Experience Rush’s Latter Day Glory with “The Albums 2002-2012”

The final albums of Canada’s power trio get much-deserved reissues

Never deemed ‘cool’ in the eyes of the mainstream and scowled by record critics, Canadian trio Rush were the textbook definition of ‘the people’s band.’ Guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer Neil Peart, and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee were anomalies amongst contemporaries who praised rock’s lewd and lascivious side. Their body of work explored science fiction, fantasy-driven, and philosophical lyrical realms while adapting to whatever musical climate they were growing within, sticking to a foundation of progressive rock and exploring new wave and electronic music. Rush’s embodiment of pure artistic liberation is what earned them some of music's most loyal fans, with worldwide record sales of 40 million and existing as a hot touring commodity. 

2025 is a very poignant year for Rush. The Rush 50 box set, released earlier this year, is the group’s first career-encompassing anthology, with rare and polished studio/live tracks dating back to their career’s infancy. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the R40 tour, which culminated with the group’s final show before Neil Peart’s untimely death in 2020. Whether it's a means of coinciding with the notable career milestone, Rush’s final recorded output is back in the limelight with the box set The Albums 2002-2012. 

The Packaging

Hugh Syme, art designer for Rush since the 1970s, provides an exclusive new piece of illustration for this set, which has a spot-varnish finish against the matte hardbound slipcase. It contains obvious references lifted from the respective albums included: a fireball (Vapor Trails Remixed), a nuclear disarmament symbol (a ‘peace sign’ in hippie lingo, Feedback), snakes and arrows (Snakes and Arrows, obviously), and a flying caravan (Clockwork Angels). Each album replicates the packaging from whichever original pressing or reissue it originates from, as noted in the Music & Sound breakdown. There could’ve been some slight improvements to make this product a one-of-a-kind piece for hardcore collectors, such as reformatting the lyric insert of Vapor Trails Remixed into a gatefold instead of it being a single-pocket jacket or turning the printed inners of Clockwork Angels into inserts. Minor gripes aside, most of the LPs come in polylined inners, and GZ Vinyl did a decent job pressing this up despite the occasional pop and crackle during playback. 

The Music & Sound

Vapor Trails Remixed

Produced by Rush and Paul Northfield

Engineered by Paul Northfield, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Chris Stringer

Mixed by David Bottrill and Mike Monson

Mastered by Andy VanDette (Masterdisk)

Lacquers cut by Andy VanDette (Masterdisk)

Drummer Neil Peart considered himself retired, having faced the loss of his daughter and wife ten months apart. After giving himself space to grieve on a 55,000-mile motorcycle trip, the idea of revving the machine again with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee felt more like a yearning possibility. Vapor Trails, Rush’s first studio release since 1996’s Test For Echo, was a triumphant return, as evident on the double-kick driven opener “One Little Victory.” The album may have been a highly anticipated reunion, but it was a fragile undertaking. “Ghost Rider” and “Secret Touch” touched on the sensitive emotions Neil faced during his period of mourning, but gave way to some of the euphoria on “Earthshine.” It was also the first album since 1975’s Caress of Steel that Rush honed in on a pure guitar-bass-drums power trio formula, void of the keyboards that were occasionally problematic on previous albums; a true return to form. 

The original mix of Vapor Trails fell victim to the phenomenon known as the loudness war. Its overuse of compression made the album unlistenable with a brash wall of excessive clipping. “One Little Victory” and “Earthshine” were specially remixed for the Retrospective 3 compilation in 2009, much to the approval of fans wanting the entire album to receive that exact revisionist treatment. Vapor Trails Remixed was finally released in 2013 and has since become the de facto version of the album, making the atrocious original mix obsolete. 

The pressing included in this box set recycles the metal parts of the superior original 2013 version. 

Vapor Trails Remixed resides on a weird plane within the grooves. There’s a great emphasis on the bottom end, particularly the punctual tonality of Geddy’s bass lines, to the point where Alex’s guitars come across as more textural than providing a standardized crunch. Subtle moments like “The Stars Look Down” and “How It Is” allow Lifeson’s acoustics to twinkle and come across more efficiently. To the remix’s benefit, any element of roominess sucked out of the original compressed mix is reinstated, which provides an infectiously live feel to the album. Neil’s drums also have a realistic quality as his kit pans around the speakers. 

Feedback

Produced by David Leonard and Rush

Engineered by David Leonard

Mixed by David Leonard

Mastered by Stephen Marcussen (Marcussen Mastering)

Lacquers cut by Sean Magee (Abbey Road)

Released as an EP to coincide with the group’s 30th anniversary in 2004, Feedback got Rush back in touch with their roots. Their music may have borrowed blueprints from progressive rock godfathers Yes and Pink Floyd, but the psychedelic sounds of the ‘60s were the soundtrack of their adolescence. Feedback’s tracklist reflects the repertoire of covers Alex, Neil, and Geddy slavishly learned to play in their pre-Rush groups, material by the likes of the Yardbirds (“Heart Full of Soul” and “Shapes of Things), The Who (“The Seeker”), and Buffalo Springfield (“For What It's Worth” and “Mr. Soul”). Rush’s execution of this material is faithful to the originals, yet they don’t refrain from flexing their exquisite musicianship on tracks like the blues standard “Crossroads.” Except for their debut single, a boogieing version of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” Rush never covered other artists’ material on their records, making Feedback a fun excursion out of their entire discography. 

The pressing included in this box set recycles the metal parts of the 2016 reissue. 

Alex Lifeson is the MVP of this pressing. The feedback creeping out of his amplifiers during the introduction to “Summertime Blues” is the perfect stage setter. His beefy tone is portrayed more prominently compared to the lackluster execution on Vapor Trails Remixed. Lifeson’s guitar work varies between the ethereal flourishes on “For What It’s Worth” and the layered approaches on “Shape of Things.” One particular highlight is “Heart Full of Soul,” where the acoustics sound rich, Geddy Lee’s vocals sound lifelike, and the stinging guitar melody before the verses sticks out of the mix. “Seven and Seven Is” is a great piece of galloping drama, featuring smooth bass lines and snare drum accents. Although the EP doesn’t sustain the crispness in the higher frequencies, Feedback remains a warm experience. 

Snakes and Arrows

Produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Rush

Engineered by Richard Chycki, Matt Snedecor, Andrew Alekel, and Nick Raskulinecz

Mixed by Nick Raskulinecz and Scott Moore

Mastered by Brian “Big Bass” Gardner (Bernie Grundman Mastering)

Lacquers cut by Sean Magee (Abbey Road)

Working within a lively and simple environment on the Feedback covers EP had set the scene for Rush’s next all-original studio effort, 2007’s Snakes and Arrows. A commendable facet of Rush’s artistry was that while true to their signature style, they grew with their audience and never looked back to revisit old approaches. Snakes and Arrows managed to be a firm product of modern-day Rush, but with a good measure of callbacks to entice old-school fans. Producer Nick Raskulinecz welcomed modern arrangement approaches but bridged the gap with the rhythmic complexity of older works and relative instrumentation such as Taurus pedals, Mellotrons, and exotic string instruments. “Far Cry” and “Workin’ Them Angels” are notable highlights that exemplify the group’s classic guitar-driven sound with some modern flair. The album is notable for having three instrumentals, the most on any Rush album. After timidly approaching their craft on Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows comes across as Rush’s most confident record in over a decade. 

The pressing included in this box set recycles the metal parts of the 2016 reissue. 

Snakes and Arrows is the sonic gem of this box set, having an incredibly three-dimensional soundstage. Whether it's the bold electric guitars on “Far Cry” or the natural acoustics on “The Larger Bowl,” each mix element is clearly defined and direct, never getting lost in the arrangements. One of Alex Lifeson’s common motifs on this album is meshing together cleaner tones against his usual wall of distortion, and it works effectively on “Workin’ Them Angels” and “The Way The Wind Blows.” Geddy Lee maintains a punchy bass tone throughout the album, but it reaches low depths of warmth on “Armor and Sword” and “Faithless.” There are moments of brilliant use of dynamics, whether it's how the piercing guitars emerge from the atmospheric introduction of “Spindrift” and Neil Peart’s massive drum sound on “The Main Monkey Business.” This album hits all the audiophile sweet spots that’ll please any sound-conscious Rush fan.

Clockwork Angels

Produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Rush

Engineered by Richard Chycki, Lowell Reynolds, Stephen Koszler, Jason Dufour, Paul Fig, and Rouble Kapoor

Mixed by Nick Raskulinecz and Martin Cooke

Mastered by Brian “Big Bass” Gardner (Bernie Grundman Mastering)

Alongside instrumental complexity, progressive rock is also known to feature narrative-driven lyrical imagery. Rush were no strangers to crafting side-long suites, such as “2112” and “Hemispheres,” but at the turn of the 2010s, they had yet to explore a storyline across an entire album. They finally delivered the conceptual goods in 2012 with Clockwork Angels, an album that explored themes of order and chaos amidst a world of steampunk and alchemy imagery. One of its strengths is that it doesn’t rely too heavily on the concept, and each track can stand on its own, such as “Caravan” and “Headlong Flight,” which became latter-day concert staples. Rush’s traditional sound is the album’s foundation, but is propelled by keyboard washes and David Campbell’s string arrangements, as heard on “Halo Effect” and “The Wreckers.” Neil Peart described Clockwork Angels as ‘the album we always wanted to make since we first got together.’ The sense of fulfillment and accomplishment felt amongst the group makes the album a fitting finale to Rush’s studio catalog. 

The pressing included in this box set recycles the metal parts of the original 2012 version. 

The ambitious scale of Clockwork Angels lends itself to be a cinematic experience. It has a roomy quality, impactful bass/guitar syncopation, and Neil’s drumwork is delivered with a sense of urgency. At various points throughout the album, Geddy’s vocals are treated with some EQ and effects, which provide character within the underlying narrative of the album’s concept. “The Garden” and its lyrical sentiment of seeing life as a well-tended garden is complemented with lush strings, natural instrumentation, and emotionally driven dynamics; it’s arguably the most touching track in Rush’s entire catalog, and by God, it's brilliant! Clockwork Angels retains the same core production team that appeared on Snakes and Arrows, but it sometimes struggles to recapture that same magic on vinyl. When the mix gets busy, it sounds congested to the point where certain elements become buried or lost, such as the strings on “The Wreckers.” A major letdown is the inner groove distortion on “Headlong Flight,” adding unnecessary crackle to Alex’s unaccompanied guitar licks. This album could’ve benefited from a remastering. 

Conclusion

The Albums 2002-2012 is far from a catalog cash grab. Values fluctuate with regular pressings of Vapor Trails Remixed and Clockwork Angels, coming and going from the marketplace at any given time. The 2016 reissues of Feedback and Snakes and Arrows are out of print, commanding $100+. For a respectable $150, this box set allows fans to revisit some of the finest albums Rush produced during a period where they faced adversity and overcame it with acceptance.