The Lofty Oaks

I have to go with La Villa as well. I can play many Rush songs but I never had so much trouble getting things to sound "right". I spent well over 2 months trying to get a reasonably passable version. Still not sure I succeeded. I did not even attempt to copy the Lifeson solos note for note so I went in my own direction there. The song has many challenging guitar parts but the timing was the hardest aspect to nail down. https://soundcloud.com/theloftyoaks/la-villa-strangiato

The Novel will debut in the #18 position on the NY Times bestseller list. Follow the link to the announcement on the ECW Press webpage. Hope it climbs higher. ECW Press Announcement

I think posting my link to the blog is appropriate here in this thread. A full accounting of my thoughts about the novel are there. Too long to post here. Feel free to read and comment freely, good or bad. The Lofty Oaks - Clockwork Angels: The Novel Review

Glad to see a few of you you guys checking it out. Please feel free to post any comments or just tell me I am a full of $3it fan boy. All comments are welcome.

LINK to Review For those who might be interested in reading my review of the novel. The above link will take you there. Apologize for it being 1,800 words long. I had to pare it down some just to get there. Check it out. Thanks, The Lofty Oaks

Once you have read the novel it will be impossible to skip "The Wreckers". It is the climax to the entire story. After experiencing that you will not be able to skip the "climax" of the album as well. The climax is the point who would want to skip that? Pun intended.

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Aug 10 2012, 10:11 AM) One things I found intriguing about reading the downloaded Sample of Clockwork Angels the book was all the references at RUSH songs. Which made be wonder if this was by design and if these songs would make it into the CA setlist on the upcoming tour? So far they've mentioned: Caravan Cold Fire Jacobs Ladder BU2B Time Stand Still Countdown Clockwork Angels All songs I would love to hear live: Any thoughts concerning this delusion? Nice thought but by that standard the set would be 16 hours long because there are far more Rush references than that. Just wait to read the full book.

I have finished reading the novel. You can read any or all of the "Highlight Trailer" reviews HERE I am writing the final review now and will publish it on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012 It's been a really fun process to read the novel and write about it. It is a fun book to read, especially for Rush fans who will grasp all of the Rush references. The story is very well integrated with the album. Almost like one singular project in two mediums. Thanks for checking out the blog. THE LOFTY OAKS

Highlight trailers #7, #8 & #9 have been posted to the website. #9 is the last in the series. On August 17, 2012 I will publish the Official Novel Review. Highlight Trailer #7 Highlight Trailer #8 HIghlight Trailer #9 If you enjoy reading science fiction or adventure novels Clockwork Angels: The Novel will be one of your favorites. Thanks, The Lofty Oaks

Part 2 has been posted. ========================================================= Clockwork Angels - The Novel: Highlights Trailer Part 2 A few more chapters have been pushed to the left of the fold. Owen has been exploring the wonders and curiosities of Crown City. Sampling new and exotic foods, meeting unique and strange people and spending the money given to him by The Anarchist. A comprehensive description of The Watchmaker has been told. His ascension to power, his daily habits and his obsessive compulsive pension for rigidity and order are fascinating. The Watchmaker appears to know that a Owen Hardy from Barrel Arbor has entered his city. Owen has tried to get into Chronos Square to actually view the Clockwork Angels in action but has been turned back by the Regulators. The Red Guard, the Blue Guard and the elite Black Guard collectively known as The Regulators carry out The Watchmaker's staunch edicts for order and timeliness. Owen has no ticket so he can not get into the square to see the Clockwork Angels perform their mechanical show. Signs of the presence of The Anarchist are seen around town in the form of graffiti that disrupts the perfect order of all things that are orderly and best. A vendor rejoices in the fact that his cargo of wares from Poseidon City has escaped capture by The Wreckers. Owen found his way to the Magnusson Carnival Extravaganza. There he finds the quirky human freaks and mechanical steampunk geeks that dwell in the ranks of a carnival ecosystem. He stumbles into the tent where performing graceful feats of tight rope walking and aerial acrobatics is Francesca, with wings on her heals. She takes note of Owen as well. The Carnival is abruptly shut down by the Regulators due to a minor irregularity in the paperwork. Rides are shuttered and everyone is sent home until the glitch can be remedied. Mr. Magnusson takes it all in stride with the commonly heard refrain of "We shall do what The Watchmaker wishes, all is for the best." That will cover it for now. Check back later for more updates. ========================================================== FULL BLOG POST Thanks, The Lofty Oaks

By the skin of my teeth I snagged a Silver Edition from the ECW site. RBC was slammed early and sold out fast. The ECW site was dead slow but I stuck with it and finally got a Silver. Now I will have the KJA signed sample reader, The paperback Advance Reading Copy (now reading) and a NP and KJA signed hardcover. Nobody could accuse me of being a fanboy!