2001: 64 in PA and RYM charts: Yes or Stereolab?

In and out of PA... What does sound-dust look like when under magnification?

There was a recent topic on Yes' Magnification being an overlooked gem (unlike, say, Fragile and Close to the Edge). Well, it has been largely overlooked by me until now, and I think that the album I'm comparing it with is commonly overlooked too (unlike Dots and Loops and Emperor Tomato Ketchup).

I decided to see how it ranks on PA's album chart for 2001, and it is at number 64. See HERE for PA chart. I then decided to check out the rateyourmusic charts to see what is listed at number 64 for 2001, and it happened to be an album by a band that I have been very into in recent years, Stereolab's Sound-Dust. See HERE for RYM chart. But it is not an album I have given much attention to. Like with Yes, it has been more earlier material by Stereolab that I have played.

Here are a couple of tracks from each album to check out of about the same length (and i happen to appreciate these even if no one else agrees with my choices).

Captain EasyChord



Suggestion diabolique



And here is the playlist for the album: CLICK

Spirit of Survival



Yes - Give Love Each Day



And the album playlist: CLICK

I actually think Yes and Stereolab make quite good bedfellows. Yes' Fragile was an album that turned me onto Prog in a major way. Feel free to vote even if it's just based on same sampling of music instead of listening to each album in full. I like to include videos in a post, but you might prefer to check out the playlist links I provided instead. I was tempted to include a "No, just no" option, but I so much prefer positivity.

Gordy wrote: Glad to find another kindred spirit who hears the similarities between Stereolab and Yes! When listening I often and unwittingly imagine Jon Anderson in place of Laetitia Sadier, especially in their work from Emperor Tomato Ketchup onwards.

Haha, I was thinking the exact same thing about Jon Anderson and Lætitia Sadier. I think they have a similar pitch.    Of course Stereolab has retro qualities drawing on lounge and psychedelia and early Yes had psych and pop qualities and a nice loungey aesthetic, and both can be both quite joyous and introspective and warm and playful. I'm now thinking that "The Flower Called Roundabout" might make for a nice song....

Yes - Magnification

^ I was quite pleasantly surprised with the Yes, but to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. It was serendipitous that after considering making such a poll, the album ranking at RYM fell on a band that I have been very into over the past few years. Thanks very much for the commentary. Music of the Neo-Psych persuasion is much more likely to appeal to me than bands of the Neo-Symph persuasion, and for me Stereolab has better groove.

Stereolab - Sound-Dust is awesome but my vote goes to YES