PERMANENT WAVES

In a 1980's interview, Rush said that they no longer felt like they had "anything left to prove" after Hemispheres. They were now free to "move on" to create the "best songs" they possibly could. Not the most complicated songs. Not the most impressive solos. The "best songs".

While "best songs" is certainly a very subjective standard, I must concede that on "Permanent Waves" the songs are catchier, the writing more concise, the musicianship impeccable, the production professional, and the album a huge success.

Rush doesn't abandon Prog territory as much as they refine, condense and distill it into a more compelling, concentrated form of album rock music. Each album side ends in a prog climax (Side One's "Jacob's Ladder" and Side Two's 3-part closer "Natural Science").

Again we get under 36 minutes of music on the album. But there is no filler! It is no secret that Rush liked to compose a softer song in the studio "off the cuff" so to speak. But even "Different Strings" attains a delicate immediacy from Lifeson's passionate ending guitar solo.

A supurb prog rock album, even if it does mark the begining of a new, streamlined era for the band.