The Rush Thread v. Clockwork Angels

[Nick]

Start at 2:05.

[Mosh]

I kind of like that noise.

[Gadough]

Geddy's bass tone on this album makes my vagina wet.

So nothing new.

[ZBomber]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Shame, I love the music itself. But the production really is just so.... lame. Still have half of the album left though!

[Nick]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Welcome to kinda the exact post I made like 2 or 3 days ago.

Not knockin ya, just humored how you can come to the exact same conclusion.

[ZBomber]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Welcome to kinda the exact post I made like 2 or 3 days ago.

Not knockin ya, just humored how you can come to the exact same conclusion.

I read your post a couple days ago, but that is really the first impression it left on me after a couple songs. There is just no punch to it. Snakes and Arrows's production had so much more of a kick to it. It is kind of making the album feel underwhelming, even though musically it is awesome. I think it is gonna be a grower for that reason.

[Nick]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Welcome to kinda the exact post I made like 2 or 3 days ago.

Not knockin ya, just humored how you can come to the exact same conclusion.

I read your post a couple days ago, but that is really the first impression it left on me after a couple songs. There is just no punch to it. Snakes and Arrows's production had so much more of a kick to it. It is kind of making the album feel underwhelming, even though musically it is awesome. I think it is gonna be a grower for that reason.

Completely agree. Breaking through the production barrier has helped me enjoy the album more and more. It's one of those scenarios though that really makes me sad, because you think... if we could have had this album musically, combined with the sonic punch of Snakes... man, that would have been amazing.

[Implode]

Tomorrow, I might accidentally buy 2 CD's and the vinyl if all are available.

And I did it.

[KevShmev]

And on a completely unrelated topic, Headlong Flight has really grown on me (as has much of the album), but does anyone else also get annoyed by the crap that sounds like Mario collecting coins at the one part?

What, what, what?!?!?  That part is awesome, with that dirty electric playing that cool melody, and it is cool at the end of the song when it plays underneath the first part of the final chorus as well. 

[The Letter M]

FYI, Best Buy has the album on sale for $9.99, while most retailers will have the album for $11.99. My Best Buy had over 2 dozen in stock, both on the "New Releases" end-cap, and filed in the normal R-Rush slot.

-Marc.

[Nick]

And on a completely unrelated topic, Headlong Flight has really grown on me (as has much of the album), but does anyone else also get annoyed by the crap that sounds like Mario collecting coins at the one part?

What, what, what?!?!?  That part is awesome, with that dirty electric playing that cool melody, and it is cool at the end of the song when it plays underneath the first part of the final chorus as well. 

Oh, I love the rest of that section, just don't like that particular sound effect.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Shame, I love the music itself. But the production really is just so.... lame. Still have half of the album left though!

Post this on TRF, they'll have your balls. 

[Nel]

I'm about halfway through. On Seven Cities Of Gold now. I'd say it's about on the same levels as Snakes And Arrows. Some okay songs, but nothing that really interests me. The bass is really good, but everything else sounds kind of... distant/muffled? I don't know.

[Gadough]

I would have liked Peart to be more forward in the mix, but other than that, I have no gripes with the production. It sounds good to me.

[ZBomber]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Shame, I love the music itself. But the production really is just so.... lame. Still have half of the album left though!

Post this on TRF, they'll have your balls. 

Why, because I like the album or because I hate the production?

[fadetoblackdude7]

So after hearing the whole album, I still stand by the setlist I created for the CA tour on page 76, with a few changes:

Freewill
Workin' Them Angels
Distant Early Warning
Manhattan Project
Seven Cities Of Gold
Headlong Flight
The Pass
YYZ
Prime Mover
Closer To The Heart
Dreamline

Caravan
BU2B
Clockwork Angels
The Anarchist
Carnies
Subdivisions
Limelight
Middletown Dreams
The Wreckers
Xanadu
Drum Solo
Tom Sawyer
Far Cry
La Villa Strangiato
The Spirit Of Radio

Encore:
2112

Say what you want about the whole 2112 song for the encore, but the way I see it, they've been playing the first 2 parts a whole step down and it seems to be working for them.....and since temples of syrinx is the hardest part to sing, they could do the rest of the song I think.

[MasterLomaxus]

The album has grown on me quite considerably.  Once I read the booklet along with the music, it seemed to really enhance it for me.  Right now, my least enjoyed songs are:  Wish Them Well, Headlong Flight, and probably BU2B. 

The Wreckers, The Anarchist, and The Garden are my most enjoyed so far.

On a side not here,  0:57-1:10 of The Anarchist reminds me of some NES game for some reason.

[ZBomber]

Wish Them Well is my least favorite on first listen. Rest is a pretty nice guy.

[Vivace]

I agree that the album has a "disjointed" sound it. Drums are not punchy and the guitar is a bit loud like it has been for the last 2 albums. Also I'm not getting that same "classic" vibe as others. Actually it sounds a lot like a more upbeat version of Snakes and Arrows. All in all though, this is a great album and definitely an album that will grow and grow like Snakes and Arrows did.

And yes, The Garden is DEFINITELY the *best* closer they have done since Available Light in my mind. What an awesome song. In a lot of ways, The Garden is probably my favorite off the whole album. 

[The Letter M]

For those keeping track, here's what I've found out about CA's various releases:
-Classic Rock Presents: Rush, Clockwork Angels Fan Pack (CD in larger-than-average Digi-Book Hardcover Case, comes with Poster and key-chain)
-Standard Retail Release Digi-pak (CD artwork itself is different than Fan Pack)
-Standard Retail Release Digi-pak with misprinted Track-Times on the back (All times read 0:00)
-Standard Retail Release Jewel Case (spotted at Wal*Marts, possibly elsewhere)
-2LP Vinyl Gate-fold Cover
-Audiophile 96kHz/24bit format from HDTracks

-Marc.

[theseoafs]

Just finished my first listen! I'm sorry to say it didn't really live up to my (admittedly very high) expectations but it's still the best Rush album since... Hold Your Fire? I was expecting something on the God tier, and though it's not quite there, I really enjoyed it.

Unfortunately I most enjoyed the 4 pre-release tracks, Caravan, BU2B, Headlong Flight, and Clockwork Angels. Nothing else on the album really grabbed me as much as those four, though I greatly enjoyed The Wreckers, Halo Effect, and The Garden.

[contest_sanity]

After one day, there are already 68 reviews up on Amazon for CA; 54 of them are 5 star reviews.  Best line, though, comes from a 1 star review where a guy is dissing Neil's playing:

"I sometimes wonder if his afro-centric hat distracts his playing."

lol 

[chrisbDTM]

it seems that most of the album will have to be a grower for me cause i wasn't too thrilled with any of the new stuff. still a big fan of caravan, BU2B, and headlong flight though.


favorite moment is that first chorus of headlong flight. dat bass drop

[skydivingninja]

I think it definitely takes a few more listens before the other songs really click.  For me its their best since Counterparts.  I think its already surpassed S&A even though that album was very strong. 

[Phoenix87x]

CA is definitely a grower.  Wasn't sure what to think on the first listen, but I have liked it more and more with each listen, to the point where I now love it.

      As of right now It's pretty much stuck in my head most of the day.

[Nick]

Since the album splits up so nicely, I have a couple of questions for everyone.

Favorite song from Side A?

Favorite song from Side B?

Favorite song from Side C?

Favorite song from Side D?

Side A or B?

Side C or D?

Vinyl 1 or 2?

Here's the breakdown for reference:
Vinyl 1
Side A
1. Caravan
2. BU2B
3. Clockwork Angels

Side B
4. The Anarchist
5. Carnies
6. Halo Effect

Vinyl 2
Side C
7. Seven Cities Of Gold
8. The Wreckers
9. Headlong Flight

Side D
10. BU2B2
11. Wish Them Well
12. The Garden

[countoftuscany42]

Does anyone know which version comes on amazon? Want the digi-pak but haven't seen any retailer that specifies the version it carries. Thanks!

[Nick]

And my personal picks:
Favorite song from Side A?
Caravan
Favorite song from Side B?
Carnies
Favorite song from Side C?
The Wreckers
Favorite song from Side D?
The Garden
Side A or B?
Side A
Side C or D?
TCTC.
Vinyl 1 or 2?
Vinyl 2

I have to say, the reason I made up these random questions is just because I've found this album so well balanced, it really has some great strengths running throughout, and there are no prolonged lulls as far as I'm concerned.

[Phoenix87x]

A- BU2B
B- Carnies
C- Headlong Flight
D- The Garden

Side A Over B
Side C Over D

[KevShmev]

So after hearing the whole album, I still stand by the setlist I created for the CA tour on page 76, with a few changes:

Freewill
Workin' Them Angels
Distant Early Warning
Manhattan Project
Seven Cities Of Gold
Headlong Flight
The Pass
YYZ
Prime Mover
Closer To The Heart
Dreamline

Caravan
BU2B
Clockwork Angels
The Anarchist
Carnies
Subdivisions
Limelight
Middletown Dreams
The Wreckers
Xanadu
Drum Solo
Tom Sawyer
Far Cry
La Villa Strangiato
The Spirit Of Radio

Encore:
2112

Say what you want about the whole 2112 song for the encore, but the way I see it, they've been playing the first 2 parts a whole step down and it seems to be working for them.....and since temples of syrinx is the hardest part to sing, they could do the rest of the song I think.

Looks great, but way too many songs.  With some of the songs on the new album being longer, they could very well go from playing 25-27 songs to 22-23, especially if they play all of 2112 (which takes up 20 minutes).

[TL]

So having had a bit of time with the album, I'm absolutely loving it. It may be better than Snakes and Arrows, and I really like Snakes and Arrows.

The mix/mastering could be better, but I'm getting used to it.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Listening for the first time now. Musically, it is spectacular. But the mixing/production is horrible. The bass sounds awesome, vocals are ok but the guitar and drums sound horrible.

Shame, I love the music itself. But the production really is just so.... lame. Still have half of the album left though!

Post this on TRF, they'll have your balls. 

Why, because I like the album or because I hate the production?

Because you hate the production.  The Rushheads are in no mood to tolerate any criticism of CA... many are saying it is an "instant classic".  CA is good, IMO, but the production is a let-down yet it doesn't get in the way of me enjoying the album.

[Lowdz]

Sides B &C ftw.

Strong album though and how I never thought I would be saying that!

[Phoenix87x]

I'm so glad my ears can't distinguish between bad production and good production.

    I've never had a problem with any album, production wise.

[contest_sanity]

I'm so glad my ears can't distinguish between bad production and good production.

I've never had a problem with any album, production wise.

Just messing with ya... I'm not a big "production" guy, either.