Music / Counterparts

Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Rush, released in 1993 through Anthem Records (in conjunction with Atlantic Records outside of Canada). The album marked the return of Power Windows and Hold Your Fire producer Peter Collins. Fresh from producing albums for Queensrÿche, he took his experience from producing heavy metal and helped Rush return to a heavier and more aggressive hard rock sound.

And it worked. Released at the height of grunge music's popularity, Counterparts actually charted #2 on the Billboard charts only behind Vs. by Pearl Jam. Fan and critic reception was very positive, praising the heavier sound which was perfect for the time when the Seattle alternative scene was dominating rock music at the time.

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Tracklist:

1. "Animate" - 6:04
2. "Stick It Out" - 4:30
3. "Cut to the Chase" - 4:48
4. "Nobody's Hero" - 4:55
5. "Between Sun and Moon" - 4:37
6. "Alien Shore" - 5:47
7. "The Speed of Love" - 5:02
8. "Double Agent" - 4:52
9. "Leave That Thing Alone" - 4:05
10. "Cold Fire" - 4:27
11. "Everyday Glory" - 5:11

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Principal Members:

• Geddy Lee - lead vocals, bass, synthesizer
• Alex Lifeson - guitars
• Neil Peart - drums, percussion

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Leave That Trope Alone

• Abusive Parents: In "Everyday Glory".
  In the house where nobody laughs
  And nobody sleeps
  In the house where love lies dying
  And the shadows creep
  A little girl hides shaking
  With her hands on her ears
  Pushing back the tears
  Til the pain disappears
• Darker and Edgier: Easily the heaviest album Rush did since Hemispheres.
• Gay Aesop: The first verse of "Nobody's Hero" is about the singer reminisicing about his openly gay friend and appreciating the perspective the friendship brought, and then regretting the fact they lost contact prior to his death.
• Grief Song: Neil wrote "Nobody's Hero" about the death of a friend from AIDS and a girl who was murdered in his hometown.
• Hotter and Sexier: The cover probably gives this away on its own. See Intercourse with You below.
• Instrumentals: "Leave That Thing Alone".
• Intercourse with You: Probably the most sexually charged Rush album on record. Between Geddy's soaring "ahh yes" in the chorus of "Between Sun and Moon", the lines "a man must learn to rule his tender part" and "a man must learn to gently dominate" in "Animate", the various "counterparts" in the booklet that came with the CD veering into deeply suggestive territory (bump and grind, hot and bothered, bound and gagged, in and out, ribbed and lubricated...) the booklet also including an uncensored image of a pair of human breasts, and even the cover art being very suggestive (made abundantly clear in animations presented on the big screen during tours with songs from this album, where the nut and bolt are interlocked and screwed together), this is easily the most innuendo-laced Rush album in existence.
• Lighter and Softer: "The Speed of Love" and "Cold Fire". "Everyday Glory" music-wise.
• Lyrical Dissonance: "Everyday Glory" is very upbeat, but the lyrics discuss child abuse.
• New Sound Album: Rush mixes their characteristic sound with alternative rock.
• Non-Appearing Title: "Double Agent".
• One-Word Title: "Animate".
• Special Guest: Legendary composer Michael Kamen composed the string sections for "Nobody's Hero".

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