Yes - The Quest

So basically, The Quest makes Big Generator sound like Relayer!

I have listened to the full album(on cd)once so far. I'm not quite sure what to think yet. It's not horrible but it will either have to really grow on me or I will have to consider it one of Yes's three or four weakest albums ever(which it might very well be). I liked the opening track a lot and there were a few other good moments(especially in the keyboard department and maybe in the guitar departement too)but not much really jumped out at me or grabbed me. 

lazland wrote: richardh wrote: Its not a terrible album. The opening track is the only real 'keeper' though and intriguingly Francis Monkman (ex Curved Air and Sky) gets a writing credit. After that it's not very interesting. When the band released the opening track on YouTube, the somewhat anal online prog world went all a Twitter (groan) after Downes said that he had dug out some old demo tracks of his from the late seventies committed to tape and never heard of since that day. The prog detectives found out that the music on the tapes belonged to Mr Monkman, not Mr Downes. Cue some embarrassing clarifications, apologies, and writing credit to Mr Monkman. I do think that Downes made a genuine mistake as opposed to nicking the stuff, but I can’t imagine Obergruppenfuhrer Howe being terribly pleased with this “publicity”. I found this amusing nonsense to be of far more interest than the album itself.

Admittedly expectations were already set pretty low but this new record barely even hits that bar. 

earlyprog wrote: Cboi Sandlin wrote: I would disagree with you guys on this one, I found it to be a very good album, probably the best record yes has made since The Ladder. I think it is a step in a new direction for the band that I find quite enjoyable. Jon Davidson seems to be getting more confidence as a vocalist. It seems to me like he not trying as hard to sound like Jon Anderson and is actually getting a voice of his own. As well I find that the use of orchestral arrangements gives this album it’s own unique sound that is unlike any other Yes album. I know they have used orchestral arrangements before, but this time I think the way they used it was unique from their previous efforts. In my opinion I think this is a super high quality yes album, I would probably give it 4- 4.5 stars ⭐️. Excellent album in my view. Agreed (well, not higher than 3½-4 stars). It's a grower. Really enjoy Howe's work (some of his best !) and Davison's work as well. Overall the album reminds me of Magnification, though not as good.  Still cannot listen to H&E although I try every 2½ years or so.

^ I'm afraid I'm not particularly romantic about the vinyl thing, though I do apreciate the idea, nor much of an audiophile, so I actually rather got it on CD (I did get a turntable, a rather basic one, but as it is, the speed needs to be calibrated to get it right, and I found that I would never be able to do it perfectly, so I rather prefer to hear it on a format in which I know the speed will be right by default). And I did just bought the album on Amazon, though I ordered it many months ago, only it arrived with an aunt in USA, and only just got a chance of someone bringing it to me. Though it turned out it was even available in the local store for a time, yet very expensive (imports have been way too expensive around here latley).

earlyprog wrote: It's a grower. Really enjoy Howe's work (some of his best !) and Davison's work as well. Overall the album reminds me of Magnification, though not as good.  Still cannot listen to H&E although I try every 2½ years or so.

Edited by Cristi - October 10 2021 at 10:38

^ Yeah, I just heard them both (once) and indeed the one that is more worth listening is The Red Planet. I still have to listen to them more times, though. And Anderson's 1000 hands album was also very nice. I still have to listen to Howe's one. But it still shows that Yes needs to come back together, they need to do something together again.