TRUST

Saga is good at getting on a roll and putting out albums with similar themes such as their Chapters songs and the consistent album covers with the "Bug" on them and then suddenly breaking it up and doings something different as they did with then previous album "Network". While the album is okay it is nothing special and on my review of it I noted the loss of Steve Negus their original drummer whose technique was definitely part of the Saga sound. It is missed especially on "Network where they got what sounds like a rookie who couldn't even keep time on one song and whose drumming was very basic.

It reminded me of Marillion's debut album, "Script For A Jester's Tear" with the founder of the group Mick Pointer. The band had to fire him after recording the album. Can you imagine being the founder of a group and building it and then the group you built comes and throws you out?! There were some circumstances though such as the band asking him to maybe take lessons to adapt to progressive music. If you listen to that album, Mick's drumming is so painfully basic that it takes the prog out of the music! I am saying this not to review "Script" but to point out how important drumming is to especially prog rock. Christian Simpson was not a good fit for Saga and here they find Brian Doerner who becomes their new guy and who will last a long spell. He is sufficient with the sticks to say the least.

"Trust" is an album that I can trust to deliver the goods. When I first heard it I was not that impressed but after letting it grow on me, it has become one of the good keepers and again the drums are miked and in the mix in a good way. The songs on this album are good hitters. "I'm Okay" is a great track that moves through some different sections well. "It's Your Life" is a great track that rock it through and the tile track is decent too. The playing is fantastic with Ian screaming along and Jim Gilmour at his usual great playing. With the soloing team of Crichton and Gilmour, that makes the Saga sound and there would be no point in continuing the band if they lost Ian as his playing is so recognizable.

"Trust" is an improvement over the past several albums and is worthy of a good rating.