Rush: Classic Albums 2112 and Moving Pictures DVD Review

By: Brad Conroy

Legendary progressive-rock band Rush needs no introduction, as they are one of the most successful and influential progressive rock bands of all time. With a long career and almost twenty studio recordings to their credit, these Canadian rockers are still going strong. The new Rush: Classic Albums: 2112 & Moving Pictures DVD brings the band to light through a series of interviews as they go track by track in the studio through their two most influential albums; 2112 and Moving Pictures.

The Rush: Classic Albums DVD provides the viewer with an in depth look at 2112, which was Rush’s break-through album in 1976. Up close and personal interviews with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, producer Terry Brown, and many more bring the album to life. Going track by track in the studio, breaking down how certain parts were realized, the meaning and inspiration of the lyrics, anecdotes, and archival footage mixed with live performances in the studio make this the definitive Rush interview DVD.

Informative as well as entertaining the DVD also offers an in-depth look into the bands most commercially successful album, Moving Pictures. Members of the band, contemporaries, critics, and producers discuss how Rush, by the time they recorded Moving Pictures, had begun to master the complexities of their music, and polished their craft to the point that resulted in their recording of such iconic tunes as; “Tom Sawyer,” “Lime Light,” and “YYZ” which no doubt have had an impact on almost every up and coming rocker of the past 30 years.

Rush fans will enjoy seeing the trio in the studio, examining the original multi-track tapes and listening to what they have to say about each individual song. At times they isolate certain tracks to mark a specific example of a particular guitar sound that Lifeson was using, or to point out an example of Peart’s complicated drumming, or to display the different timbres Lee uses on a vocal part of “Tom Sawyer” among many other examples. This DVD is brimming with information, studio footage, and archival footage that is exciting for any fan of these two albums.

Rush: Classic Albums also has an incredible 54 additional minutes of footage in the special features section which has more interviews, archival footage, and a short segment where each member of the band give their take on the other members. The special features section concludes with an in studio live performance of “Red Barchetta” which sounds amazing and gives nice close shots of gear, fingers, and all the things an interested fan wants to see.

Featured interviews with band members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, producer Terry Brown, David Fricke, Taylor Hawkins, and many more give the viewer a close-up look at one of the most influential bands of all time, and Rush: Classic Albums brings depth into the making and meaning behind the band’s two landmark albums 2112 and Moving Pictures, capturing the transformation the band was taking through the ‘70’s and into the ‘80’s. This DVD is brimming with information, studio footage, archival footage, and live performances that is going to be exciting and informative for any fan that loves Rush.

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