Different Stages (1997)

It takes chutzpah to put out a fourth live album if you're not the Dead or the Stones, but apparently Canada's most beloved power trio is determined to carry the prog-rock lighter — er, torch — into the new millennium. The three-CD set, Different Stages, from tours in '78 and '97, showcases how adeptly Rush can replicate masturbatory masterpieces like ''2112'' and ''Natural Science.'' That said, the band's recent material rings hollow, the drum solo ain't happening, and you can find comparable versions of the halcyon tracks on the other three live discs. C+

You Might Also Like

• Listen2This EW recommends five essential classic-prog albums | David Browne
• Music Commentary Graded music reviews the week of September 14, 1990 | Greg Sandow
• Summer Music Preview More summer tours | Rob Brunner