Trust

Saga

Saga new album is called Trust and you can trust it is filled with everything that made us love Saga all along. Solid vocals, from both Michael Sadler and Jim Gilmour, superb guitar playing from Ian Crichton, all over the solid rhythms of bassist (and keyboardist) Jim Crichton and new drummer Brian Doerner, keeps the listener’s trust — if you will allow me — in how well these Canadians can play their often intricate songs. On the new album, Sadler claims he's trying "to integrate as many fresh new ideas into Saga’s sound as we can." And though I’m not sure they accomplish any real ‘newness’— to tell you the truth, I was quite a fan of the ‘old’ Saga thang — this release is as strong as anything the band has ever released.

Stand-out tracks for yours truly are “Back to the Shadows,” “I’m OK,” and the ballad the record company seems to be pushing, “My Friend” — complete with some pretty fine clarinet courtesy of Mr. Gilmour. There are the usual Saga touches, most notably the guitar and keyboard attack on “Footsteps in the Hall.” Devoid of the ‘chapter cycle’ songs we were introduced to on the first four Saga albums, which the band has stayed away from for a while, the lyrics on Trust contain a nice and warm feeling of contentment. For me, it’s nice to hear guys this adept at playing, a production layered yet not muddied and vocals as melodic as Sadlers’ and Gilmours’.

One criticism I have is how these ‘older’ players often defend their current releases by claiming they are adding something ‘current’ or new with the ‘old’ sound, as if combining the two makes them any better when current trends don’t jibe with what these guys are about anyway. What I love about a band like Saga or any of the ‘older’ progressive groups is that they had a signature sound and certain style. This is an exceptional CD from a band that needs no excuses or explanations. I trust you will appriciate Trust very much.

~ Ralph Greco, Jr.

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