Rush Retrospective: Album 11- Power Windows

 

Album:  Power Windows

Year Released:   1985

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – vocals, bass guitar, bass pedals, synthesizers, production, arrangements
• Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, production, arrangements
• Neil Peart – drums, percussion, electric percussion, production, arrangements

Overall Thoughts:

The eleventh album, Power Windows, continues the journey they started with Signals.  They brought in a new co-producer, Peter Collins, for the album.  The songs remain shorter, and are heavily influenced by the early 1980's musical styles.  But with Power Windows, Rush does a better job merging both their newer synthesiser based sounds with the older guitar and drum styles.

The theme of the album is power, in various forms.  With songs such as "Big Money" (financial), "Manhattan Project" (weapons), "Territories" (Nationalism), Rush explores deep ideas in their songs.  Neil Peart continues to be outstanding at writing thoughtful lyrics within the framework of a song.  

There are no bad songs here- it's their strongest album since "Moving Pictures".  It has very good songs ("Mystic Rhythms" is excellent).  Of this era of Rush, it's my favorite album.

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. Power Windows
9. Signals
10. Caress of Steel
11. Grace Under Pressure

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