by Dave DeMarco

I remember it just like it was yesterday. Sitting in my bedroom as a gangly 14-year old, making cassette tapes of my favorite drum solos so I could have them all in one place for study, analysis and playing along. All the big names in drumming were represented; their bands' 70's double live albums contained more drum fodder than one could shake a (drum) stick at. As good as it was having my Greatest "Hits" (pun well intended), I remember thinking how cool it would be to be able to view the concert footage as well and I fantasized that someday, there would be a medium by which to view and catalog said footage for further study and analysis.

Leave it to Rush's Neil Peart to bring my idealistically naïve vision to fruition. On his most recent DVD offering, the double-disc package Anatomy of a Drum Solo, Neil gives all of us drum geeks what we've been yearning for – a clear and concise breakdown of his approach to drum solos. More than just a note-by-note demonstration of the mechanics behind his solo-crafting, Neil devotes considerable time to the aesthetics of his most recent solos. Throughout, Neil reminds us that this is his vision and takes us chronologically through the musical milestones that influenced him the most. While he acknowledges that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, he goes a step further by challenging the viewer to draw from their own discoveries, inspirations and experiences when expressing their personal musical statements, in both solo and song.

Neil's penchant for all things literary is well documented. His lyrical output spans the bulk of Rush's catalog and many fans snatch up the band's tour programs just to read his in-depth reflections on the makings of their most recent record. It is certainly no surprise then that certain narrative sections of the DVD appear to have been scripted. What is surprising though is how stiff and formal these sections feel in comparison to the portions where Neil is clearly speaking from the heart, such as when he is behind the kit preparing a demonstration. Delivery notwithstanding, the prefatory dialog is a relevant calling card which helps acclimate the viewer to the inner workings of Neil's musical brain.

The lion's share of the first disc in this package consists of Neil detailing the various sections of his solo from Rush's most recent tour, dubbed R30 commemorating Rush's 30th anniversary. For the astute Peart enthusiast who has followed the evolution of Neil's solos over the past three decades, these sections provide much insight. We learn that in preparation for each new tour, Neil's solo becomes a composite of themes that fall into one of several categories: things from previous solos which he feels have not yet developed to their fullest potential, things which reflect an area of current study or inspiration, things which simply act as conduits between sections and finally, things which are genuine crowd pleasers. Throughout the journey, the DVD offers opportunities to detour from the narrative and to delight in the immediate gratification of live examples culled from several tours. Neil uses the selected footage to illustrate his point before returning the viewer to the moment of departure. At the end of the journey, one is left with a greater understanding of how Neil has incorporated the evolution of drumming as an art form into his musical vocabulary.

In sharp contrast to disc one, the second disc is a farewell to things cerebral and offers the viewer plenty of pure Peart. Solos from several tours are included as well as a behind the scenes look at his involvement with Sabian's line of signature Paragon cymbals. Elsewhere, Neil takes us through the skeletal system of his current kit that is as much as feast for the eyes as for the ears. Exercise your free will and explore this highly insightful glimpse through the camera eye into what has driven Neil to create the most memorable solos in the history of drumming. Somewhere, a 14-year old drummer is preparing for greatness with Neil Peart as his musical sherpa.