CLOSE TO THE EDGE

i'm 16 and from england and i'm an intense fan of prog rock for many years since i got into tool (why aren't they on this site???) and i recently got into yes and quite frankly they are the best thing i've ever heard. before i was into similar bands like pink floyd, the mars volta, dream theater and king crimson but this took the elements of all my favourite prog rockers and i was just so amazed by their music that i cant stop listenening to them. i am currently on a mission to get all their best cds. so far i only have fragile, the yes album and close to the edge and they are all masterpieces. i just read all the good reviews on this site and had to get into them and it payed off brilliantly

anyway... less ramble, onto the review.

close to the edge is a masterpiece. the best i've heard so far yet the yes album and fragile are just as good. The first thing that attracted me to listen to this album is that i just love long songs. and one album consisting of 3 tracks felt like heaven to me so i just had to get it. and it was actually one of the best things i've ever heard and loadsa my friends love yes just as much now.

The title track is what defined the amazingness of yes for me. an 18 minute prog rock opus which unlike most prog rock songs that demand patience, really grabs you by the balls and never fails to please. a four minute intro with intense solos and multi layered music feels revolutionary and the bit two minutes in where they stop playing and and go "aaaah" is a classic. The way the song starts off with amazing singing yet try not to give it all away right at the begining is truely amazing. "not right away" sums it all up. the continuous reprisal of the "close to the edge" chorus is always a treat and unlike most chorus, each one is different every time so it never fails to impress you and never gets old.

when the track progresses into the mellower "i get up i get down" is so emotional and beautiful its untrue. and the battle between jon andersons vocals and rick rakemans intense organ piece is unbelievable. the sheer power of this piece never fails to move me. and just when you think its over it goes back into the funky guitar riffs and powerful vocals again and multi layered vocals and guitar riffs, proving that yes have what it takes to provide one of the best rock classics of all time.

and you and i is also a tremendous effort from the band although personally close to the edge remains the best song i've ever heard. track 2 on the album keeps the musical godliness going strong. Starting with the classic acoustic guitar which goes on for just the right amount of time to pull the listener into the song as it progresses into one of the most powerful and apocolyptic pieces of all time after jons long "caaaaallllll". This piece is able to match the first track and it would be an insult if i described this as any less than perfection. this defines progressive rock. with this album yes proved that they can take classic albums like the yes album and fragile and progress even furthur and provide something even more powerful, moving and lyrically flawless.

Siberian Khatru is another masterpiece which offers a funky vibe with the explosive intro and amazing guitar work. This song never fails to please and progresses amazingly throughout. close to the edge is a masterpiece. it actually amazes you to think that it only takes 5 musicians to produce something this good. what god would allow humans to be this amazing!

Although i've only been listening to yes for a month now i am positive this is the best band i've ever heard, even if their other work after "relayer" cant quite match up to anything previous, the early albums are just that good that they prove yes to be one of the most original and talented bands in existance.

i am usually quite harsh at the rating system as i review a lot of records but do not usually give away the 5 star rating. but close to the edge deserves every bit of praise it recieves. Yes have an original compelling sounds that very few bands have been able to match. rock on lads!