Rush
Vapor Trails

Millennium mid-turn already underway for the fifty-year-old Rush.

We are in the full thirtieth anniversary of their career, eight long years since 'Test for Echo' went somewhat unnoticed but still appreciated. The 70s don't come back for anyone, let's enjoy them with their rich repertoire of prog-hard-rock masterpieces. They still provide great emotions; it's not always possible to create "Caress of Steel" or a "Moving Pictures". Always dignified despite some stumbles here and there, it's always difficult to attack them with critically negative judgments. In some way, they always "land" on their feet.

Their discography is their honorary degree, which has promoted them with flying colors to the pantheon of secular rock. So in 2004, a bit like a bolt from the blue, comes this "Vapor Trails". The Rush emerge from various issues, primarily Neil Peart of a strictly personal nature. He will later take on a new role as a successful author, narrating a solo mega motorcycle tour that will take him across the States and beyond. He unplugged for a few years. Go Neil!!

Excitement for the hardened fans, holding the still-cellophane-sealed CD they try to imagine the content. This fiery ball on the cover gives the impression of accumulated energy now suddenly released, "now we'll break you"!! Indeed, as soon as you hit play, Peart's violent double bass starts with his typical drum line that fills the sound space. Unmistakable imprint. "One little victory" is quite an energetic piece with early hard ways. Analog sound from a smoky basement, angry guitar from Lifeson with tube amplifiers, Geddy Lee still has the voice of 30 years ago and gives the usual semi-Zeppelian connotation. Another note, there's no trace of keyboards in any track. Everything is arranged a bit like early U2, if I'm allowed this comparison. Vintage sounds of hard-rock radicalism.
Lee's multi-instrumentalism is gone, the prog-fantasy vein once given by synthesizers vanishes, and this hasn't benefited the work. In fact, it's lacking a precious piece in their mosaic, now much less colorful. It's almost all angry, what is noticeable is the sound, dulled by this "we're playing in a garage" effect.

"Ceiling Unlimited" passes like the first, "Ghost Rider" is a good gritty ballad that doesn't make ears perk up. "Peaceable Kingdom", "The stars look down", same old story. "How it is" has an appreciably melodic start and travels on catchy tracks. Pleasant. "Vapor Trails" is not particularly noteworthy. "Secret Touch" finally presents some breaks that restore some interest in listening, reminiscent of "Time and Motion" but less refined. "Earthshine" is another hard piece that slowly leads to fatigue, if you've made it this far without stopping. Nothing new. "Sweet Miracle" seems a bit like Rainbow rearranged by them with decent results. "Nocturne" doesn't add anything new to what has already been said. Here's "Freeze" trying to provide some ideas and actually partly succeeding. I think it's the best track. Don't expect a "The Camera Eye" but here the gentlemen are present at 100%. Even the closing "Out of the Cradle" restores some tone to the setlist with good old Rush rock with well-proven alchemy. In short, that healthy complexity between Yes and Led Zeppelin.

In the end, you are left slightly disappointed, there's a lot of music played but it all seems a bit tired. This pseudo-backward search impoverishes their palette of arrangements, in which they were innovators precisely with Lee skillfully inserting magical moments with the keyboards. Monotonous analog sound, not refined, a lot of noise and paradoxically little charm. Those who complained about 'Test for Echo' may think again. It seems like a failed attempt at a reprise of the first "Rush" from thirty years ago. Honors to the Toronto trio nonetheless, always a work at good levels but decidedly not very successful. "Vapor Trails" can be loved and hated in equal measure. A bit of a watershed in their style. But more was expected. It's the thirtieth-anniversary album. Do you show up with nothing?

Long live the Rush!!