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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great new album..., June 14, 2006
This is really a strong release from the band. I have recently dove "head first" into this band after watching their Silouette DVD...I was hooked to say the least. My first thoughts after watching the dvd was, HEY, this is good stuff and HOW have I not been exposed to this by now (there are very few progressive-rock CDs I don't own or have at least heard). Over the past two months, I have aquired approx. 70% of their releases, with the exception of 'Wildest Dreams', 'Begginer's Guide...', 'Steel Umbrellas', 'Full Circle' and 'Marathon'. Besides their first four releases (which are all essential prog/rock/pop listening), I find their most recent releases most enjoyable--- 'Network', 'House of Cards', and 'Trust'. I also REALLY like 'Behavior'(after repeated listens), and the majority of 'Security of Illusion'. I must also say that I am among the minority who feel that 'Worlds Apart' is NOT their "defining" album, although it IS a great album. As for this release, it will be getting it's "fair share" in my player...many of the songs here will be left "spinning" in your memory/head, most notably, '...as Far as I will Go', 'I'm OK', 'Back to the Shadows', 'Footsteps in the Hall' among others. Be aware, however, that with most Saga albums (and most albums in general), there are usually a couple of "throw-away" tracks...and I feel this release is no exception...however, I would not call "those" tracks bad songs. All in All, I'm quite amazed that an "aging" band could produce an album of this calibur with fresh sounding songs and arrangements and the musicianship that is associated with this band. 'Trust' is strongly recommended and I will personally be awaiting their next release! P.S. I recieved the "limited" version with bonus "making of" DVD which is cool but not essential, as it lasts only 15 minutes or so.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another amazing Saga album, June 1, 2006
Canadian prog rockers Saga have been around for nearly 30 years, and Trust is their brand new album that sees them both perfecting their established sound and adding in new elements. The result is an album rich in melody and dynamic in production. Michael Sadler's vocals are incredible; the man seems to get better and better, while Jim Gilmour absolutely steals the show on keyboards and backing vocals. It's been a long time since he pulled out so many varied sounds out of his keyboard, opting for expressive atmospherics and some of his finest lead work in years.
Joining the band is new drummer Brian Doerner, who does a great job on the melodically driven "Back to the Shadows", which touches on AOR, pop, rock, and even the band's earlier prog releases, with excellently performed multi-vocal harmonies, both guitar and synth solos, and millions of keyboard-generated melodies overdubbed by three of the five members. The piano playing on "I'm OK" is agile and finds Saga going back to their earlier symphonic roots, highlighting Sadler's brilliant vocals. The guitar work on this song recalls Neal Schon on the first Journey album, utilising lots of tapping harmonics that are surrounded by sweet synth tones.
There is so much diversity here. The intense sound effects on "That's As Far As I'll Go"; the blues licks on "Time to Play"; the ballady acoustic number "My Friend" (complete with woodwind players); or the retro-prog heard on "On the Other Side" all contain elements that would normally never be combined on prog albums. But it's the Saga guys' years of experience and ear for melody and arrangement that blends everything together, where heavy, rumbling bass lines are juxtaposed with AOR-tinged vocals, acoustic interludes, and staggering interplay between guitars and keyboards. Aside from these easy-listening yet quite complex numbers, the band also rocks out on the catchy "It's Your Life", marked by a huge chorus that will make for a great live song. "Footsteps in the Hall" is the band's shining moment, as they play at least half a dozen synth melodies interacting with each other, extracting all kinds of sounds and tones, and soloing magically into the stratosphere, yet doing it all without overplaying.
Feel free to add Trust to Saga's consistent back catalog. It's a gem. Also note that the limited edition of the album comes with a DVD of the making of the album.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trust this one, May 24, 2006
The canadian band has done it again. This got to be the best efort since 'Worlds Apart'. The album kicks off with "That's as Far as I Go" with heavy synth lead . "Footsteps " is a flashback of the 'Silent Knight' album, awesome track. "Ice in the Rain " classic Saga keyboard/synth. 'You Were Right' Ian guitar riff is fantastic, great catchy tune.
This is the first Saga album i truly love fron start to end in more than fifteen years. 'Trust' has that old sound that Saga is famous for. This is one of the best progressive rock albums of 2006.
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