vital signz

QUOTE (shail @ Jun 6 2012, 05:38 PM) I have no idea why people like this album. The song writing is ok. It's not an entertaining listening experience. I've listened to the album about 5 times and I'm done with it. Can't listen to it. Just boring music. SnA is a lot more entertaining and has lots more variety of songs. The songs on CA don't have distinct sections. It's power cord happy. Drums bashing happy. Zero finesse. Geds vocal phrasing Has got to go. His bass lines are always great. Don't know what happened here. I will try a few more listens but man is the album boring at best. Might need to hear a 320 bit version. The 192 bit sucks but listenable. Getting the cd in the mail next week. I collect their CDs and vinyl. Even have the tapes that are worn out. Seeing the tunes live might make more of an impression. We shall see. Try it with headphones and your eyes closed. I'm serious. The title track seemed so different at first. I wasn't getting it at all, but with repeated listens in the dark with my headphones, I totally get it now. It took me 4 times. Now I am impressed with just how "progressive" this tune is. Nothing else like it anywhere, that's for sure.

QUOTE (Zanadoo @ Jun 6 2012, 05:20 PM) Beautifully stated. I hope this thread receives the attention it deserves. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you wrote, this album moved me in a way no album has, and not necessarily for its music. When The Garden was over the first thing I thought was to thank Rush for this beautiful work of art. These guys f'ing rule. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This!

QUOTE (Zanadoo @ Jun 6 2012, 05:23 PM) The age of his voice MAKES this song. That's the point. Could there be a more perfect 2012 Rush song? Nice point!

QUOTE (D3strukt @ Jun 6 2012, 04:12 PM) I know one thing. The Garden has my favorite guitar solo, ever on it. Of any band. It's a damn magical solo. It is perfection. Alex plays that solo for probably 25-30 seconds, but I swear it moves me more that anything I have heard played by the likes of Hendrix, Page, Beck, Clapton, Satriani, Van Halen, Petrucci... maybe ever. Man I am having a hard time thinking of anything that emotive by any rock guitarist.

The more I read, the more I believe it all an allegory of Peart's life. Just the way each song tells a part of the journey, and the beginning of the tale of the Headlong Flight part of the story is , "In the words of one of our great alchemists, Friedrich Gruber, "I wish I could do it all again." "The days were dark, and the nights were bright, hey man, I would never trade tomorrow for today"... I wouldn't be surprised if those words were actually spoken by Gruber to Peart...

After viewing the lyrics it seems pretty apparent to me that the whole album is a metaphor for Peart's life and travels. The title song--Clockwork Angels: The most blatant "Chronos Square at the heart of Crown City"... Chronos is a Greek word having to do with time...Gotta be Times Square in New York City, right? High above the city square, globes of light float in mid-air, higher still, against the night, all around the city square, power shimmers in the air, people gazing up with love... etc etc... The symbols on the album, do they not have some Greek derivation? Opinions? Other Suggestions?

Amazing. I've been listening since I was 13. I am 47 now. My favorite song varies from time to time, usually between La Villa Strangiato to Limelight to The Spirit of Radio. There is just something so moving and lovely about this song. Not a lot of balls underneath this song, it shows the band's softer side. The lyrics and music are so emotive and pure. The lyric "The hours tick away....The cells tick away" makes me ache deep inside. This song captures life in 7 minutes more than any other song I can think of. Finally Alex's guitar solo is simply beautiful. His choice of notes sublime. So, for the time being, this is my new favorite Rush song!

For my own perfect Clockwork Angels.... 1. Ax the intro to BU2B 2. Replace BU2B2 with an instrumental Get right on that would you Nick?

Ok all you naysayers. Lets revisit my thread. I still say there's a big f***ing shot at this. This album is awesome. In fact, the whole damn record is simply a masterpiece. Compared to anything in two decades, its their best. Every listen is that much better. Christ this record is unbelievable.

nice observation.... I wonder if it has occurred to the band?

Cannot believe I am saying this, because it is one of my least favorite albums of theirs, but I think I am going to have to go with Vapor Trails. It is similar with power and feel and sonic texture... Kind of like maybe what they were trying to do with Vapor Trails, but they got it right this time. I absolutely love Clockwork Angels. Definitely in my top 10 of Rush's catalog.....

I totally agree with the orchestra concept. It would be wonderful. If you haven't heard the album "Exit Stage Right", give it listen. It sounds awesome. Can't say the same for other bands given the same treatment. Rush is suited for orchestral arrangement. Led Zeppelin is not. Give a listen and you will see what I mean.....

It may sound cliche, but I can't pick off of the top of my head. It sounds like nothing they have ever done before. I will have to listen a few more times and revisit this thread....

QUOTE (James_G @ Jun 4 2012, 03:11 PM) Thanks to the guy who provided the link for this album (obligatory note: of course I'm paying for the CD too!). My overall impression: it's vastly better than the last three albums, and furthermore unlike every other Rush album since Power Windows, there are no genuinely poor, half-hearted songs on Clockwork Angels. There is no tail end of mediocrity, no shortage of ideas and energy, no...Dog Years. It's debatable whether the stronger songs on the new album are better than (or in particular, as well-formed as) the best songs from other albums in this period: Mission, The Pass, Ghost Rider et cetera. Debatable...after a few listens, I would say that The Anarchist and The Garden in particular are strong candidates for best Rush song since Power Windows. The album is very dense with ideas and rhythms (this is why some of the samples gave a poor impression of the music - most of these songs are based at heart around sustained rhythmic motion). If anything is lacking over the album as a whole, it's the careful arrangement of these ideas into elegantly formed songs ("The Garden" being a notable exception) but the music is all there. The character of thrusting energy exhibited by several of the songs on Clockwork Angels is similar to that of songs like "Ceiling Unlimited" from Vapor Trails, only the musical ideas, chord progressions, vocal melodies, hooks etc. herein are much better. Note that most of the songs take multiple listens to absorb fully - it's also well worth listening to this superbly-produced album with headphones. Track-by-track: Caravan: This is very slightly improved, with some added phaser effects being the most significant change. BU2B: The new introduction is a little tacked-on but makes the start of the piece less jarring - another slight improvement to an already good song. Clockwork Angels: I'm really surprised that some people don't like this one, because it's the proggiest cut and a highlight of the album. The verse sections feature a bass rhythm and sustained chords reminiscent of the bridge from Digital Man, and these are interchanged with driving riffs a la Double Agent. Something that stands out in this piece and others on Clockwork Angels is that Alex's solo is actually given space and prominence within the structure of the song, rather than being perfunctory and stuffed in the background. This is a complicated song with a lot of different sections, but it's no different to (say) Natural Science in that respect; there's a current of energy running through it that holds it together. The Anarchist: Neil's switches between a loose African drumming style and his usual rock style to great effect in this cut. Again, there's a lot of different ideas in this song apart from the opening riff; in particular, there's a recurring motif that sounds just like something from Permanent Waves or Moving Pictures, and it's undergirded by a warm analogue-sounding synth wash to boot. It reminds me in particular of Jacob's Ladder. Really melodic vocal lines with flowing lyrics, and some Eastern-sounding strings woven in effectively. A guitar solo towards the end of The Anarchist is reminiscent of both Rainbow's The Gates of Babylon and Tool's Third Eye. This is a brilliant song, particularly on repeat listening. Carnies: The fifth whiplash-inducing song in a row. The bass joins in with that awesome guitar riff, only to make way for an evocative, exotic rising motif. The verses feature a chord progression reminiscent of Max Webster's Night Flights with a guitar figure similar to the bridge from The Trees. Really creative bass playing, too. There's some of that power-chord jamming from Secret Touch, Earthshine etc., but it's a lot cleaner-sounding and more balanced here - and it works better over Neil's new African drumming patterns. Halo Effect: In short, the verses are similar to Nobody's Hero, and the choruses are almost a direct lift from the verses of Half the World. In common with Half the World, this piece also features a mandolin section. Despite it being a little self-derivative, the album benefits from the inclusion of a slower song at this point, and the production of the strings and acoustic guitar is excellent. Seven Cities of Gold: Primus-style bass theatrics from Geddy at the start. This builds to a snaking, Zeppelinesque riff shared by Geddy and Alex that winds its way and surfaces repeatedly throughout the song. Another catchy chorus, and at some point Alex gets to scream and solo over the crazy bass lines from the intro. Parts of this have a classic rock feel, there's red hot jamming and also a few characteristically modern Rush elements present. The Wreckers: The intro, which is reiterated later in the song, is pure mid-90s alt-rock; however, the heart of The Wreckers is in the contemplative strummed chord progression of the verses, and even more so in its haunting, melodic chorus. The song, which also features an ominous Pink Floydian bridge, seems like a much more successful realisation of what Rush were aiming for with songs like Spindrift, Faithless and Bravest Faith. Headlong Flight: Still good. BU2B2: This seems to be a nod to the soliloquy section of 2112 - with a more optimistic outcome. It also adds a little credence to Clockwork Angels's status as a "concept album". The pulsating string rhythm is unsettling in a similar way to the outro of I am the Walrus, and there are also some ominous synth noises filling out sonic space underneath the string ensemble. It's more or less a purely rhythmic track of an atmospheric nature. Wish Them Well: This is a deliberately straightforward anthemic rock song, alternating between strident major chords and a rising figure mildly reminiscent of The Pass. The bridge section bears a passing resemblance to the verses of Grand Designs. Despite it being a generally simple piece, a jam session briefly breaks out in the middle of Wish Them Well to provide Alex with an opportunity to solo. It's a little clumsy perhaps, but this piece has an infectious, high-spirited and bold simplicity that makes it a worthwhile addition to the album. The Garden: Dolorous bass harmonics backed by fluttering strings introduce the album's concluding song. The acoustic verses are wistful, with a harsh edge imparted by the string ensemble; the chorus is abruptly melancholy. Geddy's voice conveys the meaning of the song beautifully, particularly when duetting with a piano in the fragile bridge. Alex produces a well-measured solo. The overcast but hopeful tone harks back to Different Strings, but the pain is much darker - "the hours tick away, the cells tick away", if I hear that correctly, is a particularly sad line. This is the fitting conclusion to a late classic album from Rush. beautifully stated.....

Happy Belated BDay Goob!

Ok, here's the two things that I feel would have made it perfection: 1. More Alex solos... 2. BU2B2 should have been an instrumental. That is all folks!

I absolutely love the album... My only critique is I wish Alex soloed a lot more, but that doesn't stop my appreciation for CA! Good job Rush!

Losing It-- Likelihood 4/5. I believe there will be a string section accompanying the band this tour. We have all heard the rumors, and heard of the band's interest in doing this at some point in their future. I think if ever a time, its now. It is one of the most beautiful songs Rush has ever written, and it would be wonderful to see it tacked on, say after The Garden is played, or maybe late in the first set after the Orchestra is introduced... Jacob's Ladder-- Likelihood 4/5. There was a lot of talk this would be played on the last tour, and it wasn't. I feel it's time for this little Gem to appear. This song is perfect for strings...give a listen to this to get the idea: http://www.amazon.com/Exit-Stage-Right-Qua...38809271&sr=8-1 and it would also be wonderful to play before or after the Clockwork Angels portion of the concert... Middletown Dreams--Likelihood 2/5. Awesome song. It would lend well to a string section throughout the middle parts of the song, but what I envision much more likely will be a string section accompanying the redone version of Closer to The Heart. Likelihood 4/5. This would be a beautiful way to do this song and it would be such a nice change to this tune. Maybe as an encore.

QUOTE (lonelymoon @ Jun 4 2012, 05:51 AM) On S n A, Neil's lyrics touched on current events such as the war on terror with lines like "From the middle east to the middle west, pray and pass the ammunition." In the five years since then, we've witnessed paradigm-changing events like the Arab Spring, the election of the first black president, the global economic meltdown, the rise of protests against the 1 percent, rapid advances in communication tech, and environmental disasters like the gulf oil spill and fukushima. Neil has usually shown the interest and conscience to comment on the major events of his time, but now he has decided to focus the whole album on how some Victorians fancifully (and incorrectly) envisioned the future?? WTF?? What could possibly be of less interest or relevance to his audience. Steampunk theme while so much is happening in the real world = epic fail for Neil and major facepalm for the fans. Ok, Now I know for sure you are one of these: http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/112010/main-troll.jpg Wow dude, just wow.

TO ALL of the people that slammed the second 30 second previews yesterday: http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/320835_o.gif This is the best I have heard from them in two decades I reiterate. And again I will reemphasize the thought that there is either Grammy nomination or win coming. Rush is a band that usually takes several listens to "get each song"..... There's something very special about these songs. All of them grab me instantly...from the very first listen, and the words have deep connection with the music, and the mix is brilliant. Bravo Alex, Geddy, and Neil, Bravo!!!!!!!!! And to the idiot that compared Alex's playing to that of Joan Jett: http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/810488/8_medium.gif Edited to say thanks to MiTA for his excellent work and an applause for all he brings to this forum!

http://pugsly.bechange.com/forum_fodder/oh_g_this_thread_sucks.jpg

QUOTE (toscanobarga @ Jun 3 2012, 09:12 AM) "I know a lot about vocal melodies, Ive been studying it for 20 years. Tell us more.

Here's what I think for what its worth: 1. Brilliant 30 seconds opening clips we already heard... 2. Brilliant 30 seconds later in each songs with deep lyrical meaning and awesome sounding songs. Very textural, great musicianship, great mix and clarity, some very progressive pieces here unlike anything Rush or any rock band has ever done before. Incredible really. Best effort I have heard from them in maybe two decades. 3. I wish I had a "BLOCK TRENKEN IN CA" button in this thread. Everything this guy writes is a bummer. TonyR too. A "BLOCK TONYR IN CA" button would be nice too.

QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 2 2012, 08:04 AM) QUOTE (P-Tor @ Jun 1 2012, 08:55 PM) We haven't even heard the bloody album yet and we're already giving them a Grammy??? Rush fans, you know? We'd give the boys every music award there is. I love it when we agree on things...

QUOTE (JohnnyBlaze @ Jun 2 2012, 08:25 AM) QUOTE (vital signz @ Jun 1 2012, 10:36 PM) If you played the first 30 seconds of each Rush song all the way back to The 80's I doubt there would be such a reaction from each of us to what we are hearing from Walmart here and even more interestingly, Chris's (MiTA) compilation of how incredible this sounds and how well the songs flow given the theme and intros to each song. It is more exciting to me to hear this than any other album I can remember. Maybe it won't happen, but I am predicting, yes, even with just these soundbites, that this album, with its theme and awesomeness that we are getting a peek into the window, will get a Grammy nod, and hell could win the best Rock Album of The Year. I think the Grammy Awards are largely a joke mind you, but Rush may actually get something they have deserved all the way back since YYZ lost out on best instrumental to The Police's Behind My Camel. I think they will clean up in all possible Awards out there this year. This Clockwork Angels Tour will be unbelievable. Think of the possibilities with the theme here. You're on acid. Well, ...there's...that...