Clear
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. --ProggnosisMichael Sadler certainly doesn t need to proof anymore that he can sing. We just didn t know if he could sing something else than Saga tracks. And he didn t completely succeed to make me forget his band origin. He sings in a great way, has written some awesome tracks, but the Saga feeling is still present in a lot of the tracks of this album.The guitarsolos are played in a splendid way by Marcus Demi, who, if I m not mistaken, once replaced Ian Crichton, during a Saga tour, when he hurt his fingers. If you can replace the guitar player of Saga, you certainly need to be casted in the same mould. It s just a pitty, he isn t allowed to play some more solos.Some of the tracks are too simple, too poppy and don t leave a lasting impression. But some other tracks are real masterpieces. I have to admit that some of my favourite tracks are the ones with the most Saga influences. I m Not The Enemy is such a little gem. It contains a very strong composition and especially the guitar solo has got me hooked on. Other tracks in that category are amongst others Who s Sorry Now and One Minute .The album also didn t need that many ballads. Michael s voice lends itself perfectly to touch upon a tender string, but he tries it a bit too often.His wife (Gwen) and stepdaughter also contribute their mite from time to time with some backing vocals. The choir brings some extra variation along, but this takes too much of a gospel turn in Who s Fooling Who , still being one of the best tracks of the CD.Half of the tracks were already released on Back To Where You Belong in 1998. The mini album was only available via the Internet at that time. In spite of the difference of six years between the tracks, the album still sounds as if it was recorded during the same period. Maybe the tracks from 1998 are the more Saga feeling songs.Just like with some actors, it s very difficult for Michael, to play another part after all these years with Saga and to make us forget his past. His voice is so undeniably linked with Saga, that everybody will always hear the Saga sound. Even his compositions will always point in that direction. But he certainly recorded a very solid solo album which will be cherished by a lot of Saga fans but also by other music lovers. It s an album which, because of its accessibility, will often leave the closet, maybe even more than the latest Saga. --Prog-noseProgRock Records has pulled a major score here by gaining distribution rights for the new solo album from Saga frontman Michael Sadler. Clear is an enjoyable collection of 12 songs that mix pop, hard rock, and prog into a sound that is fresh and modern, not unlike the music of Saga, but much more accessible and commercial. Taking a look at the photos of Sadler on the CD and you can't help but notice how much older he looks these days (well, the shaved head and the chin scrubble doesn't help), but the singer sounds more at ease with his voice than he has in years. Many of the songs on Clear have melodies that will haunt you and stay with you for hours, maybe days, if you let them. Add in some rock solid music accompanyment, and you have a very strong solo album from a vastly underrated vocalist."Who's Sorry Now" is a bubbly and quirky rocker, very much in the Saga style, that kicks off the album in grand fashion, complete with futuristic synths and power chords, while "Who's Foolin' Who" is a catchy yet emotional tune of a relationship gone bad, highlighted by strong vocals from Sadler, as well as some effective female backing vocals. The same female vocals soar on the pop/R&B; song "Too Much Time on My Hands", a real departure for Sadler, yet it works due to the great melody and chorus. For all you male prog fans who have significant others who detest the genre, play them this song and see then tapping their feet and singing along after a few minutes! "I'm Not the Enemy" is a churning rocker with a great hook, crunchy guitar work, and bubbling synths, following the classic Saga formula, while "Can't Let Go" is a tender ballad that sees Sadler passionately singing about that tortures of dealing with an impending end to a relationship, supported elegantly by some gorgeous acoustic guitar from a fellow named Lino. Futuristic pop and hard rock collide on the intriguing "Lonely", while Sadler gets playful on the crunchy yet classy pop of"One Minute", a song that has early 80's written all over it.If Clear suffers from anything at all, perhaps having a few too many songs might be something to point to. As strong as the first half of the CD is, the latter half tends to lag slightly. "In the Name of Love" and "Why We Lie" are nice enough pop ballads, but both meander a bit into FM adult-contemporary territory. The same can be said for "Surrender Your Heart" and the title track, although that song, as well as "One Heart" at least have some World influences going on that that give them a little Peter Gabriel slant to them. These last few songs kind of act as a water hose to the fiery and shimmering tracks that begin the CD, but in their own right these songs are catchy pop ballads that obviously would be best aimed at Top 40 or Adult Contemporary formats.Saga fans should easily enjoy Clear, as Michael Sadler proves to be in fine form in this more relaxed atmosphere, singing songs that perhaps don't necessarily fit into the Saga canon, but sound just fine here. --Sea of Tranquility