Rush - Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD Set
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Free Music Notes for Snakes & Arrows Live 2 CD Set
Free Music Review: Yet another live Rush album and yet it's just as great as the others
Hit: 5 Stars
Canadian power trio Rush's brand new double live album Snakes and Arrows Live is a must for ALL RUSH FANS!
Recorded over two nights in Rotterdam in October of 2007 at the end of the Snakes and Arrows Tour, Snakes and Arrows Live sees Rush capturing a majestic pair of shows into a powerful double live album.
I must confess, even as a longtime Rush fan (solid Rush fan here since 1990 and are my favorite band alongside Pink Floyd and Genesis), that some fans are starting to complain that Rush is developing Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd (namely the David Gilmour led era) syndrome (a live album after a studio album saturation) but such as life.
I, on the other hand, am not complaining about the live album after studio saturation as this is a great live disc and gave me a chance to hear what I missed after I had to prematurely leave a performance of the band's last year (in West Palm Beach on June 15, 2007) due to both work and a violent thunderstorm which cut my night short five songs into the second set.
Nine of the thirteen tracks from 2007's Snakes and Arrows ("Far Cry", "Armor and Sword", "Working Them Angels", "The Larger Bowl", "Spindrift", "The Main Monkey Business", "The Way The Wind Blows", guitarist Alex Lifeson's acoustic solo "Hope" and the Grammy nominated "Malignant Narcissim" coupled with drummer Neil Peart's drum solo "De Slagwerker") are performed superior to their studio counterparts.
The band pull some lost nuggets out of the archives on this new live album like "Digital Man" (which had not been played since 1983's Signals Tour), "Witch Hunt" (which also had not been played since 1986's Power Windows Tour and drummer Neil Peart's now using acoustic drums here instead of the electronic drums he used on the 1984/85/86 versions), "Mission" (which had not played since 1990), "Entre Nous" (has not ever been played live), "Circumstances" (which was last played in 1979's Tour of the Hemispheres) and "A Passage to Bangkok" (which had not played in full since 1980's Permanent Waves Tour).
You also get classics that have appeared on the last three live albums but done well ("Limelight" (I love the opening where the A chord holds for a few seconds after first strummed), "Dreamline", "Secret Touch", "One Little Victory", "The Spirit of Radio", "Subdivisions", "Tom Sawyer", "Between the Wheels", "Distant Early Warning" and "YYZ") and all are perfomed well. Bass player/singer/keyboard player Geddy Lee's singing and playing is still on fire as is Alex's guitar and Neil's drum work.
For Rush fans who are hardcore fans and who like to have a souvenir of every tour, like myself, scoop this one up! For those who don't either like it or don't want it then stay clear.
RECOMMENDED!
Free Music Review: Rush's best recent live album!
Hit: 5 Stars
As a long-time HUGE Rush fan, I'm not bothered that they seem to be producing live product for every tour and also flooding us with DVDs and box sets. It's always great to enjoy new Rush material.
SNAKES AND ARROWS LIVE is in many ways their best live material in their recent era (I'm thinking of the time from VAPOR TRAILS on...after the band reformed following the tragedies in drummer Neil Peart's life). RUSH IN RIO was a blast because we've never heard (or seen) Rush playing in front of such a gigantic, enthusiastic crowd. But listening to the material was not as rewarding as watching it...the production was spotty, at best. The live Rush material that followed their 30th Anniversary Tour sounded better...but it wasn't the complete show. Also, I have to say, the Frankfurt crowd was not the best. On the latest, we get a more solid effort.
PROS: Many great older songs that have never been officially released live. "Circumstances" (one of my all-time favorites), "Entre Nous," "Digital Man" and even "Passage to Bangkok" (yes, I know you can hear it on ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE) are all very welcome. The sound mix is overall pretty good...Geddy's vocals are more present than they have been lately. The playing is super tight, and the close adherence to the SNAKES AND ARROWS studio material will please those who complain that of late, Rush's live stuff hasn't been quite the perfect recreation of their studio work. Also, oddly, their version of "Freewill" on this album is particularly super tight...well-produced and well-played.
CONS: Too much SNAKES AND ARROWS. I really like that album, but I'd trade "Armor & Sword" and "Spindrift" for something older in a heartbeat. I'm going to see them live on the 29th of April, and they've changed up their set list a little...but the heavy representation of SNAKES AND ARROWS material is still there. Also, more minor, the version of "Secret Touch" is surprisingly sloppy. In addition, the tempo on a couple of pieces (including, sadly, the much-anticipated "Bangkok") is slow.
But I've had a really fun time listening to it. Any serious Rush fan will thoroughly enjoy themselves. Predictably, this is not the way you'd want to introduce a novice to the band...but at this in their careers, Rush is mostly playing for their devotees. Of which I'm proud to call myself a member!
Free Music Review: Simply Awesome
Hit: 5 Stars
The Snakes & Arrows tour was different from the other recent Rush tours in that instead of being a night of Rush Greatest Hits, it actually promoted their latest album, Snakes & Arrows. And a good album it is. This cd does an excellent job of capturing this awesome tour, and as far as performances and sound quality are concerned, this cd is my favorite.
Performances: Neil played very well this tour, and is his best since the Vapor Trails tour which left me completely impressed. Tom Sawyer was the best I've ever heard him play it, past or present. His comeback is an inspiration to us all, and he is in top form right now. Alex did awesome as he always does and the intros to Freewill and Spirit Of Radio were tight. Geddy had some rough spots on R30 but he did a great job on this cd. His bass playing was flawless as usual. My only gripe with the performances are the tempos on some of the songs, particularly Witch Hunt and Between The Wheels. Man did they drag. Two great songs that should've been played a little faster.
Sound Quality: I don't know what these studio geeks are talking about saying this doesn't sound good. This cd is crisp, clean, and has the best drum sounds since A Show Of Hands. Guitar tones were generally very good, especially the lead tones (Between The Wheels). Geddy's bass tone on recent tours has been the best I've ever heard it. Those of you who remember the Steinberger years will know what I'm talking about.
Editing: The South Park intro to Tom Sawyer was one of the best moments of the entire show but I understand it wouldn't make much sense without the video so it got edited out. I like the fact this is a straight running concert instead of having the songs fade out like some live albums do. I have no complaints.
Set List: Snakes & Arrows is a good album, but I think the set list had too many songs from it. Far Cry is awesome, no doubt about it, but some of the others (The Larger Bowl, The Main Monkey Business comes to mind) could've been left out as far as I'm concerned. On the other hand, hearing Digital Man was beyond words. Thank you Rush. Entre Nous and Circumstances were also hardcore fan treats.
Overall, one of the best Rush live albums to date. I recommend this cd to anyone, and can't wait for the DVD.
Free Music Review: An Instant Classic...Mark My Words
Hit: 5 Stars
In the event Alex, Geddy, and Neil should take stock into these reviews, please note...Thank you for a job well done.
~ ~ ~ & >>>------|> >>>------|> (((^^^))) No one gets to the Heaven without a fight. Rush's seventh Live album release is big, bold, and a worthy addition to any rock fan's collection. A DVD version of this show is also planned and expected in late Q3 to Q4. This has been confirmed on the bands official website, and will feature video from the Rotterdam show.
As with any RUSH release, it takes time to appreciate all the intricate nuances of each offering. I for one think this 2-disc set will go done in history as the best live RUSH recording second only to the 1978 Hammersmith. Highlights include Witch Hunt (which may be the definitive version), Subdivisions, Hope, One Little Victory, and The Larger Bowl to name a few.
Honorable mention goes out to Circumstances, Entre Nous and Natural Science, each of which transports the listener back in time to a very special place so dear to a lot of devoted fans, which can best be described as the peak period of creative artisitic talents that were honed to a razor sharp edge during the second phase of RUSH's illustrious career.
Workin' Them Angels, Spindrift, and Malignant Narcissism - De Slagwerker are instant modern classics and are sure to become Gold standards.
Limelight, Tom Sawyer, and Yyz, is what Exit Stage Left might have been, or at the very least thier equal.
As far me, I will never grow tired of listening to RUSH...and welcome each and every opportunity to indulge in the sheer pleasure and enjoyment of hearing them play live, if only just to marvel at the subtle nuances and musical finess of such gems as only these masterful craftsman of rock athems can do.
Free Music Review: Well done!
Hit: 5 Stars
For those who have been disappointed by the actual mastered sound of Rush's output since the ruined "Vapor Trails" album, this release is very good. The tracks do actually breathe sonically and that hasn't happened too much since "Different Stages" in 1998. So, for those of us who care about audio quality, YES! The performances? Top notch and far more relaxed and confident then R30 (the sound of that DVD and CD were ruined courtesy Stephen Marcussen). I am glad they released the entire show, in spite of repeating a number of songs that have already been released live. I like the continuity of a whole show as a document of a particular evening. It's a real treat to hear "Digital Man" , not played since 1983 and rearranged and improved. "Entre Nous" was released in 1980 and never played live prior to 2007. "Circumstances", not played since 1979, I think, sounds more powerful in a lower key. "A Passage To Bangkok" hasn't been played since 1980. And of course, the "Snakes & Arrows" material takes on a new life in a live setting. I have always felt that this band's best work is on stage and their material takes on an added dimension when played live. That's what happens with any great live band and Rush, certainly are, one of the last great live bands from another era,
Check this album out!