Rush Time Machine: Live in Cleveland (Live)
RMR Album Rating- 10
For many Rush fans, this release was the most anticipated live album of the modern Rush era, and for me, it was easily the most anticipated Rush live album of their whole career.
“Time Machine: Live in Cleveland’s” main appeal to fans is that Rush played their 1981 “Moving Pictures” album in its entirety as the centerpiece of the concert, and this live album captures that performance in all its glory. Even more amazing is that Rush doesn’t sound like they have lost a step since its original release 30-years ago. Every song is played precisely well, and all the instrumentation sounds energized and passionate. The only difference between this live version and the original studio version is Geddy’s voice, which is not quite as high or clear as it used to be, but he still sounds great on all the songs. As soon as the unmistakable synth opening of “Tom Sawyer” starts, the energy doesn’t let up as they then play through “Red Barchetta,” “YYZ,” “Limelight,” “The Camera Eye,” “Witchhunt,” and then finally “Vital Signs.” The crown jewel of these songs is definitely “The Camera Eye.” It was the last epic song that Rush released on a studio album, and the song is beloved by die-hard Rush fans, yet it hadn’t been played live since the “Signals” tour in 1982, and before this release, there weren’t any official live versions of the song. Thus, to have “Moving Pictures” documented live in its entirety and to finally have an official live version of “The Camera Eye” is a combination that makes “Time Machine: Live in Cleveland” a must own for Rush fans. (YouTube Clip of The Camera Eye below)
However, the appeal of the album doesn’t end with hearing “Moving Pictures” played in its entirety and “The Camera Eye.” There are several other elements of the album that add to its attraction.
The set also includes most of the other key classic staples that you would expect to hear at a Rush concert such as “Spirit of the Radio,” “Stick it Out,” “Freewill,” “Subdivisions,” “Closer to the Heart,” “2112 Overture/ Temples,” “La Villa Strangiato,” and Working Man.” Plus, they don’t just go through the motions when playing these songs. The band sounds completely reinvigorated and energized, and they add new elements to some of these songs that make them sound fresh and current. “Closer to the Heart,” which has been played at virtually every Rush concert since its studio release in 1977 could have easily just blended into the set with the banality of oversaturation, but it doesn’t. This version of the song has a new extended acoustic intro called “O’Malley’s Break.” This new intro flows seamlessly into the song, and the vocal chorus sections of the song are slowed way down as well, letting the song take on a whole new life— 34 years after its original release and countless live performances. “Stick it Out” also takes on a new life. It has always been a heavy song, but the version here is much heavier than the original studio version and any other live version that I’ve heard. Geddy even starts the song by saying “We’d like to do something for you, this is heavy, this is called Stick it Out.”
In addition to “Moving Pictures” being played in its entirety, which included the long lost fan favorite “The Camera Eye,” and the classic rock staples that are played at almost every Rush concert, “Time Machine: Live in Cleveland” also includes some additional rarities like “Time Stand Still” and “Marathon,” which haven’t been played live since the “Hold Your Fire” Tour in 1988, and “Presto,” which has never been played live. Plus, they include “BU2B” and “Caravan,” which are two new songs slated to be released on Rush’s forthcoming album “Clockwork Angles” in 2012. (YouTube Clip of Presto below)
Then, there’s one final element to “Time Machine: Live in Cleveland” that makes it different from the other 8 previous official Rush live releases; this is the only Rush live album that is recorded directly from one show. Every other Rush live album is cut and pasted together from different shows and locations that they played throughout a series of tours, whereas “Time Machine: Live in Cleveland” is a true live album recorded raw from one show. They do make one small studio overdub to “Presto” where Geddy missed a queue, but other than that, the show is recorded the way it was played, and I’ll close by saying that it is amazing that Rush can sound this good 37-years into their career.