Yes, an open discussion-how not to do it!

 

 

         Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.

   By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink?

Tormato= 5 stars.

I've always considered Tormato to be one of the best albums Yes ever recorded.  I rate it right up there with The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close To The Edge.

The band, unfortunately, has not released an album of new material that appeals to me for quite a few years.  I think Union was the last one I could actually say was half-way good.  The rest of their studio albums of the 90's were boring, in my opinion.

 

 

Tormato wrote:              Yes music is my therapy. I listen to it when things are bad and they make my day bright again. They make me want to keep on living, and feel that life is worthy. Simply like that.    By the way, I'll never get tired of repeating that "Tormato" is excellent IMO, the clash between Wakeman and Howe is amazing! It's true that it can be considered somewhat childish, and that's one reason why I love it. I don't want my inner child to disappear, and I cuddle him with "Tormato". I really enjoy every track, specially "Future times/Rejoice", and "Don't kill the whale" moves my feet with joy.  Does anybody like it too? Or is it just me? Should I go to the shrink? Tormato= 5 stars.

Thank you for this beautiful response. I feel the same about the music of Yes. It is the one band that can lift my spirit when I'm down. People who say there is no emotion in the Yes music clearly cannot appreciate the POSITIVE emotions and energy which flow through the music of Yes. 

Tormato actually is a good album, I like a lot "Future Times/Rejoice" and also the beautiful and uplifting "Onward" but where I think it lacks compared to the foregoing masterpieces is that it doesn't contain a true epic like "Awaken" or CTTE.

What I don't understand is that the "Talk" album is not mentioned more. It does contain some extremely beautiful tracks: "I am waiting" and "Endless Dream" in my opinion are really great musics, up there with the best of the seventies era Yes.  

I guess my two cents worth wont hurt. A Yes topic is always going to get its fair share of hits here which should go some way to illustrating where this group stands in the prog rock community.

For the most part they have remained true to their symphonic prog roots and the album Magnification is also an illustration of this. They have been producing quality prog through every one of the last five decades. Obviously most people are going to point to the early to mid 70s as the pinnacle of their achievments, however, I think it would behoove us to consider how the band has managed to hold onto and unite such a large body of fans.

For those born in the late 60s or early 70s, the music of their day was the 80s as we usually start to catch onto the music scene in our teens. Yes albums of the late 70s early 80s had obviously shifted to a more radio friendly package (general song length and construction) so that even the songs that would still be considered more progressive were still alot shorter than the 3 big ones.

I think Magnification, while not necessarily comparable to their greatest album, shows a move by Yes both back and forward. Endless Dream (another excellent song IMO) has probably suffered because of its connection to Rabin (and the 'purists' don't seem to dig him at all) but it is another example of Yes attempting to meld the old with the new (not always easy).

I tend to take each song on its merits, not just the album. I see people writing albums off because the first couple of songs didn't suit them. I've done this myself in the past and then regretted later when I heard the album in full.

When you have created such excellent music as Yes has done, it is always going to be difficult to maintain a level of creative output over such a long period of time. If we are willing to listen to each song on its merits on an album, I think we will find that there are very few albums where there was not at least one or two songs which characterise the excellence and aesthetic of Yes compositional arrangements and musicianship.

As I write this I am listening to In the Presence Of. I have been listening to music for many years now and have become adept at recognising songs that have longevity. In the Presence Of IMO is one of those Yes songs that has that quality about it. It is a song in a moment of solitude you can put on and close your eyes and let it take you for a beautiful ride.

Of course this is my own subjective opinion and its longevity and place in the Yes catalogue will be assured only after so many decades. Of course there will always be people who can't stand the music you listen to (even though you know you are right).

As for me, only albums such as Big Generator are left out of my Yes listening experience. I may like some albums more than others but I can generally find at least one thing to like about all of their albums.

barbs wrote: I guess my two cents worth wont hurt. A Yes topic is always going to get its fair share of hits here which should go some way to illustrating where this group stands in the prog rock community. For the most part they have remained true to their symphonic prog roots and the album Magnification is also an illustration of this. They have been producing quality prog through every one of the last five decades. Obviously most people are going to point to the early to mid 70s as the pinnacle of their achievments, however, I think it would behoove us to consider how the band has managed to hold onto and unite such a large body of fans. For those born in the late 60s or early 70s, the music of their day was the 80s as we usually start to catch onto the music scene in our teens. Yes albums of the late 70s early 80s had obviously shifted to a more radio friendly package (general song length and construction) so that even the songs that would still be considered more progressive were still alot shorter than the 3 big ones. I think Magnification, while not necessarily comparable to their greatest album, shows a move by Yes both back and forward. Endless Dream (another excellent song IMO) has probably suffered because of its connection to Rabin (and the 'purists' don't seem to dig him at all) but it is another example of Yes attempting to meld the old with the new (not always easy). I tend to take each song on its merits, not just the album. I see people writing albums off because the first couple of songs didn't suit them. I've done this myself in the past and then regretted later when I heard the album in full. When you have created such excellent music as Yes has done, it is always going to be difficult to maintain a level of creative output over such a long period of time. If we are willing to listen to each song on its merits on an album, I think we will find that there are very few albums where there was not at least one or two songs which characterise the excellence and aesthetic of Yes compositional arrangements and musicianship. As I write this I am listening to In the Presence Of. I have been listening to music for many years now and have become adept at recognising songs that have longevity. In the Presence Of IMO is one of those Yes songs that has that quality about it. It is a song in a moment of solitude you can put on and close your eyes and let it take you for a beautiful ride. Of course this is my own subjective opinion and its longevity and place in the Yes catalogue will be assured only after so many decades. Of course there will always be people who can't stand the music you listen to (even though you know you are right). As for me, only albums such as Big Generator are left out of my Yes listening experience. I may like some albums more than others but I can generally find at least one thing to like about all of their albums.

I feel the same way, i've never heard a Yes album that didn't have at least two or three hightlights, in fact i've never heard a BAD (or even ok) Yes album (i've heard eleven) which really shows how long the bands creativity lasted, no matter how much they changed.

I really don't like when people try to give Yes a bad name for their work in the 80s, I mean come on, they still had quality albums (Drama, 90125) and still held on to a huge fanbase. When you think about, Gentle Giant never managed this (to sound new and fresh, while still making great music) as they disbanded when the times began to change. ELP suffered horribly (as you all know) their later albums tried to reach a new audience but in the end they made some of their worst music.

Yes were one of the lucky bands that never sounded out of place and they certaintly never went down the same path twice, "an ever opening flower" you could say....

I always thought of Yes as a very, for a lack of a better word, 'trippy' band. IMO there songs are really psychedelic. And You and I and any thing of Tales are perfect examples of what I'm talking about.

I'm a big fan of Yes.  Own and listened to almost every album (I don't need another compilation, thank you) and been to every show since 90125.

Listening to Yes is truly emotional for me.  I won't listen to "Awaken" unless I can dedicate myself to listening to it.  While attending a Yes show once (solo, as a true Yes fan is hard to find), the woman next to me kept putting her arms around me and swaying with me.  The music emits positivity and love, and if you can open up to it, it's amazing.

Due to the lyrics, it seems to me that Jon's voice is more like an instrument rather than words on top of music.  Almost operatic.  Every member of the band adds their unique talents to produce the music that Yes makes.  Chris' bass especially.

While I can't say I think every song on every album is great, there are Yes moments on each album to be found.

Jon just turned 60 recently and I hope I'll be able to see them many times again.

Winter Wine wrote:  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it?

great album.... have you heard Squire's solo album, think it is even better.

micky wrote: Winter Wine wrote:  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it? great album.... have you heard Squire's solo album, think it is even better.

I've looked for it so much!! Can't wait to hear it

Norbert wrote: Winter Wine wrote: Codis wrote: I'm a big fan of Yes.  Own and listened to almost every album (I don't need another compilation, thank you) and been to every show since 90125. Listening to Yes is truly emotional for me.  I won't listen to "Awaken" unless I can dedicate myself to listening to it.  While attending a Yes show once (solo, as a true Yes fan is hard to find), the woman next to me kept putting her arms around me and swaying with me.  The music emits positivity and love, and if you can open up to it, it's amazing. Due to the lyrics, it seems to me that Jon's voice is more like an instrument rather than words on top of music.  Almost operatic.  Every member of the band adds their unique talents to produce the music that Yes makes.  Chris' bass especially. While I can't say I think every song on every album is great, there are Yes moments on each album to be found. Jon just turned 60 recently and I hope I'll be able to see them many times again. I read on a site yesterday that there may be Yes studio work starting in early 2007 which cheered me up a good bit!!  As I thought that they were finished. I like your attitude towards Yes, not many people can handle a lot of positivity, which sounds odd but in todays world hardly surprising. I love Jons voice, I love the man in general  I recently got "Olias of Sunhillow" and it surprised me how focused and musical it is. Great album. Anyone else like it? Early 2007? A long time to wait yet. Good news and thanks anyway!

I'd wait twenty years!