Subdivisions (Rush, 1982)

This song opens "Signals", the album Rush released in 1982 and it's one of the band's more captivating tracks, also released as a single. The strongest point in it is the very well found melody Geddy Lee sings with his usual strength. But the arrangement, including some very interesting instrumental sections, adds an additional value to the big picture. The airy guitar riffs - a trademark of Rush sound - are less commen here and you'll find instead a constant presence of keyboards, providing kind of a plastic and claustrophobic background to the song. Nonetheless, the double keys then guitar solo toward the end of the track is tipically Rush and gives to "Subdivisions" a slightly optimistic touch. The lyrics are about the rigid rules and limited sense of communion in modern urban life, well represented by housing subdivisions, so common in our suburbs.

"Signals" was the ninth studio album of Rush.

The band depicts such a pityful but comfortable lifestyle adopting a stressing rythm and some electronic effects. They describe youth's life in those geometric boundaries with strong accents. Here you are:

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone

Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone

 

And prog is for the dreamer, isn't it?