TORMATO

Yes

Symphonic Prog

3.01 | 1823 ratings

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FunkyM

Ah, the dreaded Tormato!

Tormato is one of the most infamous albums in the Yes catalogue. Often cited as their biggest "jump the shark" moment, the album is despised even by many hardcore Yes fans.

I picked up the album several years ago and I have listened to it numerous times since then. My brother listened to it as well, providing a second opinion on this oft-ridiculed work. Our assessments were pretty much the same: It's not that bad!

I will give you that the lyrics to "Don't Kill The Whale", "Arriving UFO", and "Circus Of Heaven" are pretty weak, but musically Tormato isn't nearly as atrocious as its reputation indicates. "Future Times/Rejoice", "Release, Release", and "On The Silent Wings Of Freedom" easily stand out as on par with tracks off the preceding Going For The One or even some material from their most highly acclaimed albums.

I also happen to find "Don't Kill The Whale" pretty darn catchy and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Sure, the lyrics are like picking up a blunt object, swinging wildly and missing - but dig that bouncy beat!

Even when to comes to the weakest tracks on Tormato, like "Circus Of Heaven", which sort of meanders aimlessly for four and a half minutes, I find Yes has produced much worse.

Bottom line: Tormato is definitely not another Close To The Edge or Fragile. Sure, in the context of the time it was released, released (sorry, couldn't resist), I can see how it could be viewed as a lesser effort. But it's easily better than most of the stuff the band produced after their next effort, Drama.

The album cover is pretty awful though! Yuck!

Highlights: "Future Times/Rejoice", "Release, Release", "On The Silent Wings Of Freedom"

FunkyM | 3/5 | 2012-1-24

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