SAGA

And so fared Saga, obviously talented but too formulaic to obtain fully satisfactory results. They never managed to make really consistent albums but came close with this debut and with Heads Or Tales. If it wasn't for uninspired Climbing the Ladder and the mediocre Will It Be You? , they might have gotten themselves a real classic with their debut. Instead, it's not really consistent enough. 3.5 stars but I'll round up for once.

It's Time and You're Not Alone are ok but certainly not their best. The rest is an uninspired excuse for an album. Commercial music by the numbers, as if it was produced by an assembly line. I guess I will need to create my own review template to get through this part of my catalogue as swiftly as possible.

Half of the songs are adequate and match the quality of the debut. Don't Be Late is as good as any of their other up tempo rockers. Also Help Me Out has a nice interplay between guitars and keyboards, Careful Where You Step is another poignant rocker.

One thing you gotta give Saga. They were one of the few 70's rock bands that made such good use of keyboards. Never indulging into pointless solos but nevertheless strongly present in the overall sound. 2.5 stars.

Of course, most tracks conform to the trademark Saga modus operandi. On The Loose, Wind Him Up and No Stranger are assembled according to the Saga prescription. Generic, but at least they sound like they're having fun at it.

The remainder of the album actually contains some new tactics. The rhythms used in Amnesia, The Interview and Conversations even echo some of Bowies Berlin trilogy experiments. Unfortunately, the results aren't all that captivating and the choruses are really weak. Time's Up is almost a Kraftwerk track, be it with a little guitar left and right. Nice track this one.

Again, it's not much better then just those 4 good tracks. 2.5 stars. Since I rounded up two Saga albums already, this one rounds down.

Big was my disappointment when I went back through their discography and concluded that they had played about every good track they ever made. Apparently, I completely agreed with Saga on only one point: which were their good songs and which were not.

However, the 1983 studio album wasn't a disappointment. Despite its overproduced sound, this one finally has 9 equally consistent songs. It has plenty of variation, the playing is tight and the vocals are intense. Unfortunately that was it for Saga. I haven't heard one single good song from them ever since. 3.5 stars. Rounded up again for sentimental reasons.

All the songs have melodies, sound are clear and very professional, music is a bit more rock, but with strong pop-melodism. Yes, it is the same Saga and the same music style you are waiting for ( at least -in their best albums), no surprises. But everything is done at the highest level.

If you want to have just one Saga album ( and don't like compilations), this one is for you. The album is good as entrance to Saga music for newcomers as well. High quality prog pop-rock.

But a topic that I have never seen, and which is much more germaine to the topic at hand, is which albums have you listened to and dismissed as totally forgettable, but later have discovered have sterling qualities that should not be so easily dismissed. And my vote in that category goes to Saga's Generation 13.

So why am I recommending this to you? This album has the type of concept, story and style that made Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime such an awesome album. The music is truly progressive. Saga is all over the map as far as the style of music on this album goees. Everthing from metal riffs to the sounds of a small orchestra has been thrown in. In fact, if judged just on this album, one might categorize them as symphonic instead. The album has an epic sweep to it, and it does not fail to entertain, despite the fact that it starts slowly in my opinion.

This one gets four stars. I found it original and entertaining and memorable after the first two listens, but it doesn't go far enough to be a masterpiece. But for those who have more or less dismissed Saga (as I have) it's definitely worth some dedicated listening.

So, return back to form? Yeas and no at the same time. Yes - they are playing similar music they started with. No - that music is uninspired. Shortly, they know how to play, but don't have to much to say.

All other comments are just nuances. Voice is recogniseable, music competent, they even use some heavy guitars in few places. So, everything sounds quite nice. But after you will finish to listen this album, you will never remember too much. Competent music, good sound, nothing is wrong. But - professionalism without soul.

Generaly higher than average album for Saga fans, but far from their early works. All in all 3,5.

In some sense they remind me the story of another (great) prog-pop group - Roxy Music. So, now there are mainly pop elements in their music, which they 're mixing with prog arrangements.

Songs are shorter, more radio oriented, but still enough competent. For sure, the pop orientation isn't secret anymore. But music is still enough pleasant.

As for me, this is last Saga album for years,which still is acceptable for listening.

I still remember how they came to music world as next Rush canadian shadow, but with lighter and more modern ( now we can say - "more 80's") sound. For me they are next to Marillion band who build the ground for neo-prog coming.

I think only some their early albums are interesting enough for listeners, and that is one of them.

Quite melodic synth/keyb based rhytmic sound is near to "new vave" sound ( which was one of most important musical direction of that time). In fact I think their music could be descripted as art-rock+ new wave. But happily their music (at least at that time ) is still art-rock + something, not vice versa.Heay use of synthesizers was very popular at that period in all prog-rock, best illustration is Rush albums after "Signals".

Really, Rush music starting from their "Signals"album is quite similar to Saga music of the same period. In their later works both bands had gone to far in their synth/pop direction and missed their prog roots.

So, for sure not masterpiece, very competent Saga album. I think it should be interesting for all neo-prog fans ( there are their beloved music roots), and for many prog fans who is accepted later Rush-like music.

Strong 3,5.