90125

After the debacle called 'Tormato', the band needed a shot of new blood. In came Horn and Downes, out came 'Drama'. An album that just breathed new life into a band slowly deflating and becoming an also-ran. Okay, now what? How does one progress? How about if we disband and form another band with a whole bunch of new guys? Wait, why not just throw away some old baggage, bring in a new songwriter/guitarist and call it YES. AHHH, vunderbar! Folks, please use an open mind. The band was running out of ideas. 'Tormato' just about buried the band. 90125, taken as a whole is what progression is all about. Sure, it's not 'Close To The Edge', it's not 'Fragile', that was another era. The boys found out that with a little help, (Mr Rabin) they can come up with some inspired play. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" , "Changes", "Leave It" all stick in your head for days. And if you listen closely, you'll hear that touch of 70's prog. It's just sheened for 80's ears. Anyway, the instrumental "Cinema" is a throwback and the last song, "Hearts" has all the elements of classic YES, but with that 80's sheen. Why would any musician with any kind of talent want to record the same old thing over and over? The wouldn't, they couldn't. Not if they care. 90125 is fantastic piece of music. Masterpiece? Maybe not on a website that focuses on a particular sound and if said piece of music doesn't adhere to 'that' sound, it's not prog. But I'll be damned if this one is not classified as excellent. And it is.