Customer Reviews

Presto

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I'm a lifelong Rush fan and as this album came out when I was 16 it was one of four 'cassettes' that I learned to drive to (along with Pump, Appetite for Destruction & Dr. Feelgood). With no cassette player anymore, having not listened to this album in so long I recently upgraded to the CD. One of my top 3 favorite Rush songs is on this album - The Pass. Love it! Solid from track 1 through 11, this is a very balanced and even album with great hooks that's easy to get into. Just be careful not to do too much air drumming when you're behind the wheel.

New producer Rupert Hine brought a sonic clarity to `Presto' at the expense of dynamic range. Electric piano is used in place of synths. On bass, Geddy focuses on the mid-range of the instrument at the expense of the bottom end. Alex is pushed ever higher as the bass and piano, and Peart's drums, intrude on his space.

To me, this is a great album for the car stereo. Many of the audio limitations are not as apparent on a standard car stereo as they are on a decent home stereo. Also, I really got into this album driving back and forth to work back when I lived in London and commuted to St. Thomas, so it always reminds me of the road.

Some general comments about the sound of this album, particularly in the original, non-remastered release: The drums have no kick and they sound kind of wet or, at times, clattery. The guitar sound is very wiry. The bass pedals purr instead of roar. All the instruments seem to have a limited dynamic range.

I have done back to back comparisons between the original release and the remastered versions that appear on `Retrospective III', and they are distinctly better, but by no means perfect.

I like the intro to "Show Don't Tell". The tribal drum bit, then what sounds to me like the musical equivalent of someone falling down the stairs. Alex teases a lot of different, but wiry, sounds out of his Signature guitar. This song features some outstanding playing. I think the reason that it never became popular with Rush fans or with the general public is that the lyrics seem a bit too obvious.

The snare drum on "Chain Lightning sounds great! I love the minor key of this song, and I love the way that the drums and guitar seem to flash like lightning. Lyrically, I love the tie in of the astronomical and atmospheric effects with the communication of ideas and energy.

The more I hear it, the more that I think that "The Pass" is gorgeous. For some reason, I used to hate the bass line and riff--now I really like it, but think that it was played on the wrong bass. If you listen to this same song from `Rush in Rio' you will note an overall improvement in the bass sound. To me, this song has a real Peter Gabriel feel to it in places--maybe it's the synths. Alex's guitar solo is fantastic! It is very imaginative and emotive.

"War Paint" is a good song with simple music and great lyrics.

"Scars" is funky and cool. I like the atmosphere that they create. This song has a better dynamic range than the other songs on the album. This is one of my favourites from both the album and the tour. I have always thought that this would have made a great single.

The title track, "Presto", is one of those songs that really grows on you. Rush have been pushing this song in a subtle way for a long time. It's inclusion on the `Retrospective III' disc is a testament that they are still behind it. They could have chosen many other more obvious tracks for the latest retrospective. There is no doubt that this is a great song. It has a nice use of acoustic guitars, great lyrics, amazing singing, and a beautiful arrangement.

The use of cowbell on "Superconductor" always makes me laugh! This song is pretty straightforward pop-metal. This song may have done better as a single if they had not done that horrible music video. Elements of this song remind me of Genesis from this same era, but a little harder.

"Anagram" features both a very cool tune and some fun wordplay in the lyrics. This song would have fit well on their `Roll the Bones' album. I find the lyrics really stimulating for the imagination.

"Red Tide" features a fantastic arrangement with a great sound. The lyrics are a bit obvious at times, but they say things that should be said--this is another protest song like "Second Nature" from `Hold Your Fire'.

"Hand Over Fist" is an interesting song. It is fun to listen to all the changes and tricks.

Everything comes together on "Available Light". It combines powerful words and some of Geddy's best singing ever. The arrangement and playing are first rate. This song features an exciting mixture of textures. You haven't really heard Rush until you have heard this song.

Not one of Rush's better albums, nor not one of my favorites by them; but this album does have one of Rush's better 80's songs which in my opinion is track 2, Chain Lightning. This is a beautiful track and for me, is very Canadian as it wasn't an international hit.
I have been researching for years why this album was not included in the Rush remasters series and still have yet to find any concrete evidence. I have the original of course and although as mentioned, not my favorite album by them, I would buy the remastered version for Chain Lightning.

After the quartet of albums that featured heavy emphasis on synths during the 80's, Rush finally seemed to rediscover the balance of synths and guitar that they did on Moving Pictures. The synth work on here is very good, but they are simply a way to add atmosphere to the song, instead of being a main element. Alex's guitar finally starts to return here, which is a good thing. The lyrics are some of the best Peart has written, especially on songs like The Pass, which is about suicide, and my personal favorite, Anagram (For Mongo). This is also much more groove to the songs than in the past, mostly evident in the songs Scars and Superconductor.

Rush's 16th album Presto was released in November of 1989. The album was the start of the band's fourth phase and the first for Atlantic in the US, although it's technically on the band's own label Anthem which was distributed by Atlantic in the US. The album kicks off with the great Show Don't Tell which was a huge song for the band. My favorite on this album is the anti-suicide anthem The Pass which tells us in the face of all bad, suicide is not a way to go. Other favorites on this album IMHO are the title cut which got loads of airplay on rock radio, the rocking Superconductor, the environmental Red Tide and the optimistic closing track Available Light. The album is sadly overlooked by fans whom hated this album and was the worst seller peaking at #16 and stalling at Gold despite the fact that this is one of the first Rush albums I ever owned in August of 1990 when my old friend Jason Keith who now lives in Tennessee turned me on to Rush. Jason, if you read this, contact me. This album is highly recommended!

Rush's 16th album Presto was released in November of 1989. The album was the start of the band's fourth phase and the first for Atlantic in the US, although it's technically on the band's own label Anthem alongside Atlantic in the US. The album kicks off with the great Show Don't Tell which was a huge song for the band. My favorite on this album is the anti-suicide anthem The Pass which tells us in the face of all bad, suicide is not a way to go. Other favorites on this album IMHO are the title cut which got loads of airplay on rock radio, the rocking Superconductor, the environmental Red Tide and the optimistic closing track Available Light. The album is sadly overlooked by fans whom hated this album and was the worst seller peaking at #16 and stalling at Gold despite the fact that this is one of the first Rush albums I ever owned in August of 1990 when my old friend Jason Keith who now lives in Tennessee turned me on to Rush. Jason, if you read this, contact me. This album is highly recommended!

Lyricism or overarching beauty has rarely been amongst Rush's creative goals and their oeuvre reflects this. But this album abandons that stricture almost completely.

The title track nears splendor. Listening to it on airplane that was taking off, I was nearly blown away. Geddy's voice is clear, ringing. Alex's guitar is shimmering and bright (to borrow a phrase from another Anglo-Saxon band). The fantastic interweaving of bass and drums is still there.

The polyphony that so marked "Signals," "Grace Under Pressure" and "Hold Your Fire" is backburnered. While in now way "add-ons" to the "orginial" music (whatever thatis supposed to mean), the synthesizers are more complementary than integral. The music would have been just as beautiful if done acoustically.

Oddly enough, this was the last tour I went to. With Alex up on felony charges, we haven't bought tickets this time. I'm afraid if I do and he's unable to make the shows, the promoters and management will say, hey, "You bought 'em knowing the risk; no refund!" And here in the Vegas Valley, we have the highest ticket prices in the world! Hopefully, the whole mess'll straigthen out and we'll get to see them.

This album represents the last excellent studio efforts on my favorite band's part these last fifteen years. Obviously Neil's tragedies clearly impacted the band's quality as well as quantity.

"Roll the Bones" had a few bright spots, "Counterparts" and "Test for Echo" were simply forgettable. Only with "Vapor Trails" has their aesthetic moved closer to something I can identify with--tho' I find the live performances on RIR to be better than the studio versions--still too muddy (the musical flavor of color these last ten years or so)for me, "...Trails" at least shows they've come back to life. The magnificent "Rush in Rio" should have put any rumors of Rush's demises firmly to rest (at least from creative exhaustion).

But the boys have always said they make music for themselves; if no one else likes it, the hell with it. And that attitude is the reason Rush has, with two and a half exceptions, remained one of the most creative and most popular arena acts in North America.

BTW: the reviewer's grammar indicates a Brit. Apparently, Ms. Williams is unaware of "affirmative action." This is the subject that Neil was sp brilliantly satirizing in tje marvelously clear, easily understood "Trees" (one of their many masterpieces). A case of cultural ignorance we can forgive her for. (Though we probably shouldn't; everywhere it's been tried racial quotas--the Left's euphemism is "affirmative action" have utterly failed from India to Indiana).

But the album is as focused and tight as "Power Windows" and avoids the, at times, meandering musically and lyrically of "Hold Your Fire."

If you're just being introduced to Rush, this would be an excellent work.

Inquiring re: 'Slaughter on 5th Avenue' and 'Wipeout' the clerk took me to the $1.99 bargin bin and pointed to 'Presto' and said "this should do". Noting the puzzled back east/far east look on my face he added "now, if you want classic 'Ventures' we keep that up front - you know, with the good stuff" (not your typical 15 year old this boy, he was sharp). Thus did a remastered 'Ventures' cd find its way to a new home...I thanked him profusely, having avoided near catastrophe.

it's canadian popcorn. I'll take the advice of cut three and 'pass' on this hot-buttered scrum. 1 star.

This album was my first taste of the band RUSH. I discovered this wonderful disc in 1991...and haven't looked back since. I now own all 30 years' worth of music from this great band....and always look forward to their next release. This album is just....great. There is no other word to describe it. All of the songs just mesh together so well...and the subject matter is great when you want to get away from blah love songs on the radio. AVAILABLE LIGHT AND SUPERCONDUCTOR are the highlights of this gem....which every avid music fan should own! Anybody who can make a song centering around the production of sound and tv (AVAILABLE LIGHT) has to be good! The only let down was that RUSH dropped Rupert Hine as a producer after ROLL THE BONES. I wish they would get him back.... Other than that, enjoy this!