Are The Yes Album, CttE and GftO the best 3 of Yes

cstack3 wrote: Not much love for TFTO in this thread!!

Of all the albums by Yes I have heard, I only prefer TfTO over Tormato.

The Revealing Science of God: Was decent in earlier releases when the track opened with vocals (6/10). The glorious intro was completely ruined by the synthscapes that were added in later releases (5/10).
The Remembering: I like the section from about 9 to 14 minutes. About 75% is just tedious imho (5/10).
The Ancient: Obviously the best track. I like the passage with the parade of solar deities and the acoustic closing section (8/10).
Ritual: Utterly pointless and forgettable. Arguably the worst track in the entire catalog of Yes (2/10).

It seems that this album finally found its due place in this thread .

Edited by someone_else - August 29 2024 at 15:38

cstack3 wrote: I think if the release had been limited to those two sides, it would have been their best LP, after CTTE.

It's possible. Wakeman laid down some glorious Tron lines and Howe summoned some of his best guitar work. TFTO is essential Yes, it just veers indulgent at times.

Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE

Not much love for TFTO in this thread!! 

^ commercially speaking I agree which was partly what I was saying in my earlier post. At least Pink Floyd understood what a prog album was 

CttE, Fragile and TYA are my top three, Relayer and GftO are just behind.

Edited by someone_else - August 29 2024 at 00:50

cstack3 wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: cstack3 wrote: I'd vote CTTE, Tales and Relayer.   Tales continues to impress me, years after its release.  I always seem to hear something new whenever I listen to it.   Inconsistent, perhaps, but its best moments are Yes' best moments.   Aren't you the one that posted a long time ago that Tales inspired you to become a  forest ranger?  Maybe I'm thinking of someone else though. Close!!  Inspired me to switch academic paths from medicine to environmental science.   Interesting story....the Yes tour for TFTO was going to arrive in my university town (Champaign, Illinois USA), but the show was canceled because they said the tour buses & trucks didn't think they would find fuel on the way down (this was during the "Arab Oil Embargo" of that year).  I was PISSED and decided to tackle the fuel crisis on my own.  Since then, I have become a leading figure in generation of alternative fuels (mostly biofuels) that do not harm the environment.  Awards from the UK, US and others.  "Let them rape the forests?"  Over my cold, dead body.   http://www.neochloris.com is my consultancy.   Look at "Projects."

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - August 28 2024 at 20:02

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: cstack3 wrote: I'd vote CTTE, Tales and Relayer.   Tales continues to impress me, years after its release.  I always seem to hear something new whenever I listen to it.   Inconsistent, perhaps, but its best moments are Yes' best moments.   Aren't you the one that posted a long time ago that Tales inspired you to become a  forest ranger?  Maybe I'm thinking of someone else though.

Edited by cstack3 - August 28 2024 at 15:44

richardh wrote: That phrase 'the real Yes keyboardist' is very interesting! It seems that Rick seriously got the hump after TFTO so left. Relayer is then a fearless bold step into the future and everything that progressive rock should be. Fast forward a few years and the management are begging Wakeman to return. This can't possibly be for commercial reasons as Wakeman was shifting serious amounts of units with Six Wives, Journey, King Arthur and the White Rock albums all charting high? Perhaps I'm just a natural born cynic

Moraz would've left, anyway. The tense atmosphere (or maybe whatever tension was directed at him) wasn't conducive to his participation. He'd gone from a trio to a quintet, one ruled by much larger egos. Wakeman was initially supposed to be a session player, strictly for pay, not reinstated as a full-time member, though Yes' manager decided to go ahead and do it (without Rick's consent, though he didn't mind). Any which way we cut it, it was the right move. "Awaken" is my favorite Yes epic.