RUSH - IN RIO

As many Symphonic Progheads, I've never been a huge RUSH fan, always saw them as a Led Zeppelin wannabe band that had little or nothing from prog rock, but this changed a few a months ago. Their music is far from being symphonic of course but the ideas and arrangements are surely adventurous enough to be considered prog, if you add the personality and incredible bass of Geddy Lee, the strength and precision of Neil Peart plus the unique technique and lyricist abilities of Alex Lifeson, RUSH deserves a special place in the Progressive Rock Hall.

Rush in Rio was one of the reasons that made me change my mind, the sound is impeccable, the tracks (All well known, so there's no need top comment them) are played in the precise order and with the perfect arrangements, no one will ever believe just listening them that they are only three guys.

If you are one of those that like me believed it was better to buy only compilations, probably you're wrong, in this album they play 31 great tracks, more than what many bands do along their whole career. I just started my Rush collection of studio albums and there isn't a single CD that may have disappointed me.

I had the luck to buy the album and the DVD together and the fanaticism in Rio for the Three Stooges is almost religious, people crying, praying or simply thanking God for giving them the chance to see their idols in person, almost never saw something like that, seems as if the band gets extra strength from the audience.

The main problem with power trios is that they can't reproduce the same quality playing on stage because of crew limitations, but Geddy, Alex and Neil give 110% of themselves to sound even better than in studio, something very hard to achieve when the band counts only with six hands.

The highlights of this excellent album are of course Closer to the Heart, Tom Sawyer, La Villa Strangiato and The Big Money, but as I said before, I believe all the tracks are excellent.

Excuse me if this review is emotional and says nothing about the tempo, instruments and technical issues, but sometimes is better to accept our emotions and try to transmit others the impression that the band leaves in our souls than just making an accurate and technical critic that wouldn't be able to express what we really feel, and at this point I feel Rush is a great band who play even better on stage.

If you don't have it, buy it and if you can, get the DVD together. I'm giving the album only 4 stars because I usually reserve the 5 stars for studio albums that contain original material.