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RUSH Clockwork Angels

#741
EagleMoon said:
Unfortunately, I think Xanadu has been out of Geddy's range for about 10 years. Which is a shame, because I miss hearing it too.

I don't know what to think about the string section. My first thought is on the negative side, because to me, seeing Rush live has nothing to do with that side of music. It seems like a clash of cultures in a way. But maybe they can pull it off. Personally I'd rather not have something that takes the attention away from the three of them.
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True, however, who knows. For the Snakes and Arrows Tour they pulled out Circumstances and just dropped the key a step. I'm still holding on to hope, just because I love Xanadu. :p

And I think the thing to remember is that they're only bringing an 8-10 piece SS, so chances are they'll find a way to make them present, but unobtrusive. Hey, if anyone can do it, it's Rush.
 
#743
Flux Jetson said:
Take it easy pal, I already agreed with the first person that made that point.

And it isn't like they'd be ~eating~ the cost of the tickets, they'd get back every single penny as the tickets sold. If a band that makes 1/100th what Rush makes can spring for 5k or 10k tickets I'm sure Rush could find a way to finance or escrow the 20k tickets. It's all about moving money around. It's done a thousand times every day. I mean if the ticket scalpers pulled it off to sell the tickets at a 500% profit, obviously it can be done.

So before you acuse someone of "being on something" T-H-I-N-K before loading the poo-bazooka and firing so indiscriminantly.

:)

And let's keep things in context ... I never said Rush weren't noble, all I said was I wish Rush were so noble so as to do what a teeny tiny little niche band did for 5 or 10k of their own fans.
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How exactly can they get back "every single penny" if they sell the tickets for less than what they bought them for? :confused:

They way you worded your earlier post implied that Rush are lacking in nobility. THAT is the context.
 
#744
As for the strings.. if these guys can do it, Rush can too.

String section



I think the above tracks are very cool alternatives to the originals and bring in a deeper feel or an extra 'epicness' to the song.

I trust Rush. I don't think they'd do it if they weren't sure that it sounded great.
 
#746
WJGreer said:
According to the calculation on Invalid Link Removed, a $7.50 concert ticket in 1978 would cost $26.44 today, adjusted for inflation. So yeah, absolutely concert prices have gone up too much.

Plus, acoustics suck in any room large enough to hold a Rush-sized crowd. Once you get past the rush (heh) of being physically close to these guys, the concerts aren't that enjoyable on their own merits.

Except at Red Rocks... :D
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I hate it, but i understand it.

This is the final result of all that free internet music downloading out there, and purchasing of separate songs instead of whole albums. The industry is shifting from album sales to live concert sales.
 
#747
lucas vigor said:
I hate it, but i understand it.

This is the final result of all that free internet music downloading out there, and purchasing of separate songs instead of whole albums. The industry is shifting from album sales to live concert sales.
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Agreed. Totally agree. And, frankly, it's a good thing. And here's why: it forces bands to learn how to perform. The 80s and 90s allowed skill to be sacrificed for sound. Now, you have to sell music to sell the show. Used to be the other way around. Luckily, to me, a band like RUSH is worth $130 I'm paying for lower level in Philly. Do I wish it was less? Yes. But they are one of a few shows I'll see this year. I'm a more selective consumer forcing the product to improve.

I can justify the "VIP" packages too. If there's a market for it, sell it. Would I buy it? If I had the walking around money, yes. Someone will and why deny the artist from getting the most they can for their art?

Just my pro-free-market-economy POV.
 
#753
Spectrum said:
Yup:

So as much as I would love to see even part of "Hemispheres" live (and having played most of it at times when I was in the Rush tribute - it's a blast), unless they detune, forget it.

Having said that, I think they could find a way to creatively medley things. We did. But what we found is that when Rush generally did it, they had horrid transitions. We would always come up with good ones that naturally fit and were non-awkward. (For example: By-Tor into Sawyer).

Geddy has also become a better singer in the past 10 years. Now, Andrea Bocelli he's not nor will he ever be, but I like where his voice has settled. If he can find a way to rework the vocals but make some of the old stuff work - even if detuning like they did "Circumstances" - fine. One song they're going to have to drop tune soon is "Freewill". He tries, but that one vocal section after the solo is hit or miss and when missed, cringeworthy. I'd rather him not try and just sing it normally than shoot for the stars and miss by a mile.
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#754
I guess he could try singing an octave lower or something, but I'm not sure it would sound right. I was listening to Farewell to Kings today and the part where he sings "What's wrong!" with that high pitched vibrato is just a classic Geddy trademark, if you can't sing the song like that then, buddy, I'm sorry, it just won't be right to this Rush fan's ear.

But I'm one of those guys who thinks Geddy's voice in his younger days was fantastic and who dreamed of being able to scream like that...the critics who didn't like it can all pound sand for all I care.
 
#755
Spectrum said:
But I'm one of those guys who thinks Geddy's voice in his younger days was fantastic and who dreamed of being able to scream like that...the critics who didn't like it can all pound sand for all I care.
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I'm with you on this. His best vocals were on the '70's albums.
But, even Geddy admitted on the recent documentary when they were
recording "Hemispheres", he realised the songs were in a higher register than he thought, so he would have to sing extra high to make it work. He had a difficult time recording his vocals for the album but they ended up being some of his best ever.

I was just listening to a bootleg recording of a show from the Hemispheres tour, and he was having difficulty singing that material even when it was brand new.

Theres no way he could pull it off today in the original key.
Drop a step, and maybe he could make it work. We're not gunna get those high notes anymore i'm afraid
 
#756
Got hold of a copy of the vinyl version of this album. The dynamic range is definitely better. The top end detail is pretty good. I'm hearing a lot of stuff, guitars, cymbals that weren't present on the CD version.
Saying that, the mix is absolutely terrible. On all versions. I've got CD, Hi-res 24/96 and now the vinyl version. The drums especially sound crap!!! Like Neil is playing on plastic containers. Maybe he wanted it like that, but it's not what Rush drums should sound like.
Rush has always been a 'dynamics' band. They are now absent...
For the next record, they need a different producer I think. Nick R has made S&A and now Clockwork Angels sound terrible. He did the same on the Foo Fighters stuff. BIG sounding, but ultimately sterile and lacking in emotion.....
Love the LP 'cos it's Rush, but no more of this shi**y production please.....

EDIT: Just listen to the original versions of Caravan and BU2B. Way better dynamically. Richard Chycki mixed those. Nick R mixed the album.... I rest my case!!!!!
 
#757
geddeeee said:
Got hold of a copy of the vinyl version of this album. The dynamic range is definitely better. The top end detail is pretty good. I'm hearing a lot of stuff, guitars, cymbals that weren't present on the CD version.
Saying that, the mix is absolutely terrible. On all versions. I've got CD, Hi-res 24/96 and now the vinyl version. The drums especially sound crap!!! Like Neil is playing on plastic containers. Maybe he wanted it like that, but it's not what Rush drums should sound like.
Rush has always been a 'dynamics' band. They are now absent...
For the next record, they need a different producer I think. Nick R has made S&A and now Clockwork Angels sound terrible. He did the same on the Foo Fighters stuff. BIG sounding, but ultimately sterile and lacking in emotion.....
Love the LP 'cos it's Rush, but no more of this shi**y production please.....
Click to expand...

I love the work done on the latest Yes album, Fly from here, the best recording I've heard in the latest years.
 
#759
geddeeee said:
Same as the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Oceania. Production is top notch, and the songs are pretty good too.....
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Y'know, I have no opinion either way about the Smashing Pumpkins, but I just had a few listens to tracks from Oceania.

Now THAT is how you mix and master an album. Breathing room, warmth, punch, dynamics, clarity... Why have Rush found that this hard to achieve recently? CA sounds like a lifeless noise in comparison.
 
#760
wateroftyne said:
Y'know, I have no opinion either way about the Smashing Pumpkins, but I just had a few listens to tracks from Oceania.

Now THAT is how you mix and master an album. Breathing room, warmth, punch, dynamics, clarity... Why have Rush found that this hard to achieve recently? CA sounds like a lifeless noise in comparison.
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Exactly!!!!

The problem is that Nick R says he is trying to push Rush to sound like Rush. What a stupid statement!! I think Rush know how they should sound... Previous producers have let Rush do the music and then just coax a bit more in the way of feel from them. For the next record they should get in touch with the producers of Smashing Pumpkins or Yes so we can get a decent mix from the Canadian legends!!!!
 

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