Album number 11 from Canada’s greatest exponents of Prog rock, Saga. Although I do find it hard to pigeon hole them with a label, because they tend to float around style-wise. Plus, this album is a concept album, and is all over the map. Each song is joined together with strange interludes to carry on the tale that is told. This album came out in ’95, right in the middle of grunge-arama, so to come out with a progressive concept record was about as popular as a fart in a space suit. Thank god for Germany as they seemed to accept it with open arms, but then again the Germans have always had a soft spot for the band.
I’m a sucker for a concept album, especially with lots of weird connecting musical pieces and this fits right into that box. There are some killer songs, as you would expect. The Cross is trademark Saga. It has the killer Ian Crichton guitar, with a quirky groove and matching hook and chorus. The Learning Tree is superb with a great choppy riff and groove, and I love the guitar sound, it’s one of those songs that only Saga could do. My Name Is Sam is a song you could imagine Peter Gabriel doing, as it has that Sledgehammer vibe. My favourite tune is Screw ‘Em, a song that you would expect Saga to do. A very busy guitar riff and melody with suitable Ian Crichton wizardry on the guitar.
I’m not sure if the band ever played this in its entirety live, but if they ever decide to, I would love to see it.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
