Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

Big Ears

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Listening to Clockwork Angels has made me go back to the first three albums.

= = = =


This is Classic Rock Magazine's Buyers’ Guide to Rush by Neil Jeffries:


ESSENTIAL: CLASSICS

Moving Pictures (Mercury 1981)
2112 (Mercury 1976)


SUPERIOR: THE ONES THAT HELPED CEMENT THEIR REPUTATION

Permanent Waves (Mercury 1980)
A Farewell to Kings (Mercury 1977)
Hemispheres (Mercury 1978)
Signals (Mercury 1982)


GOOD: WORTH EXPLORING

Power Windows (Vertigo 1985)
Roll the Bones (Atlantic 1991)
Snakes and Arrows (Atlantic 2007)


AVOID

Feedback (Atlantic 2004)


Needless to say I do not agree wth the ranking or groupings, ie. Moving Pictures ahead of 2112. The magazine also has an Essential Playlist, which is really an imaginery 'best of', but it is excuded from the site.

Link: Buyers' Guide: Rush - Words: Neil Jeffries | Buyers Guides, Features | Classic Rock
 
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Hardnecker

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EVERYONE I've ever played Feedback for has enjoyed it. I think The Clockwork Angels tunes will kick ass live. Again, my only beef with the record is the sound.
 

EJD1984

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I think I may be in the minority, but I really don't like this album at all (and not for the lack of trying). Don't get me wrong, Rush is my favorite band of all time, and haven't missed an album/tour since I first saw them on the Permanent Waves tour (they previewed Tom Sawyer at the Capital Center, Largo MD:)).

Is seems like that after Test for Echo (and Alex's edict on banning of synths), they have lost a sense of melody. I honestly can't think of a memorable song over the last three studio albums. Seems like that Geddy may have done a lot of vocal/melody writing on keyboards, but not that much at all lately.

This album almost feels like they are trying too hard to prove a point "Hey look, we can do progressive metal too". Maybe they're trying to gain some street "creed" for a Hall of Fame nomination.

I know that they went a little overboard with the synths at times (Hold Your Fire), but it had become an integral part of their sound, and to me personally, it's the element that is missing in the latest albums.

OK - I know that I'm about to take a lot of heat for this, but I hope some people can see my point.

*Personal Favorite Rush Albums:
Signals
Permanent Waves
Power Windows
Presto
Counterparts (Animate #1 Rush song for me)
 
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Khor1255

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I liked feedback. In fact it was the first whole album I liked since Presto and I didn't really like Presto that much.
 

TheSound

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OK, this isn't an album review, but it's the best place to say that I am fairly monumentally hyper right now to say the least as I just got a text from my brother-in-law who lives over in Queens, NY and he has our tickets to see Rush on October 22 on the new Clockwork Angels tour, we're going to the show at the new Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, which is the brand new arena they have built over there to be the home of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team, who have relocated from New Jersey. In fact the place isn't even open yet, Rush will be one of the first bands to play there, Jay Z gets to open the place with a show in September, though they also have Journey, Dylan, The Who, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen all playing there over the coming months.

Every Rush tour is a monumental event, and a huge deal for Rush fans as there probably isn't a better live band around for the past 30+ years, but this one is special I think as it's in support of what many fans (me included) think is one of their best albums of their extraordinary career.

Got great seats too, so I owe by bro-in-law a large, expensive drink or two.

Anyone else know yet if they are seeing the tour?

Here's the dates for USA/Canada this fall, and also Europe (which is in Spring 2013) ...

RUSH - Welcome
 

Hardnecker

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I'll be in Tampa, Florida on Saturday night November 3rd to witness the best live band I have ever seen.........again. Headlong Flight is one of the very best Rush songs ever written. It will rock live.
 

scarabus

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I think I may be in the minority, but I really don't like this album at all (and not for the lack of trying). Don't get me wrong, Rush is my favorite band of all time, and haven't missed an album/tour since I first saw them on the Permanent Waves tour (they previewed Tom Sawyer at the Capital Center, Largo MD:)).

Is seems like that after Test for Echo (and Alex's edict on banning of synths), they have lost a sense of melody. I honestly can't think of a memorable song over the last three studio albums. Seems like that Geddy may have done a lot of vocal/melody writing on keyboards, but not that much at all lately.

This album almost feels like they are trying too hard to prove a point "Hey look, we can do progressive metal too". Maybe they're trying to gain some street "creed" for a Hall of Fame nomination.

I know that they went a little overboard with the synths at times (Hold Your Fire), but it had become an integral part of their sound, and to me personally, it's the element that is missing in the latest albums.

OK - I know that I'm about to take a lot of heat for this, but I hope some people can see my point.

I see your point.
The same goes for me.
Rush is since the 70s one of my favourite bands.
The thing I'm missing on the last couple of albums is melody.
I pre-ordered the fanpack. Listened to it dozens of times
They don't have to proof that they are great musicians. I know that,
But for me the songs lack strong melodies, melodies to hum or singalong.
The songs on this one are imho in general too long. Lack diversity.

So disagree with me
 

Lavender10

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I always thought it was weird how the hands point to 9 an 11. Probably intentional. I dont know much about rush, im not familiar with their work. Just thought that was odd, unless it was kind of the theme or relative to a track or something.
 

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