Just read this piece written by Orwell.  He had planned to use it as a preface to Animal Farm but didn't in the end.  It was a response to the continual rejection he was getting by publishers for the seminal piece.  What a brilliant mind!  Fiercely independent and desperate for the truth.

It really resonates with the current day too.

https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/the-freedom-of-the-press/

Just had a listen to Clockwork Angels - I can honestly say that there's not a single song on there I would seek out to listen to again.  Pity as it was their swansong.  In an attempt to be positive It was marginally better than Snakes and Arrows, apart from Far Cry which is prob the only song I enjoy listening to from the last 2 albums and would enjoy hearing again.

Had a little listen and for what they're worth here are a few notes I made..

Caravan - even in the studio you can hear Geddy struggling with the vocals - evident on this song. Strain in his voice
"I can't help feeling big" left me feeling sad for Neil's passing only a few years after he wrote that


Clockwork Angels - a decent song there trying to get out.  There's a "muddiness" to the production I'm not enjoying. Nice solo though

Nice punchy drums and bass at beginning of Anarchist, then back to Geddy's vocal pain, strings are a nice addition  as is Alex's middle eastern guitar sound -  And when Mr Lee goes back to singing within his comfort zone range wise, its a much better listen.

Carnies all the songs are beginning to sound the same now - this passed me by

Good to get a change of pace with Halo Effect nice acoustics and strings

Seven Cities nice groove with the initial bass then geddy's vocal again makes it a tough listen.  Pacing of the song so similar to many that came before

nice vocal melody on The Wreckers nice occasional 60s guitar sound too.  Why fade out on a solo?  Never understand that!

Headlong Flight - prob my fav song from the album when I first listened to it.  Drives along quite nicely except when Geddy is forced to strain out the vocal - this recurring theme really spoils the album for me

BU2B2 not much to see here - move along

Wish them well - pleasant enough ditty but meh, stands no comparison to anything that is classic Rush - no one will pick this out as one of their better songs will they?

The Garden, nice mood setting but I'm  sorry to bang on about it but Geddy can't cope with the key when it moves higher.  he sounds strained and uncomfortable;  this takes front and centre in my limited mind, and detracts from anything going on behind his vocal.

Something similar happened in China around a decade ago. That all fell apart pretty quickly. Hopefully something similar will happen to Saudi. Concerning though that  players in their prime are heading over not just those reaching the end of their careers.

Its different to China in that there's a double pronged attack going on. Not only are they pinching fantastic players to play in thrir league they're also appropriating clubs in Europe. Wonder how long it will continue?

Quote from: David L on August 16, 2023, 10:17:41 AM

Quote from: dom on August 15, 2023, 11:41:32 PMWent with the family to see Barbie. A bit of a mess I thought. It went on too long and got boring. It came across as confused and incoherent.

Serves you right
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Fair comment

I will have another listen - it's been a while - but I don't have fond memories of it

Perhaps a vocalist who could play kryboards/violin or some such would have been nice for the last couple of albums and tours. Geddy really began to struggle towards the end with his vocals and he became quite difficult to listen to, I thought.
 As I got very little from the last 2 albums it might have been nice if they'd gone off in a different musical direction.

Prior to that though I wouldn't have changed very much. It was great how they managed to change and develop their sound so much with a band that had stayed the same for all those years. I don't think they needed anyone else. The keyboards were there to fill. I think a virtuoso would have been a disruptive element. That might have been a good thing though for Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels!

I agree with Matt that a full orchestra would have been enjoyable to see live, who knows even with a full on choir.

Chelsea look like they have made another 3 purchases, adding to an already bloated looking squsad. Caicedo, Lavia and potentially Olise. Wonder if these are all Pochettino sanctioned purchases? Is this the final nail in the coffin for financial fair play?

Whatever, I really hope Chelsea have a miserable season

Went with the family to see Barbie. A bit of a mess I thought. It went on too long and got boring. It came across as confused and incoherent.

Sheffield Utd and unless they get their act together, Wolves, could well finish below Luton

1 Man City
2 Arsenal
3 Man Utd

4th will probably be between Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle and it's possible that one or more could push Arsenal or Utd down.

Chelsea have appointed well in Pochettino but they still seem to have a scattergun approach to transfers. It seems they will be getting both Caceido and Lavia which seems crazy. With no European football and a large squad all believing they should be in the first 11. That will be tough to manage. The loss of Nkunku for a lengthy period will also hurt.

Chelsea going for both of those defensive midfielders means that Liverpool are deficient in that area. If they can't find someone in the next couple of weeks they will struggle.

Howe has a settled squad and will be looking to build. Its a competitive league though and they'll be doing well to maintain their place.

Vice - excellent film.  Christian Bale, Steve Carrell and Amy Adams give fantastic portrayals of the lead characters.

Governmental/institutional attempts to manage the economy seem very crude. They appear to be using the same basic tools that they always used. Why has there been no progression in the field of economics? No insight?

The wealth of data and the massive programming power of computers at our disposal and we're still using the same devices that we used when pen and paper were all economists had at their disposal. It really is a stunted "science" and the poor relation of most other fields of research.

Wordle 781 4/6

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Me and GB News on the same side?

https://twitter.com/FoodLiesOrg/status/1689113433105371137?t=-pX7dvm7DrtXBdBS4J5g_w&s=19