FRAGILE

Yes is one of the most identifiable and prolific progressive rock bands of not just the 70s, but of all of modern music. Fragile could very well be their most known release, and is certainly one of the best done. It achieves an excellent balance of lengthy epics and short feature tracks, on for each member. The band was at a musical peak at this time, culminating in "Close to the Edge." However, this album is in a similar vein musically, and contains as much melodic and musical charm as its successor. This album showed the band for the tour-de-force of music that they truly were, expanding their sounds by leaps and bounds. The album derives the majority of its majesty from the lengthy tracks. These songs all develop in to perfectly orchestrated tracks, and are probably amongst the most memorable in the bands 30-something year catalouge. "Roundabout", known by even the casual classic rock radio listener, is truly a great album opener, showing Steve Howe's mastery of the harmonic. I was well familiar with this song because as a child, my mom would play the intro every time she got her hands on a guitar. "South Side of the Sky" is probably my favorite track on the album. The instruments all flow together creating a masterpiece of the utmost connection. All instruments stand out, but none overpower, which is a perfect balance. The band achieves this so often on the album, it makes it seem so easy. Anotehr song where that exists is "Heart of the Sunrise," a timeless track that is a prime example of the music the band was making. Each member played their hearts out on this album, and the best evidence is in what I call, the "feature" tracks. Not a single one can be considered "weak." Each one is enjoyable in its own right, contributing cohesiveness to the album. For example, the songs from "Five Per Cent for Nothing" to "Mood for a Day" all sound very well linked, and is perfect for a person seeking connection within the albums. This album is almost a perfect jumping point in to the world of prog for any beginner, and should be in every self-respecting prog fan's collection. It has the perfect melodic mix of well-blended instruments forming a sound rarely duplicated or topped. It is a masterpiece, and a highly accessible one at that. For people looking to find that album that displays everything right with the genre, but wanting to test the waters before diving in, this is the perfect album for that person. If not, I'd recommend this album anyway, its charm is hard to escape from, and once it has you, you'll be humming along all day

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