Last years Snakes & Arrows album saw Rush hitting a belated creative high, something reflected both in journalistic appraisal and in the shape of a Grammy nomination. Why, even I said of the record that "this is the sound of a veteran band finding a way to charge the batteries and finding a way to move forward without leaving the past behind".
In fact, it was so good I even managed to drag myself along to a butt numbing three hour live show which saw the band perform nine of the Snakes & Arrows tracks across the 2 sets. I thought that the live show was a long slog, full of peaks and troughs, but that the high points were high enough to ensure that it was another good night for Rush.
And so, with a band hiatus coming up to enable them to indulge in some moustache growing, what better way to 'celebrate' the album and tour than with a 27 track double live CD. Of course, that's what Rush do, this being the eighth such release since All the World's A Stage came out in 1976. This one is a straight run through of the set, recorded over two nights in October 2007 at the Rotterdam Ahoy! arena, which means it replicates the show I saw. Now the one thing you can never fault Rush on is their musicianship, so there are no bum notes and missed cues here. However, that's the one thing you can fault them on. Because apart from some audience noise you wouldn't really know you were listening to a live show. Although there are also a few clunky edits between tracks, where Geddy Lee gets his minimal chit chat cut off.
Back to the music, and there is no doubt that the legions of somewhat scary Rush fans who were surrounding me that night will be rushing out to pick this up. They will not be disappointed, as the band rattles though powerful versions of "Freewill" and "The Main Monkey Business." As it was on the night, the highlight of the set was a 1-2-3 punch of "Subdivisions," "Natural Science," and "Witch Hunt" which are simply amazing, and one of the best uses you can put a spare quarter of an hour to.
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Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Different Stages is better? I can't agree with that. As much as I enjoy it, it's flawed with a very weird mix. If "full show" representative live albums are what fans are looking for, this is absolutely, without a doubt the best live album Rush has put out. Aside from some questionable errors in judgment when it comes to how loud this thing was mixed (this is an industry-wide problem, however - Vapor Trails being the worst example,) it is definitely the best representation of them live that we've ever gotten. But I will say this: these full-show sets are long, and it's kind of shocking to admit. I'm kind of longing for the days when short, well-groomed live albums ruled. I may get lambasted for it, but one disc of the unusual stuff (all of the S&A and rare material) would have sufficed - I've heard everything else a million times. Save the full shows for the DVDs. (I can't believe I just said that.)
2 - Bugaboo
Come on, you can't ban drum solos especially when it comes to a drum solo by Neil Peart. Granted there are drummers who probably shouldn't take drum solos, but a Neil Peart drum solo is all a part of the Rush concert experience. Not having a Neil Peart drum solo at a Rush concert is like having sex without the orgasm...like the famous tag line from that steak sauce commercial, "Yeah, it's that important."
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I still think the drum solo should be outlawed by international law...
The same people that buy into this b*llsh!t are the same ones who were against the guitar solo. AND now we're stuck with all the pansy rock that these "Indie" knuckleheads love(talentless hacks).
4 - Sean McAllister
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the professor on the drum kit..."
5 - jonathanposton
"And so, with a band hiatus coming up to enable them to indulge in some moustache growing, what better way to 'celebrate' the album and tour than with a 27 track double live CD."
Apart from this comment I enjoyed the review although didn't agree with the drum solo part.
Rush are currently on a 40 city tour of North America- some hiatus!
6 - Stephen Fowler
I enjoy Neil's solos, but I don't understand why they get the loudest cheer of the night. No offense to the Professor, but I would take Bytor, Xanadu or Working Man in place of the solo. His work with the band out does his solo work, as amazing as it is.
7 - duane
His work with the band out does his solo work, as amazing as it is.
Exactamento, Stephen! I saw Rush in Reno recently (my 2nd Rush concert) and Neil was killing. Then he does this dreadfully dull drum solo (as usual). Not that he wasn't able to show off a little. But drum solos ... well ...
I still think the drum solo should be outlawed by international law....
Hey, yeah... with the possible exception of Billy Cobham.
I don't want to hear a drum solo any more than I want to hear a bass solo.
Brian aka says: The same people that buy into this b*llsh!t are the same ones who were against the guitar solo.
Well, I guess I'm an exception. But, in any case, it's not a valid comparison. Drum solos are SOLOS, whereas guitar solos are performed with the rest of the band. Lifeson weaves his solos into the music in interesting ways, and I would never argue that guitar solos should be banned (except for Lynyrd Skynyrd).
People who strayed from the Rush path during their synth era will enjoy hearing how the band has returned to the world of rock....
Ugh. My favorite Rush albums are: (1) Grace Under Pressure (2) Signals (3) Moving Pictures (4) Power Windows (5) Permanent Waves. Their finest era. I like synths. Does that make me a cretin?
8 - kevin
ok i agree with the review except the drum solo is the highlight of the night and synths are cool