What makes Yes music so good?
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Topic: What makes Yes music so good?
Posted By: DDPascalDD
Subject: What makes Yes music so good?
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 11:44
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Not that I don't like it, but I'm very interested in hearing why people like them. Can you name specific aspects or examples? ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 11:55
Because of Roger Dean's album cover designs...He made those nutso lyrics sound intelligent  -------------   
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 12:05
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the shimmering effect that happens when the musos in the band, collectivly. reach the astral plane and lingers ther as they do in. songs lik 'and You and I' -------------  
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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 14:16
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Each seem to play on his own but it results in armonies. They are unique in this sense. ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 14:42
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They really have a sound and aesthetic that, for the time especially but even still now, is very unique. They weren't so melancholy like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, weren't so "quaint" like Genesis, weren't so grounded in classical music like ELP; they had a diverse range of influences, from Bruford's occasional jazzy musings to Howe's country and western picking. Basically, their sound offered something very different from what everyone else was creating, something a lot more spiritual, other-worldly. And I feel like the pairing between Jon Anderson's lyrics and Roger Dean' fantasy art really sold that home for a lot of people, too. ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 14:49
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good question actually... they definitely had that something special that set them over and above all others. I would take a stab at one thing they did better than anyone.. not that was too hard.. for few ever really tried it... yeah the site has them listed as symphonic... but outside of Tales that really is a load of bull.. part of their key to success and longevity was they were able to appeal to a wide audience outside of elitists and social outcasts. They did so by fusing complex music with popular music.. and showed that both are not poles apart. This is not the same as groups like ELP that became popular even if they were complex. I'm talking a band that had as its primary influences.. pop groups. As some have noted... Close to the Edge.. is nothing but a 19 minute long pop song. Whereas in standard pop songs the standard pop song format are kept short and compact.. Yes showed the standard pop song format could be expanded upon and highly developed. Most listeners probably never consciously realized that but subconsioucly you damn well better believe they did. While some here are adverse to pop music.. some are not and what seperates pop and prog in many parts are the hooks that are part and parcel of good pop. Few prog bands really went that route because.. well... that is not what they were trying to do.. I think really only Yes (among the major bands at least) were able to fuse the blazing instrumental virtuosity and complex music with the killer hooks and awesome melodies that make great pop great. Is that why Yes is pretty much considered the definitive prog band.. perhaps.. perhaps not.. but it may go a long way to explaining why so many SO love this group. They did have that something special. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 15:16
I would like to hear a track as progressive and mindblowing as "The Gates of Delirium"
 ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: Quinino
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 15:22
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^^ Good analysis, and certainly one that gains my support Very well, Michael, very well... that long stay behind bars made you a better Progson, I mean, person  |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 15:32
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The 'whole is greater than the sum of its parts '.... Aristotle. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 17:49
...because no one else could have pulled off CTTE, Relayer & Tales  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 19:20
| ^ all of the above, particularly Micky's sound analysis, plus: I dunno, they're just kind of brilliant. |
Posted By: Bucklebutt
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 21:07
| Originality. They were one of the firsts and inspired a generation of bands that I love. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 21:52
I tried to put words to what I feel about Yes music, but I can't find any better suited than this. However, of course, it's not only "And You And I", it's so many other moments in other songs, specially between "The Yes Album" and "Going for the One". |
Icarium wrote:Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 22:07
| Because they didn't name the band NO |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 23:37
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The vocal harmonies are ear candy! Anderson and Squire were partially inspired by great vocal bands such as The Association from the USA (Anderson did a single of theirs, "Never My Love," which is fantastic! King Crimson certainly had the instrumental chops, as did ELP and Genesis, but Yes smokes all of them with their lush vocals.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 06:51
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No other prog band has that mixture of power and melody that produced such moments as - - the instrumental section of "And You And I" - the crashing drums into the keyboard section near the end of "Gates of Delirium" - the ending of "The Remembering" - the ending of "Heart of the Sunrise" to name but a few
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 08:17
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"Mixture of power and melody" - that's well put. Apart from their skills and competence, they express quite an emotional range, meditative, pastoral, romantic, happy, sad, at times ambiguous between the two, but then also very powerful and energetic, and at times mysterious, tension, threat and relief. And they can switch from one to the other very suddenly but with musicality and taste. It feels natural when they do that, at least in their best moments. They have both the skill and the feeling to pull it off. Another thing that distinguishes them from many prog and other bands is that overall the mood of their music feels more positive. It's not that being sad, angry, grumpy or depressive is beyond their range but many other music that is emotionally deep tends to be more on the negative pessimistic side overall in one way or another. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 08:41
That is exactly the added value within Yes music. Close to the Edge has this more than any other album that I know. ------------- 
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Posted By: DDPascalDD
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 09:01
That's it exactly for me too, there is so much complexity and feeling for (the) music but at the same time it's so happy and gives so much positive energy. It doesn't sound like a contradiction of any kind but that part does it for me. ------------- |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 09:18
| I guess would be the uniqueness of the music, specially during the classic period. A great combination of composition, orchestration and performance. |
Posted By: WeepingElf
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 09:47
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This is a question that is not easy to answer. It seems that everything was in the right place in 70s Yes (what came later was still good but no longer outstanding in the same way). Jon Anderson's unique and beautiful voice; Chris Squire's less outstanding but still very good voice; the instrumental skills of the musicians; the refined arrangements; the way they perfectly played together; the deeply mindful lyrics; and especially the spirituality that guided it all. The result was perhaps some of the greatest music of the 20th century. It seems as if the music was not from this world but came straight from a place like Rivendell or Lothlórien. Roger Dean of course did not contribute to the music of Yes, but provided it with an adequate packaging. ------------- ... brought to you by the Weeping Elf "What does Elvish rock music sound like?" - "Yes." |
Posted By: Pastmaster
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 16:12
This comment deserves an award.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 16:15
Yes |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 17:37
No perhaps it would have back in 2004.. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 17:41
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They also mannage to contrast the shimmer with rage aka Squires Rickenbacher and Howes guitar runs, brings the certain edge to not make them so shimmering they dissolve in the vaccum of astral dissonance. -------------
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 21:47
Another point I have really loved from the band for so long. |
Posted By: SquonkHunter
Date Posted: May 13 2016 at 22:51
Agreed. Their music always has an uplifting effect on me. Jon's vocals soar to the heavens and carry me along for the ride. And what a ride! ------------- "You never had the things you thought you should have had and you'll not get them now..." |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 03:27
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Sly Stone is imensivly influentual to Yes positive sound -------------
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Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 03:49
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The total commitment and expertise in creating pieces that worked so well. Some were / are a bit odd but all part of the canon e.g. some of the solo moments on Fragile. Or the cha cha moment in Sound Chaser. As noted above they, especially Anderson were very good song writers. The Revealing Science Of God is a song that instead of fitting into five minutes does so in 20 but doesn't have a stretched out feel - everything happens in it's good time. They had the virtuosity to make complex music, the intelligence to make it cohesive and the sensibility to make it to an audience. Not only did they have the ability to make songs but the technique to make classical music - e.g. the exquisitely timed and crafted masterpiece And You And I, brought to a climax - before going into the heavens... a pop song would repeat or redevelop this idea but this does not happen much in classical music. Yes exemplify the best in progressive rock because they brought the art ind intelligence of classical and fused it with the personal approach of the good popular song. The also have, usually, the energy of a top flight rock band, the chops of jazz (Howe) and the always pretty good (heh!) Richard Wakeman. Chris Squire's talent for teaming up with others and bringing new aspects to the multifaceted gem that is the catalogue is , I think, the key factor in initiating the creative spark within Yes. Whether it's the Trevors, Jons or the myriad of others who've appeared and disappeared he gets them to usually bring the best in them, right out. Usually. He and Wakeman are the ideal collaborators in Yes. Of course having classical, country, jazz, rock guitars aplenty with Steve Howe helps things ever so much. There are a lot of aspects to Yes and how they do what they did and the above is just a few examples. |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 07:23
| I remember when I was showing tracks of a few different prog rock bands to a guy who was mostly a metalhead, his response was pretty neutral until I played him Yours is no disgrace. His eyes immediately lit up. I think that's the standout quality of Yes - they just hit you with so much energy and their tracks, particularly pre-Tales, are so catchy and infectious. Bad words in the eyes of some prog elitists, perhaps, but that's what made them so successful without their actively crossing over into mainstream rock in the way that Floyd and Tull did. I must part ways on the view that their lack of negative emotions is a great attribute. I don't believe in the cliche of tragic = great art but at the same time confronting difficult emotions in music can be incredibly cathartic. I never really got to hear that side of Yes; they don't even try. Everything is bright and there's no contrast. Does beat bands that just sound generally grim and dark without being particularly soulful or touching, yes. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 07:42
Well, Gates of Delirium isn't all sunshine - but generally speaking I agree. Still, there are a thousand bands to turn to for darkness and misery. If I OD on good vibes listening to Yes a quick spike of Univers Zero through the breastbone will act as a corrective.
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Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 11:05
I wouldn't say so. I mean that I am not interested in the stereotypical depiction of dark moods that's prevalent in a lot of rock/rock related music. I am interested in something soulful and uncanny, say like KC's Fallen Angel. That's equally as rare as genuinely optimistic music like Yes.
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Posted By: RockHound
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 12:49
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Many aspects of Yes led to a special sound. Especially impressive to me are not only the quality of the musicians, but the contrasts among them. In their prime, they were the ultimate 5-ring musical circus. Squire - boldly taking the bass guitar where it had never gone before. Bruford - deeply skilled drummer who thought he was in a jazz band. Howe - perfectly at home simultaneously conjuring Wes Montgomery and Chet Atkins while taking hollow body guitars to the stratocastersphere. Wakeman - formal, classical-inspired keyboard style with an impeccable sense of tone and a knack for orchestration. Anderson - astral traveler mixing impenetrable lyrics and imagery with simple, nursery-like melodies, thus cementing the uniqueness, accessibility, and positivity of Yes music. A big aspect of the Beatles' appeal was the distinctiveness and individuality of the four personalities. I think Squire and Anderson tapped into this aspect very well by crafting a musical institution in which each band member had a unique musical and personal identity. Another aspect of Yes I appreciate was their ability to change with the times and adopt new sounds and styles. This capability, IMHO, kept them viable and relevant for decades. When many bands were bulldozed by the '80s, Yes found a way to flourish and maintain a unique and vibrant sound.
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 13:25
Maybe
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 14:27
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The consistent inconsistencies... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 16:50
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Mountains coming out the sky. And standing there. ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 23:16
Yeah, my first thought about the "only possitive" vibe of Yes was Gates of Delirium. Though I can think of "Turn of the Century", "South Side of the Sky", and "Harold Land" as other example of sad songs in Yes (at least as far as lyrics go)... though I'm not 100% sure about South Side... though I understand it's not possitive at all... something about mountain climbing and it being dangerous. But yes, in general the possitive vibe on their songs is one of the things I really love from them. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: May 14 2016 at 23:17
Perhaps you should have shown Gates of Delirium to this guy... I believe that one should be very interesting to a metal head. Or some Rick Wakeman. |
Posted By: FroggyGlenn
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 00:12
| The sheer talent of all the band members, the ambition that they have, and the fact that they are so full of energy and confidence. Like they don't really care if you dont like them, their music is like peering into a dimension of their own. |
Posted By: Flight123
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 08:18
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Writing as a Yes fan, it became clear by Going for the One that the band did care if people didn't like them. It was saddening to see Yes going the way of simplification as did so many of their peers around that time. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 08:25
| I have just lined up my dbl Aqua vinyl of Heaven And Earth to spin........whilst not a landmark release, it's still a pleasure to listen to. Yes just are a phenomenal bunch of musicians, always chopping and changing, always, developing, often tackling new approaches to music. One of the first Prog bands I discovered back in the mid-80's. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 19:05
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My favorite band. I love everything about them ( well, at least from 1971-1977.) The fact that so many bands have tried to copy them and yet they have all failed miserably shows how unique they truly are. This explains my love for Yes: http://thefirenote.com/2013/12/12/yes-the-studio-albums-1969-1987-box-set-album-review/" rel="nofollow - http://thefirenote.com/2013/12/12/yes-the-studio-albums-1969-1987-box-set-album-review/
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Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 20:33
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Thinking back to my teen years when I first played them, perhaps more than any other band they had an ability to transport one to a fantasy landscape. I think the combination of the music and the Dean imagery present on the huge posters I had, when combined with the lighting I had and my desire to escape high school problems, their music was pure escapism for me. It was quite magical at the time. Yessongs also played into that, being so long and full of mood and atmosphere, even the muddy sound that people criticism works in my opinion, providing mood, mystery. I remember Yessongs being one of the best escapes. For that reason the band retains a special place, even if these days I mostly play only Topographic, Relayer, and the debut, oddly. Those three still excite me, the others much less so now. Perhaps just heard them too many time. ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: May 16 2016 at 20:41
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It was quite an achievement for a bunch of nerdy, high-singing lads to have won over so many youths in their time (and well after) when most kids were into the more hard-rockin' and accessible Tull, Floyd and Who. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: ALotOfBottle
Date Posted: May 17 2016 at 10:06
I have just picked up Fragile, Union, and Tales From Topographic Oceans on CD at a really good price  I have been skeptical as to CDs (being a vinyl snob), but I really, really loved all of the CDs. The quality was excellent, even though they look to be pressed in the late 80's or 90's. What made Yes so good? I think comparison to other "great" prog bands is adequate. For me, Yes has some strong elements of American music (Motown, Soul, Funk) mixed with jazz and romantic-era classical music and this is what makes their sound so unique. Also, there is a lot to be said about the musicianship, which is really one-of-a-kind, regardless of the line-up. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: May 17 2016 at 10:15
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Posted By: ALotOfBottle
Date Posted: May 17 2016 at 10:48
Bill Bruford actually mentioned his influence on early Yes. In BBC Prog Rock Britannia I believe. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 20 2016 at 07:09
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Good balance of complexity and melody I guess. Very original sound, and very easily recognised and powerful brand with all those great album covers and arguably the best and most recognisable logo! I'm not always up to listening to them, but after along break they can be quite mind blowing. Awaken and The Revealing Science of God played loud are pretty earth moving!! ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Flight123
Date Posted: May 25 2016 at 06:24
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Just read Bill Martin's book!! |
Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: June 06 2016 at 07:33
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Positiveness centered on Jon Anderson. Very few artists got that magic, he is an angel for a man. He´s Art Gartfunkel of Rock. And it´s all about Future Times. Rejoice ! ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Gentle Yes
Date Posted: June 07 2016 at 05:50
| Well, Yes was the first prog band I heard and for years it was my favorite band until I ''cut the umbilical cord'' :D but they are still in the top 5, for sure! (I'm talking about their first albums here..anything after drama is bad for me) . I find their music so good because of the people in that band,the late Chris Squire for me is easily the greatest prog bassist, not so much for his technique which is rather simple in comparison to other bassists of the same genre, but his imagination, his composing skills, (his voice!), his presence.. everything. Rick Wakeman, unbelievable technique, and the way he fuses classical baroque themes with pentatonics and chromatic scales and all these odd time signatures.. i'd say he is Jon Lord.2 :D Steve Howe, well that's another story, what i like about him is that he is much better at classical guitar than electric, and when he plays electric he kind of plays it in a classical way, and sometimes he will get sloppy, but I don't mind because it is a very interesting approach of electric guitar, it doesn't always work, but when it does, it's out of this universe! (close to the edge intro right?) The drummers this band has had are far out! Bill Bruford? (he has worked with the greatests, and he was a member of KC on Starless and Bible Black, probably one of the best musical works ever!) And of course, I love the crystal clear vocals of Jon Anderson. I can understand why someone could not like the high notes and harmonies of Anderson, but no one can say that he isn't one of the most skilled rock singers ever. To summarize, Yes was (and i say was because i'm talking about the Squire-Anderson-Howe-Bruford-Wakeman) the combination of 5 prodigies. Sometimes they would take it too far, and they would sound excessive .. too much. But on the other hand they have created amazing masterpieces , Close to the edge which is probably in the pantheon of prog albums, Fragile, whixh for me is one of the top albums ever, and even their early stuff more psychedelic but still powerful, the yes album etc... In other words, they are awesome dude! that's why! |
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 07 2016 at 06:31
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They were one of the best of the era in crafting very complex and musically challenging pieces of music with varying lengths (usually 10-20 minutes) and many influences from classical music, as well as from time to time able to go to the commercial route even during their classic era (Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, I've Seen All Good People), so they've got the best of both worlds. I tend to have a personal bias towards these guys in particular since they're the ones that got me into progressive rock in the first place (and, in a way, this bloody site a couple years later). They are still my favorite band of all time because of this, and they will always have a place in my heart. ------------- Progrockdude |
Posted By: terramystic
Date Posted: June 07 2016 at 16:40
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Every one in band gives a special aspect to style: Squire created great riffs and easily transformed bass in a melodic instrument, Bruford's jazz chops, Howe's versatility, sound, sensibility and improvisation, Wakeman's technique and many keyboards, Anderson's catchy melodies, imaginative vocalizations, spiritual charisma ... Together: sum of parts is indeed amazing, romanticism, different moods, vocal harmonies, "light" and "sun" in lyrics, ... Roger Dean's art works. |