5. Subdivisions (Signals, 1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYYdQB0mkEU Rather than sticking with the arena rock aesthetic that brought them fame, though, Rush took a leap of faith with the next years Signals and leapt headlong into the 80s synth craze. They faced heavy criticism from some corners of their fan base for moving Lifesons guitars into the background, and Lees near-total abandonment of his high wail lent the band a more mature sound to go with Pearts continued movement toward thoughtful, worldly-wise lyrics. In hindsight, the radical shift ensured that Rush would not become a musical relic; the bands continued relevance has relied upon their willingness and ability to grow and change with the times. And they were still making amazing songs. Subdivisions probably ranks in their all-time top five, driven by dark synthesizer chords and an aching keyboard melody over Pearts reliably tight drumming and Lifesons atmospheric guitar work. The songs message struck at the heart of the misfits who comprised much of the bands core audience, empathizing with their dreams and the limits placed upon those dreams by the dreariness of suburbia. Mind you, Rush was singing about this almost thirty years before Arcade Fire devoted an entire album to the topic.