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Joined: December 10 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 1301
Posted: July 08 2013 at 20:28
Ambient Hurricanes wrote:
In my opinion, Vapor Trails is the best album Rush ever recorded. The vocal melodies have never been better, for one; and Geddy sounds like he's 25 again on the album. I also think that the way they structured and arranged the compositions was the best they've ever done; instead of regular repetitive structures, the band arranged the songs so that there was more variety in the repeating parts; song structure is fairly straightforward but they do a better job of not having all the verses/choruses sound alike. Emotionally, the album connects on a very visceral level, and the gritty, distorted production actually adds to the emotional quality of the album, in my opinion. The musicianship is incredible (Geddy's bass...wow) and they try things that they had never attempted before; I love the parts where Alex grinds on those distorted, dissonant harmonics. Freeze is a highlight - brutal and melodic at the same time; Alex somehow manages to play one chord the whole time and make it sound good. My favorite track is Peaceable Kingdom, the heaviest song Rush ever recorded; the throbbing guitar and bass just make me want to headbang and air drum...
And whatever you think of Vapor Trails, you can't argue with the fact that it is a totally unique album, both in Rush's catalog and in music in general. Nothing like it has ever been recorded before or since. In fact, Rush might be the only band ever capable of recording an album along those lines. At once sophisticated and raw, grungy and proggy, layered and garage-sounding, it's a paradox and a masterpiece.
Very good points! You might be changing my mind. I totally agree about the emotionality of the album. Not to mention the badass cover!
As to the clipping on Vapor Trails, I read somewhere (I think an interview with Alex, but I'm not sure) that some clipping went on during the recording. So they can clean it up a bit, but not entirely.
Personally I'd still love to have a remastered version if they could clean it up somewhat.
Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17496
Posted: July 09 2013 at 10:51
Ambient Hurricanes wrote:
In my opinion, Vapor Trails is the best album Rush ever recorded. The vocal melodies have never been better, for one; and Geddy sounds like he's 25 again on the album. I also think that the way they structured and arranged the compositions was the best they've ever done; instead of regular repetitive structures, the band arranged the songs so that there was more variety in the repeating parts; song structure is fairly straightforward but they do a better job of not having all the verses/choruses sound alike. Emotionally, the album connects on a very visceral level, and the gritty, distorted production actually adds to the emotional quality of the album, in my opinion. The musicianship is incredible (Geddy's bass...wow) and they try things that they had never attempted before; I love the parts where Alex grinds on those distorted, dissonant harmonics. Freeze is a highlight - brutal and melodic at the same time; Alex somehow manages to play one chord the whole time and make it sound good. My favorite track is Peaceable Kingdom, the heaviest song Rush ever recorded; the throbbing guitar and bass just make me want to headbang and air drum...
And whatever you think of Vapor Trails, you can't argue with the fact that it is a totally unique album, both in Rush's catalog and in music in general. Nothing like it has ever been recorded before or since. In fact, Rush might be the only band ever capable of recording an album along those lines. At once sophisticated and raw, grungy and proggy, layered and garage-sounding, it's a paradox and a masterpiece.
Freeze, Earthshine and Secret Touch for me are some of the best Rush songs. Secret Touch is a roller-coaster of a song...it pounds and pounds!! The intro guitar on Earthshine just tells you what to expect, it does not disappoint.
I'll never forgot the first time I heard the album...thinking how much Neil must have lost some ability, and then the beginning of One Little Victory proves me wrong!
Still playing the classics without flaw is indeed impressive, but i wouldn't dismiss other aged drummers like..
Dennis Chambers
Carter Beauford
Vinnie Colaiuta
Christian Vander
Danny Carey
who could be said to be surpassing his creativity currently.
Neil Peart is the most influential drummer to me, and got me to start playing drums in the first place - and for that i'm forever grateful, but i'm not blind to that fact he has been disappointing creatively. For about 15 he produced albums that were the pinnacle of rock drumming which can't be topped, it's just sad to see my idol loose steam ;[
Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17496
Posted: July 09 2013 at 16:52
^ Nah....actually NOPE! I really enjoy Carter and Dennis playing.....but "current" creativity from Vander, Carey and Colaiuta. Couple yrs ago Vander put out that Coltrane memory album, maybe I am missing other work he has put out recently.
Don't see it......now Gavin Harrison and Marco Minneman, albeit younger do have the creativity flowing more than the others.
Joined: December 25 2011
Location: internet
Status: Offline
Points: 2549
Posted: July 10 2013 at 09:16
Todd wrote:
Any thoughts on why Alex doesn't solo on Vapor Trails?
I think it was just a different approach to songwriting that they wanted to try. To me, it works; he always played a lot of solos (you could argue too many) on the other albums, and it's kind of refreshing to hear the customary solos replaced with instrumental breaks more focused on the entire band (Secret Touch and Ceiling Unlimited, especially). He does have a solo-thingy on Earthshine, although it's less of a solo than a guitar quartet with three more of himself .
Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17496
Posted: July 10 2013 at 14:59
Ambient Hurricanes wrote:
Todd wrote:
Any thoughts on why Alex doesn't solo on Vapor Trails?
I think it was just a different approach to songwriting that they wanted to try. To me, it works; he always played a lot of solos (you could argue too many) on the other albums, and it's kind of refreshing to hear the customary solos replaced with instrumental breaks more focused on the entire band (Secret Touch and Ceiling Unlimited, especially). He does have a solo-thingy on Earthshine, although it's less of a solo than a guitar quartet with three more of himself .
three more of himself?? I don't think even he could put up with that!!
Joined: June 10 2011
Location: Colorado, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 4671
Posted: July 10 2013 at 21:46
Ambient Hurricanes wrote:
Todd wrote:
Any thoughts on why Alex doesn't solo on Vapor Trails?
I think it was just a different approach to songwriting that they wanted to try. To me, it works; he always played a lot of solos (you could argue too many) on the other albums, and it's kind of refreshing to hear the customary solos replaced with instrumental breaks more focused on the entire band (Secret Touch and Ceiling Unlimited, especially). He does have a solo-thingy on Earthshine, although it's less of a solo than a guitar quartet with three more of himself .
Anybody buy the fairly new, 2112 Blu-ray and comic book edition of the album yet? I just ordered mine today along with an upgrade of moving pictures in audiophile 5.1.
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
Status: Offline
Points: 15916
Posted: July 12 2013 at 22:39
I just got an issue of the 'Prog' magazine with an interesting few pages on Rush. I wasn't aware they were fond of weed .............they just seemed to play too well for that to have crossed my mind ........
Joined: January 15 2013
Location: Oregon, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 2673
Posted: July 13 2013 at 07:50
Tom Ozric wrote:
I just got an issue of the 'Prog' magazine with an interesting few pages on Rush. I wasn't aware they were fond of weed .............they just seemed to play too well for that to have crossed my mind ........
I don't know about their current views, but I do remember reading about such things happening back in the late seventies.
I just got an issue of the 'Prog' magazine with an interesting few pages on Rush. I wasn't aware they were fond of weed .............they just seemed to play too well for that to have crossed my mind ........
Yeah. It enchanted and enhanced Neil's lyric content.
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Ambient Hurricanes wrote:
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.............they just seemed to play too well for that to have crossed my mind 
........
