SIGNALS

That is not to say that that song can save the whole album.

Alright, let's start with a basic point: Rush began as a band (ok, after the first album) which relied on the strength of their *entire album*... the idea that the whole album told a story, and any singular track didn't have as much impact on the listener as the entire album did.

Then suddenly the 1980s came along. And MTV. And suddenly so much more emphasis was placed on the "song" then ever before. And Rush, as well as other progressive rock bands, was suddenly lost. "Just one song?"... It was a phenomenon not understood by these bands who had relied on intelligent listeners willing to endure *an entire album*... I say this in jest, of course, because for those intelliigent listeners an entire album would have been a blessing, not a curse. But for the majority of America the "single" was the primary source of response, not the "album". And with the advent of MTV this became even more apparent.

(One wonders, then, how a genius band such as Marillion came about? But that's neither here nor there...)

So Rush, understandably, became what this trend wanted. They said amongst themselves: Well, we need more "hit singles"... we need to retain the Rush/Ayn Rand mentality, but eject it into short, more melodic songs...

Which was perfectly understandable, as I've said. What else were they supposed to do? Well, they could have all killed themselves, which would have left an interesting catalogue in and of itself...

But instead they chose to release "Signals." Which is a great album! But just not a great album for Rush, considering what they had accomplished in the past. What we have here is a short collection of songs, with stunted ideas, that never follow through with what Rush wanted in the first place. Sadly, Peart's lyrics are compromised to fit a formula, and the musicianship is also (understandably) compromised. Like I said in the beginning, I always turn "Subdivisions" up, but that song alone can't completely save a failed album. My stars in this case go primarily to that one song.

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