@Gefn Classic Rock Album of the Day- Rush- Vapor Trails- 2002 ****
This is the great comback album, after the band took a hiatus after the tragic losses in Neil Peart's family. And Mr Peart released a lot of pent up emotion, and it came out in a mix of retrospection on both sides of the emotional spectra. VT contains what I feel is more prose than lyrical content, as there does seem to be more of the lyric/song mix than in most Rush efforts. Not to say that this is mostly the theme of dispair. Well maybe 70/30. I have heard or remember that a lot of what Peart channeled was what he felt during like a long long motorcycle trip to get away after his loss.
Stylistically VT is less prog than most Rush albums, and I hadn't realized that this is actually the first album by Rush since Caress of Steel (1975) that incredibly did not have any keyboard inclusion. I knew and felt that this was a strange move, and with that, it makes all the sense in the world. I do know that their Feedback album of covers was done fairly close to the same time, and maybe it was just the feel or mood at the time. On the instruments, the guys are at their normal sterling best. I can see some drop off in Geddy's vocalizations, which I think may be a function of the layoff rather than age. He does sound stronger on the final two LP's.
I have not made any secrets that this is my favorite band, but even in this case, there is an uneveness of a few songs that though I would not characterize as filler, but more of the evidence of the band not totally knocking the dust of their creative chops. This is an album with more balladry, more hard rocking, almost even metal like product. It is an excellent album, which for Rush terms is fair, to middling. Even a medicore Rush might be a classic for another. The bar is set that high. The album does contain my favorite latter day tune. Out of the Cradle. More on that later.
Fun Fact: This is the only studio product by Rush for entire period between 1997-2004.
Track
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1- One Little Victory- Rush extracts an almost '70's like feel in this hard rocking. Peart's wearing his heart on his sleeve early and often. Kind of has that Live One Day at Time colloquial feel to the lyrics. Very good and solid rocking song, that has some speed metal moments too.
32- Ceiling Unlimited- Very nicely layered filler parts, that is accenuated with some really complex drumming. Through two songs, its seems Lee has toned down the bass a few decibles. I don't know if Alex was getting feeling he was getting squeezed as was kind of the perception in their synth late '80's era, but Lifeson did some nice solo work on the entire album.
43. Ghost Rider- Song and subsquent book that supposed documented his post trauma trip on his motorcycle that was supposed be like 10-15K miles. I know the story, but from a song writing effort, not one of the band's best efforts. I feel for the guy, but maybe the theme was little over used.
94. Peaceable Kingdom- Peart often focused on the philosphical aspect of human discourse. More often than not, this normally isn't the best vehicle for Rush's best stuff. Almost sounds like Rush wanted to cover Metallica on this one. In any case, I like Proggy Rocking Rush over Preachy thudding Rush-
115. The Stars Look Down- Another one with kind of '70's feel.
126. How it is- Alternating rocking and ballad that has a nice upbeat feel musically that is countered with more dispair.
107. Vapor Trail- Very solid title track, Geddy when doing it does the bass chordal thing as well as anyone else. Voice dubbing sounds strange in production. Way too grainy, adds minimally to the song. Or might even detract from it as far as my opinion. Alex does nice ax wail towards the end that sits with the sync drumming nicely
68- Secret Touch- Instrumetally some of the best of the LP, this had to be very tough to pull off, I know I use the term chaos too much, but there are mid parts, that have that three man orchestraic feel to it.
79- Earthshine- What a great song- From Lerxt fuzz Gibson (gotta be that ES-355 Gibson) to Geddy's well and aptly shrilling on this one, there is no debate this is a Rush classic. Expansive Lifeson guitar is so rich full at times it almost songs like a stringed mellotron. Fantastic.
210. Sweet Miracle- Sounds a lot like the rest of the album in meter. Not one of their better songs.
1311. Nocturne- Very strange but endearing smash up of several Rush styles, as you can hear the '70's themeing with a touch of jazz, and subset jamming that sound like songs within the songs. Unlike most anyting else they did. Ambivalent, but more than anything I think Peart intended this more of a lyrical mental allegorical theme of either madness or a wild mushroom trip.
512. Freeze Part IV of Fear- A musical direction, that though unique, is pretty nonsensical as far as lyrics. There are moments on this album that I feel that Peart thinks he is more of a Avante Garde' poet than a lyricist for one of the greatest rock bands. He had a tough patch in his life, I think we and the rest of the world should give him a pass.
813. Out of the Cradle- My favorite 2000's Rush song. This is a masterpiece of songwriting that manages tempo changes in ways I can't explain. The half measured bass ditty, while layered Lifeson power chordal strumming is truly spectacular feat of rock and roll. Man did these guys ever save the best for last-
1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-63ofNUnDE
