MOVING PICTURES: LIVE 2011

This live concert celebrates the massive 'Moving Pictures' Tour, and the 30th Anniversary of one of Rush's greatest albums and certainly a masterpiece worth returning to. I was looking forward to hearing the live versions of some of my favourite songs. As soon as 'Tom Sawyer' started I was impressed with the overall heaviness but it was quite a low quality production for some reason. Then Lee began to sing and I was confused as he sounds really strained as though he were struggling with the high register, which he had not really had a problem with in the past on this song. A bit of research and I found out Geddy had a cold during this performance. What? Why would Rush record a concert when Geddy has a cold? Couldn't they wait for him to get over the cold first? This is just cheating the fans and is unforgiveable. The thing that makes it worse as the whole Cleveland concert has been recorded with these same performances on 'Time Machine' CD and even a DVD. It makes this CD quite worthless as one may as well purchase the whole concert if anything. Admittedly on DVD the concert is tolerable due to the visuals and some nice special features.

'Red Barchetta' is a bit better as it focuses on the music and it is well played. The instrumental break features echo on guitar chord crashes. The lead solo is subdued but effective. This is followed by the amazing instrumental, 'YYZ', which gives each member a chance to really shine. The title is taken from the morse code used at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The main riff is memorable with a progressive feel and unusual time sig and layered instrumentation. The riff is killer and well known in prog circles. Peart sounds great with his drumming metrical patterns that keep a consistent rhythm. There are better live versions than this but it is always a fun song to get into. Lee's bass is wonderful also playing fractured mini bass solos.

'Limelight' is usually brilliant but murdered here by Geddy who can't reach a single high note without wavering. He struggles throughout as those high notes are simply too much for him now with his blocked nose. The crowd still roar at the end of it so they must be easy to please. I am stunned at how bad Lee sounds and the music is not so crash hot either. This is one of my favourite tracks but it is so awful here I was disgusted.

'The camera eye' is one rarely heard live in recent years and it was great it was finally given a live treatment here. The bass and synth at the intro is really well executed. The lead break intro was also familiar and nicely played. I had forgotten how awesome this song is. I hoped Lee may sound better here. When he finally came in on the first verse it was admittedly a better performance but still squeaky and pitchy. Such a shame that they bothered to record this at all when he was feeling under the weather. It is better when Lee gets to the softer parts and the music is enough to save this one from oblivion. The riffs on this are killer and the time sig slows for the track to change into some very proggy passages of music. One of the best on this live album.

'Witch hunt (Part III of Fear)' follows and is a vast improvement over the previous vocal performances. Lee is okay here and the guitars, though muddy are adequate. I always loved the melody on this and it is good it is once again played live.

'Vital signs' closes this set as it closes the album. It features the same effect as on 'Moving Pictures', created by a sequencer made by Lee's OB-X synthesizer. Lee sounds again strained and struggles throughout. This is the weaker track on the album but still not a bad track live.

All I can say is if you want some live Rush grab 'Different Stages', 'Live in Rio' or 'Snakes and Arrows Live', or any of the others, but avoid this one. It is ridiculous that they recorded this knowing that Lee was below standard on vocals due to the cold he had. And I the same applied on the DVD, and longer concert album, and really that is not a way to please Rush fans or gain newcomers to the band. The band are either at their best or don't bother.