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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Roll the Bones Review

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(More customer reviews)"Roll the Bones", to my ears, represents the first time in a long time that all the elements of the band are coming together-- after experimenting with softer sounds and cleaner tones on the last couple records, and synth-driven rock before that, Rush seems to have found a good balance with "Roll the Bones". With Lee's confident vocal delivery supported by unparallel musicianship, great songs, great lyrics, and (finally!) great arrangements, Rush has turned out an album as good as the work they'd done ten years beforehand.
A trend with Rush albums is that they seem to be putting the songs I enjoy the most right up at the front of the album, "Dreamline", opening this one, is no exception-- what a great song, churning verses breaking into a driving chorus, blazing guitar solo, its a song born to be listened to rolling down the highway (likely a bit too fast at that...). The band shifts gears into the rolling grooves of "Bravado", a great minor key ballad, clearly showing how much better they'd gotten at this form than on "Presto". Following this up is one of the more interesting cuts on any Rush album, the title track, "Roll the Bones". Funky rhythms, synth hits, interspersed acoustic guitars and a bizarre rap make this one totally unique in the Rush catalog. Its a lot of fun-- this is an element of the band that started to emerge at this point, the fact they COULD have fun, but beyond that, its a great piece, stellar vocals, and a compulsively funky bassline accentuated by great playing from Lifeson and Peart.
So this was a pretty golden start, the album does kind of drift after this-- similar to the Rush albums of old, none of the material is really bad, it just doesn't grab you-- "Face Up", "Where's My Thing?" (the latter being an instrumental-- first on a Rush album since "YYZ" on moving pictures), a pair of funky songs, like I said, both really listenable, and good album tracks, but not noteworthy. Ditto for "The Big Wheel", "Heresy" and "Neurotica".
But there's one more gem on in here as well, the stunning "Ghost of a Chance"-- a straightforward love ballad, really a rarity on Rush albums (the only other ones I can think of prior to this is 1980's "Entre Nous"), this one is really a pretty, sweet song, and for a band that doesn't really explore these themes, they succeed quite well at it.
Bottom line, "Roll the Bones" is a great record, probably the best the band did in eight years or so at this point. Recommended.

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Rush: A Show of Hands (1989) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's always good to see a live Rush video, but this video's production could have been a lot better. The way it was filmed kind of makes me dizzy at times. It almost looks like it was filmed with hand-held cameras. The video is only 90 minutes, so they left off a lot of songs like Mystic Rhythms, Red Lenses, Subdivisions, and Limelight, which were all performed during that tour. On the other hand, it contains a lot of songs that were left off the cd, like Prime Mover, YYZ, La Villa Strangiato, The Spirit Of Radio, and Tom Sawyer. This video would have been better if it was the entire concert and if they used better cameras, but nontheless, any true Rush fan, like myself, will still appreciate this video. Let's just hope the Different Stages video will look a little better. (if it ever gets released)

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DVD Track Listing 1. Intro / 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 12. The Spirit Of Radio 13. Tom Sawyer 14. 2112 15. The Temples Of Syrinx 16. La Villa Strangiato 17. In The Mood 18. Credits - A Show Of Hands

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Rush in Rio Review

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(More customer reviews)Most live CD's are so polished that they sound like studio albums with crowd noise piped in between tracks. The only reason to buy them is to see how the guitarist voices the songs with one guitar instead of studio overdubs (and many live albums have overdubs that ruin even that); however, 'Rush in Rio' captures a true live sound like no live CD (or album) I have ever heard since Kiss Alive. To get a live recording through the mixing board the band can jam with or without a crowd, and apart from possibly a bit more energy in the performances, what is the point. The liner notes claim a primitive Brazilian mobile recording truck captured the performance, but it also captured the ambiance of the massive soccer stadium full of 40,000 fans, the energy and excitement of a live show. I have been to over 100 live concerts (6 of them Rush) and if you close your eyes listening to this CD your ears hear what a live show delivers. Better yet, buy the Rush in Rio DVD and keep your eyes open!
I did read one review below that complained of the sound quality. If you want a great sound quality recording, but the studio CD's. This CD gives live sound that was never meant to be clear as a bell. One very interest note is that at every concert I have ever been to, the mix is always a bit off on the first two or three songs as the sound people adjust for the arena and the given night. True to that, the first few tracks of this are the worst of the mixes, but again that is all part of the live experience. Rush rocks, makes us think, and amazes us that three men deliver such rich and dynamic sounds. My favorite band is great again. Thank you Geddy, Alex and Neal.
PS If you read 'Ghost Rider' by Neal Peart you will have a much greater appreciation of his performance and presence on this tour.

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Japanese edition of 2003 release includes an exclusive leaflet, a reprint of 'Weiber Trails Tour I'. Features 31 tracks including 2 Board Bootlegs, 'Between Sun & Moon' & 'Vital Signs'. Includes 32-page booklet loaded with b&w and full color photos, packaged in double gatefold miniature LP sleeve. Warner.

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Show of Hands Review

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(More customer reviews)Rush's tradition of releasing a live album after every fourth studio release continues with "A Show of Hands". Unlike the wretched "Exit Stage Left" which was plauged by terrible recording problems, this albums avoids the problems which make "Exit" nearly unlistenable. Unlike "Exit" and the masterful "All the World's A Stage" which present one live show, "A Show of Hands" presents cuts from different concerts and tours.
As an attempt to show case different tours, it lacks the cohesion and sustained energy that make a "Rush in Rio" and "R30" such triumphs. As an anthology of different shows, the shifts between the different concerts is often jarring.
It's absurd to label this as the "worst" Rush live album--since its clearly far superior to "Exit, Stage Left." (And "Exit's" problems are not performance-related, but as I note above, technical.)
As a matter of personal preference, I like a live album to be of one show, a snapshot, so to speak, of a band's work and spirit at a single moment in time.
For the new Rush fan I would not recommend it. "Different Stages" would be a much better intro to their live work. It showcases their more recent work as well as the pre-"Hemispheres" albums on that fantastic third concert disc.
All of that having been said, "A Show of Hands" should be in every serious Rush fan's collection. It is really completely inaccurate to describe Rush's 80's oeuvre as "the synth period" since the use of synths began with 1976's "2112". The shift is gradual and doesn't support the label the period is too often given.
As a sampling of their live shows in the 80s, it does a good job. To repeat, I would have preferred one show but the anthology approach does provide a more global perspective on one of the most successful concert acts of the last thirty years.
Rush also has has more consecutive gold and platinum albums than any other band--excepting only the Beatles and Rolling Stones (in the that order).

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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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Rush: Exit Stage Left (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)I never saw the VHS version of this concert. I wore out a dozen "Exit Stage Left" cassettes and my CD still gets a lot of play. Suffice it to say, "I love the music from this tour." The video footage was well captured and well done all the way around. No complaints there. But every song is interrupted with commentary and goofy visual effects that have nothing to do with the concert. For instance:
Geddy Lee on stage, "This a song about a car, this is called Red Barchetta." Then the audio and video are interrupted for some oration and a stupid, low quality visual. Fellas, that is tripe. Tripe. I want to see the concert, please. I want to listen to the music, please. Spare me the gimmicks. You are Rush. You do not need this kind of garbage. It detracts from the overall effect, which is to imagine yourself at the concert! When the DVD was made, the corny crap should have been canned. Most of the songs are corrupted in this manner. Thank God nobody pulled these pranks on the music album! Thank God. I am so sick of concert DVD's that fall into this same category. The only thing worse is the cursed "change the camera angle every second" effect.
Isn't anyone else interested in plain old concert footage? Am I the only one? I've been to hundreds of concerts. Can you imagine it? Geddy Lee in front of thousands of screaming fans, just beginning a song, then the lights and sound fade out, a voice comes over the P.A telling us what the song is about while some cheesy video footage is displayed. There would be a riot. People would trash the place. Why do DVD's of concerts have to be different? This is why I own very few concerts on DVD, and most of those have only been viewed once.

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DVD Track Listing 1. Intro - Exit...Stage Left Live DVD 2. Limelight 3. The Trees 4. Xanadu 5. Red Barchetta 6. Freewill 7. Closer To The Heart 8. YYZ 9. By-Tor And The Snow Dogs / In The End / In The Mood / 2112 Finale /YYZ 10. YYZ (Credits)

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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 - Rush in Rio (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I originally gave this three stars but after listening to the entire concert I raised it to four. There are definitely some sound problems early on but they were pretty much resolved by about 25 minutes into this 2 hour and 50 minute concert. It was apparant there was no sound check and the sound engineers had to make adjustments as the band played on. They were successful however and for the most part the sound is fairly good. Rush puts on a tremendous show playing songs from throughout their career. I would recommend this for all Rush fans as well as anyone wanting to see a great band.
Here is the track listing:
Tom Sawyer
Distant Early Warning
New World Man
Roll The Bones
Earthshine
YYZ
The Pass
Bravado
The Big Money
The Trees
Free Will
Closer To The Heart
Natural Science
One Little Victory
Driven
Ghost Rider
Secret Touch
Dreamline
Red Sector A
Leave That Thing Alone
O Baterista
Resist
2112
Limelight
La Villa Strangiato
The Spirit of Radio
By-Tor and the Snow Dog/
Cygnus X-1/
Working Man

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RUSH IN RIO - DVD Movie

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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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Hold Your Fire Review

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(More customer reviews)To a certain degree, Rush has always personified the battle between passion and reason. The theme even illustrated the cover of their 1978 opus, "Hemispheres." Led by bassist-singer's Geddy Lee's love it or hate it falsetto vocal style, "Hold Your Fire" is a fitting bookmark to what was perhaps the most productive and musically-rich chapter in the band's history. Drummer Neil Peart's pensive lyrics provide the plot for what turns out to be the end of the musical journey begun with 1980's "Permanent Waves." As the title suggests, the theme of the album is the human struggle to temper instinct and passion with intellect and restraint.
The songs explore several variations of the theme: honoring the sacrifices we sometimes must make to hold true to our dreams ("Mission"); warning us of the dangers of giving in ("Lock and Key"); or exploring the side effects of progress ("Second Nature"). Peart's lyrics have always been among the most literate and thought-provoking in rock and, when all is said and done, it's hard to disagree with them. The reason for this is that, rather than beat you over the head with his point of view, he chooses to explore the many shades of gray that illustrate one of the core struggles at the heart of human understanding.
The irony is that, while the lyrics provide a well-balanced view of the passion vs. reason struggle, the music falls squarely on the side of reason. In choosing to push the power trio format to the limit, Rush chose to play heavily with the use of sequencers which, in turn, makes one feel that, with everything that is going on musically, the band never really cuts loose. Even Peart's snare drum is not the powerful firecracker heard in, say, "Moving Pictures."
This is not to say, however, that "Hold Your Fire" is a sterile album. On the contrary, Lee's vocals are at their most accessible and his bass and keyboard work is nothing short of amazing. Guitarist Alex Lifeson continues to play with phrasing with an inventiveness absent from most of the "guitar god" alumni of the time. And, of course, Peart is his usual self: one of the most inventive drummers in rock, equal parts power, precision, and intelligence. Adding first-rate production by the band and Peter Collins, "Hold Your Fire" is a terrific exercise, lyrically, musically, sonically and philosophically.

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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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Vapor Trails Review

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(More customer reviews)Really 3.5 stars...
With the release of _Vapor Trails_, Canadian progressive rock masters Rush have reinvented themselves once again. Never content to simply rely on constantly reusing a single formula to achieve their artistic expression, not to mention their incredible commercial success, guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist/vocalist/erstwhile keyboardist Geddy Lee and drummer/lyricist Neil Peart have returned to the standard power trio format that put them on the map in the mid-1970's, with perhaps their heaviest album ever.
_Vapor Trails_, Rush's 17th studio release in 18 years and the band's first studio release since 1996's _Test for Echo_, was received by fans with great expectation, and some mixed reviews. More than anything, the long layoff was due to personal hardships endured by drummer Neil Peart who lost his wife to cancer and his daughter to a fatal car accident within about a year of one another. Peart was so devastated by the loss of his family that this consummate drummer, who is widely renowned for his work ethic, did not pick up a drumstick for something like two years.
After Peart had recovered sufficiently from these losses, the band began writing new material, primarily by sharing tapes with one another, with a "no pressure/expectations" attitude that the process would either result in an album or not. In interviews, members of the band have stated that until a certain point, well into the writing process, the band's future was still undecided. In the course of working out the material, Geddy Lee's keyboards, which had grown from sparse use on 1977's _A Farwell to Kings_, and evolved into a dominant aspect of the bands sound by the early 1990's, were abandoned. This lack of keys and the songwriting, brought about in large part by Peart's hardship and his largely solitary reconstruction of himself, are, I think the two primary things that lend to Rush's most guitar-driven, visceral and emotionally open album to date.
Personally, I think that the 13 tunes offered here easily stand up to the vast majority of mass-marketed drivel that constitutes today's popular music scene. (Yeah, I am opinionated.) From the frenzied opening double kick-drum/distorted guitar onslaught of "One Little Victory" to the jangly and popish "How It Is" and on to the brilliantly written, building "Secret Touch," Rush - the band that, along with Yes, King Crimson, ELP and a handful of others put prog rock on the map - delivers an assortment of well written tunes, brilliantly executed by a trio of virtuoso rock musicians. I honestly don't think many will like all 13 cuts on this album (personally, I'm not that fond of "Ghost Rider" and "Freeze"), but I would guess that most Rush fans would end up liking at least 8 to 10 songs.
The following might be more info than you want to bother with, but people have brought up the album's sound quality. I agree that it is an issue and this is just an attempt to explain what I think is going on...
Sonically, the problem with _VT_ is that it is mastered too loud. (Mastering is the process wherein the finished stereo mixes: receive final equalization, as well as, relative and overall level adjustment, are ordered, track gaps and crossfades set, etcetera.) Recent years have seen breakthrough technology emerge in the world of digital audio, which, among other things has revolutionized digital compression and "brickwall limiting" (the two most common techniques for increasing the average level of audio program material, and therefore, perceived volume of a CD). This, in turn, has made albums louder and louder each year in contest that began about a decade ago.
For better or for worse, this album was not mastered by any of the gurus of the trade (like Bob Ludwig or Bernie Grundman to name a couple) and I think it suffers for it. There are plenty of albums that are as loud as _VT_, and a few that are even louder, but many of them sound a lot better. The compression artifacts from the signal level processing, not to mention some poor final EQ choices (the exact problems) are absurdly evident to the trained ear, and sound bad to most people, whether or not they have the audio engineering experience to identify them with precision. I think it is really fair to say that the mastering job on this album is the easily one of the worst I've heard on a significant major label release...ever!
Rush are veterans of the studio, and Paul Northfield is a talented and experienced producer and audio engineer. Both have turned out consistently high quality recordings over long careers and it's not likely that these mixes were mediocre product. Honestly, it is actually not possible to objectively judge the mixes that came out of the studio once they have been mastered. A skilled mastering engineer can turn mediocre mixes into outstanding final product and, clearly, that level of technology, in the wrong hands, can destroy a fine recording. I think that is what has happened here. (This is likely the result of pressure from the label in an attempt to position the album to compete for the dollars of the younger segment of Rush's fan base, who generally listen to new, loud CD's.)
Poor sonics notwithstanding, with _VT_, Rush has made a powerful, personal and appropriate musical statement a time in the band's history that represents a definite personal and career crossroads. While it may not be their best ever, _VT_ is a very good album by an excellent band that has deservedly earned a place in history as one of the greatest progressive rock bands ever. It's really a shame it doesn't sound better...
PS - if you are new to the band you might prefer one of their definitive classics: _2112_, _A Farewell to Kings_, _Hemispheres_, _Permanent Waves_, and/or _Moving Pictures_.

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Japanese Version featuring an Introduction Written by Mike Portnoy, the Drummer from Dream Theater.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Power Windows Review

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(More customer reviews)This is Rush at perhaps their most powerful, both musically and lyrically. This is a trend that would continue into Hold Your Fire. However, unlike that album, this one rocks much more.
Power Windows is an even more radical departure from Grace Under Pressure as Signals was from Moving Pictures.
The keyboards on this album sound beautiful and add so much texture. From the sweeping symphonies of Manhattan Project to the majestic chorus' of Marathon this album packs a powerful punch.
The rhythm section here is at it's tightest ever. Neil turns in some of the most complex and powerful drumming of all time and Alex's guitars are at their emotional peak...just listen to the heartfelt solo in Marathon. This album also marks the first use of overdubbed chorus' by Lee...something that will dramatically increase over the next few releases.
Again, there is a theme to this album...this time it's power. Power in money (Big Money), talk (Grand Designs), weapons (Manhattan Project), persistance (Marathon), world domination (Territories), dreams (Middletown Dreams), emotions (Emotion Detector) and the unknown (Mystic Rhythms).
This album ranks among the best Rush albums ever. The music ties in with the lyrics and the lyrics tie in with an overall theme...a masterful work that should not be overlooked.

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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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Signals Review

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(More customer reviews)For a band that has encompassed a huge collection of albums, spawning 3 decades, and seen several musical trends and revolutions, Signals is still the album I find myself going back to again and again. I'd also like to say, that for purchasers of this disc the Re-master (In comparison of the disc that is not), makes Niel's drums sound a little more crisp, and the album is a bit louder and has erased some of the softness of the recording. That being said on with the review....
I won't go around echoing the same comments that I have heard here from time to time. The departure from the radio friendly greatness of the last 2 albums, the flat keyboards and poor mixing of Alexs guitar, the absence of 7-10 minute opuses/concepts, the dropping of Terry Brown. All this has been talked about and leaves all those hard core Rush fans (many who seem to borderline be obsessed on the level of Star Trek geeks), too much to fight over.
What I will say is that to me this is an album that distinctly captures a mood and an era that doesn't exist anymore. The snythns have this demonic dark underpinning, and for the first time there were many songs on the album (for Rush) that had a distinct dark brooding theme to them. Subdivsions doesn't just hint at the drudgery and disspair of teenage pressure, it's litteraly hammered home in Geddy's verse of "conform or be cast out", as if he had to spell it out for the listeners.
The Weapon, while being a great moody piece for Niel to shine hammers home the possible apocalypse, and Loosing It easily needs no introduction with it's self-titled moniker, and Ben Minks violin solo. It isn't so much that Ben's violin sings as much as it literraly weeps and cries.
Even the glorious Analog Kid which is upbeat in mood and lyric, still sounds as if there is a lingering pathos that just sounds unreal when the sudden abrupt chorus hits of "you move me, you move me."
For good measure there are other songs that aren't dark at all, (New World Man, Chemistry, Digital Man), but there is an overhanging cloud that seems to exist over every song.
This to me is the greatness of this album. THe tracks and all the music prowess of the members combined with the early 80's new wave snyth mood going on, produced a dark complicated album that somehow touches me individualy like no other album. There had been dark themes such as say 2112 but it's a story, Witch Hunt is a common concept and brooding too, but somehow the bleakness and grandeur of this album speaks to me "personally" for the first time for a Rush album.
The band has still made great phenomenal albums (and even made a bleaker sounding album in Grace Under Pressure), but this is the one that speaks to me. It's like a perfect conversation with your best friend you haven't seen in a long time.
There is no album ever that even sounds like this. Do enjoy.

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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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Caress of Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)This wrongly overlooked album is a treasure trove of early 70's heavy prog rock. The second album with the amazing Neil Peart behind the pen and drum kit, Caress has the raw intensity and sincerity that the band launched their career on. Fast moving tracks like "Bastille Day" and "I Think I'm Goin' Bald" balance the two slower concept pieces, "The Necromancer" (thinly veiled Tolkien, gotta love it!) and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Both of the concept pieces are classic, and preview the band's move into the full-blown, hard rock must-have concept album 2112 (and later, "Hemispheres"). If you're exploring the sonic world of Rush, don't forget Caress of Steel!

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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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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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