Gompers Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Rush returns with a new producer, after a long run with Broonsy, by hiring Peter Henderson to co-produce Grace Under Pressure. I was in college at the time of this release and it was an immediate hit with me. It seems like almost everyone has a different favorite off GUP. Few match my favorite, Red Lenses, though. I always liked the funkiness of the music and the goofiness of the lyrics. A close second is Red Sector A and then Between the Wheels. This was an awesome release and the best of the 80's synth era. The Great -Distant Early Warning -Afterimage -Red Sector A -The Enemy Within (Part I of Fear) -Red Lenses -Between the Wheels The Good -The Body Electric -Kid Gloves This gets a 9.5 because all songs are not great, but I will round it up to 10. It still gets regular rotation in my library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtron Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclonus X-1 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Tracks 1-4 represent the best four-song stretch on any Rush album save for the incomparable first side of Moving Pictures. Between the Wheels is also wonderful, but the other three tunes are not. Kid Gloves is decent at best, Red Lenses is goofy, and The Body Electric is downright horrible (it might well be my least favorite Rush song). Five-for-eight isn't the greatest showing percentage-wise, but man, those five are really, really good. I'll give the album an 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presto-digitation Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 9-to-9.5 Either my third or fourth favorite Rush album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J2112YYZ Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 10 What's not to love about this album? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastille Dave Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 QUOTE (Cyclonus X-1 @ Apr 17 2012, 06:30 AM) Tracks 1-4 represent the best four-song stretch on any Rush album save for the incomparable first side of Moving Pictures. Between the Wheels is also wonderful, but the other three tunes are not. Kid Gloves is decent at best, Red Lenses is goofy, and The Body Electric is downright horrible (it might well be my least favorite Rush song). Five-for-eight isn't the greatest showing percentage-wise, but man, those five are really, really good. I'll give the album an 8. I gave it an 8 as well, for mostly the same reasons, although I like Red Lenses and Kid Gloves. I agree about The Body Electric being not-so-stellar. Side 1 just plain owns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unattractive Truth Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 8.5 I don't like Kid Gloves very much, but man there's some great stuff on here. Distant Early Warning and Between the Wheels are two of my favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBob Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Kid Gloves is totally awesome. The Guitar Riff is one my favorites! I really can't find any song to complain about on p/g. Well, That's for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnoble Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 GUP isn't a bad record, but sounds flat and 'cardboard-ey' compared to what came out a year later. A different producer definatly would've punched up the sound a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enemy Within 77 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 10 - It's been my favorite album for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presto123 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 9 for me. In my top 5 fav Rush records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALifeson85 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 8.5 / 9 The Good Distant Early Warning Afterimage Red Sector A The Enemy Within Kid Gloves Between The Wheels The OK The Body Electric The "Meh..." Red Lenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drbirdsong Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 8 I've heard Grace Under Pressure called dated and a synth album, but it holds up quite well. There are some great Alex solos on it (Kid Gloves!) and the songs are just up in your face. I have always loved Between The Wheels and was really happy when they started playing it live again. I was in boot camp and A school during that tour so I didn't get to see them live, but bootlegs from that time give a more raw and rocking take on the slick production. I would have like to have heard at least one more collaboration with Peter Henderson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagegrace26 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 (edited) 9 In my top 5 too. Love it. My ratings so far: Presto - 9 Grace Under Pressure - 9 Power Windows - 8 Counterparts - 8 Hold Your Fire - 8 Test for Echo - 7 Snakes & Arrows - 7 Vapor Trails - 7 Roll the Bones - 6 Edited April 17, 2012 by savagegrace26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barchetta90480 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 One of the best albums ever ... not only by Rush 11 - if it was there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAccountant Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 IMO this is not as strong as the 2 albums that came after it (Power Windows & HYF). That being said, here we go: The Great Distant Early Warning Red Sector A The Good Afterimage Between the Wheels The Enemy Within The Ok The Body Electric Kid Gloves Red Lenses The Not so Ok None The Bad None It should be noted that the 3 good songs are on the vey high end of the category, bordering great and they may slip into great someday. Given my feelings for them it would not surprise me if this is exactly what happens. In fact, I have indicated else where that Afterimage was my favorite song from the record (while saying that it could change on a day to day basis). It should also be noted that the 3 "ok" songs are on the low side of the category, almost falling into a "not so ok" category. It would not shock me if thats what happens to these songs someday given my feelings for them. With 5 very good song and 3 not very good songs its a hard album to rate. Based on the strength of the 5 it gets an 8+ and I guess the "+" is strong enough for me to round it up to a 9. That being said, given the strength of Presto, Counterparts and S & A along with my increasing respect for all 3 of those albums, I sort of expect them to pass this fine effort by someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarizeMe Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 9 It's like my 2nd or 3rd favorite 80s Rush album and it's on my top 10 all time favorite Rush albums. I think we need any song (even the ones that were played in recent years) from this album to make an appearance on the next tour. I hope they play Kid Gloves or Afterimage live someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 The last great Rush album. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shredder2 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 10 I love the lyrical theme of this album, and how the music suits it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat 3 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 One of my favourite Rush albums...simply the best album to be released in 1984, that's for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 10. One of my favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of the 7 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) 10. This album is my second favorite, and some days I think it could take over Power Windows. I love the overall sound of it, and Between The Wheels is one of my very favorite Rush songs. I'm still blown away by it every time I listen to it. Every song is great, including Red Lenses and the criminally underrated Body Electric. Those last "mother of all machineee-eees!" into the guitar solo and outro are fanfreakin'tastic. Edited April 18, 2012 by 1 of the 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) I give it a 7. Deduct 3 points for the haircuts! Edited April 18, 2012 by ReRushed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossedSignals Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 QUOTE (J2112YYZ @ Apr 17 2012, 08:32 AM)10 What's not to love about this album? A perfect 10. My favorite Rush album right now. Body Electric isn't as popular as I would've guessed, and that absolutely baffles me. One of Rush's very best songs (and one of Alex's best solos) IMO! They did have the good sense to include it in Retrospective II though, so I guess someone liked it Every song is a gem, and the album is remarkably consistent and cohesive. I love the overall sound quality and production style. Alex's best and most mature guitar playing by far. Amazing songwriting and lyrics. Brilliant bass playing. The perfect balance of guitar and synth. I just can't say enough good things about this album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossedSignals Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 And to everyone who doesn't like Red Lenses.... That instrumental break at 2:05 is pure brilliance! Dig those rhythms!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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