Clear

Michael Sadler

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 2004)
• Original Release Date: September 7, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ProgRock Records
• ASIN: B0002W1122
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #204,352 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Like most of you, I know Michael Sadler as the lead vocalist of Canadian Prog band Saga. On Clear, Sadler give us 12 of his own compositions.

Do not expect to hear much Saga on this album (or even Prog for that matter). I would qualify the music as Pop/AOR with some soul. If I were to pick a band as a reference point, it would be Tears For Fears. A song like "Woman in Chains" would not have been out of place on Clear.

Most of the tracks on Clear are up-tempo, but there are also a few very good ballads that somewhat remind me of Gino Vanelli. All the songs are very good and they showcase Sadler's incredible voice. This is a voice I have known for many years, but I can say I really discovered it for the first time on Clear. I guess the music style on Clear fits it better, because it took that album to make me realise that Michael Sadler has one of the purest, most powerfull and emotional voice out there.

I have no hesitation in recommending this album to lovers of good Pop/AOR. Fans of Saga with an open mind should also consider Clear as a must have. --Proggnosis

Product Description

Since 1978 Michael Sadler has fronted one of the most interesting and enduring bands in prog, namely Saga. As the "voice" of Saga, fans have long hungered for a solo album for Michael, and in 1998 he put out "Back Where You Belong" which was a very limited, online only release. Now in 2004 Michael has finished his latest album "Clear" which has him working with a variety of guests and tackles the keyboards alongside Thomas Schmitt-Zijnen. "Clear" is a combination of revamped material from "Back Where You Belong" and newer songs, and is a deeply personal work for Michael. There are songs here that will resonate with you in a very personal way, and there are songs you will want to sing along with. The music will appeal to fans of Saga, but without sounding like another Saga album. You also get a chance to hear Michael sing in ways you've haven't heard before, like quietly with a nylon Guitar, and with very interesting vocal arrangements and harmonies. This album has something for almost everyone, it has been a long time in the making and isn't something to be missed.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PHENOMENAL SOLO RELEASE!!!, September 11, 2004

By	Soundwave (North America) - See all my reviews

I received the "Standard Edition" of CLEAR yesterday, the first thing you'll notice is the printing company did the label upside down, basically that is the ONLY problem you will find with this CD. The booklet includes lyrics and has some really nice photos of Michael and it's all layed out very well.

I will give a track by track breakdown and thoughts on each:

01) Who's Sorry Now: I think this is a really good album opener, as a Saga fan I couldn't help but think of "Welcome to the Zoo" where Michael once again on this track sings about a "Sally" and also a "Danny"... it kinda has the same feel not musically but lyrically how he's talking about a Sally, Suzy, Larry, Peggy, Annie, Bobby, Johnny... and so on! OK enough about the lyrical references this is a good song with a very nice chorus.

02) Who's Foolin' Who: This song starts out with some nice acoustic playing, a fairly slow track that explodes with a choir, who trade vocals with Michael... "We scream in silence" ... "Why do we scream in silence?" and on.. very nice!

03) Too Much Time On My Hands: No, it's not a cover of the famous Styx tune, it's a completely original Michael Sadler song. It starts out with a young choir, and has the adult choir again trading off vocals with Michael, and the young choir weaves in and out of the song. It's a very well constructed tune.

04) I'm Not The Enemy: A lot of songs on this album remind me of Saga's "Behaviour" and "Steel Umbrellas" album material, this is one of them. There's a fast singing part in the middle in which Michael sings an obscenity "idontknowhati'mf******saying", but actually it's muffled out, I suppose they did this so the album wouldn't get a "Parental Advisory" warning sticker. I read somewhere this track will be featured on a sampler put inside Progression Magazine's Fall 2004 issue, great!

05) Can't Let Go: What can I say about this track, very lovely. This song really tugs at the heart, Michael's vocals often can do that... especially on songs like this. This track reminds me of a Richard Marx tune that I can't put a name too, nevertheless it's really good!

06) Lonely: I like it, you will too!

07) One Minute: Quite possibly the strongest track on the album. This is a great song, if there were any justice in the world this song would be playing on every radio station on the planet.

08) In The Name Of Love: From the strongest track to what I hear on this album as being the weakest. It's got a good message, some emotion... but there's something missing.

09) Why We Lie: Beautiful track, wonderful emotion in the chorus, which is the best part of this track!

10) One Heart: Not bad, but not the best this album has to offer, I don't really like how this track flows. It is well written though like most of the material on Clear.

11) Surrender Your Heart: At 6:19, this is the longest track on Clear... and yes it's a really good track!!

12) Clear: This track starts with a bang of thunder... through out the song you will hear the thunder re-appear. It's a very personal track as is the whole album from what I have come to understand. This track was a perfect way to end this album, it has a nice little guitar solo at the end too.

OVERALL: An excellent album that almost anyone who likes smartly contructed music with smooth vocals and lyrics will surely want to add this one to their collection.

BUY THIS ALBUM IF YOU LIKE: Saga, U2, Bono, Sting, Simple Minds, Phil Collins, Richard Marx, Crowded House, Paul McCartney and so on.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't worry, March 29, 2005

By	R. Corin "moonstudio" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was hooked the first time I ever saw "Careful Where You Step" on MTV a long, long time ago. I've followed Saga ever since, sometimes overwhelmed, sometimes not so much. I was very interested when I first became aware of "Clear", but I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive when I saw the photos of Michael with some lines in his face and gray in the stubble on his chin. But then I listened to the CD. Don't worry. The mightiest tenor in all of rock hasn't lost a thing over the years. This album is somewhat like Saga from the later years... plus. Vocals, harmony, melody, writing, instrumentals, extremely high production values - it's all there, and the added kick of having Michael bare his soul about things obviously dear to him. Yes, there is definitely a style, a sound, to his comositions, but if you've ever liked anything he's done, this CD is well worth the purchase.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great job Sadler, February 10, 2005

By	TRW (San Bernardino, Ca.) - See all my reviews

If you like Saga, you are going to love this. The power & drive of Saga is all there. One of the best rock cds I've heard in a while. YYAAA!!!

TRW