Search - Saga :: Wildest Dreams

Stripped down Saga

L. Somerville | Kanata, Ontario Canada | 01/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back in '87, I caught 'Only Time Will Tell' on the radio and went out to pick up Wildest Dreams (on vinyl) and really enjoyed it on the first listen. No mean feat as it usually takes a few listens for me to warm up to new material.
Keith Olson, as the producer, allowed the instruments to breathe to give this cd a very lush and warm sounding recording.
Wildest Dreams finds a change in the Saga lineup as Jim Gilmour and Steve Negus are absent. Curt Cress picks up admirably from Steve and provides a break from Steve's hi-hat intensive drumming style. Jim Crichton's nice bass grooves drive a lot of the songs not to be outdone by his brother's amazing and underrated guitar work. The keyboard and vocal work is up to Saga's normal standards - great.
I find the fourth and eighth tracks are the weakest but that is just in comparison to the other strong tracks on the cd.
If you are thinking of starting to pick up Saga material, start with Worlds Apart, Silent Night or Heads or Tails (with apologies to the Behaviour fans - I have yet to pick this up). Definitely, put this cd on your next to-do list."