Unobtrusive Companion

QUOTE (pedro2112 @ Jun 8 2012, 07:21 PM) Hugh Syme's artwork for this song is really cool, too. Yep, it's my desktop background! Love it!

I like Wish Them Well, so for me it isn't in the bottom two, hence I voted for BU2B2. Even BU2B2 isn't bad though, the whole album is consistently awesome!

QUOTE (Tony R @ Jun 8 2012, 04:50 PM) QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jun 8 2012, 04:45 PM) http://www.examiner.com/review/rush-s-cloc...-work-of-genius He's a big fan of the band so it's difficult to take his review seriously. He's right though, surely?

It's fantastic. It's fighting with The Wreckers for my favourite track from the album at the moment, both are just stunning.

QUOTE (GuggsDeWar @ Jun 8 2012, 12:53 PM) Ordered mine via myfavouritemagazines .co.uk on 11th April and just received an e-mail today that it is "on it's way" Seems that the postage is a bit erratic to say the least.Anyhoo will just have to be patient.Another 2 or 3 days wait won't be too much .I wait with baited breath Ah! A mainland UK resident! This is progress, looks like we're getting the dispatch emails now. Good news!

I was flicking throught The Sun newspaper here in the UK this morning, and as I reached the album review pages, a red square caught my eye at the bottom of the page. It was of course the CA cover. I'm happy (and also quite surprised) to report they gave it 5 out of 5, and the review mentioned the fact that Rush didn't get the memo that bands nearing 60 shouldn't be putting out this kind of music. Basically, it was a review full of praise for the album!! In a national newspaper, probably the biggest selling one in the UK!

Great review! One thing, BU2B2 is actually after HF, not after The Wreckers Still, I love the points you make, and I pretty much agree wholeheartedly

It's all the awesomeness, they can't contain it in a normal sized case

QUOTE (HeadlongMark @ Jun 7 2012, 08:38 PM) QUOTE (ArrowSnake @ Jun 7 2012, 02:04 PM) All I know is Headlong Flight kicks ass! The entire album kicks ass! Amen!

QUOTE (greyfriar @ Jun 7 2012, 07:03 PM) It's probably the Queen anniversary that paralyses the whole mail in the UK. Got on my freakin' nerves by Monday

QUOTE (movinghemispheres @ Jun 7 2012, 06:29 PM)I received mine today!!! Really happy with it, some nice stuff Listening for the 2nd time to the album while reading the magazine QUOTE (jesse2112) Got mine today Did you guys receive an email saying it had been dispatched, or did it just turn up? Also, I don't know if you use letterboxes in either of your home countries, but if you do, does it fit through the letterbox? I can't guarantee I'll be home when mine arrives, so I was wondering if it is post-able

Day 11 - Power Windows No messing about with soft intros, this one smacks you square in the jaw from the get go. Big Money is in top gear from the start and stays there, excellent song. Very catchy, and bass heavy, which I like. Love the tone of Lerxst's guitar in this one as well. Grand Designs continues in the same vein as the opening track, although slower in parts. Nonetheless, another very good song, with large amounts of synth, but well used synth, therefore making it effective. Some piano used here as well, nice touch. I like the oh oh ohs as well, just thought I'd add that in. Manhattan Project, another good song, although not, in my opinion, as good as the previous two. Still, groovy little chorus, but maybe a little too poppy for my liking. Now then, Marathon. What a fantastic song this is. Sounded great on the Time Machine Tour, and even better on the record. Love that upbeat, happy little bass riff that lies under the verse. The guitar in the verse is relegated to a bit part role and bass takes over big time, with incredible effect. Alex reminds us how good he is with a blistering solo, just to steal some of the limelight back. Nice one Al. Too much synth on Territories for me. Not a bad song, but the synth could either be replaced partly or turned down in the mix. I don't know, but either way, this is supposed to be a rock band. OK, synths were popular in the 80's, but Rush has never been popular, so shouldn't try to go with the times in my opinion. But yeah, Territories is probably my least favourite on the album. Again, nice bass work though. Middletown Dreams, better than the previous tracks, but still synth heavy. Still, this track is actually very good, more top notch bass work from Geddy, he really is showing his colours on this album I think. Emotion Detector, the source of username for a fellow Rush marathon-er! This is an OK one. Nice intro, upbeat verse into a louder, harder chorus. Sweet. Not fussed on the tone of the guitar in this one though. Mystic Rhythms is a nice way to finish the album. This song follows the Rush pattern of finishing albums well. More effects and artificial stuff thrown into this song, but it survives due to a heartfelt yet catchy chorus. People seem to love this album, but the amount of synth reaches incredible levels, and for that reason this album doesn't sit well with me as a whole. It is however redeemed by songs such as Marathon and Mystic Rhythms. Ratings Rush 7/10 FBN 8/10 CoS 4.5/10 2112 10/10 AFTK 8.5/10 Hemispheres 9.5/10 Permanent Waves 8/10 Moving Pictures 11/10 Signals 10/10 Grace Under Pressure 9/10 Power Windows 8/10

This is tough, I really like every song! The Wreckers The Garden Clockwork Angels Headlong Flight Caravan BU2B The Anarchist Carnies Seven Cities of Gold Wish Them Well Halo Effect BU2B2 I can't believe Wish Them Well has ended up that low, just goes to show how good this album really is!

A big fat yay from me. This is one of the greatest Rush songs ever recorded. The melody is perfect, piano is unusual in it's presence and therefore striking, and Geddy's vocals almost bring a tear to the eye.

There must be more than this surely? I'm assuming they filmed most if not all the recording sessions, so they could easily knock up a good 90 minute making-of for everyone. I'd pay for it, but alternatively they could put it up in sections on the website, a bit each week. Please?

QUOTE (EmotionDetector @ Jun 6 2012, 03:31 PM) I just received mine this morning...without any notice or warning. I ordered mine through myfavouritemagazines.co.uk, so if you did as well, you should hold up. It might be arriving there without notice! That's promising, I've heard nothing from them so far, but I'm in the UK so I expect we'll be the last to get them. Still, I'll expect a surprise in the mail from now on!

I ordered mine from My Favourite Magazines, no email or anything yet. Having said that, I am in the UK so we'll be the last to be shipped to

An update on the two links I posted earlier in the thread: At play.com, the fanpack is #2 on the pre-order chart. At amazon.co.uk, the fanpack is at #1 on the hot future releases chart!

Given it about 7 or 8 listens now. The Wreckers and The Garden are, in my opinion, two of the best Rush songs ever recorded. The Garden in particular is just beautifully written, and has an incredible aura to it. As far as the rest of the tracks go, there's not a bad one amongst them. If I had to pick the worst one, I'd say BU2B2, simply because it's the shortest and most pointless track. Wish Them Well has grown on me, really liking that one now. The title track, as others have said, is the most prog Rush have been since Natural Science. Carnies and The Anarchist are insane, Seven Cities of Gold has grown to be one of my favourites, and Halo Effect is getting there as well. Wow, there's not a track on this album I don't like.

QUOTE (RUSHHEAD666 @ Jun 6 2012, 09:56 AM) QUOTE (Unobtrusive Companion @ Jun 6 2012, 01:50 AM) Seriously? Dude, chill out. The album isn't out until June 12th, and the fanpacks have only started shipping in the last week or so. You write that as if you were expecting it to arrive within days of your ordering it, which was never going to happen. Hahahahaha! I know "I can't pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend" but please dude I am not that pissed off!! It's late and I am am not a happy camper!! I bought that Fan Pack a few months ago and they said that we would get it three weeks before the official release date. So? WE SHOULD HAVE THE FAN PACK BY NOW!!! It's all marketing bullshit. They want their money before the product is even shipped out. It's called corporate greed. I'm all for it being a CFO of a very successful company but when I get burned I don't smother the flames out, I FUKKING IGNITE THEM!! Who gives a shit now if I have to mastur"wait" until next Tuesday. It is what it is. Hey that reminds me of the band "Til Tuesday!" Signed, Aimee Mann The whole 3 weeks before release date thing has confused everyone I think. The UK release date of CA is July 9th, so if the fanpacks ship around this time, that's 3 weeks before UK release date. Brilliant marketing plan, confusing as hell.

Seriously? Dude, chill out. The album isn't out until June 12th, and the fanpacks have only started shipping in the last week or so. You write that as if you were expecting it to arrive within days of your ordering it, which was never going to happen.