The Contrarians Dark Horse Albums: Rush - Power Windows (1985) 

The songwriting matured greatly during the 80's and this album is the band at the top of their game imo. Great album.

This is in my top 5. Love this album to death. Just like someone commented up above the guy's were just using the newest technology available to them. And i love the loose theme of all these songs based around power. Great record 9/10 for me

Slick or not, Power Windows still sounds so great cranked up on a good stereo. I love the low end, beefy, full sound on this album. It remains my go to, and most played Rush album to this day.

Power Windows is my second favourite Rush album after Hold Your Fire. Yes I’m a huge fan of the mid-80s era! Those records are so full of heart, creativity and fun. Every single song on those albums that they played live absolutely rocked. Love how they evolved their use of synths by this time to be a more grand in the mix rather than a separate standalone instrument, which to me is the difference between the latter two synth era albums and the former two.

This was my first ever rush albums I ever owned I got it on my 10th birthday in 1988 the big money, mystic rhythms and marathon that got me into Rush as a kid and this album got on me the road to being a lifelong Rush fan

One of my favourites, I never get tired of it

Great stuff, love Power Windows! I’ve been a fan for 40 years so I’ve witnessed most of these backlashes. When I saw the HYF tour there were people around me yelling for more old stuff the whole time. Then by the 2000s I was seeing and hearing complaints at the shows that all the 80s orchestration and keyboards were missing. The fans always lag behind. For old Rush fans the Hemispheres tour is referenced as the holy grail of set lists, but I have a terrible quality audience bootleg where in the middle of the quieter section of Hemispheres the guy next to the taper keeps yelling “Play the old stuff!!!!!” I laugh when I hear it and think “Dude, that IS the old stuff!” 😂 It’s always like this. Ultimately most fans just want more of what they grew up with. I’ve appreciated it all.

Loved this and happy to see Power Windows get so much love.

(all Rush albums are great) I like Paul's notice that Power Windows was all about the relationships that people have with power, whether that be by wealth or political influence. Hold Your Fire was about human conflict and trying to find peaceful resolutions. Presto was about magic and technology and Roll the Bones was all about free will vs. fate (basically the rock opera version of the song Freewill). All of them had something interesting to say about the world, and absolutely essential.

This is the only Rush album that has really risen in my rankings. Most of my first impression of their albums are pretty much like how ik think about them nowadays. But at first i never really got into Power Windows without really disliking it. But somehow when i started shuffling my '80 Rush playlist in Spotify these song really stood out. And it became one of my favorite Rush albums. That Lifeson solo on Marathon! Favorite solo. The last 'perfect' Rush album. After this one came the uneven Hold your fire and then the cd age began and the albums became too long. Stiil stellar stuff among them with Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angela as my favorites.

Alex: This record takes the best parts of [Signals and Grace Under Pressure] and kinda capitalises on them... It's quite dynamic, too ... To me, this record is a lot like 'Moving Pictures', because I also think that album strikes a fine balance between keyboards and guitar ... We had a good head-start on our writing, we worked with somebody we wanted to work with from the beginning (producer Peter Collins) ... This album was really an eye-opener for us, because we pushed back the boundaries that have been there in the past, we tried different things, we put things on the record which we wouldn't have before, and generally we opened doors that were shut to us before. Geddy: Power Windows is a really important record, because it was the final and essential blending of keyboards and guitar to me ... We brought in this synthesizer guy, Andy Richards, who really brought it up a notch in terms of quality and technology ... I really like the sound of that album. I thought it was a really strong production. There are some great songs on that record ... Overall, I thought Power Windows was a great accomplishment for us. Neil: From a band point of view, we certainly worked on our musicianship first, then - armed with that increased facility and confidence in our individual instruments - expanded into paying more attention to songwriting, arranging, and production ... To us, [Power Windows is] totally satisfying and progressive. Perhaps from the view of an outsider who judges only on the superficiality of technique, it might seem simpler. Believe me, it's not. Power Windows is Rush's most accomplished album to date. The band were able to go beyond their past triumphs and achieve a staggering advance in every aspect of their performance: playing, writing and in the sound clarity of the recording. - Rush Visions: The Official Biography

My favorite era of Rush are..... #1) 1980 to 1991: Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, Presto, Roll The Bones #2) 1993 to 2012: Counterparts, Test For Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes & Arrows, Clockwork Angels #3) 1974 to 1978: Rush, Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel, 2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres

I love Rush (I am inked so) and I absolutely love power windows and GUP .... Always have loved them , always will ❤️

My favorite Rush album. I can't understand why any true Rush fan would have a problem loving something about EVERY album.

80s rush is my favorite

There can never be too many Rush discussions. :) Discovered the band in around 2003. To me golden era Rush is everything from Fly By Night up to and including Presto. Favorite album is Power Windows, and I hold Hemispheres as their early era peak, Moving Pictures as their songwriting peak, Presto as their artistic peak, Vapor Trails as maybe the most underrated album. Rock on.

Couldn’t agree more with Ryan that 2112 through Power Windows is one of the greatest album runs of all time

I LOVE this album. Geddy has some of the most amazing bass lines and unique sounds on this. However, I can't put this album on any old time and listen to it. I yearn for it in 'cycles'.

Since the late 70s my dear departed mom went to Canada all the time and in the late 80s she brought back a power windows US and Canada tour shirt for me and God I wish I still had it today... It was brilliant

A surprising thing about this album I learned reading Geddy's book, all the keyboards are played by a studio guy. I always assumed Geddy came up with the sonds/parts.

While at the Rush Grace Under Pressure concert in Lakeland in early 1985, they premiered the unreleased "The Big Money", and it was well received from what I remember.

euh...dark horse? Because of...what? synths...when you got a creative mind it's a natural temptation to see where you can go with the technology of your time...and learn new ways to craft...Geddy,Alex and Neil were clever guys they did it well without losing their adn...the material here is strong start to finish...and the cover is great...and the lyrics,as always...in other words,Rush has always been great..."power windows" still sounds like the future...just like "2112"...just in a different way...Rush is timeless genius...they had the intellect...the heart...the vision.

Power Windows was all-over the radio in central Ontario in '85. CFNY radio station was a big promoter of the band in their 70s and 80s era, 'Spirit of Radio' was written about that station. 'Big Money' and 'Mystic Rhythm' were truly overplayed on local FM. The heavy synth stuff confused the hardcore fans in Toronto, the place the band is from. There was a newspaper article back in 2010 which featured photos of the guy featured on the Power Windows cover, also from Toronto.

Incredible... I agree 100% with Todd. Some of his points was stuff I have been thinking and telling people for decades. Nice mention of "Cold Fire" as a sleeper track, one of my favorite Rush Songs. Another one would be "Red Tide", love it, but I have never heard someone talk about it. Oh, and "Middletown Dreams" is probably my favorite from this album as well.

Definitely an album that grew on me over time. Highlights for me are Grand Designs, Marathon, and Middletown Dreams. If I'm ranking the studio albums, I'd put it 8th out of 19.

Great episode and great album! Rush continued the tradition of great opening tracks after this album Animate, Test for Echo, One Little Victory, and Far Cry, for example

Senior year of HS...remember it vividly bringing this record home and playing it on day of release...Grand Designs immediately was my favorite on the album...I had been a fan for 2yrs and had likely grabbed every album before it by then and was in the midst of engrossing myself with this band...a magical time! After 40yrs as a fan this album is my #5 with Middletown Dreams being my favorite on the record and my # 9 of all Rush songs🤘

Good thing about rush is your going to get so many different opinions and interesting takes, this album took a while to grow on me, i don;t think it's as good as Grace Under Pressure personally, i'll take a shot it here for a ranking. 8/10 works for me. Big Money 9.5/10 Grand Designs 8/10 Manhattan Project 9.5/10 Marathon 10/10 Geddy's bass playing on this is insane. Territtories 7.5/10 Middletown Dreams 8/10 Emotion Ditector 8.5/10 Mystic Rythms 10/10 Top 5 Rush song for me and Alex on the 12 string.

This was a fantastic discussion. Have you already talked about HOLD YOUR FIRE? I feel like that album does not get enough love.

I love the album...from day 1 until today. Manhattan Project is one of the best Rush tracks IMO, definitely in my top 3.

Rush did what they wanted, it is one of the things that made them great. People didn't like the albums of this era because they didn't sound like Moving Pictures or 2112. But Rush was never going to make the same record twice.

I have loved this album from the first time I've heard it.

This is Rush's In Through The Out Door.Plenty of Love for it,but plenty of Pissed off Fans too.

Great show guys! This is the last Rush record that I love and still go back to often. On Grace Under Pressure (my favorite Rush album) and Power Windows, the keyboards and modern sounds and production complemented the band. All of the songs are very strong and "The Big Money", "Marathon", and "Territories" are among my favorite Rush tracks. 9 out of 10 for me.

Two words………….MYSTIC RHYTHMS.

I love Power Windows. I think every song is a real gem. It has some of Geddy's best vocals. Alex Lifeson really stretches out and builds these beautiful guitar tapestries. I also love Neal's lyrics on the record. I embraced the synth heavy Rush albums and was always impressed with their experimentation and growth.

I was 17 when this came out so just the next Rush album to get into after hearing most of the earlier stuff already

Unlike most of my peers at the time I loved this album when it was released. Tbh, musically speaking, I always felt like I had an intellectual edge over Rush fans (like the ones Grant talked about) that didn't like this album and Grace Under Pressure.

I think the reverence that has built up over the years for 'Grace Under Pressure' is misplaced and should be attributed to 'Power Windows'. I too was initially a bit turned off by 'Grace Under Pressure' when it came out. It seemed to me at the time there were a couple memorable melody's and lyrics; but there were no taught rockers, it felt more like soundscapes that ALMOST ran into each other and less like separate songs (with a couple exceptions). However with 'Power Windows' we get the taught rocker with the title track and yes, the rest of the album is fairly mellow with soundscapes too, BUT they are memorable, melodic soundscapes and lyrics even more poignant and emotional than the prior album. Power Windows is a stunning album with a great album cover as well.

“Commercial”? “Sell-out”? Nonsense. Rush changed with the times in the 80s. They didn’t need to shoot for hit singles to remain relevant. Their sound changed as their ambitions and influences changed. In the 80s, we loved Signals, GUP, PW AND loved 2112, Hemispheres and AFTK and we still considered ourselves hardcore fans. That said, I can understand those who yearn for the 70s Rush. Having been a teenager in the mid 80s, I yearned for the October, War, Under a Blood Red Sky and Unforgettable Fire era U2 when Achtung Baby (or even Joshua Tree) was released. They’d left behind many of the things that I first fell in love with about the band. I suspect the 70s Rush fans feel similar about the abandonment of many of the things they loved about the band.

Top five RUSH album for me and probably top three if I really think on it. I definitely agree with it being the end of an unprecedented string of 4.5 star records, although I have that string starting at 'A Farewell to Kings' and not '2112'. Geddy Lee in his new book has this as one of the highest points in the band's career and I totally agree. A tremendous work of art, that represents incredible ambition and growth more than any of their other records. 9.5/10 album

Big Money, Manhattan Project, Marathon, Territories, and even Mystic Rhythms all got quite a bit of airplay in Saint Louis for 6 months to a year

Only because RUSH has so many classics/. I like this album. , I’ll give an 8️⃣ out of 1️⃣0️⃣ Thx for a great 👍 show 👍💯

In my top 5 Rush? Maybe not but I still absolutely love it! Played it again this morning. It doesn't sound dated to me.

Great episode guys from a great album !

I'm fairly new to rush, only hearing about them during covid (sheltered English music life 🙈 ) I've heard every album now and started buying them all on vinyl and cd, power windows was my 1st purchase as its my favourite album of theirs. Randomly found this video just now and I love what you guys all say. It must be amazing to have friends you can have chats like this with. Anyway I'm subscribed now and look forward to watching more 😊

It annoyed me reading people complaining about them doing mostly 80s stuff on the CA tour. I was like ‘they gave us Moving Pictures live last time, let them do what they want this time.’

this was fun to watch, in some ways I have a bit of all 4 of you in my own rush musical journey, and can align with each persons views and opinions since I am constantly evolving, and have dynamic/changing taste depending on the mood I am in. it was fun to see the passion and excitement when one person had a differing opinion, it would have been less entertaining if you all agreed on every point made. please make more! thanks for sharing!! my own views on power windows... I bought it on record the day it came out after counting down the days upon seeing the video for big money, and it was one that grew on me with each listen. I give it a 8.5, are we allowed to do a decimal? lol. if their body of work didn't have all the ones leading up to this classic record, and PW was their first release, I'd probably give it a 9.5

Enjoyed this talk about what has quietly become one of my Top 3 Rush albums over the years. Regarding "accessibility" and production, I'd add this: Rush didn't sell out but they had to notice Yes (of all bands) had a #1 song with Owner of a Lonely Heart in 1983. Did they hope The Big Money -- at least -- would crack the Top 40 at least? I'd say so. It seems more built for chart success than Distant Eatly Warning, I'd think.

Eventually, you have to evolve with the times you can't continue on the same path just to please the fans. You have to do it for yourself first. Otherwise what's the point in writing music. Using the latest equipment was part of their evolution, and to me, it was well worth it. Might not have been as popular but we got to hear a different sound from them, which is a positive in my book.

I had a period that I only listened to 70's Rush, and there was one I only listened to 80's and 90's Rush. If I want to hear Rush now, I probably pick an 80's album.

Objectively, their best mature effort and it uses the zeitgeist of the 80's to their best effect in Rush's style, or rather Geddy being interested in being current in 1985 didn't get in the way of the songs as it would on HYF.

As Billy corgan said, and I agree, left Field Rush is better than most artists.... GUP IS darker and brilliant but I have always loved Rush since Tom Sawyer that was a minor hit here in the UK and I was hooked ever since

Grant, you should have a vendor partnered with ready to sell the albums you discuss cause I usually go buy stuff after the discussions! lol😂

A perfect album along with Moving Pictures IMO

Yo RFsters! Thanks Grant! Slightly disappointed when dropped (I get "too slick") but with caveat following Amazing albums. It's my #8. Collins good as Brown to me. As a "those guys" I *shouldn't* think Mystic Rhythms best PoWi song (Neil what up?) but is one of those Wonderful Rush experimental successes. 8.5/10.

Power Windows is a great record ! I was there and don't remember Rush fans hating this record. Interesting though was the video The BIG Money. Was that video the first to use colored computer graphics in that format of power in a rock video ? It has a colorful mezzmerizing 3 dimensional effect. How can anyone question such a great album . 🏆🏆🏆

Great album. Top three for me. The songs are so rich and some of Neil’s best lyrics. Big Money is definitely my least favorite song on the record too.

Power Windows was the first album that I ever owned, albeit I taped it off the radio on cassette. The local radio station, Rock 107 WEZX-FM, played every new Rush album when it was released. In my honest opinion, Power Windows is a 10/10 perfect album. There is no weak moment on this album.

I was born the same summer Alex and Ged were, heard In The Mood in 1975, finally saw the band live the first week of 1977, awed these successful kids my same age (22) kicked so much ass. What must be factored into Rush's change and not overlooked, underestimated or dismissed (now) was the birth of MTV in 1981. Historically everything changed in a matter of months, MTV corrupted music by taking audio to audio/visual, an exciting new medium to be sure but one even more superficial than the music industry already was. Rush weren't the only artists effected, but if they wanted to compete for the John Dos Passos big money in the 80s it was not unwise to dress in New Wave pastels and repurpose their original business model. Geddy must dilute his trademark vocals and, maybe, trigger a keyboard sample or two so they'd segue more inconspicuously into rotation between Duran Duran and Men Without Hats. I didn't begrudge Rush's compromise after doing it their way since 1974, they'd made it on their own terms BUT STILL the monotone Geddy chose to replace his impassioned vocals got on my nerves as much as Alex being sonically MIA. That's when I stopped buying Rush albums, still went to another concert or two---tame affairs compared to their ferocious 70s live work. I agree fully at 18:25 Signals also made me feel Rush wanted to be The Police. If New World Man played in a public place like a restaurant or club I had to tune out lyrics like 'trying to pave the way for the third world man' or be in danger of projectile hurling. A drummer I'd taught some Peart and Bonham licks to had never seen Rush was desperate to go to a 2010 Time Machine tour show. We got tickets, he loved it but I longed for my first Rush concert: a 2000 seat hall with 1500 of them empty, sitting 20 feet from Alex & Geddy, Neil was playing Chromey but no tubular bells behind him yet. Bastille Day started but by the end of the first verse I saw all three musicians exchanging looks of alarm. They stopped the song on the beat and Alex held his arms up like cops had him surrounded. From his left a roadie sprinted from behind the drum riser with a guitar, from Alex's right a second empty-handed tech snatched the out-of-tune guitar off Alex then the first guy settled the other guitar around Alex's shoulders by its strap, like helping someone put on a coat. That changeover took four seconds tops, then the guitarists nodded at each other without looking back at the drummer and the band started the song exactly where they'd stopped it. Afterwards Geddy said, "We're sorry about that, this next song from our second album," and they began Anthem. In October Rush sold out the same venue and tickets weren't as easy to get as in January. I'd seen Led Zeppelin in between those shows and thought Rush was as good live as they were. That's really saying something.

I love this album and all rush but a couple things stood out in this discussion. 1) Rush were previously more riff based and had a heavier sound that put Alex front and center. At this point Alex was more of a support role rather than the instrument driving the songs. These guys pretending to not understand this and why it didn’t appeal to “those guys” is weird. 2) The notion that caress of steel is more “simple” than power windows is mind blowing. 3) Power windows might be the most dated sounding record that Rush has. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to say that but does carry a negative connotation. No one listening to power windows can honestly think that it sounds like it could have been made in any other decade (before or after). I think it sounds perfect for the songs on it, but it definitely sounds of its time.

I listen to power windows and GUP all the time and I still love it

Great discussion of a decent Rush album

Like Paul I loved that version of Marathon on Show of Hands.

As Ryan says, I am "one of those guys." My first Rush album was Exit Stage Left, my second was Hemispheres. So I prefer the earlier, more prog metal albums. As far as Power Windows I like 1/2 the album, those tracks on Show of Hands. My last album was Counterparts. So while I know Caress of Steel by heart, albums like Test for Echo or Vapor Trails are basically unknown and unlistened to. The band that is most like Rush as far as my listening habits, is Iron Maiden. Love the '80s run and Brave New World. But newer albums, meh...

Agree with Grant 100%. It sounded slick in late ‘85 _on its release._ GUP is excellent and think you had to be there in context. 9/10 for me and has gotten better over the years in my opinion.

My favorite album of all time. I could go on and on but no one mentioned that they were also 31-32-33 at this time (male adult peak) in the mid-80s, probably explains a lot

I overlooked Rush albums after Moving Pictures for a long time. Got back into them with Live in Rio and now would put Power Windows up there among their best albums. Perhaps I appreciate the lyrics and songwriting more as Im older. Also think Clockwork Angels is also one if their best works and can’t think of another band that finished stronger than Rush. :-)

Power Windows is a Neil album.His Drums sound like a Continent next to Geddy and Alex playing in a Country!

This is a good album, but it's a bit of a let down after Grace Under Pressure. The Peter Collins production is mega 80s but obviously Rush was headed in that direction. Looking forward to the next Dark horse on" Presto ". A truly better album than " Power Windows ". Nevertheless PLAY LOUD Blue Army!

My favorite era & 3 albums back to back to back is Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures & Signals. 2112 is special on its own merit. All Rush are good to great but Hold your fire 1987 in my opinion.

And I have always loved PW

Grace under pressure signals pawer windows

When this album came out in 1985, I had been a Rush fan for three years, and was 16 years old. I felt at the time that this was too much of a departure from what came before. It wasn't a natural progression, it was skipping a level. The increasing dominance of keyboards, and Alex getting pushed back in the mix kind of turned me off. But nowadays, I appreciate this album a lot more. It doesn't crack my top 5, but I like it. This album sneakily had some of Neil's best drumming since at least Moving Pictures. This is an album forces you to listen more closely to it. Geddy felt that this album was the essential blending of guitar, drums, bass and keyboards. I did feel that the keyboards were a little too much in the forefront, and still do. The difference between now and then is that then I would skip over this album and go back to anything from 1974 to 1984. I don't do that now.

What I noticed right off the bat when I purchased power windows was the mix, very slick. The biggest issue I had was that the keyboards and syntizisers have no balls to them, too much of an 80's sound. I do enjoy the album more now than I did when it came out.

I used to hate it but now im older i like it.I think its better then next 3 records

I swear that sounds like a snare on the chorus of Territories. Are you sure?

Great Album!!

You guys are right, usually the album that you get into a band's music, that usually is your favorite era of the band. I guess I'm guilty of that as well. I think what fans were wanting was Rush to always play guitar riff driven music with some power chords. I cut my Rush teeth on their Kings album around 1980 so that's usually still my favorite Rush album and era of the band. I'm one of those that doesn't mind keyboards and all that stuff, it basically just comes down do I like a song or not. Rush could have an album with no guitars whatsoever and I still might love it, that's just me. My first disappointment with Rush came with their Grace under pressure album. Other than a few songs it just never grew on me tremendously, but all their previous albums I liked immediately on first listen. Presto and Vapor Trails also grabbed me immediately. When Power Windows came out I still wasn't on board. I was a teenager at the time but I didn't really analyze as to why their mid to late 80s albums weren't really my cup of tea, power windows has grown on me a lot over the years and I like nearly the entire album, a very "bright" production, a positive vibe, sounds very 1985. Ged sounds great. Not the biggest fan of his bass sound during that period but it does fit the t type of songs they're doing. Usually if I do a lot of air instrument playing, lol, for a particular Rush album its usually a pretty good indication that I like the album a lot and I do a lot of that on most of Power Windows. I like several Rush albums better so I give this a solid 9/10

Bands shaking up their Core Sound resulted in Don Brewer singing the Best songs of his Career in Grand Funk Railroad.Doncha' Know!

Favorite Album !!!!

Awesome show guys

Rush 🇨🇦🎵

I am not one of those Rush fans who didn't like there Post 70's Content ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One thing about Alex’s playing at this time is all the space he leaves. There are whole sets of bars where he sometimes only plays one ringing chord. On the old records he would hit an 8 or 16th note chug but starting with GUP he would hit a sus chord with massive delay and chorus and just let it ring out. Some of the songs get a little tedious to play on guitar if you’re by yourself because you’re only playing one chord every measure or every 3rd measure.

I am ONE OF THOSE GUYS, Grant! I came into Rush at 2112 and A Farewell to Kings. I dont have to apologize to anybody for thinking that 1974-1982 was the pinnacle of Rush. Just because Neil felt that Power Windows was their best work to date in 1985 does not mean he is right. Its his opinion. Oh, its called "opinions" guys. I have given the 1984-1994 period many, many listens and, while there are certain points and songs that I like, in my "opinion" this period lacks the substance of the 74-82 period. Case closed. End of story.

I became a Rush fan on 2112 and loved everything from Fly By Night to Permanent Waves. When Moving Pictures came out, I thought they had sold out. How old school is that?

speaking about ann dudley the choice of trevor horn should have been something, a brilliant collaboration a bit like 90125 from yes ...

I'm not really a big lyrics person I usually like a song just more based on the instrumentation and the melody and the vocals a song can have the greatest lyrics in the world but if the music isn't right then I'm not a fan. I guess what I am saying is I don't dig deep into lyrics and all kinds of meanings behind them but with that said I do appreciate intelligent lyrics

Hate to be boring but my fave run is from 2112 to Moving Pictures, I loved Power Windows at the time of release, less so nowadays but there's some great tracks and moments on it, I prefer it to Signals but don't love it like I do Grace Under Pressure. Great show btw

Wow, an hour of Grant being bullied by the Rush nerds. I did not own this album because I do not like the Big Money song and I fell out with Rush during this time period. I bought this CD based on the gushing of this episode. If I don't like it, all four of you owe me $2.75.

Are we ever gonna hear a podcast about the absolute genius of jellyfish??!!

Did you ever see the cover band called power windows in New York? It's just an excellent feel good album from top to bottom, like Ryan says

Grant did Rush ever do an Opening track better than Finding My Way???

The 80's production style is unnecessarily trashed. The slick, gleaming production works well in the right context. I find a lot of 80's albums engrossing because the production style sucks you into a stylized world. I'm a big fan of organic, raw production, too. But a lot of 80's albums get a bad rap without deeper exploration.

Grant do a Boston-Third Stage episode!

I basically consider signals and grace as a double album haha

Power Windows is not a progression of Rush-please see The Police Synchronicity a few years prior. Problem is, this album seems more like Rush is chasing other bands sounds more than creating their own.

Let me start by saying I’m one of ‘those guys’ that likes Rush from Moving Pictures on back. I have many thoughts, but I will only cover the highlights. I like hard rock/heavy metal for the most part, although my 2nd favorite band is Pink Floyd. The reason I got into Rush was because of their heavy guitar and progressive slant, sort of the thinking man’s heavy metal. I started with them in the late 70’s. Their first album has some great heavy riffs and one of the best guitar songs of all time. The other albums with Peart have some great guitar work, powerful vocals, thought-provoking lyrics, and ENERGY. This pop/synth stuff with muted vocals doesn’t do it for me. It’s just too laid back and boring. Give me power chords and blistering solos over textured guitars. If it does it for you, fine. But I’m not going to be one of ‘those guys’ that likes it because it is Rush. Maybe I don’t really like Rush. But maybe you don’t like rock and roll. More complex than 2112? I guess my idea of complexity is different from others... As far as Rush saying that this is their best album, when has a band come out with an album that they didn’t say that? Even Alex mentioned in one of the documentaries that Rush had gotten away from guitar-oriented rock, which is what they enjoyed. And it is what I enjoy.. Of course, you have the right to be wrong. Overall, I enjoyed the discussion. Keep up the good work!

Rush in my opinion were better album wise than the Beatles BUT jellyfish were better than anyone 😁