TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

I won't bother going over each song but briefly, as some excellent reviews have already done this, particularly those by Ryan and corbet. The point is, I've come to a conclusion; that this album sounds more like Yes to these ears than any other Yes album, even Close to the Edge. It's the band weaving a magical soundscape that penetrates the soul and delves deeper than any Yes album before or after. It's experimental, going beyond the bounds of music past, which is what Yes is all about. Yes has no "best album", but this is the most "Yessy" album, in my opinion.

The Sea: "The Revealing Science of God" is my personal favorite, especially the two brief percussion-chanting sections, and the "dawn of light" chanting intro.

The Stars: "The Remembering" is a magnificent, spacey piece, with great keyboard and moog elements; it compliments "Revealing Science" perfectly.

The Jungle: "The Ancient", which unfortunately even some TFTO devotees turn down, is actually my second favorite; I don't think it's as inherantly weird as many people have stated it. Howe's guitar playing is on fire in the beginning, and as many have noted the acoustic ballad portion is excellent.

The Clouds: "The Ritual" closes off the experience, with some excellent guitar and percussion. The last two minutes or so when the movement picks up and starts darkening is probably my favorite moment of the song.

I had my doubts from all the negative feedback, but this is absolutely Yes. Just plain, naked, pure Yes. Tales From Topographic Oceans, from the slow fade-in of "Revealing Science" (added to the remaster) to the closing chords of "Ritual", is the crafting of a musical world that only Yes can create.