| CUSTOMER REVIEWS: | 5/5 - A very fine live rush album
Different stages is a very fine live album from Rush who are amongst my favourite progressive rock bands after Yes and Kansas.This compilation of three cd's contain some very fine songs in Limelight,Bastille day and Xanadu.This is the Rush collection to get as it contains material from their Atlantic label also.Highly recommended.
5/5 - Different Stages keenly comes thru for every stage of R fans
Rush is one of the few Rock bands that can summon out several decades of fans upon the release of a live album. I for one have balked at their last three studio outings, but Different Stages is a very ambitious set which showcases the 20 year contrast in energy the band displayed between 1978 and 1997. Of course, the 1978 posture of Rush consisted of a diferent variety of props; ie: double necked guitars, less grandiose keyboard structure, and virtually no computerized synthesizer sequencing. The 1997 version reveals Alex Lifeson playing a single PRS guitar, Neil Peart playing a sized down drumkit, and Geddy Lee triggering more computerized synth sequences allowing him more freedom to play bass and sing with reasonably less stress than his 1978 model. The fans don't seem to mind as they shout their acceptance during their classic, "2112 Overture." The gem of course for me are the live versions of A Farewell to Kings, and Cinderella Man; two tracks that have eluded prior live releases, but encapsule the best elements of Rush: their energy, their talent, and their sense of humor.
Alan Ekland
3/5 - An enjoyable collection
I am not thrilled by Rush's live performances . . . having seen them on tour only three times. Similarly, while certainly competant and enjoyable, I find their live albums to be nothing special--I don't find that Rush brings anything exceptional to the table when playing live, their sound is good, true, and I enjoy it, but studio albums do as well or a little better.
If you are a long-time Rush fan, you have to have this album. It has a laundry list of excellent tunes. The three-CD set includes one CD recorded back in '78. Each of these CDs has a lot to offer. Trees, Dreamline, Limelight, Spirit of Radio, Freewill, By-tor, Bastille Day, Anthem . . . wow, a great collection.
If you are not a long-time Rush fan, there are better places to start. Chronicles, Power Windows, Signals, etc.
Of course, there are hits I miss from this collection, Red Barchetta, etc., and the packaging really stinks . . . it would be really easy to lose that third CD not to mention the packaging will be easily damaged over time. Furthermore, disk one proclaims itself to be an "enhanced" CD. What does that mean? The other two aren't "enhanced," why not?
So, three stars. Not because I dislike the album or the content, I love both, but three stars because in comparison to other offerings . . .. |
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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