MAGNIFICATION

Yes, I'm going to say it. A masterpiece of progressive music. Sometimes, we have to consider the context of present day. Yes seems to have long abandoned the crazy avant garde-like approach to their songwriting so trying to even compared to CTTE, TFTO, Relayer era is absurd. So we have to at least give due to the album as if we'd never heard those albums.

Actually, Magnification reminds me of everything that makes us Yes fans. Symphonic rock with soaring vocals and some crazy guitar work by a true magician. Each song on this album is nearly an instant classic. There's not a rebellious attitude about this album like those early classics, but there is a more matured sound that doesn't include the cheese that often accompanied Yes's 90s releases. The title track is a monster of a song with some great sounding orchestral work not different from what you'd expect from a great movie score. Spirit of Survival is a monster of a song. I've created 3 new Yes fans from this song alone upon introduction to the band. Give Love Each Day is about the best pop-like track one could ask for. It's truly vocally moving.

We get to hear Chris Squire sing on Can You Imagine and then in duet with Anderson. This track could have been a great radio hit with it's short time...but we can't expect anything this good to be on the radio. Don't Go is probably the weakest track on the album, with some fairly cheesy lyrics ("we were supposed to be together forever"). Up against the power of Give Love Each Day's "You are the song through the book of time." Dreamtime and In the Presence of... provide 2 great closing tracks, the latter being able to rival some of Yes's most beautiful work.

I'm thankful that Yes realized what made them great when they made this album. They had forgotten that for awhile but seem to have reacquired the spirit for inspiration (giving Homeworld a break for amazingness) that requierd to make you really grab a hold to the idea being put at your feet.