MOVING PICTURES

I allways have the same problem every time I listen this album... The first five tracks are just awesome, undoubtly among the best Rush's compositions... But the last two are obviously under the quality of the other songs!

Following the more commercial and radio-friendly direction of "Permanent Waves", Rush made their most widely known album, and one of their most appreciated ones. They achieved a great balance between progressive and commercial sounds, improving the yet excellent results of their previous album, and forgetting a little the more intrincated ways of albums like "Hemispheres", and the long suites of "2112" and "Caress of Steel".

So "Moving Pictures" is a funny, catchy, interesting and wonderful trip...

Till we get into Witch Hunt. It's not a bad song, and its creepy mood gives even more variety to a yet variated album (I think that every song is one of the pictures of the title...), but It's not so good like the incredible Red Barchetta and the epic The Camera Eye. It's not a real problem... But then, Vital Sings comes.

It's a song that I've heard many many times, and every time I'm more convinced that it was a mistake. This reggea oriented flick really don't adds any interest to the album. It could have been a cool B-Side song, or something like that... But after the outstanding quality of the other tracks, adding this mediocre tune at the end is something like a joke. Maybe it's just my personal taste, but I think that Vital Signs one of the little problems that "Moving Pictures" has.

Best songs: the five first tracks are all awesome... Rush's classics!

Conclusion: although Witch Hunt, and specially the average Vital Signs, they leave a bitter taste at the end, "Moving Pictures" is a wonderful album... It's one of the peaks of the Rush's long career, and it shows the band polishing the "Permanent Waves" formula to build a really catchy and friendly album, althouhg it's still very progressive, and instrumentally incredible. So if you don't want to miss one of the 80's progressive peaks, give "Moving Pictures" a listening... And if you are new to this band, this album is maybe the best point of entry!

My rating: ****1/2