In a world of perpetual change, it is comforting to note there are certain constants upon which one can rely. The sun will rise in the east. It will set in the west. And rare indeed is the combination of five words guaranteed to immediately raise a select portion of the population to a feverish swell of excitement than these:

There’s a new Rush album.

Technically, “Rush 50” by the iconic Canadian progressive power trio isn’t new in terms of newly written and recorded music by the band’s surviving members, bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. It is an expansive collection of fan favorites, live tracks, and a few surprises along the way.

To be somewhat picky about things, “50” is incorrectly titled. The band’s eponymous debut album came out in 1974, thus making 2025 the band’s 51st anniversary. But to a Rush fan, such discrepancies are of no importance. The question is whether this expansive set consisting of four CDs or seven LPs is worth the not unsubstantial financial investment. The casual fan may find the price tag, starting at $99.98 for the CD edition and going up to $374.98 for the “backstage exclusive super deluxe edition” which includes the CDs, LPs, and a set of lithographs plus a second book, in this case, a graphic novel (i.e., comic book with lofty aspirations) to go along with the 104-page photo-rich overview of the band’s career included in the regular issues. Between the two is the LP-only set, which will set your vinyl aficionados back a tidy $249.98.

If the set was strictly existing studio cuts, “50” would be tough to justify even for the most devoted Rush fans. The band has been well-served to the point of overkill with anthologies, plus remastered studio albums released individually with bonus (usually live) material either individually or in sets. The included book is nice, but if you’ve already read Geddy Lee’s excellent autobiography, there’s little to learn from it. This collection is desirable because of the assortment of previously unreleased live tracks and different studio takes on known works.

More: Like His Band Rush’s Music, Geddy Lee’s Autobiography Is Thought-Provoking Excellence

Even the most fervent Rush fans — and for the record, there is no other kind of Rush fan — may have never heard of the band’s first two singles “Not Fade Away” and “You Can’t Fight It,” both of which have been remastered and reissued in this collection.

The collection’s other previously unheard tracks include a version of “The Trees” with a different guitar solo, five live tunes from 1974 including “Bad Boy” and “Garden Road,” neither of which made it onto a studio album. There is also a medley of “What You’re Doing / Working Man / Garden Road” rendered somewhat melancholy because it comes from the trio’s final concert in 2015, five years before percussionist/lyricist Neal Peart’s passing in 2020.

For the uninitiated, “50” would not be the best place to first sample Rush. 1981’s “Moving Pictures” would be best suited for this purpose, as it encompasses several of the band’s best songs in the form of “Tom Sawyer,” “Red Barchetta,” and “Limelight” plus providing a quality overview of what made Rush unique with its mix of adventuresome melodic metal and prog. For the faithful, however, “50” is a glorious collection of rich luxuries reminding one of a time when Lee, Lifeson, and Peart were the young lions forever striking out into previously uncharted territory and inviting us along for the ride.