A Special Edition of Saga’s 2014 studio album Sagacity boasts two CDs – the studio album and nine songs from the band’s show at SWR1 Rock Arena in 2013. The Canadian progressive rockers’ lineup these days includes lead vocalist Michael Sadler,) guitarist Ian Crichton, bassist Jim Crichton, keyboardist Jim Gilmour and drummer Mike Thorne. We get an Ian Crichton tour de force that features his precision playing comprising fluid runs, vibrato bar mastery and even acoustic guitar noodlings. He is one of those typical underrated genius players of supreme taste and feel.
The songs on Sagacity are mostly quite heavy, but not spectacular. “Let It Slide’ begins with Crichton’s echoey guitar feedback pull-offs. “Vital Signs” features Sadler adding poignancy to the lyric as Crichton informs the tune with his chunky playing. Added harmony vocals from Gilmour and Sadler always works well with this band. There’s not much else to distinguish any song really. “The Further You Go” is a stand out with its specific key lines, while the layered “On My Way” is the band at its progressive best.
The live CD pretty much features a mini concert set of Saga classics. From “Careful Where You Step,” from their 1978 self-titled debut through “You’re Not Alone” and “Mouse In A Maze” from their second album, 1979’s Images At Twilight, to more well-known numbers like “On The Loose” and “Wind Him Up” from 1981’s Worlds Apart album, the record that broke the band. “Don’t Be Late” from “The Chapters” suite ends the live set. The blistering middle section captures the band in an all out jam. This Special Edition of Sagacity covers the saga of the band from all angles.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
