BIG GENERATOR

Yes released Big Generator in 1987 amid internal and external stress. Externally new fans were excited for a sequel to 90125, while old fans would have preferred a sequel to Tormato over a sequel to 90125. Internally Trevor Rabin and Jon Anderson were diametrically opposed about the direction of the band. Trevor supported the direction of 90125 and was looking to progress further in that direction, while Jon longed for a return to a more traditional sound. Rabin apparently won this conflict because the results were much closer to 90125 than Close to the Edge. Although he seemingly didn't win this argument easily, because Big Generator took nearly two tumultuous years to record.

Big Generator opens with Rhythm Of Love, a rather uninteresting and commonplace song, prepackaged and glossily produced for the radio. The most interesting thing about this song, and all that will follow is the very unique snare sound the White employs on this album, it sounds like a poor attempt at replicating Bruford's snare, but it sounds fantastic and really ads some sparkle and a really unique percussive flavor for the album. Next comes the title track which really sounds like a slight reworking of "Owner of a Lonely Heart". This song displays strong use of sampling, and if they hadn't done the same thing, and done it better, just one album earlier it would be really interesting. Not really much from this song either, luckily the album makes a turn upwards from here. Shoot High, Aim Low, Big Generator's next offering is a wonderful ambient piece that shows some nice restraint from the band and is marvelously produced. Good playing from all members of the band, especially from White who delivers a perfectly placed driving rhythm. I also thoroughly enjoy the short clean guitar solo Rabin turns in. Almost Like Love is a very strange song. It feels like a mix between heavier metal drumming, island percussion passages and vocals, and heavy layered 80's style keyboards. I have listened to this song multiple times but cant decide what I truly think of it, but I will say it it nice to see Yes trying something very different and unique and I must commend the effort. Love Will Find A Way is brutally pop and glossily produced, but is tightly played and wonderfully orchestrated pop, and I absolutely love it. I think this song is one of the few places during the 80's where brilliant musicianship is displayed within a pop song. Chris Squire's bass smokes through the whole song and his wonderfully melodic bass fills add a lot of character. Final Eyes is another bizarre song meshing electronic percussion tones and acoustic guitar. This song would be really commonplace if it were not for Horn unique production style that provides the songs with a fresh and dare I say progressive feel. I'm Running is another unique song, employing the island percussion in places again and featuring many changes in time and melody. At this point though one begins to realize that this inst really an album, but instead is merely a mosaic of singles and have no cohesiveness whatsoever. Holy Lamb is by far the weakest track on the album. It has some interesting ideas within it but never gets proper time to progress or to develop in any interesting ways. All in all this is an 80's pop album with moments that cause one to remember the glory days of Yes. This album is progressive, it tries to experiment with many unique styles within 80's popular music(an experiment in itself for Yes), and it provides a lot of enjoyment if one simply for what it is, an exploration of the boundaries of the 80's pop scene.