HOUSE OF YES: LIVE FROM HOUSE OF BLUES

This is a good live album from a band that usually releases great live material. This doesn't quite live up to the Yessongs/Yesshows/Keys to Ascension standard in quality, but it is still a worthwhile purchase for the following reasons.

1. They played a fair amount of new material (at the time) from The Ladder on this album. Most of it comes off fairly well too, especially It Will Be a Good Day, Face to Face, and above all, The Messenger. The Messenger sounds brilliant. After hearing it on this album, it wouldn't surprise me if they brought it back in later tours (something almost unheard of for any song released on an album after 90125.)

2. Igor Khoroshev. I realy like what Igor does on this album. If I can't have Rick, give me Igor as his replacement. Not only does he do well on songs off the Ladder that showcase the keys, he also does a fine job on the back material, especially Perpetual Change. And the two very short Anderson/Khoroshev pieces (snippets of Time and a Word and Ritual) make me sad that the planned Anderson/Khoroshev project has been cancelled.

3. A generally good selection of songs from the back catalog. Perpetual Change is the gem here simply because they have not done this one very often, but Awaken and And You and I and Your Move/All Good People come off pretty well too.

Here are the main reasons this album isn't quite up to the Yessongs/Yesshows/Keys to Ascension standard.

1. On several of the songs, the band just doesn't seem to rise above it's material. That's what made Yessongs and Keys To Ascension so special. Yes actually played live versions of songs on those albums that had more energy and interest than the studio recordings. This album is lacking in songs like that.

2. Owner of a Lonely Heart. OMG. Steve should never play this song again. For that matter, Billy Sherwood probably should hang this one up too. Things don't get good until they reach the extended ending where Steve can play his own way. The other 90125 track, Cinema comes off OK, although White's backbeat cymbals are far more distracting here than on the original.

3. The back catalog songs. These are OK, but if you are a Yes fan, you have better live versions of these songs on other releases (excepting the two unique short Anderson/Khoroshev snippets.)