Rush: 'Far Cry'

Rush deserve our begrudging respect. For almost 40 years they've devoted themselves to that most unfashionable of rock genres: prog. They've survived personal tragedy, widespread disinterest and being saddled with a bassist who looks a bit like Janet Street-Porter to make it this far. Folks, it's time to doff your caps.

Still, no one under the age of 50 needs to hear their new single. 'Far Cry' is full of noodley bass solos, repetitive drum breaks and gibberish lyrics like "pariah dogs and wandering madmen, barking at strangers and speaking in tongues". Note to Rush: do us a favour and leave the woe unto the world stuff to Al Gore. Stick to your day job, which - in case you've forgotten - is making music for men who like to combine a combover with the remnants of a shoulder-length mullet.