CLOSE TO THE EDGE

I am the 100th one to rate this album, and it is the basic (if not the only) motivation for me to do so! Like Bryan Adair, I also wonder why some guys rated this album less than 5 stars! (well, I can understand rating 4, so I'm not condemning them...) Man, this is the album that "really" opened the doors of progressive rock to Yes, and includes their first side- length suite, which is superb. If you don't like the music at all, at least consider its historical perspective... That's what I do now, though I think the album has some dull moments (not on the title track, it's completely flawless), I think the album as a whole is an essential masterpiece for every prog fan to own. (Who am I talking to, all Yes fans and serious prog lovers already have it!!!) As for the dull moments, I really get bored in (just some) parts of and you and I, and I do think Siberian Khatru is a bit too long... They could have shortened it, and inserted something else (maybe an edited version of America, or if it's too diverse from the concept, an outtake) to the gap. Nevertheless, this stands out as one of the absolute masterpieces of progressive rock. I already had the MP3 version, but when I saw the record on second hand stand, I couldn't help buying it (partly because of the wonderful Roger Dean painting inside...) Highly recommended.