CLOCKWORK ANGELS
| Rush
CLOCKWORK ANGELS
Clockwork Angels is the nineteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on June 8, 2012 on Anthem Records. During their year-and-a-half break following their Snakes & Arrows Tour, the group decided to write a new studio album. The album was recorded in April 2010 at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee and from October to December 2011 at Revolution Recording in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. -wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Consequence of Sound
2012 - an album with progressive sensibilities that can be easily digested by just about anyone looking for a good rock song, and may even yield a major hit or two. However, the added bonus here is that while each song can stand on its own, the album as a whole– with its conceptual trappings and storyline– makes for an equally rewarding experience.
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Odyssey
Clockwork Angels is one of Rush's greatest accomplishments and really defies logic, because of how great these guys sound despite them all being around 60 years old. Each member is really in sync on this release and all of them sound great.
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Cygnus-X1
a masterful work of art, one that perhaps only Rush could record, and one that will likely define them for years to come
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Rolling Stone
2012 - the first Rush album in five years isn’t just one of the band’s Rushiest; it’s also very good – frenetic and heavy, low on prog thought puzzles, high on power-trio interplay that could put guys half their age in the burn ward
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Premier Guitar
2012 - The freshness of Clockwork Angels is a testament to the dedication and creativity of the band, which still appears to be incredibly strong even with their level of success and longevity.
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AV Music
2012 - Clockwork is a return to Rush’s wheelhouse, the science-fiction concept album. But unlike 2112, it’s written from the perspective of bruised, bewildered survivor.
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Billboard
2012 - The album's seven-minute opuses range from tight ("Headlong Flight") to the messy title track, while fans of Rush's classic, riff-driven approach and ensemble virtuosity will find aural nirvana in "The Anarchist," "Seven Cities of Gold," "The Wreckers" and "Wish Them Well."
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Goldmine Magazine
2012 - Clockwork Angels may become the most beloved and giddily accepted Rush album since furtive debate and camp-baiting started back at “Signals.”
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Blabbermouth
"Clockwork Angels" at least attempts to bridge the consecrated mania of RUSH's early days to their more reserved latter day body of work. This is a surprise album executed by dignified professionals who obviously decided a little more oomph carries the torch extra miles.
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Pop Matters
2012 - The strong themes and narrative arcs reveal a freshness in the band's songwriting I haven't heard in a long time.
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The Guardian
2012 - Those who worship at the temple of Rush will be in raptures; for those who remain agnostic, there may well be enough here to justify a leap of faith.
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Music Radar
2012 - Their songs, epic in scope, abstract yet achingly personal, rendered here with a commanding sonic radiance, are born out of instinct and impulses, unique as a fingerprint and every bit as fascinating.
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Modern Rock Review
2012 - this album is very good
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The Quietus
2012 - an extremely accomplished piece of music composed and performed absolutely flawlessly by three undeniably mature and worldly human beings
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Pop Dose
2012 - the album has the kind of mature depth that I was hoping for in a late-career album from Rush
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All Music
. Its musical athleticism and calisthenic discipline are equaled only by its relentless creative drive and its will to express it in a distinct musical language.
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Drews Review
2013 - Outside of getting used to Lee’s lower range, Clockwork Angels Live shows a nearly 40 year old band creating live music better than ever.
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Muxic Beats
2017 - Their music certainly rock as always with very fine lyrics.
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Smart Bass Guitar
2012 - Clockwork Angels is almost a testament to the band’s work ethic and drive to deliver what they believe is the best they can deliver to their fans and to themselves.
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Guitar Planet
2013 - It’s an old fashioned LP, made by a funny little band who exist in their own world, and bizarrely, it’s the freshest and most immediate record Rush have released in 20 years – hell if it made sense, it wouldn’t be Rush.
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Classic Rock Revisited
The music is stellar, the producer crisp and the lyrical content enchanting. The album is full of cool surprises
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The Bearded Blog
2012 - It’s one of those highly anticipated releases that actually delivers so much more than originally expected. As far as my opinions go, its the strongest Rush album since 1994’s “Counterparts”
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Brave Words
one can’t deny that there’s more purpose and focus here than on any Rush album ever
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The Digital FX
2012 - a wonderfully executed sixty six minutes of musical wizardry by one of the finest bands around. Rush have done it again.
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Metal Express Radio
2015 - Although certainly not their strongest effort, Clockwork Angels does manage to provide a few glimmers of light which can be added to their arsenal of classic songs.
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Rukus Magazine
Rush is still giving it everything they’ve got. Transforming guitar, bass and drums into epic rock ballads has become clockwork and these angels don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
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Beats per Minute
2012 - Clockwork Angels is a highlight of Rush’s career. It’s modern sounding, and everything seems to fall into place; the lyrics, the concept, the music, the band chemistry, even the booklet artwork is great.
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Liverpool Cound and Vision
2012 - well there is no bad track to go up against but if push comes to the shove then the tracks Carnies. The Anarchist and The Wreckers are pure music gold and never once allow the listener to settle into some sort of music induced coma
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Metal Storm
This album is very complete and features every single characteristic that puts this band as the best band ever alongside Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.
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Background Magazine
not only one of Rush's heaviest albums in a long time, but also one of their best with plenty to offer for both new and old school Rush fans
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Ari Armstrong
2012 - It’s amazing, and arguably Rush’s best album ever. I’m impressed by their long-lasting passion and drive to make the best music they possibly can.
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Drum Chat
2012 - Rush really hit the nail on the head with this album. It has everything you could ever want out of a Rush album...insanely talented musicianship, lyrics that tell a story, extended song arrangements, and hard-rocking in-your-face prog rock.
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Paper Kingdom
It's a monster of a record. For the first year, it lived in my car, rarely leaving the CD player. This is one of the heaviest albums I've ever heard, right up there with Tool and Pantera.
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Exclaim!
2012 - Clockwork Angels therefore sounds as mighty as its concept, with the well-balanced interaction amongst Lee, Lifeson and Peart a clear result of the extensive touring they undertook concurrent with the recording process.
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Sea of tranquility
2012 - Clockwork Angels is another in a long line of classy, sophisticated releases from Rush.
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Andrew Marvin
2012 - Clockwork Angels is a brilliant addition to the band’s discography, and it’s more than worthy of being their twentieth record.
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Amino
stands out as a unique and worthwhile listen within the progressive rock landscape
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The Midlands Rock
2012 - ‘Clockwork Angels’ is hardly your disposable album then, it needs an investment of time and emotion. But it pays you back bigtime. And that’s the cynic’s reward.
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iHeart Guitar Blog
Clockwork Angels gives fans more fodder for discussion and immersion than any Rush release to date
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Now Toronto
2012 - They're so beyond caring about being cool that they end up being perversely hip in their unselfconscious embrace of everything they've been mocked for.
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John McFerrin Music Reviews
It's also absolutely top-notch by Rush standards
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Ultimate Classic Rush
this sounds like an enduring, late-career gem from Rush
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Wilson & Alroy's Reviews
the record is propulsive and enjoyable, but none of the tunes burrow into your head the way so much of their late 70s/early 80s work did
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Riff Raff
2012 - A bombastic straight-a-head rock album designed to sound great live!
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Anti Pitchfork
2012 - The album is full of classic era Rush riffs and expected Neil Peart drum fills. Geddy Lee's voice seems to deepen with age, which I believe is a good thing.
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2012 - Big Blue Bullfrog
Clockwork Angels is still a good Rush album, which is like saying its akin to the greatest album ever made by most bands today
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Planet Mosh
2012 - This is a seriously good album.
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Vintage Vinyl News
2012 - The songs have all the power and intricate interplay of Rush at their peak and if Geddy Lee can’t hit the ridiculously high notes of his youth he still shows a vocal range that walks all over the competition.
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Guitar International
2012 - Between it’s dead on accuracy and quality craftsmanship, this songbook is worth it’s weight in gold, and is a definite must-have for any Rush fan.
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Media Mikes
2012 - This band never shows any signs of slowing down, especially if they keep making albums like “Clockwork Angels”
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Uber Rock
2012 - a very good modern Rush album, easily holding up against, or even bettering, the likes of 'Vapor Trails' and 'Snakes And Arrows'
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Rush on Rock
2012 - best enjoyed as a whole, its interwoven lyrical themes and familiar musical twists creating a scintillating progressive rock experience the like of which the majority of bands could only dream of replicating
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Rush Vault
All 12 tracks on the album are golden
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Metal Music Archives
2012 - The whole thing is packed in a powerful and sharp sound production that really suits the music well.
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Serene Musings
2012 - Each track has its place in the story, providing coherent lyrical content that not only carries the story along, but doubles with poignant references to the human condition. The music is sublime and well-orchestrated, with the band playing at the absolute height of their powers.
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Pop Rock Nation
Clockwork Angels is, to me, 2012’s most potent demonstration of the power and melody a guitar, bass, and drum set can bring.
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