Rush-Power Windows (1985)

"Power Windows" would prove to be one of Rush's best albums of the 1980s, highly praised by both critics and fans, and also their first collaboration with producer Peter Collins. Released in 1985, and perhaps influenced by this, the album incorporates more keyboards and synthesizers into their signature sound. Furthermore, Neil Peart adds an electronic drum kit to his usual percussion setup, opening up new possibilities in his work, and this is noticeable throughout the album. But it's most apparent at the end, in the rhythm of the fantastic "Mystic Rhythms", where one wonders if this man is truly human. The answer comes when you see him perform the song live, perfectly reproducing the percussion sequence the original album version. However, one might still wish for a greater presence of Alex Lifeson and his guitars. His contribution remains merely a token presence, not only because of his infrequent appearances on the album, but also because when he does appear, it's by giving his guitar a sound that bears no resemblance to a conventional rock guitar. The album opens with "Big Money" and "Grand Designs", and from that point on, the quality of the songs gradually and spectacularly improves with "Manhattan Project", about the project that led to the first atomic bomb, and "Marathon", about this superhuman race against oneself. The album continues with "Territories", which addresses the problems that nationalism brings to humanity, and with "Middletown Dreams", a continuation of the themes of "Subdivisions", exploring the human being trapped in an oppressive reality and routine, and their attempt to escape, even if only through dreams. The album closes with "Emotion Detector", which deals with the difficulties of living in society and relating to others naturally, and with the aforementioned "Mystic Rhythms".