STEEL UMBRELLAS

Many critics can't stomach this album and frankly, I admit I don't like it much either. It contains far too few memorable tracks but in all fairness, the ones that do work ought to be mentioned. There's a definite jazzy feel to some of these tunes that grows on you. The opening track "Why Not" is a firy rocker in the purest SAGA tradition and is by far the best cut of the album. "Shake That Tree" gets into a groove I find very hard to resist. "Steamroller" is a funky little number à la Jeff Beck (of course, Mr. Beck's contribution would have been a welcome addition here, although the horn section acts as an honourable substitute). Finally, the two 'tear jerkers' "I Walk With You" and "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" sound a bit sappy, but I have to admit it takes a special talent to come up with such ditties - to my knowledge, only Elton John and Alan Parsons (and perhaps a few other pop geniuses I can't think of) are capable of similar feats. No, "Steel Umbrellas" is definitely not SAGA's best. For the few tracks mentioned above, however, I'll grant them a passing grade.