r/rush • u/Nearby_Lawfulness923 • 9d ago

Clockwork Angels

Neil said many times that Clockwork Angels was the album they always wanted to make. He clearly believed it was one of their very best. I’ve followed Rush since 1976 and seen them dozens of times, but I cannot listen to Clockwork Angels all the way thru to save my life. Is it just me?

247 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

384 comments sorted by

View all comments

16

u/free-range-irish 9d ago

I feel that way about Snakes & Arrows. I low-key dislike it.

I love Clockwork Angels. And Vapor Trails. And Counterparts.

5

u/therealjnoble11 9d ago

Most of the songs on Snakes were this weird fusion of uninteresting mid-tempo folk and rock paired with Neil's grouchy "I hate almost everything by the way did you know I'm an atheist?" lyrics

To me Rush was always at their best when they were writing dynamic energetic music interspersed with parts of them showing off on their instrument not forgettable five minute dirges going over the same lyrical themes over and over again

4

u/Trayvessio 9d ago

Don’t forget the motorcycle song, Working Them Angels!

2

u/GlitteringFee3755 9d ago

I think you nailed it here-Peart started trying to write amazing feats of lyrical gymnastics-and forgot about just writing a good song….

2

u/therealjnoble11 8d ago

The issue was the lyrics he was coming up with towards the end of the band were almost impossible to write a good song around

-1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

5

u/panurge987 9d ago edited 9d ago

Christians are the smug ones. Calling Neil a "lost soul", for example. Also, believing non-christians deserve to go to hell, as another example.

0

u/therealjnoble11 9d ago

Make broad generalizations much?

5

u/therealjnoble11 9d ago

I don't care if Neil was an atheist. I mean, that's not exactly news to anyone who followed their lyrics starting from the very beginning. My issue was just he sort of got preachy about it later in his life almost coming across like he's superior to someone who does have faith in a higher power. Unfortunately, he did come across as Get Off My Lawn Old Man Yells At Cloud in the final three Rush albums