vital signz

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jun 18 2012, 12:28 AM) Clockwork Angels is DEFINITELY better than: Vapor Trails Test For Echo Roll The Bones Presto 2112 Hold Your Fire Rush Fly By Night Power Windows Counterparts Caress of Steel Snakes & Arrows Grace Under Pressure Clockwork Angels is DEFINITELY NOT better than: Hemispheres Moving Pictures Permanent Waves Clockwork Angels MIGHT be better than: A Farewell To Kings Signals Just the fact that you are comparing a Whole Concept Album and a total of 12 songs against albums normally containing between 8 to 10 songs should give CA an edge over most. This is exactly what I would have posted.

QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 17 2012, 04:46 PM) Sorry to disagree but it's cheezy. I have to disagree with you... I think it is verrryyy cool to tell the listener that things are about to change quickly and it gives me a feel of it all being that much more intimate. I think the stick count is like a ticking sound to the listener, and Alex's open barre chords played cleanly, picking out the four notes that ring out over and over again, sound very clock-chime like... I think its all intentional IMHO...

QUOTE (HemispheresserehpsimeH @ Jun 16 2012, 06:13 PM) QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 16 2012, 07:35 AM) QUOTE (trenken @ Jun 15 2012, 09:27 PM) She... is not attractive at all... I disagree with this part of your post. I think she's a cutie, and has sex appeal. She's got something. Whew, glad I'm not the only one haha. Was starting to think I was the only one who thought she had sex appeal. Annnyways, I like Adele. No reason to get on her case. That being said, I don't really give two shats if she's sold over half of Rush's total album sales. Makes no difference to me. It's a moot point considering both artists have talent. http://www.picgifs.com/celebrities/a/adele/celebrities-adele-859168.jpg Oh yeah....she's haut!

QUOTE (avenger @ Jun 15 2012, 10:38 PM) I think these last two releases are great news for us Rush geeks, great to have two vital albums so late in their careers... to my view, Rush has explored sounds/directions thru 2 records(duo) thruout their span...i think this one (snakes/angels) is among the best of the lot.... Rush/Fly by Night(the canadian/zep/rock albums) Caress of Steel/2112(the prog/metal odes...long songs..metalisms) Farewell to Kings/Hemispheres(more straightforward prog, tied by Cygnus) Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures(steamlined, concise, radio ready) Signals/Grace Under Pressure(the keyboard begins its relevance, dark matter) Power Windows/Hold your Fire(thin bass, overt production, overdubs to the hilt..Collins-days) Presto/Roll the bones(hines-vision of rush, melody..more gtrs...but VERY poppy) Counterparts/Test for Echo(the grunge albums, collins back..heavy and trio oriented...keyboards are limited to very mild treatments) Vapor Trails/Feedback(self produced experimental steps...vapor trails was a must to get thru the grief...production be damned..it served a cathartic purpose..and feedback was a return to FUN) Snakes and Arrows/Clockwork Angels(boooojz days! a true return to the Fan side of what Rush is..nods to the past...acoustic gtrs..bluesy leads...great concepts..yeah..i loved Snakes too...) as you can see if you look at DUO's/phases/chapters...Snakes and Angels may be the third or forth best of all 10...thats amazing considering they are at this end of their career... bravo my trio... peace.

Phock Adele!

There's no question from the numerous opinions and reviews that Clockwork Angels is definitively special. Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures are, IMHO, the Triple Crown for Rush. But since then, I have not been personally touched by an album of their's as deeply as I have been touched by this album. I think back to all of their releases from Signals to GUP to PoW to HYF to P to RTB to CP to T4E to VT to S&A and I remember buying the albums and sitting excitedly opening the albums or CD's and listening to them and often saying something like, "What happened to the guitars?", or "why all of these keyboards", or "why are these songs so fluffy" or "how many words can you rhyme with neurotica", or "when did Geddy start hanging out with Run DMC?", or "where exactly is doggy heaven?" or "where did they record this album---in a metal trash can?" The only album that truly sounded great was Counterparts, but I went thru a divorce and that ruined that one for me for a long time, and Snakes and Arrows was one I appreciated so much because it wasn't Vapor Trails. This record is simply sublime. Great depth of meaning, passionate lyrics and playing, much like the days of old. Like the 1980ish Rush. The band is playing with ferociousness, and certainly not acting like a bunch of near 60 year olds. That to me makes it that much better, that these guys are our elders, and are cooler than any of us. This album has an incredibly pertinent message about life and our place in it. The message is not forced or hokey at all or revolving around Neil's tragic events... It is probably the most human theme Neil has ever covered, in a way that is pure Rush. The fact it has happened on their 20th studio release and is being so well received by fans and critics is truly unprecedented as far as I can tell in comparison to any other band around. Alex, Geddy and Neil, I love you guys. Thanks!

QUOTE (Rushman14 @ Jun 15 2012, 02:10 PM) I've been doing alot of complaining about the production of CA, much to the annoyance of some members of the board. I've been obsessing on the sound quality and it was ruining my experience of a new Rush album, one that I knew was something special. I even found myself bumming about it in the middle of the night Today at work, I downloaded it into itunes, plugged in my headphones, adjusted the EQ until I found the sweet spot (which was key), and dug in. It's the first time I've been able to just listen to the album without analysing the production and OMG, Clockwork Angels really is a work of art. This album was made for headphones (not earbuds). I am finally able to hear every little nuance, every little drum fill, everything. For the first time, almost every track raised the hair on the back of my neck, even Wish Them Well. For the first time Headlong Flight sent goosebumps down my spine. I have finally fallen in love with The Wreckers. This is their finest work since Moving Pictures without question. Today I am happy. I always knew this was THAT album, but again I was letting my OCD about the production ruin the experience. I still find the final master problematic but unlike Vapor Trails, it is fixable with proper EQing. Some people have already mentioned dropping out some of the bottom end and raising the treble which i did, but the key for me was rolling back some of the mid ranges. That fixed the harshness I was hearing with the guitars. If I can somehow recreate this on CD for the car, I'm golden. For those of you that have not listened on Headphones, I highly recommend it. It is a different experience entirely. Just adjust the EQ accordingly. Am I now pumped to watch them play this bad boy in its entirety in November side note: right as I was getting ready to post this I said to a co-worker "man, the new Rush album was made for headphones". His response: "YES! that way no one else can hear it!" I just got off the phone with my bud who lives in another state and told him your exact post!!!!! I never had seen your post until right now. I agree 10000000% An amazing work, thru headphones.

QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 15 2012, 11:38 AM) QUOTE (Sarge @ Jun 15 2012, 10:21 AM) Full album is on Spotify! Thanks, but the full album is also on my iPod, so I'll go with that. GR did you also get the CD? I ask because I got both, and I swear to you it sounds better on my iPod than on my CD. Just a better mix really. Much smoother.

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jun 15 2012, 12:02 PM) QUOTE (zappafrank @ Jun 15 2012, 10:57 AM) So do people think that CA has yielded the highest degree and consensus of positive reviews for a Rush CD in a while? The only real negatives are people being hypersensitive IMO to mastering issues. I don't recall the release of VT and S&A being met with such, "MAMA MIA, MOST AWESOME THING EVER!!! (or at least in a long time)" Well I think I've made my opinion known! Best overall album since MP! I have to agree with you. Moving Pictures. I love, absolutely love 11 of the 12 songs. BU2B2 is the only one I could do without and it's just for effect.

QUOTE (shail @ Jun 13 2012, 08:03 AM) The clicking of the sticks in clockwork angeles. He doesn't need to click the sticks 4 times to bring in the band. Kind of works though. It will work well live. it's 6 times....

QUOTE (Presto-digitation @ Jun 12 2012, 03:25 PM) Let's focus in on a few specific cool moments, be it a riff or a vocal delivery, drum roll or bass line. Without listing 25 things and overdoing it, list a couple of your standout moments so far on the album. Mine: The tail end of the title track. "As if to....fly" and then the barrage of drums and guitars...a quick stop(!)....and subsequently into that haunting Geddy refrain. Lastly we hear the echo of "What do you lack?" Christ, I got chills typing that out. The atmosphere on this song abounds. This ^^^^^^^^^^. May be one of my favorite moments of any album they have ever done. Including 2112's opening. The fact that it was done by almost 60 year old rockers makes it even more awesome don't you think?

QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jun 12 2012, 08:01 PM) QUOTE (That One Guy @ Jun 12 2012, 06:54 PM) Imo, I think the song harks back to the Hemispheres/Farewell to Kings days... i don't hear that at all. It's those open barre chords ringing out... I sure do hear it.

I just can't see them doing BU2B2 live, or Wish Them Well BU2B2 is just so short and non vital to a Rush Show WTW would be awkward with the high pitched Geddy echoing "wiiissshhh ttthhheeemmm wweeellllll......." after having just sang Wish Them Well... It would be the most awkward vocal trigger or background vocal track playing along with the band that an audience would ever see. It will be very interesting to see what happens with these songs.

I like it ok, not one of my faves on the album. I feel that this and BU2B2 will be the two songs that might not get played on the tour.

It is apparent to me that it was an error. I do not think it was omitted on purpose. The reason I say this is that the line is in quotations right after Clockwork Angels, and before The Anarchist early, and similarly in quotations after HF and BU2B2. The answer to the question gets pondered before BU2B2 as well. Quite the mystery.

QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jun 13 2012, 01:35 PM) QUOTE (malnar @ Jun 13 2012, 12:33 PM) I mentioned this in another thread a few days ago. I was hoping it was just the leak that I got that didn't have it. Maybe its a Rush in-joke... Q: What do you lack? A: ii - Pedlar 2 That's funny! Never looked at it that way!

I don't know if anyone else has noted this or not but there is no Pedlar 2 stating 'what do you lack' on either my iTunes download or on my CD's I purchased. Anyone else have this problem? Or is it universal? How about on the actual double album?

Mine asked to be my guest at the concert for the Clockwork Angels Tour. I shat myself.

Do they count iTunes units sold as well as Albums, CD's? What constitutes units sold?

QUOTE (HemispheresserehpsimeH @ Jun 12 2012, 08:19 PM) I honestly have no idea. Now THAT'S the sign of a great album

Right before they go into the part "How I prayed to get away..." Alex gets this effect with an almost pizzicato arpeggiated carnivalesque sound that is so brilliant---- Nick mixes a part of that sound at the beginning of the song before everyone comes in so it floats all around your head, when you are wearing headphones... Beyond fun! I wonder if it will be sampled live, or if Alex the innovator, will have the effect available on his board... Anyone have any idea?? This song has really grown on me.

I got wood.

Welcome to the board. Most devoted fans of any band anywhere! Let me buy you a beer!