I would like to know how people feel about Yes. More of an open discussion rather than have to focus on one single thing.

For example, How do people feel about their first two (In my opinion excellent) albums? or how do people feel about Topographic? What Yes albums do you consider "Masterpieces"? (And what do you think are crap for that matter)

I've never seen a thread that wasn't focused on something in particular, so I thought this would be a good idea. Thanks in advance for your thoughts, I'll read them all

glass house wrote: Tried them over and over again, nothing much, I don't know what i don't like about them. Listened to the music and thought about , but i still don't know. Sorry

Hmmm, What have you heard by the band?

i liek some yes...uh...what exactly do we talk about in here? all i can hear arae the inevitable "i think yes is cool!" -s and the "yes sucks"" -s responses...

what's the starting topic?

well for me

tell me why i don't like any yes other than CTTE, Relayer, Fragile, Yes album, and a little of 90215 (or whatever the numbers are).

and um...yes is cool

I like the music- but its so very hard for me to like to vocals- Anderson (thats his name right?) sounds border-line womanish to me.

Winter Wine wrote: Wow not many people dig the Yes men. Or they're all in hiding

Or they have all seen too many Yes threads

Still, I like the topic. For me, any Yes album from the first album till Tormato (including that one) is more or less a masterpiece. Anderson's melodies are always strong, and there's always a lot happening musically. Yes, Time and A Word, The Yes Album, Relayer and Going For The One are highly energetic, and the time span from The Yes Album till Drama (including) Yes was a very innovating band.

I don't dislike or like Anderson's voice, it's okay with me, and I feel the same about the lyrics.

Although I'm a big Buggles fan, Drama doesn't work for me, except Tempus Fugit. I do think it's a very progressive record.

From the later stuff I only think 90125 and Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe are masterpieces: they are truly progressive and really "happening": highly energetic, good melodies, production and playing. I don't like the other albums, except some songs on Big Generator and Talk in particular, and the live tracks from Keys To Ascension. The Magnification tour was brilliant though.

About the playing: Yes always had very good or even brilliant instrumentalists. Only younger people like Billy Sherwood and Tom Brislin leave me indifferent.

Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Tried them over and over again, nothing much, I don't know what i don't like about them. Listened to the music and thought about , but i still don't know. Sorry Hmmm, What have you heard by the band?

Close to the edge, fragile, The yes album, enough to have a true opinion. I should like them.

validictorian wrote: Drew wrote: I like the music- but its so very hard for me to like to vocals- Anderson (thats his name right?) sounds border-line womanish to me. That's one of the reasons I like them. His voice almost sounds otherworldly. Like it belongs in the artwork found on the album cover. One of the reasons I like King Crimson's Lizard is for his guest vocal on Prince Rupert.

I found andersons vocals to be an aquired taste. Now I also feel they are angelic and otherwordly. Same with the lyrics. They may be gibberish, but I think of them as imagery type songwriting.

validictorian wrote: Well as a matter of fact I do lilke the Yes men. Their first two albums (to me anyway) were kind of like the tip of the iceberg. Just a tease as to what was coming. From The Yes Album thru Relayer I was hooked. The Roger Dean covers down to what we called the Yes changes, when they would totally change the whole structure of a song in midstream, captivated me. But then I lost interest and would be hard pressed to say much about their work after that. They are still a band I go to see (when they tour). And I would have to say they are in the top five of all prog bands in my book.

Oh wow cool a Yes fan, I think the first two of their records are criminally under-rated. I love all the albums you mentioned, But only up to Relayer? What about Going for the one? Or Magnification?

Moogtron III wrote: Winter Wine wrote: Wow not many people dig the Yes men. Or they're all in hiding Or they have all seen too many Yes threads Still, I like the topic. For me, any Yes album from the first album till Tormato (including that one) is more or less a masterpiece. Anderson's melodies are always strong, and there's always a lot happening musically. Yes, Time and A Word, The Yes Album, Relayer and Going For The One are highly energetic, and the time span from The Yes Album till Drama (including) Yes was a very innovating band. I don't dislike or like Anderson's voice, it's okay with me, and I feel the same about the lyrics. Although I'm a big Buggles fan, Drama doesn't work for me, except Tempus Fugit. I do think it's a very progressive record. From the later stuff I only think 90125 and Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe are masterpieces: they are truly progressive and really "happening": highly energetic, good melodies, production and playing. I don't like the other albums, except some songs on Big Generator and Talk in particular, and the live tracks from Keys To Ascension. The Magnification tour was brilliant though. About the playing: Yes always had very good or even brilliant instrumentalists. Only younger people like Billy Sherwood and Tom Brislin leave me indifferent.

Well Andersons vocals are unique, they are so beautiful and him AND Squire were the vocal kings! But I like your love for their records, that's cool. I think there is a big backlash against Yes.... People don't like them, sometimes for no reason

The Wizard wrote: validictorian wrote: Drew wrote: I like the music- but its so very hard for me to like to vocals- Anderson (thats his name right?) sounds border-line womanish to me. That's one of the reasons I like them. His voice almost sounds otherworldly. Like it belongs in the artwork found on the album cover. One of the reasons I like King Crimson's Lizard is for his guest vocal on Prince Rupert.  I found andersons vocals to be an aquired taste. Now I also feel they are angelic and otherwordly. Same with the lyrics. They may be gibberish, but I think of them as imagery type songwriting.

Well guys, you put it better than I ever could there with "Angelic!" he's a truly gifted person, when he doesn't push it

glass house wrote: Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Tried them over and over again, nothing much, I don't know what i don't like about them. Listened to the music and thought about , but i still don't know. Sorry Hmmm, What have you heard by the band? Close to the edge, fragile, The yes album, enough to have a true opinion. I should like them.

Don't feel PRESSURED. Just relax and have a listen, that's what musics for..

Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Tried them over and over again, nothing much, I don't know what i don't like about them. Listened to the music and thought about , but i still don't know. Sorry Hmmm, What have you heard by the band? Close to the edge, fragile, The yes album, enough to have a true opinion. I should like them. Don't feel PRESSURED. Just relax and have a listen, that's what musics for..

I will give it another go. An album to start ? Be gently

Actually I was playing their debut last week and was struck by how fresh and innovative it sounded; it's a lot more focussed and developed than Genesis' debut.

As for 'Topographic...', it's a true masterpiece to me now. I didn't like much from it bar 'Revealing Science Of God; but now I love every song equally. The tribal style climax to 'Ritual' is mindblowing.

glass house wrote: Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Winter Wine wrote: glass house wrote: Tried them over and over again, nothing much, I don't know what i don't like about them. Listened to the music and thought about , but i still don't know. Sorry Hmmm, What have you heard by the band? Close to the edge, fragile, The yes album, enough to have a true opinion. I should like them. Don't feel PRESSURED. Just relax and have a listen, that's what musics for.. I will give it another go. An album to start ? Be gently

Well you've heard three GREATS. But it might be easier to get into "Going for the one" another great album, It sounds like they are having so much fun! and the songs are all so strong. I hope ya like it

salmacis wrote: Actually I was playing their debut last week and was struck by how fresh and innovative it sounded; it's a lot more focussed and developed than Genesis' debut. As for 'Topographic...', it's a true masterpiece to me now. I didn't like much from it bar 'Revealing Science Of God; but now I love every song equally. The tribal style climax to 'Ritual' is mindblowing.

Well getting into it now ya might be a little excited with "Masterpiece!"  But I sort of felt the same a while back, I just liked The revealing science of God and then gave up. But now I like three of them a lot! The only one I don't like is "The Ancient", but it does pick up at the end. Also it's my favourite album cover from Yes

Winter Wine wrote: salmacis wrote: Actually I was playing their debut last week and was struck by how fresh and innovative it sounded; it's a lot more focussed and developed than Genesis' debut. As for 'Topographic...', it's a true masterpiece to me now. I didn't like much from it bar 'Revealing Science Of God; but now I love every song equally. The tribal style climax to 'Ritual' is mindblowing. Well getting into it now ya might be a little excited with "Masterpiece!"  But I sort of felt the same a while back, I just liked The revealing science of God and then gave up. But now I like three of them a lot! The only one I don't like is "The Ancient", but it does pick up at the end. Also it's my favourite album cover from Yes

Well I've been really into 'Topographic' since about July last year and have played it consistently since then. 'The Ancient' I love now too- I think that mellotron/drum interplay is dazzling...

I can safely say that Yes is my favorite band, the

“classic symphonic: period of the band’s career

receives a lot of attention from people on this site,

I admit that it is their best period (“The Yes album through

To Relayer”) and most of their masterpiece works

emerged from this time.

“Close to the edge”, “Relayer” and “Tales from

Topographic Oceans” are true masterpieces,

While the others, like “Fragile” are very good

But are not master works.

Other albums (from different periods) I hold

high in regard are “Drama” and “Keystudios”

both of which are different in sound and

song structure. Even without front-man

Jon Anderson on “Drama” the band still delivered

record worthy of their early work, while

“Keystudios reflected on their “Symphonic”

period and displayed many likenesses while

also combining some of their modern sound as well.

I found it interesting when they released

“Magnification” which features an entire Orchestra,

just think their whole career they nave been a band

that copy the sound of orchestras and here they

are with a real one in their music.

I am still discovering them

however, whatever I have heard until now, makes me think that their first albums are unique...

I’ll be the round about
The words will make you out ’n’ out.... what a magnificent song

I've always liked them quite a lot, from the outstanding musical talent of every member to their dedication to construct very original moods and atmospheres in their songs.  I think they deserve to be near the top of the great bands of all time, as they are.

That being said though, it's a band I could never fall 'in love' with, for reasons I don't know to this day.  Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, and Phish are the only three bands I've ever 'fallen in love' with, due primarily for the unreal musicianship they all possess.  What is so odd is that Yes is only behind GG in sheer talent, IMHO, so they should be a natural fit for me.  Add to that their wonderful 'moodscapes', and they should be my fave.

But they're not.  It's crazy.  I can't cite any flaws, really.....I've heard just about their entire catalog over about the last 25 years.  I guess some bands can meet every criteria you have, but just don't strike that perfect chord for whatever reason.

There.  I'm done babbling.

Yes, in my opinion is the very best symphonic/classical prog band.

I agree that their first two albums were the tip of the iceberg, a glimpse of thinks to come. The addition of Steve Howe, & then Rick Wakeman, solidified the lineup & their best work was the happy result.

Starting with The Yes Album & going all the way through Keys (1 & 2), the only one I absolutely cannot listen to is Big Generator, although, unlike a lot of Yes fans, Tales & Relayer are a challenge to me.

As a departure, Drama was an excellent prog album. I even like Talk & The Ladder, although I know a lot of people don't.

Best albums:

Close To The Edge

Fragile

The Yes Album

Yessongs

Drama

(Insert your next favorite Yes album (that I haven't listed) here)

As far as anderson's singing goes, I prefer it when he is telling a tale rather than from the first person. He has a minstrel's style.

I remember seeing Yes in Philly in '72. I was going with a girl who loved them; I was more of a "stones" guy. Anyway, I was immediately impressed with their playing and sound etc... the sound coming from the front of the stage. Then something strange happened during 'And You And I'. During the symphonic part in the middle the music started coming from all directions even behind me. It was a very spacey, otherworldly feeling, just beautiful. Needless to say, I've been a fan ever since.

I can't find fault with anything they've done, afterall, they opened my mind to the wonderful world of Prog.

Regards 

I'm trying to get into Yes since 1973, but...

Ok, but in the Rock In Rio 1, back in 1985, I enjoyed enough them performing live.

The problem is really Anderson's 'crystal voice'; it annoys me!

I remember being about 8 or 9 years old and listening to my older bro's "Relayer" record back in the mid 1970's and being completely blown away by it. Thats when I knew I was a Yes fan.

Does anyone remember a TV show called "Nightflight" on the USA cable channel? in the early 1980's they were my source for prog rock videos and concert footage. They used to play "Yessong" frequently and that was magical for me.

Then around 1986-1987 I bought TFTO on used vinyl. Being the full-blown prog junky like I am now, I instantly loved the whole of TFTO. I am glad I am not the only one who appreciates it.

Currently I am struggling with "Going for the one" So far it hasn't really grabbed hold of my interest. I am sure it is my fault though and it must be something I am doing wrong.

Yes is my favorite prog band, after King Crimson...but I do have some problems with them sometimes. Becuause in the 70 they did the best of prog...you couldnt ask for more, they were excellent, thouse long songs full of emotions were really strong. But I really feel they lost their "moyo" with Tormato...after that they still did some great songs, like Mind Drive. But I dont like their new stuff that much because it sounds to...popish. Not that the songs are "easyier", but I think Anderson got to soft...the songs lost a bit that drive from the 70...pitty

Just yesterday I bought the Tsongas dvd, and there you really have the Yes Im talking about. The excellent classic epic songs ( Yours is no disgrace, Ritual, And you and I) and also the acoustic, soft slithly popish songs were Anderson really takes the whole lead, and also Mind Drive, which is even better than the original version for me!!!

Close To The Edge is my favourite prog album if you take ELP out of the equation! Yes hit on the perfect prog formula with that album and never reached such a peak again IMHO. Relayer has its fans but its nowhere near as even a quality album overall.

All their releases from The Yes Album(1971) up to Tormato (1978) are worth getting.After that it gets a little sketchy.The only other Yes album I dig out occasionally is Talk which was a nice later album featuring Trevor Rabin and much better than their dull 90125.

I love Yes. For me their music is the most beautiful and uplifting. Jon's voice is really angelic and otherwordly. Their glory days are probably gone, but they managed to bounce back after the blunders of the 80's. Nevertheless I haven't completely given up my hopes for a powerful new Yes album.Well, it's still more realistic than a new Genesis album of the Foxtrot niveau.

My fave Yes albums are Tales and Relayer, but all of their albums before 1983 are at least good.

Yes are in my top 5 prog bands..and there are still Yes albums I need to investigate!! (90's and beyond)

Close to the Edge is their best album IMO, and is a prog rock masterpiece, capturing the true spirit of the genre. It's complex, brilliantly played, full or beautiful melodies, and very emotional. it's also well produced.

Going for the One is my second favourite Yes album. It's very different to CTTE, but the spirt of the band is still there, just represented by more concise songs, and it features some of Howes best acoustic playing and some of Wakemens best piano playing.

Both albums would be in my prog top 10 of all time. Jon Anderson is certainly one of my favourite singers, I accept the view that his voice may be too feminine for some, but it's pitch perfect, crystal clear and unmistakable, and that appeals to me. It's an integral part of the Yes machine, and as much as I do like the Drama album, it would have been much better with Anderson at the helm.

Tony Fisher wrote: A talented but very inconsistent band. They have a lot in common with Dream Theater - excellent musicians but tend to show off too much. Their compositional skills are better than DT but they can get too pretentious lyrically and the vocals are an acquired taste. They overstretched their talents with TFTO and became rather poppy later on, though it was still very good pop. Ratings for the albums I have: Time and a Word 3* The Yes Album 5* Fragile 3* CTTE 4* (side 1 is 5*!) TFTO 2* Relayer 4* Going for the One 3* Tormato 3* Drama 3* Not my favourite band of the 70s; better than KC, VDGG and ELP but behind Genesis, Camel, Tull, GG, Strawbs and Floyd. On a par with Rush and Caravan.

I have to say that your ratings of the albums are extremely harsh, and that I think people seem to think that Yes weren't consistent because of their ever changing style and sound, not many people accomplished that...

I love Caravan! but even I can admit that Yes are a million miles ahead of them

Blacksword wrote: Yes are in my top 5 prog bands..and there are still Yes albums I need to investigate!! (90's and beyond) Close to the Edge is their best album IMO, and is a prog rock masterpiece, capturing the true spirit of the genre. It's complex, brilliantly played, full or beautiful melodies, and very emotional. it's also well produced. Going for the One is my second favourite Yes album. It's very different to CTTE, but the spirt of the band is still there, just represented by more concise songs, and it features some of Howes best acoustic playing and some of Wakemens best piano playing. Both albums would be in my prog top 10 of all time. Jon Anderson is certainly one of my favourite singers, I accept the view that his voice may be too feminine for some, but it's pitch perfect, crystal clear and unmistakable, and that appeals to me. It's an integral part of the Yes machine, and as much as I do like the Drama album, it would have been much better with Anderson at the helm.

Close to the Edge and going for the one were the first two albums I heard from the band, Found them in my dads record collection. So I share your love for those two albums!  But I think there is a couple of Yes albums that could take Going for the One

Phil wrote: Listening to Close to the Edge back in 1976 really opened up my ears to a new world of music, I've been a Yes fan ever since, and coming to PA I was pleased and a little suprised that they were so popular here - I admit I was chuffed to find my favourite album at the top of a poll somewhere! I think their peak creatively was from The Yes Album through to Drama, after which I think things got a little inconsistent and I must admit I havent heard all their later material. During the period I mention, they really did progress from album to album - by progress I mean try something new, not just sit on their laurels and re-create their previous album. You can see a progression from The Yes Album to Fragile; then a quantum leap to CTTE; Tales is maybe one exception, an album that didn't "progress" in quite the same way, but then they created Relayer, a very different Yes album and one I know a lot of people here feel is their best. Relayer was I think a one-off - I know some people think Moraz should have stayed but they're missing the point - there was never giong to be a son-of-Relayer, instead Anderson (who in terms of the concept of each album seems the driving force) wanted to go back to making some songs, hence Going for the One. Tormato could have been really, really good - it has its moments - but things were changing; instead of the band fighting over each note and chord change and who plays what, somehow they seemed to lose their enthusiasm and it shows on Tormato; it took Squire to re-launch the band with Drama - and then again with 90125, for a very different Yes. So what of the individual players? Yes has always been a group that is greater than the sum of its parts.They all have powerful personalities, but no one single driving force. Anderson seems to have been responsible for the theme of each album; Squire seems especially concerned with quality of the music and recording, insisting on perfection in the studio. Steve Howe and then Rick Wakeman were brought on board to replace players that were good, but perhaps didn't have that special something to match the increasing ambitions of the band, not just in terms of playing, but composing and especially contributing to the arrangements. Howe became the major composer along with Anderson; Wakeman's contribution was more subtle, suggesting variations and extemporisations on themes (on Close to the Edge listen to how the guitar solo on the intro is re-worked by Wakeman on the moog just before his hammond solo - different time signature, different key, barely recognisable at first listen). Bruford was - is - a great drummer, and was the first member to leave of his own choice, but after a hesitant start on Tales, White and Squire formed possibly an even better rythmn section, Relayer being perhaps the best work the two of them have done. And Pat Moraz - an excellent player with the unenviable task of filling Wakemans shoes - well, Moraz gave Relayer an electric sound all of his own, one that Walkeman couldn't have done, though at times it sounds like he's a bit player to Howe and Squire. People (not on this site!) sometimes dismiss Moraz and that's unfair - though on the other hand whether he deesrves all the accolades sometimes heaped on him in PA, given the limit of his achievements before and after Yes, well that's a matter of opinion! The later choice of the Buggles was an unusual one but it worked and revived Yes at a time they had stagnated, and ditto with Trevor Rabin, though I do think the quality of composition then started to fall away. For those that haven't seen them live, they are very good and sometimes excellent on stage, I have special memories of 1977 as the lights went up at Wembley and phtographers rushed towards Rick as he pounded out the opening chords of "Parallels"....great stuff....

Wow I was delighted to read that! What you say in the first three lines is exactly what happened to me!! That I am not kidding about! (Except I got into CTTE around 2002 not 1976 ) But wow, your feelings about the band are very similar to mine. You don't seem to be as critical of band members,or albums that were different etc. I appreciate that very much

Norbert wrote: I love Yes. For me their music is the most beautiful and uplifting. Jon's voice is really angelic and otherwordly. Their glory days are probably gone, but they managed to bounce back after the blunders of the 80's. Nevertheless I haven't completely given up my hopes for a powerful new Yes album.Well, it's still more realistic than a new Genesis album of the Foxtrot niveau. My fave Yes albums are Tales and Relayer, but all of their albums before 1983 are at least good.

Agreed, and I do hope that they can manage to release a new album, I mean did you hear Magnification!!!!!!! BRILLIANT!

I've never managed to get into Yes - I just don't like the sound of their music, and it completely fails to transport me to any dimension other than annoyance at most of the lyrics, Anderson's awful helium-filled singing style and frankly half-baked Crosby, Stills and Nash style harmonies, and the inability to develop a good groove (which, on the positive side, they often manage to get into).

I first heard Yes decades ago - I borrowed "Relayer" and another album (I forget which) from a friend and taped them. Despite not liking the music, I held onto the tapes and repeatedly gave them a try - without success. I've since acquired all their back catalogue on the original vinyl - but still no joy. Something in there just switches me off completely and makes me wish I was listening to something else.

I could care less about the razor-sharp production, crisp guitar execution, tight drumming and wonderful phat bass sound - the music all seems like overblown, overrated, pretentious drivel and I don't know why I keep giving it additional chances.

Well... you did ask 

Winter Wine wrote: Blacksword wrote: Yes are in my top 5 prog bands..and there are still Yes albums I need to investigate!! (90's and beyond) Close to the Edge is their best album IMO, and is a prog rock masterpiece, capturing the true spirit of the genre. It's complex, brilliantly played, full or beautiful melodies, and very emotional. it's also well produced. Going for the One is my second favourite Yes album. It's very different to CTTE, but the spirt of the band is still there, just represented by more concise songs, and it features some of Howes best acoustic playing and some of Wakemens best piano playing. Both albums would be in my prog top 10 of all time. Jon Anderson is certainly one of my favourite singers, I accept the view that his voice may be too feminine for some, but it's pitch perfect, crystal clear and unmistakable, and that appeals to me. It's an integral part of the Yes machine, and as much as I do like the Drama album, it would have been much better with Anderson at the helm. Close to the Edge and going for the one were the first two albums I heard from the band, Found them in my dads record collection. So I share your love for those two albums!  But I think there is a couple of Yes albums that could take Going for the One

I think many would agree with you on that..

CTTE and GFTO are the only two Yes albums on which I love every track. Relayer, has its moments, but the cacophony seems to dominate too much for my taste..

I like Fragile and The Yes Album equally. Who couldn't like Starship Trooper and Heart of the Sunrise..

Tormato is ok, but a dissapointment after GFTO, IMO. I think the reason I like GFTO so much is because it exudes a bright positivity at a time when prog was arguably taking a nose dive! Yes, with Wakemen back on board proved that they could not only still cut it, but also have hit singles that were obviously prog, whilst having to compete with all that punk nonesense. For anyone who argues that GFTO is not prog enough for them, it does at least have Awaken, which I think is one of their best songs ever. I also have a big soft spot for 'Turn of the Century'  The album seems to sum up the whole point of Yes - emotion, melody, musicianship - in a very tidy and consistent package.. Thats my take on it, anyway..

Yes, in my opinion, are... awkward. There's no denying that they produced some of the most important examples progressive rock ever and the whole lot of 'em have talent coming out of their ears. However, they do seem to squander that talent quite a lot.

In fact, despite Yes being my 2nd ever prog discovery (after Focus) I'd say only about 20% of their final output is actually that good. Really, the average progger need only listen to CTTE and Relayer to hear all the Yes they need.

Okay, so The Yes Album and Fragile aren't bad, and Going for the One has the classic "Awaken" on it, but what about the reams of pap they've produced over the years (not to mention their blatant decline of both technical and compositional prowess over the last 10 or so years)?

It's very very easy to start in the wrong place with Yes and come away with the wrong impression. Like I say... awkward.

Certif1ed wrote: I've never managed to get into Yes - I just don't like the sound of their music, and it completely fails to transport me to any dimension other than annoyance at most of the lyrics, Anderson's awful helium-filled singing style and frankly half-baked Crosby, Stills and Nash style harmonies, and the inability to develop a good groove (which, on the positive side, they often manage to get into). I first heard Yes decades ago - I borrowed "Relayer" and another album (I forget which) from a friend and taped them. Despite not liking the music, I held onto the tapes and repeatedly gave them a try - without success. I've since acquired all their back catalogue on the original vinyl - but still no joy. Something in there just switches me off completely and makes me wish I was listening to something else. I could care less about the razor-sharp production, crisp guitar execution, tight drumming and wonderful phat bass sound - the music all seems like overblown, overrated, pretentious drivel and I don't know why I keep giving it additional chances. Well... you did ask

So what do you do? Sit there with a lyrics sheet and scoff? That's odd. Half-baked vocal harmonies? eh, right, have you heard their debut? Vocal harmonies don't come much better than Yes. Helium filled voice? Maybe if you sat around all day and listened to Slipknot meets Opeth! Then it would seem like that!!!

Well done Winter Wine.... a good idea to invite us all to discuss Yes. Although i enjoy the music of Yes, in my opinion, Yes are overated. I think its unfair that they should steel the lime light from so many others when their music is no better than any other Prog-rock act. Take the liner notes from 'fragile' for example:-      'Sure, all sorts of rock artists were fooling around with classical structures, with jazz-inspired improvisations, with synthersizers and mellotrons and lyrics that went byond standard adolesent preoccupations. But Yes brought both artfulness and origionallity to these persuits' Who is this writer to say what is 'origional' or 'artful'? Is he refuring to bands like King Crimson  who had just released 'Lizard', an album that was light years ahead of 'Fragile'. The Yes Album also picks up far more credit than it deserves. Yours is no discrace is a good song but not that good and again, stuff that gentle giant was doing at the time was far more complex. Even 'Heart of the Sunrise', probably Yes' finest hour is overshadowed by '21st Century...' that was written 3 years prior to it. Relayer is given credit as progs-finest hour but in my opinion Yes were way out of there league as they know nothing about jazz-rock and as a result its unlistenable. 'Going for the One' is moment of clarity for the band with some beutiful songs yet oddly enough, it isnt given any appreichiation at al. the First 2 albums are greatbut sadly the band didnt carry on in that direction. I would have know hesitation in rating Yes below-

Caravan, Camel, Gentle Giant, Hatfield, Soft Machine, Egg, National Health, King Crimson, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Gryphon, Rick Wakeman, Bruford, UK, Gong, Focus, ELP, Moody Blues, Greeslade, Amazing Blondel, Curved Air, Supersister and Matching Mole and thats just for starters...        & nbsp;         & nbsp;      

Winter Wine wrote: Certif1ed wrote: I've never managed to get into Yes - I just don't like the sound of their music, and it completely fails to transport me to any dimension other than annoyance at most of the lyrics, Anderson's awful helium-filled singing style and frankly half-baked Crosby, Stills and Nash style harmonies, and the inability to develop a good groove (which, on the positive side, they often manage to get into). I first heard Yes decades ago - I borrowed "Relayer" and another album (I forget which) from a friend and taped them. Despite not liking the music, I held onto the tapes and repeatedly gave them a try - without success. I've since acquired all their back catalogue on the original vinyl - but still no joy. Something in there just switches me off completely and makes me wish I was listening to something else. I could care less about the razor-sharp production, crisp guitar execution, tight drumming and wonderful phat bass sound - the music all seems like overblown, overrated, pretentious drivel and I don't know why I keep giving it additional chances. Well... you did ask  So what do you do? Sit there with a lyrics sheet and scoff? That's odd. Half-baked vocal harmonies? eh, right, have you heard their debut? Vocal harmonies don't come much better than Yes. Helium filled voice? Maybe if you sat around all day and listened to Slipknot meets Opeth! Then it would seem like that!!!

Who needs a lyrics sheet?

The ones I can hear are trite enough. Do I really need to quote - I'd bet you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I've heard all of their albums, and the debut has probably the worst harmonies - Anderson sings flat, and don't try telling me he doesn't, because I have perfect pitch. Crosby, Stills and Nash did that years before, and it suited their folky style.

Yes vocal harmonies are very dry and not very imaginative, generally sticking to "safe" options and "step" movement rather than anything particularly interesting - there are thousands of vocal groups that do better harmonies!! Queen walk all over them, even on Radio Ga Ga...

I think "helium-filled" is an appropriate, if slightly caustic way to describe a voice that sits mainly around the high tenor/falsetto register - what's wrong with that? It's higher than average - am I wrong?

Come, come - if you're going to try to argue against what is an invited opinion, you're going to have to do considerably better than that!

Certif1ed wrote: Winter Wine wrote: Certif1ed wrote: I've never managed to get into Yes - I just don't like the sound of their music, and it completely fails to transport me to any dimension other than annoyance at most of the lyrics, Anderson's awful helium-filled singing style and frankly half-baked Crosby, Stills and Nash style harmonies, and the inability to develop a good groove (which, on the positive side, they often manage to get into). I first heard Yes decades ago - I borrowed "Relayer" and another album (I forget which) from a friend and taped them. Despite not liking the music, I held onto the tapes and repeatedly gave them a try - without success. I've since acquired all their back catalogue on the original vinyl - but still no joy. Something in there just switches me off completely and makes me wish I was listening to something else. I could care less about the razor-sharp production, crisp guitar execution, tight drumming and wonderful phat bass sound - the music all seems like overblown, overrated, pretentious drivel and I don't know why I keep giving it additional chances. Well... you did ask  So what do you do? Sit there with a lyrics sheet and scoff? That's odd. Half-baked vocal harmonies? eh, right, have you heard their debut? Vocal harmonies don't come much better than Yes. Helium filled voice? Maybe if you sat around all day and listened to Slipknot meets Opeth! Then it would seem like that!!! Who needs a lyrics sheet? The ones I can hear are trite enough. Do I really need to quote - I'd bet you know exactly what I'm talking about. I've heard all of their albums, and the debut has probably the worst harmonies - Anderson sings flat, and don't try telling me he doesn't, because I have perfect pitch. Crosby, Stills and Nash did that years before, and it suited their folky style. Yes vocal harmonies are very dry and not very imaginative, generally sticking to "safe" options and "step" movement rather than anything particularly interesting - there are thousands of vocal groups that do better harmonies!! Queen walk all over them, even on Radio Ga Ga... I think "helium-filled" is an appropriate, if slightly caustic way to describe a voice that sits mainly around the high tenor/falsetto register - what's wrong with that? It's higher than average - am I wrong? Come, come - if you're going to try to argue against what is an invited opinion, you're going to have to do considerably better than that!

Ok you say that they played things safe by keeping things simple, so what? It has to be more complex to be good? You want a band who is always said to have gone over the top, to actually be more technical? Do you like to listen to robots!!!!!!!!! If something works,It works, why in HELL would you purposely try to complicate things!

No matter how much you whine, you can take away the fact that Yes were a truly original band! excellent songwriters, talented musicians and a band who made music that could really send you someplace else!

It would be predictable to give a smart arsed comment. But at the end of the day, I most likely won't care

Yes is not my favorite band or even in my top 5.  But come on.  To say they do not use all their talent is ludicrous.  How many ideas even in a progressive rock context within a style of a band are there? 

It is especially hard for any musician to keep up a high level of out put over a ten year period of time.  It is even harder for a group of musicians to do that. Yes has been producing music since 1969.  That's 36 years.  36 Years!  Are any of the critics of this band going to tell me there is another group that has been consistently better for 36 years? 

 Remember something else about these guys they came up with kind of music they did being very young men as was the case with Genesis, VDGG, Kansas, King Crimson and most other bands from that era. I am sure at some point in their careers they look at what they did cynically and maybe even create music in direct opposition to what they had produced earlier in their carers.  I know Peter Gabriel did that.

The point being a fan of The Yes album by the time Going for the One came out 7 years later might not even recognize the music.  Certainly by the time Drama came out the person who listened to Going for the one wouldn't recognize or care for the music.

I say like them or not they are true pioneers who produced some of the best examples of Prog Rock as we define it. 

Winter Wine wrote: Certif1ed wrote: Winter Wine wrote: Certif1ed wrote: I've never managed to get into Yes - I just don't like the sound of their music, and it completely fails to transport me to any dimension other than annoyance at most of the lyrics, Anderson's awful helium-filled singing style and frankly half-baked Crosby, Stills and Nash style harmonies, and the inability to develop a good groove (which, on the positive side, they often manage to get into). I first heard Yes decades ago - I borrowed "Relayer" and another album (I forget which) from a friend and taped them. Despite not liking the music, I held onto the tapes and repeatedly gave them a try - without success. I've since acquired all their back catalogue on the original vinyl - but still no joy. Something in there just switches me off completely and makes me wish I was listening to something else. I could care less about the razor-sharp production, crisp guitar execution, tight drumming and wonderful phat bass sound - the music all seems like overblown, overrated, pretentious drivel and I don't know why I keep giving it additional chances. Well... you did ask  So what do you do? Sit there with a lyrics sheet and scoff? That's odd. Half-baked vocal harmonies? eh, right, have you heard their debut? Vocal harmonies don't come much better than Yes. Helium filled voice? Maybe if you sat around all day and listened to Slipknot meets Opeth! Then it would seem like that!!! Who needs a lyrics sheet? The ones I can hear are trite enough. Do I really need to quote - I'd bet you know exactly what I'm talking about. I've heard all of their albums, and the debut has probably the worst harmonies - Anderson sings flat, and don't try telling me he doesn't, because I have perfect pitch. Crosby, Stills and Nash did that years before, and it suited their folky style. Yes vocal harmonies are very dry and not very imaginative, generally sticking to "safe" options and "step" movement rather than anything particularly interesting - there are thousands of vocal groups that do better harmonies!! Queen walk all over them, even on Radio Ga Ga... I think "helium-filled" is an appropriate, if slightly caustic way to describe a voice that sits mainly around the high tenor/falsetto register - what's wrong with that? It's higher than average - am I wrong? Come, come - if you're going to try to argue against what is an invited opinion, you're going to have to do considerably better than that! Ok you say that they played things safe by keeping things simple, so what? It has to be more complex to be good? You want a band who is always said to have gone over the top, to actually be more technical? Do you like to listen to robots!!!!!!!!! If something works,It works, why in HELL would you purposely try to complicate things! No matter how much you whine, you can take away the fact that Yes were a truly original band! excellent songwriters, talented musicians and a band who made music that could really send you someplace else!             It would be predictable to give a smart arsed comment. But at the end of the day, I most likely won't care

Now looky here, Winter WHINE, I'm as entitled to my opinion as you are.

I'm NOT saying that more complex is good - in fact, I often believe the opposite to be true.

I hate robotic music. Unless it's supposed to sound robotic, and sounds good.

Your opinion is that Yes's music works. Mine is that it does not.

Yes were not truly original - there, I said it - and it's true. What's more is I can prove it.

Excellent is relative - if I don't like a song, is it still good?

Talent is also relative.

As I said above, the only place their music transports me to is a place of mild annoyance that I'm wasting my time and could be listening to something I actually like.

You CANNOT argue with my opinion.

Give up now, while I've still got the gloves on

eugene wrote: Judging from Certif1ied's description of Yes music one could bet he's blatant Marillion's fan

I don't see how you get that from my description of Yes' music...

Yes is very indeed a band, which is like a chameleon, you don't know what they do next. They are the ultimate progressive band! No doubt about it. They are also the only band beside King Crimson, which is still around and go on stage from the most important prog bands, which exist since the late 60's (not counting VDGG, because they are were split-up since 1977). YES are PROG DINOSAURS, and that is well deserved. Specially because of their albums through The Yes Album - Tormato (criminally underrated gem).

Marc Baum wrote: They are also the only band beside King Crimson, which is still around and go on stage from the most important prog bands, which exist since the late 60's (not counting VDGG, because they are were split-up since 1977).

 Yes are still amazing live, if not better!

anderson's vocals dont do much for me, but i can certainly recognize the talent of steve howe and rick wakeman.

marktheshark wrote: I was lucky enough to see Yes on the Fragile tour in '71 when I was 14. It was only my 2nd concert, the 1st being Grand Funk Railroad. A friend of mine turned me on to The Yes Album and said they were coming to town and his older brother would take us. Humble Pie opened for them with Frampton still at the lead guitar helm and they were great. Funny thing is Fragile was a couple months away from being released if memory serves me. But yet they played most of the album and I remember Jon Anderson introducing their new keyboard player where Rick took off and did a little solo spot. Pretty amazing. Being a drummer myself Bruford just knocked me out. I distinctly remember them doing the same "Shave and a Haircut" intro to Perpetual Change that you hear on Yessongs. Must've been a standard opening for that cut. Anyway, I was pretty hooked enough to see them 4 more times after that. My dream linup for Yes would be: Jon Anderson Chris Squire Steve Howe Bill Bruford Patrick Moraz* * Rick is no doubt incredible, but I think he's just too stuck on classical. Patrick leans more to jazz which is why I like him a little more. Anybody here with a dream Yes lineup?

Wow man you're one lucky guy. Yes are one of my favourite prog bands, well them and Zeppelin are my favourite bands ever. And now I don't think there's a chance of me ever seeing them  Really upsetting. I would love to talk to Yes! That would be incredible

My favourite lineup is the "Fragile", "Close to the Edge" period.

Jon Anderson has a counter tenor voice with warm tonal qualities. His voice sets yes apart from the mainstream of Rock and Prog. One of my big gripes about the canon of prog is that while most bands have exceptional musicians very few have great singers.Recently i saw Thom Yorke embarrass himself live, well thats what i thought , but the masses do not ask questions anymore. It is noticeable when Jon sings live he really concentrates to get things right. See Yessymphonic where Jon is determined to get AYAI just right, and he does. Sometimes Anderson can pitch too high to begin as in Tormato but blemishes are few and far between.

The rest of the band well we could go on for hours. To me there is Rock in all its forms including prog and then there is Yes music. Glorious Yes music see them live and believe!

anyone who dares call any band the best band ever, is wrong. period.

Yes are cool. The Yes Album through Going for the One (with the exception of Tales) are fantastic, among my favorite albums. After that, I only liked maybe 3 songs at most, on every album post-Going for the One.

They seemed to have lost that.....punch, that they had in those early albums from 1971 - 78. They don't have anything to prove anymore...they've already made their statement in the industry.....I personally wouldn't care if they broke up. (it took me a while to come to this opinion though)

Overall, they are one of my favorite bands. I wish Bruford had never left....sure, we'd probably have no Going for the One, or Relayer, or Tales, but maybe we'd have another album that matches the greatness of Close to the Edge. However, i'm also glad Bruford left, because his work in King Crimson might be my favorite stuff ever.

* Has anyone heard the version of Close to the Edge on 'An evening of Yes Music Plus?" It is by FAR my favorite rendition, Bruford's drumming makes the entire piece much more precise, and it gives the song a much more energetic feel then Alan White's performances do.

Yes is one of those bands I just cannot get into. Only two of thier albums do it for me, and that's just sometimes. Fragile and Relayer. I love Jon's voice, but god, can't he just once put some good lyrics to go along with that fantastic singing.

I can't get into CTTE because the songs are so meticulous and focus on such fine details it must have got them distracted from the big picture and each song in the end seems boring. The title track seems to have no main melody, and the parts that are uplifting to me are few and end to soon. Wakeman can play a super fast solo, so what? I get nothing out of it. And You and I is my favorite on the album, they did a great job on that one. The final song on the album, Siberian Khatru, is nice but just seems to fast and again to meticulous for me to enjoy, just sounds messy like the title track.

That's my opinion of their most hyped album that I feel does not deserve all the hype, but that is only my opinion, I won't critisize those that express their's.

The Yes album is better than CTTE I think, very good in fact.

I just started checking out TFTO and am trying to get into that, but it is very difficult, The Remembering is my favorite so far. This is a tuff one and I can see why so many people don't like it.

I like Relayer since "Gates" focusses more on melody than CTTE and is not messy, but still is meticulous. Lyrics are good even great for once. Wish Brufford was on it though, he is my favorite drummer. Sound Chaser is nice, it's growing on me more and more. To Be Over is very good and is a much better way to close an album as opposed to Siberian Khatru, nice and easy, not messy at all. I love the melodies on this one the most.

Yes are nice, I give them an 8.5 overall since I am still getting into them, and haven't checked all their stuff out yet. As I understand they aged preety bad like most prog bands. Just another reason why I like Pink Floyd more, they don't have one bad album that I wish wasn't playing, and their are to many times during a Yes album that I wish it was over.

salmacis wrote: Actually I was playing their debut last week and was struck by how fresh and innovative it sounded; it's a lot more focussed and developed than Genesis' debut. As for 'Topographic...', it's a true masterpiece to me now. I didn't like much from it bar 'Revealing Science Of God; but now I love every song equally. The tribal style climax to 'Ritual' is mindblowing.

Rutherford, Collins, Gabriel, and Hackett were still in High school when they released Genesis to Revelation.  Classic Yes lineup were in their early-mid twenties. 

Geneis sounded mature and suprsingly introspective considering their youth

         Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.

   By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink?

Tormato= 5 stars.

Tormato wrote:              Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.    By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink? Tormato= 5 stars.

Ha, thank you for that delightful message. Tormato is actually the ONLY 70s Yes album I haven't heard. Is that odd?

I've always considered Tormato to be one of the best albums Yes ever recorded.  I rate it right up there with The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close To The Edge.

The band, unfortunately, has not released an album of new material that appeals to me for quite a few years.  I think Union was the last one I could actually say was half-way good.  The rest of their studio albums of the 90's were boring, in my opinion.

XTChuck wrote: I've always considered Tormato to be one of the best albums Yes ever recorded.  I rate it right up there with The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close To The Edge. The band, unfortunately, has not released an album of new material that appeals to me for quite a few years.  I think Union was the last one I could actually say was half-way good.  The rest of their studio albums of the 90's were boring, in my opinion.

From what I have heard "Union" isn't all that good. But I must say that there is SO much negativity on this site, "Drama" and "90125" I was under the impression were terrible albums, but when I heard the albums I was SO amazed at how good they were.

Do you not like either of those two? or that beautiful little gem "Magnification"?

Tormato wrote:              Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.    By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink? Tormato= 5 stars.

Thank you for this beautiful response. I feel the same about the music of Yes. It is the one band that can lift my spirit when I'm down. People who say there is no emotion in the Yes music clearly cannot appreciate the POSITIVE emotions and energy which flow through the music of Yes. 

Tormato actually is a good album, I like a lot "Future Times/Rejoice" and also the beautiful and uplifting "Onward" but where I think it lacks compared to the foregoing masterpieces is that it doesn't contain a true epic like "Awaken" or CTTE.

What I don't understand is that the "Talk" album is not mentioned more. It does contain some extremely beautiful tracks: "I am waiting" and "Endless Dream" in my opinion are really great musics, up there with the best of the seventies era Yes.  

barbs wrote: I guess my two cents worth wont hurt. A Yes topic is always going to get its fair share of hits here which should go some way to illustrating where this group stands in the prog rock community. For the most part they have remained true to their symphonic prog roots and the album Magnification is also an illustration of this. They have been producing quality prog through every one of the last five decades. Obviously most people are going to point to the early to mid 70s as the pinnacle of their achievments, however, I think it would behoove us to consider how the band has managed to hold onto and unite such a large body of fans. For those born in the late 60s or early 70s, the music of their day was the 80s as we usually start to catch onto the music scene in our teens. Yes albums of the late 70s early 80s had obviously shifted to a more radio friendly package (general song length and construction) so that even the songs that would still be considered more progressive were still alot shorter than the 3 big ones. I think Magnification, while not necessarily comparable to their greatest album, shows a move by Yes both back and forward. Endless Dream (another excellent song IMO) has probably suffered because of its connection to Rabin (and the 'purists' don't seem to dig him at all) but it is another example of Yes attempting to meld the old with the new (not always easy). I tend to take each song on its merits, not just the album. I see people writing albums off because the first couple of songs didn't suit them. I've done this myself in the past and then regretted later when I heard the album in full. When you have created such excellent music as Yes has done, it is always going to be difficult to maintain a level of creative output over such a long period of time. If we are willing to listen to each song on its merits on an album, I think we will find that there are very few albums where there was not at least one or two songs which characterise the excellence and aesthetic of Yes compositional arrangements and musicianship. As I write this I am listening to In the Presence Of. I have been listening to music for many years now and have become adept at recognising songs that have longevity. In the Presence Of IMO is one of those Yes songs that has that quality about it. It is a song in a moment of solitude you can put on and close your eyes and let it take you for a beautiful ride. Of course this is my own subjective opinion and its longevity and place in the Yes catalogue will be assured only after so many decades. Of course there will always be people who can't stand the music you listen to (even though you know you are right). As for me, only albums such as Big Generator are left out of my Yes listening experience. I may like some albums more than others but I can generally find at least one thing to like about all of their albums.

I feel the same way, i've never heard a Yes album that didn't have at least two or three hightlights, in fact i've never heard a BAD (or even ok) Yes album (i've heard eleven) which really shows how long the bands creativity lasted, no matter how much they changed.

I really don't like when people try to give Yes a bad name for their work in the 80s, I mean come on, they still had quality albums (Drama, 90125) and still held on to a huge fanbase. When you think about, Gentle Giant never managed this (to sound new and fresh, while still making great music) as they disbanded when the times began to change. ELP suffered horribly (as you all know) their later albums tried to reach a new audience but in the end they made some of their worst music.

Yes were one of the lucky bands that never sounded out of place and they certaintly never went down the same path twice, "an ever opening flower" you could say....

The Wizard wrote: I always thought of Yes as a very, for a lack of a better word, 'trippy' band. IMO there songs are really psychedelic. And You and I and any thing of Tales are perfect examples of what I'm talking about.

It was the 70s!!!!!!! Who wasn't?

Codis wrote: I'm a big fan of Yes.  Own and listened to almost every album (I don't need another compilation, thank you) and been to every show since 90125. Listening to Yes is truly emotional for me.  I won't listen to "Awaken" unless I can dedicate myself to listening to it.  While attending a Yes show once (solo, as a true Yes fan is hard to find), the woman next to me kept putting her arms around me and swaying with me.  The music emits positivity and love, and if you can open up to it, it's amazing. Due to the lyrics, it seems to me that Jon's voice is more like an instrument rather than words on top of music.  Almost operatic.  Every member of the band adds their unique talents to produce the music that Yes makes.  Chris' bass especially. While I can't say I think every song on every album is great, there are Yes moments on each album to be found. Jon just turned 60 recently and I hope I'll be able to see them many times again.

I read on a site yesterday that there may be Yes studio work starting in early 2007 which cheered me up a good bit!!  As I thought that they were finished. I like your attitude towards Yes, not many people can handle a lot of positivity, which sounds odd but in todays world hardly surprising.

I love Jons voice, I love the man in general  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it?

Winter Wine wrote: Codis wrote: I'm a big fan of Yes.  Own and listened to almost every album (I don't need another compilation, thank you) and been to every show since 90125. Listening to Yes is truly emotional for me.  I won't listen to "Awaken" unless I can dedicate myself to listening to it.  While attending a Yes show once (solo, as a true Yes fan is hard to find), the woman next to me kept putting her arms around me and swaying with me.  The music emits positivity and love, and if you can open up to it, it's amazing. Due to the lyrics, it seems to me that Jon's voice is more like an instrument rather than words on top of music.  Almost operatic.  Every member of the band adds their unique talents to produce the music that Yes makes.  Chris' bass especially. While I can't say I think every song on every album is great, there are Yes moments on each album to be found. Jon just turned 60 recently and I hope I'll be able to see them many times again. I read on a site yesterday that there may be Yes studio work starting in early 2007 which cheered me up a good bit!!  As I thought that they were finished. I like your attitude towards Yes, not many people can handle a lot of positivity, which sounds odd but in todays world hardly surprising. I love Jons voice, I love the man in general  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it?

Good news and thanks anyway!

micky wrote: Winter Wine wrote:  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it? great album.... have you heard Squire's solo album, think it is even better.

I've looked for it so much!! Can't wait to hear it

Winter Wine wrote: Tormato wrote:              Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.    By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink? Tormato= 5 stars. Ha, thank you for that delightful message. Tormato is actually the ONLY 70s Yes album I haven't heard. Is that odd?

A bit - it's not as bad as people make out. Give it a listen, you can always skip "Circus of heaven"

Norbert wrote: Winter Wine wrote: Codis wrote: I'm a big fan of Yes.  Own and listened to almost every album (I don't need another compilation, thank you) and been to every show since 90125. Listening to Yes is truly emotional for me.  I won't listen to "Awaken" unless I can dedicate myself to listening to it.  While attending a Yes show once (solo, as a true Yes fan is hard to find), the woman next to me kept putting her arms around me and swaying with me.  The music emits positivity and love, and if you can open up to it, it's amazing. Due to the lyrics, it seems to me that Jon's voice is more like an instrument rather than words on top of music.  Almost operatic.  Every member of the band adds their unique talents to produce the music that Yes makes.  Chris' bass especially. While I can't say I think every song on every album is great, there are Yes moments on each album to be found. Jon just turned 60 recently and I hope I'll be able to see them many times again. I read on a site yesterday that there may be Yes studio work starting in early 2007 which cheered me up a good bit!!  As I thought that they were finished. I like your attitude towards Yes, not many people can handle a lot of positivity, which sounds odd but in todays world hardly surprising. I love Jons voice, I love the man in general  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it? Early 2007? A long time to wait yet. Good news and thanks anyway!

I'd wait twenty years!

Musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club are/were in their eigties.

 20 years from now Jon anderson will be only 82, so nothing is impossible.