What does it sound like?:
Rush’s tenth album, originally released back in 1984, reappears as a 4 cd plus bluray deluxe set. As the band sought new ground, they ditched long term producer Terry Brown who had worked on every album since 1975’s Fly By Night set, although here he is finally reinstated to remix the album on the second cd of this set, the first being a remaster of the original 1984 mix. It’s a bit of a mixed bag of an album really, not bad by any means but not up there with their classic albums like Moving Pictures either. The strongest tracks are the opening salvo of Distant Early Warning and Red Sector A, together with the closing Between The Wheels. In between are a few good but not that memorable efforts like Afterimage, Kid Gloves and The Body Electric, and a couple that rather miss the mark for me such as Red Lenses and The Enemy Within.
Terry Brown’s new mix gives more prominence to the guitar, and overall gives a better balance with the keyboards which had dominated its predecessor Signals, and the sound in general is smoother and warmer than on the original rather harsh angular version. The third and fourth cds have a full live show from the subsequent tour. This has partially been released before, but the full set is included here. As you’d expect, it relies heavily on the current and preceding albums, but there’s still enough of the old favourites such as Tom Sawyer and YYZ to keep everyone happy. I haven’t had access to the bluray, but it includes 5.1 and Atmos versions of everything, plus a handful of promo videos. As usual, there’s no unreleased material, outtakes etc, but there is new artwork to savour, rather reminding me of Floyd’s The Division Bell, and a hardback book, which again I haven’t seen. Overall though, a good and quite comprehensive look back at this transitional era of the band’s music as they sought to update their sound and widen their audience appeal.
What does it all *mean*?
A mid range inclusion in their extensive back catalogue, an improvement generally on the preceding Signals for sure, but for me not as good as its successor Power Windows.
Goes well with…
Remembering the days of bands wearing designer jackets with the sleeves rolled up!
Release Date:
13 March
Might suit people who like…
Quite a pricey set, so for committed fans with deep pockets really.
One of the curious things about Rush is that there are no out-takes or non-album tracks. Nothing. Not a single non-album b-side or unreleased album track. No radio sessions. Nada. I can’t think of another act for whom this is the case.
I’m quite fond of Grace Under Pressure, though I agree that it’s a mixed bag. I really like Afterimage, which I think is nicely-judged song about loss. Unfortunately, this album, along with its successor comprises the height of Peart’s republican lyric phase. Red Sector A is a good song, but Red Lenses is a contender for their worst song. It’s a very cold war record, if that’s a thing.
They say they didn’t keep any, certainly as you say none have been forthcoming so far…see also the likes of Maiden, AC/DC.
There is an early version of the Presto album, not one of their better efforts and the songs don’t differ much from the released versions really.
One of my favourite albums of theirs! And pretty much the only album of theirs I managed to learn (sort of) the bass lines.
Yoiks! Have you never tried playing 2112? Great fun – especially if you have a Rickenbacker…
Erm, I have actually but no chance! The baselines on GP are “reasonably” simple and it was an awful long time ago and I “probably” didn’t work them out 100% correctly but in my head it sounded good! So there!
Great! I’m all about the fun, me!
£250 for the CD/ Blu-ray version. The book must have been hand-illuminated by a crack team of monks.
Yoiks! I’m out!
Spent some time this evening on YouTube watching a Toronto gig on the 1984 Grace under Pressure tour. Rolled up sleeve jackets, mullets ! They looked so young! They obviously promoted the then current album to the detriment of the, ahem, classics. It hadn’t aged that well if I’m honest and I’m a big fan of that era. But sad to see Neil too natch
Purse Under Pressure.
Hoffman mode: “DR will be brickwalled. I picked up a near mint Target mastered by Kevin Gray. I’m happy with it. It’s a hard pass from me. 👍👍👍”
Am I missing something…what’s DR?
Gorts! Lock this thread!!
“Unless we get postcards of Lerxst’s left ball and Dirk’s right one then I’m out. I already have Pratt’s smell in a jar. I’m happy with it.”
Dynamic Range
Compare and contrast
They all sound good. The new mix has a bit more heft to it in the guitar department. Honestly I think the album itself is strong in any form, as is Power Windows. Maybe not the popular opinion…
I would certainly agree, both good albums, maybe the last time they produced two top quality ones in succession.
Yep, agree too. The next one, Hold your fire was ok-ish but where I got off. Couldn’t get on with the 90’s albums at all
I bailed at Power Windows and got back on board about 20 years later with Vapour Trails. I think a lot of long term Rush fans did a version of this, skipping the 90s entirely. Having gone back and listened to those albums, they didn’t miss much.