Vapor Trails

After Rush finished their Test for Echo Tour in July 1997, the group entered a five-year hiatus following the personal tragedies in drummer Neil Peart's life, losing his daughter Selena in August 1997 and wife Jackie in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus and rode around North America on a motorcycle, covering {{convert|88,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}. At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. In his book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Peart writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."Peart, Neil. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. Toronto: ECW Press. 2002. {{ISBN|1-55022-546-4}} However, in October 2000, after a period of recuperation, Lee announced during promotional interviews for his solo album My Favourite Headache that Rush were to get together in the following January with the intention to write and rehearse material for a new studio album.{{cite web|url=https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/tourbook-vaportrails.php|title=Behind the Fire: The Making of Vapor Trails|first=Neil|last=Peart|date=2002|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106221519/https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/tourbook-vaportrails.php|url-status=live}} Lee said that the album was not made for simply new music, but for "the psychological health and welfare of all the people who have gone through a very difficult time."

The trio gathered at Reaction Studios in Toronto on January 9, 2001, but did not play anything for three weeks. They discussed what they wanted to achieve and how the album should take shape. Lifeson said it was to get "a feel for each other's frame of mind. We needed to see if everybody was really up for it."{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020800guitarplayer.htm|title=Back in the Limelight: Alex Lifeson and Rush Reignite After a Five-Year Hiatus|first=Shawn|last=Hammond|date=August 2002|magazine=Guitar Player|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126231803/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020800guitarplayer.htm|url-status=live}} Lee and Lifeson said that they chose the studio based on its "artist friendly environment, that was very comfortable and accommodating". Among the topics discussed was the album's musical direction which became a source of difficulty as initially, there was little agreement on what it should be. Upon reaching a consensus, Lifeson said the three found common ground "on every aspect of the recording."

The band started working, adopting a three-week-on, one-week-off schedule with no one present apart from a technical assistant.{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010112jam.htm|title=Geddy Lee on the Rush Reunion|publisher=Jam! Showbiz|date=12 January 2001|first=Paul|last=Cantin|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210740/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010112jam.htm|url-status=live}} The group was hopeful there was still chemistry amongst them to make an album. They adopted their usual method of writing with Lee and Lifeson working together on musical ideas in the studio control room while Peart worked elsewhere on the lyrics, this time using a pen, paper and a computer. Peart wrote about their attitude towards the sessions: "We laid out no parameters, no goals, no limitations, only that we would take a relaxed, civilized approach." Peart looked through his scrapbook of notes and phrases he'd collected and explored ways of connecting them together to form a complete lyrical idea. Lee and Lifeson developed ideas largely through jam sessions typically kicked off by setting a pattern on a drum machine and playing along, recording every session using Logic Pro. This was to avoid making a demo tape of a collection of songs and re-record them at a later point. This way, early takes became the basis of the songs which kept the music fresh using as many original takes where possible.

After several weeks Peart presented the ideas he'd formed, but Lee and Lifeson had not put down any concrete pieces of music. Peart recalled they were not yet "serious" and still wanted to play and explore ideas as sifting through what they had put to tape was a tedious process and disrupted their creative flow. Peart had completed six sets of lyrics at this point but was not getting feedback from his bandmates as he had before, so he paused on lyrics and focused on his book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020900moderndrummer.htm|title=Neil Peart: The Fire Returns|first=William F.|last=Miller|magazine=Modern Drummer|date=September 2002|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025632/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020900moderndrummer.htm|url-status=live}} The three became dissatisfied with what they'd come up with and thought it was too forced, which led to their decision to take some weeks off. They did so, and returned feeling refreshed and more focused, and were able to work out complete songs, not just sections. The songs that emerged from these early jams were "Peaceable Kingdom," "Ceiling Unlimited" and "Nocturne," all of which still contain some parts put down from the original takes, in their final form. According to Lifeson, no tracks were completely re-recorded.

Vapor Trails is the first album since Caress of Steel (1975) not to feature keyboards. Lifeson had often worried about the presence of keyboards on previous Rush albums, but this time Lee had agreed not to use them. Lifeson therefore spent a greater amount of time devising guitar parts that were "richer on tonality and harmonic quality", adequate for the background tracks. He also avoided sound effects on his guitar, to achieve a more raw sound. At certain points in recording his drum parts, Peart had been influenced by Who drummer Keith Moon and played in his style of more lyrical drumming, rather than simply keeping the beat.

After taking a break in June 2001, Rush began to record their new songs in mid-August.{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010916vancouverprovince.htm|title=Rush Back in the Studio|first=Sorelle|last=Saldman|work=Vancouver Province|date=September 16, 2001|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210741/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010916vancouverprovince.htm|url-status=live}} Initially they decided to write 13 tracks for the album and pick the best 10 or 11 for the final selection, but when the time arrived they agreed to include all of them.{{cite interview|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020410klbj.htm|title=KLBJ Interviews Alex Lifeson [Transcript]|first=Peggy|last=Simmons|date=April 10, 2002|work=KLBJ Austin, Texas|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010131/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020410klbj.htm|url-status=live}} They were joined by English producer Paul Northfield, who had worked on several previous Rush albums and assisted in the arrangement to some tracks when the group felt stuck. The band are credited as co-producers. In December 2001, the group left the Reaction Studios and started mixing the album at Metalworks Studios with David Leonard.{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020500cm.htm|title=Hiatus Evaporates into Vapor Trails|first=Rich|last=Priske|magazine=Canadian Musician|date=May 2002|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210747/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020500cm.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020109billboard.htm|title=Rush Wraps New Album|first=Jonathan|last=Cohen|date=January 9, 2002|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010111/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020109billboard.htm|url-status=live}} The mixing was complete in March 2002, after which it was sent to Masterdisk in New York City for mastering by Howie Weinberg. Rush chose him having liked the sound of the other albums that Weinberg had worked on.

{{Album ratings

| MC = 75/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/vapor-trails/rush/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Vapor Trails |website=Metacritic |access-date=2012-03-23 |archive-date=2013-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126165424/http://www.metacritic.com/music/vapor-trails/rush/critic-reviews |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vapor-trails-mw0000219352 |title=Vapor Trails – Rush |website=AllMusic |date=2002-05-14 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824094544/http://www.allmusic.com/album/vapor-trails-mw0000219352 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = The Austin Chronicle

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Raoul |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-08-16/100243/ |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |date=2002-08-16 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2014-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203224819/http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-08-16/100243/ |url-status=live }}

| rev3 = Blender

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = E! Online

| rev4score = B+

| rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev5score = B+{{cite magazine |last=Farber |first=Jim |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,237291,00.html |title=Vapor Trails Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2002-05-17 |access-date=2013-02-23 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221728/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,237291,00.html |url-status=dead }}

| rev6 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}

| rev7 = The Essential Rock Discography

| rev7Score = 5/10{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |title=The Essential Rock Discography |edition=8th |year=2006 |publisher=Open City Books |isbn=1-84195-860-3 |page=938–939 |chapter=Rush }}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = 9/10{{cite magazine |last=Moffat |first=Kael |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/rush-vapor/ |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |magazine=PopMatters |date=2002-08-08 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420191423/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/rush-vapor/ |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = Q

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Richard Abowitz |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vapor-trails-20020424 |title=Vapor Trails |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2002-04-24 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626232815/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vapor-trails-20020424 |url-status=live }}

| rev11 = The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music

| rev11Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite book|author=Larkin, Colin|year=2003|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music|ISBN=1852279699|publisher=Virgin Publishing|section=Rush|pp=414–415}}

| noprose = yes

}}

The production of Vapor Trails has been criticized by the band themselves, critics and fans alike because of the album's "loud" sound quality. It has overly compressed (clipped) audio levels during mastering, which generates additional digital distortion during the CD production. The trend, known as the loudness war, was very common on modern CD production at the time.{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122114058&sc=nl&cc=mn-20100102 |publisher=NPR |title=The Loudness Wars: Why Music Sounds Worse |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=2010-09-02 |archive-date=2010-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612145712/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122114058&sc=nl&cc=mn-20100102 |url-status=live }}Anderson, Tim (18 January 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jan/18/pop.music "How CDs are remastering the art of noise."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041929/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jan/18/pop.music |date=2016-03-04 }} Retrieved on 12 March 2012. Alex Lifeson stated:

It was a contest, and it was mastered too high, and it crackles, and it spits, and it just crushes everything. All the dynamics get lost, especially anything that had an acoustic guitar in it.

Billboard gave a favorable review.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=1486776 |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |magazine=Billboard |date=May 18, 2002 |access-date=2013-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020608050100/http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=1486776 |archive-date=2002-06-08 |url-status=dead}}

Vapor Trails Remixed is a remixed version of Vapor Trails mixed by David Bottrill. The album was released by Atlantic Records and Rhino Entertainment on September 30, 2013, and entered at No. 35 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band had been unhappy with the original album's overall sonic production. Influenced by the positive reaction to the remixes of "One Little Victory" and "Earthshine" featured on Retrospective III by Richard Chycki, Rush and Bottrill remixed the entire album. In an interview with Modern Guitars, Lifeson remarked that, since the remixes were so good, there had been talk of doing an entire remix of the album.{{cite web |url=http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1729 |title=Rush Blog – Rush is a Band Blog: Alex Lifeson Modern Guitars interview now online |publisher=Rushisaband.com |access-date=2010-03-17 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110719224752/http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1729 |url-status=live }} Vapor Trails Remixed peaked in the US Billboard Charts at number 35.{{Cite web|date=October 10, 2013|title=Rush's Vapor Trails Re-Enters the Billboard Charts at #35|url=http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2013/10/rushs-vapor-trails-re-enters-billboard.html|access-date=November 11, 2021|website=Cygnus-X1.Net}}

Vapor Trails Remixed is also included in the box-set of Atlantic Studio Albums called The Studio Albums 1989–2007, in lieu of the original version.{{cite web |url=http://www.rush.com/vapor-trails-remixed/ |title=Vapor Trails Remixed |website=Rush.com |date=2013-08-01 |access-date=2015-12-01 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208065118/http://www.rush.com/vapor-trails-remixed/ |url-status=live }}

{{Track listing

| all_lyrics = Neil Peart

| all_music = Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee

| title1 = One Little Victory

| length1 = 5:08

| title2 = Ceiling Unlimited

| length2 = 5:28

| title3 = Ghost Rider

| length3 = 5:41

| title4 = Peaceable Kingdom

| length4 = 5:23

| title5 = The Stars Look Down

| length5 = 4:28

| title6 = How It Is

| length6 = 4:05

| title7 = Vapor Trail

| length7 = 4:57

| title8 = Secret Touch

| length8 = 6:34

| title9 = Earthshine

| length9 = 5:38

| title10 = Sweet Miracle

| length10 = 3:40

| title11 = Nocturne

| length11 = 4:49

| title12 = Freeze

| note12 = Part IV of "Fear"

| length12 = 6:21

| title13 = Out of the Cradle

| length13 = 5:03

}}

Credits taken from the 2002 liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Vapor-Trails/release/1808687|title=Vapor Trails|others=Rush|id=6682510962|year=2002|publisher=Anthem Records|access-date=2018-11-07|archive-date=2018-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025707/https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Vapor-Trails/release/1808687|url-status=live}}

Rush

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, vocals
• Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, mandola
• Neil Peart – drums, cymbals

Production

• Rush – production, recording
• Paul Northfield – production, recording
• Chris Stringer – recording assistance
• David Leonard – mixing
• David Bottrill – mixing: 2013 version
• Joel Kazmi – mixing assistance
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Roger Lian – additional mastering and sequencing
• Andy VanDette – mastering: 2013 version
• Lorne "Gump" Wheaton – equipment care
• Hugh Syme – art direction, paintings, and portraits

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Rush|title=Vapor Trails |award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Metacritic album}}
• {{Discogs master|type=album|7783|name=Vapor Trails}}

{{Rush}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Rush (band) albums

Category:2002 albums

Category:Anthem Records albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Paul Northfield