BIG GENERATOR

Many reviewers have come on here to express their disdain at this supposedly 'sellout' album by prog masters Yes. Get a grip people! This is a wonderful album in it's own right. Are you saying Yes didn't have the right to change or evolve? You indeed have the right to reject this album but you are frankly missing out.

A great rock album performed by masters of their craft....who wouldn't be impressed? Only those who believe they have some 'god given' right to influence a bands creative output. Get over yourselves. Or you can continue to be smugly satisfied with your arrogant rejection of it....it is your loss!

So change they did and this album and it's predecessor '90125' actually made them some decent money off the back of excellently performed and produced 'prog lite' rock music.....and good luck to them.

If the detractors hadn't noticed, pure prog rock was hardly filling bands coffers in the mid 80's. Feel free as a musician to 'stay true to your musical self' and be poor if you don't impress the buying public...or if your musical roots become passe. One couldn't count the amount of musicians who have lived to regret their own stubborn arrogance by refusing to evolve and grow with the times....

Opening with the superb 'Rhythm of Love', a song which rocks along with gorgeous vocal harmonies (a feature of this album) and a driving 'up tempo' beat.

The title track follows with Rabins crunching guitar taking centre stage....and it does rock! There's a lot happening here but it's not muddled....the production values shine through on this track....in fact on every track. The SQ on the whole album is superb!

'Shoot High, Aim Low' is a brooding prog-lite track that builds and takes you away....

The first side ends with the up tempo 'All About Love' with it's 'Sussudio' style brass section kicking it along. (Rabin apparently didn't approve of the addition of the brass section but I think it's fine). It's a joyous uplifting song that gets the feet tapping.

Side two opens with 'Love Will Find A Way', a beautiful if slightly commercial offering that is a wonderful combination of excellent musicianship and collective vocal prowess.

'Final Eyes' is another excellent prog lite track highlighted by superb vocals by Anderson with superb audio production again shining through.

'I'm Running' is a latin beat inspired prog rocker which strangely works....it is the longest song on the album and with it's really excellent vocal harmonies and at times, propulsive beat....it hits the prog spot!

Finishing with 'Holy Lamb', a nice Anderson spiritual ballad that, while probably the weakest song on the album, is still a worthy contribution and a nice reflective conclusion.

This album is a winner....for those who appreciate great rock music from a band of Class A performers.....for those who respect a band for evolving and exploring other possibilities....and who maybe just wanted a decent return for their efforts for a change. Well, they succeeded on all fronts.

I didn't give it 5 stars, only because in the words of the rating system, an album that receives 5 stars is "Essential: a masterpeice of progressive rock music." This album probably doesn't fit that description but it is a "masterpiece of prog inspired rock music" and I give it 4 stars. As a straight rock music album and for it's production values, I would give it 5 stars....it's a beauty!!

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