Whether or not we’re on the same page, I can tell you that these digits are special. The number relates to a specific span of time. If you are unaware of this rough estimate, I suggest you go to the back of the class so that you can brush up on their discography. This is a band that requires intense study or - at the very least - a cram session.
In their quest of progressive dominance, they’ve left no stone unturned. Like a thorny calculus equation, even their futuristic artwork gives students something to ponder over for years to come.
When you contemplate its purpose, this album could make a grown-man cry or a manic depressive doleful. Saga pulled out all the stops in the send-off of their principal member: that would be Micheal Sadler. As always, his lead singing is virile while his co-writing is vital and mature. Even producer Henning Pauly - who collaborated with him on many projects - gives Sadler his infrequent seal of approval.
To expound upon the topic, Sadler filled a gaping hole when Freddy Mercury booked his unexpected trip to heaven. Hopefully Saga can stick a finger in the dike long enough to find a worthy replacement. It’s a daunting task, but there is too much talent left in the band to call it quits.
Speaking of which, these chaps were made in Canada. These days that seems to be an untapped reserve in terms of venturesome musicians. To put it mildly, what has surfaced there has been very good; think of Rush for starters. Come to the present and you’ll get a terrible bout of scurvy if you nosh on too many of this land’s ebullient citrus. Hamadryad, Into Eternity, Karcius, Miriodor, and Mulmuzzler are a couple prominent examples from the upstairs neighbor of the United States of America.
As for this album, every song is gifted and talented. While they are all worthy of Wayne Campbell and Garth Alagar’s honor roll, “Book of Lies” and “It Never Ends” are standouts in the categorical sense. In terms of nominees, “Corkentails” and “10,000 Days” also make the short list.
Here are those exigent tracks in order of appearance:
“Book of Lies” is the appetizing egg roll in the vein of the ditty that had Run DMC allied with Aerosmith. This extraordinary piece is the cream of the crop; making it one of my all-time favorites. As a long-time fan who rarely exaggerates what I like, this says a lot. It goes without saying that this inductee should be spliced into the highlight reel. While it’s incredibly re-playable, I suggest you still save room for dessert.
To Oscar the Grouch and those who say they should close up shop, the instrumental “Corkentails” will force naysayer’s to shut up. It goes to prove that the residual skill left in the till is more than half full.
Paying tribute to another valiant candidate, “10,000 Days” is a fortune cookie from Dr. Fu Manchu himself. It reflects upon a prosperous journey and provides well wishes for the future. In a way, it merits gestures of self-praise. I got chills listening to them put their heartfelt memoirs into this journal entry. Not sure if the chicken or the egg came first, but Tool has curiously assigned their newest chronicles the same name no more than a mere year back. Nevertheless, if I were to have written the petite leaflet nestled within the twisted pastry of this track, I would have told them to pat themselves on the back. This creation constitutes icing on a very prolific cake. The album is cohesive and complete; full of tender moments that are sore to the touch. To purchase this pet is to buy a tragedy. After pining away for the date of its release, I’m already grieving.
To help us cope, they provide their condolences with an encore that ties for the grand prize. This occurs in the waning moments. Hopefully, “It Never Ends” is not the last we ever hear from Sadler. If it is, this conclusive dish of flambéed ambrosia is more appreciated than Banana’s Foster at a reception. They take their most passionate licks and then turn them over in a cocktail of Rice Krispies and kerosene. As if this weren’t already a ceasefire sale where everything must go, they put a Cherry Bomb on top of this tart strudel. With a flick of a lit matchstick, Bottle Rockets and Roman Candles burst from its gut. After raiding their repository in order to blast the ammunition dump, this tune quite righteously begs to be played live with a barrage of awesome sparklers.
Regrettably, the captain has come ashore, which means The Bounty is temporarily in a holding pattern. While the news of his departure could cause a mutiny, this album will satisfy our needs in the meantime. Fortunately, there will be air guitars and even air drums played across the world once fans catch a whiff of this highly flammable substance. As always, Saga is symphonic. Since they are a slim hair under heavy, it’ll appeal to enthusiasts of both rock and metal. All of this is extremely listenable no matter where the anvil falls. Conversely, it’s hardly painful on the ears. Turn this up and revel in this incendiary confetti that’s to an extent reminiscent of Queen.
While this is Michael Sadler’s swan song, there are a couple reasons to be content. First off, he’s leaving us to spend time with his family, which is a noble gesture in and of itself. Secondly, Christian Simpson’s amazing drumming has climbed to the next level. Couple this with Jim Gilmour’s keyboards, Ian Crichton’s guitars and his brother Jim’s bass; you’ve more than compensated for a deficit in any band.
If this weren’t Sadler’s last album, I might be tempted to take a fraction of a point away for a minority of unsatisfactory riffs. Then again, that would be petty. As one of my teachers once told me, nothing is perfect. When grading on a curve, you need to take some existential elements into consideration. For that reason, this requires much better than average marks. A simple pass would be an insult if you ask me. It’s a must-have on the essential scale, and it’s potentially their best album to date. There is nothing more this posse could accomplish. Likewise, Sadler pulls no punches and gives it his all in the final round. This concludes his long-time affair with a googolplex plus one of gaga fans.
The title says it all! Convert the days to years and cross-reference this with Saga’s prosperous career. That’s enough to call this exclamation point and seamless release paradisiacal.
10,000/10
In their quest of progressive dominance, they’ve left no stone unturned. Like a thorny calculus equation, even their futuristic artwork gives students something to ponder over for years to come.
When you contemplate its purpose, this album could make a grown-man cry or a manic depressive doleful. Saga pulled out all the stops in the send-off of their principal member: that would be Micheal Sadler. As always, his lead singing is virile while his co-writing is vital and mature. Even producer Henning Pauly - who collaborated with him on many projects - gives Sadler his infrequent seal of approval.
To expound upon the topic, Sadler filled a gaping hole when Freddy Mercury booked his unexpected trip to heaven. Hopefully Saga can stick a finger in the dike long enough to find a worthy replacement. It’s a daunting task, but there is too much talent left in the band to call it quits.
Speaking of which, these chaps were made in Canada. These days that seems to be an untapped reserve in terms of venturesome musicians. To put it mildly, what has surfaced there has been very good; think of Rush for starters. Come to the present and you’ll get a terrible bout of scurvy if you nosh on too many of this land’s ebullient citrus. Hamadryad, Into Eternity, Karcius, Miriodor, and Mulmuzzler are a couple prominent examples from the upstairs neighbor of the United States of America.
As for this album, every song is gifted and talented. While they are all worthy of Wayne Campbell and Garth Alagar’s honor roll, “Book of Lies” and “It Never Ends” are standouts in the categorical sense. In terms of nominees, “Corkentails” and “10,000 Days” also make the short list.
Here are those exigent tracks in order of appearance:
“Book of Lies” is the appetizing egg roll in the vein of the ditty that had Run DMC allied with Aerosmith. This extraordinary piece is the cream of the crop; making it one of my all-time favorites. As a long-time fan who rarely exaggerates what I like, this says a lot. It goes without saying that this inductee should be spliced into the highlight reel. While it’s incredibly re-playable, I suggest you still save room for dessert.
To Oscar the Grouch and those who say they should close up shop, the instrumental “Corkentails” will force naysayer’s to shut up. It goes to prove that the residual skill left in the till is more than half full.
Paying tribute to another valiant candidate, “10,000 Days” is a fortune cookie from Dr. Fu Manchu himself. It reflects upon a prosperous journey and provides well wishes for the future. In a way, it merits gestures of self-praise. I got chills listening to them put their heartfelt memoirs into this journal entry. Not sure if the chicken or the egg came first, but Tool has curiously assigned their newest chronicles the same name no more than a mere year back. Nevertheless, if I were to have written the petite leaflet nestled within the twisted pastry of this track, I would have told them to pat themselves on the back. This creation constitutes icing on a very prolific cake. The album is cohesive and complete; full of tender moments that are sore to the touch. To purchase this pet is to buy a tragedy. After pining away for the date of its release, I’m already grieving.
To help us cope, they provide their condolences with an encore that ties for the grand prize. This occurs in the waning moments. Hopefully, “It Never Ends” is not the last we ever hear from Sadler. If it is, this conclusive dish of flambéed ambrosia is more appreciated than Banana’s Foster at a reception. They take their most passionate licks and then turn them over in a cocktail of Rice Krispies and kerosene. As if this weren’t already a ceasefire sale where everything must go, they put a Cherry Bomb on top of this tart strudel. With a flick of a lit matchstick, Bottle Rockets and Roman Candles burst from its gut. After raiding their repository in order to blast the ammunition dump, this tune quite righteously begs to be played live with a barrage of awesome sparklers.
Regrettably, the captain has come ashore, which means The Bounty is temporarily in a holding pattern. While the news of his departure could cause a mutiny, this album will satisfy our needs in the meantime. Fortunately, there will be air guitars and even air drums played across the world once fans catch a whiff of this highly flammable substance. As always, Saga is symphonic. Since they are a slim hair under heavy, it’ll appeal to enthusiasts of both rock and metal. All of this is extremely listenable no matter where the anvil falls. Conversely, it’s hardly painful on the ears. Turn this up and revel in this incendiary confetti that’s to an extent reminiscent of Queen.
While this is Michael Sadler’s swan song, there are a couple reasons to be content. First off, he’s leaving us to spend time with his family, which is a noble gesture in and of itself. Secondly, Christian Simpson’s amazing drumming has climbed to the next level. Couple this with Jim Gilmour’s keyboards, Ian Crichton’s guitars and his brother Jim’s bass; you’ve more than compensated for a deficit in any band.
If this weren’t Sadler’s last album, I might be tempted to take a fraction of a point away for a minority of unsatisfactory riffs. Then again, that would be petty. As one of my teachers once told me, nothing is perfect. When grading on a curve, you need to take some existential elements into consideration. For that reason, this requires much better than average marks. A simple pass would be an insult if you ask me. It’s a must-have on the essential scale, and it’s potentially their best album to date. There is nothing more this posse could accomplish. Likewise, Sadler pulls no punches and gives it his all in the final round. This concludes his long-time affair with a googolplex plus one of gaga fans.
The title says it all! Convert the days to years and cross-reference this with Saga’s prosperous career. That’s enough to call this exclamation point and seamless release paradisiacal.
10,000/10
