MOVING PICTURES

The final release in an almost uninterrupted string of masterful releases from Rush. Moving Pictures represent the popular high-water mark for the band and is rightfully considered a prog-rock masterpiece.

Interestingly, though, it is the least proggy of their albums up to this point. You get 7 songs here, with only one reaching as many as 8 minutes in length. There isn't a hint of a concept and there are several legitimate poppy songs.

But as usual Rush makes it all work by bringing honesty, amazing musical chops, thoughful lyrics and just general musical creativity. An underrated aspect of MPictures is the band's pop sensibilities (if you doubt this, think how the melody from YYZ rings in your ears incessantly, unlike any of their songs released over the past 10 years) which shine throughout the more popular songs (Tom Sawyer, Limelight, Vital Signs).

The standout song is the least known / popular, the 10-minute The Camera Eye which I rank among Rush's top five songs (with Xanadu, 2212 and Caress of Steel). Witchhunt is another winner, with an unusual arrangement and biting commentary on censorship. Vital Signs was, at the time, an experimental song for Rush but also signaled some of the future direction.

All the songs are great individually, and combined they make up another must-have effort for prog fans.