SAGA - 10,000 DAYS

SAGA - 10,000 DAYS

Disk 1 . . . . . . .53:35
1) Lifeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:37
2) Book Of Lies . . . . . . . . . . . 5:44
3) Sideways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:53
4) Can’t You See Me Now . . . . 6:12
5) Corkentellis . . . . . . . . . . . . .7:12
6) More Than I Deserve . . . . . . 5:22
7) Sound Advice . . . . . . . . . . . .5:17
8) 10,000 Days . . . . . . . . . . . .4:31
9) It Never Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:10

Line-up:
- Michael Sadler: vocals, keyboards
- Jim Gilmour: keyboards, vocals
- Ian Crichton: guitar
- Jim Crichton: bass, keyboards
- Brian Doerner: drums

Format: Single CD • InsideOut SPV 79642
release date: November 2007
Saga's official website:
http://sagaontour.moonfruit.com/

A review by Robert Dansereau
It is only fitting that Michael Sadler's last album with Saga be one that competes with the first three albums of their golden era back in the early 80's. 10,000 Days contains truly captivating material, catchy tunes with memorable melodies and appealing choruses. The group's sound has changed over the years, yet it is still instantly recognizeable with Michael Sadler's crystal-clear trademark vocals and Ian Crichton's syncopated guitar riffs. Some compositions are refreshingly original, while others retains the «frozen in time» sound of Saga in the early 80's. It's a sound that they never stray away too far from.

The album begins with Lifeline, a classic Saga composition with all the bells ans whistles, lush keyboards passages, guitar counterpoints and a great vocal performance by Michael Sadler. Very radio-friendly. The second track entitled Book Of Lies is a quirky, poppy tune with great dramatic guitar fills and a cool guitar solo towards the end. Sideways begins on a tone almost reminiscent of a Nathan Mahl ballad, but quickly switches to a dense, rich composition with a groovy, energetic beat and fuzzy guitars, bringing back the opening medieval chorus throughout the piece. Can’t You See Me Now brings back some of the odd rythms that you hear on Heads or Tails' The Sound Of Strangers, although it might stretch for a bit too long. Corkentellis is a dynamic instumental number that showcases the Crichton brothers at their best, one of my favorites of the album. Turning to a much smoother tone, More Than I Deserve is a lovely, melancholic ballad with great vocals by Sadler and spacey guitar riffs. Sound Advice is a dynamic composition with a solid chorus and somehow reminds me of World's Apart's On The Loose at certain moments. The title track features a beautiful melody and a Gilmour/Sadler vocal duo just like the good ol' days, and some melancholic guitar riffs. It Never Ends captures the classic Saga sound in a perfect manner, a track that will appeal to fans of the 80's Saga, and marks a very important closing chapter of Saga's history.

With a very polished production and immaculate sound, this album is quite pleasant to the ear, perfect for multiple auditions. An album that will definitely appeal to Saga fans, as well as fans of classic 80's progressive rock and contemporary symphonic pop/prog in the vein of Frost*...

My rating for 10,000 Days : 7.8/10(album reviewed by Robert Dansereau 12/12/2007)