The Rush Thread v. Clockwork Angels

[Nick]

I don't hate the new artwork, but it's hard to deny the old art was 10x better.

[Setlist Scotty]

Hard not to get excited when some of the facts are rolling in.

Heard the clip once, but to be honest I forget exactly what it sounded like.

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Precisely. I wonder if hearing fan outcry against the new red-clouds cover will convince Huge/the band to switch back to the more colorful and steampunk-y looking album art?

-Marc.

Why on earth do you think they would even hear public outcry, let alone change it once it's been released to the public as the final cover? Seems silly to me to believe that they would.

[jingle.boy]

Hard not to get excited when some of the facts are rolling in.

Heard the clip once, but to be honest I forget exactly what it sounded like.

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Precisely. I wonder if hearing fan outcry against the new red-clouds cover will convince Huge/the band to switch back to the more colorful and steampunk-y looking album art?

-Marc.

Why on earth do you think they would even hear public outcry, let alone change it once it's been released to the public as the final cover? Seems silly to me to believe that they would.

Yeah, no kidding.  Personally, I don't see how it's so fantastically superior than the previous one.

[The Letter M]

Well Snakes & Arrows sort of had 2 covers. The cover by Huge, which was used on the booklet, then the painting of the actual Snakes and Arrows, which the band chose kind of last minute. I could at least hope they might do something similar this time around?

-Marc.

[ReaperKK]

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Did Hugh Syme do the single cover art?

If not then there is not a single album cover I've seen of his that I like.

[The Letter M]

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Did Hugh Syme do the single cover art?

If not then there is not a single album cover I've seen of his that I like.

According to the digital booklet's liner notes, Huge did do the Caravan/BU2B single cover.

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

Okay, but I think Setlist Scotty was correct.  It's not like the band is gonna say, "Golly jee, a few fans don't like the cover; we'd better change it!"

Personally, I like it.  Not sure I'd put it up there with their best ones (MP, 2112, Power Windows, Roll the Bones, P/G, etc.), but I like it.

[The Letter M]

Okay, but I think Setlist Scotty was correct.  It's not like the band is gonna say, "Golly jee, a few fans don't like the cover; we'd better change it!"

Personally, I like it.  Not sure I'd put it up there with their best ones (MP, 2112, Power Windows, Roll the Bones, P/G, etc.), but I like it.

Fair enough. I think I'd have like the covers a bit more had they been switched - if the red one was the single cover and the single cover was the album cover.

Ah well... I guess I'll get used to it...eventually. Probably their least visually attractive cover. I would've almost preferred something more minimalistic like HYF or CP.

-Marc.

[cyberdrummer]

I was thinking of reviving the Rush survivor that I used to run a few years back if people are game? Should hopefully coincide nicely with the release of Clockwork Angels.

[ReaperKK]

Okay, but I think Setlist Scotty was correct.  It's not like the band is gonna say, "Golly jee, a few fans don't like the cover; we'd better change it!"

Personally, I like it.  Not sure I'd put it up there with their best ones (MP, 2112, Power Windows, Roll the Bones, P/G, etc.), but I like it.

I don't think they should change if they like it that's fine.

[King Postwhore]

It's good marketing to have different covers.  Seems petty to me bitching about the cover.  Not like since the 1st album that Rush has had a god awful album cover.

[KevShmev]

I was thinking of reviving the Rush survivor that I used to run a few years back if people are game? Should hopefully coincide nicely with the release of Clockwork Angels.

The problem with doing a Rush survivor again is that it has been done numerous times, and you can almost guess the results for each album and the finals.  Plus, with me concluding the Song of the Day thread here in the next two months and Marc doing his discuss two albums every week thread before the album is released, that is plenty of Rush talk to keep us all busy until Clockwork Angels hits the stands.  Not saying to not do it, but just saying that for many, including myself, it would have kind of a "been there, done that" kind of feel.

[cyberdrummer]

I see what you mean. If I decide to do it, maybe it might be an idea to leave it till July/August before I begin, to allow some breathing space. 

[skydivingninja]

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Did Hugh Syme do the single cover art?

If not then there is not a single album cover I've seen of his that I like.

He's done everything since Fly By Night (I think) so there's gotta be SOMETHING in there that you like.

[The Letter M]

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Did Hugh Syme do the single cover art?

If not then there is not a single album cover I've seen of his that I like.

He's done everything since Fly By Night (I think) so there's gotta be SOMETHING in there that you like.

Except the S&A cover, which was lifted from a painting, wasn't it?

-Marc.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

I was thinking of reviving the Rush survivor that I used to run a few years back if people are game? Should hopefully coincide nicely with the release of Clockwork Angels.

tri.ad had been waiting for the new album to do it, but I haven't seen him around in a while...

[Lowdz]

I wish Hugh Syme wasn't so hit and miss with his digital artwork.

Did Hugh Syme do the single cover art?

If not then there is not a single album cover I've seen of his that I like.

Grace Under Pressure? That is a beautiful piece of art.

[Phoenix87x]

^^^^  Most of Syme's work is magnificent, but its been quite a while since he's really made something that has blown me away.

[Nick]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TTVRPM?tag=estengercom-20

Now both singles have better artwork than the actual album.

[The Letter M]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TTVRPM?tag=estengercom-20

Now both singles have better artwork than the actual album.

Ahhh, sweet! That's the artwork currently on the Rush website. It looks pretty good, especially with the airship crossing it. The Power Windows news website has a good desktop of this image!

-Marc.

[King Postwhore]

Even better news.  The full song will be released as a digital single.  Woot!!!


https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/04/15/3064/Headlong-Flight-single-cover-art-revealed-full-version-available-for-download-April-24th

[Nick]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TTVRPM?tag=estengercom-20

Now both singles have better artwork than the actual album.

Ahhh, sweet! That's the artwork currently on the Rush website. It looks pretty good, especially with the airship crossing it. The Power Windows news website has a good desktop of this image!

-Marc.

Nice, using it now.

Even better news.  The full song will be released as a digital single.  Woot!!!


https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/04/15/3064/Headlong-Flight-single-cover-art-revealed-full-version-available-for-download-April-24th

Meh. It's good news when I can actually buy the physical single.

[King Postwhore]

Oh I know but at least your not forced to by the single edit only.


Also has anybody heard the Soundcloud cover of Tom Sawyer?

What it's about is the original drum track by Neil himself and other musicians play the guitars keyboards bass and singing.  On this one it's John Wesley on guitars and singing.  Billy Sherwood on bass and Dave Kerzner on keys.  Enjoy!


https://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/tom-sawyer-feat-john-wesley

[Phoenix87x]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TTVRPM?tag=estengercom-20

Now both singles have better artwork than the actual album.

That is some cool ass artwork.

    and I have to say that I'm really digging the steampunk theme for this album.

[KevShmev]

Even better news.  The full song will be released as a digital single.  Woot!!!


https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/04/15/3064/Headlong-Flight-single-cover-art-revealed-full-version-available-for-download-April-24th

So people can pay for a song that they will pay for again when the whole album comes out?

[King Postwhore]

Even better news.  The full song will be released as a digital single.  Woot!!!


https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2012/04/15/3064/Headlong-Flight-single-cover-art-revealed-full-version-available-for-download-April-24th

So people can pay for a song that they will pay for again when the whole album comes out?

Rush nuts like me are willing to dish out  a buck for a month and a half and then wear it out.

[theseoafs]

Yep, I'd be perfectly fine spending an extra buck for a prerelease single.

[WindMaster]

Same.

[ytserush]

Yep, I'd be perfectly fine spending an extra buck for a prerelease single.

Unless that single is released like the last one was on a real CD with the whole package, I'm doing without until I get my hands on the promo single or the that fan pack from the UK.  But that's just me, I enjoy it a lot more that way.


First album featuring Hugh Syme was Caress of Steel.

He's done some great work for Rush, but lately it hasn't been the album cover itself, but the other related designs for the album.

[jjrock88]

I can't wait for this release.  Everything I've seen and heard so far screams awesome.

[countoftuscany42]

Could it possibly get a physical release for record store day? That'd be sick

[KevShmev]

I am pretty confident that the music on this will be most excellent, but the key to how good it really is will be the vocal melodies.  Geddy's voice ain't nearly what it used to be, but he still does a mostly good job in the studio, so hopefully they wrote some good and memorable melodies.

[The Letter M]

I am pretty confident that the music on this will be most excellent, but the key to how good it really is will be the vocal melodies.  Geddy's voice ain't nearly what it used to be, but he still does a mostly good job in the studio, so hopefully they wrote some good and memorable melodies.

I agree - Geddy's vocal melodies have been a bit hit-or-miss since TFE, so let's hope with Booujzhe's help, Geddy has some awesome vocal hooks for us to hum for weeks and months to come.

It's interesting - this album will have the band's shortest track ("BU2B2" at 1:28), but also four of the band's longest tracks since Moving Pictures ("Clockwork Angels", "The Anarchist" and "The Garden", all near or over 7 minutes long).

It's nice to see such variety on this album, in terms of track lengths. For years, we've had albums with songs all in the 4-6 minute range, with few exceptions. It's been a nice transition, though, as 2 songs on VT stretched over 6 minutes, and 3 songs on S&A, and now 5 on CA. If they keep this trend up, their 20th studio album might be 7-9 songs, all in the 6-8 minute range...or perhaps one over 10 minutes long? We can only hope...

-Marc

[WindMaster]

I think Clockwork Angels will be their last album.

[Orbert]

Why?