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Rush - Signals CD (album) cover

SIGNALS

Rush

 

Heavy Prog

3.95 | 1502 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

LITBMueller
4 stars Coming after the live album "break" that "Exit Stage Left" provided, it was should have been no surpise that Rush would try to push their sound and style in a new direction, much as they did with "A Farewell to Kings." But, what many must have thought back in 1982 was a radical change, with heavy use of synths and even a song featuring electric violin, today can be seen as more of a transitional album.

Many of the Classic Rush elements are still prevalent: Geddy Lee's Rickenbacker tone, Neil Peart's propulsive/mind-bending drumming, vivid lyrical imagery, experiments with complicated time signatures, the band still recorded songs exactly as they would perform them live (ex.: the bass drops out when Geddy plays the keys) ... And yet, it was all different: sci fi epics had been replaced with lyrical themes "closer to home" (most having to do with communication, as the title "Signals" suggests); Geddy sang in a lower register; Alex's huge guitars were more washed with chorus effects than ever before, and he played a more rhythmic role; the songs avoided more traditional rock and flirted with reggae...

And the most amazing thing? It all works! Despite problems with the recording (imagine how this album would have sounded if there weren't problems with the digital tape?), the band's energy and emotion still pours through the new sounds and styles. That's what makes this album a classic, and demonstrates how good this band is at exploring new sounds, textures, and styles, and yet, all the while remaining themselves -- and bringing their fans along for the ride.

This album pointed in the direction that the band would continue to go, reaching it's peak with the heavily overdubbed, complicated, and keyboard-heaving "Hold Your Fire." But, looking back at "Signals" from our current vantage point, it is easy to see how the album was the perfect bridge for the band to cross between "Moving Pictures" and the rest of the 1980's.

| 4/5 |

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