! love this album!
Larger Bowl is in my top 20. love it!
Snake and Arrows is a Rush album I hold in very high regard – certainly my favourite modern day Rush album and it ranks high in the overall ranks for me too – enjoy the ride
Love this album. Met Geddy and Alex before the buffalo show on the tour. (My profile pic since and forever more)
There's a 5.1 Surround version of this album, btw.
Wow! Bringing back memories. Far Cry immediately became a fan favorite and when they played it live, it was a show stopper.
I have so thoroughly enjoyed your Rush reactions, but I’m starting to get sad knowing that, well , the last album is coming up. ☹️
S & A's is top Rush 5 album for me. Love Working Them Angels, Main Monkey Business, The Way the Wind Blows and Hope each all time favs now.
One note solo!! Alex Is Amazing…
seen this tour at my home in Canada then again open night of the European leg in Glasgow, Scotland.
LOVE LOVE LOVE You're New Entro My Beautiful Son! 🤩🎸🎶
Thanks John for this reaction. I appreciate you continuing your Rush Journey!
I'm surprised that no one has touched on what "Far Cry" is really about. This was Neil's answer to 9/11 and the horror of that day and it's ramifications. "Pariah dogs and wandering madmen barking at strangers and speaking in tongues…" is a reference to Bin Laden and his kind indoctrinating young men to commit jihad on non-Muslims and non-believers. "One day I'm on top of the world and the next it's falling in on me…" is a reference to the collapse of the World Trade Center. "Worldwind life faith and betrayal, rise in anger, fall back and repeat…" is a reference to the Middle East taking such offense when the West doesn't show much respect for Mohammed (Charlie Hebdoe) and the Muslim religion (even if it's just the West being Christian and living life according to their beliefs). If you listen to "Far Cry" from a religious/political perspective you'll see this. Like mostly everyone, Neil was upset about 9/11 and was certainly going to talk about it. "Armor and Sword," where he says "no one gets to their heaven without a fight…" directly deals with religion throughout the song. "The Way the Wind Blows" deals with the coming ideology battle as well. Snakes and Arrows is almost entirely about religion and politics.
Neil's command of the written word is not limited to Rush lyrics, as he's penned numerous books also. If you want to get a deeper glimpse of his genius I recommend you start with Ghostrider travels on the healing road, and given the time, progress chronologically. His penultimate (I believe Rush's too) has got to be your next & final studio album; Clockwork Angels! I'm looking forward to listening to the corresponding book he coauthored with #1 scifi writer Kevin Anderson, as Neil apparently narrates the audio version! You're reactions are taking me back to when I was your age, reading between the lines to get a better understanding. It's a shame you didn't get to see them perform 1 of their 3 hour shows. I had the pleasure of seeing 19 shows,15 in their hometown of Toronto. You're gonna love Clockwork Angels!✌N🤟
The tour after this album came also to Finland. 25 years of waiting and then finally saw Rush live, what a dream come true 🥰
I have to wonder if he actually didn't understand the answers to the questions he's asking in "The Larger Bowl". Different systems of government with different economic systems.
Yes, as someone said the armor is good faith and the sword is bad militant faith. I think that song had a lot to do with what was going on in America around that time with the war on terror and how people were pitting Christianity against Islam.
Top 5 Rush album for myself. Stays in my cd loader
U should watch the live version of 'The larger bowl' from 2007… the video intro they shot was funny, but also a bit sad with its point.