Bush Knows The Electrifying Way Out

Right from the get-go, British rockers Bush demonstrate they know their way around an amp. Their new "The Only Way Out" interlocks ingratiating chord melodies that refuse to let you rest on your music laurels. The shifts are spread out steadily. Each member displays a full mastery of his art. Vocalist Gavin Rossdale commands attention succinctly. In the lyrics he's placed a hefty weight on his shoulders, namely that he wants to be the savior for some lucky lady. That's a large God complex if ever I heard one (thank you...I'm not at any known comedy club all week). Corey Britz stands out on bass largely due to the underlying warmth shimmering within the constant uncertainty of modern times. Drummer Robin Goodridge taps out the angst with authority. His band may be headed towards unknown terrain, but the travels are where much of the reward stems from. As choruses go, Gavin assures what he's selling is packed with appropriate potency. As we collective humans come to realize the only way out of hardship is to plow through. The unidentified lady of this outing presents a reassuring distraction, one that keeps any of us from slamming down hard on the crazy button and screaming as if someone jabbed a switchblade through our hearts. Gavin doesn't lack for articulate story structure, a gift that gives this little passion play rooting value. You want the guy to get the girl. You want to think the orbit is populated with familiar good guys in white, bad guys in black cast out. On the arrangement front you don't have a cacophonous din to contend with. Crisp harmonies are the right tonic to keep attention spans transfixed. Chris Traynor dials back the theatrics on lead guitar. The shining star really does center on Gavin's intelligent way with a sentiment. He gives us food for thought by reminding us that we pray to the gods of our own demise all the time. In issuing this statement one gets the feeling that he, as is the case for a lot of us, sees the mad carnival as the epitome of absurdity in action. Put him in close quarters with the woman of his choosing and he can ice out the existentialism for a spell. "Trip wires in your head" shines a powerful light on the universal fascination with what makes a person tick. What are his/her motivations? Do we ever stand a chance of figuring that poser out? The latest bead on the necklace that comprises their two decades deep body of work has been christened "Man on the Run". "The Only Way Out" leaves no doubt it's compelling enough to encourage you to stay in one place. This particular way out contains tangible cerebral rewards aplenty.