The Rush Thread v. Clockwork Angels

[skydivingninja]

https://thequietus.com/articles/09210-rush-geddy-lee-interview-favourite-albums?page=1

Geddy Lee lists his favorite albums.  There were some that I wouldn't have thought he'd mention.  Cool read.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

Ew Radiohead

[KevShmev]

Great list.  I loved seeing the Radiohead and Fleet Foxes records in there!

[King Postwhore]

Great list.  I loved seeing the Radiohead and Fleet Foxes records in there!

I knew you'd love the Fleet Foxes pick.  I haven't listened to that album in a while.

[KevShmev]

I like the second Fleet Foxes CD better, but the first one is aces, too.

[Nick]

Neat that he picked The Yes Album. When comparing Rush to Yes I think that album is where I would have guessed any influence comes from.

[Scorpion]

I was really surprised that Björk appeared on that list, tbh. If someone would have asked me what Geddy Lee listens to, then Björk would have most definitely not been on that list.

[Orbert]

As with many if not most great artists, he has wide-ranging tastes and influences.  Björk is pretty wacky, but there's no question that she's very talented, and I know a lot of people really like her work.

[Scorpion]

Oh, I was in no way downplaying her talent - she's got that in spades. I was just expressing my surprise over Geddy listing her.

[Orbert]

I like surprises like that in lists, because sometimes it inspires me to check them out.  Not often, because I'm really lazy, but sometimes.

Okay seriously -- even though I was being serious before -- I just meant that if I'd never heard of Björk but totally idolized Geddy, I may say "Wow, I need to check out this Björk if Geddy really likes her".  That kind of thing.  Recently, Yes showed up on JP's list and Geddy's list.  Right now, I imagine there are people out there who've heard of Yes but never really dug into them doing just that because hey, if both JP and Geddy think they're awesome, there's probably something to it.

[ytserush]

Geddy's been a Björk fan for at least 15 years now. Im surprised he didn't mention Patsy Cline actually.

[dbrooks22]

Everyone can send their hatemail to this guy:

https://www.audio-times.com/audiotimes/2012/07/01/brian-gardner-on-mastering-the-new-rush-clockwork-angels-album/

[jammindude]

There is a real controversy surrounding the band's 2002 album "Vapor Trails" inasmuch as it's one of those albums that seems to have been mastered "loud."  What are your thoughts on that album now, and would you approach it differently were you to re-master it?

That album for what it was ... is what it was.  You can't really judge it.  It was what they all came up with at that time.  Had it been different, who knows, it may not have been as good.

ummmm....   

What the crap does this even mean?   The only way to interpret this is that he gave the PC answer, not wanting to piss off whoever else was involved in that train wreck. 

Though I think the "..." was very telling.

[Orbert]

It's not even an answer.  It's just some shit he pulled out of his ass instead of actually answering the question.

[Big Hath]

What the crap does this even mean?   The only way to interpret this is that he gave the PC answer, not wanting to piss off whoever else was involved in that train wreck. 

Though I think the "..." was very telling.

that's my take.  It may be a fairly tight community and he has to see the other folks on a regular basis.  I thought it was the most diplomatic way to answer it.

[kirksnosehair]

It's too bad because in terms of songs and writing, I think "Vapor Trails" is the strongest thing they've released in a long, long time, but yeah, that production completely ruins it

[DarkEternalNight]

I feel like I can't accurately judge it until the production is improved.

[Mladen]

My parents returned from their vacation in Spain and brought me a copy of Clockwork angels. I can't wait to finally give it a spin tonight. 

[King Postwhore]

I feel like I can't accurately judge it until the production is improved.

This is a bogus statement.  You can tell how good the songs are, as well as the instrumentation as well as the writing.

[Nick]

I feel like I can't accurately judge it until the production is improved.

This is a bogus statement.  You can tell how good the songs are, as well as the instrumentation as well as the writing.

No, you really can't. I can tell the songs get potential, but am practically unable to focus on them because my ears are constantly being raped.

[Orbert]

It's incredibly distracting.  I agree with Nick; it's nearly impossible to listen to because it sounds so bad, and trying to judge any other aspects of the music is tough to do when all you hear is "bad".

[Priest of Syrinx]

I feel like I can't accurately judge it until the production is improved.

This is a bogus statement.  You can tell how good the songs are, as well as the instrumentation as well as the writing.

It's not a bogus statement, it's his opinion.  Also, for some people, the instrumentation is difficult to listen to because of the production.  It's like trying to discern how good a piece of steak is while your mouth is full of mashed potatoes.

[King Postwhore]

You can still get a lot out of an album and know it's a good song, just because you don't like the levels does not mean you can't differentiate a good song or a bad song.  You just don't like the mix.  That's understandible and I agree too that I'd like the levels lower but I can still tell good from bad.

[Priest of Syrinx]

But to some people, the production is part of the song, because the listener assumes that is the way the band wants it to sound.

To use an extreme example, I truly cannot tell if I like the songs on Vapor Trails, the production is that bad.  It literally gives me a headache to listen to that album.  I know that I like CA, I just wish the production were better.  So if someone opines that he cannot get past the production values to ascertain his true opinion of "the music", that is a valid opinion.

[King Postwhore]

I've listened to Vapor Trails a million time and never once did I have a headache.  Do I like the production.  No way in hell.  can I tell the great songs from the average songs?  Yes I can.  Do I think they'd sound even better to me if the production was better?  Yes, but to say I can't tell if the song is good or bad is silly.

[KevShmev]

I'm with kingshmegland on this one.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Everybody's different.

[Orbert]

Say you're out camping with some friends.  All you have for tunes is a radio, and there are almost no stations you can get anyway.  You finally find a station.  It barely comes in, sounds pretty much like crap, all static and noise, but you realize that you can make out the song they're playing, and it's one of your favorite songs.  A completely awesome song, which by coincidence you were telling the other guys about just half an hour ago.  Hear it is!  You crank it up.

It sounds like shit, but you know the song and you can hear it through all the noise.  Your friends don't know the song; all they hear is a bunch of noise and can sortuv make out some of the words and some guitars but that's about it.  "Isn't this an awesome song?" you ask.  They look at each other.

To me, that's pretty much what Vapor Trails is.  The songs may actually be pretty good, but I have no interest in subjecting myself to the horrible production long enough to make that determination.

[King Postwhore]

Bob man.   That's pushing it a little bit don't you think?!

I get where you are coming from but it's not to the point where the ears are bleeding or you are struggling to hear the music.  I have always tooted that horn of separation and less levels in music but to say you can't say what's good or not on the 2 albums in question because you just can't listen to it is a whole other story.

I will say that for me, I play VT more than the 1st Rush album because the music is better but I play VT less than a lot of the other in their catalog.

[Orbert]

I'm being pretty harsh I guess, but it's no lie that I simply do not listen to Vapor Trails at all.  When I'm in the mood for some Rush, there are plenty of other options available.

[1neeto]

Gave it about 4 listens and I just don't like it. I want my 11.99 back, this album is rubbish for the Rush fanboys.

[jammindude]

Gave it about 4 listens and I just don't like it. I want my 11.99 back, this album is rubbish for the Rush fanboys.

I have been a Rush fanboy since 1982...and I do not consider it to be rubbish at all...

[The Letter M]

Gave it about 4 listens and I just don't like it. I want my 11.99 back, this album is rubbish for the Rush fanboys.

What specifically don't you like about it? The writing, the lyrics, the performances, the production, the mix, the tone, the instrumentation, the arrangements, the sequencing, the choruses, the verses, the solos, etc. etc.

I've read a lot of complaints, so I'd like know if your dislike of the album is along similar lines as others' complaints have been (of which, mostly concern themselves with the production, but even those who complain about that are still impressed with the writing and performances).

-Marc.

[1neeto]

Gave it about 4 listens and I just don't like it. I want my 11.99 back, this album is rubbish for the Rush fanboys.

I have been a Rush fanboy since 1982...and I do not consider it to be rubbish at all...

Well being a fanboy since 1982 might make you a little biased don't you think? The mix and mastering sucks, the songs are uninspiring, and the whole thing just doesn't come together right.

[KevShmev]

Knock that fanboy shit off.  Just because you have been a fan for a long time doesn't make you a fanboy, especially in the condescending way you are putting it.  Believe it or not, most Rush fans are not sheep who will lap up any and everything the band puts out.  So, get real.