"The band Yes would’ve been had Yes not existed."

That's a sentiment I can agree with.  Most are content with just finding a box to put something in so that they don't have to look at it or try to understand it anymore as it's already 'understood' and catagorized.

I've watched this discussion unfold with muted interest for the past couple of weeks, and only now feel the need to respond.

Firstly, I'll let slide the fact that the Progarchives forum has republished a copyrighted article with neither permission nor intentional attribution (the link at the bottom of the review is hard-coded and appears whenever somebody cuts-and-pastes my posts).

Secondly (and the reason I decided to respond), I find it a little unfair to be called Yes obsessed. This is certainly not the case, as I evidenced on my review of their debut album here.

The reason I grasped the Yes comparison and went with it hammer and throttle is that I'm sent these CDs for review, not to endlessly over-analyse in some leaden, pseudo-academical fug. Therefore it's a case of whether I,  personally, like it or not.  Likewise, if it sounds like something else, then I'm going to mention it. The fact the Flash debut sounded so similar to Yes in so many ways gave me an angle on which to hang the article.

The fact I say how much I enjoyed the album, surely doesn't devalue Flash in any way. If my likening them to a band of which one of their number was a former member does, then it wasn't my intention.

@Padraic

Thanks, but no. It's fine to stay as it is.

@ Jeffman - Firstly, I'd like to say, I DID find your review "hugely entertaining", and the mind-twisting headline - captivating!  That's why I posted it, and I noticed your hard-coded link when I previewed before posting - I always give a link so people can verify and contact. I appreciate you letting us keep it here.

Secondly, sorry I called you "Yes-obsessed".  That was a bit glib, but the Yes comparisons DO tend to get tiresome sometimes.  You at least, made it fun!  And, after all, you liked the album, and I like that...

Cheers and regards.  Please keep up the good work...

P.S.  Flash will soon have a new CD for you to review.

And I'd like to apologize to Jeffman for not contacting him for permission prior to posting.  Sharing is so fast and easy online, I honestly didn't think about it.  I assumed!  I realize now, just providing a link isn't enough.  Sorry. (embarrassed)

sherrynoland wrote: @ Jeffman - Firstly, I'd like to say, I DID find your review "hugely entertaining", and the mind-twisting headline - captivating!  That's why I posted it, and I noticed your hard-coded link when I previewed before posting - I always give a link so people can verify and contact. I appreciate you letting us keep it here. Secondly, sorry I called you "Yes-obsessed".  That was a bit glib, but the Yes comparisons DO tend to get tiresome sometimes.  You at least, made it fun!  And, after all, you liked the album, and I like that... Cheers and regards.  Please keep up the good work... P.S.  Flash will soon have a new CD for you to review.

sherrynoland wrote: @ cstack3 Thanks for commenting.  These guys are all fiercely independent artists.  There was/is no copying going on.  I know for a fact that Ray Bennett doesn't listen to other players much - he's too busy playing.  He laughs at the comparisons.  Maybe I'll get in trouble for telling you -- he thinks Chris is fine, but he'd have no problem going toe-to-toe with him any day of the week!  I think Chris would agree. Ray's moved on to guitar now...

An answer to my own musings....

As the comments come in, so far, the only comparisons from fans have been comparing Flash to Flash!  Like this one...

"Wow!  It sounds just like Flash, only updated...modern."

Nice.