likeclockwork

The plan is definitely for US dates in spring-summer 2013. They're well into routing dates at this point. None confirmed though.

QUOTE (SchemingDemon @ Jun 20 2012, 09:16 PM) Yeah there's been talk in various interviews about potential early 2013 US dates, just no confirmation yet. The current routing has US dates in spring/summer 2013 (before and mostly after Europe - running through late July).

They are already well into routing 2013 US Dates.

QUOTE (presto123 @ Jun 4 2012, 02:13 AM) I'm finally 100% sure that likeclockwork is legit.(instead of 90% sure....lol) He qouted lyrics from Halo Effect way back in April that turned out to be spot on when I just checked it with the sound clip. Trust everything he says although your taste in music may vary from his. I also quoted The Garden before that I think. I said "if people don't believe me, well - it is what it is and whatever" when someone questioned if I was for real.

Anyone who likes the clips of The Garden thus far is only gonna love the song many times more when they hear it and get a little further into the song. The chorus gives me chills and it's been a long time since a Rush song accomplished that for me. The strings are perfect for this song and give it a feel that's very unlike most Rush songs. There's also a piano-based middle portion of the song that is super pretty - leading into Alex's solo.

Again, I would just say that if you're looking for the band from the late 70s and early 80's, they're long gone. But if you're looking for a modern sounding Rush album that much much stronger than the last couple and sounds like it could be written by the same guys who wrote those songs 30 years ago, this is it. These songs are much more cohesive, creative and confident than the stuff from VT and S&A. I'd also say that like most Rush songs, these DEFINITELY require a bunch of listens before forming an opinion. Really, The Garden & The Wreckers are the only ones that grabbed me instantly - and that's because they're clearly very melodic. With some time and distance, if people end up lumping this album together with the last couple I'd be really really surprised.

As someone who didn't love Vapor Trails or Snakes & Arrows I'd just say that it's absurd to judge a song from a 30 second clip with no real context. Clockwork Angels, for example, has a riff shortly after the first clip and well before the second clip that sounds like it's right out of the mid to late 70s and unlike anything we've heard from them in years (in a good way). Shortly thereafter is an incredibly melodic portion - and there are several others in the song as well. The Garden is a song that keeps building with a stronger chorus - I think Alex alluded to this in one of his interviews. You can't hear that on these clips. When all is said and done I'd be extremely surprised if anyone rated Vapor Trails or Snakes & Arrows anywhere close to this album.

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ May 23 2012, 08:57 PM) Likeclockwork, Really appreciate you chiming in thus far and providing some basic info on the new album in your previous posts. I believe you when you mentioned you heard it. Here are some of the most notable complaints of Snakes and Arrows and VT: 1) Poor sound production (mostly on VT) 2) Too dense and thickly layered arrangements...walls of sound...brick waveforms 3) Too many vocal overdubs...aka...too many Geddys 4) Lyrics being forced in, shoe horned 5) Lack of strong flow in the songs....plodding, dull 6) Songs sounding like they are just various parts stitched together in a clumsy way. 6) Often a lack of good melodies, hooks. Maybe there are more issues, but these are the most I remember being complained about the last 2 records. These were the most discussed complaints....not just random issues raised only by a one or a few. I would like to know if you think any of the issues above might also be complained about in CA....for the songs we haven't heard. I know some didn't feel there was much melody in HF and some thought it was stitched together awkwardly. Based on some of the reviews, it SOUNDS like the sound production is cleaner with less dense and over crowded arrangements, also verified by Geddy and Alex in recent interviews when they said they stripped down for this record. So, I'm more concerned about shoe horned lyrics, clumsy stitching of various parts, lack of strong flow, and lack of melody. I'm pretty confident about stellar musicianship, edgy playing, and Rush revisiting some of their prog past Could you please give us some insights about these areas without giving away info you dont want to or cant give away? Of course, I understand, even if NONE of the issues above are present on the rest of CA, some people will still find something to complain about and moan....which is ok....sometimes it's just personal taste.... 1. I don't think I've ever referenced production or sound quality in my life when listening to an album so I'm probably not the right one to comment but I hear no issues. 2. Nope. 3. Thankfully this is not an album of too many Geddy's. Definitely not Vapor Trails. 4. The forced lyrics are a lot more apparent on the stuff we've already heard. Everything generally flows pretty well on the the remaining songs. When I first heard Headlong Flight I was nervous about that but it's definitely not the case on most of the rest. 5 -6- 6. Nope. Not dull songs at all and not forced. The band sounds confident and like they put a lot of time and effort into these songs. The Garden, Halo Effect & Clockwork Angels really sound unlike anything they've ever done. Those 3 along with a couple of others have some really melodic moments. As I've mentioned elsewhere, The Anarchist really sounds like something that could have been on Signals or GUP. Altho it also reminds me a bit of Nocturne.

Clockwork Angels is VERY good. Classic is obviously a tough standard but this definitely feels like the type of song people have been hoping for. The best way I can describe Clockwork Angels is to say that it sounds like a modern-sounding longer song from the same band that did Hemispheres, Xanadu etc. It's certainly the centerpiece of the album and the music (especially in the beginning) does sound like it could be right out of Caress of Steel.

QUOTE (snowdog2112 @ May 9 2012, 11:44 AM) Can't wait! For all I know Wish Them Well may end up being my favorite though, everybody has such different opinions. It's funny, this reviewer called Seven Cities the standout track but likeclockwork who posts here said it was his least favorite on the album, haha! Like with the other review I really just enjoy reading about the instrumentation. This sounds really exciting! And I like Wish Them Well It is a fairly straightforward poppy song though. Picture a better version of Out of Cradle - that type of thing.

Wish Them Well is not heavy at all and I wouldn't describe The Anarchist as heavy - more mid-tempo. Much of Clockwork Angels is fairly melodic as well.

QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 10:45 PM) QUOTE (likeclockwork @ May 7 2012, 10:35 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 7 2012, 07:51 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 04:51 PM) QUOTE (Tony R @ May 3 2012, 05:10 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 3 2012, 11:03 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 3 2012, 04:58 PM) The Garden. I don't believe your facts are true. Likeclockwork said The Garden sounds nothing like what you describe and I really do think he's legit. He knew the lyrics to Headlong Flight way before anybody on here had even heard the song. He described The Garden as being a beautiful, melodic song with a theatrical feel. Cygnify would not lie. Don't mistake my banter with him for disbelief. I believe he is telling the truth. Didn't see anything in the track by track review today about a long bluesy song No, but there was one word in the description of "The Garden" that makes me believe that that's the one my friend heard - "Shuffle" "Neil lays down a simple shuffle." Judging from your avatar (very similar kit to mine as a matter of fact - down to the same color!) if you are a drummer, you know what a shuffle feels like. Could certainly be a "bluesy" feel. The fact that the review also mentions a significant solo from Alex also supports what my bud heard. My friend thought that particular one was the last song on the disc. He heard it one time, while in the studio with Vertical Horizon and, um, someone who would know, and that was his impression. Can't wait to hear this album!! OK....I'll give you a break. I missed that shuffle part when reading it. Probably not an all out blues song but maybe enough of a shuffle for your friend to describe it that way. We'll find out soon enough. I've heard it. It's actually one of my least favorites! Do you agree with the review that Halo Effect is an instant Rush classic? I love Halo Effect but I don't see it being labeled a classic. It's short and melodic with somewhat repetitive lyrics. It also doesn't like anything Rush has ever done before but it's more of a really nice and pretty song than a "classic."

QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 7 2012, 07:51 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 04:51 PM) QUOTE (Tony R @ May 3 2012, 05:10 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 3 2012, 11:03 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 3 2012, 04:58 PM) The Garden. I don't believe your facts are true. Likeclockwork said The Garden sounds nothing like what you describe and I really do think he's legit. He knew the lyrics to Headlong Flight way before anybody on here had even heard the song. He described The Garden as being a beautiful, melodic song with a theatrical feel. Cygnify would not lie. Don't mistake my banter with him for disbelief. I believe he is telling the truth. Didn't see anything in the track by track review today about a long bluesy song No, but there was one word in the description of "The Garden" that makes me believe that that's the one my friend heard - "Shuffle" "Neil lays down a simple shuffle." Judging from your avatar (very similar kit to mine as a matter of fact - down to the same color!) if you are a drummer, you know what a shuffle feels like. Could certainly be a "bluesy" feel. The fact that the review also mentions a significant solo from Alex also supports what my bud heard. My friend thought that particular one was the last song on the disc. He heard it one time, while in the studio with Vertical Horizon and, um, someone who would know, and that was his impression. Can't wait to hear this album!! OK....I'll give you a break. I missed that shuffle part when reading it. Probably not an all out blues song but maybe enough of a shuffle for your friend to describe it that way. We'll find out soon enough. I've heard it. It's actually one of my least favorites!

QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 7 2012, 07:51 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 7 2012, 04:51 PM) QUOTE (Tony R @ May 3 2012, 05:10 PM) QUOTE (presto123 @ May 3 2012, 11:03 PM) QUOTE (cygnify @ May 3 2012, 04:58 PM) The Garden. I don't believe your facts are true. Likeclockwork said The Garden sounds nothing like what you describe and I really do think he's legit. He knew the lyrics to Headlong Flight way before anybody on here had even heard the song. He described The Garden as being a beautiful, melodic song with a theatrical feel. Cygnify would not lie. Don't mistake my banter with him for disbelief. I believe he is telling the truth. Didn't see anything in the track by track review today about a long bluesy song No, but there was one word in the description of "The Garden" that makes me believe that that's the one my friend heard - "Shuffle" "Neil lays down a simple shuffle." Judging from your avatar (very similar kit to mine as a matter of fact - down to the same color!) if you are a drummer, you know what a shuffle feels like. Could certainly be a "bluesy" feel. The fact that the review also mentions a significant solo from Alex also supports what my bud heard. My friend thought that particular one was the last song on the disc. He heard it one time, while in the studio with Vertical Horizon and, um, someone who would know, and that was his impression. Can't wait to hear this album!! OK....I'll give you a break. I missed that shuffle part when reading it. Probably not an all out blues song but maybe enough of a shuffle for your friend to describe it that way. We'll find out soon enough. There is definitely nothing at all bluesy about The Garden. Someone previously mentioned Available Light as a comparison. I guess that's not a horrible place to start and from there I'd say The Garden is Available Light meets Broadway. But there's really no way to accurately describe it in the context of Rush's catalog. It simply doesn't sound like anything Rush has ever done before. It does sound like it could fit as a part of a Broadway show - perhaps its the strings and the piano. But overally it's just a very pretty and really good melodic song with hooks and emotion. "The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect / so hard to earn, so easily burned..." As far as bluesy, perhaps he's referring to Clockwork Angels (the song)? There's a short section toward the end that sounds a bit bluesy with megaphone-like vocals in the background.

The melodic songs are genuinely GOOD. They're just modern sounding, not throwbacks. The Garden is one of the best and most inspired pieces of music I've heard from the band in many years. It's very much a fitting album closer and sounds totally like the final chapter in a concept story. It has a theatrical feel. Overall this is a very strong album with a lot of variety - much much much stronger than the past couple. Whether you love it or not, it's really quality and the songs have a lot of depth. (For whomever questioned whether I've heard it - I've quoted lyrics from Halo Effect & The Garden in past posts so feel free to check back in June for your answer).

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ May 1 2012, 09:32 PM) QUOTE (snowdog2112 @ May 1 2012, 09:16 PM) I think we already have quite a bit of that from likeclockwork who appears to be genuine. The gist of it being that most of the rest of the album will be a lot more melodic and lighter than what we've heard so far: I've heard most of the album and can confidently say that Clockwork Angels is significantly better than S&A. There's only 1 song I don't particularly like so far. Whether they suit your personal taste or not, the quality to these songs is just way way better than the last couple of albums. These songs are confidently made and don't sound forced at all liked much of the recent material in my opinion. Also, as heavy as the songs that have been released are, many of the remainder are quite the opposite. The album has a very diverse collection of songs. I'll also say that Headlong Flight is not one of the songs in my regular rotation either - but I'm always partial to more melodic and hook-y songs. Most of the remaining songs sound very different from the three songs that have been released to date. There's a much more melodic side to the album that hasn't been seen yet. Melodic and lighter....as in bravest face and good news first and faithless or different strings, losing it, mystic rhythms, the pass? Hmmmmm....if many fans are expecting heavy/prog/complex/acrobatic stuff from the rest of CA based on what we have heard so far, how will the general reaction be to "melodic and lighter"? My guess is it will depend on the strength of song writing, flow, naturalness, and confidence. If the songs are going to be folksy ala SA, a lot of complaining here. But, if more in line with 70s and 80s lighter and melodic, then we may have a winner. The best I can describe the melodic songs is to say that if you took The Color of Right, How It Is, Out of the Cradle, Faithless & Bravest Face, figured out where they were trying to go but couldn't quite get to and advanced it about 9 stages you'd have what we have on this album. The songs are much richer and not wimpy. They don't sound like old school Rush - they sound very much like modern Rush but simply having gotten where they were trying to go - if that makes any sense.

Most of the remaining songs sound very different from the three songs that have been released to date. There's a much more melodic side to the album that hasn't been seen yet.

What did I see / Fool that I was / Oh a goddess with wings on her heels

I've heard most of the album and can confidently say that Clockwork Angels is significantly better than S&A. There's only 1 song I don't particularly like so far. Whether they suit your personal taste or not, the quality to these songs is just way way better than the last couple of albums. These songs are confidently made and don't sound forced at all liked much of the recent material in my opinion. Also, as heavy as the songs that have been released are, many of the remainder are quite the opposite. The album has a very diverse collection of songs. I'll also say that Headlong Flight is not one of the songs in my regular rotation either - but I'm always partial to more melodic and hook-y songs.

Halo Effect is not an instrumental. It's short and melodic.

QUOTE (Merely Space @ Apr 22 2012, 11:09 AM) If the entire album is conceptual (and I think there is still a chance that Wish Them Well and The Garden are unrelated) and if the quality of the album is consistent with what we've heard so far, I'd love to hear the entire thing. But I kinda doubt it. "The Garden" appears to be part of the concept. One of the lines is "The watchmaker keeps to his schemes. The hours tick away, they tick away..."

Headlong Flight is toward the end and represents the main character reflecting upon his journey ("Some days were dark / some nights were bright / I wish that I could live it all again.")

QUOTE (presto123 @ Apr 17 2012, 09:21 PM) Why is it every time someone makes a big claim to have heard the record they suddenly disappear from the forum? LOL - I already quoted lyrics from Headlong Flight. You'll find out Thursday if I was telling the truth. As for me saying I've heard The Garden, well it is what is and whatever... I guess you'll just have to check this thread in June to see if that makes any sense.

QUOTE (cygnify @ Apr 17 2012, 03:17 PM) OK, I have to be careful with this, and I am sure some will call bullshit, but I know somebody personally who has heard another one of the songs. I have no reason to doubt this friend, but he is a professional recording Engineer and works with people very closely associated with certain members of Rush. In fact, he was in the same room with one of them yesterday (and showed me indisputable photos to prove it.) Anyway, for what it worth, he said he did not hear keys in the song he heard - and he described it as a long bluesy song with an extended guitar solo. He thinks it is the last song on the disc. I did not press him for any more details, but I thought that was interesting. Take it for what it's worth. And if he happens to read this, I hope he'll forgive me for being unable to contain my excitement for the new release and share this little nugget. I think I was reasonably discreet. :-) The last song is The Garden and this description definitely does not describe that song at all. I've been fortunate enough to hear more than half the album and I haven't yet heard any song that can be described like this.