Rush Grace Under Pressure CD

Rush: Geddy Lee (vocals, synthesizer, bass); Alex Lifeson (guitar); Neil Peart (drums, percussion).
Recorded at Le Studio, Quebec, Canada between November 1983 and March 1984.
Personnel: Geddy Lee (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass guitar); Alex Lifeson (guitar, synthesizer); Jim Burgess, Paul Northfield (synthesizer, programming); Neil Peart (drums, percussion, electronic percussion).
Recording information: Le Studio, Quebec, Canada (11/1983-03/1984).
Unknown Contributor Role: Jon Erickson.
Grace Under Pressure was the first Rush album since 1975's Fly by Night to not be produced by Terry Brown, who was replaced by Peter Henderson (Supertramp, Paul McCartney). The change resulted in a slightly more accessible sound than its predecessor, Signals, and marked the beginning of a period where many Rush fans feel that synths and electronics were used too prominently -- in effect pushing guitarist Alex Lifeson into the background. The songwriting and lyrics were still strong however, as evidenced by the video/single "Distant Early Warning" (a tale about nuclear war) and the often-overlooked highlight "Kid Gloves," one of the album's few songs to feature Lifeson upfront. Other standouts include a tribute to a friend of the band who had recently passed away, "Afterimage," the disturbing "Red Sector A" (which details a concentration camp), and one of Rush's first funk-based songs, "The Enemy Within." Whereas most other rock bands formed in the 1970s put out unfocused and uninspired work in the 1980s (which sounds very dated), Rush's Grace Under Pressure remains an exception. ~ Greg Prato
After an extensive search for a producer, Rush struck gold with Peter Henderson. The band shared production duties with him, and completed the album within a few months. The continuous use of synthesizers and keyboards that began on the previous album, SIGNALS, is prominent here. Although Alex Lifeson's guitar always plays a key role, it's obvious the group could not shy away from the advancing technology in rock music in 1984.
The first single, "Distant Early Warning" is an excellent track that exudes a bleakness persistent throughout the record. "Afterimage" continues this dark outlook; the song is about a close friend of the band who dies in a car accident. "The Enemy Within" shows that fear is within us as opposed to being created externally and features the usual technical proficiency of drummer Neal Peart. Album closer "Between The Wheels" is a gloomy number about pressure and showcases Alex Lifeson's creative chord work. Underneath all the dark content in GRACE, there is a theme of hope. The band was considering breaking up at this point, and luckily didn't. The record features the trio's consistently tight musicianship and the keyboards enhance the songs instead of overshadowing them. Another fine record by the Canadian maestros.

Remastered