ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE

All the World's a Stage proves that the stage was the natural habitat of the band at the beginning of their career. Ever since, they mastered the art of studio also, where today they seem just as comfortable an confident. But, unlike in the studio, Rush has not many competitors as a live act. Few bands are capable of producing such an intense sound - and keep it for over 30 years.

Live, the songs from the first phase of the band sound deeper and resolved. Most of the live versions actually top the studio ones. I like particularly the strength and echo of Anthem. The live version of 2112, though edited, seems better resolved too. But my personal favorite here is Something for Nothing, an incredible improvement from the studio version. The song coda turns it into a much better song, a small masterpiece. It is funny how small details can make such a difference.

I give this one four stars for two main reasons: there are a few weaknesses in the repertoire, and their performance would benefit from a little polishing - something that they would manage to make as their career went on. Anyway, All the World's a Stage is a monument to the intensity of Rush live. Heavy, deep, astringent, raw, exciting.