Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and Flawless, July 30, 1999
By A Customer
This is Rush at perhaps their most powerful, both musically and lyrically. This is a trend that would continue into Hold Your Fire. However, unlike that album, this one rocks much more.Power Windows is an even more radical departure from Grace Under Pressure as Signals was from Moving Pictures. The keyboards on this album sound beautiful and add so much texture. From the sweeping symphonies of Manhattan Project to the majestic chorus' of Marathon this album packs a powerful punch. The rhythm section here is at it's tightest ever. Neil turns in some of the most complex and powerful drumming of all time and Alex's guitars are at their emotional peak...just listen to the heartfelt solo in Marathon. This album also marks the first use of overdubbed chorus' by Lee...something that will dramatically increase over the next few releases. Again, there is a theme to this album...this time it's power. Power in money (Big Money), talk (Grand Designs), weapons (Manhattan Project), persistance (Marathon), world domination (Territories), dreams (Middletown Dreams), emotions (Emotion Detector) and the unknown (Mystic Rhythms). This album ranks among the best Rush albums ever. The music ties in with the lyrics and the lyrics tie in with an overall theme...a masterful work that should not be overlooked.
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Against the Run of the Mill, February 22, 2002
Throughout the 1970's, bassist / vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart built a reputation on their live performances and technical fluorishes. But things change, people grow and our love sometimes shifts focus, if not object. And as their careers progressed, their love for creating music began to focus on the writing rather than the performing. So by 1982, the 10-minute epics had given way to tighter, more focused, yet equally challenging pieces. That the songs had become more melodic was a useful byproduct of the shift in focus. However, this era in Rushtory, which began with 1980's "Permanent Waves," has endured countless criticism from snotty rock journalists, who would apparently seem content to listen to recorded verses of sublime literature recited over two dissonant chords played alternately over and over again. Much of the criticism has even come from Rush's own fans.The pinnacle of Rush's output during this era was 1985's "Power Windows," which, not too surprisingly, has (unfairly) become the whipping boy for Rush's 1980's oeuvre. Always one to touch on powerful subjects, Peart (who is also the band's lyricist and one of rock's finest at that) devoted the entire album to dwelling on the subject of power and its many manifestations. Peart takes his lyric writing seriously, and with good reason. When the music is this good, you better have something meaningful to say to back it up. The production duties were co-handled by the band and Peter Collins, beginning a fruitful relationship that (so far) has yielded 4 albums. The sound quality is superlative. The music lacks the raw aggression found in their earlier albums, but it more than makes up for it in the subtle, layered and intricate arrangements that include bass, guitars, drums, electronic percussion, bongos, keyboards, strings and a moving choir effect (at the end of the soaring "Marathon"). Particularly noteworthy among the songs are "Emotion Detector," (dealing with the way in which emotions can alternately make us powerful and frail); "Grand Designs" (a highly elegant way to say "stick to your guns!"); and "Territories," in which Peart touched on the subject of globalization years before the term became fashionable. The opener (and first single), "The Big Money," the title of which was Peart's homage to Dos Pasos, is a deceivingly catchy song that provides a blistering commentary on its subject matter. Now, having made much of Rush's emphasis on songwriting, let me remind all you kiddies that these guys can play! "Power Windows" found them all at the top of their game: their technical abilities were at their peak and all three members matched them with brilliant writing, excellent production and lyrical meaning light years ahead of their musical peers. The result was "Power Windows," which, in my opinion, along with "Hemispheres" and "Moving Pictures," stands as Rush's best album.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Golden Era of Rush, March 2, 2000
If the Albums Rush through Hemispheres can be called, the 'Classic Era', then Permanent Waves through Hold Your Fire can be known as the 'Golden Era' of Rush. The time when Rush evolved musically into more than just a Guitar based, progressive rock band. Power Windows clearly marks the pinnacle of this period in the band's songwriting. The delicate balance between Keyboards and Open-Ended Melodies here are married very well with classic, tight song-writing, and the enigmatic themes that have personified the lyrical context of their music. From the powerful openning chord of the 'Big Money', to the thought-providing ideals of the 'Manhattan Project', and continuing with the adrenaline inducing elements of 'Marathon', this album delivers more than just music for your ears, but also rhythms for your soul. In addition, the music showcase what rush fans already know so well, the superior musical abilities of the band. Songs like 'Mystic Rhythms' demonstrate why Neil Peart is quick to come of the lips of many fans when the question of Best Rock Drummer is asked. Alex's guitar works is as solid and cohesive as ever. But it is Geddy who really shines on this compilation. Adding the keyboard element to his typical impressive Bass Lines and solid vocals, he reveals why he may be the most versatile and talented musician in all of progressive rock. Like a good movie, a great music album is one that continues to ring in your ears and your mind long after the music has stopped. And this album, has kept my mind wandering for many a night. If not to be liked, this album must at a minimum be experienced by any true rock fan.
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