PRESTO

This is one of RUSH's most commercial sounding records. And having Rupert Hine produce it will certainly help bring that about. This would be their last album of the eighties and the sounds and style we heard on "Hold Your Fire" can be found on songs like "Chain Lightning" and "War Paint". While "Anagram" may have seemed like a good idea at the time it has to be the worst song on this record. "Red Tide" brings to mind "Grace Under Pressure" with the meaningful, dark lyrics.

"Show Don't Tell" is a good song with a crisp, clean sounds and short instrumental outbursts. The synths are in the background, as they are on most of these songs thankfully (except the songs I mentioned earlier)."The Pass" is perhaps the best song on here and it's certainly the most meaningful as it touches upon teen suicide. They did a video for this one. "Presto" has some good tasteful guitar and I like the lyrics. In the liner notes you can see the humour of RUSH when they start to thank people. For example : "A wave of the wand to..." "Superconductor" is an upbeat, catchy tune about the effect famous people have on the public. "Hand Over Fist" is pretty good with that good beat. "Available Light" seems to work. Some interesting guitar from Alex 2 minutes in. Great drumming as usual.

An upgrade from "Hold Your Fire" but still not worth more than 3 stars.