Tracklist: Lifeline (5:37), Book Of Lies (5:44), Sideways (4:53), Can’t You See Me Now (6:12), Corkentellis (7:12), More Than I Deserve (5:22), Sound Advice (5:17), 10,000 Days (4:31), It Never Ends (6:10)
Canadian band Saga really doesn’t need any introduction, they’ve been part of the progressive rock scene for nearly thirty years, releasing their debut album in 1978. All their early albums, up to 1983’s Heads Or Tales, were excellent albums filled with modern, sometimes heavy but always catchy progressive rock. I still have fond memories of a concert in the early eighties in Sittard. What a great concert that was! I treasured the tape I had from that show until my girlfriend accidentally recorded something else on it (she’s an ex girlfriend now ;--)). From 1985’s Behaviour things started to go downhill a bit. At first trying a more "commercial" sound and then suffering from line up changes. It resulted in a couple of albums of mixed quality (to put it nicely). From 1999 they released some good albums again. Especially House Of Cards and it’s follow up Marathon. Also last year’s Trust was a fine album.
And now there is studio album number 18. The title, 10,000 Days, refers to the number of days of Saga’s existence. 10,000 Days is going to be a special album in the Saga history regardless of the quality of the music. Singer Michael Sadler announced his departure from the band in July of this year as after nearly thirty years in the band he found it time to shift his focus to other important things in his life and therefore 10,000 Days will be his last album with the band. Although Saga loses an excellent singer I think there is more than enough quality left in this band to have a bright future. 10,000 Days is the living proof of that. The band is in great form on the album.
The first five tracks are all great, great songs and among the best tracks they’ve ever done. I’ve been humming Saga choruses and guitar and keyboard lines for days now. Album opener Lifeline is textbook Saga and the song opens with Jim Gilmour's keyboards before a fantastic riff by guitarist Ian Crichton takes centre stage. The song has a catchy chorus and wonderful guitar and keyboard solos. The same applies for the next song Book Of Lies but that song is even better. It has a chorus to die for - it is one of the choruses that I can’t get out of my head. After the verses of the song we hear those very familiar guitar/keys melodies. After the second chorus there’s a little Gentle Giantish piece before the build up to a BIG guitar solo. Another highlight of the song is Brian Doerner's drumming in the build up to the guitar solo. As the song ends someone is saying “Wow” and I can imagine why. Sideways starts with a guitar/piano melody that again reminds me again of Gentle Giant. It’s more of a straightforward rock song than the previous two. During the break the opening melody returns again with added drums and again the chorus got stuck in my head.
Can’t You See Me Now has Ian Crichton's trademark staccato riffs and big drumming by Brian Doerner and again this song has a great chorus, but the fun really starts during the break. It’s a spectacular almost full on jazz rock piece of instrumental excellence. Again Ian Crichton's guitar playing the same melody as Jim Gilmour's keyboards. It sounds complex but great. Dream Theater would be proud of this.
The real surprise of the album however is the lengthy instrumental Corkentellis. I Googled Corkentellis to find out what it means, but was not successful. Maybe somebody can tell me? Again a spectacular song (there is no other word) that has everything that makes Saga such a good band (minus the vocals). A great main theme, guitar solos and keyboard solos (Jim Gilmour sounds like a real Patrick Moraz here). But there is also room for a short solo by bass player Jim Crichton and a drum solo by Brian Doerner. The song ends with a guitar/keyboards melody before returning to the main theme. Again this song has a jazz rock feel. The song left me speechless. I do not know what the band plans are after Michael Sadler's departure but, if they can’t find a new vocalist, an album of instrumentals of Corkentellis quality would be just fine.
After these five excellent songs the first ballad follows in the form of More Than I Deserve. Now I’ve never been a big fan of Saga ballads as they are often too syrupy to my taste, and it is the same with this song as well. It has a nice guitar solo but that’s not enough to lift this song from mediocrity. With Sound Advice the quality is back to its high level. The title track is the second ballad. It’s a not a bad song but that’s really it. It has some terrible French horn keyboard sounds from Jim Gilmour. The song is a little better than More Than I Deserve, but not much and the lyrics are about Michael Sadler days as member of Saga;
”So many faces.
Now that we’ve seen 10,000 days.
So many places.
As I try to remember all of their names.
One thing’s for certain. I’d do it all again.
With no regrets”.
The album closes on a high with the aptly named ‘It Never Ends’. It’s a good song with a big chorus. In the lyrics Michael Sadler seems to give the fans some encouraging words with:
“Looks to me like you could use a friend
Because everything must change. It never ends
When it does you won’t know where or when
Everything will change. It never ends”.
The song features some high quality solos by Jim Gilmour and Ian Crichton before returning to the final chorus. During the lengthy fade out we can all wave goodbye to Michael Sadler.
This is a marvellous album. I would have happily given this album a 10 out of 10 if it wasn’t for the two weaker tracks. In my opinion 10,000 Days is up there with the best albums from the Saga catalogue. And that is quite an achievement after a thirty year career. It is certainly something for all remaining Saga members and Michael Sadler to be proud of. Saga not only has a great history but 10,000 Days proves that they still have a bright future as well.
Conclusion: 9 out of 10
LEO KOPERDRAAT
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200756.php#saga
Subject: REVIEW 10 000 Days by DPRP 
Sun Oct 21, 2007 1:02 am
That is in fact the signum of Saga and they had never been as good & popular without songs like "Scratching, No regret's, Images, You and the night, or ....what do I know?!! 
