Vapor Trails

RUSH IS RUSH .!!!...love em or hate them When it first came out ,listening to it over headphones in the shop pre -buy...i was not impressed...Simply put i adore it now tho, and have for many years, but hadnt owned the CD. I have always had a complicated relationship with Rush.I love the first five albums..@ fall in and out with them all the time.For me again to repeat i love this Album.., completely different to the early style..It grew on me magnificently....

Controversial opinion? not really. Once you have a half-decent audio setup the sound is genuine.The remixes sound too false, and the spirit in which the album is made vanishes; this is the real thing!Musically it`s great fun, and some wonderful songs! love them all but How It Is and especially Freeze are up there with my favourites and as a long-term fan with hundreds of songs in my head tunes that instantly stick out are worth it . highly recommended!

2002: The US invaded Afghanistan; The Queen Mother passed away; the Mars Odyssey mission finds evidence of water on Mars; and Rush released their first new album in 8 years. A new Rush album is always a momentous ocassion, especially as Vapor Trails(VT) emerged as the excrutiatingly hard to love AND hate follow-up to 1996s' equally hard to love and hate, Test For Echo(T4E). Personally every Rush album feels like a challenge, something I began to realise started happening around A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres (now they WERE challenging - but worth it), because they never begin to sound how they end up sounding. Nearly all post Permanent Waves releases at first sounded musically bereft until after the 3rd or 4th spin when, without warning, aural manna would start to vent from the speakers. I would be taken by surprise almost every time. This did and didn't happen with T4E and VT. They both got increasingly better but never reached the level of musical addiction that other albums had.'One Little Victory' is a good start and quite similar to the title track from T4E. It is epic, technical, angular, majestic and a little average all at the same time. But very good. 'Celing Unlimited' felt slightly underwhelming and even after many listens this did not change. Yes, there are the trademark Rush melodies and hooks that you simply cannot ignore and your brain will relay back to you in those inappropriate moments when trying hard not to whistle in people's faces, but ultimately it is good and no more. 'Ghost Rider' is a near all-acoustic saga that, once again, you cannot deny in terms of understated catchiness. BUt it, still, is no classic in my opinion. 'Peaceable KIngdom' follows suit. It is only when 'And The Stars Looked Down' appears that proceedings start to take on a calmer ambience. It is a great song. But one that you will probably not replay, especially when other classics from better albums are sitting there waiting to let out again. In short, it is good but no 'Marathon' or 'Spirit of Radio' etc. 'How It Is' is another gentle track with lots of great music and the usual 'catchy-but-you-don't-know-it' chorus but it also suffers from a little slice of mediocrity. The title track: ditto, only better.I won't extend further criticism to the remainder of the album, suffice it to say that the interplay of excellent songwriting together with a lack of creativity makes for a similar experience as the first half. Apart from the one pick I have from the album that stands out as arguably the best out of the material present, 'Secret Touch'. It sounds like Rush from Power Windows or Hold Your Fire which is never a bad sound. It is very technical and creative and catchy and, well, Rushy. More of this would have made for a far more exciting record. As it stands this is on par with T4E and very similar in tone also. BY any other band this would be reason for joy. From a band of Rush's calibre it is a little disappointing.I also have to agree with one other reviewer regarding the remastered production. It is too loud and distorts a lot of the heavier movements which doesn't help when trying to enjoy it.On the whole: better than good but no complete triumph. One little victory I suppose with 'Secret Touch' (excuse the almost-pun), but I'll save my slings and arrows (sorry, snakes) for the much better produced and far more immediately likeable follow-up album.... what was it it called again?

Its hard to believe that a group who have been around this long can produce something as damn energetic, fresh, simply outstanding, as this. This album really blows me away, no keyboards, no soloing, yet not one of the 13 tracks is less than awesome. Freeze, a sort of Radio Head meets Led Zeplin prog jam is a standout. Ghost Rider, a deeply personal song, is an extremely uplifting effort by the band to share and express Peart's painful experiences. Your left out of breadth at the end of the relentless pounding this album gives out.Imagine Led Zeplin (Physical Graffiti), meets radio Head, but best of all, meets a 2112 Rush, and throw in some Adam and the Ants (Vapor Trail)and you have one of the finest albums in a helluva long time.

Rush for Everthing RushRush - Fantastic, nothing more to say. Have them all and love them all, at least until Geddy got his new teeth. Musically they continue to amaze and get better and better.

My favourite musical group of rock

I am a big Rush Fan and have seen them 6 times and own everything they have done, and this is one of their growers, which I am now very use to as I find their later work not as good as their earlier wak Say 1974 - 1990. So if you are new to rush and there are a lot out there, I would go for earlier albums, say Moving Pictures to Roll The Bones and when you feel you can't live without more Rush then buy the rest including this one, But be perpared to give them all some serious listening. They are worth it honest.

amazing rush album from 2002. every track is brilliant the playing is top notch. geddy lifeson and peart at the top of their game.

Rarity alert, this original mix of the album is getting harder and harder to find now that RUSH have re-mixed the master tapes. Some people prefer this original release because it plows them through the back wall, whereas the new re-mix is a little less abrasive and in-your-face! Still, RUSH fans should have both versions to compare because you may be surprised which one you like more

I bought this because I wanted to listen to the original recording. Neil Peart had just come back from his self-imposed hiatus after the death of his family. The band was on delicate ground. This record is the culmination of all the emotional and physical work it took to get back to being RUSH. The sound is rough, and I know Geddy and Alex had a hard time mixing it. I wanted to listen to that roughness as a way to remember the pain and emotion, but also the triumph of making one of my favorite RUSH records (A Clockwork Angels competes along with this). The lyrics are Neil’s best and Geddy’s singing is just the right register and emotionality. Alex’s parts really standout as he had to fill a lot more space since Geddy had no keyboards or synth sounds. This is the pure sound of the bad even if a bit rough on the mix and mastering. Plus the cover is amazing. This is the German European pressing of the CD. Maybe I will hunt for the US pressing to compare, but I gather as far as CDs go it doesn’t sound much different. This was worth it to remember that time in history when a legendary band overcame its biggest challenge!

Rush ist ja so eine Band, bei der sich die Fans alle paar Jahre auf einen musikalischen Kurswechsel einstellen können. Rushfans gehören glücklicherweise zu denen, die ihren Helden ihre Kurswechsel verzeihen bzw. sie gerade für diese lieben. Entsprechend betroffen waren wir, als Drummer und Texter Neal Peart nach schweren persönlichen Schicksalsschlägen seine Drumsticks an den Nagel hängte. Auf der Suche nach innerem Frieden unternahm er stattdessen ausgedehnte Motorradtouren und verfasste ein Buch, in dem er seine Erfahrungen verarbeitete. Ohne Peart wollten Sänger / Basser Geddy Lee und Gitarrist Alex Lifeson nicht weiter machen, stat dessen wurde Rush für unbestimmte Zeit auf Eis gelegt."Vapor Trails" ist das langersehnte Comeback, Neal Pearts Rückkehr aus der Rockerrente auf den Drumhocker des kanadischen Progressivrocktrios. Und hallo, hier wird ordentlich gerockt: Mit einem wilden Trommelrhythmus geht es los. So heavy waren Rush noch nie. Sogar das bislang erdigste Album "Counterparts" wird härtemäßig locker getoppt. Zum ersten Mal seit dem Uraltwerk "2112" wird auf Keyboards komplett verzichtet. Keine Spur von gemütlich- schlurfiger Altersruhe oder wiederholender Selbstkopie. Immerhin 67 Minuten haben die drei gestandenen Männer vollgerockt. Dabei bleiben die Rhythmen interessant und vertrackt, die Basslinien gewohnt melodisch, der Gesang im typischen Falsetto... nur Lifesons Gitarre verzerrter und wilder als sonst. Textlich hat Peart viel Autobiographisches und Philosophisches einfließen lassen, so z.B. in "Ghost Rider"; auch hier loht sich eine nähere Beschäftigung. Musikalische Feingeister und Achtziger- Synthiefreunde unter den Rushfans müssen sich an den neuen Härtegrad möglicherweise erst gewöhnen, aber das ist es wert.Ich mag es, wenn Rush sich neue Soundwelten erschließen. Volle Punktzahl.

...First: I've been a fan of the band for the last 15 years. I have all of the albums and with the exception of Test For Echo I love all of them...there's always (well, almost) something on a Rush album to enjoy, and the albums in general, are complex and mystifying . That said, TFE was a major let-down for me. The songs were slow, the playing seemed a little stale...I thought, ".........that's it...they're done...too much internal conflict between Geddy and Alex on a fundamental level..."Boy am I glad I was wrong! One hint of this that I should have taken more seriously was the incredible live album (different stages) that followed shortly thereafter (where a number of TFE songs were somewhat re-born and redeemed), however, the immediate tragedies befalling Peart colored my judgement and, to be honest, I really didn't expect Rush to actually re-form. What a surprise...!With the exception of the first and last songs on this album which I'm not that fond of, this album consistently and relentlessly kicks [rear]! Finally, I can here Geddy and Alex agreeing again and working TOGETHER again! Neil has always put his best effort in, but ever since Power Windows, there has been a underlying hint in the music of Alex's discontent. But that's all gone here! Alex gets to be who he wants to be and Geddy gets to prove that he's the best bass player alive (sorry Les)! And yet, there have been some major criticisms aimed at this album...let's adress some.The Drums: If you can't tell that's Neil, you're not listening closely enough and you're not a real Rush fan. He does some really tight, really amazing things on this album. To be honest, I've never heard him play so well (maybe TFE, but still...). In the past, he hid a little behind the more melodic but less complex fills. Here, it's (somewhat) stripped down in terms of different toms, etc... but, damn! That man can play, and play well! You have to listen THROUGH the wall of guitars, but Neil is in there as a force--a real force! (hey, and then there are the lyrics!)No solos: Alex never liked playing them or writing them to the extent he was forced to and you have to let Alex be Alex. He kicks major [rear]! He is ABSOLUTELY the best rythm guitarist around...probably ever! From the Dick Dale-esque intro of One little Victory to the Zepplinesque guitar touches of Secret Touch you can just FEEL how much fun he had with this album...and more power to him! Some of his ideas are so unique and counterintuitive compared to the lousy music around right now, I can't help but admire his advetureousness. BTW, there ARE solo's in these songs...just not the trite stuff that Petrucci or somebody else would throw in to LOOK good. Alex NEVER sounded better or more happy! Between his parts and Geddy's bass this album is LOADED with energy.Production: In general, you have to turn this one up--you do need to turn the bass down a tad (sorry Geddy), but once you do, my God, what a sound! As dissapointed as I was that there were NO synths on the album, the album didn't need them. They would have been too much. As for calling this album grunge, comparing this album to the substandard ... that Pearl Jam and whatever popularized is an extreme misjustice. Grunge was an exceedingly limited musical form dominated by riff driven monotony and essentially 12 bar blues formats. The Rhytm guitar on this album is WAY too complex to be compared to grunge, and the musical structure is far more intricately treated, really, all-around (not to mention Geddy's voice flying in the face of the traditionally grunge-esque habit of mumbling/growling lyrics in low, muted tones)...Just one last comment. I'm always a little puzzled to read reviewers complain about Geddy's voice (it doesn't sound good, we want different back-up singers, etc...) Let me say this with some finality. Geddy's voice is THE voice of Rush (even when I might have wished John Cleeese had done the rap on Roll the Bones). If you don't enjoy it, you probably shouldn't listen to the band. His distinctive voice is what initially drew me to Rush, and I KNOW that I'm not alone in that. I'm so, SO glad his voice is still going strong after all these years. He sounds awesome here...still prhasing impecably, harmonizing beautifully, singing those high notes like some avenging angel! There's nobody like Geddy. Heck, there's nobody like Alex and there's nobody like Neil. They are Rush, and damn it, they are distinct, insistent, and inimitable! Great album guys! Keep up the great car albums!

ニールが家族を亡くし、放浪の旅から帰って来て、待っていたメンバーと共に作り上げた作品。過去の作品とはまた異なった躍動感溢れる１枚だと思います。１月７日に天に召されたニールは家族と再会している事でしょうね。