Clockwork Angels

[manifold]

'Clockwork Angels' from Rush is an epic tale

After 38 years together, Rush is not so much a band as it is a musical genre unto itself.

Never a mainstream critical favorite, and forever deemed too uncool for the hipster stamp of approval, the trio – bassist/vocalist/keyboardist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer/lyricist Neil Peart – simply went about its business, becoming the most virtuosic live ensemble in all of rock. Its string of finely detailed albums spoke directly to the hearts of one of the most loyal international fan bases extant, built upon viscerally uncompromising progressive music. At the same time, it has stayed off the radar of mainstream deities like Rolling Stone magazine and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<snip>

“Clockwork Angels” is that dreaded (in some quarters) indulgence of prog-rock elitism – the concept album. Rush hasn’t made an overtly thematic collection since “Hemispheres” in 1978

<snip>

The album — which is receiving a novelization by science fiction author and longtime Peart friend Kevin J. Anderson — traces the path of an unnamed protagonist as he wrestles to retain some sense of humanity in “a world lit only by fire,” possibly, but not necessarily, in the future.

For Peart, the setting — akin to the post-apocalyptic dystopia in Cormac McCarthy’s novel “The Road” — offers ample opportunity to pit a vigilant idealism against oppressive forces of the social, political and personal variety. “Clockwork Angels” is a “road movie,” in a sense; our hero is forever on the move, from the opening, restlessly propulsive “Caravan” through the more ruminative closer, “The Garden.”

Along the way, he indulges in a race against time, as represented by a “loving Watchmaker” who “loves us all to death.” The Watchmaker — the notion of God in Peart parlance, it would seem — sets traps for the hero, be they the comfort afforded by delusion and religion (“Clockwork Angels,” “Halo Effect”), the roadblocks erected by “Spirits turned bitter by the poison of envy/always angry and dissatisfied” (“Wish Them Well”) or the lure of exotic and forbidden fruit (“Carnies”).

Read more here...

 

[manifold]

[youtube]ZcFGrWjOX0E[/youtube]

 

[manifold]

...

Two months later, this reviewer finally got his belated copy and had one question in mind. By August 2012, virtually every critic had proclaimed Clockwork Angels as one of the finest, if not the finest, albums by Rush. It has been crowned by many as the likely best album of the year. Is there anything left to add to the parade of accolades cascading over Clockwork Angels?

Clearly, Rush devotees no longer need any persuading—they’ve embraced Clockwork Angels as a major achievement from Geddy Lee (bass, bass pedals, vocals, synthesizers), Alex Lifeson (guitars, keyboards), and Peart (drums, percussion). Sales to date demonstrate Clockwork Angels appeals to an even wider audience, ostensibly of prog rock fans, or even hard rockers who like Rush, but not necessarily each and every release. I believe, going even further, anyone who has any interest in rock at all should check out what is not only a serious contender for best album of 2012, but it might end up on “best of” lists going far beyond one year.

For me, listening to Clockwork Angels was akin to experiencing Dark Side of the Moon for the first time. Sure, you can pull out singles and favorite cuts from both albums, but each collection can only be fully appreciated by absorbing the full sequence of material from first to last. In fact, Clockwork Angels is even more challenging because of its hour-plus length, its musical denseness, and the relentless pace of the set. It’s exhausting. It’s like an audio movie where sonic possibilities bring together every strength Rush has. They offer hook-filled melodies with intriguing lyrical imagery that requires more than one listen to get at the heart of what’s going on.

...

Music Review: Rush - Clockwork Angels - Blogcritics Music

 

[manifold]

The tour kicks off tomorrow at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester NH.

This motherfucker has kick ass floor seats!


Can't wait.

 

[manifold]

Second single released off the album...

[youtube]ClbE019cLNI[/youtube]