Rush
MUSIC REVIEW
Clockwork Angels
By Paul Rowlston
Firstly let me own my own stuff here. I've been a fan of this
band for most of my life. I first heard them on cassette tape
(Ed: Ask your dad what that is.) in 1979. They've been
recording as a single creative entity since 1974, two of the
band have been playing together since 1968. And you've
probably never even heard of them, right?
A Canadian hard rock/progressive rock band, Rush have
received every possible accolade in their own country,
they've released 14 platinum and 24 gold albums in the
USA and sold over 40 million albums world-wide. They
just released their latest album and are currently touring
the world – filling arenas with between 10 and 40
thousand people every second night. And you've
probably never heard of them, right?
Rush are often described as the world's biggest Cult band
and their fans are described as the Trekkies of the music
world. And yes, we care. We care a lot.
One of the reasons we care is that Neal Peart, the band's
drummer – almost universally acknowledged as the
greatest hard rock drummer of all time, especially by other
hard rock drummers - writes challenging, thoughtful,
provocative lyrics. He's a man who believes in freewill and
personal responsibility – his has always been a voice of
careful reason and deep thought. And that is why this
album has earned its place in our review section today,
not because I happen to adore this band, but because
their latest album contains some thinking that perfectly
aligns with the spirit and intent of this publication.
So, for the record, Clockwork Angels is the band's 19th
studio album and is – perhaps – their finest work to date.
And that is something you very seldom say about an 'old'
band, the type of band whose 'heyday' almost always
coincides with the time when YOU first heard them or the
moment when they popped up on the cultural radar long
enough to have a 'hit' record. (Ed: 1981 – Moving
Pictures.)It's an amazing album and well worth a listen,
either on download or, if you are lucky enough, find it in a
shop here in SA. (Ed: Good luck with that, did we mention
that no-one has ever heard of them!)
So now to specifically why they are being reviewed here
today. As we've said Peart always writes inspiring,
challenging and thought provoking lyrics. With this album,
and possibly with a mellowing in his own soul after great
personal tragedy (Ed: He lost his daughter to a car
accident and his wife to cancer in the space of a single
year in 1997), Peart has written some words that we'd like
to see on everyone's personal mission statement.
First let's take a look at the last track on the album, the
haunting, lyrical and beautiful The Garden for which
Peart wrote this Chorus:
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect, so
hard to earn, so easily burned. In the fullness of time, a
garden to nurture and protect. (It's a measure of a life) The
treasure of a life is a measure of love and respect, the way
you live, the gifts that you give. And the fullness of time is
the only return that you expect.
And then, in-case you were not already planning to take a
long, hot, thoughtful bath with yourself in order to consider
your life choices, he follows that up with:
The future disappears into memory, with only a moment
between Forever dwells in that moment, hope is what
remains to be seen.
Inspired yet? We hope so. So let's leave you with some
thou