BIG GENERATOR

Strange album this one. So many different ratings (lots of 1 star as well as 4 or even 5; meaning that it is a masterpiece) ! It seems that according your YesBackground you would like it or hate it. Since I am a passionate YesFan since 1973 (aged 14) I belong to the the latter category. The only positive point are the vocal arrangements which are quite good. Apart from that, I would say that this album is on par with "Abacab" and that the YesBottom here is reached. The problem is that we are at the start of an awful trilogy of YesStudio albums.

The intro for the title track sounds hard-rocking with some reminiscence of "Owner", but the chorus is quite awful. "Shoot High, Aim Low" is a long and boring number. Almost no rythm and again very, very poor chorus. The last part is dreadful. "Almost Like Love" is more to be hated than loved. Again, another attempt to hard-rock but it is really a ridiculous number. "Love Will Find A Way" is an AOR ballad. The first listenable track of the album (do not expect a jewel though). "Final Eyes" is the best song of this album. At times, we hear the Yes that most of us once loved. "I'm Running" reminds me a bit some songs from "90125" because of short Oriental sections. But globally this track stinks. "Holy Lamb" is a candid song with stupid lyrics, I quote : "At the start of every day, A child begins to play, And all we need to know, Is that the future is a friend of yours and mine". This shows Jon's attempt to reach his peace of mind trying to convinced the world that love is the key to all of our problems. As far as I remember, peace & love started in 1967 and ended in 1969. My only "Wholy Lamb" lies down on Broadway, on Broadway.

"90125" showed definitely a drastic change in the YesOrientation but it did contain some good numbers which is absolutely not the case here. I am not against evolution in the live of a band. Others did that reaching the highs in the new genre they were approaching (Bowie for instance; but I'll discuss this when he will be available for reviews; which will soon take place I guess). Stay away from this album. BY ALL MEANS. One Star.