Rush Retrospective: Album 19- Clockwork Angels

Album:  Clockwork Angels

Year Released:    2012

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, keyboards, bass pedals, vocals
• Alex Lifeson – guitars, keyboards
• Neil Peart – drums, cymbals, tambourine

Overall Thoughts:

The 19th (and final) original studio album from Rush started after an 18 month break following the Snakes & Arrows Tour.    The group decided on an album centered around a fiction steampunk-based dystopic world.  The results was Clockwork Angels.

This is the only full Rush Concept Album (2112 and Hemispheres both had half the album designed around a concept, but had songs outside the concept filling out the album.)  The theme of Clockwork Angels is not unlike 2112; a world dominated by religious leaders who planned out the fate of everyone, and an individual who lived in the world.  Unlike 2112, the unnamed protagonist isn't trying to change the world; just trying to find their own place in it.  

The music continues to be outstanding; by this time, the band had been together nearly 40 years, and the skill of the playing is shown on every song.  The music is gorgeous, and while the ablum lacks ne song that stands out, it's a continuous string of excellent songs (Caravan, Clockwork Angels, Carnis, Halo Effect, The Wreckers, Headlong Flight, The Garden)

It's a fantastic album for the culmination of Rush's career.

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Presto
2. Moving Pictures
3. Roll the Bones
4. Clockwork Angels
5. 2112
6. Permanent Waves
7. Fly By Night
8. Rush
9. A Farewell to Kings
10. Hemispheres
11. Snakes & Arrows
12. Hold Your Fire
13. Power Windows
14. Counterparts
15. Signals
16. Test for Echo
17. Caress of Steel
18. Vapor Trails
19. Grace Under Pressure

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "The Pass", Presto
2. "Tom Sawyer", Moving Pictures
3. "Working Man", Rush
4. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
5. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
6. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
7. "Bravado", Roll the Bones
8. "2112", 2112
9. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
10. "Caravan", Clockwork Angels