THE LADDER

"Homeworld", "It Will Be a Good Day", "To Be Alive", and "Nine Voices" are really all that I enjoy on this album. The rest are either too poppy, too twee, or just too dang annoying. For a Yes album without Rick Wakeman it's actually not too bad. It is certainly miles above TALK, UNION, BIG GENERATOR, OPEN YOU EYES, and 90125. ANd what a wonderful cover! True Yes style! It seems to offer a return to the time in the 70's when Yes was releasing more prog works rather than the Rabinesque offerings of the 80's and 90's. This album, along with MAGNIFICATION and some of the stuff from KEYS TO ASCENSION represent the best of the late work by Yes. 3 stars. About 1/2 good and only some pop.