PERMANENT WAVES

A smart, tight, concise, wonderfully played and dynamic album which really brings Rush to the next level as both players and songwriters. The just-over 30-minute album contains nothing but excellence, from start to finish, and contains some of the band's most beloved songs.

"Spirit of the Radio" puts me in a good mood whenever I hear it, while "Freewill" always reminds me why I became a Rush fan during my jaded teen-age years. There is so much expression and brilliance contained within Peart's lyrics that I sometimes feel philosophically enlightened after listening. Alex's solos rouse the spirit while Geddy's genre-defining basslines emblazon themselves into one's mind; they are simply so much fun to listen to.

Personal experiences aside, there is so much to like here that it belabors the point to list them. "Permanent Waves" is just awesome and belongs in any rock-lover's library.

Songwriting: 5 Instrumental Performances: 5 Lyrics/Vocals: 4 Style/Emotion/Replay: 5