Great live show from Rush.

"Rush in Rio" in many ways breaks the pattern for Rush live albums-- it came after only one studio album rather than the usual four, and rather than being culled from several dates, its one show, and as aural evidence attests, a very special one. The show is further augmented by a pair of recordings from earlier in the tour of songs not included in the Rio set.



Featuring a varied setlist (four from "Vapor Trails", three from "Power Windows" and "Permanent Waves", two from three different albums, and one each from eight records, this is an exciting, varied, and different setlist-- while it leans a bit heavy on the popular material, its certainly more varied than the setlist on "Different Stages- Live". But there are quite a few rare gems in here as well-- we get "The Pass", "Bravado", "Natural Science" (although it was quite commonly played by now), "Red Sector A", "Resist".... but honestly, how many times DOES Rush have to play "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight", "Spirit of Radio", "Working Man", etc.?



The show is the usual top-notch performance from the band-- there's highlights all over, I was particularly happy with the entire second disc-- its great to hear some of the more modern material played-- "Red Sector A" was a particular highlight, what a great song. The two bonus tracks tucked on-- "Between Sun & Moon" and "Vital Signs" (from "Counterparts" and "Moving Pictures" respectively) are also superb-- these were actually highlights of the tour when it came through my area.



If you're looking to explore Rush, this is as good a place as any to start, if you're listening to the band, this may be a good live record to start with, its a nice show.

Sound is Terrible, Rush say it isn't so!

I'm deaf in one ear so at first I thought it was just something people could hear in Stereo that I could not, until my all-ears friend listened to it, and said it sounded like a horrible bootleg someone attempted with one of those old tape players you buy at Radio shack.



It was just horrible, too much base, I tried to lower the base, change the treble, play with the EQ, no luck, still crappy god awful sound. The first poster was spot on the money, I'm just re-affirming that this is by far the worst Rush live album I've ever heard.



I'm sadly disappointed with Rush on this, they were the ones that signed off on this project, if a partially deaf guy can point out how awful the sound is, I have to ask, did Rush even LISTEN to this album?



Okay to be fair here, what's good about the album.. the art work is pretty, the set list is arranged well, the CD's are nice and round with no jagged edges, other than that there are far better live albums out there.

what are people THINKING?! >_<

This is a really good rush live set. Yes it is muddled here and there, but the whole thing is just so raw that that doesn't really matter. In case you haven't noticed, this is simply what Rush sounds like live these days. And this is them on a good night, I might add. Almost all of the songs, like "YYZ" and "The Pass" are just brilliant, awesome live tracks. I will admit that I was kind of dissappointed by "2112," but not everything can be perfect (The full version is on Different Stages, the one on here is overmuddled and includes omly the opening bit. Thats too little). One thing I noticed is that Geddy's voice is the best its ever been in years, he really improves with age. His singing breathes new life into their classic songs. And the reviewer who says the drums sound like tin cans is just completely and plainly wrong. From the stunning opening of "Tom Sawyer" to the hard rocking ending of "Working Man," this is 3.5 hours of majestic rush music we have come to know and love. All those fans who grew up listening to the stale and overedited "Exit...stage left" just can't handle the hardness and power that is Rush in Rio. And the audience! wow, these guys will sing along to just about everything, including instrumentals! If your idea of a live album is strictly limited to a Grateful Dead live cd with all of the audience cut out, then of course you won't like this cd; its just to sick for you. Now go out and get this set!!

Also get Different Stages: Live, which has a cleaner sound if this set is too much for you