VAPOR TRAILS

OK. My boyfriend and I got into a mock argument over this one last night. He said VAPOR TRAILS was better than MOVING PICTURES. I argued that the opposite was true, and that nothing they've done since could hold a candle to that classic record. He got pissed, and burned me all of the post-MP CD's he's got. I listened to VAPOR TRAILS on my way to work today...I concede that he's right. I also concede something else he brought up; that is; if one puts enough thought and time into what one writes, one can create a classic every time one puts out a disc. That holds true here, IMO. Production is muddy and distant, leaving one to have to sift through the layers of music to find what you're looking for. HOWEVER, if you do exactly that, you'll find much genius to be had. Take the track CEILING UNLIMITED: Peart plays a steady 5/4 beat, swtiching to 3/4 and then 4/4 every so often, while Lee and Lifeson trace a pattern around him. At many points during the disc's 67 minute running time, the three seem to be soloing together (the midsection of PEACEABLE KINGDOM, for starters). If you want other proof of their genius, check out some of the lyrics: For that I give you a sample of what sounds like a 9-11 ode; PEACEABLE KINGDOM: "Talk of a peaceable kingdom; talk of a time without fear; the ones we wish would listen; are never going to hear." Want more proof? Try this on for size. NOCTURNE will clue you in: "Set off on a night sea journey without memory or desire; Drifitng through lost latitudes with no compass and no chart. Flying through hallucinations; distant voices, signal fires; lighting up my unconscious and the secret places of the heart." Looks like the battle of heart and mind is still going strong, and it also seems (correct me if I'm wrong) that Neil still has one foot planted firmly in the prog of the 70's while having the other in the here and now. So, my boyfriend was right. Five stars for this one. Looks like I'm buying dinner tonight. What's next? Ah, yes...the other one I was bashing...SIGNALS!