CLOSE TO THE EDGE

To me the sound of famous English progressive rock band Yes just sounds awful after 'The Yes Album'. The thumping Rickenbacker bass sound of Chris Squire leaves the music practically impossible to mix. The guitars of Steve How sound thin and shrieking. Bill Bruford is a great technical drummer, be he does way too little to force the band in an organic flow - in stead focusing on providing ever more detail to the already overcrowded compositions. The tempo's of the songs are also just plain wrong. Rick Wakeman - though largely responsible for the progressive rock gimmick - actually has some great sounds, but there's no room for it in the mix. The compositions are stacked with ideas, but most end up not complementing each other in a way that creates either harmony or melody. To me that opening section of 'Close to the Edge' sounds like progressive rock for tone death people. In the meanwhile singer Jon Anderson is set loose lyrically, which results in total alienation from the though & experiences of the common man. Well, obviously a lot of reviewers here think differently about this album - its the highest rated prog album on this site! - but this is my honest opinion and just can't help it.