MOVING PICTURES

Its about the bass on this album. Geddy Lee is of course a bass legend. Guitar player polls, best rock bassist numerous times. He just gives this album a joyous dose of his classic melodicism. It sort of follows the melody at times in certain tracks, but differs in rhythmic ways as it doubles Pearts hits. This is of course one of the defining features of Rush; that interplay of unison drum and bass. Here it hits its finest balance of doubling everything and letting it flow.

Red Barchetta is the classic Rush song. It embodies Peart's adolescent view of wonder, supplies Lifeson with harmonics and a classic melodic bass line and the then seemingly obligatory 7/4 section. It is for me one of the most perfect songs ever recorded.

But then we also have the synco drum fest that is Tom Sawyer, the poignant and not over indulgent take on fame that is Limelight. YYZ has that ridiculously more than tricky pentatonic riff that is its main theme.

I must admit I have rarely listened to the other half of the album. I mean I have listened many times but compared with the onslaught of the first few tracks I am sure I am not alone.

They give this haunting complete feel to the album. Its like two sides of the band are on display.

It is a sound and a feeling that makes Rush the epitome of prog metal. It was their time, the 80's and they were incredibly brilliant at plying their craft.

While Hemispheres still makes me just go wow, this album is their finest moment when it all came together in Peart's angst and Lee's and Lifesons musical vision. It contains some of Lee's most brilliant playing (outside of the underrated Signals) and is a landmark of prog metal/rock.