Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Saga
Label: Ear Music Records
Released: 2012
Rating: 4.5/5
Among music connoisseurs, Saga are surely, alongside Rush, the most revered Canadian art rock band. They never matched the popularity of their more famous ‘cousins’, but especially in Central Europe they have no less devoted a following, a crowd that can barely wait for their favorites to put out something new. »20/20« is their first studio album since original singer Michael Sadler came back, and their twentieth overall, which is what the slightly enigmatic title hints at. The cover, with Albert Einstein in front of an eye exam machine, is both a nod to the cult ‘Chapters’ concept, i.e. a return to the classic Saga roots, and to keyboardist Jim ‘Daryl’ Gilmour, who nearly lost an eye to a nasty infection on the previous tour.
After the relatively experimental »Human Condition« (2009), where they tried to drift a bit away from the classic Saga sound with then-singer Rob Moratti and bring in some completely fresh ideas, »20/20« is a return to much more recognizable sonic ground, and the credit goes mostly to the charismatic Sadler, of course. Classic Saga was unthinkable without him, since his vocals, along with ‘Jimbot’s’ layered keyboard harmonies, Ian Crichton’s guitar artistry and the melodic rumble of his brother Jim’s bass lines, are a key part of the integral circuitry of this legendary band. Longtime drummer Brian Doerner, who did still play on this album, bowed out before its release because of poor health and handed his seat to newcomer Mike Thorne. So Saga remain one of those bands that can’t shake their drummer troubles, which have been going on since original drummer Steve Negus left.
The Ontario quintet has always been known for building remarkably flexible and subtle bridges between melodic and progressive rock, and »20/20« is no exception. You could say the new record is a kind of logical continuation of where »10,000 Days« (2007), Sadler’s (seemingly) farewell album, left off, yet there are quite a few sonically fairly innovative ideas here that sit nicely with the excellent production.
Opener »Six Feet under« is a mischievously tinged herald that classic Saga are back among us, with keyboard lines flowing subtly through guitar passages greased with all the right oil, while Sadler’s expressive vocals are, as expected, still in top form. »Anywhere You Wanna Go« is, in both its songwriting and lyrics, one of the wittier moments on »20/20«, and over the years it will no doubt earn the status of a Saga standard. Keyboard multi-harmonies and backing vocals neatly circle a mighty chorus, while guitar maestro Ian Crichton is carried off a few times toward some mouth-watering solos. The art rock champions from Ontario have always been masters of combining compactness and flexibility, and this splendid composition is one more proof of that long-known fact.
The mood sails into somewhat more tender waters on the subtle love power ballad »Ellery«, the first song in their history named after a woman. Still, there’s not a shred of pathos or sappiness in it, and it carries itself with generous sonic depth. Acoustic guitar finesse is expertly interwoven with symphonic arrangements, while the vocal harmonies are once again ‘top league’. If you want proof of how thunderously Saga can still hit when they feel like it, despite a respectable number of years behind them, look no further than »Spin It Again«, where a punchy guitar riff, completely specific to Ian’s playing technique, takes the lead. On this vocally pretty demanding track Sadler shines once more with his rich emotional depth, while the dramatic backing harmonies lift the atmosphere even higher.
The mid-tempo »Another Day Out of Sight« is another cut that will delight all the longtime fans. Here the lead vocal duty goes to keyboardist Gilmour, who nails the role, which is hardly a surprise, since he has already impressed as lead singer on classics like »No Regrets« and »Scratching the Surface«. A cheeky guitar phrase makes its way nicely through layers of symphonic arrangements and multi-part vocals, and thanks to ‘Jimbot’s’ unique voice there’s something ethereal hanging in the air the whole time. »One Of These Days« is a faster-paced number, another uplifting shot of energy with a fat guitar riff, playful synth finesse and a multi-voiced chorus of the kind Saga have turned out plenty of in their career.
Spiced with an enigmatic mood, »Ball And Chain« carries what you could call a trademark melodramatic Saga motif, one that will instantly remind longtime fans of some of their past work, especially from the period between 1999 and 2007. Symphonic arrangements, particularly the piano ones, are sensitively fused with energetic guitar passages, while a dynamic rhythm line seasoned by years on the road keeps pace alongside. The power ballad »Lost For Words«, draped in splendid acoustic finesse, is another admirable achievement, where the melancholic vocal harmonies, led by Sadler’s at times downright magical voice, really come into their own.
»Show And Tell« belongs among the most interesting oddities on »20/20« and will no doubt become a Saga standard in the near future, since besides all the recognizable trademarks it has a truly fantastic motif built on a melodramatic guitar phrase and epic vocal harmonies. And of course there’s no shortage of first-rate keyboard and guitar solos that will have every music connoisseur licking their lips. The closer »Till The Well Runs Dry« is the longest piece on the album. Here Saga stage a veritable art rock dance, subtly fusing an enigmatic and melancholic mood, led by dramatic guitar-and-keyboard passages and accompanied by an interesting tangle of rhythmic finesse.
»20/20« is a classic Saga album in every sense of the word, built to please the band’s longtime devotees. These art rock giants keep wowing us with highly artistic records that never run short of innovative moments. Their consistency when it comes to forging thrilling studio albums is still exceptional, and it’s downright incredible how quickly Sadler and his old pals found the creative rhythm they were after. Still, a bitter aftertaste remains: after decades, their body of work has yet to receive even a symbolic award from the representatives of the corrupt music industry, and by the looks of it, in a world where money is the holy ruler, it never will.
Lineup
Michael Sadler – vocals
Ian Crichton – guitar
Jim Crichton – bass guitar and additional keyboards
Jim Gilmour – keyboards, backing vocals
Brian Doerner – drums
Production
Saga
Tracklist
1. Six Feet Under
2. Anywhere You Wanna Go
3. Ellery
4. Spin It Again
5. Another Day Out Of Sight
6. One Of These Days
7. Ball And Chain
8. Lost For Words
9. Show And Tell
10. Till The Well Runs Dry
