Rush - Vapor Trails
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Free Music Notes for Vapor Trails
Free Music Review: Hard-rocking, yet "artsy."
Hit: 5 Stars
This is easily Rush's best album in about 20 years. Frankly, I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews of VAPOR TRAILS here. After listening to the album, I naively believed this album would appeal to ALL of Rush's fans, and would unite us all in mutual appreciation for the CD (it's THAT good). But the negative reviews here prove me wrong; some fans like it, and some don't... though it's hard to find a fan who doesn't like the album on any of the Rush-themed message boards.What buyers need to understand about this album is that it's an artistic statement, the best Rush have made in many years. Throwing aside all the keyboards and guitar solos, adding layers of vocals and guitar, Rush have taken a bold and fresh step in their progression as a band.
Somehow, the album manages to be both hard-rocking AND artsy. Listening to it on headphones now, three months after its release, I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief over the artistry I'm hearing. New subtleties are still being revealed to me - beneath the layers of guitar - after hundreds of listens.
The well-known virtuosity of the instrumentalists is still here, though their exceptional talents are utilized more in service to the SONGS than as an excuse to self-indulgently jam out. Geddy Lee has at least one moment on every track where he adds a cool bass lick or two. Lifeson's riffing guitars are layered, entering and exiting atop one another throughout every track. Peart may have lost some of his flash during the band's extended hiatus, but his drumming is still powerful and well-suited to the songs.
Peart has written his most personal and emotional lyrics EVER. Lee is at his vocal best, with vocal-layering and unusual song meters benefitting his singing performance.
The interplay among the instruments is sublime... a bit of guitar atop another guitar, the addition of a cool bass lick, the first guitar riff exits, the drumming increases in ferocity, a third layer of guitar enters, etc. Everything jelling together in an artistic way.
For the first time in many years, Rush aren't behind a trend ("Counterparts" and "Test for Echo"), resting on their past ("Presto"), or failing ("Roll the Bones"). VAPOR TRAILS is unlike anything they've done before - anything ANYONE'S done before - and it's amazing. Rush have taken a bold and unique step here, and they succeed.
I've gone on for some time now about the artistry of the disc, but make no mistake... it also ROCKS. Power riffs like those of "Earthshine" and "Secret Touch" remind us that Rush are first and foremost a HARD ROCK act. This album is more hard-rocking as a whole than any they've done since 1981. (And when I say rock, I don't mean modern rock/grunge rock like on "Counterparts" and "Test for Echo," I mean HARD ROCK.)
Buy it. You'll like it. Keep in mind that Rush are trying to push for new ground here, to take chances. Appreciate the artistry involved, both in the decision to push the music and in that decision's glorious realization.
Free Music Review: This one is a grower, but ultimately a classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Actually more like 4.5 stars, but I'll take the positive slant. I'm not often compelled to write many reviews here or elsewhere, even for albums I really like, but this is one album that really surprises me.I'll be honest, this album probably won't blow you away of first listen, as it is not very commercial. It takes some time to soak in the character and qualities of the songs. Upon first listen, like reviewers before me, I also thought initially that it was a good album, but not great. The second listen was a little better. On the third listen, I was really blown away, and have been ever since.
It's heavier, more energetic, and more youthful sounding than most people will expect. Alex exerts his heavy guitar-rock jamming influence profusely. They also seem to have reclaimed more emotion than in a long time: anger, joy, hopefulness, fearfulness, and a lot in between, than they've done in a very long time. It's also a little muddier, less starkly experimental than most latter-day Rush albums.
There's a very cool and vital balance they achieved with this record. Many moments are classic rock guitar sound, and many other moments could only come from very contemporary hard rock and metal influences. As always, Rush has evolved with the times, and yet still manages to sound essentially like Rush.
While there are no filler tracks on this records, I won't bore everyone with a track by track analysis. You'll need to hear them for yourself, anyway. But, to wet your musical appetite, here are some songs that are kicking my a$$ right now:
"Ceiling Unlimited": heavy, but accesible, a little like early U2.
"Peaceable Kingdom": Stark, very heavy, not a weak moment.
"How It Is": closest to a classic rock track, pretty smooth, catchy.
"Secret Touch": really jams, great guitar solo somewhat hidden in the mix.
"Earthshine": part classic rock, part grungy guitar, all jamming.
"Freeze": A stunner, The part 4 of Fear surprised the heck out of me. Very heavy, hardcore, great guitar sound.
"Out of the Cradle": a very energetic and melodic album closer, sounds very jacked up, great hooks too.
The rest of the album tracks will probably be slower to warm up to, but give them time, they may surprise you, because they also rock.
I think there is substantially great material here for old Rush fans and newer ones alike. Like I said, you will have to give this one a little bit of time to grow on you, but the pay off is so worth it. Rush faithful will have little trouble with that, but this one really ought to win over new fans. This record, actually surprised me when I didn't think they ever would again, and has me all jacked up for the new tour, reminding me once again how Rush are so damned underrated by most people, it just makes me ill.
For those who have not seen Rush live: it's the best part of all, you MUST go to a show. I won't miss seeing them at least twice per tour.
Sorry for the long post. Take care, God Bless, and happy listening to a great new record.
Free Music Review: An Emotional Return to Form
Hit: 5 Stars
It is amazing to me that Rush's 17th studio album VAPOR TRAILS ever got completed in the first place. When the band started recording the album in 2001, it was the first time they had shared the same room together after a five-year hiatus. Neil Peart lost both his only daughter and first wife in 1997 and 1998, and the pain was obviously too much for him to bear. During this time, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee recorded solo albums, respectively, and Neil wrote all about his travels across the country to heal himself in his book "Ghost Rider" (also one of the songs on VAPOR TRAILS). I've been looking forward to this album for a long time, and I when I heard Neil's explosive drum intro on the opening track "One Little Victory," I was so happy. The man is back!!VAPOR TRAILS is undoubtedly Rush's finest album in years; it's definitely their best, most cohesive work since HOLD YOUR FIRE. The 13 songs that populate this disc are awesome, emotional, powerful, energetic, and inspiring. There is a sure theme running throughout Neil's lyrics as well. Like POWER WINDOWS and COUNTERPARTS before it which had intertwined lyrical themes, all the lyrics deal with the common theme of accepting loss, going through the grief, picking yourself back up, and having a newfound respect for life. For such a private person, Peart is pouring his heart out more than ever on this album. There are probably the best set of words he's ever written (and that says a lot). Not to mention his drumming is just as precise and razor-sharp as ever.
That's not to disregard the always great Lee and Lifeson. Geddy's voice has really matured nicely, and his vocal harmonies and melodies are really strong and beautiful. As for Lifeson, he hasn't sounded this aggressive in a long time. He does no guitar solos on this record, which is a shame, considering he is a fantastic soloist, but he makes up for it with his excellent sweeping technique (something he hasn't done since the '70s and '80s) and churns out some of the best guitar riffs that clearly recall Rush's earlier period circa 2112, FLY BY NIGHT, and HEMISPHERES.
As I mentioned before, all 13 songs are excellent, but these would have to be the standouts: the hard-hitting opener "One Little Victory," the thought-provoking "Peaceable Kingdom" (which brilliantly addresses the 9/11 attacks), the haunting "The Stars Look Down," and the back-to-back rock fest of "Secret Touch" and "Earthshine" (the latter features one of the best riffs EVER).
VAPOR TRAILS is an emotional comeback and return to excellence for Rush. Some doubted their return, but they proved that they still have the chops and intelligence to move forward musically and lyrically. This is melodic hard rock at its finest.
Free Music Review: An album: not a collection of songs.
Hit: 5 Stars
Vapor Trails could very well be the best thing Rush have put out in almost 15 years. If one peruses the pages and pages of reviews submitted for this album, a general trend emerges. The average rating is pulled down by an astonishing number of one star ratings, and is balanced off by five star submissions like this one. But the great majority of the five star reviews adhere a comment like 'It took me a while to get into this album' or 'Vapor Trails requires repeated listens',while the one star reviews of course do not. If ever an album required repeated listens, it is Vapor Trails. Indeed, it begs for repeated listens. What I deduce from the comments from many who didnt like this album is that they didnt give the record enough of a chance.Although I enjoyed the album on first listen, I did initially harbour thoughts much like the albums myriad detractors: the production is too muddy and thick, Lifeson has forgoten how to play guitar, the album merges into an uninspired whole and there are no standout tracks. In explanation of my comment above though, I believe Vapor Trails funtions as an album in every sense of the word: a collection of songs that combine to produce a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
The unanimous consensus seems to be that Geddy's voice has never sounded better, and I agree. Listen to his inflection on the thunderous opener 'One Little Victory', a definite standout track here, or his clarity and tone on the 'What is the meaning of this?'part in 'And the stars look down'. As to Lifeson's playing, he has ditched his organic soloing in favour of a more texture based approach, but I think his parts here hold the record together, and create and original and compelling sound for Rush. I love the thick chords which drive this record, but digging deeper one notices just how much colour and life his licks add: listen to the arpeggio that creeps in on top of the bass at the start of 'Ghost Rider' (another highlight, with the albums strongest chorus), or the delicate riff that opens 'Vapor Trail' in such understated fashion.
Even my initial thought that the record sounded too similar quickly faded after my seventh or eighth listen: I love the thunderous, heavy double punch of 'Secret Touch' and 'Earthshine', complemented by the melodic 'How it is' and the uplifting and enticing 'Out Of the Cradle'.
Obvious as it seems, I urge everyone to allow Vapor Trails room to expand and grow on you: there is an absolute wealth of superb material here, which matures wonderfully and becomes more compelling as time passes, much Like Rush as a band.
An album that requires time, but, if time is given, rewards the listener tenfold. I highly recommend this album to fans, and those who didnt like it and have neglected it since.
Free Music Review: Rush forward ... and back
Hit: 5 Stars
This album may take time to grow on you, my first listen was lukewarm at best. As usual for me, and many others, if you give Rush too many listens - your doomed/hooked. I have had this CD in the car since the day it came out and I love it now. Once I finally gave it a listen in the headphones, the usual subtleties that Rush, when pressed close to your ear, will yield, came flooding through. There are so many cool moments, a drum hit here, Geddy's backing vocal there, or a haunting lick from Alex in the background.Everyone shines on this album. In particular Geddy's vocals return to a higher register, without the shrieking (which I loved) Vapour Trails is his best vocal effort to date, and not coincidentally, emotionally strong as well. Not many rank Geddy's voice among the great rock voices, but I've always thought him underrated. His voice flat out blows me away on this disk. A great singer! "Ceiling Unlimited" is one of the best vocals on any Rush album. As usual he shines on bass too, and the bottom end is very strong for it. Earthshine is a good example, find a teenager with a four wheeled fender rattling vehicle and you'll see what I mean.
Neil Peart's lyrics are strong, and tinged with emotion. "Peaceable Kingdom" and "How It Is" are each a full on lyrical tour de force, while not being too obvious, at least to me. Peart has always been able to reach into my subconscious and evoke the response "that's exactly how feel" or "Why couldn't I say it that way?" The intensely private drummer/lyricist gives us a glimpse of the sadness he endured, and somewhat of how he dealt with the intense sorrow of dear ones lost, in "Ghost Rider". That songs lyric "Sunrise in the mirror, lightens that invisible load," reminds me of my own solitary motorcycle journeys to the middle of nowhere. Nowhere, as Peart alludes to, is inside each of us ... and we'll know it when we get there.
Alex proves again that he is a gifted songwriter, and he just has to be one the most exceptional players around. He is tasteful and elegant at times, other times he will crush your head. Mostly the latter on this record <grin> and he knows when to do it. He plays to great effect on this record, his mandola intro on "How It Is" is lilting and ethereal, and quite lovely also, my one complaint, it's far too brief
Vapour Trails is a positive step forward for the trio, and some moments absolutely scream of "Moving Pictures" era song crafting. But it is clear to me that Rush have not lost a step, both evolving and showing us their roots as well. This is a great disc from a band that remains vital, don't look for these guys at the state fair anytime soon. Instead check out the nearest packed concert venue, Rush will be there soon.