Yes apreciation thread..

cacho wrote: TGM: Orb wrote: In my personal opinion (changed from last week after a relisten or two):5 Stars - Close To The Edge, Tales From Topographic OceansClose To The Edge is the perfect example of studio dedication to getting an album just right. Anderson's lyrics reach the level of enjoyable, and he and the band do not make the mistake of throwing in tacky attempts at ideas.It was the perfect introduction to Yes for me, and, in my opinion, their best effort that I've heard.Tales From Topographic Oceans really showcases the experimental side and the musicianship of Yes. White provides a couple of superb drum solos, and the opener is one of the greatest tracks ever recorded. A couple of weak spots, but they can be overlooked in context, I think.Not recommended for a starter, since I hated it until I got into the right mindframe to listen to it as a whole. The remaster's a little annoying, since you have to dash to the CD player to avoid the damn bonus auditions on the end.4 Stars - Going For The One, Fragile3 Stars - The Yes Album, RelayerI'll expand later. Yeah I'm quite jelous of your reviews... But The Yes Album a 3 star? I'll read your review...

I'll write my review... eventually. Busy with giving a truly excessive amount of stars to Crimson albums at the moment.

I do enjoy The Yes Album on every listen, and I like the fairly accessible style, and there are no major let-downs, but there are no tracks that *really* standout to me, like, say, South Side Of The Sky and Mood For A Day on Fragile, or all of Close To The Edge, or The Revealing Science Of God and Nous Sommes Du Soleil on Tales From Topographic Oceans.

I think the reason nothing stands it is: it basically feels to me like the band wasn't quite sure as to where they wanted to go with it. You have otherwise classy tracks like Yours Is No Disgrace ruined by so many vocal repeats. On Perpetual Change, for instance, there are a lot of blunt 'thubs' that don't really seem to be there for a good reason. They don't seem to have the arranging prowess yet that is part of the classic Yes formula. I can understand why some people would really like it, but it's never going to escape the bound of 'good' for me. Some great moments, loads of potential, but nothing that really grips me and keeps my interest throughout.

Following CTTE I put on Tales just to give it another chance.  I have only been able to enjoy the second half, and even then I was still a bit iffy on it.  TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT THOUGH! I love friggin' TALES! My god, what have I been missing out on! Everything on that album is glorious.  The keyboard solos, Howe's wonderful harmonic phrasing and progressions,  Jon's strange lyrics and vocals.  Alan White brings it to the table too.  I mean I liked the guy before, but on this album he shows he is just as good a drummer as Bruford and now one really needed to worry about his departure.

I'm particularly fond of Howe's classical guitar on The Ancients, myself. One of the many highlights of yon album.

Hm. Just going by 5 songs.

1. South Side Of The Sky, not only is it *utter perfection*, but I can also identify with it more than I'd like to.
2. The Revealing Science Of God (Such a stunning opening)
3. You And I. I don't know quite why, but this struck me more than either of the other CTTE songs.
4. America (Long version). 100% bow to a progressive band brave enough to do an absolutely classic cover of a Simon And Garfunkel Song.
5. Mood For A Day. Should I give this award to a 3 minute classical guitar solo? Why not?

6 would be Siberian Khatru, 7 Would probably be The Ancients, despite that random vocal section.

mmm, not sure about their take on 'America' It's always left me cold. They seem to have stripped away all the feeling from the song. On the original the music compliments the melancholy of the lyrics. It's not clear why they bothered to cover it. Thats just my opinion..

NaturalScience wrote: BroSpence wrote: Following CTTE I put on Tales just to give it another chance.  I have only been able to enjoy the second half, and even then I was still a bit iffy on it.  TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT THOUGH! I love friggin' TALES! My god, what have I been missing out on! Everything on that album is glorious.

ditto on the clappies... Tales is a fabulous album... the high point for Yes for me. It is ot as accessible as their other classic albums are, and that taken with the bad rep given it.  It is an easy album to just sluff off.  Giving it the extra time to grow on you.. to connect ...is so very important with that album.  The Ancient was a track I really did not like as I got into the album... but over time ..it clicked.. and has become THE standout track on that album for me.

NaturalScience wrote: Here's my appreciation of Yes, which I have stated several times on this forum:  in my prog searches, I have yet to find a band with the excellence of output that Yes produced from 1970-1977.  I have made excellent finds on this site; indeed, the entire Canterbury genre is a gold mine, but to me Yes is the prog pinnacle.  I enjoy all the albums from that period every bit as much as I did when I discovered them close to 20 years ago.

TGM: Orb wrote: Hm. Just going by 5 songs.1. South Side Of The Sky, not only is it *utter perfection*, but I can also identify with it more than I'd like to.2. The Revealing Science Of God (Such a stunning opening)3. You And I. I don't know quite why, but this struck me more than either of the other CTTE songs.4. America (Long version). 100% bow to a progressive band brave enough to do an absolutely classic cover of a Simon And Garfunkel Song.5. Mood For A Day. Should I give this award to a 3 minute classical guitar solo? Why not?6 would be Siberian Khatru, 7 Would probably be The Ancients, despite that random vocal section.

oh great I thought I was the only one that The Ancient was rather weak cause the vocals, but I really think that Jon's voice in Relayer(album) is much weaker, not awful but barely the classic Jon's lovely voice.

NaturalScience wrote: cacho wrote: oh great I thought I was the only one that The Ancient was rather weak cause the vocals, but I really think that Jon's voice in Relayer(album) is much weaker, not awful but barely the classic Jon's lovely voice. Gee. I like all the vocals in the Ancient - especially the last section (i.e. "And I heard a million voices singing). I also think his work on Relayer is brilliant - you think the vocals on "Soon" are weak? Maybe his most moving performance, I think (always brings a tear to my eye).

Oh, but I'm saying overall! They're rather low pitched than his lovely refined voice...

micky wrote: NaturalScience wrote: BroSpence wrote: Following CTTE I put on Tales just to give it another chance.  I have only been able to enjoy the second half, and even then I was still a bit iffy on it.  TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT THOUGH! I love friggin' TALES! My god, what have I been missing out on! Everything on that album is glorious. ditto on the clappies...

..and a second ditto!  Great to hear you've had your moment, wonderful record

prog4evr wrote: p0mt3 wrote: Relayer is the best thing Ye sever managed to make. CttE is overrated greatly, everything else is hit or miss with me.... I think everything between Fragile and Relayer (including those albums themselves) is the material that everyone should remember and treasure, because it all went downhill from there, unfortunately. Agree with everything above, except...Awaken on GFTO! Perhaps the only redeeming thing Yes did post-Relayer!

gees how about the supreme Drama!!! Such an album that IMO it can reach Relayers magnitude, a pitty for the vocals it could have been another classic and I now I would listen to it much more frequently!
How about The Yes Album, Yes, both awsome albums one better than another but still, great organ playing from Tony.

NaturalScience wrote: cacho wrote: oh great I thought I was the only one that The Ancient was rather weak cause the vocals, but I really think that Jon's voice in Relayer(album) is much weaker, not awful but barely the classic Jon's lovely voice. Gee.  I like all the vocals in the Ancient - especially the last section (i.e. "And I heard a million voices singing).  I also think his work on Relayer is brilliant - you think the vocals on "Soon" are weak?  Maybe his most moving performance, I think (always brings a tear to my eye).

That last section - Leaves of Green, or whatever it's called - always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside ; same goes for And You And I.  I've never understood the mixed opinions on Anderson's voice...he obviously doesn't have insane range like Hammill or Walsh, but damn his voice is what heaven sounds like.  I remember not being particularly impressed with his range but when I REALLY paid attention to Close to the Edge and Heart of the Sunrise, he hits some really tricky spots and extreme highs too.  So yea, I basically like all his vocals PERIOD; I could probably go on all night talking about Yes but I'll spare it this time...

Edited by jimmy_row - March 29 2008 at 22:23