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Following the two year pattern, Presto
delivers much of what RUSH fans missed on the last few
albums. This is the first album with producer Rupert Hine and marks the
second half of a sound transition begun with
Hold Your Fire. Show Don’t
Tell is an incredible way to start off this record. It has much more
energy than the mid-80’s albums. You can tell the band likes the new
sound, because they seem to have much more flexibility and seem to enjoy
this song more. Ultimately missed in the past few albums, the non-rock
format jam in this song is pure delight.
Don’t let the beginning of Chain Lightning
fool you. Those synthesizers won’t ruin this album. Chain Lightning
has more RUSH attitude in it, and it makes me realize how much I’ve
missed it. Again we are treated to an outstanding jam. What an
unbelievable song, but the album just keeps getting better! The Pass
continues with a more trebly bass sound characteristic of this album. In
this song it becomes clear that Alex is using more distortion on his
guitar. The clean tone overused by musicians during the 1980’s is being
phased out in RUSH music. Thank goodness!
By the time War Paint begins, you are
so thankful this album sounds as good as it does you don’t realize how
80’s this song really is. All you hear are the good parts of the song
featured so prominently in the previous songs. And then you realize, this
is a great song too! Scars is next with a great rhythmic feeling to
it, but not as strong of a piece as the previous tracks.
Presto
brings us the first acoustic guitar since…who cares? It has been so long
since Alex has used an acoustic. Presto is an incredible song. It
doesn’t have the energy of the first tracks on the album. It isn’t as
magically RUSH as their other songs. It isn’t really different
either. It’s just a great song, with lyrics like “I’m not one to believe
in Magic” that stick in your mind long after hearing them.
Superconductor
delivers more energy into the album and is a really fine
song, and it has everything, even transposition, to make it a great
listen, it just lasts too long. Anagram (for Mongo) is another good
song, but Red Tide is much more of a winner. Red Tide has
quite a bit of dynamic songwriting in it, making it so much more
intriguing to listen to. It goes through so many transformations, only
RUSH could have written it.
Hand Over Fist
is a pretty good song, but it has an irritating rhythm during the chorus.
And it’s a song about the game, “Paper, Rock, Scissors.” I don’t get it,
but it’s still a pretty decent tune. Available Light is an
incredible song. It doesn’t break any records, but it is one of the few
backbeat RUSH songs I know of, giving it a different feel.
Available Light is the best choice for the album closer.
Presto
is the best album since
Moving Pictures, knocking
Power Windows out of the spot.
Some of the sound elements of the other 1980’s albums are still
represented in Presto, which is why I consider it a
transition album, but it almost fits into the new category of RUSH
music, but not quite. It is an in betweener, and an essential album.
Strangely enough, this is also an often forgotten album by RUSH
fans. Strange considering it’s the best album in eight years, but its also
one of my favorites. |
