Gedneil Alpeart

Geez, it's not that bad!

Awesome review! I agree with you totally!

 

 

 

 

The First thing that struck me while watching the blueray last night was how cool it all started. For the first time we as Rush fans were given a nice peak backstage 2 hours before a show. How Alex and Geddy come out, talk to the CA ensemble, and then Alex playfully saying "I guess it's time to go to work".

 

A sound check ensues.

 

And then we are treated to what may be the best first set since the "Evening With" format began. I absolutely love how this was filmed. It really reminded me of the Grace Under Pressure Concert film but with todays HD technology 100x's better. It really brings me back to being there (The Orlando show from the 2nd row) and feeling the majestic power of this incredible band. 40 years strong now and they are at the top of their game. I think this is the best playing they have done since the Moving Pictures Tour (Exit Stage Left concert video) and it seems like it is so much fun for them now compared to back then when it was far more work on stage (don't get me wrong...they are still working hard up there with the mini moogs, bass pedals, and triggers) compared to today. Rush has always embraced technology and they make full use of it on this tour.

 

Set one is just perfect in so many ways. From the opening with Subdivisions (a blistering version) to racing into The Big Money and Force 10 they waste no time in the sheer amount of energy and pace. All three of those songs set the stage for what may be my favorite run of songs since the last half of the R30 show (Overture, Temples, Grand Finale, La Villa Strangiato, By Tor & The Snow Dog, Xanadu, Working Man). While R-30 was the nod to the hardcore 70's Rush fan, Set one of The Clockwork Angels Tour was the nod to the 80's Rush fan. And that would be me all the way. Waves - Hold Your Fire was my golden age of Rush (although Hemipsheres is my 2nd fav all time) those 6 albums make up my top 8 Rush albums of all time (Hemi and 2112 in there as well). So this tour was indeed special.

 

Hearing Grand Designs ( as Power Windows was the only tour I did not see since I first saw Rush in 1982-83) and Middletown Dreams for the first time was so special. And it did not disappoint. The songs had a beefy sound and they made it feel and sound even more current. Not that I mind the studio versions as they are brilliant. But Alex really tore those songs up on this tour. Middletown does suffer from some empty spaces here and there on this particular performance. Grand Designs sizzled. The Body Electric being played for the first time since 1985....outstanding and Alex shredded the solo. I also loved the groove on the "replays each of the days" section. Really thick and tough. Territories went off amazingly. Alex's brilliant far east guitar parts were shining. Neils bombastic drumming cutting right through. You can see how much they enjoyed playing these songs again and the intensity and focus on the performances. They can play YYZ with their eyes closed.....but the run of Grand Designs, The Body Electric/Middletown Dreams, Territories and the insane The Analog Kid was about as good as it gets live with Rush. Speaking of The Analog Kid....it should be a concert staple going forward.....it really should.

 

On to the showcase of the evening. Clockwork Angels performed live (save for BU2B and part 2) is just a truly remarkable performance. The CA Ensemble was just a sheer joy to watch and hear along side the boys. They added so much drama, emotion and color to the overall sound. The stand out tracks live for me were

 

Clockwork Angels - a religous experience. This song IMO is the best Rush epic written since Natural Science. What an incredible song and one they are so proud of I am sure. The strings, Alex's solo, the breakdown bridge section....everything about it screams EPIC, BIG, PROG.

 

The Anarchist - Another EPIC Rush song. Incredible after 40 years....they pulled this album off. None ever though they could truly write a concept record again and here in 2012 they deliever one of their very best albums ever. The Anarchist is a sizzling song of vengence fronted by a sinister guitar riff and a menacing bass line from Geddy. The solo section....although short is so damn intense and effective. Again Alex reaching into his far eastern style bag of tricks.

 

Carnies - If this song does not show someone how incredible Alex Lifeson is at creating several sounds and moods on the guitar.....nothing will.

 

The Wreckers - One of my favorite tunes on the album....it was good live but took a verse to get going. I thought Alex's highly chorusy sound was a tad too processed and it suffered cutting thorugh the overall mix....being nit-picky there. But the strings, Ged's vocal and the finale of the song are fantastic.

 

Headlong Flight - along with the title track this was the highlight of the suite. This song's huge nod to Rush's beginings (Bastille Day, Anthem, By-Tor solo section) and just flat out attack had me pumping my head and fist. One of Rush's best jam songs in decades......decades.

 

Wish Them Well - such an underrated song.....a real rocker and I thought it went over well live.

 

7 Cities of Gold - another nod to old school Rush (more cowbell please) and another full on assault by the entire band.....the string section really picks this song up too. Big time.

 

The Garden - just magical. I can't say enough great things about this song. Just gorgeous strings, even Alex's piano in the bridge leading to the guitar solo (which I still think was a missed opportunity in the grand scheme as Alex has written so many spic guitar solos and this one starts incredible but kind of stumbles to the finish IMO) was touching. I loved it live and it was the perfect sedative to all the sheer intense rocking the rest of the tunes gave us.

 

Once thing about Clockwork Angels......it is a rocking album that really never let's up.

 

I loved Dreamline with the strings as well as one of my all time fav's Red Sector A.....that song has a lot of personal meaning to me and my families history. I would not be here today if both my mother and fathers parents did not survive Aushwitz. That song embodies the human spirit and what survival means.

 

The Manhatten Project was so great to see and hear again. Another stellar 80's song performed with gusto.

 

YYZ with the CA strings was sick.

 

 

Overall this IMO is Rush's best blueray from a personal standpoint of actually feeling like I am at the show. The way it was filmed gives you that personal experieince/feeling.

 

And the set list is just incredible.

 

 

Sonically I found the blueray on my home theater to sound great. Unlike the audio CD in 2.0 the blueray's audio in DTS surround sounds great, I hear Neil and Geddy clearly. Alex is no doubt up front in the mix but the bass and drums to cut through nicely.....and the keys and strings are almost perfectly married to the rest of the band in the mix. Great documentry to top off an incredible tour/concert film.

 

9.5/10

My two kids love to sing 1-0-0-1-0-0-1! They say in the car, " Play the numbers song!"

Ever. It's my fav of me all!

I'll nitpick and say I really did not appreciate Alex farting during the solo of Seven Cities, but I'll let that go. He must have chowed down too much TexMex that day.

Neil's drums and Geddy's bass are clearly there, just not as prominent as we'd like. In some tracks, I hear them better, in others less. And even within Neil's drum kit, I hear the high hats and rides very clearly, but less clear are the toms. Snare and Kick are fine to me. The mix isn't the best, but not that bad to me either. Much better than RIO, less than R30, but I just live the live feel more than their recent live records. MUCH more positives than negatives IMO.

I just love the strings addition! What a treat! Gives so much color and harmony to already stellar tracks. Could not hear the strings well in the concerts I attended, but now they are clearly heard! Song selection is awesome.....what energetic, high tempo stuff! Their playing is incredible....blows my mind that their chops remain so sharp at this stage of their career. You can tell they really had a great time with inspiration and infectious enthusiasm.

 

About the mix, it's not perfect, not as good as R30, but to me not nearly as bad as some are complaining about. I can hear Neil just fine....a little louder drumming in the mix would be nice, but saying he's "completely buried" to me is not true at all. The high hat and ride cymbals are esp clear. Kick drum is good. Higher toms I would prefer louder, but a minor quibble. Overall, a very live feel with high energy, passion, and dynamic musicianship and incredible playing. Im very pleased and these CDs are going to be in my car player for a LONG time!

 

Will watch Blu Ray this weekend.

The word balls is being used quite often around here these days.

Dont count on Goober joing us. He prob has not heard heard it my guess.

It's a real favorite of mine in Rush's second half. Just brilliant prog!

Alex's acoustic guitars in this song are so bright and sweet. The chorus is incredibly melodic.

A big yes! VT has climbed much higher with the new mix and sound! It is now a top ten Rush album. What intense energy and emotion this album has and although the new mix de-balls it a little, the cleaner sound and more refined textures gives it such a fresh appeal and illuminates the crafty and brilliant musical details a lot more. You can hear the details in the playing a lot more.

 

Both CA and VT are now my favorite Rush albums post Power Windows. Both albums have an incredible flow to them, are very emotionally intense, and have such tremendous energy that blows my mind. Both albums also have some very strong melodies. SA by comparison seems like a hiccup between these two due to its relatively plodding, disorganized and inconsistent nature.

 

CA and VT are albums that attack your senses from start to finish and are very gripping pieces of work with very poetic, deep lyrics. SA is more depressing to me lyrically, while CA and VT lift me up lyrically.

I really love the new mix and this has catapulted VT much higher on my Rush album rankings.....easily top ten now. There are small things here and there I dont like so much, but overall, it's great to be able to blast this baby in my car without sounding like my speakers broke.

 

The biggest thing I dont like is that section in Freeze with the lyrics starting " I cant stand to reason". Why was the background distorted guitar sound removed?? It sounds too hollow now. That guitar sound made that section sound so badass and wicked before....one of my favorite parts, but now it lost its balls. But, I still LOVE freeze and so glad it's cleaned up. Freeze and Nocturne are prog masterpieces!

I can hear Alex farting clearly in Freeze now, whereas before, the fart was clipping and distorted.

A wee bit over analyzing here?

Love the keys, am a keys player myself! Love the Rush-keys era!

QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Sep 12 2012, 08:59 PM)

http://teamwinning.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/liverpool-fan-crying.jpg Sniff...they, like, didn't play Freewill! Sniff...and, like, it was all 80's stuff man...no, I'm not kidding. Sob...Grand Designs! Man f***ing Grand Designs! I hate that shit! Sniff...Body Electric...sniff...man, they, like, f***ing screwed me man! They f***ing screwed me! Sniff...whaaaaa!

Ok, now who farted? It stinks in here.

You forgot number 11:

 

Please let douchebags create stupid and nonsensical threads like this one so that everyone can wear a buck toothed smile and pig pile on top of the OP.

QUOTE (LeaveMyThingAlone @ Sep 11 2012, 09:01 PM)

Looks like they're mixing things up. Being unpredictable is a good thing. Wouldn't be surprised to see BU2B thrown in here and there

QUOTE (kentpilot @ Sep 11 2012, 07:48 PM)

QUOTE (A rocket that ignites itself @ Sep 11 2012, 07:18 PM) Yeah, I'd say Kentpilot pretty much rules...thanks a hundred times over for sharing!  Sounds excellent!  No problem!   THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THANKS EVERYBODY!   I'M SORRY I CAN'T DO IT ALL FASTER.   I'VE HAD SUCH A SHIT DAY.   I have severe acid reflux so I was up all this morning vomiting spitting out my lungs. I went to look at a Dodge D-50 Sport truck, on the way there got a speeding ticket(75 in 65) I guess that one is my fault but I mean the traffic was going 75.   So i'm pretty pissed gonna sit down and watch Snakes and Arrows live, sorry guys You have NOTHING to be sorry for! You are one grand dude! Have a MUCH better tomorrow, k?     Wish you wellness!

QUOTE (cmaj7flat5 @ Sep 11 2012, 07:11 PM)

Have to agree with Snaked - The Anarchist was THE tune that hit me immediately - made me laugh out loud, actually, at how badass it is. For me, that nasty flanged unison line w/ the bass pedals under it sounds the most like 1978 that they've sounded since, well... 1978. And adding the Arabic flair w/ the strings? Seriously! One of their best tunes ever, in my book...

QUOTE (bmorechowder @ Sep 11 2012, 08:09 AM)

I think the first set juxtaposes the second set nicely. The new album is pretty much a hard rocking affair compared to the synth textured and complex material of the 80s. Smart move.

Power Angels or Clockwork Windows.....which one do you like more?

QUOTE (vital signz @ Sep 11 2012, 06:37 AM)

The Clockwork Angels-Power Windows Tour I mean, c'mon The first set has 4 of 10 from Power Windows, and another PW song added within the second set Seems to me with 19 studio albums to choose from that this wasn't thought out very well. The only thing I can figure is that they wanted a break from their staples for this tour since they plan on pulling them out in two years for R40. Still with the orchestra there, they surely missed golden opportunities to perform some songs that we most assuredly will never hear live.