THE LADDER

First thing that is notable for this album is the brilliant cover artwork by Roger Dean, which promises, that this album will be very successful and sounds great! So, i pick up this one, that it will be convinced, whether so it is magnificent, as it everyone speak about. And i was dissapointed a little, especially of that poppish style that was on former presented there. On the other way, it has different style from Union, Talk and OYE (thanks to Khoroshev) and demonstrates that Yes not completely died as a classic prog rock band, and they can create greate stuff, and even 10-minute epics! So this is great both for Yesfans and the band. Allelluja!!! Yes is back in form! But for that pop infuence, this LP wouldn't have 5 stars from me, never, it certainly not a masterpiece!

1. Homeworld (The Ladder) - 4,5/5 - i think this is not the song for all times as people very proud of it so much. Middle-quality melodies, sometimes sounds like epic, sometimes not, this modern style has no roots to what tey did in 70s. And also this song is rather pop. So not 5 stars. 2. It Will Be A Good Day (The River) - 4/5 - good keyboard playing fom Igor Khoroshev, usual 90s Yes song, contains 25% prog and 25% pop. 3. Lightning Strikes - 4,5/5 - not so serious at the beginning, than acoustic riffs, than melodic bass and keyboards force to think, that it is really good song. 4. Can I? - 3,75/5 - a vocal piece by Jon, in which he shows his enjoyment of world music and here is the reprise of old song We Have Heaven, such a good idea!!! 5. Face to Face - 5/5 - this is the first song fom The Ladder that took 5 stars from me,one of the best of album, melodic clockwork piece, cheers up. 6. If Only You Knew - 4/5 - same thing as with second track, minimum special moments that can allocate this song among others. And the poppist style too. 7. To Be Alive (Hep Yadda) - 5/5 - melodic song, Jon impresses, reminds ABWH's song The Oreder of the Universe. 8. Finally - 5/5 - by this time i like it better than at the first acquaintance. Realy good thing to hear more and more time. Jon continues amaze! 9. The Messenger - 3/5 - in my opinion the poorest track on this album. Not memorable as other their 90s pop songs. 10. New Language - 5/5 - great epic!!! Best on the album and my favourite too! Instrumental intro is a thing! Other parts are also amazing, love it. This is what i call Yes are back in form!!! 11. Nine Voices (Longwalker) - 4/5 - as usual for now, a usual ballad from Jon, reminds the final track from ABWH album. The main poorness of it that it presents nothing special for Yesfans.

The average mark is 4,34. This is treat for Yesfans, but unfortunately, not a masterpiece.

Share this YES review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Resurrected
• Report this review (#178357)
• Buy YES music online with PA partners
• Show all YES MP3/Stream
• Go to YES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Ladder page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for YES related discussions