"Counterparts" is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on October 19, 1993, through Anthem Records. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard chart, becoming one of the band's highest-charting albums, and No. 6 in Canada. The first single, "Stick It Out," topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for four weeks, while the instrumental track "Leave That Thing Alone" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
After completing the Roll the Bones tour in mid-1992, Rush took a break before starting work on Counterparts. They aimed for a balance of spontaneity and refinement, influenced by bands like Primus and Pearl Jam. The writing sessions took place at Chalet Studios in Ontario, where Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson focused on music while Neil Peart worked on lyrics independently. Tensions arose during the writing process due to differing views on the use of keyboards, leading to emotional ups and downs.
The album marks a return to guitar-driven music, continuing the transition that began with Presto in 1989. Peart's lyrics explore themes of duality, relationships, and heroism, inspired by Carl Jung’s concepts.
The band recorded Counterparts from April to June 1993 at Le Studio in Quebec and McClear Pathé in Toronto. They chose producer Peter Collins, who had previously worked with them, aiming for a more powerful sound. The recording process featured a direct approach, with minimal effects, allowing for a raw and natural sound. Lifeson enjoyed a new recording style, which involved playing in the studio room rather than the control room, enhancing the musical experience.
Key tracks include "Animate," which explores themes of masculinity and vulnerability, featuring a unique bass sound, "Stick It Out," developed from a guitar riff that Lifeson created, "Nobody's Hero," inspired by Peart's friend who died of AIDS, reflecting on heroism in small arenas, "Leave That Thing Alone," an instrumental track showcasing the band's fun approach to writing, and "Cold Fire," which went through multiple rewrites, culminating in one of the album’s strongest moments.
Counterparts premiered on October 14, 1993, during a radio special in Toronto. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart and achieved gold certification in the US and Canada. The band supported the album with a four-month tour across North America, although tensions within the group were noted during this period. In subsequent years, Counterparts was remastered and reissued, reflecting Rush's enduring legacy in rock music.
