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Prog Sothoth 
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Joined: May 03 2011
Location: MA
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Points: 1940
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 Posted: November 24 2016 at 07:42 |
Yes will always get respect in prog circles, but branching out a bit in the rock scene where vocals and lyrics play a bigger role, they become very polarizing. There's no shortage of folks who aren't down with Jon's prose, written off as new-age fluffy nonsensical drivel. Floyd's lyrics starting with DSotM were dark themed and comprehensive, Tull's were "smart" and cynical, Crimson's were weird yet had a darker vibe, and as odd as Genesis were in the 70's, the lyrics could be followed as narratives. Mags like Rolling Stone aren't going to appreciate the hopeful yet obtuse ramblings of Jon, and singing "Wish You Were Here" by the campfire isn't going to come across as corny as even the most played of Yes' tunes on rock radio such as "I've Seen All the Good People".
Jon's voice is less of an issue but still an issue. Other higher pitched vocalists were big (Robert Plant) but Jon's were particularly "light" which, while suitable for the lyrics, lack that manly rock star image. I have to say if I were to form a Yes cover band, it would be easier to just go for a female vocalist...
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zravkapt
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Joined: October 12 2010
Location: Canada
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Points: 6446
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 07:48 |
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If they broke up after Relayer I would have more respect for them...
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Magma America Great Make Again
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Warthur
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 06 2008
Location: London, UK
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Points: 617
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 08:49 |
 zravkapt wrote:
If they broke up after Relayer I would have more respect for them... |
Can we compromise and have them break up after Going For the One, but still get the "Drama" album under a different band name?
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zravkapt
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 09:11 |
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^No, I don't like Going For Number Two.
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Magma America Great Make Again
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CPicard
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 03 2008
Location: Là, sui monti.
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Points: 10841
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 12:32 |
But, after all, does Yes deserve any respect at all? Are not they the cause of nothing but awkward embarassment for every prog fan? Can't we agree that this band had brought us only shame, guilt, fear, emptiness and despair? 
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Barbu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
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Points: 30850
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 13:07 |
^ Ton coté sarcastique atteint de nouveaux sommets, mon ami. 
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twosteves
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 01 2007
Location: NYC/Rhinebeck
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Points: 4091
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Posted: November 24 2016 at 20:32 |
Yes was an amazing band---when they had the 5 best guys in England playing with them--an explosion of creative music. Very few groups have reinvented their sound like Yes-- from--The Yes Album---to Fragile/CTTE----to Tales---to Relayer---the shear artistry of sound from album to album is amazing and very few prog bands were as adventurous with their music.
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rogerthat
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Points: 9869
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Posted: November 25 2016 at 17:39 |
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I kind of get the OP's point. Over a period of time Yes has come to be regarded as more of a gateway prog band. It is diminished now, but this forum had a strong Avant-bias just a few years back so in the eyes of Avant centric fans Yes was just melodic fluff. But they are also by far one of the most important and influential bands of the genre and that ought to outweigh hipster approval. Personally I really like them if not as much as hardcore Yes fans mainly because I find it too cheerful too much of the time. No, this isn't me saying "Bro, Avant rocks because it's so dark". I am interested in a deeper concept, that of soul. You can find soul on a Stevie Wonder album but harder to find in a Yes album (at least for me).
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The Dark Elf
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Posted: November 25 2016 at 18:40 |
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Yes would have gained far more respect if it hadn't selected a monosyllabic affirmative as a band name.
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...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
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uduwudu
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 17 2007
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Points: 2601
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Posted: November 26 2016 at 04:14 |
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Mainstream wise I think most people think oh, he's the guy who sings Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Bit like those idiots who think Led Zeppelin is the guy who sang Stairway To Heaven.
But no, social intelligence reduction. Oops, sorry - dumbing down - and the acceptance of taking what's served up (still with the TOP 20 mentality kids?) means that something such as Yes is knocked for being "old" which I understand is a Bad Thing. Not to forget web trained attention spans means things have gone from being Quickened - as observed by Queensryche - to shortened as observed by your truly and others. You Tube clips of comedy means that episodes of Blackadder seem endless to the children in whom we place our futura.
I was watching and listening to the Lugano DVD with the Tsongas set. And You And I is, as ever a masterwork that is outstanding. But the surprise is the detail and craft Steve Howe gives Owner Of A Lonely Heart. A slightly different identity and giving it a more er, Yes type sound than the streamlined sounds of Trevor Rabin.
So, no is the answer. So long as the intelligence aspect of music forsaken in place of cultural identity or blind and bland ague emotion then anything that requires using the little grey cells going to be disregarded.
Jeeznis, it's not that difficult. Yes have sublime melodies and when you get past the immediacy there's a lot to be heard. Put on The Yes Album first thing...
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Flight123
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 01 2010
Location: Sohar, Oman
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Points: 1399
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Posted: November 26 2016 at 04:37 |
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I would have more respect for Yes had they called it quits in the late 70s. That is not to say, some of the individual members have continued to make some great music. Of these, I would list Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford and to some extent Rick Wakeman. (Which means that AWBH was one of the few notable 'Yes' projects beyond the 70s). Howe allowed himself to be seduced by the ghastly Asia (and GTR), Squire seemed to spend his time trying to resurrect Yes in whatever form with White going along with him.
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Slartibartfast
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Joined: April 29 2006
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 04:26 |
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Yes kinda fizzed out for me after Drama. I gave them a break with 90210, I got back on with Union. I streamed Fly From Here but not enough to buy it. No problems if Yes carries on beyond any original members but there is so much great vital new prog going on out there and only 24 hours in the day...
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Dellinger
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 09:56 |
Flight123 wrote:
I would have more respect for Yes had they called it quits in the late 70s. That is not to say, some of the individual members have continued to make some great music. Of these, I would list Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford and to some extent Rick Wakeman. (Which means that AWBH was one of the few notable 'Yes' projects beyond the 70s). Howe allowed himself to be seduced by the ghastly Asia (and GTR), Squire seemed to spend his time trying to resurrect Yes in whatever form with White going along with him. |
I believe indeed that after Going for the One they lost the spark they had with their classic albums and all. Yet, I would be missing some really wonderful individual songs if they had called it quits after that album. Things like "Machine Messiah", "Owner of a Lonely Heart" itself (though for many that song is a reason for not liking post 70's Yes) and "Hold On", "The More we Live", "Endless Dream", "Be the One", parts of "Mind Drive" (how I wish they would release an edit of that song leaving only the XYZ written segment with the Steve Howe acoustic intro, but taking out what I understand are the Anderson parts), "In the Presence of", plus a few other great songs from Magnification, and yes, even the trio of main songs that form the suposed "epic" of "Fly from Here".
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Lewian
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
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Points: 14679
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 13:26 |
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No more recent music of any band makes their older music invalid, so I don't see why it should diminish my respect for a band that from some point onwards they did stuff that I don't like. Had they stopped at that point, I wouldn't be better off by an inch, so why deny them respect for moving on?
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DeadSouls
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Joined: February 28 2016
Location: Chile
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Points: 4255
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 14:12 |
They don't get my respect.
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twosteves
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Joined: May 01 2007
Location: NYC/Rhinebeck
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Points: 4091
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 15:29 |
miamiscot wrote:
Yes are my all-time favorite band so I obviously feel they do not get the respect they deserve.
The Yes Album 10/10 Fragile 10/10 Close To The Edge 10/10 Tales From Topographic Oceans 10/10 Relayer 10/10
That's a pretty amazing run of excellence - all within a 45 month time span (February 1971 to November 1974.)
Genesis is the only other band who even comes close (IMHO.) |
I agree and you can't get a more diverse run of sounds than on those Yes albums---I like GFTO too---although not as perfect as the one's you mentioned. If you like classic prog most would agree there are about 10 important bands----Yes and Genesis are one and two---even if you don't appreciate all of them.
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EddieRUKiddingVarese
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 04 2016
Location: Aust
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Points: 1802
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 15:38 |
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Yes and No
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"Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes"
and I need the knits, the double knits!
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Dellinger
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Joined: June 18 2009
Location: Mexico
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Posted: November 27 2016 at 21:24 |
Lewian wrote:
No more recent music of any band makes their older music invalid, so I don't see why it should diminish my respect for a band that from some point onwards they did stuff that I don't like. Had they stopped at that point, I wouldn't be better off by an inch, so why deny them respect for moving on?
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Perfectly said. Most bands have their period of excellence and then loose the spark... and most of them aren't able to capture that spark, or a new one, as brightly again. In such a case, we would be stuck listening only to music by new artists.
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Flight123
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Location: Sohar, Oman
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Posted: November 28 2016 at 02:29 |
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The point I was trying to make is that some of the individual members went on to produce some great music without the need to resurrect 'Yes' - particularly Jon Anderson and Bill Bruford.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 02 2016
Location: Philly burbs
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Points: 18233
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Posted: November 28 2016 at 07:21 |
Barbu wrote:
^ Ton coté sarcastique atteint de nouveaux sommets, mon ami. |
For those who are too lazy to do the french/english transaltion on google ;):
"Your sarcastic side reaches new heights, my friend."
Anyway, someone said they get respect in prog circles. Well, not on here. It seems they are polarizing everywhere although maybe not as much as say Gentle Giant, Magma, VDGG or neo prog.
Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - November 28 2016 at 07:24
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Do Yes get the respect that they deserve?