IN THE CAN

Not a bad sophomore album, but there's really nothing special here. In the Can does seem to represent another step away from Yes for Flash leader and guitarist Peter Banks: not only is former Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye gone (and not replaced); In the Can just sounds less like Yes than Flash had. But don't get me wrong - - it still sounds like Yes, from the lyrics to syncopated instrumentation to the vocal harmonies.

The quality of the songs is fair, though they aren't as good as the songs on Flash. The performances are generally good; not surprisingly, this is a guitar-based album, and Banks is clearly up to the task. Nonetheless In the Can is annoying at times. The opening number, "Lifetime," is good, but it's hard to overlook the cribbing of "Hocus Pocus" (Focus, 1971) and "Astral Traveller" (Yes, 1970). "Black and White" has some good bass playing, but the vocal harmonies get a little tedious (e.g., the repetition of the word "time...time...time!").

Given the wide availability of Flash (1972) and Two Sides of Peter Banks (1973), I can't claim that In the Can is essential, even for Yes fans. I'd certainly recommend either of those albums before In the Can. If those are interesting, you might also listen to some of Banks's 1990s albums. Still interested? Then maybe In the Can is for you.