Customer Reviews

Presto (Remastered LP Version)

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This lesser-known Rush gem which made an appearance on their most recent Time Machine tour has over the years become my very favorite of Rush songs and quite possibly my favorite song of all time. This song and the album of the same name mark a unique point in Rush's trajectory where they had scaled back from the synthy excesses of the 80s but had not yet launched into their harder-hitting grunge-influenced 90s phase. The album represents the apex of the mature lyrical content developed since Permanent Waves combined with a new, somewhat subdued and very mature sound that brought all of their strengths to the fore. This song is both deeply personal yet just oblique enough to allow for varied interpretations depending upon what the listener brings to the experience. For me this song is about squaring dreams with reality, realizing at a certain point in life that everyone is imperfect and there are no concrete answers. It's complex and thought-provoking, yet simple in structure with its strong melody and strummy acoustic-guitar base. The fact that a band as technically accomplished as Rush could pare back their sound to produce this diamond says a lot for the band's versatility (one of the reasons Rush is my favorite band). Although they would go on to produce a number of very good to great songs over the span of the next few albums, this is one of their last true timeless classics. What a song.