IMO after Counterparts they stopped writing and recording songs as a band, and you can feel the shift.
Instrumentally, too... the classic 'Rush as power trio' instrumental breaks, thoughout their career, where the band cuts loose. Y'know, Freewill... A Farewell to Kings... Camera Eye... Distant Early Warning... Marathon... you wait for these parts of the songs.
Where are they in later albums? Bass, drums, guitar, all stretching out as a band? Nowhere. That's where. Just layers of uninspired sludge.