VAPOR TRAILS

Movings Pictures was the hook, Hold Your Fire was the best of the synth period, 2112 was the best of the Metal Period. If you liked these, you'll hate Vapor Trails. Gone is Geddy's sexy base - replaced with a muddy, stuffy and boring sound. The guitar riffs have grunge-sounding chords that have a antagonistic, hopeless feel. The drumming is good, but missing are some of Peart's ear-opening fancy gadgets. After Rush's long absence, I couldn't believe how badly this sounded. If you want to feel good, this is not the album. Power Windows was gloomy but at least it was well-written, full of cold-war truths and with coherent melodies. I wanted another album like Moving Pictures for a sunny day, Saturday road trip. Instead, I got a mental picuture of a dirty, grimy, drizzly day in Cleveland's or St. Louis's worst neighborhood. Take a trip to New Zealand Rush. It will improve your music.