Counterparts (album)

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Counterparts
Counterparts cover
Studio album by Rush
Released October 19, 1993
Recorded 1993
Genre Progressive rock
Hard rock
Length 54:17
Label Anthem Records (Canada)
Anthem/Atlantic
Producer(s) Peter Collins and Rush
Professional reviews
Rush chronology
Roll the Bones
(1991)
Counterparts
(1993)
Test for Echo
(1996)


Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1993 (see 1993 in music).

Lyrically, Counterparts continues the trend of dark and emotional themes; it takes on difficult subjects such as bigotry and crime, yet it keeps a general concept of ambition, sadness, and love on songs like "Nobody's Hero," "Speed of Love," and even "Cold Fire.". "Leave That Thing Alone" earned a Grammy nomination for "Best Instrumental." The song "Stick It Out" is one of the band's "heaviest" works in quite some time, and the video was featured on an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head where Beavis said "The guitar is pretty cool." (after mocking the 1980 Rush track "The Spirit of Radio") only for Butt-Head to reply "Yeah, if you are a wuss.". Other highlights include "Animate" and "Double Agent." Although debatable, many Rush fans agree that Counterparts features some alternative rock elements.

Counterparts became Rush's highest charting album in the US peaking at #2 on The Billboard 200 (only for Pearl Jam's Vs. to prevent it from hitting #1 in the US). The album went Platinum according to Atlantic Records although the RIAA has it listed at Gold.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Animate" – 6:05
  2. "Stick It Out" – 4:30
  3. "Cut to the Chase" – 4:49
  4. "Nobody's Hero" – 4:54
  5. "Between Sun and Moon" – 4:37
  6. "Alien Shore" – 5:45
  7. "The Speed of Love" – 5:03
  8. "Double Agent" – 4:51
  9. "Leave That Thing Alone" – 4:06
  10. "Cold Fire" – 4:27
  11. "Everyday Glory" – 5:10

[edit] Personnel

with

  • Michael Kamen – Strings arrangements and conducting ("Nobody's Hero")

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1993 The Billboard 200 2

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1993 "Stick it Out" Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1994 "Cold Fire" Mainstream Rock Tracks 2
1994 "Nobody's Hero" Mainstream Rock Tracks 9
1994 "Animate" Mainstream Rock Tracks 35