Earthshine

Halo Effect is FABULOUS! Ranks up there with Speed Of Love, Cold Fire with Rush "love songs." I am sure many of us can relate to this story. I know I can on a few occasions.

Just sayin'. Can't stop listening to it. It has all the elements of Rush we love and lots of new ones too. Very possibly best Rush album EVER!

I voted yes. The song makes you think about life and all that it is and all how it all ends up in the end. Possibly the best last Rush song to end all Rush albums. I certainly hope not though.

Listening to The Anarchist now cranked up! It ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, some people do not like the sound of the album. I think it is lacking something, in terms of a big sound. But I am not sure if it the production or perhaps the band, or even the studios used. So what do you think? Should have Terry Brown been brought back? Would it have made a difference?

Agreed. Most great albums take at least 10 full listens to even begin to appreciate!

QUOTE (The Killer Rabbit @ Jun 13 2012, 03:21 PM) I picked up CA at walmart yesterday but I was holding off until nightime when I got my stuff together for an astrophotography session before I would listen to it...I wanted the experiance to be perfect...under the milkyway. So I got out there..(Wisconsin northwoods), and it was a perfect crisp clear night..you know..the kind that you can see for hundreds of lightyears and beyond, fireflies buzzing around etc coyotes bla.. Everything was set up and I popped the disc in. Mind you, I have a great sound system, so nothing was comprimized...it was a go. Im not going to give a song by song review, but more of "just the overall experiance" Caravan came on as a a warmup, but when the rest of the tracks played, I was not prepared. I mean I havent felt that way since presto...and I seriously debated which album was better..presto or CA. I still dont know. I think there is more substance in CA for sure.. I dont know ladies and gents.. I think Presto captured a moment in time for me and has sentiment, but CA..wow Im floored. There actually isnt any comparison except for the feeling of how an album effects you, and I havent been effected like that since that time. I am still processing all this. I sat there for most of the night with the scope on autopilot and jamming out by myself airguitar in the woods. Its an awesome time to be a true Rush fan. I am incredibly proud of the boys for producing this epic masterpiece. I just wish they were coming to Milwaukee:P Anyways, heres a pic from last night of my setting when I first heard CA in its entirety from 1030pm til about ...dawn. I guess the hype was true...for once. TKR FABULOUS! What a great way to listen to it, especially the first time. No lyric sheet or anything. Just you, Rush and the Universe!

QUOTE (Rush-O-Matic @ Jun 13 2012, 08:04 AM) QUOTE (Earthshine @ Jun 13 2012, 04:49 AM) QUOTE (ThinkingBig @ Jun 12 2012, 03:48 PM) There's obvious some history there, that will be revealed, I assume in the book. I am sorry if I am late, but what book? Kevin J Anderson's Blog Pre-order From Amazon Thanks!

QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 13 2012, 05:45 AM) QUOTE (Earthshine @ Jun 13 2012, 04:55 AM) QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 12 2012, 11:18 PM) I need the novel. Sorry again, but WHAT NOVEL?! You must've missed this bit of news over the past couple months... Neil's friend, Sci-Fi author Kevin J. Anderson, has written a novel about all this, with Neil's input. However, it won't be out until September - about the time the tour starts. Thanks!

QUOTE (cygnify @ Jun 12 2012, 10:56 PM) The concept that I am most curious about is: what exactly is the role of the Clockwork Angels??? The Watchmaker rules through the "Regulators". Are the Clockwork Angels his agents? I get the impression they represent the Watchmaker's power. But what exactly what did they do to merit the album title? The protagonist doesn't dig the watchmaker so much. My take as of now is that The Watchmaker is God or a "higher power" and the Clockwork Angels are perhaps organized religions. He believes in neither of them fully, and resolves that if one naturally does what is right and good, he will be fine in the end naturally.

QUOTE (Alexmai @ Jun 13 2012, 02:25 AM) What about new girl/old girl being Olivia/Selena or Carrie/Jaqueline? I thought about that. Not so much with Selena and Olivia, but with Jaqueline and Carrie? Or more likely, the one he describes as "that woman" whom he had a brief relationship with before he met Carrie.

QUOTE (GeddyRulz @ Jun 12 2012, 11:18 PM) I need the novel. Sorry again,but WHAT NOVEL?!

It is a song I really needed to hear at this stage of my life. It is good advice and I will try to follow it.

QUOTE (ThinkingBig @ Jun 12 2012, 03:48 PM) There's obvious some history there, that will be revealed, I assume in the book. I am sorry if I am late, but what book?

QUOTE (cygnify @ Jun 12 2012, 03:46 PM) Just my initial interpretation- The Anarchist is an evildoer that holds the grudge against the world for what he lacks and sets up the protagonist at the Carnival (with some sort of detonator) (see "Carnies") The Anarchist is the first; the Wreckers are the second confrontation with this type of evil when take advantage of other's misery, kill the others, and nearly kill the protagonist. Along with the Pedlar, his illusions of love (Halo effect) and his search for the Seven Cities of Gold, that lead the protagonist to his current mental state - not harboring ill-will (Wish Them Well) and to measure his life by love and respect (The Garden) I'd like to hear other's interpretations That sounds pretty accurate.

I prefer Vapor Trails, Snakes & Arrows & Clockwork Angels to the 90s albums.

Some of the lyrics could very well be autobiographical, with the scenes in the lyrics being metaphorical. I hope all is well with Neil.

The chord changes in Wish Them Well.

Give it time! If anything, they are showing Dream Theater, THIS is how you do a concept album in 2012! And we are still the KINGS of it even if we have not done one since 1978!

I am still absorbing it. On the 2nd listen my view changed. On the 3rd listen, it changed even more. I am still trying to figure it out.

No, I don't think so. He is just reflecting on the idea and seeing how that idea is at a later stage in his life after having gone through so much.

It it great not everyone is a Rush "yes person." However, I would suggest giving it time. I could not stand Grace Under Pressure until I saw the tour live 7 months after it came out. Then I loved it and understood it. I also thought Good News First was awful. Then I liked it after about 2 years.

QUOTE (Flying Finn @ Jun 7 2012, 06:32 AM) They will use samples. No orchestra and rightly so. Well, yeah, but only if they do not play Losing It. That must be done with none other than Ben Mink. I doubt they would pay him to do the tour to only play on one song, however.

Bought it on June 12 and did my Rush ritual for a new album: Went home, put on the headphones, got out the lyrics and listened to it uninterrupted. Well, I did this 3 times in a row! Every time I listened to it, I heard more and understood more. The album is NO DOUBT a concept album. Maybe it is new album excitement, but at the moment, I feel this could be the greatest album they have EVER done. Next only possibly to Hemispheres. My only thing is that the drums are too much in the background and Neil's drums and cymbals are way too far back in the mix. Alex is dominant with Geddy 2nd. I love the strings and vocals. My other feeling is that this entire album should be performed in its running order live. Otherwise, I do not think the songs will make sense and the effect might be lost. I say do a first set of old stuff (maybe even all of Signals), a very few others; Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio, Earthshine, Leave that Thing Alone (with drum solo) and a second set of all of Clockwork Angels. Encore with Middletown Dreams and Mission and you have a perfect show!

Wild West End by Dire Straights Another Ticket by Eric Clapton They both get to me every time. Check them out.