VAPOR TRAILS

The most recent studio album from Canadian Art Rock Trio Rush is a bit of a hit and miss album. Long gone are the 20 minute sci-fi epics of old and the synthesizer drenched atmospheres of old, and in come heavy and grungy guitar riffs. It doesn't really help that the audio quality isn't really up to par with a 2002 release. It's too trebly and the guitar is too distorted. Despite that, there are some things to like about the album. The guitar riffs are creative and the rhythm section really puts up a powerhouse performance. Peart's lyrics for this album are not the same as they were on the last album. This time... it was personal. With the loss of his daughter and wife in the same year, Peart wrote his feelings out on paper (as well as rode around the Americas on his motorcycle).

From the powerful double bass intro to One Little Victory to the grungy Out of the Cradle, one can't help but feel that Rush is returning to their roots. Key tracks to this album are Secret Touch, Earthshine, and Ghost Rider. Secret Touch has a sexually connotative title, but despite that it is a powerhouse track that has some brilliant riffing from Lifeson and punchy drums from Peart. Earthshine is a grungy, muddy, heavy song that has a snappy chorus and a great Lifeson solo. Ghost Rider, perhaps the most personal song on the album, deals with the loss of Peart's daughter. The blocky Lee bass chords combine with the soothing Lifeson riff and gentle percussion from Peart.

Overall, if you are a fan of the first two Rush albums, then you'll find something to like. However, if you like Rush from 1977-1989, you're not going to find much to like from this. To me, it is an exceptional album that all Rush fans should already own. 3/5.