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Rush - Grace Under Pressure CD (album) cover

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

Rush

 

Heavy Prog

3.69 | 1297 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars What I love about Rush is their ability to blend attractive, accessible and a bit complex arrangements with excellent lyrics, written by Neil Peart who is also playing the drums. The band has traditionally had a chunky, heavy rhythms and screaming vocals delivered by vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee. But in since "Signals" and "Grace Under Pressure" he calmed down his voice so that it sounds softer than early albums. On top of music, what I like about Rush is that their passion to keep ahead with their music direction despite significant demand from its fans base to say course with what they did in the past with masterpiece like "2112", "Moving Pictures" "A Farewell to Kings" etc. "Grace Under Pressure" showed another move from the band by maintaining the keyboard-based music as "Signals" but this time with some more groove and funk style. Even, the first time I heard this album when it was released, I thought that Rush went reggae. Well, you might call that this album is poppier than previous one but for me personally I like this album.

Gone are the days with long epic and this album presents relatively short tracks but all of them are excellent ones. My best favorite track and in fact one of best favorites of Rush songs is "The Enemy Within". I t did not attract me the first time I listened to this track but it struck me right away after I watched their powerful "Grace Under Pressure" laser disc. In that live concert video, the band performed this track marvelously with attractive stage act by Geddy Lee where went back and forth from front stage to the right-wing side where the keyboard is located. It's a nice stage act. Since then I kept listening to this track.

I'm not giving in / To security under pressure / I'm not missing out / On the promise of adventure / I'm not giving up / On implausible dreams . / Experience to extremes . / Experience to extremes ..

Oh man . what a killing music segment with powerful lyrics!

The album opener "Distant Early Warning" is another favorite of mine. The music has a relatively continuous flow of rhythm section with a bit of electronic drumming - which is actually not. The music gives a sense of power in modern sound with the coming age of digital technology era. "Red Lenses" is also a wonderful composition with attractive combination of bass guitar, guitar and bass improvisations during music interlude. The music also gives a kind of surprise through tight bass lines after complex part. "Between The Wheels" gives keyboard and guitar a chance to play intertwiningly as the music moves with vocal line. "Red Sector A" is also another excellent track.

Listening to this album is rewarding whether or not you know Rush before. There are some complex segments in the music but overall this album is accessible. Recommended. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Gatot | 4/5 |

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