I started Mental Jukebox nearly three years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. During this time, I’ve discovered new music, rediscovered old favorites and I’ve met passionate music fans around the world. And when things opened up, I kept on blogging. This month, the jukebox goes deeper. The term “deep cut” has multiple meanings. It can refer to lesser known album tracks from well-known artists. It can also refer to tracks from lesser known artists. This month, I’ll be featuring both types. #DeepCutsFeb
Power Windows was the first CD I ever purchased. Funny thing is, I continued to buy cassettes afterwards. In retrospect, I’m confused as to why I went backwards with my album format before returning later to CDs. It seemed Power Windows was simply deserving of a higher quality sound. The decision to buy a CD ultimately paid off, allowing the exceptional production quality of the album to shine through. Typically, a deep cut appears as one of the last couple of tracks on the album. But “Mystic Rhythms”, a single, can hardly be considered one. “Territories”, on the other hand, is – even as the fifth of eight tracks.
It’s the Alex Lifeson show here. One of the few tracks from Power Windows where the synthesizers take a hiatus and the monster riffs come out to play. I have no problem when Rush mashes on the keys, but I always felt the band felt more complete when Lifeson was wielding the axe early and often. “Territories” marks out clear boundaries all the over place – the verses, the chorus, and the instrumental refrains – with one guitar riff after another trekking, traversing, globetrotting and taking us along for the ride.
“Better people... better food... and better beer... Why move around the world when Eden was so near?”