Signals by Rush, the Picture Disc and 40th Anniversary editions

Signals represents a turning point towards synth-heavy sounds and a departure from the long progressive rock suites of the '70s, continuing the sound started with Moving Pictures by further shifting the focus to Geddy Lee's synthesizers at the expense of Alex Lifeson's guitar.

The tracks are shorter and the arrangements highlight melody and new electronic solutions. Neil Peart's lyrics are no longer predominantly fantasy or science fiction but deal with social themes, such as the wonderful “Subdivisions,” for example, which addresses the pressure of conformity in suburban life. The band used new technologies, 48-track recordings, and audio sampling.

Signals was the last album produced by Terry Brown due to disagreements with Lifeson over Brown's tendency to lower the volume of his guitar in the mix to give more space to Lee's synthesizers.

The album deals with the theme of communication and interaction in a world rapidly changing due to technology and the resulting social alienation, a concept particularly strong in the album's masterpiece, Subdivisions, while Chemistry deals with the instinctive connection between people, The Weapon talks about fear as a tool of control, and Losing It about the awareness of physical and creative decline with advancing age, concluding with the beautiful Countdown, inspired by the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which the band personally attended and which is the culmination of the album's concept: humanity using technology to overcome its physical limits, achieving an escape to the stars that realizes the dreams of escape in Subdivisions.

The title Signals refers both to the technological impulses of the digital age and to the social signals that humans exchange.

The biggest change compared to Moving Pictures is the predominant presence of Geddy Lee's keyboards, no longer just as simple soundscapes, but as the main instrument for riffs and melodies, relegating the guitar to a mainly rhythmic role, something Alex Lifeson managed by changing his style.

Despite the simplification of the tracks into song form, virtuosity is not lacking, with Neil Peart's drumming integrating electronic elements and the use of samples and real environmental sounds, such as the original NASA audio communications in the final track Countdown.

- Subdivisions is the opening track and also my favorite of the album, as well as being one of their best-known songs, with a 5/4 synthesizer riff and a compelling fluidity.

- The Analog Kid brings Alex Lifeson's guitar back to the center, a classic rock track with a beautiful fast solo.

- Chemistry blends arpeggiated guitars and layers of keyboards, a beautiful track.

- Digital Man is a complex track that fuses progressive rock with reggae influences and syncopated rhythms inspired by New Wave, with great bass lines from Geddy Lee in great rhythmic synergy with Neil Peart.

- The Weapon (Part II of Fear) is an atmospheric and experimental track with a catchy rhythm and great use of sequencers.

- New World Man is Rush's biggest commercial success in the United States, a track based on a reggae-rock tempo.

- Losing It is a beautiful melancholic ballad with a great part by Ben Mink on electric violin.

- Countdown closes the album, a track dedicated to the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia that includes original audio samples of NASA communications.

The artwork was created by Rush's longtime collaborator, Hugh Syme, who uses ironic symbolism for this album, depicting a male Dalmatian dog sniffing or urinating on a fire hydrant to mark its territory, thus leaving its "signals." It is said that to get the shot, dog biscuits were placed under the hydrant to attract the Dalmatian.

In the 40th anniversary reissue, there are many new features. Below you will find the description of the contents (and photos) of the beautiful super deluxe box set that includes a lot of material including audio and video content in multiple formats (CD, LP, Blu-ray) and a series of collectible items with new illustrations and photos.

Audio and Video Content

- Audio CD that includes the original album version remastered in 2015 (the first time on CD in this edition).

- A 180-gram black vinyl LP (half-speed DMM) for optimal audio quality, with new illustrations by Hugh Syme.

- Blu-ray Audio containing the full album mix in Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (both previously unreleased), as well as the PCM stereo mix at 48kHz 24-bit. Also includes new animated visualizers for all tracks and two vintage promotional videos remastered for "Subdivisions" and "Countdown," both beautiful.

- Four 7-inch singles with the original cover and new illustrations by Hugh Syme:

"Subdivisions" / "Red Barchetta (Live)"

"Countdown" / "New World Man"

"New World Man" / "Vital Signs (Live)"

"The Weapon (Single Edit)" / "Digital Man"

- Collectible items including a 40-page hardcover book with new song illustrations, original drawings by Hugh Syme, and previously unseen photos from the Signals tour.

- Three lenticular lithographs that transform black and white photos of the band into color versions of "Digital Man."

- Four lithographs with photos of the band from the Signals tour.

- A lithograph with the original sketch of the album cover by Hugh Syme.

- A double-sided 24x24 inch poster with the new Signals artwork on one side and a previously unseen photo from the original cover photo shoot on the other.

- Eight sheets with the original lyrics printed and handwritten by Neil Peart

All enclosed in a premium box with a flip-top opening, featuring a significantly revised cover by Hugh Syme.

A beautiful box set to celebrate an ambitious album that sparked a change and helped redefine progressive rock in the '80s and that, after the huge success of Moving Pictures, sees Rush return to success with the predominant use of keyboards and contemporary influences, with enormous capacity for renewal. The track Subdivisions is now a pillar of rock culture, both in its lyrics and its compelling and engaging musicality, a song I love and know by heart, which I used to play as the opening cover at school concerts with the prog band where I played drums as a kid.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS below the article title or on the "Artists" page

Original Album Tracklist

1. Subdivisions (5:32)
2. The Analog Kid (4:46)
3. Chemistry (4:56)
4. Digital Man (6:20)
5. The Weapon (Part II of Fear) (6:22)
6. New World Man (3:41)
7. Losing It (4:51)
8. Countdown (5:49)
Duration 42:17

LineUp

- Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic guitar, Taurus bass pedals
- Geddy Lee - basses, synthesizers (Minimoog, Oberheim, Roland Jupiter-8), vocals
- Neil Peart - drums, percussion

With:
- Ben Mink - violin (7)
- Terry Brown - co-arranger, co-producer