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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
After an agonising hiatus of almost six years, Rush fans could have been forgiven for thinking they'd heard the last of the Canadian power trio. But with Vapor Trails Messrs. Lee, Lifeson and Peart return refreshed and revitalised. Remarkably for a band whose CV stretches back some 30 years, this album displays all the energy and enthusiasm of their younger days combined now with a supremely confident and mature approach to both musicianship and songwriting. Impeccable production values, in which the multi-layered instrumental tracks are presented with bold clarity, are balanced by thoughtful, occasionally introspective and remarkably personal lyrics from Peart. And it rocks, too, really rocks hard. No other three-piece has ever been as powerful as Rush when they let rip, and in places they really open up here.
Clocking in at almost 68 minutes, the album shows the benefits of its lengthy gestation with 13 standout tracks and nothing that could be construed as filler. From the barnstorming opener "One Little Victory", through the poignant "Ghost Rider" to the closing "Secret Touch" (Walt Whitman's "Endlessly Rocking" is the appropriate final refrain), Vapor Trails is the confident product of a group who have always worked hard to deserve their "progressive" tag.--Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm sorry, I don't buy all this talk of inadequate equipment (I have a small recording studio with good quality Mackie monitors, and it doesn't help much). This album has had the life mastered out of it by some person whose dictionary is missing the word "dynamics".
I think the music may be very good. It's a pity I can't hear it for all the LOUDNESS. Mastering albums like this is like writing in capitals on the Internet. It makes people turn off and stop listening - that is the true reason for all the criticism of the sound on this album. If you don't believe me, fire up a sound editing program and load some tracks from Fly By Night, or even Grace Under Pressure, and then compare the waveform to that of this album. Vapor Trails looks like a series of test tones! It's almost all square: this is not good for the brain! The auditory system needs contrast in order to appreciate music. What if the Mona Lisa had been painted in just one colour? Even Andy Warhol used at least two most of the time...
I have a hunch that Alex, Neil and Geddy are not responsible for what was done. At least, I hope not. I've been a big fan for years, and I'm off to the Manchester gig in October, which I'm sure will be a blast - but I'm afraid I'll never enjoy listening to this album, and ironically, it's probably nothing to do with the quality of their musical efforts.
Update 20 Dec 2007: Just wanted to say that I bought the vinyl version off eBay, and the sound is a lot better than the CD, although it is still clipped and distorted in places. However, it IS good enough for me to listen to it properly, and I was moved to tears, for two reasons. Firstly, the songs are sublimely written and intensely moving, and secondly, I cried for what was done to them. I am so glad that this album is to be remastered, and I will be first in line for the new CD when it's released. I only hope they remix it too, because I feel that mastering was not the only source of audio problems. Summary: this is a WONDERFUL album, but it hasn't been released in a good quality form... yet! We wait with bated breath.
I think the music may be very good. It's a pity I can't hear it for all the LOUDNESS. Mastering albums like this is like writing in capitals on the Internet. It makes people turn off and stop listening - that is the true reason for all the criticism of the sound on this album. If you don't believe me, fire up a sound editing program and load some tracks from Fly By Night, or even Grace Under Pressure, and then compare the waveform to that of this album. Vapor Trails looks like a series of test tones! It's almost all square: this is not good for the brain! The auditory system needs contrast in order to appreciate music. What if the Mona Lisa had been painted in just one colour? Even Andy Warhol used at least two most of the time...
I have a hunch that Alex, Neil and Geddy are not responsible for what was done. At least, I hope not. I've been a big fan for years, and I'm off to the Manchester gig in October, which I'm sure will be a blast - but I'm afraid I'll never enjoy listening to this album, and ironically, it's probably nothing to do with the quality of their musical efforts.
Update 20 Dec 2007: Just wanted to say that I bought the vinyl version off eBay, and the sound is a lot better than the CD, although it is still clipped and distorted in places. However, it IS good enough for me to listen to it properly, and I was moved to tears, for two reasons. Firstly, the songs are sublimely written and intensely moving, and secondly, I cried for what was done to them. I am so glad that this album is to be remastered, and I will be first in line for the new CD when it's released. I only hope they remix it too, because I feel that mastering was not the only source of audio problems. Summary: this is a WONDERFUL album, but it hasn't been released in a good quality form... yet! We wait with bated breath.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After a gap of almost six years Rush return with their most powerful, hard-rocking and well-written album since ... well, since the 1970s. It's simply incredibly exciting to hear this fantastic band amazingly at the very peak of their form in 2002. When other "prog" bands of the 70s endlessly rehash their old material, Rush really are a truly "progressive" band--which means they always look forward never backwards and strive to explore new musical territory. On "Vapor Trails" Neil Peart gives us some of the finest lyrics of his career--including songs about personal loss and the agony of finding hope for the future ("Ghost Rider"). Geddy Lee's mature vocals, and the supreme musicianship of all three, do full justice to Peart's words. A wonderful treat for Rush fans, but also a great rock album that deserves as wide exposure as possible.
63 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
RUSH-Vapor Trails
After a six year hiatus the legendary Canadian power trio return, delivering an album that not only displays all the usual classic Rush traits, but rocks like no other album of their's ever has.
Opening with the new single 'One Little Victory' it is obvious that Rush mean business.
Unstoppable riffing and rumbling drums are the order of the day and kicks starts the cd in fiery style.
'Ceiling Unlimited' follows in a similar vein, but has more of a melodic tone.
The cd's outstanding cut is 'Ghost Rider', a subtle and atmospheric piece, where Drummer/Lyricist Neil Peart goes a long way explaining his dreadful experiences over the last years and how he saw fit to deal with them.'Pack up all those phantoms...nothing can stop you now'.
'Peacable Kingdom' is a post-Sept 11 vision, while 'Stars Look Down' has a wonderful lilting chorus swathed in 12-string guitars.
I realise I'm running out of space, so I'll be brief.
Other tracks worthy of mention are 'Vapor Trail', 'Secret Touch', 'Earthshine' and the absolutely outstanding 'Freeze', all juddering bass riffing and scratchy, edgy guitar work by the ever superb Alex Lifeson.
Geddy Lee's vocals continue to mature and the production, by the band themselves ably assisted by engineer Paul Northfield is uniformly excellent.
Its wonderful to see Rush back, and in such magnificent form.
After a six year hiatus the legendary Canadian power trio return, delivering an album that not only displays all the usual classic Rush traits, but rocks like no other album of their's ever has.
Opening with the new single 'One Little Victory' it is obvious that Rush mean business.
Unstoppable riffing and rumbling drums are the order of the day and kicks starts the cd in fiery style.
'Ceiling Unlimited' follows in a similar vein, but has more of a melodic tone.
The cd's outstanding cut is 'Ghost Rider', a subtle and atmospheric piece, where Drummer/Lyricist Neil Peart goes a long way explaining his dreadful experiences over the last years and how he saw fit to deal with them.'Pack up all those phantoms...nothing can stop you now'.
'Peacable Kingdom' is a post-Sept 11 vision, while 'Stars Look Down' has a wonderful lilting chorus swathed in 12-string guitars.
I realise I'm running out of space, so I'll be brief.
Other tracks worthy of mention are 'Vapor Trail', 'Secret Touch', 'Earthshine' and the absolutely outstanding 'Freeze', all juddering bass riffing and scratchy, edgy guitar work by the ever superb Alex Lifeson.
Geddy Lee's vocals continue to mature and the production, by the band themselves ably assisted by engineer Paul Northfield is uniformly excellent.
Its wonderful to see Rush back, and in such magnificent form.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Secret touches
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. Read more
Published 16 days ago by ratmonkey
Interesting return
this album is dark heavy and loud and really quite different to other rush albums it is really quite heavy for a rush album
there are plenty of Riffs and some quite awesome... Read more
there are plenty of Riffs and some quite awesome... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cubby Kovu
The Key...
It's ten years now since this came out.
Like others, I couldn't get my head round VT to start with. There's no handle. Read more
Like others, I couldn't get my head round VT to start with. There's no handle. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lloyd Ezra Fortune
SORRY RUSH FANS
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... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Stephen
Phase 5 : The return of Neil
Wow has any rush album ever been recorded under such pressure,the tragedy that befell Neil Peart ,leading to the 6 year hiatus,you wouldnt wish upon your worst enemy. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr Blackwell
Tick VG. I got there in the end
It took me ages to get into Vapor Trails ... goodness knows why 'cos I love it now. Maybe I was getting into the usual habit of thinking the albums are a little samey ..... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Lucioperca
A Modern Classic From Rush
After the disappointingly lacklustre "Test for Echo" I thought I would wait until I'd heard "Vapour Trails" before buying. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Hugo
Triumphant return
They had been away for six years, gone through personal hell and amazingly come out the other side bigger and hungrier than ever. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Big Twink
Most dissapointing Rush album
After a long wait for this album ,( due to unforseen and sad circumstances ),as a Rush fan since the mid 70's I thought this album was very dissapointing. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Cossy
Low point of an astounding career.
I am astounded by these rave reviews. I've been a huge Rush fan since 77 and A Farewell to Kings and for me Vapor Trails is their worst album by a mile. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Music Fan
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