RUSH Clockwork Angels

[sloppy_phil]

I thought this was a pretty solid effort. Definitely surpassed my expectations. I love Rush, but have had lots of trouble getting into the post Signals material, by and large. This album feels like they were really firing on all cylinders in terms of creative synergy and overall feel. There are certain aspects of the mix I don't love (mostly parts where I can perceive that bass is present, but not hear distinguishable notes; something I consider acceptable only live!), but again overall it is quite good. It doesn't sound like 'classic' Rush so much as a modern rock band, but the music is there.

Also, agreed with anyone who finds the lyrics tough to distinguish. I know I keep hearing about a supposed 'concept' to the album, but my own listening has yet to yield it. that's in part due to the clarity of the words, but also because I tend to associate the idea of a 'concept' album with a linear narrative thread. I don't think they were going for that, though

[Charley Umbria]

Originally Posted by Mousekillaz

Given all that Neil Peart has been through, I'm not surprised with the lyrical content. I don't necessarily agree with everything he's written, but still, the music is very good.

I don't want to drag this thread too far OT, but...I have an issue with this assumption (and Mousekillaz isn't the first one to bring it up) that people who choose not to believe in the supernatural or who find fault with organized religion are doing so as a reaction to some tragedy in their life.

The default philosophical position for existence is not necessarily one of faith. It's hard to be "angry at god," if you don't believe that he/she/it/they exist in the first place. One can have led a perfectly happy life and still choose not to believe in a god.


Now, let's all get back to complaining about the mix! <|;^)

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by Charley Umbria

...I have an issue with this assumption that people who choose not to believe in the supernatural or who find fault with organized religion are doing so as a reaction to some tragedy in their life.

I don't think anyone is saying that Neil stopped believing in God due to tragedy, but rather that things related to religion, like mortality, fate, purpose of being, etc., may be on his mind due to events that have happened to him and therefore, are likely to appear in his lyrics.

[OPBASSMAN1994]

Originally Posted by sloppy_phil

I thought this was a pretty solid effort. Definitely surpassed my expectations. I love Rush, but have had lots of trouble getting into the post Signals material, by and large. This album feels like they were really firing on all cylinders in terms of creative synergy and overall feel. There are certain aspects of the mix I don't love (mostly parts where I can perceive that bass is present, but not hear distinguishable notes; something I consider acceptable only live!), but again overall it is quite good. It doesn't sound like 'classic' Rush so much as a modern rock band, but the music is there.

Also, agreed with anyone who finds the lyrics tough to distinguish. I know I keep hearing about a supposed 'concept' to the album, but my own listening has yet to yield it. that's in part due to the clarity of the words, but also because I tend to associate the idea of a 'concept' album with a linear narrative thread. I don't think they were going for that, though

There is a narritive that Peart wrote with the album. The fanpack edition has snippets of it, and it's being fleshed out into a novel in the fall.

[NWB]

Originally Posted by Charley Umbria

I don't want to drag this thread too far OT, but...I have an issue with this assumption (and Mousekillaz isn't the first one to bring it up) that people who choose not to believe in the supernatural or who find fault with organized religion are doing so as a reaction to some tragedy in their life.

The default philosophical position for existence is not necessarily one of faith. It's hard to be "angry at god," if you don't believe that he/she/it/they exist in the first place. One can have led a perfectly happy life and still choose not to believe in a god.


Now, let's all get back to complaining about the mix! <|;^)

Neil discusses his religious views on this post.

http://www.neilpeart.net/news/january_2012.html

[NWB]

Here's some great insight into the making of the album from Neil:

http://www.neilpeart.net/news/clockwork_angels_bio.html

[jymyben]

great read...

thank you...

Originally Posted by NWB

Here's some great insight into the making of the album from Neil:

http://www.neilpeart.net/news/clockwork_angels_bio.html

[sloppy_phil]

Originally Posted by OPBASSMAN1994

[/b]

There is a narritive that Peart wrote with the album. The fanpack edition has snippets of it, and it's being fleshed out into a novel in the fall.

well, i stand corrected on the point. but i still don't find it really comes through on the record alone in that sense. that said, the posting by NWB further down looks intriguing, and i'm gonna go read it now

[twocargar]

I heard Headlong Flight on the radio today, and they cut the $@%} out of it. ***?! They can't play a 7:20 song?

[Definitely]

Originally Posted by twocargar

I heard Headlong Flight on the radio today, and they cut the $@%} out of it. ***?! They can't play a 7:20 song?

No, most of the popular rock stations won't. They cut out the bridge part (one of the best parts of the song!) but I know we have a classic rock station here that's a lot less picky on length and often plays Working Man in its entirety.

[BassPlayer900]

I listened to Caravan off the CD...

Best song I've ever listened to in my life. It was mixed WAAAAAAAAAAYYY better on the disc than on the single I purchased from iTunes. Finally I can hear more synths and backing vocals. It is the best song ever.

Also I've noticed how clanky, twangy and zingy the bass sounds on the song. In fact, I think it sounds like a MM Stingray... Geddy didn't start using one did he?

[Epitaph04]

Nope.

[Journey55]

Originally Posted by BassPlayer900

I listened to Caravan off the CD...

Best song I've ever listened to in my life. It was mixed WAAAAAAAAAAYYY better on the disc than on the single I purchased from iTunes. Finally I can hear more synths and backing vocals. It is the best song ever.

Also I've noticed how clanky, twangy and zingy the bass sounds on the song. In fact, I think it sounds like a MM Stingray... Geddy didn't start using one did he?

+1 I like the album version a lot more than the single version. Geddy just used Jazz Basses for the whole album

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Journey55

+1 I like the album version a lot more than the single version. Geddy just used Jazz Basses for the whole album

Geddy managed to pull nice tones out of his Jazz basses this album, on some tracks such as The Anarchist he comes close to a Ric tone. He haven't been that close since Moving Pictures!

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Geddy managed to pull nice tones out of his Jazz basses this album, on some tracks such as The Anarchist he comes close to a Ric tone. He haven't been that close since Moving Pictures!

I agree. I initially thought he might have used the Ric for a few of the tunes myself.

[sloppy_phil]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

I agree. I initially thought he might have used the Ric for a few of the tunes myself.

me too, but i unfortunately doubt that he'll be doing that any time soon; pretty sure he loves those Jazz basses too much. I feel like he pulled the Rick out for Bangkok a couple years ago just to get people to stop buggin' him to play it!

[nick g.]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Geddy managed to pull nice tones out of his Jazz basses this album, on some tracks such as The Anarchist he comes close to a Ric tone. He haven't been that close since Moving Pictures!

You know he used the Ric extensively on Signals, right?

[Hamlet7768]

Originally Posted by nick g.

You know he used the Ric extensively on Signals, right?

That would explain how the sound is so close!

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by nick g.

You know he used the Ric extensively on Signals, right?

Well, yes you are right, it is just that Moving Pictures is the album where he use both jazz and the Ric, and it is very hard to tell which is which!

[nick g.]

He used the Ric for 4 songs and the Jazz for 3 on Signals.