VAPOR TRAILS

Rush

Heavy Prog

3.43 | 954 ratings

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terp

Ultimately ... Rush can do whatever they want. The fact that they got back together at all after their long hiatus was good news in itself.

I admit to being kind of late to jump on the Rush bandwagon. I have always admired them; even saw them live back in the early 80's. I always LOVED Limelight and subdivisions and alternately cringed when I heard Rush flirt with the Police-inspired psuedo-reggae that was so tempting to bands back in the day. Canadian reggae we can do without.

Recently, I took a new job and began working with a Canadian guy and a young man from the states who is waaay into Rush. So I have been immersed in it and have kind of become a fan without trying to. Then I read "Ghost Rider" and saw "Rush in Rio" and now I am a full-blown convert hoping they keep recording and touring.

But .... to the matter at hand .... Vapor Trails. I am trying so hard to dig it. You know ... maybe it is good to bear in mind that Rush, like any other great band with a lengthy back catalog, has recorded it's share of weak material over the years. Witch hunt comes to mind for some reason. These guys aren't kids any more either. I would say they kick their fair share of ass for a bunch of guys with a century-and-a-half under their belts. (Or ... do they say Brave Belts in Canada - obscure reference)

What bugged me about Vapor Trails was Lifeson's insistance on omitting lead guitar and keyboards from the record. Again, he and the rest of the band have earned the right to do whatever they want and we can choose to take the ride or not. But ... it seems like such an obvious attempt to "fit in" with the rest of the horrible Nicklebackian nu-metal tripe so prevalent on the airwaves. So what if Lead Guitar isn't in vogue. When was Rush ever in Vogue? It robs the songs of personality and Lifeson's great playing. And the Keyboards? I suppose they felt they had drifted away from their original vision somewhere along the way. The problem wasn't the synthesizers as much as the need to be careful and not use cheezy pre-sets.

In summation ... Rush Rules. i still like Vapor Trails. It is after all ... Geddy, Neil and Alex.

| 4/5 | 2005-7-11

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