Rush: 2112 (1976) Vs. Test For Echo (1996) Vs. Clockwork Angels (2012)

SATCHMO · 09-24-2012, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

To Satch: do let us know what you think of CA. I really do think it's one of their better albums in recent years. You can tell they are proud of it, too...they don't typically play a large number of new songs when they go on tour with an album since they know everyone generally wants to hear their classics, but they played a good 3/4 of the album when I saw them a couple weeks ago.

Silly me, I got a hold of a FLAC copy last night and managed to shut the lid of my laptop 9/10ths of the way through an incredibly slow download. Grrrr... I'll give it a shot again today.

FRED HALE SR. · 09-24-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjinnx

Not really. Moving Pictures and Power Windows are my favourite albums as well. Grace Under Pressure I haven't heard yet.

Grace Under the Pressure is Outstanding, the first tour I saw Rush on.

duga · 09-24-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Grace Under the Pressure is Outstanding, the first tour I saw Rush on.

Agreed...it's a very underrated album. A lot of people prefer Signals, but I think it beats it out by just a little bit.

jackhammer · 09-24-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

Agreed. 2112 has always seemed to be a bit overrated to me as well, but I remembering it being a huge album when it was released. I really like Hemispheres and A Farewell to Kings, much more as far as old Rush is concerned, and my new Rush exposure sort of tapers off at around the Counterparts album, one of the 3 rush tours I've had the pleasure of catching (Presto and Roll the Bones being the other two). I thought Hold your Fire was fantastic, Jackhammer, definitely one of my favorite Rush albums.

I'm nabbing Clockwork Angels right now. I've heard enough good things about the album to merit checking it out, so I might be chiming in in a while.

Hold Your Fire was patchy for me although the track Open Secrets from the album is one of my favourite Rush tracks ever.

SATCHMO · 09-24-2012, 07:51 PM

As far as Clockwork Angels goes, I have to be a little bit careful about how I rate it. I think it's an amazing contemporary prog album, but I just happen to dislike most contemporary prog. I do think it's great that they've released an album that's as hard-hitting and showcasing of the resiliency of their combined and individual talents, especially at this point in their career. Alex, Geddy, and Neil are in top form, that's for certain. I just think that the song-writing, the anthemic brilliance which characterized their style seems buried beneath the bravado of their musicianship. I don't really think I can say anything bad about the album. It's just not something I'd really choose to listen to, but to see them live again would be a different story. I would jump at the chance to catch a show from this tour.

Howard the Duck · 09-24-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

Counterparts was released in 93.

late 80s, early 90s I meant

the period after they stopped trying to be FM and started to get heavy again

SATCHMO · 09-24-2012, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

late 80s, early 90s I meant

the period after they stopped trying to be FM and started to get heavy again

You're actually pretty right on with that, even if I don't agree with 80's Rush being an attempt at being FM (okay, maybe I'll give you Power Windows in that respect.) I really love poppy, 80's Rush. I think the fact that they are intrinsically a power trio really balance helped to maintain a balance in their sound when it came to doing more melodic upbeat material, and they were also one of the few rock bands to utilize synths in a way that wasn't positively grating. I don't really extol the virtue of much that happened in the 80's, but Rush's music seems to be an exception.

Howard the Duck · 09-24-2012, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

You're actually pretty right on with that, even if I don't agree with 80's Rush being an attempt at being FM (okay, maybe I'll give you Power Windows in that respect.) I really love poppy, 80's Rush. I think the fact that they are intrinsically a power trio really balance helped to maintain a balance in their sound when it came to doing more melodic upbeat material, and they were also one of the few rock bands to utilize synths in a way that wasn't positively grating. I don't really extol the virtue of much that happened in the 80's, but Rush's music seems to be an exception.

i'm pretty much ok with any era

except in the beginning when they were a Led Zeppelin clone

duga · 10-01-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

i'm pretty much ok with any era

except in the beginning when they were a Led Zeppelin clone

Does that include Fly By Night to you? Their debut was a total ripoff but Fly By Night is pretty damn good.

Howard the Duck · 10-02-2012, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

Does that include Fly By Night to you? Their debut was a total ripoff but Fly By Night is pretty damn good.

didn't really like whatever i've heard from it

Caress of Steel is ok, though

View Poll Results: Who Wins? You Decide!
2112	14	63.64%
Test For Echo	3	13.64%
Clockwork Angels	5	22.73%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll

09-24-2012, 07:51 PM	#15 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	As far as Clockwork Angels goes, I have to be a little bit careful about how I rate it. I think it's an amazing contemporary prog album, but I just happen to dislike most contemporary prog. I do think it's great that they've released an album that's as hard-hitting and showcasing of the resiliency of their combined and individual talents, especially at this point in their career. Alex, Geddy, and Neil are in top form, that's for certain. I just think that the song-writing, the anthemic brilliance which characterized their style seems buried beneath the bravado of their musicianship. I don't really think I can say anything bad about the album. It's just not something I'd really choose to listen to, but to see them live again would be a different story. I would jump at the chance to catch a show from this tour.