THE HUMAN CONDITION

I hope I do not attract any haters by saying this. Michael Sadler is the voice of Saga and without that voice it really is a different band??. What I just said is completely false! His distinctive vocals are unique and no one sounds like him but the Saga sound is deeper than a voice. With Ian Crichton's guitar and Jim Gilmour's keys and the rhythm section they have, the band is also and unique. Ian's guitar is as unique as Sadler's voice. I never imagined that he would leave the band but then again he is a vocalist and they tend to like going solo (Collins, Gabriel, Cetera, and on and on) and they think they can do even better than their band in some cases. I think that vocalists also have a bit more pride being the fronters and Sadler has always struck me as having a bit of an ego to say ten least (Please, no haters). I get this by watching them live.

He stated that he was leaving to focus on family but he also went and made a solo album. I thought it was interesting that his "Bye-Bye" was short-short. Solo didn't work well for him and he may have thought the band could not be successful without him. But this album proves that Saga is more than a vocalist. I do like that fact that this band doesn't suffer from the infighting and bad blood that most bands do. These guys really do get along and are friends so my musings here could be complete horse hockey! They are a class act and that alone is a good reason to have them recognized.

The band has always been passed over and underrated by critics and record labels. Their catalog is extensive with many good records and definitely some that were no so good and even bad. "The Human Condition" shocked me when it came out. For one thing the band decided to continue. I got this album immediately and took a road trip and fell in love with the thing! This is the best album they have put out in ages! It is crazy how well it sounds and many of the songs really are top notch. Most of the newer albums only have a few tracks each that I really care for and this record had several.

The title track comes screaming on right up front with no words other than a vocoder (which was really not needed). This instrumental is unlike anything the band had done for the most part. The closest thing to it was the rare instrumental "Corkentellis" off "10,000 Days" which came before this album. The riffs on this first song are great and it is as if the band were making a statement right up front and that statement is: "We are still here and we aren't going anywhere!" It is almost a finger to Sadler saying "We are just fine without you pal!" LOL?? Okay, so maybe not but I think the band was definitely making that first statement loud and clear. That track left goosebumps on me and is one of my all time favorite Saga songs. This is a prog track for sure.

My other favorites on the album are "A Number With A Name" and "You Look Good To Me." On both I like the instrumentation. Rob Moratti is no Michael Sadler and I am glad of it as it gives the band a fresh sound. My other favorite track is the hard rocking "Let It Go" which the driving guitar work reminds me of "Once Is Never Enough" off "The Security Of Illusion" album. I can crank that one up and hear it over and over.

I could not believe the excitement this album caused in me. Being a fan of the band since day one I had gotten used to albums that were okay but nothing special. When they released "Generation 13" and essentially gave us the most incredible modern pro rock opera I thought they had hit their artistic peak and in many ways they did bit this album proved that they were still able to crank out good solid songs.

Sadly this is the last of the best albums. Sadler's return came on the next album and "20/20" was okay and "Sagacity" was just so-so. I tend to wonder what the band would have released next if Sadler had not returned. Hmmmm?.. The album is not a 4 star unless I consider the the title track. That prog song helps pay for the songs that are not as strong.