WORKING MEN

Hold your fire; another live album from Rush is incoming. Red alert.

That did not make any sense whatsoever. Neither does the release of another live album from my favorite band Rush. Well, one of my favorite bands. I have to admit I enjoy the symphonic prog and the Canterbury scene more than any Rush album at the moment. Maybe I am growing tired of Rush. The release of another live album does not help this matter. Gosh, we even get a new version of One Little Victory here. Flash your credit card or run to the nearest record shop. Sorry, but cynicism is creeping in here. Btw, that new version of One Little Victory is nothing to be excited about. I was being sarcastic.

The songs are excellent. The live album as cosy as a camp fire. But this is not a necessary live album. It is frankly ripping off the likes of myself, a dedicated Rush fan. I need to have it because I am a Rush completist. But it was with a bad taste in my mouth I bought it. Compared to the other Rush live albums, this one falls short. I still prefer their first three albums. Working Men.......... forget it.

3 stars for the music.

Oh yeah, prog & rock on. This is something that can always please my ears. Sidenote: There are snakes and arrows on cover, but there is not eponymous song. Darn. So, what to say about this album. It's my first live by Rush, so this is positive (for me), but their studio albums I appreciate and like a lot, so I can say that they brings good songs here.

However, the sound quality is bad. Too much crowd noise & chanting. Not that I hate it, but I would rather be without it. It's part of atmosphere and this must have been helluva (hehe) concert, but for home listening, it's annoying, as one can't get clear sound. And Geddy's voice sometimes fails higher tones. I know, 56 years, he's doing wonderful job with these vocals, but it seems that some songs were composed for his younger self, when he was more capable.

4(-), because in overall, it's quite good album. It still is, don't worry. Musicianship is perfect and songs are played (mostly) as we're used to.

I cannot explain myself why monsters in music,icons.living legends or no matter what else we can call them,WHY they don't have a limit of decency and tha fair spirit and character to stop one day?!?!WHY?!?!We are really tired about the endless LIVE albums from RUSH,and that's why this fantastic progressive band trick their fans with box sets,LIVE albums,compilations?!?! Are still they hungry for more money?Because die hard fans will continue to buy no matter what RUSH will release...edit...offer to the market!There are nothing new anyway ,the same hits again and again,the classical screams from the crows from the tapes in the background and nothing special added?!?!So,there is unbelieveble commercial hypocrisy to continue to squeeze and make proffit after one mediocre studio album like SNAKES AND ARROWS and bombing after that fans with compilations,live albums.anthologies...That's unfair and dishonest from RUSH or their label!!!All I can say,being a RUSH fan from more than 25 years is SHAME,SHAME,SHAME!And I think that they are worse than IRON MAIDEN,the most commercial band from the marketing point of view!Even DREAM THEATER are more fair,versatile and diverse in their options and they are also "unleashed" to edit new materials in all the formats possible too!Fans are happy anytime?!?!Relly?!?!I doubt about it.Me,a RUSH disspointed fan I stopped from long time to make aquisitions of my favourite band for all the products thet they continue to edit with disrespect and hypocrisy! For respect I give 1 STAR to this weak and uninsipred LIVE album,because it's RUSH anyway,but they don't deserve even that!SHAME!ENDLESS SHAME!

Rush in the Limelight with the Spirit Of Tom Sawyer is a Far Cry from One Little Victory

Another year and another compilation. It has been 2 years since the release of "Snakes and Arrows" and so the time has arrived for another Rush compilation but this one with a difference; every track is performed live. This would be a good thing apart from the fact that all the tracks bar one are released from live albums that every Rushaholic owns, or at least should own.

There is one shining gem, an unreleased live track, One Little Victory, but one has to wonder why this is the case. There is so much potential to release another live album with new material making it a must for every Rush fan worth their salt, so perhaps it comes down to management issues or label squabbles. Whatever the case this compilation is not much to write about and so I won't waste too much time with it here.

Suffice it to say there is nothing new on offer worth purchasing a full CD of rehashed live material no matter how good the set list consisting of treasures such as Limelight, The Spirit of Radio, Freewill, Tom Sawyer, Working Man and YYZ. The DVD release of this is worth a look but only if you do not own "Live in Rio", "R30" or "Snakes and Arrows Live". A bit of shameless marketing to get more Rush fans, this is primarily for newbies or completists; it can easily be avoided and should be for those with all the Rush live albums.

One more Rush live release? Look, this one is different - it is their "first ever compilation of live recordings"!

Speaking seriously, they were a great band, and their legacy is really excellent. Another question is that their best time is gone and their management just (try) to produce as much money from the brand "Rush" as possible.

So, there we have compilation from three last to time live Rush releases - Rush in Rio (2003), R30 (2005), and Snakes & Arrows Live (2008). Whenever still not so much time is gone from all three were released, and to be honest even their release was more commercial action, the release of compilation from their track looks strange.

Music is as good as ever - happily the songs mostly come from their earlier great time. Geddy Lee vocals are good as for recordings from first decade of new millenium. Music is energetic, ok, they really don't have that explosive energy of their shows from 70-s.

Nice , but useless release. I can hardly imagine who is interested in such compilation. But still nice music-for newbies.