Album Re-assessment: Rush: Vapor Trails

Rush's 2002 comeback album (the band's 17th overall) was a cause for celebration upon its release. The band had been on a five-year hiatus and this was their first new material of the new millennium. So it's not surprising that as a huge Rush fan, I found the record...disappointing.



Upon first listen, the band's trademark interplay was buried in dark, guitar solo-less songs that roared out of the speakers at deafening levels. This distorted the band's "classic" sound. I was glad they were back, and some of the songs were OK but about half the record (especially the block of middle songs from "Peaceable Kingdom" to "Vapor Trail") simply didn't stick. Maybe it's because Rush didn't play those songs live?

Last night, I took the plunge and listened to Vapor Trails, in its entirety for the first time in maybe eight years. Maybe it's the excitement of the upcoming tour (Time Machine) and the new record (Clockwork Angels) but this time, the songs stuck.

Every Rush record has its time and place. Critical listening proves Vapor Trails to be an intelligent, thoughtful set of songs. The lyrics are heavy, focused on the 9/11 attacks and Neil Peart's own personal demons--which is probably why it was such a hard listen for me back in 2002.

The band plays like absolute monsters, ripping into deep grooves that recall(and sometimes quote) their past while digging into slabs of prog, metal and even jazz. Geddy Lee shows thje benefits of his solo work, sounding liberated vocally. His singing is at times stunning, especially on cuts like "Ceiling Unlimited", "The Stars Look Down" and "Freeze".

Although it sounded like a misfire upon its release, this is an album that's worth spinning. So load it back into your IPod and crank it, starting with "One Little Victory." You'll be glad you did.