VAPOR TRAILS

Other than that, this is the culmination of the latest (and hopefully not last) Patented Rush Four Album Cycle. The first cycle went from heavy metal simplicity to neo-progressive metal. The second peaked in progressive comlpexity with "Hemispheres," and shifted gears to hard rock. The third cycle consistently increased the use of keyboards, and changing guitar tones/styles. With the fourth cycle, Rush gradually brought down the keyboard levels and increased their concentration on rhythm, jamming, and rocking.

"Vapor Trails" is the pinnacle of this cycle. But, there are several things that put this album in the "classic" category.

First, Geddy, Alex and Neil are completely unleashed, in terms of playing and creativity. This, for me, is Alex's album: listen to the incredible amount of of overdubs, layers, and tones he plays with on each song, many of them unique to this recording. But, then, at the same time, he completely eschews the soloing which are common to every Rush song pre-Vapor Trails. In the place of solos are new sections of music that are derivatives of the chorus or verse that come across more like jams, making an incredibly layered album sound more live in the studio. His riffing and mastery of unique chords is awe inspriring.

Geddy, too, cuts loose on the bass, playing more chords that ever before, and using an incredibly agressive tone. His voice, too, is cut loose as he sings in registers not heard since "Moving Pictures." He also layers his voice and uses it for the atmospherics and textures that were once done using keyboards.

Finally, Neil is more propulsive on this album, even more than on T4E or Counterparts, playing with more abandon, and more of a live feel not felt in a long time from him. His lyrics, though, go into new areas for him: they are extremely personal (especially Ghost Rider, which is autobiographical). His words add to the darkness and agression of the album (especially on Peacable Kingdom and Freeze).

Overall, this is an album from a band that is still, after all of these years, pushing themselves in new directions, and can still peel back ears with agression. You could listen to it a million times, and still hear something new in the mix because of incredible amount of layers of instruments and vocals. And, really, isn't that what makes a Rush album a classic?

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