RANT- Revisiting the '80s Albums of Rush & Genesis

[@brianrookard]

I could never understand why some people didn't rank Power Windows higher in their fav's list. From a lyrical standpoint, this is some of Neil's best song writing - very meaningful songs. From the musical side, it's also some of Neil's best drumming too. Power Windows is so underrated.

[@danieldelrio1411]

1. Hemispheres 2. Moving Pictures 3. Power Windows my top 🔝

[@ronroxtarmedia1846]

Power Windows is my fave Rush album.

[@MrClassicmetal]

I'd say that Grace Under Pressure qualifies as a classic Rush album.

[@mck7646]

No doubt, solid album, no bad songs on it. It's really right on par with Signals.

[@MrClassicmetal]

@@mck7646 Now that I thought about it a bit more, I'd say that it's actually a better album than Signals.

[@mck7646]

@@MrClassicmetal perhaps a slight edge for GUP, they're pretty close in quality.

[@MrClassicmetal]

@@mck7646 Yes, I listened to both albums and some others a few times last week. I was binging on Rush again 😁 And I'd say the quality of the compositions and the production are slightly better on GUP. Which says something about the band itself.

[@vinylrec]

I agree with you 100% about "Grace Under Pressure". Great record!

[@adamlosurdo2114]

I think you're spot on regarding Rush. Grace Under Pressure is easily the best of that lot, and the song "Afterimage" is amazing, though tough to listen to after Neil's passing. Distant Early Warning is fantastic! As for Genesis, I mostly agree, but I feel you're shortchanging Invisible Touch a tad. Sure, it's really pop music but it is INCREDIBLE pop music and a true work of art. No, I never listen to it anymore because it was on the radio every minute of 1986-87, but that doesn't take away from it's status. Even the ballads "In Too Deep" and "Throwing It All Away" are fantastic. And yes, "Domino" is a killer prog-ish tune. I actually feel bad for the band because the album gets knocked so much only because it was overplayed to death, but the reason it was overplayed is because it was so damn good.

[@paulayers1111]

“Driving the last spike” and “fading lights” from We Can’t Dance always gave me a feeling for the older progressive rock Genesis

[@skallagrimr_kveldulfsson]

Driving the Last Spike may not be as complex as the 70s long tracks, but it definitely feels epic and reaches the heart, and the main synth melody is just beautiful.

[@noersang]

It’s by far the best moments on that album. After Hackett left, they became quite boring.

[@carlgibbons5777]

Dreaming While You Sleep another great one.

[@davewarzynski6540]

My sentiments exactly

[@manuelsousa1878]

‘Power Windows’ is an absolute perfect 10.

[@CBLounge2112]

I agree 1000%!!!

[@craigfazekas3923]

Except for that title !! 😜 But then again, as an album title, " Heated Seats" may have been taken ?....

[@RickNBacker]

Crackling energy on that album. The songs and arrangements are so good that I can overlook the overcooked keyboards.

[@TheMentalblockrock]

In that vase all of Rush's 70's albums are 100/10 !

[@StyxTBuferd]

Absolutely my favorite Rush album. It's so underrated.

[@steveseim]

Many bands in the 80s relied too heavily on drum machines and electric keyboards. That said, I've never understood the venom directed at Invisible Touch in particular. To my ear, "Tonight Tonight Tonight" and "Land of Confusion" rock harder than almost anything Genesis ever did before.

[@benedictdonald4338]

Steve Seim there are indeed many great songs on that album, in particular.

[@dougcarson5202]

Totally agree with you that "Grace Under Pressure" is the best post-"Moving Pictures" album for Rush in the 1980s. Back in the day, I preferred "Power Windows", but "GUP" steadily eclipsed it over time.

[@stevec1996]

The Pass and Kid Gloves. Two of my fav Rush songs. Missed both on your comments

[@nickavenoso7851]

Steve Christel Kid Gloves is also one of Alex’s favorite solo’s.

[@robertharvey2604]

I'm going through your older videos and enjoyed this rant. Largely agree with you.

[@mickjeynes1172]

I have all the Rush albums and Grace Under Pressure is still my favourite. It’s pretty much self produced as Peter Henderson would not give them much direction in the studio which makes the high quality of the record even more remarkable. I love Lifeson’s guitar sound throughout the record.

[@gowanis]

You missed The Pass, the best song on Presto, and one of Rush's very best songs overall.

[@floydian2007]

One of my favourites. Really like Geddies vocals and very uplifting lyrics.

[@mvunit3]

For me its "Available Light" . . . that snare "snap", and melody in general, and I never heard Geddy play that type of rhythm during his vocals before and after the chorus.

[@BigWade57]

@@mvunit3 Available Light is one of Lifeson's best solos, and I love how he reprises it at the end of the song.

[@mvunit3]

@@BigWade57 - As Alex would say; very "Elastic", that whammy bar control, a very emotional/soulful solo :).

[@robertsmithers9059]

For me, The Pass suffers from what a lot of Rush tunes in that era do - too long without any interesting trademark Rush instrumental twists. Just long verse/chorus songs. The Pass is nearly 5 minutes and I feel like it should be 3 because that's when I'm pretty much done with it.

[@michaelhasse6769]

i like signals more than moving pictures, its actually my favorite rush album. great show

[@mck7646]

Some real gems on there. It probably has more replay value, there's only so many times I want to hear Tom Sawyer and Limelight in a year.

[@Tangento]

It was Geddy on Line 2, to tell you how much 'Signals' owns 'Grace Under Pressure'.

[@davidgasten4361]

Very fair assessment all around! You really nailed it. And this is coming from someone who has listened to Power Windows thru Presto more than any other period of Rush by far.

[@corycastleman6351]

Glad to see a lot more love for Power windows. Easily a top 5 for myself. It's the album that made me love Rush. After Neil passed I went back and listened to Emotion detector, Middletown dreams, and Mystic Rhythms and remembered why this band made me a firm fan

[@Pwrcritter]

Nice job Pete. Thanks for avoiding any comparisons between Phil and Peter!

[@richbrout16]

You are at your best when you mine the old stuff and unearth it for us. Great stuff Pete! Cheers!

[@hokorhokkus]

I always loved Grace under Pressure, Power Windows, Signals &......Presto!! Great stuff in the 80´s!! Wonderful review!!

[@johndyslin798]

Watch live tonight, tonight, tonight. You might think differently. Listen to Dreaming While You Sleep, especially live. Driving the Last Spike and Fading Lights are also very good. Outside of a couple of songs, I like We Can't Dance.

[@IsothermeMusic]

I’m diggin’ your thoughts on these albums, Pete. Re: Signals, I think this is where Alex’s guitar approach really came into its textural voice that was hinted at on the 2-3 albums before it, and formed the essence of his style moving through the remainder of the decade. I think this is why I love everything up through PW and some of HYF. As a young guitarist in the early 80s myself, I found Alex’s delayed-chorused arpeggios so much more interesting than the Page influenced blues-based riffs of much of Rush’s 70s output. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 70s Rush albums, but from a guitar POV, I found Alex’s 80s textures so appealing. Also, one cannot overlook the influence Alan Holdsworth’s playing on Alex’s work during this transition. MUCH more use of glissando textures with the vibrato bar ala Holdsworth. This was helped, of course, by how Alex moved towards Strat styled guitars at this point. One more point: The Police used the same trio format to explore space in the music, rather than density. Although for Rush, that instrumental density shifted from guitars to sequencers/synths in the 80s, Alex found the space pioneered so well by Andy Summers and created his own style from it.

[@robertsmithers9059]

Good comment about Rush using the space in the music, which was a characteristic all the way through Roll the Bones... then Counterparts came along and started the cluttered, multi-tracked Rush that had to fill up every space with a flurry of notes with little contrast and dynamics.

[@BanniNL1]

Power Windows was my first Rush experience, love that album, great rhythms in it.... love the big synth sound.

[@AndrewMcGarvie]

Many thanks for this excellent vid. I recently stumbled across your channel and enjoying the content so much that I'm looking back over your older videos such as this. I haven't listened to much Rush in a long time but was really into them back in the eighties and was fortunate enough to see them live. After watching your video I slapped on Grace under pressure and wow - what a great album. Thanks very much for reawakening my appreciation of this great band!

[@lawrenceterwilliger6787]

Great Video! I think Genesis wanted success with their pop albums, while Rush was trying to evolve their sound! Meaning , they didn't want people to think every album after " Moving Waves" was going to have that same formula sound! I think the 80's for Rush was a path for musical exploration, between having keyboards and Alex's textured guitar work! Anyway the Rant about the phone was great!

[@lawrenceterwilliger6787]

I meant " Moving Pictures" !

[@daneng3641]

@@lawrenceterwilliger6787 I thought "Moving Waves" was intentional and is a good way to refer to both of those albums.

[@lawrenceterwilliger6787]

@@daneng3641 Thanks!

[@sethstopcallingmeryandickh9067]

That's a name for Dutch band focus secondth album in 1971

[@nickavenoso7851]

Lawrence Terwilliger it’s sounds like you combined Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves, 😂

[@brandonbelt5055]

Power Windows is the last classic RUSH album for me. Grace Under Pressure is probably in my top three RUSH albums. Pretty much agree with everything here, but I rank Presto a bit higher.

[@jeremyadams1521]

Driving The Last Spike is great

[@craigfazekas3923]

Yup !! Driving The Last Spike is what I consider to be their last great song. Epic/opus....

[@bonedog5130]

They'll never see the likes of it again

[@carlgibbons5777]

I like Dreaming While You Sleep just as well.

[@cylonred8902]

We Can't Dance is really a good/great album... Lot's of satire...

[@esteeb67]

Permanent Waves actually kicked off the 80s. Also, I always thought Phil sounds like Bon Scott on I Can't Dance (just the vocals).

[@adamlosurdo2114]

@@111highgh Incorrect, and grow up.

[@lonegroover]

Sort of. It was recorded in the '70s of course.

[@nickavenoso7851]

111highgh Permanent Waves was recorded in 1979, but released in 1980. Hemispheres was the end of the 70’s and was released in 1978.

[@jimmycampbell78]

More importantly, the penny had never dropped with me in regard to how much Phil Collins sounds like Bon Scott on that song- now that you mention it, you are absolutely right!

[@infinitysconcinnity2418]

'I Can't Dance' does kinda resemble 'Big Balls', lol.

[@jtmichaelson]

But through it all, "Red Sector A" is maybe one of the most important set of lyrics I've heard my entire life and makes the song one of their "post-Moving Pictures" career best.

[@toddhowe427]

"Distant Early Warning" is Rush's best song of this period. Change my mind.

[@davidmomberg8208]

Marathon!

[@jtmichaelson]

I've always loved "In The Glow Of The Night" from "Domino" has always stood out as a great single with still a flair for the deep cut stuff Genesis is good for.

[@NP-ip3nj]

Permanent Waves kicked off the 80s for Rush! Signals is my second favourite Rush album after Caress of Steel. It's a really great album for its time. To me, Power Windows was the last really great Rush album. I like the production on it a lot. I'm not as forgiving as you about the later Genesis stuff, though there are good songs to be found. (Keep it Dark)

[@mck7646]

I agree, Power Windows is their last great album. The rest vary greatly in quality.

[@robertsmithers9059]

@@mck7646 - I said the same thing about Power Windows until Clockwork Angels came out... but then after many listens I began to be bothered at how noisy and cluttered it sounded and I backed off my high opinion of it. I'm back to rating Power Windows as the last great one.

[@mck7646]

@@robertsmithers9059 That's a fair assessment I would say. I'm not big on Clockwork Angels at all, though The Garden is a decent track. It's just not up to standards and the mixing is loud and muddy. Most seem to like it though.

[@63mckenzie]

In terms of drop off, Rush is a gentle slope while Genesis is a cliff.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

Glad The RANT Series Is Back, However I Got Into Both These Bands From Their 80's Material And Then Went Backwards I Understand Your Point But I Love Them Especially Rush Thanks Pete

[@antoniokofoed7139]

Hot take here 🔥. I think power windows is a sonically perfect record. The balance between guitar and keys . Neil's drum sound on top of his playing is at its peak.

[@mattlortz6026]

As you get older you appreciate Signal, P/G, and Power Windows even more. Some of Neil's absolute best lyrics. Losing It is amazing.

[@treeduck3705]

I actually really like Invisible Touch, when I'm in a poptastic mood.

[@sirkayda7205]

It's got great melody, but it's still too musician-y and complex to be considered pop.

[@marguskiis7711]

When you dress sharp and take your axe...

[@gregorquayle4568]

Pete this was an excellent show, being younger I got rush's catalog very quickly and the 80s stuff was very solid. Grace under pressure is one if my top 5 rush albums.

[@mr7354]

in the 70's everyone did their own thing. in the 80's everyone tried to do the same thing.

[@newavatar2947]

Right.Many of those albums sound like they were produced by the same guy.Digital recording techniques and technology overthrew 70s analog albums.

[@landriver1]

Best comment ever 😎

[@benedictdonald4338]

m t well said. It even applies to the clothings bands wore: the cheesy, ultra bright and colorful suit, with sleeves rolled up. The obligatory headband was also a must.

[@Tangento]

The problem with the 80s, for all you guys, is that you were listening to the wrong fucking bands!

[@sirkayda7205]

Nah. Everyone tried to sound current in the 70's as well as the 80's.

[@georgesmart413]

Signals all the way is the best out of those albums Neil's drumming is amazing

[@j.t.creations7048]

Presto is my favorite late 80s RUSH album. Not having really been a die hard Rush fan it just came out at the right time for me. Superconductor has such great, visual lyrics. The title track has beautiful guitar textures and was an obvious antithesis to the heavily distorted guitar songs dominating the airwaves in the late 80s. Scars, The Pass, Show Don't Tell... That albums carries great memories for me. I wore it out. Still... Love your channel and respect your opinions. You make me think. Thanks brother. Keep em coming.

[@treeduck3705]

I remember getting the 12 inch single of New World Man, around August 1982 before the album came out, and putting it on and getting really worried. I was like where's the heavy guitars? And whatever happened to the Geddy Shriek?? He sounded like he'd dropped a couple of octaves all of a sudden!

[@krypto_9872]

The problem with We Can't Dance is that they tried to fill the full 80 minutes of CD with filler. If they kept it down to 45 minutes and just kept the top 6 songs on there it could have been a pretty good album.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

Grace Under Pressure is one of my three favorite Rush albums. You perfectly summed up the brilliance of that record - Alex Lifeson. He just owns on that album! Lyrically, thematically, harmonically one of their darkest most emotional releases. A+ perfection in my book!

[@MissAstorDancer]

I also really loved the "Duke" album. The last Genesis album I bought was "Abacab", and I still like it quite a bit. I did like select few songs after that, and I did purchase Phil Collins' first two albums, though I only listened to them a few times. I really still dig Collins' "I Don't Care Anymore". The last Rush album I purchased from the 80s was "Moving Pictures" (I've gone through 2 copies of the LP, and also have it on CD.) I did like select songs from the rest of their albums. I did not purchase another Rush album until "Test for Echo", and I still like it pretty much. Great video! Got a kick out of the thing with your phone! Can't wait for your Steely Dan vid! Also looking forward to your next Q&A!

[@thomaspallante9166]

When I bought Grace Under Pressure when it was released, I couldn't get into it. Then when I saw Rush in concert for the first time and they played some tracks from that record I was impressed. I revisited the album and was hooked. I understood it ! Great album!!!

[@NoLegalPlunder]

I’m definitely one of those guys who love the Rush that was inspired by Led Zeppelin and Yes, not the Rush that was inspired by the likes of Simple Minds. Nothing can top the feeling I had when first listening to Xanadu.

[@rickleblanc8900]

I can say the same thing about Cygnus X-1 ! Mind blown !

[@dustyjoe71]

I have to say that I first got into Rush listening to Hold Your Fire and Show of Hands.

[@rickleblanc8900]

First Rush song i ever heard was Finding My Way ! On the radio, no less ! Very Zeppelin influenced of course, which is a great thing. I was mindboggled. At the time, i didn't know they were Canadian, surprise ! First Rush album i listened to was All The World's A Stage, from then on, i was hooked forever. Such awesome musicianship

[@dustyjoe71]

@@rickleblanc8900 Next Rush I got after those two was a three cassette set called 'Archives' which consisted of 'Rush', 'Fliy By Night', and 'Caress of Steel'. It was 1989 I think.

[@bonedog5130]

Have you ever seen "the musical box" play vintage genesis shows? really great experience and a small intimate venue!

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Yep, quite a few times actually.

[@rickleblanc8900]

Saw The Musical Box twice, simply brilliant. Note for note, bang on musically and visually. I remember leaving those concerts and going: "wtf did i just witness?" Lol ! Mindboggled !

[@robertsmithers9059]

Great topic! SIgnals was different but I still loved it, still proggy and still with analog synths. Grace Under Pressure ended my fanaticism going back to the first album. I didn't like their sound without Terry Brown at the helm and the songs were too basic, not adventurous/proggy enough for me. I did hear tunes from the next two albums when I bought A Show of Hands and thought they sounded better than the album versions, again blame it on the absence of Broon. When Vapor Trails came out I decided to catch up on all the Rush albums I missed. I found that I hated Presto, Roll the Bones and Counterparts so much that the 80's albums sounded good by comparison. Today I LOVE Power Windows; despite the over-the-top synths the album crackles with kinetic energy and the arrangements are very proggy. I'm still indifferent on Grace but don't hate it like I used to. Hold Your Fire - eh... wish it was recorded and produced with more fire. Some really good tunes, proggy, and Mission is fantastic, but I'd rather hear these tunes live with more energy. And Signals I still love. But Presto? BLAH....who are these imposters and what have you done with the real Rush?!

[@mikerice6605]

Love your rants. Share several of your opinions. Genesis is one of my favorite programs bands( 70s stuff anyway) . Wondering if you have heard Nick DiVirgillio`s version of the lamb lies down album. It's called rewiring Genesis, and in my opinion, he does a fantastic job. Really enjoy listening to your music talks, and you have a fan in me.

[@skallagrimr_kveldulfsson]

Hi Pete! I agree with most of what you said here about the Genesis albums from the 80s. As far as We Can't Dance goes, I think Driving the Last Spike is the best song by far on that album. It has this sweet melancholic synth theme at 1:28 which is one of Genesis's most beautiful melodies, and the approach to its subject is as epic as emotional. Though not complex, it reminds of Genesis's prog days when you look at its suite-like structure and dramatic buildup.

[@TheMentalblockrock]

i saw Genesis in 1980 on their Duke tour- glad I did, proably at their peak then.

[@cbciosubs]

A Show of Hands hooked me on Rush in high school, which was mostly the post Moving Pictures 80s stuff live.Worked back through the catalog from there and was blown away. Similar experience with Genesis where Invisible Touch made me investigate the prior catalog.

[@rickleblanc8900]

Invisible Touch sounds like a whole different band, right ? Lol ! Their 70's material is so majestic imo. And Phil Collins' drumming was amazing back then. Abacab was my favorite 80's album btw

[@cbciosubs]

@@rickleblanc8900 , Would probably go with Selling England and Trick of the Tail as my favorites with Duke favorite from the 80's.....rarely pull out Invisible Touch these days, almost like a solo Phil album. They are probably still cashing the checks though!!

[@rickleblanc8900]

@@cbciosubs oh, my bad ! Yes, Selling England and Trick Of The Tail are indeed solid albums for sure. What i really meant was Abacab was imo their last fairly decent 80's album. I did enjoy that one. Afterwards, it was the Phil Collins solo show and they lost me by then

[@rushbravado1972]

I appreciate that you are giving these 80's albums some good reviews. I still think that Grace Under Pressure and Presto are the best albums of Rush's 80's periods. Its nice to hear that you are giving Genesis some love for their 80's stuff even though it can be very commercial. Love the review

[@cameramanzoomit]

I've come to the conclusion recently that "Grace Under Pressure" is my absolute favorite Rush album, with "Hemispheres" a close 2nd.

[@rickleblanc8900]

For some reason , i kinda prefer Farewell To Kings to Moving Pictures or 2112. I just find that album really hard to beat, Cygnus X-1, Xanadu? Really ?! How the hell did they come up with this magnificence ! You really have to search high and low to find anything that sounds this awesome nowadays. Overall, Rush are beyond talented and definitely one of the top bands of all time. No wonder they're so revered by the rock, progressive and metal bands we all love

[@michaelmorgan4408]

Hey Pete, Have you heard of the new Rush movie/biopic/whatever you want to call it? Will you go see it when it comes out in August? It is supposed to play one night only nationwide. I live in Central Oregon and ona limited budget, so I probably won't be able to go see it. So I'll wait till it comes out on Netflix or video. Love your show, and your knowledge of music is great You rock.

[@corycastleman6351]

Grace under pressure is hugely overlooked. There is some awsome songwriting, great guitar work, insane lyrics, and an overall dark theme that makes it arguably Rush' s darkest album

[@TheMafrand]

I love Invisible Touch. The first album I ever bought. I was about 10. Bought it on cassette tape :-)

[@jlostboy]

Genesis review starts at 08:55 - great video Pete!

[@HelgeKS]

Invisible touch is a true stinker. Saw them on the 1987 tour at Roundhay Park, Leeds. 70.000 souls waiting for the 70s medley towards the end...

[@rickleblanc8900]

Yep, Invisible Touch and We Can't Dance ??!! Man, what were they thinking? I can't fault Phil Collins' talent and keeping Genesis going after Gabriel left, but wow wtf ! Imo Abacab was the last fairly decent album they put out and even then, they were sounding like a different band. Btw, Phil was a great prog drummer in the 70's, on par with Bruford imo

[@Luthiart]

The day Grace Under Pressure came out, I skipped school so I could go downtown and buy it as soon as it hit the store shelves. I remember standing outside in the cold, waiting for the record store to open. When I got it home and put it on my turntable, I LOVED EVERY FRICKIN' MINUTE OF IT, from beginning to end! It was exactly what I expected from Rush... Something different. Signals was a good album, for the most part, but it felt kinda like a sequel to Moving Pictures to me, and like most sequels to great movies, it just failed to match its predecessor. P/G was something completely fresh, and new. I like Power Windows too. In a lot of ways, I think it's a more solid Rush album than P/G, but it just didn't excite me as much, and that's when that slick, '80s (over)production was starting to come into play. I don't like Hold Your Fire much at all (I think I've only listened to it a couple dozen times since it came out), but I REALLY blame the production on that album more than anything else. I think if they went back and remixed Power Windows and Hold Your Fire, and got rid of the glossy '80s production, it would make Hold Your Fire a much better album, and it would make Power Windows a GREAT album.

[@ijontichy471]

I have similar memories of GUP. Except that after school I recorded this album from the radio in the spring of 1984. I'm from Poland, at that time we had a communist system and our country was behind the Iron Curtain, there was no chance to buy a vinyl record or cassette in a store. Fortunately, there were people on the radio who presented music "from the West" :) GUP literally blew me away and it continues to this day! Tłumacz Google

[@Carlos-xz3vi]

Grace under pressure for me is one of Rush’s best; I’d put it ahead of some of their 70’s record, ahead of Self titled, Fly by night and Caress of Steel for sure. 80’s Genesis is great pop music, but from the self titled to We can’t dance, it’s Phil Collins and a backup band.

[@benjamingoldstein6298]

Great topic! I would also include 80s Yes in the same category.

[@jonnuanez2843]

90125 is a top 10 desert island disc for me. I remember going thru a period in early high school where I would listen to it on stepdad's stereo system every night before bed.

[@wizardofoz6811]

Pete, glad you gave those Rush albums a new chance. There is a lot of awesome music to discover.

[@toddhowe427]

I've got a different view regarding the Genesis albums of that period. I was 9 years old in 1984 and Phil Collins was everywhere. I think they gave out "No Jacket Required" with cups of fluoride in school. You had all his solo records, which were huge, plus soundtracks, Live Aid (playing both venues), drumming for Clapton, duets with Phillip Bailey, etc. When taken as a total body of work, Phil Collins had to be bigger than Michael Jackson over the same period. With that as my reference, I saw the Genesis records of the period (particularly "Genesis" and "Invisible Touch") as just something else Phil was doing, because I didn't have the background of anything really before "Abacab". My older relativess who shaped my influences were not into prog rock (aside from the more commercial tunes like "Roundabout") so I wasn't even aware of the "other" Genesis. Around this time, Peter Gabriel had "So" out, which was also huge and I didn't have any awareness that he had been in Genesis. I didn't learn about the Gabriel/Hackett years until the early 90's when I was in college, and to me they are two completely different bands with the same name. I don't get hung up on which is better or worse, because I can separate them completely. That said, I vividly remember hearing "Genesis" the first time when an older cousin bought it shortly after it came out and being totally blown away by "Home By the Sea I &II". I received "Invisible Touch" as a Christmas gift the year it came out (along with "Songs From the Big Chair" as I recall) and really loved side 2 ("Anything She Does, "Domino", "Throwing It All Away" and "The Brazilian"). I agree with what others have said, that this record's over exposure, and quite likely, Phil's overexposure leave this one as a lot of people's least favorite of the period, but I think it has aged much better than most mid-80's pop and should be properly regarded as one of the most finely crafted pop records of all time. That said, I don't think I ever need to hear "Land of Confusion" ever again.

[@PipeMan1792]

I've always loved Grace Under Pressure. Between The Wheels is so great. Alex's guitar on Wheels is fantastic!

[@newavatar2947]

Have you seen the Grace Under Pressure live video?I used to see it on VHS back in the day.

[@dickwhiskey8041]

@@newavatar2947 I have the DVD of this. Musically it's fantastic...Alex and Geddy are acting awfully wired on this though.

[@raymondkizer1216]

To this day, I cannot listen to Presto without skipping over several songs. A low point in Rush's discography selection that makes you go what were they thinking...

[@danieldelrio1411]

1. Hemispheres 2. Moving Pictures 3. Power Windows my top 🔝

[@buenostiempos4376]

Just listened to Hold Your Fire the other night here on KZbin. I've been on a CD kick lately trying to rebuild a small collection again. I want to choose ones that I never listened to much back in the day to get the most out of them. I'm surprised how good Hold Your Fire is. Sure it's more light and poppy but I like it. I remember seeing it at Hills and wanting to buy it back in '87. I'm surprised it didn't sell better than it did as I find the album to be immediate and accessible. Big Generator by Yes wasn't bad either. If you ignore the 70s output by these prog bands the albums seem decent enough. :-/

[@brianleonard9872]

I completely agree that Grace Under Pressure is a great album. Power Windows is also a lot better than I thought back in 1985. Great video!

[@drummer78]

GUP is pretty much a concept album to my ears. It’s a dark album that hints at apocalypse via the convergence of technology and human fallibility. The songs are really well written and the arrangements and instrumentation is 80’s in the best sense. I think at the time Neil in particular was into bands like Ultravox, Simple Minds and Japan. They took the influence of those sounds and made their own statement. To me, the last great Rush album.

[@richardcharlesworth6069]

I discovered Rush just after Moving Pictures. Bought the back catalogue and loved them. I agree with your comments on the albums thereafter.

[@infernicide666]

You forgot to mention the Genesis album they did without Phil Collins after We can’t dance. That horrendous flop known as Calling All Stations. Would have been cool to hear your thoughts on that one lol.

[@valtteriisometsa988]

I think Grace Under Pressure is the best album by Rush. Fantastic album. The second best is Hemispheres and the third is Permanent Waves.

[@howardallan1612]

Hi steve I am a lifelong Rush fan! I,m 58 btw. Permanent waves was a 1980 album but I guess that wasnt the point! The 90,s albums were pretty good also! Yet again I implore you to review King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizzard!

[@TheWusster]

takes a big man to admit 80s genesis "really ain't so bad". LOL

[@EveryDooDarnDiddlyDay]

Or a brave one, if you frequent prog forums

[@craigfazekas3923]

Personally, aside from maybe 3 songs, I never dug Phil's solo output. Which baffles many that know me- an absolute Genesis nut !! But I value something that many are willing to look past- Mike Rutherford & Tony Banks (and Steve Hackett, Gabriel go without saying...) I only like Domino & Driving The Last Spike from the last few albums, and funny enough, do not like Calling All Stations, either. Yes, even ostriches have feelings... (Lamb Lies Down reference) 😎

[@Smlmusic2650]

I've been delving into it and I like it but it doesn't compare to Gabriel era

[@magicsinglez]

Brent Uptain: takes a better man than me. . .

[@craigfazekas3923]

@@magicsinglez Right ? But Tony Banks' & Mike Rutherford's efforts were still evident through the self titled album. By Invisible Touch, it all kinda jumped the rails- minus Domino & Driving The Last Spike... Great songs, kinda like Another Tricky Day was the last great Who tune, IMO...😎

[@carlfisher3924]

Not even a nod to Driving the last spike? Ouch. I love what's going on instrumentally in that tune

[@wadeharten6600]

Wholly shit Pete do you read minds? Your appraisal of Grace Under Pressure is exactly how I felt at the time of it's release. ALEX"S IS BACK! YES!

[@Jimbodisfan]

Duke (on vinyl) was the first Genesis album I ever bought. "Behind the Lines", "Misunderstanding", "Duchess", "Turn it On Again", and "Duke's Travels" are my favorites from it.

[@jon_the_guanlong]

Dreaming While You Sleep from We Can't Dance is amazing.

[@roberttheunissen1085]

I always loved the interplay between synths and guitar on those eighties albums of Rush. Alex really reinvented himself there. The humorous solo on Kid Gloves is my second favorite of his.

[@RealNaturalEnglish]

Grace Under Pressure is killer start to finish!

[@jonnuanez2843]

My stepdad had 2 JBL speakers, a Harmon-Kardon receiver, and a Panasonic cassette player with a 3-band EQ and sound meters. Playing 'Signals' through that system...you FELT Peart's drums. It was my 1st Rush album, though I did get into MP later on. But I will stand by 'Signals' till the day I die. It's a top 5 desert island disc. There isn't one second of it I don't know.

[@TheMentalblockrock]

The really BIG reason Rush went downhill in the 80's was because they shifted from being a guitar music based band to a keyboard music based band, and that started with Signals. I stopped buying Rush vinyl after "Hold your fire", which at the time I though was an awful album.

[@progmonster4]

This was a real good assessment of the era of Rush and Genesis. I feel some similar reactions to these albums and for some reason I am more willing to be forgiving to Genesis then Rush here

[@HelgeKS]

No mention of Duke? (March 80)

[@RogEdwardsTV]

Can’t believe it’s 40 years since Duke. I still love the Duke album as a whole - the best of the 80s Genesis albums.

[@Cash2112]

Pete, you are right on target in regards to P/G being the best Rush album of the ‘82-‘89 era. Actually, it’s the last truly EPIC Rush album period.

[@BJM3497]

My single biggest problem with 80s albums is the move away from analog to digital production which totally destroyed the space and fullness/wholesomeness of sounds. As a drummer and someone who seeks quality percussion, Peart’s drum sound was pretty much ignored with GUP, PW and HYF. The biggest calamity to the production was taking on Rupert Hine and the extraordinary way he literally destroyed the drum sound on Presto and the worst - Roll The Bones!! I cringe to the sound of his snare amd how damm tinny he sounds totally unlike the live experience. Genesis though....did manage to hold their own from a production standpoint and I suppose biased as I am....it helped Collins was instrumental (pun intended) in its final form with natural emphasis given to the percussion side. Enjoy listening to you!!! Thoughtful, well researched and well presented! Thank you so much Pete!!

[@robertsmithers9059]

Yeah, all of the post-Terry Brown songs sound so much better live than on the studio albums. I read a guitar magazine interview with Alex in which he said they intended Show Don't Tell to be heavy and what Rupert Hine did to it was not how they envisioned it...

[@virtual_graphics]

Finally you've seen the light on 80s Rush. Agree with your choices but would switch DEW for PW which has IMO a much better and warmer production. So thanks for that video :)

[@jstaversky]

A big problem with Presto is that the production is so thin... took me a look time to access this album but it has become a treasured part of the Rush canon

[@marcbergeron8690]

In my opinion Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea (joined together) is the only Genesis-Phil Collins tune that can be placed on a par with the Genesis-Peter Gabriel songs.

[@markrago7217]

Invisible Touch was massive. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight is pure Genesis, Land of Confusion, Domino 1&2, The Brazilian, title track, it's poppy, but proggy too.

[@raymondkizer1216]

Genesis struck multi-platinum success when the 80s came around. I credit MTV for much of that success as well as the song writing which was much more radio friendly than their 70s output.

[@billymuellerTikTok]

Invisible Touch was my first foray into Genesis and Counterparts was the first Rush album I got (went from Dream Theater to Rush - not the other way around) so I like them both.

[@TonVenhuizen]

Have to agree here for a large part. I like Abacab (the song) and The Land of Confusion is well constructed and good. I also like I Can't Dance and I don't have to hear Mama again. Even the last one with Ray Wilson has some nice songs, but all in all they are no comparison to, say, the Hackett years.

[@ericrodenheiser3719]

Grace Under Pressure is my absolute favorite.

[@DonHornsby]

What about "Calling All Stations"?

[@ziggypop79]

I love Presto but get why people don’t like the production

[@nickfabiano7795]

Nice job with this re-evaluate. I’m more of a Genesis fan so I have knowledge of them. You were generous with your comments on Genesis and Miserable Touch. Those sort of stink with the exception of the songs you noted. I do very much agree with ABACAB. Definitely has some good tunes, who dunnit aside. That album for me ended the bands appeal. I will say, the unreleased songs Evidence of Autumn, Me and Virgil and You might Recall are really strong. Those should’ve ended up on the album of their period. Not exactly sure if that was ABACB or not.