SIGNALS

While some people hold 80s Rush to be cheesy, uninteresting, and clinical, I believe that Rush simply fine-tuned their songwriting skills and added synthesizers. Honestly, Signals isn't a big jump from Moving Pictures, which was only slightly darker and so minutely heavier. While both Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves were both released in the 80s preceding Signals, I find this album truly begins the 80s sound that Rush continued to alter and elaborate on throughout the decade.

The simple fact is that there are a ton of great riffs, melodies, and ideas in Signals that I find it even more interesting than any of the previous five or so albums release by Rush. Though the addition of keyboards and further electronics enhances the sound of the band, at least for this particular album, none of the members' roles are reduced. Lifeson established himself early on the first few songs, with some of his greatest guitar solos. He is to the point, and the music definitly benefits from it. Geddy retains his melodic, immediately discernable bass lines and Peart plays beats that work absolutely brilliantly with the music. All in all, great playing for all parties.

Every single song on Signals is tight and perfectly crafted. I can't really say that about any other Rush album, though the previous two come close. Themes of science, technology, space and humanity run throughout, and no song seems out of place. "Subdivisions" and "The Analog Kid" take a bit of a left turn for the band, concentrating on the dreams and aspirations of young children. These are best songs on Signals and always keep me coming back for the next listen. Of course, the rest of the album holds up very well too. Most, saving the subdued, minor- key "Losing It," are upbeat and modeled with extreme precision. "Losing It" is the only song keeping Signals from achieving a perfect score. I just doesn't fit the mood of the album, and it drags a bit toward the end. Other than that, Signals is positively stunning.

If you're just getting into 80s Rush (meaning Signals, Grace Under Pressure and so on), then I suggest Signals be your focal point. It has most of everything good that Rush would offer throughout this period in their career, without any of the downsides that sprouted up later on. I hope that Signals can appeal to every type of Rush fan, but it seems to be a bit hit or miss, and I can never really pinpoint what type of fan would or would not like the album. I suppose you might just have to take a chance with it. I hope you like it, though!

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