POWER WINDOWS

I figured this is as good as any to do my first review on, being my personal favorite album of one of my most highly coveted bands of all time. Power Windows is in my opinion the most melodic and lyrically complex Rush album out there. The music is rich and very layered which might seem to make it a bit tough to get every texture/riff/effect/etc. processed at the same time, but it most certainly makes you want to listen to it again to find what you missed. Part of my undying love for this album might be the really intense personal connection I have with it, but nevertheless, it is a monster of an album, and not "pop" by any means. Rush, to me, was one of the very few (and I mean VERY few) bands that carried on into the '80s that kept creating music as good (or in my opinion better) as the output they had in the '70s.

I view Power Windows as a concept album, albeit a more undefined one, with all of the songs revolving around the central idea of power, hence the title. Geddy does not sacrifice his bass playing for the keyboards one bit on this album, and songs like "The Big Money" have some of the craziest bass lines I've ever heard in any Rush song. The prominence of the keyboards, which can get on people's nerves is one of the greatest things about the album, with all of the thick textures and sounds that really stick out and get in your face. The guitar work on this album is also stunning, and although it might be in lesser amounts than in previous albums, it adds a huge melodic and lovely effect to the music (Mystic Rhythms especially) that is absolutely stunning. This album is certainly a shift from previous Rush efforts, but to me it's the highlight of the other '80s albums that Rush had. (Every other album they released in the '80s is stunning IMO, but this one stands out.

Lets (finally) move to the tracks. The album starts with "The Big Money", which is full of new synth effects and crazy bass lines never before heard in Rush's catalogue of music. While not my favorite track on the album, it holds its ground beautifully and is a great opener for things to come.

Grand Designs starts off with a huge synth opening that quickly evolves into the main bulk of the song. Another wonderful track. One of my favorites on the album.

Manhattan Project easily competes for my favorite song on the album. It is dark, airy, and has an eerie feeling, but lets room for the lyrics, which to me is probably the most important part of the song, to shine. The foreboding sound of the bomber plane flying over head is quite a wonderful way to start the song, and it's wonderful live with the string section (Clockwork Angels tour 2012!)

Marathon is a monster track with another busy baseline. (I'm a bassist so I tend to care about these things quite a bit :D) This is another really powerful track, especially during the huge climax/crescendo at the end where we here Geddy go into the VERY high vocal range for the last time on a studio recording. This is another huge track that is easily one of my favorites. (But almost all of them are!)

Territories was my first big introduction to Power Windows, and made me realize I didn't hate the album like I thought I did. This one pretty much opened the door for '80s Rush (past Moving Pictures) for me and opened my eyes to how great it was! Some more great lyrics in this song, and (I have to say it) SICK bass line. This was my favorite track on the album for a very long time, and still is up there.

Middletown Dreams was the last song I bought off of Power Windows, after I just assumed it was an attempt to "remake perfection" (Subdivisions). Shocked as I was, I was completely and horribly wrong, as this is one of those melodically melancholically beautiful tracks that gives you the chills, especially when the keyboard line comes in before the lines "A middle-aged madonna..." It adds a depressingly beautiful energy to the song that makes it really powerful and unforgettable. Easily one of my all-time favorite Rush songs.

Emotion Detector might just be my least favorite song on Power Windows. Don't get me wrong, it's a hell of a track, it just doesn't really give the "power" that I think the other tracks give. Maybe I'm just being to harsh on it, but it's just not one of the songs that makes the album so near perfection. Although the guitar solo is arguably one of my favorites from Lifeson out of all of Rush's extensive catalogue of music.

Last but most certainly not least, Mystic Rhythms. Easily the most powerful and melodic track on the album, there is really no better way to end such an amazing album with a song like this. You have to appreciate the song for the beauty it has, and it's really just one of those songs that you just need to put the headphones on, sit back, close your eyes, and absorb. From the first hit of the drum to the final fading glory of the song, it is easily my favorite (I say that reluctantly, with 7 other songs all worthy of this title) track on the album.

And I guess that concludes this monstrous review. I can understand how you may not appreciate this album because of the "lack of guitars" or "emphasis on keyboards" or it's "retroness", but give it a shot, then listen to it again, because this album is better with age. Oh and before I forget, I was more than excited when I saw all of the PW songs in the Clockwork Angels tour! With the orchestra=perfection.

From an F to an A++ rating, this album scores in at near perfection with an A++.

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