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| There are 149 Reviews Done |
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Loverboy - Get Lucky
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| Loverboy |
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One of the most , must have CD's in your 1980s collection , I can play this CD over and over again , thanks 1980s FM for having this CD in the stash !
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Michael Jackson - Thriller
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| The pinnacle of Michael Jackson's career... |
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"Thriller" was (by any standard) a dream team compilation of talented artists working together. First, you have Michael Jackson, coming off his highly successful release "Off the Wall." Add the talent of Eddie Van Halen at the height of his career, performing guitar on Beat It, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney contributing to The Girl Is Mine, and Quincy Jones producing the entire effort, and you have the makings of a truly special album. Even when performing mostly solo, MJ's singing and dancing talent more than carried him; videos for Thriller and Billie Jean remain classics from an era when MTV still played videos. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that "Thriller" remains the best-selling album of all time, and which also earned Jackson the moniker King of Pop, long before his personal issues and discomfort with fame led to his eventual implosion as a star. Very Highly Recommended.
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6 of 6 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Presto
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| Rush goes back to basics... |
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"Presto" marked the beginning of Rush's return to guitar-driven rock, in keeping with the hair metal (and later, alternative) trend of the time, with producer Rupert Hine. This release has a theme which focuses heavily on magic, and the illusions that society frequently accepts as reality. Standout tracks in this regard include Show Don't Tell and Superconductor, as well as the title track. The Pass deals powerfully with the subject of suicide, while Red Tide deals with environmental concerns (much as "Grace Under Pressure"'s Distant Early Warning did). The magic of Rush is still in full evidence with this release, as it would also be for their next album, "Roll The Bones" (which deals more with the themes of luck and chance). However, all luck eventually changes, and later Rush releases would have a more alternative sound, as well as be affected by personal events in the lives of the band members.
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1 of 1 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Hold Your Fire
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| Another fine Rush New Wave release... |
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"Hold Your Fire" marks Rush's final foray into the realm of synth-driven rock. There is a nice collaboration with Aimee Mann (of the group 'Til Tuesday) on the biggest hit of the album, Time Stand Still, which (along with Turn The Page) deals with the passage of time. Eastern influences on the band's music (which first appeared on "Power Windows"' Mystic Rhythms) continue with Tai Shan, which (along with High Water and Force Ten) consider the power in nature. Social concerns continue in a point-counterpoint way with tracks like Open Secrets, Lock and Key, and Second Nature while inspiration is covered in Mission and Prime Mover. A well-conceived and executed release, which probably left some longtime fans wondering "This is what Rush has become?" Not so fast guys-- hold your fire. Rush would be back and hard rocking with their next album, "Presto."
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1 of 1 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Power Windows
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| Solid Rush New Wave release... |
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"Power Windows" represents possibly the pinnacle of the New Wave period of Rush. Produced with Peter Collins, and with superbly crafted hits like The Big Money, and Marathon, the band completely sheds the fictional concept themes of earlier albums, in favor of more realistic subject matter. Territories and Manhattan Project continue the social consciousness trend of Rush albums by exploring nationalism and its consequences, while Middletown Dreams further discusses the disillusioning nature of middle class suburbia (first started on "Signals"' Subdivisions). The release of this album also coincided with the first version of Microsoft Windows (which may or may not have been intentional), but which was certainly prescient, given the album's focus on various types of power. It is only fitting that a power trio would cover such a subject well, and there are few tracks from this album which disappoint. Highly recommended.
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1 of 1 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Grace Under Pressure
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| A minor slump for Rush... |
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"Grace Under Pressure" represents a solid attempt by the band, after parting ways with longtime producer Terry Brown. The band had settled on a new producer in Steve Lillywhite, who left them at the last moment to work with Simple Minds instead. The group finally used Peter Henderson as a producer. Distant Early Warning, while a fine track dealing with environmental issues, seems to borrow its guitar riffs from Red Barchetta (off of the earlier "Moving Pictures" release). Red Sector A unmistakably describes genocide, while Between The Wheels is one of Rush's darkest tracks, with lyrics relating to The Great Depression. Afterimage is a fine track covering feelings of nostalgia. Overall, this is a pretty good release, but since the album imagery clearly conveys that the band was seeing red, one gets the sense that it might have been even better if they had first cleared their perspective before recording.
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1 of 1 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Signals
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| Exceptional New Wave release by Rush... |
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"Signals" is a fine follow-up album by Rush, given the huge commercial success of "Moving Pictures." Powered by an increasing use of synthesizers (which disenchanted some early fans), hits like Subdivisions and New World Man explore the issues of teenage angst and coming of age, and further build on the success of Tom Sawyer on the "Moving Pictures" release. The Analog Kid, Losing It and Digital Man, fine tracks in their own right, continue this theme, while some of the other tracks (such asThe Weapon, Countdown, Chemistry, etc.) may reveal subconscious concerns about the Cold War. This also marks the last Rush album produced by Terry Brown, who favored more of a Progressive rock sound, compared to the New Wave direction the band was evolving towards.
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1 of 1 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Moving Pictures
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| A Rush Masterpiece... |
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"Moving Pictures" represents Rush's biggest commercial success to date, with more than 4 million copies sold. Tom Sawyer and Limelight mark highlights of this album, while Witch Hunt represented something of a new trend for the band: a track devoted to social commentary, which would reoccur on future releases. Red Barchetta was more of a throwback to the sci-fi themed tracks of earlier Rush albums, while YYZ (the airport code for Toronto) is a nice instrumental. With "Moving Pictures," synthesizers dominate future Rush albums, so that from this point in their career forward, Rush is firmly established as a New Wave/Progressive Rock band, more than a Heavy Metal group in the mold of Led Zeppelin that they started off as. A superb effort from an expert group of musicians not contented to limit themselves to any particular musical genre.
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2 of 3 found this review helpful |
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Rush - Permanent Waves
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| Classic Rush... |
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Rush's "Permanent Waves" marks the band's transition from science fiction-inspired, progressive rock concept albums to albums with shorter, more radio-friendly format tracks. The Spirit of Radio showcases the influence of ska and other New Wave groups (such as the Police) on the band, while synthesizers also began playing a more extensive role, with less of the unusual percussion instruments (cowbell, glockenspiel, etc.) that were used on earlier releases. Freewill, the other major hit from the album demonstrates an interesting philosophical journey, which ultimately leaves things up to the listener (compare the lyrics for this song with what is actually sung). All in all, a fine album which set the stage for the band's greatest commercial success, "Moving Pictures."
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Feargal Sharkey - Feargal Sharkey
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| You Little Thief |
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I love this song. SAM introduced me to this song one morning before my requests were played and I instantly became enamoured with the melody. The horns, the snare, and the guitar in complete harmony round out this tale of heartbreak and anguish.
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2 of 2 found this review helpful |
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