THE YES ALBUM

This is YES first album with Steve Howe in the line-up replacing Peter Banks. Steve Howe brings a profound influence in the YES music. There are at least three tracks in this album that should be listed in YES finest compositions, all marked the beginning of symphonic-progressive era of the band.

The opening track 'Yours Is No Disgrace' is a killer opening, started by a dynamic passage with great guitar lead and vivid rhythm section. The vocal harmony as one of YES signature ornament has grown mature. Steve Howe guitar playing strongly contributes to the overall mood of the song, both in sound (he uses many guitar sounds) and solos.

The third track 'Starship Trooper' is another quintessential YES song and staple song in their live concert. The first part 'Life Seeker' is the main song theme, with a well known guitar intro and riff accompanied with solid rhythm. Bill Bruford drumming is excellent, with nice jazzy feel in some parts. Steve Howe shows one of his signature guitar playing in the acoustic solo in the beginning of second part 'Disillusion'. The last part 'Wurm' is basically an instrumental section with guitar solo as the outro.

The fourth track 'I've Seen All Good People' is another YES signature song. Again Steve Howe brings a unique sound in this song, by using Portuguese guitar in the 'Your Move' part.

Those three songs show great chemistry and excellent song writing skill of the band, and could be considered a seminal tracks for the near future development of the band.

The other three tracks are all wonderful tracks. 'Clap' is definitely one of Steve Howe masterpieces in acoustic solo guitar. It is a short composition with high level of difficulties to play (e.g hybrid picking, muted notes). The version in this album is the live version, which is very powerful and exciting version. The studio version is released only in the 2003 remastered version.

'A Venture' has a strong jazz feel, but for me is less exciting. 'Perpetual Change' has a complex song structure, with several moods and time signature changes. It starts with powerful guitar riffs, with great bass and drum companions. The vocal section starts quite calm, with nice harmonic notes as background. It has a very nice polyrhythmic section in the middle of the song, with great keyboard ? guitar arrangement.

This album is not only remarkable for the development of the band, but is also successful commercially. They are very close to their best identity and creativity. The vocal harmony, fluid bass, unconventional drum fills and symphonic keyboard as the band ingredient is now enhanced with unique guitar sound and style.