BIG GENERATOR

In defense of an album highly criticized, I feel the need to lighten the air with some of the dense reviews that have plagued Big Generator. Much of these bad reviews stem from Yes not sticking with their standard "Prog" sound. In their early years they defined a sound that would forever change music. Many have become influenced by this sound and fans would forever define them by that sound. So, for them to ever steer from it is like a spit in the face for the fans, evidentially. But Yes fans, or Prog fans in general, suffer from the same fandom that could be found in almost anything.... Proggies? Trekkies? Is there really a difference?

When I first heard the title track, I thought to myself what many have thought, "What is this crap?" This isn't Yes!" But! I found out it was only bad remix from the 35th Anniversary Collection. Some time later, I got to listen to the album that so many were grumbling about and I found it to be a solid release. Sure, Trevor Rabin's Beatles-esque pop sensibilities just candy coats whatever house Steve Howe built, but to pass it off as "the worse Yes album" is an overstatement, by far! I agree, Trevor Rabin is no Steve Howe. But Trevor Horn is no Jon Anderson and very few seem to have any issues with Drama.

Tracks like Holy Lamb and Shoot High Aim Low are so emotionally intense that to not get goosebumps is inhuman! Final Eyes has some great guitar work from Trevor Rabin. The acoustics are bliss. "Bah! It's not Steve Howe!"

Solid album. A+ release whether it is Prog or not.