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Kingsnake 
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 Topic: The Saga appreciation thread
Posted: October 04 2016 at 02:14 |
Saga: you love 'em, you hate 'em, or you just don't care. Either way, they're in a league of their own.
Too progressive for pop, too pop for progressive rock.
Heavy on the guitar- and synthsolos, but also heavy on the lovesongs.
Sometimes they write intricate spacerock concepts spanning 35 years of their career. Sometimes they write an entire progrockoperaconceptalbum rivalling The Lamb Lies Silent or Operation: Mindcrime.
Sometimes they write songs for failed tvseries or badmovies (Cobra or Johnny B. Goode). Sometimes they flirt with glamrock, house, AOR, funk, heavy metal. They can be compared to Toto, Rush and It Bites and maybe Styx and Magnum. Newer bands like Enchant and Everon cited Saga an influence to their music. They managed to stay alive, having a steady career since 1977 till now (almost 40 years and still going).
They own their own studios and produce records for others, even providing vocals, keyboards, guitars etc. for greats like Magnum, Ozzy Osbourne, Yes, etc. For me personally, they only really failed with one album, being Pleasure and the Pain, wich is too incoherent (although featuring some great songs). I'm curious wich progressive rock enthousiasts have the same love for Saga as I have.
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Cristi
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Posted: October 04 2016 at 02:28 |
^ The Lamb Lies Silent? Never heard it...
Yes, I like Saga. Their late 80s albums are quite poppy, a bit uneven but still enjoyable from time to time. Pleasure & the Pain is one of their weakest moments but still I've heard worse from other prog or rock greats.
The first thing I've heard from them, long time ago was a live album a friend of mine recommended (I had never heard of Saga back then) - In Transit (1982). I loved it and started looking for more albums from Saga. I have managed to listen to most of their albums.
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Kingsnake
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Posted: October 04 2016 at 02:38 |
On In Transit the band proved to be one of the tightiest live bands. There's not a single mistake made.
The great thing about the band, is the accessablity in their songs. Their songs are full of hooks. They have more hooks in one songs, then some bands in their whole career.
But in the meantime their music is really complex and the synth/guitar-duets/battles are unmatched. I can't think of a band that can pull off what Ian Crichton and Jim Gilmour are capable off.
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kenethlevine
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Posted: October 04 2016 at 11:40 |
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liked the idea of the band, but none of their first 4 albums really worked well for me as a complete entity, as there were too many mediocre songs IMO. The best of those I've heard is "Silent Knight", with at least 2 fantastic songs, "Don't be Late" and "careful where you step", and several very good ones. But even that one had a few poor tracks. After they hit big with "Worlds Apart", I lost touch with them. In Canada, the group FM started around the same time and were often compared. In the early going, FM seemed to be the band most likely to, but in the end Saga achieved much greater success. FM similarly had trouble putting together a cohesive album, although "Black Noise" comes pretty close, and I actualy prefer "City of Fear" though it is not as prog
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Son.of.Tiresias
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Posted: October 22 2016 at 05:16 |
Their finest hour in "Generation 13" from 1995, lowest "Pleasure and the Pain", from 1997. "Taxman" by George Harrison is nothing but awful. Oh yes, "In Transit" from 1982 is an awesome live album, really tight instrumentally and together. Michael Sadlerīs vocals fits the music flawlessly. Ian Crichton is the only metal guitarist I can stand, actually his brilliant and the best of them all. Period.
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You may see a smile on Tony Banksī face but thatīs unlikely.
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Steve Wyzard
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Posted: November 02 2017 at 14:01 |
My third favorite band (after Yes and Genesis, natch)! Their 5 best albums: 1) Worlds Apart (1981) 2) Heads or Tales (1983) 3) The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989) 4) Silent Knight (1980) 5) Saga (1978) Special mention of their wonderful live album, In Transit (1982), must also be made. Everything they've done after Steel Umbrellas (1994) has left me ice cold. Similar to Rush, they reached a certain point where they were simply indulging a hobby. I sadly never saw them live, as they never played anywhere near California after 1983 (even though they live in the state).
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verslibre
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Posted: November 02 2017 at 14:15 |
 Steve Wyzard wrote:
My third favorite band (after Yes and Genesis, natch)! Their 5 best albums: 1) Worlds Apart (1981) 2) Heads or Tales (1983) 3) The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989) 4) Silent Knight (1980) 5) Saga (1978) Special mention of their wonderful live album, In Transit (1982), must also be made. Everything they've done after Steel Umbrellas (1994) has left me ice cold. Similar to Rush, they reached a certain point where they were simply indulging a hobby. I sadly never saw them live, as they never played anywhere near California after 1983 (even though they live in the state). |
I urge you to give Full Circle (1999) and 10,000 Days (2007; the last album with Sadler before he took a "break" from the band) another go. I think they rank among Saga's finest recordings.
Also, not sure if you have it, but don't miss Phase 1 (1997), which contains previously unreleased music ("Hangman"!) and alternate takes from the Images sessions!
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 02 2017 at 16:11 |
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I really like their Silent Knight album, to me it's strong all the way through. I got into them a little bit in the early 80's when I was hearing On the Loose a lot on the radio and loved it so I got the album it was on "Worlds Apart" and really liked it(cassette tape). But never explored them any further until recently I got Silent Knight on my mp3 player. So yeah I like them, should explore them even more. The problem is there isn't time to listen to all these bands that I want to get into lol. I've been getting into King's X(they jam out on those guitars and have a Christian message in a lot of their songs), and also IQ I keep meaning to listen to again. I wish I could just listen to all these albums at the same time lol. But Saga for sure, they seem like a band that I should get more into.
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rushfan4
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Posted: November 03 2017 at 12:40 |
It really sucks not having enough ears to listen to everything that you want to listen to. 
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gr8dane
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Posted: November 04 2017 at 04:13 |
Count me in.Love the first 3 albums.After that the albums became more patchy,but with a lot of great stuff yet.Of later albums I really like Trust. Seen them several times,starting in 80 I believe.Sadler's voice is one of a kind,and so is Ian's guitar playing. All good things must come to an end,and I believe Saga is now on their farewell tour.Great great band.
Edited by gr8dane - November 04 2017 at 04:14
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Shake & bake.
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Atavachron
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Posted: November 04 2017 at 05:09 |
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Clean, elegant, concise. Great band.
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"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 11:55 |
gr8dane wrote:
Count me in.Love the first 3 albums.After that the albums became more patchy,but with a lot of great stuff yet.Of later albums I really like Trust.Seen them several times,starting in 80 I believe.Sadler's voice is one of a kind,and so is Ian's guitar playing. All good things must come to an end,and I believe Saga is now on their farewell tour.Great great band.
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I just listened to their first two album and they're both really good! So I definitely agree with the first 3 albums comment. I'll have to check out this Trust album next.
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 11:59 |
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Man I underestimated this band, they're becoming my latest obsession.
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verslibre
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 13:15 |
YESESIS wrote:
Man I underestimated this band, they're becoming my latest obsession.
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Have you listened to:
Silent Knight Full Circle 10,000 Days
?
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 15:43 |
verslibre wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
Man I underestimated this band, they're becoming my latest obsession.
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Have you listened to:
Silent Knight Full Circle 10,000 Days
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I've listened to Silent Knight(have it on my mp3 player), it's great imo strong all the way through. The other two you mention I have no clue about. I've heard their first 4 albums and that's it, used to have Worlds Apart on cassette.
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verslibre
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 16:18 |
Full Circle (1999) was the their first really good album since 1983's Heads or Tales, i.e. a return to form.
10,000 Days (2007) is regarded as one of their best later albums, and it was the last one with Michael Sadler before he left the album. (They only made one album without him before he came back for 20/20.)
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 16:31 |
verslibre wrote:
Full Circle (1999) was the their first really good album since 1983's Heads or Tales, i.e. a return to form.
10,000 Days (2007) is regarded as one of their best later albums, and it was the last one with Michael Sadler before he left the album. (They only made one album without him before he came back for 20/20.) |
Oh wow, I probably should listen to this Heads or Tales deal first then. Thanks a lot for the info. I've just been listening to some songs from that Trust album that someone else mentioned, and I love it! Yep I'm officially obsessed now. I get like this with bands sometimes and right now Saga is definitely IT!
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infocat
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Posted: November 05 2017 at 20:30 |
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I find Generation 13 from 1995 to be a pretty good concept album.
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--
Frank Swarbrick
Belief is not Truth.
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verslibre
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Posted: November 06 2017 at 14:40 |
YESESIS wrote:
verslibre wrote:
Full Circle (1999) was the their first really good album since 1983's Heads or Tales, i.e. a return to form.
10,000 Days (2007) is regarded as one of their best later albums, and it was the last one with Michael Sadler before he left the album. (They only made one album without him before he came back for 20/20.) |
Oh wow, I probably should listen to this Heads or Tales deal first then. Thanks a lot for the info. I've just been listening to some songs from that Trust album that someone else mentioned, and I love it! Yep I'm officially obsessed now. I get like this with bands sometimes and right now Saga is definitely IT!
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Yes, you should! Wait till you hear "The Flyer," "Cat Walk," "Scratching the Surface" and "The Writing."
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YESESIS
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Posted: November 06 2017 at 17:00 |
verslibre wrote:
YESESIS wrote:
verslibre wrote:
Full Circle (1999) was the their first really good album since 1983's Heads or Tales, i.e. a return to form.
10,000 Days (2007) is regarded as one of their best later albums, and it was the last one with Michael Sadler before he left the album. (They only made one album without him before he came back for 20/20.) |
Oh wow, I probably should listen to this Heads or Tales deal first then. Thanks a lot for the info. I've just been listening to some songs from that Trust album that someone else mentioned, and I love it! Yep I'm officially obsessed now. I get like this with bands sometimes and right now Saga is definitely IT!
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Yes, you should! Wait till you hear "The Flyer," "Cat Walk," "Scratching the Surface" and "The Writing." |
I just listened to it and it was terrific. This band is CRIMINALLY underrated!
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The Saga appreciation thread
