Although an actual description does not exist as to what songs can comprise a greatest-hits collection, it is generally assumed that the disc will contain the biggest and best-charting singles that have been issued by an artist. So it may seem odd for
Rush
to release a greatest-hits collection when the group has had just one Top 40
pop
singles' hit in their long career; but if you factor in the amount of
rock
radio airplay given to these songs, then
The Spirit of Radio
contains, in essence, the greatest hits of
. Spanning their 13-year association with the
Mercury
label,
contains 16 of
's best-known songs that have been floating around the
radio airwaves for years. Arranged chronologically from 1974's
Zeppelin
-esque
"Working Man,"
to 1987's majestic
"Time Stand Still,"
this concise, single-disc collection represents
during their most productive period. Previous attempts by
to summarize
's career have resulted in a pair of sprawling double-disc collections (1991's
Chronicles
, and 1997's two-volume
Retrospective
) that provided too much material for the casual fan.
trims the excess fat and presents a lean set of songs that showcase all the best elements of
: guitar-driven
(
"Fly by Night"
),
arena rock
anthems (
"The Spirit of Radio"
), social commentaries (
"The Trees"
), epic sci-fi excursions (
"2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx"
), and bold synth experiments (
"Subdivisions"
). Along with what is arguably their most enduring classic track,
"Tom Sawyer,"
and their biggest
hit,
"New World Man,"
the songs on this compilation have become radio staples that continue to garner airplay decades after their initial release. In that regard,
more than qualifies as a greatest-hits package, and provides an excellent overview of one of
's most successful and innovative bands. ~ Aaron Latham