RUSH Clockwork Angels

[12bass]

who has taken personal offense to any of the lyrics in these songs?

The posts of the past few days show several individuals who seem to feel personally offended by what Neil Peart has written. Perhaps it is not just the lyrics.... not sure. Anyway, the prevailing conditions in this forum render it something that I cannot speak about in any detail....

 

[Disco Batman]

People don't like Neil questioning the dangers of organized religion. That seems to be the main complaint. I don't mind personally, I usually find Neil's lyrics thought provoking and well written.


I'd have to say after many listens my favorites are Clockwork Angels and The Garden. But I seriously don't have a skip song yet.

 

[fleabee]

Anymore non-religion based opinions of the whole album?

 

[wateroftyne]

Anymore non-religion based opinions of the whole album?

It still sounds like they're stitching riffs together, rather than writing songs.

I'll give it time though... my opinion might change.

 

[Phantasm]

I guess I look at it as a more "sci-fi fantasy" universe for the lyrics. In fantasy writing it's an alternate reality, so the religion statements aren't really about anything, well, real to me.

I also haven't listened to the lyrics and unless they really connect with me I have a tendency not to. Nothing here is making me want to put my fist in the air and unite under the message.

 

[12bass]

Science fiction is often used as a way to present real-world issues in a fictional context. Frankly, I tend to listen to the music first, and only take notice of the lyrics after repeated listening... and sometimes hardly at all. And even if I did find something off about the lyrics, it would be difficult for that to put me off... but then I tend not to take things very personally if they come from people I don't know....

Musically, I find CA fairly loud, aggressive, and heavy, with a sense of sameness to a few of the songs. Overall, I think it is a fairly strong effort, though I'd like to see Rush play with a little more dynamics, perhaps using the acoustic instruments a bit more... leaving just a little more breathing space if that makes sense. I miss songs like Natural Science.

 

[fleabee]

The album is frign LOUD..don't know what that's all about. Im about a day away from blown subs/amp in the car.

 

[12bass]

The album is frign LOUD..don't know what that's all about. Im about a day away from blown subs/amp in the car.

Well... it was mastered by Brian "Big Bass" Gardner.... I like the huge bottom, but am not sure why they wanted it so loud/compressed....

 

[Spectrum]

Regarding the Loudness War, do bands have any control over the mastering of their albums? Even big name bands like Rush? I'm pretty sure Rush was very disappointed with the way Vapor Trails was done.

 

[12bass]

Regarding the Loudness War, do bands have any control over the mastering of their albums? Even big name bands like Rush? I'm pretty sure Rush was very disappointed with the way Vapor Trails was done.

I would hope that a band like Rush has some say about the mastering. There's a picture on the web of the band at the mastering facility. I know others who have taken their projects to Grundman and have had them mastered the way they wanted.

Link Removed

 

[OPBASSMAN1994]

After a full listen: I'm digging it . I agree there is a "sameness" to a degree in some of the songs, and there are moments when they sound way too close to being sterotypical hard rock, but then they kick right back into awesome mode. The strings are very nice, and not overbearing or anything like that. I've got to say, too, Ged's bass sounds better than it has in years, and his playing is blowing my mind. I love "Clockwork Angels" for its cinematic feel, "Carnies" for it's melodic, kind of frantic sound, and because of the places where the guitar sounds like it does on the song "Resist" from T4E, "Seven Cities of Gold" for the incredibly funky bass playing, obviously "Headlong Flight" for the jamming and Neil's killer drum solo, and of course "The Garden" because of the awesome mix of strings, and the band really playing with a lot of feeling.

Overall, I'm pretty well pleased with CA. Great concept album that really takes you on a journey.

 

[fleabee]

Im liking something new about each tune every day. Im looking more forward to hearing some of these tunes live than their staples.

 

[BassPlayer900]

I listened to a few tracks off the album on YouTube.

Caravan, Headlong Flight, and Clockwork Angels are my favorites so far. I also listened to The Wreckers and The Anarchist but I didn't really dig those tunes... I didn't listen to them in their entirety because they were a little boring to me, but I will once the album comes out. The Anarchist has SWEET bass tone though. It seems like a lot of people dig The Garden and, especially for bass, Seven Cities Of Gold.

And BU2B2 is the shortest Rush song ever!

 

[Disco Batman]

Might as well get used to loudness war music. It's here to stay. Buy it on Vinyl and you won't have to deal with it. Then create your own loudness war free MP3's from the black circle.

 

[mellowinman]

First, understand my first taste of Rush was "A Farewell to Kings," when it was a brand new album. I went to see that tour, the Hemispheres tour, and continued on through past "Exit... Stage Left." That live album was the last Rush album I bought. I HATED "Signals," and "Grace Under Pressure," songs that they played live, and the "Grace" tour was the last show I went to. I was DONE with Rush for years.

I had a few friends lend me various albums. I listened to, and didn't care for "Power Windows," and didn't much like "Vapor Trails" either, so I really don't anticipate new Rush albums with much zest. I liked screaming Geddy, and I accepted "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures," because they were transitions, but the monotone Geddy just never really did it for me, and the lack of confusing guitar solos from Alex really left me cold.

I burned me a copy of this album, because I was not going to shell out money for a new Rush that is more of the same, as much as I love these guys, and believe me, I really do! These are three of my all time favorite musicians, and I so desperately want to hear something I like. So I put the CD on in my car. I screwed something up in the burn process, and the tracks are OUT OF ORDER! AAAUUGGGHHH!!!

So I've listened to about 2/3 of it.

So far, I don't like it at all. It didn't do it for me. I am going to play through it a few times more. I think it might be better than anything they've done for a long time, and the bass and drums seem to be top quality in a lot of places. The vocals still don't do much for me, although there's a few parts that made my ears perk up a little, but what the heck happened to Alex's guitar playing? He's so SAFE on everything! I want to hear something that makes me go, "huh???" like the solo on "Cinderella Man," or something, you know? I always liked his playing for being WEIRD, and it's not very WEIRD at all on this album, or at least what I've heard so far.

So as a really tough Rush critic, who actually loves the band, (especially their early stuff,) and the PEOPLE in the band, I am going to listen more, and come back with any updates, but so far, this album DOES NOT do it for me.

I will allow it to sink in more. It's DEFINITELY better than the other post "Moving Pictures" albums I've heard, but that's not saying much.

 

[electracoyote]

I will allow it to sink in more. It's DEFINITELY better than the other post "Moving Pictures" albums I've heard, but that's not saying much.

I'm right with you on all points, with a couple of exceptions.

I've been into Rush since the first ST release. I lived in Columbus Ohio when WMMS in Cleveland was the first radio station playing it stateside, and we tuned into WMMS in Columbus. I was the first kid on my block to buy a copy, and my friends and I just ate it up with a fork and spoon.

You're absolutely right, there is a defined transition point for many of us older Rush fans where EVERYTHING changed pretty radically, and we lost interest.

Now, some 40 years later, I find myself really hungry in a nostalgic way. I'm 53 years old now, and I see the sands of time running out on some of my favorite things in this world. And that includes Rush. Which makes me want to cut them a little slack for some of the alienating artistic and career choices they made along the way (as if they give a damn, I know).

So, Clockwork Angels hits me on a very deep and profound sentimental level as well. Lyrically and musically, it simultaneously represents the latest stop in a long journey and takes me back.

I just don't have it in my heart any longer to be harsh with the boys. I'm buying up the back catalog of releases I ignored or dismissed. We're never going to get another 2112, but I think, on some level, we're very lucky to still have them bangin' it out on the stage and in the studio.

 

[I<34080]

I will allow it to sink in more. It's DEFINITELY better than the other post "Moving Pictures" albums I've heard, but that's not saying much.

I'd say that's saying a lot. A whole lot. If this were true, for me, it'd have to be their best album ever.

 

[geddeeee]

The album is good, but the mix is terrible. Drums are well compressed and limited. All the life sucked out of them.
Looking at the sleeve notes, it was mixed by Nick Raskulinecz (producer). Listening to the original Caravan and BU2B, which are much, much better sonically. The originals were mixed by Richard Chycki. I would suggest that he does the mixes from now on...

Sorry Nick but.... FAIL!!!!

 

[Bruins29]

I cant wait until they stop working with Nick. I hate what he has done to them and think he is by far the worst producer they have worked with. Yes, he is even worse than Rupert Hine if you can believe it because I think Presto pisses on this album (song wise). Heavy and riffy dosent mean better to me. I can see why people like CA but I fell in love with Rush and like music because of great hooks and melodies. I dont care who the artist is. It could be James Taylor, Megadeath, XTC, or the Black Eyed Peas. Rush is my favorite band but good music comes first. There are some good tunes on CA though..I was just hoping this album was better than Snakes and Arrows and at least I got my wish. Better than VT would be fine too.

 

[mellowinman]

I'm right with you on all points, with a couple of exceptions.

I've been into Rush since the first ST release. I lived in Columbus Ohio when WMMS in Cleveland was the first radio station playing it stateside, and we tuned into WMMS in Columbus. I was the first kid on my block to buy a copy, and my friends and I just ate it up with a fork and spoon.

You're absolutely right, there is a defined transition point for many of us older Rush fans where EVERYTHING changed pretty radically, and we lost interest.

Now, some 40 years later, I find myself really hungry in a nostalgic way. I'm 53 years old now, and I see the sands of time running out on some of my favorite things in this world. And that includes Rush. Which makes me want to cut them a little slack for some of the alienating artistic and career choices they made along the way (as if they give a damn, I know).

So, Clockwork Angels hits me on a very deep and profound sentimental level as well. Lyrically and musically, it simultaneously represents the latest stop in a long journey and takes me back.

I just don't have it in my heart any longer to be harsh with the boys. I'm buying up the back catalog of releases I ignored or dismissed. We're never going to get another 2112, but I think, on some level, we're very lucky to still have them bangin' it out on the stage and in the studio.

Well, I haven't even heard the whole thing, so I'm going to give it a lot more chance. This is a much different Rush than I'm used to, but musically, they are still doing some great things.

I'll listen to it off and on for a week or so, and chime back in.