YES - Big Generator (1987)

I think i'd struggle to even rate it two stars to be honest.  I don't really consider the songs to be any worse than 90125, in fact a few of them might actually be better, but I struggle to get past the sound production.  It really does showcase the very worst of that 80's sound to me.

90125 was a great crossover prog album.

It is the greatest album … since Knee Deep in the Hoopla.

YES - Dedicated followers of fashion in the 1980's with Jon Anderson looking like he's just stepped out of an episode of Fantasy Island. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - January 21 2024 at 05:15

Jared wrote: Cristi wrote: Eloy's Ra feels more outdated to me than BG, with the programmed drums that are too upfront .  Presto was a step in the right direction IMO coming after Hold Your Fire.  I haven't listened to Destination in a very long time, I don't remember it being weak or bad, I'll give it a listen soon, to see what i think in 2024.  90125 and BG have got 80's written all over them; they could not have been released in any other decade and neither have aged well.  I understand what you say about Ra, but Frank was practically on his own at this point. What I would say is that with the return of the spacy sound, it was truer to the Eloy tradition than say Metromania, which has aged less well (although I do still like this quite a lot, for what it is). I really like Rush up to Power Windows, HYF has some great tracks, but also has a touch of the BG's about it and is the last one I actually own now... I can live without anything they did post HYF tbh...

Jared wrote: Cristi wrote: Is Eloy's Ra from 1988 better than Yes's Big Generator though?  Most certainly in my view; always had a soft spot for it and it holds up to repeated listens for me; it still gets played quite often whereas BG is incredibly dated and I rarely play it..  if we're talking Eloy, then 'Destination' would be my least favourite as the guitars are too harsh for their style, whilst with Rush 'Presto' is too 80's keys for me, which mars some otherwise great tracks... just my take.

Jared wrote: ^^ I agree with all of that (although I've not heard Rio)... I think I've said before, the only 70's big beasts whose music I continued to listen to all through the 80's and into the 90's were/ are Rush and Eloy. Some, like Mike Oldfield & TD make it to the mid 80's, but in general, my collection would suggest the decade is a barren wasteland..  Talk is the best album with Rabin by some way; I only own 90125 and BG because they are in a Box Set.

With Yes I pretty much miss out most of the 80's as I do with ELPowell, Tull, Genesis etc. For a while these bands were still trying to be relevent rather than actually making decent music. It was as depressing as hell. I had enough worries trying to get on in the world without my heroes making a mess and failing to get the memo. The 90's were a lot better both for myself and these bands generally. The only Rabin era Yes album I care about is Talk and recently he's made an excellent album Rio which people should check out. IMO

Shoot high aim low,
otherwise
not the yes i like

Union and Open Your Eyes are the only Yes albums I would rate lower than Big Generator. The only three songs I can tolerate are Shoot High Aim Low, Final Eyes, and Holy Lamb. I'm still a bathroom cup.