90125

Wonderful album by Yes, this time with the distinctive guitaring of Trevor Rabin providing a solid, study backing. I don't have the same problem with the album that many of the other reviewers seem to. It's commerical. It's slick...it's polished. Big frickin' deal. People; I don't care if you're part of a necro-sounding black metal band; you DON'T get on a record label to not sell records. It does NOT happen, at all. I don't care if you're on Epic, Atlantic, Roadrunner, or a minor label like Inside Out or Laser's Edge. As far as the music is concerned: OWNER OF A LONELY HEART is (IMO) a great song, with an excellent vocal (naturally) by Anderson, who seems to be (moreso on this record than the others I've heard) an inexhaustible supply of vocal melodies and great vocal arrangements. It even has a killer (IMO) guitar solo, with Rabin going buck wild yet keeping things melodic and tasteful. I also happen to like CINEMA, which won a Grammy in '84. In fact, I can't find a single thing wrong with this record. I can't even take issue with the production; Horn did a great job. It's an immediate record, which shows itself quickly and unrepetantly. Whether you choose to go along for the ride or not is up to you. I was tempted to only give it 3 or 4 stars, but...screw it...when the music is this good, I refuse to be a hater and blast it for not sounding like "classic Yes". 5 stars all the way.