HEADS OR TALES

Worlds Apart was Saga's breakthrough album and this follow-up is in some ways a continuation of its immediate predecessor but also a clear step further away from progressive Rock and towards more commercial pastures. In my review of Worlds Apart, I said that it was a kind of transitional album for Saga in being the last album of their early and more progressive period, and - simultaneously - the first album of their more "commercial" period. While there is some truth in this statement, it should not be taken to imply that there is "a world of difference" Worlds Apart and the earlier albums. Heads Or Tales is different. It is an even further streamlined version of Saga and the songs are simpler and less elaborated. Synthesisers dominate the sound (more than ever) and the production is very clean and polished. Given Saga's previous releases, Heads Or Tales was indeed a very natural development for the band and an album very much of its time. I simply don't think it is possible to sound more 80's than this! Personally, I find this album somehow a bit "shallow", but still good.

The progressive aspects of Saga's music are not really here anymore and had declined ever since the self-titled debut. The standout tracks are The Flyer, Scratching The Surface and Pitchman. The other songs are not really memorable. This is a listenable album with a few enjoyable moments, but not far from the greatness of Worlds Apart.

Good, but not essential

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