SIGNALS

Rush had perhaps their biggest hit with Tom Sawyer on the previous album, "Moving Pictures". With a hit of that magnitude comes higher expectation for more of the same from the record label. So Rush responded by simplifying their songwriting, and adding more synthesizers. So we, the fans of their progressive side lose out.

At least on this album, the first to feature this new direction, the band hasn't totally forsaken their fan base. Geddy Lee still provides some complex bass playing, and Lifeson and Peart add enough flair to keep things interesting as well. There are some time signature changes, especially in Subdivisions. But there is nothing that blows the listener away, like you might find on the previous albums.

It's a decent effort, but I can only rate it 3.5 stars (rounded up).