90125

This was the "great" comeback album from Yes that basically alienated most of their original fan base. Although its nice to know that a band of such high caliber finally got the attention they deserved, this was definitely not the sound most of us were hoping to hear.

Make no mistake about it, 90125 is a solid AOR album of its time. Unfortunately, much like Asia and other '80s reincarnations of classic prog acts from the '70s, this album feels extremely dated and will therefore only appeal to a selected few who enjoy this '80s-flavored sound. I'm definitely not one of these people which meant that I had to simply take it like a man and suffer through it. There is very little progressive rock music on this album and everyone who would tell you otherwise are simply lying in order to justify their guilty pleasures.

I know that most people blame this whole change of direction on Trevor Rabin, but anyone who has heard Going For The One and Tormato will know what some commercial exposure could do to this band. It's not like Rabin was one of the core members that should have known better. Jon Anderson, Chris Squire and Alan White should have been experienced enough to spot similarities of what was about to unfold, but instead chose to carry on as if everything was hunky dory. I guess that it kind of was.

If you're, like me, a fan of the '70s sound and can't handle the cheesy '80s production, then make sure to stay away from this release. 90125 might not be a completely dismissable album, but I lack anything that would make it anything more than a collectors/fans only release.

**** star songs: Owner Of A Lonely Heart (4:27) Changes (6:16) Cinema (2:09)

*** star songs: Hold On (5:15) It Can Happen (5:39) Our Song (4:16) Hearts (7:34)

** star songs: Leave It (4:10) City Of Love (4:48)