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 thoughts about all those people and things that drive you crazy. Here, in full, is the lyric for “Wish them well” Neal Peart's reframing of his own attitude to life and, we believe, 'a garden' worthy of 'nurture and respect': All that you can do is wish them well. Spirits turned bitter by the poison of envy, always angry and dissatisfied Even the lost ones, the frightened and mean ones. Even the ones with a devil inside. Thank your stars you're not that way, turn your back and walk away. Don't even pause and ask them why, turn around and say goodbye People who judge without a measure of mercy, all the victims who will never learn Even the lost ones, you can only give up on. Even the ones who make you burn The ones who've done you wrong, the ones who pretended to be so strong. The grudges you've held for so long … it's not worth singing that same sad song Even though you're going through hell, just keep on going … Let the demons dwell … Just wish them well And, finally, we leave you with this line. We hope it haunts you as much as it does us: What do you lack?
CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW
123