Yes/Crimso: Polar opposites
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Topic: Yes/Crimso: Polar opposites
Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Subject: Yes/Crimso: Polar opposites
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:00
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Just an observation: Yes & King Crimson Could any two bands be more oppositely polarized to each other. Yes: Life affirming positive themes. KC: Dark brooding themes. Yes: Songs predominately in major keys. KC: Songs predominately in minor keys. Yes: Singer with incredible vocal heights. KC: Singers with much deeper voices. Yes: Keyboards play major role in overall sound. KC: Practically no keyboards with exception of mellotron. Yes: More focus on intricate vocal harmonies & counterpoint. KC: More focus on instrument dynamics. Common connections: Bill Bruford played in both bands. Jon Anderson did sing one song with KC. Both are two of the best prog rock bands EVER. Any thoughts just for fun? ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Replies:
Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:04
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Yes I think I could agree with that. But KC and Yes are the same on one point : They are both amazing! -------------  
RIP in bossa nova heaven. |
Posted By: White Queen
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:07
They are also similar in that they've both had several hundred members over the years
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Posted By: Witchwoodhermit
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:21
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I think your observation is spot on! I always preferred Crimson to Yes because of their "darkerside". Yes have always felt more upbeat and positive. Rubs a miserable old hermit like me the wrong way. ------------- Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan ringed by ants and musing over man. |
Posted By: Arnold Layne
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:32
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i love Crimson and strongly dislike Yes and its exactly because of those reasons, i completly agree that their very different ------------- HELP! |
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 19:35
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Yep ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Bern wrote:Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 20:14
Also common connection´s: When Peter Bank´s left (was fired) Yes, Anderson´s first choice was...Robert Fripp! Of course he didn´t accept. Also, not exacly Yes, but Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe´s bass player was Tony Levin, who also was and now again is a member of KC!!! ...and I absolutly agree with you. Both are my favorite prog bands...First Crimson then Yes. ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 20:28
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Yeah, forgot about that Levin connection. Another difference I noticed is that when members leave KC they tend to remain gone whereas many members left Yes at one time or another an did return again. Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Chris Squire (if you consider AWBH) and even Jon Anderson. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 20:47
hahahhahaha ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 20:51
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That all changed when Adrian Belew joined.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 20:55
nice thread/observations... while not a brooding hermit.. the darkside of K.C. is a nice change at times.... but I share Jon Anderson's affinity for the spritual, and the mystical side of life... plus being a rather happy positive person I relate more to Yes. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 21:07
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YES-Technically brilliant...more emphasis on the song as opposed to the sound! KING CRIMSON-Very sloppy and irritating at times.....more emphasis on the sound as opposed to the song! |
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 21:14
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Nice thread, they do seem like opposite sides of the same prog coin. Both great at times, both grate at times. But my preference has always been for KC's Schizoid madness rather than Andersons hippy-dippy peace and love But Gates of Delirium I've always felt is Yes' best number, and thematically has lots in common with KC. Just a thought... ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 21:37
Yeah 'Gates' is pretty dark at times but of course it has the 'hollywood happy ending'. For Crimso lightness I think 'Walking On Air' from Thrak ' has a bit of that hippy dreamy happy-go-lucky attitude to it. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 21:41
Yup, you're right. The "Soon" section does bring the insanity of that song back into traditional Yes-land, but in the context of that song, man does it ever work. Also, love Walking On Air. Belew really brought a sense of levity to KC, and it worked. My fave from that album is easily "Dinosaur". Great tune, and great lyrics with a wink.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 22:10
The mark of a great band; when you're confident enough to make fun of yourself. Don't think Jon Anderson ever poked fun at himself for having pretentious lyrics. I actually think he feels like he's God preaching in 'Awaken', where KC's Court of the Crimson King obviously emanates from some lower region of the netherworlds. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 22:19
Agreed. The cover of ITCHYCOCK still ranks as the all time greatest cover that represents the music within. Paranoid, scary, and dare I say it...progressive. Creepy indeed. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: nobody
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 01:01
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ROFLMAOAPMGU at "ITCHYCOCK" I really like the sleeve of Lizard too. ------------- "Some of you are going to die... martyrs, of course, to the Freedom I will provide!" |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 01:04
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okay,they could be considered opposites...so?
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 01:21
Predominantly true. But their more recent stuff maintains that opposite effect. ------------- 
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Posted By: valravennz
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 02:21
Indeed - Yes and KC had some of the best album art around. I refer you to an example of Yes art:
Actually they both still have great art work for their album covers - though dissimilar artists producing the work ------------- 
"Music is the Wine that fills the cup of Silence" - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 08:40
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FYI Yes's debut album was released during the warm heights of summer - July, 1969. KC's In the Court was released in the cold autumn - Oct., 1969. Season-wise it seems appropriate time for both releases. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: IcedSabbath
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 12:44
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Great thread, and interesting thoughts. I definitely agree. Both bands so different, yet loved and respected by progressive fans all over the world. |
Posted By: Aaron
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 14:14
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i guess overall, crimson is the better band if you look at the entire career, but they never wrote a song even close to as good as Gates of Delirium, Close to the Edge, or Awaken no reason for me to mention that in this thread, but i did Aaron |
Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 14:33
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It would be interesting to hear Yes do a cover of Starless and KC do a cover of Awaken. Don't know if Jon A. could pull it off or if Robert F. could sound so uplifted. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: harm s.
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 15:29
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Actually, Jon Anderson did poke fun at himself once! "Now the verses I've sang |
Posted By: nobody
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 18:03
With all due respect, that is a ridiculous statement. It proves that you might have heard Crimson, but you've never really listened. Every single KC album has at least one track (if not several) that are the equal of the tremendous Yes pieces you mention. To whit: 21st Century Schizoid Man That's just one track from the first 10 KC records, just as an example. Come to think of it, that's a nice mixtape if you wanted to make it. ------------- "Some of you are going to die... martyrs, of course, to the Freedom I will provide!" |
Posted By: Hemispheres
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 18:10
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What about King Crimson compared to Abba Or Yes compared to Canibal Corpse now thats oppositte ------------- [IMG]http://www.wheresthatfrom.com/avatars/miguelsanchez.gif">[IMG]http://www.rockphiles.com/all_images/Act_Images/TheMothersOfInvention/mothers300.jpg"> |
Posted By: Zac M
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 18:13
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Seriously, the idea of polar oppsites isn't correct concering KC and Yes, even if you're only referring to Prog.
------------- "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: Zweck
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 18:20
It's sort of like w**king off on your guitar for twenty-three minutes; you're not really accomplishing anything, but you still seem like you're not a waste of carbon. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 18:34
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In the title track of Going For The One he does exactly that: "Now there verses I've sung don't add much weight/To the story in my head/So I think I'd better go and write a punchline But they're so hard to find in my cosmic mind.... "
------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Just noticed Harm S made exactly the same point a few posts back...Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 19:09
Absolutey correct! |
Posted By: Rosescar
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 19:10
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Yes' quality went down terribly during the 80's though, whereas Crimso's didn't really.
------------- http://www.soundclick.com/rosescar/ - My music! "THE AUDIENCE WERE generally drugged. (In Holland, always)." - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 19:12
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I bought most Crimso 80's lp's in the bargain bins at Woolworths and that's were they belong! |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 20:05
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I think real prog polar opposites, the vocalists vs. Peter Hammill (VdGG)
could they be any more different? ------------- 
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Posted By: Aaron
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 23:03
"never really listened" thanks for insulting me? it's just my opinion jackass hugs Aaron
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Posted By: nobody
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 00:21
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You dismissed all KC songs as universally inferior to those of a band who last pushed a musical boundary in the mid-1970s, and whose original drummer gave up millions of dollars, fame and security to go with KC, who haven't stopped pushing them to this very day. What you meant to say was, "I really like the sunny, diatonic, positive vibes of The Affirmatives and I can't stand the depressing, wigged-out, atavistically-inclined Crimso." Sorry if I insulted your ears. Hugs! nobody
------------- "Some of you are going to die... martyrs, of course, to the Freedom I will provide!" |
Posted By: Losendos
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 07:16
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But what about "now the verses I've sung don't add much weight to the story in my head so I'm thinking I should go and write a punchline But they're so hard to find in my cosmic mind
------------- How wonderful to be so profound |
Posted By: Rosescar
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 07:49
bargain bin > garbage bin Get my point? ------------- http://www.soundclick.com/rosescar/ - My music! "THE AUDIENCE WERE generally drugged. (In Holland, always)." - Robert Fripp |