Released: May 2009
Prog veterans Saga almost made it during the 1980s, becoming massive superstars in Puerto Rico of all places before record company interference made them take an abrupt turn into pop territory that led to failure and a career that then plateaued for a while before all but conking out. Nonetheless, the band continues to plug away, and anyone with an ear for tasteful, melodic progressive rock should have at least one Saga album. For those who haven't really followed the career of this near-40 year old band, stylistically these guys fall somewhere in between that of Kansas and late-80s Rush. Or to put it another way, strip away the metallic guitars and epic arrangements from Dream Theater and Saga is what you get.
The Human Condition is their twentieth album, and kicks off with a throwback to the sci-fi inspired sound of their earliest work as meandering guitar lines meet up with robotic vocals low in the mix. "Step Inside" is heavier, with a pronounced Dream Theater-like vibe given emphasis by the vocals of newcomer Rob Moratti, whose style is markedly different from those of Michael Sadler and does indeed have a James LaBrie-esque quality. "Now is Now" and "Let it Go" have a similar DT feel, whereas the laidback MOR of "Hands of Time" could be from the Toto catalogue. The more progressive "Avalon" has some cool synth/guitar interplay and "Crown of Thorns" sounds almost angry, with Moratti adding a slight edge to his voice. On the pop-laced final track, "You Look Good to Me", Saga sound like no one more than a Collins-led Genesis, with an almost danceable hook. Throughout Ian Crichton and Jim Gilmour pull off some stunning work; Crichton's soloing in "Avalon" and particularly "Now is Now" is nothing short of amazing. Brian Doerner's somewhat pedestrian drumming lets the side down a little. The man is no Portnoy or Peart and isn't really a match for the virtuosity of Saga's other members.
In spite of that mild criticism, Saga has created a solid and enjoyable piece of melodic progressive rock with The Human Condition, an album that both sits alongside their extensive catalogue and marks something of a new beginning, a surprising move for a band with a majority of guys in their early sixties to make but one they've been able to pull off.
- The Human Condition
- Step Inside
- Hands of Time
- Avalon
- A Number With a Name
- Now is Now
- Let it Go
- Crown of Thorns
- You Look Good to Me
Rating: 78%
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