Clockwork Angels 2 out of 5 Stars

ANY DIE HARD RUSH FAN WILL WANT TO SNATCH CLOCKWORK ANGELS UP AND SEE WHAT NEW DIRECTION THE BAND HAS TAKEN. DUE TO BE RELEASED JUNE 12TH, I HAVE OBTAINED AN ADVANCE COPY. I RATE THEIR LATEST EFFORT, 2 OUT OF 5 STARS. TAKEN IN ITS ENTIRETY, THE CD IS A MEDIOCRE EFFORT BY SOME POTENTIAL MUSICAL GENIUSES. THE ALBUM SOUNDS LIKE A SOUNDTRACK FOR SOME PSYCHO-SEXUAL HORROR MOVIE. THE MUSIC IS DARK AND MOODY, AN UNHAPPY PLACE. WHILE THERE ARE MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE IN THE EFFORT, MOST OF THE MUSIC IS LACKLUSTER, AN UNDESERVING EFFORT BY A STORIED PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND. MAYBE RUSH WILL GET INTO ANOTHER CONCEPT ALBUM OR AN ALBUM MADE UP ENTIRELY OF INSTRUMENTALS. THE BAND HAS THE ABILITY TO WRITE SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BUT THIS ISN'T IT. WILL RUSH RELEASE THEIR MAGNUM OPUS, THE DEFINITIVE RUSH ALBUM BEFORE THEY FADE AWAY? I HOPE SO, RUSH FANS, AND THE ROCK WORLD DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS SOPHOMORIC EFFORT BY THESE ROCK ICONS.