RETROSPECTIVE III 1989 - 2008

Retrospective III 1989 - 2008 is a compilation album by Canadian progressive rock act Rush. As the title suggests the album covers Rush six studio album releases from 1989 to 2008. The album was released in 2009 and is the third part of a line of compilation albums which currently also include Retrospective I (1974-1980) and Retrospective II (1981-1987). Both mentioned albums were released in 1997. There´s a regular CD edition available of the album but there´s also a limited edition available which includes a DVD with Rush videos and an interview.

In this period Rush started developing the warm, clever alternative/ progressive rock sound that characterizes their music today. The first two albums Presto (1989) and Roll the Bones (1991) still had a more high end production and extensive use of synths that characterized Rush music in the eighties but with Counterparts (1993) the music got heavier and more guitar based. I´m not sure I agree with the song selection for this compilation though. It seems a bit unevenly distributed or maybe I´m just missing a couple of my favorites. Songs like Test for Echo, Chain Lightning and Stick it Out would have fit really well here IMO. All in all it´s a good starting point for newcommers to this period of Rush and a 3 star rating is deserved.