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.
