Yes' "Relayer" underappreciated?

^ Pretty much what I was just about to post. It is very well appreciated. 

Relayer is probably my least favorite Yes album from the 70's (yes, that includes Tormato).  I like Gates, but it's certainly not my favorite of their epics (Revealing Science, The Remembering, Awaken, CTTE and Endless Dream are higher on my list) and the other two songs really don't do much for me.  So it probably is underappreciated by me as it seems to be highly regarded in prog circles. 

Like many before me have said: it is not underappreciated; plus it is one of my favorite Yes albums. I don't have the time to write good reviews, but I would give it 5 stars myself as well.

Progosopher wrote: Currently, it is the third most highly rated Yes album on the ProgArchives, and number 30 overall, which is no mean feat. I don't think that counts as underappreciated, although as my favorite Yes album it rates much higher to me personally.  Nor do I particularly care that much where it falls in any top list.  Those numbers just represent common denominators.  As others have said, it is not an album that one can get into easily or quickly, but it is one whose dimensions reveal themselves on repeated listens.  I suspect some detractors may not have the patience it requires to fully appreciate, but who knows?  We don't all have to 'get it' nor do we all have to enjoy the same things to the same degree.  The only thing that matters, as I frequently say, is how much you appreciate it when you listen to it.

I couldn’t agree more.

It's my fave yes album......

^ Maybe he is older than all of us......we don't know at this point. That album was too big for anyone at any age as a first listen. To me it seems that those two words sometimes get used as another way to ask "why is it not good?" Which I don't think has anything to do with beign appreciated or not........just how I feel I guess.

Catcher10 wrote: ^ Maybe he is older than all of us......we don't know at this point. That album was too big for anyone at any age as a first listen. To me it seems that those two words sometimes get used as another way to ask "why is it not good?" Which I don't think has anything to do with beign appreciated or not........just how I feel I guess.   I'm a vinyl guy, and am on my 2nd copy......I appreciate it so much that soon I will get a 3rd vinyl copy.

Edited by Snow Dog - December 12 2011 at 16:31

Relayer is another shade of Close to the Edge.   Roger Dean's use of a silver and gray monotone color palette  seems  cold, mysterious, and  dangerous when compared other Yes/Dean collaberatioons.  Relayer's cover art visually  echoes the potent sounds resonating in the  grooves of the vinyl.   Roger Dean has gone on record before claiming Relayer to be his all time favorite Yes Album.

White is a much 'harder' drummer than Bruford and that suites the tracks (especially GoD) perfectly. I just wish the sound mix was not so turgid.White's drumming gets lost in it a bit too much. The Yesshows version is better for me with a lot more clarity and you can hear how good White really was at that time.

I don't think Relayer is underappreciated; it's just less iconic than CTTE or Fragile.  Clearly it's regarded highly, and I think it contains some fine music, on par with the two albums I just mentioned, but I think I see where you're coming from.  When one thinks of the glory days of Yes, one usually thinks of CTTE - Relayer may be equal or even superior in quality, and regarded as such, but it's just not as well-recognized by non-Yes fans.