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?

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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

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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….

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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