''Union''. It's terrible . . . really?

Honestly I can't care less for any post Drama Yes album,

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - March 03 2010 at 11:09

Dellinger wrote: ghost_of_morphy wrote: I'm glad that you mentioned Miracle of Life.  It's as proggy as YesWest ever got. On my particular point of view, Endless Dream is the proggiest song YesWest ever released (and my favorite too).

AMEN!!!
I got so tired of mentioning that track from "Talk" and I didnt want to repeat myself I didnt want to
repeat myself (I was going to mention it- at the 1st Yes/West comment but glad someone else thought
the same ).
And Yes/Wests "Miracle of Life", they succeeded by making it sound "Nauticle" with the subject matter,
I always have visions of Jacques Cousteau and his programs when I listen to it.

Endless Dream indeed . . .
This "Yes/Rabin" Epic has so many layers and textures, and that Jon's voice soars to the heavens is and
was astounding when I 1st heard it.  Its because of Jon its a Yes track, he's the voice.
This is the one Epic (and Miracle...) of the scale of "You and I" and its counterparts that the Rabin Era
was able to create, to be contemporary and stand on its own back in those days of Prog Rock.
But it has been put on a few times in the "Yes Worst Epics" list

Listen to Frost* track "Hyperventilate" (2006) next to "Endless Dream", Hyper is an awesome track (As
well as the whole album- Was one of Chris Squires fave albums of that year) but Yes did it first in 1994
(only with vox/lyrics).
Ha! I'd add more "comments" but I'll just wait till the subject comes up again .

"I repeat myself when in distress, I repeat myself when in distress, I repeat myself when in distress,
I repeat myself when in distress . . . the more I look at it, the more I like it, I do think its good!. . ."

OH WOW!!! Whoopie!!!! 40 Comments! I've made it to "Groupie" Level!


Edited by MAVIII - March 02 2010 at 23:27

Although my review of it waas on the whole quite negative, I do still listen to Silent Talking quite a lot. I love that end movement.

ghost_of_morphy wrote: Union would have profitted greatly by being cut down to a single album.  There are some real gems here.  The first half of it is pretty good if you skip Saving My Heart..  The second half is at best forgettable. For what it's worth, this is probably the album I listen to most from the Rabin period.

I thought it was a single album.

I did have it on cassette yonks ago. The compositional disparties and different musicians give the album an uneven feel. It's like a lifeboat with loads of important people but no cook.

It has excellent tracks - this is Yes, (and more Yes) after all. Perhaps it needed to be two separate releases (maybe this is what Ghost of Morph meant?) - anyways there is extra material) and let album cohesion shine through rather than let conflicting styles distract.

It got Bruford back in the band, how surprised was he!

Another case of : "One mans meat is anothers poison".

I had to take my "Notification of Replies" OFF from the Thread "Worst Yes Epic" because the
criticisms were irratating .

I'll say I have tried to listen to "Open your Eyes" and there is no LIFE in it, I mean lets slap a
generic Roger Dean "YES" Logo on it and simple font for the lyrics, so not even the lay-out
has any life (sorry, I'm an Artist who creates Logos for Bands and Dean is a HUGE influence).
And "Magnification" takes the life out of Rick Wakeman . . . HE IS THE ORCHESTRA! Thats
what the Keyboards are for!
Those 2 are my biggest dissapointments for them, but with all said, if YOU like them, thats
all that matters.

Now time to bash me . . .

I loved "Union" when it came out, I do understand that most of the Band hated it, though I
think Squire said he liked it, and Trevor and Alan liked it as well (Need to see Classic Rocks
Yes Doc. again) but to me it was the best of both "sounds" united as one . . .
even if it wasnt very united when recording and performing together on it, but what an
AWESOME show it was to see! ALL of them together and they looked like they had a blast!

Shock to the system, Lift me up, Without hope you cannot start the day, Saving my heart,
Miracle of life, The more we live-let go, Angkor Wat, Holding on, and, Take the water to the
mountain, are the ones that stand out for me, which is just about the whole album.
Each of these songs were different in mood, from rocking to etherial and I enjoyed the ride.
And Deans Art really complimented to sound of the album and its one of my fave pieces.
Maybe its because I create "Compilation CD's" and sometimes "Themes", listening to tracks
in bites or in a "Mood" with other songs that have the same feel helps(?).
But I listened to the album constantly when I got it-for a few months after.

I also have the version with the extra song "Give & Take" that I searched for-for about 15
years, and that track . . . is pretty weak .

I can go on about ABWH, Big Generator, Talk and the Studio Tracks on Keys to Assension
I and II, but apparently I hear something that most don't because these get bashed as well.
All that matters is I like them, I will defend them to death but it just doesnt matter.

Its about what YOU like

Prock On!

" (okay, I just don't get Yes "love" songs. I've got nothing against love songs; I just don't think Yes is very good at them :) )"
I think Yes in the more popular era's had a few "Love Songs" that were quite poetic, esoteric and
beautiful .  As well as the Rabin era ("Hearts" from 90125), I have to say "I am waiting" from Talk is
pretty much what I feel Love should be. Trevs Guitar and Whites drums basically set the "Heart
Beats" of the different emotions of Love, and then Jons angelic voice just speaks volumes! bravo!
. . . and yes, mmmm . . . CHEEEEEESE (100% too!)


Edited by MAVIII - March 02 2010 at 23:37

Even though on the pop side, it's a good album. Remember that in the 80s, the influence of Trevor Robin was very strong on yes music, and that gave them a commercial edge that resulted in much radio play for their music. However, the music is well written and nicely performed, and if you get into it, even though not genius, is quite a good album.

Union would have profitted greatly by being cut down to a single album.  There are some real gems here.  The first half of it is pretty good if you skip Saving My Heart..  The second half is at best forgettable.

Edited by ghost_of_morphy - February 28 2010 at 20:54

TheGazzardian wrote: It's mixed bag. I'm a huge Yes fan and I listened to it more than 20 times before I knew what I felt about it. (Unike Epignosis, Open Your Eyes is the only Yes album I haven't been able to listen to ridiculous amounts yet). It has some really good songs, and some songs that make me wonder how they could be by Yes. I would definitely consider it a 2 star (fan only) album, but it does have some nice songs, some of the better ones from Yes' poppy era. (That being said, I much prefer the versions I've managed to find played live during the tour, but there's nothing officially released from that tour yet). My thoughts: Good tracks: Masquerade, Lift Me Up, Without Hope You Cannot Start the Day, The More We Live - Let Go, Take The Water To the Mountain Painful tracks: Saving My Heart, I Would Have Waited Forever. (okay, I just don't get Yes "love" songs. I've got nothing against love songs; I just don't think Yes is very good at them :) ) Honourable Mention: Angkor Wat (cool atmosphere, fails to deliver what it feels like it could have)

I like Shock To The System, I play it regularly. The rest is simply forgettable. A bad ABWH if you will.

That, along with Open Your Eyes (and maybe Big Generator), are the only Yes albums that I would give 1 star.

-Jeff