Power Windows (studio album) by Rush

Rush's most underrated album. I prefer Power Windows to Grace Under Pressure and Signals, its two predecessors.

Pushing much further into synth territory but the bass, drums and guitars are still of such quality. The songwriting is tight and this is still a good Rush album.

'Grace Under Pressure' moved the band out of the progressive arena and into a much more synth based eighties sound which absolutely worked for Rush. A number of excellent synth based albums followed and I sometimes forget how good this one is. 'Manhattan Project' and 'Mystic Rhythms' are personal favourites along with 'Marathon' for those beautiful very eighties synth cords and amazing guitar solo. Interestingly the 'nuclear' theme carried through most of 'Grace Under Pressure' and is touched on through this album too.

From Cargusbralem 02/25/2019 17:44

When Rush left prog and went full 80s. Lots of great tracks here, specially Manhattan Project.

From Fischman 12/14/2016 22:21

Horribly underrated Rush album here. 8 cuts, all great. Big Money and Manhattan Project rightfully got lots of love, but the overlooked Emotion Detector also deserves to be a classic.

From souplipton 06/12/2016 05:01

Having launched their electronic phase on Signals, Rush kept with the sound through the 80s, and they produced the best album of this era in 85 with Power Windows. Their other albums of the era are very hit and miss, but Power Windows is solid all the way through. Even the somewhat weakest tracks on the album "Grand Designs", and "Emotion Detector" are among the best of this era of Rush's career. The stronger tracks on the album are all of the other six, and are possibly the six best tracks from this period is their history. Even if you decide to skip most of this part of their career, Power Windows is a must listen album in the Rush catalog.

This is the first Rush album I bought myself in 1985. I aready taped some albums like Signals & Fly by night. Power Windows was a real disappointment and it's still is after some 30 years. It just lacks great songs a guitar.

From anandrajan 09/10/2015 01:26

This album saved my life. Playing Marathon and Territories over and over brought me out of a depression. The rating is therefore hardly objective. I will say that besides Grand Designs and Emotion Detector, the songs have aged reasonably well (with Rush even playing most of the CD on their Clockwork Angels Tour).

Highlights are:

1. The Big Money (the song really picks up half way through).
2. Manhattan Project: the strings add a nice element.
3. Marathon: Really good solo and the chorus at the end is majestic.
4. Territories: Once you get past the dance beat, the song clicks. Fabulous closing.
5. Middletown Dreams: Great interplay between synth and guitar after the 2:00 mark.
6. Emotion Detector: Outrageous solo but cheesy opening.
7. Mystic Rhythms: Ethereal soundscapes.

From timtooky 04/26/2014 21:17

yep. this one is truly dissolute. the synths make it bombastic and dramatic. it feels like a great prog rock album. but damn - i just get into this croaking voice. :O(

This record in my opinion is sort of the decline of the prime of rush. Its almost their last best record