Rush live albums used to be such landmark affairs. Each would be released following a sequence of four successive studio albums,  serving a dual purpose of offering recent material in the live setting and also closing out an era in the band's history. All of this has changed in recent times and the last three tours have each been documented by way of a now seemingly obligatory CD / DVD release (the S&A Live DVD will follow later this year). What this does not detract from however is that even in 2008 Rush remain a compelling live proposition. 

As with the last two live release Rush waited until almost the end of the tour to roll the tapes, in this case at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. It could be that the reasoning behind this is that the band will have really hit their stride by the end of the tour and ironed out any mistakes. Not that they ever make any mistakes of course, this is Rush we are talking about after all. 

Anyone who attended one of last years shows will know that this time around long-time staples '2112' and 'Closer To The Heart' were given a rest and Rush delved deeper into the back catalogue to serve up the delightful 'Entre Nous' (played live for the first time almost three decades since the studio version) and recalled the likes of 'Circumstances' and 'A Passage to Bangkok', both of which had been long absent. What they also did was present much of Snakes and Arrows itself, including a hefty five consecutive songs to open the second half and if this was the point the near three hour show dragged its heels then along comes 'Subdivisions' to provide welcome relief before taking them into the stunning trio of 'Natural Science', 'Witch Hunt' and the fast and funky 'Malignant Narcissism'. 

As live records go the crowd noise is somewhat flat and some of the between song editing to fit the set onto two discs feels a little clunky. Also the hilarious South Park into to 'Tom Sawyer' is absent, although hopefully this will be rectified on the DVD release. But as a souvenir of the best show to come to Europe last year this is quite simply essential.

Dean Pedley