GOING FOR THE ONE

Every single song on this album I disliked initially. The first time I heard the title track, I thought, "Who are these guys?" The second song sounded boring. The third was okay, but uninteresting. The fourth song had been the only one I'd known from this album for a long time, and I thought it was a mere recreation of "Your Move." The fifth song was weird, grating, and monotonous in the middle. How does one overcome these hurdles with Yes? By listening.

"Going for the One" The steel guitar is difficult to get over at first. But I must confess: My first experience with this song was on the Keys to Ascension DVD, which frankly sounds terrible. After a few listens to the studio version here, my prejudice gave way, and I really began to enjoy the song for what it was- not the best of Yes, but a very good, rollicking tune indeed.

"Turn of the Century" This, I cannot listen to as I review it. Over the years, it has brought tears to my eyes for reasons that may be too personal to go on about here. The lyrics describe a reversal, then re-reversal, of the mythological story of Pygmalion and Galatea. Roan would always tell his wife, who danced about and was a free spirit, to sit still so he could sculpt her. Soon, she died, and Roan only had a statue of his wife- precisely what he wanted of her. But suddenly his statue came to life, and his wife was in his arms again. The song ends with a nostalgic feeling. The instrumental section, featuring Wakeman's best piano work while with Yes, Chris Squire's bass, and some great electric guitar work from Steve Howe, make this one of the highlights of the album. The key changes are flawless. This has to be some of Howe's best acoustic guitar work ever.

"Parallels" Wakeman's church organ and Squire's bass dominate this Squire-penned number. Hearing the rehearsals from the bonus material, it sounds like something that could have been a part of his solo album, but as the rest of Yes gets their hands fully on it, it becomes something more like them. It's an exciting track, even if Howe's guitar work tends to be a little sloppy and out of place throughout.

"Wonderous Stories" This one is like "Your Move," as I mentioned in the introductory paragraph, but it really has its own style, and is very different from everything else here.

"Awaken" The epic of the album, "Awaken" contains fabulous piano work, wild guitar runs, and some of the most esoteric lyrics Jon Anderson has ever put through a microphone. The middle section is a drawn out, quiet instrumental part, with Wakeman's church organ, playing ever so majestically. Anderson's vocals are wonderful in this work. The end and the beginning are amazing bookends.