MUSIC REVIEW: Rush - Permanent Waves

"One of the best rock albums ever."

It is with Permanent Waves that Rush began to shed their progressive trappings and garner more interest beyond the steadfast progressive crowd. Geddy Lee began to sing at lower ranges, complexity was trimmed, but excellence was preserved. It is a precursor to Moving Pictures; a bridge between their recondite progressive rock days and their immersion in the mainstream. But while most transitional albums merit dismissal, Permanent Waves remains one of the band's best releases, accessible to the band's aficionados from their progressive era or their lush pop/rock days.

"Spirit of the Radio" and "Free Will," both recipients of lucrative radioplay, prove that songs can be commercially accessible without sacrifice. Neil Peart's superb lyrics lift "Spirit of the Radio" from a mere tribute to radio in Toronto to something markedly intelligent (he could always make something simple seem deep), and it features some of rock's most memorable guitar riffs. "Free Will" is an anthemic piece with inspiring individualist lyrics and an energizing solo by Lifeson.

Beyond the album's most recognizable songs, there's plenty of great material. "Entre Nous" is a love song with brains, all the better because it never uses the word love (all of the best love songs eschew the word, I find). "Different Strings," featuring some piano during the chorus, is a pretty song, and my favorite of the band's ballads. "Jacob's Ladder" is one of the band's most mysterious compositions. The stormy arrangement is dense, with swirls of synthesizers and fierce, chaotic riffs. The epic "Natural Science" is the closest thing to their previous epics, written in three movements and covering plenty of musical ground, from the enigmatic opening, to the futuristic-sounding mid-section, to the anthemic finale. It's as good as anything they ever wrote.

In the end, Permanent Waves is a rock milestone. A remarkable synthesis of progressive rock and commercial music, although there's nothing really commercial about it. Just great music, plain and simple.