CLOSE TO THE EDGE

I have a question to impose upon ye all: WHAT is the big deal with this album? If anything is deserving of the term overrated, this is it. I just don't understand the obsession with this album. To start off, I'll mention the 2nd and 3rd tracks, which I think are great, and its sad that these two songs get lumped in with the mess that is Close to the Edge. And You And I is a mostly beautiful song and Siberian Khatru is a fun sort of dance song. These two tracks deserve to be on an at least 4-star album, and I feel sorry for them, I really do. All the while they have to stare into the face of a needless 20 minutes of filth (I use that term lightly). Now onto the "epic" (which is most likely about nothing). First of all, I must say what is the need of the separately named parts? Three of them are the EXACT SAME THING, disguised as different tunes because they have different bass lines (the bass lines are one thing that I like in this song). Most of the song is spent with Jon hardly singing, just pretty much talking with a change of pitch here and there. A four-year-old could do that. Then at the end of the first part, after he says his annoying little "Not right away" part (which the hilarious, pretentious liner notes call a stroke of genius), the 2nd part starts, which...is...exactly...the same...as the...first..part. What a stroke of genius. They must be Gods, at least the liner notes hint at that (the ones for TFTO are even funnier). After the O.K. third part ends, Rick Wakemen's "amazing" keyboard solo of nothingness begins. There's certainly no feeling put into it (at least Yes were consistent in this song), and I shouldn't be one to judge but it doesn't sound like it's technically brilliant either. After this little ditty from Rick Wakemen's "Godly" fingers ends, I either turn the damn thing off or the 4th part begins, and guess what? It's note for note the same as the 1st and 2nd parts! Then the song ends and I do a little jig because it's all over. Sometimes I feel like Yes is a parody of other prog-rock bands, with Jon and his annoying, cheesy vocals and Rick and his dull, overrated keyboards. Chris and Steve are what make me like this band, and sometimes even love it (like on Relayer, where most of the time Jon is shoved off to the side so the real masters can do their work). In the End CTTE= 2.4 stars, AYAI & SK= 4.3 stars.