POWER WINDOWS

Power Windows represents a true return to form from Rush. While Signals and Grace Under Pressure are by no means weak albums not since 1981's Moving Pictures had the band produced anything of this quality. Shrouded in complex arrangements of synth and triggered samples songs like Middletown Dreams and Manhattan Project completely reinvent Rush once again. Marathon and Emotion Detector may rely on more orthodox structures than much of Rush's '70s material yet there is no lapse in the high standards always deliveredy by the band. While clearly not Prog on the same level as 2112 or Xanadu World Music- tinged closer Mystic Rhythms deserves much praise as an Art Rock classic. Guitarists may not be impressed to see Lifeson taking a back seat through much of Power Windows but when he does pop up his solos on The Big Money, Marathon and Grand Designs are certainly not the work of an disintersted player. Power Windows like follow up Hold Your Fire is well known as a grower and given a few spins there is much to admire here.