Rush Releases “Moving Pictures” Surround-Sound 30th Anniversary Edition

This album was incredible when it was released back in 1981, but it's never sounded so damn good. Every blazing riff, each intricate ting of the percussion and the thundering bass bottom from the Canadian power trio's biggest-selling effort comes straight into your brain with this high-tech revamp.

The album that put RUSH into the cassette decks of a couple million teens in February of '81, Moving Pictures, is being re-released today (April 5) in two forms; as a Deluxe Edition CD+DVD and, more importantly, as a CD+Blue-Ray. Both include an original digitally remastered CD and a 5.1 Surround-Sound version of the album along with three videos that were created for the album.

Most of us are familiar with the video for Tom Sawyer, featuring an in-studio performance from the band. Looking hastily shot and not very well produced, it certainly wouldn't be on anyone's top 100 list of great videos. Back in the day, before MTV even, a glimpse into the studio of any band with the pure talent of RUSH was certainly unique. This re-issue provides that video, the Limelight video and one previously un-released for Vital Signs.

The video additions are nice, but being able to fire up the Blue-Ray and hear the open of Red Barchetta clean and clear, swirling around the room is absolutely epic. Geddy's thundering bass lines are boomier, Lifeson's intricate guitar work is even more illuminated by the incredible separation and the awesome skin work by Peart is breathtaking. The mix-down, using the original analog multi-track master tapes, was supervised by Lifeson .

Also included in the package is an extensive gallery with previously unreleased photos from the original recording sessions, new liner notes by renowned music journalist David Fricke and 30th anniversary artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme.

This album made it to #2 on the Billboard charts in it's original release and amazingly, it's already back in the top 200 this week because of pre-orders.

So as not to spoil the experience of the re-package, I've dug up the awesome South Park open they've used in concert for the intro to Tom Sawyer. Crank it, cuz it's in HD!
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