Sound Studio I totally agree and as much as I love jethro tull and Ian’s awesome flute skills they just aren’t the “prog band” that rush is. Still a great band though and I wish I could see both live
Honestly Rush wasn't really sticking to their guns in the late 80's and 90's. It was more of rediscovering themselves. Rush was progressively getting jazzier, softer and relying more and more on synths with each passing album. While this did yield what I believe is their best and darkest album, Power WIndows, by the time Hold Your Fire hit the scene, you could tell that Rush had steered away from that hard Rush sound that made them a household name in the late 70s. It was on Presto and Roll the Bones where they were still getting back to their roots, and it came full circle on Counterparts. Honestly Clockwork Angels is their best album since Counterparts.
Well that's your opinion...a dumb and unfounded one, but an opinion none the less. At least I took the time and brain power to establish the reasoning behind it, rather than just spouting 2 small sentences of hatred, just to hate. Power Windows isn't my favorite anymore (Signals now), but it's still well within my top 5 favorite Rush albums and a gem. It has it's faults, but I love the production, the darker themes, while also being my favorite Geddy Lee bass album, along with HyF.
I don't agree. I love Farewell to Kings, but I prefer Hemispheres from that era. IMO, just a tad more musically ambitious and it shows the brutal frustration that went into making that album. Xanadu is a great song, but Farewell to Kings represents the overall theme of the album, which begins very medieval sounding, especially with the minstrel-like guitar intro by Alex, then paves the way to the sci-fi laden Cygnus X-1 and eventually transitions into Hemispheres. Signals is also properly titled, since each song hits a certain key of emotion, from ambitious excitement (Countdown), somber regret (Losing It), fear (The Weapon), mindless boredom (Subdivisions), etc.
Agree , as a Fan of 40 years, 36 shows, 2 Geddy meets, I rate my top 5... 1 Counterparts 2 Clockwork Angels 3 Permanent Waves 4 Moving Pictures 5t Hemispheres 5t Signals
@@Gaderelli That is a hell of an opinion you have there, sir! I am somewhat surprised, yet happy that there exists a person with your credentials that agrees with me!
This is easily one of Rush's most underrated albums of all time, in my opinion. Geddy Lee's vocals and bass playing are just so good on Clockwork Angels. I mean, they always are, but something about this album is particularly good.
It's just a matter of taste. It's irrelevant to everybody, I just made the comment to express that I like more Rush than the dude with the flute and his folkie rock. But I insist, it's just a matter of taste. I'm a painter and I spend a lot of time in my atelier listening to music while painting and I get bored fast with Jethro tull and I have a lot of fun with Rush. I understand music since I studied music for 4 years and I can understand the music quality of Jethro. I just don't like it.
I love both Rush and Jethro Tull, but I think it's kind of unfair to compare them by similar standards since they tend to be so sonically and conceptually different.
Fucking amazing record. My favorite album by my favorite band. The lyrics, riffs, and solos are just so great. I don't care if its not "Moving Pictures Part II." This album sounds fresh, modern, and inspired which is hard to pull off considering the band was touring almost nonstop around recording this record.
Nice review. However I do take exception with the idea that you seem to be portraying... that these guys are somehow phoning it in. As musicians, Rush in the mid to late 70s used to purposely interject an odd time signature as if to say, "look, I'm playing 7/8 here!"...they've admitted as much. (Ah, youth!) As they developed their craft, they gravitated towards serving the song, whatever that may entail. As players, they are still quite exceptional. Having tackled a few of these numbers myself for fun, I can say there are still moments of technical display...I certainly wouldn't mind a crazy odd timed, sprawling number....but this is Rush in their golden years....in what may be their final album. Headlong Flight, Caravan and the title track are stellar. Nodding to their past, and still keeping it of the moment. I'd say if this the album to ride into the sunset on, then so be it. I think it's their freshest work in years....It stands with bands half their age. Most of their peers have been riding on their laurels for years. Love 'em (A farewell to Kings) or simply feel "meh" about them (Hold your Fire), they are always trying to improve...and in most cases, I find when I revisit an album (Vapor Trails), I'm usually pleasantly surprised.... Thanks for listening, and again, nice work!
Surprisingly, this is an album that has aged particularly well. It had to age like a wine for it to really achieve what it should have. With Rush being retired now, there’s no better way they could have closed out their career really. They tried what would be for them a new sound, finally attempted a concept album, and did so successfully in my opinion, and most importantly, closed out on the track the Garden, which is probably one of the best endings to a band’s career possible. While it’s not a perfect album, and it’s not necessarily as good as their Hemispheres through Moving Pictures run, what I deem 3 classics, I personally think this was an excellent effort that just needed time to achieve its greatness. Personally, I’d rate it an 8.7/10. I see why you rated it a little above average, as perhaps at the time it didn’t necessarily stack well against the rest of their discography, but I do feel a 6/10 is a little bit too low for that. Regardless, I think it’s a fair review, and I’m not really mad about it or anything. However, you do know that Moving Pictures is a 10/10. It’s indisputable.
I think CWA is a big accomplishment for Rush (although maybe not as big as 2112 or Moving Pictures were). They'd never done a full theme album before. The story feels very honest, and somewhat deep - as deep as a Rush album can get, anyway. I'm happy that Rush still makes albums that have something on them that gives me goosebumps - the chorus on the title track, CWA, does that for me.
Jonathan Parlane hmm, if I may be allowed to comment on myself...I probably should have said that these bands are kind of worlds of their own so I find it difficult to lump them together. I never knew Rush was considered a prog band growing up anyway. I just thought they rocked, had fresh creativity, and amazing talent. Totally agree with Anthony, though, Rush continues to put out good and highly technical albums, but they're not memorable albums. I don't expect real innovation or songs I come back to again and again from them anymore. Been waiting too long for that.
Jonathan Parlane king crimsons first album album is great, and pinkfloyds mid run albums are pretty great. Rush has many great albums too, I think they're all pretty great.
i understand you falling in love with the lyrics. geddy give a passionate performance, and neil is headier than ever with his writing. however, i wanted to love the album more musically, ya know? sonically.
I love this album. It's one of my favorites. I think it's mainly because it's the first album that came out that I was a Rush fan for and it really helped me through the tough times this summer. "It is a fine garden." 9 out of 10.
I can't get mad at Anthony. He's not a Rush fan, he's not going to listen as deep as a hardcore fan would. No big deal. Neil Peart would be disappointed in us for shaming his opinion.
Anyway, I didn't like the album when I first saw it as a Rush fan. It seemed to be too heavy, but then I made myself listen to every single Rush song and have fell in love with the entire discography. Not one song fails me for some reason. That's just me though, I don't mind other people's opinions, so long as they're reasonable.
@@steadyrhythms9571 - Same with me. I did not like this album at first, but I kept coming back to it and now I play it all the time. It has the best start and end track combo of any of their albums, starting and ending an overall great concept album. It's quite a bit different sounding then other rush albums, but yet has a strong homage to the classic rush style. Only rush can achieve such a feat.
You do have a valid point. I really loved how he started studying jazz drumming after Counterparts, and it really helped him. The recurring complaint about Peart's technique is that, let's face it, a drum machine would get tired before he would. And he's gotten a lot better with age.
I heard this album a few days ago and I started to get sad knowing that this could most likely be their last album. The first time I heard rush was when I was 5, my dad came home with a Camaro and took me for a ride in it, He put in the new Snakes and Arrows album in the CD player, which blew me away. I started listening to many older songs afterwords and went to my first concert (Moving Pictures 2011). The last time I saw a Rush concert was the R40 tour. We missed the first song because my dad bought a new truck and drove to the concert straight from the dealership. I still listen to Rush because it's physically apart of me, I grew up with it and I still believe it's one of the greatest rockbands of all time
Agreed. This is their best work in years. Philosophically, I like the return of what I consider to be "the old Neil". I was sickened to hear his lyrics go from "Celebrate the moment as it turns into one more" to "Such a lot of pain on the earth" a few albums ago. I hope I am interpreting Wish Them Well and The Garden as Neil asserting healthy psychological boundaries and giving himself and his listeners permission to "tend their own garden" and to ignore the parasites among us. Just my 2 cents.
I think reading the book makes one appreciate this album much more. I think you should read it and revisit the album, I did and I love both. On the contrary, it may seem unrelatable, and not pick up on the subtle nuances if no one read the book. Hit or miss I suppose.
Rush is rush. They don't really have to change style at all. They do what they do so you know it's them. I love the album and proud to own it. I enjoy listening to it when I pop it on my turntable.
Begin the day with a friendly voice, A companion unobtrusive Plays that song that's so elusive And the magic music makes your morning mood. (How many of you read this as Geddy Lee's voice?)
Sure, I could agree there. I was just playing to the objectivity of the author. Rush, Maiden, you name them - each time they put out a new album, it is still worlds better than the output of most newer bands.
Man, I am surprised by the rating. I would give this album at least an 8, potentially a 9. The first time I listened to it I was exceptionally disappointed. But the more I listened to it, the more I studied the lyrics, I became enamored with it. I connected with the story on a very personal level seeing as it is a similar philosophical journey as my own. The music is excellent and cerebral and there is simply nothing else like it out there.
One of my favorite bands... it's difficult to talk about it. I just loved the album, but I gotta agree that's impossible to compare it to their old classic albums. Although it's really awesome to see how they developed their style and I really like their latest albums too. Like Snake and Arrows, Vapor Trails... They're old but they're still doing an amazing job and, in my opinion, they're trying to put a different album out, every single moment.
Funny enough, this is my favorite Rush album! I'm probably biased since i;m so young that this is the only Rush album i've bought when it was new, but my top 5 are 1. Clockwork Angels 2. 2112 3. Hemispheres 4. Fly by Night 5. Moving Pictures
I thought Clockwork Angels was Rush's best since Signals. I think there was more purpose & drive and musically much more of a progressive atmosphere here than there has been since the early 80's. Can't wait to see Rush performing this album live with a symphony!
After being able to really digest this album a little more fully over the last month or so, I'm upgrading my 7.5 to an 8.5 now. I'm really falling in love with this album now.
Although being a huge RUSH fan i will be honest, a first rush listen at the album will leave you disappointed , it is a kind of album that needs to be slowly absorbed. That is why i listen to one track a day, make it worth the money.
I'm obsessed with Rush. I'm incredibly biased, to the point that I have multiple Rush tattoos. But here's how I think CW ranks among their other albums: You're definitely right that, musically, it's not particularly ambitious compared to something like Hemispheres or Permanent Waves. However, I think it's just so tight and well put together, while being incredibly ambitious on a lyrical level. Plus, as you mention in this video, Geddy's vocals feel very emotional and sincere in this album. I think The Garden was the best possible cap on their career. It encapsulates everything they worked towards for nigh on 40 years together, on a musical and lyrical level. And you can't deny how sick Geddy's riffs are on Clockwork. Holy shit The Anarchist is so groovy. Overall, I would probably put Clockwork Angels somewhere in their top 5. 2112 and Moving Pictures are an easy lock for 1 and 2 for most people , while I think Grace Under Pressure and Counterparts are supremely underrated and equally good as their most commercially successful albums. Hemispheres and Permanent Waves are both held back slightly by being too experimental and too commercial, respectively, in my opinion. While I love all their albums (except for their debut album, it's not Rush without Neil) , if I had to rank them, it would go: 1: 2112 2: Grace Under Pressure 3: Counterparts 4: Moving Pictures 5: Clockwork Angels 6: Hemispheres 7: Permanent Waves 8: Power Windows 9: Snakes and Arrows 10: Farewell to Kings 11: Vapor Trails 12: Signals 13: Presto 14: Roll the Bones 15: Hold Your Fire 16: Caress of Steel 17: Fly By Night 18: Test for Echo
the review is fair, you cant expect anything more, hes not really a rush fan. you have too REALLY listen to catch the depth of the music and reviewers NEVER do. they half listen and half think about how they are going to say something that sounds cool. i dont understand why people read rewiews, you got ears, listen to it yourself other peoples opinions bore me my own opinions,on the otherhand, are FASCINATING
Geddy Lee is not in his prime time anymore, and since he cant hit the earlier notes as well, they evolved their music along with his voice. New rush seems more evolved and new to me. The album didn't disappoint me at all.
Damn I agree with you 100%. This record is just way too overshadowed by their other shit. It's like, why listen to clockwork angels, when I could be listening to Moving PIctures? Or 2112? Or Hemispheres? Rush fucking rock, technically they're at the top of the rock and roll world, but this record just sounds too... the same.
My brother's first rock concert was Rush WAY BACK at the Grace Under Pressure (1985-1986) Tour. It was fun watching him get blown away. We're both "old" now but it feels like it was just yesterday.
I saw them live a couple of weeks ago, because they're my favourite band ever. Trust me, you have to see these songs live to really get them. They have an eight piece string section on the new tracks and a few older ones (including a dense version of YYZ). If and when a live album/DVD comes out, buy it.
This album didn't do very much for me upon the first few listens, but you highlighted a great chorus in your review, and I was thinking the same as far as hooks go that that chorus harkened back to Hold Your Fire era RUSH, when Ged was writing on keys. All in all, I think this album is an excellent "swan song", and has plenty of tasty jams and musicianship to hold it amongst some of their best recent efforts, maybe, as far as re-invention goes-behind Vapor Trails, which, imo, was another rush re-invention album.
Clockwork Angels was one of their finest albums hands down! Rush is the best of the best in the progressive department, up there with Dream Theater, but better. I loved what I heard from this album. The Wreckers had some ok verses, but they put together such an outstanding chorus to that song. This album had some ripping guitar riffs by Lifeson, killer bass lines by Geddy, and pounding beats by Neil Peart. I'd have to give this album a 9.5/10. Clockwork Angels is simply a masterpiece.
And so do you. Only miss-guided newbies without knowledge of the band are likely to fall in Mr Fantano´s trap of deception. The power that RUSH has of making amazing music is undiminished, and somehow enhanced with age: they sound fresh, organic, full of energy...and their legendary musical dexterity is as rich as ever, in a less boastful way ( that is called maturity). To deny that it´s just to shout " I don´t have a clue of what I´m criticizing." So probably a more suitable task for him
You nailed all the aspects about this album. It's great to hear the sound that once inspired a few 15-year olds, who would later form a band called Dream Theater. But of course after 20 years of Dream Theater and a world with a new wave of progressive hard rock acts like Mastadon and Opeth (or even Necrophagist), I guess we are all spoiled a bit technic-wise. But I too am very stunned about the soundtrack quality of the stories and concept, and would add the illustrated booklet to a solid 8/10
I'd recommend at least giving a couple tracks a chance. Trust me, I was doubtful too, but was pleasantly surprised. It's far better than anything new by, say, Yes.
i give lotsa 8s. go on my website and check out my loved list. all those albums are 8s or more. there are, like, 30 albums and eps from 2012 on there right now.
+theneedledrop, I think your reviews are really well thought out and descriptive. I would love to hear you review some of the Pink Floyd albums like Dark Side, The Wall, or Division Bell. Cheers!
Agree with most of your points. As a Rush Fan, this album didn't excite me that much. I much prefer their previous one; Snakes and Arrows. I will say something I dislike about your review is that like most people, you tend to attend only Rush's 70s LPs, and not pay attention to their 80s performances. Not saying that everyone has to like that era of stuff; it just seems unfair that people only recognize the talent of one era and not the other. Other that that, spot on. I concur with this review.
I'm in concurrence with you on The Wreckers!! I'm on my 2nd full listening of the album keep wanting to go back to The Wreckers. Seriously, a quality effort all around. I'm ever-wary when I hear someone say that an album is a glorious return to the old sound (see St. Anger). But this one delivers. Going to see them this Saturday!!!
God damn, the amount of thick-headedness in the comment section is making me sick. It's as if some of you are hearing an actual, unbiased review for the first time. Fantano said he actually likes the album! Why the hell is everyone having such a hard time coping with this?
I really enjoyed it, although I'm not heavily familiar with Rush's entire discography I like to think I've heard the essentials. Although it has its ups and downs I think I can safely say this is in my top 5 Rush albums. MAYBE top 3, I will have to give it a few more spins.
I'm sure Clockwork Angels is a brilliant album and I can't wait to hear it for myself. Even for a used copy the cost is out of reach for most. £100 ++. I know the world lost Neil but is that a reason to push the price of an album sky high.
Not better than ever? What do they have to prove? Only that they still can crush any other crap (or even good) bands that are out there today...with these guys at 60 years of age!!! Song-for-song, this is the best album since Permanent Waves (my favorite). I've been a Rush fan for 30+ years. First listen to Clockwork Angels, I was kind of overwhelmed because there is so much in there. It gets better with every listen!!! Complex, nuanced, at times downright beautiful songs! Superb!!!!!
I thought this album was great! I'm a recent Rush fan and the wreckers really pulled me in. I'll agree that there isn't much that really sticks out on this album, most of the songs stick to a heavy rock sort of theme, but each of those songs are freakin' solid! Simplistic or not, the riffs are amazing, Alex lifeson is still killing it!
Pretty fair review. I'm a huge Rush fan and would probably upgrade it to a 7.5/10, it was a pretty solid effort. . .The only songs I find myself coming back to consistently to this point after having the record for a month or so now are The Wreckers, which is probably my favorite song by Rush in over 20+ years, BU2B which freaking rocks, and Caravan- all in that order. I'm sure that other tracks, as I've experienced with many Rush records before, will become more memorable with time.
commenting as a fan, i'm proud of this album, as a listener of all music this is an ok Rush album but what about all the other great bands you love? what are they making now???? The fullness of time makes rush GREAT
Well Rush got technical real fast. Fly By Night has By Tor and The Snowdog which is one of the most progrrssive and technical rush songs. And Rush did kinda change up but i liked a lot of those records. Counterparts was new and intresting but still a great album
Very fair review and very fair. You state your own opinion and I respect that. I think Thai album is amazing!! I waited for 2 years for it and my first listen I loved it after listening to it I found two songs disappointed me seven cities of gold and wish them well. Now I love wish them well. I'm still not a big fan seven cities of gold but the rest of the album is awesome especially the garden. One of the best Rush songs ever.
I think this was a really good album that was let down by some poor mixing choices. Yeah it sounds loud and hits hard, but it sounds kind of flat in a lot of places. I don't get the point of doing all of this crazy stuff to record the best sounds possible and then smashing it in mixing/mastering.
love ya for covering this record. it didn't blow my mind in the way a lot of tracks from Snakes and Arrows did (suuuuch good tunes on that one), but I was definitely satisfied. for the record their live shows have never been better. dont miss out if they come to your town. WSITN? Gojira, Baroness, Melvins Lite, OM, Split Cranium, Teeel, Tanlines, Roomrunner
this album was so bad ass! sure, some of the songs aren't as memorable as songs from previous albums, but they all play great and they sound great, its like they don't age. i suppose the same could be said with the music, it hasn't really progressed past the late 80s sound they had, but it isn't a bad thing, cause its still good. not my favourite album, but its up there, I'm super glad rush is still making new music. :) i would probably give it better than a 6 though. also, I'm sure no one cares what i have to say, i was just curious as to what bamthony splambambo had to say
People have different opinions. At the start of this album, I was digging it. But tracks 4-11 are just kinda...ok. I don't know. I am not really a fan of the band, but I recognize their abilities and ingenuity.
The aspects to Rush's music that I enjoyed the most have been lost in the latest albums. I find that a lot of their later work tends to blend together and become unmemorable. This is not something that happened to me listening to Permanent Waves or Moving Pictures or even Counterparts. I'd say Vapour Trails -> Clockwork Angels doesn't really work for me. It's still fine, but it doesn't reach the heights of their earlier stuff. That's an unfair expectation I suppose, but there hasn't actually been that many replacements in the last 10-15 years either. Modern music is dreadful, and it kind of hurts.
I certainly was not expecting a needledrop review of Clockwork Angels....I am pleasantly surprised at this video. But, I too am underwhelmed by this album. I definitely cannot see myself revisiting it in a few months the way I revisit albums like Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, or Permanent Waves.
![[LIVE] BABYMONSTER(베이비몬스터) - DRIP | 두시탈출 컬투쇼](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UG05pxLGwzc/mqdefault.jpg)
Hemispheres is one of the greatest albums of all time.
Yeah, there’s a reason why hemispheres is my personal favorite rush record.
@@whitechocolatte5863 same
Haha so true. I named my second bass Cygnus X-1 😅
All their albums are some of the greatest albums of all time
@@theyescapedtheweightofdarkness Yikes! Some of them I can't get into...Power Windows...Presto...
But does this album have "Chords that build high like a mountain/ Or notes that fall gently, like rain"?
Yeah but I wouldn't exactly say the people all saw its light...
Yes, but it's nothing new, it's arguably a waste of time, as it does not fit the plan
Definitely Not Dingse! But our world could use this beauty, just think what we might do!
Chris Stone but think about the average, what use have they for you?
Just let them all make their own music
Notice the position of the clock's hands on the cover. 9:12...21:12 in 24 hour time
*several people are typing*
*FBI: Don't you fucking move*
BRUHHHHHH
Okay we're talking about Rush and Jethro Tull here. Jethro Tull is not better than Rush.
Ehhhh easy now there's def things that Jethro tull does better personally I like them more
Sound Studio I totally agree and as much as I love jethro tull and Ian’s awesome flute skills they just aren’t the “prog band” that rush is. Still a great band though and I wish I could see both live
@@ryanburek3664 I think rush is more prog rock and Jethro tull is more jazzy prog art rock
@@notrenbanney2450 don't forget the folk
They're apples and oranges, it makes little sense to compare them. I personally really enjoy them both in different ways
Honestly Rush wasn't really sticking to their guns in the late 80's and 90's. It was more of rediscovering themselves. Rush was progressively getting jazzier, softer and relying more and more on synths with each passing album. While this did yield what I believe is their best and darkest album, Power WIndows, by the time Hold Your Fire hit the scene, you could tell that Rush had steered away from that hard Rush sound that made them a household name in the late 70s. It was on Presto and Roll the Bones where they were still getting back to their roots, and it came full circle on Counterparts.
Honestly Clockwork Angels is their best album since Counterparts.
Well that's your opinion...a dumb and unfounded one, but an opinion none the less. At least I took the time and brain power to establish the reasoning behind it, rather than just spouting 2 small sentences of hatred, just to hate. Power Windows isn't my favorite anymore (Signals now), but it's still well within my top 5 favorite Rush albums and a gem. It has it's faults, but I love the production, the darker themes, while also being my favorite Geddy Lee bass album, along with HyF.
I don't agree. I love Farewell to Kings, but I prefer Hemispheres from that era. IMO, just a tad more musically ambitious and it shows the brutal frustration that went into making that album. Xanadu is a great song, but Farewell to Kings represents the overall theme of the album, which begins very medieval sounding, especially with the minstrel-like guitar intro by Alex, then paves the way to the sci-fi laden Cygnus X-1 and eventually transitions into Hemispheres.
Signals is also properly titled, since each song hits a certain key of emotion, from ambitious excitement (Countdown), somber regret (Losing It), fear (The Weapon), mindless boredom (Subdivisions), etc.
@@SuperSparrow45 i think you soundly won this argument. And Power Windows is their best imo as of now.
Agree , as a Fan of 40 years, 36 shows, 2 Geddy meets, I rate my top 5...
1 Counterparts
2 Clockwork Angels
3 Permanent Waves
4 Moving Pictures
5t Hemispheres
5t Signals
@@Gaderelli That is a hell of an opinion you have there, sir! I am somewhat surprised, yet happy that there exists a person with your credentials that agrees with me!
This is easily one of Rush's most underrated albums of all time, in my opinion.
Geddy Lee's vocals and bass playing are just so good on Clockwork Angels. I mean, they always are, but something about this album is particularly good.
I agree, it might be my favourite record as a whole they've put out since the 80s.
rushfan2112 vocals? Nigga
O craque Hey, have you heard of “opinions” I think you should learn about them so you can respect them.
@Enrique Vidal shut your hole
Hold on a second, Rush is miles better than Jethro Tull.
Jethro Tull is Rush if they were in England 200 years ago
not is better are diferent stylus Ian Anderson is a genius of the music the two are great band jethro tull is a clasic band and have beatifull songs
Kaleb Webb jethro tull and rush are so different its hard to compare them
Rush is way better
yes...right.
ayy lmao moving pictures in the back
I can't believe you put jethro tull before rush.
it's called being reasonable
***** that's just wrong, no one who understands the least about music will agree on that.
It's just a matter of taste. It's irrelevant to everybody, I just made the comment to express that I like more Rush than the dude with the flute and his folkie rock. But I insist, it's just a matter of taste. I'm a painter and I spend a lot of time in my atelier listening to music while painting and I get bored fast with Jethro tull and I have a lot of fun with Rush. I understand music since I studied music for 4 years and I can understand the music quality of Jethro. I just don't like it.
+rotov80 easily
I love both Rush and Jethro Tull, but I think it's kind of unfair to compare them by similar standards since they tend to be so sonically and conceptually different.
RIP NEIL PEART
I think that this album is fucking awesome, but I agree that their older stuff is way better.
moving pictures lp in the background
Fucking amazing record. My favorite album by my favorite band. The lyrics, riffs, and solos are just so great. I don't care if its not "Moving Pictures Part II." This album sounds fresh, modern, and inspired which is hard to pull off considering the band was touring almost nonstop around recording this record.
agreed, favorite album by my favorite band, its something about the harder style of rock i love it from them!
You missed the enitre concept of the album
How can melon call Rush simple and then praise Swans??? Rush can run circles around Swans
Apples and BLOODy oranges -
Ehhhh debatable
Certainly nor their best overall, but definitely the best album they've put out in 20 years.
***** Did you answer yourself?
Nice review. However I do take exception with the idea that you seem to be portraying... that these guys are somehow phoning it in. As musicians, Rush in the mid to late 70s used to purposely interject an odd time signature as if to say, "look, I'm playing 7/8 here!"...they've admitted as much. (Ah, youth!) As they developed their craft, they gravitated towards serving the song, whatever that may entail. As players, they are still quite exceptional. Having tackled a few of these numbers myself for fun, I can say there are still moments of technical display...I certainly wouldn't mind a crazy odd timed, sprawling number....but this is Rush in their golden years....in what may be their final album.
Headlong Flight, Caravan and the title track are stellar. Nodding to their past, and still keeping it of the moment.
I'd say if this the album to ride into the sunset on, then so be it. I think it's their freshest work in years....It stands with bands half their age. Most of their peers have been riding on their laurels for years. Love 'em (A farewell to Kings) or simply feel "meh" about them (Hold your Fire), they are always trying to improve...and in most cases, I find when I revisit an album (Vapor Trails), I'm usually pleasantly surprised....
Thanks for listening, and again, nice work!
Grace Under Pressure is one of the greatest albums of all time
For RUSH standards it incredibly mediocre
One of my favorites
Surprisingly, this is an album that has aged particularly well. It had to age like a wine for it to really achieve what it should have. With Rush being retired now, there’s no better way they could have closed out their career really. They tried what would be for them a new sound, finally attempted a concept album, and did so successfully in my opinion, and most importantly, closed out on the track the Garden, which is probably one of the best endings to a band’s career possible. While it’s not a perfect album, and it’s not necessarily as good as their Hemispheres through Moving Pictures run, what I deem 3 classics, I personally think this was an excellent effort that just needed time to achieve its greatness. Personally, I’d rate it an 8.7/10. I see why you rated it a little above average, as perhaps at the time it didn’t necessarily stack well against the rest of their discography, but I do feel a 6/10 is a little bit too low for that. Regardless, I think it’s a fair review, and I’m not really mad about it or anything.
However, you do know that Moving Pictures is a 10/10. It’s indisputable.
The Garden is the goodbye though whether they knew it at the time. Prophetic and very emotive as if they knew as if it was the end
I think CWA is a big accomplishment for Rush (although maybe not as big as 2112 or Moving Pictures were). They'd never done a full theme album before. The story feels very honest, and somewhat deep - as deep as a Rush album can get, anyway.
I'm happy that Rush still makes albums that have something on them that gives me goosebumps - the chorus on the title track, CWA, does that for me.
nailed it, great review, although I don't see how Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Jethro and Co even compare with older Rush stuff...
Jonathan Parlane hmm, if I may be allowed to comment on myself...I probably should have said that these bands are kind of worlds of their own so I find it difficult to lump them together. I never knew Rush was considered a prog band growing up anyway. I just thought they rocked, had fresh creativity, and amazing talent. Totally agree with Anthony, though, Rush continues to put out good and highly technical albums, but they're not memorable albums. I don't expect real innovation or songs I come back to again and again from them anymore. Been waiting too long for that.
Jonathan Parlane king crimsons first album album is great, and pinkfloyds mid run albums are pretty great. Rush has many great albums too, I think they're all pretty great.
I could understand PF and KC. Not a big fan of Jethro, don't even know the last one. Rush is my favorite band still though.
i understand you falling in love with the lyrics. geddy give a passionate performance, and neil is headier than ever with his writing. however, i wanted to love the album more musically, ya know? sonically.
Maybe you should listen better.
Moving Pictures in the background lol
I love this album. It's one of my favorites. I think it's mainly because it's the first album that came out that I was a Rush fan for and it really helped me through the tough times this summer. "It is a fine garden." 9 out of 10.
I can't get mad at Anthony. He's not a Rush fan, he's not going to listen as deep as a hardcore fan would. No big deal. Neil Peart would be disappointed in us for shaming his opinion.
Anyway, I didn't like the album when I first saw it as a Rush fan. It seemed to be too heavy, but then I made myself listen to every single Rush song and have fell in love with the entire discography. Not one song fails me for some reason. That's just me though,
I don't mind other people's opinions, so long as they're reasonable.
@@steadyrhythms9571 - Same with me. I did not like this album at first, but I kept coming back to it and now I play it all the time. It has the best start and end track combo of any of their albums, starting and ending an overall great concept album. It's quite a bit different sounding then other rush albums, but yet has a strong homage to the classic rush style. Only rush can achieve such a feat.
The debate in these comments are weird. As a millenial, Rush is better x1000.
Clockwork Angels is Rush's best, most mature, focused album they have ever put out.
You do have a valid point. I really loved how he started studying jazz drumming after Counterparts, and it really helped him. The recurring complaint about Peart's technique is that, let's face it, a drum machine would get tired before he would. And he's gotten a lot better with age.
I really would love to hear a classic Rush review from you Anthony.
I heard this album a few days ago and I started to get sad knowing that this could most likely be their last album. The first time I heard rush was when I was 5, my dad came home with a Camaro and took me for a ride in it, He put in the new Snakes and Arrows album in the CD player, which blew me away. I started listening to many older songs afterwords and went to my first concert (Moving Pictures 2011). The last time I saw a Rush concert was the R40 tour. We missed the first song because my dad bought a new truck and drove to the concert straight from the dealership. I still listen to Rush because it's physically apart of me, I grew up with it and I still believe it's one of the greatest rockbands of all time
Agreed. This is their best work in years. Philosophically, I like the return of what I consider to be "the old Neil". I was sickened to hear his lyrics go from "Celebrate the moment as it turns into one more" to "Such a lot of pain on the earth" a few albums ago. I hope I am interpreting Wish Them Well and The Garden as Neil asserting healthy psychological boundaries and giving himself and his listeners permission to "tend their own garden" and to ignore the parasites among us. Just my 2 cents.
I think reading the book makes one appreciate this album much more. I think you should read it and revisit the album, I did and I love both. On the contrary, it may seem unrelatable, and not pick up on the subtle nuances if no one read the book. Hit or miss I suppose.
Rush is rush. They don't really have to change style at all. They do what they do so you know it's them. I love the album and proud to own it. I enjoy listening to it when I pop it on my turntable.
Vapor Trails is underrated. Their best of the last 3 decades imo.
Begin the day with a friendly voice,
A companion unobtrusive
Plays that song that's so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood. (How many of you read this as Geddy Lee's voice?)
Love the moving pictures LP in the background. Happy birthday to that album! 38 years ago today that gem was released
On “The Wreckers” Geddy and Alex swapped instruments, so that might be why it was a bit more simple. It’s still my favorite song from the album.
A 6? You have to be kidding! At least an 8!
Sure, I could agree there. I was just playing to the objectivity of the author. Rush, Maiden, you name them - each time they put out a new album, it is still worlds better than the output of most newer bands.
@@chrisanderson7331 and then muddafucking Judas Priest comes out with an 8!!!
Man, I am surprised by the rating. I would give this album at least an 8, potentially a 9. The first time I listened to it I was exceptionally disappointed. But the more I listened to it, the more I studied the lyrics, I became enamored with it. I connected with the story on a very personal level seeing as it is a similar philosophical journey as my own. The music is excellent and cerebral and there is simply nothing else like it out there.
One of my favorite bands... it's difficult to talk about it. I just loved the album, but I gotta agree that's impossible to compare it to their old classic albums. Although it's really awesome to see how they developed their style and I really like their latest albums too. Like Snake and Arrows, Vapor Trails...
They're old but they're still doing an amazing job and, in my opinion, they're trying to put a different album out, every single moment.
Funny enough, this is my favorite Rush album! I'm probably biased since i;m so young that this is the only Rush album i've bought when it was new, but my top 5 are
1. Clockwork Angels
2. 2112
3. Hemispheres
4. Fly by Night
5. Moving Pictures
Collectively, Neil Peart's finest drumming ever on a Rush album.
do you always miss the reviews where i give albums scores other than 5 or 6?
I thought Clockwork Angels was Rush's best since Signals. I think there was more purpose & drive and musically much more of a progressive atmosphere here than there has been since the early 80's. Can't wait to see Rush performing this album live with a symphony!
After being able to really digest this album a little more fully over the last month or so, I'm upgrading my 7.5 to an 8.5 now. I'm really falling in love with this album now.
Although being a huge RUSH fan i will be honest, a first rush listen at the album will leave you disappointed , it is a kind of album that needs to be slowly absorbed. That is why i listen to one track a day, make it worth the money.
anthony, the little skits at the beginning of your videos are hysterical. A+
Rush is the shit.
Six-Five Alpha Male fuck yeah
I'm obsessed with Rush. I'm incredibly biased, to the point that I have multiple Rush tattoos. But here's how I think CW ranks among their other albums:
You're definitely right that, musically, it's not particularly ambitious compared to something like Hemispheres or Permanent Waves.
However, I think it's just so tight and well put together, while being incredibly ambitious on a lyrical level.
Plus, as you mention in this video, Geddy's vocals feel very emotional and sincere in this album.
I think The Garden was the best possible cap on their career. It encapsulates everything they worked towards for nigh on 40 years together, on a musical and lyrical level.
And you can't deny how sick Geddy's riffs are on Clockwork. Holy shit The Anarchist is so groovy.
Overall, I would probably put Clockwork Angels somewhere in their top 5.
2112 and Moving Pictures are an easy lock for 1 and 2 for most people , while I think Grace Under Pressure and Counterparts are supremely underrated and equally good as their most commercially successful albums. Hemispheres and Permanent Waves are both held back slightly by being too experimental and too commercial, respectively, in my opinion.
While I love all their albums (except for their debut album, it's not Rush without Neil) , if I had to rank them, it would go:
1: 2112
2: Grace Under Pressure
3: Counterparts
4: Moving Pictures
5: Clockwork Angels
6: Hemispheres
7: Permanent Waves
8: Power Windows
9: Snakes and Arrows
10: Farewell to Kings
11: Vapor Trails
12: Signals
13: Presto
14: Roll the Bones
15: Hold Your Fire
16: Caress of Steel
17: Fly By Night
18: Test for Echo
ya dats me.
You are right, that is you.
the review is fair, you cant expect anything more, hes not really a rush fan.
you have too REALLY listen to catch the depth of the music
and reviewers NEVER do. they half listen and half think about how they are going to say something that sounds cool.
i dont understand why people read rewiews, you got ears, listen to it yourself
other peoples opinions bore me
my own opinions,on the otherhand, are FASCINATING
Geddy Lee is not in his prime time anymore, and since he cant hit the earlier notes as well, they evolved their music along with his voice. New rush seems more evolved and new to me. The album didn't disappoint me at all.
You should review Pink Floyd's new album when it comes out. It's missing the whole gang but I'm still excited
Damn I agree with you 100%. This record is just way too overshadowed by their other shit. It's like, why listen to clockwork angels, when I could be listening to Moving PIctures? Or 2112? Or Hemispheres? Rush fucking rock, technically they're at the top of the rock and roll world, but this record just sounds too... the same.
What the hell? I love them both but rush is so much better than jethro Tull.
Can’t believe you only gave a sentence long shout out to The Garden.
This album will always hold a special place in my heart because the Clockwork Angels tour was the first concert I went to. I'm 13 by the way
Wow that's a great first concert, my first concert was also a Rush one back in the Snakes and Arrows tour
My brother's first rock concert was Rush WAY BACK at the Grace Under Pressure (1985-1986) Tour. It was fun watching him get blown away. We're both "old" now but it feels like it was just yesterday.
You’re a lucky guy, I’m 15 and I got into then last year long before they stopped touring
I saw them live a couple of weeks ago, because they're my favourite band ever. Trust me, you have to see these songs live to really get them. They have an eight piece string section on the new tracks and a few older ones (including a dense version of YYZ). If and when a live album/DVD comes out, buy it.
Rush in the 2000s - Snakes and arrows. You really need to give that album a good listen. It has some brilliant stuff on it.
How the flying fuck do you not like Carnies?
This album didn't do very much for me upon the first few listens, but you highlighted a great chorus in your review, and I was thinking the same as far as hooks go that that chorus harkened back to Hold Your Fire era RUSH, when Ged was writing on keys. All in all, I think this album is an excellent "swan song", and has plenty of tasty jams and musicianship to hold it amongst some of their best recent efforts, maybe, as far as re-invention goes-behind Vapor Trails, which, imo, was another rush re-invention album.
Clockwork Angels was one of their finest albums hands down! Rush is the best of the best in the progressive department, up there with Dream Theater, but better. I loved what I heard from this album. The Wreckers had some ok verses, but they put together such an outstanding chorus to that song. This album had some ripping guitar riffs by Lifeson, killer bass lines by Geddy, and pounding beats by Neil Peart. I'd have to give this album a 9.5/10. Clockwork Angels is simply a masterpiece.
Rush is one of the greatest bands of all time. This was an ok album, but they are still goin strong after being around since the 70's
And so do you. Only miss-guided newbies without knowledge of the band are likely to fall in Mr Fantano´s trap of deception. The power that RUSH has of making amazing music is undiminished, and somehow enhanced with age: they sound fresh, organic, full of energy...and their legendary musical dexterity is as rich as ever, in a less boastful way ( that is called maturity). To deny that it´s just to shout " I don´t have a clue of what I´m criticizing." So probably a more suitable task for him
You nailed all the aspects about this album. It's great to hear the sound that once inspired a few 15-year olds, who would later form a band called Dream Theater. But of course after 20 years of Dream Theater and a world with a new wave of progressive hard rock acts like Mastadon and Opeth (or even Necrophagist), I guess we are all spoiled a bit technic-wise.
But I too am very stunned about the soundtrack quality of the stories and concept, and would add the illustrated booklet to a solid 8/10
I'd recommend at least giving a couple tracks a chance. Trust me, I was doubtful too, but was pleasantly surprised. It's far better than anything new by, say, Yes.
i give lotsa 8s. go on my website and check out my loved list. all those albums are 8s or more. there are, like, 30 albums and eps from 2012 on there right now.
+theneedledrop, I think your reviews are really well thought out and descriptive. I would love to hear you review some of the Pink Floyd albums like Dark Side, The Wall, or Division Bell. Cheers!
Agree with most of your points. As a Rush Fan, this album didn't excite me that much. I much prefer their previous one; Snakes and Arrows. I will say something I dislike about your review is that like most people, you tend to attend only Rush's 70s LPs, and not pay attention to their 80s performances. Not saying that everyone has to like that era of stuff; it just seems unfair that people only recognize the talent of one era and not the other. Other that that, spot on. I concur with this review.
I'm in concurrence with you on The Wreckers!! I'm on my 2nd full listening of the album keep wanting to go back to The Wreckers. Seriously, a quality effort all around. I'm ever-wary when I hear someone say that an album is a glorious return to the old sound (see St. Anger). But this one delivers. Going to see them this Saturday!!!
God damn, the amount of thick-headedness in the comment section is making me sick. It's as if some of you are hearing an actual, unbiased review for the first time. Fantano said he actually likes the album! Why the hell is everyone having such a hard time coping with this?
I really enjoyed it, although I'm not heavily familiar with Rush's entire discography I like to think I've heard the essentials. Although it has its ups and downs I think I can safely say this is in my top 5 Rush albums. MAYBE top 3, I will have to give it a few more spins.
My favorite three Rush albums: 1, 2112; 2, Moving Pictures; 3, Clockwork Angels
I'm sure Clockwork Angels is a brilliant album and I can't wait to hear it for myself. Even for a used copy the cost is out of reach for most. £100 ++. I know the world lost Neil but is that a reason to push the price of an album sky high.
glad you mentioned soft machine. glad you know that band.
OMG THX
I can't stop listening to Seven Cities of Gold, I LOVE it's intro. I could listen to that bass all day long.
Not better than ever? What do they have to prove? Only that they still can crush any other crap (or even good) bands that are out there today...with these guys at 60 years of age!!! Song-for-song, this is the best album since Permanent Waves (my favorite). I've been a Rush fan for 30+ years. First listen to Clockwork Angels, I was kind of overwhelmed because there is so much in there. It gets better with every listen!!! Complex, nuanced, at times downright beautiful songs! Superb!!!!!
In terms of their 'modern' albums, (meaning from 2000 on) I feel Snakes and Arrows is the best.
I thought this album was great! I'm a recent Rush fan and the wreckers really pulled me in. I'll agree that there isn't much that really sticks out on this album, most of the songs stick to a heavy rock sort of theme, but each of those songs are freakin' solid! Simplistic or not, the riffs are amazing, Alex lifeson is still killing it!
we all do.
I think we can all agree that the song 'the garden' is beautiful
soon, soon.
I posilutely agree with you on most of your points regarding 'CA'. Excellent, spot-on review! Fan since '76 here.
Pretty fair review. I'm a huge Rush fan and would probably upgrade it to a 7.5/10, it was a pretty solid effort. . .The only songs I find myself coming back to consistently to this point after having the record for a month or so now are The Wreckers, which is probably my favorite song by Rush in over 20+ years, BU2B which freaking rocks, and Caravan- all in that order. I'm sure that other tracks, as I've experienced with many Rush records before, will become more memorable with time.
Awesome, you literally named all my favorite Prog Rock bands. Though I would include Yes, as well.
The one listen and review man.
commenting as a fan, i'm proud of this album, as a listener of all music this is an ok Rush album but what about all the other great bands you love? what are they making now???? The fullness of time makes rush GREAT
Greatest band of all time ❤️❤️
Well Rush got technical real fast. Fly By Night has By Tor and The Snowdog which is one of the most progrrssive and technical rush songs. And Rush did kinda change up but i liked a lot of those records. Counterparts was new and intresting but still a great album
Very fair review and very fair. You state your own opinion and I respect that. I think Thai album is amazing!! I waited for 2 years for it and my first listen I loved it after listening to it I found two songs disappointed me seven cities of gold and wish them well. Now I love wish them well. I'm still not a big fan seven cities of gold but the rest of the album is awesome especially the garden. One of the best Rush songs ever.
I see the moving pictures record in the background sticking out of the shelf. Probably my favorite record
I think this was a really good album that was let down by some poor mixing choices. Yeah it sounds loud and hits hard, but it sounds kind of flat in a lot of places. I don't get the point of doing all of this crazy stuff to record the best sounds possible and then smashing it in mixing/mastering.
love ya for covering this record. it didn't blow my mind in the way a lot of tracks from Snakes and Arrows did (suuuuch good tunes on that one), but I was definitely satisfied.
for the record their live shows have never been better. dont miss out if they come to your town.
WSITN? Gojira, Baroness, Melvins Lite, OM, Split Cranium, Teeel, Tanlines, Roomrunner
this album was so bad ass! sure, some of the songs aren't as memorable as songs from previous albums, but they all play great and they sound great, its like they don't age. i suppose the same could be said with the music, it hasn't really progressed past the late 80s sound they had, but it isn't a bad thing, cause its still good. not my favourite album, but its up there, I'm super glad rush is still making new music. :) i would probably give it better than a 6 though. also, I'm sure no one cares what i have to say, i was just curious as to what bamthony splambambo had to say
People have different opinions. At the start of this album, I was digging it. But tracks 4-11 are just kinda...ok. I don't know. I am not really a fan of the band, but I recognize their abilities and ingenuity.
The aspects to Rush's music that I enjoyed the most have been lost in the latest albums. I find that a lot of their later work tends to blend together and become unmemorable. This is not something that happened to me listening to Permanent Waves or Moving Pictures or even Counterparts. I'd say Vapour Trails -> Clockwork Angels doesn't really work for me. It's still fine, but it doesn't reach the heights of their earlier stuff. That's an unfair expectation I suppose, but there hasn't actually been that many replacements in the last 10-15 years either. Modern music is dreadful, and it kind of hurts.
I agree
Nick Rasculinecs took them down the tubes worse than the CoS Down the Tubes Tour
I certainly was not expecting a needledrop review of Clockwork Angels....I am pleasantly surprised at this video. But, I too am underwhelmed by this album. I definitely cannot see myself revisiting it in a few months the way I revisit albums like Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, or Permanent Waves.
BORING ? TOO MUCH REVERB ? FAST FOOD STYLE?