Signals

Fresh off the high of “Tom Sawyer”’s space invasion, Canadian prog trio Rush did what any band in their multi-platinum position would do: make a hard left turn. Largely ditching the guitars and progressive arrangements that defined their first decade, they embraced the emerging synthpop movement in their own idiosyncratic way. Most impressive: they somehow coax warmth from the frosty keyboards. “Chemistry” causes a chain reaction, “Analog Kid” and “Digital Man” present two sides of the same dub coin, and “Subdivisions” remains one of the most empathetic depictions of suburban malaise ever recorded.