THE CHAPTERS LIVE

This time you can add another half star, cause usually my rate regarding the music of Saga is more precise, but in this case - as it's a live album (as well as the first time I review a live performance from the Canadian pop progressive band), I let you decide within a narrow margin and according to your own preference. Well talking about the double CD, in particular the first one covers all the successful albums of the eighties such as "Worlds Apart", "Images at Twilight" and "Silent Knight", divided into easily recognizable chapters (from 1 to eight)... the style is in the middle between the melodic pop progressive by Asia and the easy approach by Styx, passing through the settlement of a derivative style in the vein of the Neo-Prog movement from the UK, but in a more personal and intelligent manner (some way more modern and "technological" too - in comparison to a few English neo-prog bands such as IQ or Pendragon, even though these latter groups have been closer to Genesis with Gabriel - unlike Saga...). Disc 1 includes some important hit singles of the eighties - sometimes reminding me of Pallas - and despite of being performed in a remarkable way, such songs don't add anything new in comparison to the studio version. Instead disc 2 covers their recent years from "Full Circle" to "Marathon", passing through "House of Cards", another interesting chapter of their career, even though the lack of songs coming from their best album - in my opinion - entitled "Generation 13th", let me stay a bit indifferent...you know I prefer another kind of style, but I recognize Saga as an excellent band, especially talking about their music skill, as They are remarkable musicians; instead their compositions are not brilliant at all in some circumstances (unlike within "Generation 13th") and I'm sure that every Saga fan will give the present live a major score...make your own choice as usual!!