Tales from Topographic Oceans
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14018
Printed Date: February 04 2025 at 16:50
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Tales from Topographic Oceans
Posted By: hcnoer
Subject: Tales from Topographic Oceans
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 20:41
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First vote goes to Revealing Science (= ------------- " Jon Anderson is the only man I know who tries to save this planet while living on another" - Rick Wakeman |
Replies:
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 20:42
Didn't we have this poll before, but I really like the last track on Tales. 
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Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 20:45
CAN'T DECIDE!!! ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: Zac M
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 21:01
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The Ritual-Nous Sommes Du Soleil, one of my favorite Yes compositions
------------- "Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression." -Merleau-Ponty |
Posted By: drumsandbass
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 21:17
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It was actually a pretty tough choice. In my opinion the album is brilliant, but
my favorite track is definitely Ritual. |
Posted By: Syntharachnid
Date Posted: November 04 2005 at 21:34
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I picked Revealing, though I love all eighty minutes of it!
------------- 
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Posted By: Sinner
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 00:00
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When TFTO was first released I listened to it all from beginning to end. Unfortunately it became obvious that it was the most pompous, overblown, meandering, pointless composition of the latter half of the 20th century, I wish I could have that 80 minutes of my life back. I would put on some Rush, Thin Lizzy, or ELP. |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 00:09
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Ritual and alive that song sounds beautiful ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 00:19
| Once again, I'm the only one (so far) that prefers "The Ancient". |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 00:46
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Now we are two. Iván ------------- 
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Six Eight wrote:Posted By: Losendos
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 01:26
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Boredom for the most part. Only the 1st 8 minutes are good so or me revealing ------------- How wonderful to be so profound |
Posted By: lunaticviolist
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 01:49
And Then There Were Three... ------------- My recent purchases: 
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Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 02:31
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I voted for Ritual , but The Ancient is a very close second. The whole album is a classic. |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 03:32
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Number two......................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ...............you need ta listen just a little
------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: RoyalJelly
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 07:37
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I still find this album interesting, inspiring and relevant after
31 years. It was also my first big rock concert seeing them do the whole thing live at the Winterland in San Francisco, and that I'll never forget. Too many people are intimidated by the idea of a 4-sided album long composition, but one should just put it on and let it play while doing your housework and enjoy it, it's just good, positive, energetic music. "Talking about 'classical-rock' is sort of like saying 'strawberry bricks' ". - Jon Anderson |
Posted By: hcnoer
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 08:05
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5 votes for The Ancient, and only 2 for The Remembering? I find that surprising, and interesting. I can't put this album on in the background, for some reason I can't consentrate on anything else than the music. But every now and then I adjust the speakers, sit back and just consntrate 100% about the music for 80 minutes. I simply find it amazing. ------------- " Jon Anderson is the only man I know who tries to save this planet while living on another" - Rick Wakeman |
Posted By: Saviorts
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 08:05
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The Ancient/ Giants Under the Sun is my favorite, but the entire album is great. The album is long and it sounds
long too. It's great because it isn't as completely saturated as
close to the edge but still has the same kind of style and vibe as the
awesome Relayer. I really don't understand why fans think that this album is pompous but worship Close to the Edge. I like Close to the Edge, but it's certainly much more of a talent contest than Tales is.  Onward~ This is also a great driving album. I always listen to it while driving back up to college through the Catskills. cheers  ------------- For the love of goldens. |
Posted By: Dr4Wazo
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 12:14
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First song is my favorite!
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"Mëem Otsilennhetëe Dros Sun Surra Steuhn Do Nansei" |
Posted By: transend
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 12:43
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my fave is 'Ritual'... then 'The remembering', then 'The revealing science..' then 'The ancient' |
Posted By: Damen
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 14:23
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The Remembering - High the Memory for me actually. ------------- "It's amazing that we've been able to put up with each other for 35 years. Most marriages don't last that long these days." -Chris Squire |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: November 05 2005 at 19:06
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Ritual for me, thought my favorite part of the album is the acustic part form the acient ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: kirklott
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 00:07
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First, let me state I'm a huge Yeshead - I own every album and then some, every DVD, read every book except Mosbo's, met Anderson, Squire, Howe, White, Wakeman and Moraz, seen them live 25 times, etc. But Topo sucks. Ancient is unlistenable. RSoG has zero focus. Ritual could have been good, but is bogged down by indulgent, overblown percussion segment. And the whole album has lousy, very flat production. The only truly good track is The Remembering, which btw, Anderson wants the band to play live. And Squire digs it too. Happily, the band got back on track with the incredible Relayer album. ------------- "Progressive rock is the key to the continuance of human evolution." - Charles Darwin |
Posted By: Flea709
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 01:08
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I like The Ancient....
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Posted By: lunaticviolist
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 02:13
I totally agree. This album takes me on such a powerful journey. I'm surprised too that The Ancient has gotten so many votes. I always thought that was people's least favorite composition on the album. ------------- My recent purchases:
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Posted By: Plastic Man
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 02:37
| my favorite has always been 'the remembering'. it has the best keyboard work, and its just so soft and pretty, escpecially the beginning. ritual is a close second. |
Posted By: Korova
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 10:28
The ancient is just fantastic...harmonically is very intresting and then what about Howe's classical guitar solo?!
------------- La Speranza della coscienza è forza La Speranza del sentimento è schiavitù La Speranza del corpo è malattia (G.I. Gurdjieff) |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 13:00
I guess that a lot of people on this site still think that The Ancient is adventurous, which it is. I guess that some people find The Remembering a bit boring. Not me, I love all 4 sides of Tales. My favourite track is The Ritual though, because it has some really great and superbly contrasting movements, somewhere in the middle of the song. |
Posted By: BePinkTheater
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 13:06
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We are of the sun ------------- I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t. -Stone Beard |
Posted By: Chipiron
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 13:07
The first track, although many would say that the best part is when they stop playing at all... ------------- [IMG]http://www.belderrain.es/GIFs/tora.gif"> |
Posted By: Genesisprog
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 13:10
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Not double album.Then that album would have been more succesful. Music critics would have liked it more... ------------- Frank Zappa,Pink Floyd,Yes,Genesis,Rush,King Crimson,Jethro Tull,E.L.P,Rick Wakeman -They have one similarity- I Love Them all ! |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 19:52
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ohh... has to the The Ancient. Hated it at first, grew to be my
least favorite, over time, became my favorite on the album, more
time passed.... amoung my favorite Yessongs period.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: laztraz
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 19:54
| I can't figure out why any Prog fan would not like this album. Excellent. Revealing Science of God is my favorite |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 19:55
and then we would have been denied all the noteriety, and debates that have surrounded this album since it was released. Prog was about expanding the boundries... well Yes did that didn't they.
Besides it was sucessful enough, it was a top 10 album on both sides of
the Atlantic. Imagine that happening today. BTW who cares
what the critics think, it's easier to sell mags by trashing
something you don't understand then to invest time to understand
something for something as banal as a positive album review. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 20:00
easy, because people actually listen to the reviews instead of listening to the album itself. Clear indication of that when people start bringing up all the supposedly 'padding' that happened. The album is probably being judged in some cases with minds already made up, based on whatever they have read or heard. I really didn't care for it at first myself, but gave it time to grow on me and it's beauties and majesty were revealed to me. Now it really would be THE desert island Yes album for me. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: kirklott
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 20:48
I agree. I would have edited the album down to parts of RSoG, second half of Rembering, Leaves of Green, first half of Ritual. That would have been a great album on part with CttE. ------------- "Progressive rock is the key to the continuance of human evolution." - Charles Darwin |
Posted By: kirklott
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 20:52
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I think the main reason people like Topo is because it's a double album. If you picked any two sides at random, like 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, would fans rate it ahead of Close to the Edge or Relayer? No. I think most prog fans are somewhat deluded by double concept albums, like Lamb, Works or Topo. IMO, they're among the weaker releases by those bands. And each of these albums was followed by damaged to the band. And Lamb was followed by Gabriel's departure, Topo prompted Wakeman to leave, and Works, well it led to Love Beach. ------------- "Progressive rock is the key to the continuance of human evolution." - Charles Darwin |
Posted By: Syntharachnid
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 21:50
Well obviously not, because the album works MUCH better when taken as one gigantic whole. It's a single entity in four parts.
Well, I can't speak for Works Volumes 1 or 2, because I haven't heard either of them, but they doesn't seem to get great glowing praise around here, so I don't think anyone's deluded by their length. And really, does the Lamb have one moment of filler (save the Waiting Room) in all ninety minutes? It's kinda funny how different our views are, 'cause The Lamb and Topo are my favorite albums from their respective bands. Guess I'm going to have to check out Works now! -------------
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Posted By: Syntharachnid
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 21:53
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And the quality of Lamb didn't really have anything to do with Gabriel's departure, surely? Some clarification, please? -------------
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Posted By: The Green Tank
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 22:14
| The first time I listened to this album I was totally dissapointed. I just didn't GET it. But after my third time listening to it, I totally got used to all the random changes in tune and mood. And one track I still listen to over and over and OVER again is "The Revealing Science of God". It is simply one of the best songs I've ever heard. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 22:24
not in anything I've ever heard, I believe the group knew (or strongly suspected) he was leaving after that album. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 22:28
I know where you are coming from, funny how many people have that opinion on the first listens. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: The Green Tank
Date Posted: November 06 2005 at 22:33
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Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: November 07 2005 at 06:11
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The Revealing (side one), and on the Rhino re-master, you get an
extended intro with the sounds of presumably the Topographic Ocean
washing over you - works so well I can't think why they didn't use it
originally. The first part of The Ancient on the other hand is bleaahhhh 
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Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: November 07 2005 at 06:54
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: November 07 2005 at 07:53
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Agree with you Green Tank! I think it's their best song ever after Close to the Edge. It's a shame Rick Wakemen hated this album, as I think his contribution, especially on this track, is superb. The Mellotron parts are superb. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: hcnoer
Date Posted: November 08 2005 at 19:40
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Yeah, I don't really understand why he doesn't/didn't like it, although I think his opinion has changed quite some in the latter years. I mean there are lots of keyboards there, and his contribuition is superb. Personally I think it's more about playing with four rather strange ppl, where for instance was the only one not being a vegitarian. And the theme for the album that is even a bit way out for him. But oh well, that is just my theory. ------------- " Jon Anderson is the only man I know who tries to save this planet while living on another" - Rick Wakeman |
Posted By: little_neutrino
Date Posted: November 08 2005 at 20:49
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Interesting thought. I wouldn't be surprised if that were a factor ... in addition to it, the years have given us a lot worse Yes for Wakeman to compare to ... I think despite all his hatred for Tales, he'd still pick that over "Onion". ...I don't get the preference of Remembering versus The Ancient... I adored all of The Ancient - especially the screwy first half! But what I REALLY don't get is how RSoG gets such high marks on this poll! I can't stand it. The part where they all sing "moment" = |
for me.Posted By: Rust
Date Posted: February 18 2006 at 22:57
Absolutely agree with you. ------------- We got to pump the stuff to make us tough from the heart Its astart What we need is awareness we cant get careless Mental self defensive fitness Make everybody see in order to fight the powers that be |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 18 2006 at 23:29
This is my favourite YES CD , and how hard it was to decide on what to vote for says everything , but I went for The Revealing Science of God -- Dance of the Dawn , in the end 
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Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 01:11
| This work is the greatest achievement in progressive rock - period. No wonder so many people don't like it.... |
Posted By: Winter Wine
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 08:51
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I love this album and it's too hard to decide what's my overall favourite these days, It used to always be 'The Revealing Science of God' but I love them all now. Today I voted for 'The Remembering', It's the underdog! ------------- My computer's broke |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 09:03
As far as I know, Wakemen just thought it was too spacey, pretentious and irrelevant to anything for his taste. I also think he felt shut out by Anderson and Howe, who came up with the concept and most of the music. They tried to write around the constraints of having one track per side of vinyl. Wakemen also didn't like that approach. It still got to number 1 at the time, riding on the success of CTTE. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: erlenst
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 09:14
In other words you have only listened to the album ONE time. That does not make qualified to judge it at all. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 09:19
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Has to be The Revealing Science of God -- Dance of the Dawn yep The Revealing Science of God -- Dance of the Dawn it is for me , The Revealing Science of God -- Dance of the Dawn is great
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Posted By: Winter Wine
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 09:29
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------------- My computer's broke |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 09:45
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The Ancient for me... right there Ritual. The Ancient, much like
the album, I was cool to at first, but over time it has become my
favorite off of the album. Then again that's like saying I have a
favorite child, I love them all. Let's just say that The Ancient
is my first child... hahahhahah. Throughly enjoy the opportunity,
rare as they are, to half an hour or two to sit and listen to the album
straight through with no interuptions or distractions.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 14:01
TREU!!! I find the song good...but in the Tsongas dvd...WOW!!! Awesome! ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 14:05
Yea, I find in beautiful too, because I was there at that DVD shooting! |
Posted By: lunaticviolist
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 14:18
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I love them all, but The Ancient is insane! ------------- My recent purchases:
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Posted By: Mharo
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 14:58
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It's "The Remembering - High The Memory" for me. It actually works excellent in making me relive old times.
------------- Suritis: The Remembering. Hopefully we should appreciate that given points in time are not so significant as the nature of what is impressed on the mind, and how it is retained and used. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 16:36
oh you aren't kidding about that are you... I wish I could remember back as to why I didn't care for it at first... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: ____VdGG____
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 17:08
Nous Sommes Du Soleil, We Laugh While We Play. Beautiful  ------------- Iron throated monsters are forcing the screams; Mind and machinery box-press our dreams |
Posted By: Laurent
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 17:10
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My vote goes to TRSOG. But I love all 4 songs(if they can be called that). ------------- 
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 17:28
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1. The Ancient 2. Revealing Science of God 3. Ritual 4. The Remembering |
Posted By: Duchess
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 17:56
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The first side is quite good , first ten minutes excellent and a good keyboard leadbreak at the end.After the first side the music is weakened because Wakeman seems only occasionally interested.I never liked any part of the second side. The third side is something of a favorite because it is so weird I like to play it loud at traffic lights with the windows open to shock all those people listening to the trash they put on the radio. It is my revenge. The song part of the 4th side is beautiful but all in all the 3rd and 4th sides contain too much jamming rather than solid material. It is quite a creative piece musically but it suffers from dull lyrics and the sides are poorly structured so it comes across as a rambling mess. So for me 1st side is best, then third , then fourth and the second is worst. One other point is that John Anderson ( He may have been Jon at the time) says part of the third side is inspired by Atlantean music (as in the lost and never found civilisation of Atlantis). This shocked me as I never realised his powers were beyond our usual conceptions of time and space.So those on this list who think that the prog heroes are mere mortals need to rethink . Amen.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 21:05
hahahhahahah.... I haven't used the Ancient to do that yet. My favorite is blasting Gentle Giant (usually Knots of course )
while driving through downtown Raleigh N.C. with the windows down.... I
have recieved some odd looks before.... and I believe a coke bottle
tossed my way hahahha.------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: MattiR
Date Posted: March 04 2006 at 16:35
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"The Revealing Science of God -- Dance of the Dawn" - it's like prayer even... This song has no weak points
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