Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

ANTHEM

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Still haven't bought this album but imho it's an improvement over snakes and arrows because snakes and arrows was mixed too much in acoustics and lacked the crunch they should have had. Headlong flight imo is the best on this album btw.
 
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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)

^ This I totally agree with. I really hate to say it but I haven't fully liked a Rush album since Counterparts, and yet I still buy each new release lol, and it's not so much the music that I don't like but more Geds vocals... TO ME they lack dynamics, melody, excitement. I love all the early albums where Ged sang some crazy banshee. I also agree that the lack of keyboards has taken an important part of the equation out of the sound and writing.

I am glad that I bought this album off of Amazon on one of their daily deals for $1.. I tried to appreciate and like this album but it just not do it for me :uh:
 

Metal Head Mike

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Great review. I really enjoy this album. This has stayed in my rotation for some time. I wasn't sure about this at first. But it answeared all my questions first listen out
 

recgord27

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Rush never fails to deliver. Initially I didn't like this album at all, but with a few plays I started to understand what they were doing. I like it that it's different from their previous albums.
Great review @Big Ears
 

TheWhalerfan

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Agree that this is a different sound from Rush, and it took me a few spins to appreciate it fully. Caravan, Headlong Flight, The Wreckers, Wish them Well, etc all are great, but IMO the recording just sucks. It has been mixed so loud that it distorts with any volume at all..which is a complaint for most new CDs these days but I haven't noticed one this bad in a long time. It actually stops me from listening to it on a regular basis, and there was no need for it to be this way.

Overall I thought this was a pretty good effort, minus the mixing. They might be toast now, and if this is their last hurrah it was a decent way to end it.

Good review!
 

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