The Rush Thread v. Clockwork Angels

[King Postwhore]

This album has a great flow to it. 

[TL]

A friend of mine got his hands on a legit copy today.

This is such a good album! I don't know how to compare it to Snakes and Arrows; they're very different albums. Both are great. I think Clockwork Angels is a bit more cohesive as an album. Outside of the three tracks we'd already heard, I think The Anarchist, The Wreckers, and The Garden are the standouts so far. The other tracks are good as well. Man, this is a fantastic album. Can't wait to pick up my copy on Tuesday.

[KevShmev]

Yea or nea, The Garden is the best closing track Rush have done since at least Available Light.

Except that Everyday Glory is better than both of them (although I am loving The Garden thus far).

[The Letter M]

Fanpack disc is different to the regular release.

What are the differences?

From various pictures that I have researched on Google, it seems the Fan Pack packaging houses the disc and booklet in a fancy Digi-Book case. Pictures of this can be seen here:






...while the regular retail release houses the album in a standard digipak:


And as you can see, even the printing on the disc itself is different between the two versions, with the Fan Pack version featuring the Circle-In-Square-In-Triangle image seen inside the booklet.

-Marc.

[theanalogkid7]

Just finished my first listen and I have to say, I'm REALLY excited about this album.  It feels so much better than S&A, and it has some absolutely beautiful moments on it.  The Garden is just... man.

I really dig the fan pack version, too.  The Digipack version of the album is great, plus there's a cool poster with my name on it since I ordered it early on.  Super stoked.

Time for listen #2....

[Phoenix87x]

The Garden is such an emotional and beautiful song!
It is my personal favorite at the moment.

Same here.

Quick check to see if we can get a unanimous vote on something.

Yea or nea, The Garden is the best closing track Rush have done since at least Available Light.

My first reaction was that its the best closing song since Mystic Rhythms. Definitely the best since available light though.

[Zantera]

Listened to the album once, solid I'd say. Didn't really find a song I found particularly good, but on the contrary nothing bad either. I'm guessing it will need more spins, and I will give it more spins when I have some time.

[Lowdz]

After several listens this is hitting the spot. Production isn't great butt that's modern rock producers for you. There is plenty of melody here for me and the only weak ponts are when Geddy starts to warble rather than sing which is a shame because his singing here is excellent. Looking forward to getting a legit copy soon to delve into the lyrics and the concept. Best Rush album since Counterparts without a doubt and could place pretty high on the list after this great start.
One thing I would say is I don't remember any standout solos as yet so I think I need to look into that.
So far though my faith in Rush is being restored and I'd happily see this album performed in its entirety on tour.

[skydivingninja]

Listened to the album once, solid I'd say. Didn't really find a song I found particularly good, but on the contrary nothing bad either. I'm guessing it will need more spins, and I will give it more spins when I have some time.

Yeah its a grower. 

I'm with everyone else in that I hope they play the Garden live. 

[Mosh]

On the subject of Garden being the best closer since Available Light, I agree. But Available Light is still a much better song imo.

[ytserush]

The last track on a Rush album is always a favorite of mine and The Garden is no exception.

I don't know if The Garden gets played live since Jason Sniderman played piano on it. It would be easy enough to sample though.

The only closers I would not consider favorites are Working Man, Countdown and Carve Away The Stone.


The whole album just gets better with each listen. If I had to pick a least favorite at the moment, it would have to be Wish Them Well.

If you don't count Feedback, I'd put Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels along with any three album run in their history. (And even with Feedback, I'd still say it would compare favorably to any four album run.)

[KevShmev]

If you don't count Feedback, I'd put Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels along with any three album run in their history. (And even with Feedback, I'd still say it would compare favorably to any four album run.)

Woah, that is an awfully bold statement.

[Nick]

Okay, I've listened enough at this point to ask the question...

After what was a great improvement sonically with Snakes and Arrows, does anyone else feel that Clockwork Angels doesn't really sound that good? The bass is great and vocals are decent, but the guitars and drums seem a bit distant and muddy through most of it, partially because I think the volume knobs were a little too hot again.

[KevShmev]

Sadly, I agree.  You can really tell the more you turn the volume up.  It's almost like Nick Raskulinecz doesn't realize that an album can rock without having to turn the guitars up to noisy levels.  I am still digging the CD like crazy, but the sound of it is a bit frustrating.

[Nick]

Yeah, I have to say it was terribly obvious on my first listen because I had my complete focus on the album and had it cranked up to a high level. Subsequent listens at lower volumes were better, but the problem was still there.

Edit: And it sucks, because as I warm up more and more to the album musically, I'm turned off by it more and more sonically.

[dbrooks22]

That really sucks.  I've been listening to a download of the album (since my copy hasn't arrived yet), and was hoping that it was just mp3 compression.

[Mladen]

It still sounds better than Vapor trails, right? 

[Nick]

It still sounds better than Vapor trails, right? 

Unless they went in trying to fuck things up, it's going to sound better than VT.

It's just so frustrating that probably all the other albums I buy this year will have less of a budget than Clockwork did, and yet most of them will sound better.

[Zydar]

Are there any differences in sound between the CD and the LP?

[Nick]

Are there any differences in sound between the CD and the LP?

I've only listened to the LP once, but I plan to put it in rotation for the next couple of days, so I'll get back to you on that.

[dbrooks22]

In Corgan interview, Geddy says they are trying to figure out if they will play all or part of the new album on tour.  Around 38 minute mark.

https://soundcloud.com/fmqb-productions/inside-rush-clockwork-angels

[The Letter M]

In Corgan interview, Geddy says they are trying to figure out if they will play all or part of the new album on tour.  Around 38 minute mark.

https://soundcloud.com/fmqb-productions/inside-rush-clockwork-angels

If they play all of it, you can be sure they will split it up over the course of the set...but will the songs still be in chronological order? That is, "Caravan" and "BU2B" would be the first two songs played, then after a couple classics, they break out "Clockwork Angels", etc. etc.

Or would they play the whole thing, un-interrupted, like they did with Moving Pictures?

-Marc.

[ColdFireYYZ]

I'd like to see them play the first half of the album closing the first set and the second half opening the second set. Though it may bore the casual fans who only know the hits.

[The Letter M]

I'd like to see them play the first half of the album closing the first set and the second half opening the second set. Though it may bore the casual fans who only know the hits.

Interesting idea... I think, to further expand on my prior post, I'd like to see something like this...
(Old Song)
(Old Song)
(Old Song)
"Caravan"
"BU2B"
(Old Song)
(Old Song)
"Clockwork Angels"
(Old Song)
"The Anarchist"
(Classic Hit/Deep Cut - "Natural Science" or "Jacob's Ladder" would be awesome here)

-Intermission-

"Carnies"
"Halo Effect"
"Seven Cities of Gold"
(Old Song)
"The Wreckers"
"Headlong Flight"
(Drum Solo)
(Acoustic Song - "Hope" would be cool)
"BU2B2"
"Wish Them Well"
(Classic Hit - 2112: I, II, VII)
(Classic Hit - Xanadu?)
"The Garden"

-Encore-
(2 or 3 old/classic hits)

The number of songs works, as is standard with their previous live sets, about 10-11 in the first set, then 12-14 int he 2nd set, and an encore.

This leaves room for 12-13 older songs/classics, and of course, those would include at least "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Freewill", as well as any version/part of "2112". I'd like it if they left out any songs from Moving Pictures just because they played the whole thing live last tour. It would leave more room for other older songs, too, since they usually play half of MP live anyway.

I think "Closer To The Heart" should sit this tour out, as well, so that would leave us with 10 other songs to play. "La Villa Strangiato" will probably make it to the encore again, and I think we'll see at least 1 or 2 songs from Vapor Trails as none were played on the Time Machine Tour. I'd like it if there was one new song played live from Snakes & Arrows, but it will likely be represented by "Far Cry", so that brings us to 6 songs...

"Subdivisions", and probably at least 1 song each from GUP, POW and HYF would be nice...leaving 2 songs, probably "Xanadu" and something from their first four albums.

It'd be tough to play ALL of CA and still please the fans, but if they wanted to do that, they'd bring out some deep cuts and make it worth it to have half the set be CA songs. Although, to be honest, I'd like to see them do a tour where they played nothing but songs from Presto onward, covering a lot of songs they've never played live, or have rarely played live (like "Time And Motion" or "Ceiling Unlimited").

-Marc.

[theseoafs]

Partway through the interview. Found out that Rush does recognize that the intro to Headlong Flight does sound just like Bastille Day; turns out it's intentional, since the lyrics are about reflecting on your past.

[The Letter M]

Partway through the interview. Found out that Rush does recognize that the intro to Headlong Flight does sound just like Bastille Day; turns out it's intentional, since the lyrics are about reflecting on your past.

Must have been Bouujze 's idea!

-Marc.

[TAC]

Yea or nea, The Garden is the best closing track Rush have done since at least Available Light.

Except that Everyday Glory is better than both of them (although I am loving The Garden thus far).

I love Everyday Glory!

[KevShmev]

In Corgan interview, Geddy says they are trying to figure out if they will play all or part of the new album on tour.  Around 38 minute mark.

https://soundcloud.com/fmqb-productions/inside-rush-clockwork-angels

Great interview!

I had heard the story about them switching instruments during The Wreckers, but hearing them tell it in more detail was super cool.

I loved how much Corgan talked about Neil as a lyricist.  I always laugh when Rush dissenters bag him for supposedly being a bad lyricist. 

And while they mentioned that playing all of the new album is a possibility, it didn't sound likely based on the way they talked.

[Nick]

Are there any differences in sound between the CD and the LP?

After two listens tonight, I'd say there is a fair improvement on the vinyl, but it's still certainly lacking.

[Phoenix87x]

After 5 listens, how do I feel about Clockwork Angels?

[WindMaster]

Picking this up tomorrow! I listened to most of it and it sounds really super awesome. I'm really excited to spin this all day.

[Implode]

Tomorrow, I might accidentally buy 2 CD's and the vinyl if all are available.

[skydivingninja]

So excited to pick it up tomorrow

[Nel_Annette]

Picked it up earlier tonight at the record store! Spinning it now. 

[wolfking]

The bastards didn't have this in store over the weekend!!    No wonder I've fully relied on online purchasing for the last year or so.