What are You Listening To? Thread

[MegaHertz]

Power Windows (1985)
-Rush
This album was released in the mid-'80s, the third since Moving Pictures, thus subsequent to my first paying heed to Rush with any real intent. The purchasing trigger was the track "Territories" first heard on the radio. What's immediately obvious is the shift in timbre and production from those albums previous to Moving Pictures; i.e., Alex Lifeson's guitar takes something of a backseat to a veritable stable of supporting musicians. Synths are prominent and there's an occasional choir for added texture. There's more of an overall "orchestral combo" sound stage. Geddy Lee's usually strident vocals stay firmly in the mid-range and are softened by the reverby, often double-tracking '80s style production. Though purists may take umbrage at the shift away from the group's virtuoso power trio sound, my ears find this approach much more palatable. All tracks are between five and seven minutes -- long enough to develop compelling musical ideas, short enough to not outstay their welcome.

13 Rivers (2018)
-Richard Thompson
I can listen to Richard Thompson anytime, anywhere - electric, acoustic, live, or in studio - whether in folk, rockabilly, jazz ballad, pure rock, or any other mode he cares to explore. His deep and dulcet baritone can soar above any fray with anger or soften with sincere introspection. Whether his subjects are personal, metaphorical inventions, or musings on historical people and events; Thompson's way with music and lyrics is uniquely his by way of his shift from humor to deadly serious drama. The recent 13 Rivers, released on his own label, gives us a stripped-down quartet of musicians with occasional female backing vocals, often interspersed with Thompson's searingly powerful electric guitar. The styles are varied, the production pure and unintrusive. There's not a single track I'd be compelled to skip over! 'Nuff said.

For an entertaining watch, check out Thompson's live show "1000 Years of Popular Music" on YouTube, a journey from antiquity to the Renaissance to classic folk to Nat King Cole, Buck Owens, The Kinks, Squeeze, and Britney Spears! I love what one commenter wrote: "This man has more music in his pinky than 90% of other musicians have in their entire catalog." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZdU-snqTs

Power Windows is my 4th favorite album and favorite Rush album.

[moldyoldie]

Power Windows (1985)
-Rush
This album was released in the mid-'80s, the third since Moving Pictures, thus subsequent to my first paying heed to Rush with any real intent. The purchasing trigger was the track "Territories" first heard on the radio. What's immediately obvious is the shift in timbre and production from those albums previous to Moving Pictures; i.e., Alex Lifeson's guitar takes something of a backseat to a veritable stable of supporting musicians. Synths are prominent and there's an occasional choir for added texture. There's more of an overall "orchestral combo" sound stage. Geddy Lee's usually strident vocals stay firmly in the mid-range and are softened by the reverby, often double-tracking '80s style production. Though purists may take umbrage at the shift away from the group's virtuoso power trio sound, my ears find this approach much more palatable. All tracks are between five and seven minutes -- long enough to develop compelling musical ideas, short enough to not outstay their welcome.

13 Rivers (2018)
-Richard Thompson
I can listen to Richard Thompson anytime, anywhere - electric, acoustic, live, or in studio - whether in folk, rockabilly, jazz ballad, pure rock, or any other mode he cares to explore. His deep and dulcet baritone can soar above any fray with anger or soften with sincere introspection. Whether his subjects are personal, metaphorical inventions, or musings on historical people and events; Thompson's way with music and lyrics is uniquely his by way of his shift from humor to deadly serious drama. The recent 13 Rivers, released on his own label, gives us a stripped-down quartet of musicians with occasional female backing vocals, often interspersed with Thompson's searingly powerful electric guitar. The styles are varied, the production pure and unintrusive. There's not a single track I'd be compelled to skip over! 'Nuff said.

For an entertaining watch, check out Thompson's live show "1000 Years of Popular Music" on YouTube, a journey from antiquity to the Renaissance to classic folk to Nat King Cole, Buck Owens, The Kinks, Squeeze, and Britney Spears! I love what one commenter wrote: "This man has more music in his pinky than 90% of other musicians have in their entire catalog." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZdU-snqTs

Power Windows is my 4th favorite album and favorite Rush album.

You must prefer the "synthier" sound as I do, or maybe there's another reason.
I've yet to explore more latter day Rush.

[MegaHertz]

Power Windows (1985)
-Rush
This album was released in the mid-'80s, the third since Moving Pictures, thus subsequent to my first paying heed to Rush with any real intent. The purchasing trigger was the track "Territories" first heard on the radio. What's immediately obvious is the shift in timbre and production from those albums previous to Moving Pictures; i.e., Alex Lifeson's guitar takes something of a backseat to a veritable stable of supporting musicians. Synths are prominent and there's an occasional choir for added texture. There's more of an overall "orchestral combo" sound stage. Geddy Lee's usually strident vocals stay firmly in the mid-range and are softened by the reverby, often double-tracking '80s style production. Though purists may take umbrage at the shift away from the group's virtuoso power trio sound, my ears find this approach much more palatable. All tracks are between five and seven minutes -- long enough to develop compelling musical ideas, short enough to not outstay their welcome.

13 Rivers (2018)
-Richard Thompson
I can listen to Richard Thompson anytime, anywhere - electric, acoustic, live, or in studio - whether in folk, rockabilly, jazz ballad, pure rock, or any other mode he cares to explore. His deep and dulcet baritone can soar above any fray with anger or soften with sincere introspection. Whether his subjects are personal, metaphorical inventions, or musings on historical people and events; Thompson's way with music and lyrics is uniquely his by way of his shift from humor to deadly serious drama. The recent 13 Rivers, released on his own label, gives us a stripped-down quartet of musicians with occasional female backing vocals, often interspersed with Thompson's searingly powerful electric guitar. The styles are varied, the production pure and unintrusive. There's not a single track I'd be compelled to skip over! 'Nuff said.

For an entertaining watch, check out Thompson's live show "1000 Years of Popular Music" on YouTube, a journey from antiquity to the Renaissance to classic folk to Nat King Cole, Buck Owens, The Kinks, Squeeze, and Britney Spears! I love what one commenter wrote: "This man has more music in his pinky than 90% of other musicians have in their entire catalog." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZdU-snqTs

Power Windows is my 4th favorite album and favorite Rush album.

You must prefer the "synthier" sound as I do, or maybe there's another reason.
I've yet to explore more latter day Rush.

I do. I love the period between Moving Pictures and Hold Your Fire. To be fair, it was getting played out by 1987, and that's why Presto was a "back to basics" kind of thing.