R30 - 30TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR

You just can't win with Rush these days! A couple of years ago i rushed out to but Rush in Rio on the strength of a classic Rock magazine review and a listing above Yessongs in theur greatest live albums of all time list. I should have known better as Thin Lizzy Live and dangerous was voted best live album of all time in that survey. Lord Help us! Phil Lynnott later admitted that 30 % of the album was recorded in the studio! But I digress. A few months ago a few eager enthusiastic reviews appeared on this site. Some 5 stars, let me remind you that 5 stars indicates an essential masterpiece of progressive Rock.Yes it does, go and read it. Is R30 a masterpiece? Well thats easily answered with a resounding no.There are far too many weaker tracks on the list and Geddy Lees vocals are way below acceptable.When a singer no longer has the energy to pronounce hard consonants as in dough dimes demand dough ddoughts (dd = th as in them) you have to wonder what is going on. My next critiscism is that apart from 3 or 4 classics like Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta and The Spirid of Radio (more lee trobles) the rest of the classics are consigned to either the r 30 overdure orthe medley at the end which comprises tracks 6, 7, and 8 on disc 2. Songs of the recend joke shop album are very weak. The seeker summerdime blues etc. By the way Summerdime Blues is awful. What on earth is this song doing on here? Have I losd my sense of Humour? I don' know maybe i have. Other weak songs include the dreary Roll the Bones, dreamline, Bedween the wheels, Grossroads, dear oh dear who thought this up!

Ok the good stuff. Both Overdure and Medley are great and show glimpses of what could have been. Other classics as mendioned above , a better sound producshion than Rush in Rio, way bedder in my opinion. Der Trommier is excellent and I loved the addition of Cound Basies one o clock sdomp. ( alrighd the joke is wearing thin, i'll quid here)

This is such a mediocre set that when 2112 kicks in it is like the lights have just come on what a blessed relief.2112 is enormous what a powerful summary here.

This DVD is for Rush junkies as it is too expensive to justify. I bought the DVD and double CD version for 75 aus dollars and to me it is not great value. If money is no object then go for it as there are just enough highlights to sneak through.The sound is way better that the truly awful sound on Rush in Rio.

The benchmark for Live DVD's when it comes to sound is Yessymphonic in my opinion so people might be able to gauge where i am coming from. I still love Rush as they have given me enormous pleasure over the years and hopefully this will be taken as an honest review. 3 stars

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