R40 Live

I've been avoiding this review ever since I first picked up R40, but now I feel that Rush fans need to be warned. This is not a good Rush recording.

The problem is not the song choice. Rush's tendency for the last decade or so is to provide long, greatest hits retrospective set lists. Everything you would expect is there. The problem is also not the general musicianship, as all the guys hit every mark right on the money.

No, the problem is Geddy's voice. It just ain't there.

Here's what I think happened. Alex & Geddy being rabid Torontonians, they committed to recording & filming their 40th anniversary live album at the Air Canada Centre, which is sort of the Madison Square Gardens of Canada. They did so thinking that the Toronto stop was about halfway into the tour, so they would have had plenty of time to work out the kinks in the show. They didn't really plan what to do if it didn't work out so well, which it didn't, but were contractually obligated to just go with it.

That's my speculation. If anyone knows anything about Rush, they knows that these guys are consummate professionals. Neil Peart in particular is famous for being a perfectionist. I don't think they would have released a subpar performance if they didn't have to.

By now, Rush detractors and apologists alike are both probably stampeding towads the excuse that Geddy hasn't had the high range for quite some time, so what did I expect? That's true enough, but I didn't say his high range wasn't there. I said his voice wasn't there. In any range, on any song. He's warbly and toneless the entire time. As a long time Rush fan, it's actually upsetting to hear.

Anyway, that's all I have to say about it. Anyone can (and probably will) compare & contrast this live performance with their own experiences, so you don't need me to do it. I just wish they had assembled R40 from several stops on the tour, as they have done many times in the past. We might have gotten better takes. I can't shake the feeling that they didn't only because they wanted to record the Toronto shows. Surely one of the greatest live bands ever didn't think this was a worthy performance.