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Topic ClosedIs Saga underrated on PA
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Poll Question: what do you think of it
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
3 [30.00%]
2 [20.00%]
2 [20.00%]
1 [10.00%]
2 [20.00%]
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is Saga underrated on PA
    Posted: October 29 2010 at 09:42

Before I became a PAer I had the view that Saga was a highly respected band in progressive rock, at least in Scandinavia they are almost viewed upon as s third tier prog band.

 

I know these underrated terms are tired and old but it is nice to spark a discussion

 

Saga is crossover prog so it might probably be moved to prog polls, but I made it here for now,

 

I think their importance in the 80s prog scene is not so much been discussed, but they are as important to the sound of 80s prog and AOR as Marillion, Asia, IQ and 80s Genesis were.

 

Their synth work is very virtuous and technical, the guitar is often aggressive with epic guitar solos, heavy drumming and the amazing voice of Michael Sadler.

 

are Saga undervalued  underrated

 

thoughts

 
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rushfan4 View Drop Down
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Points: 66906 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 09:54
I had never heard of Saga until about 5 or 6 years ago when I saw bands being referenced as sounding like Rush or Saga, so I checked them out and I really liked what I heard.  I found out later that they had actually toured with Rush once, as did Marillion, but I wasn't a Rush fan at the time so I missed out on discovering them for many years.  I think that their sound is too commercial for many PAers tastes, but personally, I love the band.
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 10:03

I personally only for now have the Live Chapters album (all the 16 chapters in the right order), and it is FANTASTIC recording, amazing sound and deliverance, you can't believe it is live.

 

They are so tight and, melodic, dramatic; I can hear a certain Yes influence more than a Genesis influence, and probably also Rush and Uriah Heep.

 

I think they stylistically bridges heavy progressive with symphonic progressive (which I in some aspects think they are important to the development of symphonic progressive metal and neo classical metal
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Points: 3658 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 10:05

Saga is big in the rural areas of Norway and has always been big in Norway. Ditto for Germany too. The Saga fan club/society in Norway is one of the better fanclubs around. Saga was also my ticket to progressive rock some twenty five years ago and I have a huge soft spot for Saga. I also have most of their albums and I am in the process of listening to and reviewing all of them.  

I would not define Saga as a prog rock band though. Pomp rock is the more suitable label for Saga. This band inherited/stole a lot of their sound from bands like The Human League and the British pomp pop scene in the 1970s.  

When that is said, Saga has some really good albums. They have released some turkeys too. None here is envying me for the task of having to listen to the likes of Steel Umbrellas and Wildest Dreams next week. 

But in general, I think Saga is a bit forgotten and ignored. But not in my house and not in your house either, I gather. And that is all that matters. Thumbs Up

I am now listening to Worlds Apart, perhaps their best ever album. 
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 10:12
what do you think of the Chapters Live album ^
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Points: 66906 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 10:25
I reviewed Steel Umbrellas.  It wasn't pretty.  LOL  Wildest Dreams is the only album that I don't have from them.
 
Chapters Live is a pretty good live album.  I have a couple of their live DVDs and they are really good to watch.
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Points: 17493 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 11:10
No. They're overrated if anything. 
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Points: 18084 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 12:55
Originally posted by toroddfuglesteg toroddfuglesteg wrote:

Saga is big in the rural areas of Norway and has always been big in Norway. Ditto for Germany too. The Saga fan club/society in Norway is one of the better fanclubs around. Saga was also my ticket to progressive rock some twenty five years ago and I have a huge soft spot for Saga. I also have most of their albums and I am in the process of listening to and reviewing all of them.  

I would not define Saga as a prog rock band though. Pomp rock is the more suitable label for Saga. This band inherited/stole a lot of their sound from bands like The Human League and the British pomp pop scene in the 1970s.  

When that is said, Saga has some really good albums. They have released some turkeys too. None here is envying me for the task of having to listen to the likes of Steel Umbrellas and Wildest Dreams next week. 

But in general, I think Saga is a bit forgotten and ignored. But not in my house and not in your house either, I gather. And that is all that matters. Thumbs Up

I am now listening to Worlds Apart, perhaps their best ever album. 

I pretty much feel the sameway about Saga...their fanbase is across the pond from North America....I love Saga. I saw them in concert in their hayday in Baton Rouge, La of all places??!! This was back in 1983-84 I think....I can't remember who they toured with though, I might have to look that up.
Anyhow it was during the Heads or Tales tour.....I do remember a great show and Sadler is just an amazing singer, the band plays so tight, very talented group.
I have mostly vinyl from them......Worlds Apart yea probably their best, some really great songs there. I also enjoy Behaviour....
 
But agree...no love for Saga on the PA
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Points: 38986 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 13:21
I don't know the band that well, but what I have heard I would not expect to be popular on a progressive music site and is not to my taste. I'd expect more popularity at a more mainstream/ classic rock type site.

I've noticed this track many times on the radio, and it's the kind of stuff that would make me want to switch the dial.



If talking undervalued, I think it's good to take a sampling of reviews and explain where you think people got it (objectively) wrong.

Not my taste either:





(incredibly boring/ terrible)

I think the poll options lacking.


Edited by Logan - October 29 2010 at 13:25
Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.
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Points: 5575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 13:25
weird that they've been bought up here i first heard them the other day on the radio (internet radio so don't get excited PA'ers!!) i only heard one track and it was great looked up on PA that it was off a newer album so whether their sound has changed much over the years i don' know but i could definitely really get into them. 

the fact that i've never heard of them till now probably does mean that they are underrated
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lucas View Drop Down
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Points: 8138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:35
Saga are often associated with hard-rock or AOR, not so much with prog-rock. Maybe that's why they are overlooked by prog-rockers.
They are one of my favourite rock bands.
"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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Angelo View Drop Down
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Points: 13244 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:38
The poll is broken, and I can't seem to fix it. Can you continue without?
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:48
ofcourse, I am flexible at that
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:51
Originally posted by lucas lucas wrote:

Saga are often associated with hard-rock or AOR, not so much with prog-rock. Maybe that's why they are overlooked by prog-rockers.
They are one of my favourite rock bands.
 
I will say that they are some how in their own litle sphere styleisticly, as I will call them Power art rock, art rock with alot of power and attitude.
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Atavachron View Drop Down
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Points: 65972 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:54
they were influential, if quietly, on the Bay Area progressive metal scene during the 80s
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Atavachron View Drop Down
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Points: 65972 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 16:56
Originally posted by Angelo Angelo wrote:

The poll is broken, and I can't seem to fix it.


I've had a broken poll for years
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 17:01
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

they were influential, if quietly, on the Bay Area progressive metal scene during the 80s

 
like "hsssh John Petruchi, don't tell anyone that you have listend to uss, don't mention us in the liner notes"
 
"krmt Geoff Tate, Michael don't want you to ever say that you have listend to he's singing"
 
not exactly Bay Area but was it somthing like this
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lucas View Drop Down
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Points: 8138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 17:09

^

Josh Pincus of the prog metal band Ice Age was certainly influenced by Michael Sadler.
 
Talking about Michael Sadler, he performs some incredible backing vocals on Bobby Kimball's song "who cries now".  And he is often a guest for many AOR projects. His vocals are very rich in emotions.
 
"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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Icarium View Drop Down
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Points: 34099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 17:15
^ i have that album
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lucas View Drop Down
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Points: 8138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2010 at 17:21
His best ! "Is it over" is also a great song.
"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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