The Rush Thread v. Clockwork Angels

[Nekov]

Living in Toronto, and spending lots of time on a plane, anyone who wants one, let me know.  I regularly fly to San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Vegas for work.

Yeah right

[Ryzee]

Even though I didn't care for grunge, I have no problem admitting that the band liked it at the time, and was even influenced at times by it, but Stick It Out just doesn't sound like grunge.  The first time I heard that song and that riff, I thought, "Wow, they are harkening back to the heaviness of the early days." That riff is more Working Man than grunge or alt rock.

Yeah I agree with this (although I did/do love grunge).   That's why I asked what exactly made Stick It Out grunge.  To me it's just an up-tempo rock tune with a heavy dropped D riff.  I usually think of grunge as being much slower than that.  And the way ytserush and king explained it I thought they were implying that the guys were kind of giving in to pressure from their label or something to sound like what was hip at the time, which seemed out of character to me.  The fact that they actually, you know, listened to and dug grunge/alternative makes a lot more sense 

[jingle.boy]

Living in Toronto, and spending lots of time on a plane, anyone who wants one, let me know.  I regularly fly to San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Vegas for work.

Yeah right

There are still a ton of conferences in Vegas.  Honestly, I've never been there purely for pleasure.  It's always a conference of some sort.

[King Postwhore]

Even though I didn't care for grunge, I have no problem admitting that the band liked it at the time, and was even influenced at times by it, but Stick It Out just doesn't sound like grunge.  The first time I heard that song and that riff, I thought, "Wow, they are harkening back to the heaviness of the early days." That riff is more Working Man than grunge or alt rock.

Yeah I agree with this (although I did/do love grunge).   That's why I asked what exactly made Stick It Out grunge.  To me it's just an up-tempo rock tune with a heavy dropped D riff.  I usually think of grunge as being much slower than that.  And the way ytserush and king explained it I thought they were implying that the guys were kind of giving in to pressure from their label or something to sound like what was hip at the time, which seemed out of character to me.  The fact that they actually, you know, listened to and dug grunge/alternative makes a lot more sense 

Not giving into pressure.  Just influenced by the times.

[Orbert]

Living in Toronto, and spending lots of time on a plane, anyone who wants one, let me know.  I regularly fly to San Antonio, Denver, Phoenix, Vegas for work.

Wow, it took me a second to even figure out what you were talking about.  I worked for the airlines for ten years, and when I see "YYZ" it automatically gets translated in my head into "Toronto".  I thought "Ha ha, cool, 'cause Rush is from Toronto" -- completely missing the fact that "YYZ" is the name of a track from that album and is what most people think of first.

[King Postwhore]

OHHHHH!!! First song title besides the 2 we know.   7 minutes long!!!

https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/03/28/3044/Clockwork-Angels-update-listening-party-first-song-title-revealed

[Phoenix87x]

April 19th can not come fast enough!!!!!

[jingle.boy]

Schwing!!!

[dbrooks22]

From RIAB:

"Sorry I have been unable to post on here as I have been busy with work. Listening party happened a bit later than scheduled yesterday as it was more after 1 pm. I wasn't there but my friend was and he said if you would have wanted Rush albums in the 80s to have a harder edge then this is your record. The songs are like a winding journey and definitely has a more modern day concept feel to them. Keyboards are present on the record so if you loathe them, sorry! He didn't compare it to any particular album and that was a relief. He said just take 80 to 91 in a blender and that was it. Single should be out on or about April 1st. It is being sent to radio this weekend. My guess is this one doesn't leak. More as I hear more. It was basically a text conversation about it and I haven't had really the time to get in touch with him as he has other assignments."

Licking my chops, as 80 to 91 is my favorite Rush era.

[The Letter M]

"Headlong Flight" sounds pretty interesting! And clocking in at 7:30 long is amazing! It'll be their first track over 7 minutes in length since "The Camera Eye"!

The next 8 weeks are gonna be excruciatingly long!!!

-Marc.

[The King in Crimson]

Guh... 

Must.  Not.  Mentally.  Overhype.  Album.

[skydivingninja]

Its amazing how much the littlest information sends me into a fanboy frenzy for this album.

[Nel]

80s Rush is the era I was introduced to first, and the era I love most. So this makes me very intrigued.

[The Letter M]

80s Rush is the era I was introduced to first, and the era I love most. So this makes me very intrigued.

Indeed, and it seems Nick Raskulinecz' insistence that the band channel their old roots has come to fruition if listeners are getting that vibe!

-Marc.

[fadetoblackdude7]

"Headlong Flight" sounds pretty interesting! And clocking in at 7:30 long is amazing! It'll be their first track over 7 minutes in length since "The Camera Eye"!

Wow, I totally hadn't noticed that......that is a long time......

[skydivingninja]

In non-Clockwork Angels-related discussion, does anyone else share my opinion that Different Stages is the best Rush live album? 

[King Postwhore]

During that tour Sky, I felt Rush was getting back to what made them Rush and the tour was that good so I do feel that DS is the best live CD in my book.

I also agree that the littlest morsel sends me over the edge.

[Phoenix87x]

In non-Clockwork Angels-related discussion, does anyone else share my opinion that Different Stages is the best Rush live album?

Yes, I absolutely love it and that 3rd disc rocks hard as hell.

    Rush in Rio is very close though.

[skydivingninja]

Rush in Rio wins for crowd energy for sure, but I like Different Stages' setlist better. 

[KevShmev]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard, "This Rush song or album is gonna song like this old Rush song or album," I'd be rolling in cash right now.  In other words, don't buy it.  Unless they are gonna somehow channel the headspace they were in 25-30 years ago, expecting this to sound like their 80s stuff, but with heavier guitars, is unrealistic.

But I am still excited as hell for this.

[jjrock88]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard, "This Rush song or album is gonna song like this old Rush song or album," I'd be rolling in cash right now.  In other words, don't buy it.  Unless they are gonna somehow channel the headspace they were in 25-30 years ago, expecting this to sound like their 80s stuff, but with heavier guitars, is unrealistic.

But I am still excited as hell for this.

Do you think the new album will be simular to Snakes and Arrows in regards to song tempo and structure?

[Mladen]

Hopefully it will be better. Caravan and BU2B are light years ahead of every song on Snakes and arrows except for Far cry.

[Nekov]

From RIAB:

"Sorry I have been unable to post on here as I have been busy with work. Listening party happened a bit later than scheduled yesterday as it was more after 1 pm. I wasn't there but my friend was and he said if you would have wanted Rush albums in the 80s to have a harder edge then this is your record. The songs are like a winding journey and definitely has a more modern day concept feel to them. Keyboards are present on the record so if you loathe them, sorry! He didn't compare it to any particular album and that was a relief. He said just take 80 to 91 in a blender and that was it. Single should be out on or about April 1st. It is being sent to radio this weekend. My guess is this one doesn't leak. More as I hear more. It was basically a text conversation about it and I haven't had really the time to get in touch with him as he has other assignments."

Licking my chops, as 80 to 91 is my favorite Rush era.

YES!!! I love the keyboards in Rush. This is gonna be a fantastic album.

[dbrooks22]

In non-Clockwork Angels-related discussion, does anyone else share my opinion that Different Stages is the best Rush live album?

I love the DS setlist, but have a very hard time with the mix. 

[KevShmev]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard, "This Rush song or album is gonna song like this old Rush song or album," I'd be rolling in cash right now.  In other words, don't buy it.  Unless they are gonna somehow channel the headspace they were in 25-30 years ago, expecting this to sound like their 80s stuff, but with heavier guitars, is unrealistic.

But I am still excited as hell for this.

Do you think the new album will be simular to Snakes and Arrows in regards to song tempo and structure?

No idea.  It is impossible to know this, except to compare Caravan and BU2B to the S&A songs.  From the sound of things, they will be stretching out more on the new album, while most of S&A was pretty straight-forward and featured mid-tempo songs, so we shall see. 

[Ryzee]

In non-Clockwork Angels-related discussion, does anyone else share my opinion that Different Stages is the best Rush live album?

I prefer Exit...Stage Left when I'm in a 70's Rush mood and A Show Of Hands when I'm feeling the 80's synth vibe.

[Nick]

As far as CD sets go, Different Stages is pretty awesome, and I'd put it in the upper half for sure, largely because the 3rd disc is godly.

[KevShmev]

All of the live albums from the last 20 years have the advantage of being really long, but it is hard to beat the energy, power and rawness of the first two live albums, All the World's a Stage and Exit...Stage Left.

[Nick]

Exit... Stage Left has energy? I'm sorry, but it's gotta be one of the driest live albums I've ever heard. The sound on it isn't poor quality wise, but it just comes across as soooo dry.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Exit... Stage Left has energy? I'm sorry, but it's gotta be one of the driest live albums I've ever heard. The sound on it isn't poor quality wise, but it just comes across as soooo dry.

This, absolutely.  I love it, but not because of "energy".

[The Letter M]

Exit... Stage Left has energy? I'm sorry, but it's gotta be one of the driest live albums I've ever heard. The sound on it isn't poor quality wise, but it just comes across as soooo dry.

I agree - the fade-outs between tracks don't help the "live" feel of the album. It's more of a collection of live tracks tossed together, so it doesn't have consistent "live" energy across the whole album. I would prefer Different Stages over ESL just for that fact.

-Marc.

[Ryzee]

Yeah it's one of those live records where the crowd is barely audible.  Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is up to the listener.  I just love the setlist and performances on it.  Jacob's Ladder and La Villa especially.  Oh yeah and Xanadu.  And Beneath, Between & Behind.  Ok I love the whole thing.

[KevShmev]

I am talking about the energy of the band; their performances.  Little things like the flow and sound quality (which are more important on studio albums) cannot eliminate how much energy that live record has.  I mean, are we gonna knock Rush in Rio because Geddy's vocals are barely audible on the first few songs?  Of course not. 

[Lowdz]

In non-Clockwork Angels-related discussion, does anyone else share my opinion that Different Stages is the best Rush live album?

definately if we include the bonus disc from the 70s.

[TL]

It's interesting that they mentioned the album having an '80-91' vibe. If anything, Caravan and BU2B make me think of Counterparts.

Honestly, I'm going to go entirely off of what we actually hear from the new album rather than references to the past. Based on Caravan and BU2B, I have very high hopes for this album. I can't wait to hear Headlong Flight.