POWER WINDOWS

Rush's response to the techno-pop dominated "prog" of the mid-1980s (including The Fixx, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Simple Minds, Re-Flex, and Trevor Horn's ever-expanding posse of production clients)--and to YES' 90125.

1. "The Big Money" (5:34) nice bass play. Nice SIMPLE MINDS-like guitar sound & solo in the fourth minute. Definitely a demonstration that Rush have joined the techno-80s. (8.667/10)

2. "Grand Designs" (5:05) nice keys, bass, vocal performance (and lyrics); weird to hear all those gated drums and FIXX/FLOCK OF SEAGULLS-like effected guitar sounds. Weak "oh-oh-oh" section in the last 90 seconds (filler/a waste of time). (8.667/10)

3. "Manhattan Project" (5:04) a more quiet, subdued sound palette, despite the "big" synth sounds/fills. More FIXX-like sounds from Alex after the stylistic shift in the second minute. I like the melodies used throughout. (And I LOVE the Fixx!) A top three song for me. (8.75/10)

4. "Marathon" (6:09) bombastic start before some fretless jazz bass line and FIXX-like guitar strums take over. SIMPLE MINDS synths fill a lot of the spaces. A relaxed and effective vocal performance from Geddy. Very nice guitar, synth and drum performances in the instrumental "C" part. Some cool atmospheric effects help fill the audiosphere. Another top three. (9/10)

5. "Territories" (6:18) another song that sounds like someone else (SIMPLE MINDS, ABC, FRANKIE GOES TOI HOLLYWOOD immediately come to mind), yet there is a cool vibe and pace to this one--with some of my favorite percussion work from Neil. Horrible chorus--both musically and vocally. (8.75/10)

6. "Middletown Dreams" (5:15) another FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD beginning before the Jamie West-Oram FIXX guitar sounds and strums enter. Otherwise, a solid Rush song more in the vein of true Rush-ness. (8.667/10)

7. "Emotion Detector" (5:10) interesting 80s entrance and intro with some sad, totally synthed music--even the drums are electronically effected! Still, mature (if imitative) songwriting (SIMPLE MINDS, THE FIXX). Nice guitar and bass play during the instrumental passage in the fourth minute. (8.5/10)

8. "Mystic Rhythms" (5:53) from the studios of JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS? Or THE RE-FLEX? If you like the musics of either of the aforementioned artists, you'll love this song. The overly familiar (derivative) video of this song confirms the band's desire to fit into the techno-pop era of the 1980s. My final top three song. (8.75/10)

Total Time 44:28

The effects used on Geddy's voice, Alex's guitar, and even Neil's percussives, have become so processed and effected (so 80s). Can't really blame them for joining the party--trying out some new clothes: FRANKI, THE FIXX, and SIMPLE MINDS had been really successful (and sounded really good). The sound is still good--the compositions polished and the lyrics relevant and impactful. It even stands up okay over time.

B/four stars; not bad--especially if you're a fan of some of the better, more proggy techno pop of the mid-1980s. A nice, if dated, addition to any prog lover's music collection.