Review Summary: 20/20 isn’t perfect but it is not bad either, it can be added to any progressive rock fan’s collection.
Saga’s most recent album, entitled
20/20 marks the return of iconic vocalist Michael Sadler to “his” band. The musical direction is the same of previous albums dating from 1999 onwards. Ever since
Full Circle, excluding the great
The Human Condition, the band has maintained a constant musical direction that is very close to the sound of this album.
The Human Condition itself is way heavier and progressive, personally I consider it the heaviest album ever made by this iconic band and it’s definitely different from the albums that were released since 1999 with Sadler, it was a new breeze in the band’s discography. With
20/20 the group returned to a more artistic and melodic sound that has been traditional in recent albums with Michael Sadler.
Although the album rating is rather low, don’t take me wrong, I don’t consider this album a bad one, I just consider that is weaker than previous albums dating from 1999 that marked a change in the band’s musical direction after a more radio-friendly musical style that started in 1985 with
Behaviour.
20/20 is definitely a break-up with the progressive sound and heaviness that the band was able to play with Rob Moratti in the 2009 album release. It’s different than
Saga’s previous album, and it doesn’t bring good news. The new album is worst in quality than I expected, generally it contains some good moments with songs like “Six Feet Under”, “Spin It Again” or “Ball And Chain”. In terms of production, this album presents a good sound engineering with no critical mistakes. Technically it contains great moments, mainly Ian Crichton’s magical guitar playing, putting definitely this performance as one of the best of his career with some outstanding riffs and sick guitar solos, if you don’t believe in me just listen “Six Feet Under”, “Spin It Again” or “Another Day Out Of Sight”; drum section also makes some great job, giving a great notion of rhythm and melody; the magical keyboards make exquisite pair with Sadler’s voice; Jim Crichton’s bass puts this album together with great progressive moments in “Spin It Again” or “Anywhere You Wanna Go”; in conclusion Michael Sadler’s voice is in top shape, delivering some amazing vocal performances. His perfect performances are no surprise: I read once in a website that vocally he might be compared with Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant. The analogy, despite being quite fancy and refined, with the passing of the years that I have been listening
Saga, I tend more and more to agree with that statement. He’s such an iconic singer! I listened this album over and over again, but still I don’t find it a classic, actually, I think it will never be a
Saga’s classic. Although I give big appraise to the technical side of the album, in terms of song content it’s not “my cup of tea”. Despite containing good moments, the album ends up boring me because it doesn’t present nothing new comparatively with their more recent years with Michael Sadler. Lyrically, the band presents a competent job in general, mainly with “Till The Well Runs Dry”, “Spin It Again” or “Six Feet Under”.
I truly feel that it won’t be an instant classic, though it has its moments. My low rating is given due to expectation: I expected a progressive, heavy and somehow different album than this. I don’t feel
Saga lost their talent, I just feel this wasn’t a job so well done. They are one of my favorites and are definitely one of the most competent and credible musical minds of the last 30 years. Over the years I have learned to respect their work, and acknowledging their position in the progressive world, I don’t feel they are underrated I just feel they are different and more sophisticated musically. Their discography is so rich and fulfilling,
20/20 isn’t perfect but it is not bad either, it can be added to any progressive rock fan’s collection. Sooner or later they will present us with a very good album, although I don’t feel
20/20 is that album. They have not lost their edge, despite knowing they have not made for many years epics such as
Silent Knight,
Worlds Apart or
Generation 13, I know they will be back with some “over the top” record to enrich their discography. They are one of the few bands that have been improving their technique, trying to present something new with every new album.
