Snakes & Arrows Review

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(More customer reviews)To begin with, let me say that the sound of Snakes & Arrows is fantastic. The mastering process seems to have been improved 100% since Vapor Trails in 2002. Generally the sound is thick and crisp. In terms of recording quality I think that it is the best sounding Rush album that there has ever been. Stylistically it is a hard rock album, probably the "hardest" record that Rush has made in a long time. The sound is very textured, thick and layered with lots of interesting sounds.
Musically they seem to want to avoid creating or playing anything that is too obvious or conventional. After 30+ years of making music I can see how the typical rock song would be boring for these master musicians. There is very little on this record that is "catchy" on the first few listens and sometimes a single song doesn't seem to hold itself together well, like the person who wrote the verse was working in a different room from the person who wrote the chorus. The melodies are unusual and will require some effort from casual listeners to appreciate. Some listeners may simply reject this music as non-melodic nonsense or noise, but as a Rush fan, I hope that this record is like a good piece of modern art, the more you examine it, the more fascinating it becomes. There are some great time signature changes in the song "Workin' Them Angels" and I really enjoy some parts of some of the songs.
Lyrically the record is rather dark and sad with themes of determinism and resignation in the face of all the evils of the world. They went from "I will choose freewill" in 1981 to "we can only grow the way the wind blows - we can only bow to the here and now or be broken down blow by blow." This is not a record that I would want to listen to over and over without having some more positive material to listen to on the side. For me this is not a fault of the album, and I appreciate Neil Peart's willingness to honestly express all aspects of life, the good and the bad. Perhaps this change is a function of maturity and a recognition that eventually innocence is lost the real world must be looked squarely in the eyes. In any case these lyrics are more profound and heartfelt than anything recently on the radio or MTV. Even with this lyrical aspect of the record, Neil Peart still avoids the silly "drowning in pools of black despair" stereotype of modern rock music. I get the feeling that he simply wrote down what he was feeling about certain things in this world and I appreciate that honesty. There might be some really positive messages here, but with the serious, heavy and ponderous sound of the album- it just feels sad.
In summary, this record may not appeal to everyone, but if you are interested in progressive rock music and are willing to expend a little effort in listening to this album it might be worth your time. Personally, I haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm trying to like it.


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ALBUM OVERVIEW: Since releasing their self-titled debut album in 1974, Rush have been universally regarded as one of the most inventive and exciting groups in rock, famed for their virtuoso musicianship, epic sound-scapes, and dramatic lyricism. Snakes & Arrows is the first new collection of original material from Rush in nearly five years. The album was recorded in the fall of 2006 with Grammy Award-winner Nick Raskulinecz and Rush co-producing. Rush’s Geddy Lee says of the album: "It’s big, it’s bold, and I think it’s some of the best work we’ve done in years."MVI CONTENT: •The entire Snakes & Arrows album available in both 2.0 Advanced Resolution Stereo and in a 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound mix •MP3 audio files of every song •"The Game of Snakes & Arrows" video documentary on the making of the album •"The Game of Snakes & Arrows" bio written by Neil Peart •Photo Gallery •Song Lyrics •Snakes & Arrows poster (PDF) •Digital Album Booklet (PDF) with complete liner notes •Computer Wallpapers •Instant Messenger Icons •Ur-Tone® computer application – create custom ringtones of all 13 album tracks •Album Updates – register to gain access to bonus contentSPECIAL EDITION FEATURES: Special Edition comes packaged in a deluxe box with a 32-page full-color booklet. SELECTIONS: 1.Far Cry 2.Armor & Sword 3.Workin’ Them Angels 4.The Larger Bowl 5.Spindrift 6.The Main Monkey Business 7.The Way The Wind Blows 8.Hope 9.Faithless 10.Bravest Face 11.Good News First 12.Malignant Narcissism 13.We Hold On
Rush Photos

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Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD Set Review

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(More customer reviews)I was at the St. Louis show, so this cd is a nice reminder of a very nice night for me and my son. Many have complained about Rush's frequency of live releases and song list, to them I would respond, check out live King Crimson. I love that band too, but they put out a ton of live stuff, many of the same tracks repeated over and over. I don't think Rush is guilty of milking the cash cow, I think they're doing a nice service to us fans.
The live recording itself is imaculate. The sound quality is first rate. The band is performing at a very high level, and consistently well, as Rush usually does. Perhaps they could mix things up a bit, but seeing a live Rush show is seeing a band that's been together as a unit for many years, a tight band that does what it's supposed to do, put on a consistently great show.
The new album Snakes & Arrows is emphasized in the set list, as this tour was to promote that album. I for one liked that album. Beyond that there are a few old gems such as Circumstances, Entres Nous, and Witch Hunt which are very nice to hear live. Mixed amongst all this are the classic tracks, such as Tom Sawyer, Freewill, etc.
I have looked forward to this album since I first heard about it, and was not disappointed. 5 stars.


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On the heels of their hugely successful 2007 ampitheater tour, Rush is now giving all their fans the chance to aurally experience the concert for themselves with the double album, Snakes & Arrows Live. The live set features perennial favorites like "Tom Sawyer," "The Spirit of Radio," and "YYZ" as well as new fare "Far Cry," "Spindrift," and "The Larger Bowl." Also included is the live rendition of the 2008 Grammy-nominated "Malignant Narcissism" followed by a Rush live staple, a Neil Peart drum solo. Snakes & Arrows Live is sure to follow in the footsteps of their successful live album Rush in Rio. The Canadian trio has sold over 35 million albums world-wide in their career spanning four decades.

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Backstage Secrets: On the Road with the Rock Band RUSH (Institutional Use) Review

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(More customer reviews)Having watched the first two episodes, it is clear that the concept this video is trying to show has a lot of merit. Showing some of what goes on behind the scenes setting up for shows in several arenas, and brief bits of the actual performance during the shows.
What is also clear is that this is a very cheaply made video. It's potentially better than home video quality, but in many places it's really hard to even give it that level of quality. There are considerable compression artifacts in the video, to the point of distraction. This becomes very obvious in the lighting episode, but others have similar problems. If you're thinking "How it's made" or similar History Channel or Science Channel serial documentary, it's nowhere close quality wise.
The videos are also a bit of a tease. They start going into detail on one of the roles, then jump back to high level fluff like "waiting for points". If you're interested in what they're actually using to produce the show, you'll be disappointed, very little of that information made it into the final video. If you know what various bits which could be in the rig look like already, the video gets you close enough to pick out what the various items actually are, but again you have to know what you are looking at first.
The idea, done right would be great, but as is, this video is often painful to watch.

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Go behind the scenes to get a backstage look at what it takes to present the legendary band Rush during the 2008 Snakes & Arrows Concert Tour.It may appear to be one of the most exciting and glamorous jobs in the world - but being a roadie with a top-rated world-famous rock and roll band can be a grueling marathon of 18 hour work days, on an easy day.A bad is actually a couple of days, 40 hours spent hauling gear, assembling huge stacks of speakers, lifting them a hundred feet in the air, tuning instruments for demanding musicians and being cut off from every lover, friend and relative you have.This series takes you to the show you never see when you take your seat for a concert by the legendary band Rush.All the backstage secrets are revealed. This DVD includes 5 parts on two discs including: Part 1:SoundSure it sounds easy. Turn on some speakers and listen to the show.Well, it's a lot more complicated than that. Everyone in every seat needs to hear the show equally well. That sound can be affected by the shape of the building, the temperature inside and even whether the audience is wearing long or short sleeves. And then there's the show the band hears. Each member of Rush needs to hear different instruments at different levels at different times during the show. Part 2: LightsYou don't buy a ticket to hear a rock show; you buy a ticket to see a rock show. Of course that's not as simple as turning on the house lights and sitting back. Lighting sets the mood for each song.That means lights are meticulously placed which isn't that easy when each show is in a different building. Once they are set up perfectly, the must be directed by an artist who plays the lighting board like an instrument. Part 3: Instrument TechniciansOne of the most demanding and stressful jobs on the road is the instrument technician. Each one is charged with tuning and maintaining the magic wands these musical wizards wield. For the musicians to have a good show, their instruments must be perfect. Each night is an exercise in perfection for the four technicians on the Rush tour, guitar, drums, bass and keyboards.Part 4: Lighting and VideoLet's face it, not every seat is in the front row, but everyone pays for a ticket. That means someone has to make sure everyone gets a good look at the band. So each concert is also a television show broadcast on a 50 foot screen.Part 5: Road ManagerMost of the road crew are responsible for making sure their area of responsibility is working. But one person has to make sure the whole thing works, every night in every city. The road manager is the conductor of this huge orchestration and you better believe he is on his game all the time. NTSC 16:9 - 2 discs - 250-minutes(c) 2008High Fidelity HDTV Media Inc - All Rights Reserved
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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RUSH: Snakes and Arrows Live (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a Rush fan since 1912... kidding, since 1976. The 'fossil' that I am, i've probably seen them at least 40 times live beginning with the 'Farewell To Kings' tour way back when. I have all their CD's and DVD's. I have played their LP's (vinyl records) on an old 'Fisher' tube stereo receiver with 'Realistic' (Radio Shack) speakers, and 8-track tapes back in the day (70's). As an older '40-something' audiophile now thankfully making more than a high school kid did back then, I can now listen to them via high-end McIntosh equipment and Magneplanar hi-res speakers. Rush never sounded better! That said, and with my high expectations, this 'Snakes & Arrows' live DVD is INCREDIBLE, visually and sonic-wise! THIS IS HOW A LIVE CONCERT DVD SHOULD BE DONE! The camera work is stellar, with a good mix of closeups, medium range, and whole stage shots. Audio is excellent, both in stereo and in 5.1. And best of all, Rush is in absolute top form, moving, playing, and singing as if they were 25 again! This is a MUST OWN concert for Rush and/or prog rock fans!

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Filmed over two performances in Rotterdam, Holland in October of 2007, Rush's new DVD Snakes & Arrows Live captures the legendary band in peak form, performing classic Rush material and nine new songs from their critically acclaimed 2007 CD Snakes & Arrows. Bonus footage of four songs added for their 2008 American tour, including "Ghost of a Chance," filmed here for the first time. Since the release of their eponymous first LP in 1974, Rush has continually expanded the definition of "progressive power trio." Guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee and drummer/lyricist Neil Peart combine dazzling virtuosity, laser-beam intensity and unbridled creativity to create a cohesive whole that's infinitely greater than its parts. The Toronto-based group has become one of Canada's leading exports, with a catalog of genre-defining releases including 2112, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Vapour Trails and Snakes & Arrows and a live show which combines musicianship, showmanship and multi-media effects that engage all the senses. Following their previous best-selling DVDs Rush in Rio and R30, Snakes & Arrows Live presents a band not resting on its considerable laurels but still earning its reputation as one of the world's best live bands - one night at a time.

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Permanent Waves Review

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(More customer reviews)...excluding Neil Peart's entry into the band.
Mostly recorded in 1979, PERMANENT WAVES (1980) marked the starting point for Rush's full-blown entry into condensed, accessible progressive rock. They abandoned the 20-minute suites and mystical lyrics for catchy progressive song structures, and more human, worldly-related topics. But, Geddy Lee (vocals/bass/synths), Alex Lifeson (guitars) and Neil Peart (drums/lyrics) didn't lose their brilliance in composition, even if most of the track lengths were fit for radio.
"The Spirit of Radio" is an ever-popular track, and seems to still get as much radio airplay as it did over two decades ago. A catchy, melodic track with cerebral lyrics dealing with no other than the radio, and it's effect on us listeners (i.e. music fans.)
"Freewill" is a philosophical rocker dealing with personal beliefs (e.g., god, fate, stars) and the consequences - positive or negative - of them. Neil Peart seems to be quite ambiguous in his lyrics, and you can't necessarily tell what *his* personal beliefs are at times. He seems to be playing more a role of devil's advocate, which in some cases is probably the smartest part to play.
"Jacob's Ladder" brings slight resemblance to Rush's 70s period, as this is the most *proggish* on the album, and more than likely can please fans of that particular period. Mostly instrumental, it's an atmospheric rocker which leans toward the darker and heavier side. Highlights of the track are the instrumental section in 5/4, and later, a spatial, instrumental section featuring guitarist Alex Lifeson (later joined by band) playing a snaky riff in 13/8, while Neil is keeping time nicely, and Geddy lends some darkly airy synths on top it all. This track bears considerable King Crimson influence, though clearly, it's still Rush's trademark sound.
"Entre Nous" is something of a ballad, but with intellectual-oriented lyrics. Alex Lifeson's trademark atmospheric arpeggios, Geddy's subtle, but commanding vocal combine nicely to make a highly compelling track.
"Different Strings" is the soft tune on the album. Though possibly seen as a warm up to the following track, it stands nicely on it's own. Poignant as well.
"Natural Science" is the other most *proggish* number on the album. Written in three sections, the lyrics mostly deal with nature and the enviornment. Complex musicianship is very apparent, but doesn't overshadow the strangely catchy and addicting elements found here.
This would be a perfect place to start for anyone interested in Rush. Features a nice balance of complex musicianship and accessibility that's hard to beat. Recommended.

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Japanese only paper sleeve SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Warner. 2009.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (Special Edition Box Set with T-Shirt) (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great item. Bought it for my husband. Item arrived quickly. The t-shirt fit perfectly. He can now wear it at the concert in September! He's tickled.

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Rush is one of rock's most influential bands. Ranked third in consecutive gold or platinum albums after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the band enjoys a devoted following by legions around the world and is revered by generations of musicians. Yet, their incredible success story has, up to this point, remained largely untold. Now comes the new documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, the first comprehensive exploration of the extraordinary power trio. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with notables such as Jack Black, Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Gene Simmons, this film explores the forty-year career and phenomenon behind what could be the world's biggest cult band. This 2-disc DVD in deluxe packaging features over 3 hours of video, including a 1.5 hour bonus disc of never-before-seen live performances, special features, and deleted scenes from the film. A 12 page color booklet of rare and unreleased photos is also included.
The special edition box set includes one XL "Moving Pictures Tour 1981" t-shirt.

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Rush - Beyond the Lighted Stage (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Saw "Beyond" last night at a one-night special showing in a Minneapolis theater, and it is without a doubt one of the most interesting and entertaining films I've seen this year, and beyond. And yes, yes, I'm a Rush fan...but I'm not a RABID Rush fan. I'm missing a few of their albums and while I have a ticket to see them in concert this fall, that will be the first time. I say this only by way of stating for the NON-Rush fan: Don't let that deter you from seeing this great documentary. There is so little actual music in it, that anyone, even those just interested in human interest stories and biopics, will find plenty to love here. There is close friendship, tragedy, very comical moments, inspiration...the whole package. And how great is it to see "rock stars" who are intelligent and generally lacking an over-inflated sense of ego? I think my favorite moment in the film might have come when the trio was aboard a plane, heading, if I remember right, to their next concert, and they all three pulled out books and began to read. I didn't see what everyone was reading, but Alex was half through Christopher Hitchens' God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. I have a hard time picturing just about any other rock stars doing something like that--with the possible exception of Bad Religion's Greg Graffin.
One funny thing from the film showing of "Beyond." I arrived fairly early, and then three other guys sat down to my left, and then a few minutes later another guy was about to sit in the single seat remaining to my right, and I asked him, "Couldn't get your girlfriend to come either, huh?" And he said, "No, my wife wouldn't come." And the guys to my left said, "Yeah, ours either." So there we were, a row of middle-aged, none-too-thin white dudes, enjoying the hell out of this movie. It had a good tribal sort of feeling to it, bonding with like-minded strangers like this. So when you pop this into your DVD player, maybe have some buds around to enjoy it with you.

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2011 GRAMMY NOMINEE: BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEORush is one of rock's most influential bands. Ranked third in consecutive gold or platinum albums after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the band enjoys a devoted following by legions around the world and is revered by generations of musicians. Yet, their incredible success story has, up to this point, remained largely untold. Now comes the new documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, the first comprehensive exploration of the extraordinary power trio. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with notables such as Jack Black, Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Gene Simmons, this film explores the forty-year career and phenomenon behind what could be the world's biggest cult band. This 2-disc DVD in deluxe packaging features over 3 hours of video, including a 1.5 hour bonus disc of never-before-seen live performances, special features, and deleted scenes from the film. A 12 page color booklet of rare and unreleased photos is also included.

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Backstage Secrets: On The Road With The Rock Band Rush (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the be all and end all of on the road with RUSH`s Road Crew
informative as to all the set up prior to the show.
I loved it Hey but then im intrested in this GREAT band and i was
fully entertained.....

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Re-released - replicated DVD with better quality video. This is not a DVD on Demand version.
Go behind the scenes to get a backstage look at what it takes to present the legendary band RUSH during the 2008 Snakes & Arrows Concert Tour. It may appear to be one of the most exciting and glamorous jobs in the world - but being a roadie with a top-rated world-famous rock and roll band can be a grueling marathon of 18 hour work days, on an easy day. A bad is actually a couple of days, 40 hours spent hauling gear, assembling huge stacks of speakers, lifting them a hundred feet in the air, tuning instruments for demanding musicians and being cut off from every lover, friend and relative you have.
This series takes you to the show you never see when you take your seat for a concert by the legendary band RUSH. All the backstage secrets are revealed.
This DVD includes 5 parts on two discs including: Part 1: SoundSure it sounds easy. Turn on some speakers and listen to the show. Well, it's a lot more complicated than that. Part 2: LightsYou don't buy a ticket to hear a rock show; you buy a ticket to see a rock show. Lighting sets the mood for each song. Part 3: Instrument TechniciansOne of the most demanding and stressful jobs on the road is the instrument technician. Part 4: Lighting and VideoLet's face it, not every seat is in the front row, but everyone pays for a ticket. That means someone has to make sure everyone gets a good look at the band. So each concert is also a television show broadcast on a 50 foot screen. Part 5: Road ManagerOne person has to make sure the whole thing works, every night in every city. The road manager is the conductor of this huge orchestration.
NTSC 16:9 - 2 discs - 250-minutes© 2008 High Fidelity HDTV Media Inc - All Rights Reserved

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Rush - Replay (1989) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rush Replay should be one of the best DVD concert releases of the Summer. (Technically very late Spring). This 3 DVD/1 CD box set will include the DVD versions of "Exit... Stage Left," "Grace Under Pressure," and "A Show of Hands." The CD in the box set is the unreleased soundtrack CD of the "Grace Under Pressure."
Before Rush Replay all three concerts were on VHS. These were extremely hard to get your hands on. Now, thanks to Alex Lifeson and Mike Fraser, you can enjoy these classic concerts in 5.1 surround sound and remastered visuals.
Exit... Stage Left:
The first DVD in Rush Replay is "Exit... Stage Left," which was filmed at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec. Anyone who owns the Exit... Stage Left CD knows how totally awesome the concert was. The CD and the DVD are radically different though. Lets look at the track listing of each.
Exit... Stage Left CD:
1. The Spirit of Radio (Not on DVD)
2. Red Barchetta
3. YYZ
4. A Passage To Bangkok (Not on DVD)
5. Closer To The Heart
6. Beneath, Between, and Behind (Not on DVD)
7. Jacob's Ladder (Not on DVD)
8. Broon's Bane (Not on DVD)
9. The Trees
10. Xanadu
11. Freewill
12. Tom Sawyer
13. La Villa Strangiato (Not on DVD)
Exit... Stage Left DVD
1. Limelight (Not on CD)
2. Tom Sawyer
3. The Trees
4. Instrumental (Not on CD)
5. Xanadu
6. Red Barchetta
7. Freewill
8. Closer To The Heart
9. YYZ
10. Finale: By-Tor and the Snow Dog/In The End/In The Mood/2112 Finale (Not on CD)
So in the end, the major songs missing on the DVD are, The Spirit of Radio, A Passage To Bangkok, and La Villa Strangiato. But in return, you get Limelight and the Finale.
Grace Under Pressure:
Out of the three concerts in Rush Replay, Grace Under Pressure is the only one without a live CD. (The CD as I mentioned earlier is part of Rush Replay). This DVD was filmed in 1984, at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada. Here is the DVD track listing:
1. The Spirit of Radio (A great song)
2. The Enemy Within "Part 1 of Fear"
3. The Weapon "Part 2 of Fear"
4. Witch Hunt "Part 3 of Fear"
5. New World Man
6. Distant Early Warning
7. Red Sector A
8. Closer To The Heart
9. Melody: YYZ/The Temples Of Syrinx/ Tom Sawyer
10. Vital Signs
11. Finale: Finding My Way/In The Mood
So Grace Under Pressure contains an unreleased version of The Spirit of Radio, the Fear trilogy, and two melodies. Also included in Rush Replay will be a CD with those ten songs.
A Show Of Hands:
Of the three DVDs, this is the longest one, nearing 85 minutes. It was filmed in late April 1988 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. Unlike Exit... Stage Left, the A Show Of Hands DVD is similar to the CD version. Here is the A Show Of Hands DVD track listing:
1. The Big Money
2. Marathon
3. Turn The Page
4. Prime Mover
5. Manhattan Project
6. Closer To The Heart
7. Red Sector A
8. Force Ten
9. Mission
10. Territories
11. The Rhythm Method (Drum Solo)
12. The Spirit Of Radio
13. Tom Sawyer
14. Finale: 2112/La Villa Strangiato/In The Mood
So A Show Of Hands contains 8 songs from "Power Windows" and "Hold Your Fire." Closer To The Heart, Tom Sawyer, 2112, and In The Mood are on all 3 DVDs. Rush Replay also will also include mini reprints of the original tour booklets from the three concerts.
In the end, you get Exit... Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure, A Show Of Hands, the Grace Under Pressure CD, and three mini reprints of the tour booklets for a list price of $40. That's a great deal for three classic Rush concerts and a Rush concert CD soundtrack.
If you enjoy Rush Replay than you will also enjoy Rush In Rio and R30.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This is my updated review as of June 13, 2006. The previous part was my review as of April 17, 2006, before Rush Replay had been released.Rush Replay was released today and all I can say is, "It's excellent." It's been a long two months of waiting, but the waiting was rewarded.
First, let me talk about the Exit... Stage Left DVD. Limelight, Tom Sawyer, and The Trees start the DVD off, followed by Xanadu. Xanadu, on this DVD, is a classic. Because of advancements in technology, all Neil has to do nowadays is hit a MIDI trigger and the chime or bell sound is created. Here however, you get to see him running through the wind chimes, or hitting the bells. It's more realistic than he does on R30. Plus, both Alex and Geddy are using double necks, adding even more realistic sounds.
Another thing I missed to point out in April was that `Closer to the Heart' is different on the DVD than it is on the CD. Not much different, but a little.
The finale of `By-Tor/In The End/In The Mood/2112 Finale' is also a good melody.
For my mini-review of the Grace Under Pressure Tour, I'll start off with the Fear Trilogy live. This was the only tour, along with the Power Windows Warm-Up Tour, that featured the entire fear trilogy. Second, you get an awesome version of New World Man, instead of the Rush In Rio version. The YYZ/The Temples Of Syrinx/Tom Sawyer melody is approximately 9 minutes, 41 seconds long. The only song shortened in the melody is YYZ, which is cut down about a minute. Then you have Vital Signs, so, again, you don't have to listen to the Rush In Rio version.
The Grace Under Pressure Tour Soundtrack is the bonus CD. If you buy Replay at Best Buy, then you also get Limelight (Exit... Stage Left version), Closer To The Heart (Exit... Stage Left version), The Spirit Of Radio (A Show Of Hands verson), and Tom Sawyer (A Show Of Hands version) on the end of the soundtrack. (Note: When importing the bonus CD into your computer, the track listing, artist, album name, etc. will not come up, so be prepared to type them in.)
My notes for A Show Of Hands are as followed, Manhattan Project and Force Ten are awesome. I had been waiting to see Manhattan Project live for a long time. Later in the DVD are The Spirit Of Radio and Tom Sawyer, along with a 2112/La Villa Strangiato/In The Mood finale. Most of the A Show Of Hands DVD is excellent.
Also, all three tour books are great. The best on is the Hold Your Fire tour book with Neil's story "Fireworks (The making of Hold Your Fire)".
In the end, Rush Replay is just what I expected back in April, awesome. Everything from the remastered visuals to the remastered audio is excellent. Rush Replay is highly recommended for any classic rock fan.

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REPLAY X3 - DVD Movie

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Grace Under Pressure Tour CD Review

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(More customer reviews)Rush's new live album Grace Under Pressure Live 1984 Tour is a must for all Rush fans.
This CD was previously available only as part of the 3 DVD/1 CD box set Rush Replay X 3 which was released in June of 2006 which comprised of DVD versions of the 1981 concert film Exit... Stage Left, this 1984 MTV concert Grace Under Pressure Live 1984 and 1989's A Show of Hands film (which all of the DVDs subsequently got released as stand alone DVDs respectively).
Now Grace Under Pressure Live 1984 was recorded and filmed in September of 1984 at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with the Le Mobile unit by engineer Guy Charbonneau plus former Rush producer Terry Brown and the group's then Front Of House soundman Jon Erickson and over an hour was used for MTV and Westwood One/King Biscuit Flower Hour radio broadcasts respectively.
We kick the live CD off with the "Intro" which is of course the now legendary "Three Stooges Theme" song which Rush used as entrance music for when the band took to the stage (for the 1982-88 and then Vapor Trails tours). We kick the concert off properly with a spirited fast paced version of "The Spirit of Radio". Then we have the whole original Fear Trilogy (before it became a saga with the song "Freeze" for 2002's Vapor Trails) and it starts with The Enemy Within (previously released on the UK released "Prime Mover" EP). Next is a superb version of "The Weapon" with famed Count Floyd intro (Joe Flaherty of SCTV fame) and "Witch Hunt" (with Neil pounding away on electronic drums). Next we have a great version of "New World Man" (which had also been previously released on the UK released "Prime Mover" single).
Then we have "Distant Early Warning" with a nice fanfare into the track (slightly different to the intro on A Show of Hands). Next is a great version of "Red Sector A" (previously released on "The Big Money" single). We follow with "Closer To The Heart" (with a short jam at end of track). We then follow with a medley of the instrumental "YYZ", 2112's "The Temples of Syrinx" and of course the set closer "Tom Sawyer" (this medley works very well). We then have the encore starting with "Vital Signs" (which rocks) and the final medley of "Finding My Way" and "In The Mood".
There you have it but some wished that Anthem/Mercury would issue the full original show on CD with the tracks that weren't filmed on its DVD counterpart (pardon the expression). The track missing are "Subdivisions", "The Body Electric", "Between the Wheels", "Red Barchetta", "Kid Gloves" and "Red Lenses (with drum solo)" but either the multi-tracks with outtakes from the show were lost or thrown out so that is why they are not here.
The audio was painstakingly remixed by guitarist Alex Lifeson and engineer Mike Fraser. Plus the artwork recreates the concert program that Rush sold at shows on the Grace Under Pressure Tour.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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