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Signals

Rush - Signals Audio CD

A fair review of the Rush "Signals" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Rush reviews here, or go back to the Rush tabs.

Band: Rush
Title: Signals
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-06-03
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Subdivisions 2: Analog Kid 3: Chemistry 4: Digital Man 5: Weapon 6: New World Man 7: Losing It 8: Countdown

The Best Rush Album
The album starts off with Subdivisions, which I feel is a very under-rated Rush song amongst all of the other classic hits. As many here have already echoed, Rush's Signals is possibly the groups best effort; which is saying something. Moving forward, the rest album picks up some pace and definitely delivers a good sense of Rush's typical rock rhythm throughout. The keyboards are present in nearly every song, but they provide an excellent touch to the existing musical themes. More impressively, I think, is the band's lyrical content on this particular album. It's easy to identify with the topics covered, even as vague as they might be on some songs; while others such as Subdivisions are quite clear. At the risk of sounding pretentious, there's no denying the symmetry between the music and lyrics on this record as each high and low point seem to match seamlessly with the musical textures.

Great album. If you are curious where to start with Rush, this might not be a bad place to begin the journey.

Natural Science
Controversial upon release with its radical change in sound and direction, it is strong on synthesizer focus, yet nonetheless features some of Alex Lifeson's very best guitar work. Sprawling, dense and timeless, Signals remains an absolute Rush classic and is, for me, one of the most interesting albums they ever recorded. The Analog Kid, Chemistry and Digital Man shine with emotion and drip with technical brilliance during the solo sections, they also have me scratching my head every time I hear "the guitar really took a back seat on Signals. . . " Subdivisions, The Weapon and Losing It show Lifeson as an extraordinarily inovative and experimental guitarist.

The lyrics, in places, are almost abstract and I often wish Rush (or rather drummer Neil Peart) had pursued this avenue of writing further as it enables the listener to interpret the imagery of the words on a more personal, intellectual level. Chemistry and Digital Man are possibly the best examples of the 'abstract' writing.

The music is truly progressive, as Rush blended reggae and electronics into heavily technical rock music whilst still absolutely retaining their own identity. This simply went to show just how singulary unique and individual a band they were and still are.

Subdivisions, with its almost scientific, musical precision, remains infused with a million memories of the isolation and loneliness of feeling like such an outsider during high-school years, of 'lighted streets on quiet nights' and being aware that you were in fact not alone, because there were bands like Rush full of people who felt just the same as you and somehow, magically, knew how to paint those almost unbearable feelings into moving pictures of music and words.

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What Rush Does Best
Each time I listened to it, my reaction was always one of mild or casual fondness, with a strong feeling that some day I would in fact be able to fully connect with all of it. This particular Rush album is one that took a while to grow on me, but rest assured it finally happened. The main reason for that is the fact that the album's two instant "hits" or "classics" -- namely, Subdivisions and New World Man -- appear alongside tracks which are not *quite* as accessible but are, nevertheless, very good songs once they finally reach you.

Okay, maybe, just maybe, this isn't Rush's most outstanding achievement. That doesn't matter though, because what is offered on this disc by the band is the usual complex art for which they are best known, the intricate tapestry of sophisticated music, lyrics, and themes that is distinctly Rush in every way. The topics are modern and cerebral with melodies and structures that are not only clearly-defined, unique, and ambitious, but that also allow the virtuosity of each member of the power trio to clearly shine through. Yes, you can tell by listening to this CD that the band was in the midst of their mid-80s "changeover," what with it having a somewhat synthesizer-laden sonic personality not entirely dissimilar to the stellar "Moving Pictures. " But in my opinion, that's a good thing, because I for one enjoy it when a band evolves and morphs, using their original formula as a foundation. And that's what you have here -- plus there's no denying some of the perfection that is strewn about the disc, such as in the opening track Subdivisions.

Recommended -- an extremely well-done album.
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The last great Rush album ?
For me this was the last really great release by Rush . This will show my age . Not that they haven't had some good songs since then . But I don't feel that anything they've done since Signals measures up to it as a whole .
You can tell listening to this that the boys were under the influence of reggae at the time . And in this case , that is a very good thing indeed . Some of the jamming that Geddy & Alex do on Signals is the best they ever did . Neil's drumming is excellent , as usual . Between this & Moving Pictures , Rush were really at their peak . .

Was Rush Losing It?
This album was originally released in 1982. I have all the Rush albums during the time 1974-1982. After great studio albums - "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures" as well as almost perfect live album "Exit. . . Stage Left" there was only one direction. . . down. The same goes later for Megadeth after "Rust in Peace" and Metallica after "Master of Puppets" as well as the band Budgie after "Bandolier" which was released in 1975 - all those albums were classics - and after that it was difficult to get any better. Still, I think that Rush manages quite good with "Signals". You may be heard that this album is poorly produced because you cannot hear ALex Lifeson's great guitar work properly. Well, they are right although you still can hear his guitar solos in "Digital Man" for example. This album has great melodies and riffs but the most I like is Geddy Lee's voice and the lyrics. "Subdivisions" and "The Weapon" are perfect for the lyrics. Also "New World Man" which was some kind of hit song is awesome. I don't mind the production so much - it was great that Rush decided to make this kind of mystic album for sounds. The only thing that I don't like is the ending "Losing It" and "Countdown" are average songs. I have heard and read rumours that after this album Rush goes poppier - I have to find out. . . myself!
Stars: The Weapon, Subdivisions, New World Man.

You can see a complete list of all Rush discography, or go back to the Rush tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.