Title: Signals Artist: Rush Label: Mercury Release Date: 1982 Rating: 4 Skulls
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Kefka X's Review:
Most people tend to group Rush albums in eras. The golden era of Rush consisted of a trilogy of awesome albums that gave the band their greatest critical acclaim. Permanent Waves threw Rush into a radio-accessible package whilst maintaining their unwavering progressive styling. Moving Pictures is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the band's accomplishment, showcasing the group's most memorable radio hits. Signals, the finale of the golden-age, solidified Rush's status as a diverse, progressive genius in the history of rock.

The important thing about Signals is that it marked a turning point for Rush. The group fashionably became slave to the prog-evolution that took place in the early 80's (Genesis perhaps getting the worst out of the deal at that time) and made its induction quite nicely. The album's tracks build up on the idea set by "Tom Sawyer," incorporating a heavy use of synthesizers. Surprisingly, the fusion worked quite well.

Signals is also disputed as the last great Rush album, with the latter releases dwindling along good and nothing extraordinary. Like most Rush albums, however, the songs on Signals tend to be hit-or-miss. Some tracks appeal whilst others totally lose me. I've always abhorred "New World Man" and its ultra-pop accessibility. "Subdivisions" and "Chemistry" remain my favorite songs on the album, the rest of the songs bordering along adequate-Rush and good-Rush.

All in all, Signals can perhaps be regarded as a fond farewell to a band at the height of their supremacy.

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