RUSH - IN RIO

Rush in Rio is one of the best live albums ever recorded and it's the best of Rush's superb live sets. Recorded at the final show of the Vapor Trails tour, this concert shows what happens when you deny a country of renowned party-goersthe cahnce to see their favortie band for 30 years. Tens of thousands of Brazilians shame every other rock crowd as they cheer and sing along to every song, including the instrumentals! The band pulls out all the stops with 3 CDs worth of music drawing from nearly all of their 17 studio albums.

Rush always was a band that was better live, which is incredible since it's only three guys who have to play four instruments plus various effects. Highlights are hard to pick, but Peart's drum solo "O'Baterista" must receive a nod as it is quite simply the greatest and most enjoyabloe drum solo ever. The beauty of this album is how all of Rush's material flows together, whether it be the hard rock of the debut and newer albums to the heavy prog epics to the lush synth pop of the 80s. It all makes sense live. If you're not a fan of the mid-to late 80s material, listen to this. The band punches a hole through the limiting production of their studio albums and the added volume and passion makes the synth songs as powerful as their hard rockers.

Considering the sad state of the band, particularly Peart, when they came back and recorded Vapor Trails, this concert must be very vindicating. The sound quality isn't as good as the surround sound of the DVD, but none of the energy is lost. These 50 year old Canadians prove with this album that theya re still live kings.

Grade: A