** Rush

TEST FOR ECHO

(Atlantic)

Beginning in the mid '80s, Rush did three unexpected things: they got smart, they got progressive, and they made a long string of creative albums loosely based in a pop/metal vein (1989's Presto and 1993's Counterparts remain required listening for anyone who still associates Rush only with the squeaky vocals and Zep imitations of old.) Released after the first two-year layoff in the band's history, this album is the reinvented Rush's first dud. In recent years they have been more about songwriting than about arena bluster, but this time the writing just isn't there. The 11 tracks are invariably mid-tempo and way too tasteful, with hardly a memorable hook in the batch. Even with keyboards gone and guitars back up front, the sound unusually restrained; the instrumental "Limbo" is a blown opportunity to cut loose.

Drummer/lyricist Neil Peart didn't bother to come up with an overriding lyrical concept, either, and the opening title song's silly chorus ("Here we go, vertigo/Video vertigo") belies his rep as a thinking metalhead's writer. The one keeper, "Virtuality," is a fresh take on the trendy subject of Internet romance, lifting the chorus of Elton Motello's cult hit "Jet Boy Jet Girl" and turning it into "Net boy, Net girl." Otherwise, they haven't done us Rush defenders any favors.

-- Brett Milano

(Rush play the FleetCenter this Saturday, November 9.)