DIFFERENT STAGES - LIVE

Where to start. RUSH has until recently been releasing a live album after every four studio records, and those live albums would focus almost exclusively on the songs from the previous four studio albums. "Exit Stage Left" is my favourite live RUSH album mainly because like most RUSH fans that's my favourite period of the band. This particular live recording is an unprecidented (for RUSH) 3 albums worth of music. And unlike past live albums the songs here are from every era of the band except for the post "Signals" synth period of the band (thankyou). Most of the songs are from the "Test For Echo" tour. Now for most that would be a disappointment but I still hold that album in high esteem and maybe in part that's why I love this recording so much.

I have to say that when this was released in 1998 the band didn't really know if they would be playing again. Neil had lost both his daughter and wife and everything was in limbo. In the liner notes it says "Suddenly...you were gone...from all the lives you left your mark upon".Then below that it says "In loving memory of Jackie and Selena". So there's no doubt that the band swayed from the norm here because of the situation to give the fans almost a retrospective of their careers that was in danger of being done.The third disc is really a bonus from the "A Farewell To Kings" tour in 1978 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England.The raw power and aggression is staggering after listening to the first two discs. Especially Geddy of course who's screaming his head off. Neil's drums are more upfront on this one too. All three of the guys are on fire as they rip through these songs from their first five studio albums. What I like as well about all three discs is that the crowd is very upfront in the sound. I know lots of people who don't like it, but man it gives you a taste of what it's like at a real RUSH concert. I mean almost from start to finish the crowd is yelling, singing, clapping, headbanging and many I know have tears in their eyes as they witness their heroes light the stage on fire with amazing virtuosity and power. I've been in the middle of 450,000 screaming people to witness this first hand at SarsStock in Toronto back on 2003. Also in the front row at the triumphant return of this band to Toronto on the "Vapor Trails" tour. Yeah I love hearing the crowd going nuts.

I don't even know where to begin as far as the music goes because there are so many highlights. I wanted to mention the cd sleeve for the third bonus disc that shows the Hammersmith Odeon theater with Geddy out front scalping RUSH tickets, while Alex is being carried away by men in white coats to the insane asylum, while Neil watches out the window upstairs in the theater. Funny stuff. Terry Brown engineered this disc and epics like "Xanadu" and "Cygnus X-1" are killer ! "Farewell To Kings" sounds incredible around 3 1/2 minutes with the upfront bass, ripping guitar and pounding drums. Every track though has Geddy's bass just booming and I love it. Check out "In The Mood" at the 3 minute mark. Insane !

Disc One begins with "Dreamline" which is the only track RUSH played at SarsStock that wasn't from the "Farewell To Kings" to "Moving Pictures" period. Oh besides the "Painted Black" cover. I have to mention the complete "2112" epic here in it's entirety. Man I had that cranked on the way to work today. My ears haven't been buzzing like that for a while. "Analog Kid" is another highlight. Huge bass as usual. All of the "Test For Echo" tracks sound amazing. "Freewill" is my favourite RUSH track and they nail it. Oh and Neil's drum solo blew me away. I'm not into drum solos usually but this was amazing, and it ended with a gong. I can't forget "Natural Science" either.

So a definite 4 stars. It's far from perfect. It's too long and it includes some songs that I wouldn't have included but hey it's RUSH, the greatest band on the planet.