Rush is one of those bands that seems to have gotten more popular through the years, but their most beloved music was created and released in the 70s and very early 80s.  Records like 2112 and Moving Pictures are still staples within any rock music collection and both albums are held in high regard.  All of this brings me to this release which is a critical review of their records up to and including Moving Pictures.  If you are looking for a documentary type of package, this is not it.  Check out Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage which is much different. 

This two-DVD set consists of a group of radio personalities and musicians discussing their albums in chronological order interspersed with video/audio snippets from said albums.  The only person that I recognize from the group of “reviewers” was Tony Dolan who is the bassist/vocalist with Venom Inc., but that really doesn’t matter much because I don’t think that it is about those individuals.  I like hearing what “more normal” people thought of the band and their albums instead of the usual suspects of Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, and Jack Black.  These guys seem like people you would hang out with and discuss the band in more detail and not your typical rock stars, which gives it a more down to earth “review” instead of tribute type of release. 

While this might not seem like required viewing to the casual fan, it is a worthwhile look into the Rush catalogue for us serious Rush-ophiles.  The packaging is also very good with both discs nestled in a hard cover book-like DVD case along with 48 pages of pictures and text.  I have been a fan since 1975/76 and I have not seen some of the photos before, so I was quite impressed with the whole package.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.