TALK

When Yes came out with this record, I was so pissed about how things went down after the 8-man Union tour that preceded this. I was hoping and praying that the "classic" line-up of Anderson, Bruford (or White), Wakeman, Howe and Squire will emerge as the new Yes. What do we get? The 90125, Big Generator crew. Bruford, Howe and Wakeman receiving their pink slips, being told "Your services are no longer required." I have been a big Yes fan for years and the way the band has been run like a corporation was a big turn-off. I don't hate the Yes west line-up but the early seventies crew is crazy good and I can never get enough Steve Howe. What they produced after their "downsizing" was Talk. Which was probably 80-90% Trevor Rabin's project, 10 -15% Jon Anderson with trace contibutions from the rest. Anyway I bought this album, the day it came out like a good obedient consumer and was actually mostly pleasantly surprised. I knew we weren't going to get another "Close To The Edge" but I thought that most of the stuff on this album was good and some was great. The album opens up with "The Calling" which is a radio friendly but very tight and rocking Yes song. Great vocals and backing instrumentation and a whole lotta fun. "I am Waiting" comes next. It starts off like it's going to be a syrupy love song but then gets you drawn in by it's melodic hook and trance-like verses. The song then builds up to a nice crescendo with a huge chorus. Great tune! Real Love continues this nice slower pace and is kind of reminiscent of "City of Love" with its chunky riff. The verse goes on for a little longer than expected like the previous song followed by the chunky riff before going into a great chorus. Another winner. Two songs in a row that are pleasantly unconventional-even for Yes. "State of Play" picks up the pace a little turns out to be another fun song in the vein of "The Calling." This one sporting a nice Anderson chorus, definitely his. "Walls comes next. It is like "Love Will Find A Way" part II. Thankfully this is the only one of its kind on this album. Not terrible but not great either. Very poppy. Someting that sounds like it should have been saved for a Rabin solo album but not a bad song. "Where will You Be" is another trancey tune but this one is built around a repetitive sequencer sounding synth pattern. Builds up nice. Something different from the Yes men, not bad. "Endless Dream" is the epic on the album. It is IMO the best thing that came out of this line- up and is also a great Yes song that sadly has been forgotten and ignored. Very powerful and one of Yes' best moments. The album does sound kind of sterile and lacks warmth but what you do get is amazing clarity and depth. Also Chris Squire's bass is reduced to more of a supporting role.