Day 0494 - Moving Pictures

Rush "Moving Pictures" (1981)

 
I love that all of the articles or reviews I've read about this album go out of their way to mention its cheesy play-on-words title/album cover combo... which in some ways short-changes the quality music inside.

I've never been hugely fussed on Rush one way or the other, but this is a great album.  It combines the musicality of their prog background with an adoption of the poppier new-wave sound that was rising in popularity, with the last track "vital signs" even having a vaguely Police-esque sound to it.

Even something like the radio-friendly "Tom Sawyer" mixes groovy keyboards, catchy melody with tricky drum fills and odd time signatures.  I listened to the album about 4 times in a row and would happily listen to it again.

Day 0491 - Mask

Bauhaus "Mask" (1981)

 
I don't know if I'm maybe not in the mood, but this one seems just 'okay'.  On the face of it it seems like something that I'd be into; a gothy post-punk offering that mixes skittish whiteboy funk, electronic elements, gothic backing vocals and a number of other elements.  I enjoyed all of it and really wanted to LOVE it, but it just wasn't happening.

This was viewed as being Bauhaus' more poppy accessible album.  They released 2 more albums before going their separate ways with all the members pursuing separate music projects (testament to the combined creativity contained within the band).   They reunited and released an album in the 00s.