A SHOW OF HANDS

Rush's '88 live album is quite good, but isn't that what we always expect from the band? It seems that every time the band wants to change their sound and move in another direction they release a live album. This was the case for albums like their 1976 release All The World's A Stage which saw them move from their heavy roots onto their classic era, and from their classic era they Exit(ed)... To Stage Left to make their move onto heavier synthesized grounds with their Signals album. Now, at the end of that era they'll make their move again.

Recorded over their Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours the track listing shows very much where the band was at the time. What's nice is that if you are a devoted fan of the band then you're going to get a lot of material here that was not previously, or has not subsequently, been released live. Of course, the performance here is quite good, as it always is, but what really either makes or destroys this album for most is the selection of songs.

People who loved Rush's 80s period should find a lot to like here. Songs like Turn The Page, Marathon, Mission, Mystic Rhythms, Force Ten and Red Sector A are some of Rush's best and certainly the best from that particular era. However, some prog fans may be turned off by others on the album such as Time Stand Still or The Big Money. One of the real highlights of this album, however, is the performance that caps off the album. Closer To The Heart is performed in fine form here. Coming into the end of the track the band decided to tack on an extra two and a half minutes of upbeat instrumental to the track which make it something truly special.

However, I'd really only recommend this one to fans or those who like Rush's 80s period or those who don't mind a bit of New Wave in their prog. Still a good effort none the less, this one is very deserving of a high 3. Not for everyone but good for most.

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