BIG GENERATOR

Yes

Symphonic Prog

2.57 | 1369 ratings

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thehallway
Prog Reviewer

The second-lowest rated Yes album (that Union isn't the first still amazes me, but hey!).

This follow-up is not only four years late, but it sounds about forty-four years dated. Strange, when 90125 was actually quite modern, flashy and cool. There are some neat little songs here but they are unsurprisingly buried amongst the cheesy and cheesier, almost embarrassing cuts, which retain all the warmth of this record's vulgar artwork. Pink and Yellow have never been so obviously juxtaposed! The listener's vomit will be of similar colours....

Now that is harsh because 'Rhythm of Love' is a respectable opener, in the vein of 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' of course. But while this upbeat bundle of catchiness is groovy and dignified, the likes of 'Almost Like Love' are not; this track sounds like the soundtrack of an American movie about some high-school cheerleaders. Come on guys. 'I'm Running' is undoubtedly the prog effort, and this song I love, with it's latin percussion and strangely timed interludes. Compiling this and the quite lovely 'Final Eyes' onto 90125 (while dropping perhaps 'Hold On' and 'City of Love' from that record) would have resulted in a monster 80's prog album, better than anything those neo-recycling-Genesis-bands would come up with. The rest of the songs here are mediocre and forgettable, sharing genuinely good melodies and cringeworthy production in equal measures.

Not for any non-Yes fan of course, Big Generator does have it's moments. They can be found in the first track, and the last three. I will state again that the cover is easily my least favourite from the band, and potentially from music in general. Roger Dean must have been laughing for days.... A high two-stars from me.

thehallway | 2/5 | 2010-11-7

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