SIGNALS

1982 was a very abstemious prog year. In those days I was already some sort of proghead but not one who was already exploring everything from past and present as I am now. So when in those days an album like Signals was released a progger was easily pleased and embraced everything that was slightly more than acceptable. And that was what this album was and still is in my opinion.

As the successor of Moving Pictures (the transition album by Rush from sheer Symphonic to more popular and accessible) one could expect an album more or less in the same vein or maybe even more according to the new style. And that's what it is I believe. It's even proven by the fact that Countdown was released as a single also (in fact I even bought the vinyl of the maxi single) and that means that Rush was officially attempting to reach the general public. I remember it was even shown on Music Box in those days but I'm not sure if it was a great hit in the States and Canada. Anyway, besides this track to me Subdivisions was another one standing out from the rest but the other 6 tracks were just slightly more than mediocre to me and that's what I mean with the statement in the beginning: I remember I still loved it back then because there wasn't too much around where prog was concerned but when I listen to it now and compare it to many other progalbums this has a completely different impact on me.

I will still give it 3 stars because of sentimental reasons and because it's not bad at all. But to be honest I'm surprised by the 4 and 5 star ratings it's getting by many reviewers.