Rush Retrospective: Album 09- Signals

 

Album:  Signals

Year Released:   1982

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – bass guitars, synthesizers, vocals, arrangements, production
• Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus pedals, production
• Neil Peart – drums, percussion, arrangements, spoken vocal on “Subdivisions”, production

Overall Thoughts:

The band Rush could have their career broken down in five movements, changing every four albums (punctuated by a live album at the end of every moment).  The band was always tinkering with their sound with every album, but every movement changed in different directions.  Between Moving Pictures and Signals, the next movement again.

With Signals, the songs became more compact (the ten minute epic prog songs disappeared), and synthesizers took a much more prominent role.  The progressive and hard rock elements were diminished, and more wordly music (reggae) and pop elements stepped forward.  Signals was also the last album with Terry Brown, who had prodcued their albums since 1974.  The band's sound was changing.

The changes aren't smooth.  The keyboards are dominant throughout the album, and musically guitars and drums are thier strongest sounds.   Some of the songs fall flat (Geddy constantly shouting "ELECTRICITY!" throughout "Chemistry" might be the biggest misstep Rush performed on any of their albums).  Many of the songs aren't as memorable as their previous albums."Singals" sounds dated- it's clearly a product of the early 1980s- in a way that most of their albums avoid.

There are good spots.  "Subdivisions" is their strongest song lyrically, relatable to anyone who felt like an outcast during their high school years (which is to say, everyone). "The Weapon" is a good companion to "Witch Hunt" (part of the "Fear" trilogy of songs).  The strongest song might be "Losing It", which features Ben Mink playing an electric violin and is a powerful song about growing old.  

"Signals" is not a bad album, and is a fascinating change from their previous work.  But musically, it is not as strong as their previous work.  

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Moving Pictures
2. 2112
3. Permanent Waves
4. Fly By Night
5. Rush
6. A Farewell to Kings
7. Hemispheres
8. Signals
9. Caress of Steel

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Tom Sawyer", Moving Pictures
2. "Working Man", Rush
3. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
4. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
5. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
6. "2112", 2112
7. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
8. "YYZ", Moving Pictures
9. "Red Barchettta", Moving Pictures
10. "Making Memories", Fly By Night