Customer Reviews

The Beginner's Guide To Throwing Shapes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From the first time I ever heard Saga's "Humble Stance", in 1976 or 1977, I was amazed by the particular sound they had and still have. And until this day I don't think that there is a band with such a sound, although there are a few bands that do have similar aspects in their way of making music. Saga's lead singer, Michael Sadler is one of the distinguishing parts in the whole, not to mention certain synth sounds and the use of so many different synths through their albums. This album, with it's peculiar title, is showing us a refreshed recognition of all those ingredients, layered over beautiful compositions which are nicely produced. The overall sound quality was not bad at all on the first pressing of this CD, but this new edition really is the better one. Some extra's on the disc are nice to have but the essence of Saga's music and the recognizable musical quality - and the pleasure that the makers state to the listeners - is what counts. Refreshed, that is.

This is not Saga's best or worst cd. It does have some worthy songs on it, however. The best songs on it are How Do I look, Odd Man Out, Giant, Sarting all over, Shape, and Scarecrow. This version definitely has better sound on it then previous version( It's remastered). The bonus track is Framed live which is the same version as is on Detours live cd.It has the best remastering job done on it of the 4 remasters I have so far gotten. It's not a great cd but does have some worthy songs on it.

This album is not their best, but not bad either. People say this is their return to their early progressive roots... I say that's about 50% right. I think it is a good transition from their previous album (Wildest Dreams, their most commercial album and not one of my favorites) to the next album (The security of Illusion, one of my personal favorites, and a good combination of their progressive roots with their new found modern style).

It's a great attempt, but the band is never the same without drummer Steve Negus and keyboardist/vocalist/clarinet player Jim Gilmour.

I'm a big Saga fan and this is definitely another fine CD in their long great career. They shrunk to a 3 piece band in the late 80s but it is still a great CD. I was always afraid of buying this one because it followed the awful Wildest Dreams CD. That one was pathetic adult contemporary soft hits slop. Shapes is a vast improvement and returns to their true sound.

Looking at some of the scores for this cd, I felt compelled to write and give this particular cd a review. It seems to be a cd forgotten by the band and also many fans.

This cd is when Saga was a three piece band. Jim Gilmour (main keyboardist) and Steve Negus (drummer) were not in the band at the time. Know that although Gilmour is one of the greatest keyboardists of all time this album does not suffer for lack of keyboards/synths.

I remember discovering this cd. It was in a time when I thought Saga was done. They stopped releasing cds in America after Wildest Dreams (1987). This cd only got a European Release....until it was remaster a few years ago. Back in this day the internet was not there to research these things. Well, I found out about this cd and two others (The Works and Security of Illusion) after they were already released and purchased them as imports. I promptly bought all three cds starting with The Works which was a two disc greatest hits package that included two songs off of this cd (the best two in my opinion): Starting All Over and As I am. That cd also had three other songs I had not heard before only available there. But when I heard these two tracks I was like....where do I get Beginners Guide? It is a great cd.....has that sound that Saga was famous for in the 80's much like Wildest Dreams...another favorite of mine.

Beginners Guide has a lot of Synths on it. After purchasing Beginners Guide and then Security of Illusion I noticed that Saga went to a more hard rock sound. Their new cds while still good were more guitar heavy. Saga really only strayed from the harder sound for one more cd (Steel Umbrellas). Personally I loved the experimental sound of this cd....you will hear the Banjo on this cd on the track Giant......yes A BANGO, but it is great. I got into Saga because of their keyboard/synth sound. At this time Saga still seemed concerned with having hits. Later Saga went on to create some cds that really were harder edged and with no concern for making the radio. I love the mix here and recommend this cd to fans of Saga's 80's music. You will not find a better set of musicians anywhere on the planet in my opinion.

To me this album needed to be re-titled Wildest Dreams Part 2. It's ok. It does have some good songs: How Do I look, Giant, As I Am. But it has one of the worst songs in the history of time. I present to you The Nineties. The sound is identical to Wildest Dreams and so are the songs. I own the original version so I can't comment on the remaster deal but as far as the song quality... it's kinda lame.

Better than some saga albums, not as good as others but its cool and ther remaster sounds good. My gripe is the changes and deletions in the artwork. I have 3 photos on mine that are gone in this version, not to mention they covered up part of the title with the album name which was not there before.

These guys simply rule! Every time I hear this record, and their previous ones, I cannot believe that they were moronically overlooked in the States. This is not surprising w/ the [messed] up priorities that MTV left the the youth of the U.S. Unfortunately for the kiddies today, looks, rather than talent are what make a great band- poor, sad, shallow and misguided generation. Whatever.
"Beginner's..." has some gorgeous heartfelt songs notibly "As I Am" "Odd Man Out" and "Giant." "Shape" has a sort of "Thunderstruck"(AC/DC) riff that really rocks. "How Do I Look," "Starting All Over," "Scarecrow'" and "Waiting in the Wings" are classic Saga. The only problem w/ this record is a song called "The Nineties." The record would've been way stronger if this was left off and put on a b-side. However on the strength of the rest of the album, it definitely deserves 5 stars.

I bought this record when it first came out. Didn't like it then...and don't like it now.