Well, to each their own I guess. I love Signals, but Presto is not my cup of tea tbh.
Agreed about the prime of pop music, especially in the mainstream.
Wow, didn't heard that about Power Windows. Everyone seems to just dig so much the rocking or proggy stuff. I wouldn't say it's overproduced, something modern sounding almost like this would be overproduced to me: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtEdT9go5zB/
Great choices btw
Aww, I love Presto! Show Don't Tell, The Pass, Scars, Presto, Anagram, Red Tide, Available Light...all top Rush songs for me (especially the first 2). Presto is actually in my top 5 listened albums according to my LastFm (although the number of tracks on an album skews that count somewhat: more tracks = more album listens than albums with less tracks you may actually listen to more).
Presto was one of my earlier Rush cd buys in the early 90's; it's been a favorite since. 9/10 times I'll put on Presto over any 70's Rush, but I do have a proclivity for catchy 80's pop rock, which Presto is.
FWIW, I agree with much of what is written about Presto here (this is a great overview of all Rush albums, of where they were in their musical development/career and what they were seeking to accomplish on each, in general).
That's just what I've heard Rush fans say about Power Windows, both on forums online and in person (sometimes at concerts). The more casual Rush fan probably has never even heard Power Windows in full (or much anything post '81). I didn't mean that Power Windows was especially overproduced, that's just a common complaint about 80's production as a whole. I happen to prefer that 80's sound in general.
I 'left' Rush after Signals, haven't listened to anything seriously after that. Kind of knew they were entering a new phase, modern Rush if you like, Rush for me will always be '75 - '78 in particular, doing my paper round with a cassette deck in my bag. But thanks to you I listened to some of Clockwork Angels and was impressed.
I would give each album after Signals a serious listen or two, you might be surprised by what you like. Or not. But at least you gave them a chance and I think they are all worth that as Rush always strived to put out their best (that's one reason they don't have any B sides or unreleased tracks: they always said that if they thought a song wasn't working they scrapped it as in threw away the whole thing because they found it embarrassing or too flawed to keep or even finish) and constantly update/adapt their sound and songwriting approach to keep experimenting and trying to improve. (AFAIK, when Rush ended Geddy was still saying he felt like he--they--had the perfect song in him/them but had yet to write it). Their more "rocking" later albums: Counterparts, Test For Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels, which you mentioned, you might especially like.
Faves:
Original vinyl press ripped to FLAC
OK. I'm dating myself with this one, but whatever! LOL
Great choice! One of my faves I didn't discover in full until my mid 30's. What a voice! Listening now.
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