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The tracklisting is the same as the DVD, with the addition of two "authorised bootleg" bonus tracks taken from earlier gigs during the same tour: "Between Sun and Moon" (originally from the Counterparts album) and "Vital Signs" (from Moving Pictures). Anyone who hasn't seen the film footage will wonder a little at the dragon noises during "One Little Victory"; nor will they get to see Neil Peart's revolving drum kit or Geddy Lee's washing machines; but with performance and sound mix of this quality, it's likely that Rush fans will not hesitate to acquire both formats. --Mark Walker
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Recorded on their "Vapor Trails" tour of 2002, this see's Rush back in the limelight (sic) after their sabatical following drummer/lyricist Neil Peart's personal tragedies of losing his daughter and wife (see "Ghost Rider" in the book reviews).
Some reviewers have mentioned poor sound quality and the crowd noise as being minus points, but they did'nt bother this listener. In fact, the crowd noise adds to atmosphere - these guys are going nuts!
My only gripe is seeing some over-familiar songs again (Closer to the Heart, Spirit of Radio, Freewill etc to name but a few) that have been featured on previous live albums (including the prior "Different Stages"). But this is more than made up for by the new material from "Vapor Trails" - freed from the muddy production/mastering of that studio album, songs like "Earthshine", "Ghost Rider" and "Secret Touch" come alive - shame there's not more of them! The acoustic version of "Resist" is simply gorgeous, a shame Rush don't gear down a little like this in the studio more often.
Guitarist Alex Lifeson's narration in the middle of "La Villa Strangiato" is like some kind of surreal dream and a blast at that. Geddy Lee's bass really punches through on most tracks and his voice sounds great for the most part, if a little thin on the high notes - lower down the warm, rich tones of his singing really shine.
Hell, its Rush - they haven't toured the UK and Europe in over a decade (and they comment as such in the sleeve notes) - so this (and the DVD) are the next best thing.
Rush still remain something of a enigma to Joew Public, but they have endured and have constantly redefined their sound and been innovative - how the critics must hate them for having the nerve to still be here and producing good music.
I doubt "Rush in Rio" will break in any new fans - but for the faithful, this is great stuff.
You can never have too much Rush!
I understand that the recording equipment used was below par, but surely something could have been done at the mixing stage? In any case, if they wanted to release a live album, could they not have used material from other shows on the tour. The two songs on here which were recorded at another show - "Between Sun and Moon" and "Vital Signs" - have superior sound quality.
It's also not one of Rush's best performances. Alex sounds a little tired on a few songs, notably "Earthshine". It's a bit sad, too, that much of the subtle intro to "La Villa Strangiato" has been dropped from its rendition here, with no keyboard part at all.
Despite all this, the CD is still worth buying. Any decent Rush live recording is always worth having. The setlist is good and some of the songs ARE delivered very well. Alex's insane ramblings in "La Villa" are quite amusing, too.
Sometimes a band can last too long. Usually the buying public have ways of making this extremely obvious but some bands have a momentum which refutes all critical analysis and allows them to carry on regardless. ("Exhibit A, m'lud: the Rolling Stones").
I must admit that, having been a devoted Rush fan since the 1970's, I wondered if they had reached that point. "Test for Echo" is the only Rush album I've played less than a dozen times and I didn't even buy "Vapor Trails". As owner of (and indeed background vocal contributor on) two previous Rush live sets, I didn't even consider buying this.
My mistake.
This is the bounciest, most squeakily fresh live Rush set since "All the World's A Stage" way back in 1978. Why? Because, I suggest, they've stopped trying to play their songs live in exactly the same fashion as they appear on the studio album. By the mid-80's, live Rush sets had got to the point where they were technically remarkable - but nonetheless inevitably inferior - copies of their studio sound. Fine if you're actually there at the time hearing and seeing it, but hard to enthuse about if you weren't and have the studio versions to compare the live album with.
This time around, the owerwhelming sense I get from "Rush In Rio" is that they were having an absolute blast. No, the sound is not as good as on either of their last two live sets - but the verve, the swivel, the joie de vivre is there in spades. The audience are going bonkers and the three members of the band are giving it maximum welly. THIS is what live music is about. To hear them playing "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" from 29 years ago as if they'd written it yesterday is more than enough compensation for the fact that Geddy Lee's voice is a bit shot and they occasionally miss a timing cue. The strange thing is that this is exactly what they were like when I saw them in Birmingham, UK in 1989 on the "Hold Your Fire" tour which turned up as side 3 of "A Show Of Hands" - a live album which sound like a studio album with some cheering added.
This is the second "proper" live Rush album. You deserve it.
Unlike most of the reviewers here I AM new to "Rush" and it was the DVD that this... Read more
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