GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

Grace Under Pressure represent the natural, continued evolution of Rush from hard rockers to prog rockers to 80's synth rockers. Kimonos have been replaced by garish clothes, long-hair by goofy short cuts, double-necked Rickenbackers with modern headless bass guitars. Which would make one think the music would suck. They'd be wrong though.

The music has always been what Rush was about and this is no different. In many ways GUP is really Signals II, with the music little different. You get a lot of synthesizers, poppy melodies and clinical lyrics to go with clinical drumming. Still, as usual, it all works.

Perhaps most interesting is the evolution of Alex Lifesons guitar work. Always an outstanding, versatile player, by this point he has mastered a unique, rapid-fire staccato approach used to great effect on songs like Enemy within and Red Sector A. Geddy has toned down the high-nasal wail by this point as well, creating a more mainstream, accessible sound. Peart lyrics reflect much of the national mood at this time, with a detachment and sterile feel to them.

Rush release one outstanding release after another from 1974 (Caress of Steel) to 1986 (Power Windows) and I consider this among them. On the second shelf, perhaps, but still a very solid 4-star release.