Saga, Worlds Apart
Saga has always held a place in my mind as the sad little brother to fellow Canadian bands Rush and Triumph.
This sounds harsh, I’ll admit. But like these groups, Saga is a hard rock outfit from Ontario that incorporated progressive rock and even pop elements in the 1980s. So the comparison is fair.
Saga always seemed a pale imitation of its compatriots—its technical skills never equaled Rush; its hardest edge rarely matched the metal riffs of Triumph (and Rush).
But Saga had two killer tracks that grip me to this day,“Wind Him Up” and “On the Loose,” both of which are on Worlds Apart. Although the cover of the original album is cheesy, the simple design still works for me because of the stark contrast between the two lenses.
Too bad Rush’s album covers were usually better.
posted by David Amulet at
7:30 PM
5 Comments:
I actually thought Triumph were a sad little, distant brother of Rush at best. I don't know what that would make Sage. Actually I have never heard them. For some reason I figured they were an AOR band. Guess I was wrong. I do like the cover well enough though.
I have a friend that saw Saga open for the Moody Blues. He says it was the lamest show ever. The drummer from Saga did some kind of solo that used electronic drums in a suitcase.
Did Icehouse have good album covers?
Saga was a pretty good band and pretty underrated in general. This album was surely their best.
I have been a Saga fan since 1978. In my opinion, they're every bit as good as Rush and far better than Triumpth. Sadly, their music is far from mainstream and that effects their rate of acceptance due to lack of air play. If your a "top 40" person, you probably won't care for them much. If you love prog rock you will. Much of their music (not aired) is brilliant. I don't consider Worlds Apart their best work. Silent Knight, Generation 13, Network and Trust are much better in my opinion. Security of illusion is no slouch either.
About the suitcase... you got the wrong story. Mike Sadler plays the drums in a suitcase along with Steve Negus who plays the real drums behind him. It's sort of slight-of-hand. You see Mike in the light and think that the drummer is actually palying. Then the lights com on Steve and you see him playing the same thing. Then Steve goes off on his own while Mike is still playing, but something entirely different altogether. it culminates in a soft of dueling banjos with drums scenario that is quite entertaining. It's a good show. I've seen them 7 times in concert over the years. If you get the chance - don't miss it.
Guys I think you nuts. I am a serious Rush fan and I can attest Saga are as technically skilled as their more well known brothers. In particular, Ian Crichton (Guitar)may be one of the most skilled guitarists of the century.
Give them a listen and marvel at the technical expertise of the group as they burst into one of their signature intrumental runs where 2 keyboards each try to out-do Ian's guitar. It is fantastic.
Also, Heads or Tales is a better album than Worlds Apart and as far as guitar is concerned stands above almost any other work I have heard in rock music. Give it a listen.
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