90125

I last rated AWBH with two stars and I'd like to continue by saying that this (for progheads very controversial) pop album is much dearer to me! Though simply because it was among my first "favourite" albums (owned by my brother or sister) in my early teens before I started to buy my own vinyls - starting with Marillion, by the way. 90125 works pretty well in its own style, which naturally has very little to do with any YES music before it. It would be unfair to use that fact against the album.

I don't like to call this a prog album. I'd call it radio-friendly mainstream pop/rock of its time but with prog elements, no doubt. The same way as RUSH or SAGA albums of that era. The main reason why it's so different from earlier YES (even from Drama) is guitarist Trevor Rabin whose contribution to this music is very crucial. But enough of general speculations. What do I like in this album?

First, it's so energetic and bright that it's hard not to take some (guilty) pleasure of it. 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' took Yes into charts and even to the MTV. It's nearly a perfect pop song, as is e.g. 'Advice For The Young At Heart' by Tears For Fears, though I like the latter more. Anyway the guitar sound and the rhythm section are very enjoyable. 'Hold On' is not among my favourite tracks but 'It Can Happen' is interesting. Side One ends with a highlight, dark- toned 'Changes' featuring Rabin as the main vocalist. Prog-rock meets hard rock ballad.

Second side includes five tracks, two of them my least favourites and the closest to irritating techno-pop, 'Leave It' and 'City Of Love'. The first one is still quite listenable. Maybe funny but perhaps I like most on the whole album the short instrumental 'Cinema' (named after the proposition for the alternative group name). What a ride in just two minutes! 'Our Song' is a bright, fast pop song and very uplifting. Another highlight besides 'Changes' is 'Hearts', the longest track (7:34). I love the dreamy ending ("... I see the stars blow one by one...") but maybe the song is a bit too stretched by solos and choruses following each other.

A nice proggy pop album from 1983. I spoke of it very friendly, but lets' be realistic: most likely you'll hate it if you're a YES-fan and a proghead and you listen to this album for the first time.