MUSIC REVIEW: Rush - Moving Pictures

"The crush of Rush."

I find it delightfully ironic that Rush, a band critics loved to hate, released Moving Pictures, the album I'm sure critics hate to love -- it had them eating their words, after all. An undeniably great album from those pretentious and nerdy progressive rockers? Yeah right! Seriously, it is difficult to contest this disc's perfection, which is the logical extension of its predecessor, Permanent Waves (it could very well be called Permanent Waves Part II). Moving Pictures is a highly engaging, accessible, and timeless piece of work.

Although the touted folds of progressive rock were being peeled off, the improvements over their previous releases are manifold. Very importantly, Lifeson's solos are more melodic than ever, but the style is still unmistakably his. The songwriting is intense and the musicianship is brilliant, but this is catchy stuff. This is probably the most welcoming progressive rock album ever recorded. I mean, you didn't have to like progressive rock to like Moving Pictures. That's part of this record's magic...but only part, mind you. We all know Rush is terrific in terms of ability, but we would have never guessed they could write such great songs? Yes, we had hints of it with "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill," but here the songs are better than you'd be led to expect. (Although I must say I prefer Permanent Waves to this, on the whole...heresy, I know!!)

Moving Pictures is ultra-sleek, commercially accessible but not-necessarily-commercially-directed songwriting is done impossibly well. The album's production is perfect, hitting the right balance between Rush's power and clarity, which is just right for this kind of release. (Before this, rawness and power were good...after, clarity and slickness were preferable.) Rush's lyrics were changing to accommodate the shift in musical direction. Less broadly philosophical, more modern and "normal," but still intelligent and socially intuitive. "Red Barchetta" is the last sci-fi song Peart ever penned (unless the you count the robot songs). The concept seems simple, but there's an interesting bit of underlying commentary that we expect from Peart. "Witch Hunt's" lyrical message is fairly acidic because of the scathing metaphor involved. Clever stuff. What I always liked about Peart is that it was easy to understand what his songs were about, but his diction and intelligence were always inspired.

Some call it the best Rush album. Some call it the best rock album. I'll avoid the extremes and just say it's a must-have classic that belongs in the musical library of any rock n' roll or progressive rock fan. Oh yeah, and if you like Rush but you don't have this, something's seriously wrong with you.