How do you feel about CA about 1 month in?

[Tombstone Mountain]

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 10:24 AM)

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Dividing percentages and detailed data points mean a LOT more than lumping everything into means, which are heavily influenced by outliers.   Regardless, time will tell, and I have a feeling CA will stand the test of time much more than SA.   BTW, it sounds like you are hoping that CA will not stand the test of time and will be dragged down like SA was. When before CA came out I listened to Snakes and Arrows a lot and realized there are a handful of tracks that I love, some that are still good, and then a couple that I can do without. havi,ng said that I was pleased to have the CD because I can find the good in almost anything.   CA is a quantum leap from that album. The more we inspect something the more flaws we'll discover. This album contains several all time great Rush tracks, while the rest are just merely "really freaking awesome"!!!

[Gedneil Alpeart]

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 10:30 AM)

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 11:24 AM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Dividing percentages and detailed data points mean a LOT more than lumping everything into means, which are heavily influenced by outliers.   Regardless, time will tell, and I have a feeling CA will stand the test of time much more than SA.   BTW, it sounds like you are hoping that CA will not stand the test of time and will be dragged down like SA was. Oh, it will fall. It would be foolish to not think so. The CAid still has people in a euphoria of Rush's best work. I have already started getting not so pumped about it. Maybe I need another glass. I don't think it's foolish to believe this album will have much longer legs than the previos 3, because to me and most others, it is THAT much better. Sure, some regression may happen post honeymoon, but I think a year and beyond from now, you will have a LOT more Rush fans rating this album as their modern best and a career highlight than seen for the last 3 records. I would almost bet on it.   And you're hoping it will fail the test of time because........?

[Gedneil Alpeart]

QUOTE (Tombstone Mountain @ Jul 12 2012, 10:31 AM)

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 10:24 AM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Dividing percentages and detailed data points mean a LOT more than lumping everything into means, which are heavily influenced by outliers.   Regardless, time will tell, and I have a feeling CA will stand the test of time much more than SA.   BTW, it sounds like you are hoping that CA will not stand the test of time and will be dragged down like SA was. When before CA came out I listened to Snakes and Arrows a lot and realized there are a handful of tracks that I love, some that are still good, and then a couple that I can do without. havi,ng said that I was pleased to have the CD because I can find the good in almost anything.   CA is a quantum leap from that album. The more we inspect something the more flaws we'll discover. This album contains several all time great Rush tracks, while the rest are just merely "really freaking awesome"!!!       I'm like you. I weight positives much more than negatives, which does not mean my head is in the sand. I don't like everything about CA.....esp. the loudness and compression and would have liked more keys and guitar textures.   But, I go by feeling mostly and don't like to analyze or intellectualize art to death. I feel things when I listen to CA that I have not felt with a Rush album in ages. I don't subconsciosly or consciously compare CA with my own fantasy Rush album or Hemispheres. I take it for what it is and I am enjoying the HECK out of it. Others aren't and that's ok........but what we feel shouldn't be judged. The only thing I don't like is people who don't like it go out of their way to constantly put it down or minimize it.....a separate agenda than just stating their opinion, and some state their opinions to try and piss off others. I   also don't appreciate fans who blindly love everything Rush puts out just because it's by Rush......there is no credibility there.   But, the haters and trolls are the ones who insult and offend, while the fan boys are just annoying. Big difference.

[Tombstone Mountain]

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:03 PM)

QUOTE (Tombstone Mountain @ Jul 12 2012, 10:31 AM) QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 10:24 AM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Dividing percentages and detailed data points mean a LOT more than lumping everything into means, which are heavily influenced by outliers.   Regardless, time will tell, and I have a feeling CA will stand the test of time much more than SA.   BTW, it sounds like you are hoping that CA will not stand the test of time and will be dragged down like SA was. When before CA came out I listened to Snakes and Arrows a lot and realized there are a handful of tracks that I love, some that are still good, and then a couple that I can do without. havi,ng said that I was pleased to have the CD because I can find the good in almost anything.   CA is a quantum leap from that album. The more we inspect something the more flaws we'll discover. This album contains several all time great Rush tracks, while the rest are just merely "really freaking awesome"!!!       I'm like you. I weight positives much more than negatives, which does not mean my head is in the sand. I don't like everything about CA.....esp. the loudness and compression and would have liked more keys and guitar textures.   But, I go by feeling mostly and don't like to analyze or intellectualize art to death. I feel things when I listen to CA that I have not felt with a Rush album in ages. I don't subconsciosly or consciously compare CA with my own fantasy Rush album or Hemispheres. I take it for what it is and I am enjoying the HECK out of it. Others aren't and that's ok........but what we feel shouldn't be judged. The only thing I don't like is people who don't like it go out of their way to constantly put it down or minimize it.....a separate agenda than just stating their opinion, and some state their opinions to try and piss off others. I   also don't appreciate fans who blindly love everything Rush puts out just because it's by Rush......there is no credibility there.   But, the haters and trolls are the ones who insult and offend, while the fan boys are just annoying. Big difference. to me it's like watching a movie by Stanley Kubrick. I don't love everything about his films, yet I know that the hands of greatness and genuis sculpted the vision, thus I pay attention to detail. With CA, there is always something new...rush "paints" in the corners of this work of art.   the sound thing is something that I don't reflect on very much. I've got a great system and them I have a "boom box" that I use while lounging on my decks. CA sounds good to me on anything I play it through.

[Gedneil Alpeart]

QUOTE (Tombstone Mountain @ Jul 12 2012, 12:17 PM)

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:03 PM) QUOTE (Tombstone Mountain @ Jul 12 2012, 10:31 AM) QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 10:24 AM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Dividing percentages and detailed data points mean a LOT more than lumping everything into means, which are heavily influenced by outliers.   Regardless, time will tell, and I have a feeling CA will stand the test of time much more than SA.   BTW, it sounds like you are hoping that CA will not stand the test of time and will be dragged down like SA was. When before CA came out I listened to Snakes and Arrows a lot and realized there are a handful of tracks that I love, some that are still good, and then a couple that I can do without. havi,ng said that I was pleased to have the CD because I can find the good in almost anything.   CA is a quantum leap from that album. The more we inspect something the more flaws we'll discover. This album contains several all time great Rush tracks, while the rest are just merely "really freaking awesome"!!!       I'm like you. I weight positives much more than negatives, which does not mean my head is in the sand. I don't like everything about CA.....esp. the loudness and compression and would have liked more keys and guitar textures.   But, I go by feeling mostly and don't like to analyze or intellectualize art to death. I feel things when I listen to CA that I have not felt with a Rush album in ages. I don't subconsciosly or consciously compare CA with my own fantasy Rush album or Hemispheres. I take it for what it is and I am enjoying the HECK out of it. Others aren't and that's ok........but what we feel shouldn't be judged. The only thing I don't like is people who don't like it go out of their way to constantly put it down or minimize it.....a separate agenda than just stating their opinion, and some state their opinions to try and piss off others. I   also don't appreciate fans who blindly love everything Rush puts out just because it's by Rush......there is no credibility there.   But, the haters and trolls are the ones who insult and offend, while the fan boys are just annoying. Big difference. to me it's like watching a movie by Stanley Kubrick. I don't love everything about his films, yet I know that the hands of greatness and genuis sculpted the vision, thus I pay attention to detail. With CA, there is always something new...rush "paints" in the corners of this work of art.   the sound thing is something that I don't reflect on very much. I've got a great system and them I have a "boom box" that I use while lounging on my decks. CA sounds good to me on anything I play it through.   Yeah, the sound thing is quite subjective....some like it, some are ok with it....some let it bother them, some don't. All depends on one's tastes and experiences and expectations. I find CA louder than what I would like, but it's not so bad that it ruins my enjoyment of the great music.

[Gompers]

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:55 PM)

And you're hoping it will fail the test of time because........?

Well that's just it. I hope it doesn't fail the test of time. Unfortunately, few have been the releases since Signals that have grabbed me from the get go. Perhaps my age has made me be cautious. Time allowed releases to grow on me and let the greatness prevail, with the exception of Presto, PEW, and VT.

 

This release has a serious issue with sonic quality, which to this day still bogs me down as it did from the start. It also is poorly mixed, IMO. I find myself straining to hear parts that should be out front. There are numerous sections where Alex or Neil do something interesting, yet it is buried under bass or the mix is plain muddy with a wall of sound, almost similar to VT. And because it is already too bassy, I am not remembering anything interesting from Ged. Regardless of the repetition I hear, like old ideas being kept alive, the freshness of the new great ideas are lost in clarity.

 

I do not question the power and electricity of the playing. No doubt the boys are alive, especially at their ages where many artists fall into adult alternative song writing. The poor songs are tedious though. The good songs are very good. Great songs would only be the title track and HF.

Edited July 12, 2012 by Gompers

[They Bow Defeated]

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM)

QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Sorry, let's look at the top five instead:   S&A 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 77.7 CA 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 93.3   Or let's look the distribution of reviews on Amazon.com (a great "equalizer" for reviews):   S&A (531) 4.1 out of 5 stars 5 star 254 4 star 149 3 star 70 2 star 32 1 star 26 (5 star=47.8%)   CA (345) 4.3 out of 5 stars 5 star 243 4 star 31 3 star 39 2 star 12 1 star 20 (5 star=70.4%)   Like I said, I agree there's still a honeymoon effect for CA. And I agree that the mixing/mastering is not ideal, though for me it's not bad enough to drag the album down like VT.   But CA is clearly being better received than S&A at this point. Over the long term I'm pretty sure it will be preferred by most fans. Especially after they release the remix/remaster 3-pack of Presto/VT/CA.

[Gompers]

QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 12 2012, 01:45 PM)

Sorry, let's look at the top five instead: S&A 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 77.7 CA 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 93.3 Or let's look the distribution of reviews on Amazon.com (a great "equalizer" for reviews): S&A (531) 4.1 out of 5 stars 5 star 254 4 star 149 3 star 70 2 star 32 1 star 26 (5 star=47.8%) CA (345) 4.3 out of 5 stars 5 star 243 4 star 31 3 star 39 2 star 12 1 star 20 (5 star=70.4%) Like I said, I agree there's still a honeymoon effect for CA.  And I agree that the mixing/mastering is not ideal, though for me it's not bad enough to drag the album down like VT.  But CA is clearly being better received than S&A at this point.  Over the long term I'm pretty sure it will be preferred by most fans.  Especially after they release the remix/remaster 3-pack of Presto/VT/CA.

You must include all data points. Only bell curve outliers are allowed to be thrown out.

[Gedneil Alpeart]

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 12:45 PM)

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:55 PM) And you're hoping it will fail the test of time because........? Well that's just it. I hope it doesn't fail the test of time. Unfortunately, few have been the releases since Signals that have grabbed me from the get go. Perhaps my age has made me be cautious. Time allowed releases to grow on me and let the greatness prevail, with the exception of Presto, PEW, and VT.   This release has a serious issue with sonic quality, which to this day still bogs me down as it did from the start. It also is poorly mixed, IMO. I find myself straining to hear parts that should be out front. There are numerous sections where Alex or Neil do something interesting, yet it is buried under bass or the mix is plain muddy with a wall of sound, almost similar to VT. And because it is already too bassy, I am not remembering anything interesting from Ged. Regardless of the repetition I hear, like old ideas being kept alive, the freshness of the new great ideas are lost in clarity.   I do not question the power and electricity of the playing. No doubt the boys are alive, especially at their ages where many artists fall into adult alternative song writing. The poor songs are tedious though. The good songs are very good. Great songs would only be the title track and HF. I think there are more truly great songs on here than Title and HF like Anarchist and Garden, but I respect your opinion. The sound issue I recognize and wish it were less loud and compressed, but it doesn't bother me as much as you or some others.

[They Bow Defeated]

[Gompers]

[Gompers]

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 02:06 PM)

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 12:45 PM) QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:55 PM) And you're hoping it will fail the test of time because........? Well that's just it. I hope it doesn't fail the test of time. Unfortunately, few have been the releases since Signals that have grabbed me from the get go. Perhaps my age has made me be cautious. Time allowed releases to grow on me and let the greatness prevail, with the exception of Presto, PEW, and VT.   This release has a serious issue with sonic quality, which to this day still bogs me down as it did from the start. It also is poorly mixed, IMO. I find myself straining to hear parts that should be out front. There are numerous sections where Alex or Neil do something interesting, yet it is buried under bass or the mix is plain muddy with a wall of sound, almost similar to VT. And because it is already too bassy, I am not remembering anything interesting from Ged. Regardless of the repetition I hear, like old ideas being kept alive, the freshness of the new great ideas are lost in clarity.   I do not question the power and electricity of the playing. No doubt the boys are alive, especially at their ages where many artists fall into adult alternative song writing. The poor songs are tedious though. The good songs are very good. Great songs would only be the title track and HF. I think there are more truly great songs on here than Title and HF like Anarchist and Garden, but I respect your opinion. The sound issue I recognize and wish it were less loud and compressed, but it doesn't bother me as much as you or some others. Maybe that's it...the compression. Is that why everything seems clouded? I will need to remember this for my amateur mixing of my band's music.

[Rushman14]

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 11:34 AM)

QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 02:06 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 12:45 PM) QUOTE (Gedneil Alpeart @ Jul 12 2012, 12:55 PM) And you're hoping it will fail the test of time because........? Well that's just it. I hope it doesn't fail the test of time. Unfortunately, few have been the releases since Signals that have grabbed me from the get go. Perhaps my age has made me be cautious. Time allowed releases to grow on me and let the greatness prevail, with the exception of Presto, PEW, and VT.   This release has a serious issue with sonic quality, which to this day still bogs me down as it did from the start. It also is poorly mixed, IMO. I find myself straining to hear parts that should be out front. There are numerous sections where Alex or Neil do something interesting, yet it is buried under bass or the mix is plain muddy with a wall of sound, almost similar to VT. And because it is already too bassy, I am not remembering anything interesting from Ged. Regardless of the repetition I hear, like old ideas being kept alive, the freshness of the new great ideas are lost in clarity.   I do not question the power and electricity of the playing. No doubt the boys are alive, especially at their ages where many artists fall into adult alternative song writing. The poor songs are tedious though. The good songs are very good. Great songs would only be the title track and HF. I think there are more truly great songs on here than Title and HF like Anarchist and Garden, but I respect your opinion. The sound issue I recognize and wish it were less loud and compressed, but it doesn't bother me as much as you or some others. Maybe that's it...the compression. Is that why everything seems clouded? I will need to remember this for my amateur mixing of my band's music. I still think the mixes themselves are problematic, but I'm finally getting over it and the digging the album for what it is.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 12 2012, 10:45 AM)

QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 12 2012, 06:10 AM) QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 11 2012, 03:13 PM) QUOTE (Gompers @ Jul 11 2012, 06:41 AM) QUOTE (presto123 @ Jul 11 2012, 05:47 AM) These are stellar poll results. No way SnA would even get close to these numbers. Oh I wouldn't say that. Rate S&A Actually, the numbers illustrate just how much better CA is being received than S&A.   S&A: 10 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 9 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 8 [ 41 ] [27.70%] 7 [ 37 ] [25.00%] 6 [ 16 ] [10.81%] 5 [ 13 ] [8.78%] 4 [ 8 ] [5.41%] 3 [ 2 ] [1.35%] 2 [ 5 ] [3.38%] 1 [ 5 ] [3.38%]   S&A 8/9/10 ratings: 41.89%   CA: 10 [ 22 ] [11.34%] 9 [ 60 ] [30.93%] 8 [ 68 ] [35.05%] 7 [ 23 ] [11.86%] 6 [ 8 ] [4.12%] 5 [ 0 ] [0.00%] 4 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 3 [ 5 ] [2.58%] 2 [ 3 ] [1.55%] 1 [ 1 ] [0.52%] 0 [ 3 ] [1.55%]   CA 8/9/10 ratings: 77.32%   Sure there's some honeymoon effect (halo effect) now with CA. But I really do think CA will hold up much better over time than S&A. Wow...talk about picking your data points.   Overall, CA = 8.10/10 S&A = 7.36/10   I consider these pretty close. And as was mentioned quite a few times, maybe we will see what 5 years brings. S&A has already settled. CA is still in the woohoo mode. Sorry, let's look at the top five instead:   S&A 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 77.7 CA 6/7/8/9/10 ratings: 93.3   Or let's look the distribution of reviews on Amazon.com (a great "equalizer" for reviews):   S&A (531) 4.1 out of 5 stars 5 star 254 4 star 149 3 star 70 2 star 32 1 star 26 (5 star=47.8%)   CA (345) 4.3 out of 5 stars 5 star 243 4 star 31 3 star 39 2 star 12 1 star 20 (5 star=70.4%)   Like I said, I agree there's still a honeymoon effect for CA. And I agree that the mixing/mastering is not ideal, though for me it's not bad enough to drag the album down like VT.   But CA is clearly being better received than S&A at this point. Over the long term I'm pretty sure it will be preferred by most fans. Especially after they release the remix/remaster 3-pack of Presto/VT/CA. Even more than that:   rateyourmusic.com: Snakes & Arrows - 3.49 Clockwork Angels - 3.69   That might not seem like a huge difference, but that 3.69 is their highest rated album since Grace Under Pressure, which had 3.70.   ProgArchives: Snakes & Arrows - 3.57 Clockwork Angels - 3.99   I do think that CA is getting FAR greater a reception than S&A. Let's check to make sure, however:   http://www.therushforum.com/index.php?showtopic=75900   EDITED IN AFTER SOME RESULTS CAME BACK: CA might seem to have only a modestly higher rating than S&A, but a poll like that really shows you how wide that gap truly is.

Edited July 12, 2012 by rushgoober

[They Bow Defeated]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 12 2012, 02:33 PM)

I do think that CA is getting FAR greater a reception than S&A. Let's check to make sure, however: http://www.therushforum.com/index.php?showtopic=75900 EDITED IN AFTER SOME RESULTS CAME BACK: CA might seem to have only a modestly higher rating than S&A, but a poll like that really shows you how wide that gap truly is.

Sorry, Rushgoober, we need to wait five years to settle this. Most CA fans are probably just bell curve outliers.

 

 

[BigBob]

After about month now, I've noticed a shift in what are my favorite songs on personal rankings. 7 Cities moved far up there, but where I have no clue!

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (They Bow Defeated @ Jul 12 2012, 01:49 PM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 12 2012, 02:33 PM) I do think that CA is getting FAR greater a reception than S&A.  Let's check to make sure, however: http://www.therushforum.com/index.php?showtopic=75900 EDITED IN AFTER SOME RESULTS CAME BACK: CA might seem to have only a modestly higher rating than S&A, but a poll like that really shows you how wide that gap truly is. Sorry, Rushgoober, we need to wait five years to settle this. Most CA fans are probably just bell curve outliers.   You know, I really do understand the idea of having to wait a few months or even a year or more to get accurate results on these things. In fact, I was really preaching that a couple of months back... but then I heard Clockwork Angels and that all kind of went out the window. I think its greatness will hold up.

[theredtamasrule]

 

CA is metal. I f***ing love this album.

 

[ReflectedLight]

QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Jul 12 2012, 07:17 PM)

CA is metal. I f***ing love this album.

it's ok if you think it's metal even though it's not.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 12 2012, 05:21 PM)

QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Jul 12 2012, 07:17 PM) CA is metal. I f***ing love this album. it's ok if you think it's metal even though it's not. It's actually pretty close to metal in quite a few places...

[ReflectedLight]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 13 2012, 01:40 PM)

QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 12 2012, 05:21 PM) QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Jul 12 2012, 07:17 PM) CA is metal. I f***ing love this album. it's ok if you think it's metal even though it's not. It's actually pretty close to metal in quite a few places... certain spots but not many. too bad they couldn't keep it heavy all the way through.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 13 2012, 11:59 AM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 13 2012, 01:40 PM) QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 12 2012, 05:21 PM) QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Jul 12 2012, 07:17 PM) CA is metal. I f***ing love this album. it's ok if you think it's metal even though it's not. It's actually pretty close to metal in quite a few places... certain spots but not many. too bad they couldn't keep it heavy all the way through.   You want them to be a heavy metal band?   I often find it funny when people refer to slow as being not heavy. For example, S&A had plenty of heavy songs that just weren't lightning fast. Outside of songs like The Larger Bowl, Hope and BU2B2, all of the songs on the last couple of albums are still pretty heavy in my book. Even Halo Effect and The Wreckers are heavy in most places, just not as fast as some of their other stuff.   I personally like it when all the songs aren't coming at you like a freight train.

Edited July 13, 2012 by rushgoober

[ReflectedLight]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 13 2012, 02:34 PM)

QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 13 2012, 11:59 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Jul 13 2012, 01:40 PM) QUOTE (ReflectedLight @ Jul 12 2012, 05:21 PM) QUOTE (theredtamasrule @ Jul 12 2012, 07:17 PM) CA is metal. I f***ing love this album. it's ok if you think it's metal even though it's not. It's actually pretty close to metal in quite a few places... certain spots but not many. too bad they couldn't keep it heavy all the way through.   You want them to be a heavy metal band?   I often find it funny when people refer to slow as being not heavy. For example, S&A had plenty of heavy songs that just weren't lightning fast. Outside of songs like The Larger Bowl, Hope and BU2B2, all of the songs on the last couple of albums are still pretty heavy in my book. Even Halo Effect and The Wreckers are heavy in most places, just not as fast as some of their other stuff.   I personally like it when all the songs aren't coming at you like a freight train. it would have been interesting but i like slower tunes. heck i like barry manilow. the wreckers isn't my cup of tea and i don't hear any heaviness in there. halo effect isn't bad but please don't start in with the s & a stuff. lets take a break it's friday.

[condemned2bfree]

Meet my wife....Mrs C.A.

[Tombstone Mountain]

QUOTE (condemned2bfree @ Jul 13 2012, 03:02 PM)

Meet my wife....Mrs C.A.