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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: austin on May 04, 2009, 06:00:38 PM

Title: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: austin on May 04, 2009, 06:00:38 PM
Yes: better than Dream Theater. Discuss.

Personally I believe the holy quartet (Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales, Relayer) to be the greatest string of albums any band's ever produced... ever. Close to the Edge is possible the single greatest pieces of music I've ever heard, personally. Even Yes's low points were better than most band's high points. The music was not only technically proficient, but at the same time as wowing listeners with skill, intense emotion was conveyed through strong melodies and harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics. What do you think?
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on May 05, 2009, 07:09:23 AM
Better than Dream Theater?  That's debatable.  Both are 'top 10' bands for me, but I find myself listening to a lot more DT of late.  More influential than Dream Theater?  Most definitely. 

Just for fun, if I take my favorite lineup from both bands, here is how it breaks down for me.

Keys:  Rick Wakeman vs Kevin Moore
Guitars:  Steve Howe vs John Petrucci
Vocals:  Jon Anderson vs James Labrie  (tie)
Bass:  Chris Squire vs John Myung
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on May 05, 2009, 07:20:40 AM
Such a great band. Sound nothing like Dream Theater, and yet Dream Theater will always been completely in debt to Yes' sound. No need to compare the to.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on May 05, 2009, 07:56:22 AM
For me, the holy trinity of The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge are my favorites.  Amazing band.  I think Chris Squire has inspired me to pick up bass over the summer.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 05, 2009, 09:43:07 AM
I should probably stay out of this one.  I'm pretty sure I've listened to more Yes than anyone else here, and this seems like the type of discussion "normal" fans would have.  But I cannot help myself.

Yes: better than Dream Theater.

In many ways, but not all.  DT has taken a "Yeslike" approach to songwriting and arranging and applied it to a much heavier style, mostly with good results.  Yes can rock out sometimes, but never to DT headbanging levels.  That's okay; it's not what they're going for.  But I don't have a problem with metal, and it's cool to be able to get heavy but still in a prog vein.

Personally I believe the holy quartet (Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales, Relayer) to be the greatest string of albums any band's ever produced... ever. Close to the Edge is possible the single greatest pieces of music I've ever heard, personally. Even Yes's low points were better than most band's high points. The music was not only technically proficient, but at the same time as wowing listeners with skill, intense emotion was conveyed through strong melodies and harmonies, rhythms, and lyrics. What do you think?

You stopped one album too soon.  The sheer "prog pretentiousness" (which I actually mean in a good way) of combining pipes, choir, harp, bells, and tympani, and using each one correctly and effectively is a marvel.  Going for the One stands alone; there is nothing else like it in all of recorded music.  But I'm aware that most people prefer standard instrumentation.  (Gentle Giant would probably cause them seizures.)

Close to the Edge (the album) is probably my favorite Yes album, but the title track and "Awaken" duke it out for top song for me, and "Turn of the Century" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.  The Yes main sequence for me consists of five albums, not four.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: jasc15 on November 17, 2009, 09:00:46 PM
Bump

Not too familiar with Yes, but i guess the "where to start" question has been answered in the first post here.  Anything else you can tell me about these guys?
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Basekick on November 17, 2009, 09:04:24 PM

Keys:  Rick Wakeman vs Kevin Moore
Guitars:  Steve Howe vs John Petrucci
Vocals:  Jon Anderson vs James Labrie  (tie)
Bass:  Chris Squire vs John Myung
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy



That's not fair.  A band isn't made up as the sum of its parts, I mean, there's a reason why a lot of supergroups fail to make nearly the same level of music as they did with their previous bands.  And even though you sided with Yes...

Wait, you sided with Yes.  We're cool.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: PlaysLikeMyung on November 17, 2009, 09:09:45 PM
How did I miss this thread?

I love Yes

@Jasc: get Close to the Edge for some hardcore prog. Also, Relayer and Fragile are really awesome
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 17, 2009, 09:46:40 PM
Anything else you can tell me about these guys?

In 40 years, no more than two Yes albums in a row have had the same lineup.  Despite all the changes, most people consider the "classic" lineup to be Jon Anderson (lead vocals), Chris Squire (bass), Steve Howe (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and Alan White (drums).  Their first studio album together was Tales from Topographic Oceans, although White actually joined shortly before the Close to the Edge and plays on most of the first live album, Yessongs. Bill Bruford was the original drummer and was with them through Close to the Edge, so the classic lineup for everyone else has Bruford on drums rather than White.  Bruford left the band, on very short notice, to join King Crimson.

The 80's version of the band, led by Trevor Rabin on guitar and vocals, was not originally going to be called Yes.  It was in fact a new project from Rabin, Squire and White and was going to be called Cinema.  By time Anderson and (original Yes keyboardist) Tony Kaye were brought on board, the suits strongarmed Rabin into calling the band Yes, virtually guaranteeing it greater record sales.  They were correct, but Rabin has since expressed disappointment with himself for not standing up to the suits.  80's Yes has a fundamentally different sound, and despite the name Yes and the fact that everyone except Rabin was a former member of Yes, many Yesfans even consider this a different band.

Drama is the only Yes album without Jon Anderson on vocals.  Anderson and Wakeman had quit the band (again -- the band took a break the last time this happened) so Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes provide leads vocals and keyboards, respectively.  Some Yesfans deride this album as much because of the lack of Anderson and Wakeman as for the fact that their replacements had previously recorded together as The Buggles, known for the song "Video Killed the Radio Star".  I'm about as hardcore Yes as you can get, and I think Drama is an excellent album.

After checking out Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographics Oceans, Relayer, and Going for the One, go back to The Yes Album (the first album with Howe and the last one before Wakeman), then get Drama.  Get Tormato for completeness only; it is the only 70's Yes album not considered at least very good by most Yesfans.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on November 17, 2009, 10:28:37 PM
Drama is an EXCELLENT album.

Also The Yes Album is what I would recommend for a starting point. But you can't go wrong with any album from The Yes Album through Going For The One as a starting point. If you like epic prog pieces, go with Relayer, Close to the Edge, or Tales. Otherwise, Fragile, The Yes Album, and Going for the One are great picks.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on November 17, 2009, 10:38:02 PM
Better than Dream Theater?  That's debatable.  Both are 'top 10' bands for me, but I find myself listening to a lot more DT of late.  More influential than Dream Theater?  Most definitely. 

Just for fun, if I take my favorite lineup from both bands, here is how it breaks down for me.

Keys:  Rick Wakeman vs Kevin Moore
Guitars:  Steve Howe vs John Petrucci
Vocals:  Jon Anderson vs James Labrie  (tie)
Bass:  Chris Squire vs John Myung
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy



Keys: Jordan Rudess beats Wakeman
Guitars: Tie between Petrucci and Howe
Vocals: Labrie beats Anderson
Bass: Tie
Drums: Portnoy beats White
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 17, 2009, 10:47:42 PM
Not too familiar with Yes, but i guess the "where to start" question has been answered in the first post here.  Anything else you can tell me about these guys?

Yes.  DO NOT ignore the Rabin years.  They get dogged a lot, but it is excellent pop rock, especially 90125; Big Generator isn't as good, but is still good.  Talk is more rocking and a bit harder, but is most excellent, too; I actually think that is their best Rabin-era CD.  

The obvious classics like The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge and Relayer all go without saying.  Tales from Topographic Oceans is quite a journey, and can be a bit cumbersome at times, but as a whole works pretty well.

DO NOT bother with Tormato and Union until you have heard pretty much everything else by them.

Anyway, I don't listen to Yes nearly as much as I used to (they were one of my most-listened-to bands for about a 10-year span, '93-'03), but they are still in my all-time top 10.  Truly one of the best bands of all time, and possibly the best progressive rock band ever.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on November 17, 2009, 11:03:11 PM
I really think Going for the One is the best Yes album.  Does anyone agree?
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 17, 2009, 11:12:16 PM
I really think Going for the One is the best Yes album.  Does anyone agree?

I do not. 

In fact, I think it is one of their most overrated CDs ever.  A lot of people lump it in with the other classics from the 70s, but I just don't see it.  Okay, "Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" are both damn good (although I think the former is a bit overrated by Yes fans everywhere), but the title cut is somewhat forgettable, and both "Wonderous Stories" and "Parallels" are kind of nice, but nothing too memorable or great. 

And the sound of it has always bothered me.  It is too high and tinny with not enough low end.  Chris Squire's fat bass tones are nowhere to be found, and this is where Steve Howe's clean electric tone started to get a little, um, sketchy. :lol

Sorry. :)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on November 17, 2009, 11:23:16 PM
From The Yes Album to Going For The One, they made a string of 6 really great albums! There are a couple songs on TYA and GFTO that some may find unlistenable, but to my ears, those six albums are stronger than some bands' entire catalogs (and sometimes even longer! lol)

Yes is probably (and always will be) in my top 10 bands of all time, and I think it's nearly time for me to revisit their works again as it's been awhile since I've cycled their music into my listening.

I recall getting Fragile, CTTE and TFTO as my first albums by them, and was completely blown away. The sprawling epics and the varied sounds from light acoustic guitars to heavy electric guitars and bass, as well as blazing keyboards and drums, really helped me define the type of music I have come to love and appreciate. Sure, some may see them as the epitome of excess and pretentious symphonic prog rock, but it's not like that was their focus - they were just writing the music they wanted to, and it just happened to be a bit long, and technically challenging, but each member of Yes has always had something great to put into the band, even those who were only a part of the band for one album!

Their later works even have their charms, and I occasionally listen to Talk and Keystudio, probably just as much as I've listened to The Yes Album or Fragile. Unfortunately, albums like Open Your Eyes and Big Generator don't get many spins from me (and come to think of it, I don't even recall listening to Open Your Eyes more than twice...)

At any rate, in their hey-day, Yes made some amazing music that has influenced dozens of bands that still continue the music of the progressive rock genre, including our beloved Dream Theater (who should really look into covering a Yes album! I vote Relayer!), as well as others like Spock's Beard (who did a nice studio-cover of "Southside Of The Sky") and The Flower Kings. And one other great thing about Yes is that their music is so varied (in many ways) that it shows in the fans because everyone has different favorite albums and songs, and because of that, the band has such a WIDE fanbase!!!

Here's to 40 years of great music from one of the greatest rock bands in existence!  :tup

-Marc.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on November 18, 2009, 01:19:55 AM
Fragile was my first Yes album and I still hold it as my favourite of theirs. Roundabout, Heart Of The Sunrise, South Side Of The Sky, We Have Heaven... great great songs. Close To The Edge (the track) is one of my favourite epics of all time.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on November 18, 2009, 02:10:12 AM
The Yes Album is really good but Close To The Edge bores the crap out of me. Haven't really tried with any of the others.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 18, 2009, 07:05:23 AM
For me, the holy trinity of The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge are my favorites.  Amazing band.  I think Chris Squire has inspired me to pick up bass over the summer.

YES!! YES!!! YES!!! (Pun intended)  Those 3 albums to this day stand up the test of time.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on November 18, 2009, 02:36:05 PM
As much as I love their classic albums, Union will always have a special place in my heart. It's the only Yes album my Dad had on CD (All the other stuff was on vinyl) so I when I started listening to Yes like 10 years ago Union was the one I listened to the most.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on November 18, 2009, 03:12:42 PM
Keys:  Rick Wakeman vs Kevin Moore
Guitars:  Steve Howe vs John Petrucci
Vocals:  Jon Anderson vs James Labrie  (tie)
Bass:  Chris Squire vs John Myung
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy
Interesting, I have it nearly opposite.
Wakeman is a better player than most, but I don't think he has the creative versatility of Moore.
I'd probably go with Petrucci, though I still have some questions about him.  One of the things I've always wondered is how Petrucci would do trying to play Clap or Mood for a Day.  Man, what I wouldn't give to see that happen.
I like Anderson better.
I think Myungs a better player, though I like Squire a great deal.  Squire might be more versatile.  Myung is the one who's never really expanded into different styles.
Honestly, I think I'd go with Bruford over Portnoy.  However, I say that considering Bruford's music with King Crimson, which might not be fair.  I suppose if I consider MP's Transatlantic drum work, I'd pick him.  Tough call. 

Under any circumstances I take Bruford over White. 
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cool Chris on November 18, 2009, 03:47:48 PM
My wife plays soccer with Alan White's daughter.


That's really all I have to contribute to this thread.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on November 18, 2009, 04:53:04 PM
Am I the only one who has The Yes Album at number 2 behind Close to the Edge?  Starship Trooper is just an amazing song.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 18, 2009, 05:10:04 PM
My wife plays soccer with Alan White's daughter.

That's really all I have to contribute to this thread.

Is she hot?



(There, now you have more to contribute, if you so choose!)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: SPNKr on November 18, 2009, 05:25:51 PM
Yes I like Yes.

My wife plays soccer with Alan White's daughter.

That's really all I have to contribute to this thread.

Is she hot?



(There, now you have more to contribute, if you so choose!)
:biggrin:
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 18, 2009, 11:02:53 PM
Am I the only one who has The Yes Album at number 2 behind Close to the Edge?  Starship Trooper is just an amazing song.

No, you are not the only one.  That is probably my number 1 and 2, too.  :tup :tup

"Starship Trooper" is a top 5 Yes song for me, as is "Yours Is No Disgrace."
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 19, 2009, 02:41:45 AM
I've heard the albums from The Yes Album to Tormato. Close to the edge is my favorite album, closely followed by Fragile and Tales. Relayer is strange to me, a bit too wild and chaotic, especially Sound chaser, but it's still OK. I want to check out Drama as soon as possible...
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 19, 2009, 06:59:26 AM
Relayer took me a lot longer to get into than the other 70's albums, because it's so different.  Not just due to Moraz on keys, but also Howe's use of the Telecaster and its raw, biting sound.  Also, Squire and White were really learning to work together in the studio by now and were super tight, which lays down a great foundation for Moraz and Howe to go crazy over.  It's an oddball in the catalog, and most Yes fans either really like it a lot, or have some trouble with it.  Not a lot of folks in the middle.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on November 19, 2009, 07:23:39 AM
Relayer took me a lot longer to get into than the other 70's albums, because it's so different.  Not just due to Moraz on keys, but also Howe's use of the Telecaster and its raw, biting sound.  Also, Squire and White were really learning to work together in the studio by now and were super tight, which lays down a great foundation for Moraz and Howe to go crazy over.  It's an oddball in the catalog, and most Yes fans either really like it a lot, or have some trouble with it.  Not a lot of folks in the middle.

I'll just add that Jon Anderson does some beautiful vocal work on Relayer.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 19, 2009, 08:47:56 AM
"The Gates of Delirium" is arguably Yes' best song, and "To Be Over" is great, too, so those two songs alone make Relayer more than worthy.  "Sound Chaser" is definitely a bit out there, but it has some cool moments, even if it is somewhat of a clusteryouknowwhat. :lol

Mladen, Drama is good.  Not nearly as good as their classic material, or even their best stuff they did with Rabin, but still good.  "Machine Messiah" is an essential Yes song.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on November 19, 2009, 08:56:00 AM
Probably my 2nd favorite classic prog band behind Rush.

Close to the Edge is my favorite, followed closely by The Yes Album. They put on a fantastic show when I saw them with the new singer and Oliver Wakeman.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 19, 2009, 09:49:47 AM
Mladen, Drama is good.  Not nearly as good as their classic material, or even their best stuff they did with Rabin, but still good.  "Machine Messiah" is an essential Yes song.
I didn't doubt it. Just waiting for some more spare time, and I'll give Drama a spin...

I really think Going for the One is the best Yes album.  Does anyone agree?
Not my favorite, but really good. The title track rocks hard, for some reason reminds me of early Rush, and it's arguably the best track right after the masterpiece that is Awaken. Wonderous Stories is also a quite nice track, but the remaining two songs aren't as memorable as the rest... The cover sucks, by the way. I've never been a fan of asses.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 19, 2009, 10:36:56 AM
The cover bugs the shit out of me, mostly because Going for the One is one of my favorites, but in high school, it's hard to justify having an album with a guy's naked ass prominently on the cover.  Between that and the singer's high-pitched "airy-fairy" voice... let's just say that a certain amount of teasing took place.  Shit like that matters a lot in junior high and high school.

The one thing that's cool about the cover is that it always reminded me of the line "lost in the city" from the song "Heart of the Sunrise" on Fragile.  Nakedness usually represents vulnerability and/or helplessness and all that.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 19, 2009, 11:07:39 AM
I really think Going for the One is the best Yes album.  Does anyone agree?
Not my favorite, but really good. The title track rocks hard, for some reason reminds me of early Rush

That seems rather odd.  ???
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cool Chris on November 19, 2009, 11:28:32 AM
My wife plays soccer with Alan White's daughter.

That's really all I have to contribute to this thread.

Is she hot?



(There, now you have more to contribute, if you so choose!)

* Looks over shoulder to see if the wife is around…

Yes, she is attractive.

It was funny the whole team was at lunch after a game (which I went to as well) when it came up and it was news to most of the team, and they were all “Yes.. What? Who? Is that a band? What kind of music do they play? Would I know anything by them?” It was interesting listening to her talk about it, because for her it was no big deal, he wasn’t a big rock star or anything like that, it was just her dad, and that was his job.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 19, 2009, 01:57:39 PM
That's cool.  Her dad plays in a band.  Lots of kids, and nowadays quite a few adults, have parents that play in a band.  Her dad's band just happens to be one of the greatest prog bands ever, but you're right; to her that doesn't matter.  He's just Dad to her.

A friend of mine's doctor was telling my friend one time that he used to play in a band.  One time in the waiting room, he noticed a promo picture of the band Starcastle on the wall.  Starcastle was not nearly as famous or successful as Yes, but they were a recording act and I even have some of their albums.  Anyway, their drummer is now a doctor in Illinois.  My friend was like "You said you were in a band, but I didn't realize you meant a real band."  To which the guy asked "Okay, what constitutes a real band?"
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 19, 2009, 02:24:51 PM
My favorite band.  I've been listening to Yes since I was seven and my oldest brother brough Fragile home on vinyl. I have never looked back.  Seen them on almost every tour since 90125, and have never been disapointed.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 19, 2009, 02:31:40 PM
My favorite band.  I've been listening to Yes since I was seven and my oldest brother brough Fragile home on vinyl. I have never looked back.  Seen them on almost every tour since 90125, and have never been disapointed.

This is about my story except I was 4 when Fragile came out.  My cousin got some Yes albums from his guitar teacher(Who bacame mine also). I've seen them on at least 9 shows from 90125 till the tour they did with Kansas.  It was the long song tour. They played 3 20+ min. songs.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 19, 2009, 09:18:20 PM
The Masterworks Tour.  Friend of mine back home in Michigan had tickets, and knew I'm a huge Yes fan, but didn't call me because he figured I wouldn't cruise over from Chicago to see them.  Fucking asshole.  I would have.

Anyway, I can't believe there are so many people here older than me.  I was 10 when Fragile came out in 1972.  You guys were born in the 50's?  Damn, you're old!
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 19, 2009, 11:05:07 PM
I think it is always a shame how much songs from the first two records are overlooked.  Songs like "Time and a Word," "Astral Traveler," "Survival," "Sweet Dreams" and "Looking Around" are all really good.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 20, 2009, 01:18:44 AM
Anyway, I can't believe there are so many people here older than me.  I was 10 when Fragile came out in 1972.  You guys were born in the 50's?  Damn, you're old!
I was -19 back then. :lol
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: yeshaberto on November 20, 2009, 01:34:59 AM
when DT was touring with Yes I picked up a lot of their stuff.  most of it wasn't for me.  I kept a good number of songs and still enjoy them (close to the edge, wonderful stories, etc).  And while I realize I was seeing Yes in their latter years, watching DT and then Yes was the ultimate contrast.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 20, 2009, 07:19:24 AM
The Masterworks Tour.  Friend of mine back home in Michigan had tickets, and knew I'm a huge Yes fan, but didn't call me because he figured I wouldn't cruise over from Chicago to see them.  Fucking asshole.  I would have.

Anyway, I can't believe there are so many people here older than me.  I was 10 when Fragile came out in 1972.  You guys were born in the 50's?  Damn, you're old!

Thanks Orbert, I couldn't remember the name of the tour.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2009, 08:09:18 AM
I think it is always a shame how much songs from the first two records are overlooked.  Songs like "Time and a Word," "Astral Traveler," "Survival," "Sweet Dreams" and "Looking Around" are all really good.

The first two albums are both very good, and provide hints at the prog to come, but overall they're mostly just "regular" songs, not the full-blown prog that seemed to appear the day Steve Howe walked in the door.

Not that there's anything wrong with "regular" songs, as opposed to every song being "epic", but when people think of Yes, it's usually either (a) that 70's band that recorded like 10 or so epics, or (b) that 80's band that did "Owner of a Lonely Heart".  I'm guessing that around here, it's the prog that's the attraction.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on November 20, 2009, 09:08:16 AM
I think it is always a shame how much songs from the first two records are overlooked.  Songs like "Time and a Word," "Astral Traveler," "Survival," "Sweet Dreams" and "Looking Around" are all really good.

I agree with these song choices! I'd also like to add "Something's Coming", and if you haven't heard it yet, you're missing out!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on November 20, 2009, 09:58:39 AM
I think it is always a shame how much songs from the first two records are overlooked.  Songs like "Time and a Word," "Astral Traveler," "Survival," "Sweet Dreams" and "Looking Around" are all really good.

This! Yes is a phenomenal album! So many of those songs are so good, and always forgotten.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2009, 11:24:21 AM
"No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" has appeared on every Yes compilation I've ever made.  That cheesy overdubbed string section totally makes it for me.  No, I don't know why and yes, I'm completely serious.

"Something's Coming" is awesome!  Yes did a lot of covers in the early days, but they weren't just covers; they took them and Yessified them.  "America", "Every Little Thing", "I See You", and of course NONNEN.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 20, 2009, 10:40:49 PM
I LOVE Yes. I saw them once on the Union Tour.

I've got them all except for Open Your Eyes (NOT a Billy Sherwood fan) and anything released after 2001 except for THe Word Is Live.

Among my favorites are The Yes Album, Close To The Edge, Relayer, Drama, 90125 and Keys I.

I like Fragile too, but I don't think it's a near the top as others here. The production is great, but vibe on The Yes Album is nearly unmatchable (before the ego crystalization?)

I really like the first two albums too, I listen to them as much as the others.  I even like Keys II and The Ladder and I should really listen to them more than I do.

I've never been really impressed with Yessongs (killer track list!) and Yesshows and I'm not sure why. I'm sure there are better recordings out there, but I've never checked them out for one reason or another. An Evening of Yes Plus is awesome even with Squire, but I've yet to find that amazing live album, though I'm sure they are out there.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Scard on November 21, 2009, 12:23:26 AM
Close to the Edge and Fragile are great, but I guess that's what everyone says. Couldn't get into Tales at all
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 21, 2009, 04:12:03 AM
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOO. JUST NO.  :tdwn
Have ever actually HEARD Bill Bruford play drums?

(edit)

Sorry, I know I'm overreacting, so I'll give a better reason. Listen to Close to the Edge. From a drumming stand point, it is one of the most complex and beautifully intricate works in drumming, hands down. Bill keeps the rhythm completely smooth while still throwing in complex polyrhythms and maintaining a really unique style of playing while doing so. The parts he wrote for that album are so intense that you'll find something new that he's doing each time you listen to the album. Mike is great, don't get me wrong. But even he would openly agree to Bill being the better of them, I'm sure. Bill's later work and even his jazz albums contain some of the most hardcore drumming I've ever heard.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: aurorablind on November 21, 2009, 07:13:56 AM
Close to the edge is my favorite album. I actually got into Yes, starting with "Time and a word". This album is a gem thats really overlooked! But, it's not really that proggy, so i understand.. "Time and a word" and "Then" are my favorite songs from that album..
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 21, 2009, 11:32:49 AM
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOO. JUST NO.  :tdwn
Have ever actually HEARD Bill Bruford play drums?

(edit)

Sorry, I know I'm overreacting, so I'll give a better reason. Listen to Close to the Edge. From a drumming stand point, it is one of the most complex and beautifully intricate works in drumming, hands down. Bill keeps the rhythm completely smooth while still throwing in complex polyrhythms and maintaining a really unique style of playing while doing so. The parts he wrote for that album are so intense that you'll find something new that he's doing each time you listen to the album. Mike is great, don't get me wrong. But even he would openly agree to Bill being the better of them, I'm sure. Bill's later work and even his jazz albums contain some of the most hardcore drumming I've ever heard.

This.  Mike is getting pretty good at fills that don't sound like he's just filling because he can, but a lot of the time that's exactly what it sounds like.  Extra beats just because he can, not because it actually adds anything.  Bill's forte has always been his extreme discipline (ha!) and he never distracts from the main rhythm, but augments it in ways you barely notice.  He's quietly going completely nuts back there, providing tension and complexity at the subconscious level.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 21, 2009, 12:11:30 PM
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOO. JUST NO.  :tdwn
Have ever actually HEARD Bill Bruford play drums?

(edit)

Sorry, I know I'm overreacting, so I'll give a better reason. Listen to Close to the Edge. From a drumming stand point, it is one of the most complex and beautifully intricate works in drumming, hands down. Bill keeps the rhythm completely smooth while still throwing in complex polyrhythms and maintaining a really unique style of playing while doing so. The parts he wrote for that album are so intense that you'll find something new that he's doing each time you listen to the album. Mike is great, don't get me wrong. But even he would openly agree to Bill being the better of them, I'm sure. Bill's later work and even his jazz albums contain some of the most hardcore drumming I've ever heard.

This.  Mike is getting pretty good at fills that don't sound like he's just filling because he can, but a lot of the time that's exactly what it sounds like.  Extra beats just because he can, not because it actually adds anything.  Bill's forte has always been his extreme discipline (ha!) and he never distracts from the main rhythm, but augments it in ways you barely notice.  He's quietly going completely nuts back there, providing tension and complexity at the subconscious level.
:hefdaddy :metal
Absolutely. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 21, 2009, 12:57:37 PM
Agreed about Bruford; Portnoy is obviously a fine drummer, but Bruford is a monster.

  Couldn't get into Tales at all

I couldn't either for the longest time; finally did a few years ago.  Overall, it is a very good record; each song could have used some trimming, but when listened to all of the way through, it is a heckuva journey.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 21, 2009, 01:41:56 PM
Tales is a beautiful album, although I think Ritual is overrated, the rest is MUCH better.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 21, 2009, 01:46:30 PM
"The Remembering" has the biggest tease ever.  The song takes forever to buildup, but it finally seems to reach a point where a major payoff is gonna come, Wakeman's solo around the 13 or 14 minute mark, but as just as fast as it begins, it ends, and Anderson comes in with another vocal section.  It is almost like the lyrical direction Anderson wanted made them cut Wakeman's solo short, so Anderson could get back to his lyrics about God knows what.  Also, Howe soloing along with Wakeman for much of the solo was unnecessary and distracting, too.  That could have been one of the best keyboard solos ever, but alas, it was not to be.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on November 21, 2009, 11:48:13 PM
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOO. JUST NO.  :tdwn
Have ever actually HEARD Bill Bruford play drums?

(edit)

Sorry, I know I'm overreacting, so I'll give a better reason. Listen to Close to the Edge. From a drumming stand point, it is one of the most complex and beautifully intricate works in drumming, hands down. Bill keeps the rhythm completely smooth while still throwing in complex polyrhythms and maintaining a really unique style of playing while doing so. The parts he wrote for that album are so intense that you'll find something new that he's doing each time you listen to the album. Mike is great, don't get me wrong. But even he would openly agree to Bill being the better of them, I'm sure. Bill's later work and even his jazz albums contain some of the most hardcore drumming I've ever heard.

 :lol  Looks like my innocuous little comparison touched a nerve!  Well, I can't dispute the greatness of Bill Bruford, but I think Orbert used a couple of words which might explain my choice:


This.  Mike is getting pretty good at fills that don't sound like he's just filling because he can, but a lot of the time that's exactly what it sounds like.  Extra beats just because he can, not because it actually adds anything.  Bill's forte has always been his extreme discipline (ha!) and he never distracts from the main rhythm, but augments it in ways you barely notice.  He's quietly going completely nuts back there, providing tension and complexity at the subconscious level.

Quiet and subconscious.  There's an understatement to Bruford's style, something that you don't necessarily associate with Mike Portnoy.   Even from the standpoint of pure sonics, Bruford has a 'drier' sound when compared to the big 'wet' lush sounds that Portnoy gets with his drumming. 

Believe me, I was hugely disappointed that Bruford left Yes while the band was at the peak of their powers.  Looking back though, I can't really complain because he went on to give us the greatest stretch of King Crimson albums with Lark's, Starless and Red. 
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on November 21, 2009, 11:58:02 PM
Going to attempt a Close To The Edge listen tonight. I'm hoping I love it.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on November 24, 2009, 12:41:26 PM
Anyone interested in doing a Yes Top 20-30-50 (whatever) list? I am interested in your thoughts about their songs, since I'm a fairly uneducated Yes listener. I'm sure a few others here would appreciate it too.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 24, 2009, 12:50:31 PM
Maybe.  What's a 20-30-50 list?  Top 20%, bottom 30%, middle 50%?  That kind of thing?
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on November 24, 2009, 12:59:08 PM
No I mean, Top 20 or Top 30 or Top 50 - something like that.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 24, 2009, 03:57:48 PM
Interesting idea, but honestly, listening to individual Yes songs from albums is kinda like eating half an order of french fries for lunch.  It might taste fine, but there should be more.

Yes, as with most prog bands, really should be listened to an album at a time, which is why the discussion thus far has been about albums.  Each one has its own characteristics.  Seriously, no two Yes albums are alike, or even very similar past the superficial details.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 24, 2009, 07:05:50 PM
"The Remembering" has the biggest tease ever.  The song takes forever to buildup, but it finally seems to reach a point where a major payoff is gonna come, Wakeman's solo around the 13 or 14 minute mark, but as just as fast as it begins, it ends, and Anderson comes in with another vocal section.  It is almost like the lyrical direction Anderson wanted made them cut Wakeman's solo short, so Anderson could get back to his lyrics about God knows what.  Also, Howe soloing along with Wakeman for much of the solo was unnecessary and distracting, too.  That could have been one of the best keyboard solos ever, but alas, it was not to be.

Sure you're not talking about The Revealing Science of God (or whatever it was called)? I don't recall an awesome keyboard solo on The Remembering. Also, The Remembering is my favorite song. Yes it'a ambient and tough, but the sections are down right mesmerizing and absolutely beautiful. I get lost in the song, honestly. But then again, I love ambient music.

But yeah, TRSoG had a really kick-ass solo near the end of it (a very retro 70s sounding one for that matter) and if that's what you're talking about, I agree that it exits too quickly. That section is awesome.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 24, 2009, 11:16:55 PM
No, I am talking about "The Remembering," specifically the keyboard part that goes from 14:12-14:36.  That should have been an epic keyboard solo (with everything else supporting underneath, as opposed to Steve Howe sounding like he is trying to play over that awesome keyboard melody), but instead it lasted a mere 25 seconds.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 24, 2009, 11:51:46 PM
Okay, trying to do a Yes top 30, 40 or 50 would be a massive undertaking, but I did a top 10, just for fun:

10. "I've Seen All Good People"
9. "South Side of the Sky"
8. "Endless Dream"
7. "Siberian Khatru"
6. "Yours Is No Disgrace"
5. "Roundabout"
4. "Close to the Edge"
3. "Starship Trooper"
2. "The Gates of Delirium"
1. "And You and I"
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 25, 2009, 06:59:33 AM
Hearing only the albums from TYA to Tormato, my top 10 would be awkward, because I know there are some great songs later, but what the heck...

10. Long distance runaround
9. Going for the one
8. Heart of the sunrise
7. And you and I
6. Starship trooper
5. The Ancient
4. Awaken
3. Roundabout
2. The Revealing science of God
1. Close to the edge

Not a fan of Relayer, as you can see...
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 25, 2009, 07:04:29 AM
I don't hear a lot of people talking about Keys to Ascension 1 & 2.  I love the studio songs.  I think KTA2 has better production than 1.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 25, 2009, 09:37:49 AM
The Keys collections were worth getting just for the spectacular live version of "Onward."
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 25, 2009, 10:29:12 AM
The Keys to Ascension albums are great, but so frustrating.  The classic 5-piece band had finally reunited at SLO and they wanted to get the recordings out there, plus they had a CD worth of new material.  So what did the suits do?  Fucked the whole thing up by releasing Keys at the same time as Open Your Eyes but giving it no promo at all, and split the live and new studio stuff between the two Keys releases.  Yes has a long, long history of having no idea what they're doing on the business side, and trusting everything to managers and record execs who have no idea what they're doing, either.

The seven studio tracks from the two Keys albums total 74 minutes, which was the capacity of a CD back then (80 minute CDs hadn't come out yet).  That can't be a coincidence.  After the Union mess, the not-bad Talk by the 90125 lineup, and the band breaking up again, this should have been the amazing, massive return of the classic lineup.  Seven new studio tracks, including two epics!  Instead, almost no one has even heard it.

Anyway, the Keys material is solid, IMO.  "Mind Drive" is easily my favorite latter-day Yes tune.  Some of the other tracks do feel a bit padded out by endless repeated sections, but it all sounds good, so... okay.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on November 25, 2009, 02:19:32 PM
The Keys to Ascension albums are great, but so frustrating.  The classic 5-piece band had finally reunited at SLO and they wanted to get the recordings out there, plus they had a CD worth of new material.  So what did the suits do?  Fucked the whole thing up by releasing Keys at the same time as Open Your Eyes but giving it no promo at all, and split the live and new studio stuff between the two Keys releases.  Yes has a long, long history of having no idea what they're doing on the business side, and trusting everything to managers and record execs who have no idea what they're doing, either.

The seven studio tracks from the two Keys albums total 74 minutes, which was the capacity of a CD back then (80 minute CDs hadn't come out yet).  That can't be a coincidence.  After the Union mess, the not-bad Talk by the 90125 lineup, and the band breaking up again, this should have been the amazing, massive return of the classic lineup.  Seven new studio tracks, including two epics!  Instead, almost no one has even heard it.

Anyway, the Keys material is solid, IMO.  "Mind Drive" is easily my favorite latter-day Yes tune.  Some of the other tracks do feel a bit padded out by endless repeated sections, but it all sounds good, so... okay.

Good thing they released "Keystudio" with all those tracks, as well as a different version of "Children Of The Light" from the Keys To Ascension release.

I agree, the Keys studio material SHOULD have been their 90's come-back album, and I think the reception to it at a full studio album would've cultivated a revival in Yes, and whatever they would've done next would've been better than OYE and The Ladder (not that The Ladder isn't bad, it's much better than OYE).

I wish they would re-release the Live Keys material on a proper 2-CD set, but I already re-mixed the tracks into their proper setlist order and made my own 2-CD set! And speaking of Keys, I recently found out that they are re-releasing the concert video on DVD very soon!!! Can't wait to get that, but I hear the special effects really ruin the experience... and the over-dubs are jarring to hear when you see them not playing what you hear...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: reneranucci on November 25, 2009, 02:29:31 PM

Keys:  Rick Wakeman vs Kevin Moore
Guitars:  Steve Howe vs John Petrucci
Vocals:  Jon Anderson vs James Labrie  (tie)
Bass:  Chris Squire vs John Myung
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy
This, but the opposite. And Jon Anderson > LaBrie.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on November 25, 2009, 04:29:47 PM
Orcus, you oughta try Going For the One if Close to the Edge doesn't do it for you.  It's easily the most diverse album Yes have (that's high quality).

As for general Yes discussion, I've avoided most of the newest stuff but Magnification is pretty good.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 25, 2009, 11:32:05 PM
To me, "Mind Drive," "Footprints" and "Bring Me to the Power" are all good songs.  The other four songs from the Keys session are all just okay.  As a whole, the whole Keystudio CD isn't essential, unless you are a diehard fan.

PC, I do not agree with that.  Honestly, if someone doesn't dig Close to the Edge, they probably aren't gonna dig classic Yes in general. 


Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 26, 2009, 04:37:48 AM
PC, I do not agree with that.  Honestly, if someone doesn't dig Close to the Edge, they probably aren't gonna dig classic Yes in general.

Or better put: If someone dislikes a flawless masterpiece, they sure as hell won't like albums that aren't. :P
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 26, 2009, 10:39:10 AM
PC, I do not agree with that.  Honestly, if someone doesn't dig Close to the Edge, they probably aren't gonna dig classic Yes in general.

Or better put: If someone dislikes a flawless masterpiece, they sure as hell won't like albums that aren't. :P

Bingo.  :tup :tup
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on November 27, 2009, 03:00:17 PM
Yeah I couldn't get into the song Close To The Edge, at least not in the sense other people have. It just seems like one really drawn out average idea. Never really got into Roundabout either but I haven't listened to that in awhile. The Yes Album, on the other hand, is fantastic from start to finish. Starship Trooper is easily my favorite out of what I've heard.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on November 27, 2009, 04:18:47 PM
The only Yes song I've listened to is Roundabout, but it contains the best bass line I have ever heard.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 27, 2009, 04:51:08 PM
Yeah I couldn't get into the song Close To The Edge, at least not in the sense other people have. It just seems like one really drawn out average idea. Never really got into Roundabout either but I haven't listened to that in awhile. The Yes Album, on the other hand, is fantastic from start to finish. Starship Trooper is easily my favorite out of what I've heard.

You only think this because you weren't around when the album came out in 72, so that's not entirely fair.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on November 27, 2009, 09:05:51 PM
And it's fair to use that excuse because I wasn't even born in 1972? Are you fucking serious? So I can't have a true opinion on any music of that time period because I wasn't there to hear it when it came out? Give me a break.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 27, 2009, 09:27:50 PM
And it's fair to use that excuse because I wasn't even born in 1972? Are you fucking serious? So I can't have a true opinion on any music of that time period because I wasn't there to hear it when it came out? Give me a break.

 :chill

I just meant that the concept was considered more interesting to people who heard it when it came out because such an idea had never really been done at the time. You've been exposed to a lot of progressive rock since then presumably, so CTTE doesn't seem as interesting as it did when it first came out.

(edit)
In other news: Let's not take the internet so seriously.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on November 27, 2009, 09:40:23 PM
There was no need to pull out the Internet Cool Guy baiting tactics.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: robwebster on November 27, 2009, 09:42:11 PM
Yeah I couldn't get into the song Close To The Edge, at least not in the sense other people have. It just seems like one really drawn out average idea. Never really got into Roundabout either but I haven't listened to that in awhile. The Yes Album, on the other hand, is fantastic from start to finish. Starship Trooper is easily my favorite out of what I've heard.

You only think this because you weren't around when the album came out in 72, so that's not entirely fair.
Whereas you, of course, being at least 37 which you definitely are, are far more enlightened and fully understand it in all its beauty?

Damn.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on November 27, 2009, 10:47:48 PM
Yeah I couldn't get into the song Close To The Edge, at least not in the sense other people have. It just seems like one really drawn out average idea. Never really got into Roundabout either but I haven't listened to that in awhile. The Yes Album, on the other hand, is fantastic from start to finish. Starship Trooper is easily my favorite out of what I've heard.

You only think this because you weren't around when the album came out in 72, so that's not entirely fair.

Aren't you like 18/19?  If he doesn't like it he doesn't like it.  I'm baffled as well, but hey, he loves the Yes Album, so I think he's an okay guy.

EDIT, decided to try a top 10.  Here goes:

1. And You And I
2. Starship Trooper
3. Close to the Edge
Tempus Fugit
Wondrous Stories
Heart of the Sunrise
South Side of the Sky
Yours Is No Disgrace
Siberian Khatru
I've Seen All Good People

I really need to pick up Tales, Keystudio and Time and a Word.  As for the Rabin-era stuff, I tried listening to "Rhythm of Love" the other day and didn't really get it.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on November 28, 2009, 12:22:17 AM
Just posting to say I'm listening to Close to the Edge now and it is fantastical.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on November 28, 2009, 01:27:51 AM
Just posting to say I'm listening to Close to the Edge now and it is fantastical.

:tup
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadoshi on November 28, 2009, 04:15:13 AM
There was no need to pull out the Internet Cool Guy baiting tactics.

Fair enough.


Anyway, all of you missed my point, so I obviously worded my post wrong. I'll better clarify: All I meant was that he didn't find the concept of the album interesting due to the fact that the idea is old and overused now (by prog rock standards, anyway). No need to jump down my throat about it.  :lol I wasn't trying to sound like a jerk or anything, I was just in a rush when I was posting.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 28, 2009, 08:18:24 AM
I've just purchased that 35th anniversary concert DVD, and it's pretty cool. The set list could've been better, but oh well...
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 29, 2009, 03:55:48 PM
Just posting to say I'm listening to Close to the Edge now and it is fantastical.

:tup
I always listen to it when I go camping in the Sierras.  Lying on my back, staring at the starfilled sky, with that song playing, is on of the most beautiful experiences of life.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dittomist on December 03, 2009, 02:23:39 AM
2009 hasn't been a good year at all, but at least it was the year where I finally started a long Yes obsession. Tales of Topographic Oceans, Relayer, and Going for the One are three of the greatest albums I've ever heard--they give me chills every time. I honestly love every track on all of those albums. The most disappointing one in my opinion is Tormato, just because the opening track is so strong and bizarre that the rest seems awfully boring in comparison. Union also doesn't do much for me at all.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 03, 2009, 02:24:44 AM
This was the year I started my Yes obsession as well... Good for me.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 03, 2009, 07:04:37 AM
Tormato is a tough one.  I agree with most other Yesfans that's among their weakest, but there are some high points.  I think the closer "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" is quite strong, one of my favorites.  "Onward" is a beautiful song.  And there are parts of many songs that are pretty cool, even if the song overall isn't great.

The thing that's most often pointed out is that the keyboards sound dated.  I guess I'm lucky in that I picked this one up when it came out, so they don't sound dated to me; that's just how they sound.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 03, 2009, 06:33:47 PM
Tormato is a tough one.  I agree with most other Yesfans that's among their weakest, but there are some high points.  I think the closer "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" is quite strong, one of my favorites.  "Onward" is a beautiful song.  And there are parts of many songs that are pretty cool, even if the song overall isn't great.

The thing that's most often pointed out is that the keyboards sound dated.  I guess I'm lucky in that I picked this one up when it came out, so they don't sound dated to me; that's just how they sound.

You know, I probably haven't listened to Tormato in over a year. I should probably try and fit it in sometime soon....If only to hear On The Silent Wings Of Freedom and Onward. It's just never a preference for me to throw on Going For The One or Tormato. 

For me, that's like the forgotten Yes years because after those two came Drama and 90125, which are a pair of awesome albums in my opinion and then everyone knows about the classic track record before that.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: jasc15 on December 04, 2009, 11:15:38 AM
So I bought Fragile and Close to the Edge a few weeks ago.  I haven't listened to CttE at all yet, but gave Fragile quite a few front to back listens.  I will listen to CttE tonight on my drive to Pennsylvania, since I'll have 3 hours in the car.

Roundabout-  This song really gets stuck in my head a lot.  I'm not well versed in prog, so this is a bit much to swallow at once.  I love the main bass riff, too.

Cans and Brahms- OK.  Sounds like "Hey, look what I've been messing around with.  Let's put it on the album."

We Have Heaven- ??? I guess this is a concept album of some sort, and this fits some part of the story.  Otherwise, I don't get it.

I dont really have a good enough handle on the rest of the songs to make any meaningful comments, except for Long Distance Run Around; I swear, it must have been the inspiration to the Super Mario Bros theme.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on December 04, 2009, 11:35:24 AM
Be forewarned, CTTE is tougher to digest than Fragile is.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 04, 2009, 12:13:29 PM
jasc15, Fragile is four full band compositions and the other five tracks are all in essence solo tracks by the five members.  "We Have Heaven" is Jon Anderson's solo, and "Cans and Brahms" is Wakeman's.  The best of the five are quite obviously "The Fish" (Squire's) and "Mood for a Day" (Howe's).
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on December 04, 2009, 12:18:49 PM
I've been getting the feeling that:

Wakeman:Yes::Rudess:Dream Theater
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 04, 2009, 08:36:58 PM
Something like that.  Just as Wakeman has played keys on the majority of Yes albums, Rudess has now played on the majority of Dream Theater albums. There have been others, all with merit, but Wakeman and Rudess are the most widely known by a longshot.

Also, the reason why "Cans and Brahms" is rather -- well "weak" is the word -- is because Wakeman had another piece ready to put on Fragile but he was signed to A&M Records, and Yes was on Atlantic at the time, and A&M wouldn't let him use anything he'd written "for them" (A&M); it had to be a new composition or arrangement.  The original piece ended up being on Six Wives.  

So Wakeman threw "Cans and Brahms" together at the last minute because the band already had this idea of having each player get a spotlight piece on the album.  For what it is, it's not bad.  Listen to "Anne of Cleves" from The Six Wives of Henry VIII for some serious Wakeman action.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 05, 2009, 11:43:21 AM
I've been getting the feeling that:

Wakeman:Yes::Rudess:Dream Theater

Except that Rudess doesn't quit and rejoin Dream Theater every 20 minutes.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 05, 2009, 11:47:35 AM
Also I'm in the mood to rank Yes albums, so here goes:

1. Fragile
2. The Yes Album
3. Close to the Edge
4. Relayer
5. Tales from Topographic Oceans
6. Going for the One
7. Union (I know, I know, but this was my first Yes album and I've essentially been listening to it for more than 10 years, and I'm only 19. This was due to the fact that my father had all of Yes on vinyl and this was the only Yes release he had on CD.)
8. Time and A Word
9. Yes
10. Tormato
11. Talk
12. Magnification
13. Drama
14. Open Your Eyes
15. The Ladder
16. Big Generator
17. 90125
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 05, 2009, 11:03:26 PM
You want some great Wakeman solo action, watch this.  This never fails to amaze me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkpGF4eWufg

And that is a bizarre list, to say the least, Quadrochosis.  Seeing Union that high is just goofy.  And 90125 last?  For shame!
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 07, 2009, 11:47:51 AM
You want some great Wakeman solo action, watch this.  This never fails to amaze me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkpGF4eWufg

And that is a bizarre list, to say the least, Quadrochosis.  Seeing Union that high is just goofy.  And 90125 last?  For shame!

Well like I said, I grew up on Union.

The reason 90125 and BG are last is because I'm not big into the 80s synth music.

And Drama is low because Jon Anderson isn't on it.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on December 08, 2009, 12:42:39 PM
As a Yes fan of thirty plus years, hear is my top ten...
1-And You And I(the most beautiful song, ever)
2-Close to the Edge
3-Awaken
4-Rituals
5-Gates of Delerium
6-Yours is no Disgrace
7-America(I know it's a cover, but the guitar work is mindblowing)
8-Starship Trooper
9-The Revealing Science of God
10-Roundabout
And an honorable mention to Your Move/All Good People

Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 08, 2009, 02:01:32 PM
As a Yes fan of thirty plus years, hear is my top ten...
1-And You And I(the most beautiful song, ever)
2-Close to the Edge
3-Awaken
4-Rituals
5-Gates of Delerium
6-Yours is no Disgrace
7-America(I know it's a cover, but the guitar work is mindblowing)
8-Starship Trooper
9-The Revealing Science of God
10-Roundabout
And an honorable mention to Your Move/All Good People

Pretty solid list. You should do a Yes top __ list, seeing as you seem to be the resident Yes fan.

If you don't want to do it I would be honored to, seeing as I recently finished my Opeth one and I am looking for something to do lol.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on December 08, 2009, 02:42:42 PM
They just announced a new slew of dates, including Dallas.  The reviews from their last aborted tour were pretty bad.  Hopefully, they've regrouped during the time off.  Regardless, anybody who'd pass up an opportunity to see Howe and Squire should have their eyes and ears gouged. 
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 08, 2009, 03:57:41 PM

I'll give this a shot. I can probably group them into tiers:

Top Tier (no order):

The Yes Album
Relayer
Drama
Close To The Edge

Middle Tier (no order):

Tales From Topographic Oceans
Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe
Fragile
Time And A Word
Yes
90125
Big Generator
Talk
Union
Keys To Ascension I
Keys To Ascension II

Lower Tier (no order):

Going For The One
Tormato
The Ladder
Magnification

Least Favorite Yes album:

Open Your Eyes


Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 08, 2009, 04:01:00 PM
  Regardless, anybody who'd pass up an opportunity to see Howe and Squire should have their eyes and ears gouged. 

Considering how ugly Steve Howe is, I am pretty sure passing up the opportunity to see him would actually be doing your eyes a favor.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 08, 2009, 07:22:44 PM
They just announced a new slew of dates, including Dallas.  The reviews from their last aborted tour were pretty bad.  Hopefully, they've regrouped during the time off.  Regardless, anybody who'd pass up an opportunity to see Howe and Squire should have their eyes and ears gouged. 

I don't know, it's really temping to see them, but Yes just isn't Yes without Jon.

Maybe I'd feel less bitter about this if they weren't marketing this as a Yes tour, but rather a Yes tribute tour. I don't know..
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 08, 2009, 10:33:19 PM
Three of the five members are longtime Yes players, including Chris Squire, the only person to play on every Yes album.  Not even Jon Anderson holds that honor, and the one album he's not on, Drama, is great.

Yes has a long history of rotating players.  Three guitarists, five or six keyboard players depending on how you count them, two drummers, and two or three singers depending on how you count.  But Squire-Howe-White have been the driving force for a long time now, moreso than Anderson by a lot.  Oliver Wakeman is no slouch on the keyboards, either; he clearly inherited his daddy's talent.  It almost doesn't matter who sings because the music will be great, but Benoit David sounds a lot like Jon, some say almost exactly like him (though I wouldn't go that far), and it's obvious why he was chosen.

Most people who have seen Yes on this tour have said it was a great show.  But then, most people who've gone to see them are the ones willing to see them without Jon Anderson.  I understand the "Yes just isn't Yes without Jon" attitude, but I don't share it.  Yes is far more than any one person.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 09, 2009, 05:05:29 AM
Three of the five members are longtime Yes players, including Chris Squire, the only person to play on every Yes album.  Not even Jon Anderson holds that honor, and the one album he's not on, Drama, is great.

Yes has a long history of rotating players.  Three guitarists, five or six keyboard players depending on how you count them, two drummers, and two or three singers depending on how you count.  But Squire-Howe-White have been the driving force for a long time now, moreso than Anderson by a lot.  Oliver Wakeman is no slouch on the keyboards, either; he clearly inherited his daddy's talent.  It almost doesn't matter who sings because the music will be great, but Benoit David sounds a lot like Jon, some say almost exactly like him (though I wouldn't go that far), and it's obvious why he was chosen.

Most people who have seen Yes on this tour have said it was a great show.  But then, most people who've gone to see them are the ones willing to see them without Jon Anderson.  I understand the "Yes just isn't Yes without Jon" attitude, but I don't share it.  Yes is far more than any one person.

I know how volatile Yes is with it's members but not seeing Jon Anderson is like missing half the show to me. His voice and the way he pantomimes things and just the energy he bring to his performances are unmatchable to me.

I mean, I'm still probably going to end up going to see them as long as the tickets are affordable and the venue is close by, but I'm still going to be upset about Jon not being with them.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 09, 2009, 08:15:37 AM
No question that Jon adds a lot, but to me he's just another one of the "players".  In prog, with such a high percentage of the overall run time being instrumental, I'm much more into the keyboards and guitars (and bass and drums) than the vocals.  Also perhaps because I'm a player and not much of a singer.

Jon was an amazing vocalist, but he just doesn't have it anymore.  The rest of the band has chosen to move on, though I guess I can see why the fans are having a harder time with it.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on December 09, 2009, 08:18:34 AM
Three of the five members are longtime Yes players, including Chris Squire, the only person to play on every Yes album.  Not even Jon Anderson holds that honor, and the one album he's not on, Drama, is great.

Yes has a long history of rotating players.  Three guitarists, five or six keyboard players depending on how you count them, two drummers, and two or three singers depending on how you count.  But Squire-Howe-White have been the driving force for a long time now, moreso than Anderson by a lot.  Oliver Wakeman is no slouch on the keyboards, either; he clearly inherited his daddy's talent.  It almost doesn't matter who sings because the music will be great, but Benoit David sounds a lot like Jon, some say almost exactly like him (though I wouldn't go that far), and it's obvious why he was chosen.

Most people who have seen Yes on this tour have said it was a great show.  But then, most people who've gone to see them are the ones willing to see them without Jon Anderson.  I understand the "Yes just isn't Yes without Jon" attitude, but I don't share it.  Yes is far more than any one person.

I know how volatile Yes is with it's members but not seeing Jon Anderson is like missing half the show to me. His voice and the way he pantomimes things and just the energy he bring to his performances are unmatchable to me.

I mean, I'm still probably going to end up going to see them as long as the tickets are affordable and the venue is close by, but I'm still going to be upset about Jon not being with them.
In some ways, seeing them without Jon is a bonus since they're now playing songs they never would have with him.  Just seeing Machine Messiah and Temus Fugit make it all worthwhile. 

   Regardless, anybody who'd pass up an opportunity to see Howe and Squire should have their eyes and ears gouged. 

Considering how ugly Steve Howe is, I am pretty sure passing up the opportunity to see him would actually be doing your eyes a favor.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
Valid point.  Truly one of the ugliest men in the industry. 

Edit.  I don't know if it's fair to say that Jon doesn't have it anymore.  He sounded great the last time I saw them.  This is strictly a medical situation.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 09, 2009, 12:07:38 PM
The dude's in his 60's.  I'd love to believe he'll go on for another 20 years, but it's just a fact that the body takes longer to recover from illness the older you get, doesn't always recover fully anyway, and he got taken down hard.  Also, he put Yes on hold so he could go do his solo tour and mini-tour-thing with School of Rock, meanwhile the rest of Yes was ready to tour again and hopefully even work on new material.  Then he got sick.  He now claims he's still too sick to tour, but not too sick to do more of his solo shows, because those aren't as stressful.  The others got tired of waiting for him, found another singer, and went on tour anyway.

All of this has caused possibly irreparable damage to relations within the band.  The others consider Yes a band, with each member having a say in the decisions made.  Anderson clearly sees himself as the leader; in his mind, Yes is his band, and he requested that the guys not tour without him.  He said it wouldn't be fair to the fans who would be expecting Yes, when it wouldn't really be Yes because he wasn't there.  Then he went and did some more solo shows.

It's been years now.  Their last album was eight years ago.  If Jon truly wants to get well, well enough to tour again with Yes, he'll wait and rest and hopefully recover.  I understand that he's a performer and can't resist the call of the footlights, but with his advancing age and failing health, he cannot have it both ways, and honestly he's just being a selfish ass about it.  They're touring; he's literally playing with himself.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 09, 2009, 01:25:43 PM
Having never seen them Live myself, for me it's more about seeing the classic lineup (or as close to it as possible)

But like I said, if the tour comes near LI or NYC and the tickets are reasonable, I'll be there. Like El Barto said, it'd be a shame to miss out on Howe and Squire
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on December 09, 2009, 01:54:29 PM
The 2010 tour has 2 dates in NYC:

FEBRUARY
Date Day City Venue
4 THU Concord, NH Capitol Center for the Arts
5 FRI Jim Thorpe, PA Penn's Peak
6 SAT Washington, DC Warner Theatre
9 TUE Boston, MA House of Blues
10 WED Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
12 FRI Atlantic City, NJ Tropicana Casino & Resort
13 SAT New York, NY The Town Hall
14 SUN New York, NY The Town Hall
17 WED Cleveland, OH House of Blues
18 THU Chicago, IL House of Blues
20 SAT Detroit, MI Sound Board at Motor City Casino
23 TUE Dallas, TX House of Blues
24 WED Houston, TX House of Blues
25 THU New Orleans, LA House of Blues
27 SAT Orlando, FL Sea World Orlando
28 SUN Boca Raton, FL Sunset Cove Amphitheater


Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 09, 2009, 01:57:27 PM
What are the prices, and did they go on sale yet?
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on December 09, 2009, 02:15:24 PM
From The Town Hall website:

Date (Sat-Sun) Feb 13 & 14 at 8 pm 
Event AN EVENING WITH " YES" 
Description Yes are an English progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. Their music uses complex arrangements, unusual time signatures, virtuoso musicianship, dramatic dynamic and metrical changes, a blend of musical styles, vocal harmonies, and a unique lyrical style. Despite the many changes to its lineup, the band has continued for nearly 40 years and retains a strong international following. 
Ticket Price  $85, $65 & $40 
How to Get Tickets  On sale on Ticketmaster on December 11, 2009
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 09, 2009, 02:23:53 PM
Thank you very much, Ludwig.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 04, 2010, 04:47:34 AM
It's time for me to check out Drama. Wish me luck, I expect a damn good album, since I found Machine messiah absolutely awesome.  :biggrin:

Also, I must say that Quadrochosis' thread made me appreciate Relayer much more. Giving Sound chaser a spin a few days ago actually shocked me, because the chaotic feeling that used to annoy me earlier suddenly clicked and appealed to me. Now it's probably my 3rd favorite Yes album.  :)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: jasc15 on February 08, 2010, 09:09:44 AM
I've become more familiar with Fragile and Close to the Edge and I like the songs more and more each time i listen to them.  My favorites from each are Heart of the Sunrise and And You and I.  After reading, it seems like The Yes Album should be my next stop, since it appears to be the first in the direction of Fragile and CTTE.

Further, Yes is one of the few rock bands that I know of that really uses dynamics as much as much as skill, emotion, and composition.  They really excel in all these areas without going too far in either.  This is, of course, based on my limited exposure so far.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 08, 2010, 10:45:27 AM
Going to see Yes tonight in Northampton!  :metal :metal
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 08, 2010, 11:44:59 AM
I've become more familiar with Fragile and Close to the Edge and I like the songs more and more each time i listen to them.  My favorites from each are Heart of the Sunrise and And You and I.  After reading, it seems like The Yes Album should be my next stop, since it appears to be the first in the direction of Fragile and CTTE.

That would be one way to do it.  There is a progression to Yes' sound, but it's not linear; it swings back and forth a bit (and this is totally discounting the 80's band).  Going back to The Yes Album makes sense to do now before proceeding forward with Tales from Topographic Oceans because they started to get really, really out there for a while.  Or you could just plow forward anyway and catch The Yes Album later.

Further, Yes is one of the few rock bands that I know of that really uses dynamics as much as much as skill, emotion, and composition.  They really excel in all these areas without going too far in either.  This is, of course, based on my limited exposure so far.

They continue to use dynamics throughout their catalog.  They're not afraid to juxtapose louder and quieter sections, or even complete silence, for effect.  A lot of prog bands seem to think that everyone must be playing crazy complex stuff all the time.  Yes know when it's okay to dial it down a bit.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 08, 2010, 04:14:17 PM
Has anyone who's seen them this leg have a setlist? I keep checking Fogotten Yesterdays but the site has been down. My show is Feb 13 and I'm trying to get a feel for what they are doing this time around.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 08, 2010, 05:53:36 PM
Going to see Yes tonight in Northampton!  :metal :metal
Piss Off!!!!!!








(enjoy the show  :metal)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 09, 2010, 07:35:45 PM
Going to see Yes tonight in Northampton!  :metal :metal

How was it?  I'm probably passing on them again this year.

Still saving my pennies for Rush.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 11, 2010, 02:42:42 PM
Going to see Yes tonight in Northampton!  :metal :metal

How was it? 

Yea man, don't leave us hanging!
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 11, 2010, 03:32:09 PM
Going to see Yes tonight in Northampton!  :metal :metal

How was it? 

Yea man, don't leave us hanging!

It was pretty good. You can tell age is really taking its toll on the members, because on a few occasions they seemed to be "off". Chris and Steve's vocals often drowned out Benoit's, who in general seemed to be quite low in the mix. However, overall Benoit was really great. The highlights of the night were And You And I, South Side of the Sky (was amazing when the middle section came with the harmonies), and Heart of the Sunrise. Was nice to see a few of the Drama tracks.

If you have money for a ticket and have never seen Yes, I would recommend going, because honestly, I don't see them lasting too much longer. Overall, pretty good show, but you can tell that they aren't very tight when it comes to some of the more technical rhythms. I'm glad I went. :)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 11, 2010, 04:34:43 PM
Would you be able to provide a setlist (or as close to one as you can remember)?

Thanks!

Sounds like a good time, I'll be at the Feb 13th show.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 11, 2010, 09:08:57 PM
Would you be able to provide a setlist (or as close to one as you can remember)?

Thanks!

Sounds like a good time, I'll be at the Feb 13th show.

1. Firebird Suite
2. Siberian Khatru
3. I've Seen All Good People
4. Tempus Fugit
5. Onward
6. Astral Traveler/White Drum Solo
7. Yours Is No Disgrace
8. And You and I
9. Steve Howe Acoustic
10. Owner of a Lonely Heart
11. South Side of the Sky
12. Machine Messiah
13. Heart of the Sunrise
14. Roundabout

Encore:
15. Starship Trooper

Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 11, 2010, 09:52:27 PM
That's a very solid set.  Many of my favorites.  Glad you enjoyed the show.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 12, 2010, 12:26:06 AM
Yea man, awesome list. Hope I get something cool like that. Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 12, 2010, 01:15:22 AM
I hope they announce some dates on the west coast. I would love to see Yes finally.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 12, 2010, 10:53:43 AM
I hope they announce some dates on the west coast. I would love to see Yes finally.

Well I heard that after this leg, Howe is doing some touring with his trio and then there may possibly be a new Yes record, so if that happens I'm sure there will be shows on the West Coast for you. =)
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 13, 2010, 11:07:38 PM
Just got back from the NYC show. They played the same set that ZBomber posted. It was an amazing show, and I'm glad I got to see so many classics, seeing as it was my first Yes concert.

Although I was secretly hoping for anything from Tales or Relayer.. =/

My only complaint was that the keyboards were mixed way too low so it was hard to heard Oliver at some points, but overall I had a great time. Just seeing Steve Howe alone is worth the door price.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 14, 2010, 07:03:51 AM
Glad you finally got to see Yes.  No Tales or Relayer is a bit of a bummer, but any Yes is worth checking out.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 14, 2010, 08:39:42 AM

1. Firebird Suite
2. Siberian Khatru
3. I've Seen All Good People
4. Tempus Fugit
5. Onward
6. Astral Traveler/White Drum Solo
7. Yours Is No Disgrace
8. And You and I
9. Steve Howe Acoustic
10. Owner of a Lonely Heart
11. South Side of the Sky
12. Machine Messiah
13. Heart of the Sunrise
14. Roundabout

Encore:
15. Starship Trooper

Oh my god.  Near-perfect setlist.  All its missing is CTTE and Soon.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: austin on February 14, 2010, 08:51:15 AM

1. Firebird Suite
2. Siberian Khatru
3. I've Seen All Good People
4. Tempus Fugit
5. Onward
6. Astral Traveler/White Drum Solo
7. Yours Is No Disgrace
8. And You and I
9. Steve Howe Acoustic
10. Owner of a Lonely Heart
11. South Side of the Sky
12. Machine Messiah
13. Heart of the Sunrise
14. Roundabout

Encore:
15. Starship Trooper

Oh my god.  Near-perfect setlist.  All its missing is CTTE and Soon.
my thoughts exactly
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 14, 2010, 04:27:58 PM
Can't complain about that set. Must have gone by very quickly...
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 14, 2010, 07:35:06 PM
Can't complain about that set. Must have gone by very quickly...

Yea, the 2.5 hours went by in about 10 minutes.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 15, 2010, 11:32:48 AM
Close to the edge is missing, and I could use a track from TFTO, but oh well, the set is still great.  :tup
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2010, 11:40:46 AM
While "Close to the Edge" is one of my favorite Yessongs, the current lineup has obviously chosen not to do it, and I have to agree with them.  Have you seen/heard recent renditions of "Close to the Edge" (like, in the past 10 or 15 years)?  They slow it way down, painfully so, so that they can play it.  True, people really want to see/hear this song when they go see Yes, but the band itself also wants to feel like they're doing the song justice, and honestly, I don't know if they could.
Title: Re: The (New?) Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 15, 2010, 02:43:44 PM
While "Close to the Edge" is one of my favorite Yessongs, the current lineup has obviously chosen not to do it, and I have to agree with them.  Have you seen/heard recent renditions of "Close to the Edge" (like, in the past 10 or 15 years)?  They slow it way down, painfully so, so that they can play it.  True, people really want to see/hear this song when they go see Yes, but the band itself also wants to feel like they're doing the song justice, and honestly, I don't know if they could.

They were doing it every show earlier on the Benoit David tour though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2010, 04:06:58 PM
Seriously?  How did it sound?  According to reports, that is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 15, 2010, 11:16:01 PM
Eh, aside from the two Drama tunes, that pretty much looks like just about every set list Yes has done for the last 15 years...nothing but generally the same stuff from the 70s plus one token Rabin song which is always "Owner of a Lonely Heart."  Ho-hum.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 16, 2010, 11:37:29 AM
Eh, aside from the two Drama tunes, that pretty much looks like just about every set list Yes has done for the last 15 years...nothing but generally the same stuff from the 70s plus one token Rabin song which is always "Owner of a Lonely Heart."  Ho-hum.


Still an awesome set for those of us who have never seen the band live, although I can still understand your disenchantment with the setlist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 16, 2010, 12:02:07 PM
Eh, aside from the two Drama tunes, that pretty much looks like just about every set list Yes has done for the last 15 years...nothing but generally the same stuff from the 70s plus one token Rabin song which is always "Owner of a Lonely Heart."  Ho-hum.


Still an awesome set for those of us who have never seen the band live, although I can still understand your disenchantment with the setlist.

This. I still have yet to see Yes and a set list like that would be great for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 16, 2010, 12:39:01 PM
Eh, aside from the two Drama tunes, that pretty much looks like just about every set list Yes has done for the last 15 years...nothing but generally the same stuff from the 70s plus one token Rabin song which is always "Owner of a Lonely Heart."  Ho-hum.

Agreed, except for the ho-hum part(for me, every Yes show is a treat, no matter the setlist), and not counting the Masterworks tour.  The show I saw on that one had CTTE, Heart of the Sunrise, Rituals, Gates of Delerium, Starship Trooper, and Revealing Science of God.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 16, 2010, 01:57:01 PM
Eh, aside from the two Drama tunes, that pretty much looks like just about every set list Yes has done for the last 15 years...nothing but generally the same stuff from the 70s plus one token Rabin song which is always "Owner of a Lonely Heart."  Ho-hum.

Agreed, except for the ho-hum part(for me, every Yes show is a treat, no matter the setlist), and not counting the Masterworks tour.  The show I saw on that one had CTTE, Heart of the Sunrise, Rituals, Gates of Delerium, Starship Trooper, and Revealing Science of God.

I'm jealous.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 16, 2010, 02:02:00 PM
That's one reason why I honestly don't understand seeing a band on literally every single tour, especially a band like Yes, who haven't had a new album in years and basically do nostalgia tours now.  At some point, it's just not special anymore.  If you've seen Yes so many times that that setlist is "ho-hum", you've actually managed to see Yes too many times, which is itself quite an accomplishment.  (And of course there are still people who claim that every time is amazing and awesome.)

The list is impressive, and anyone who hasn't seen Yes before would get a lot out of it.  Yeah, they'd still miss out on "Close to the Edge", but the guys are in their 60's now.  Take what you can get while they're still around.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 16, 2010, 02:12:36 PM
Going to see Yes, for me, is a spiritual experience, and is uplifting and fulfilling every time.


And to quadrochosis, that show pretty much was the best ever.  Another close one though was the Reunion tour, when they played in the round and almost all present and former members played, including Anderson, Howe, Rabin, Squire, Bruford, White, Kaye, and Wakeman(I think).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on February 16, 2010, 02:18:12 PM
I saw Yes when I was quite young. Maybe 14 or so.

Everyone recommend me an album for me to give them another shot with, plz.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 16, 2010, 02:31:23 PM
I saw Yes when I was quite young. Maybe 14 or so.

Everyone recommend me an album for me to give them another shot with, plz.

Fragile or Close to the Edge are probably your two best bets. The Yes Album is also up there, and those three albums are pretty much the holy trinity of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 16, 2010, 02:31:51 PM
The Yes Album is the perrenial training album, from there work with either Close to the Edge or Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 16, 2010, 03:25:22 PM
I saw Yes when I was quite young. Maybe 14 or so.

Everyone recommend me an album for me to give them another shot with, plz.

Fragile or Close to the Edge are probably your two best bets. The Yes Album is also up there, and those three albums are pretty much the holy trinity of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 16, 2010, 03:35:24 PM
Another close one though was the Reunion tour, when they played in the round and almost all present and former members played, including Anderson, Howe, Rabin, Squire, Bruford, White, Kaye, and Wakeman(I think).

That's the one and only time I've seen them, when all eight of them were up there in the round.  Only Peter Banks and Patrick Moraz were absent.  Wakeman was there, and the tour was "Union" (the union of YesWest and ABWH, the two Yes "factions" at the time).  I figure that they'll never top that, between the fact that they're all getting older and some of them will never be back anyway, so at this point, I'll check out the occassional concert vid and hang onto my memories.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 17, 2010, 09:04:34 PM
Would anyone be interested in a Yes survivor in the Poll Board? (Assuming no one else already holds this job and I am unaware of it?)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 17, 2010, 10:00:12 PM
I saw Yes when I was quite young. Maybe 14 or so.

Everyone recommend me an album for me to give them another shot with, plz.

Fragile and The Yes Album are awesome.  From there, move on to Close to the Edge.  You will now be in possession of Yes' 3 best albums.  Buy everything else from their "classic" period (with the exception of Tornado), then buy 90215 and delve into Rabin-era if that's your taste.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 17, 2010, 10:04:29 PM
Another close one though was the Reunion tour, when they played in the round and almost all present and former members played, including Anderson, Howe, Rabin, Squire, Bruford, White, Kaye, and Wakeman(I think).

That's the one and only time I've seen them, when all eight of them were up there in the round.  Only Peter Banks and Patrick Moraz were absent.  Wakeman was there, and the tour was "Union" (the union of YesWest and ABWH, the two Yes "factions" at the time).  I figure that they'll never top that, between the fact that they're all getting older and some of them will never be back anyway, so at this point, I'll check out the occassional concert vid and hang onto my memories.

That is such a depressing post, but so so true :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 17, 2010, 10:49:22 PM
It is depressing, and I wasn't really gonna bring it up, but I had to correct lonestar on the name of the tour, and verify that Wakeman was indeed in the lineup.

It was actually a fucking amazing show.  Howe and Rabin were opposite each other, Kaye and Wakeman were also opposite each other, this formed the main "crosshairs".  Bruford and White were opposite each other, each between a guitarist and a keyboardist.  The remaining two spots were Anderson and Squire.  A perfectly balanced and perfectly logical arrangement.  The round stage rotated slowly sometimes, so everybody got to see their favorite players "in front" at least some of the time, but it didn't just move all the time, because that would be distracting.  It mostly stayed still.  No opening act, and counting a 15-minute intermission and encores, the show was nearly three hours long.  

What's extra cool is that, while different players took breaks during the show, the 80's stuff wasn't just played by the 90125 band, and the "classic" stuff wasn't just played by the classic lineup.  Rabin and Howe did the guitar duel at the end of "Starship Trooper", for example.  Wakeman took a screaming Moog solo at the end of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", a song he didn't even play on originally.  That kind of thing.  You might think that with two guitars, two keyboards, and two drummers, it would be cacaphony, but it wasn't.  It was orchestral; a huge sound, mondo prog.  "Awaken" was out of this world.

As I said, I don't think they'll ever top it, and I'm glad I got to see them at their peak, so I'm done seeing Yes in concert.  It would only be disappointing now.  But I'd still recommend seeing any version of Yes to someone who's never seen them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 17, 2010, 10:52:32 PM
It is depressing, and I wasn't really gonna bring it up, but I had to correct lonestar on the name of the tour, and verify that Wakeman was indeed in the lineup.

It was actually a fucking amazing show.  Howe and Rabin were opposite each other, Kaye and Wakeman were also opposite each other, this formed the main "crosshairs".  Bruford and White were opposite each other, each between a guitarist and a keyboardist.  The remaining two spots were Anderson and Squire.  A perfectly balanced and perfectly logical arrangement.  The round stage rotated slowly sometimes, so everybody got to see their favorite players "in front" at least some of the time, but it didn't just move all the time, because that would be distracting.  It mostly stayed still.  No opening act, and counting a 15-minute intermission and encores, the show was nearly three hours long.  

What's extra cool is that, while different players took breaks during the show, the 80's stuff wasn't just played by the 90125 band, and the "classic" stuff wasn't just played by the classic lineup.  Rabin and Howe did the guitar duel at the end of "Starship Trooper", for example.  Wakeman took a screaming Moog solo at the end of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", a song he didn't even play on originally.  That kind of thing.  You might think that with two guitars, two keyboards, and two drummers, it would be cacaphony, but it wasn't.  It was orchestral; a huge sound, mondo prog.  "Awaken" was out of this world.

As I said, I don't think they'll ever top it, and I'm glad I got to see them at their peak, so I'm done seeing Yes in concert.  It would only be disappointing now.  But I'd still recommend seeing any version of Yes to someone who's never seen them.

That sounds amazing! I'm gonna have to get some live bootlegs of this, it sounds incredible. Did you see them before or after the Union album, and did they play any material from it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 17, 2010, 10:53:33 PM
It is depressing, and I wasn't really gonna bring it up, but I had to correct lonestar on the name of the tour, and verify that Wakeman was indeed in the lineup.

It was actually a fucking amazing show.  Howe and Rabin were opposite each other, Kaye and Wakeman were also opposite each other, this formed the main "crosshairs".  Bruford and White were opposite each other, each between a guitarist and a keyboardist.  The remaining two spots were Anderson and Squire.  A perfectly balanced and perfectly logical arrangement.  The round stage rotated slowly sometimes, so everybody got to see their favorite players "in front" at least some of the time, but it didn't just move all the time, because that would be distracting.  It mostly stayed still.  No opening act, and counting a 15-minute intermission and encores, the show was nearly three hours long. 

What's extra cool is that, while different players took breaks during the show, the 80's stuff wasn't just played by the 90125 band, and the "classic" stuff wasn't just played by the classic lineup.  Rabin and Howe did the guitar duel at the end of "Starship Trooper", for example.  Wakeman took a screaming Moog solo at the end of "Owner of a Lonely Heart", a song he didn't even play on originally.  That kind of thing.  You might think that with two guitars, two keyboards, and two drummers, it would be cacaphony, but it wasn't.  It was orchestral; a huge sound, mondo prog.  "Awaken" was out of this world.

As I said, I don't think they'll ever top it, and I'm glad I got to see them at their peak, so I'm done seeing Yes in concert.  It would only be disappointing now.  But I'd still recommend seeing any version of Yes to someone who's never seen them.

That sounds amazing! I'm gonna have to get some live bootlegs of this, it sounds incredible. Did you see them before or after the Union album, and did they play any material from it?

I'd like to know this too. Union is one of my favorite Yes albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 18, 2010, 01:31:18 AM
Would anyone be interested in a Yes survivor in the Poll Board? (Assuming no one else already holds this job and I am unaware of it?)

I would!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 18, 2010, 01:45:22 AM
I would be interested, too.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sigz on February 18, 2010, 01:47:12 AM
Would anyone be interested in a Yes survivor in the Poll Board? (Assuming no one else already holds this job and I am unaware of it?)

I would!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 18, 2010, 04:58:47 AM
kk cool, I'll start it up as soon as I have time today. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 18, 2010, 05:13:45 AM
I should probably add a little note to start listening to their discography starting with Yes :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 18, 2010, 06:51:31 AM
Damn, I'll have to skip the first two albums...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 18, 2010, 07:54:51 AM
If the intention is to listen to the entire discography, I suggest including the first two albums at some point.  There's certainly nothing wrong with them.  The songs are not as prog, but even in the early days, Yes had a penchant for going a bit beyond standard arrangements, and they have some pretty inventive covers on those first two albums.  It's insightful to see where they started from.

As for the setlist from Union, I don't remember it all.  But they opened with the excerpt from "The Firebird" and jumped into "Yours is No Disgrace".  Abrupt, but it did start the show with a bang.  I know they did "Awaken" because it closed the first set.  All the standards were there, including "All Good People", "And You And I", and of course "Roundabout" for the encore.  They pretty much had to play "Owner of a Lonely Heart" -- their only #1 song.  Oh yeah, that night (7/20/1991) they were celebrating Trevor Rabin's newly minted U.S. Citizenship.  He's South African by birth, but had applied for, and was granted that day, U.S. Citizenship as well.

Wakeman and Howe had their solo spots, and Kaye even got a short one which led into "Changes".  Late in the show, where you might expect a drum solo, there was a drum duet, not unlike what Genesis did with Collins and Thompson.  White stuck mainly to traps, and Bruford provided mostly the crazy licks and fills he's known for.  (Interesting, I just realized that the one tour Chester Thompson didn't do with Genesis after Phil Collins started fronting the band, it was Bill Bruford who played drums.  Funny how that works.)

"Heart of the Sunrise" was a treat.  "Long Distance Runaround + The Fish" was in there, too, basically Squire's solo spot.  From the Union album, they did "Shock to the System" and "Lift Me Up".

My memory must be playing tricks on me, because I thought Rabin and Howe had dueled at the end of "Starship Trooper", but I'm not seeing that song on any setlists I can find online (yeah, I finally had to cheat).  It was during "Yours is No Disgrace".  On Yessongs, there's a part where Howe takes off for a while, before they come back with "death-defying, mutilated.." and that's where Rabin and Howe traded licks.

There are video boots and torrents out there of the Union tour.  I've seen some of it, and it's not bad.  The Denver show is the best, if you can find it.  Also, there was an official release in Japan -- I think it may have been Laserdisc -- which is out of print, but boots of it are out there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 18, 2010, 08:12:50 AM
Sounds like Wakeman and Rabin are going to work on an album together.  About time!! ;D ;D

https://uploads.mailboxdrive.com/Ask%20Rick%20-%20Wakey%20and%20Trev.mp3
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 18, 2010, 10:28:37 AM
Awesome post Orbert. And yes, I do intend on starting this from the beginning. The self titled will indeed be first.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 18, 2010, 10:52:56 AM
You will not regret it.  :tup  As I said upthread, Yes has changed a lot over the years, and one way to really appreciate it is to just listen to the whole discography in order of release.  It will be an interesting (and long) journey.

Wakeman and Rabin have talked about wanting to record together for a long time.  They were both psyched about playing together on the Union tour, but bummed that the album didn't actually have the two bands playing together on anything, and then the suits wouldn't let Wakeman appear on the next Yes album, which eventually became Talk.  Rabin did appear on Wakeman's Return to the Center of the Earth (I think that was the one, anyway), but this will be their first real project together.  If it works out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 21, 2010, 02:21:14 PM
I have officially begun the Yes Survivor!

Here's a link:

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=10663.0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 23, 2010, 11:40:43 AM
Something that I have noticed in Yes' music is the use of the word "River." It's present in many of their songs that were made throughout the 70s. Anyone have any ideas as to what this may mean. I know in some Eastern traditions rivers are seen as holy or mystical symbols for rebirth, life, etc. Perhaps they are using the word in this way?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 23, 2010, 11:54:43 AM
That is entirely possible.  Jon is into Eastern mysticism and open to any form of spirituality in general.  Water and images involving water show up a lot in Yes music.  The source of life and all that, plus its calming effect on the psyche is well-documented.

Close to the edge, down by the river
A river, a mountain to be crossed
I awoke this morning, love laid me down by the river
In and around the lake
I still remember the talks by the water
You crossed over the river (technically ABWH, but still)

That's just off the top of my head.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 23, 2010, 12:18:30 PM
I've always noted that Yes's lyrics created a mood that goes with the music, especially in their older stuff.  I mean a lot of their lyrics don't make a ton of sense, but when listened with the music, it just sounds right.




On a side note, I remembered an incident about 12 years back, and a young coworker of mine was perusing the back of my newly acquired Keys to Ascension CD.  Out of the blue, she pipes up,"A twenty minute song, god damn."  In response, I said,"Look at the song title, The Revealing Science of God, it takes a while to cover that."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 23, 2010, 02:52:54 PM
Great answer!

As for the mood/lyrics connection, I agree totally, and believe that that was the point.  The lyrics don't always make literal sense, but conjure a lot of images and have a certain sound to them that fits the music.  Jon's voice was his instrument, and what he did with lyrics was something like scatting in jazz, only I would say even better because there is lyrical content, whereas scat truly is jibberish.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 23, 2010, 05:52:58 PM
There's a lot of great stuff on the first two Yes albums that often gets overlooked. I also love Tony Kaye's work on the first three albums, even more than his work when he rejoined.

Early Floyd is like that in a way, but maybe early Floyd is not as overlooked due in large part to the legend of Syd.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on February 24, 2010, 09:18:49 AM
Damn it.  Yes played here last night and didn't bother letting anybody know about it.  First time I've missed them in ages. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 25, 2010, 05:31:42 PM
Listening to Tales now. God, this has to be one of the most underrated albums ever. It's so beautiful in almost every aspect, yet almost completely neglected by both the modern incantation of the band and the fans.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 25, 2010, 05:38:24 PM
So far Tales is just alright, I haven't really gotten into it yet. It is a pretty dense album though so that doesn't really surprise me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 25, 2010, 05:57:03 PM
So far Tales is just alright, I haven't really gotten into it yet. It is a pretty dense album though so that doesn't really surprise me.

Of the four songs, I'd say the hardest one to stomach is "The Ancients." I'd focus on "The Revealing Science of God" and "Ritual" because those are the more accessible of the group.

It's also important (in my opinion) to listen to the album in one go. While I understand that 80 minutes is a lot of time to put into four songs, I always feel more satisfied when I listen to Tales that way.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 25, 2010, 07:14:20 PM
To me, the most important part of listening to Tales is to have ZERO distractions.  If you start missing parts of it, the whole song tends to fall apart.  Once you give yourself up fully to the album, you will truly benefit from its beauty.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 25, 2010, 09:57:21 PM
To me, the most important part of listening to Tales is to have ZERO distractions.  If you start missing parts of it, the whole song tends to fall apart.  Once you give yourself up fully to the album, you will truly benefit from its beauty.

Agreed! Like most concept albums, this is definitely one of them that deserves your full, undivided attention for the entirety of it's run. Sure, you look at it track times with a jaw-dropped face at first, but after several spins with all your attention to it, you get to understand and appreciate the album as a whole.

It took me awhile to get into Close To The Edge (the album - although "And You And I" struck me right away, the other two took longer), so diving into an album twice as long, with songs all in the 18-22 minute range was quite a feat for me at first, but now I enjoy the album.

I also agree that "The Revealing Science Of God" and "Ritual" are the two better tracks, and much more accessible. I enjoy the recent live recordings with "Ritual" (Songs From Tsongas and Symphonic Live) as they really put a LOT of energy into the song, between the extended bass-solo to the thunderous drum solo section (great performance on Tsongas at this part).

If that version of Yes ever gets back together, it would be amazing to hear ANY of the Tales material live, but understandably so if they don't. It's daunting to play a 20 minute song every night... let alone two or three as they usually do! (And there are tougher contenders up against the Tales songs - Awaken, Close To The Edge, Gates Of Delirium).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 25, 2010, 10:50:25 PM
Not to go off topic, but does anyone like any of the other Yes member's solo albums? I'm listening to Olias of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson right now. It's absolutely beautiful.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 26, 2010, 06:39:42 AM
I like Olias of Sunhillow a lot.  Jon writes much simpler songs in general, but has a great ear for melodies and putting together chord progressions that are deceptively simple, yet elegant.

Fish Out Of Water by Chris Squire is very good, probably my favorite "regular" Yes solo album, and regarded by many as a lost Yes album.  It's quite prog, and even sounds a lot like Yes thanks to drums by Bill Bruford and keyboards by Patrick Moraz, and of course because Squire's voice is similar to Anderson's.

Then you have all the solo stuff by Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe.  

Wakeman has an insane amount of solo material out there, most of which people have never heard of, and a lot of which Wakeman himself admits is pretty bad (and I agree).  The Six Wives of Henry VIII was the first and is still my fave, followed closely by Criminal Record.  Both of these are all instrumentals.  If you don't mind your prog with extra cheese, Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are both quite good.  There are extended instrumentals providing interpretation of the story, given in spoken word and singing, which isn't bad, but I end up wishing they'd just shut up so we can get to the next instrumental.  Selections From Journey to the Center of the Earth, which he actually recorded much later, solves that problem and just gives you the instrumentals, plus a couple of revised tracks from King Arthur and Six Wives to help fill out the run time.

Wakeman seems to have shot his load in the 70's, though.  He's released literally dozens of albums since then (seriously (https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=RICK|WAKEMAN&sql=11:difexqq5ldfe~T2)) and honestly, I don't know if even 5% of them are any good.  I checked out a good ten or 12 of them, and ended up nuking most of them from my hard drive.  The New Age stuff isn't bad (Aspirant Sunset, Aspirant Sunrise, Aspirant Sunshadows) and I kept them.  They have his knack for chords, but as with most New Age, it's meant for relaxing and/or background music.  In the 70's, he was master of the piles of electronic keyboards, but on his later stuff, I prefer just him and acoustic piano.

Steve Howe also has a lot of solo albums.  As with Wakeman, my favorites are the instrumentals, but in this case it's mostly because I really don't like Howe's voice.  Natural Timbre is probably my favorite because to me, solo Howe is best when it's just him and an acoustic guitar.  His amazing electric solos with Yes seem to require a strong band (like Yes, obviously) for him to play against, and he never really manages to assemble a really strong band on his solo albums, so don't look for a whole album of technical fireworks, such as on a John Petrucci solo album.  Steve's solo albums encompass a lot of different styles, and that includes "regular songs" with him singing.  I haven't heard them all, but Beginnings and The Steve Howe Album, the first two, are both very good, the aforementioned Natural Timbre, and I think it was either Skyline or Elements that I checked out one time that was pretty good.

Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz have a couple of albums out together, which are very interesting to me because you don't often hear music performed by piano and drums as a duo.  The first one was simply called Moraz-Bruford: Music for Piano and Drums.  Interesting but gets a bit repetitive after a while, as all of Moraz's solo stuff does for me.  Their second album was pretty much the same, and I didn't keep it.  I don't even remember its name.

Moraz is a brilliant, gifted keyboard player, but I find his solo albums rather dull.  The Story of i is his best-known one, and the compositions and arrangements are great, the keyboard sounds are awesome, and I still find myself admiring all that, but somehow not being impressed overall.  Something just doesn't grab me.  There doesn't seem to be any real inspiration or passion to it, just a bunch of clever stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 28, 2010, 08:57:46 PM
I'm going to have to check out Natural Timbre. Howe is probably the only Yes member who I haven't checked out the solo stuff of. I don't know why.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 28, 2010, 09:14:39 PM
I made an "Album Lineup Chart" and posted it in the Personnel section of Yes' Wikipedia page. I figured it would be useful for people like me getting into the band who want to learn the lineups for each of the albums. The chart that was already there was more of a timeline and wasn't really helping me so I took a few hours to learn how to make the chart and it worked out pretty good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_(band)#Personnel
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 28, 2010, 09:33:39 PM
I made an "Album Lineup Chart" and posted it in the Personnel section of Yes' Wikipedia page. I figured it would be useful for people like me getting into the band who want to learn the lineups for each of the albums. The chart that was already there was more of a timeline and wasn't really helping me so I took a few hours to learn how to make the chart and it worked out pretty good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_(band)#Personnel

Awesome! Good job man! The only mistake I see is you wrote "Closer to the Edge" instead of "Close to the Edge"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 28, 2010, 10:51:18 PM
I missed that. Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 28, 2010, 11:32:16 PM
So far Tales is just alright, I haven't really gotten into it yet. It is a pretty dense album though so that doesn't really surprise me.

Of the four songs, I'd say the hardest one to stomach is "The Ancients." I'd focus on "The Revealing Science of God" and "Ritual" because those are the more accessible of the group.

It's also important (in my opinion) to listen to the album in one go. While I understand that 80 minutes is a lot of time to put into four songs, I always feel more satisfied when I listen to Tales that way.

I've been obsessed with "Revealing Science" lately. The chant intro is chilling, and I can't stop singing the "momet moment momentttt" vocal line
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 28, 2010, 11:41:58 PM
So far Tales is just alright, I haven't really gotten into it yet. It is a pretty dense album though so that doesn't really surprise me.

Of the four songs, I'd say the hardest one to stomach is "The Ancients." I'd focus on "The Revealing Science of God" and "Ritual" because those are the more accessible of the group.

It's also important (in my opinion) to listen to the album in one go. While I understand that 80 minutes is a lot of time to put into four songs, I always feel more satisfied when I listen to Tales that way.

I've been obsessed with "Revealing Science" lately. The chant intro is chilling, and I can't stop singing the "momet moment momentttt" vocal line

Haha me too, but for all of Tales. I don't think a day has gone by in the past week or two where I haven't listened to this album completely. The album evokes so many emotions for me, and by the time Ritual comes on, especially the "da da da da DA da da DA da da dum" and the "Nous Sommes Du Soleil" chants after, I am either grinning ear to ear or crying depending on how I am listening to the album.

Tales has almost transcended music and become more or less a spiritual experience for me as of late.

lonestar summed it up perfectly:

Quote
Once you give yourself up fully to the album, you will truly benefit from its beauty.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 01, 2010, 02:32:20 PM
Every year over Fourth of July week, I do a camping trip up to the same lake near Tahoe.  Every night at sunset I sit on the edge of said lake, put on Tales, and watch the sunset over the granite cliffs, the sun shimmering on the choppy water.  As the sun goes down, the shimmers become less, the cliffs darken, the air chills.  I sense every molecule around me, the music goes into my ears and out my pores, cleansing my soul in the process.  I have seen and been through a lot of shitty stuff in life, but as long as I can have moments like this, I WILL die happy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 01, 2010, 02:54:19 PM
Every year over Fourth of July week, I do a camping trip up to the same lake near Tahoe.  Every night at sunset I sit on the edge of said lake, put on Tales, and watch the sunset over the granite cliffs, the sun shimmering on the choppy water.  As the sun goes down, the shimmers become less, the cliffs darken, the air chills.  I sense every molecule around me, the music goes into my ears and out my pores, cleansing my soul in the process.  I have seen and been through a lot of shitty stuff in life, but as long as I can have moments like this, I WILL die happy.

That is pretty sweet.  Thanks for sharing that!  :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: austin on March 01, 2010, 04:21:10 PM
Every year over Fourth of July week, I do a camping trip up to the same lake near Tahoe.  Every night at sunset I sit on the edge of said lake, put on Tales, and watch the sunset over the granite cliffs, the sun shimmering on the choppy water.  As the sun goes down, the shimmers become less, the cliffs darken, the air chills.  I sense every molecule around me, the music goes into my ears and out my pores, cleansing my soul in the process.  I have seen and been through a lot of shitty stuff in life, but as long as I can have moments like this, I WILL die happy.

That is pretty sweet.  Thanks for sharing that!  :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 01, 2010, 09:25:39 PM
Every year over Fourth of July week, I do a camping trip up to the same lake near Tahoe.  Every night at sunset I sit on the edge of said lake, put on Tales, and watch the sunset over the granite cliffs, the sun shimmering on the choppy water.  As the sun goes down, the shimmers become less, the cliffs darken, the air chills.  I sense every molecule around me, the music goes into my ears and out my pores, cleansing my soul in the process.  I have seen and been through a lot of shitty stuff in life, but as long as I can have moments like this, I WILL die happy.

Excellent post. Yes is really the only band that I know about where these kinds of experiences can happen. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 05:05:38 AM
Our little "posse" of Yes fanatics needs to be heard! We need to ensure that Yes goes as far as possible in the favorite non-DT bands polls! ONWARD!!!!!!! (through the night)

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=10935.0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 11:59:46 AM
Our little "posse" of Yes fanatics needs to be heard! We need to ensure that Yes goes as far as possible in the favorite non-DT bands polls! ONWARD!!!!!!! (through the night)

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=10935.0
Just voted, am about to open multiple other accounts to vote more.  C'mon YESFANS, vote.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 12:09:01 PM
Sorry for the double post, but am listening to Rituals right now, and the part where they go into the initial Nous Somme Du Soleil always brings me to the brink of tears, it's just so fucking beautiful.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 12:10:25 PM
I love Yes to death, but they are in the 6-8 range all-time for me, so they didn't get one of my three votes.  Sorry, fellas.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on March 02, 2010, 12:16:56 PM
I love Yes to death, but they are in the 6-8 range all-time for me, so they didn't get one of my three votes.  Sorry, fellas.


Exactly this for me too. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 12:19:32 PM
Yes is in the 1 to 1 range for me, and if their forum was as geeky and fun as DTF, you guys wouldn't know me.(DT is a HARD number 2, though)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 02, 2010, 02:16:49 PM
Yes is in the 1 to 1 range for me, and if their forum was as geeky and fun as DTF, you guys wouldn't know me.(DT is a HARD number 2, though)

I made an account on that forum and have yet to post on it. Having a separate sub-forum for anything imaginable is kind of silly and makes trying to keep up to date with everything happening on the site kind of a chore.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 02:23:45 PM
Yes is in the 1 to 1 range for me, and if their forum was as geeky and fun as DTF, you guys wouldn't know me.(DT is a HARD number 2, though)

I made an account on that forum and have yet to post on it. Having a separate sub-forum for anything imaginable is kind of silly and makes trying to keep up to date with everything happening on the site kind of a chore.

Yea, I occasionally post there, but there's too many subtopic within subtopics within subtopics to even keep track of anything.

Seriously, I posted something about how much I liked Union, and the post was moved from the Yes Fans - 90s Yes - Yes Albums triple subform to the quadruple subforum for Union. lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 02:29:50 PM
Yes is in the 1 to 1 range for me, and if their forum was as geeky and fun as DTF, you guys wouldn't know me.(DT is a HARD number 2, though)

I made an account on that forum and have yet to post on it. Having a separate sub-forum for anything imaginable is kind of silly and makes trying to keep up to date with everything happening on the site kind of a chore.

Yea, I occasionally post there, but there's too many subtopic within subtopics within subtopics to even keep track of anything.

Seriously, I posted something about how much I liked Union, and the post was moved from the Yes Fans - 90s Yes - Yes Albums triple subform to the quadruple subforum for Union. lol
Do you guys have the same usernames, maybe we could do a subtle takeover. :justjen
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 02:30:10 PM
Seriously, I posted something about how much I liked Union, and the post was moved from the Yes Fans - 90s Yes - Yes Albums triple subform to the quadruple subforum for Union. lol

Admitting that you like Union a lot should probably result in turning in your Yes fan card, so you probably lucked out. ;) :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 02, 2010, 02:32:12 PM
I'm not sure. It's been too long since I've even looked at the site.

*checks*

Nope, I'm under the other username I use regularly. "Babaganewsh"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 02:34:19 PM
Seriously, I posted something about how much I liked Union, and the post was moved from the Yes Fans - 90s Yes - Yes Albums triple subform to the quadruple subforum for Union. lol

Admitting that you like Union a lot should probably result in turning in your Yes fan card, so you probably lucked out. ;) :biggrin:

I love all Yes albums, especially Union. It gets no wheres near as love as me as all their albums from Yes to Drama, but I still like it a lot.

And to lonestar, I'm under Quadrochosis there too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 02:35:09 PM
I'm just giving you a hard time.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 02:36:39 PM
I'm under lonesoul, the epic orgins of lonestar.  Made about three post and fell asleep.  As forums go, you just can't replace DTF. :metal



DT's music is pretty good too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 02, 2010, 02:48:36 PM
Okay so I've listened to all of the Yes albums up to Big Generator. I've loved everything From Yes to Drama and I think 90125/Big Generator are pretty good. From what I've gathered from some people (mostly Kev :)) Union isn't very good. Should I just keep going in order or should I skip Union for now? And if I do skip Union what should I skip to?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 02:52:58 PM
If you like 90125 and Big Generator, you will like Talk, the third and last Yes album with Rabin, Anderson, Kaye, Squire and White.  Talk is less pop rock than those two, more hard rocking, and even a bit proggy.

Honestly, Union does have a few good songs, but the great majority of it is pretty bad, IMO, and in the opinion of most Yes fans.  Just an FYI. :) 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 02:54:31 PM
Okay so I've listened to all of the Yes albums up to Big Generator. I've loved everything From Yes to Drama and I think 90125/Big Generator are pretty good. From what I've gathered from some people (mostly Kev :)) Union isn't very good. Should I just keep going in order or should I skip Union for now? And if I do skip Union what should I skip to?
Listen to it throughout, it's all good stuff. But once Howe went to Asia and they produced 90125, they lost something that they never got back.  It almost felt like a part of their soul was sliced off at that moment, and instead of creating music for the beautiful, soulful aspects of it, they just made music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 02, 2010, 02:59:43 PM
Of the albums after Howe rejoins the band which is the best?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 03:03:06 PM
Of the albums after Howe rejoins the band which is the best?

It all depends on who you talk to.  None of them are that great; I think The Ladder has the most good stuff, but many seem to favor Magnification; the Keys record is probably the most overtly proggy.  Any of those would probably have some good stuff that you would like, but don't expect any of them to knock your socks off.  None of them compare to most of their classic records.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on March 02, 2010, 03:07:58 PM
Don't forget to check into the ABWH album, Anderson Wakeman Bruford Howe (with Tony Levin on bass).  It's not too bad, and manages to get pretty close to the original Yes sound.   It's practically a Yes album in everything but name. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 03:08:52 PM
I think I like the original songs on Keys to Ascension best.  As I said earlier though, most of my attention goes to the pre-split stuff, that was when they had something truly special.

Just read kev's post, and he is on spot.  Magnification and Ladder are just good albums, nothing more. You've heard the best they have to offer, but listen to the rest, for any Yes music is good music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 03:15:14 PM
Of all the post reunion stuff, I like The Ladder the best. "Lightning Strike" is probably my favorite post-Drama song.

Oh and Lonestar, I just noticed we both have "nous sommes du soleil" in our profiles/sigs. We should start a DTF Yes Ritual Club!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 02, 2010, 03:15:52 PM
Well from the sound of it it's all downhill from here.  :-\ It's too bad. Everything up to 90125 has been amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2010, 03:19:36 PM
"Amazing" is not a word I would use to describe Tormato, which I dislike immensely, but, yes, just about everything in that long time span is great! :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 03:20:22 PM
Well from the sound of it it's all downhill from here.  :-\ It's too bad. Everything up to 90125 has been amazing.
Yep, you might as well stop listening to music, you've heard the best them all. :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 02, 2010, 04:19:03 PM
I just read that YES is touring with Peter Frampton this summer.  Weird grouping but I love both and have seen both at least 8 times.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 04:28:07 PM
Never seen Frampton, could be an interesting show.  I always considered Comes Alive one of the signature live albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 04:37:22 PM
Never seen Frampton, could be an interesting show.  I always considered Comes Alive one of the signature live albums.

Not as good as Yessongs though. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 02, 2010, 04:39:05 PM
Never seen Frampton, could be an interesting show.  I always considered Comes Alive one of the signature live albums.

Not as good as Yessongs though. :neverusethis:
Not even in the same fucking universe.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 02, 2010, 07:00:51 PM
Completely different styles, but I'd put Frampton Comes Alive! up there with Yessongs.  Frampton is an incredible showman, and Frampton Comes Alive! is one kickass song after another, start to finish.  Nothing wrong with that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 07:30:30 PM
Just so everyone here knows, The Yes survivor has come to a close with "Beyond and Before" taking first. The survivor for Time and a Word has begun! Here is a link to it:

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=10966.0

Orbert, I listened to Natural Timbre finally. Phenomenal album, so many gems on it. Howe's work is definitely at its best when he's on the acoustic. Thanks for the recommendation!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 02, 2010, 10:56:12 PM
OK, I just gave Tormato another honest listen, and I can sincerely conclude that it isn't nearly as bad as most fans make it out to be. Sure it's probably the weakest release from their debut through Drama but it's significantly stronger than anything they've released since Drama (With the Keystudio material being a possible exception).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 03, 2010, 12:11:38 PM
I agree.  Tormato suffers from its relative proximity to much greater works, but isn't really that bad, and I also agree that it beats any of the YesWest stuff plus The Ladder, but probably not Keys.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 03, 2010, 12:39:47 PM
It's not that the songwriting on Tormato was bad or anything; it's just that the sound of it is so bad.  Howe's guitar tone is God-awful, and the keyboard sounds and tones are just wretched.  Overall, it is just an ugly-sounding album, at least to me. 

"Onward" from the Keys live CD is tremendous, though, I will say that.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 03, 2010, 01:03:09 PM
It's not that the songwriting on Tormato was bad or anything; it's just that the sound of it is so bad.  Howe's guitar tone is God-awful, and the keyboard sounds and tones are just wretched.  Overall, it is just an ugly-sounding album, at least to me. 

"Onward" from the Keys live CD is tremendous, though, I will say that.

See, I really don't think it sounds that bad, it sort of sounds like its in transition from a 70s to 80s production, but no quite either, but that doesn't really bother me. Going For the One clearly has that 70s feel, and Drama is definitely an 80s sounding album, and Tormato is kind of both, but not really.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 05, 2010, 02:11:56 AM
Tormato is solid, there are some great songs on it (Release release, Don't kill the whales, Onward), but it's still the least good album. I like Drama MUCH more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 06, 2010, 08:17:39 AM
Tormato is solid, there are some great songs on it (Release release, Don't kill the whales, Onward), but it's still the least good album. I like Drama MUCH more.

Well yea, I wasn't saying it wasn't.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 09, 2010, 09:28:31 PM


Then you have all the solo stuff by Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe. 

Wakeman has an insane amount of solo material out there, most of which people have never heard of, and a lot of which Wakeman himself admits is pretty bad (and I agree).  The Six Wives of Henry VIII was the first and is still my fave, followed closely by Criminal Record.  Both of these are all instrumentals.  If you don't mind your prog with extra cheese, Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are both quite good.  There are extended instrumentals providing interpretation of the story, given in spoken word and singing, which isn't bad, but I end up wishing they'd just shut up so we can get to the next instrumental.  Selections From Journey to the Center of the Earth, which he actually recorded much later, solves that problem and just gives you the instrumentals, plus a couple of revised tracks from King Arthur and Six Wives to help fill out the run time.


Wakeman seems to have shot his load in the 70's, though.  He's released literally dozens of albums since then (seriously (https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=RICK|WAKEMAN&sql=11:difexqq5ldfe~T2)) and honestly, I don't know if even 5% of them are any good.  I checked out a good ten or 12 of them, and ended up nuking most of them from my hard drive.  The New Age stuff isn't bad (Aspirant Sunset, Aspirant Sunrise, Aspirant Sunshadows) and I kept them.  They have his knack for chords, but as with most New Age, it's meant for relaxing and/or background music.  In the 70's, he was master of the piles of electronic keyboards, but on his later stuff, I prefer just him and acoustic piano.


I like all of those '70s Wakeman albums you mentioned (cheese and all). I don't have Criminal Record, but I do have a handful of tracks from there on the Recollections compilation. I've even got Rhapsodies but never upgraded it to CD. (I'd love to have a Wakeman '70s box at some point).

I agree for the most part about Wakeman's post '70s material. More often than not I'd get something and sell it back. I've only kept his King Biscuit and Grey Whistle Test performances (which were from the '70s) and his 1984 album. I don't think I ever kept any of his New Age stuff (though I've got several of Jon Anderson's New Age albums).

I don't think I bothered with Return To The Center of The Earth either for some reason.


Quote
Steve Howe also has a lot of solo albums.  As with Wakeman, my favorites are the instrumentals, but in this case it's mostly because I really don't like Howe's voice.  Natural Timbre is probably my favorite because to me, solo Howe is best when it's just him and an acoustic guitar.  His amazing electric solos with Yes seem to require a strong band (like Yes, obviously) for him to play against, and he never really manages to assemble a really strong band on his solo albums, so don't look for a whole album of technical fireworks, such as on a John Petrucci solo album.  Steve's solo albums encompass a lot of different styles, and that includes "regular songs" with him singing.  I haven't heard them all, but Beginnings and The Steve Howe Album, the first two, are both very good, the aforementioned Natural Timbre, and I think it was either Skyline or Elements that I checked out one time that was pretty good.

I also prefer his instrumental albums. I'm not sure if I have a favorite though. I enjoy  Natural Timbre and Skyline myself;  Elements not as much, but it has it's moments. I've even got Mothballs, which is a pretty cool compilation of tracks of Howe with pre-Yes bands like the Sydicats, Tomorrow, Bodast and a few others. I think Quantum Guitar and Pulling Strings (featuring excerpts of some of his work with Yes) are also good.


I doubt there are many people who would like his Portraits of Bob Dylan album, but I find it entertaining. I've also got a Howe album with Oliver Wakeman, but I can't say that I listen to that one much. I also like his work from the Relativity label; Turbulence and The Grand Scheme Of Things.

It's been quite a while since I've heard Beginnings and The Steve Howe album. Never upgraded those to CD.




Quote
Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz have a couple of albums out together, which are very interesting to me because you don't often hear music performed by piano and drums as a duo.  The first one was simply called Moraz-Bruford: Music for Piano and Drums.  Interesting but gets a bit repetitive after a while, as all of Moraz's solo stuff does for me.  Their second album was pretty much the same, and I didn't keep it.  I don't even remember its name.

Moraz is a brilliant, gifted keyboard player, but I find his solo albums rather dull.  The Story of i is his best-known one, and the compositions and arrangements are great, the keyboard sounds are awesome, and I still find myself admiring all that, but somehow not being impressed overall.  Something just doesn't grab me.  There doesn't seem to be any real inspiration or passion to it, just a bunch of clever stuff.


I've got both of those Bruford-Moraz albums (Flags is the other one)  and I like them quite a bit. I've never run across any Moraz solo albums, but I'd like to find some one day. I wish he was able to do more with Yes. Relayer is a top Yes album for me. He adds a different dynamic, which I think is great to hear.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2010, 06:57:34 AM
We agree mostly, so I guess I'll just say Thanks for reading and responding!  I do tend to go on a bit when Yes is involved.

Moraz definitely brought a different dynamic to Yes, and a lot of Yesfans think a second album with him on keys could have been really interesting.  Supposedly he helped write some of what became Going for the One, but never got writing credit (he got a "Thank You" in the liner notes) for the same reason Wakeman rarely got proper writing credits: label politics.

Anyway, I've loved Moraz's work with Yes and even The Moody Blues, but to me, he's one of those musicians who really works better in collaboration with others, not so well solo.  There's nothing wrong with that.  Not every musician is a performance major and has everything it takes to make a good solo album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 10, 2010, 10:20:30 AM
Anyway, I've loved Moraz's work with Yes and even The Moody Blues, but to me, he's one of those musicians who really works better in collaboration with others, not so well solo.  There's nothing wrong with that.  Not every musician is a performance major and has everything it takes to make a good solo album.

I agree, I remember thinking after listening to Relayer, "Wow, he's really good, I'd love to hear him play some pre Relayer stuff with the band!" expecting it to be really awesome. After I got a few bootlegs though I'd say that Wakeman did a much better job than he did on all the songs from Fragile through Tales.  The Moraz versions of them weren't really anything special, and a lot of times he changed them and tried to improvise and it just didn't sound good at all.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 10, 2010, 03:37:55 PM
I was listening to Close to the Edge last night and was thinking about the classic lineup for Yes. It's pretty obvious who the classic member is for every instrument except drummer.  Bruford was there for what most consider Yes' clasic three albums but White has been drumming for them ever since then. Which do most Yes fans consider the member of the classic lineup?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 10, 2010, 03:40:22 PM
I'd say Alan White becase he has been with them since 1973 and he also played on my two favorite albums by Yes (Tales and Relayer).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on March 10, 2010, 03:41:42 PM
For me, Bruford counts in the 'classic' lineup. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2010, 04:38:09 PM
Bruford.  He was much better, and while not around as long, he comprises what I consider their classic and definitive lineup (the lineup that recorded Fragile and Close to the Edge, arguably their two best records).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 10, 2010, 05:08:50 PM
That one is too hard to call.  They both are so damn good that I really don't think it matters.  I agree with quadro in that White has put in more time with the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jasc15 on March 10, 2010, 07:44:28 PM
Back to the noob discussion.  Of the 2 albums I've so far listened to, Fragile and CTTE, I enjoy CTTE much more.  And You and I really gets me on every listen.  For a few seconds (around 6:25 or so), Wakeman doubles his melody a few octaves lower then fades it out.  Those small details jump out at me, and make repeated listens very worthwhile.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 10, 2010, 07:57:01 PM
Back to the noob discussion.  Of the 2 albums I've so far listened to, Fragile and CTTE, I enjoy CTTE much more.  And You and I really gets me on every listen.  For a few seconds (around 6:25 or so), Wakeman doubles his melody a few octaves lower then fades it out.  Those small details jump out at me, and make repeated listens very worthwhile.

If you've only listened to those two, get your hands on their other 70s albums (The Yes Album, Relayer, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and Going for the One)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 10, 2010, 08:03:54 PM
Now that I'm in that frame of mind I just have to update my albums ranking because it's been a while since I posted it and things have changed pretty dramatically.

1. Relayer
2. Tales From Topographic Oceans

1 and 2 are so close that they are practically interchangeable. If I have the time, I prefer Tales, seeing as its better when listened to all at once, but if I'm going for a single song, I'd pick something off Relayer.

3. Close to the Edge
4. Fragile
5. The Yes Album
6. Going For The One
7. Drama

8. Time and a Word
9. Yes
10. 90125
11. Keystudio

12. Tormato
13. Union (It still has a special place in my heart though!)
14. Talk
15. The Ladder
16. Magnification





17. Big Generator
18. Open Your Eyes
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 12, 2010, 03:33:10 PM
Hey my fellow Yesfans, new tour announced with opener Peter Frampton.  Here's a link...
https://www.yesworld.com/ywtour.html (https://www.yesworld.com/ywtour.html)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 12, 2010, 03:38:02 PM
They aren't even close to coming to the Northwest. No big surprises there.  :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 12, 2010, 03:45:58 PM
Yea I just saw this today. Unfortunately, they don't have a Long Island, or NYC show so I won't be able to go.

They're probably going to have the same set list anyway, so I'm not really too bothered.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 12, 2010, 04:03:45 PM
BTW, everyone make sure to vote for Yes in the Non-DT bands poll!

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=11322.0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 12, 2010, 04:18:23 PM
Well from the sound of it it's all downhill from here.  :-\ It's too bad. Everything up to 90125 has been amazing.

Check out Big Generator, I like that album MUCH more than 90125.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 14, 2010, 11:07:18 PM
We agree mostly, so I guess I'll just say Thanks for reading and responding!  I do tend to go on a bit when Yes is involved.

Moraz definitely brought a different dynamic to Yes, and a lot of Yesfans think a second album with him on keys could have been really interesting.  Supposedly he helped write some of what became Going for the One, but never got writing credit (he got a "Thank You" in the liner notes) for the same reason Wakeman rarely got proper writing credits: label politics.

Anyway, I've loved Moraz's work with Yes and even The Moody Blues, but to me, he's one of those musicians who really works better in collaboration with others, not so well solo.  There's nothing wrong with that.  Not every musician is a performance major and has everything it takes to make a good solo album.

I don't mind.  Keep going whenever you feel like it.

I KNOW I go overboard whenever Rush is involved.
 
I've not heard many Yes boots. The only one I have is on tape and it's from Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City from 1975 I think. I liked what I heard. I've not heard any Moraz solo work either.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on March 18, 2010, 09:37:55 PM
https://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=199&idcategory=28

I will want.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 20, 2010, 06:41:13 PM
My copy of Symphonic Live arrived in the mail yesterday.

It's amazing, to be quite honest. It has probably the best live version of "Close to the Edge" that I've heard and the versions of "Gates of Delirium" and "Ritual" are both fantastic, especially the extended jam in "Ritual".

Overall totally worth it, even the 3 songs from Magnification went over well in a live setting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on March 20, 2010, 08:37:53 PM
Hey, I happen to love the majority of Magnification.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on March 20, 2010, 08:46:10 PM
Never really put the time into any Yes albums after 90125, but "Don't Go" is a fantastic, underrated song.  The type of song that could have been written by a younger band and become a huge hit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 20, 2010, 09:00:17 PM
Hey, I happen to love the majority of Magnification.

Me too, that and The Ladder are pretty awesome albums by a band that was over 30 years old when they made them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 20, 2010, 09:15:20 PM
Anyone gonna catch any of of the Yes/Frampton dates? I might go to Mohegan Sun to see them... I hope they change up the set though because I JUST saw them last month.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 20, 2010, 11:05:08 PM
My copy of Symphonic Live arrived in the mail yesterday.

It's amazing, to be quite honest. It has probably the best live version of "Close to the Edge" that I've heard and the versions of "Gates of Delirium" and "Ritual" are both fantastic, especially the extended jam in "Ritual".

Overall totally worth it, even the 3 songs from Magnification went over well in a live setting.

I love Symphonic Live.  "Close to the Edge" as an opening number is brazen, but works.  "And You And I" with real strings playing those broad, amazing lines we've only ever heard played on a Mellotron is very cool also.  For an added bonus, some of the girls in the orchestra are really cute.  I'm just sayin'.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 21, 2010, 06:18:22 PM
My copy of Symphonic Live arrived in the mail yesterday.

It's amazing, to be quite honest. It has probably the best live version of "Close to the Edge" that I've heard and the versions of "Gates of Delirium" and "Ritual" are both fantastic, especially the extended jam in "Ritual".

Overall totally worth it, even the 3 songs from Magnification went over well in a live setting.

I love Symphonic Live.  "Close to the Edge" as an opening number is brazen, but works.  "And You And I" with real strings playing those broad, amazing lines we've only ever heard played on a Mellotron is very cool also.  For an added bonus, some of the girls in the orchestra are really cute.  I'm just sayin'.

I never picked this one up (Haven't found it in the used bins yet). I've got Live at the House of Blues (which I think was the live album before that).

I've also got the Symphonic Music Of Yes (which is essentially Anderson, Bruford and Howe with Wakeman being replaced by the London Philharmonic and a chamber orchestra and choir if I'm not mistaken).  David Palmer and Alan Parsons were involved in this as well. I think it was released around the time Talk came out as some sort of contractual obligation album, but I really have no idea.

It's been ages since I've listened to it. The only nod to the Rabin years was "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" obviously.  "Close To The Edge" in an abbreviated form is on there along classics like "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Starship Trooper."

It's also been ages since I've put on Magnification. I'm always more likely to put on The Ladder from that period.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 21, 2010, 09:57:33 PM
Yes needs a strong keyboard player, and Igor Khoroshev is capable, but didn't really blow anyone away.  When they decided to just have a real orchestra instead of keyboards (most of the time), it seemed like the punchline to a joke, but it also was a cool idea, and for the most part I like Magnification.  I think it worked.

Magnification and The Ladder are pretty different, though, and maybe for that reason I've never considered this to be a "period" of Yes.  The period of great wandering, perhaps.  Open Your Eyes is another oddball from this period.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 21, 2010, 10:03:25 PM
I really hope they release something new soon, if that happened then they'd have music spanning over six decades.

But I think that after all the nostalgia tours they are ready to perhaps go back to the studio and try to make some music that looks back to the 70s. Who knows, maybe something great will come out of it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 21, 2010, 10:20:47 PM

I've also got the Symphonic Music Of Yes (which is essentially Anderson, Bruford and Howe with Wakeman being replaced by the London Philharmonic and a chamber orchestra and choir if I'm not mistaken).  David Palmer and Alan Parsons were involved in this as well. I think it was released around the time Talk came out as some sort of contractual obligation album, but I really have no idea.

Wait, so none of the band plays on that record? Or Squire does? I saw that CD in the store before but I was a little confused.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 21, 2010, 10:22:12 PM

I've also got the Symphonic Music Of Yes (which is essentially Anderson, Bruford and Howe with Wakeman being replaced by the London Philharmonic and a chamber orchestra and choir if I'm not mistaken).  David Palmer and Alan Parsons were involved in this as well. I think it was released around the time Talk came out as some sort of contractual obligation album, but I really have no idea.

Wait, so none of the band plays on that record? Or Squire does? I saw that CD in the store before but I was a little confused.

I think he meant ABWH minus Wakeman.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 21, 2010, 10:23:52 PM
Oops, you're right. Misread that. I really wish I picked up that CD when I saw it in stores, but I think I saw it pretty cheap online too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 21, 2010, 10:29:54 PM
Oops, you're right. Misread that. I really wish I picked up that CD when I saw it in stores, but I think I saw it pretty cheap online too.

If you mean the sole ABWH studio album, then yes, it's awesome. If anything it really shows how crucial Squire is to the mix because its sincerely lacking prominent bass, but other than that it's awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 21, 2010, 10:32:42 PM
Nope, I was talking about the Symphonic Music of Yes album. I already have ABWH, and it is indeed an absolutely killer album! The Meeting is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, I think.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 21, 2010, 11:01:53 PM
Yea that song is interesting because Jon mentions the word "Lord", whereas he usually had a more ambiguous way of mentioning a creator.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DREAMS FTIME45 on March 21, 2010, 11:53:49 PM
If you love Yes come join me on yesfans folks.
Simple.
www.yesfans.com
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 21, 2010, 11:57:03 PM
Are you even allowed to blatantly advert sites like that?

Anyways, I don't really like that website anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on March 22, 2010, 01:33:37 AM
Yeah, I made an account then took one look at the layout of the forum and never went back.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 22, 2010, 09:43:47 AM
Yeah, I made an account then took one look at the layout of the forum and never went back.

:lol Yea same here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 22, 2010, 09:57:27 PM
Oops, you're right. Misread that. I really wish I picked up that CD when I saw it in stores, but I think I saw it pretty cheap online too.


It still amuses me how they use the London Philharmonic and chamber orchestras as well as a gospel choir to essentailly fill in for Wakeman.


I'd imagine you can get this at a reasonable price. It's probably out of print, but I doubt there's a huge demand for it. 

I like it, but it's more of a curiosity. While there are some really cool interpretations, I wouldn't consider any of those versions to be definitive in any way. It's enjoyable to listen to once in a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 22, 2010, 10:27:10 PM
Yeah, I made an account then took one look at the layout of the forum and never went back.

:lol Yea same here.
Me too. I think I got about ten post into it and fell asleep.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 30, 2010, 02:41:59 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on March 30, 2010, 02:52:01 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 

Not sure if I'd call it THE most beautiful, but it definitely is up there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 30, 2010, 03:01:21 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 

Not sure if I'd call it THE most beautiful, but it definitely is up there.
:tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 30, 2010, 03:40:29 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 

I just love is song. Seeing them play it many times live, it still sound fresh to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 31, 2010, 07:18:14 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 

I just love is song. Seeing them play it many times live, it still sound fresh to me.

It's timeless. One of my favorites.

I've always liked side two better than side one on that album anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 31, 2010, 09:19:40 PM
Thread bump to say that I'm listening to And You And I, the most beautiful song ever written. 

I just love is song. Seeing them play it many times live, it still sound fresh to me.

It's timeless. One of my favorites.

I've always liked side two better than side one on that album anyway.

 :omg:

I don't think SK has anything on CTTE. And You And I gives it a run for its money though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 01, 2010, 11:43:53 AM
"Siberian Khatru" is amazing.  I do like "And You And I" but consider it the weakest of the three songs on that album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 01, 2010, 12:17:13 PM
"Siberian Khatru" is amazing.  I do like "And You And I" but consider it the weakest of the three songs on that album.

This.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 01, 2010, 03:36:13 PM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 01, 2010, 03:38:04 PM
"Siberian Khatru" is amazing.

I think the bonus track of the demo of SK that came with the reissue of CTTE is better than the version that made it to the studio album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 01, 2010, 03:55:49 PM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Can you imagine Miss New York playing An You and I as part of her talent segment! :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 01, 2010, 03:59:41 PM
I'd rather see Miss Hawaii play the church organ solo from the middle section of "Close to the Edge."  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 01, 2010, 04:11:29 PM
I'd rather see Miss Hawaii play the church organ solo from the middle section of "Close to the Edge."  :metal

And by organ you mean.......... ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 01, 2010, 05:09:13 PM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Okay, that's a fair point.  But to be honest, it's a nice song, a pretty love song, and to me, not a lot more.  At the time it came out, people were still pretty hyped on the success of Fragile, and Close to the Edge literally stunned people.  "ONLY THREE SONGS?!"  The title track takes a while to digest but to me seemed a masterpiece right off the bat, and "Siberian Khatru" is an upbeat driver with that wacky 15/4 riff and the harpsichord solo in the break.  "And You And I", sandwiched in the middle, was the "filler" song.  Yes, it's a great song, but honestly, I've never understood the huge, huge adoration it seems to get.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 03, 2010, 07:15:16 PM
Since we're all talking about Close to the Edge, why doesn't everyone go check out the Yes survivor down in the Poll board? We're up to CTTE and need all the votes we can get.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 03, 2010, 07:43:41 PM
You're just hoping to get some votes to save And You And I. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 03, 2010, 08:14:51 PM
..No.. >_>
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2010, 04:10:28 AM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Okay, that's a fair point.  But to be honest, it's a nice song, a pretty love song, and to me, not a lot more.  At the time it came out, people were still pretty hyped on the success of Fragile, and Close to the Edge literally stunned people.  "ONLY THREE SONGS?!"  The title track takes a while to digest but to me seemed a masterpiece right off the bat, and "Siberian Khatru" is an upbeat driver with that wacky 15/4 riff and the harpsichord solo in the break.  "And You And I", sandwiched in the middle, was the "filler" song.  Yes, it's a great song, but honestly, I've never understood the huge, huge adoration it seems to get.
For me, it just seemed to touch something inside me, that so few songs could do.  It is a song that tries to reinforce the relationship of the elders to the new generation, something we have been losing a touch of lately.  As a youth, I saw the song as the beautiful joining between the teacher and the youth, promising to show him the way.  As I got older, I felt that the song was decribing the increasing alienation of our elders.  As we push forward, we push them away, and we lose all the wisdom they hold. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 04, 2010, 06:45:01 AM
That's cool.  Different people are touched by different songs.  I won't say "And You And I" doesn't touch me as well.  The first time I played the "Symphonic Live" DVD, and those big dramatic string lines are played by an orchestra rather than a Mellotron, it brought tears to my eyes.  It was like the power of the song was finally, finally realized.

The Yessong that always gets me is "Turn of the Century".  Every time I play that song, I at least choke up, if not outright weep.  It's one of the songs I put on when I need a good sobbing.  They say it's good for you to do that once in a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2010, 07:53:40 AM
I never liked Turn of the Century until I payed close attention to the lyrics. Now I think its one of their most beautiful songs!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2010, 10:02:02 AM
That's cool.  Different people are touched by different songs.  I won't say "And You And I" doesn't touch me as well.  The first time I played the "Symphonic Live" DVD, and those big dramatic string lines are played by an orchestra rather than a Mellotron, it brought tears to my eyes.  It was like the power of the song was finally, finally realized.

The Yessong that always gets me is "Turn of the Century".  Every time I play that song, I at least choke up, if not outright weep.  It's one of the songs I put on when I need a good sobbing.  They say it's good for you to do that once in a while.
Yes, just, yes.  It's funny, I made that post last night with a pretty good hammer on, and went to bed afterwords, listening to Yessongs.  CTTE came on, and in my sleepy drunken haze, I thought I had figured out what they meant by "total mass retained" after all these years. Now, the sleepy memory is hazy, and I am struggling to get it.  Too funny.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2010, 08:13:15 PM
Seeing Jon Anderson on Wednesday, should be great!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 04, 2010, 09:51:33 PM
Let me know what he plays, I passed him up to see Opeth.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2010, 10:04:28 PM
Let me know what he plays, I passed him up to see Opeth.

I looked up the set from like 5 days ago, and he did about half solo stuff/half yes songs. Not too familiar with his solo material, but the Yes side had a few gems like Time and a Word, Ritual, and then the standards.


I also just had the idea to perform a Yes medley with my friend.... right now I really wanna get the intro from Revealing Science, Your Move, and maybe something more rocking (parts from CTTE?) Would also love to fit the vocal section from South Side in there somewhere, but it might be hard since that requires three voices and currently its only me and my friend.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 05, 2010, 08:44:58 AM
It would be pretty cool if you could fit in "Soon" or some part of "To Be Over" in there somewhere.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on April 05, 2010, 08:48:13 AM
Let me know what he plays, I passed him up to see Opeth.

Uber fail.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 06, 2010, 09:26:30 PM
Ehh, I don't think so. Yes > Jon Anderson and I already saw Yes this year. Plus Opeth is only going to be playing BWP in its entirety live once.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 06, 2010, 09:50:55 PM
I gotta say, if I liked Opeth, I would definitely choose them over Jon Anderson.

Jon Anderson, however, is quite cheap and I'm pissed I didn't get to see him with Yes, so..... this seems like the logical thing to do! Plus I am going to be stoned out of my mind, which will easily make this a night to remember... if I'm able to recall it the next morning.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 07, 2010, 09:43:18 PM
 :metal

Amazing show! i got high beforehand, and I have to say weed + Jon Anderson is a perfect combination. He did odd arangements of all the songs, but they were all awesome. AND he did segments of Revealing Science!!!

1. Yours is No Disgrace
2. Sweet Dreams
3. Long Distance Runaround
4. Time and a Word
5. Under Heaven's Door (Never Ever)
6. Count Your Blessings
7. I'll Find My Way Home
8. Starship Trooper
9. Unbroken Spirit
10. Ritual
11. Music Is God
12. Owner of a Lonely Heart
13. Set Sail/Close to the Edge/Marry Me Again/The Revealing Science of God
14. The Light of Love
15. And You And I
16. Tony And Me
17. Your Move
18. To the Runner
19. Show Me
20. State of Independence

Encore:
21. Roundabout
22. Soon
23. O'er
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 07, 2010, 10:03:50 PM
So Jon is playing shows with a small band or something?

Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Alan White are touring as Yes, with Wakeman's son and a Jon sound-alike, because Jon is "too sick" to tour.  But he's doing shows?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 07, 2010, 10:06:19 PM
Its JUST Jon Anderson. No band. Hes up there alone with a guitar and a piano. It was really great. He sounded good (lost his range, but his voice is still very solid) and did very basic instrumentation of the songs.

Sadly I dont think I will ever get to see Yes with Jon Anderson now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 08, 2010, 12:50:04 AM
Wow.. that sounds really awesome. Glad you had a good time.

I'd be really interested to hear some of those arrangements with just Jon playing one instrument at a time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 08, 2010, 03:56:40 AM
Sorry to be a n00b, but why doesn't he return to Yes?  :huh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2010, 07:22:21 AM
Over the past decade, relations within the band have gotten steadily worse, and while we fans can never know everything that goes on behind the scenes, Jon Anderson clearly seems to be the one not interested in performing with Yes, or if he does, it must absolutely be on his terms.  From the "Yesfans" website:

Jon unilaterally said "no" to any more studio albums after Magnification, even though Steve, Chris, Rick and Alan were game
Jon said in interview that he left Yes after the 2004 tour
Jon reneged on a mutual plan to reconvene in 2005
Jon didn't show up for a 2005 studio album planned by Steve, Chris, Alan and Rick, with Trevor Horn producing
Jon sold off his share in Yes LLC (yes, he sold his share in the band name to the other members)
Jon, year after year, broke commitments to return to Yes, while touring Yessongs under his own name
Jon demanded to be paid MORE than Steve, Chris or Alan for the aborted 2008 tour

After five years of this bullshit, the others finally blew him off and got someone else to sing.  Benoit David auditioned, but supposedly he was originally found through YouTube videos of his Yes tribute band.  That was the cause of a lot of jokes and scorn, but really, it actually makes a lot of sense to me.  And from what I've heard of the shows with him on lead vocals, there are some off-nights, but he's generally quite good and sounds a lot like Jon, and is getting better.

When Jon heard about this, he asked them once again to wait, because he would like to be with Yes again, but just isn't well enough.  He's had health issues over the past several years, this is also documented, but rather than just take a break and get better, he went and set up some more solo shows, and posted on his website that the band touring now isn't the "real" Yes because he's not in it.

He's wrong.  Yes has recorded and toured without him (Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums).  Yes is not about any one person.  If Jon quit the band and sold off his interests in it, he has no say in who or what the "real" Yes is, and should shut the hell up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 08, 2010, 08:11:06 AM
It is both sad and unfortunate that Jon Anderson had to pull a Dennis DeYoung/Steve Perry like that, but shit happens. I guess. :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 08, 2010, 08:13:20 AM
Thanks for the helpful info, Orbert. Too bad for Jon, I love the guy, but I would still watch Yes without him if I had the chance. And Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums as well.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 08, 2010, 08:28:47 AM
It is both sad and unfortunate that Jon Anderson had to pull a Dennis DeYoung/Steve Perry like that, but shit happens. I guess. :(

Pretty much.  Didn't know Jon had reneged on past agreements like that, or sold his share in the name.  And I'm kind of with Orbert, Yes is not just about Jon, and Drama is one of their best albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2010, 10:47:11 AM
It is both sad and unfortunate that Jon Anderson had to pull a Dennis DeYoung/Steve Perry like that, but shit happens. I guess. :(

As a Styx fan, I have to take issue with Dennis DeYoung getting lumped in with the other prima donnas.  Dennis actually did have a documented medical condition which prevented him from touring.   The rest of the band was ready to go tour, and the suits were calling for a tour to promote the new album and make everyone (the suits) a lot of money, so they basically kicked Dennis out of the band and got a new singer/keyboard player.  After two years of treatment, Dennis was ready to rejoin the group, but now they're all "Dude, you're history, remember?"

The musical divide within Styx had been growing for a while (DeYoung's prog/theatrical tendencies vs Shaw and Young's more straight-on rock) and came to a head with Kilroy Was Here, which Tommy Shaw openly criticized after leaving the band to form Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent.  I think the current Styx lineup is having more fun playing arena rock than they ever did with DeYoung's "Babe" and "Mr. Roboto" crap, and have no desire to have Dennis back in.  But Dennis was originally kicked out over something that wasn't his fault.  Jon Anderson is basically being a dick, so there's a difference of circumstance.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 08, 2010, 12:37:19 PM
Oh, I am a Styx fan, too, and I agree with most of what you said.  I was just saying, while not the same thing, the situations are a little similar.  And DeYoung, Perry and Anderson all seem to have that control freak thing going on, which is also why I thought the comparison was relevant.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on April 08, 2010, 12:41:58 PM
Orbert just owned all over this thread with his last two posts.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2010, 01:30:05 PM
Thanks, Nick.  Just tryin' to keep the youngins educated.

Oh, I am a Styx fan, too, and I agree with most of what you said.  I was just saying, while not the same thing, the situations are a little similar.  And DeYoung, Perry and Anderson all seem to have that control freak thing going on, which is also why I thought the comparison was relevant.  :)

There are definitely similarities as well, and all three of those guys are control freaks and prima donnas (besides being awesome front men and lead singers).  I just feel kinda bad for Dennis, while from what I understand, Steve and Jon were booted because they were being douchebags, and I wouldn't want people to think that Dennis was guilty of that.  He's guilty of a lot of other things (he should be shot for "Mr. Roboto" alone) but getting kicked out of the band that you yourself started in your garage, by guys who were your friends and played in that garage with you, that's gotta suck.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 08, 2010, 01:35:58 PM
At 36, I love it when someone can refer to me as a "youngin."  :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

And I hear ya.  That had to suck for DeYoung.  And speaking of him, I feel he never gets the credit he deserves as being one of rock's all-time great singers.  The guy has just a phenomenal voice.  I remember the Styx reunion of sorts tour back in '96 (I think) and he sounded incredible; him holding that note for forever in "Suite Madame Blue" was one of the biggest eargasms of my concert life.  He does the same thing on the Return to Paradise live CD/DVD, for anyone curious as to what I am talking about (link now in the Styx thread, which I bumped, so this Yes thread does not off topic :)).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 08, 2010, 01:48:57 PM
Jon sold off his share in Yes LLC (yes, he sold his share in the band name to the other members)

Never knew this! Thats strange. Wonder why he did that?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 08, 2010, 02:22:11 PM
Jon sold off his share in Yes LLC (yes, he sold his share in the band name to the other members)

Never knew this! Thats strange. Wonder why he did that?

Yea that does seem rather strange. Doesn't that mean he won't get any royalties from Yes songs? (This sounds almost irrelevant considering how little Yessongs are used in the public sphere but still worth mentioning I think)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 08, 2010, 02:27:22 PM
Well, "Roundabout," "Owner of a Lonely Heart," and "I've Seen All Good People" get pretty significant radio airplay, though I think that he'd get royalties anyway just because of writer's credit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2010, 04:35:11 PM
I never heard why Jon sold off his share of Yes LLC, or exactly what that means legally and financially.  I've heard that the use of the name "Yes" for a band or anything having to do with the band currently belongs to Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Alan White.  Basically the classic five minus the two (Anderson and Wakeman) who seem to come and go the most.  That's why they can tour now, legally, as Yes.

Wakeman has always been his own guy; he was a session musician before joining Yes, he has more solo projects than Tiger Woods has girlfriends, and he has joined and left the band many times.  He doesn't actually see it as joining or leaving, it's more like getting together with a particular group of guys he's played with before, and cutting an album and/or touring, much the same way groups like Return to Forever get together and record and/or tour, but each member has plenty of other stuff going on.

Anderson, though, I have no idea.  As a founding member of the band, and a guy who clearly sees himself as the "leader" of the band, what sense would it make to actually state in an interview that you've left the band, and even sell off your part of it?  Maybe he was pissed, maybe he really felt that if the band wanted to continue, fine, but he didn't want any part of it.  It does seem really bizarre.  But Jon's a bizarre guy.

A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace
And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace
And achieve it all with music coming quickly from afar
And taste the fruit of man, recorded, losing all against the hour


I mean... really.  He's way the fuck out there, always has been.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 08, 2010, 05:58:22 PM
He's still one of my favorite musicians, no matter how much you guys rip into him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2010, 06:07:52 PM
Oh hell yes.  A great voice and a great talent.  Yes is my favorite band of all time, hands down.  But I don't wear rose-colored glasses for anyone.  Not my kids or my wife, and not for my favorite artists.  If somebody's doing someone wrong, I'm gonna call it the way I see it, and Jon is just screwing this one up.

On the Yesfans boards, there's confusion and anger, but also a lot of sadness.  The guys are in their 60's now, and it's a damned shame that they can't seem to get it together now while it's still possible, because someday it won't be.  Jon still seems to love Yesmusic, he even goes out and plays it, so what is his problem?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 08, 2010, 06:36:12 PM
Orbert, I've got to disagree with you on Dennis DeYoung.  He for years hijacked the band with power plays.  As talented and important part he was to the band, guys in the band can only take so much.  So for them, Dennis crossed the line way too many times.  Are they as big as they were back in the 70's and 80's. No way in hell.  Are they much happier and enjoying playing again.  Damn straigh.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: PlaysLikeMyung on April 08, 2010, 07:38:43 PM
Why is Peter Frampton touring with Yes right now?

What a strange combination...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 09, 2010, 11:08:59 AM
Orbert, I've got to disagree with you on Dennis DeYoung.  He for years hijacked the band with power plays.  As talented and important part he was to the band, guys in the band can only take so much.  So for them, Dennis crossed the line way too many times.  Are they as big as they were back in the 70's and 80's. No way in hell.  Are they much happier and enjoying playing again.  Damn straigh.

I'll admit I'm not up on the inner workings of Styx the way I am with Yes, so I'm wondering what you mean by "hijacked" and "power plays".  Honestly, I don't know and am just asking.

I started following them back in junior high, and in my mind DeYoung was the "leader" of the band.  He started the band, his voice was the one on the hits, and he wrote the majority of the songs.  I know now that that's not how bands work, but I guess I still tend to think of the situation as one where the others were free to leave if they didn't like it.  Tommy Shaw eventually did, and I have no problem with that.  I completely understand where he was coming from.

But if Dennis was outright pulling some shit on them, I didn't hear about it.  I stopped following Styx seriously sometime in the 80's.  I saw an interview with Dennis maybe ten years ago, and he was talking about all the crap that went down, but obviously it was all his side of the story.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 09, 2010, 11:30:37 AM
JY and Tommy Shaw for years fought with DD to go more rock.  Dennis was even kicked out of the band betwwen albums in the 70's but was brought back under conditions.  Well, Babe happened and DD assumed control.  resentment set in with the rest of the band.  Yet in 1996they reformed and tours and made the live album, Return to Paridise.  When they went to record the new album Brave New World, tensions appeared again.

Brave New World and split
Two years later, in 1999, the band released its first new studio album in almost a decade: Brave New World. The album received a lukewarm reception, sold very slowly, and the single, "Everything Is Cool", failed to chart.

Once again, during work on the album, personality conflicts drove the band members apart. While Tommy Shaw and James Young's material followed a hard rock vein, Dennis DeYoung's penchant for Broadway styles resulted in dramatic differences in styles on Brave New World.

Arguments over which songs to release as singles, the album's artwork, the track sequencing, the slow album sales, and the omission of DeYoung's vocals and keyboards from many of the Shaw/JY tracks fueled the fire. The band was further hindered by a viral illness contracted by DeYoung which temporarily made his eyes sensitive to light. DeYoung asked his bandmates to delay touring but they refused and decided to go forward without him..

I guess they just had enough.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 09, 2010, 12:12:34 PM
I guess I don't interpret DDY's actions as hijacking and power plays so much as a basic difference in style from Shaw and JY.  They were always the straight-on rockers, and DDY always had the theatrical side, but I guess it got harder and harder for them to integrate the two sides.

Still, as DDY and the Panozzo brothers started the band, and JY and Shaw were not even original members, it could just as easily be argued that they were the ones who hijacked the band and steered it away from its original vision, which was definitely more prog.  Dennis' "power plays" were actually attempts to regain control of his own band from the guys who came in later and were trying to grab the wheel.  In the end, the suits backed Shaw and JY, and history is written by the winners.  But come on, Shaw and JY were the usurpers, not the victims.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 09, 2010, 12:13:06 PM
Oh hell yes.  A great voice and a great talent.  Yes is my favorite band of all time, hands down.  But I don't wear rose-colored glasses for anyone.  Not my kids or my wife, and not for my favorite artists.  If somebody's doing someone wrong, I'm gonna call it the way I see it, and Jon is just screwing this one up.

On the Yesfans boards, there's confusion and anger, but also a lot of sadness.  The guys are in their 60's now, and it's a damned shame that they can't seem to get it together now while it's still possible, because someday it won't be.  Jon still seems to love Yesmusic, he even goes out and plays it, so what is his problem?

I don't think it is fair to assume it is all Anderson's problem.  I have read many things over the years about Squire and Howe being difficult, and maybe Anderson is just tired of dealing with all of it.  I mean, the guy has to be in his mid 60s, and if he is happier touring by himself, then so be it.  He has earned that right.  He gave, what, well over 30 years of his life to Yes.  I'd say that's enough, if that is what he wants.  I understand fans wanting to see the band with the core members together again, but, just like Kevin Moore and DT, if Anderson doesn't want to do it, that is his right, and I see nothing wrong with it at all. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 09, 2010, 02:07:36 PM
I guess I don't interpret DDY's actions as hijacking and power plays so much as a basic difference in style from Shaw and JY.  They were always the straight-on rockers, and DDY always had the theatrical side, but I guess it got harder and harder for them to integrate the two sides.

Still, as DDY and the Panozzo brothers started the band, and JY and Shaw were not even original members, it could just as easily be argued that they were the ones who hijacked the band and steered it away from its original vision, which was definitely more prog.  Dennis' "power plays" were actually attempts to regain control of his own band from the guys who came in later and were trying to grab the wheel.  In the end, the suits backed Shaw and JY, and history is written by the winners.  But come on, Shaw and JY were the usurpers, not the victims.

I just think you go in together as a band.  Yes there are always a leader of the band but if the others in the band have had enough, and that was the other 4 in the band, then this is the end result.  It happend to VH with dave and then now with Eddie.  It happened with Steve Perry.  It's like a marriage.  it's all about compromise.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 09, 2010, 09:32:54 PM
Oh hell yes.  A great voice and a great talent.  Yes is my favorite band of all time, hands down.  But I don't wear rose-colored glasses for anyone.  Not my kids or my wife, and not for my favorite artists.  If somebody's doing someone wrong, I'm gonna call it the way I see it, and Jon is just screwing this one up.

On the Yesfans boards, there's confusion and anger, but also a lot of sadness.  The guys are in their 60's now, and it's a damned shame that they can't seem to get it together now while it's still possible, because someday it won't be.  Jon still seems to love Yesmusic, he even goes out and plays it, so what is his problem?

I don't think it is fair to assume it is all Anderson's problem.  I have read many things over the years about Squire and Howe being difficult, and maybe Anderson is just tired of dealing with all of it.  I mean, the guy has to be in his mid 60s, and if he is happier touring by himself, then so be it.  He has earned that right.  He gave, what, well over 30 years of his life to Yes.  I'd say that's enough, if that is what he wants.  I understand fans wanting to see the band with the core members together again, but, just like Kevin Moore and DT, if Anderson doesn't want to do it, that is his right, and I see nothing wrong with it at all. :)

This, extremely well put, Kev.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: austin on April 10, 2010, 05:43:09 PM
This, extremely well put, Kev.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 10, 2010, 10:41:39 PM
Thanks, fellas.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on April 11, 2010, 06:09:06 AM
I don't know if this has been posted before:

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_tours/yes_to_tour_with_peter_frampton_this_summer.html

Prog-rock veterans Yes will reunite with Peter Frampton for a summertime run of North America, the first time the musicians have toured together since 1976.

The 25-city outing kicks off June 8 in West Palm Beach, FL, visiting casinos, theaters and performing arts centers from coast to coast. The co-headlining trek will wrap with a July 15 performance in Snoqualmie, WA. All dates are listed as follows:

06/08 - West Palm Beach, FL - Kravis Center
06/09 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
06/11 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
06/15 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
06/16 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
06/18 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
06/20 - Meadow Lands, PA - Meadows Racetrack & Casino
06/23 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center at Wolf Trap
06/24 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
06/25 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
06/26 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
06/29 - Big Flats, NY - The Summer Stage at Tag's
06/30 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
07/02 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest Grounds
07/03 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theatre
07/04 - Blue Ash, OH - TBA
07/07 - Albuquerque, NM - Sandia Resort & Casino
07/09 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
07/10 - Valley Center, CA - Open Sky Theater at Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort
07/11 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
07/13 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
07/15 - Snoqualmie, WA - Snoqualmie Casino

Last month, Yes finished up a winter excursion that introduced the group's two new members - singer Benoit David and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (son of the band's longtime keyboardist, Rick Wakeman). David, who previously fronted a Yes tribute band, has replaced longtime lead singer Jon Anderson, who was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure early last year.

The band's most recent release, "Magnification," hit shelves in 2001.

In just a couple weeks, Frampton will unveil his 14th studio album, "Thank You Mr. Churchill." The set, which follows his 2006 effort, "Fingerprints," goes on sale April 27, though fans can pre-order the album on CD or vinyl via Frampton's website.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 15, 2010, 06:49:56 PM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Okay, that's a fair point.  But to be honest, it's a nice song, a pretty love song, and to me, not a lot more.  At the time it came out, people were still pretty hyped on the success of Fragile, and Close to the Edge literally stunned people.  "ONLY THREE SONGS?!"  The title track takes a while to digest but to me seemed a masterpiece right off the bat, and "Siberian Khatru" is an upbeat driver with that wacky 15/4 riff and the harpsichord solo in the break.  "And You And I", sandwiched in the middle, was the "filler" song.  Yes, it's a great song, but honestly, I've never understood the huge, huge adoration it seems to get.

Well, leaving aside the fact that we had And You And I played at our wedding, what other band does a love song like that?

I'm generally not a "love song" kind of guy, but I think it's one of the best love songs ever written. There are others I like obviously, but this is the Yes thread.

Thanks for providing some context as to what the feeling was when Close To The Edge was released. I probably didn't hear anything off of the album until at least 5 years after it came out; maybe even later.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 15, 2010, 07:07:57 PM
For me, "And You And I" is the most beautiful piece ever written.

The "Soon" section of "The Gates of Delirium" comes damn close, but AYAI is slightly better (as far as sheer beauty goes)

In an unrelated note, I listened to Magnification again today. Damn great album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: austin on April 15, 2010, 07:12:27 PM
For me, "And You And I" is the most beautiful piece ever written.

The "Soon" section of "The Gates of Delirium" comes damn close, but AYAI is slightly better (as far as sheer beauty goes)
this
except I feel CTTE is right between them in beauty, and somewhat above both in awesomeness

EDIT:
I mean HOLY shit at and around 7:13 to 7:23 in AYAI is practically effing incomprehensibly awesome
it was my most favorite 10 seconds of music ever for a while
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 15, 2010, 07:15:42 PM
I was talking beauty, AYAI is probably my 3rd or 4th favorite Yessong.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 15, 2010, 07:50:11 PM
I just saw Yes in February and Jon Anderson last week, so I dunno if I'm gonna hit up this summer tour. I'll check out the setlist... if theres some new shit I havent heard, I'll go.... if not... eh....
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 15, 2010, 09:20:00 PM
I just saw Yes in February and Jon Anderson last week, so I dunno if I'm gonna hit up this summer tour. I'll check out the setlist... if theres some new shit I havent heard, I'll go.... if not... eh....

I'm going to the Jones Beach show, you can't beat $19 tickets. I'm sure the set will at least be somewhat different, seeing as they just toured here 2 months ago.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 15, 2010, 09:21:04 PM
I just saw Yes in February and Jon Anderson last week, so I dunno if I'm gonna hit up this summer tour. I'll check out the setlist... if theres some new shit I havent heard, I'll go.... if not... eh....

I'm going to the Jones Beach show, you can't beat $19 tickets. I'm sure the set will at least be somewhat different, seeing as they just toured here 2 months ago.

Thats awesome! Sadly it is much more here, since they are only playing Mohegan Sun in the NE area and that place is expensive. :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 15, 2010, 09:24:15 PM
 =/

Knowing the way they've been touring lately the set will probably only have a few different songs anyway. Maybe they'll throw in Awaken or something and take out Onward or Machine Messiah.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 16, 2010, 11:22:34 AM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Okay, that's a fair point.  But to be honest, it's a nice song, a pretty love song, and to me, not a lot more.  At the time it came out, people were still pretty hyped on the success of Fragile, and Close to the Edge literally stunned people.  "ONLY THREE SONGS?!"  The title track takes a while to digest but to me seemed a masterpiece right off the bat, and "Siberian Khatru" is an upbeat driver with that wacky 15/4 riff and the harpsichord solo in the break.  "And You And I", sandwiched in the middle, was the "filler" song.  Yes, it's a great song, but honestly, I've never understood the huge, huge adoration it seems to get.

Well, leaving aside the fact that we had And You And I played at our wedding, what other band does a love song like that?

I'm generally not a "love song" kind of guy, but I think it's one of the best love songs ever written. There are others I like obviously, but this is the Yes thread.

Thanks for providing some context as to what the feeling was when Close To The Edge was released. I probably didn't hear anything off of the album until at least 5 years after it came out; maybe even later.

I shouldn't diss "And You And I" the way I do.  You're right; nobody does a love song (or anything else) the way Yes does.  And the only real issue for me is those huge, sweeping, dramatic sections with the Mellotrons.  Yes, they're beautiful, but they seem to come out of nowhere.  To me, there's just not enough buildup to justify the near-orgasmic power of those sections.  It's like, where did that come from?

I need to give it another listen, and hopefully appreciate it more.  I do like the song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 18, 2010, 09:29:11 AM
Calling any of the songs from a classic like Close to the Edge "the weakest" is like calling the girl in last place at the Miss Universe pageant "the ugliest."  "Least best" and "least attractive" are much more appropriate, respectively, me thinks. ;)

Okay, that's a fair point.  But to be honest, it's a nice song, a pretty love song, and to me, not a lot more.  At the time it came out, people were still pretty hyped on the success of Fragile, and Close to the Edge literally stunned people.  "ONLY THREE SONGS?!"  The title track takes a while to digest but to me seemed a masterpiece right off the bat, and "Siberian Khatru" is an upbeat driver with that wacky 15/4 riff and the harpsichord solo in the break.  "And You And I", sandwiched in the middle, was the "filler" song.  Yes, it's a great song, but honestly, I've never understood the huge, huge adoration it seems to get.

Well, leaving aside the fact that we had And You And I played at our wedding, what other band does a love song like that?

I'm generally not a "love song" kind of guy, but I think it's one of the best love songs ever written. There are others I like obviously, but this is the Yes thread.

Thanks for providing some context as to what the feeling was when Close To The Edge was released. I probably didn't hear anything off of the album until at least 5 years after it came out; maybe even later.

I shouldn't diss "And You And I" the way I do.  You're right; nobody does a love song (or anything else) the way Yes does.  And the only real issue for me is those huge, sweeping, dramatic sections with the Mellotrons.  Yes, they're beautiful, but they seem to come out of nowhere.  To me, there's just not enough buildup to justify the near-orgasmic power of those sections.  It's like, where did that come from?

I need to give it another listen, and hopefully appreciate it more.  I do like the song.

I've always interpreted it as the band showing how love can randomly swell up these huge, beautiful emotions in people. Love is not linear, but rather a more random, sporadic path that we all follow. Not only is it lyrically a love song, but musically it is as well. Just another reason why Yes is one of the greatest bands ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pirate on April 18, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
Just wanted to share that my class and I viewed "Yessongs" for a music assignment a few years ago. It was intense. Everyone was like WTF about their outfits and the length of CttE. I wish my current music teacher (in school) was that awesome.  :metal

Btw my favourite line-up is Bruford Anderson Wakeman Squire Howe and my favourite album is Close To The Edge. My favourite song is the T/T. After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that Yes is has much better music than DT has, but DT has more orgasmic moments (F#, all of Metropolis, Another World, Razor's Edge etc). I can see also that the DT/Yes debate has pretty much ended...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 18, 2010, 09:50:53 AM
What DT/Yes debate?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pirate on April 18, 2010, 09:51:37 AM
What DT/Yes debate?
I see what you did there
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 18, 2010, 10:04:50 AM
I was being serious. :lol

I'm a relatively new fan of the band so I really didn't know about any debate.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 18, 2010, 11:02:21 AM
Just wanted to share that my class and I viewed "Yessongs" for a music assignment a few years ago. It was intense. Everyone was like WTF about their outfits and the length of CttE. I wish my current music teacher (in school) was that awesome.  :metal

Btw my favourite line-up is Bruford Anderson Wakeman Squire Howe and my favourite album is Close To The Edge. My favourite song is the T/T. After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that Yes is has much better music than DT has, but DT has more orgasmic moments (F#, all of Metropolis, Another World, Razor's Edge etc). I can see also that the DT/Yes debate has pretty much ended...

I think that Yes' music is certainly more survivable than DT's music. For example, "Close to the Edge" is still one of the greatest pieces of music ever, and it's almost 40 years old. Half the material on Systematic Chaos is already stale and forgettable and it's only a few years old.

That being said, DT is still my favorite band of all time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 18, 2010, 11:08:05 AM
You're comparing one of Yes' best albums to DT's worst. Of course there's going to a big difference when you do it like that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pirate on April 18, 2010, 11:08:30 AM
I was being serious. :lol

I'm a relatively new fan of the band so I really didn't know about any debate.
Did you read the OP?


...

That being said, DT is still my favorite band of all time.
Same
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 18, 2010, 11:40:41 AM
You're comparing one of Yes' best albums to DT's worst. Of course there's going to a big difference when you do it like that.

Reminds me when someone compared the lyrics of "Hallowed be thy Name" with "The Dark Eternal Night" a few years ago  :facepalm:

What if you compared Close to the Edge to, say, Images and Words?  I can say that Images has affected me (due to relatable lyrics) a lot more than Close to the Edge, despite CttE being one of my favorite albums ever.  Images is almost twenty years old now and its still amazing, and I'm sure I'll still be listening to it when I'm 40. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on April 18, 2010, 12:04:47 PM
You're comparing one of Yes' best albums to DT's worst. Of course there's going to a big difference when you do it like that.

Reminds me when someone compared the lyrics of "Hallowed be thy Name" with "The Dark Eternal Night" a few years ago  :facepalm:

What if you compared Close to the Edge to, say, Images and Words?  I can say that Images has affected me (due to relatable lyrics) a lot more than Close to the Edge, despite CttE being one of my favorite albums ever.  Images is almost twenty years old now and its still amazing, and I'm sure I'll still be listening to it when I'm 40.  

Or you could even do it the other way and compare Images and Words with Tormato.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 18, 2010, 01:41:38 PM
When comparing a rock band from the 70s to a metal band from the 80s, you can never make a perfect comparison because they are so different.

Even so, songs like "Onward" are more remember-able for me than "Pull Me Under" (Since you said to compare Tormato to Images and Words)

Although I wouldn't even think twice about saying I&W >>> Tormato
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 18, 2010, 04:28:08 PM
Pretty much every CD I own is >>> than Tormato.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 18, 2010, 04:34:27 PM
Pretty much every CD I own is >>> than Tormato.

:lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on April 18, 2010, 11:15:01 PM
I shouldn't diss "And You And I" the way I do.  You're right; nobody does a love song (or anything else) the way Yes does.  And the only real issue for me is those huge, sweeping, dramatic sections with the Mellotrons.  Yes, they're beautiful, but they seem to come out of nowhere.  To me, there's just not enough buildup to justify the near-orgasmic power of those sections.  It's like, where did that come from?

I need to give it another listen, and hopefully appreciate it more.  I do like the song.

This pretty much nails how I feel about And You And I.  I get the aesthetic reason why those metronomes might be there, but it doesn't do anything for me.  They're the one weak point of Close to the Edge, and the one reason why CttE isn't my favorite Yes album.

Mellotrons aside, AYAI is a fantastic song with some of the greatest passages in the Yes catalog.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 20, 2010, 02:10:48 PM
For some reason unknownst to myself, Machine Messiah is suddenly much more epic than I ever remember it being.

I feel like I'm listening to it for the first time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 20, 2010, 07:26:29 PM
On an unrelated yet epic note:

Wooo! Just bought my Yes tickets for Jones Beach! This time I'm bringing 5 other people with me so a great time shall be had by all!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 20, 2010, 08:59:04 PM
For some reason unknownst to myself, Machine Messiah is suddenly much more epic than I ever remember it being.

I feel like I'm listening to it for the first time.

Drama is an awesome album.  Squire, White, and Howe wanted to get a little heavier, while Anderson and Wakeman wanted to go a different direction.  Anderson had been working with Vangelis, and thought doing something like that with Yes would be cool.  And it would have been, except the other guys weren't on board with that.

Anyway, Anderson and Wakeman split, Horn and Downes (a.k.a. The Buggles) came in, and Drama happened.  Another lineup that produced only one album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 20, 2010, 09:32:04 PM
For some reason unknownst to myself, Machine Messiah is suddenly much more epic than I ever remember it being.

I feel like I'm listening to it for the first time.

Drama is an awesome album.  Squire, White, and Howe wanted to get a little heavier, while Anderson and Wakeman wanted to go a different direction.  Anderson had been working with Vangelis, and thought doing something like that with Yes would be cool.  And it would have been, except the other guys weren't on board with that.

Anyway, Anderson and Wakeman split, Horn and Downes (a.k.a. The Buggles) came in, and Drama happened.  Another lineup that produced only one album.

Yup, I always wondered what else the band would have produced had the Buggles guys stayed on board a while longer, although Trevor Horn did produce their 80s stuff, and Geoff Downes went onto form Asia with Howe, so I guess it all worked out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 29, 2010, 06:40:32 PM
I've really been digging Magnification lately. It's extremely underrated in my opinion. It's definitely risen in the ranks of my album order lately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SPNKr on April 29, 2010, 07:26:45 PM
The Yes Album = awesome
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 29, 2010, 08:58:14 PM
Every Yes Album = awesome

Fixed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: chknptpie on April 29, 2010, 10:19:14 PM
How have I not posted in this thread yet? I  :heart Yes!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 29, 2010, 11:32:35 PM
How have I not posted in this thread yet? I  :heart Yes!
Welcome.  Come with us...come with us.........come with us.......................................
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on April 30, 2010, 12:29:51 AM
I started reading 'Close To The Edge: The Story of Yes' yesterday after it arrived in the mail. Seems to be a great book, and I've always wanted to know more about this band. I love reading music biographies.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 30, 2010, 10:36:16 AM
I started reading 'Close To The Edge: The Story of Yes' yesterday after it arrived in the mail. Seems to be a great book, and I've always wanted to know more about this band. I love reading music biographies.

I'll have to check this out! At this point, band biographies are the only books I enjoy reading anymore!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 30, 2010, 03:12:49 PM
I started reading 'Close To The Edge: The Story of Yes' yesterday after it arrived in the mail. Seems to be a great book, and I've always wanted to know more about this band. I love reading music biographies.
I will definatly have to check this out.  One of my favorite biographies was Before I get Old, The story of The Who.  So many little things fo into the formation of a band, I would be really interested to see the backstory of Yes, especially about their songwriting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 30, 2010, 05:50:53 PM
I started reading 'Close To The Edge: The Story of Yes' yesterday after it arrived in the mail. Seems to be a great book, and I've always wanted to know more about this band. I love reading music biographies.

I've been meaning to get a good biography about Yes. Band Bios are among my favorite books.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 04, 2010, 09:45:33 PM
I enjoyed "Close To The Edge" (the book). Very informative.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 31, 2010, 12:49:48 PM
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=13717.0

The last round of the finals has begun.

It is "Close to the Edge" vs. "And You And I"

This will determine DTF's favorite Yessong!

Please remember to vote for your LEAST favorite!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 31, 2010, 02:33:07 PM
I enjoyed "Close To The Edge" (the book). Very informative.

It was great. I finished it today. I can recommend it highly :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Scard on June 02, 2010, 11:22:31 PM
So, I'm crazy about Close to the Edge, The Yes Album, and Fragile, probably in that order. What's next for me? I've kinda tried Tales from Topographic Oceans and found it a little too much. Suggestions please!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 02, 2010, 11:24:38 PM
Let Tales work on you a little bit.  Revisit it a few more times in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, pick up Relayer, Drama, and Going for the One, in that order.

Alternate suggestion: Yesshows, the live album from that period.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 02, 2010, 11:28:10 PM
Let Tales work on you a little bit.  Revisit it a few more times in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, pick up Relayer, Drama, and Going for the One, in that order.

Alternate suggestion: Yesshows, the live album from that period.

This exactly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 02, 2010, 11:42:41 PM
I agree with Orbert, but get Going For The One before anything, because I feel it is the most accessible of those three albums.

And Tales is really hard to get into, but once you do, you will be blown away. I suggest starting off by taking it one song at a time (I went Ritual, then Revealing Science, then The Remembering and The Ancient). I feel that Revealing Science is the best song on the album, and perhaps my favorite Yes song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 02, 2010, 11:51:36 PM
Nope, Tales has to be listened to in order from start to finish without any pauses or breaks with complete concentration. Otherwise the album falls apart and is hard to get into.

If you give it your full concentration and time it will change your life.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 03, 2010, 12:05:31 AM
Nope, Tales has to be listened to in order from start to finish without any pauses or breaks with complete concentration. Otherwise the album falls apart and is hard to get into.

If you give it your full concentration and time it will change your life.

I agree with this once you are familiar with the album, but I think when you're trying to get into at first, it is wayyyy too much to digest.

Maybe its just my musical ADHD that prevented me from being able to listen through it for the first time easily. :p
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on June 03, 2010, 01:49:54 PM
Yeah, Tales is possibly the hardest to get into album I have ever heard.  Just try giving if your full attention and listen to it all the way through without stopping.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 08, 2010, 10:57:50 PM
I love Yes, but...

am I the only one that feels they are really slow and dull live nowadays? I was watching Montreux 2003, which was a great show... but the songs lose so much when they are slowed down and tuned down. After that, I put Yessongs on vinyl, and forgot how much of a powerhouse this band used to be.

They are still great musicians, but the vicious uptempo songs like Heart of the Sunrise just don't sound that great anymore.



But aside from that, I'm most likely going to the show next week. :p Because....
SPOILERS:
THEY PLAYED CLOSE TO THE EDGE!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 08, 2010, 11:02:13 PM
You are definitely not the only one.  It's one of the grand jokes of fate that somehow there are no decent video recordings of Yes in their prime, but several high-quality recordings of them in their 50s and 60s playing things at half-speed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 08, 2010, 11:27:46 PM
SPOILERS:
THEY PLAYED CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS. SOURCE PLEASE!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 08, 2010, 11:35:11 PM
SPOILERS:
THEY PLAYED CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS. SOURCE PLEASE!

https://nfte.org/ViewReviews.aspx?rev=Mjg5NTcxNjI10

The post titled "Wow" has the (I'm assuming) complete set.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 08, 2010, 11:40:30 PM
Holy fuck!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 08, 2010, 11:48:04 PM
Holy fuck!

Thats what I'm saying man. I was weary about going to the show.... but tickets are actually only 40 dollars, and they are playing THAT.... so I don't think I have a choice now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 08, 2010, 11:51:18 PM
Yea I bought tix the day they went on sale, but I was expecting a similar set to what they did in February. This is a pleasant surprise.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 09, 2010, 05:34:21 PM
I love Yes, but...

am I the only one that feels they are really slow and dull live nowadays? I was watching Montreux 2003, which was a great show... but the songs lose so much when they are slowed down and tuned down. After that, I put Yessongs on vinyl, and forgot how much of a powerhouse this band used to be.

They are still great musicians, but the vicious uptempo songs like Heart of the Sunrise just don't sound that great anymore.



But aside from that, I'm most likely going to the show next week. :p Because....
SPOILERS:
THEY PLAYED CLOSE TO THE EDGE!


I'm probably in the same boat you are. I enjoy hearing the more recent studio recordings, but I'm too used to the Pre-Talk live stuff (I've never seen anything from the Talk Tour.)

I haven't seen them since the Union Tour. I've considered it for the 15 years after that, but now I don't even consider going whatever the setlist might be.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on June 10, 2010, 12:09:40 AM
Jon Anderson is COMING TO MINNESOTA! He NEVER comes here as a friend of mine whose traveled across the country to see him a dozen or more times in the past 6 years.

Monday August 16th @ The Guthrie Theater. Tickets go on sale on Friday June 11th at 11AM.

https://www.guthrietheater.org/whats_happening/events/2010/jon_anderson
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 10, 2010, 11:02:34 PM
Jon Anderson is COMING TO MINNESOTA! He NEVER comes here as a friend of mine whose traveled across the country to see him a dozen or more times in the past 6 years.

Monday August 16th @ The Guthrie Theater. Tickets go on sale on Friday June 11th at 11AM.

https://www.guthrietheater.org/whats_happening/events/2010/jon_anderson

Definitely go. I saw him back in April and it was an amazing show. Hes not that greatest musician in the world, but his voice is still pretty good and its cool to see new twists on some of the Yes classics.

It might have helped that I was stoned out of my mind, but I feel that it was a great show regardless.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 16, 2010, 11:34:31 PM
Just got back from the Yes show.

Meh.

David isn't that great. Close to the Edge was almost unbearable. The middle section was awesome, but the rest was horrible. It was either tuned down or David was singing off key (or more than likely, both).

Steve was on fire this show though. And I think Frampton put on a better show than Yes (even though I only knew two of his songs beforehand). By the middle of Close to the Edge, about half of the floor seats were cleared... it was kind of pitiful.

I don't think I'm gonna see Yes anymore. I went this time because I was dying to hear CTTE live.... but even that wasn't really worth it.  :-\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 16, 2010, 11:49:51 PM
Just got back from the Yes show.

Meh.

David isn't that great. Close to the Edge was almost unbearable. The middle section was awesome, but the rest was horrible. It was either tuned down or David was singing off key (or more than likely, both).

Steve was on fire this show though. And I think Frampton put on a better show than Yes (even though I only knew two of his songs beforehand). By the middle of Close to the Edge, about half of the floor seats were cleared... it was kind of pitiful.

I don't think I'm gonna see Yes anymore. I went this time because I was dying to hear CTTE live.... but even that wasn't really worth it.  :-\

This sounds... disappointing. I really hope this is an exception rather than the experience held by others at other shows. Benoit can't be THAT bad, can he? I mean, he seems to be the youngest in this group and it would be awful if the older guys are having better nights than him at this point in their tenure together.

Either way, I would rather have this version of Yes (or any version of Yes for that matter), just quit touring and make one more good album before calling it quits. I think Genesis did it right with one more kick-ass reunion tour before prominently throwing in the towel, despite rumors and wantings of a Gabriel-Hackett reunion, which would seem less (or maybe as) likely as Anderson and (Rick) Wakeman returning to Yes to record/tour with Howe/Squire/White.

I also have to wonder why nothing has been released by Yes with Benoit on it because we all know how Yes is live-show happy, but then again, maybe the band themselves just don't feel the need to put out another Yesshow (because we're likely to get reissues from now til the end of time)... or maybe they're not so confident anymore without Anderson on board?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 16, 2010, 11:58:18 PM
Just got back from the Yes show.

Meh.

David isn't that great. Close to the Edge was almost unbearable. The middle section was awesome, but the rest was horrible. It was either tuned down or David was singing off key (or more than likely, both).

Steve was on fire this show though. And I think Frampton put on a better show than Yes (even though I only knew two of his songs beforehand). By the middle of Close to the Edge, about half of the floor seats were cleared... it was kind of pitiful.

I don't think I'm gonna see Yes anymore. I went this time because I was dying to hear CTTE live.... but even that wasn't really worth it.  :-\

This sounds... disappointing. I really hope this is an exception rather than the experience held by others at other shows. Benoit can't be THAT bad, can he? I mean, he seems to be the youngest in this group and it would be awful if the older guys are having better nights than him at this point in their tenure together.

Either way, I would rather have this version of Yes (or any version of Yes for that matter), just quit touring and make one more good album before calling it quits. I think Genesis did it right with one more kick-ass reunion tour before prominently throwing in the towel, despite rumors and wantings of a Gabriel-Hackett reunion, which would seem less (or maybe as) likely as Anderson and (Rick) Wakeman returning to Yes to record/tour with Howe/Squire/White.

I also have to wonder why nothing has been released by Yes with Benoit on it because we all know how Yes is live-show happy, but then again, maybe the band themselves just don't feel the need to put out another Yesshow (because we're likely to get reissues from now til the end of time)... or maybe they're not so confident anymore without Anderson on board?

-Marc.

He was pretty off key for most of the night. Not always though. Some songs were pretty good, such as Tempus and And You And I. But you could tell he felt so uncomfortable doing some of the songs, especially Close to the Edge.

I agree. I'd prefer if the band just did one last tour (preferably with Jon Anderson, just to end things on a good note).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 17, 2010, 10:12:41 AM
Yes haven't said anything about new studio material (other than the standard "we won't rule it out") and that is probably because Jon Anderson always had a huge role in the writing.  Mostly lyrics, but also more of the music than many realize.  Howe, Squire, and White also contributed to the music, of course.  Wakeman tended to work directly with Anderson on some things, but other than that, he mostly showed up once the songs were pretty well formed and figured out some keyboard parts for them.

We've seen some evidence that Howe, Squire, and White have great musical ideas, but Anderson was always the one who pulled it all together, and as he's shown no interest in returning to Yes, I would not expect any new Yes studio material.

And before anyone mentions Drama... that was a rather different situation.  Howe, Squire, and White had a lot of material already worked out, as did Downes and Horn.  They combined their material and talents in what turned out to be a pretty good album IMO, but again, it took collaboration and a lot of work.  I would not expect the current Yes lineup to even be interested in the amount of work a new studio album would require.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 21, 2010, 05:42:12 PM
Yes haven't said anything about new studio material (other than the standard "we won't rule it out") and that is probably because Jon Anderson always had a huge role in the writing.  Mostly lyrics, but also more of the music than many realize.  Howe, Squire, and White also contributed to the music, of course.  Wakeman tended to work directly with Anderson on some things, but other than that, he mostly showed up once the songs were pretty well formed and figured out some keyboard parts for them.

We've seen some evidence that Howe, Squire, and White have great musical ideas, but Anderson was always the one who pulled it all together, and as he's shown no interest in returning to Yes, I would not expect any new Yes studio material.

And before anyone mentions Drama... that was a rather different situation.  Howe, Squire, and White had a lot of material already worked out, as did Downes and Horn.  They combined their material and talents in what turned out to be a pretty good album IMO, but again, it took collaboration and a lot of work.  I would not expect the current Yes lineup to even be interested in the amount of work a new studio album would require.

Not only that, they wouldn't raise any money from releasing a new album. Touring is where the money is now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 21, 2010, 06:02:35 PM
Orbert pretty much hit the nail on the head, but not only does it suck to see Yes become a nostalgia act, but they are doing it without the man who was, for all intents and purposes, the driving force behind the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 21, 2010, 08:20:53 PM
Seeing them on Saturday with a bunch of people (Squiddy included). I know lots of people have been disappointed but I am still pretty excited. Yes was pretty awesome in February, so I can't see how I'd be disappointed only a few months later (especially since we're getting CttE)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 22, 2010, 07:18:56 AM
This tour has been pretty notoriously hit-or-miss.  Some longtime Yesfans are coming away really impressed, while others (who caught a different night in a different town) have literally walked out.  I hope you get to see them on a good night.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 26, 2010, 10:44:45 PM
Well they were pretty good, although not as good as they were in February. There were a lot of parts where they just compeltely were not in sync at all, and David's voice was pretty shot towards the end of the show.

The keyboards were mixed a lot higher this time which was awesome because in February when I saw them they were almost inaudible.

CttE was worth the ticket price itself, and our group got a free upgrade to the next lowest section and a few rows down because the ticket sales were lowsy. So overall for 27 dollars we got to sit in the 60 dollar seats and see Close to the Edge, so overall, I'd say it was an awesome night.

Also, Frampton did covers of Black Hole Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps which were both outstanding.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: UnutterableSquid on June 26, 2010, 10:49:02 PM
Well they were pretty good, although not as good as they were in February. There were a lot of parts where they just compeltely were not in sync at all, and David's voice was pretty shot towards the end of the show.

The keyboards were mixed a lot higher this time which was awesome because in February when I saw them they were almost inaudible.

CttE was worth the ticket price itself, and our group got a free upgrade to the next lowest section and a few rows down because the ticket sales were lowsy. So overall for 27 dollars we got to sit in the 60 dollar seats and see Close to the Edge, so overall, I'd say it was an awesome night.

Also, Frampton did covers of Black Hole Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps which were both outstanding.

Yeah, that was a pretty good show overall.

Not sure where I'd rank it just yet, but it certainly wouldn't be that far down the list.

And :metal @ Frampton's awesome talkbox BHS cover.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 26, 2010, 10:54:18 PM
I'm not seeing these guys on this leg of the tour, but these reviews make me more jealous I'm not seeing Frampton than anything  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on June 27, 2010, 12:43:37 PM
I didn't even know Yes was touring  :|

Does someone have a link to the dates? If its possible, it would be cool to go and see Yes live, assuming tickets aren't sold out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 27, 2010, 01:56:45 PM
This tour has been pretty notoriously hit-or-miss.  Some longtime Yesfans are coming away really impressed, while others (who caught a different night in a different town) have literally walked out.  I hope you get to see them on a good night.

When I hear this Orbert I have a suspision that fans have made up their minds before they go to the concert and that sways their opinion, in both ways.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 27, 2010, 04:03:21 PM
Quad - how wad David during CTTE at your show? He was really off-key for almost the whole song (minus the middle section) so it kinda ruined it for me.

Also I bought Union the other day, will listen shortly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 27, 2010, 04:04:39 PM
Quad - how wad David during CTTE at your show? He was really off-key for almost the whole song (minus the middle section) so it kinda ruined it for me.

Also I bought Union the other day, will listen shortly.

Or as Rick Wakeman calls it, "Onion".  Cause it makes him cry.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 27, 2010, 04:07:06 PM
Quad - how wad David during CTTE at your show? He was really off-key for almost the whole song (minus the middle section) so it kinda ruined it for me.

Also I bought Union the other day, will listen shortly.

Or as Rick Wakeman calls it, "Onion".  Cause it makes him cry.

 :lol The follow-up to "To(r)mato"? :D

My Yes friend who was with me when I bought it said it wasn't that good of an album, despite the fact it has the original lineup, but I remember people here reccomending it, and it was only 6 bucks, so I figured it's worth a shot. ;) I haven't listened to anything Yes put out after Big Generator.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 27, 2010, 04:16:24 PM
Well in truth, it's not the original or the classic lineup. AWBH were working on a new album and the tour with the 2 bands came togheter and the new YES wipped some somes together. Only Jon Anderson sang on both and Squire did backups on both. The tour, I saw 2 shows got better  the second time around.  Steve Howe's face said it all. He hated it. Rabin and Wakeman got along great and they've always talked about doing an album together and it sounds like all these years later they might do it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 28, 2010, 07:32:02 AM
Most of Union pretty much blows, and 99% of the band's fan base agrees that it stinks overall.

ZBomber, you should get Talk; it was the third and last album the Anderson/Rabin/Squire/Kaye/White lineup did, and it is most excellent.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 28, 2010, 03:38:15 PM
I love Union! It's sooo good, one of the better post GFTO albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on June 28, 2010, 03:48:31 PM
Well in truth, it's not the original or the classic lineup. AWBH were working on a new album and the tour with the 2 bands came togheter and the new YES wipped some somes together. Only Jon Anderson sang on both and Squire did backups on both. The tour, I saw 2 shows got better  the second time around.  Steve Howe's face said it all. He hated it. Rabin and Wakeman got along great and they've always talked about doing an album together and it sounds like all these years later they might do it.
And as I understand it, Steve Howe is still bitter about it.  He remains pretty standoffish towards the people affiliated with it. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 28, 2010, 04:05:08 PM
El Barto, it's the same with Howe when he played in GTR with Hackett and with Billy Sherwood when he played with Yes .  He doesn't work well with a second guitarist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 28, 2010, 11:13:22 PM
Most of Union pretty much blows, and 99% of the band's fan base agrees that it stinks overall.

I love Union! It's sooo good, one of the better post GFTO albums.

Quad is clearly part of that tiny 1%. :lol :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 29, 2010, 10:06:31 PM
In that case, if I hate the album, I'll just sell my extra copy to Quad. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on June 30, 2010, 08:57:05 AM
A question.  Not being very well-versed on Yes, I'll defer to the experts.

My bro tells me he'd read that "The guy from the Buggles sang Owner of a Lonely Heart".  I pointed out that Trevor Horn, from the Buggles, produced 90125, but it was undoubtedly Anderson's voice on that song.  NOBODY can cop his vocals.  Best I can determine is that Horn maybe contributed background vocals on the chorus, but not even certain of that.  Anyone know?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on June 30, 2010, 09:16:18 AM
A question.  Not being very well-versed on Yes, I'll defer to the experts.

My bro tells me he'd read that "The guy from the Buggles sang Owner of a Lonely Heart".  I pointed out that Trevor Horn, from the Buggles, produced 90125, but it was undoubtedly Anderson's voice on that song.  NOBODY can cop his vocals.  Best I can determine is that Horn maybe contributed background vocals on the chorus, but not even certain of that.  Anyone know?

Jon Anderson sung "Owner of A Lonely Heart".   Trevor Horn produced the album.

FYI  Trevor Horn sung ALL the vocals for the Yes album Drama, which kicks all hell out of 90125.  
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2010, 12:09:26 PM
Your brother may be getting his Trevors confused.

Trevor Horn is "the guy from the Buggles" who did all lead vocals on Drama.

Trevor Rabin is on 90125 and does background vocals and some leads ("much better than a") on "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

LudwigVan:  Are you positive that Horn does ALL vocals on Drama?  The backgrounds don't sound like him; they still sound like Howe and Squire to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 30, 2010, 12:11:59 PM
Your brother may be getting his Trevors confused.

Trevor Horn is "the guy from the Buggles" who did all lead vocals on Drama.

Trevor Rabin is on 90125 and does background vocals and some leads ("much better than a") on "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

LudwigVan:  Are you positive that Horn does ALL vocals on Drama?  The backgrounds don't sound like him; they still sound like Howe and Squire to me.

Oh Squire definitely does background vocals on Drama, and I'm pretty sure Howe does too.

And I think Trevor [Rabin]'s voice is actually a pretty good match up with Jon's. He sounds great on Big Generator, especially.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2010, 02:50:57 PM
A lot of the "purist" Yesfans dismiss Drama because Jon Anderson isn't on it and "it's not Yes without Jon Anderson".  That's just plain crap.  Horn's voice harmonizes and blends with Howe's and Squire's the same way, and it's that combination that makes it sound like Yes.  Compare that to 90125 and other Rabin-era albums.  Jon sings lead on most of the songs, but that doesn't make them sound like Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on June 30, 2010, 03:25:41 PM
Drama is better than than a ton of the albums with Jon.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on June 30, 2010, 03:37:20 PM
Sorry Orbert, I meant all LEAD vocals on Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2010, 03:44:10 PM
I thought that might be what you meant, but the way you wrote ALL in all-caps made me think you were pretty sure, and suddenly I wasn't so sure anymore.  It's been 30 years since I read the liner notes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 30, 2010, 04:54:30 PM
Actually, Squire does some lead vocals in "Machine Messiah" during the part where they trade off in a call and response type section.  But, yeah, basically, Horn does almost all of the lead vocals on Drama.

Drama is better than than a ton of the albums with Jon.

I wouldn't say a ton, but definitely the following:

Tormato
Union
Open Your Eyes
Magnification


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 30, 2010, 04:56:45 PM
Also include Talk and Big Generator and I'd agree.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 30, 2010, 05:01:34 PM
No way.  I love Talk, and consider it their best post-70s album BY FAR.  In fact, it would be in my Yes top 5.  Yes, I went there. :)

And I like Big Generator quite a bit, too.  "Shoot High Aim Low," "Rhythm of Love," "Holy Lamb," "I'm Running" and "Final Eyes" are all great tunes.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 30, 2010, 06:55:51 PM
Big Generator gets shit on for no reason. The two middle songs on the album are filler-ish (Almost Like Love and Love Will Find A Way... anyone noticing a pattern in song titles here?) but everything else is great. The vocal harmonies on that album are some of my favorite from any Yes album since Tales, and while the music itself lacks without Steve Howe on guitar, the arrangements are still pretty good, albeit pop and not very progressive.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 01, 2010, 08:16:59 AM
And that's why it tends to get shit on.  90125, Big Generator, and Talk are all good-to-very-good albums.  Solid writing, good production, and great musicianship.  But Yesfans don't listen to Yes for amazing, well-crafted pop; they want full-blown prog excess.  Screaming Moog solos, wild guitar countermelodies during verses and chorus, harp, pipe organ, bells, choir, and stringed instruments most people have never even heard of.  That's Yes.

But Rabin never intended the 90125 band to be Yes, and it is his band and bears his mark.  So most people who discovered Yes via "Owner of a Lonely Heart" checked out the back catalogue and went "what the fuck?" and all the old school Yesfans who heard Yes was back bought the new album and went "what the fuck?" and look what happened.  The 80's.  A time of musical desolation.  This is what happens when you fuck with Yes!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 01, 2010, 08:37:45 AM
Listeniing to Mind Drive now, such a good song.

That is all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on July 01, 2010, 08:39:47 AM
I'm still trying to figure out why nobody ever started a band called "No" and asked to open for Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 01, 2010, 09:35:50 AM
I'm still trying to figure out why nobody ever started a band called "No" and asked to open for Yes.
Agent - "Hello, is this the Smokey House?"
Venue - "Yes it is! How can I help you?"
Agent - "Do you have any gig openings?"
Venue - "Yes we do! What's the name of the band?"
Agent - "No."
Venue - "Well we can't book you if you don't give us a name."
Agent - "No."
Venue - "Look sir, we need to know the name of the band first..."
Agent - "It's No!!!"
Venue - "Do you even HAVE a band or is this a prank?"
Agent - "I told you, it's No!!!"
Venue - "Sir, please don't call back here again. Good day."
Agent - "Noooooooooooooo!!!"

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 01, 2010, 10:01:50 AM
I guess something like that must have happened to The Who in the early days too :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 01, 2010, 10:19:47 AM
I guess something like that must have happened to The Who in the early days too :lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlXjIg4fH74

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sir GuitarCozmo on July 01, 2010, 11:05:46 AM
I'm still trying to figure out why nobody ever started a band called "No" and asked to open for Yes.
Agent - "Hello, is this the Smokey House?"
Venue - "Yes it is! How can I help you?"
Agent - "Do you have any gig openings?"
Venue - "Yes we do! What's the name of the band?"
Agent - "No."
Venue - "Well we can't book you if you don't give us a name."
Agent - "No."
Venue - "Look sir, we need to know the name of the band first..."
Agent - "It's No!!!"
Venue - "Do you even HAVE a band or is this a prank?"
Agent - "I told you, it's No!!!"
Venue - "Sir, please don't call back here again. Good day."
Agent - "Noooooooooooooo!!!"

-Marc.

Outstanding.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 01, 2010, 11:07:50 AM
I guess something like that must have happened to The Who in the early days too :lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlXjIg4fH74

-Marc.

hahahaha  :rollin  :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 01, 2010, 11:23:40 AM
Listeniing to Mind Drive now, such a good song.

That is all.

Mind Drive is my favorite of the later epics, and probably my favorite post-70's Yes tune.  So powah.  So heavy sound.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 01, 2010, 11:50:25 AM
I guess something like that must have happened to The Who in the early days too :lol
That's exactly why I think Yes and The Who are terrible names.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 01, 2010, 11:52:27 AM
I like parts of "Mind Drive" quite a bit, but as a whole, I don't think it works that well.  It comes across to me as "Our prog lineup is back together, so let's take this idea and stretch it out to over 18 minutes."  It just doesn't seem like a natural 18-minute song, if that makes sense.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 01, 2010, 11:57:33 AM
I guess something like that must have happened to The Who in the early days too :lol
That's exactly why I think Yes and The Who are terrible names.

What about The Band?  :lol

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 01, 2010, 06:19:49 PM
I love Yes' 70's albums, and I like their pop era. What does that say about me?

Also, I think Machine Messiah just might have some of the most badass riffing ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 01, 2010, 07:08:10 PM
I love Yes' 70's albums, and I like their pop era. What does that say about me?

That you're a Yes fan.  :lol

I still haven't checked out anything past Big Generator (besides ABWH)... I just can't get myself to do it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 01, 2010, 07:15:13 PM
I love Yes' 70's albums, and I like their pop era. What does that say about me?

That you are a Yes fan who doesn't insist that all Yes has to be prog. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 01, 2010, 07:25:21 PM
I love Yes' 70's albums, and I like their pop era. What does that say about me?

That you are a Yes fan who doesn't insist that all Yes has to be prog. :)

Yes's mix of pop and prog has always been a beautiful thing to me, even when the prog was more prominent on the 70s albums. In fact, I made my current band with the goal to mix prog and pop elements in the same way Yes did.

Not to mention I don't think anyone could touch the prog aspect alone of Yes...  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 01, 2010, 07:30:59 PM
I love Yes' 70's albums, and I like their pop era. What does that say about me?

That you are a Yes fan who doesn't insist that all Yes has to be prog. :)

Yes's mix of pop and prog has always been a beautiful thing to me, even when the prog was more prominent on the 70s albums. In fact, I made my current band with the goal to mix prog and pop elements in the same way Yes did.

Not to mention I don't think anyone could touch the prog aspect alone of Yes...  :lol

Everything from all these quotes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 01, 2010, 07:34:27 PM
Yes, even their heavy proggy era is filled with catchy melodies all over the place.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s by seeing the videos from 90125 and Big Generator on MTV about a million times.  I didn't hear any of their 70s stuff until probably '89 or '90, and those songs were "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People," both of which have very catchy and singable melodies.  Getting into their prog albums was then rather easy, although Relayer took some work, and Tales literally took over 10 years for me to really get into it. :lol  Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album all knocked my socks off immediately, though. :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 01, 2010, 08:20:12 PM
Yes, even their heavy proggy era is filled with catchy melodies all over the place.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s by seeing the videos from 90125 and Big Generator on MTV about a million times.  I didn't hear any of their 70s stuff until probably '89 or '90, and those songs were "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People," both of which have very catchy and singable melodies.  Getting into their prog albums was then rather easy, although Relayer took some work, and Tales literally took over 10 years for me to really get into it. :lol  Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album all knocked my socks off immediately, though. :coolio


The trilogy of albums.  Bands have great runs in a 3 or for album run.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 01, 2010, 10:13:27 PM
Yes, even their heavy proggy era is filled with catchy melodies all over the place.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s by seeing the videos from 90125 and Big Generator on MTV about a million times.  I didn't hear any of their 70s stuff until probably '89 or '90, and those songs were "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People," both of which have very catchy and singable melodies.  Getting into their prog albums was then rather easy, although Relayer took some work, and Tales literally took over 10 years for me to really get into it. :lol  Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album all knocked my socks off immediately, though. :coolio


The trilogy of albums.  Bands have great runs in a 3 or for album run.

Except in Yes' case, the "trilogy" of albums went from The Yes Album through Going for the One (six albums)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 01, 2010, 10:32:36 PM
Count me in the 1 percent that likes Onion (uh....Union)

At least I like it better than Going For The One,Tormato, and Open Your Eyes (Sherwood) the only Yes album I've ever sold back, but that probably isn't saying much.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 01, 2010, 11:11:56 PM
Yes, even their heavy proggy era is filled with catchy melodies all over the place.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s by seeing the videos from 90125 and Big Generator on MTV about a million times.  I didn't hear any of their 70s stuff until probably '89 or '90, and those songs were "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People," both of which have very catchy and singable melodies.  Getting into their prog albums was then rather easy, although Relayer took some work, and Tales literally took over 10 years for me to really get into it. :lol  Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album all knocked my socks off immediately, though. :coolio


The trilogy of albums.  Bands have great runs in a 3 or for album run.

Iron Maiden has seven in a row (Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
Black Sabbath has six in a row (Black Sabbath - Sabotage)
Rush has ten in a row (Fly By Night - Power Windows)

Besides, I'm one of the few people that likes Tales From Topographic Oceans
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 02, 2010, 05:41:59 AM
Yes, even their heavy proggy era is filled with catchy melodies all over the place.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s by seeing the videos from 90125 and Big Generator on MTV about a million times.  I didn't hear any of their 70s stuff until probably '89 or '90, and those songs were "Roundabout" and "I've Seen All Good People," both of which have very catchy and singable melodies.  Getting into their prog albums was then rather easy, although Relayer took some work, and Tales literally took over 10 years for me to really get into it. :lol  Close to the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album all knocked my socks off immediately, though. :coolio


The trilogy of albums.  Bands have great runs in a 3 or for album run.

Except in Yes' case, the "trilogy" of albums went from The Yes Album through Going for the One (six albums)

The level of the Yes album, Close to the Edge and Fragile are better then the next 3. It reminds me of the Who, Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia. Yes other albums are very good but not at this level. IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 02, 2010, 06:00:16 AM
Iron Maiden has seven in a row (Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son)
Oh yeah.

The best streak of Yes releases is in my opinion Fragile to Relayer. Four lovely albums...  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 02, 2010, 09:09:58 AM
The level of the Yes album, Close to the Edge and Fragile are better then the next 3. It reminds me of the Who, Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia. Yes other albums are very good but not at this level. IMO.

Very true.  And Going for the One, which is a good but not great record, isn't even in the same ballpark as Yes' holy trilogy. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 02, 2010, 01:16:30 PM
The level of the Yes album, Close to the Edge and Fragile are better then the next 3. It reminds me of the Who, Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia. Yes other albums are very good but not at this level. IMO.

Very true.  And Going for the One, which is a good but not great record, isn't even in the same ballpark as Yes' holy trilogy. 

Awaken is amazing. And Tales From Topographic Oceans is a great album, I don't care what you guys say :P

And I think Machine Messiah is one of Yes' most badass songs, despite not having Jon Anderson.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 02, 2010, 02:05:34 PM
I don't salivate over "Awaken" like the average Yes fan does, but it is still very good; so is "Turn of the Century."  The other three songs on GftO range from okay to pretty good, IMO.

"Machine Messiah" is definitely a kick ass tune. :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 07, 2010, 03:17:50 AM
I'm listening to Talk right now.

This is actually really good, surprisingly. I'm honestly surprised.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 07, 2010, 07:46:07 AM
I'm listening to Talk right now.

This is actually really good, surprisingly. I'm honestly surprised.

 :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 07, 2010, 07:47:15 AM
It isn't as good as Union!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 07, 2010, 11:09:05 AM
I'm listening to Talk right now.

This is actually really good, surprisingly. I'm honestly surprised.

 :tup :tup

First two songs were great! The middle of the album kind of meandered around, but the Endless Dream suite definitely made up for it. Solid album, I'd give it 7.5/10 right now, maybe a higher score on future listens.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 07, 2010, 12:41:24 PM
Good to hear!  "Real Love" is definitely a bit out there, especially for them, but I love the weirdness of it, and it probably features the heaviest riffage of any Yes song ever.  But you nailed the three best ones - "The Calling," "I Am Waiting" and "Endless Dream" are all legit Yes classics.  I also have great love, in particular, for "Where Will You Be." :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Ben_Jamin on July 07, 2010, 01:50:03 PM
My cuz was supposed to see them today but they cancelled due to the stage falling and damaging their equipment in oklahoma
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 07, 2010, 02:25:02 PM
Good to hear!  "Real Love" is definitely a bit out there, especially for them, but I love the weirdness of it, and it probably features the heaviest riffage of any Yes song ever.  But you nailed the three best ones - "The Calling," "I Am Waiting" and "Endless Dream" are all legit Yes classics.  I also have great love, in particular, for "Where Will You Be." :coolio

Final Eyes is a song I can play over and over.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Plasmastrike on July 07, 2010, 05:13:59 PM
EDIT *mis post*
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 08, 2010, 12:02:37 PM
Finished listening to Magnification. Fantastic album. The twin epics at the end were great, and "In the Presence of" would probably be in my top 50 Yes songs. Since this shows Yes is still capable of making great music, why don't they make another album?  :(

Edit: I'd give a 9/10, I enjoyed it that much. Best album since Going For the One, although I haven't listened to The Ladder yet.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 08, 2010, 01:25:56 PM
Listening to The Ladder won't change your mind.  There are some good songs on it, but not enough to place it above Magnification.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't consider Magnification evidence that Yes is still capable of making great music.  It's nine years old and the lineup has no keyboard player (insert joke about how Wakeman left again and they needed an entire orchestra to replace him), although there are a few keyboard dubs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 08, 2010, 04:37:23 PM
Listening to The Ladder won't change your mind.  There are some good songs on it, but not enough to place it above Magnification.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't consider Magnification evidence that Yes is still capable of making great music.  It's nine years old and the lineup has no keyboard player (insert joke about how Wakeman left again and they needed an entire orchestra to replace him), although there are a few keyboard dubs.
The orchestra still sounded fine, and I wouldn't mind them doing that again on another album, should they choose to do another one (Which I hope they do).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on July 08, 2010, 09:44:24 PM
Union gets way too much hate. It's not a bad album!

And, of course, Going for the One is the best them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 08, 2010, 10:42:37 PM
Union gets way too much hate. It's not a bad album!

:tup

And, of course, Going for the One is the best them.

 :tdwn
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 08, 2010, 11:13:39 PM
Union gets way too much hate. It's not a bad album!

And, of course, Going for the One is the best them.

Union is hard for some Yesfans to stomach because it's a Frankenstein monster.  Tracks were recorded, more tracks were recorded, overdubs were done, messes were made, men in suits were allowed to toy with the music end of things, dozens of musicians entered and left the studio, and somehow parts that were played by actual members of Yes were cut in favor of those played by hired guns.  That has never happened anywhere else in the history of Yes.  It is musical blasphemy, pure and simple.

Other than that, it's not a bad album.

I agree about Going for the One.  Close to the Edge gets more play from me, but that's only because I intentionally save Going for the One for special occassions.  The brilliance of "Awaken" is just too amazing to spoil by playing too often.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 08, 2010, 11:14:39 PM
Union gets way too much hate. It's not a bad album!

:tup

And, of course, Going for the One is the best them.

 :tdwn

Its the best Yes album that doesn't go crazy on making a ton of epics. I'm not against that, or obviously I wouldn't listen to Yes lol but Going For the One is just so consistent and I love the production on it. Someone else said earlier that it felt airy, I disagree, the production felt a lot heavier to me and that's partially why I love it so much.

Now, as for the albums that are about the epics, its Close to the Edge, no contest. Relayer/Topographic Oceans are great, but they just aren't Close to the Edge, very few albums reach that level of perfection.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 09, 2010, 06:44:15 AM
Any answer for best Yes album other than Tales is the wrong answer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 09, 2010, 01:58:16 PM
Any answer for best Yes album other than Tales is the wrong answer.
The Remembering is a boring song but other than that Tales is great. Its about 4th or 5th in my Yes album rankings though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 09, 2010, 02:21:01 PM
Any answer for best Yes album other than Tales is the wrong answer.

I will disagree with you. Good yes, the best. no.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dittomist on July 09, 2010, 11:39:52 PM
Tales is also my favorite Yes album--it's also one of the best albums ever to listen to when high  :tup
I also love love love Going for the One (it's easily my most played Yes CD and it seems to get better every time) and Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 10, 2010, 12:54:03 PM
Tales is also my favorite Yes album--it's also one of the best albums ever to listen to when high  :tup
I also love love love Going for the One (it's easily my most played Yes CD and it seems to get better every time) and Relayer.
I wouldn't know what Yes sounds like while high.... but whatever floats  your boat.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 12, 2010, 06:59:21 PM
Bumping thread because I found this!

https://newsok.com/article/3472712#di...#ixzz0sjPwC9ZP

So they are going to make another album, obviously without Jon. We'll see how that goes. Despite the lack of Jon, Drama is a great album and a lot better than what most other bands would put out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 12, 2010, 07:47:11 PM
Drama was also 30 years ago.  You have to wonder how much creativity these guys have left anyway, and without their main creative force, I have a bad feeling about this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 12, 2010, 07:54:31 PM
Drama was also 30 years ago.  You have to wonder how much creativity these guys have left anyway, and without their main creative force, I have a bad feeling about this.
I dunno, I feel optimistic about this. Doesn't Steve Howe also get involved in a good bit of the songwriting normally? Granted, he's a lot older, but I'm confident Yes can at least put out a decent record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 12, 2010, 10:08:56 PM
A decent record?  Well, to each his own, but as a longtime fan, them releasing a decent record with a different singer excites me about as much as picking out socks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2010, 10:47:46 PM
Quote
"In fact, we're planning to go into the studio Oct. 4 this year to do a new album of material," he said. "But of course that's going to be with Oliver Wakeman and Benoit."

I didn't expect this to happen, really.  I'll be cautiously optimistic.  Howe, Squire and White have been together a long time and still have some game.  If the newbies can bring something fresh to the table, it could spark something.  At the very least, it will be worth checking out.  I would check out a solo album from any of these guys, so checking out a new Yes album is a no-brainer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 13, 2010, 05:06:51 AM
We'll see how it works out...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on July 13, 2010, 05:23:07 AM
A decent record?  Well, to each his own, but as a longtime fan, them releasing a decent record with a different singer excites me about as much as picking out socks.
Better than never getting a new album from them. But I've only listened to Yes for the past year or so.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on July 13, 2010, 05:29:17 AM
Going for the One is the best because, musically, it's a lot more accessible than Relayer or Tales or even Close to the Edge without losing much of the depth those albums had, and it's more ambitious than Fragile or The Yes Album. Lyrically, Anderon's still sounding poetic, but not as dependent on experiences with hallucinogenic drugs. Anderson's lyrics have always been a little too "out there" for me, and later in the Yes discography they'd become painfully cliche. But Going for the One was his happy medium. It's only too bad that he couldn't maintain that level of lyricism afterwards.

To be honest, Relayer and Tales don't do that much for me, and, honestly, I'm not even that big on Fragile. Tales is just too long, with the good parts too far and few between. Relayer pulls everything back in, but while there's great parts like Soon, once again the long songs just seem to go on for too long. And Fragile just fails to sound like a cohesive "full band" effort. It really sounds like a very, very good demo stretched into a full album. If I had to pick my "holy trilogy" of Yes albums, it'd doubtless be (chronologically speaking) The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, and Going for the One.  
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 14, 2010, 10:05:03 PM
Meh. I doubt I'll even buy the new album. Wasn't impressed with Benoit or Oliver at all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 16, 2010, 11:45:28 PM
Not sure if I would be interested, but it can't be worse than having Billy Sherwood involved, could it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 18, 2010, 11:56:44 PM
Close to the Togographic Ocean Relayed through Time and a Fragile Tormato Going for the Yes Album Union Talking to the Big Generator of Magnificated Drama of the Ladder and Yes, an Owner of a Lonely Heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 30, 2010, 10:16:43 PM
I just finished listening to Fragile (+"America) and wow... great album. It's been awhile since I've revisited it and it's just fantastic. I also listened to the first three Yes albums earlier today and while they aren't as proggy as the following three (Fragile, Close To The Edge and Tales From Topographic Oceans), they are great in their own right. Those young lads sure knew how to write catchy songs (particularly on their 2nd album) while also putting their own spin on some classics like "Every Little Thing" and "Something's Coming".

I think their first two albums are pretty underrated, and the original line-up has a unique sound that isn't quite captured on The Yes Album or even Fragile. What I enjoy most about the first two albums is probably Bruford and Squire, but also Kaye's keyboard work is done quite well.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 30, 2010, 10:43:28 PM
The jump from Time and a Word and The Yes Album has always been so big to me. Steve Howe just added so much to the dynamics of the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on July 30, 2010, 10:57:36 PM
Time and a Word especially is under rated.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 30, 2010, 11:03:17 PM
There are major gems on those first two records.  I am personally very fond of "Astral Traveller."  And obviously "Time and a Word" is killer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jasc15 on August 02, 2010, 09:08:07 AM
After getting acquainted with Close to the Edge and Fragile (and listening to "And You And I" about 10x more than any song on either album) I am now waiting for Tales From Topographic Oceans to arrive.  As you can see, I'm not venturing far from my Yes starting point here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on August 02, 2010, 09:10:22 AM
You and I is the weakest song on CttE.


ib4rage
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on August 02, 2010, 09:11:29 AM
In with rage
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on August 02, 2010, 09:13:08 AM
I'm cool with that, since I like CTTE and Siberian Khatru more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 02, 2010, 11:26:17 AM
Tales is good, although I disagree with everyone else on it. Personally, I think its easier to get into if you do the album song by song, instead of listening through the whole thing. Its about 90 minutes long, so its easy to get kind of "lost" in it. I would say listen to it through once when you get it, and then listen to each song solo. The Revealing Science of God is probably my favorite Yes song ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 11:28:26 AM
Z is correct, except on Revealing. Ritual is the best them. To get into Tales, take each separate. Then when you know each song enough, try out the entire thing and have your life changed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on August 02, 2010, 11:30:10 AM
I'm still not a huge fan of Tales. I haven't spent much time listening to it though, just because it's such a monster album to tackle.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 02, 2010, 11:40:36 AM
Z is correct, except on Revealing. Ritual is the best them. To get into Tales, take each separate. Then when you know each song enough, try out the entire thing and have your life changed.

Ritual is great too, but the opening chant to the album is probably the greatest thing I have ever heard in music.



Ever.










EVER

And Jon Anderson did the chant at his solo show.  :heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on August 02, 2010, 12:08:15 PM
The Revealing Science of God is probably my favorite Yes song ever.
Same here. The Ancient is a huge favorite of mine as well, I'd say it's Howe's brightest moment in his entire career. However, I've always found the other two songs average, which is a real shame. Ritual has a cool opening, but outside of the first couple of minutes, it's rather tedious...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on August 02, 2010, 12:14:36 PM
Howe's screechy guitar playing in the first few minutes of "The Ancient" makes me want to run head first into a wall.  It is a shame, too, as the drumming in that section is killer, and the last few minutes of that song are tremendous, but it is tough to make it through that guitar playing to get that far sometimes. 

I also find "The Remembering" to meander waaaaay too much.  It could have been a great 10-12 minute song, but they dragged it out for way too long, especially the first half of the song. 

The other two songs are just fine, but the middle songs not being up to par prevents Tales from being truly great.  It is still quite good, and is quite a journey when listened to from start to finish, but as a whole, it simply cannot compare to the three records that preceded it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 09:43:26 PM
Z is correct, except on Revealing. Ritual is the best them. To get into Tales, take each separate. Then when you know each song enough, try out the entire thing and have your life changed.

Ritual is great too, but the opening chant to the album is probably the greatest thing I have ever heard in music.



Ever.










EVER

And Jon Anderson did the chant at his solo show.  :heart

Fail, the album actually opens with a few minutes of chords. The chant opening was only on the original vinyl because they couldn't fit the first few minutes on one side.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 02, 2010, 10:51:39 PM
That's one way to look at it.  Another is that the original LP version is all there was for over 30 years and thus has a pretty fair claim to being called the "real" version.  The first couple of CD pressings used that version as well.  The extended intro is definitely cool, but it only appears on the most recent CD remasters, so it's not exactly a fail if someone isn't familiar with it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 11:07:39 PM
That's one way to look at it.  Another is that the original LP version is all there was for over 30 years and thus has a pretty fair claim to being called the "real" version.  The first couple of CD pressings used that version as well.  The extended intro is definitely cool, but it only appears on the most recent CD remasters, so it's not exactly a fail if someone isn't familiar with it.

I know, I was just bustin' his balls. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 02, 2010, 11:10:49 PM
Wait, theres a version where it DOESN'T open with chords?  :huh:

The one I have has a few minutes of guitar and keys before it starts with the chant... wasn't aware there was a version that starts with the chant right away.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 11:13:00 PM
Wait, theres a version where it DOESN'T open with chords?  :huh:

The one I have has a few minutes of guitar and keys before it starts with the chant... wasn't aware there was a version that starts with the chant right away.

Yea the original vinyl couldn't fit a 22 minute song so they dropped it and the album goes right into the chanting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 02, 2010, 11:14:06 PM
Wait, theres a version where it DOESN'T open with chords?  :huh:

The one I have has a few minutes of guitar and keys before it starts with the chant... wasn't aware there was a version that starts with the chant right away.

According to the album's Wikipedia page, the 2003 Remaster CD " restored a two-minute ambient section at the beginning of the album's first song. This section was deleted at the last minute before the album was originally pressed."

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 02, 2010, 11:14:39 PM
Interesting... I assume they had it on the tape deck then?

Still don't have Tales on vinyl :( Never see it in the store
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 11:16:22 PM
Interesting... I assume they had it on the tape deck then?

Still don't have Tales on vinyl :( Never see it in the store

I have the original French pressing that I got on my vacation to Paris.. Picked it up for 25 Euros and have it in a case on the wall in my room :metal . The other wall has the Asia debut.

Basically I'm the biggest prog nerd ever because I have those hanging on my walls.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 02, 2010, 11:18:10 PM
 :metal :metal :metal

I've got The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, Going For The One, Drama, and Big Generator on vinyl... plus the first two Asia albums.

BUT I NEED TALES AND RELAYER AHHHH
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 02, 2010, 11:23:30 PM
Awesome, I'd love to listen to those albums on vinyl.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 03, 2010, 08:01:19 AM
The one I have has a few minutes of guitar and keys before it starts with the chant... wasn't aware there was a version that starts with the chant right away.
According to the album's Wikipedia page, the 2003 Remaster CD " restored a two-minute ambient section at the beginning of the album's first song. This section was deleted at the last minute before the album was originally pressed."

Kids these days.

Vinyl LPs were themselves something of an art form.  You could squeeze more music onto a side by cutting the grooves closer together, but the grooves themselves would not be as deep and musical fidelity could be lost.  The average LP side was usually around 20-25 minutes; anything higher than that was usually avoided, but it wasn't a hard physical limitation.  In the hands of a skilled cutter, loss could be minimized or even eliminated.  Side Two of Todd Rundgren's Initiation is a 36-minute epic ("A Treatise on Cosmic Fire") and it sounds amazing.  A lot of that piece is rather sparse, and much of it is quite dense, so maybe Todd actually varied the angle; I don't know.  That seems like an insane thing to do, but it's Todd Rundgren we're talking about, I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

Anyway, before the remasters, the only time the ambient intro was heard was during the original tour, when they played Tales from Topographics Oceans in its entirety, including the ambient intro.  As I said upthread, all LP pressings and the original CD pressings used the version that starts immediately with the chant.

On the Yesfans site, folks talk about how the chant starting immediately is more analogous to the big bang ("dawn of light") when a moment before there was nothing, whereas the extended intro gives more the impression of earth and life evolving and at some point there is a creature with actual consciousness.  Yesfans tend to get hung up on stuff like that.  I just think it's cool that we finally get to hear the intro after all these years, but to me the "real" version will always be the original, the only one there was for 30 years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 03, 2010, 09:11:19 AM
The one I have has a few minutes of guitar and keys before it starts with the chant... wasn't aware there was a version that starts with the chant right away.
According to the album's Wikipedia page, the 2003 Remaster CD " restored a two-minute ambient section at the beginning of the album's first song. This section was deleted at the last minute before the album was originally pressed."

Kids these days.

Vinyl LPs were themselves something of an art form.  You could squeeze more music onto a side by cutting the grooves closer together, but the grooves themselves would not be as deep and musical fidelity could be lost.  The average LP side was usually around 20-25 minutes; anything higher than that was usually avoided, but it wasn't a hard physical limitation.  In the hands of a skilled cutter, loss could be minimized or even eliminated.  Side Two of Todd Rundgren's Initiation is a 36-minute epic ("A Treatise on Cosmic Fire") and it sounds amazing.  A lot of that piece is rather sparse, and much of it is quite dense, so maybe Todd actually varied the angle; I don't know.  That seems like an insane thing to do, but it's Todd Rundgren we're talking about, I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

Anyway, before the remasters, the only time the ambient intro was heard was during the original tour, when they played Tales from Topographics Oceans in its entirety, including the ambient intro.  As I said upthread, all LP pressings and the original CD pressings used the version that starts immediately with the chant.

On the Yesfans site, folks talk about how the chant starting immediately is more analogous to the big bang ("dawn of light") when a moment before there was nothing, whereas the extended intro gives more the impression of earth and life evolving and at some point there is a creature with actual consciousness.  Yesfans tend to get hung up on stuff like that.  I just think it's cool that we finally get to hear the intro after all these years, but to me the "real" version will always be the original, the only one there was for 30 years.

 :lol Yeah, kids...haha!

I like the analogy you presented between not having the ambient intro and having it. It's very fitting to the music itself.

And I was reading up on LP length per side and found that there were some LPs that tried to fit up to 39-40 minutes of music on ONE side alone, which surprised me, making a single LP nearly as long as modern day CDs! Not many artists did this, however, because as you said, fidelity would be lost and the music would suffer to some degree, especially if played with a dull needle could damage the vinyl itself.

I don't get the argument that "it wouldn't fit on a side of the LP". It's only 2 minutes and even then, the Remaster's length is only 22:20 (or something close to that), and plenty of LPs at that time had sides longer than that, like Genesis' Foxtrot.

Maybe Yes felt they could get better sound out of the LP by not pressing that 2-minute intro and giving the vinyl a bit more space for the piece?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 03, 2010, 11:51:01 AM
I don't get the argument that "it wouldn't fit on a side of the LP". It's only 2 minutes and even then, the Remaster's length is only 22:20 (or something close to that), and plenty of LPs at that time had sides longer than that, like Genesis' Foxtrot.

This. I've seen this argument used with so many things (like leaving Silver Springs off Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours"), but it has never made sense to me, because, as you said Orbert, vinyls can hold much more than 20 minutes. Yes, around 24 minutes or so, the quality isl likely to start going downhill, but in this case (and a few others) there wouldn't be any (significant) loss between 20 and 22 minutes.... just doesn't make sense.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on August 03, 2010, 01:53:11 PM
I don't get the argument that "it wouldn't fit on a side of the LP". It's only 2 minutes and even then, the Remaster's length is only 22:20 (or something close to that), and plenty of LPs at that time had sides longer than that, like Genesis' Foxtrot.

This. I've seen this argument used with so many things (like leaving Silver Springs off Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours"), but it has never made sense to me, because, as you said Orbert, vinyls can hold much more than 20 minutes. Yes, around 24 minutes or so, the quality isl likely to start going downhill, but in this case (and a few others) there wouldn't be any (significant) loss between 20 and 22 minutes.... just doesn't make sense.



Record label interference I would presume.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 03, 2010, 03:50:24 PM
Maybe they were just so high they accidently deleted it. :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 03, 2010, 03:58:04 PM
Maybe they were just so high they accidently deleted it. :hat

 :rollin Seems like the most logical answer to me.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on August 03, 2010, 04:04:53 PM
I'll guess that some cd's are make without using the original masters.  This happened a ton in the 80's when cd's first came out.  Here is a great example. Rush Signals, the gold disk is missing a line in The Weapon.  They said that it wasn't on the original master but it was leaked that they didn't Get the original master.  Mobile Fidelity got screwed and so did we.  I bought it for $25 dollars and the 20 bit remaster that I got for $6.99 is way better.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 04, 2010, 11:17:09 PM
I'll guess that some cd's are make without using the original masters.  This happened a ton in the 80's when cd's first came out.  Here is a great example. Rush Signals, the gold disk is missing a line in The Weapon.  They said that it wasn't on the original master but it was leaked that they didn't Get the original master.  Mobile Fidelity got screwed and so did we.  I bought it for $25 dollars and the 20 bit remaster that I got for $6.99 is way better.

Where did you hear this? Is there somewhere that references that anywhere? (I'm not calling you out on anything, I would just like to learn the truth). The story I heard on the National Midnight Star at the time it came out was that the lyric was added later.

 I know the original masters were found to be in pretty bad shape about 5 years ago when they were working on Permanent Waves, but  I thought the MFSL Signals was the last time any of the original masters from the Mercury-Polygram years was used. Supposedly Geddy was overseeing the work on 1997 remasters which was probably the first time the original masters were used for CD (if they were still in good shape back then).

For the record, I would take the MFSL version of Signals over any CD version every day of the week and twice on Sunday. To my ears it sounds a lot warmer and clearer (I admit the remasters sounds louder.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 04, 2010, 11:53:41 PM
Noob question: MFSL?

By the way, I have Signals on vinyl, and it owns.  You talk about warm sound.   :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 05, 2010, 12:00:44 AM
Noob question: MFSL?

By the way, I have Signals on vinyl, and it owns.  You talk about warm sound.   :hat

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. They do some pretty awesome remasters.
https://www.mofi.com/store/pc/home.asp
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 05, 2010, 09:43:35 AM
Ah, I've heard of them, and heard good things about them.  The acronym just wasn't clicking.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 06, 2010, 09:27:04 PM
Just got home from the Asia show. Holy fuck was it amazing! The biggest surprise was how amazing John Wetton's voice still is. It sounds like he hasn't aged a day since the s/t came out. CP's solo was fucking mindblowing as well, and Downes was all over the keys. And there needs nothing be said about SH.. because well, he is still the master.

10/10 show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on August 06, 2010, 09:54:16 PM
Would like Yes a bit more but I can't stand Anderson's voice. I still love them despite that. Dream Theater will always be my favourite band though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 07, 2010, 12:48:40 AM
Just got home from the Asia show. Holy fuck was it amazing! The biggest surprise was how amazing John Wetton's voice still is. It sounds like he hasn't aged a day since the s/t came out. CP's solo was fucking mindblowing as well, and Downes was all over the keys. And there needs nothing be said about SH.. because well, he is still the master.

10/10 show.

Nice!  :tup Review?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 08, 2010, 04:34:45 PM
Noob question: MFSL?

By the way, I have Signals on vinyl, and it owns.  You talk about warm sound.   :hat

I love musical warmth. It's awesome.

I can never seem to figure out which I like better, the MFSL or the vinyl copy.


I seriously thought about going to see Asia for my first time ever yet again this year.  Just couldn't pull the trigger. And then Carl Palmer announced (Actually he hasn't yet but 7 dates have already been announced) he was touring this fall instead, so that was a no brainer for me. I'm hoping guitarist Paul Bielatowicz (of Neal Morse's Euro touring band) will be along too.

How much of the new album did Asia play?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 08, 2010, 10:44:54 PM
Just got home from the Asia show. Holy fuck was it amazing! The biggest surprise was how amazing John Wetton's voice still is. It sounds like he hasn't aged a day since the s/t came out. CP's solo was fucking mindblowing as well, and Downes was all over the keys. And there needs nothing be said about SH.. because well, he is still the master.

10/10 show.

Nice!  :tup Review?

Maybe I will write a longer one up within the next few days, not tonight though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 20, 2010, 04:37:59 AM
I can't believe there was a time when I didn't like "Turn of the Century". When I first got the album, I used to just listen to the title track, and then I would skip over the rest.

Turn of the Century has to be one of my favorite Yes songs now. And it sounds even better on vinyl.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 20, 2010, 07:58:43 AM
Great song, one of my faves, too.  I love Howe's acoustic rubato intro, then Anderson's voice comes drifting in and you can't even tell what time signature they're in, if they're even following one.  The story itself is age-old, but when I first heard the song in like 7th grade, it was new to me, so it has always worked.  The break is amazing, all the changes, then as the statue comes to life, Howe totally takes off.  And then it ends somewhat like how it begins.

Hitting the road again today for more jamming in Michigan.  I think I'll listed to Going for the One and Tales from Topographic Oceans all the way through.  Thanks for the suggestion!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 30, 2010, 12:54:00 AM
Am I in the Twilight Zone?

I was flipping channels to get to Music Choice and on the way saw a bunch of good-looking naked women dancing to "Heart of The Sunrise."

Did that really happen? Some movie called Buffalo '66.

Am I dreaming?

Karma?

Is the rest of the movie good?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 30, 2010, 07:28:47 AM
Vincent Gallo (writer/director/star of Buffalo '66) is a prog fan, and specifically a Yes fan.  He says Chris Squire's bass work with Yes is what inspired him to learn to play, so having "Heart of the Sunrise" play during the strip club scene was definitely a deliberate choice.

The movie is pretty good.  I got a little excited when I saw Cristina Ricci and Rosanna Arquette in the credits, and "nudity" in the description, but the only nudity is in the strip club.  Still a pretty good movie, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 28, 2010, 04:17:43 PM
So I'm sitting here listening to the Keystudio compilation of the band's 96/97 studio tracks previously released on Keys To Ascension (1 and 2), and oddly enough, I am reminded at how much I absolutely LOVE this material. I, along with likely thousands upon thousands of other Yesfans, wish that they had released the songs as a single 75 minute album by itself, and released the live show as a 2-CD show by itself.

With the recent re-release of the KTA material in a 5-disc box set, they really missed the opportunity to do that with the material. Unfortunately, it's just a repackaging of the two original KTA 2-CD sets plus the more recently released DVD. I would be more inclined to buy this box set had they re-ordered the live tracks into their proper live set list order, and put them on 2 CDs by themselves. Also, a re-release of the Keystudio album itself would've been fantastic for most fans who didn't grab it over 4 years ago because it nabs around $40-50 on secondary markets these days (I, for one, am VERY glad I bought it new on Amazon back on 06 for a scant $8 or so).

Also, any re-release of this album would be welcome. I don't collect vinyl, but it would definitely work well for a 2-LP set since two of the songs are already side-length. The track list would have to be re-worked though...
     Side 1 - 18:38
"Mind Drive"    (18:38)
     Side 2 - 19:00
"Footprints" (9:09)
"Be The One" (9:51)
     Side 3 - 19:15
"That, That Is" (19:15)
     Side 4 - 17:24
"Bring Me To The Power" (7:25)
"Children Of Light" (6:34)
"Sign Language" (3:25)

Well... something like that. It opens with "Mind Drive", followed by "Foot Prints" just like the second disc of KTA2, but then as on Keystudio, "Be The One" follows "Foot Prints". After "Be The One" is "That, That Is", like they were at the end of KTA1's second disc. Then the final three tracks are as they were at the end of KTA2. I think "Sign Language" works well as a somber, soft ending to the "album".

I think this material might do better with a remaster/rerelease of some sort. It definitely deserves more attention than it got, especially with the short-produced compilation of the tracks with a rather...ahem... lackluster name.

Anyways, just wanted to post my praise for these tracks... amazing works!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on September 28, 2010, 04:39:11 PM
That reminds me, I still need to listen to Keystudio!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 28, 2010, 05:14:17 PM
I like the Keys studio material.  Some say it's too derivative of their 70's material, tries to hard to sound like it, or some shit, but most Yesfans love the fact that the classic lineup was back.  And realistically, I think the outcry would've been far worse if the Close to the Edge lineup had gotten back together and it sounded like "Owner of a Lonely Heart".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 28, 2010, 05:14:39 PM
In may of 2011, John Anderson will be playing a few towns away from me in a little cozy 200 cap. hall.  I love going to this place and I think my cousin is up for it.

Here is a link to the place.  Click on the Londonderry section.


https://www.tupelohall.com/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 28, 2010, 10:11:50 PM
I like most of the Keystudio tracks, but I am not nutty over any of them, like a lot of Yes fans are for "Mind Drive."  Good collection of songs; nothing more, nothing less.  I am happy to have gotten the live CDs at the time, though, as the live versions of "America" and "Onward" are stellar.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 28, 2010, 10:21:01 PM
I like most of the Keystudio tracks, but I am not nutty over any of them, like a lot of Yes fans are for "Mind Drive."  Good collection of songs; nothing more, nothing less.  I am happy to have gotten the live CDs at the time, though, as the live versions of "America" and "Onward" are stellar.


I agree. The live tracks are all pretty good, overdubs or not, there's some spectacular versions of songs on here. I really really enjoy "Time And A Word" and "And You And I". For me, some of these tracks are the definitive live versions of these songs. I'm quite happy I spent the time to remix the album in concert-order with proper cross-fades of audience noise between songs.

Disc 1 (74:34)
1. Siberian Khatru (10:14)
2. Close To The Edge (19:34)
3. I've Seen All Good People (7:06)
4. Time And A Word (6:26)
5. And You And I (10:38)
6. The Revealing Science of God (20:26)

Disc 2 (69:14)
1. Going For The One (5:06)
2. Turn Of The Century (7:58)
3. America (10:26)
4. Onward (5:39)
5. Awaken (18:25)
6. Roundabout (8:26)
7. Starship Trooper (13:04)

The running order is pretty good too. A nice flow to the whole concert and the way it happen to fit on two discs is pretty amazing, especially ending the first disc with TRSOG and opening the second disc with GFTO. Also, I like that we get the entire album of CTTE live, as well as half of GFTO (the other two songs we already had on Yesshows - "Parallels" and "Wonderous Stories"), as well as "Onward" and "America", and a rocking version of "Starship Trooper".

Like I said before, they really dropped the ball on the re-release by not re-mixing the album to proper concert-order...I'm sure a lot of fans would've shelled out the clams for the set. I know I would have, even though I have my own home-made album of the live tracks.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 28, 2010, 10:34:53 PM
I kind of wish I still had those live CDs, but I ripped the songs I wanted from them and sold them to a used CD store years ago.  Oh well, I don't listen to live albums that much anyway. The only reason I listen to "Onward" and "America" often is because they both obliterate the originals, or in the case of the latter, the live version kills their original studio cover. :p

I still think The Ladder is quite good and very underrated.  I think it is the best thing they did post-1994.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 29, 2010, 05:48:50 PM
I've got the original Keys I and II.   

I've never bothered with any of the subsequent reissues relating to both of those.

Is there anything new that's come out from that period since then?

I suppose I should just do my own Keys Studio and put the live perfromance back together at some point. I'm not sure I why I haven't done that before anyway as the live tracks are pretty awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 29, 2010, 08:12:30 PM
I do like the production of the Keys 2 studio songs better than Keys 1 studio songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 29, 2010, 08:55:08 PM
I do like the production of the Keys 2 studio songs better than Keys 1 studio songs.

I read a review somewhere that said they thought the mix on Keystudio was different than the tracks released on the two KTA albums in that the keyboards were brought out a bit more. Doing a bit of a side-by-side, I could tell there was a bit of difference.

I think since they went ahead and threw back Wakeman's intro to "Children Of Light" they went ahead and did a BIT of remixing on the whole album before releasing it, if anything, to at least sound more cohesive and have an even mix on all 7 songs.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 29, 2010, 08:57:02 PM
I find the bass in Keys 2 to be brighter and fuller in sound and more in the front of the mix which I love.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on October 01, 2010, 04:21:23 PM
"Mind Drive" is the best song or more or less any work, since Drama.

(https://www.yesworld.com/images/news/LivingTree.jpg)

https://yesworld.com/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 01, 2010, 04:53:09 PM
It's really just eight new songs.  They're counting "Living Tree (Parts 1 & 2)" as two songs.


Okay seriously, this is pretty sweet.  But I have some mixed feelings about the whole thing.  Jon and Rick have worked together for a long, long time, mostly within the Yes framework, and I expect this album to sound pretty much like some of the mellower Yes tunes, or mellower sections of Yes songs.  That would actually be my preference.  But if that turns out to be the case, then I can only wonder why these two are the two that held out from rejoining Yes for the new tour and album.  What, so they could go off by themselves and make Yeslike music?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on October 01, 2010, 06:12:21 PM
Yeah, this whole thing with Jon and Rick (mostly Jon) is really freaking weird.  I just don't get it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on October 01, 2010, 06:38:49 PM
I'm excited for this! Can't wait to hear it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 01, 2010, 06:48:26 PM
https://www.facebook.com/TheJonAnderson

Samples of the album are on his Facebook... Eh. I'm not sure if I am equally or less excited about this than I am about the next Yes album with Oliver and Benoit.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on October 01, 2010, 08:04:52 PM
Marc, what I realy want to hear is Rabin/Wakeman.  They've talked about working together for years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 01, 2010, 08:34:18 PM
Marc, what I realy want to hear is Rabin/Wakeman.  They've talked about working together for years.

I agree!!! I kept reading rumors earlier this summer for something involving Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman. I jokingly suggested it be called WAR, as a subtle jab at the Squire/Howe/White/David/Wakeman Yes that's touring about. They could get Tony Levin to play bass and maybe convince Bruford to "come out of retirement" to play drums. Then they could be BRAWL.

Either way, I think a Rabin/Wakeman collaboration would be more interesting anything Squire/Howe/White could come up with, but we all know what fans really want - the classic Anderson/Squire/Howe/White/Wakeman lineup...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 01, 2010, 10:42:43 PM
Anything Jon Anderson does with Rick Wakeman and/or Trevor Rabin will be infinitely more interesting and anticipated by this Yes fan than anything those guys calling themselves Yes these days do. 

Also, it is easy for us to say, "Why don't they all just work together," but it is not that easy.  You have to figure that Anderson had a major falling out with Squire and/or Howe.  It's the only thing that makes any sense. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 01, 2010, 10:55:35 PM
Yeah, he wanted to take a break, and the other guys wanted to keep working.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Scard on October 02, 2010, 01:27:05 AM
Yeah, he wanted to take a break, and the other guys wanted to keep working.

I see what you did there....I think...


Unless that IS what happened...

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on October 02, 2010, 07:56:26 AM
It kinda is what happened, actually.  Wakeman has arthritis, so the doctors told him not to play live, and Jon had some serious asthma attack, so he couldn't sing for a while, but the other three wanted to tour, so they got Wakeman's son and Benoit Oliver and got on the road.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on October 02, 2010, 10:43:52 AM
I'm looking forward to Wakeman/Anderson much more than the newest Yes-Lite band.

I saw they had some European tourdates, hope we get some US ones.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on October 02, 2010, 10:46:30 AM
Maybe I don't get it because I haven't been a fan of the band for years and haven't seen them live yet but what's so bad about the current Yes?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on October 02, 2010, 10:52:12 AM
Maybe I don't get it because I haven't been a fan of the band for years and haven't seen them live yet but what's so bad about the current Yes?

They aren't good live at all. Oliver is no where near his dad's skill level and Benoit's voice ranges from good to bad to completely off key.

The rest of the band have also aged well.... not so pleasantly. Most of the songs are slowed down a lot.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zook on October 02, 2010, 08:14:42 PM
I've been meaning to check out this band as I've heard so many great things about them. One of them being that they heavily influenced my favorite band Dream Theater. I was looking for best of albums on Amazon and based on reviews for them, they aren't really best ofs. A reviewer recommended the live album Yessongs. As a new listener, would I enjoy them live? I don't listen to much 70s prog. Thanks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Plasmastrike on October 02, 2010, 08:16:21 PM
Honestly, I would say just listsen to the album "Close To The Edge."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 02, 2010, 08:26:45 PM
I've been meaning to check out this band as I've heard so many great things about them. One of them being that they heavily influenced my favorite band Dream Theater. I was looking for best of albums on Amazon and based on reviews for them, they aren't really best ofs. A reviewer recommended the live album Yessongs. As a new listener, would I enjoy them live? I don't listen to much 70s prog. Thanks.

I think hearing them in a live context definitely shows how good of a band they are on stage, which isn't usually too far off from how they sound in the studio.

If you want to try your luck with a live album, definitely get Yessongs. Definitely one of the best live records of a 70's prog band (right up there with ELP's Welcome Back My Friends and Genesis' Seconds Out.

As for a studio album, I would suggest Fragile and Close To The Edge. With the former, you get an album that's basically 4 songs by the band and 5 compositions, one by each member, that show cases their talents; with the latter, you get their nearly universally praised album, comprised of only 3 songs and their first side-long epic, the title track.

I started with Yes on those two albums, in addition to their 6th album, the lengthy "concept" Tales From Topographic Oceans, comprised of only 4 side-long tracks that definitely challenge the listener. Even 37 years later, some fans have trouble getting into this album while others dive right into it and absorb every bit of it. It just really depends on your mind and your patience.

Beyond those three albums, it just really depends on whether or not you like them, then I'd say go two albums in either direction - back to The Yes Album and Time And A Word, or forward to Relayer and Going For The One. Most fans will tell you their "classic period" runs The Yes Album-Going For The One, and that their first two albums and their two after GFTO are more for those who really enjoy the band/are die-hards.

Either way, each Yes album definitely has something different to offer and they're all a bit different characteristically, so it's not like you're listening to the same album over and over.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zook on October 02, 2010, 09:22:44 PM
Thanks guys. So what's the general opinion among prog fans on Owner Of a Lonely Heart? Is it Yes' I Walk Beside You or is it still well liked among all Yes fans?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on October 02, 2010, 09:28:00 PM
Owner is probably their most commercial song, but i still think its a good one. However, its a pretty big departure from the "prog" era.

I would start with Close to the Edge or Fragile, as those are probably your two best bets. I'd save the live albums for after when you are more familiar with the studio versions.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on October 02, 2010, 09:46:11 PM
Even though it's not bad, I don't think that Owner Of A Lonely Heart qualifies as a song that influenced DT.   You might actually like the hard-driving sound of Yes' Drama album.  DT covered Machine Messiah on their last YJR release.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 02, 2010, 09:53:45 PM
Even though it's not bad, I don't think that Owner Of A Lonely Heart qualifies as a song that influenced DT.   You might actually like the hard-driving sound of Yes' Drama album.  I think DT covered Machine Messiah on their last YJR release.

Drama is a pretty heavy album, but it doesn't have the band's lead vocalist, Jon Anderson. The band on Drama is actually half of Yes and half of The Buggles ("Video Killed The Radio Star"), but what they turned out was pretty fantastic, especially after the very lackluster Tormato. It's a good album but I wouldn't suggest anyone to START their Yes journey with it.

And yes, Dream Theater covered about a third of the opening track from the album, "Machine Messiah" performed only instrumentally before segueing into "Trial Of Tears" on their tour opening for Yes back in the early naughties.

If you like what you hear (of samples) of Drama, I'd say go ahead, but I'd still suggest Fragile and Close To The Edge, or the heavier/harder-edged Relayer, one of my personal favorites.

As for "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", it's not BAD. I actually happen to LIKE 90125, and it's a pretty solid record, and miles better than it's follow up Big Generator. However, of the 3 Rabin-era albums, I like Talk the most, but only by a hair over 90125, but Rabin-era Yes is an entirely different monster than their classic, 70's output (like comparing Collins-Era Genesis to Gabriel-Era Genesis).

-Marc.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 02, 2010, 09:57:23 PM
I love 90125 and like Big Generator a lot.  I got into Yes growing up in the 80s through the hits from those two albums, so that probably helps a lot.  Regardless, both are damn fine pop rock records.

Talk is still the best Rabin-era record, though, and a top 5 Yes record in my eyes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on October 02, 2010, 10:38:55 PM
Listening to 90125 a lot lately... I'm really getting a new appreciation for it. Its finally starting to click.

But I still think BG is the better record. ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on October 03, 2010, 05:02:45 AM
Listening to 90125 a lot lately... I'm really getting a new appreciation for it. Its finally starting to click.

But I still think BG is the better record. ;)

90125, at the time in 1983, production seem light years ahead of its time.  For me it's a hair better than Talk.  I also agree that Fragile and Close To the Edge is what Zook should try and that Drama is a fantasic album.  Marc is right with the heavyness for a Yes album.  
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 03, 2010, 05:44:17 AM
Thanks guys. So what's the general opinion among prog fans on Owner Of a Lonely Heart? Is it Yes' I Walk Beside You or is it still well liked among all Yes fans?

After Drama, Yes had broken up again.  Anderson and Wakeman had left after Tormato, and The Buggles replaced them for Drama, but while the album was solid, the tour was a disaster and it was time to take a break.

Later, a guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist named Trevor Rabin was starting up a new band called Cinema, and Chris Squire and Alan White were to be his rhythm section.  Original Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye was brought in, then Jon Anderson.  With the band 4/5 former Yes members (they insist that it was just worked out that way, as they all knew each other and Yes was seemingly no more), the suits pushed Rabin to call the band Yes.  He didn't want to, as he knew he would ultimately be compared to Steve Howe, and would be accused of "changing the Yes sound" and all that.  The suits pointed out that putting Yes on the cover would virtually guarantee much higher sales, plus they weren't going to back the album otherwise.  So he caved.

The lead single was "Owner of a Lonely Heart", Yes' first #1 single, Rabin was ultimately compared to Steve Howe and accused of changing the Yes sound, and in a twist of fate, also applauded for resurrecting Yes.  I think 90125 is solid, but the three Rabin-led Yes albums (the others are Big Generator and Talk) rank pretty low overall IMO in the Yes catalogue.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on October 03, 2010, 09:36:25 AM
I like Big Generator and Talk a good bit myself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 03, 2010, 09:50:08 PM
They are good albums, no doubt.  But I rarely listen to them, because when I'm in the mood for Yes, there are just too many others that I prefer.  Maybe I'm just a prog snob, but there's something, some element missing from them.

I think it's because each of them has Trevor Rabin's stamp all over them.  That's not a bad thing by itself, but the best Yes music is very collaborative, very much a fusion of everyone's musical ideas and strengths.  90125, Big Generator, and Talk are Rabin solo albums with Yes as the backing band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pmahoney1337 on October 04, 2010, 05:00:29 PM
I haven't seen many people mention the Yes album "The Ladder" (atleast in the first few pages. How do other Yes fans feel about this album? I have loved it for as long as i've been a Yes fan (which is a little under a year). I've been loving Yes for as long as i've been into them and im looking forward to learning to more about their music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 04, 2010, 05:25:34 PM
I am very fond of The Ladder; I think it is definitely their best record of the post-Rabin years.  It lags a bit in the middle - "If Only You Knew" is dreadful - but the first five and last three songs are all keepers.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on October 04, 2010, 05:27:37 PM
Magnification > The Ladder imo

The Ladder sounds more like Yes trying to regain their sound, while Magnification sounds like they finally nailed it again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 04, 2010, 05:36:43 PM
I like some of The Ladder, but there are some misfires there.  Magnification is also very good, but I wouldn't say they regained their classic sound.  They were trying something new (orchestra instead of keyboards) and IMO succeeded, but it will always stand out in the catalog.  That's okay; Yes has plenty of one-offs in their catalog, for various reasons.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on October 04, 2010, 05:38:38 PM
I like some of The Ladder, but there are some misfires there.  Magnification is also very good, but I wouldn't say they regained their classic sound.  They were trying something new (orchestra instead of keyboards) and IMO succeeded, but it will always stand out in the catalog.  That's okay; Yes has plenty of one-offs in their catalog, for various reasons.
Well, by "Their sound" I didn't necessarily mean their classic sound. Just a sound that resembled Yes. I enjoy the pop albums too, but as you said it feels like an entirely different band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 04, 2010, 11:40:35 PM
Magnification as a whole has never done it for me.  It has a few songs I like - most notably, "Spirit of Survival" and the first half of "In the Presence Of" - but I think much of it is pretty average fare, especially by Yes standards.

Open Your Eyes is one of their more interesting one-offs, to borrow Orbert's term.  There is no other Yes album that sounds like it.  In some ways, it is very unique, but it just has a very strange feel to it.  The overall songwriting is pretty good, but it is one of those Yes albums that I am never able to quite put my finger on as to how good it really is. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on October 05, 2010, 06:53:55 AM
See, Magnification is probably my favorite post-Drama Yes album. I really liked the direction they took on the record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 13, 2010, 03:25:55 PM
This topic needs to be active again. Let's do this with some album rankings

1. Close to the Edge (BIG SURPRISE HUH GUYS)
2. Going For The One
3. Tales From Topographic Oceans
4. Magnification (I fucking love this record)
5. 90125 (I'm sure this being in my top 5 albums will be very controversial :P)
6. Fragile
7. Drama
8. The Yes Album
9. Relayer (I like this album, but its kind of overrated)
10. Big Generator
11. The Ladder
12. Keystudio (I'm counting this as an album)
13. S/t
14. Talk
15. Time and a Word
16. Tormato
17. Open Your Eyes
18. Union
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsem on November 13, 2010, 03:34:50 PM
90125 at #5 = fail
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 13, 2010, 03:38:28 PM
90125 at #5 = fail
Because not prog = bad
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 13, 2010, 09:42:42 PM
Not necessarily.  90125 is better than some of the other Yes albums, but I wouldn't put it above Fragile, Drama, The Yes Album, or Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on November 13, 2010, 09:49:47 PM
1. Tales from Topographic Oceans
2. Close to the Edge
3. Going For The One
4. Fragile
5. Relayer
6. The Yes Album
7. 90125
8. Big Generator
9. Drama
10. Yes
11. Time and A Word
12. Tormato

Havent heard the rest/not familiar enough with Magnification to rank it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on November 13, 2010, 09:50:59 PM
Not necessarily.  90125 is better than some of the other Yes albums, but I wouldn't put it above Fragile, Drama, The Yes Album, or Relayer.

This. 

Don't have all of their albums, but out of what I do have...

1. The Yes Album
2. Close to the Edge
3. Going for the One
4. Fragile
5. Drama
6. Relayer
7. 90125
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 13, 2010, 11:00:55 PM
I'll take a stab at this (knowing that I might have posted a slightly different order earlier in the thread, but hey, opinions can change ;)):

1. Close to the Edge
2. Fragile
3. The Yes Album
4. Talk
5. 90125
6. Relayer
7. Tales from Topographic Oceans
8. Big Generator
9. Going for the One
10. The Ladder
11. Drama
12. Time and a Word
13. Open Your Eyes
14. Keystudio
15. s/t
16. Magnification
17. Union
18. Tormato

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: True Death of Life on November 13, 2010, 11:03:23 PM
I was just thinking today that Fragile is  actually a perfect album...there are no lulls and everything is flawless. God I love that album to death.

Top of what I own/have listened to:

1. Fragile
2. Close to the Edge
3. The Yes Album
4. Relayer
5. 90125 (I'm with you for once, Seventh Son)
6. Drama
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on November 13, 2010, 11:30:53 PM
My ranking - spaces denote varying tiers of Yes albums. The top two switch around all the time, but they're definitely my favorites.
(10/10)
1. Relayer
2. Close To The Edge

(9/10) - These four may move around a lot, but they're all definitely great albums, but I prefer Fragile & GFTO slightly more than TFTO and Drama)
3. Fragile
4. Going For The One
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans
6. Drama

(8/10)
7. Keystudio (At no. 7?! I know, but it's one of my most listened to albums by Yes, I wish they stuck to this and developed it further)
8. 90125
9. The Ladder

(7/10)
10. The Yes Album
11. Talk (Highly underrated Rabin-era album!)
12. Magnification
13. Tormato (Revisited this a few weeks ago - a LOT better than I remembered)

(6/10 and under, in order from most to least favored)
14. Time And A Word
15. Yes
16. Big Generator (Just never really got into this one - a Remaster would be nice, though).
17. Union
18. Open Your Eyes (I don't think I've listened to this album more than twice)

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 14, 2010, 07:01:00 AM
Not necessarily.  90125 is better than some of the other Yes albums, but I wouldn't put it above Fragile, Drama, The Yes Album, or Relayer.
90125 is very solid, not a single song I'd call bad. Which is odd since its a pop album but hey I'm not complaining  :lol

There are parts of Relayer I don't care for too much. Its still great, but not consistent enough for me.
I have to admit, I haven't really given TYA a lot of attention so I guess a revisit to the album is in order :P
Fragile has the interludes that kill the flow of the album for me. The main songs themselves are some of the best things Yes has ever written, but the interludes annoy me.
Drama again is great and fantastic, but I like the consistency of 90125 just a bit more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on November 14, 2010, 08:23:26 AM
1. Tales From Topographic Oceans
2. Relayer
3. Close to the Edge
4. Going for the One
5. Fragile
6. The Yes Album
7. Drama
8. Magnification
9. Time and a Word
10. Union
11. Yes
12. 90125
13. Tormato

I don't really know BG, Talk or OYE well enough to rank them. Also, albums 1-12 are all pretty much flawless in my opinion, so there's not a big difference in my eyes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 15, 2010, 07:33:28 AM
Not necessarily.  90125 is better than some of the other Yes albums, but I wouldn't put it above Fragile, Drama, The Yes Album, or Relayer.
90125 is very solid, not a single song I'd call bad. Which is odd since its a pop album but hey I'm not complaining  :lol

There are parts of Relayer I don't care for too much. Its still great, but not consistent enough for me.
I have to admit, I haven't really given TYA a lot of attention so I guess a revisit to the album is in order :P
Fragile has the interludes that kill the flow of the album for me. The main songs themselves are some of the best things Yes has ever written, but the interludes annoy me.
Drama again is great and fantastic, but I like the consistency of 90125 just a bit more.

Fair enough.  I know the five individual pieces on Fragile don't work for some people.  Fragile was my first Yes album, so the fact that it was a bit experimental and unusual to do that meant nothing to me, and those pieces are every bit a part of the album as the four group works.  To me, they're part of the flow.  Relayer has never completely clicked for me, not 100% like some people, so I hear what you're saying about parts of it not working for you.  But you do need to check out The Yes Album some more, and you're just wrong about Drama.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 15, 2010, 07:44:57 AM
Drama is just underneath 90125, only losing by a hair.

If it means anything, Machine Messiah is a top 10 Yes song for me. :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zook on November 18, 2010, 09:50:53 AM
So I listened to Close To The Edge for the first time in my life. Twice actually. Now, I wasn't in a quiet area where I could just concentrate on the music, I was at work listening on my Ipod. I don't think it makes a difference. The intro to CTTE sounds like a bunch of kids who got ahold of their dad's instruments and started fucking around. The rest of the song is pretty boring with nothing that really grabbed me. I also listened to a couple songs off Fragile (the long ones). Those were meh too. I guess 70s prog isn't my thing. I don't really like the way it all sounds. I wont write them off, but I don't get what all the fuss is about.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 18, 2010, 10:49:32 AM
So I listened to Close To The Edge for the first time in my life. Twice actually. Now, I wasn't in a quiet area where I could just concentrate on the music, I was at work listening on my Ipod. I don't think it makes a difference. The intro to CTTE sounds like a bunch of kids who got ahold of their dad's instruments and started fucking around. The rest of the song is pretty boring with nothing that really grabbed me. I also listened to a couple songs off Fragile (the long ones). Those were meh too. I guess 70s prog isn't my thing. I don't really like the way it all sounds. I wont write them off, but I don't get what all the fuss is about.
My reaction to this post:
(https://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8608/trollingm.png)


:neverusethis:


I don't actually report people for anything, it was a joke.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zook on November 18, 2010, 03:11:47 PM
It's ok. I can't see your reaction anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on November 18, 2010, 06:07:52 PM
So I listened to Close To The Edge for the first time in my life. Twice actually. Now, I wasn't in a quiet area where I could just concentrate on the music, I was at work listening on my Ipod. I don't think it makes a difference. The intro to CTTE sounds like a bunch of kids who got ahold of their dad's instruments and started fucking around. The rest of the song is pretty boring with nothing that really grabbed me. I also listened to a couple songs off Fragile (the long ones). Those were meh too. I guess 70s prog isn't my thing. I don't really like the way it all sounds. I wont write them off, but I don't get what all the fuss is about.

Try something different, like Pink Floyd or King Crimson.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 18, 2010, 09:17:50 PM
Yeah, 70's prog, as with prog in general, was all over the place.  Yes, Pink Floyd, and King Crimson all get lumped into "prog" but they're very, very different bands.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zook on November 19, 2010, 02:16:30 AM
I like Pink Floyd, atleast the more popular albums. I own DSOTM, WYWH, Animals and The Wall. Granted I don't listen to them much, but I enjoy them still.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 20, 2010, 10:26:28 AM
I can't decide between Close to the Edge, The Revealing Science of God or Awaken as Yes' best song. I'm not the world's biggest fan of The Gates of Delirium (There are sections that just drag on out for too long to me).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on November 20, 2010, 10:28:36 AM
The correct answer is Close to the Edge.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 20, 2010, 10:31:38 AM
I'm inclined to think that as well, but I'm listening to Awaken right now and I still think its right alongside CTTE.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2010, 10:42:55 AM
Those are the two that always fight it out for me, too.  I love Awaken for its unabashed scope.  Pipe organ, choir, harp, and bells, none of which are common in rock music and are even rare in prog, all have prominent roles, and they work.  That alone amazes me.

I find that I listen to Close to the Edge more often, but that's most because it's more accessible.  "Regular" rock instrumentation and more basic song structure.  I tend to put on Awaken when I really, really want to get blown away.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on November 20, 2010, 10:47:50 AM
The Revealing Science of God

This is my favorite Yes song, but the other two you listed would also make my top 5... maybe even my top 3.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 20, 2010, 11:16:31 AM
Those are the two that always fight it out for me, too.  I love Awaken for its unabashed scope.  Pipe organ, choir, harp, and bells, none of which are common in rock music and are even rare in prog, all have prominent roles, and they work.  That alone amazes me.

I find that I listen to Close to the Edge more often, but that's most because it's more accessible.  "Regular" rock instrumentation and more basic song structure.  I tend to put on Awaken when I really, really want to get blown away.
You pretty much summed up why I love Awaken as well. Songs that just throw all that shit in there but still retain "their" sound (Whatever that band's sound may be) are awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 20, 2010, 11:35:00 AM
The Revealing Science of God

This is my favorite Yes song, but the other two you listed would also make my top 5... maybe even my top 3.

Same here. And you and I would also find its place in my top 5, along with Machine messiah.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 20, 2010, 11:51:09 AM
I like "Awaken" a lot, but it would have a hard time cracking my Yes top 20.  I have just never thought it was the bee's knees like most Yes fans seem to.

And any discussion on best Yes song must include "Starship Trooper."  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on November 20, 2010, 12:14:43 PM
I like "Awaken" a lot, but it would have a hard time cracking my Yes top 20.  I have just never thought it was the bee's knees like most Yes fans seem to.

And any discussion on best Yes song must include "Starship Trooper."  :hat

I overlook The Yes Album so much. It was the album that got me into the band, and once I got the rest of their discography I just kind of ignored it. I'm gonna give it another spin today, has some absolutely brilliant songs.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 20, 2010, 12:20:39 PM
I like "Awaken" a lot, but it would have a hard time cracking my Yes top 20.  I have just never thought it was the bee's knees like most Yes fans seem to.

And any discussion on best Yes song must include "Starship Trooper."  :hat
Starship Trooper is to me what Awaken is to you.

Its a damned good song but I wouldn't put it near Yes' very best. I don't know why, I just never felt that strongly about it. Honestly I like I've Seen All Good People more than I like Starship Trooper.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 20, 2010, 02:41:53 PM
"Awaken easily makes my to ten.  The middle part of the song is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces I know of.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Seventh Son on November 20, 2010, 05:44:44 PM
"Awaken easily makes my to ten.  The middle part of the song is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces I know of.
This. Its so very odd, but so beautiful and haunting. I wish Yes had another song like it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 20, 2010, 10:09:03 PM
"Awaken easily makes my to ten.  The middle part of the song is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces I know of.
This. Its so very odd, but so beautiful and haunting. I wish Yes had another song like it.
Agreed.  It is a one of a kind.  Saw them do it live with the backing of a fifty piece orchestra, brought me to tears.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 21, 2010, 05:43:35 AM
Yes it is great.  Saw them play it on the Onion, er.. I mean Union tour.  Steve Howe looked  liked he hated every minute being on stage with Trevor Rabin.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mechanix1911 on November 21, 2010, 05:49:37 AM
STARŠIP TROOPER IS GOOD
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Basekick on November 21, 2010, 07:11:48 AM
STARŠIP TROOPER IS GOOD

Good?  I think you mean FUCKING AMAZING.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sigz on November 21, 2010, 07:58:08 AM
STARŠIP TROOPER IS GOOD

Good?  I think you mean FUCKING AMAZING.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on November 21, 2010, 09:10:33 AM
Sigz, you like Yes? I thought you hated classic prog.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on November 21, 2010, 09:20:42 AM
Sigz, you like Yes? I thought you hated classic prog.

I think I remember him saying that it used to be one of his favorite bands.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 21, 2010, 02:53:00 PM
Yes it is great.  Saw them play it on the Onion, er.. I mean Union tour.  Steve Howe looked  liked he hated every minute being on stage with Trevor Rabin.
How would you feel being on stage with your retarded little brother?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on November 21, 2010, 04:05:27 PM
Sigz, you like Yes? I thought you hated classic prog.

First thought.

Second thought was that Starship Trooper is my favorite Yes song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 21, 2010, 08:10:02 PM
Yes it is great.  Saw them play it on the Onion, er.. I mean Union tour.  Steve Howe looked  liked he hated every minute being on stage with Trevor Rabin.
How would you feel being on stage with your retarded little brother?

 :lol Howe has always been like that.  It killed GTR.  Man I loved that CD.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on December 04, 2010, 11:59:25 PM
Listening to Magnification. I'm only on the first track but I really like it so far. I listened to it once before but I dont remember what it was like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on December 05, 2010, 01:13:45 AM
I loved it.  :heart Can You Imagine is just... brilliant. Chris is great on that. I love his voice.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 05, 2010, 04:52:53 PM
YES!! Magnification is by far their best album since Drama in my opinion. It's soo good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 13, 2010, 08:26:02 PM
Yes it is great.  Saw them play it on the Onion, er.. I mean Union tour.  Steve Howe looked  liked he hated every minute being on stage with Trevor Rabin.
How would you feel being on stage with your retarded little brother?

 :lol Howe has always been like that.  It killed GTR.  Man I loved that CD.

Ever hear Howe's contributuion to "When The Heart Rules The Mind" on his Homebrew 2 album?

Diifferent, but cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 13, 2010, 09:17:52 PM
YES!! Magnification is by far their best album since Drama in my opinion. It's soo good.

It's their most consistent anyway.  I like a lot of the Keys stuff, but not all.  I can listen to Magnification all the way through.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 16, 2010, 10:52:16 PM
I owned both Keys double CDs when they first came out, but at some point, I had sold them back to a used CD store after ripping the stuff I liked from them.  However, I had ripped them at crappy 128 mp3 quality, so I bought the studio tracks from amazon downloads recently.  Listening to them again, the two studio songs from the first one have their moments (like the intro to "That, That Is"), but overall, but sound rather clunky and unfocused.  And they feature some unusual, even awkward, melodies, especially for Yes.  From the second one, I still like "Mind Drive," "Foot Prints" and "Bring Me to the Power" all quite a bit, but I wouldn't call any of them great songs by any stretch of the imagination.  The gem from those CDs is still the live version of "Onward."  And "America" is pretty smoking, too. :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on December 17, 2010, 07:10:15 PM
Yea, the live version of "Onward" on Keys is phenomenal. It's one of the best tracks in my entire Yes catalog.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Dark Master on January 14, 2011, 04:47:39 PM
Just listened to Topographic Oceans in it's entirety the other day for the first time in a long time.  Wow, what a musical trip.  My train of thought kept vacillating between "This is pure musical genius!" and "Wow, how good was their acid?  Oh, wait, it was 1973.  Well, that explains it....."   ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on January 14, 2011, 07:07:49 PM
  And "America" is pretty smoking, too. :coolio

Steve's solo in America is one of my all time favorites.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on January 14, 2011, 11:37:36 PM
Just appreciating 90125. Not a wicked prog album but beautiful vocal work all throughout. And man.. the raw take of Hold On in the bonus tracks... that song was already pretty well polished even in first run throughs!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 14, 2011, 11:57:25 PM
Ever listen to 90124?  Rabin had most of that album worked out in demos.  The band which became Yes in the 80's didn't start out as Yes; it started as Cinema and it was the band Rabin was putting together to play what would become 90125, and it was definitely Rabin's project.

I agree that it's not a bad album at all, and really has some very good music on it.  It gets slagged by a lot of diehard Yes fans and other diehard prog fans, but not all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on January 16, 2011, 11:35:38 PM
I haven't heard the demos. Although I would if I could find them.

Also, anyone know what happened to that Yes fansite with their extensive tourography? I think it was called Yesterdays? I can't find it anywhere.  :sadpanda:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on January 17, 2011, 12:07:23 AM
I haven't heard the demos. Although I would if I could find them.

Also, anyone know what happened to that Yes fansite with their extensive tourography? I think it was called Yesterdays? I can't find it anywhere.  :sadpanda:

I think their bandwidth expired or something.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 17, 2011, 12:13:09 AM
In a total Yes mood lately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 21, 2011, 10:52:59 PM
Ever listen to 90124?  Rabin had most of that album worked out in demos.  The band which became Yes in the 80's didn't start out as Yes; it started as Cinema and it was the band Rabin was putting together to play what would become 90125, and it was definitely Rabin's project.

I agree that it's not a bad album at all, and really has some very good music on it.  It gets slagged by a lot of diehard Yes fans and other diehard prog fans, but not all.

90124 has been on my imaginary list of things to get for like 10 years or something.

Coincidently, I just read a few days ago that Rabin had turned down the chance to be in Asia. I never knew that before.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on January 25, 2011, 11:08:13 AM
Bumping to say Close to the Edge is so amazing. Every time I listen to it, its like I'm hearing the song for the first time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on January 25, 2011, 12:32:43 PM
Yeah Close to the Edge is their best.  Love that disc, in my top 10 of all time for sure.  What does everyone think of The Ladder?  Personally I love that too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nekov on January 25, 2011, 01:17:07 PM
The era between The Yes Album and TFTO y definitely their best. I want to appreciate Talk, I think it is a great album speacially at the end with the three part Endless Dream. I love that song.

Also a lot of appreciation for Anderson Brufford Wakeman Howe record. I think that was the best Yes formation even though they couldn't get the name. I think Tony Levin is soooooooo much better than Chris Squire.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on January 25, 2011, 01:41:28 PM
Spent the morning listening to Yessongs while doing housework.  That album is in a tough three way battle with The Kink's One for the Road and The Who's Live at the Isle of Wight for my best live album ever.  The version of Your's is No Disgrace on it is so fucking killer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2011, 02:03:32 PM
Yeah Close to the Edge is their best.  Love that disc, in my top 10 of all time for sure.  What does everyone think of The Ladder?  Personally I love that too.

I think The Ladder has moments that sound like classic (70's) Yes, and moments that sound more like Jon Anderson's dabblings with world music or whatever it is ("Hep Yadda") which really bug me.  I've tried listened to it a few times, and always find that partway through, I'm not actually listening to it anymore.  I'm daydreaming or thinking about something else.  It just doesn't grab me the way the older stuff does, and then I'll hit a track I genuinely don't like and think "Hmmm, well I tried... again."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on January 25, 2011, 02:26:53 PM
Ever listen to 90124?  Rabin had most of that album worked out in demos.  The band which became Yes in the 80's didn't start out as Yes; it started as Cinema and it was the band Rabin was putting together to play what would become 90125, and it was definitely Rabin's project.

I agree that it's not a bad album at all, and really has some very good music on it.  It gets slagged by a lot of diehard Yes fans and other diehard prog fans, but not all.

Wasn't, Make It Easy from that session?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-PIui68n0E
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2011, 02:53:18 PM
"Make It Easy" wasn't on 90124, but it would make sense that it was from the same sessions.  I don't have 90124, and only heard it once a long time ago.  As the name implies, the idea of 90124 was to provide a glimpse of the songs that eventually became 90125, and "Make It Easy" wasn't on that album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 25, 2011, 07:34:03 PM
The Revealing Science of God = one of the best intros ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2011, 09:04:57 PM
Do you mean the original "sudden" intro, or the somewhat ambient version they restored later?

On the original LP, it started right with the vocals "Dawn of light..."  One last edit to save some space on the record.  The original CDs were the same, but on the remaster, they restored the intro before the vocals come in.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 25, 2011, 09:14:55 PM
Every song on Tales needed to end 10 minutes before it actually ended. Except for Ancients. That one needed to begin ten minutes after it actually began.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on January 25, 2011, 09:21:02 PM
Every song on Tales needed to end 10 minutes before it actually ended. Except for Ancients. That one needed to begin ten minutes after it actually began.

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2011, 09:26:23 PM
Every song on Tales needed to end 10 minutes before it actually ended. Except for Ancients. That one needed to begin ten minutes after it actually began.

Can't agree.  I've always loved listening to Tales all the way through, and never had a problem with it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 25, 2011, 09:28:07 PM
I don't know. I'd love Yes just as much without Tales in the discography at all to be completely honest. I've gotta side with Mr. Wakeman on that one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on January 25, 2011, 09:38:38 PM
I don't know. I'd love Yes just as much without Tales in the discography at all to be completely honest. I've gotta side with Mr. Wakeman on that one.

When did you first start listening to it? Its definitely a grower, but its easily in my top 10 albums ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 25, 2011, 09:44:58 PM
I probably didn't get into Yes until about 5 years ago, but I got all their stuff pretty quickly. I think the order was something like...

Greatest Hits
The Yes Album
Close to the Edge
Fragile
Going For the One
Relayer
90125
Tales
Union
Magnification
Yessongs

that's actually still all the Yes I have
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2011, 10:33:47 PM
I don't know. I'd love Yes just as much without Tales in the discography at all to be completely honest. I've gotta side with Mr. Wakeman on that one.

Wakeman is one of my favorite keyboard players, but he has the tendency to overplay and rely too much on theatrics, and to be honest, there aren't a lot of truly subtle, introspective moments when he's on keys.  I'm familiar with his complaints concerning Tales and they're all about how it "wanders" too much or needs to be tightened up.  He's too close to the subject and just hears a lot of messing around, which I'm sure a lot of it was.  But I like music that takes its time to develop and explore, and I know I'm not alone in loving every minute of Tales.

My personal theory is that being classically trained, Wakeman can't help but need more structure.  Even when he improvises, it's always flashy 16th-note runs with 32nd-note flourishes everywhere.  Bruford once said that Wakeman couldn't play a blue note to save his life, and he's right.  The open, almost jazzy feel of Tales doesn't work for everybody, but I can see it really torturing someone firmly rooted in the classics.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 25, 2011, 10:52:27 PM
Tales definitely wanders way too much at times, but I can listen to it as a whole and still enjoy it.  A couple of those songs could have been much been singular pieces with some major trimming, especially "The Remembering."  Good record, but it can't touch the three that preceded it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on January 26, 2011, 05:54:32 AM
Orbert.  My cousin had 90124 and is making a copy for me!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 26, 2011, 07:02:14 AM
If you're a big fan of 90125, you'll probably find 90124 pretty interesting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on January 26, 2011, 07:18:17 AM
 :lol  Ouch! 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 26, 2011, 07:27:04 AM
Did you bump your head or something?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 26, 2011, 07:39:19 AM
I see what your saying about Wakeman's playing, Orbert. But when I listen to his work on "Going for the One," I can't help but disagree. His work on that album's two longer pieces is amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 26, 2011, 09:46:53 AM
Do you mean the original "sudden" intro, or the somewhat ambient version they restored later?

On the original LP, it started right with the vocals "Dawn of light..."  One last edit to save some space on the record.  The original CDs were the same, but on the remaster, they restored the intro before the vocals come in.
Yeah, I mean the ambient one. That combined with the vocal section after makes for a contender for my favourite intro ever. It always annoyed me that if I tried to show someone the song on Youtube I had trouble finding one with that ambient intro. :-\ But even without it, it's quite epic.

As for the album itself, the only track I think should've been shortened is The Remembering. The other three are :tup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 26, 2011, 11:32:50 AM
I see what your saying about Wakeman's playing, Orbert. But when I listen to his work on "Going for the One," I can't help but disagree. His work on that album's two longer pieces is amazing.

I love Going for the One, and his work on "Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" (I think that's the next longest tune, I'm not sure) does show amazing restraint and, yes, subtlety. Those are two of my favorite performances by him.  I guess I was thinking more of his recent stuff, and what happens when he plays live (he pretty much overplays everything), but just to keep things realistic, I thought about things like The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Criminal Record.  But maybe that's not fair either, as with those early solo albums, showing off his chops appeared to be the whole point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 26, 2011, 08:26:15 PM
"Make It Easy" wasn't on 90124, but it would make sense that it was from the same sessions.  I don't have 90124, and only heard it once a long time ago.  As the name implies, the idea of 90124 was to provide a glimpse of the songs that eventually became 90125, and "Make It Easy" wasn't on that album.

If memory serves, "Make It Easy" was first released on that YesYears box in 1991(which is how I became familiar with it).

Incidently, "Run With The Fox" that Christmas tune which was all over the radio in 1981 is also on that box. I think that was just Squire and White, but I seem to recall Pete Sinfield (King Crimson/ELP) being involved in the writing.


I'd like to find 90124 one of these days.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 26, 2011, 08:36:33 PM
I see what your saying about Wakeman's playing, Orbert. But when I listen to his work on "Going for the One," I can't help but disagree. His work on that album's two longer pieces is amazing.

I love Going for the One, and his work on "Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" (I think that's the next longest tune, I'm not sure) does show amazing restraint and, yes, subtlety. Those are two of my favorite performances by him.  I guess I was thinking more of his recent stuff, and what happens when he plays live (he pretty much overplays everything), but just to keep things realistic, I thought about things like The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Criminal Record.  But maybe that's not fair either, as with those early solo albums, showing off his chops appeared to be the whole point.

Yeah, true about his solo album. I only have Henry VIII.

How is Anderson/Wakeman, by the way? Have you listened to it? It's something that's definitely on my radar.

Just picked up The Ladder and Big Generator. 2 albums I guess are over due. Next, Drama and Tormato. Or the first two albums. Kinda stinks knowing that the best is over. I guess that's why I held off for so long.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on January 26, 2011, 08:41:45 PM
PC.  Drama will knock your socks off.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 26, 2011, 08:44:18 PM
lolrandomsongrankings

1. The Revealing Science of God
2. Heart of the Sunrise
3. Gates of Delerium
4. Close to the Edge
5. Sound Chaser
6. Yours is no Disgrace
7. South Side of the Sky
8. The Ancient
9. Roundabout
10. Astral Traveller
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 26, 2011, 09:31:50 PM
I was going to go with drama instead, but I wanted some sell-out 80s Yes to jam to over my lunch break  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 26, 2011, 09:58:14 PM
<yessnob>Yes did not sell out! Rabin started a band with Squire and White, who brought in Tony Kaye, and before they knew it, Jon Anderson showed up and the suits talked them into calling the band Yes. It didn't start out that way. They didn't sell out and Rabin didn't "replace" Howe.</yessnob>

How is Anderson/Wakeman, by the way? Have you listened to it? It's something that's definitely on my radar.

Just picked up The Ladder and Big Generator. 2 albums I guess are over due. Next, Drama and Tormato. Or the first two albums. Kinda stinks knowing that the best is over. I guess that's why I held off for so long.

I like the Anderson/Wakeman album. I've only heard the first half or so, but it's good stuff, pretty much what you'd expect an album by the two of them to sound. The only real question was how cheesy it was going to be, if at all, or maybe how "out there" either of them got. The good news is that they seem to keep each other in check, and the result is a collection of rather nice songs.

A lot of it sounds like stripped-down Yes, which isn't surprising, but at the same time, they have a bit more freedom. Wakeman uses a variety of keyboards, which surprised me. For some reason, I was thinking he'd stay mostly with piano or some kind of electric piano sound, but he brings in the the synths and all his toys.

It's not as adventurous as, say, one of the Jon and Vangelis albums, but it's kinda similar.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 26, 2011, 10:00:13 PM
Yeah, Yes didn't definitely did not sell out.  IIRC, they were talked into to using the Yes name, since it was mostly comprised of guys that had been in Yes, especially once Jon Anderson came aboard.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 26, 2011, 10:03:45 PM
I have the album Jon Anderson did with Fellowship and I think it's awesome so... I guess out-there isn't so bad :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 26, 2011, 10:17:21 PM
Yeah, Yes didn't definitely did not sell out.  IIRC, they were talked into to using the Yes name, since it was mostly comprised of guys that had been in Yes, especially once Jon Anderson came aboard.

Correct. Rabin had had marginal success with his band Rabbit, and his solo album Can't Look Away, but he wanted to break into the American market big time. Squire and White were between gigs, Rabin knew their work with Yes, and he wanted them to be his rhythm section. Rabin plays keyboards and guitar, but at some point they brought in Tony Kaye on keys, and at that point the band was still to be called Cinema, with Rabin on vocals. But they felt that it still needed something. IIRC, Squire contacted Anderson, who agreed to provide some vocals. At this point, Rabin was the only one who wasn't former Yes, so the suits pressured Rabin into calling the band Yes. Rabin knew that Yes would sell more albums than Cinema, even if it was the same band and same album, because the suits would promote Yes. He caved eventually, and they did sell a lot of albums and gave Rabin his big break in the business, but he has said that he regrets it in a way because he sold Cinema out. How's that for irony?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 26, 2011, 10:21:58 PM
All true, except Can't Look Away didn't come out till the late 80s.  I think he had a bit of success with "Now" from the Face to Face record in 1980.  I actually like his self-titled debut album quite a bit.  Somewhat raw, but a handful of really good tunes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on January 26, 2011, 10:40:01 PM
So, let me get it straight. Yes didn't sell out, just a bunch of guys in suits convinced 4 members of Yes (2 of whom where arguably the most important members from a creative and conceptual standpoint and 3 of which were in the latest version of the band) to sell out the Yes name and fake starting a "new chapter" in Yes history simply to be enhance profits?

Got it.

;)

Sorry guys, but that is TO ME the definition of "selling out."

Not that is matters, because 90125 is a great album and I use the word affectionately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on January 26, 2011, 11:11:52 PM
So, let me get it straight. Yes didn't sell out, just a bunch of guys in suits convinced 4 members of Yes (2 of whom where arguably the most important members from a creative and conceptual standpoint and 3 of which were in the latest version of the band) to sell out the Yes name and fake starting a "new chapter" in Yes history simply to be enhance profits?

Got it.

;)

Sorry guys, but that is TO ME the definition of "selling out."

Not that is matters, because 90125 is a great album and I use the word affectionately.

They didn't convince Yes members, they convinced Rabin. Rabin wasn't in Yes (yet). If anyone "sold out" it was him (prior to being in Yes)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 27, 2011, 02:03:41 AM
1. The Revealing Science of God
I'm not the only one.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on January 27, 2011, 05:08:57 AM
I still don't care what anyone thinks. 90125 is pure gold.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on January 27, 2011, 09:31:56 AM
1. The Revealing Science of God
I'm not the only one.  :tup
:tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 27, 2011, 11:15:04 AM
So, let me get it straight. Yes didn't sell out, just a bunch of guys in suits convinced 4 members of Yes (2 of whom where arguably the most important members from a creative and conceptual standpoint and 3 of which were in the latest version of the band) to sell out the Yes name and fake starting a "new chapter" in Yes history simply to be enhance profits?

Got it.

;)

Sorry guys, but that is TO ME the definition of "selling out."

Not that is matters, because 90125 is a great album and I use the word affectionately.

They didn't convince Yes members, they convinced Rabin. Rabin wasn't in Yes (yet). If anyone "sold out" it was him (prior to being in Yes)

Exactly. Rabin didn't sell out Yes, he sold out Cinema. It was his band, his project, and his decision to make.

You have to remember: Yes is not a band. Yes is a brand. No more than two consecutive albums have had the same lineup, there have been four lead singers, three guitarists, five keyboard players (or maybe it's six), and two drummers. Yes is whoever and whatever the suits want to make it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 27, 2011, 11:18:03 AM
All true, except Can't Look Away didn't come out till the late 80s.  I think he had a bit of success with "Now" from the Face to Face record in 1980.  I actually like his self-titled debut album quite a bit.  Somewhat raw, but a handful of really good tunes.

Crap, I knew I should've looked that one up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 27, 2011, 01:49:17 PM
When Anderson joined, Cinema became Yes. 

Rabin was more interesed in doing something  new and original (which 90125 was at the time and also why as I recently read he refused the invitation by infamous A&R guy John Kalodner (I know I spelled that wrong)



I often wonder whatever became of that Jimmy Page/Chris Squire (XYZ?) project from just before this period


And for the record, I love 90125 (one of the best produced albums ever in my opinion) and Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 27, 2011, 03:13:08 PM
I like 90125, though I'm not a big fan of the other two Rabin-era albums.  And Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.

I found some really bad quality demos online one time which were supposedly "lost" XYZ tapes. They seem legit, as one of them has the syncopated riff which became the Mind Drive riff and it sounds like Squire's bi-amped bass sound. This fits with what I've read about that riff coming out of the XYZ sessions.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on February 01, 2011, 06:39:55 PM
Well DTF, you've done it again. For the umpteenth time you've convinced me to check out a band that I previously never would have tried. I just bought Close to the Edge on iTunes. Listening now. Digging it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 01, 2011, 06:58:31 PM
Really?  You've been on this board how long and you never thought to check out Yes?

Good to hear you're not failing and you're liking CTTE.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on February 01, 2011, 07:00:22 PM
Close to the Edge was pretty cool. And You And I was...alright. I mean I liked it, but I can tell it'll need to grow on me a bit. Siberian Khatru was awesome though. :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 01, 2011, 07:19:44 PM
I haven't listened to Yes in a long time. I should give CTTE a spin sometime tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 01, 2011, 07:26:53 PM
I totally hear what your saying about Yes being a "brand" Orbert. I'd made the same argument about Iced Earth awhile ago. Unfortunately the Iced Earth fans didn't really take kindly to it.

Then Schaffer kicked Owen out  :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 01, 2011, 07:28:14 PM
I totally hear what your saying about Yes being a "brand" Orbert. I'd made the same argument about Iced Earth awhile ago. Unfortunately the Iced Earth fans didn't really take kindly to it.

Then Schaffer kicked Owen out  :D

I don't take kindly to that. But that's for another thread.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 01, 2011, 07:30:32 PM
Huh?

I didn't make the statement here, I don't think.

Or did?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on February 01, 2011, 07:31:59 PM
What? I was just saying I disagree with that that opinion. But that's for the Iced Earth thread.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 01, 2011, 07:53:41 PM
I was listening to Yessongs the other night. What an amazingly mind-blowing live album, and probably one of my highest-ranked live albums of all time! You get all the epics from their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums, extended solo spots, extended jams, more solos, and amazing performances from 6 members of Yes!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 01, 2011, 10:15:55 PM
I was listening to Yessongs the other night. What an amazingly mind-blowing live album, and probably one of my highest-ranked live albums of all time! You get all the epics from their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums, extended solo spots, extended jams, more solos, and amazing performances from 6 members of Yes!

-Marc.

It is dauntingly long, though. I must admit, sometimes I have trouble finishing it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 01, 2011, 10:33:36 PM
I was listening to Yessongs the other night. What an amazingly mind-blowing live album, and probably one of my highest-ranked live albums of all time! You get all the epics from their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums, extended solo spots, extended jams, more solos, and amazing performances from 6 members of Yes!

-Marc.

It is dauntingly long, though. I must admit, sometimes I have trouble finishing it.

It is pretty damn long, especially compared to other live albums of it's time. There's very few live albums of that length today! Of course, Dream Theater's live albums (LSFNY, LAB, Score and CIM) are a little longer or so, and last year's live release from Transatlantic reaches towards 3 hours, so I've grown quite used to listening to long live albums (or long albums in general).

Between Yessongs and Yesshows, you have two of the greatest live albums from one of the greatest classic prog bands, and between those two there are no overlaps! Amazing how that happened, and they're both great reminders of what Yes once was. Sadly, nearly ever live album since has had their concert staples played over and over (but thankfully, Symphonic Live has the orchestra, so that adds a LITTLE something to it).

The only live Yes albums I listen to that aren't from the 70's are my remix of Keys To Ascension (cross-faded the songs from both KTA releases and put the songs in concert order), Songs From Tsongas (ripped audio from the DVD onto 3 CDs; REALLY enjoy the energetic performance of "Ritual" here), and Symphonic Live (amazing performance of "Gates Of Delirium").

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 01, 2011, 10:41:31 PM
Something really cool about Yessongs is that it was originally three LPs, and at the end of Side Three ("Roundabout") you can hear Jon saying goodnight to the audience.  After "Starship Trooper" at the very end you can also hear him saying goodnight.

The point is that with the album now on 2 CDs, each CD is its own "concert" with a finale at the end of each.  So if you don't have time for the whole thing, you can listen to one disc now and one later.  The important thing is that you listen to Yessongs as often as possible.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 02, 2011, 02:42:31 AM
Yessongs is amazing.

Don't have Yesshows but the tracklist seems great enough.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 02, 2011, 07:56:10 AM
Yesshows is very much like a younger sibling to Yessongs. Different personality, yet similar.

Chris Squire put Yesshows together while Yes was on hiatus, and it has been criticised for being "bass heavy" but I never even thought about it. The sound quality is so much better than on Yessongs (which really has muddy sound you have to admit) that I just loved the fact that you can hear everything so clearly. He also got reamed for the smash cut from "Time and a Word" into "Going for the One" which I think is brilliant.

Anyway, I think it's a great album. It's more a collection of live performances than an attempt to recreate a concert event, but with full versions of both "The Gates of Delerium" and "Ritual" I can't see how anyone can complain.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: YtseBitsySpider on February 02, 2011, 08:45:05 AM
Might I suggest to new Yes fans to check out CIRCA-CIRCA. It's like YES light, and is made up of a couple ex-yes musicians.
Came out in 2007.
Very nice...and gives you a gentle nudging into the lunacy that is Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 02, 2011, 09:58:27 AM
Circa's self-titled debut is pretty good, and the new one HQ is also very good, possibly better.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 02, 2011, 12:39:56 PM
I still haven't got the cd Circa members did with the singer from Toto, Bobby Kimble.  Sounds like an interesting mix.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 02, 2011, 09:43:14 PM
This is really strange, but 9 times out of 10 I'll always choose a live version of a song rather than the studio counterpart.

But in the case of Yes, most of the time I'd prefer to hear the studio cut. I don't know if it's the production of the recordings I don't like or what it is. That doesn't mean I don't listen to Yesssongs and Yesshows -- I do.  I haven't been able to figure out why.

I think I do prefer Yesshows over Yessongs because of the production. I probably like the The Word Is Live more too.


Although I have to say I like Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe live more than the album.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 02, 2011, 10:33:41 PM
I like An Evening of Yes Music Plus except for Bruford's electronic snare.  That thing really bugs the shit out of me and he bangs on it incessantly on that album.  Also Tony Levin got really sick and couldn't play that show, the one night they had all the recording equipment set up and everything.  Jeff Berlin jumped in at the last minute, and did a great job for having like two days to learn everything, but damn, with Levin it would have been so much tighter.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 03, 2011, 03:15:29 AM
Well, I was hoping Drama would kick my ass.

It didn't, but it was still really good. However, there's a huge drop in quality after the epic Machine Messiah opener and the following White Car.

Glad I got the expanded edition of the album though. Have those original session recordings to look forward to now :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: YtseBitsySpider on February 03, 2011, 05:25:13 AM
Circa's self-titled debut is pretty good, and the new one HQ is also very good, possibly better.

wow I didn't know there was a new one.....KOOL!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 03, 2011, 08:20:21 AM
Well, I was hoping Drama would kick my ass.

It didn't, but it was still really good. However, there's a huge drop in quality after the epic Machine Messiah opener and the following White Car.

White Car is awesome.  Don't write it off because it's a short song, a mere vignette.  It's a full orchestra played entirely on 80's analog synths.  Give it, and the rest of Drama, some time to grow on you.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 03, 2011, 08:32:16 AM
Drama is a cool album, I liked it immediately and I like it more as time goes by. Machine messiah, Into the lens, Tempus fugit, Does it really happen... What a great record.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 03, 2011, 09:18:04 AM
Well, I was hoping Drama would kick my ass.

It didn't, but it was still really good. However, there's a huge drop in quality after the epic Machine Messiah opener and the following White Car.

White Car is awesome.  Don't write it off because it's a short song, a mere vignette.  It's a full orchestra played entirely on 80's analog synths.  Give it, and the rest of Drama, some time to grow on you.

No, I mean after White Car the quality really drops in my opinion. Though I enjoyed it all more on the second listen.

Also, those tracks from the early sessions with Anderson and Wakeman were terrible. Even in their early stages, you can hear that that line-up was pretty much at its end from a creative standpoint.

After listening to Drama twice, I actually wish the band would have put out another album or two with this line-up. There was a lot of potential for growth there which we'll never really know.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 03, 2011, 11:33:57 AM
I'm not a huge fan of Drama. Some really interesting moments, but overall the album doesn't do too much for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 03, 2011, 11:51:39 AM
I used to like Drama a lot more than Tormato, but having heard the latter with fresh ears a few weeks ago, I found most of the material pretty good. It's a BIT of a step back from the amazing Going For The One, as there was a lot of un-tapped potential in the songs, but it's not horrible.

Either way, I'd still take Drama and Tormato over Big Generator and Open Your Eyes, my two LEAST listened-to Yes albums.

I think Drama starts of strong and ends strong, but the deceptively heavy sound of "Machine Messiah" isn't really indicative of the album's over-all sound, but the bass-heavy mix really appeals to me, and Squire really shines on the whole album. Actually Squire and White both really shine! I agree Perpetual Change that had this version of Yes made another album, it could've been amazing! The melding of those minds could've created some fresh new music. IIRC, much of Drama material was developed from demos by each "half" of the band before they joined, although the whole band polished the songs up together, it would've been interesting to see what they could have done with a clean slate and no prior demos.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 03, 2011, 11:58:03 AM
At that time I think Yes knew something had to change. For Howe, White and Squire, that change was to get 'heavier' like the emerging metal bands which would soon take the world. For Anderson and Wakeman, it was going back to the classic 70s roots. For the label, it was embracing new wave.

The result of Drama-- both the band and the label getting their way a little bit-- might not have worked commercially but it made for some damn interesting music. Vocals aside, Drama is almost metal. Given a couple years developing in that sound and I really think Yes may have been close to Images and Words territory.

Oddly, out of all the influence Yes has had on DT, Drama strikes me as the biggest influence. I hear more of Drama's influence in DT's music than any other Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 03, 2011, 12:02:20 PM
Oddly, out of all the influence Yes has had on DT, Drama strikes me as the biggest influence. I hear more of Drama's influence in DT's music than any other Yes album.

Indeed, although I'd like to think both Close To The Edge and Relayer had SOME influence on DT, both in sound and long-form songs, and although DT's approach to epics was more Rush-like than Yes-like, I'm sure some of Yes's mid-70's work had some influence on JP, JM and MP. Also, JR is known to be a Wakeman fan, so I'm sure at least Fragile, Close To The Edge and/or Going For The One have some influence on him.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 03, 2011, 04:13:17 PM
I always thought a bit of the punk/new wave sound creeped into Drama, growing up in that time.  It was a modern sound for them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 03, 2011, 04:42:48 PM
Absolutely.  It was The Buggles after all, a vastly underrated new wave band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 06, 2011, 01:08:11 AM
Going through some of my least-listened to Yes albums today. 90125, Magnification, and Union  :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 06, 2011, 01:16:02 AM
All three of those albums are excellent. Union is probably the weakest but still good. 90125 clicked with me in the past 6 months or so, never liked it much before that
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 06, 2011, 03:07:30 AM
Yeah, I don't have anything against either of the three. In fact, love 90125, just rarely listen to it but have been since I'm gearing up for finally giving Big Generator a listen. Union, on the other hand, I just can't take seriously as a record. It's two records by two bands plus some side projects smashed together in a 'union' that is barely justified, especially since the material is so varied and nothing was really done to make the album seem like a single effort. It'd honestly be like Liquid Tension Experiment and OSI releasing an album together under the Dream Theater name. I like a bunch of songs, and I don't like a bunch of songs. But, overall, it's just not a real record to me.

Magnification has never clicked. Hoping I'll change that now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 06, 2011, 06:42:59 AM
Drama is a great album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 06, 2011, 06:54:26 AM
Magnification is MUCH better than I remembered. Love "Don't Go" and "In the Presence Of" despite all Anderson's creepy lyrics about "touching you there," "pleasure time" and "pleasuring yourself."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 06, 2011, 09:19:55 AM
Yep, Magnification is a masterpiece.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 06, 2011, 10:03:25 AM
So I've been on a HUGE Yes-kick lately, and have come across listening to Fragile, and wondered "what if they had released "America" on the album instead of on other releases/compilations/singles?" and tried to find a way to fit it on the album as if it were still on vinyl and came up with the following:
Side 1 - 25:59
"Roundabout" – 8:36
"Five Per Cent For Nothing" – 0:38
"Long Distance Runaround" – 3:30
"The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" – 2:42
"America" – 10:33

Side 2 - 25:57
"We Have Heaven" - 1:40
"South Side Of The Sky" – 7:58
"Cans And Brahms" – 1:43
"Mood For A Day" – 3:03
"Heart Of The Sunrise" – 11:33

It's a good flow, and there's still some of the original track list left - FPCFN/LDR/Fish still run together, as does WHH/SSOTS and the final two tracks, MFAD/HOTS. "Roundabout" still opens the album", and each side has two "epics" on it (songs 8 minutes or longer), with the longest of each side closing. Also, side 2 opens and closes with "We Have Heaven" (if you regard the "hidden track" at the end of HOTS, then it's a bookended effect).

Anyways, just another album for me to mess around with the track list using B-Sides recorded at the time. Not sure what it is, but I've just been on Yes-overdrive lately. In the last week or so, I think I've listened to every album except the first two, 90125, Big Generator, and the last three (OYE/TL/MAG)...although, I'll probably listen to the first two and last two sometime in the next few days.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 06, 2011, 10:17:55 AM
I always liked the single version of American better. Chopped down, sure, but I didn't think it lost much and the 10 minute version I always felt was kinda long. Anyway, new top-10 rankings based on the kick I've been on lately.

Close to the Edge
Going for the One
The Yes Album
Relayer
Fragile
90125
Drama
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Magnification
Union


Coming soon to my home---> The Ladder, Big Generator
After that I suppose I'll get---> Tormato, Time and a Word

Or other suggestions?

I don't see how it could effect anything in the top 5, though. That's really, really solid.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 06, 2011, 10:29:23 AM
I always liked the single version of American better. Chopped down, sure, but I didn't think it lost much and the 10 minute version I always felt was kinda long. Anyway, new top-10 rankings based on the kick I've been on lately.

Close to the Edge
Going for the One
The Yes Album
Relayer
Fragile
90125
Drama
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Magnification
Union


Coming soon to my home---> The Ladder, Big Generator
After that I suppose I'll get---> Tormato, Time and a Word

Or other suggestions?

I don't see how it could effect anything in the top 5, though. That's really, really solid.

Do you not have the debut album, or Talk? I would get those over BG and TL, to be honest...then again, I just really like Talk for some reason. Also, get Keystudio unless you already have the studio tracks from both KTA releases (even though "Children Of Light" has a different opening with contributions from Wakeman and is a bit longer).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 06, 2011, 10:33:18 AM
I don't have the debut or Talk. The Debut I've been wanting for sometime but Talk I've always heard is garbage. Of course, I want to get them all eventually...

Oddly I've been into yes for like 5 years now. And I bought most of the Yes I listen to within the first year. After I had Yes Album->Going for the One I figured everything else was unimportant. But I like the band and Anderson's voice enough to realize that even a mediocre Yes release is still something I'll enjoying listening to.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 06, 2011, 01:21:52 PM
I don't have the debut or Talk. The Debut I've been wanting for sometime but Talk I've always heard is garbage. Of course, I want to get them all eventually...

Oddly I've been into yes for like 5 years now. And I bought most of the Yes I listen to within the first year. After I had Yes Album->Going for the One I figured everything else was unimportant. But I like the band and Anderson's voice enough to realize that even a mediocre Yes release is still something I'll enjoying listening to.

When I first discovered Yes (much like Genesis, KC, and PF), I sought out to get their entire discography, and luckily for me, the Rhino re-issues weren't too expensive at the time, so I got every album. I think the first two albums, while not as progressive as what was to come with Howe and Wakeman in the band, they definitely show off their penchant for complex and full arrangements and some very skillful playing (mostly from Squire and Bruford). You have to get the Rhino versions of these albums so you can get the non-album tracks, especially "Something's Coming", which shows off some great drumming by Bruford. The first two albums are pretty good if you take them for what they are, and not compare them to The Yes Album or Fragile.

As for Talk, I'd rank it above BG, but just a BIT below 90125. The 3-part closing epic is pretty stellar, and the first couple tracks are about as good as anything they've done with Rabin in the band. I would rank Talk over Union and Big Generator (and of course Open Your Eyes, but I don't know anyone who would rank that album anything BUT last, or even second-to-last).

You were right in getting TYA->GFTO though, definitely the cream of the crop and the essential Yes albums to get.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 07, 2011, 12:30:51 AM
In The Presence Of... just clicked. Oh my lord. What a fantastic song. Really just as good as any Yes song... beautiful work there  :tup :tup :tup


Also, what would you guys recommend me do first?

1.) Buy up the remaining Yes albums I have? (Talk, Debut, TaaW, Keys, Tormato)
2.) Finally check out some solo stuff (Including AWBH, JA/RW/pretty much everything)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 07, 2011, 05:04:12 AM
In The Presence Of... just clicked. Oh my lord. What a fantastic song. Really just as good as any Yes song... beautiful work there  :tup :tup :tup


Also, what would you guys recommend me do first?

1.) Buy up the remaining Yes albums I have? (Talk, Debut, TaaW, Keys, Tormato)
2.) Finally check out some solo stuff (Including AWBH, JA/RW/pretty much everything)

Definitely Option 1 - there's som great music on those 5 albums that you're missing out on that are all definitive YES songs.

If you get any solo stuff, at least get the three I have - JA's Olias of Sunhillow, CS's Fish Out Of Water, and RW's Six Wives Of Henry VIII. All pretty good solo albums!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 07, 2011, 05:55:20 AM
PC.  Get both Keys CD's and then Talk.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 07, 2011, 07:26:16 AM
In The Presence Of... just clicked. Oh my lord. What a fantastic song. Really just as good as any Yes song... beautiful work there  :tup :tup :tup


Also, what would you guys recommend me do first?

1.) Buy up the remaining Yes albums I have? (Talk, Debut, TaaW, Keys, Tormato)
2.) Finally check out some solo stuff (Including AWBH, JA/RW/pretty much everything)

Definitely Option 1 - there's som great music on those 5 albums that you're missing out on that are all definitive YES songs.

If you get any solo stuff, at least get the three I have - JA's Olias of Sunhillow, CS's Fish Out Of Water, and RW's Six Wives Of Henry VIII. All pretty good solo albums!

Marc and kingshmegland are both correct.  Finish the Yes catalog, then get ABWH (which is as close as any non-Yes project can be to Yes), then the solo and side projects.  I would suggest, in this order:

Keys to Ascension
Keys to Ascension 2
Tormato
Yes
Time and a Word
ABWH
Fish out of Water
Olias of Sunhillow
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
The Living Tree
Other Jon Anderson stuff, including Jon and Vanegelis. Start with Animation
Steve Howe solo stuff. Start with Beginnings
Other Rick Wakeman solo stuff. Start with Criminal Record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 07, 2011, 07:27:59 AM
Speaking of The Living Tree, how is it? I've been thinking of getting it but haven't heard much about it... is there much on it as far as instrumentation, or is it basically piano/keys, vocals and some acoustic guitar?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 07, 2011, 07:32:42 AM
Would I be missing out just by getting Keystudio? I remember hearing that Wakeman was kind of pissed that new Yes had been divided up the way it was.

I'm also interesting in Living Tree. Especially the lyrics. Anderson's beliefs are so bizarre and seem to only be getting moreso, so I'd love to hear it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 07, 2011, 07:37:02 AM
Keystudio is fine if all you want is the newer studio stuff, the last from the classic lineup.  I noticed that the run time totals 74 minutes, the length of a CD in those days, and I don't think that's a coincidence.  But the suits also wanted to get the new live stuff out there, and there's merit in that.  Where they dropped the ball was in mixing the two up.  They should have been separate releases, a single studio CD and a double live.


I forgot to come back and finish my review of The Living Tree.

It is basically songs performed by voice and piano.  Rick mixes things up a little bit with various electric piano sounds from time to time, but the songs themselves are much simpler than Yes and really sound fine the way they are.  He does add strings and horns and other orchestral color, all done on synths, so the arrangements aren't completely stripped down, but clearly the idea was to go with something simpler, and I think it's fine.  Think "Madrigal" from Tormato or "The Meeting" from ABWH.  Perfectly fine songs that don't need any embellishment.

I've been on a bit of an Elton John kick lately, after getting Honky Chateau and Madman Across the Water remixes for Christmas, and I've been digging through his early catalog.  In a way, The Living Tree reminds me of early Elton, or even Billy Joel.  You can really do a lot with just voice and piano.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 07, 2011, 07:41:39 AM
Ah, cool.

Odd, though. I was always under the impression that Keys was the way it was because they wanted to get new music out there, but figured they'd have to give people a live album to do it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 07, 2011, 08:18:11 AM
Keystudio is fine if all you want is the newer studio stuff, the last from the classic lineup.  I noticed that the run time totals 74 minutes, the length of a CD in those days, and I don't think that's a coincidence.  But the suits also wanted to get the new live stuff out there, and there's merit in that.  Where they dropped the ball was in mixing the two up.  They should have been separate releases, a single studio CD and a double live.

Luckily, this is what I did. I took the live tracks from both KTA albums and remixed them into the concert song order:
Disc 1 (74:34)
1. Siberian Khatru (10:14)
2. Close To The Edge (19:34)
3. I've Seen All Good People (7:06)
4. Time And A Word (6:26)
5. And You And I (10:38)
6. The Revealing Science of God (20:26)

Disc 2 (69:14)
1. Going For The One (5:06)
2. Turn Of The Century (7:58)
3. America (10:26)
4. Onward (5:39)
5. Awaken (18:25)
6. Roundabout (8:26)
7. Starship Trooper (13:04)

They're really great live tracks, but that's likely because of the amount of studio overdubs that were done on the album after the fact. However, you get some real treats (like the GFTO tracks, as well as "America", all of CTTE, "Onward", "Awaken" and "The Revealing Science of God"), despite the studio-fixes that were done.

It was my hope that, with the recent KTA re-release, that they would take the opportunity to make the live tracks as a 2CD and put the studio tracks on a single CD, but instead they just repacked both 2CD KTA albums with the KTA Concert DVD... Lame! At least I have *my* 2CD version of the live album, in concert order, which is a really nice, complete concert too.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 07, 2011, 08:41:43 AM
Just realized that I don't have Open Your Eyes either. Honestly didn't even remember that Yes had an album called that.

Anyway, all this Yes talk lately has me seriously bummed that Anderson and Wakeman aren't going to be a part of whatever new album they come out with this year. They're such an important part of the band, and given that it's been 10 years since the last Yes album it could very well be that the this upcoming album without Anderson and Wakeman will be the final one.

And actually, it's the Anderson bit that bothers me. Oliver Wakeman is there, so at least on that front it's more like a passing of the torch kind of thing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 07, 2011, 08:48:19 AM
Yep, Magnification is a masterpiece.

Compared to what, Union? :P

but Talk I've always heard is garbage. 

You heard wrong. Talk is easily the best Yes CD of the last 25 years.  Easily.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 07, 2011, 09:06:07 AM
Yep, Magnification is a masterpiece.

Compared to what, Union? :P

but Talk I've always heard is garbage. 

You heard wrong. Talk is easily the best Yes CD of the last 25 years.  Easily.

What's wrong with Magnification?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 07, 2011, 02:43:59 PM
Yep, Magnification is a masterpiece.

Compared to what, Union? :P

but Talk I've always heard is garbage. 

You heard wrong. Talk is easily the best Yes CD of the last 25 years.  Easily.

What's wrong with Magnification?

Absolutely nothing, I'll never understand why people hate on it. It's the perfect blend of old and new Yes, plus added orchestration which makes it just an overall beautiful record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 07, 2011, 03:18:35 PM
It's fitting that Magnification will most likely be the band's second-to-last album because, like the band's second album, it features an orchestra as part of the band, more or less. It's a fitting mirror-effect.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 07, 2011, 03:32:25 PM
Time and a Word is so underrated.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 07, 2011, 03:33:12 PM
It's fitting that Magnification will most likely be the band's second-to-last album because, like the band's second album, it features an orchestra as part of the band, more or less. It's a fitting mirror-effect.

-Marc.

That's the only thing that mirrors though, especially considering how badly Fragile through Going for the One rape, stomp on and overall just vehemently destroy 90125 through Open Your Eyes as far as quality goes.

(I'd say The Yes Album and Drama are about equal)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 07, 2011, 03:36:22 PM
When I was just looking at their discography on Wikipedia I noticed that Union charted 7th, making it the only album to go above 15 since Drama came out in 1980.

What the hell? How did 90125 not go as high as it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 07, 2011, 03:44:06 PM
When I was just looking at their discography on Wikipedia I noticed that Union charted 7th, making it the only album to go above 15 since Drama came out in 1980.

What the hell? How did 90125 not go as high as it?

Who knows... it did well here in the US, coming in at 5, the last Top 10 album Yes made, with BG and Union coming in at 15 each. After that, all down hill from there.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 07, 2011, 03:45:48 PM
When I was just looking at their discography on Wikipedia I noticed that Union charted 7th, making it the only album to go above 15 since Drama came out in 1980.

What the hell? How did 90125 not go as high as it?

Who knows... it did well here in the US, coming in at 5, the last Top 10 album Yes made, with BG and Union coming in at 15 each. After that, all down hill from there.

-Marc.

Ah, I didn't think of that. I tend to only look at a band's native country's charts when I'm going over stuff like this. Then I assumed that Owner was as big in the UK as it was here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 08, 2011, 04:23:56 PM
I like An Evening of Yes Music Plus except for Bruford's electronic snare.  That thing really bugs the shit out of me and he bangs on it incessantly on that album.  Also Tony Levin got really sick and couldn't play that show, the one night they had all the recording equipment set up and everything.  Jeff Berlin jumped in at the last minute, and did a great job for having like two days to learn everything, but damn, with Levin it would have been so much tighter.

That snare annoys the hell out of me too.   

As much as I like Tony Levin, Jeff Berlin is no slouch on bass either (Actually he's a pretty sick bass player). I'd be willing to guess that Levin might have been the better fit with regard to chemistry.




After the recent discussion about 90124, I serendipidously stumbled on a copy of 90124 over the weekend. Listened to a little in the car. It does sound different, but the passion really comes through alot more on what I heard than the final product. (I was also unaware there are demos for Big Generator and Talk on there too which is cool.)

There was another Rabin solo album that I didn't have there too, but I had to make some tough choices. I can't remember what it was called other than I noticed it was reissued on One Way Records.

Can't Look Away was also there, but I've got that one already, though I barely listen to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 08, 2011, 04:45:22 PM
Oh yeah, Jeff Berlin is awesome.  He's on a bunch of the Bruford albums I have, and I'm sure it was Bruford who brought him in when Levin got sick.  It's just that Levin was the bassist for ABWH and knew the tunes.  I've heard from people who saw other shows in the tour that it was really tight and amazing, and I believe it.  But despite a fair amount of "name draw" it wasn't a big-budget tour by any means, and they'd arranged for a particular night to be recorded.  Levin got sick, so the one night they could record, they had Berlin filling in.  He did great, considering, just not as tight as it would have been with their regular bassist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on February 10, 2011, 12:16:57 PM
I've been getting into Reunion-era Yes with The Ladder, Keystudio and Magnification.   For the most part, it's solid stuff, especially Magnification

As far as this era is concerned, the one weakness for me is Anderson's syrupy "save the green earth" lyrics.   I much prefer the cryptic (almost nonsensical) lyrics that Jon Anderson wrote for early Yes.  The wild imagery that he created on Fragile/CTE/Relayer with that lyrical style was near-perfect. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 10, 2011, 01:35:27 PM
I've been getting into Reunion-era Yes with The Ladder, Keystudio and Magnification.   For the most part, it's solid stuff, especially Magnification

As far as this era is concerned, the one weakness for me is Anderson's syrupy "save the green earth" lyrics.   I much prefer the cryptic (almost nonsensical) lyrics that Jon Anderson wrote for early Yes.  The wild imagery that he created on Fragile/CTE/Relayer with that lyrical style was near-perfect. 

Those three albums are definitely great, and it's a shame that Open Your Eyes ended up being so mediocre, sandwiched between the Keys material and The Ladder. I've been listening to about an album a day, absorbing them one day/night at a time, and over the last two nights, it's been the first two albums, so today/tonight it'll be TYA.

The first two albums have some REALLY underrated stuff on them, especially the complex jazzy compositions that Yes made, or added to their covers. The upfront and in-your-face rhythm section of Bruford and Squire really shines more than anything else, especially over the keys and guitars, although Tony Kaye really hammers out the Hammond and provides some tasty chord progressions.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 12, 2011, 02:32:21 PM
Just listened to Going for the One off Yesshows. People weren't lying when they said the mixing/production was horrible.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 12, 2011, 02:50:57 PM
Also, CTTE>TFTO>Relayer is one of the greatest 3 album runs of all time. OF ALL TIME!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 13, 2011, 03:22:15 AM
Well, if you add The Yes Album and Fragile, you've got a great 5 album run. Although Tales is slightly lower class for me, yet still a cool record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 13, 2011, 03:30:41 AM
I can't figure out why GFTO isn't considered as good as TYE-->Relayer by so many people.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 13, 2011, 05:14:33 AM
Maybe it's the production.  Going for the One has a very "light and airy" sound to it, lots of high end, no bass at all, plus the music itself has a lot of cymbals, bell trees, and high harmonies.  Add to that Jon Anderson's voice and Steve Howe's Telecaster on the opening title track, and the first thing that hits you is a lot of what really bothers many people about Yesmusic.  Much of GFTO is Yes at the "airy-fairy" (not my term) best.

It's a valid criticism, to be honest.  I don't agree with it; Going for the One my favorite, on days when Close to the Edge is not.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 13, 2011, 05:45:53 AM
But airy-fairy is awesome. lol.

Anyway, Big Generator finally arrived.

Meh.

It's like 90125 without the parts that assure you that there's still something deeper than just pop going on.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 13, 2011, 05:53:09 AM
I can't figure out why GFTO isn't considered as good as TYE-->Relayer by so many people.
In my case, the problem is Parallels. The song never did anything for me. On the other side, the previous five albums don't have a single weak track. And even Wonderous stories and Turn of the century ain't that great.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 13, 2011, 06:12:02 AM
OK, now you're making me angry  >:(

I get what you mean, though. Relayer is slightly lower rated for me because I can't stand Sound Chaser. It's one of those songs that I'll skip every time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 10:50:46 AM
I get what you mean, though. Relayer is slightly lower rated for me because I can't stand Sound Chaser. It's one of those songs that I'll skip every time.
WAT >:( >:(

Oh well I guess I'm bad too because I'm the same with Siberian Khatru, and I have to be in a very rare mood to enjoy And You and I.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 13, 2011, 10:57:00 AM
I can't figure out why GFTO isn't considered as good as TYE-->Relayer by so many people.

GFTO is easily in my top 5 Yes albums. I think it is a near perfect album.

And Turn of the Century is a beautiful song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 13, 2011, 10:59:42 AM
OK, now you're making me angry  >:(

I get what you mean, though. Relayer is slightly lower rated for me because I can't stand Sound Chaser. It's one of those songs that I'll skip every time.
I used to dislike Sound Chaser, but now I can't help myself but enjoy it's craziness. It's such a sick track.  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 11:11:17 AM
GFTO isn't amazing, but it's still pretty damned good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 13, 2011, 11:13:01 AM
GFTO isn't amazing, but it's still pretty damned good.

What? It doesn't have a single bad track on it! Every song is killer. Easily a top 5 Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 11:16:26 AM
GFTO isn't amazing, but it's still pretty damned good.

What? It doesn't have a single bad track on it! Every song is killer. Easily a top 5 Yes album.
Well I have a pretty strict definition of amazing album-wise. :P I do agree there are no bad songs, and Awaken is just plain awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 13, 2011, 06:47:55 PM
"Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" are both really good, but while none of the other three songs are not bad, none of them are anything special. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 13, 2011, 07:54:39 PM
"Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" are both really good, but while none of the other three songs are not bad, none of them are anything special. 

Well, don't the constitute like 2/3rds of the album?

I've always thought Parallels is really cool. And Wondrous Stories is nice, too.

GFTO also had some great stuff on the remaster. Montruxe's theme and Vevey (Revisted) have pretty much become part of the actual album as far as I'm concerened.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 13, 2011, 09:09:31 PM
Maybe it's the production.  Going for the One has a very "light and airy" sound to it, lots of high end, no bass at all, plus the music itself has a lot of cymbals, bell trees, and high harmonies.  Add to that Jon Anderson's voice and Steve Howe's Telecaster on the opening title track, and the first thing that hits you is a lot of what really bothers many people about Yesmusic.  Much of GFTO is Yes at the "airy-fairy" (not my term) best.

It's a valid criticism, to be honest.  I don't agree with it; Going for the One my favorite, on days when Close to the Edge is not.

I think you may have identified one reason why I'm not very fond of Going For The One.

Although I really do like Going For The One, Wonderous Stories, and Awaken.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 13, 2011, 10:02:23 PM
I love every song on Going for the One.  "Turn of the Century" still moves me to tears every time.  If it doesn't move you, you have no soul.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 13, 2011, 10:05:48 PM
GFTO also had some great stuff on the remaster. Montruxe's theme and Vevey (Revisted) have pretty much become part of the actual album as far as I'm concerened.

Indeed, and I agree so much so that I'm trying to figure out an alternate tracklisting for GFTO that includes "Montreux's Theme" and "Vevey (Revisited)", which are both pretty good instrumentals. I think for an album that has four pretty good SONGS, it misses some of the more interesting instrumental sections of their older, longer pieces.

So far, my favorite order has been this:
"Going For The One"
"Turn Of The Century"
"Montreux's Theme"
"Parallels"
"Vevey (Revisited)"
"Wonderous Stories"
"Awaken"

Another order I've tried has also been:
"Going For The One"
"Vevey (Revisited)"
"Wonderous Stories"
"Turn Of The Century"
"Parallels"
"Montreux's Theme"
"Awaken"

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 14, 2011, 11:25:52 PM
Man. The Ladder is pretty bad.

I'm no longer excited about any Yes albums I have left to purchase  :|
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2011, 08:17:38 AM
Don't let The Ladder turn you off too much.  There are some good moments on The Ladder, but I don't think there's a single song which I consider classic-quality all the way through.  Most of it sounds like either "new Yes" (Anderson's world music influence or whatever the hell that is) or the guys trying to find the magic but failing.  I'm generally most critical of the keyboards, and they're not bad here, but I just don't feel the chemistry that you get with Howe and Wakeman.

I still think the Keys to Ascension albums are pretty good stuff, with some parts nearly at the 70's level in terms of quality.  Which isn't surprising as it's the same five guys, the last time we'll hear from that lineup.

The first two albums are also very good, just don't expect anything too proggy.  In the late 60's, prog was just getting started (and wasn't even called "prog" yet) but you can definitely hear the seeds of something much more adventurous coming out of the arrangements.  It's like they wanted to be a vocal group a la CSN or Simon & Garfunkel, but realized that they had some chops and wanted to let loose once in a while.  I still listen to the first two albums once in a while.

If Going for the One was hurt by its production, Tormato was basically killed by it.  I grew up listening to these albums on vinyl, which is better, but I can see (hear) why some people have trouble with them now.  The sound quality really is inferior, and combine that with some admittedly weaker songs, and the result is not great.  But not horrible, either.  There are still some great songs on Tormato even if the well was running dry by then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 15, 2011, 07:37:03 PM
Right now, it looks like Talk is my best bet. And the first two. Haha. That's not saying much.

Actually, I did like "Survival" and "There's a time, and the time is right for me..." or whatever on the greatest hits, so I can see myself really enjoying the first two records.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2011, 09:06:29 PM
Talk is said to be the best of the three Rabin-era albums, but I never picked it up the first time around, and only recently (well, within the past five years) got around to it, so I've listened to it many three times.  I heard Big Generator a bit when my future brother-in-law used to play it, but it sounded like 90125's inferior younger sibling.  Talk seems to have some cool stuff going on, but I just don't feel the need to explore that particular lineup any further.

Hunt down the Yes cover of "Something's Coming" from West Side Story.  I think someone said it's on the remastered first album, but I don't have the remasters.  I like the song anyway, as West Side Story is one of my favorite musicals, and they tear it up.  I have it in the YesYears box.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 17, 2011, 11:03:58 PM
I love every song on Going for the One.  "Turn of the Century" still moves me to tears every time.  If it doesn't move you, you have no soul.

I will listen to "Turn Of The Century" in the near future to determine if I have a soul.

I don't really have it in me to listen to Going For The One in its entirety sometime soon, but I'll take it out for "Turn Of The Century."

As far as "Something's Coming" is concerned, I have it on YesYears as well as The Millenium Collection which I think is a bunch of BBC Session recordings (The recordings exist under a bunch of titles), but wasn't also on that Yesterdays compilation?
I don't have the Rhino remaster of the first Yes album yet, only the '94 remaster.

I'm not sure if I can pick a favorite of the Rabin years other than to say Union would probably be my least favorite of the lot due to the "too many hands" theory.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 18, 2011, 07:49:46 AM
Yesterdays was a weird compilation of songs from the first two albums, some of them alternate versions, plus their cover of "America" which was actually recorded years later, by the Fragile/CttE lineup.

Union is another weird one, purely an artificial construct conceived by the suits.  It's hard for me to even consider it a "real" Yes album due to the presence of half the session musicians in the state of California, brought in to help finish the album when neither Rabin's band nor ABWH wanted anything more to do with it.  It's yet another example of Yes being meddled with by the suits.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 18, 2011, 07:55:23 AM
And yet there's some great material on Union. Too bad it sounds less like a album and more like a compilation of Yes albums that never were.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 18, 2011, 08:00:49 AM
And yet there's some great material on Union. Too bad it sounds less like a album and more like a compilation of Yes albums that never were.

That's probably because that's exactly what it was? It's got songs from what would have been ABWH 2, and the next Rabin-Yes album, but I do agree, there are some GREAT songs on there, and there are some stinkers too. I'd still rank the album, over-all, above Open Your Eyes.

Also, continuing on my Yes-album-a-day journey, today starts the Rabin era, with 90125. I just spend the last 10 days listening to each of the first ten albums in order, one a day/night, and it's really brought the Yes discography into a brighter light for me - I haven't been on a Yes binge in YEARS, and so this is really cementing their place in my Top 10 Bands. We'll see how the next few albums hold up, especially since I haven't really listened to Big Generator or Union very often. Also, I will be throwing in ABWH after BG, since it's KIND OF like Yes, and it'll be a good lead-in to Union.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 18, 2011, 11:59:53 AM
M, that's a pretty cool idea.  I should do an album-a-day thing with some of my favorite bands, or maybe some bands that will turn out to be favorites.

Regarding Union, yeah I went on a rant there for a minute and forgot to come back and say that I still like a lot of it.  Some of the songs are pretty cool, but it just bugs me for some reason knowing that it's not "really" Yes.  I mean, Elias replaced some of Steve Howe's guitar parts with some studio guy's, and Wakeman said he tried to listen to it once, and threw it out the window (he was in a car at the time) because he didn't even hear any parts he'd played.

Howe and Wakeman are not required for it to be Yes, but come on.  If someone's replacing their parts with session guys in order to "make it sound better" you know something's wrong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 19, 2011, 11:26:32 AM
M, that's a pretty cool idea.  I should do an album-a-day thing with some of my favorite bands, or maybe some bands that will turn out to be favorites.

This is the first time I've done this in a looooong time with any band I like, but it's been a sweet change of pace for my listening habits. What I've been doing is starting the day with an album and occasionally listen to it through the day, and then over night as I go to sleep (since dock my iPod and play it while I go to bed). It's been a fun experiment!

Today marks the day for Big Generator, and I will have to admit, I'm liking it a lot more than I originally thought I did! It's definitely not the worst Yes album out there (which still stands to be Open Your Eyes, which I don't think will ever change), and might even end up being a BIT better than Union, but I'll have to wait and see how listening to that goes on Monday - tomorrow will be ABWH, which I've not heard very often either, mostly because I was turned off by the island sounds, especially on Teakbois... I mean, what WAS that?! I'm hoping ABWH fares a bit better tomorrow than it has in years past.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 22, 2011, 08:37:09 AM
So I'm so close to purchasing Tormato but I'm scared....


Someone please reassure it'll be better then The Ladder and Big Generator (which was my last haul).

I'm thinking this haul will be Self-Titled and Tormato.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 22, 2011, 08:57:25 AM
Oh maybe I'll just get Yesshows. Why is that one so rare?

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 22, 2011, 09:06:54 AM
So I'm so close to purchasing Tormato but I'm scared....


Someone please reassure it'll be better then The Ladder and Big Generator (which was my last haul).

I'm thinking this haul will be Self-Titled and Tormato.

Tormato is indeed better than BG and TL. Some of the songs on it are a bit lacking compared albums like GFTO and Drama, but it's still classic-era Yes with the Anderson/Wakeman/Squire/White/Howe line-up, so the playing is still pretty superb. My favorite cuts on it are the first and last tracks, "Arriving UFO" and "Release, Release".

As for the self-titled debut, it's got some great tracks on it, but make sure you get the Rhino Remaster, which includes "Something's Coming", a cover of the West Side Story song. The debut is great to hear the early Squire/Bruford rhythm section, which, IMO, is the best part next to Anderson's and Squire's vocals.

Also - Yesshows is rare?
https://www.amazon.com/Yesshows-Yes/dp/B000002J24/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1298390619&sr=1-1
Unfortunately, the cheapest new is $23.34. I bought mine back on 12/25/05, for only $8.69 (along with Tormato and Drama, apparently, according to my Amazon.com order)
If you don't mind spending that much for a new one, or don't mind buying used, I would definitely recommend Yesshows, as it contains a killer live versions of "The Gates Of Delirium" and "Ritual" with Patric Moraz on keys!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 22, 2011, 09:09:18 AM
Oh maybe I'll just get Yesshows. Why is that one so rare?

Yesshows is rare? I found it in a used record store for like 2 or 3 dollars.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 22, 2011, 09:13:37 AM
I just bought that $9 one. Before, I didn't see it, just a bunch of $20, which I refuse to spend on most albums these days.

So, next up: Tormato and the Self-Titled probably. Or Keys. I dunno. I just can't wait for Yesshows now :)

On a side note: I'm really starting to feel like the time for buying cheap records online is passing. I remember being able to get into a bunch of bands VERY cheaply circa... 2005 or so. Now it seems like everything's a bit more expensive.

Or maybe I'm just poorer. Fuck. Gradschool. LOL.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on February 22, 2011, 09:15:51 AM
I just bought that $9 one. Before, I didn't see it, just a bunch of $20, which I refuse to spend on most albums these days.

So, next up: Tormato and the Self-Titled probably. Or Keys. I dunno. I just can't wait for Yesshows now :)

On a side note: I'm really starting to feel like the time for buying cheap records online is passing. I remember being able to get into a bunch of bands VERY cheaply circa... 2005 or so. Now it seems like everything's a bit more expensive.

Or maybe I'm just poorer. Fuck. Gradschool. LOL.

You're buying them online is the problem. I know you're in a foreign country, but surely there's some sort of used record store around?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 22, 2011, 09:27:50 AM
I remember being able to get into a bunch of bands VERY cheaply circa... 2005 or so. Now it seems like everything's a bit more expensive.

I think you are right on about this, but it depends on the band/label. Looking at my old Amazon.com orders from 2005/2004, I spent about as much as I would now on many of the Yes albums. In some cases, like with TFTO, the album is cheaper now than it was back in 2005 when I bought it (by about 4 dollars actually). Many of the Rhino Remasters are under $9.00 on Amazon, which is great for anyone's budget - maybe get an album a week or every two weeks, and you'd end up with the whole discography by year's end!

Unfortunately, things like Yessongs and Yesshows, which weren't part of Rhino's remaster campaign back in 2003, are a bit pricier. I think it evens out if you manage to buy all the Rhino Remasters for under $9 a piece - that's 11 studio albums for about $100! Pretty hard to beat that!

EDIT - actually, after surfing Amazon a bit more, I've found many Yes albums are now nearly HALF the price I paid for them over 5 years ago. Tormato is now as cheap NEW as $4.82, but when I bought it back in 2005, it cost me $9.93!!!
When I bought the self-titled debut album back in 2006, it cost me $8.31, but now you can find it for $4.32!
Same with Drama (paid $8.05, now can be bought new at $4.77).

I'll just put it this way - now is the time to buy the Yes Rhino Remasters if you haven't done so already!! Many of them are UNDER $5.00 (before shipping), so it'd be real easy to get them all!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 22, 2011, 05:23:07 PM
Yeah, that's a good idea. What is absolutely baffling though is how the cheapest version of Keystudio is going for 20, and that's used.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 22, 2011, 06:53:15 PM
I like Tormato. It isn't as focused as their earlier albums and is a bit spotty, but its pretty energetic and an interesting album imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 22, 2011, 07:57:27 PM
Yeah, that's a good idea. What is absolutely baffling though is how the cheapest version of Keystudio is going for 20, and that's used.

I'm actually pretty lucky I got mine (new) about 5 years ago for only $10.97 after shipping. Since then, it's become pretty rare, and thus, because of it's short production run, has gained high prices in the secondary market, even used. I think if you have gotten the rest of the Yes Rhino Remasters for as cheap as they are right now, it kind of evens out if you pay a bit more for some of the live albums and harder-to-find studio albums.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 22, 2011, 07:59:10 PM
Or be like me who bought both Keys to only find out years later they combined the studio stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on February 22, 2011, 08:00:41 PM
I know it doesn't really matter, but I just watched the trailer for the Classic Artists documentary on Yes, and I was blown away at how high pitched Anderson's speaking voice is. I don't know why it surprised me so much taking his singing voice into consideration...I guess because singers like Axl Rose and Claudio Sanchez have deep speaking voices despite high singing voices, so I wasn't expecting Jon to sound so feminine.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 22, 2011, 08:05:52 PM
Jon does talk like he sings.  My brother, cousin and I jokingly call it fluttering.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 22, 2011, 08:40:50 PM
Or be like me who bought both Keys to only find out years later they combined the studio stuff.

True, but the live stuff is TOTALLY worth buying the two 2CD sets! I mean, "Onward", "America" and "Time And A Word" are totally worth it alone! Plus, you get "The Revealing Science Of God" and the entirety of Close To The Edge!!!

Also, the Keystudio version of "Children Of Light" has a Wakeman-made introduction that wasn't on the original KTA release, but replaces the opening verse (which is just repeated later on in the song anyway, so you don't really miss it)

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 23, 2011, 05:24:25 AM
I have soooo many live cd's of Yes Marc it's out of control. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on February 23, 2011, 08:00:16 AM
For some reason, I don't see the point in those live CDs. I love Yesshows and am sure I will love Yessongs, but after that, what does one really need? I've got the Yes Symphonic DVD as well, which is good enough. So why bother with anything else?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 23, 2011, 08:04:40 AM
For some reason, I don't see the point in those live CDs. I love Yesshows and am sure I will love Yessongs, but after that, what does one really need? I've got the Yes Symphonic DVD as well, which is good enough. So why bother with anything else?

Well, after a while it becomes overload and you burn out from hearing the same songs live over and over.  But there is always one or two songs that you must have.  That being said.  i can't stop myself from buying Rush live Cd's and DVD's so...........( Kettle/black) :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 23, 2011, 08:23:28 AM
For some reason, I don't see the point in those live CDs. I love Yesshows and am sure I will love Yessongs, but after that, what does one really need? I've got the Yes Symphonic DVD as well, which is good enough. So why bother with anything else?

I kinda felt the same way when the first Keys came out.  But I listened to both discs, in order, which meant that the live material from '96 was first.  What it did was give me a feel for how that band sounded 20 years later (which was "present day" at the time).  It set the tone for the studio tracks.

Bands get bored playing the same songs the same way for years and years, so the live arrangements can accumulate little "variations" over the years.  I like hearing some of the things they come up with that are different.  Some bands sound pretty much the same every time you hear them, but Yes seem at ease with the fact that it's not going to sound like the studio recording, so they take the live version in a different direction.

Not always, and not always with good results IMO, but it's still interesting to me.  Also, that was the last time that particular lineup toured, so depending on how obsessed you are, it's an important document to have.

And finally, there are songs on those discs which aren't on Yessongs or Yesshows.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 23, 2011, 08:42:06 AM
Indeed, and I would definitely get the two KTA sets. I was hoping they'd re-release KTA with the live tracks, in order, on two CDs by themselves without the studio material, and then re-release Keystudio, but they missed the boat on that one.

However, on KTA you get the other tracks from GFTO that you didn't hear on Yesshows, as well as the aforementioned entirety of CTTE, plus pretty much everything else. I know it gets slammed for having overdubs, but it IS live (for the most part) and there's just something special about most of the tracks, especially "Awaken".

I'd say invest in the KTA Box Set that was released not long ago:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Keys-Ascension-Yes/dp/B003Q6BSTW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298475427&sr=8-1
However, the item description says the DVD is PAL/Region 2, so I hope you have a region-free player. Usually computers will play any region DVDs, regardless of PAL or NTSC.
But, for as cheap at $20.00 + shipping for a 4CD/1DVD set, you can't beat that! It'd almost be wrong to NOT buy it on principle of inexpensiveness alone!

Ironically enough, today is the day for the Keys material as I continue my Yes-Album-A-Day marathon! I've retitled/re-ordered the tracklist as Know, which was apparently Jon Anderson's working title for the material's album. "Mine Drive" is just spectacular! :tup

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 23, 2011, 10:41:00 AM
"Mind Drive" is my favorite latter-day Yes epic.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 25, 2011, 10:26:16 PM
For some reason, I don't see the point in those live CDs. I love Yesshows and am sure I will love Yessongs, but after that, what does one really need? I've got the Yes Symphonic DVD as well, which is good enough. So why bother with anything else?

Well, after a while it becomes overload and you burn out from hearing the same songs live over and over.  But there is always one or two songs that you must have.  That being said.  i can't stop myself from buying Rush live Cd's and DVD's so...........( Kettle/black) :lol

I know the feeling.

Which Yes live CDs do you have?


I'm still trying to appreciate Yes as a live band as much as I do in the studio.   I do enjoy Yessongs, Yesshows, The live stuff on  both Keys, Live at The House of Blues, An Evening of Yes Music Plus, The Word Is Live, but nothing really stands out as a MUST have Live Yes recording for me. I'm sure there's a bootleg out there (I don't have any Yes) that will knock my socks off, but I haven't run across one yet.



I listened to "Turn Of The Century" again (The whole album really, I can never listen to just one song) and I can see why people like it. I guess I'll listen to the version on Keys to see if anything changes (I don't recall it standing out). Maybe it's the production on Going for The One....I still don't really know. I mean Wakeman is pretty amazing on this record...I just sense conflict. The earlier records just seemed to have kind of a more free/less stressful vibe to them...




Finally listened to 90124 this week and i'm even more impressed with Rabin. Very passionate guitar playing. This record does nothing to dispell the notion that the suits pretty much ruin anything they get their hands on musically. The only other Rabin album I have (welll other than a few soundtracks) is Can't Look Away and I like 90124 better. I may have to investigate his late '70s-early '80s work a little more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 25, 2011, 10:37:54 PM
Agreed. Yes was an amazing live band, but I almost always prefer the studio counterparts.... they're just so... perfect.

"The Meeting" from the Tsongas DVD is brilliant though... that was one of the first live performances I saw from Yes (my friend showed me it the day I met him a couple years ago)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 27, 2011, 05:24:02 PM
Whoever said the vinyl of "Tormato" sounded horrible wasn't lying... I listened to it this weekend and it is one of the worst sounding vinyls I have heard. Luckily, they seemed to fix up the remastered CD.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on March 14, 2011, 04:31:11 AM
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/yes_finish_recording_new_album.html

Yes fans have been waiting a decade for new music. This summer, enthusiasts of the progressive rock band most famous for the singles "Roundabout" and "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" should finally have fresh product.

"At the moment, we just finished recording our first studio album since 2001," Chris Squire said during a phone interview. "It will probably be ready by July of this year."

The bassist, songwriter, cofounder and only group member to appear on every Yes album said the new one would be called "Fly From Here."

"It's the title of the main song," he said.

Squire also confirmed longtime Yes collaborator Trevor Horn produced the album. At Horn's insistence, "Fly From Here" will feature his former Buggles and Yes band-mate Geoffrey Downes on keyboards, as opposed to Rick Wakeman, Squire said. Squire also confirmed longtime Yes collaborator Trevor Horn produced the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on March 14, 2011, 05:46:58 AM
So I guess Oliver is out too then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 14, 2011, 06:38:44 AM
I have been (partially) following discussion about this on ProgressiveEars. It's very interesting the opinions of Yes Fans who have been underwhelmed by the performances of Benoit and Oliver.

I'm still wondering if Trevor's and Geoffrey's involvement are only on the Drama-era song "We Can Fly From Here", for which the album's title is derived, or if they're on the whole album.

Either way, it should be exciting to hear the first new Yes album in a decade!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 14, 2011, 07:46:55 AM
Interesting news, it's pretty much Drama lineup with Trevor not being on vocals. Of course, Drama was a long time ago, but something tells me the album will offer some good songs. Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 14, 2011, 08:25:32 AM
That's gotta be a typo, either in the original article or maybe Zydar's transcription.  Oliver Wakeman, son of Rick, is the current keyboard player and has been touring with them as well.  David Benoit is the current lead vocalist.  Jon and Rick released an album earlier this year and Rick has definitely not played with Yes, including recording, in quite some time.

"We Can Fly From Here" was a Buggles song that got worked into a Yes song when The Buggles (Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes replacing Jon & Rick) joined Yes for Drama.  It didn't make the album, possibly because there were already two other reworked Buggles songs on that album.  The others were "Tempus Fugit" and "Into the Lens".

Trevor Horn didn't stick around for lead vocals on the next album, 90125, but he did produce it.  He is also producing the new album, and they've ressurrected "We Can Fly From Here" and according to Chris Squire, it's the "main song" on the album.  Geoff Downes was brought back to play keyboards on that song, as he is a former Yesman and did help write it, after all.

It was separately reported that the new album would feature at least one epic-length song.  So the logical conclusion is that "We Can Fly From Here" is the epic and "main song" but that would be a bit weird because Oliver Wakeman is the keyboard player and he doesn't play on the "main song" on the album?

Interesting news indeed, but we're getting contradictory and apparently incorrect information right now.  As with the new Dream Theater album, I don't think we'll know anything for sure until the album is actually released.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on March 14, 2011, 08:34:46 AM
That's gotta be a typo, either in the original article or maybe Zydar's transcription.

It must be the article, since I only copy + pasted directly from it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 14, 2011, 10:16:51 AM
If Oliver is not gonna be on the new album that makes me a little more excited tbh.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 14, 2011, 10:38:50 AM
That's gotta be a typo, either in the original article or maybe Zydar's transcription.

It must be the article, since I only copy + pasted directly from it.

You're right.  Ultimate Guitar f*cked up when they copypasted from Bradenton.com, which said

At Horn’s insistence, “Fly from Here” will feature his former Buggles and Yes band-mate Geoffrey Downes on keyboards, as opposed to Wakeman, Squire said.

This is immediately after naming the current members of the band, including Oliver Wakeman.  Ultimate Guitar added Wakeman's first name, but failed and got it wrong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on March 15, 2011, 01:36:05 AM
or Alan White? he played keys on Magnification anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 15, 2011, 07:16:12 AM
Alan White is known among Yesmen for being a very nice, polite guy, a true gentleman, but he's also known for exaggerating what he does within Yes.  I've always found that to be a strange, seeming contradiction.  He does play the piano, and contributed some piano work to Magnification, but let's be serious, he's the drummer.  His contribution to "playing keyboards on Magnification" consists of a few licks on piano in a few songs.

Alan White once said in an interview that he played on Close to the Edge.  Everyone knows that he hadn't joined the band yet at that time, and that Bill Bruford played drums on that album.  Alan clarified by stating that (producer) Eddie Offord was a friend of his, and one day when Bruford couldn't make it into the studio, Eddie had called Alan to sit in and play drums so the rest of the band could practice.  He's not actually on the record.

Alan has also said that he wrote the break in "Awaken".  So has Rick Wakeman, Jon Anderson, and even Patrick Moraz.  I'm sure he meant that he wrote his part.  Alan plays the triangle for five minutes during that section.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 15, 2011, 12:28:33 PM
Yes, the band where everyone wrote everything.  :lol ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 15, 2011, 02:45:50 PM
Yes, the band where everyone wrote everything.  :lol ;)

Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ScioPath on March 15, 2011, 02:53:42 PM
Just bought The Yes Album, finally.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 15, 2011, 03:03:14 PM
You must report back to us when you have concluded your analysis.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 15, 2011, 03:23:43 PM
Speaking of The Yes Album, does anyone else listen to it with the studio version of "Clap" in place of the live version on the original album? I've had it that way on my iPod Playlists for the LONGEST time and I don't think I recall the last time I listened to the album with the original live version of "Clap".

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 15, 2011, 04:48:26 PM
Just bought The Yes Album, finally.
Good.  Step into a world much more beautiful than the one you left behind.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 15, 2011, 05:37:34 PM
Speaking of The Yes Album, does anyone else listen to it with the studio version of "Clap" in place of the live version on the original album? I've had it that way on my iPod Playlists for the LONGEST time and I don't think I recall the last time I listened to the album with the original live version of "Clap".

-Marc.

On the contrary, I think I've only listened to the studio version a few times.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 15, 2011, 05:59:59 PM
Speaking of The Yes Album, does anyone else listen to it with the studio version of "Clap" in place of the live version on the original album? I've had it that way on my iPod Playlists for the LONGEST time and I don't think I recall the last time I listened to the album with the original live version of "Clap".

I didn't know there was a studio version.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 15, 2011, 07:18:12 PM
Speaking of The Yes Album, does anyone else listen to it with the studio version of "Clap" in place of the live version on the original album? I've had it that way on my iPod Playlists for the LONGEST time and I don't think I recall the last time I listened to the album with the original live version of "Clap".

I didn't know there was a studio version.

It's on the Rhino Remaster of the album as one of the bonus tracks. IIRC, it's a bit longer than the live version as well.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 19, 2011, 07:34:57 PM
Speaking of The Yes Album, does anyone else listen to it with the studio version of "Clap" in place of the live version on the original album? I've had it that way on my iPod Playlists for the LONGEST time and I don't think I recall the last time I listened to the album with the original live version of "Clap".

I didn't know there was a studio version.

It's on the Rhino Remaster of the album as one of the bonus tracks. IIRC, it's a bit longer than the live version as well.

-Marc.

I forgot about that one.  I tend to not listen to the Rhino remasters much because I'm not a fan of the edits. I'd rather have unreleased songs or demos on there rather than edits.

That said, I realize The Clap is not an edit, but most of those songs on the earlier albums tend to be edits.  I kind of don't like that Rhino just dumped those tracks at the end of the disc as I think they ruin the flow of the album...

....Which reminds me that I still need to pick up the In A Word Box at some point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Metro on March 19, 2011, 08:03:37 PM
My friend gave me a Flash Drive with all of Yes's albums up to 90125 plus Talk.

He just saved me a bunch of money there.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on March 19, 2011, 08:22:37 PM
As a noob in the Yes world of prog, I have a question for everyone on this thread.

Recently I picked up Close to the Edge on vinyl. When I brought it home, I listened to the title track once. I don't know if it was me, the record player, the production, or a number of these things, but the song didn't do anything for me. I already have Fragile on vinyl and the first time I heard that I was hooked. Am I missing something? Am I not listening right? Does it take a few listens?

What's wrong with this picture?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 19, 2011, 10:29:30 PM
It can take several listens before you grasp the glory of Close to the Edge.  Some get it right away, some take longer to come round to it, but once you get it, you get it and it gets you.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 19, 2011, 10:30:24 PM
The studio version of "The Clap" has a bunch of riffs and stuff that ended up on "Mood for a Day" if I'm not mistaken.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 19, 2011, 11:07:32 PM
As a noob in the Yes world of prog, I have a question for everyone on this thread.

Recently I picked up Close to the Edge on vinyl. When I brought it home, I listened to the title track once. I don't know if it was me, the record player, the production, or a number of these things, but the song didn't do anything for me. I already have Fragile on vinyl and the first time I heard that I was hooked. Am I missing something? Am I not listening right? Does it take a few listens?

What's wrong with this picture?

Long songs usually take me at least a few listens so catch on to a lot of what is going so, so give it more spins here and there, and hopefully enough of it will grab you to keep you listening.  I remember the first I listened to "Close to the Edge" and being completely mesmerized by Rick Wakeman's keyboard sounds during the long intro (talking the first three or four minutes here).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 19, 2011, 11:44:57 PM
I think I shit myself the first time I heard CttE.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 20, 2011, 06:44:24 AM
Hearing And You and I as a 10 year old changed what I knew of music and with Rush sent me down the path of more grown up music and into the Prog world.  Even though it wasn't called prog back then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on March 20, 2011, 07:39:23 PM
What was it called? Just good rock and roll?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on March 20, 2011, 08:51:55 PM
It takes me a few listens to really appreciate longer pieces as well. There is just so much there, its hard to take everything in at once.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 20, 2011, 09:49:07 PM
With "Close to the Edge" there's a lot of really cool things they've done in terms of the arrangement.  The first verse is in 12/8, the second verse has the same melody but cuts the rhythm back to 6/4 but the eighth note stays the same, and much later, after one of the most amazing Hammond solos ever recorded (which he plays over the first verse progression), the final verse actually combines the rhythms of the first two verses in a pretty bizarre way that works somehow.

During the intro, which is nearly atonal, listen to the 12/8 pattern the bass plays, which the guitar doubles near the end.  The keyboards are playing the exact same pattern, twice as fast, three octaves higher.

On the hill, we viewed the silence of the valley...

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on March 21, 2011, 10:46:09 PM
Just listened to Close to the Edge twice today and holy crap it finally hit me. There is so much to digest but once I digested it all, it was sooooooo yummy. Thank you Orbert for the in depth analysis. I listened to the album once more for the little trinkets you talked about, and damn. Shit's deep.

I think to this day the song that took the longest to digest was "The Count of Tuscany", just cause of the lyrics (cheese is no gouda). But anwyay, I am so glad I picked up this record. I'm listening to Fragile right now (vinyl) but once I'm done I'm going straight back to Close to the Edge.

Thank you DTF!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 21, 2011, 11:41:54 PM
What was it called? Just good rock and roll?

In the 70's, yeah it was.  You had your Rock station, and maybe a separate Oldies station as well, if there was enough demand for 50's music.  I still remember hearing "Roundabout" on the radio back then, and realizing how incredibly special it was.  Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, three-part harmonies, fast and slow movements, a double round of solos with the guitar and organ trading off, all in the same song.  Nobody did that in the early 70's, but Yes did, and it was even a Top 40 hit.  I think I knew then that I would always be attracted to music that pushed the envelope.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on March 22, 2011, 12:55:46 AM
Yes was once on the radio? And on the top 40?? Nowadays when I start a conversation about Yes (with people my age), they look at me like I'm weird and ask "There's a band called 'Yes'?, that's funny".

Somedays I think I was born in the wrong time era. And then I remember bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, Children Of Bodom, and Between the Buried and Me, and I still get depressed that prog never gets the amount of respect it deserves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on March 22, 2011, 06:05:14 AM
bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, Children Of Bodom, and Between the Buried and Me

One of these things is not like the others.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: wolfking on March 22, 2011, 06:36:46 AM
I've come in to admit that the only Yes song I've heard is Owner of a Lonely Heart.  But yesterday I picked up a best of and Going For the One extremely cheap.  I haven't listened to them yet.  By reading this thread, looks like I should have picked up Close to the Edge.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 22, 2011, 07:16:11 AM
What was it called? Just good rock and roll?

As a kid I heard the term "experimental rock".  It was only later that the term "Prog Rock" surfaced.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 22, 2011, 08:30:57 AM
"Art Rock" was another early term that I heard a lot.

The early 70's were an amazing time for rock music.  People figured out that you could create rock music for listening to and not just dancing to.  Some of this actually made it to the radio, because radio stations were independent, not all programmed by some idiot in an office in New York who decides what you think is cool.  People were willing to try new music, put stuff out there and see what sticks.  Promising new bands were given three-album deals, which is completely unheard-of these days.  They had time to develop their sound and do some great, interesting stuff along the way.  Today, if you don't have a Top 40 hit on your first album, you don't make a second one.

I heard "Roundabout" on the radio and decided to buy Fragile.  To this day, I still remember riding home from the store, my mom driving the old Ford, tearing off the shrink wrap, opening the gatefold (all the coolest albums "opened up") and just savoring the moment.  Just checking out the artwork and lyrics, I knew I was going to hear some cool shit when I got home.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 22, 2011, 08:38:46 AM
How could I forget Art Rock.  Thank Orbert!  The late 60's into the 70's was a great time of bands streching the limits of the definitions of what music was in peoples eyes and ears. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on March 22, 2011, 09:45:14 AM
I've come in to admit that the only Yes song I've heard is Owner of a Lonely Heart.  But yesterday I picked up a best of and Going For the One extremely cheap.  I haven't listened to them yet.  By reading this thread, looks like I should have picked up Close to the Edge.

Going for the One is awesome. It's like getting Six Degrees or Scenes From a Memory instead of Awake or Images and Words. Not what most people consider the best, but it certainly has its following. You still made a great choice.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on March 22, 2011, 04:39:57 PM
bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, Children Of Bodom, and Between the Buried and Me

One of these things is not like the others.

Whoops, I mean Coheed and Cambria. My mind was completely somewhere else. :loser:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 26, 2011, 02:43:52 PM
What was it called? Just good rock and roll?

In the 70's, yeah it was.  You had your Rock station, and maybe a separate Oldies station as well, if there was enough demand for 50's music.  I still remember hearing "Roundabout" on the radio back then, and realizing how incredibly special it was.  Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, three-part harmonies, fast and slow movements, a double round of solos with the guitar and organ trading off, all in the same song.  Nobody did that in the early 70's, but Yes did, and it was even a Top 40 hit.  I think I knew then that I would always be attracted to music that pushed the envelope.

Now music gets classified and thrown unfiltered into niches where 90 percent of the people never experience it. In 1973 most people who listened to the radio knew who Yes was.   

You could hear Yes, Slade, Elton John and Sly and The Family Stone within 20 minutes of each other.

Today, the scope of what you hear on the radio is very narrow. It's unlikely that you would hear the band Live and The Mars Volta on the same commercial/satellite radio station.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 26, 2011, 06:57:08 PM
How could I forget Art Rock.  Thank Orbert!  The late 60's into the 70's was a great time of bands streching the limits of the definitions of what music was in peoples eyes and ears. 
Another thing to think about was that it wass all fresh and new at the time.  We've had forty years of music to dilute the pool since then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 26, 2011, 11:15:55 PM
 
What was it called? Just good rock and roll?

In the 70's, yeah it was.  You had your Rock station, and maybe a separate Oldies station as well, if there was enough demand for 50's music.  I still remember hearing "Roundabout" on the radio back then, and realizing how incredibly special it was.  Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, three-part harmonies, fast and slow movements, a double round of solos with the guitar and organ trading off, all in the same song.  Nobody did that in the early 70's, but Yes did, and it was even a Top 40 hit.  I think I knew then that I would always be attracted to music that pushed the envelope.

Now music gets classified and thrown unfiltered into niches where 90 percent of the people never experience it. In 1973 most people who listened to the radio knew who Yes was.  

You could hear Yes, Slade, Elton John and Sly and The Family Stone within 20 minutes of each other.

Today, the scope of what you hear on the radio is very narrow. It's unlikely that you would hear the band Live and The Mars Volta on the same commercial/satellite radio station.

I think the proliferation of satellite and internet radio stations is great if you know what type of music you want to listen to already.  Every niche is pretty much covered.

I grew up in Lansing, Michigan in the 70's, and we had a Rock station, a Country station, an Easy Listening station (mellower pop stuff, pretty much anything you wouldn't consider Rock) and an Oldies station.  So pretty much everything popular was divided between the Rock and the Easy Listening; Country wasn't nearly as fragmented as it is today, and the Oldies covered everything else.  So you picked a format and listened.  You'd hear the stuff you like and a whole bunch of stuff you wouldn't necessarily pick, but everyone got exposed to all different kinds of stuff.  Then in my case, I went and bought albums by bands that sounded interesting.  Some of my friends bought singles (45's) but I liked albums.  You got a better feel for what a band was about.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on April 04, 2011, 01:59:51 AM
Is it abnormal that I find Fragile much easier to listen to and much more enjoyable than the 3 albums that followed it? Granted, I like CttE, Tales, and Relayer, but I've listened to them maybe 2 or 3 times each, whereas I've probably listened to Fragile about 10 times by now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2011, 02:10:47 AM
Just give it time, man.  Yes is not a fly by night girl, but a life long obsession.  I have been listening to said albums for over 25 years, and still discover new shit about them at every listen.  Protip-find a beautiful outside area, put the headphones on, and watch the nighttime stars while listening to Rituals off of Tales.  It will, no pun intended, become a ritual for you, I do it every year at my annual camping trip in the Sierras, and it still brings tears to my eyes.  Not tomention that it always makes me feel about this fucking big.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on April 04, 2011, 02:15:13 AM
That's pretty cool. I rarely listen to music outside of the darkness of my room, but I may give that a go. :lol

Speaking of Tales...like I said, I've listened to it 3 times in full, but I remember nothing about it. I distinctly remember liking it each time, but...I can't recall anything about any of the songs. When I finish listening to it, it's like "that was cool, but...what the fuck did I just listen to?"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2011, 02:22:09 AM
I said it before a while back in this thread, but Yes is the one band I know of that you almost have to sacrifice yourself to the music, just give it up, and let the music fo what it may with your spirit and soul.  I always felt that is the only way to truly appreciate Yes.  (sidenote, Yes is my favorite band, with DT being a close second, I have seen Yes many, many times, and each one was like a speaking in tongues spiritual ritual for me)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 04, 2011, 07:35:18 AM
Fragile is more accessible than the albums that followed it, mostly because the songs are shorter.  The next three albums are basically all epics and yeah, it can be overwhelming.  As with most large-scale pieces of music, any of the songs on those albums (even the "short" ones) can take a while to grasp.

While I agree that it really requires something of an investment and surrender to get into, I also understand that it's just not for everybody.  A long, complex piece of music of any genre can be exhausting to listen to, because it takes a lot of energy just to stay with it the whole time, and it will take you on emotional highs and lows along the way.  Not everyone is looking for an serious emotional investment when they listen to music; they just want something good to listen to.

But man, people I know who are really into Yes are really, really into Yes.  If it speaks to you, it is seriously like no other prog.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on April 04, 2011, 07:37:00 AM
European tour dates:

Here is a list of the concerts that have been confirmed so far:

11/8 – Corn Exchange - Cambridge, UK
11/9 – City Hall - Sheffield
11/11 - Symphony Hall – Birmingham, UK
11/12 – Clyde Auditorium - Glasgow, UK
11/13 – Apollo - Manchester, UK
11/15 – Dome – Brighton, UK
11/16 – Colston Hall - Bristol, UK
11/17 – Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK
11/19 – Olympia - Paris, France
11/20 – Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, Belgium
11/21 – Vereeniging - – Nijmegen, Holland
11/23 – Volkshau – Zurich, Switzerland
11/24 – Teatro Smeraldo – Milan, Italy
11/25 – Palazzetti de Chiarbola - Trieste, Italy
11/27 – Koncerthaus - Vienna, Austria
11/29 – Kulturpalast - Dresden, Germany
11/30 – KKL Hegensaal – Stuttgart, Germany
12/1 – Konings-Pilsner Arena - Oberhausen, Germany
12/3 – Tonhalle - Munich, Germany
12/4 – Ringlokschuppen – Bielefield, Germany
12/6 – Amager Bio – Copenhagen, Denmark
12/7 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, Norway
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 04, 2011, 07:43:01 AM
So Geoff Downes seems to be in the band again.  Some of the new album was recorded with Oliver Wakeman and some with Geoff.  I wonder if Geoff rerecorded the parts or they used Oliver's parts?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 04, 2011, 08:06:58 AM
That's the big speculation discussion on Yes boards these days.  The new album Fly from Here gets its title from the track "We Can Fly from Here" which was originally a Drama-era song that they played live but which wasn't on the album.  Trevor Horn is producing the new album, and he of course sang lead vocals on Drama.  He brought in Geoff Downes to play keys on just the one track, as Geoff played on the original version of the song.  They worked with Chris Squire on reworking the song and updating it, and somehow during that process it went from a "regular" song to an epic of over 20 minutes and the centerpiece of the album.

Last week it was announced that Geoff is the keyboard player for Yes, and there were pictures of the lineup.  Downes is in and Son of Wakeman is out, but no one seems to know where that leaves us as far as how much of Wakeman's tracks will be on the new album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 04, 2011, 08:18:22 AM
I'm interested to hear the new CD because, well, first it's Yes but I love Horn's production on a few different bands and now seeing if it translates to 2011.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on April 04, 2011, 08:23:39 AM
Is it abnormal that I find Fragile much easier to listen to and much more enjoyable than the 3 albums that followed it? Granted, I like CttE, Tales, and Relayer, but I've listened to them maybe 2 or 3 times each, whereas I've probably listened to Fragile about 10 times by now.

Nah, Fragile is easily a better record than Tales and Relayer IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 04, 2011, 08:48:26 AM
Good to see some tour dates, but unfortunately the closest show to me is Austria.  :-\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on April 04, 2011, 09:23:27 AM
Fuck me, I'll be at Sheffield!  :metal FUCK YEAH!!!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 04, 2011, 09:37:05 AM
Wait, Oliver is out? lol I love how Yes can never go more than 6 months without a lineup change. :D

I'm excited for the new album though, seeing as they played a lot of Drama tunes on the past few tours, and that they've now begun working with the two guys that were in Drama, I think that this album should be pretty good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2011, 10:12:09 AM
Thank god Wakeman is out, he didn't fit in the band at all imo...

I'm more interested in the album, but still wish they had a different singer. Wasn't that impressed with Benoit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 04, 2011, 10:17:49 AM
Well, compared to Anderson everyone else falls short when it comes to singing for Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2011, 10:24:00 AM
That's true. He might sound better in studio too. I didn't mind his tone, but he was very pitchy live. However, in the studio they can run through the songs as much as they need.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 04, 2011, 11:21:46 AM
Wait, Oliver is out? lol I love how Yes can never go more than 6 months without a lineup change. :D

Fact: Yes has never released more than two albums in a row with the same lineup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 04, 2011, 02:04:49 PM
Learning Mood for a Day on guitar. I have determined 1:15 is impossible.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: mizzl on April 04, 2011, 02:07:30 PM
Guys, you do know that And You And I is the best song by Yes, dont you?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 04, 2011, 02:09:12 PM
If a few parts were shortened, it'd be up there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 04, 2011, 02:57:32 PM
No. I'm with mizzl.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Ryzee on April 04, 2011, 03:17:42 PM
Guys, you do know that And You And I is the best song by Yes, dont you?

It's up there, but that title belongs to "The Gates of Delirium."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 04, 2011, 03:51:21 PM
I guess so, but my personal favorite is "Roundabout".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 04, 2011, 04:35:33 PM
Guys, you do know that And You And I is the best song by Yes, dont you?

It's up there, but that title belongs to "The Gates of Delirium."
So close, but that's #2. The Revealing Science of God is the correct answer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 04, 2011, 06:42:19 PM
The Revealing Science of God is the correct answer.

I agree with this
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on April 04, 2011, 09:23:21 PM
Naw brahs, best Yes song is obviously Starship Trooper.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 04, 2011, 09:25:08 PM
Naw brahs, best Yes song is obviously Starship Trooper.

This man speaks true.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on April 04, 2011, 09:25:24 PM
o/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 05, 2011, 12:49:05 AM
The Revealing Science of God is the correct answer.

I agree with this
Me too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on April 05, 2011, 12:50:53 AM
I guess so, but my personal favorite is "Roundabout".

Roundabout or Machine Messiah could be my #1.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on April 05, 2011, 03:33:01 AM
Learning Mood for a Day on guitar. I have determined 1:15 is impossible.

Me too! Not coming along so well though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnIYks00eh4
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 05, 2011, 08:04:30 PM
I saw. It takes quite a bit of practice, I know. But eventually the fingerpicking gets less challenging. I'm not very good at the speedy parts though, I always screw those up. This song is nothing compared to "Clap" though. That one I can't even come close to making any sort of success on. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 05, 2011, 08:17:37 PM
o/

*\o
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 09, 2011, 10:11:09 AM
I see Yes is touring with Styx this summer, and they are actually coming to St. Louis.  Despite no Dennis DeYoung and no Jon Anderson, I'd actually consider going to this, but ticket prices appear rather pricey.  If a friend or two, who are into these bands, too, have any interest in going, I might be able to be talked into going. ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 09, 2011, 10:14:24 AM
Kev.  Have you seen Styx without Dennis DeYoung?  Lawrence Gowan is great.  Yes would be cool just to see them tour behind a new cd.  it's been a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 09, 2011, 10:27:35 AM
I have not, but I saw the live DVD they released a few years ago (with the orchestra), and they appear to still do a killer job live, even without DDY.  It says the highest ticket price for our show is in the $150 range, but I am guessing that is for something special, as the Nashville one is already on sale, and the most expensive tickets there are only around $90 after getting raped by ticketmaster's service charges, and I can't imagine it being that different from show to show, so this might be worth going to for that price.  Time to call around to a few friends to gauge the interest...:)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 09, 2011, 10:58:29 AM
$150 is a bit much.  I'd hesitate myself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 09, 2011, 12:47:05 PM
I see Yes is touring with Styx this summer, and they are actually coming to St. Louis.  Despite no Dennis DeYoung and no Jon Anderson, I'd actually consider going to this, but ticket prices appear rather pricey.  If a friend or two, who are into these bands, too, have any interest in going, I might be able to be talked into going. ;)

:O

I'd love to see both live.  Too bad that tour's not really close to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 09, 2011, 12:48:17 PM
I'll admit to not liking Siberian Khatru that much, but it's fun as hell on guitar. :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: mizzl on April 09, 2011, 01:14:56 PM
I'll admit to not liking Siberian Khatru that much, but it's fun as hell on guitar. :metal
This  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 09, 2011, 02:06:42 PM
Styx was awesome. I saw them play a show with Boston, and even though I went for Boston, they absolutely blew Boston out of the water.

But I'm not gonna pay 150 to see this tour. Especially since I'm assuming it won't be the tour for the new album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 09, 2011, 10:31:42 PM
Tommy Shaw and James Young were always the more straight-on rockers in Styx, and they still do all their classics, plus I've heard that Lawrence Gowan is great.  They have to do "Come Sail Away" since it was one of their biggest hits, but other than that, you don't really miss the Dennis DeYoung songs.  I almost feel like saying that is stabbing DDY in the back, since he was always my favorite, but hey, he's gone and the band carries on.  Kinda the same as Steve Perry and Journey.  The band is more important than any one person.

Which brings us back to Yes without Jon Anderson.  With Geoff Downes now officially in and Oliver Wakeman out, we're back up to four veterans out of five in the band.  Supposedly Benoit still has some off nights as lead vocalist, but you know the music going to be awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MetalManiac666 on April 09, 2011, 11:26:35 PM
I'll admit to not liking Siberian Khatru that much, but it's fun as hell on guitar. :metal

Siberian Khatru is Yes's second best song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: chknptpie on April 10, 2011, 10:58:01 AM
I'd totally do Tommy  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 10, 2011, 11:25:38 AM
THE FIST WILL RUN
GRASP MEEEETAL TO GUN
THE SPIRIT SINGS IN CRASHING TONES
WE GAIN THE BATTLE DRUM!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 10, 2011, 05:44:33 PM
So apparently Trevor Horn's going to be producing, writing, and doing vocals, and Geoff Downes is now on keyboards...why not just ditch David and get a reunion of the Drama lineup so its still some kind of Yes even without Anderson?  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 10, 2011, 06:38:36 PM
^ I would be ok with that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2011, 09:26:58 PM
Where did you hear that he's also doing vocals?  That one would be new to me.  He's always been on board as the producer and working with them on the arrangements, which I figured was good for a writing credit, but he's stated in the past anyway that his singing days are behind him.  Of course with Yes, you never say never.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 10, 2011, 09:33:05 PM
Well the info is just from wikipedia, so it may not be the most accurate thing in the world.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2011, 11:09:17 PM
I liked his voice on Drama, and he has proven to be a great producer and excellent fit for Yes.  I was even with him on the decision to bump Oliver Wakeman out and let Geoff Downes plays keys on the new album.  But if he took over lead vocals as well, I think that goes too far.  As much as I'd have loved to see a second album from the Drama lineup in its time, I don't think kicking out the current singer and keyboard player to do it is right.  There have been so many statements from the band in the past few years backing Benoit David and insisting that they love him and they're moving forward with him on lead vocals.

But this is Yes, the most screwed-up band in the history of the world in terms of lineups and who's in and who's out and why.  They've always let the suits call the shots for them; it shouldn't be surprising that they allow their producer that kind of power.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 11, 2011, 01:39:06 AM
Just give it time, man.  Yes is not a fly by night girl, but a life long obsession.  I have been listening to said albums for over 25 years, and still discover new shit about them at every listen.  Protip-find a beautiful outside area, put the headphones on, and watch the nighttime stars while listening to Rituals off of Tales.  It will, no pun intended, become a ritual for you, I do it every year at my annual camping trip in the Sierras, and it still brings tears to my eyes.  Not tomention that it always makes me feel about this fucking big.


I did this twice. Each time I felt about the same size...Really Fucking Small
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 15, 2011, 03:24:33 PM
As much as I'd have loved to see a second album from the Drama lineup in its time, I don't think kicking out the current singer and keyboard player to do it is right.  There have been so many statements from the band in the past few years backing Benoit David and insisting that they love him and they're moving forward with him on lead vocals.

But this is Yes, the most screwed-up band in the history of the world in terms of lineups and who's in and who's out and why.  They've always let the suits call the shots for them; it shouldn't be surprising that they allow their producer that kind of power.

I can easily see this happening if someone decided they could get more money from the tour (where the money is now made) without Benoit. Personally, I'd prefer Downes over Oliver Wakeman myself, but even that isn't enough for me to fork over they want for a ticket.


Hell, I'm having trouble deciding if I want to fork over $50 to see Jon Anderson 15 minutes away from me at a very intimate venue. It's likely I won't.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 15, 2011, 03:37:51 PM



Hell, I've having trouble deciding if I want to fork over $50 to see Jon Anderson 15 minutes away from me at a very intimate venue. It's likely I won't.

Same here where I live. He's about 30 minutes away and I'm not shelling out the money to see him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 15, 2011, 03:44:59 PM
Agreed. I saw Jon Anderson last year and it was a really cool experience, but tickets are so expensive and it's just not worth it to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 15, 2011, 03:47:58 PM
Is that Jon Anderson solo, or the Anderson/Wakeman?  I'd be pretty tempted to see Anderson/Wakeman, especially if it was close by.  Those two are awesome together.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 15, 2011, 03:51:54 PM
Just Jon Anderson I believe. If it was Wakeman as well, that would change everything.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 15, 2011, 09:01:32 PM
Is that Jon Anderson solo, or the Anderson/Wakeman?  I'd be pretty tempted to see Anderson/Wakeman, especially if it was close by.  Those two are awesome together.

Solo and look who else is playing in the same month but sold out.  Great small venue but I've got to find a new job first. So no concerts for me.

https://tickets.tupelohall.com/default.asp?SearchMonth=5%2F28%2F2011&monthsubmit=x&MV=5%2F28%2F2011
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 15, 2011, 11:43:41 PM
So I'm at my local bar last night, and the band is playing the regular barband fare.  One of the guitarist breaks a string and goes to change it.  The other guitarist is diddling around to keep warm.  Out of the blue, he starts jamming a bit from the opening of Close to the Edge.  I was fucking floored.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 16, 2011, 12:23:30 AM
That would've been cool to hear.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 16, 2011, 01:41:45 PM
Nice. :o
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 16, 2011, 10:54:13 PM
It wasn't perfect, but a pretty adequate job, once again proving that there can be only one Steve Howe in the universe.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 16, 2011, 11:05:08 PM
We were rehearsing in a bar in Manistee, Michigan one afternoon called The Silver Fox.  At some point, our guitarist broke a string or something and needed to take a few, so that left the rest of us standing around, and the bartender yells "Hey do you guys know any Emerson, Lake & Palmer?"  As it happens, we had been messing around with "Tarkus" just for the hell of it (it's not like we were ever going to play it during a set, but I had the sheet music so what the hell).  So the bassist, drummer and I looked at each other and grinned, and started it up.  We played maybe 12 or 16 bars of that insane 10/8 intro, then stopped and looked over at him, asked him what he thought.  He was amazed.  "Are you kidding?!  Tarkus?!  I have never heard that played in bar before!"

He thought it was so cool that he gave us a round of drinks on the house.  That particular bar was actually pretty generous that way; we each got two drinks per set per night.  Presumably one for us and one for a friend.  Anyway, we didn't tell him that what we'd played was all we actually knew, but the bit we did play sounded pretty good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 17, 2011, 02:42:07 AM
I've got a similar story. The guitarist from my band had some problems during the show with tuning, so he took a minute off to fix the problem. Meanwhile, the rest of us are chilling on stage, and I broke into Larks tongues in aspic just for the sake of doodling around. Nobody in the audience knew the song, and one guy was even like ''What the fuck are you doing?''  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 21, 2011, 12:47:31 PM
Just picked up two more Yes vinyls: Drama and The Yes Album

I'm really diggin both sounds. But I still have not found Tales or Relayer anywhere on vinyl. Should I bite the bullet and look online?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on April 21, 2011, 02:54:05 PM
It's a common record in used stores. I say keep looking.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 21, 2011, 04:33:08 PM
It's a common record in used stores. I say keep looking.

Which one? Tales or Relayer?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 21, 2011, 04:34:47 PM
Ha. Y'all are lucky. The town I'm in is a prog fans nightmare. The only Yes anywhere is the Classic Yes compilation. So I've had to order my stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 21, 2011, 04:38:29 PM
Ha. Y'all are lucky. The town I'm in is a prog fans nightmare. The only Yes anywhere is the Classic Yes compilation. So I've had to order my stuff.

I had no problem getting mine.............in the 70's. :lol
CD in the 90's :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 21, 2011, 04:38:38 PM
Don't feel bad. The nearest used CD/vinyl shop near me is 7 miles in any direction. I go to multiple shops, so it eats up the gas. More times than not, all they have are Rod Stewart, ancient pop hits and soul.

Where you located that Prog is seldom heard in conversation?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on April 21, 2011, 04:41:22 PM
Only CD shop in my whole town is an HMV in the mall. Then there's Future Shop. One time I went to Future Shop and they had EVERY PG-era Genesis album. I was still getting into prog then so I didn't have them all yet, so I was ecstatic. I bought Foxtrot immediately. Next time I came, they terminated their whole selection. Now they only have one section, labeled rock/pop (pointless to label isn't it?), and it has absolutely no prog, except for about 30 copies of A Momentary Lapse of Reason by PF. And that's how it is every time I go.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 21, 2011, 04:47:31 PM
Only CD shop in my whole town is an HMV in the mall. Then there's Future Shop. One time I went to Future Shop and they had EVERY PG-era Genesis album. I was still getting into prog then so I didn't have them all yet, so I was ecstatic. I bought Foxtrot immediately. Next time I came, they terminated their whole selection. Now they only have one section, labeled rock/pop (pointless to label isn't it?), and it has absolutely no prog, except for about 30 copies of A Momentary Lapse of Reason by PF. And that's how it is every time I go.

That sucks. You should consider moving to Chicago. On Milwaukee Ave. near Clark, there is a shop called Reckless Records. Their vinyl selection blew the fuck up when hipsters started shopping at their new location. They always have RUSH, Pink Floyd, Yes, and some others that I like (shame I don't live in the city either). And as far as labeling everything Rock/Pop...their rock is not our rock.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 21, 2011, 09:32:25 PM
I had no problem getting mine.............in the 70's. :lol
CD in the 90's :lol

Heh heh, me too.  I have all original vinyl from the first album through 90125, studio and live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on April 21, 2011, 09:56:50 PM
Cool! A record store here in HK has the 4 disc version of Keys. Should I get it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 21, 2011, 10:26:45 PM
 :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 21, 2011, 10:49:08 PM
Cool! A record store here in HK has the 4 disc version of Keys. Should I get it?

Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 22, 2011, 04:05:51 PM
Ha. Y'all are lucky. The town I'm in is a prog fans nightmare. The only Yes anywhere is the Classic Yes compilation. So I've had to order my stuff.

I had no problem getting mine.............in the 70's. :lol
CD in the 90's :lol

I had this on tape once. I never upgraded to CD, but I think I want it now because I've been really wanting to hear that live version of "I've Seen All Good People."

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 22, 2011, 04:10:48 PM
Got it off my cousin who's a huge Yes nut.  I remember walking 3 miles just so we both could be the first in line to get Drama when it came out on album.  Walked 3 miles back to his place where his mom told him nobody over while I'm working(we never listened) and played the album a half dozen times
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 22, 2011, 04:19:46 PM
I'll be honest, I think the live version they stuck onto Classic Yes sucks pretty hard.  The only thing going for it, maybe, is that Jon tries to squeeze "All we are saying is give peace a chance" into the chorus at the end, as on the studio version, except he discovers that he can't actually sing two different parts at once, especially when the lyrics are different.  Howe's solo in the second part is probably why they included it; it's pretty hyper, but I still prefer the version on Yessongs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 22, 2011, 04:38:15 PM
Wait, Classic Yes has a live version not found on other releases?

I've seen the vinyl countless times at my local record store, but I never picked it up since I thought I already have all the songs on other vinyls.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 22, 2011, 04:43:24 PM
I'll be honest, I think the live version they stuck onto Classic Yes sucks pretty hard.  The only thing going for it, maybe, is that Jon tries to squeeze "All we are saying is give peace a chance" into the chorus at the end, as on the studio version, except he discovers that he can't actually sing two different parts at once, especially when the lyrics are different.  Howe's solo in the second part is probably why they included it; it's pretty hyper, but I still prefer the version on Yessongs.

From what I recall, I think the production on that Classic Yes version is a little better and it was likely my first exposure to live Yes such as it was.

Of course it's been at least a dozen years since I've probably heard it so it's possible that I might agree with you now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 22, 2011, 11:11:44 PM
Wait, Classic Yes has a live version not found on other releases?

I've seen the vinyl countless times at my local record store, but I never picked it up since I thought I already have all the songs on other vinyls.

The CD version of Classic Yes has live versions of "Roundabout" and "All Good People" that weren't on the LP and which are different from the versions on Yessongs (the only other officially released live versions at the time). Yes, the sound is clearer, the production is better, and all that.  I'm just not crazy about the performance itself, which is the most important thing IMO.  But the version you heard first is often the one that will always sound "better" to your ears.  I grew up with Yessongs, and despite its crappy, muddy sound, the performances are inspired and most take the songs beyond their studio versions, but they're still clean and tight.  To most Yesfans, Yessongs is still the definitive live Yes album.  In a way, that's kinduv sad, that in 40 years, they still haven't surpassed it, and at this point never will.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 25, 2011, 02:42:38 PM
Wait, Classic Yes has a live version not found on other releases?

I've seen the vinyl countless times at my local record store, but I never picked it up since I thought I already have all the songs on other vinyls.

The CD version of Classic Yes has live versions of "Roundabout" and "All Good People" that weren't on the LP and which are different from the versions on Yessongs (the only other officially released live versions at the time). Yes, the sound is clearer, the production is better, and all that.  I'm just not crazy about the performance itself, which is the most important thing IMO.  But the version you heard first is often the one that will always sound "better" to your ears.  I grew up with Yessongs, and despite its crappy, muddy sound, the performances are inspired and most take the songs beyond their studio versions, but they're still clean and tight.  To most Yesfans, Yessongs is still the definitive live Yes album.  In a way, that's kinduv sad, that in 40 years, they still haven't surpassed it, and at this point never will.

I get your point.

Performance certainly helps, in some cases a lot, but I think at that time I probably wasn't an advanced enough music listener to factor performance into the equation.

I just wish the crappy, muddy sound of Yessongs doesn't allow me to fully appreciate it like I should.

Are there other live songs in the vault from that period?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 25, 2011, 03:17:15 PM
Yes and no.  They released a 3-disc set in 2005 called The Word is Live (a pun based on a line from the title track from Time and a Word, "the word is love") which gathers together various unreleased tracks from various points in Yes history.  The quality varies greatly, as some of it is basically cleaned-up bootlegs, and they made an effort to not include a lot of material from the "classic" years, as they felt that that period was well represented already.

There's a version of "I've Seen All Good People" but I haven't listened to it in a while, so I can't vouch for its quality.  If I were favorably impressed, I think I'd remember, but that's not a hard and fast rule.  I do remember that the version of "America" is considerably longer than the studio version, which was actually an edit even though it still came in at 10 minutes.  The live version is over 16 and includes an interesting extended intro which more clearly reveals how the arrangement actually did evolve out of a mashup between the Simon & Garfunkel song and Leonard Bernstein's "America" from West Side Story.

There are a few other interesting Yes rarities, including the original version of "We Can Fly From Here", the previously unreleased Drama-era song which has been reworked and is now the title epic from the upcoming album.  But overall I think you'd have to be a pretty hardcore Yesfan, and a completist as well, to want to pick up The Word is Live, unless you can find a really good deal on it.  Maybe used.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 26, 2011, 06:20:48 PM
Yes and no.  They released a 3-disc set in 2005 called The Word is Live (a pun based on a line from the title track from Time and a Word, "the word is love") which gathers together various unreleased tracks from various points in Yes history.  The quality varies greatly, as some of it is basically cleaned-up bootlegs, and they made an effort to not include a lot of material from the "classic" years, as they felt that that period was well represented already.

There's a version of "I've Seen All Good People" but I haven't listened to it in a while, so I can't vouch for its quality.  If I were favorably impressed, I think I'd remember, but that's not a hard and fast rule.  I do remember that the version of "America" is considerably longer than the studio version, which was actually an edit even though it still came in at 10 minutes.  The live version is over 16 and includes an interesting extended intro which more clearly reveals how the arrangement actually did evolve out of a mashup between the Simon & Garfunkel song and Leonard Bernstein's "America" from West Side Story.

There are a few other interesting Yes rarities, including the original version of "We Can Fly From Here", the previously unreleased Drama-era song which has been reworked and is now the title epic from the upcoming album.  But overall I think you'd have to be a pretty hardcore Yesfan, and a completist as well, to want to pick up The Word is Live, unless you can find a really good deal on it.  Maybe used.

I picked up The Word Is Live a few years after it came out at a record show for $15. Had I known about the horrible sound quality beforehand, I might not have.

I love the package and the liners, but except for the third disc, it really hasn't left much of a lasting impression on me either.  I like MSG 1980 and Houston 1988 recordings most I think. I also like "Heart Of The Sunrise" from Oakland in 1978 and the Awaken recording from Chicago in 1979 doesn't really move me (I know...I have no soul) It's probably the best version I've heard.

But as you said, I found out the hard way that these recordings are essentially bootlegs of material that was mostly underrepresented in a live setting. I remember liking the pre-Yes Album stuff too, but some of those tracks I THINK are on the BBC discs.

I know "Sound Chaser" is on there too, but I have no memory of it at all, which, as you said, can't be a good thing.

That said, I'm sure there would have been enough material for another disc or two.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 26, 2011, 08:50:47 PM
$15 is probably a fair price.  I'm a pretty huge Yesfan, but there aren't any bands for whom I feel the need to just plain collect everything I can get my hands on.  Bands like Phish or The Greatful Dead I can almost understand, because improvisation plays such a vital role in their performances.  Getting to hear a particularly stunning version of a certain song, or a killer solo in a certain song would be pretty cool if it's a given that they're all different.  But I had a co-worker who was a Deadhead, and he had something like 300 bootlegs he'd collected over the years.  I still think that at that point he's just collecting to see how many he can get; they can't be that different from each other.

Anyway, with Yes, almost every live recording I've heard sounds mostly like an inferior version of their studio work, which is so carefully crafted.  I've listened to The Word is Live all the way through twice, and as a musician I find it interesting to observe some of the artistic choices they've made, and some of the compromises that they made in order to perform a song live that was originally quite layered in the studio.  But that's it.  Interesting is not the same as captivating.  I don't find myself wanting to hear it over and over again.

Maybe it's because their music is so dense and complex that there truly are very few live recordings that grab me and make me want to hear them again.  Maybe it's actually pretty rare that they actually manage to turn in a live performance that I'll like.  That may seem nearly sacrilegious, as they're my favorite band.  But it's what they can do in the studio that amazes me.  I think their music is just too hard to reproduce live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on April 27, 2011, 02:20:47 AM
^As much as I agree with you on the live recordings argument, I think I fall into collecting-for-the-sake-of-collecting with some bands...Yes included. Surprisingly, Yes is the only band I can listen to strictly on vinyl. I started out with them on vinyl, and for some reason can't transport to CD.

Nevertheless, I never understood all the bajillion live recordings by Grateful Dead. Now that I know that there are several solos and improv sessions on every recording, now I can see the appeal. Deadheads sure are funky, though (No offense).


In other news, just picked up Going for the One on vinyl, and I'm very impressed...as usual.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 27, 2011, 07:26:32 AM
My first "favorite band" was Chicago.  Not the lame, light-rock, adult-contemporary, whiny band they'd become in the 80's and 90's, but the jazz-prog-rock band with ass-kicking horns and 10-minute guitar solos they started as back in the 70's.  My first album was the astounding four-record Live at Carnegie Hall, which featured an extended free-form piano solo and two extended guitar solos in its first 65-minute chunk of tape (which spanned the first three LP sides and the first CD).

I tell you this because I listened to those solos and that album over and over again, and marveled every time.  These solos are not your basic deal where the band keeps playing the same progression as the verse or chorus for ten minutes while the soloist bores you to fucking tears with his wankery.  They're the kind where the horn section goes backstage for a beer while the guitar, bass, keys, and drums take off into a completely improvised jam which changes tempo, time signature, key, and mood multiple times, exploring the jazz roots of the band and taking the listener on a unique journey.  Everything each of the four of them is playing is in response to what each of the other three is playing.

I know this because not only does it sound exactly like that, but because the remastered version includes alternate live versions of these amazing jams, and they're completely different.  Chicago played a full week at Carnegie Hall, and these recordings were taken from other nights.  I suddenly wanted to hear every night.  If the two versions of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "South California Purples", and "Sing a Mean Tune, Kid" were that different, then every night was different.  Every night was another unique jam, another unique journey, and I wanted to hear it, to experience it.

And I finally understood why people collect multiple live recordings of the same band playing the same songs hundreds of times.  It's not the songs; it's the jams.  Now I understand.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 27, 2011, 08:12:23 AM
Orbert.  Funny you mention Chicago.  My cousin just burned me Chicago, live in San Fran 1969 and Chicago, Budokan, Japan 1972 boots.  I'm uploading them to my I-pod as we speak.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 27, 2011, 11:32:22 AM
San Fran 1969 is pretty raw, but the band was already very tight, and it shows the beginnings (ha!) of a band that would become truly amazing for a while.

The 1972 stuff is mind-blowing.  I wanted this band to last forever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 27, 2011, 11:38:32 AM
I really want get into Chicago. The only song I know by them is 25 or 6 to 4. But your description of their live album sounds amazing!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 27, 2011, 11:45:55 AM
Their old stuff ZBomber is a grove jam fest orgasm.  Great vocals and harmonies.

Orbert.  I love seeing how a band molds into that band they become down the line.  That's the great thing about boots.  The maturation of the music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on April 27, 2011, 11:53:04 AM
San Fran 1969 is pretty raw, but the band was already very tight, and it shows the beginnings (ha!) of a band that would become truly amazing for a while.

The 1972 stuff is mind-blowing.  I wanted this band to last forever.

Orbert, not to turn this into a Chicago thread, but at what point in their discography/career do you think this band turned "soft"?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 27, 2011, 12:09:37 PM
The first five albums are all pure gold.  If you have the funds, I suggest getting Live at Carnegie Hall.  Most songs are pretty faithful to their studio versions, but with some extra stuff here and there, and then there are the songs which are the bases for the extended jams.

If you can't afford it, or can't find it, I recommend either the first album (The Chicago Transit Authority) or Chicago V, which is my favorite studio album.  The sprawling, semi-proggish arrangements of the first three albums (which were all originally double LPs) were scaled back into more concise jams, but they'd started playing more with time signatures, and Pankow's horn arrangements were getting really crazy.  The playing on that album is both very tight and very loose; it's hard to describe.

The second album (either Chicago II, or simply Chicago, its original title) is also very good, but all the multi-song suites with little Roman numerals seemed like they were trying just a little to hard to be proggy, and that was initially a turnoff.  Now I just listen and don't worry about it.  All the sections segue, so it's not an issue.

Chicago III is good, but IMO the weakest of the bunch.  It has some great stuff, and a few misfires as well.  Seven guys in the band, and clearly there was a policy that anyone could submit a song for inclusion on the album.  This had mixed results.

The Change

Chicago VII is probably their most adventurous album.  It was originally going to be a jazz album; the band wanted to make an album that explored their jazz roots more properly, but the suits wouldn't buy it, so they compromised.  It was another double LP, but there are no vocals until halfway through Side Two.  It's all instrumental up to that point.  This album was also the turning point for the band.  Peter Cetera had the high tenor voice which was becoming so popular in the late 70's and into the 80's, and the three hits from that album ("Call on Me", "Wishing You Were Here", and "Searching So Long") all featured Cetera on vocals.  Chicago VIII had "Old Days", again with Cetera on vocals, and by Chicago X (IX their first Greatest Hits album) and "If You Leave Me Now" it was all over.  Formerly one of three lead singers with approximately equal duties, Pete Cetera was now recognized as the voice of Chicago.

It didn't help that guitarist Terry Kath died after Chicago XI, taking the heart and soul of the band with him.  Through the 80's and into the 90's, Chicago was basically a pop machine.  Even when Cetera left to pursue his solo career, they replaced him with a bassist who sounded just like him, mostly because at that point, they needed someone to sing all the Cetera hits when they played them live.

So I'd say the turn started with VII, but VII is still an excellent album.  It's how things played out over the next couple of albums.  There are at least a few gems on everything up to XI, but after that... :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 27, 2011, 12:42:30 PM
That Rhino 4 disk of Carnegie was so well done.  I would agree that's what to get.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on April 27, 2011, 12:49:26 PM
Cool, thanks for the detailed breakdown Orbert!   That Carnegie Hall set does sound very intriguing to me.  
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on April 27, 2011, 01:07:01 PM
I'll probably start with the studio albums, because I prefer going that route before I explore the live albums. Gives me a better appreciation for the live renditions at that point.

Looks like it was recorded after III, so I'll get the first 3 albums soon!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 27, 2011, 01:53:25 PM
Yeah, Carnegie Hall is basically IV, as the next album was titled Chicago V.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 03, 2011, 04:02:42 PM
About time!!

https://www.billboard.com/news/yes-guitarist-trevor-rabin-working-on-first-1005168102.story#/news/yes-guitarist-trevor-rabin-working-on-first-1005168102.story
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 03, 2011, 05:22:59 PM
Sounds interesting, especially since they're all instrumentals, and he's been focusing on movie scores for the past 20 years.  I liked some of his work with Yes, and liked some of his solo stuff even more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on May 03, 2011, 08:51:38 PM
The only score I've heard by Rabin is National Treasure. What else has he done?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 03, 2011, 09:07:33 PM
The only score I've heard by Rabin is National Treasure. What else has he done?

https://tinyurl.com/5sc63u6

He's done some pretty awesome film scores! I guess I never really paid TOO much attention to the scores in the movies on that list that I have actually watched. Oops.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 03, 2011, 09:14:35 PM
Trevor Rabin - IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704909/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 06, 2011, 07:08:10 PM
Chicago?

I may have mentioned this before, but I love Chicago up until about 1980. I've been meaning to pick up that Carnegie set for ions, but it's not something you find in the used bins (even when the remasters came out)

This band really burns it live.  I've got the 4CD box Group Portrait, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, III and Live In Toronto and Overtime.

Not many bands play the way that they did. Amazing.





As far as Yes goes. 


I generally prefer live recordings over studio, but with Yes the opposite seems to be true. I haven't found too many live versions of songs that I prefer over what was recorded in the studio.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsem on May 19, 2011, 09:35:16 AM
Yes is coming to Stockholm in December.

Psyched now.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on May 19, 2011, 01:35:35 PM
I'm going to see them in July with Styx in St. Louis. :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on May 22, 2011, 06:20:24 AM
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Fly_from_Here.jpg)

1. Fly From Here - Overture
2. Fly From Here - Pt I - We Can Fly
3. Fly From Here - Pt II - Sad Night At The Airfield
4. Fly From Here - Pt III - Madman At The Screens
5. Fly From Here - Pt IV - Bumpy Ride
6. Fly From Here - Pt V - We Can Fly Reprise
7. The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be
8. Life On A Film Set
9. Hour Of Need
10. Solitaire
11. Into The Storm

Going in with an open mind.  Gonna miss Jon.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on May 22, 2011, 06:28:19 AM
I just went from 6 to midnight
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on May 22, 2011, 06:34:36 AM
I just went from 6 to midnight

I had to look that up on Urban Dictionary. I lol'd
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 22, 2011, 06:39:37 AM
Going in with an open mind.  Gonna miss Jon.
Me too. The cover art is wonderful, Yes is still the band with the best album covers. I hope the music is as breathtaking as the cover.  :)

EDIT: It has just struck me that Trevor Horn contributed in writing and he also produced the album. Why didn't they just let the guy sing as well? We would have Drama II, but maybe he didn't feel like being the Yes singer again...  :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 22, 2011, 06:54:21 AM
Trevor has said that he doesn't sing anymore.  Yes made a huge deal about Benoit being the new singer and how they would back him, so he's on lead vocals.  You're definitely not alone in seeing the Horn-Downes-Drama connection, though.

So far, everything I've heard about this album is encouraging.  Review copies were just released to magazines and critics, so early reviews should start showing up soon.  I'm gonna try to avoid them, but it'll be difficult.

But with Trevor Horn producing, it will sound great.  Bummer that Son of Wakeman is out, but I'm good with Geoff Downes on keyboards.  I'd heard that there was the title epic, that there would be a new Steve Howe acoustic solo, and that there would be a total of six tracks.  "Solitaire" is the new acoustic solo, and the epic has been broken into six tracks but otherwise there are the five other songs.  I even like the "newer style" Roger Dean cover.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on May 22, 2011, 07:16:19 AM
Yeah Mladen, I posted that same kind of thought a page or two ago.  I really really like Drama, so I think a second album with the Drama lineup would have been really cool, and "more Yes" than a Yes with Benoit on vocals.  Honestly, I don't have high hopes for this album either way.  Few classic rock bands can come back with a strong album.  Meat Loaf couldn't do it, Ozzy hasn't done it for a long time, even The Who couldn't do it.  I really do hope its good.  I'll wait to see some reviews and hear what DTF thinks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 22, 2011, 07:23:11 AM
It's not like I'm hyper about the album. But I'll have to give it chance since it looks like it might be an attempt to create an oldschool prog rock album - hopefully they made it.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on May 22, 2011, 07:35:40 AM
I'd rather they not try and recreate that classic Yes sound.  The biggest problem I have with "retro-prog" bands is that they try to do just that and they fail from a songwriting and a production standpoint.  That kind of music, for the most part, just doesn't sound good with a 21st century production style (IMO of course).  I don't know what kind of album I'd want them to make, though.  Hopefully they really believe in what they're doing right now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 22, 2011, 07:59:45 AM
I'd be blown away if one of those retro bands managed to make a retro album. What can be better?  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 22, 2011, 08:11:54 AM
Since I ended up getting tickets for the Styx/Yes concert this summer, I guess I'll have to check this out, so I'll be familiar with whatever songs they play from it.  But my excitement level for this is practically nil.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The King in Crimson on May 22, 2011, 09:40:34 AM
Going in with an open mind.  Gonna miss Jon.
Me too. The cover art is wonderful, Yes is still the band with the best album covers. I hope the music is as breathtaking as the cover.  :)
I don't buy vinyl, but I'd honestly buy Yes on vinyl just so I could hang them on my wall. Roger Dean is always fantastic, IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 22, 2011, 10:49:49 AM
(https://orbert1.home.comcast.net/images/yessig.jpg)
(https://orbert1.home.comcast.net/images/yessig2.jpg)
(https://orbert1.home.comcast.net/images/yessig3.jpg)
(https://orbert1.home.comcast.net/images/yessig4.jpg)
(https://orbert1.home.comcast.net/images/yessig5.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on May 22, 2011, 11:05:38 AM
When I took a certain chemical last month, I was playing Tales for the first time on vinyl. I must have stared at the album cover for an hour. You can literally get lost in the worlds he creates.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on May 22, 2011, 03:37:18 PM
When I took a certain chemical last month, I was playing Tales for the first time on vinyl. I must have stared at the album cover for an hour. You can literally get lost in the worlds he creates.  :tup

Roger Dean is the shit. That chemical only intensifies the experience.  :tup :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on May 23, 2011, 03:39:13 PM
It's amazing how Roger Dean's work absolutely captures the essence of this band.   It's like he was born to design covers for Yes. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 24, 2011, 11:09:47 AM
More details on the new Yes album (https://bondegezou.blogspot.com/)

Fly from Here
Side A:
1. Fly From Here - Overture (1:54)
2. Fly From Here Pt I - We Can Fly (6:01)
3. Fly From Here Pt II - Sad Night at the Airfield (6:42)
4. Fly From Here Pt III - Madman at the Screens (5:17)
5. Fly From Here Pt IV - Bumpy Ride (2:15)
6. Fly From Here Pt V - We Can Fly Reprise (1:48)

Side B:
7. The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be (5:13)
8. Life on a Film Set (5:12)
9. Hour of Need (3:08)
10. Solitaire (3:30) [Howe solo]
11. Into the Storm (6:54)

Also, larger version of the cover art (resized here, copy and paste for full size):

(https://www.mystic.pl/upload/Image/YES_-_FLY_FROM_HERE_COVER.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on May 24, 2011, 11:13:06 AM
I'm excited for this, but I won't keep my hopes up.

Magnification was fucking amazing though, so hopefully it will be as good, or better.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on June 01, 2011, 07:56:39 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-DKEcDtt8&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-DKEcDtt8&feature=youtu.be)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 02, 2011, 11:49:06 PM
If I were looking for the forum expert on Jon Anderson, who would I go to?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 03, 2011, 07:22:03 AM
I know a bit about Yes in general, and specifics, but I don't know if I'm an expert on Jon.  What do you need to know?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on June 03, 2011, 08:42:59 AM
If I were looking for the forum expert on Jon Anderson, who would I go to?

I've read his whole biography on his site, but I'm no expert. I'd be down for a chat about him on Skype if you like though. I really like the sound of this record so far.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 03, 2011, 11:33:40 AM
That was a segue, right?  Jon Anderson isn't on the new Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on June 04, 2011, 04:40:05 AM
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2)

SAMPLES!!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 04, 2011, 06:38:23 AM
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2)

SAMPLES!!!

I liked the samples.  Can't wait to hear this!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 04, 2011, 08:43:18 AM
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2)

SAMPLES!!!

Sweet! Thanks for posting that!...but, who is singing in the clip for "The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be"??

This sounds like a classic Yes album in the making! If this ends up being their last studio album, I think I might be okay with it! :tup

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 04, 2011, 09:28:36 AM
It does sound quite Drama-ish, like along the lines of Tempus Fugit, combined with Fragile or The Yes Album.  Judging from the samples it actually sounds like it has the potential to be good.  "Bumpy Ride" doesn't sound like it'll go over well with me, but we'll have to see, won't we?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on June 04, 2011, 10:00:04 AM
This sounds very nice, especially the title track.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Revel on June 04, 2011, 01:15:40 PM
Yes is yes.
The Ladder is what I fall asleep to these days, and it makes for some seriously weird dreams.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 04, 2011, 01:51:44 PM
I'm avoiding the samples.  When the new album comes out, I want to buy it, rip the shrinkwrap off, and play it in my car, loudly, and let me ears and brain absorb it.  I will sit there in the parking lot of Best Buy and go through the booklet and lyrics and liner notes and everything, and everything I hear and see will be new, like in the old days.

I considered not even checking this thread until after the new album comes out, so as to avoid people's opinions on the samples, but I guess I can deal with them, plus we talk about stuff other than the new album.  So you guys are stuck with me for now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 04, 2011, 01:54:23 PM
I'm avoiding the samples.  When the new album comes out, I want to buy it, rip the shrinkwrap off, and play it in my car, loudly, and let me ears and brain absorb it.

This. The best way to hear any new music, imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 04, 2011, 02:00:40 PM
:tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Revel on June 04, 2011, 02:13:19 PM
I'm avoiding the samples.  When the new album comes out, I want to buy it, rip the shrinkwrap off, and play it in my car, loudly, and let me ears and brain absorb it.  I will sit there in the parking lot of Best Buy and go through the booklet and lyrics and liner notes and everything, and everything I hear and see will be new, like in the old days.

Definitely best way to do so...  I'd hope you've got some good speakers in that car of yours  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on June 04, 2011, 02:20:13 PM
I'm avoiding the samples.  When the new album comes out, I want to buy it, rip the shrinkwrap off, and play it in my car, loudly, and let me ears and brain absorb it.

This. The best way to hear any new music, imo.

It usually take several listens of something to have it really sink in for me. I listened to the samples, but by the time the album comes out I probably won't remember a note of it. It gets me excited for it and I still get to enjoy it like I haven't heard anything when it does come out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 04, 2011, 04:13:40 PM
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0053WU6XG/ref=sr_1_album_2_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0053WU76W&qid=1307111833&sr=1-2)

SAMPLES!!!

Sweet! Thanks for posting that!...but, who is singing in the clip for "The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be"??

This sounds like a classic Yes album in the making! If this ends up being their last studio album, I think I might be okay with it! :tup

-Marc.

Sounded like John Wetton to my ears.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 04, 2011, 05:38:24 PM
According to wiki its Chris Squire.  I mean, who else could it be, really?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 04, 2011, 05:41:54 PM
CHRIS SQUIRE SINGING LEAD?!

YESSSSS

Can You Imagine was one of my favorites from Magnification.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 04, 2011, 08:25:26 PM
Squire almost never sings lead, which is a shame because he has an excellent voice. He's actually the only one who's classically trained as a vocalist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: PixelDream on June 04, 2011, 08:37:42 PM
Yes never really clicked with me, but right now 'The Yes Album' is slowly changing this. 'Yours is no Disgrace' is fantastic.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 04, 2011, 08:40:50 PM
Yes never really clicked with me, but right now 'The Yes Album' is slowly changing this. 'Yours is no Disgrace' is fantastic.

I love TYA, and for many fans, this is where classic Yes begins (ending with Going For The One for many, for others ending at Drama).

If you really get into them, I high suggest getting their live album Yessongs. It features 5 of the 6 songs from The Yes Album and many of them have extended instrumental sections! The band really comes alive on the stage and I'd say Yessongs is one of the best live albums of classic 70's prog.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 04, 2011, 09:07:04 PM
Yes never really clicked with me, but right now 'The Yes Album' is slowly changing this. 'Yours is no Disgrace' is fantastic.

That's their best album  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Revel on June 04, 2011, 11:00:37 PM
I'm diggin' on The Ladder as it were ^__^
The Yes Album is pretty fantacular too, and the rest I'm still trying to understand. 

   How's Magnification though, I haven't really had the chance to listen to it yet, that's the 2001 release, isn't it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 05, 2011, 01:09:15 AM
I'm avoiding the samples.  When the new album comes out, I want to buy it, rip the shrinkwrap off, and play it in my car, loudly, and let me ears and brain absorb it.  I will sit there in the parking lot of Best Buy and go through the booklet and lyrics and liner notes and everything, and everything I hear and see will be new, like in the old days.

I considered not even checking this thread until after the new album comes out, so as to avoid people's opinions on the samples, but I guess I can deal with them, plus we talk about stuff other than the new album.  So you guys are stuck with me for now.

That's pretty much how I'm doing it (But I always do it this way. I never bothered downloading Testimony 2 and aside from a few Internet radio stations playing the first part I didn't hear any of it until it showed up in the mail and I sat down with the booklet).

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on June 05, 2011, 12:32:05 PM
Yes is my favorite band, and I'm not really sure what to think about those samples. They seem good, but not as rocking as I would have liked. I like Drama a lot, so I'm not a Jon = Yes guy, although I'd prefer Jon as singer, of course. The album cover's cool. :smiley:

I'm diggin' on The Ladder as it were ^__^
The Yes Album is pretty fantacular too, and the rest I'm still trying to understand. 

   How's Magnification though, I haven't really had the chance to listen to it yet, that's the 2001 release, isn't it?

I love Magnification. The orchestra fits the songs quite well and I don't miss the keyboards. Knowing it's likely the last album with Jon makes the music more poignant, actually, since there's already a kind of nostalgic quality about some of it. Since you like The Ladder, you'd probably enjoy it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Revel on June 05, 2011, 01:00:35 PM
Yes is my favorite band, and I'm not really sure what to think about those samples. They seem good, but not as rocking as I would have liked. I like Drama a lot, so I'm not a Jon = Yes guy, although I'd prefer Jon as singer, of course. The album cover's cool. :smiley:

I'm diggin' on The Ladder as it were ^__^
The Yes Album is pretty fantacular too, and the rest I'm still trying to understand. 

   How's Magnification though, I haven't really had the chance to listen to it yet, that's the 2001 release, isn't it?

I love Magnification. The orchestra fits the songs quite well and I don't miss the keyboards. Knowing it's likely the last album with Jon makes the music more poignant, actually, since there's already a kind of nostalgic quality about some of it. Since you like The Ladder, you'd probably enjoy it.

Ahhh hahahaa that's another thing I'd noticed... is how awesome the album covers are.  Yeah.  I'll definitely check into it then!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jmbeat on June 06, 2011, 02:35:21 PM
According to wiki its Chris Squire.  I mean, who else could it be, really?
Trevor Horn
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 06, 2011, 06:38:03 PM
Didn't he say his singing days were over or something to that effect, though?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on June 07, 2011, 03:43:24 PM
I'm not sure if jmbeat's post is a joke, but the singer on The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be is definitely Squire.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 09, 2011, 11:23:41 PM
Okay folks, here's the deal. It looks like I may be able to interview Jon Anderson. I would like to focus on what he's done recently but I have not followed him closely since his departure from Yes. If you have questions or areas you'd like me to explore when talking to Jon now would be the time to post them. I would prefer to stay on topics of his solo material and what he's been doing recently with Wakeman as opposed to bringing up Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 09, 2011, 11:55:23 PM
Rick and Jon recorded an album together recently, just voice and keyboards.  A logical question would be whether they might do a follow-up, or another tour, or whatever.  Jon and Vangelis recorded a few albums together years ago, but supposedly they had a falling out.  Those albums were more interesting IMO because Vangelis brought his entire array of keyboards.  The Living Tree (Jon and Rick's album) is mostly just voice and piano, with some string and brass patches, and electric rather than acoustic piano, but overall the arrangements are pretty sparse.  Maybe ask whether a more adventurous album a la Jon and Vangelis might be in the cards.

There have been rumours of an Anderson-Wakeman-Rabin collaboration.  It would be nice to find out about that first-hand as well.  Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin have both spoken many times of wishing to work together, but it never seems to work out.  Seeing as how the one band they have in common is Yes, yet they've never actually played together on a Yes album, an Anderson-Wakeman-Rabin album makes perfect sense.  So what's up with that?

It's actually been quite a while since his last solo album.  Is there possibly another solo endeavor down the road?

His health is a genuine concern, and cited as the reason for his departure from Yes, or Yes choosing to move on without him, depending on how you interpret the events.  He's still not 100% healthy again, and may never be, given that he's pushing 70 now.  Does he plan to retire some day, or will he literally continue making music until he cannot any more?

Jon is a very spiritual guy.  What does he believe will become of him, his spirit, his energy, when he passes on?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 10, 2011, 10:42:59 AM
That's good stuff Orbert, but I will say that Jon and Wakeman do have a tour together kicking off in October, and Jon has a solo album being commercially released on June 14th.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 10, 2011, 11:18:58 AM
Then you're more informed than me!

I've been keeping up with Yes, but since Jon and Rick aren't currently in Yes, I don't catch most news concerning them.  I did pick up The Living Tree and like it, but I thought I heard that they weren't (currently) touring it, which seemed odd but I attributed it to Jon's health and Rick's thousands of other commitments.  Not every project or side project means there will be a tour.

Interesting news about the solo album, too.  That's brand new to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 10, 2011, 08:05:28 PM
I wasn't aware that Jon and Vangelis had a falling out.
What happened?

I actually have a few Jon and Vangelis albums and liked them, but I've never bothered to upgrade them to CD for whatever reason.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 10, 2011, 08:47:45 PM
Nick, like I asked you last night, I think it'd be interesting to ask Jon how he feels about his former bandmates making another album without him, and if there is any chance of there being a future reunion with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 10, 2011, 10:46:18 PM
All sides of that issue are already well documented, as it's been playing out for several years now.  I would think that Jon is getting sick of answering questions about it, plus his answers swing all the way from being happy for the band to feelling hurt and betrayed, depending on his mood when you ask him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on June 13, 2011, 01:20:16 PM
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-listen-to-we-can-fly-the-first-yes-single-in-10-years-20110613 (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-listen-to-we-can-fly-the-first-yes-single-in-10-years-20110613)

I like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 13, 2011, 02:11:40 PM
Its almost cheating.  :lol They put out a song that was written during the Drama years, and marketing it as the newest Yes single.  Its a great song, but I have a feeling everyone who didn't know that bit of trivia is going to get sucked in and be very surprised if the rest of the album sucks (which is entirely possible.  Classic rock bands coming out of long hiatuses don't do to well with a new album, in my experience). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 13, 2011, 02:45:40 PM
I love the production on the single.  I've always loved Trevor Horns production.  Can't wait to hear this while mowing my lawn.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 13, 2011, 03:19:56 PM
Its almost cheating.  :lol They put out a song that was written during the Drama years, and marketing it as the newest Yes single.  Its a great song, but I have a feeling everyone who didn't know that bit of trivia is going to get sucked in and be very surprised if the rest of the album sucks (which is entirely possible.  Classic rock bands coming out of long hiatuses don't do to well with a new album, in my experience). 

We're talking about a song that has been through extensive reworking, expansion to epic length, and now a single-length edit is being taken from the result.  But I get your point, and don't really disagree with it.  The single has a good chance to not be representative of the new album in general.  But it also has at least as good a chance to be pretty much the same quality, as the same guys are writing it and playing on it, except for the lead vocalist, and the original lead vocalist is producing it.  This is as close to Drama II as we're gonna get, and Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.

I don't expect the new album to suck, but I'm trying to keep my expectations low.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 13, 2011, 07:01:34 PM
I don't expect the new album to suck, but I'm trying to keep my expectations low.

This.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 15, 2011, 12:25:12 PM
Interview is in 5 minutes, I'm very excited!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 15, 2011, 12:34:05 PM
Its almost cheating.  :lol They put out a song that was written during the Drama years, and marketing it as the newest Yes single.  Its a great song, but I have a feeling everyone who didn't know that bit of trivia is going to get sucked in and be very surprised if the rest of the album sucks (which is entirely possible.  Classic rock bands coming out of long hiatuses don't do to well with a new album, in my experience). 

We're talking about a song that has been through extensive reworking, expansion to epic length, and now a single-length edit is being taken from the result.  But I get your point, and don't really disagree with it.  The single has a good chance to not be representative of the new album in general.  But it also has at least as good a chance to be pretty much the same quality, as the same guys are writing it and playing on it, except for the lead vocalist, and the original lead vocalist is producing it.  This is as close to Drama II as we're gonna get, and Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.

I don't expect the new album to suck, but I'm trying to keep my expectations low.

From what I could tell, the single is the second part of "Fly From Here," which I thought was more or less the version that was played during the Drama tour.  I'm sure some things have been changed, but it would be like if a reworked "Raise the Knife" was the first single off Systematic Chaos or something. :lol

I really hope the new album doesn't suck for reasons you've listed about being as close to Drama II as we'll get, but Bat Out of Hell III, Endless Wire, Vapor Trails, and any 21st century Skynyrd tell me that this won't be pretty. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 15, 2011, 12:41:28 PM
Gaaahhhh

Jon ended up having to be out today so we're doing this next week now. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 15, 2011, 06:20:44 PM
Disappointing I'm sure, but I gotta say I'm not surprised.  Jon is a flake of the first order.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on June 19, 2011, 11:54:48 PM
I just got The Yes Album. Yours Is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper are pretty amazing. I'm so glad I found Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on June 20, 2011, 01:08:54 AM
Great to hear, you're in for a nice ride :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on June 20, 2011, 02:41:00 AM
Keep listening...  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on June 20, 2011, 10:14:32 AM
I didn't notice anything else that was amazing yet, but I don't expect to hear it all the first time. Which other tracks should I look out for?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on June 20, 2011, 10:16:31 AM
I've Seen All Good People
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 20, 2011, 10:33:02 AM
And You and I
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 20, 2011, 12:15:30 PM
I didn't notice anything else that was amazing yet, but I don't expect to hear it all the first time. Which other tracks should I look out for?

Do you mean on The Yes Album, or in general?

On The Yes Album, everything is awesome, except for A Venture (which is good, but not exceptional or anything).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 20, 2011, 03:51:44 PM
The Yes Album is one tiny iota behind Close to the Edge for me, and an absolutely brilliant work.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on June 20, 2011, 03:55:37 PM
I like it more than CttE personally. CttE never really did much for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on June 20, 2011, 03:57:16 PM
And You and I

I have CttE already. That's one beautiful song.

So far I have The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Union.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 20, 2011, 04:13:38 PM
If you'd like to try something more recent try Keys to Ascension 1 & 2.  Live shows plus new songs that came out in the late 90's with the lineup from CTTE except the drummer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 20, 2011, 09:02:07 PM
Relayer is a must, as is Tales, which is the best Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on June 20, 2011, 09:03:28 PM
Relayer is a must, as is Tales, which is the best Yes album.
Nah, Relayer is the best Yes album. Tales is a very, very, very acquired taste, but is awesome as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on June 20, 2011, 09:10:46 PM
Relayer is a must, as is Tales, which is the best Yes album.
I'm with Quad on this one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 20, 2011, 09:11:12 PM
Relayer is a must, as is Tales, which is the best Yes album.
I'm with Quad on this one.
:heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 20, 2011, 09:14:16 PM
Be careful Quad,  You know how an old man's heart can skip a beat......
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on June 20, 2011, 09:22:37 PM
The Yes Album is the best.  This is an objective fact.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on June 20, 2011, 10:11:41 PM
Be careful Quad,  You know how an old man's heart can skip a beat......

CODE BLUE!! CODE BLUE!!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on June 21, 2011, 12:38:32 AM
Get Drama, if you want to hear what Yes sounds like without Jon Anderson. Machine Messiah alone is worth it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 21, 2011, 05:28:30 AM
Be careful Quad,  You know how an old man's heart can skip a beat......

CODE BLUE!! CODE BLUE!!!

Is this your safe word? :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on June 21, 2011, 10:52:25 AM
>Mental image of Lonestar in a situation where he would need a safe word
>lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on June 22, 2011, 01:00:21 PM
Got done with Jon 10 minutes ago and I'm still shaking...

Have it up in the next hour or two hopefully!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 22, 2011, 01:01:15 PM
Got done with Jon 10 minutes ago and I'm still shaking...

TWSS.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on June 22, 2011, 01:32:42 PM
Sweeet about the interview

And agree with Quad about Tales being the best Yes album. It definitely is an acquired taste, but once it clicks... damn!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on June 22, 2011, 04:22:37 PM
Be careful Quad,  You know how an old man's heart can skip a beat......

CODE BLUE!! CODE BLUE!!!

Is this your safe word? :lol
>Mental image of Lonestar in a situation where he would need a safe word
>lol

Assholes. :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on June 30, 2011, 11:25:34 PM
it might be the herbs, but Fly From Here is easily the best Yes album since GFTO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: faemir on July 01, 2011, 12:40:36 PM
I've heard amazing things about Fly From Here, but have never really listened to Yes apart from a few Closer to the Edge listens. This will be fun :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ScioPath on July 01, 2011, 12:46:42 PM
FFH is awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 01, 2011, 01:38:09 PM
Great album indeed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 01, 2011, 01:57:29 PM
I need to pick it up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 02, 2011, 08:24:23 AM
5 listens later and I'm still loving it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 02, 2011, 08:28:29 AM
Listening to it for the first time in an hour or so...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 02, 2011, 12:29:23 PM
FFH is an amazing and soaring rejuvenation of the Yes family! I'm surprised that Squire (IIRC) says they may already be interested in doing a follow-up with the same line-up!

Can't wait for them to take this stuff on the road!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jonny108 on July 02, 2011, 01:47:59 PM
it might be the herbs, but Fly From Here is easily the best Yes album since GFTO.

Agree with this so much! Great album.  I still think it would have sounded better with Jon though.  Is it just me or did Benoit sound a bit bland? Good album though.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 02, 2011, 04:32:11 PM
Glad to see people are digging the album, I'm probably gonna wait until I gt some uh.... green... before I take a listen.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jaq on July 02, 2011, 06:15:02 PM
It is an unusual fact that while Yes is not my favorite progressive rock band from the good old days (I like Genesis, King Crimson and Kansas more) I actually own more CDs by Yes than any other band in my collection. If I had to be pressed to name favorites, I'd have to go with Close to the Edge followed closely by The Yes Album. Of all the prog I listen to, Yes is the band that seems to worm its way furthest into my soul, and at least once a month I go on a Yes binge and play at least everything from The Yes Album to Drama. Really need to hear the new one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 04, 2011, 11:52:50 AM
I can't believe you guys are so nutty about this new album.  Perhaps the euphoria of having the first Yes studio album in 10 years has something to do with it?  Just speculating; not meaning to put down anyone's opinion of it...

Anyway, after several listens, I don't think it is a bad album, but it just kind of there.  There are some cool things going on musically - how could there not be with those guys playing? - but...and here it comes...I am not wild about Benoit David's voice.  Yes, I miss Jon Anderson's voice (hearing a Yes album at this stage without him singing would be like hearing a new Rush album without Geddy Lee singing), but not only is David's voice pretty average, it seems like they had to do some major studio trickery with his voice.  I usually don't notice auto-tune or other stuff like that, but on one of the first vocal lines of the album (the second line, I think), when he is attempting a high note, it is extremely obvious and just sounds bad.  Overall, like I said, I don't think it is a bad album by any means, but, again, it is just kind of there.  I don't listen to Yes nearly as much as I used to, so when you combine the fact that I will go for the tried and true great Yes stuff when I actually do listen to them along with there being tons of new music this year that is much better, I don't see myself getting a lot of mileage out of this record. 

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 04, 2011, 05:51:06 PM
I'm starting to fall under that category. I spun it 5 times in the first 2-3 days I had it but have yet to listen to it again. This week I'll have to listen again and see where I'm at. I think I was just overexcited with there being a new Yes album since I've become a fan.

Honestly though, it is pretty damn good considering they're more than 40 years into their career.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 04, 2011, 10:35:45 PM
It's hard to not be a little excited about a new Yes album after 10 years of nada, but while I expect a decent portion of Yes fans will eat it up with a spoon, at least for a little while until the newness factor wears off, I suspect many more will not.  I thought Into the Storm was cool (IIRC, it was mostly harmonies, so the lack of Anderson wasn't as noticeable or bothersome).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 05, 2011, 05:29:25 AM
Well, I've picked it up but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.  So I'll give it a spin in the next few days.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 05, 2011, 02:04:01 PM
Talk about two tales of an album.  You can tell which songs were written in what decade.  I'm not saying the songs are bad but it is a stark difference.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 05, 2011, 08:11:58 PM
How did you feel about the album though?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on July 05, 2011, 08:22:44 PM
I guess I'll check this one out soon.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 05, 2011, 08:24:09 PM
Not mind blowing but good.  I'd give it a B-.  I liked the production but there was a stark difference in styles from the big song written in 1980 and the others. I need to play it a few times more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 05, 2011, 08:25:38 PM
Not mind blowing but good.  I'd give it a B-.  I liked the production but there was a stark difference in styles from the big song written in 1980 and the others. I need to play it a few times more.

Well the one from 1980 was much shorter, and was expanding in the past year to be like 2-3x longer. I still get what you're saying; they sound a lot different. But I think that's just because it's Yes. "Close to the Edge" sounds nothing like "And You And I" and both of those sound even less like "Siberian Khatru"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 05, 2011, 08:28:29 PM
There is a very different style to the other song.  I liked them but the first(the long song) had that earlier vibe and the newer songs were on the poppy side with a different style of lyrics.  I'm not saying they were lesser but it seemed like two different albums to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on July 05, 2011, 09:29:41 PM
I'm starting to fall under that category. I spun it 5 times in the first 2-3 days I had it but have yet to listen to it again. This week I'll have to listen again and see where I'm at. I think I was just overexcited with there being a new Yes album since I've become a fan.

Honestly though, it is pretty damn good considering they're more than 40 years into their career.

Damn. Your initial high reviews had me so pumped for this. Oh well. I did listen to Magnification a couple days ago, though. Glorious record. Gets better with every listen!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 05, 2011, 09:32:36 PM
I still think it's a great album, don't get me wrong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on July 05, 2011, 09:38:42 PM
Better than Magnification, though?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 05, 2011, 09:48:31 PM
Oh, Easily.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 07, 2011, 09:06:05 AM
After a couple of days, I have to say that I'm very happy with the new album. It's no groundbreaking material, but it's exactly what I wanted it to be - a fine prog rock album. Maybe it misses those goosebumps moments and some beauty of early Yes works, but still, a very good record. The title track is the absolute highlight, as well as Solitaire and The Man you always wanted me to be.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 10, 2011, 11:05:18 PM
So, what are your opinions on the ABWH album?

I like it quite a bit, although it has some major duds.  But Birthright and Themes are both great tunes, and Brother of Mine, Fist of Fire and Order of the Universe are all good as well (although Order is a bit clunky at times). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 11, 2011, 07:24:08 AM
I love ABWH. I just hate the 80s production which kind of drops it down a notch for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 11, 2011, 07:40:39 AM
I remember hearing Brother Of Mine on the radio and loved it only to find out when I got the cd that the song was 10 minutes and loved it!!  Great tour.  Saw them at The Wang Theater in Boston.  The greatest place to see a band in Boston for it's acoustics.  Rick Wakeman blew me away.

So the new album is very good.  It's growing on me.  I've been playing it quite a bit working in the yard.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 11, 2011, 01:45:31 PM
I love ABWH. I just hate the 80s production which kind of drops it down a notch for me.

Hmmm, it never struck me as having 80s-sounding production.  I think it might come across that way because of Bruford's electronic drums and Rick Wakeman's choice of keyboard sounds (which are questionable at times, but killer at others).

  Rick Wakeman blew me away.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBhpHuv-t-Q

 :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 11, 2011, 05:10:40 PM
I remember being thrilled to stumble across the ABWH album back in the 80's when Yes was officially the 90125 band.  Yeah, a couple of songs don't completely thrill me, but overall a good album and much closer to the Yes I'd grown up with than freakin' "Owner of a Lonely Heart" that's for sure.

What's the deal with Fly From Here?  I thought it was out a few weeks ago, AMG has the release date as last Tuesday, so I went to finally pick it up this weekend and the release date is supposedly tomorrow.  Argh!  (I realize that I could download it, but since this is the first Yes album in like 10 years, I want my first listen to be the actual CD.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 11, 2011, 09:48:08 PM
I still haven't heard a note yet, but if anyone actually bought the CD and it's still in great shape and wants to flip it for something else in this thread that they might dig more have at it...

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=848.105

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 11, 2011, 10:57:48 PM
Geoff Downes seems like a fun guy :lol:

https://yesworld.com/blog/   (read his blogs from 7/7 and 7/8)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 11, 2011, 11:12:29 PM
Does anyone know why Squire didn't just take up lead vocal duties?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2011, 09:55:30 AM
Probably not interested.  Squire has always sung background vocals and the occassional echo of Jon's lead, but that's it.  I don't have any interviews or quotes to back it up, but after 20 albums in 40 years, I think if he'd wanted to, he would have by now.

He has a great voice, but again, I've always gotten the impression that he'd rather "just" play bass and sing backgrounds.  His personality doesn't seem the type to be a front man.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on July 12, 2011, 11:20:52 AM
The entire Fly From Here suite is excellent, but the stand-out track to me is Into The Storm.

Listening to the new album made me put my entire Yes library on shuffle, and now Real Love from Talk is stuck in my head. Why didn't I notice that song before? I remember listening through the entire album plenty of times...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 12, 2011, 11:23:03 AM
I agree that Into the Storm is the best song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on July 12, 2011, 11:45:10 AM
Really enjoying the new album. It's got such a nice comfortable retro feel to it. Truly feels like it could have been
released right after Drama. Glad I bought it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 12, 2011, 01:07:00 PM
Probably not interested.  Squire has always sung background vocals and the occassional echo of Jon's lead, but that's it.  I don't have any interviews or quotes to back it up, but after 20 albums in 40 years, I think if he'd wanted to, he would have by now.

He has a great voice, but again, I've always gotten the impression that he'd rather "just" play bass and sing backgrounds.  His personality doesn't seem the type to be a front man.

Yep.  Plus, the Yes harmonies would suffer greatly, as Howe's voice is not good, but when a distant third behind two stronger voices, it adds a fullness to the harmonies (since the other two always drown him out, but it still adds a fullness to them).  With Squire as the lead singer, would Howe then be the lone guy to sing along with him and do harmonies?  That would never be good. 

Listening to the new album made me put my entire Yes library on shuffle, and now Real Love from Talk is stuck in my head. Why didn't I notice that song before? I remember listening through the entire album plenty of times...

Great song from a great album. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2011, 02:48:24 PM
Okay, I tried to do the right thing.  I went to Best Buy over the weekend to pick it up and was told they'd have it on July 12th (today).  I double-checked AMG and AMG said it was released last Tuesday, but that still didn't sound right because I thought it was released last month anyway.  People have it, and have had it for a while.

So I went to Best Buy today to get it, and they didn't have it.  No copies in stock, although some of the other stores in the area each had one copy.  Now that Borders is dead (well, online only), Barnes & Noble was my only other option.  They didn't have it either.  As it happens, we were there on Sunday to get some books for my daughter and I checked, and they were supposed to have it today, too.

Fuck it.  I downloaded it, looks like 256 VBR.  Sounds great.

I really hope I don't hear shit about poor sales of this album, when you can't actually find it in stores.  And if someone is gonna give me shit about downloading it, you can save it.  I tried to buy the album and couldn't.  I'm not driving all over the county to buy it when two different stores actually told me they'd have it today and did not.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: wolfking on July 12, 2011, 03:51:54 PM
We Can Fly video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJwXLCnBKs&feature=feedu

Good song, I might check the album out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on July 12, 2011, 04:01:03 PM
Went to a record store and it was $19 for the special edition copy with the DVD. I don't really care about the new album enough to pay that much. It may be getting favorable reviews but I'll wait 'till I can find it cheaper or just get a used copy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 12, 2011, 04:37:03 PM

I really hope I don't hear shit about poor sales of this album, when you can't actually find it in stores.  

Well, I suspect the great majority of CD sales are done online nowadays, so I think the likely poor sales numbers will be a mostly accurate representation in the lack of interest in this, Yes diehards notwithstanding, IMO.

 And if someone is gonna give me shit about downloading it, you can save it. 

Not sure why anyone would give you shit about that.  If you are planning on buying something, there is nothing wrong with downloading it ahead of time, especially if their record companies didn't stock physical stores with copies on the day of the release.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2011, 06:14:14 PM
Thanks.  Yeah, I'm still gonna buy this one, it was just really disappointing.  The two places I went to have always had what I wanted on release date, but online sales are just the way things are done nowadays I guess.

Mini-Review:  It's pretty good.  I just love hearing these guys play together, and new music is always good.  A lot of it seemed rather "safe" -- not too adventurous, not too crazy -- but overall it's Yes.  I'm not one of those who insists on any given person being in the band in order for it to be called Yes, and Benoit David does a fine job on lead vocals.  He actually sounds a little bit like Trevor Horn, adding to the "Drama II" sound and feel of the album.  Most importantly, his voice blends with Squire's and Howe's the same way, for that Yes three-part harmony.  Howe provides some nice guitar licks, maybe not quite as much as I'd like but still nice.  I've always liked Downes' approach to keyboards, and Squire and White are great as always.  I'll be giving it a second spin later tonight.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on July 12, 2011, 06:38:58 PM
I really hope I don't hear shit about poor sales of this album, when you can't actually find it in stores.  And if someone is gonna give me shit about downloading it, you can save it.  I tried to buy the album and couldn't.  I'm not driving all over the county to buy it when two different stores actually told me they'd have it today and did not.

Welcome to my world. In Hong Kong, you can't legally use sites like Amazon MP3 or iTunes. Likewise, the stores barely get get good records and the few that do are really expensive because of what it costs to import them here. So if I go to the HMV, it's usually like $22 US for a CD. Pre-ordering yourself is even worse, the couple times I tried it was really expensive to do so and then the product came a couple weeks late anyway. Next time you check out a band's pre-order screen, you'll see there's usually options for North American and Europe, but not the rest of the world. The strange thing is, even though Hong Kong has copyright laws and stuff, none of the actual record companies try and get the music to you.

/rant

My current strategy is I'll download something, and by the time it shows up in stores here I'll either make the purchase or delete it from my hard drive.  Or I'll  just buy it online and have it sent home, and then have Casey rip it for me and send me the files via dropbox. With this record, I went with the first option. My impressions:

It's not really good. It sounds like a Drama-era Yes album, but there's not a lot here that really makes me want to listen again. And, honestly, after those live-vids, I've kinda decided that this particular Yes line-up is something that I really don't want anything to do with.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: glaurung on July 12, 2011, 06:40:57 PM
Orbert, do know that the official release date in the US was July 12th, right? All of those places were just following the rules.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2011, 07:28:56 PM
But something was screwy with that.  Either a huge number of a people managed to get their hands on advanced copies, or the release date was in June, which is what I originally had heard.  At Best Buy, the girl said it was weird in the computer, with a release date in June, then another release date listed as today.

I have no problem with stores not selling it until release date.  I just figured I'd heard wrong and I'd come back today.  But today, the official release date, two different stores didn't have it after telling me that they would.  I mean, they literally said "We will have it on July 12" and then didn't have it because apparently very, very few physical copies are actually out there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 12, 2011, 07:34:00 PM
Orbert, do you like the new album?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 12, 2011, 08:03:19 PM
Went out to Best Buy this morning to snag the CD/DVD set for $11.99 - and it WASN'T IN STOCK >:(

Infuriated, I tried Target, just because it was nearly right next to my Best Buy, but to no avail...

...then I went to my mall, to check FYE, and they had plenty (six) of the CD and CD/DVD sets in stock but... their asking price was $19.99 for the 2-disc set, with their "sale price" tagged at $17.99. Ugh. My plan is to just buy it on Amazon (as well as The Living Tree) for fairly cheap, and buying both from Amazon allows free super-saver shipping, so I get both at low costs and no shipping!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 13, 2011, 09:01:29 AM
M, this is exactly what I'm talking about.  They're not going to sell them if people can't find them.

Orbert, do you like the new album?

Overall, I do.  I no longer expect these guys to break new ground, and I'm not sure if I'd want them to.  They have a sound which I like, and I'm happy to have "more of the same" as long as it doesn't literally sound just like other material (and it doesn't, so that's cool).  The new stuff has them combining their talents the way I would want them to, playing to their strengths.  

The epic title track feels a bit artificial; it's clearly a collage of shorter songs put together to form something greater.  One could argue that this is true of most epics, but Yes is usually better at hiding the seams.  Here they didn't even try, and even underscored the sections by making them separate tracks, which they've never done before.  Or maybe they figured that it would be obvious anyway, might as well track things that way.

It's an album by five talented individuals, four of whom I greatly admire, and I would pick up anything that they did together anyway.  The fact that their talents combine in a way which earns the Yes label is a bonus, but it's a big one.  This is a Yes album.  I already like it better than Magnification, The Ladder, and Open Your Eyes.  I don't know if it will surpass the combined studio tracks from the Keys to Ascension albums, but if it does, that would make it the best since Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 13, 2011, 10:56:48 AM
Went out to Best Buy this morning to snag the CD/DVD set for $11.99 - and it WASN'T IN STOCK >:(

Infuriated, I tried Target, just because it was nearly right next to my Best Buy, but to no avail...

...then I went to my mall, to check FYE, and they had plenty (six) of the CD and CD/DVD sets in stock but... their asking price was $19.99 for the 2-disc set, with their "sale price" tagged at $17.99. Ugh. My plan is to just buy it on Amazon (as well as The Living Tree) for fairly cheap, and buying both from Amazon allows free super-saver shipping, so I get both at low costs and no shipping!

-Marc.

The album has the $9.99 sale for new CDs, but the 5 closest Best Buys in my area don't have it, and I'd have to go to the next state over to get it. However my local record shop has it, but for a few dollars more. I'll probably go there and support them since they usually have a lot of stuff most other places don't.

...And fuck Best Buy/FYE/Barnes & Nobles when it comes to CDs. Overpriced, poor selection, and never well stocked.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 13, 2011, 11:01:11 AM
This all begs the question, why the fuck are YES on Frontier records?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 13, 2011, 11:08:58 AM
This all begs the question, why the fuck are YES on Frontier records?

are they a big label?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 13, 2011, 11:17:18 AM
They are a moderate sized label, but I know that their US distribution has been oddly spotty in the past. And for a band like Yes, who plays quite large crowds even today in the US to not have their new album found at Best Buys is an absolute failure of epic proportions by the label.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 13, 2011, 11:22:24 AM
They are a moderate sized label, but I know that their US distribution has been oddly spotty in the past. And for a band like Yes, who plays quite large crowds even today in the US to not have their new album found at Best Buys is an absolute failure of epic proportions by the label.

I agree. If they can have new DT releases (even before they were on Roadrunner), on release day, they can have the new Yes album. Yes are arguably the biggest prog band, one only has to look at record sales, and also their popularity chart at Prog Archives shows Yes at the top almost all the time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 13, 2011, 11:57:47 AM
Yes has a long history of poor management, label, distribution, pretty much anything having to do with the business side of things.  They make this amazing music, put out a new album, and people never see or hear it.  Ask 10 people at random, at least nine of them will say "What?  Are they still around?"

I remember in '96 when Keys to Ascension came out.  Some bonehead made the decision to split up the new studio material and include it as bonus tracks to fill out two double CDs of live material from a one-off concert that no one had heard of.  Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, and White had 75 minutes of new music; seven tracks including two epics.  This was the triumphant return of the classic lineup, and not even their own label cared.  Later, they attempted to remedy the situation by finally putting all the studio material together on a single disc called Keysstudio (what the...?) and again didn't promote it at all.  The material is good, maybe not great, but damn it, this was the same band that made Going for the One.  They were back!  It would have sold huge, if anyone actually knew about it.

I'm not a huge fan of the 90125 band, but one thing they did right during the 80's was make videos and actually promote the band.  "Owner of a Lonely Heart" was the band's only #1 hit, mostly because it's so catchy and commercial sounding, but it sure didn't hurt that it was actually promoted.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 13, 2011, 02:59:45 PM
They are a moderate sized label, but I know that their US distribution has been oddly spotty in the past. And for a band like Yes, who plays quite large crowds even today in the US to not have their new album found at Best Buys is an absolute failure of epic proportions by the label.

They do?  I remember reading that on their last tour with Jon Anderson, he was frustrated that they weren't drawing nearly as many fans as they used to.  And them touring with Styx this summer smacks of the typical tour of multiple old bands touring together since none of them can draw well on their own anymore.  Yes, I know they are scheduled to do a headlining tour in the fall, but we'll see if it actually happens and how well it sells. 

Yes are arguably the biggest prog band, one only has to look at record sales, and also their popularity chart at Prog Archives shows Yes at the top almost all the time.

I don't think that matters.  Most people consider Yes to be long-washed up (or either defunct, as I'll bet many have no idea that they are still releasing new music and/or touring), and once you get past the Yes diehards in each city who will still pay to see them, there probably aren't many who are gonna pay money in this day and age to see them.

I'm not a huge fan of the 90125 band, but one thing they did right during the 80's was make videos and actually promote the band.  "Owner of a Lonely Heart" was the band's only #1 hit, mostly because it's so catchy and commercial sounding, but it sure didn't hurt that it was actually promoted.

Very true. Even Big Generator did pretty well thanks to MTV playing the crap out of the videos for both Love Will Find a Way and Rhythm of Love.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 13, 2011, 03:18:14 PM
I'm sure a lot of their fans are also very old or dead
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on July 13, 2011, 03:27:06 PM
I'm sure a lot of their fans are also very old or dead

:lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on July 13, 2011, 03:53:28 PM
I lol'd :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 14, 2011, 11:45:19 AM
They are a moderate sized label, but I know that their US distribution has been oddly spotty in the past. And for a band like Yes, who plays quite large crowds even today in the US to not have their new album found at Best Buys is an absolute failure of epic proportions by the label.

I agree. If they can have new DT releases (even before they were on Roadrunner), on release day, they can have the new Yes album. Yes are arguably the biggest prog band, one only has to look at record sales, and also their popularity chart at Prog Archives shows Yes at the top almost all the time.

In the states at least, Rush are now unquestionably the biggest prog band. Ten years ago before all the Yes drama and Rush's recent surge in mass appeal that might have been different, but the last three Rush tours have seen them pull in some of the highest grossing tours of the year consistently.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 14, 2011, 12:04:48 PM
I am not even sure that is true.  Okay, Yes might have had a brief surge again in the early 00s, but when I saw them in '94, it was not that big of a crowd (which surprised me at the time).

And despite Rush's surge in mainstream popularity, they are actually selling less concert tickets now than they did in the 90s.  Back in the 90s, they were still packing in 15 to 18K at most concerts, while nowadays it is more like 8-12K (although there are exceptions, like the Cleveland show for the DVD or over in the UK where they don't go as much anymore).  They are making more money now because tickets cost a lot more now. My Rush ticket for the Test for Echo tour was $37.50 (before service charges).  Most Rush tickets (not counting the VIP ones) are about 3 times that much nowadays, which is why they are grossing a lot more now.  But make no mistake about it, Rush doesn't sell as many concert tickets as they used to.  Even here in St. Louis, which has always been one of their biggest supporters, the lawn was only about 3/4 full last year (where it would have been packed to the max 10-20 years ago).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 14, 2011, 12:06:43 PM
As to your last point, that doesn't take anything away from Rush. Popularity isn't just measured in the number of people you pull in, but how much those you do pull in care, as reflected in the amount they are willing to pay for a ticket.

Edit: And personally, I'd rather play for 1,000 people who payed $100 to see me than 10,000 people who paid $10.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 14, 2011, 12:11:22 PM
True, and to that end, it does make you wonder if the more casual fans would have paid those prices back in the 90s if they were much higher, as opposed to being as inexpensive as they were, but Rush has figured out that getting 10,000 fans to pay $100+ a ticket is more lucrative for them than getting 15,000 fans to $50 a ticket.  Plus, with some of the casual fans weeded it, there is less crying about them not playing Fly by Night, In the Mood, etc. (since the casual fans who used to frequent their shows back then seemed to be casual fans then because they had loss interest in the band post-MP, but still loved the old stuff enough to pay $40 to see them).

In the case of Yes, when they headline a tour this fall, if they charge a lot of money for tickets, which I suspect they will, I expect low turnouts across the board.  
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 14, 2011, 12:15:08 PM
Well, I'd say it was the venues and promoters who got wise to Rush's hardcore fans, the band typically doesn't have a say in the ticket prices.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 14, 2011, 12:19:05 PM
Just as an example guys, I saw the Yes/Styx tour and said, WOW!  I'd like to see it but when I saw the prices for the tickets, I backed off.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 14, 2011, 12:21:01 PM
Sorry, but I never buy that, especially when a band has as much control as Rush does.  I am not saying they set the exact prices, but they still have to have a general say in how much ticket prices will range from.  No way would Rush sign a deal with Live Nation without knowing about how much tickets are gonna cost.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 14, 2011, 12:23:35 PM
The only way I can see a band getting significant control is by saying, look, we're worth $xxx, but we're only asking $xx, but you must keep ticket prices at such and such a level. And as much as I love Rush it's clear that ain't happening.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 14, 2011, 12:26:41 PM
That's what I am saying.  Rush might not have said, "Charge this much money," but I am sure that is negotiated ahead of time, and even if it wasn't their idea to charge the current prices, they probably had no problem signing on the dotted line.  And I don't blame them.  They deserve it. :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 14, 2011, 12:27:21 PM
I agree with Kev.  I think Rush is striking right now while their hot and they are getting all these accolades where they didn't before.  It's now cool to say, I like Rush!" and when they pulled 13 to 18 thousand in the 90's, today at 9 to 10k they are upping their revenue.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 14, 2011, 02:34:12 PM
since the casual fans who used to frequent their shows back then seemed to be casual fans then because they had loss interest in the band post-MP

Mike Portnoy left Rush???



:neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 15, 2011, 10:57:06 PM
I agree with Kev.  I think Rush is striking right now while their hot and they are getting all these accolades where they didn't before.  It's now cool to say, I like Rush!" and when they pulled 13 to 18 thousand in the 90's, today at 9 to 10k they are upping their revenue.



That's where the money is.

It's also the reason Clockwork Angels will come out in 2012.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 20, 2011, 04:12:06 PM
So I just found out that Circa are set to release their third album this summer, entitled And So On, and while only Sherwood and Kaye are the only Yesmen still in the band, they now feature Johnny Bruhns on guitars after the disbandment of Yoso and Jimmy Haun going back to work on his own stuff, as well as Ronnie Ciago on drums (whose credentials speak for themselves when names like Brand X and Patrick Moraz are involved!).

In other Yes/Asia related news, Asia feat. John Payne are set to release their first studio album Americana, with Mitch Perry (guitars), Jay Schellen (drums), and Erik Norlander (keyboards). They have a 3-album deal with Sony Music Japan, so it'll be interesting to see what they come up with!

Related to THAT, GPS (Govan/Payne/Schellen) also have a 3-album deal, with InsideOut Music, and are set to release their 2nd album (after their wonderful debut Window To The Soul), entitled Dreamscape, which should be out later this year as well.

It's been a busy and fruitful time in the Yes/Asia world, between releases in the last year from Yes, Anderson/Wakeman, Yoso, and Asia, and these upcoming releases from GPS, Asia Feat. John Payne, and Circa, and the rumors of Anderson/Wakeman working with Rabin, it's a good time to be a Yesfan across the spectrum!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on July 20, 2011, 04:20:53 PM
I'll definitely be picking up the new GPS album, Window to the Soul was quite good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 20, 2011, 05:48:12 PM
I'm not familiar with GPS, but I have both Circa albums and they're quite good, so I'm looking forward to a new album from them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 20, 2011, 06:10:36 PM
I'm not familiar with GPS, but I have both Circa albums and they're quite good, so I'm looking forward to a new album from them.

Indeed, and Sherwood and Kaye play well together!

Definitely check out GPS if you like John Payne, one of my favorite bassist/vocalist performers (right there with Geddy Lee and John Wetton) and the album is packed with awesome prog-tinged AOR, like a heavier Asia, and their debut album features Ryo Okumoto on keyboards!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 20, 2011, 07:51:24 PM
Sounds tasty.  I will check them out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 20, 2011, 07:52:46 PM
Ladies And Gentlemen, Mister Ryo Okumoto On The Keyboards!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on July 20, 2011, 08:29:39 PM
Listening to the new album now. Still on the title track, but I'm really liking it so far. Its not something I would consider material of the year, but it exceeds my expectations. Especially given how terrible they sound live now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 11, 2011, 02:11:50 PM
I'm not familiar with GPS, but I have both Circa albums and they're quite good, so I'm looking forward to a new album from them.

Bump! I've listened to the new Circa a couple times, and it's pretty good! It's kind of more-of-the-same for them, but it's still good-same, if you get my meaning.

I've been listening to them a LOT lately, since the new album came out last month. It's kind of sickening, but going through their whole, I've actually found new appreciation for albums like Union and Big Generator. However, Open Your Eyes is still definitely bottom-tier; I still find their first two albums more entertaining.
As for their post-Drama work, the 3 Rabin albums are pretty good, and I still wish Rhino would remaster Big Generator and release a FULL/Complete audio show from the 90125 Tour (ya know, as well as remaster Yessongs and Yesshows).

Their 90's albums are pretty good, and I often wonder had the Keys studio material been released on ONE album under Jon's working title of Know (which is a funny title, since it's homo-phonic to "no", the opposite of "yes"), would Rick have stayed in the band? It was definitely good enough to be all on one album, and I think they could've made a good come back with it had they toured on that material.

Unfortunately, the band moved on without Wakeman and created the not-so-great Open Your Eyes. Fortunately, they went on to make The Ladder, which has grown on me considerably in the last few weeks. There's a lots of really good playing on there, and it really sounds like a solid meshing of 70's poppy-Yes and 80's Yes, with some heavier/darker bits thrown in.

Magnification has actually grown on me more too, and is quite a bit better than I last remembered it being. Except for the oddball OYE, all the 90's Yes albums (Union to The Ladder) are actually quite good, and I always adore Talk and have liked it a lot more than Big Generator, but listening to BG lately, it's a bit closer now. BG has some good material on it, it's just a bit harder to follow a great album like 90125.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 11, 2011, 06:40:23 PM
Nice summary of their later stuff.  I pretty much agree with all of it.

Have you heard the latest, Fly From Here?  If so, what do you think?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 11, 2011, 06:55:50 PM
Nice summary of their later stuff.  I pretty much agree with all of it.

Have you heard the latest, Fly From Here?  If so, what do you think?

I really enjoy FFH, and it's the sequel to Drama that never was. Had that line-up made another album, this would've been it! Well, with Benoit instead of Trevor behind the mic, this is as close as to Drama-Yes we could ever have again, and as a HUGE fan of Drama, this is a great album. There are 2 things that stick out to me - Steve Howe's guitar playing is phenomenal, and Benoit does a good job of performing on his first Yes studio album! Sadly enough, as a drummer, I am not too terribly excited by Alan White's drumming. It's good and works fine for the music but it's not like Drama-good. As for Downes and Squire, they do pretty well, but I feel their performances on Drama were better. Nothing really stuck out to me about Chris's bass playing. However, Geoff's keyboards provide the PERFECT sound and atmosphere to the album and really help that Drama-feeling.

The title track/suite is expansive, but is a bit disjointed and feels less cohesive than any of their side-length suites/epics/tracks, even compared to "Mind Drive" and "That, That Is", particularly with the fade-in of "Part IV - Bumpy Ride", which sounds a bit tacky to me. The playing is good-to-great, but some of the material is a bit mediocre. It's hard to tell if the odd-meters seem forced or if they're natural, because they're scattered throughout the album, but it's hard to tell if it's the sugar-on-top to sweeten the album, making it tastier to prog-fans who crave something sweet... or if it's the sugar-baked-in, made and mixed in the pieces and not an after-thought.

Either way, the songs have some catchy hooks, good or bad ("Life On A Film Set" and it's nagging "riding a tiger" lyric...), and the production is top-notch. I think it will age pretty well with me, and sits at about the same place Yes' previous 2 albums would sit, despite being 3 very different albums by 3 different line-ups, but it's Yes - the band that's never released more than 2 consecutive studio albums with the same line-up!

If you are one of those fans that count ABWH as the 13th Yes album, and Keystudio as their 16th, that would make Fly From Here the band's 20th album, and being the end of a group of 10, mirrors the release of Drama, but instead of being the end of an era of Yes, Fly From Here sounds like the beginning of something new for them. If this line-up manages one or two more studio albums. I think they'll get to say all that is left, and they've still some time to put out good, or better material. I read that Squire is looking forward to doing a follow-up, and as a fan of FFH, I await their output (hopefully before the end of 2015!).

EDIT - Also, the full version of "Hour Of Need" is just spectacular! My playlist for FFH includes it instead of the normal, shorter version. I just love the explosive intro and outro!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 11, 2011, 07:09:06 PM
Once again, we are in agreement.  The title suite isn't really an "epic" to me.  An epic isn't just "a long piece of music" but to me it should be more cohesive, like "Close to the Edge".  That song has sections, but there's much better flow to the whole thing, a lot more musical themes reappearing and referencing each other, even going into variations.  "Fly From Here" is very obviously pieced together, and has almost no flow to it.  At first I wondered why they presented it as six separate tracks, rather than one track with little Roman numerals on the lyric sheet as they've done in the past, but it's pretty obvious now.  It really is six separate pieces.

Others have commented on the drums.  If you listen, Alan is slamming them, but for some reason they pretty much buried him in the mix.  I hadn't really thought about it, but I don't remember many Squire moments.  I did notice that Steve Howe is all over the place, as usual.

Interesting observation about this album and Drama each ending a round of ten albums.  They're definitely two of a kind, both with a lot of Buggles sound to them, and Benoit David even sounds a bit like Trevor Horn to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 11, 2011, 07:16:48 PM
What?  There's a longer version of "Hour of Need"?  This is the first I've heard.

Also, I forgot to mention one observation about the new album.  It's very good, well-produced (except for the lack of punch in the drums), but it isn't really "proggy".  Pretty skimpy with the instrumental pyrotechnics, and the arrangements and time signatures are pretty conservative.  In that respect, it's pretty tame for a Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 11, 2011, 07:24:49 PM
Interesting observation about this album and Drama each ending a round of ten albums.  They're definitely two of a kind, both with a lot of Buggles sound to them, and Benoit David even sounds a bit like Trevor Horn to me.

Indeed, and looking at the Yes albums in groups of 5 (rather than 10), I noticed that the 5th album at the end of each cycle marks the end of something - CTTE marked the end of Bill Bruford and that "classic" line-up; Drama marked the end of 70's proggy Yes; Talk marked the end of the Rabin-era Yes, even though ABWH is counted in there and Union wasn't entirely with Rabin; and FFH is another landmark between eras of Yes.

What?  There's a longer version of "Hour of Need"?  This is the first I've heard.

Also, I forgot to mention one observation about the new album.  It's very good, well-produced (except for the lack of punch in the drums), but it isn't really "proggy".  Pretty skimpy with the instrumental pyrotechnics, and the arrangements and time signatures are pretty conservative.  In that respect, it's pretty tame for a Yes album.

Yep! The longer version is about 6:45 long and features an intro and outro that was cut from the regular version. It was released on the Japanese version of the album.

Also, it is a big conservative as a Yes album, but to me not any more so than The Ladder or Magnification. It's almost a BIT similar to something Circa: would release.

I really like "Into The Storm", though, and being credited to 6 Yes-men, it's a great look at what these guys are still capable of, performance and writing wise. I hope their next album is a bit more balanced and isn't a bunch of Howe-demos and Horn/Downes-demos tossed together under the Yes-name.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 11, 2011, 07:29:53 PM
This blows.  I couldn't find Fly From Here in any stores, so I ordered it online.  If I had known, I would've gone ahead and ordered the import version.  I hate it when there's different versions of songs like that.  Also, the Japanese seem to always get the "extra" stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 11, 2011, 07:31:44 PM
This blows.  I couldn't find Fly From Here in any stores, so I ordered it online.  If I had known, I would've gone ahead and ordered the import version.  I hate it when there's different versions of songs like that.  Also, the Japanese seem to always get the "extra" stuff.

I know, right?! It should have just been on the regular, world-wide released 2-Disc version of the album anyway.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 13, 2011, 07:14:44 AM
Wow!

I found the extended "Hour of Need" and downloaded it.  It's awesome.  The short version on the album is fine; it's a nice little song.  Acoustic guitar is cool, nice harmonies, etc.

But with the extra intro and outro turn, it's a mini-suite, a Steve Howe showcase.  Full band, with Steve taking the lead all over the place.  Considering that Steve is the one veteran Yesman who's really on fire on this album, I think it was a dumb move to just go with the short version, the main song.  Yeah, the intro and outro are optional, but look what it does to the song, and the balance of the album as a whole.  You have the title suite, and some other songs.  The other songs are fine, but as mentioned, none are particularly adventurous.  "Into the Storm" is cool, but almost seems to end just as it's picking up steam.  Including the long version of "Hour of Need" shifts the balance from the other songs just being there and filling things out (not that they're filler -- you know what I mean) to having some real substance of their own.  It's not just a handful of songs, one of which gets kinda proggy, and the token Howe acoustic solo thrown in.  It becomes a handful of songs, some which get kinda proggy, plus a Howe acoustic solo.  Yes, I feel like it really affects the balance that much.

I don't know.  The album felt to me like it just needed a little something to push it from a 7 (pretty good) to an 8 (really good) and this might've been it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 13, 2011, 08:49:31 AM
Wow!

I found the extended "Hour of Need" and downloaded it.  It's awesome.  The short version on the album is fine; it's a nice little song.  Acoustic guitar is cool, nice harmonies, etc.

But with the extra intro and outro turn, it's a mini-suite, a Steve Howe showcase.  Full band, with Steve taking the lead all over the place.  Considering that Steve is the one veteran Yesman who's really on fire on this album, I think it was a dumb move to just go with the short version, the main song.  Yeah, the intro and outro are optional, but look what it does to the song, and the balance of the album as a whole.  You have the title suite, and some other songs.  The other songs are fine, but as mentioned, none are particularly adventurous.  "Into the Storm" is cool, but almost seems to end just as it's picking up steam.  Including the long version of "Hour of Need" shifts the balance from the other songs just being there and filling things out (not that they're filler -- you know what I mean) to having some real substance of their own.  It's not just a handful of songs, one of which gets kinda proggy, and the token Howe acoustic solo thrown in.  It becomes a handful of songs, some which get kinda proggy, plus a Howe acoustic solo.  Yes, I feel like it really affects the balance that much.

I don't know.  The album felt to me like it just needed a little something to push it from a 7 (pretty good) to an 8 (really good) and this might've been it.

 :tup

The full version of "Hour Of Need" definitely stepped up the album for me, and improved "Side 2" considerably. It does add a bit more to the album as a whole. Now if only Howe's contribution to the title suite, "Bumpy Ride" didn't simply fade in and actually had a proper segue/intro to it, the album might be as good as I could imagine it being.

Like I said before, though, it's about as good as the band's previous two albums, a little under Know/Keystudio, but still a step above Talk and Union. The band, as it is now, definitely have room to improve and release a killer album after this, so I hope they take advantage of that and give us one more masterpiece!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 13, 2011, 10:21:10 PM
Agreed.  I'd love to see what this band can do after touring this material, working together for a while, and hopefully really gelling as a band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Plasmastrike on August 18, 2011, 08:12:14 AM
With Yes, the only album I've gotten into is Close To The Edge. I'm not sure why. Their other material (Relayer, Topographic, Fragile) is all great, but difficult to consume for some reason. None touched me like CTTE.

Fly From Here on the other hand is fantastic! I'm giving it a really proper listen this morning. Great melodies, and I love this guy on vocals. It can't be the same guy from the past.

EDIT: I believe I'll divulge into Topographic for the second time tonight. I remember enjoying it more than the others, though it kind of blends together at this point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on August 18, 2011, 10:16:59 AM
I love how expansive Topographic is. You can just get lost in that album. The more you listen, the more you hear musical themes repeated in different ways. One of my favorite Yes moments is The Remembering from 17:33 to the end. That one gives me chills.

By the way, Yes is my favorite band, but I still don't have Fly from Here. *hangs head in shame*
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on August 18, 2011, 12:58:54 PM
I love how expansive Topographic is. You can just get lost in that album. The more you listen, the more you hear musical themes repeated in different ways. One of my favorite Yes moments is The Remembering from 17:33 to the end. That one gives me chills.

By the way, Yes is my favorite band, but I still don't have Fly from Here. *hangs head in shame*
Agreed.  I have been listening to that album for twenty years, and still get lost in it, and I look forward to another twenty years.  Such a masterpiece.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on August 20, 2011, 10:19:41 AM
You guys reminded me to go and listen to Drama again. It's really cool. Tales is by far my favourite though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 20, 2011, 11:14:06 AM
You guys reminded me to go and listen to Drama again. It's really cool. Tales is by far my favourite though.

I love Drama - it's a great showcase for Chris Squire. And the Rhino Remaster is really good (not that I've heard any CD version prior to it...). Squire is really out there in the mix and puts on a powerful performance. I was a bit disappointed when the mix for Fly From Here didn't include a punchy/powerful bass mix like Drama, but instead, Steve Howe is the shining star for FFH.

Anyway, Drama is a great album and every song is different and unique, even with the Buggles contributions, they add the new-age/electronic flavor that really breathed new life into the core trio of Howe/Squire/White, who seemed a bit lifeless on Tormato.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 20, 2011, 04:06:42 PM
I've been meaning to ask you Yes experts for some recommendations. I fairly recently listened to Fragile after years of meaning to get round to listening to Yes and absolutely loved it so wanna check out the rest of their stuff, but their discography looks massive so instead of me randomly jumping in somewhere if you could point me in the right direction as to what album I should get next, I'd really appreciate it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 20, 2011, 04:25:40 PM
I've been meaning to ask you Yes experts for some recommendations. I fairly recently listened to Fragile after years of meaning to get round to listening to Yes and absolutely loved it so wanna check out the rest of their stuff, but their discography looks massive so instead of me randomly jumping in somewhere if you could point me in the right direction as to what album I should get next, I'd really appreciate it!

It's hard to say. Yes fans can vary - there are those who love nearly all their albums, while some are picky. I say, if you liked Fragile, try The Yes Album (their 3rd) and Going For The One (their 8th). I'd say they are pretty similar in form and a bit in sound, but they feature different line-ups.

Fact - There have been no more than 2 consecutive studio albums by Yes with the same line-up, meaning after 2 albums (at most), the line-up changes. However, Chris Squire has remained throughout every album (not counting ABWH, though, as some might consider it part of the Yes canon).

With that fact in mind, the ever-changing line-ups create some very different sounding albums back-to-back. The run of Close To The Edge-Tales From Topographic Oceans-Relayer-Going For The One is amazing, but each album has a different sound from it's surrounding albums as each has a different line-up.

I say, if you get through TYA and GFTO, try CTTE and Relayer (their two 3-song albums of similar structure), and then after that, try Tormato and Drama.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sigz on August 20, 2011, 04:27:39 PM
I'd say go with The Yes Album and then Close to the Edge, but I'm not as familiar with their later discography as M obviously is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 20, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
Thanks Marc, what a great post :) I'll try out The Yes Album next then. I'm not really aware of all the members/changing line up but I've heard of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, is that worth checking out too?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 20, 2011, 04:54:05 PM
Thanks Marc, what a great post :) I'll try out The Yes Album next then. I'm not really aware of all the members/changing line up but I've heard of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, is that worth checking out too?

While I'm sure many fans of Fragile/Close To The Edge rejoiced when they heard Jon Anderson would rejoin Howe, Wakeman and Bruford for a band, I'll admit that the sound of the ABWH album isn't what I expected from 4/5ths of the band that put out the aforementioned Yes albums. ABWH has some interesting arrangements and Bruford's electronic drum sounds definitely date the album to the 80s, but if that line-up interests you, it might be worth checking out. It's good, for what it was, but you would be better off exploring Yes from their 3rd to their 8th albums first, which I (along with many fans) consider their core 70's-Prog discography. I might even suggest their first two albums before suggesting ABWH, as certain tracks on there show some of the raw power that was the Bruford/Squire rhythm section!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 20, 2011, 05:02:57 PM
Ok I'll do some digging into Yes first  :D Thanks so much for the responses, I really like knowing these details about a band before I get into them but it's not much fun trawling through wikipedia or something for the info, much better getting it first hand from a fan  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 20, 2011, 05:11:12 PM
Ok I'll do some digging into Yes first  :D Thanks so much for the responses, I really like knowing these details about a band before I get into them but it's not much fun trawling through wikipedia or something for the info, much better getting it first hand from a fan  :)

Glad I could help! Yes definitely falls into my Top 5 Favorite Bands of All Time, and I'd like to think I've got a good handle on their discography, albums, musical styles and the changes they've all gone through that're reflected in their music. Like you, I started with Fragile, and I fell in love with the album's 3 longer tracks ("Heart Of The Sunrise", "Roundabout" and "South Side Of The Sky"), and the solo-pieces were intriguing to say the least, but when I came to Close To The Edge, it was a bit dense for me. I enjoyed The Yes Album far more, as the songs were in the 6-10 minute range and were a bit easier to digest. The title track of "Close To The Edge" was a lot to swallow at the time, but it became a massive grower for me. The other two tracks were instantly loved, though, and "And You And I" is just magical to me.

I think if you can get through, understand and enjoy The Yes Album, Fragile and Close To The Edge, you can try to absorb Tales From Topographic Oceans. It's a 4-song album, each song being side-length (18-22 minutes each), and it's got a LOT of music that takes even the most seasoned prog-fan awhile to absorb and understand, but if you give it a chance (like I did), each listen becomes more and more rewarding! (Then again, you can say that about any Yes album, depending on your patience and your tastes lol)

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sigz on August 20, 2011, 05:14:25 PM
I've had TFTO for like two years and I still have really only gotten into the first song. It's an absurdly dense album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 20, 2011, 05:17:31 PM
I love those three tracks too, particularly Roundabout cos I remember that main riff from my childhood (must've heard it randomly when I was young, not sure how!) so it was really cool hearing it again in the song it came from  :)  Also really like the solo bits, especially Mood for a Day.

Anyway, I'll keep what you've said in mind and report back when I've had the chance to listen :) Thanks again!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 20, 2011, 05:29:04 PM
I love those three tracks too, particularly Roundabout cos I remember that main riff from my childhood (must've heard it randomly when I was young, not sure how!) so it was really cool hearing it again in the song it came from  :)  Also really like the solo bits, especially Mood for a Day.

Anyway, I'll keep what you've said in mind and report back when I've had the chance to listen :) Thanks again!

Great! I hope you enjoy your journey into Yes, as I have been spending the last couple months revisiting Yes' entire catalog, studio AND live, ever since the recent release of their latest album, Fly From Here, and it's been a joy listening to every album at least a couple times in the last few weeks!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Quadrochosis on August 21, 2011, 10:35:15 PM
I've had TFTO for like two years and I still have really only gotten into the first song. It's an absurdly dense album.

totally vibing on this because i've had similar experiences. although over like 5 years i've grown to love it
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 21, 2011, 10:50:27 PM
Tales took me about a year and a half to fully appreciate, and more or less dissected the album piece by piece.

Ritual and Revealing Science came in early 2010.... and then had great experiences with "The Ancient" in the fall and "The Remembering" this May.

Definitely one of my favorite albums, just because there is so much going on... it's like immersing yourself in a whole different world for 80+ minutes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on August 22, 2011, 12:17:51 AM
I've been listening to tales for like 5 years but it still has never really clicked for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MasterShakezula on August 22, 2011, 12:25:04 AM
I find Tales to be a very good, at times, great, album, though I'll take Close To The Edge over any other Yes album about 3-4 times out of 5.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on August 22, 2011, 05:39:51 AM
Tales is beautiful, The Revealing science of God and The Ancient kinda clicked with me immediately, especially the former, being my favorite Yes song. Ritual has some nice sections, the first half is very enjoyable. The Remembering, on the other hand... It's listenable, but nothing's happening.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on August 22, 2011, 05:48:40 AM
Tales has never clicked with me, I find it really hard to get into. But I'll keep trying, it seems to be a great album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on August 22, 2011, 07:32:48 AM
I never really had any problems getting into Tales. One thing I find interesting is that Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, another album with four very long, slow developing pieces, is considered one of the best albums of all time by many, and Tales is considered overly bloated and dull.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MasterShakezula on August 22, 2011, 07:53:54 AM
Um, Tales is by Yes, a band that many people, especially critics, detest (I love them, but that's beside the point), while GS!BE is nearly universally loved by critics and people who actually listen to music. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 24, 2011, 10:37:46 AM
Listened to The Yes Album, fallen in love with it too  :heart

I really should've got on to Yes sooner!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on August 24, 2011, 11:25:26 AM
Um, Tales is by Yes, a band that many people, especially critics, detest (I love them, but that's beside the point), while GS!BE is nearly universally loved by critics and people who actually listen to music. 

My point is that many people, including Yes fans, find it difficult to get into 4 very long songs in a row on the same album, but then seem to have no problem listening to that kind of thing with GYBE. The tracks on Lift Yr. Skinny... are more slow developing and repetitive than on Tales, but most people don't find them boring. whatevah. Tales is my favorite Yes album and in my Top 5 albums of all time, and I just get a little touchy seeing it being criticized so much over the years, even by Rick Wakeman. Funny that he would think the album is overly padded, when he puts every idea he ever had on his ten billion solo albums. :P

Silver Tears, that's cool that you're getting into Yes. The Yes Album is so awesome; it's my second favorite. Yours is No Disgrace and Starship Trooper rule so much. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 24, 2011, 11:29:17 AM
Listened to The Yes Album, fallen in love with it too  :heart

I really should've got on to Yes sooner!

If you're listening to The Yes Album now, I suggest you just work your way chronologically from there, rather than skipping around to hit the albums which others say are better.  That way, you'll get a much better feel for how they evolved over time.  You'll come to the span where they got "epic crazy" then worked their way out of it, etc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 24, 2011, 12:57:05 PM
I might do that actually, since I'm pretty set on listening to everything they've made now  :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 24, 2011, 12:58:29 PM
 :tup

Fragile/Close to the Edge/Tales is one of my favorite three album runs EVAR
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MasterShakezula on August 24, 2011, 01:00:21 PM
Shift that backwards by an album, and you have one of my favorite 3 album runs. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 24, 2011, 01:28:13 PM
You mean CttE/TfTO/R, correct?  Not "backwards" as in starting from Time and a Word?

Although TaaW is an underrated album, and hey, if that's what you like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MasterShakezula on August 24, 2011, 01:31:21 PM
Actually, I meant TYA-CTTE, though R is my second favorite by Yes behind CTTE.     :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 24, 2011, 02:10:59 PM
Oops, I effed up.  For some reason I thought we were starting with TYA already.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on August 24, 2011, 03:38:59 PM
I never really had any problems getting into Tales. One thing I find interesting is that Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, another album with four very long, slow developing pieces, is considered one of the best albums of all time by many, and Tales is considered overly bloated and dull.

That's because GY!BE's album is better.  The songs overall flow better, are more focused, and are simply better.  I like Tales a lot more than I used to, but it still meanders way too much at times. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on August 24, 2011, 06:54:26 PM
^

Yup, I do agree with that. Both albums are "long" but I always get the feeling that Tales is artificially long. It always seemed to me like they just wanted to have four big epics so they wrote them, rather then letting them develop organically.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: snowdog on August 25, 2011, 12:56:02 PM
^

Yup, I do agree with that. Both albums are "long" but I always get the feeling that Tales is artificially long. It always seemed to me like they just wanted to have four big epics so they wrote them, rather then letting them develop organically.
I remember reading an interview with Jon Anderson in the late 90s I think.  He said that if they wrote Tales today it would fit on one CD.  I can't remember if he mentioned an actual length, but I'm thinking he might have said around 60 minutes, but I could be wrong.  I think it is very obvious that they were working with the media of the time.  That said I find the entirety of Tales to be really good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 25, 2011, 01:33:15 PM
Revealing Science, The Ancient, and Ritual are flawless as they are. The only one I can see needing to be shorter would be "The Remembering", but honestly, it's still really good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 25, 2011, 03:16:57 PM
I took over a year to actually get into Tales, but once I found it to be enjoyable, it became a great listen every time I play it. There are very few LONG albums I will enjoy (others being TFK's Unfold The Future or Genesis' TLLDOB) immensely, but being patient with TFTO was worth the wait. I do agree, though, that you really have to get into the previous 3 albums first before you try Tales because the TYA-F-CTTE really sets up TFTO in terms of what the band was doing at the time.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 26, 2011, 07:46:59 PM
Tales from Topographic Oceans is one of the greatest albums ever recorded, and so few people understand that.

I've listened to "The Revealing Science of God" at least 92 times before. And now on my 93rd listen, I just noticed shit I never noticed before. It is an incredible, expansive album. And Steve's guitar just... paints.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 26, 2011, 08:19:59 PM
People often say how it "wanders" or has "filler" parts to it, but each piece is long enough that moving from highly structured to improvisational and back is fine with me.  I actually like the less structured parts, and the way everything flows is really cool.  I wouldn't change any of it.

Okay, maybe the ritual part of "Ritual" (starting at 14:20) could be shortened up just a bit, though I'm not sure how.  It's the only part that ever feels to me like it goes on just a bit too long, but I guess it's supposed to be like that, to build the tension.  It's not so bad now, I guess; about 20 or so listens ago I finally realized that the pattern played by the drums and that brash, almost atonal synth (at 15:57) is really one of the main musical themes.  It's so far out there that it's pretty hard to tell.  The ending is just glorious, though.  It wouldn't be so awesome if the preceding section weren't so chaotic, but sometimes it taxes even my patience.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 26, 2011, 08:22:53 PM
Orbert, posts like that are why you're one of my favorite posters on this site.

 :heart Tales is such an adventure. Every single listening experience I've had with this album has been a great one (aside from maybe the first one or two, when the album hadn't "clicked" at all with me.  :biggrin: )
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 26, 2011, 08:38:02 PM
Thanks for the compliment.  :coolio

I've been listening to Yes for a very long time, longer than most people here have been alive.  It did take a few listens to grasp "Tales" but it was the 70's, when such things were easier to do.  By that, I mean that people seemed to take more time to listen to music, really listen.  I can't even imagine taking an afternoon nowadays to listen to a double album all the way through not once, but two or three times, just to dig it.  It's been said that people today have shorter attention spans, partially a result of so much technology available to us and partly the reason for it, but I digress.  There's a lot going on, and the breathing space between the intense sections is necessary and by design.  I guess if not all of it grabs you, it feels like filler.  But it you like all of it... whoa!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 29, 2011, 12:27:51 PM
Stopping in to say that The Yes Album, and Starship Trooper in particular, is amazing. The Wurm section is the best way to end a song (or in the case of vinyl, a side!).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Silver Tears on August 29, 2011, 01:43:08 PM
Stopping in to say that The Yes Album, and Starship Trooper in particular, is amazing. The Wurm section is the best way to end a song (or in the case of vinyl, a side!).

I've now listened to it enough times to be able to completely agree!  :heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MasterShakezula on August 29, 2011, 01:50:12 PM
Yes Album>Fragile, but Heart of the Sunrise>Starship Trooper.  Just barely, though. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: senecadawg2 on August 29, 2011, 07:01:04 PM
I sure do love that bass line on Roundabout
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pain of occupation on August 29, 2011, 08:24:58 PM
i havent visited this thread in forever. i see there's a lot of tales talk.

you know, its funny (ok, probably 100 better adjectives out there), ive long called 1971-1974era Yes one of the greatest 4 year outputs in modern music history...yet i've never been able to get into Tales. granted i've only tried, like, three times, but all three times it was a struggle to even get through the whole thing.

anywayz, the three before it and the one after it have garnered thousands of spins. i s'pose i should give Tales a few more tries if i claim what i do (the 4 years of domination).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 29, 2011, 08:46:53 PM
If you've given it three spins listening "actively", take a different approach and put it on mostly for background.  Let it play while reading or doing homework or watching a game on TV with the sound off.  Let it work on you subconsciously.  There's too much there for most people to absorb in just a few listens, so give it some time to sink in.  Eventually it will become a part of your very soul, and you'll wonder how you lived so long without it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on August 29, 2011, 08:50:30 PM
Personally, I had to dissect the album song by song in order to appreciate it. The album as a whole was far too crazy for me at first. But once I was able to appreciate each song individually, it made the whole album.... an adventure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 29, 2011, 09:12:29 PM
Believe it or not, I was originally going to suggest that.  Absorb each song individually, rather than trying to grasp the whole thing at once.  I went with the subconscious thing because that's what worked for me, but I'm weird, so who knows?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on September 22, 2011, 03:12:52 AM
^That's kinda what I did. For the longest time I only listened to Ritual. I must have listened to that masterpiece nearly 150 times, and I still melt like butter everytime. Once I got it on vinyl though, I needed to take the same route. I only listened to The Ancient, then The Revealing Science of God, and finally The Remembering. It took a WHILE, but once it all came together, the picture was so amazing.

And Steve's guitar just... paints.

I like your word choice, you can sit next to me. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on September 22, 2011, 06:18:39 PM
So I finally listened to Fly From Here. It's not bad at all. I like every song, and the production is nice. Benoit David's vocals are good. There is definitely a Drama vibe going on. Into the Storm is probably my favorite track...it reminds me of the better parts of Tormato. I do wish Squire/Howe/White had written more material, but oh well.

Nice job, lads!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on September 23, 2011, 12:36:21 AM
Fly From Here is definitely in my Top 5 Albums of 2011 list. It's unusual to listen to Yes and not hearing Jon Anderson's voice, but Benoit does a good job.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on September 23, 2011, 03:30:07 AM
Fly From Here is definitely in my Top 5 Albums of 2011 list. It's unusual to listen to Yes and not hearing Jon Anderson's voice, but Benoit does a good job.
It might be in my top 5 as well. A very good album.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on September 23, 2011, 05:58:24 AM
^Agreed. It took forever to find the album on vinyl, but once I got it home it's kinda like what Pols Voice said about the 'Drama' feel. I own everything twixt The Yes Album to Drama, so going from Drama to Fly From Here was a pleasant transition.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 08, 2011, 08:04:16 AM
Okay, I've been listening to The Ladder for the last couple of days. It's a highly enjoyable experience, and I've been wondering how come this album doesn't get that much appreciation? What is it about it that someone might not like? I found that it's incredibly rich with melodies, there's still a lot of progressive stuff going on, and finally, it's surprisingly accessible for a Yes album.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on October 08, 2011, 09:20:06 AM
For me personally, most of the songs on The Ladder just come off as incredibly corny and bland. Never been able to get into that album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 08, 2011, 02:26:24 PM
Me neither.  It was a deliberate attempt by Yes to get back more into their "classic prog" sound, but to me it sounds like a band trying to write songs that sound like classic prog Yes.  The fact that it's Yes doing it is irrelevant.  They sound almost like a parody of themselves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 08, 2011, 02:52:17 PM
It's interesting, to me, they just sound like themselves. And they pulled it off with Fly from here as well. I prefer Yes to work as hard as possible to go back to their roots than to create something new that I'm not even sure I'll like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 08, 2011, 02:57:44 PM
Me neither.  It was a deliberate attempt by Yes to get back more into their "classic prog" sound, but to me it sounds like a band trying to write songs that sound like classic prog Yes.  The fact that it's Yes doing it is irrelevant.  They sound almost like a parody of themselves.

How is that different from the Keys to Ascension material, most of which doesn't touch the best four or five songs from The Ladder?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on October 08, 2011, 03:18:02 PM
I've always loved The Ladder. It has a really upbeat, fun feel to it, and I don't mind the pop. Homeworld is a freakin' awesome song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 08, 2011, 03:24:01 PM
I wasn't that impressed by either of the new songs from Keys, but they at least felt like Yes, just not top-shelf Yes.  It's hard to describe; all the pieces were there, but they didn't fit right, or something.  From Keys II, only "Mind Drive" really excites me.  To me, it works just as well as any other epic of theirs.  I like each of the main themes, and I like the flow between them.  The rest are interesting ideas which for some reason they decided to just repeat over and over, driving them down from pretty good to mediocre.  Even the instrumental (whose name escapes me) starts as a good idea, but there's just not enough there, and repeating it eight times doesn't change that.

To answer your question, though, the difference is that The Ladder just didn't gel for me.  There are some good songs, but the bad ones really bring it down.  (There are songs I always skip, and with Keys I can at least listen straight through.)  And admittedly, I was probably too aware that Wakeman had left again and whatever keys I was hearing were being played by some guy named Igor who had no Yes cred, so maybe I was biased.  But I did give it a chance.  They promised a return to form, and the samples they released on the net got me pretty excited.  I bought it right away, and listened to it in the car a few times before passing judgement, but man, some of it was just bad.

Maybe I should give The Ladder another shot.  I was disappointed by Keys, and felt a lot better about Keys II, although it hasn't aged well.  The Ladder never really worked for me, so I never listen to it anymore, but I do remember hearing some good stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 08, 2011, 05:10:14 PM
The Ladder > Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

The worst song(s) on The Ladder > "Teakbois"

Yikes...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: WildeSilas on October 08, 2011, 07:48:10 PM
Having become a Yes fan during the Rabin years, The Ladder is what turned me onto classic Yes and inspired me to collect the entire back catalogue. It has a special place in my heart - some of Alan White's best work IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on October 08, 2011, 07:52:49 PM
The Ladder > Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

The worst song(s) on The Ladder > "Teakbois"

Yikes...

-Marc.

Every song ever written > Teakbois

:P

Not really, but what's the deal with that song, anyway? Oh Jon, you so cwazy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on October 08, 2011, 08:27:45 PM
Sometimes I feel like the only guy who rabidly defends the Keys material.   Mind Drive is fantastic, and to tell you the truth, I actually prefer That, That Is even more....I put TTI among the best Yes epics ever written.   

Still havn't checked out FFH, but I've been completely broke lately.   :sad:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on October 08, 2011, 11:50:30 PM
I like most of the Keys material. That, That Is is cool, but some of the lyrics are bigger headscratchers than usual (CRACK TIME). I really like Bring Me to the Power.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 09, 2011, 03:40:47 AM
And admittedly, I was probably too aware that Wakeman had left again and whatever keys I was hearing were being played by some guy named Igor who had no Yes cred, so maybe I was biased. 
Yeah, I did notice that keyboards aren't as dominant on this album as on their good early works, but I don't really mind it. Steve Howe still delivers the goods, and Jon puts his stamp on the album, and that's pretty much the most important to me.

Homeworld, New language, Finally, If only you knew... Great stuff.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 09, 2011, 07:31:57 AM
The Ladder definitely has a few crappy songs (in the middle of the album), but I think Homeworld, The Messenger and Nine Voices are all tremendous Yes songs, and I quite like It Will Be a Good Day, Face to Face and New Language a lot as well.  And Lightning Strikes is good, foot-tapping fun.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on October 09, 2011, 07:37:00 AM
Are The Ladder, Keys I, and Keys II available on vinyl?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 16, 2011, 09:44:32 PM
Are The Ladder, Keys I, and Keys II available on vinyl?

I think Union was the last Yes album to be released on vinyl and at that point it might have been an import (Which likely means you won't find it cheap.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on October 16, 2011, 11:14:42 PM
Do we at least all agree that Magnification slays?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 16, 2011, 11:15:38 PM
No.  I think it is mostly forgettable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on October 16, 2011, 11:19:57 PM
Hmm. Driving late at night listening to this won me over on that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Y4OippOAQ
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 16, 2011, 11:33:33 PM
That is one of the few songs I remember liking at all from it; Spirit of Survival was another.  In the Presence Of started off great, but then wanders off into no man's land and gets boring really fast.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on October 16, 2011, 11:55:28 PM
I'm a big fan of Magnification. It's actually one of my favorite Yes albums. We Agree is my fave track. The chorus ("these are the days that we will talk about") is a huge chills-inducing moment for me. I LOVE that song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on October 19, 2011, 08:10:05 AM
Magnification might be in my top 5. The strongest stuff on the Ladder is also really good, IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on November 10, 2011, 08:17:53 AM
I was really dissapointed I couldn't go to see the Opeth show in Bristol on Tuesday due to cost... That was until this happened: One of my housemates got free tickets to the Yes show here next Wednesday. I am mildly jealous of her that her boss is the brother of one of the members (although I have not yet ascertained which), but yes. Very excited I am.

Naturally, I thought I'd better go and buy Fly From Here today to get to know the material so I can really enjoy the show, and I'm really liking this album...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 10, 2011, 10:35:16 AM
It's a good album.  Great sound, solid writing, solid playing.  The arrangements aren't as adventurous (prog) as "classic Yes" but whatever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on November 10, 2011, 02:00:29 PM
It still sounded pretty classic to me. I think I'll enjoy listening to it, same goes for Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on November 10, 2011, 04:41:52 PM
What do people think about the self-titled debut? It's kind of raw, but it has a youthful energy and some cool tracks: Beyond and Before, Looking Around, Harold Land, and so on.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 10, 2011, 06:00:06 PM
It was a very promising album, pretty good, and I do listen to it from time to time.  As you mentioned, it has the raw, youthful energy.  This was a band that had something different to offer, and they were going for it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 11, 2011, 04:43:47 AM
It's easily my least favorite Yes album. Not a single song had stuck with me, unfortunately. I honestly can't remember if I liked anything about it...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 21, 2011, 07:59:15 PM
What do people think about the self-titled debut? It's kind of raw, but it has a youthful energy and some cool tracks: Beyond and Before, Looking Around, Harold Land, and so on.

I like it a lot.

That album and Time and a Word have what I consider to be Tony Kaye's best keyboard work in Yes on them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsem on December 09, 2011, 03:28:35 PM
Just came back from seeing Yes. It was a great show, but Benoit David was a tad too low a few times - don't know why, but other than that it was great.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on December 09, 2011, 07:31:14 PM
Just came back from seeing Yes. It was a great show, but Benoit David was a tad too low a few times - don't know why, but other than that it was great.

After watching a more than a few clips on Youtube, I think I could give a pretty good guess as to why...  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on December 09, 2011, 11:30:16 PM
Sometimes Benoit David might have trouble with Yes material, but those songs are so hard to sing. When he's more in his element, like with the band Mystery, he's actually a really good singer. One Among the Living is a nice album that demonstrates his abilities well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on January 12, 2012, 12:02:13 AM
Damn.

I love Yes, but I kind of have to be in the mood to enjoy them fully. But when I am, and I listen to Close to the Edge...

(https://data.whicdn.com/images/4522003/Feels_Good_Man_large.jpg?1287743648)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: adace on February 06, 2012, 10:05:26 AM
Well, looks like they got another new singer. From FB:

"Prog rock band YES were forced to cancel the last 3 shows of their European Tour in December due to the illness of lead vocalist Benoit David who has still not recovered. To avoid disappointing their fans on the forthcoming Australasian leg of their world tour, they have found a replacement singer.

Jon Davison will join YES as lead vocalist for the upcoming dates in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Hawaii. YES really appreciate Jon Davison joining them for this leg of the tour and are sure this arrangement will satisfy all YES fans."

Also, in case you were wondering, Jon Davison was in a Yes tribute band and sang lead vocals on the last two Glass Hammer albums. Here's a sample (vocals start at 1:07):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX2tpEK-nbg&feature=related (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX2tpEK-nbg&feature=related)

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 06, 2012, 10:38:11 AM
I can imagine the "joke" fake posts now. "Yes gets Jon to fill in for the ailing Benoit"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on February 06, 2012, 03:15:56 PM
Weird...

Benoit David seems kind of illness prone. I really hope he didn't blow out his vocal cords from singing out of his range too much.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on February 06, 2012, 04:21:07 PM
While I wasn't really a fan of the last two GH albums, I can say Davison is a damn good singer, and sounds a lot closer to Anderson than David. Though I still like David anyway and wish him a speedy recovery.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 06, 2012, 06:12:23 PM
Benoit wasn't very good. Neither was the band in its current state. I don't think them changing their lineup will lead me to seeing them live again, unless they get both Rick and Jon back (will never happen) or play all of Tales live (also will never happen).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 06, 2012, 10:20:51 PM
Frankly, my interest in the bad at this point is very minimal.  And it is embarrassing to run through different lead singers like this now.  They must need the money, but it still sucks to see Yes limping to the finish line this way. :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on February 07, 2012, 03:13:05 AM
I get the feeling that YES never really needs a finish line. To me, and correct me if I'm wrong, YES seems like one of a few perfect progressive rock acts. They continue to progress their sound no matter where it leads, how many line-up changes they have, or what sound they reach next. Their reach has always been to progress the sound and matter of music as a whole.

Whether it be Benoit or Jon, or even Jon Anderson for that matter, YES always comes across as a continuing, and reoccurring, force in the rock world. I think that might be why I love them so much. they continue to make music they love.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 18, 2012, 09:25:38 AM
Quote
<<Dear YES fans,
As you all know, the final three shows of last year's European tour
were
cancelled due to my ill health. On my return to Canada, I was advised
to
cease touring, for the foreseeable future, in order to avoid further
damage to
my voice. Following this extremely disappointing diagnosis, I had no
alternative but to inform my fellow band members that I was unable to
confirm my availability for, at least, the forthcoming concerts in New
Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Although there was no alternative, I did so with a heavy heart as I
felt that I
was letting everyone down especially those who have supported me since
I
had the privilege of becoming the band's vocalist in 2008. The band
members were all very understanding and asked if I would mind being
replaced for the April shows - I immediately agreed that this would be
the
best way forward and gave them my blessing. I was then pleased to
learn
that Jon Davison would be my replacement as he is an accomplished
musician with a fine voice.
I subsequently learnt, from a band member's interview, that I had
officially
left Yes and that my departure was permanent. As this is the
situation,
everyone should know that I will be eternally grateful for the
opportunity I
was given and very proud to have contributed to more than 200 concerts
and
to the 'Fly From Here' and 'In The Present Live From Lyon' albums. I
would
also like to express my appreciation for the support I was given by
each
member of the band, the fantastic crew, the management and everyone
else
involved during my time as vocalist in the band. Finally, to the fans
who
have applauded my efforts and to those I have had the pleasure of
meeting -
many thanks, my best wishes and please continue with your support of
one
of the world's greatest bands - YES.
Although I need to take it easy for a while, I fully intend to
continue with my
music career. In late summer of 2011, I added vocals to Mystery's
forthcoming album 'The World Is A Game' - which is at the final stages
of
mixing and will be available in the near future. This is my third
collaboration
with Michel St-Pere, and Mystery, following 2007's 'Beneath the Veil
of
Winter's Face' and 2010's 'One Among The Living'.
So I guess I will, hopefully, see you somewhere down the road…

Blessings,
Benoit David
17th February 2012>>

Looks like his definitely out, and Jon (Davison) is completely in - can't say I'm surprised, but it looks like Benoit is just another notch in the belt of the ever-growing past-membership of Yes. It'll be interesting if Davison gets to write/record with Howe/Downes/Squire/White in the next year or so after they finish touring on FFH. It's a shame that they can't even tour the album with the singer they recorded it with.

Honestly, I'd rather see them go into the studio this summer and release an album by the end of the year, but they probably won't make as much money doing that as they could touring...or would they? Guess it depends on how they perform with Davison.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 18, 2012, 09:37:04 AM
As someone pointed out, there will always be an incarnation of Yes, as there has already been a million of those. So whatever. As long as the next album is as good as Fly from here, I'll be interested.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 18, 2012, 12:27:02 PM
As someone pointed out, there will always be an incarnation of Yes, as there has already been a million of those. So whatever. As long as the next album is as good as Fly from here, I'll be interested.  :smiley:

Indeed, I thoroughly enjoyed FFH and hope for another album along the same lines, or at least in the same direction. I'd love to hear what Howe/Downes can come up with outside of Asia, and I hope Squire can contribute a lot more on the next album. I also wouldn't mind having Trevor Horn on the next album (in any capacity). Just give us ALL NEW material, and not any more Yes/Buggles throwaways/reworkings (not that there was anything wrong with that!).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on February 18, 2012, 04:45:47 PM
That sucks. But at least he confirmed a new Mystery album is on the way, and those guys are freaking awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 18, 2012, 05:58:52 PM
For half a second when I saw Jon Davison, my mind thought it said Jon Anderson. I wish just once I could have seen them live with Jon Anderson.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jirpo on February 18, 2012, 06:10:25 PM
I'll be seeing Yes when they come to Perth!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nick on February 20, 2012, 06:42:36 AM
How amazingly unprofessional is it that the guy learns he's been permanently canned by reading an interview?

Just amazing.

But yeah, the Mystery news is good news.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 21, 2012, 06:28:41 PM
How amazingly unprofessional is it that the guy learns he's been permanently canned by reading an interview?

Just amazing.

But yeah, the Mystery news is good news.

Doesn't surprise me with Yes, sadly. I will no longer pay money to see them in concert. I got a chance to see RW+JA play a show a few months ago with my friend and they blew the current incarnation of Yes out of the water. Yes has really become a mockery of their former self, imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on February 21, 2012, 10:57:29 PM
How amazingly unprofessional is it that the guy learns he's been permanently canned by reading an interview?

Just amazing.

I was thinking the same thing.  With the other three "main" members, its like if you're spending too much time not doing what they want to do at that exact time they won't give a damn and replace you in an instant.  That's basically what happened to Jon and Rick in 2008, and it just happened to David.  "Oh you're sick and can't tour?  Well we can.  BOOM you've been replaced."  At least he's being humble about it.  I'd be trash talking them at every turn if I were him.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 22, 2012, 04:13:53 AM
How amazingly unprofessional is it that the guy learns he's been permanently canned by reading an interview?

Just amazing.

I was thinking the same thing.  With the other three "main" members, its like if you're spending too much time not doing what they want to do at that exact time they won't give a damn and replace you in an instant.  That's basically what happened to Jon and Rick in 2008, and it just happened to David.  "Oh you're sick and can't tour?  Well we can.  BOOM you've been replaced."  At least he's being humble about it.  I'd be trash talking them at every turn if I were him.  :lol

Originally when that all went down, I was terribly disappointed since it was right around that time when I discovered Yes. Right at the peak of the my interest, when I really wanted to see them live, they pull that move. So they can keep playing musical chairs with singers and when, if ever, they get back to Jon Anderson, I will see them live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 22, 2012, 07:23:39 AM
The situation with Yes is a lot more complicated than most people realize.  The band waited years for Jon Anderson to be "ready" to tour, but he was busy with his solo and side projects.  Then he got sick.  But not so sick that he couldn't go do another solo tour.  Somewhere in there, Jon sold his stake in the band, saying it was done, and Rick Wakeman never bought in, which is why he left and came back pretty much whenever he wanted to (three times, maybe four, depending on how you count them).  Then when he supposedly was "ready" to join them, he really did get sick.  You wait five or six years, you figure maybe it's time to find a replacement, so that's what they did.  And Wakeman didn't want to come back if Anderson wasn't there.

And that's just the very short version.  Howe, Squire, and White own the Yes name, and while that doesn't mean that they can simply call the shots, I think it's important to note that Anderson sold his share back to them and publicly declared that the band was done in an interview.  So was he given the boot, or did he quit?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on February 22, 2012, 11:38:14 PM
I'm sort of new to Yes. Can't remember how long I've been listening to them now, maybe less than a year. They're kind of hit and miss to me, I would take Genesis over them by a long shot. I love Drama and Fragile, but those are the only complete albums I enjoy throughout. From everything else I like certain songs but none of the other albums have that appeal to me that Fragile and Drama do. Close to the Edge comes close though. The Yes Album is good, but I can't get into it as much as others do. Fly From Here is OK, I liked the title track, that was it really. Definitely sounds like Drama at times. And Tales From Topographic Oceans is just...  :huh:

But despite all of that, there is something about the band that makes me want to dive deeper into their music, and check out all the albums. So maybe all the stuff I can't get into will grow on me, really everything by this band seems to take forever for me to get into.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 23, 2012, 11:16:06 AM
Most Yes music is really layered and can take a while to get into.  I guess that's true of a lot of prog, probably most, but with Yes, maybe moreso than others.  Fragile and Drama are two of my favorites, so you have good taste (:)) and since you hear the similarities between Fly From Here and Drama, you have good ears.  Tales from Topographic Oceans is the one that usually takes the longer to get into.  Obviously it has the most music on it, but more than that, it really is a very long work in four movements, with each movement different.  But there are recurring themes both musical and lyrical, so it's pretty overwhelming.  I think of it like a symphony.  People might like Beethoven's Ninth or Sixth or whichever, but how often are you going to listen to a piece of music that's over an hour long?

Anyway, it sounds like you have access to the whole library, so keep at it.  You've taken the right approach IMO by starting with the classics, so give them a little more time.  They're my favorite band, but I don't even like everything they've done.  Some of it just doesn't work for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ZBomber on February 23, 2012, 01:19:39 PM
Tales is my favorite Yes album (and one of my favorite albums ever) but it is VERY hard to get into. Personally, I more or less took it a song at a time before putting the whole "painting" together. Don't be so quick to dismiss it, but also don't try to force yourself to love it either. Just give it listens now and again, and each time more of the story will unfold and you should begin to appreciate it more.

I suggest going song by song... start with one of the more accessible movements like Revealing Science or Ritual. Ancient and Remembering do wander quite a bit, so those can be difficult to digest at first. But man, the instrumentation on that album is sublime, and the vocal melodies are some of my favorite Yes moments.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 23, 2012, 03:17:26 PM
Tales... literally took me over 10 years to really get into :lol, so I'd definitely call that one a grower.

But don't be quick to dismiss the Rabin era.  It's more pop rock at times and not as proggy overall, but there is still some outstanding music there.  Talk and 90125 are both great, and Big Generator is mostly solid as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Phoenix87x on February 23, 2012, 05:10:46 PM
So tonight I did a double shot of Close to the Edge and Relayer. I really forgot how much I love Relayer.  :heart

Soon is and always has been one of the most Beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard.  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on February 23, 2012, 08:10:40 PM
think of it like a symphony.  People might like Beethoven's Ninth or Sixth or whichever, but how often are you going to listen to a piece of music that's over an hour long?
Never thought of it that way, thanks!  :tup

Quote
Anyway, it sounds like you have access to the whole library, so keep at it.  You've taken the right approach IMO by starting with the classics, so give them a little more time.  They're my favorite band, but I don't even like everything they've done.  Some of it just doesn't work for me.
I actually started by going in Chronological order on Spotify, I kind of fell out of that after around Relayer and since then I've been buying the physical albums. Haven't gotten into the pop stuff yet, but I plan on checking out 90125 very soon.

 I have to say the quality of the remasters and booklets that come with them is the best I've ever seen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 05, 2012, 08:04:46 PM
How amazingly unprofessional is it that the guy learns he's been permanently canned by reading an interview?

Just amazing.

But yeah, the Mystery news is good news.

If I recall correctly, that's how Wakeman found out he was back in during the Going For The One sessions.

He read it in a magazine.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 05, 2012, 10:58:50 PM
Chris Squire in both cases, shooting his mouth off before the phone calls have been made.

Not exactly the same thing, but it reminds of when there's been a car accident and people have died, but they don't release the names because next-of-kin haven't been notified.  It would suck so badly to hear that your dad or brother or whoever died by seeing it on the news.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 05, 2012, 11:35:55 PM
In other news, Trevor Rabin apparently will be releasing his first solo album in over 20 years this coming May.  I'll definitely be picking that up!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 11, 2012, 06:57:47 AM
I'm in a Yes mood for the last couple of days. I've been listening to a lot of their stuff, including the entire Fragile, Relayer and Close to the edge. Needless to say, I absolutely love this band.  :heart

They are definitely on my list of bands that I need to see live, whatever they decide to play and whoever sings. Too bad they weren't anywhere close last year.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 11, 2012, 10:23:58 AM
In other news, Trevor Rabin apparently will be releasing his first solo album in over 20 years this coming May.  I'll definitely be picking that up!

Not that it matters but it is an instrumental album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 11, 2012, 10:58:46 AM
I'm in a Yes mood for the last couple of days. I've been listening to a lot of their stuff, including the entire Fragile, Relayer and Close to the edge. Needless to say, I absolutely love this band.  :heart

They are definitely on my list of bands that I need to see live, whatever they decide to play and whoever sings. Too bad they weren't anywhere close last year.

I've been listening to some Yes for the last few days as well, and it's been all over the place - Fly From Here, Keystudio (well, with a remixed tracklisting and renamed "Know", the original title), Talk, The Ladder, Going For The One, Fragile, 90125.

Yes are just amazing all over, and I really hope they go into the studio this year to release another album ASAP!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 11, 2012, 04:00:45 PM
In other news, Trevor Rabin apparently will be releasing his first solo album in over 20 years this coming May.  I'll definitely be picking that up!

Not that it matters but it is an instrumental album.

Really?  How did you find that out?  I am cool with it either way, but I am just curious. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 11, 2012, 05:46:52 PM
I read it online.  Here it is.

https://www.billboard.com/news/yes-guitarist-trevor-rabin-working-on-first-1005168102.story
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 11, 2012, 06:36:08 PM
That sounds even better to me.  Rabin hasn't recorded a lot lately because he's been doing movie soundtracks for the last 20 years (which I guess is still "recording" but different).  He's done a lot of movies with great soundtracks, and an instrumental album from him could be really cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 17, 2012, 09:18:00 AM
Just found this little gem, don't know why I didn't hear it before, a half hour acoustic Yes session with the premier lineup...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vChPoL7mLqg&feature=related (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vChPoL7mLqg&feature=related)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on March 17, 2012, 03:38:32 PM
Just found this little gem, don't know why I didn't hear it before, a half hour acoustic Yes session with the premier lineup...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vChPoL7mLqg&feature=related (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vChPoL7mLqg&feature=related)

This is really cool!  Good find!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 17, 2012, 03:51:40 PM
Great story behind it too. Imagine going to a movie theatrr to see a documentary, and at the end of it, them coming on screen to play that set unnanounced, so cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 17, 2012, 05:47:55 PM
I've heard the audio for that before, but have never seen the video.  Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on March 18, 2012, 03:55:53 AM
That was great! Cool rendition of Roundabout. Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 29, 2012, 02:54:54 PM
So I've been listening to a bit of latter-day Yes lately, and was wondering if anyone else considers the following as their official Yes canon:
1 - Yes
2 - Time And A Word
3 - The Yes Album
4 - Fragile
5 - Close To The Edge
6 - Tales From Topographic Oceans
7 - Relayer
8 - Going For The One
9 - Tormato
10 - Drama
11 - 90125
12 - Big Generator
13 - ABWH
14 - Union
15 - Talk
16 - Keystudio/Keys To Ascension/Know (original working title)
17 - Open Your Eyes
18 - The Ladder
19 - Magnification
20 - Fly From Here

I include ABWH because, really, it is Yes, just a side-version of Yes, and it's more Yes than any other bands with Yesmen in the 80's had (like Asia, which had Howe and Downes). Besides, including ABWH is essential in the chronology to better understand where and how Union came about.

I also would group them in chunks of five:
1-5 = "The Bruford Years", the formation of where Yes started to what made them famous
6-10 = "The Anderson/Squire/Howe/White" years, where this line-up made the most albums and continues/finishes their classic era
11-15 = "The Rabin/Dual-Yes" era, which includes the 3 Rabin-made albums, as well as ABWH and the often misunderstood Union
16-20 = "Latter Day Yes", and while it began with the classic line-up doing the Keys material, it changed a bit with OYE and The Ladder, which turned them back into something different that carried over into Magnification. Oddly enough, FFH ends this group just as Drama did back then, the Downes/Horn pair on both ends each group of 10 albums (the first 10 and the last 10), as they introduce old material that didn't make it on Drama.

It's all very fitting, and it will be interesting to see where Yes go next, especially now that Benoit David is out and Jon Davidson is in.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 29, 2012, 04:04:35 PM
I agree with your definition of Yes canon, and I like how you've divided up the eras.  The only potential issue I see, which I'm sure will be shared by many Yesfans, is the divide between Fragile and Close to the Edge, which I'm sure you'll agree is something of a soft divider anyway.

I agree that the band did have a different sound with Bruford than with White (moreso than a lot of people realize) and yes, it does make sense to recognize the change there.  But it could also be argued that the introduction of Howe on The Yes Album was really the start of the classic sound.  Most fans of the classic lineup seem to feel that it is the presence of both Howe on guitar and Wakeman on keys that really makes the sound.  I tend to regard The Yes Album as the start of the main sequence, but I suppose that that doesn't necessarily mean that a new "era" started there.

But hey, Yes has changed personnel so many times that you could divide things up any way you want.  Relayer is an outlier because it's the only album with Moraz on keys.  The Keys to Ascension stuff is another anomoly, being from the classic lineup, but latter-day.  And so on.  Actually, the lineup changed every time after Big Generator, and prior to that, there were never more than two in a row with the same lineup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 29, 2012, 04:13:34 PM
Actually, the lineup changed every time after Big Generator, and prior to that, there were never more than two in a row with the same lineup.

Yeah, my groupings are a bit more generalized, but in each group of 5 all have a similar sound or feel, and even though the "Bruford Years" had a couple line-up changes, I think it's important to group those five as it shows the true evolution of Yes, while the following five albums show experimentation and refinement, and finally, a sudden change in the sound of Drama.

As for the line-up changes, there indeed have been a dozen or more, and I wish the classic line-up of Anderson/Squire/Howe/Wakeman/White had stuck around after the Keys material. Imagine what kind of album we would have gotten with them...instead we got Open Your Eyes.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 29, 2012, 04:16:34 PM
I wish we had gotten another album with Moraz. Relayer has some crazy stuff, and I think they could have explored those heavier and jazzier ideas more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 29, 2012, 04:26:59 PM
Yeah, a second album with Moraz would've been cool.  But that band had problems (didn't they all?) and when they thought Wakeman might want to come back, they could not dump Moraz fast enough.

I wish the classic line-up of Anderson/Squire/Howe/Wakeman/White had stuck around after the Keys material. Imagine what kind of album we would have gotten with them...instead we got Open Your Eyes.

Agreed.  I would've loved a sophomore effort from the reformed lineup after Keys, but as usual, Wakeman didn't want to be tied down, and things fell apart from there.  Open Your Eyes has managed to grow on me a little bit (I had a lot of trouble with it at first) but it's still pretty weak overall IMO.  The legendary Yes mismanagement struck again, completely slaughtering an opportunity and sabotaging their own sales.

Keys to Ascension should have been released as a single studio album (as originally intended) and promoted like nobody's business as the triumphant return of the classic lineup, the same band that brought you Close to the Edge and Going for the One, with seven new tracks including Two Epics!   Instead, they buried the new studio material as "bonus tracks" on live albums that nobody cared about, mostly because they received no promotion, and the promoted the hell out of Open Your Eyes, the vastly inferior album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 29, 2012, 04:33:33 PM
The production on Open Your Eyes is really overbearing, like the huge walls of vocals on several songs. I do like the title track and some of the other songs, though, but you can tell Howe had very little input, and he's my favorite Yes dude. It's mostly a Sherwood/Squire album.

KTA has some very good material. Bring Me to the Power is one of the most overlooked Yes songs, IMO. Some really nice melodies in there. Mind Drive is cool too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 30, 2012, 04:21:23 AM
I like that Relayer is the only album they released with Moraz, that makes it really special.  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 30, 2012, 07:40:06 AM
It's pretty different.  Between Moraz on keyboards and Howe torturing his Telecaster throughout, it has a very different sound.  A lot of Yesfans regard it as their favorite, hands down.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Ryzee on March 30, 2012, 10:33:04 AM
Yeah it's my favorite for sure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 03, 2012, 10:44:52 PM
I have had a resurgence of my Yes love as of late.  I have been spinning little else, especially the last couple days, probably just in need of a spiritual re-tuning.  In honor of this, I am going to do something I haven't done in years, listen to Tales beginning to end.  See you in ninety minutes.....
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jirpo on April 04, 2012, 05:25:19 AM
Gonna see Yes live in 24 hours!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2012, 07:00:08 AM
 :metal


First time?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on April 04, 2012, 08:01:15 AM
Gonna see Yes live in 24 hours!!

With Jon Davidson?? Let us know how it goes! :tup

Also, is there any way (MODS?) that we could add the studio albums to this thread as a poll to pick our top 3 (or 5 since there are so many) favorite albums? I think if we use the list I posted a few posts back, it would work.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on April 04, 2012, 03:09:28 PM
Jon Davison sounds pretty good from the clips I watched.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2012, 04:02:16 PM
Just checked him out, here he is with the Yes tribute band.  Go to 2:40, I think he'll be all right....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 04, 2012, 04:06:51 PM
Just checked him out, here he is with the Yes tribute band.  Go to 2:40, I think he'll be all right....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk)

Yeah, he will sound great with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 04, 2012, 04:08:14 PM
What do you think of this Yes Cover.  I have one of their albums and it's very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT_zuk66RCM&feature=related
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 04, 2012, 05:36:38 PM
What do you think of this Yes Cover.  I have one of their albums and it's very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT_zuk66RCM&feature=related

Damn you.  One of my favorites sung by a hot chick, now I'm in love. :getoffmylawn:


Loved this comment BTW...
Quote
She's too damned sexy. I can't focus on the song. Gotta go back to the Yes clip; Steve Howe doesn't elicit the same response.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Phoenix87x on April 04, 2012, 06:02:35 PM
Just checked him out, here he is with the Yes tribute band.  Go to 2:40, I think he'll be all right....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O82GGiFB1Pk)

Yeah, I think I can get down with this guy.  ;)

   and he kind of looks like Crispin Glover.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi9-1OA4O_s/TzGZtCSzPbI/AAAAAAAAAI4/cDQ43J57e24/s320/JonDavison2_000.jpg)

(https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrFAII36Il5AcUfgVRDazohcjqAF4MW7aDy_ItVGugbWueuU8mzw)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 04, 2012, 09:54:28 PM
What do you think of this Yes Cover.  I have one of their albums and it's very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT_zuk66RCM&feature=related

So, Magenta is a band started by a guy who used be in a band called Cyan?  If they break up and he starts another band, I wonder what he'll call it.

Anyway, good cover.  I just listened to that song earlier tonight, and it sounds like they do it in the same key, which is good.  They do know how to take advantage of video, don't they?  Put the lead singer in an evening gown.  Not that I'm complaining, but they're really damned if they do, and damned if they don't.  She's pretty and has nice glands, so the obvious thing would be to show them off.  And even if they'd like the music to speak for itself, it's hard not to take advantage of a definite selling point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jirpo on April 05, 2012, 08:48:31 AM
Ahh! Damnit, I knew someone who could get us free tickets but he said I applied too late... so annoying especially cause he told me for the past few days that he was sure me and a mate could go :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: skydivingninja on April 05, 2012, 06:28:56 PM
I'm not sure if I'm sold on the new singer.  There were a few parts in Heart of the Sunrise and Owner where he sounded like his voice was straining in falsetto.  I'd rather have that chick from Magneta sing for them.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on June 17, 2012, 11:19:48 AM
Just got my 1st bass. First song I learn is Close to the Edge. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on August 01, 2012, 03:42:34 PM
Anybody ever see/hear this? It's the isolated bass track from Roundabout. Pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRjAgl1dQBk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRjAgl1dQBk)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on August 01, 2012, 06:25:05 PM
Just got my 1st bass. First song I learn is Close to the Edge. :lol
  :metal

Chris Squire is the man. Possibly my favorite bass player. His tone on those albums... :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on October 10, 2012, 11:55:45 AM
Just found this one, video from the late 60's, early 70's, about 45 minutes, surprisingly clean too....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm2xkDfm_C4&feature=related (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm2xkDfm_C4&feature=related)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 12, 2012, 04:59:50 PM
Just found this one, video from the late 60's, early 70's, about 45 minutes, surprisingly clean too....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm2xkDfm_C4&feature=related (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm2xkDfm_C4&feature=related)

Been a while since I've seen that. Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Genowyn on October 28, 2012, 06:26:55 PM
You guys might be interested to see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjpCV6ilJKw

This is the ending credits of an anime that is currently airing...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 28, 2012, 06:30:33 PM
Pretty cool.  The animation has a certain elegance to it, and most importantly, the music is properly credited.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on October 29, 2012, 09:34:46 AM
Lol, damn it, I was about to mention Jojo's Bizarre Adventure too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 10, 2012, 08:59:46 AM
BUMP!

Just read on Facebook that Yes plan to tour North America next Spring and bring with them THREE ALBUMS in their entirety to perform: The Yes Album, Close To The Edge and Going For The One!

Thoughts?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on December 10, 2012, 09:02:17 AM
 :omg:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 10, 2012, 09:10:17 AM
Yawn.  Most of the songs from those albums, they've played to death already over the years anyway, and now they are gonna play them without Jon Anderson?  Yippee.  Just retire now, guys, and stop embarrassing yourselves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 10, 2012, 09:10:42 AM
Here's the link and annoucement:

https://yesworld.com/tour.aspx

Quote
Legendary progressive rock band, Yes, today announced its upcoming North American tour, kicking off March 2013 in West Wendover, NV and wrapping up May 2013 in Detroit, MI. On this tour, fans can look forward to a totally new and unique Yes experience; the band, for the first time in its storied history, will perform three of its most popular albums in their entireties, The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, and Going for the One. Due to performance time limits in several venues, Yes will perform two albums, The Yes Album and Close to the Edge, in their entireties.
 
Performing three of rock’s most renowned albums will see Yes members, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, and Jon Davison, playing Yes staples that have dramatically influenced rock music over the last four decades. Fans will enjoy long time favorites, including "Yours is No Disgrace," "I’ve Seen All Good People," "Starship Trooper," "Close to the Edge," "And You And I," "Going for the One," "Wondrous Stories," "Awaken," and more, in a completely unique format. Moreover, Yes will perform all tracks in the order they appear on their corresponding studio albums.
 
"These albums we all easily agreed on—they are complete works in themselves. And several of the songs have rarely been performed live," says Yes guitarist, Steve Howe. "I believe the one song we’ve never performed in concert is ‘A Venture’ from The Yes Album," states Yes co-founder and bassist, Chris Squire. Yes drummer, Alan White goes on to say, "This is a great opportunity to show the growth of Yes throughout different eras, and to once again enjoy the great memories of those times, as well as create brand new ones. We’re looking forward to performing these albums. It’s going to be fun for us, and we think our fans will love it as well."
 
The tour visits Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Reno, NV; Aspen, CO; Kansas City, MO; Austin, TX; Clearwater, FL; New York, NY; Detroit, MI; Toronto, Ontario; and a variety of other cities. See the tour page for complete tour itinerary information, including venues and dates.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 10, 2012, 09:18:40 AM
I'm looking forward to checking out the clips on youtube. Too bad there are no European dates.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on December 10, 2012, 09:31:18 AM
A Venture finally being played live? Great news!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on December 10, 2012, 09:37:02 AM
*marks March 5th on calender*
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jiangsu on December 10, 2012, 10:01:34 AM
Wow, this is awesome news.  I will definitely be looking to go to the Detroit show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: countoftuscany42 on December 10, 2012, 11:14:24 AM
*prays for Philadelphia date to be added* saw them last year and they were incredible, though if they switched out going for the one with fragile this would be an amazing show \m/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on December 10, 2012, 11:15:58 AM
This is awesome news...but I wish they would say which cities are getting the shorter set...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jaq on December 10, 2012, 11:20:13 AM
This is awesome news...but I wish they would say which cities are getting the shorter set...

It's the casino dates. Those will be shorter. Hang on, let me go check elsewhere...okay, found this on Blabbermouth:

Tour dates:

Mar. 01 - West Wendover, NV - Peppermill Concert Hall *
Mar. 03 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Mar. 05 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
Mar. 06 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre
Mar. 08 - Temecula, CA - Pechanga Theater (at Pechanga Casino)
Mar. 09 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Casino *
Mar. 14 - Omaha, NE - Holland Performing Arts Center
Mar. 16 - Hammond, IN - The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
Mar. 17 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
Mar. 18 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland by AMC
Mar. 20 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Mar. 21 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre
Mar. 22 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Live - Biloxi *
Mar. 24 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena *
Mar. 30 - Melbourne, FL - Maxwell C. King Center for the Perf. Arts
Apr. 02 - Clearwater, FL - Ruck Eckerd Hall
Apr. 05 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand at Foxwoods *
Apr. 06 - Hampton, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Apr. 07 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Apr. 09 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
Apr. 11 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Apr. 12 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre

* - YES will only perform two albums — "The Yes Album" and "Close To The Edge" — for shows at casinos due to the time constrictions of events held there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Unlegit on December 10, 2012, 11:40:46 AM
Wow! This is definitely something I'll have to check out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on December 10, 2012, 12:56:45 PM
I saw them last year for the first time with Benoit David and they were mediocre at best. I'd rather see them with Anderson and Wakeman but that possibility is getting more and more unlikely.  I've heard that they've gotten better with Davison so I may try to make it to the CT show. Sucks that Foxwoods has a time limit. GFTO is my favorite Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on December 13, 2012, 03:25:16 AM
GTFO is my favorite Yes album as well. The day they play that in its entirety, I'd go to see them. Not to say I don't like TYA or CTTE, I'd just rather see that. When Benoit was in the band, what did they play?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 13, 2012, 07:03:39 AM
GTFO is my favorite Yes album as well. The day they play that in its entirety, I'd go to see them. Not to say I don't like TYA or CTTE, I'd just rather see that. When Benoit was in the band, what did they play?

I can't tell.  Are you talking about this or not?

(https://www.yesworld.com/hero/tour2013.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on December 13, 2012, 12:53:32 PM
When Benoit was in the band they were mainly playing FFH, Fragile, TYA, CTTE and Drama stuff.

I definitely remember Tempus Fugit, Roundabout, Yours Is No Disgrace, And You And I, Heart Of The Sunrise, I've Seen All Good People, Starship Trooper, and some FFH stuff I can't remember the names of right now, but it included the title track and was pretty awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on December 13, 2012, 05:08:07 PM
Man, I would have liked to see some FFH stuff live. I saw Yes in November 2008. Benoit was on fire that night, though the sound guy fucked up the encore so the mics weren't working. Squire was visibly pissed.

Though earlier in the show he gave a smiling nod to me and my friend during the instrumental section of Machine Messiah. That was probably the highlight of that year for me.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emblempride on December 13, 2012, 07:35:58 PM
Yawn.  Most of the songs from those albums, they've played to death already over the years anyway, and now they are gonna play them without Jon Anderson?  Yippee.  Just retire now, guys, and stop embarrassing yourselves.
No offense, but while I understand your opinion, I find it disappointing you feel that way and the fact that you aren't alone with that sentiment. As for a fan like myself, who will never get to see Jon Anderson-Yes, I'd still like to see them if I can, doesn't matter if they play Siberian Khatru 5x slower, or if it's a different singer, etc. I think I'd go see 70 year old DT without James (of course I doubt the possibility of that even being an option), because I mean, it's just.... Cool, you know? I can't really describe it. Seeing how Bruce's voice is nowadays, Iron Maiden probably won't be the same band energy and quality-wise in ten or so years (the difference between now and 30 years ago alone is striking), but I could give less of a damn because I'd still be going to see one of my favorite bands, who still happen to have the balls and endurance to get on stage and do what they love most and do best. That's really all I care about, they can have whatever money they're asking for.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jiangsu on December 13, 2012, 08:18:27 PM
Yawn.  Most of the songs from those albums, they've played to death already over the years anyway, and now they are gonna play them without Jon Anderson?  Yippee.  Just retire now, guys, and stop embarrassing yourselves.
No offense, but while I understand your opinion, I find it disappointing you feel that way and the fact that you aren't alone with that sentiment. As for a fan like myself, who will never get to see Jon Anderson-Yes, I'd still like to see them if I can, doesn't matter if they play Siberian Khatru 5x slower, or if it's a different singer, etc. I think I'd go see 70 year old DT without James (of course I doubt the possibility of that even being an option), because I mean, it's just.... Cool, you know? I can't really describe it. Seeing how Bruce's voice is nowadays, Iron Maiden probably won't be the same band energy and quality-wise in ten or so years (the difference between now and 30 years ago alone is striking), but I could give less of a damn because I'd still be going to see one of my favorite bands, who still happen to have the balls and endurance to get on stage and do what they love most and do best. That's really all I care about, they can have whatever money they're asking for.

Great post, I feel the same and can't wait to go see these guys in Detroit at the end of the tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 13, 2012, 10:20:32 PM
Yawn.  Most of the songs from those albums, they've played to death already over the years anyway, and now they are gonna play them without Jon Anderson?  Yippee.  Just retire now, guys, and stop embarrassing yourselves.
No offense, but while I understand your opinion, I find it disappointing you feel that way and the fact that you aren't alone with that sentiment. As for a fan like myself, who will never get to see Jon Anderson-Yes, I'd still like to see them if I can, doesn't matter if they play Siberian Khatru 5x slower, or if it's a different singer, etc. I think I'd go see 70 year old DT without James (of course I doubt the possibility of that even being an option), because I mean, it's just.... Cool, you know? I can't really describe it. Seeing how Bruce's voice is nowadays, Iron Maiden probably won't be the same band energy and quality-wise in ten or so years (the difference between now and 30 years ago alone is striking), but I could give less of a damn because I'd still be going to see one of my favorite bands, who still happen to have the balls and endurance to get on stage and do what they love most and do best. That's really all I care about, they can have whatever money they're asking for.

See, I can't get on board with that line of thinking.  It is like you are saying, "I want to go just so I can say I saw Yes."  I understand why others might think that way, but I do not.  I'd rather spend my money on bands that still have something to offer me.

Heck, I went and saw Yes last summer, on the double bill with Styx, and it was like watching a band play in slow motion. The energy, the excitement, the feeling, just wasn't there.  When Styx came out, it was like night and day.  Their energy level was 10 times that of Yes, and the crowd fed off that and was really into their set, after looking bored for much of Yes' set.  Maybe it would have been reversed had Styx played first, but I doubt it.  I saw at a friend's house a few months ago the DVD they released about a decade ago, and it was like last year's show all over again: great songs played by musicians who looked bored out of their minds and were there to just put in the time until the show was over and they could go home.  If that is for you and other fans, more power to ya, but it's not for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on December 13, 2012, 10:39:50 PM
You can't really criticize Yes for playing without Jon Anderson and then praise Styx, another band that only has one original member. Styx also plays a bunch of old songs, just like Yes.

That tour with Styx wasn't exactly a good time for Yes. I've heard that they've improved.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 13, 2012, 11:03:11 PM
You can't really criticize Yes for playing without Jon Anderson and then praise Styx, another band that only has one original member.

Where did I do that?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2012, 07:52:52 AM
Yeah, that's not the point at all.  Styx still puts on a very high-energy performance.  Tommy Shaw isn't an original member, but he was part of the classic 70's and 80's lineup and wrote a lot of hits.  They were smart to focus more on his and James' more rocking songs, but the Dennis replacement sounds and plays just like him so they have the DeYoung hits covered as well.

Yes music, by its very nature, isn't all rocking and in your face; it's more prog and is really for a different kind of audience.  They have slowed most of their songs down, and the new singer isn't bad but he's still no Jon Anderson.  The result is a bunch of old men up there playing slowly, barely moving, and not looking or sounding very exciting.

The difference is the energy level, and how good they sound.  Styx has Yes beat pretty handily in both departments these days.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sketchy on December 14, 2012, 08:03:41 AM
Gotta admit, I didn't notice much of a slow down when I saw them. The songs were pretty much timed as I remembered them from the albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 14, 2012, 08:08:37 AM
I saw at a friend's house a few months ago the DVD they released about a decade ago, and it was like last year's show all over again: great songs played by musicians who looked bored out of their minds and were there to just put in the time until the show was over and they could go home.
I hope the DVD you watched wasn't Songs from Tsongas, the guys look 100% into it on that DVD, and boy do they rock!  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2012, 08:29:24 AM
Tsongas was good, but there was another recent one -- maybe Montreux -- where things were noticeably slowed down, and it just sucked the energy right out of everything.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 14, 2012, 09:15:23 AM
It was the one with South Side of the Sky, which I believe was Montreux.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on December 14, 2012, 09:36:00 PM
(https://www.yesworld.com/hero/tour2013.jpg)

Oh wow, that sucks. The day they are close to my area (Hammond, IN) They are only playing CTTE and TYA. Goddammit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2012, 09:45:48 PM
Where did you see that?  All I've seen is that they're playing all three albums on this tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on December 14, 2012, 10:38:39 PM
Woops. My bad. I thought Hammond was one of the shortened setlist venues. I was wrong. Now I want to go.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2012, 10:44:45 PM
I can't even find "shortened setlist venues" or anything more specific than what I've already posted.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThroughHerEyesDude6 on December 15, 2012, 12:49:53 AM
More or less I was responding to what Jaq posted about the concert venues.

It's the casino dates. Those will be shorter. Hang on, let me go check elsewhere...okay, found this on Blabbermouth:

Tour dates:

Mar. 01 - West Wendover, NV - Peppermill Concert Hall *
Mar. 03 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Mar. 05 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
Mar. 06 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre
Mar. 08 - Temecula, CA - Pechanga Theater (at Pechanga Casino)
Mar. 09 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Casino *
Mar. 14 - Omaha, NE - Holland Performing Arts Center
Mar. 16 - Hammond, IN - The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
Mar. 17 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
Mar. 18 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland by AMC
Mar. 20 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Mar. 21 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre
Mar. 22 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Live - Biloxi *
Mar. 24 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena *
Mar. 30 - Melbourne, FL - Maxwell C. King Center for the Perf. Arts
Apr. 02 - Clearwater, FL - Ruck Eckerd Hall
Apr. 05 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand at Foxwoods *
Apr. 06 - Hampton, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Apr. 07 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Apr. 09 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
Apr. 11 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Apr. 12 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre

* - YES will only perform two albums — "The Yes Album" and "Close To The Edge" — for shows at casinos due to the time constrictions of events held there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 15, 2012, 10:02:08 AM
 :facepalm:

Got it.  I didn't see that footnote at the bottom.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dittomist on December 15, 2012, 04:09:22 PM
I am also on the fence about attending this. I love Yes and I've never seen them live before, but it seems lately they have gotten more criticisms than praises for their performances. I don't want the experience to be a depressing one, but on the other hand, how can I possibly miss this show considering how much I love the Going for the One and Close to the Edge albums?
And this is kinda off-topic but did anyone else feel a little cheated when they discovered just how much of the Fly From Here material came from The Buggles 30 years ago? Fly From Here is a wonderful album and I immediately believed the title track was one of their greatest achievements ever, but then I found that my favorite parts (especially "Sad Night at the Airfield") were merely covers.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 15, 2012, 05:03:34 PM
"Fly From Here" - the song - was written during the Drama sessions and was performed during the tour.  There's a version of it on the album The Word is Live.  It's a Yes song, not a Buggles song, although I can see how the line gets a little blurry, as The Buggles were in Yes at the time.

When they were working on what would become the album Fly From Here, they revisited some of the old material from the Drama days.  It made sense, as Geoff was back in the band, and Trevor was producing.  It was essentially the Drama lineup, except that Benoit was singing.  But Benoit actually sounds a lot like Trevor did back in the day, so again, it made sense to revisit the material.

They took the basic song and went nuts with it.  "Fly From Here" was originally a regular five-minute song, and they worked it out into the title suite.  I don't think it's fair or entirely accurate to just call it a 25-minute (or whatever it is) cover of a Buggles song.  The Buggles did put the song on their second album, but why not?  They had written it while they were in Yes, and Yes didn't end up using it.  But the song itself went through a lot of changes and growth, and it was originally a Yes song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dittomist on December 16, 2012, 02:21:36 PM
Ah, I see--I'll have to do some more research. On Youtube there's a 9-minute video of The Buggles song "We Can Fly From Here Parts 1 & 2". Supposedly it was an unreleased track, which is shocking considering how great of a song it is (those are definitely my favorite sections of the epic Yes track).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 16, 2012, 02:54:03 PM
"We Can Fly From Here (Part I)" and "We Can Fly From Here (Part II)" are on The Buggles' second album Adventures in Modern Recording.  The "nine-minute unreleased track" appears to just be the two parts put together (they're not consecutive tracks on the album).  It's even titled "We Can Fly From Here Parts 1&2".

What they played live during the Drama tour was basically "Part I", so it does seem that The Buggles took it and worked with it a bit prior to putting it on their second album.  This may be what gave them the idea to go even further when they pulled it out again 30 years later.

Note that "I am a Camera" -- a reworked version of "Into the Lens" -- also appears on Adventures in Modern Recording.  Again, Trevor and Geoff felt that they could do something else with the song, and since they'd written it in the first place, felt free to do so.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Gadough on December 16, 2012, 04:18:09 PM
Orbert, you should seriously write a biography on Yes. I would read it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 16, 2012, 09:16:37 PM
Thanks for the compliment.  Mostly, I just like blabbing and sharing my knowledge of bands and music history, especially obscure stuff I've managed to accumulate over the years.  (Basically, I like showing off, but it's for a good cause.)

As far as Yes goes, most of what I know already went into the Discography thread, and a lot of the rest has shown up in this thread, so consider that your advance copy.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on January 12, 2013, 07:54:08 AM
So Steve Howe quit Asia a couple days ago. His statement: “Myself and the band wish to thank their fans for the enthusiasm shown during the original members’ reunion. I will continue with Yes, and with my trio and solo guitar work. I wish my friends continued success.”
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 12, 2013, 09:54:52 AM
That was interesting because Asia announced Steve's replacement later the same day, and also that they were already starting work on the next Asia album.  That indicates to me that it was all coordinated.  Steve had made his decision, but they asked him not to say anything until they could find his replacement and put together some good press to offset this obviously heavy blow.

The real question, in terms of Yes, is what this means for Geoff Downes.  Steve and Geoff helped co-found Asia after Drama, when Yes technically didn't exist.  The last three Asia albums have featured the original lineup, but Yes hadn't released anything during that time.  Then last year's Fly From Here from Yes had both Steve and Geoff on it.

But Geoff has been the keyboard player on every Asia album, throughout their various lineup changes, and considers Asia his main gig.  Hopefully he will also continue with Yes.  It sounds like the split was amicable.

Steve has been on most Yes albums, and considers it his main gig, with Asia on the side.  Between Yes, Asia, his solo work, and The Steve Howe Trio, he had to drop one of them.  It's gotta be hard playing in two bands that both enjoying something of a resurgence and you want to keep that going, but they're in their 60's now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Man-Erg on January 12, 2013, 12:14:18 PM
Relayer is their best imo, their only work that I love truly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on January 12, 2013, 12:45:14 PM
That was interesting because Asia announced Steve's replacement later the same day, and also that they were already starting work on the next Asia album.  That indicates to me that it was all coordinated.  Steve had made his decision, but they asked him not to say anything until they could find his replacement and put together some good press to offset this obviously heavy blow.

The real question, in terms of Yes, is what this means for Geoff Downes.  Steve and Geoff helped co-found Asia after Drama, when Yes technically didn't exist.  The last three Asia albums have featured the original lineup, but Yes hadn't released anything during that time.  Then last year's Fly From Here from Yes had both Steve and Geoff on it.

But Geoff has been the keyboard player on every Asia album, throughout their various lineup changes, and considers Asia his main gig.  Hopefully he will also continue with Yes.  It sounds like the split was amicable.

Steve has been on most Yes albums, and considers it his main gig, with Asia on the side.  Between Yes, Asia, his solo work, and The Steve Howe Trio, he had to drop one of them.  It's gotta be hard playing in two bands that both enjoying something of a resurgence and you want to keep that going, but they're in their 60's now.

Yeah, I wonder if this will create scheduling conflicts for Geoff Downes. Yes could be put on hold when two of its members were in Asia, but when it's only Downes, the other guys might want to tour/write/record while he's busy with his other gig. I've heard rumblings that Yes wants to make a new album in the next year or so. Hopefully Jon Davison will be part of the writing process so he's better integrated as a member of the band instead of a "replacement singer".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 12, 2013, 01:02:35 PM
They've already announced a return to the studio this fall.  Jon Davison recently spent some time with Chris and Alan, and is now hanging with Steve.  Presumably they're writing, but probably also getting things tightened up for their upcoming three-album tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 12, 2013, 01:05:39 PM
Whether Geoff is ready or not, I'm not sure that Steve/Alan/Chris would care otherwise - they seem to do whatever they think suits Yes, and if that means moving on when other players aren't ready, they're quick to replace.

That's not a jab at them, but it's just the feeling I get from them from the last few years. They've gone through 2 replacement vocalists and on their 2nd keyboardist, so who is to say they wouldn't replace Geoff is he's busy with Asia or other projects?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 12, 2013, 02:21:55 PM
They waited almost 10 years for Jon Anderson to get his shit together, and he never did.  Oh, he was actually sick for a while, but he's also made a few solo albums, and an album with Rick Wakeman, and toured each of them.  All the while, he kept telling Steve and Chris "I don't have time" or "I'm still not up to it" or anything else he could think of.  He actually goes on record saying that he wants to work with Yes but, you know, it's complicated.  It's not that complicated.  If it's important to you, you make the time for it.

Anyway, they got another singer who, oddly enough, got sick and couldn't tour, but at least he did make an album with them.  Prior to that, Oliver Wakeman was touring on keyboards, but when they got into the studio and it became clear that he couldn't cut it, they offed him.  Steve had been working with Geoff again in Asia, and I'm sure his name came up.

That's what Yes has always done, mercilessly.  They'll drop you for someone better if it suits them.  Right now, Geoff Downes is the best keyboard player for the gig, and Yes will try to wait for him.  They actually like him and know him, and he's a songwriter, something Yes desperately needs.

But you're right; there is a potential conflict.  Yes announced a return to the studio, what, a week ago?  Then the whole thing with Steve quitting Asia, they've already found a replacement, and they're heading back to the studio all came out the same day.  It still seems to me that they worked a bunch of it out.  Yes and Asia are not rival bands.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 12, 2013, 03:26:19 PM
I just had the thought - what if Steve had decided he was leaving Yes instead of Asia, and in turn, Geoff would have followed, leaving Chris and Alan without a guitarist or keyboardist.

And guess who happens to have been working with Jon Anderson as of late? A guitarist (Rabin) and a keyboardist (Wakeman). Too bad this didn't happen because it MIGHT have sparked Chris and Alan to get up with Jon, Trevor and Rick, but oh well.

To be honest, I think Geoff will try to stick it out and work in both bands, especially since he's not as busy as Steve is (or is he? I don't follow Geoff's career closely).

Well, with Steve still in Yes, hopefully this means he'll have more say in the writing process next time around, rather than fumbling around with Buggles leftovers (which, admittedly, were still good once all was said and done, but let's hear something fresh).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on January 12, 2013, 03:30:53 PM
I just had the thought - what if Steve had decided he was leaving Yes instead of Asia, and in turn, Geoff would have followed, leaving Chris and Alan without a guitarist or keyboardist.

And guess who happens to have been working with Jon Anderson as of late? A guitarist (Rabin) and a keyboardist (Wakeman). Too bad this didn't happen because it MIGHT have sparked Chris and Alan to get up with Jon, Trevor and Rick, but oh well.

I'd rather have a Yes without Anderson than one without Howe at this point. I like the Rabin years but I don't want him to return and I doubt he would want to anyway. And Howe's my favorite member of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 12, 2013, 04:05:36 PM
The Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman project has been on and off hold for 20 years, ever since the Union days, and even when it's "on" it's still only "on" to the point where they'll admit that they're trying to work out the schedules.  The three of them have still never gotten together.  I get the sense that it's something they'd all love to do, and that the media likes to ask them about, and they'll never say "never".  But as a realistic possibility, no.  Again, these guys can pretty much do what they want, and if it was important enough, they'd make time to do it.

As much as I love Anderson and Wakeman, and what Yes music is like with them in the picture, I too would rather have Steve in the band today than either of them.  Clearly, neither Anderson nor Wakeman are into it, and I'd rather have someone who wants to do it.  Yes is Steve's baby.  Anderson and Wakeman are both total flakes and do whatever they want.  If they both came back, that's a tougher question, but it's not gonna happen anyway.  Rick has pretty much said that he's done with Yes.  He's comfortable with his home and his regular gig in England and has no interest in getting back together with Yes.  They've asked him, many times.  Now, each of those times, Jon was not in the picture, which I'm sure makes a difference, but again, Jon just won't commit to it.  So it's not gonna happen.  (Meanwhile, they'll both whine about how it's not "really" Yes without them.)

At this point, Yes has a working lineup and have a tour scheduled, with all five on board.  They also announced a return to the studio later this year, and it was announced before Asia made a similar announcement.  Geoff Downes is in both bands, but he's always struck me as a pretty cool, upfront guy, and I don't see him backing out of either commitment.  We should see new Yes and Asia albums both by next year.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 12, 2013, 04:25:41 PM
I agree with you all - I'd rather have Steve than Jon/Rick in Yes at this point, but I was just just having one of my fantastic what-if-ideas.

I think this line-up of Yes is capable of churning out a good album, and I hope their touring 3 classic albums on the road re-invigorates their creative and performing juices!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on January 12, 2013, 06:35:48 PM
I like Asia, but it's kind of ho-hum compared to Yes for me, so Howe quitting doesn't really affect me much.

Anyway, on the Asia side, I am glad they're already starting on the next album, as I thought after the great Silent Nation, Phoenix and Omega that XXX was kind of a step down as far as interesting music goes. Hell, I still think Omega might be the best album they've done next to the debut.

On the Yes side, I'm on two mindsets. First, as much as I liked Benoit David (still recommend Mystery to y'all), I really like Jon Davison and it will be nice to hear him on an actual Yes album instead of a weak, psuedo-Yes album. Yes Glass Hammer, I mean you. As much as I love Glass Hammer, the last three albums have been really, really weak efforts. I'd love them to go back to the pop-prog thing they were doing on the 2009 album as opposed to the Yes-lite act that made the recent albums a snooze-fest... So yeah, looking forward to more Jon Davison. However...

They won't have the Fly From Here Suite's songs to use as a crutch this time around. I felt like that was the best part of the album, but those songs were written in the 80s. The rest of the songs on Fly From Here were incredibly boring except for Into The Storm.

So basically, I'm really looking forward to the next Yes album so long as it's more like Into The Storm and less like Life On A Film Set/The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be.

/long-winded post
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on February 12, 2013, 09:45:51 PM
Just found this amazing acapella version of Leave it.

Thought I'd just...leave it...here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJjff0RncqA
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 14, 2013, 03:34:40 PM
Just found this amazing acapella version of Leave it.

Thought I'd just...leave it...here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJjff0RncqA


That is one of the bonus tracks on the most recent remaster.

It used to be on the 12-inch single with a few other mixes. There was also a Yes cassette that had all of the 12-inch mixes from 90125.

As I recall, it got a fair amount of airplay when it was released.

I think there may have been another version of It Can Happen as well...or I just may be confusing that with Trevor Rabin's version on 90124.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 14, 2013, 03:58:27 PM
That is one of the bonus tracks on the most recent remaster.

It used to be on the 12-inch single with a few other mixes. There was also a Yes cassette that had all of the 12-inch mixes from 90125.

As I recall, it got a fair amount of airplay when it was released.

That's what I thought it was going to be as well, then I clicked the link.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 14, 2013, 04:23:51 PM
That is one of the bonus tracks on the most recent remaster.

It used to be on the 12-inch single with a few other mixes. There was also a Yes cassette that had all of the 12-inch mixes from 90125.

As I recall, it got a fair amount of airplay when it was released.

That's what I thought it was going to be as well, then I clicked the link.



After clicking, I'm still going to go with what I wrote. Better that way.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Implode on February 15, 2013, 01:38:01 AM
The acapella official release you guys are talking about just sounds like they put the vocal stems into one track and took out some pauses. Kind of underwhelming.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2013, 07:34:59 AM
It does sound like that.  But it's also cool to be able to hear all of the harmonies and how much work really went into arranging all the vocals, without the other instruments obscuring a lot of it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 17, 2013, 08:05:50 PM
It does sound like that.  But it's also cool to be able to hear all of the harmonies and how much work really went into arranging all the vocals, without the other instruments obscuring a lot of it.

That's one of the reasons I enjoy it.

Coincidentally, I saw the video for this (the regular version) one morning last week on VH1 Classic.  At the time the video was at the cutting edge of video technology, but now....not so much.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 17, 2013, 09:04:22 PM
Is that the one where they're all standing there, then they get stretched and flipped around and stuff?  Yeah, that was some pretty cool effects at one time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 17, 2013, 10:04:39 PM
Is that the one where they're all standing there, then they get stretched and flipped around and stuff?  Yeah, that was some pretty cool effects at one time.

That's the one.

The passage of time sure has the ability to make some things that seemed cool at the time look less than flattering.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 21, 2013, 09:01:45 AM
This is cool, the Yes show in San Francisco I'm going to in two weeks will be broadcast live on ASX TV....

https://www.axs.tv/blogs/yes-3-5-live-march-5th-live-on-axs-tv/ (https://www.axs.tv/blogs/yes-3-5-live-march-5th-live-on-axs-tv/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 21, 2013, 09:34:36 AM
Awesome!  I was wondering how well they'd be able to pull off the three-album tour.  Now I get to see and hear.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 21, 2013, 09:35:42 AM
I'll be in the balcony, stage right, fifth row.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 21, 2013, 09:58:44 AM
I'll be at home, watching it in HD on my Sony Bravia, listening to it in 5.1 Surround.

Honestly, I'm not sure which is better, but I'm sure you'll have a better time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 21, 2013, 10:14:16 AM
You'll have me in the sound department, just need to recreate that fog of pot smoke present in every Yes show, even if you don't smoke yourself. Kinda adds to the atmosphere.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on February 21, 2013, 10:18:41 AM
I'll be in the balcony, stage right, fifth row.  :biggrin:

I'll be looking for a guy in a chef's hat holding up a DTF sign ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on February 21, 2013, 10:39:24 AM
Noted.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 21, 2013, 07:15:48 PM
I'll be at home, watching it in HD on my Sony Bravia, listening to it in 5.1 Surround.

Honestly, I'm not sure which is better, but I'm sure you'll have a better time.

I guess I need to find out if I think it's worth more checking it out then or later on you tube (assuming that's where it would end up.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 05, 2013, 08:46:22 AM
Show time tonight. Note to others, the telecast was postponed to a later date in the tour which is unannounced as of now. Some pics were posted of the Seattle show, very cool looking set up...


(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63218_578167568861902_808438573_n.jpg)


Can't wait to see CTTE for the sixth time live. :RJ:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 05, 2013, 10:21:37 AM
Well dude, you definitely have better seats than me and will be having a better time, because the AXS TV live broadcast has been cancelled.  The official reason is "personal issues" or "personal reasons" or something.  Speculation on the YesFans boards is that it either has to do with the recent death of Geoff Downes' daughter, or the fact that Yes simply is not feeling like a show this early in the tour should be broadcast live.  The concert is going forward, as Geoff said it would, but embarassing yourself in front of a live audience is bad enough; embarassing yourself in front of millions on a live broadcast is just a bad move.  Even if the early shows aren't cancelled, I'm sure Geoff's downtime cut into the rehearsal time.

Yes has a history of basically rehearsing as they go.  Sure, they've rehearsed the songs, but there's a shitload of material, a new singer, and a keyboard player who hasn't played a lot of this stuff before.  There are individual songs which they've never played live at all.  I understand the excitement and wanting to get the word out, and therefore broadcasting a show early in the tour so as to hopefully generate more sales for later, but a show from later in the tour would almost certainly be a better performance.

That stage does look pretty cool.  Very clean, very modern.  No Roger Dean floating balloon scenery.  From what I've heard of Jon Davison, he's a better singer and a better match for Yes (not necessarily the same thing) than Benoit David.  Yes has been derided for dumping Benoit when he couldn't tour, seemingly similar to what happened with Jon Anderson, although the situations really are different.

Anyway, have a great time, and remember to give us a review!  ♫♫
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 05, 2013, 11:03:50 AM
Will do man, I was just checking out a couple clips from the Seattle show on Sunday, they seem to have it pretty together and tight so far.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2013, 01:50:02 AM
As usual, Yes didn't leave me wanting. The setlist we all know was incredible, the three albums were played chronologically, with a Roundabout encore. Downes, Squire, and White were solid. Howe was his usual god like self. Davison surprised the crap out of me. During the busier songs, he kinda fit in, and played the part, but in the more mellow songs, specifically Turn of the Century, Awaken, and the I Get Up/I Get Down part of CTTE, he fucking nailed it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 06, 2013, 01:58:36 AM
That sounds awesome, I'll look for some videos.  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2013, 02:24:12 AM
Here's the one decent one I got of the I Get Up part....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsEc7MpbtjQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsEc7MpbtjQ)


And some still shots....

Steve busting on everything...
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/IMG_0255_zps15b40b09.jpg)

Chris with the triple neck during Awaken...
(https://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/oskirules/IMG_0271_zpsd27232a7.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2013, 07:31:42 AM
Wow!  Now I'm even more bummed that they cancelled that TV broadcast.  Nice job by Geoff on the keyboards, from what I could hear.  Too bad your view of him was blocked.  I'd've been bummed.  Unless you pay for "obstructed view" seats, you should at least be able to see all five guys on stage.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2013, 07:58:26 AM
Yeah, I wasn't too happy about that either, but that was what was available at the time. The tickets went real fast.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: countoftuscany42 on March 06, 2013, 08:19:48 AM
^im kind of surprised the tickets went so fast, considering they were just in san jose last fall and i was able to get great seats nearly two weeks before the show.  there didn't seem to be as much demand at the time.  maybe its just because of the 3 albums this tour has more appeal.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2013, 10:02:52 AM
I'm pretty sure that was the case. I bought mine two months before hand, and the floor was sold out, and I was delegated to the upper corner of the balcony.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 06, 2013, 04:45:45 PM
Wow. Sorry to hear about Geoff's daughter. I can't even imagine.

Glad you had fun at the show.



My audio fidelity gold CD of Close To The Edge (Along with gold Rush's Counterparts) came in eariler this week so I hope to get an uninterupted listen to that and see how if compares to the 1994 Joe Gastwirt remaster. Kinda have to keep the Rhino remaster around for the bonus tracks unfortunately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 07, 2013, 03:20:28 AM
Wow. Sorry to hear about Geoff's daughter. I can't even imagine.
Same, had no idea about this. My thoughts are with Geoff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 07, 2013, 07:44:19 AM
So Yes issued an official statement, and it's pretty much what I figured.  They continued with the show, because they didn't want to disappoint the fans.  Going forward with the live TV broadcast was another matter, and they didn't think that was a good idea.  They specifically mention Geoff, and how this tragedy so close to the beginning of the tour has greatly affected him and everyone in Yes.  They didn't specifically say it, but obviously Geoff had less rehearsal time than the others, and of the four instrumentalists, he had the most new material to learn.

On the YesFans boards, there's a lot of shit going on (as usual) regarding this.  Some people are actually bitching about how there's no excuse for not being prepared for a show.  It's your job, no excuses, not fair to the fans, blah blah blah.  Even the death of a child is no excuse for doing a crappy job at work.  Holy Shit!  Seriously?  That place used to be so cool.  Now it's full of old, cranky, bitchy people.  Like me, only worse and all the time. :P

Anyway, reviews are mixed but overall to the positive side.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 07, 2013, 03:13:19 PM
It totally makes sense to cancel the broadcast in light of Geoff's tragedy.

I've been to Yesfans several times over the years, and it just gives me a weird vibe. Too many subforums and burned out hippies. :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 07, 2013, 03:31:18 PM
Yeah, the vast number of subforums, and subforums within subforums, is daunting.  Eventually, I just gave up.  I mostly use the "New Posts" and "3 Days Posts" buttons.  Whatever's new, I'll see.  I don't have to go digging into each subforum.  In fact, that the same way I navigate all message boards, and I think I do it that way because of YesFans.  So something good came out of it anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 07, 2013, 03:41:53 PM
I guess since I never signed up for Yesfans, I don't have that New Posts option. But really, having a subforum for each album? That's just outrageous. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 07, 2013, 04:40:28 PM
When I first signed up there, I think it was over 10 years ago, there was a lot more traffic.  We'd discuss and debate every song on every album.  Side projects, live albums, solo albums.  Then there are all the "General" forums.  TV, movies, politics.  It seems ridiculous and unwieldy now, but at the time it made sense because there was probably at least three or four times the traffic there is now.  Now, it's reached the point where pretty much everything has been discussed to death.

Remember when DTF had a separate forum for each album?  Or maybe it was a separate one for each of the last two, then all the others.  Something like that.  If there's a lot of traffic, it makes sense.  But Yes has a lot of albums, so it's kinda dumb that most of the individual album subforums sit idle.  That wasn't always the case, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 07, 2013, 04:49:22 PM
With more traffic it does make more sense. I didn't know DTF did a similar thing, so sorry if I called DTF outrageous. :P Yes does have more albums than DT, though, and Greatest Hits albums or lesser live albums probably never needed their own forums.

And what about EVERY concert getting its own subforum? Seems excessive. Anyway, I'll stop bashing Yesfans now. ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 08, 2013, 07:40:58 AM
Yesfans was the first forum I signed up for. I lasted about a week there before getting bored.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2013, 07:59:54 AM
When was this?  In the mid 2000's it was a pretty awesome place.  Then there was a big falling out between some of the higher profile people and a bunch of really cool people left.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 08, 2013, 08:22:30 AM
Oh, this was only like three years ago, right before I joined DTF. I think it was more that DTF was a better fit for me than Yesfans.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2013, 11:04:23 AM
I can see that.  It's been at least five years since YesFans was any fun.  When Yes had their big dry spell before Fly From Here, there was nothing to talk about except rumors, and tons of baseless speculation (and some not-so-baseless speculation) about whether or not Jon or Rick would be back, and why.  People got bored and left, and those who stayed ended up fighting a lot, because that's what bored people do.  It's really sad, 'cause Tim's a pretty cool guy (he posted here for a while) and his site has pretty much gone to shit, at least compared to how it used to be.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 11, 2013, 10:47:33 PM
Peter Banks
1947-2013


Note from the Edge is reporting that Peter Banks, the original guitarist for Yes, has died.  Not a lot of details yet.

Sure, he was replaced by Steve Howe on the third album and many people never gave him a second thought after that, but the fact remains that we may not have had any Yes music at all had it not been for Peter Banks, and his work on the first two Yes albums is pretty damned good.

R.I.P., Peter.   :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Pols Voice on March 11, 2013, 10:56:23 PM
Oh no...

Rest in peace, Peter.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on March 12, 2013, 01:54:51 AM
Rest in peace Peter :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on March 12, 2013, 03:06:31 AM
Sad news. I'm going to listen to the first two Yes albums tonight in honor of him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 12, 2013, 05:00:11 AM
Rest in peace, Peter Banks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on March 12, 2013, 08:21:26 AM
Ah, man. I just got the debut on vinyl over the holidays. It's absolutely awesome, guitar work included. It's so psychedelic and cool sounding.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 12, 2013, 05:33:07 PM
Peter Banks
1947-2013


Note from the Edge is reporting that Peter Banks, the original guitarist for Yes, has died.  Not a lot of details yet.

Sure, he was replaced by Steve Howe on the third album and many people never gave him a second thought after that, but the fact remains that we may not have had any Yes music at all had it not been for Peter Banks, and his work on the first two Yes albums is pretty damned good.

R.I.P., Peter.   :(

Very sad news. I just spun his Instinct album last week.



I've never spent any time on any Yes messageboards, but a few of the Rush messageboards used to be the same way. Many of the detractors may have moved onto Facebook or somewhere else. Not nearly as much traffic, but it seems to be a bit more civil.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on March 21, 2013, 11:09:19 PM
Awesome show tonight. I didn't have particularly high expectations after what people thought about the last tour with that Benoit fellow, but they really blew me away. Davidson was a great fit. Excellent stage presence and sang wonderfully. Also helped that we had great seats. And strangely, it was one of the loudest shows I've seen in ages. Go figure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on June 11, 2013, 06:17:50 PM
Got this last week:

(https://pi04pg.sn2.livefilestore.com/y2pM8cRTXR9l85nnScYPCIPnOnAAGYv2Sj4aZ3rb344xnmNPRObk5r_DkWWjhKNs71EAsvMSlgo7vTPRYD61u08ZKZ0IeI5s-POlwrlWNGdXMceL5w9Gvgf9GQFFSn5Wf40/Kevin%27s%20HD7_000277.jpg?psid=1)

It was a bit expensive, but it is one of my favorite Yes albums, and I thought it would be nice to add it to the collection. Still missing a couple, and still angry that I didn't pick up Fly From Here when it was released. Oh well. I heard a rumor that they might be releasing Talk on vinyl next. Might have to get that too.

Sounded pretty good, same as the CD really, but it was a good listen. Kind of wish that they would have put some of the other album artwork (or maybe I'm thinking of the Symphonic Live artwork).
I could do without the whole "Limited Edition Colored Vinyl" thing though. Doesn't really mean too much to me.

(https://pi3tbg.sn2.livefilestore.com/y2pdLG-4SctzcngJpN1UvK24UtHb47cf4yfJQfWCcnEPsDfteDVaEtrPkQqZYxB-nX509H-YnRfPmeU_8bd_tGOAIbt0L2g_-6QJbVhr83hpG8iLGIERTf509OBLd6RmCrT/Kevin%27s%20HD7_000282.jpg?psid=1)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on June 11, 2013, 06:40:16 PM
Looks real nice, dude.  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 11, 2013, 09:14:00 PM
Pretty cool! :tup

As you might imagine, I have a pretty nice collection of original Yes vinyl, but nothing recent.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on June 11, 2013, 10:03:48 PM
Looks real nice, dude.  :metal

Thanks!
Pretty cool! :tup

As you might imagine, I have a pretty nice collection of original Yes vinyl, but nothing recent.

Cool! Definitely a good collection to have.

We've got everything up to 90125, and a couple of live ones, but nothing past that besides Magnification. I know Big Generator is On vinyl, but I am not sure what was made past that. ABWH perhaps? I will have to look into it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on June 11, 2013, 10:39:57 PM
Didn't Fly From Here have a vinyl release? I vaguely recall seeing one.

Slowly building my Yes vinyl collection. Picked up Fragile a couple weeks ago for a dollar, not a bad deal. Just need CTTE and I'll have all the "classics".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on June 13, 2013, 08:20:46 AM
ABWH was released on vinyl back in the days and it was one of the last records I bought before I switched over to cd.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Perpetual Change on June 13, 2013, 09:15:29 AM
Kinda considering going to Yestival, but probably won't. I mean, Yes without Anderson or Wakeman, and ELP without E or L. The Genesis tribute don't do much to sweeten the deal really.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 13, 2013, 11:09:30 AM
If you like Yes, you should not write them off just because Anderson and Wakeman are no longer with them.  Jon Anderson is pretty much limited to shorter gigs and mini-tours because of his health.  Jon Davison (the current lead singer) by all reports sounds great, and YouTube videos back that up.  He also is a deeply spiritual person, as is Jon Anderson, and that comes through in his delivery as well.

Rick Wakeman became a parody of himself back in the 90's.  He was clearly bored with playing the same songs every night, and did all kinds of things to amuse himself on stage.  Adding little flourishes pretty much everywhere, regardless of whether or not they actually add anything.  Coming up with weird, thin patches instead of the classic sounds he used to use, just because it was different, and after hundreds of gigs, anything different sounds better (to him) than the same thing over and over.  Once again, check out YouTube of later Yes performances with Wakeman.  Geoff Downes is no slouch, and because he knows he will be heavily critiqued on the Wakeman material, he is reproducing Wakeman's original parts as closely as possible.

Basically, Davison sounds better than Anderson and Downes sounds better than Wakeman these days.  This is the best Yes has sounded in many years.  Don't assume that it will be an inferior show just because certain guys aren't in the lineup; it's still the music that matters.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on June 13, 2013, 11:17:22 AM
I would definitely go to Yestival if I was able to since Yes was fantastic when I saw them in April. Davison was killer and spot on.

And the other bands are good too. I wouldn't be too excited about the Genesis tribute band, but Carl Palmer's band sounds really interesting. He felt that that no keyboardist could play ELP's music as good as Emerson, so he has a guitarist instead to offer a different interpretation of the music. So it's not like Palmer and a couple of clones. And then there's Renaissance with Annie Haslam. Her voice is still fantastic and the rest of the band plays the original material very well. Scale the Summit is kind of out of place in the line-up but I'm sure they'll play a good set.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 13, 2013, 08:41:34 PM
Kinda considering going to Yestival, but probably won't. I mean, Yes without Anderson or Wakeman, and ELP without E or L. The Genesis tribute don't do much to sweeten the deal really.

Sad to say, but E and L are pretty much useless now anyway (live). 
After being spoiled by seeing Palmer (and his young guns) multiple times in a club setting, I'd be pretty underwhelmed catching them here.  Though I'm kinda stoked that more people will get to see how amazing Carl Palmer's band really is. If I wasn't spoiled by the man over the last several years, I'd be all over this for him alone.

The rest wouldn't interest me unless the Genesis tribute ignores the Gabriel years -- that is about as likely to happen as a Rush tribute playing anything after Signals.

I'd be in if the lineup was better though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 23, 2013, 09:10:00 AM
From Steven Wilson's facebook page:

A press release from Panegyric:

XTC and Yes to join the roster of acclaimed King Crimson reissues via the Panegyric label in 2013.

Panegyric, the label responsible for issuing DGM's acclaimed King Crimson 40th Anniversary Edition sets, has announced that it will be issuing new archive CD/DVD-A & CD/Blu-Ray editions by XTC starting with Nonsuch and Yes with Close To The Edge. Both albums will feature additional tracks and new stereo/surround sound mixes by Steven Wilson.


Niiiiice. :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 23, 2013, 10:35:49 AM
CTTE seems like the logical first choice by SW to remix a Yes album. I would LOVE to have him remix Relayer, and I don't even listen to 5.1 audio! I can just imagine "Gates Of Delirium" sounding amazing in 5.1 surround.

Actually, the whole run of Fragile-Going For The One should just be remixed by SW.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 23, 2013, 03:40:38 PM
This sounds delicious!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 21, 2013, 03:51:29 PM
Ummm......   WOW!!!

Havn't looked too into it yet...and I don't have an SACD player.  (didn't that format die???)   But I would dig one up on Ebay if this box set is as good as it sounds...

Anyone else heard about it??

https://yesworld.com/2013/07/yes-high-vibration-japanese-sacd-box-set/

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 21, 2013, 04:03:33 PM
YIKES!!!  I just clicked on the USA pre-order.   Over 563 bucks?   That's got to be a mistake!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: sueño on July 21, 2013, 04:11:45 PM
Are they that good???

Should I start listening to this band, too?????

I swear, I will be in the po' house in no time...    :'( :laugh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on July 21, 2013, 04:12:09 PM
Are they that good???

Should I start listening to this band, too?????

I swear, I will be in the po' house in no time...    :'( :laugh:

Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 21, 2013, 04:21:57 PM
Are they that good???

Should I start listening to this band, too?????

I swear, I will be in the po' house in no time...    :'( :laugh:

I wouldn't buy this box set at that price...but Yes.  You ABSOLUTELY must check out Yes. 

IMO, The Yes Album is the perfect starter.   Once you hear the trifecta of The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge (and that's in chronological order) it is my further opinion that you will be hooked.   

I don't know if they ever recaptured the perfection of those three albums (though Going for the One comes very close) there is a lot of amazing material in the remainder of their albums.    A few duds...but not many.

Rating "the classic period" only, I would rank them...

The untouchables:

The Yes Album
Fragile
Close to the Edge
Going for the One

The really good:

Tales from Topographic Oceans
Relayer
Drama


Meh:

Tormato


After that, it gets *REALLY* spotty.   Some really good albums, some really bad albums....and the ones with Trevor Rabin on guitar (90125, Big Generator and Talk) sound like a completely different band.  (and indeed, it was *intended* to be a completely different band...and Trevor was pretty much strong-armed into calling it Yes after Jon Anderson was called in)   

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: sueño on July 21, 2013, 04:24:26 PM
Man, you guys are so smart (shaking my head).  I don't think I know THAT much about ANYthing!   :lol     :hefdaddy

It's amazing.  Thanks for the reccos!


EDIT:  Good thing all these classic discs are only $4.99 at Amazon.  I can continue living indoors.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on July 21, 2013, 05:34:34 PM
Close To The Edge will change your life. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FourthHorseman on July 26, 2013, 12:26:08 PM
I just recently discovered Yes, and I will say that my mind is blown  :)

I'm listening to Fragile, and I love the mix of rock/prog/funk/classical.

Suggestions on the next album I should check out?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 26, 2013, 12:27:31 PM
The Yes Album and Close To The Edge :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 26, 2013, 12:31:02 PM
The Yes Album and Close To The Edge :)

What he said, then go for Going For The One and Relayer. Once you've digested those four, go for the behemoth of Tales From Topographic Oceans.

Once you're done with those, go to the first two albums (Yes and Time And A Word) and enjoy their beginnings, then go to their last 2 albums in the pre-Rabin era and spin Tormato and Drama. With that, you'll have covered their first ten albums, and for many, the essential Yes albums. If you really want to follow their story from there on, go forward starting with 90125 and continue chronologically...but that's if you get THAT far. Come back to us then :tup

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 26, 2013, 12:39:19 PM
Avoid Tormato like the plague, but pretty much everything else from the 70s is pretty worthy.  Opinions are all over the map on what the best post-70s albums are, but I'll take 90125 and Talk. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: sueño on July 26, 2013, 11:56:09 PM
Close To The Edge will change your life. :)

K, so... I love this first album.  Some kind of everything on it, it's great!

I'm curious.  Why will CTTE "change my life"?  What's amazing about it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 27, 2013, 04:02:56 AM
Everything. It's one of the best albums of all time, but hear for yourself.  ;) Also recommended are The Yes album and Relayer. There's more, obviously, but right now these are the ones you need.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lolzeez on July 27, 2013, 05:30:55 AM
My order was something like this:

Fragile
90125
Relayer
Close To The Edge
Tormato
Drama
The Yes Album
Tales
Going For The One

The only ones I wasn't huge fans of were Tormato and 90125,for obvious reasons.

I still think Changes is an awesome song though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on July 28, 2013, 02:05:10 AM
Close To The Edge will change your life. :)

K, so... I love this first album.  Some kind of everything on it, it's great!

I'm curious.  Why will CTTE "change my life"?  What's amazing about it?
Oops, forgot about this bold statement I made.

I'm not a huge Yes fan, when it comes to classic, authentic, British, prog I'm totally a Genesis guy. That said, if I was to rank everything by Genesis and Yes, Close To The Edge would be the top album, no question. Everything that defines progressive rock is in that album, I think. From the crazy seemingly structureless jamming to the intense epic buildups. We get fantasy lyrics, technical wizardry, side length epics. It's all there. If someone asked me what progressive rock was, I'd give them this album.

I love how the album starts with the most insane passage possible. No lead up, no chance to get comfy, you're immediately hit with a barrage of progressive craziness. But that's what prog is all about, it's not supposed to be comfortable music. It's meant to push boundaries. Then 3 minutes in the first motif appears. One of my favorite Yes melodies, so calming after that breathtaking intro. It's like being brought back to earth. The whole song is just brilliant. Pretty much the foundation of Dream Theater's progressive side too, I wish they would've played it back when they were into doing covers live.

The amazingness is hard for me to put into words. It's just one of those albums that every aspiring progger needs to hear. I don't think there is a more genre defining record than Close To The Edge. And for a genre as eclectic as progressive rock, that's a pretty impressive feat.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 29, 2013, 07:42:51 PM
Going For The One has always been a bottom 10 Yes album for me, but after seeing this I think I respect it a little more.

I'm sure some of you have seen it before, but I had no idea that this stuff was out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5xH6ikJP4
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 29, 2013, 07:49:26 PM
Going For The One has always been a bottom 10 Yes album for me, but after seeing this I think I respect it a little more.

I'm sure some of you have seen it before, but I had no idea that this stuff was out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5xH6ikJP4

I think more than one member of Yes has stated that...even more so than CttE...Awaken is the the song that encompasses what Yes is in a single song.

I agree.   I think that song alone is worth the purchase price of the album...and it is their finest achievement.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: sueño on July 29, 2013, 08:37:01 PM
I've got CttE in my shopping cart.  Maybe I'll buy Awaken as a single.

Can't buy everything... I gots bills to pay!   :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 29, 2013, 09:30:55 PM
Going for the One and Close to the Edge constantly fight it out for my favorite Yes album.  On days when Going for the One comes out ahead, it's on the strength of "Awaken" which is my favorite Yessong, period.  "Close to the Edge" (the song) is second.

"Awaken" is indeed their finest achievement.  Jon Anderson has said so directly, but Steve and Chris have both said things to the same effect.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on July 29, 2013, 10:06:54 PM
Going for the One and Close to the Edge constantly fight it out for my favorite Yes album.
Those are my two favorites as well. I was disappointed that they didn't play GFTO when I saw them in April as it was a casino show with time limitations.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 29, 2013, 11:17:17 PM
Wow, that would suck.  Catching the "three album tour" but on a night they only play two.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on July 29, 2013, 11:49:52 PM
They did advertise it as a two album show, but that was the only date I was able to attend. So at least I knew ahead of time that I wouldn't see it live. Still, I was extremely excited about seeing it when the tour was announced and I hoped that they would at least play Awaken as an encore. Regardless, it was a great show!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on August 02, 2013, 08:34:21 PM
I've been getting into Yes over the past few days, and at the moment Relayer is battling Close to the Edge for my favorite for the Yes albums I've heard so far. Those two are two of the most insanely mind-blowing albums I've ever heard in my life. I get the love for CttE and I'm loving it too, but I think I prefer Relayer. Jon Anderson's voice sounds stronger on that album and I really, really love that chaotic jazz vibe that's on the album.

However, comparing these two albums for me right now is like comparing two of the greatest films of all time. I'm really absolutely astounded at how utterly brilliant these albums are. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy Probably the best prog albums I've ever heard.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on August 02, 2013, 08:43:57 PM
Both those albums are masterpieces. :tup

I really love Moraz's playing on Relayer and I've always wondered what they could have come up with had he made another album with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Laich21DT on August 02, 2013, 10:40:28 PM
Big Yes fan here. Probably my 2nd favorite band behind DT. Saw them once back in '04 when DT was opening for them. Unfortunately, I wasn't really that into them at the time. They finally clicked for me a couple of years later, and they quickly became one of my favorite bands. Still haven't seen them again. I'd love to see Anderson and Wakeman come back into fold, but I'm not holding my breath. I'd be content to see the current Yes line-up as well. Favorite album is Close to the Edge, easily. As others have said, the quintessential prog rock album. Not sure how I'd rank them after that. I consider TYA-GFTO to be all of comparable quality, though I haven't given TFTO enough spins to really give that one a really good assessment.

I love like Relayer, and "The Gates of Delirium" is one of my favorite Yes songs. Everything leading up to the instrumental "battle" part is perfect, probably my favorite Yes moments. I've never been a big fan of the "Soon" portion of the song though. It feels almost tacked on, and I wish I enjoyed it more.

"Sound Chaser" is an interesting song to say the least. There are some parts where I feel like the band is smacking you with a bit too many notes at a time. Moraz's keyboard solo is awesome though. Probably my second fav Yes keyboard solo, next to Wakeman's incomparable solo in Close to the Edge. Howe's guitar solo is definitely a bit of an acquired taste, but I've come to appreciate it. It's unique that this is a true solo, with all of the other instruments resting.

"To Be Over" is a nice song, but isn't one of my favorites. The softer mood of the song definitely fits, coming after two such jarring songs.  So yeah, nice, pretty song, but nothing really stands out making it amazing. Howe's solo is nice, but a little busy for the mood of the song.

I'd also like to mention that I don't think that Tormato is that bad. I think "Future Times/Rejoice" and "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" are pretty solid songs, "Release, Release" is fun, and "Madrigal" is beautiful. "Arriving UFO", "Circus of Heaven", and "Onward" are admittedly pretty crappy though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FourthHorseman on August 03, 2013, 01:24:38 AM
Close To The Edge is simply mind blowing.  :omg:

To me, the lyrics are about an "enlightenment" or "ego death", influenced by the book Siddhartha (like Anderson once confirmed), and perhaps influenced by the use of psychedelics.

"Down at the edge, round by the corner,
Not right away, not right away.
Close to the edge, down by a river,
Not right away, not right away."

You know that you're on the edge of enlightenment, but are cautious of it "not right away"

"Now that it's all over and done,
Now that you find, now that you're whole."

By the end of Part 1, you have gloriously tasted enlightenment, and become one with nature/the universe

"Sudden problems shouldn't take away the startled memory.
All in all, the journey takes you all the way......

......Passing paths that climb halfway into the void.
As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain."

This is one of the most intriguing lyrical passages.  It's talking about how amazing the journey of enlightenment is, but I still cannot figure out the phrase "total mass retain" 

In part three, now that you essentially know everything, are one with nature, and have become enlightened about the world, you explore the big problems in humanity and struggle with them:

"Two million people barely satisfy.
Two hundred women watch one woman cry, too late.
The eyes of honesty can achieve.
How many millions do we deceive each day?"

After the lyrical passage in Part 3, comes the amazing instrumental section and the fantastic keyboard solo, leading up to one of the most marvelous pieces of music, IMO.

"The time between the notes relates the color to the scenes"

YES is famous for lyrics that basically have no meaning, but sound cool. This is one of the most famous ones, but anyone who has used psychedelics and listened to music knows what this means. "Time between the notes" = rhythm, the rhythm of the music makes sense of the color and the extraordinary visuals you see that go along with the music.  This may not actually be what they meant, but is an interesting thought nonetheless.

"Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space,
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race.
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place."

What an amazing few lines.  Pretty self explanatory if you're considering the theme of enlightenment or ego death, but the combination of the musical and rhythmic themes(especially at the end of the passage) that come along with this part make it one of my favorites.

At the end, you hear the main themes of the song "close to the edge..." "I get up, I get down" in a grand finale that makes you feel, well, enlightened!  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 05, 2013, 03:46:13 PM
Both those albums are masterpieces. :tup

I really love Moraz's playing on Relayer and I've always wondered what they could have come up with had he made another album with them.

I share the same disappointment. In my opinion it would have been worth the trade off and not have ever had Awaken .
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on September 10, 2013, 05:41:13 PM
Listened to Fragile for the first time last night. Honestly my first true YES attempt. I loved it.


Orbert... I can't find your discog thread.


Also... recommendations anyone?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 10, 2013, 05:49:05 PM
Going For The One for the classic sound.

If you're slightly more daring....TALK.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Outcrier on September 10, 2013, 05:55:01 PM
Listened to Fragile for the first time last night. Honestly my first true YES attempt. I loved it.


Orbert... I can't find your discog thread.


Also... recommendations anyone?
The general consensus is that:

Close To The Edge and Fragile are easily the best.
Then comes The Yes Album and Relayer.
THEN, Going For The One, Drama and Tales.

Personally, after Fragile, i would listen to Close To The Edge or The Yes Album (the later if you're not prepared for the long songs on CTTE).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 10, 2013, 06:04:08 PM
Close To The Edge next.

I for one love Drama Jay so check that out as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 10, 2013, 06:10:57 PM
I actually put Fragile near the bottom of the "classic albums".   The songs that are there are really good...but it's mixed up with solo pieces, and makes for a very uneven album.

I say (of the classic era)

1. Going For the One
2. Close to the Edge
3. The Yes Album
4. Relayer
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans
6. Fragile

If I had to plug Drama in there, I would probably put it between The Yes Album and Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 10, 2013, 11:05:28 PM
Listened to Fragile for the first time last night. Honestly my first true YES attempt. I loved it.

Orbert... I can't find your discog thread.

Also... recommendations anyone?

Congratulations on taking the dive.  Fragile is an excellent starting point.  From there, I would just continue chronologically, but I'm like that.  You may want to take one step back, to The Yes Album, before proceeding forward to Close to the EdgeClose to the Edge is very intense and quite demanding for the listener, so I think one more "regular" album of theirs before tackling one of the biggies might help.

Yes got really, really out there in the 70's, back when anything was possible.  Chronologically, Tales from Topographic Oceans came next.  A single work in four movements, over 80 minutes total.  Some people can dive right into it, others really are better off working into it more gradually, so it's hard to give hard recommendations.  If you can handle Close to the Edge, then maybe try it, but if CttE gives you trouble, try Going for the One or Drama.

The Discography Thread is here. (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=32530.0) It looks like a bunch of the images have gone away, and I remember I accidentally killed some of the writeups (clicked "Modify" instead of "Quote" to copy the format, then didn't realize what I'd done until I'd posted) but most of it's there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on September 11, 2013, 12:19:41 AM
After reading through your first couple write ups, I think I am going to go back to The Yes Album, and then hit up Close to the Edge.... After that Probably just check out various albums based on what I learn on the adventure that is a band discog thread.


So here's what pushed me to finally check YES out. I was driving to work while listening to KTYD (1 of the only 2 classic rock stations left in the area)... and the DJ gives a little intro to the next song he is putting on (In the 70's some people called this art rock, some prog, but I have always called this great music. Here is Yes....  Roundabout")


And then I hear the intro to Roundabout. My reaction was "Holy shit I know this... this is YES?"

I pulled in to the parking lot and turned it off. Then yesterday Along For The Ride premiered, and a few people compared JMX's playing underneath the Moog solo to Chris Squire. I wanted to know what they were talking about.. So I looked up what album Roundabout was off of and through it on  (oooh spotify) and now I am hooked.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 11, 2013, 08:48:04 AM
That's pretty cool!  Dream Theater used to compare themselves to Yes.  Mike more than the others, I suppose, but I always got it.  It's not the sound, obviously, but more the "attitude".  Singer, guitar, keys, bass, drums, let's see how crazy we can get and still call it rock.  Let's go ahead and take off for an instrumental, not just a five-minute guitar solo but an actual composed instrumental, and come back not to the same thing, but something else which still works.  I love that about Yes, and it's what originally drew me to Dream Theater.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 11, 2013, 09:44:39 AM
I will say that Roundabout was the first Yes song I ever heard....and then I was aware of their 80's output.

But it was hearing "Heart of the Sunrise" from my sisters Classic Yes CD that really hooked me.   When I heard that bass groove, I immediately went "HEY! THAT'S LEARNING TO LIVE!!!"   

After that, I went out and bought Fragile and The Yes Album....I was hooked after that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 11, 2013, 10:48:58 AM
I remember on a snow day, that was a Tuesday (Record release day!)  My cousin and I walked 2 miles to get to a bus stop that took us to the mall a town over and we both bought Drama.  Took the same trip back and 4 hours in total we got to listen to it.

The things I would do back in the day to buy an album.  Now, you go online and a minute later you have it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 11, 2013, 10:55:03 AM
I remember those days.  We had a bus stop right in our neighborhood, but still had to transfer downtown, then take another bus out to the mall, which was pretty much out on the edge of town at the time.  Over an hour total, each way.  So not as bad as you had it, but on the same scale.  But yeah, this is how we bought albums back in the day (those of us who were too cool to have Mom drive us anyway).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 11, 2013, 10:58:17 AM
Yep, the art of finding a way to buy an album is lost.  Now, you know months ahead of time when it is coming out (99% of the time), and it is so easy to get it online and start listening after a few clicks.  Easier, but not as fun. 

We used to have this store called Now Hear This in St. Louis that had a list of upcoming releases for the next few months, and we would go there every few weeks to see if any of our favorites had one of there.  I remember seeing Once in a LiveTime on there and thinking, "Sweet, a new DT album!"  Granted, it was only a live album, but that euphoria of suddenly seeing one of my favorite band's name on that sheet was very, very real.  :coolio :coolio :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 11, 2013, 11:02:13 AM
I used to sit with my boom box just to record the new single of any band I loved and now,  like the new DT, boom!  It's out there.

That's why I try to lay off listening to the new material now because in this day and age you can wear out a new song much faster.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 11, 2013, 11:08:08 AM
Same here!  In fact, there are certain songs from the 80s that I got used to hearing them fade out in the start of another song, because when I recorded them off the radio, the radio station started the next song while the one I was recording was fading out.  I got used to it that way, so it almost sounds weird to not hear a particular song start after hearing the other. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on September 11, 2013, 11:10:57 AM
 :lol   Let me tie in a Yes song then.  Well AWBH but I always looked at them as YES.


Brother Of Mine came out on the radio and it was a 6 minute edit.  So when the album came out I was all messed up! :lol

Even worse was after the album came out there was a 4 minute version of that song on the radio.  The editing was terrible!! :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on September 11, 2013, 11:17:39 AM
I have this little ritual where I hit the record store in Berkeley, a huge one, and buy music blind that has just been released. Usually I'll refer to a review or two on my phone, but sometimes it's just a shot in the dark. They have their metal section seperated into genres, but that's about all the hints I get. For twelve bucks, I get that thrill of discovering something totally new(or finding out I just wasted 12 bucks). It can be a gamble, but the rush of getting home and listening to something totally new that is awesome is incomparable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 11, 2013, 11:18:42 AM
Ah, the old blind purchase.  I miss those. 

And yeah, radio edits can be atrociously bad sometimes, king.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 11, 2013, 11:21:18 AM
I hate radio edits, even though I do understand the necessity for them.  Like many, "Roundabout" was my first exposure to Yes.  I remember how it started with the "Spanish guitar" (that's what it sounded like to me) which also came back at the end.  Then one night listening to my old FM clock radio, I heard a different version.  It was longer, and had some other stuff, and then that Spanish guitar did a little thing in the middle, too!  And I wasn't sure, but it seemed like the solos were longer, too.  We're talking grade school here, so I had no idea how any of this worked, but that's when I learned that there could be a "long version" and a "short version".

To this day, my wife and I will still use the terms "AM version" or "album version" to mean the edited or unedited version of something.  Watching an R-rated movie on regular TV, you get the "AM version".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 11, 2013, 05:01:55 PM
Listened to Fragile for the first time last night. Honestly my first true YES attempt. I loved it.


Orbert... I can't find your discog thread.


Also... recommendations anyone?

Everything but Open Your Eyes always works for me......
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 24, 2013, 02:49:46 PM
It's Official: 5.1 and 2.0 remixes by Steven Wilson in both DVD-A and Blu-ray (https://yesworld.com/2013/08/close-to-the-edge-in-5-1-surround-and-stereo/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cygnus17 on September 26, 2013, 04:53:03 AM
After Fragile, you should listen to the following (in order):

Close to the Edge
Going for the One
The Yes Album
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cygnus17 on September 26, 2013, 04:55:05 AM
:lol   Let me tie in a Yes song then.  Well AWBH but I always looked at them as YES.


Brother Of Mine came out on the radio and it was a 6 minute edit.  So when the album came out I was all messed up! :lol

Even worse was after the album came out there was a 4 minute version of that song on the radio.  The editing was terrible!! :lol

I always looked at ABWH as YES as well..and consider their show one of the best Yesshows I've ever seen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsbru on September 28, 2013, 04:32:15 PM
After reading through your first couple write ups, I think I am going to go back to The Yes Album, and then hit up Close to the Edge.... After that Probably just check out various albums based on what I learn on the adventure that is a band discog thread.


So here's what pushed me to finally check YES out. I was driving to work while listening to KTYD (1 of the only 2 classic rock stations left in the area)... and the DJ gives a little intro to the next song he is putting on (In the 70's some people called this art rock, some prog, but I have always called this great music. Here is Yes....  Roundabout")


And then I hear the intro to Roundabout. My reaction was "Holy shit I know this... this is YES?"

I pulled in to the parking lot and turned it off. Then yesterday Along For The Ride premiered, and a few people compared JMX's playing underneath the Moog solo to Chris Squire. I wanted to know what they were talking about.. So I looked up what album Roundabout was off of and through it on  (oooh spotify) and now I am hooked.

If the AFTR commentary about Myung's bass sounding like Squire is what is intriguing you, I think the Yes Album is the right choice.

Both Starship Trooper and Perpetual Change are in my top 5 Yes songs of all time, and they both have wicked bass lines.

Of course, the bass on the Close to the Edge title track is beyond words.  And Jordan's Moog solo on AFTR is probably most reminiscent of Wakeman's solo on And You And I...

No matter what, you can't go wrong with either of these two albums.  If you already like DT, I predict you will become addicted pretty soon...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsbru on September 28, 2013, 05:11:01 PM
Close To The Edge is simply mind blowing.  :omg:

To me, the lyrics are about an "enlightenment" or "ego death", influenced by the book Siddhartha (like Anderson once confirmed), and perhaps influenced by the use of psychedelics.

"Down at the edge, round by the corner,
Not right away, not right away.
Close to the edge, down by a river,
Not right away, not right away."

You know that you're on the edge of enlightenment, but are cautious of it "not right away"

"Now that it's all over and done,
Now that you find, now that you're whole."

By the end of Part 1, you have gloriously tasted enlightenment, and become one with nature/the universe

"Sudden problems shouldn't take away the startled memory.
All in all, the journey takes you all the way......

......Passing paths that climb halfway into the void.
As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain."

This is one of the most intriguing lyrical passages.  It's talking about how amazing the journey of enlightenment is, but I still cannot figure out the phrase "total mass retain" 

In part three, now that you essentially know everything, are one with nature, and have become enlightened about the world, you explore the big problems in humanity and struggle with them:

"Two million people barely satisfy.
Two hundred women watch one woman cry, too late.
The eyes of honesty can achieve.
How many millions do we deceive each day?"

After the lyrical passage in Part 3, comes the amazing instrumental section and the fantastic keyboard solo, leading up to one of the most marvelous pieces of music, IMO.

"The time between the notes relates the color to the scenes"

YES is famous for lyrics that basically have no meaning, but sound cool. This is one of the most famous ones, but anyone who has used psychedelics and listened to music knows what this means. "Time between the notes" = rhythm, the rhythm of the music makes sense of the color and the extraordinary visuals you see that go along with the music.  This may not actually be what they meant, but is an interesting thought nonetheless.

"Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space,
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race.
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place."

What an amazing few lines.  Pretty self explanatory if you're considering the theme of enlightenment or ego death, but the combination of the musical and rhythmic themes(especially at the end of the passage) that come along with this part make it one of my favorites.

At the end, you hear the main themes of the song "close to the edge..." "I get up, I get down" in a grand finale that makes you feel, well, enlightened!  :hefdaddy

This is a pretty fantastic summary.  CttE is really the pinnacle of prog rock...not just because of the music, which is mindblowing in and of itself...but because it quite possibly has the best lyrics of all time.

Not all of them make sense or are meant to make sense.  I'm not sure if Total Mass Retain means anything at all.  It reminds me of the first law of thermodynamics, but how that relates to the rest of the song, I'm not totally sure.  Anderson has said sometimes he writes them simply because he likes how certain words sound next to each other.  This song's lyrics "cross from side to side" of the void between sheer surreal fantasy and the most grounded of all realities: the enlightenment.  It uses the abstract to draw a clearer picture of the concrete.  It's beyond poetry.

One of my favorite lyrical parts not mentioned above is:
Quote
And assessing points to nowhere, leading ev'ry single one.
A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun,
And take away the plain in which we move,
And choose the course you're running.

This, and pretty much everything from Seasons of Man.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jsbru on September 28, 2013, 05:20:34 PM
And yes, the synesthesia of the lyrics are definitely influenced by psychedelics.  Sound describes vision "the music of the sun," "reaching out to call the color of the sky"; taste describes complex philosophical concepts "taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour"; tactile senses manipulate sounds "held the word within my hand," "smiled a whisper" etc.

The other cool thing is that A Solid Time of Change is written in the second mode of the harmonic minor scale (harmonic locrian?).  Harmonic minor is exotic enough...but then to write a song in its second mode really makes it sound unique.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 28, 2013, 05:08:46 PM
https://yesworld.com/2013/10/yes-the-studio-albums-1969-1987-box-set/

Quote
YES: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC STUDIO ALBUMS

The Progressive Rockers’ Legendary Atlantic Years Revisited With 13-CD Boxed Set Featuring Remastered and Expanded Versions Of The Band’s Studio Albums

Includes The U.S. Debut Of Remastered And Expanded Version Of Big Generator

The Collection Will Be Available On November 11 From Rhino

YES, the most successful and influential progressive rock band in the world,  will celebrate its prolific tenure at Atlantic Records with a new boxed set that contains all 12 of the studio albums they recorded with the label. Each one features the remastered sound and bonus tracks that originally appeared in 2003 and 2004, when Rhino’s reissued the band’s catalog.

The collection spans nearly 20 years of music over the course of 13 CDs and includes the albums that earned Yes an international following and helped the English group sell more than 30 million (and counting) albums. Roger Dean, who illustrated many of Yes’ iconic album covers through the years, created the new artwork for the clamshell box that houses the music, making this set instantly recognizable to any Yes fan. The set also marks the American debut of the expanded and remastered version of Big Generator, which was previously available only in Japan.

COMPLETE ATLANTIC STUDIO ALBUMS 1969-1987 will be released on November 11 for a suggested list price of $74.98. A digital version will also be available.


Read more at https://yesworld.com/2013/10/yes-the-studio-albums-1969-1987-box-set/#rHw12iU1P84Je6OS.99

Nothing NEW per se, except some Roger Dean artwork, but this is a repackaging of the Rhino Remasters, from their debut up to Big Generator.

Anyone who has an incomplete collection or just wants to replace their old albums might be interested in this. Those who have bought their albums a dozen times over will just see this as a cash-grab, especially since there's no new mastering/mixing, or even any new extras.

However, the thing that intrigues me the most is the Rhino Remaster of BG, as I don't believe it ever made it States-side. If it did, I never got it.

However, at the price of about $75, it's a steal considering that is $5.77 per CD (being 13 CDs, 12 albums).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on October 28, 2013, 07:45:21 PM
Which remaster of TFTO had the long intro on TRSOG?     Didn't they remaster it with the long intro...and then RE-REmaster it with the long intro removed again?

I had heard that it was originally removed for time constraints....I personally think it is a FAR better intro than just going directly into the vocals.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 28, 2013, 09:26:26 PM
The version originally released on vinyl is 20:23.  The version with the intro is 22:01.  I don't know how to identify which release is which, but if they list the track times, the 22-minute version is the one you want.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 01, 2013, 07:58:57 PM
I suppose I'll see if I can pick up Big Generator individually at some point to see how it compares with the original.

Somewhat related..... Was there ever an expanded edition of 9012Live released. The original is cool, but I always thought it was too short.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on November 02, 2013, 06:39:42 AM
I've got a question. A while ago, I heard a different live version of And you and I on the radio. The difference was, there was no ''and you and I climb crossing the shapes of the morning'' at the end - instead, the verse that got repeated was the one that goes ''coming quickly to terms with all expression laid...''. There were some more different moments, and I thought it was pretty cool.

It made me wonder, which live album can this live version be found on, why they changed it and was that something that happened more often?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 02, 2013, 06:56:11 AM
I believe that might be the live version from the box set Yes Years from the Big Generator tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 10, 2013, 02:46:57 PM
I believe that might be the live version from the box set Yes Years from the Big Generator tour.

I forgot about that version.

It's been a while since I've had that fourth disc in. I'll have to fix that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on November 28, 2013, 02:21:59 AM
Has anyone heard the new remix of Close To The Edge by Steven Wilson?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 28, 2013, 05:39:34 AM
I believe that might be the live version from the box set Yes Years from the Big Generator tour.

I forgot about that version.

It's been a while since I've had that fourth disc in. I'll have to fix that.

Same for me.  I have no idea why I don't have it on my I-Pod.

Has anyone heard the new remix of Close To The Edge by Steven Wilson?

My cousin has it and he's been gushing over it.  It's on my Christmas list for sure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 28, 2013, 08:19:27 AM
The folks at Yesfans.com are pretty impressed, too.  Definitely on my Christmas list as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Prog Snob on November 28, 2013, 08:42:26 AM
I might have to check that out!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 30, 2013, 04:44:56 PM
I've already got 4 different CD copies of Close To The Edge (and it may not even be a top 5 Yes album for me) but I imagine I'll get this later rather than sooner. I'd like to see how it compares to the Audio Fidelity release that came out over the summer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pain of occupation on December 01, 2013, 12:59:29 PM
speaking of close to the edge, im looking for a short film of some dude that's into said yes classic that lends it to, I don't know, his little sister or her friend that are all about teen pop crap. but surprisingly, the girl likes what she hears, and before he knows it, ALL the young girls in town be spinning the fuck outta CTTE. at which point, the album's no longer underground and cool to him, he doesn't even want his copy back, and he starts a musical journey in search of his next unpopular music of choice.

anyone know what im talkin bout and where I can find it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 01, 2013, 03:36:18 PM
I've seen that vid; I thought it was great.  Someone at Yesfans.com linked to it.  At the end, he puts on "Birds of Fire" by Mahavishnu Orchestra.

I tried to find it later, but couldn't.  I couldn't remember the name of the vid, and searching for "Close to the Edge" didn't exactly narrow things down.  I'm sure it's on YouTube somewhere, but damned if I could find it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on December 01, 2013, 03:48:01 PM
If anyone does find it.  Please post a link.  I've never seen it or heard of it, but it sounds hilarious.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 15, 2014, 05:21:13 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen, Yes are back in the studio, working on a new album!

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t31/1412277_737419406270050_25524544_o.jpg)

Left to right: Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Jon Davison (vocals, acoustic guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Geoff Downes (keyboards)

Confirmed by numerous sources, including their official Facebook page.  Not confirmed yet on their official website, because it's run by a group of mentally-challenged monkeys, but there's no question that this is real.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1040665_737398696272121_1661774265_o.jpg)

Roy Thomas Baker (loud shoes) is producing.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31/1040665_737398699605454_1476824132_o.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31/1412277_737419402936717_877541190_o.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1412277_737419409603383_1479726690_o.jpg)

The current lineup features "new" singer Jon Davison (lead singer from Glass Hammer) who has been working with Yes since February 2012 and fronted the band on their recent "Three Album Tour".  I've seen many videos of this lineup, and he sounds fantastic.  He's easily the best singer they've ever had other than Jon Anderson, and quite honestly, he sounds better and more like 70's Jon Anderson than Jon Anderson does now.  Also, Jon Anderson had a habit of playing acoustic guitar on some songs, which should have added to them, but Anderson isn't very good and no one would stand up to him.  Davison is actually really good.  This is the best possible lineup for Yes right now, and people didn't think they'd actually make an album, but it looks like it's happening.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm a bit psyched up about this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on January 15, 2014, 05:35:58 PM
With Jon Davison in and Benoit David out, I'm somewhat excited about this. I'm not a Glass Hammer fan, but I'm looking forward to hearing what he brings to the band as he was great when I saw them live. I'm not expecting the album to be a masterpiece, but I'm hoping for something better than Fly From Here (which I liked at first, but have no desire to ever listen to). With an additional songwriter in the band, I'm pretty confident they're capable of writing a solid album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on January 15, 2014, 07:16:41 PM
Maybe it's just because it was the first Yes album I heard, and I didn't have any context to fall back on, or maybe it's just my tastes, but I really enjoyed Fly From Here. It wasn't really prog, but it was good, catchy, well-written music.

Not to say people necessarily disliked it because it wasn't prog, I just really liked it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on January 15, 2014, 07:26:49 PM
I think my biggest problem with FFH was that the epic felt a bit disjointed. For example, there's a section, I think it's Bumpy Ride, that just sounded so out of place and corny. Into the Storm was a great song though -- one of their best in a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on January 15, 2014, 07:27:41 PM
I loved Bumpy Ride. :lol  Though I agree it was somewhat out of place.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on January 15, 2014, 09:21:11 PM
It's funny, Davison has been so busy with this that the new Glass Hammer album is actually going to feature him in addition to a bunch of their old lead singers.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 15, 2014, 10:39:49 PM
Fly From Here isn't bad, but the epic is too obviously pieced together from other bits, and the other songs, while good, seem to be playing it very safe.  It's not mediocre just because it's not prog; it's mediocre because it really doesn't do anything outstanding.

Bumpy Ride sounds like they literally said "Okay, now we'll have a section that's instrumental and really nuts, then go back to the main theme" and then they did exactly that.  It's cool, but comes out of nowhere.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on January 16, 2014, 12:52:30 AM
Great, bring on a new Yes album! And I really liked Fly From Here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 16, 2014, 02:33:46 AM
Great, bring on a new Yes album! And I really liked Fly From Here.
This.

And yeah, those sneakers.  :o
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 16, 2014, 08:01:29 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen, Yes are back in the studio, working on a new album!

In case you couldn't tell, I'm a bit psyched up about this.

I'll be excited for you since I'm not really sure I'm excited for myself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jaq on January 16, 2014, 09:55:56 PM
I'm pretty psyched about this too, Orbert. I'll join the club!  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 19, 2014, 06:16:35 PM
Rehearsals are done.  Now, into the studio!

(https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb212/brufy/GD_zps9ad7f612.jpg)

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on January 20, 2014, 01:49:21 AM
Yes!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pain of occupation on January 20, 2014, 02:42:55 PM
speaking of close to the edge, im looking for a short film of some dude that's into said yes classic that lends it to, I don't know, his little sister or her friend that are all about teen pop crap. but surprisingly, the girl likes what she hears, and before he knows it, ALL the young girls in town be spinning the fuck outta CTTE. at which point, the album's no longer underground and cool to him, he doesn't even want his copy back, and he starts a musical journey in search of his next unpopular music of choice.

anyone know what im talkin bout and where I can find it?

If anyone does find it.  Please post a link.  I've never seen it or heard of it, but it sounds hilarious.

look, i can understand ignoring me, but you dont leave a guy like jammindude hanging when theres something hes interested in.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on January 20, 2014, 02:57:34 PM
I don't think anybody knows where it is. Nobody is ignoring you.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on January 20, 2014, 03:04:54 PM
in fairness, I was.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 20, 2014, 03:29:35 PM
Yes!

Correct answer!  You now proceed to the bonus round...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on January 20, 2014, 05:39:28 PM
in fairness, I was.
:lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on January 22, 2014, 10:00:35 AM
I'm cautiously optimistic about this album. I actually haven't heard Davison sing, but people seem to think he is good.

Fly From Here was a solid effort, but it was I feel "safe Yes", like others have said. In that sense, it may be positively unique because of the differences between every Yes album. (I suppose that one could argue that The Ladder is similar) That being said, I hope we don't get Fly From Here pt. 2. I enjoyed Fly From Here, but I don't want to hear it again. So what can Yes do to make something completely new and add to their catalog? I'm not sure that I know. Hopefully, the playing of the Three Album Tour will have sunk in somewhat and give inspiration. So it will certainly be interesting to see what they bring musically.

My biggest concern for the album will be from the sonic aspect. One reason why I enjoyed Fly From Here is because it sounds good. In fact, Yes' last couple albums have been above average sonically, which pleases me greatly. I just hope they can continue the trend.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 22, 2014, 10:23:52 AM
With Roy Thomas Baker producing, most people expect the new album to sound great.  He was, after all, the man behind the 70's Queen albums (which IMO includes several sonic masterpieces) and many other classic and/or prog albums since then.

Your point about this coming on the heels of the Three Album Tour is good.  Many are expecting that this little chance for Yes to revisit what they did and what they were like in their classic period (even if only two or three of them were in the band at the time) will inspire new music with a similar "attitude", for lack of a better word.

And finally, Jon Davison is a songwriter.  He brings a new influence to the table, which hopefully will stimulate new ideas.  Howe and Downes are both good writers, but I think it's possible that when they work together, they get into something of an "Asia mindset" and tend to play it safe.  Asia sometimes makes some good, interesting music, but very little of it is really prog.  Fly From Here was not a bad album, but I think a lot of people were disappointed because it wasn't very prog.  Not that prog = good, but because prog is what they were expecting from Yes, and instead they got something somewhere between Asia, Buggles, and DramaYes.  Anyway, Steve officially left Asia last year to focus on Yes and his solo/trio work, so hopefully he and/or Geoff, in collaboration with New Jon, produce some more adventurous results.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on January 22, 2014, 12:33:41 PM
I think that Steve made a good decision to focus on Yes/other stuff. As an original line-up Asia fan, I thought that their last two albums were rather lackluster and it was probably time to move on.

Yeah, Fly From Here was not really a prog album, especially where Yes is concerned. Even the long title track wasn't as progressive as one might expect. Of course we all know that Yes hasn't always been prog focused, but we expect different things from different lineups and times.

This may be a big generalization, since the only Yes discussion I read is on here, but I think that Yes fans would rather see them try something new and radical (with some exceptions of course) than to do a "Yes-by-the-numbers". We know that the latter will be decent, but the former has potential for greatness.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 22, 2014, 01:26:34 PM
Yeah, I really hope they take some chances this time.  Yes used to be all about pushing the envelope, going beyond the boundaries, but we haven't seen a lot of that lately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 30, 2014, 06:23:23 PM
As long as it sounds inspired, I don't really much care what they end up with although I'm sure others may want it to turn out a certain way.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on February 28, 2014, 03:14:45 PM
SW remix of The Yes Album is up for preorder on burning shed

April 14 is the release date
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 02, 2014, 12:30:05 PM
SW remix of The Yes Album is up for preorder on burning shed

April 14 is the release date

Guess I better start saving now.....
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on March 24, 2014, 02:04:20 PM
So according to their new Facebook post, the new album's called Heaven And Earth. I could barely make out the cover art because it's so tiny, but it appeared to be a planet Earth that looked like it had chunks ripped out in typical Roger Dean fashion, against a black background.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 24, 2014, 02:23:25 PM
Nel, thanks for the info.  If you're talking about the album cover on the new poster for the "Yes US 2014 Summer Tour" on Facebook, there are covers shown for Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Wonderous Stories - The Best of Yes.  It is as you've described, something like a cross between Open Your Eyes (the coloring and logo) and Fragile (the fragmenting planet).

As far as I know, they haven't officially released any cover art yet, but this is the first I've heard of the title.

Go here and click on the poster. It gets bigger. (https://www.yesworld.com/2014/03/yes-u-s-tour-summer-2014-fragile-close-edge-greatest-hits-heaven-earth/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on March 24, 2014, 02:31:06 PM
Yep, I'm an idiot. That's a new Greatist Hits album cover.  :facepalm: I still think it looks cool though.

Also, July 8 release date for new album. Three days before my 25th birthday! Woot!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 24, 2014, 03:04:33 PM
People are already griping about the new tour, saying Fragile is a poor choice.  I somewhat agree.  A lot of Fragile is the individual pieces, and most of the band that made that album aren't in the current lineup.  Geoff Downes is cool, but "Cans and Brahms" is a Wakeman piece; it makes no sense for Geoff to play.  "Five Per Cent for Nothing" is a 32-second Bruford composition, why would Alan White even want to play it?  And how are they going to do "We Have Heaven"?  The band songs are fine; they've been doing most of them for years with every lineup.

But wow, those two classics, the new album in its entirely and "Greatest Hits"?  That sounds like a hell of a show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: PROGdrummer on March 24, 2014, 06:06:12 PM
I've been on such a Yes kick today. Fly From Here is an amazing album.

Im really stoked for this tour. I hope I can see them when they come to Philly!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on March 24, 2014, 06:59:02 PM
People are already griping about the new tour, saying Fragile is a poor choice.  I somewhat agree.  A lot of Fragile is the individual pieces, and most of the band that made that album aren't in the current lineup.  Geoff Downes is cool, but "Cans and Brahms" is a Wakeman piece; it makes no sense for Geoff to play.  "Five Per Cent for Nothing" is a 32-second Bruford composition, why would Alan White even want to play it?  And how are they going to do "We Have Heaven"?  The band songs are fine; they've been doing most of them for years with every lineup.

But wow, those two classics, the new album in its entirely and "Greatest Hits"?  That sounds like a hell of a show.

The press release only says "material off their new studio album"...not the album in its entirety.   Apparently only Fragile and CttE get the full album treatment.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 24, 2014, 07:33:09 PM
Ooh, you're right; I misread that.  Still a hell of a show, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on March 24, 2014, 07:52:14 PM
Wouldn't that be something, though, if the new album sucked and it was wedged into the middle of the show, and you had to sit through that whole thing just to get to the rest of the good stuff?  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 24, 2014, 10:43:04 PM
Nah, that's not gonna happen.  Yes is not capable of making an album that sucks.  There are some albums of theirs which I consider less favored, but there isn't a single album of theirs which I would say sucks, and every one of them has some redeeming value.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on March 25, 2014, 07:11:34 AM
Finally considering myself a minor Yes-fan. Not a big one, far from that, but I've been reading into their discography all day (one of the advantages of being sick), and I'm quite interested.
I've loved Close to the Edge for a long time, but the biggest problem I've had with Yes is that they just don't seem to sound good on CD, on youtube or on spotify. Now that I'm diving into their discography, and now I've finally bought myself a decent collection of second hind vinyl, I can say I love their music. The vinyl albums (most notably Dean's artwork on larger scale) make it much more of a 60's/70's experience, and now everything seems to fit.
Biggest problem I face now is that I cannot grasp the vastness of their career. Here's what I've got:

The Yes Album
Fragile
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Close to the Edge
Yessongs
Relayer
Going for the One
Symphonic live (DVD)

What to get next?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 25, 2014, 07:19:34 AM
Drama.  It's the only album which I would consider essential that I don't see on your list.  A slightly different direction for them, due to the presence of Trevor Horn on vocals and Geoff Downes on keyboards, but an excellent album, highly regarded by most Yesfans.  If you like that, consider their most recent album (so far), Fly From Here.  It has a very similar sound, but updated.

After that, consider either stopping, or moving into more recent stuff.  If you're only a casual Yesfan after all this, it will probably not get much deeper for you.  But if you really want more, maybe The Ladder, or the studio tracks from the Keys to Ascension series.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on March 25, 2014, 08:46:44 AM
Drama.  It's the only album which I would consider essential that I don't see on your list.  A slightly different direction for them, due to the presence of Trevor Horn on vocals and Geoff Downes on keyboards, but an excellent album, highly regarded by most Yesfans.  If you like that, consider their most recent album (so far), Fly From Here.  It has a very similar sound, but updated.

After that, consider either stopping, or moving into more recent stuff.  If you're only a casual Yesfan after all this, it will probably not get much deeper for you.  But if you really want more, maybe The Ladder, or the studio tracks from the Keys to Ascension series.

Cool, I'll look for that one. In the meantime I found their first two albums for a nice price (I actually went out to a local record store to check for Yes lp's), so I bought them too.
I've thought about getting Drama before, but the different singer put me off. I'll check it out. After that it's mostly getting to know the material.

What's the story behind Lennon and McCartney being credited on the debut album then?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 25, 2014, 09:00:32 AM
Don't sleep on the Rabin years.  Even though it is very pop rock-ish, 90125 is excellent.  And while Talk is still not as proggy as the 70s material, it sure does rock like crazy at times.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 25, 2014, 09:17:54 AM
Drama.  It's the only album which I would consider essential that I don't see on your list.  A slightly different direction for them, due to the presence of Trevor Horn on vocals and Geoff Downes on keyboards, but an excellent album, highly regarded by most Yesfans.  If you like that, consider their most recent album (so far), Fly From Here.  It has a very similar sound, but updated.

After that, consider either stopping, or moving into more recent stuff.  If you're only a casual Yesfan after all this, it will probably not get much deeper for you.  But if you really want more, maybe The Ladder, or the studio tracks from the Keys to Ascension series.

Cool, I'll look for that one. In the meantime I found their first two albums for a nice price (I actually went out to a local record store to check for Yes lp's), so I bought them too.
I've thought about getting Drama before, but the different singer put me off. I'll check it out. After that it's mostly getting to know the material.

What's the story behind Lennon and McCartney being credited on the debut album then?

Since you already have albums 3-8, and you're thinking of getting Drama anyway, you might as well get Tormato. It's the same line-up as GFTO and it's got some good songs on it, but it's not as great as the albums on either side of it.

As for the Lennon/McCartney credit, I believe it's for the cover of The Beatles' "Every Little Thing" they did on that album. They did like 5 or 6 covers back in the day of the first line-up/first two albums, and even later with "America". "Something's Coming" is one of my favorites, next to "America" of course.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on March 25, 2014, 10:13:45 AM
Finally considering myself a minor Yes-fan. Not a big one, far from that, but I've been reading into their discography all day (one of the advantages of being sick), and I'm quite interested.
I've loved Close to the Edge for a long time, but the biggest problem I've had with Yes is that they just don't seem to sound good on CD, on youtube or on spotify. Now that I'm diving into their discography, and now I've finally bought myself a decent collection of second hind vinyl, I can say I love their music. The vinyl albums (most notably Dean's artwork on larger scale) make it much more of a 60's/70's experience, and now everything seems to fit.
Biggest problem I face now is that I cannot grasp the vastness of their career. Here's what I've got:

The Yes Album
Fragile
Tales from Topographic Oceans
Close to the Edge
Yessongs
Relayer
Going for the One
Symphonic live (DVD)

What to get next?

Since you have Symphonic Live, why not get Magnification? Though not really considered a "classic", there are some good songs on there that aren't on Symphonic Live. It is going to be a bit different than the studio albums you've listened to, but on the plus side, it has good production and IMO the orchestra is utilized quite well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on March 25, 2014, 11:16:46 AM
Haha, soooo

Magnification
Tomato
90215
Talk
Drama

That makes a total of 14 studio albums that you guys think are essential, haha. Nice, I'll see what I can find.
 :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 25, 2014, 11:24:22 AM
Tormato is anything but essential.  In fact, it's mostly dog crap.  Imagine 70s Yes making an album that sounds really ugly, with a major drop-off in songwriting, and you've got Tormato.  I love Yes, but, man, does that record blow.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 25, 2014, 11:27:47 AM
Haha, soooo

Magnification
Tomato
90215
Talk
Drama

That makes a total of 14 studio albums that you guys think are essential, haha. Nice, I'll see what I can find.
 :smiley:

Also, if you like the idea of Jon Anderson being back with Bruford, Wakeman and Howe (along with Tony Levin), then definitely check out ABWH (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe). They only had one studio album and one live album, released between Yes' Big Generator and Union albums. It's an 80's twist on the classic Yes sound.

IMO, the last two albums you should get are probably Big Generator (unless you end up loving 90125 and Talk) and Open Your Eyes (ironically abbreviated OYE [like oi], the sound I make while thinking about the album). I would even say Yes's last three albums (from The Ladder to FFH) are all better than that mediocre-sounding album.

Tormato is anything but essential.  In fact, it's mostly dog crap.  Imagine 70s Yes making an album that sounds really ugly, with a major drop-off in songwriting, and you've got Tormato.  I love Yes, but, man, does that record blow.

Do you prefer Tormato over BG or OYE? I mean, sure, after the string of TYA-GFTO, it's hard to top any of those albums, and so in comparison to those behemoths, Tormato is a bit lacking, but there's some good ideas on there. It's more or less like a Yes-sketchbook, a lot of ideas but nothing was ever truly fleshed out the way it should have been. It had potential to be so much more, but it's still the same Yes that produced GFTO, so there's still some good stuff on there.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 25, 2014, 11:32:31 AM
Hell no.

Big Generator, I like a lot, but I usually do not recommend it since most are usually looking for prog Yes, so I tend to say that starting off with 90125 and Talk are better as far as the Rabin years go.  But if someone likes those two, then I'll recommend getting Big Generator (which has probably five songs I would call really good or great). 

Open Your Eyes is a bit strange at times, but is still better than Tormato. 

The fact that it is the same lineup that produced GFTO (which isn't that great either, but nonetheless is still far better than Tormato) is irrelevant. 

The only good thing about Tormato is them producing Onward, which isn't even that good on that record, but kicked ass on the live version on the Keys live CD in the 90s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on March 25, 2014, 01:24:55 PM
Tormato is anything but essential.  In fact, it's mostly dog crap.  Imagine 70s Yes making an album that sounds really ugly, with a major drop-off in songwriting, and you've got Tormato.  I love Yes, but, man, does that record blow.

I thought most people at least acknowledge that OtSWoF salvages the album somewhat.   At least makes it worth the purchase price.   And most other people have found another 2-3 tracks that they like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 25, 2014, 02:07:11 PM
I like the studio version of "Onward" better than the live version.  I'm not sure what's supposed to be so special about the live version.  The horn patch, and playing, on the studio version are both perfect.  I've never heard a synth sound more like a French horn or any other emulated instrument.  "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" rocks and is a great album closer.  "Don't Kill the Whale" is Greenpeace set to music, but come on, that Polymoog solo with the whalesong patch is sweet.  "Madrigal" is mellow, but awesome.  "Release, Release" rocks out.  That's over half the album in the plus column, as far as I'm concerned.

And much has been said about the sound quality of the album, but that's a completely separate issue from the music quality.  Turn down the treble, or activate your Dolby decoding if you have it.  Problem solved.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 01, 2014, 07:02:55 PM
I like the studio version of "Onward" better than the live version.  I'm not sure what's supposed to be so special about the live version.  The horn patch, and playing, on the studio version are both perfect.  I've never heard a synth sound more like a French horn or any other emulated instrument.  "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" rocks and is a great album closer.  "Don't Kill the Whale" is Greenpeace set to music, but come on, that Polymoog solo with the whalesong patch is sweet.  "Madrigal" is mellow, but awesome.  "Release, Release" rocks out.  That's over half the album in the plus column, as far as I'm concerned.

And much has been said about the sound quality of the album, but that's a completely separate issue from the music quality.  Turn down the treble, or activate your Dolby decoding if you have it.  Problem solved.

I think that's at least part of my problem with it -- the way it sounds.

Never thought about this until now, but if I were to combine the best of Going For The One and Tormato, it would be one damn fine album -- certainly comparable to what came before and after it. (I think I might have given myself an pretty good idea.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on April 02, 2014, 08:09:40 PM
So from the sound of things, the new album will probably more resemble Fragile and Going for the One; it has eight songs in total, three of which will range from about nine-to-ten minutes long in length. I can dig that. :metal :tup

https://www.billboard.com/articles/6032603/chris-squire-of-yes-talks-heaven-and-earth-album-new-singer-rock-hall
https://progreport.com/jon-davison-yes-interview/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on May 13, 2014, 08:39:10 PM
(https://yesworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/YES-heaven-940.jpg)

Quote
YES – New album “Heaven & Earth” artwork & track listing revealed

Tracklisting:

Believe Again
The Game
Step Beyond
To Ascend
In A World Of Our Own
Light Of The Ages
It Was All We Knew
Subway Walls

Among the world’s most influential, ground-breaking, and respected progressive rock bands, Grammy Award winning, YES, is proud to announce its new album, ‘Heaven and Earth.’ Having sold nearly 40 million albums in a career that has so far spanned more than four decades, ‘Heaven and Earth’ sees YES continuing with its tradition of symphonic progressive rock that remains timelessly fresh and innovative.

‘Heaven and Earth’ contains eight new tracks, each of which boasts the unique musicianship and craftsmanship that have come to be known as ‘the YES sound.’ YES’ distinctive layered music, swirling arrangements, brilliant vocals and harmonies are all in abundance. ‘Heaven and Earth’ is an album sure to please both long-time and new YES fans.

For ‘Heaven and Earth,’ YES teams up with legendary Grammy Award winner, Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars, Guns N’ Roses, Foreigner, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice Cooper, etc.), who handles production and mixing.

Also onboard is long-time YES artist, the world-renowned Roger Dean, who again brings his masterful artistic creativity to the album’s cover art and packaging.

Since its founding in 1968, YES has created much of rock history’s most important music, including iconic pieces like ‘Roundabout,’ ‘Close to the Edge,’ ‘I’ve Seen All Good People,’ ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart,’ ‘Starship Trooper,’ and countless others. YES’s albums, including ‘Fragile,’ ‘Close to the Edge,’ ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans,’ and ‘90125,’ have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA. YES continues to inspire millions of musicians, fans, and music lovers around the world.

Personnel

STEVE HOWE – Electric, Acoustic, & Steel Guitars. Backing Vocals
CHRIS SQUIRE – Bass Guitar. Backing Vocals
ALAN WHITE – Drums. Percussion
GEOFF DOWNES – Keyboards. Computer Programming
JON DAVISON – Lead & Backing Vocals. Acoustic Guitar on tracks 1, 4 & 6

Produced and Mixed by Roy Thomas Baker
https://yesworld.com/2014/05/yes-heaven-earth/ 

The Fragile vibe continues. I dig! :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on May 13, 2014, 08:39:36 PM
Artwork looks awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 13, 2014, 09:33:09 PM
Sweet!  New music from my favorite band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 14, 2014, 12:22:40 AM
Yes! Can't wait.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 14, 2014, 02:20:09 AM
What a great way to start your day.  :heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 14, 2014, 07:34:25 AM
Word.  Can't wait to hear this!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 14, 2014, 12:36:03 PM
I wish I could pretend to be excited about this, but I just can't.  Odds are, it will be similar to Fly from Here, in that it will be somewhat enjoyable, while having almost nothing that makes me think, "Dang, this is great," and all the while I'll be thinking about how weird it sounds to have someone besides Jon Anderson singing lead vocals on a Yes album again.  I hope I am wrong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 14, 2014, 12:41:39 PM
Oh don't get me wrong; I don't expect this to be like their 70's stuff or anything.  But Jon Davison has proven himself to be a great singer, and a great lead man for Yes, and the rest of the band are still top-shelf musicians.  It's gonna be good stuff.  You can't put that much musical talent together and not get some good stuff.  It won't be another Close to the Edge, but I'm still looking forward to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 14, 2014, 12:59:00 PM
This can't be worse than the new Asia album, which I've listened to a few songs of, and while it's not BAD, it's still very same-y as their last three albums, just without Howe.

Add this album to the tiny list of 3 albums this year that I've had any interest in: the aforementioned Asia, Anathema, and IQ. It's a slow year for music for me. I guess I needed the break SOME time.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on May 14, 2014, 07:15:40 PM
To be fair to Asia, I quite liked Phoenix and Omega. Never got all the way through XXX though. And Gravitas is just kind of gathering dust on my shelf until I finish XXX.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 15, 2014, 10:27:14 AM
Oh don't get me wrong; I don't expect this to be like their 70's stuff or anything.  But Jon Davison has proven himself to be a great singer, and a great lead man for Yes, and the rest of the band are still top-shelf musicians.  It's gonna be good stuff.  You can't put that much musical talent together and not get some good stuff.  It won't be another Close to the Edge, but I'm still looking forward to it.

Good points.  Honestly, given that I am not expecting a great album from start to finish from them at this point, if they give me a couple or three good songs that I can add to my Yes playlist, I'll be happy.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 15, 2014, 10:55:13 AM
I liked Fly From Here a lot, but that was partially based on older compositions by Downes and Horn - plus I don't know anything about Jon Davison and his compositional skills. I don't know what to expect.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 15, 2014, 10:59:54 AM
But that's good.  You'll get some stuff you didn't expect!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 15, 2014, 11:01:29 AM
You're right :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 15, 2014, 11:29:58 AM
I've been re-listening to Fly From Here, I guess as some kind of prep for the new album, and it occurred to me that with Steve Howe and Geoff Downes in both Yes and Asia (at the time), there would obviously be some similarity and overlap.  Fly From Here wasn't very prog by Yes standards, but if Asia had made it, it would've been the most prog thing they'd ever done.

I'm not simply saying "prog = good, 4/4 = bad" but the expectations of the two bands, and their respective audiences, are different.  With Yes, I expect a certain degree of "outside the box".  It doesn't have to be all 20-minute epics and screaming Moog solos, but if it's all just "regular" songs, even really good songs, then that's still a disappointment.  On the other hand, if Asia has an eight- or 10-minute song with a couple of changes it in, that's more than I'd expect from them.

This is all hypothetical, by the way.  Fly From Here is not just regular songs, and I don't think they're all really good.  And Asia has actually gotten a bit more adventurous from time to time.

I don't remember what my point was anymore.  :P  I think it was that when Steve and Geoff get together, they fall into a power-pop (Asia) mode and not progressive (Yes) mode, or actually end up somewhere in between, when I wish they polarize things more.  I'd be okay with Asia keeping things straight and narrow of it meant that Yes got more crazy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on May 24, 2014, 03:11:42 AM
On a side note, woke up way too early this morning, put Relayer on my turntable, and fell in love again with this band. Man, that ending of The Gates..., I love how it gets bigger and bigger and just implodes and ends with such a quiet piece.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 24, 2014, 12:41:46 PM
To be fair to Asia, I quite liked Phoenix and Omega. Never got all the way through XXX though. And Gravitas is just kind of gathering dust on my shelf until I finish XXX.  :lol

I'd be more than happy to take XXX and/or Gravitas off your hands.  A swap perhaps?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 01, 2014, 05:02:41 AM
A radio rip of Believe Again on Soundcloud!

https://soundcloud.com/thecheezmusic/01-believe-again-radio-rip
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on June 01, 2014, 09:05:58 AM
A radio rip of Believe Again on Soundcloud!

https://soundcloud.com/thecheezmusic/01-believe-again-radio-rip

I dig it! Very beautiful. The chorus has a bit of an Owl City vibe to it, which I actually really like.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on June 01, 2014, 10:06:50 AM
Listened to it a couple of times. I like it and think it will sound great in CD quality, which is always a big plus. Maybe the chorus could have a bit more impact or go someplace a bit more, but I still enjoy it.

Its not really that proggy, but it does sound beautiful. I'm kind of surprised that this is the opening song though. It doesn't feel like an opener at all to me. Maybe like a track 2 or a closer or something. Interesting decision. I wonder how it will fit with the other songs on the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on June 01, 2014, 11:59:34 AM
I REALLY like this.    It has a similar pop feel to "Wonderous Stories"...but fleshed out with a proggy instrumental section.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on June 01, 2014, 04:10:01 PM
I like how Jon Davison sort of brings back the "hippie" vibe that was missing from Fly From Here, but otherwise I thought the song was pretty bland and plodding.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 27, 2014, 12:22:39 PM
New promo photograph.  I love how the old-timers are all gray and cranky looking, except Alan who is always smiling, and Jon just looks happy and somewhat humbled to be in a band with these freakin' legends of prog.

(https://goldengodawards.teamrock.com/images/696d616765-53a95ee974b818.85678012/original.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on July 05, 2014, 12:59:07 PM
Reviews:

https://thequietus.com/articles/15654-yes-heaven-and-earth-review
https://popdose.com/cd-review-yes-heaven-and-earth/
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/62981/Yes-Heaven-and-Earth/
https://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/06/25/yes-heaven-and-earth-2014/

Not glowing, that's for sure.

I believe that Frontiers has released a couple of samples on YouTube. They are all very friendly to the ear, but honestly, not that inspiring.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on July 05, 2014, 08:54:07 PM
The full album is out there....

Only listened to it once and found it extremely bland and lifeless. Alan White was hardly noticeable, the bass lacked the punch Squire's known for, and there were hardly any memorable moments from Howe. However, I will say that I did enjoy Davison's voice and there were some decent keyboard parts from Downes, but that still couldn't save the album for me.

And I don't dislike it because it's a poppy album and not very "prog". I like a lot of their 80's stuff but Heaven & Earth lacks decent songs IMO. I really wanted to like this but it ended up being a huge step down from Fly From Here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Jaq on July 05, 2014, 09:03:45 PM
It's very, very, very laid back, yes. About the only thing really memorable to me was the vocal melodies, which were pretty solid, but if you're looking for something with, well, fire, you're not getting it here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Milzinga on July 05, 2014, 11:12:14 PM
Was anyone at the show in NY tonight? I was hoping to see the full set, other than CTTE and Fragile I don't know what they plan on playing, hopefully someone posts the set soon!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: adace on July 05, 2014, 11:39:03 PM
The full album is out there....

Only listened to it once and found it extremely bland and lifeless. Alan White was hardly noticeable, the bass lacked the punch Squire's known for, and there were hardly any memorable moments from Howe. However, I will say that I did enjoy Davison's voice and there were some decent keyboard parts from Downes, but that still couldn't save the album for me.

And I don't dislike it because it's a poppy album and not very "prog". I like a lot of their 80's stuff but Heaven & Earth lacks decent songs IMO. I really wanted to like this but it ended up being a huge step down from Fly From Here.
Completely agree with this. What used to be an innovative prog rock band is now an elevator music band. No energy or passion on this album. I'd say it's time for them to call it quits.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 06, 2014, 12:09:29 AM
In a mini-review I posted in Randy George's wife's Facebook status update about the new album (Yeah, I really did), I said that this album is Yes-Lite, even more so than their 90's work. This is very...well, airy, sugary, light and fluffy Yes. There's not a lot of ROCK in this PROG, if you can call it that at this point.

Granted, I *love* Yes, from their debut all the way up to the Keys stuff. I think every album is at LEAST two-thirds good - even the Rabin ones! Heck, I even enjoy Union more than this! At least that had some bite and push to it. This new one is just...too soft for me. You'd think after touring on their classic albums that they would be inspired by themselves to create an album in the vein of old, hard-rocking Yes.

Okay, I get that they're a different band now than who they were back then, but this just feels like an awkward direction for them. They were doing so well from The Ladder onward, but this album feels...like a step (or two...or three) backwards. It may sit at the bottom of my list with Open Your Eyes. I'll have to back and listen to OYE and see if I like it more than H&E. That'll be the true litmus test.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on July 06, 2014, 12:30:54 AM
Looking at the track times, liking Fly From Here, liking Jon Davison's singing from Glass Hammer... this is not what I wanted to hear from reviews at all.  :sad:

From what everyone's saying, this album seems like it's going to be Yes' imitation of Glass Hammer's impression of Yes. Hoo boy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 06, 2014, 05:27:58 AM
I'm really digging it at the moment, honestly. It's certainly the lightest and softest Yes album to date, but then again, the guys are over 65 as far as I know, so I'm not surprised. What gets me going is that classic Yes beauty in the melodies, some of the tunes are truly gorgeous and the overall vibe is extremely uplifting at positive. Believe again and Subway walls do a great job with opening and closing the album in a memorable way, and the latter is quite prog. It was all we knew is pretty catchy, and In a world of our own has to be the closest Yes has ever come to power pop, it reminds me of Jellyfish or something Flying colors could come up with.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 07, 2014, 06:08:59 AM
Looking at the scores on ProgArchives, it's not at all surprising to see what their new album stands at at the moment:
https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=105

Their new album is the 2nd lowest rated album so far, even if it only has about 60 ratings. Once it reaches about 700 or so (which seems to be the average for their albums since Big Generator), I'm sure a more fan-wide average rating will stabilize, but I don't see it getting much higher.

Heck, the Rabin albums are all higher than H&E, as well as Union. It only beats Open Your Eyes, which I did go back and listen to the other night. While it's not as proggy as the Keys stuff, or even parts of Talk, it still ROCKS. From the first track on, you still get the sense that there's that Yes-rocking-sound in there, and that it has a direction and push. Heaven & Earth still feels stagnant to me, but it's slowly growing, I think. I do agree with Mladen, the opening and closing tracks are pretty good, as are a couple in the middle of the album, but half an album is still only half an album.

I still wonder what that long track is that Jon and Geoff worked on sounds like. I really hope they put that out ASAP. Perhaps they shunted all their mediocre material out first only to "revitalize" the Yes name with a stronger, 2nd album with Jon Davison?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 13, 2014, 12:35:33 PM
https://www.dprp.net/reviews/201439.php

If anyone's interested, the DPRP have posted their RTR for the new album. It's surprisingly unsurprising.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Grizz on July 18, 2014, 11:02:44 PM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.
Now if only I didn't miss it played live 8 miles from my house last week in addition to Dave Matthews Band up in Hartford.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on July 18, 2014, 11:22:50 PM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.

The only appropriate response.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lolzeez on July 20, 2014, 01:44:14 AM
Holy crap the new album blows. I don't care what you think of the album overall but that Super Nintendo keyboard sound just sucks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on July 20, 2014, 08:58:47 AM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.
Now if only I didn't miss it played live 8 miles from my house last week in addition to Dave Matthews Band up in Hartford.

Check out Relayer asap; it's my personal favorite of the lot. :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on July 20, 2014, 11:56:19 AM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.
Now if only I didn't miss it played live 8 miles from my house last week in addition to Dave Matthews Band up in Hartford.

Check out Relayer asap; it's my personal favorite of the lot. :metal

@Mister Gold: You might as well check out every album of theirs from The Yes Album through to Relayer. One of the most perfect string of albums in music imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on July 20, 2014, 12:06:06 PM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.
Now if only I didn't miss it played live 8 miles from my house last week in addition to Dave Matthews Band up in Hartford.

Check out Relayer asap; it's my personal favorite of the lot. :metal

@Mister Gold: You might as well check out every album of theirs from The Yes Album through to Relayer. One of the most perfect string of albums in music imo.

Going for the One is rather excellent as well! I'm just partial to Relayer myself. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 20, 2014, 12:23:37 PM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.
Now if only I didn't miss it played live 8 miles from my house last week in addition to Dave Matthews Band up in Hartford.

Check out Relayer asap; it's my personal favorite of the lot. :metal

@Mister Gold: You might as well check out every album of theirs from The Yes Album through to Relayer. One of the most perfect string of albums in music imo.

Going for the One is rather excellent as well! I'm just partial to Relayer myself. :tup

I'll also have to put in my two cents for the run of The Yes Album to Going For The One. The first two albums are good, but not GREAT, per se, and I would only suggest them if you enjoy early Yes and want to complete the "Bruford-Years". And I would only suggest Tormato and Drama if you want to complete the pre-breakup albums before Yes disbanded for a couple years. For me, the latter is better, but there's a few good songs on Tormato, and it still has the same line-up that made GFTO and TFTO, as well as the future Keys material.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on July 20, 2014, 12:46:21 PM
Drama is awesome. It's worth hearing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 20, 2014, 12:59:46 PM
Drama is awesome. It's worth hearing.

Indeed it is, and it's also one of the shortest Yes albums, which is a shame because there's some great playing on that album, especially from the rhythm section. Chris and Alan really knock it out of the park on that album.

It is also the best Anderson-less Yes album to date, with Fly From Here (or Drama-2) in 2nd place.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 24, 2014, 11:00:17 PM
Well, I finally picked up Heaven & Earth.  I actually had trouble finding it.  The only brick and mortar stores around here anymore are Best Buy, and the first two were sold out.  The one farthest from my house had one copy left.  I suspect the first two weren't sold out because it's so massively popular; more like they each had one and someone bought it.

Anyway, I agree with what's been said so far.  It has no balls to it.  Moments of almost-rock, but not quite.  Sure, it sounds nice, New Jon's voice is great, similar to Old Jon (probably more like Starcastle's Terry Luttrell though), we get occassional cool licks by Steve, the keyboards are nice, but man, that's about it.  Yes has no filler songs IMO, but there were sometimes mellower songs between the real barnburners to let you catch your breath.  These weren't bad songs by any means, just more relaxed.  Well, this is like a whole album of those kind of songs.  Nothing particularly wrong with them, just not very exciting.  I kept waiting for just one song to really kick, actually rock out, and it never happened.  After eight songs, I just went "Whoa, that's it?"

I wasn't expecting another Close to the Edge or anything, but I was expecting more than this.  Especially after, as has been pointed out, these guys have been touring the classic albums.  I was thinking they'd be inspired by 70's Yes, be thinking like that, and create something more like that.  Instead we get an entire album of meh.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on July 24, 2014, 11:35:37 PM
Been feeling the exact same way. There's a few cool instrumental moments. Jon's voice is great. But overall it's fluff. There's nothing to it. No balls, nothing memorable, it's the Care Bears version of a Yes album. And when I said this:

Quote
From what everyone's saying, this album seems like it's going to be Yes' imitation of Glass Hammer's impression of Yes. Hoo boy.

It's that! It's exactly that! This album sounds exactly like four of the last five albums Glass Hammer put up since Jon Davison joined them. Yeah, they were trying to be Yes-lite before then, but it became really obnoxious over the last four years. And Heaven And Earth sounds exactly like those recent albums: A tired, desperate attempt to sound like Yes, but coming off as a Yes-lite that can't come up with anything close to the creativity Yes had last in its glory days, and instead meanders along, with song lengths over five minutes for only the sake of being long.

If what I've read is right and they wrote more material than this, but are saving all the "good" material and that epic they wrote for the next album, then bad move. Either they should have mixed up all the songs a bit more so each album was half and half or everything here should have been scrapped completely. It's a shame, really. I don't have hopes for the "good" material. I really don't. I feel like the Fly From Here suite was only good because it was older material, because besides "Into The Storm", I didn't like the rest of the songs from that album, and just feel like they're creatively spent at this point.

EDIT: You know what? I honestly feel like I'm being too harsh, and will give it a few more spins. I did like the instrumental section in "Believe Again", for what it's worth, but I can't remember how it goes, only that I liked it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 26, 2014, 10:52:08 AM
So this was unexpected.  I really enjoyed my second listen through the album.

The first was done on the way to work, a time when I usually play something upbeat to get me going.  My commute to and from work is generally my best listening time, as it's a long stretch of uninterrupted time with full control over the sound system.  I was thinking "Okay, new Yes, here we go!"  And as noted, I was not blown away.  It all sounds nice, some great music by some great 70-year-old men (with a 50-year-old lead singer), but not exactly mind-blowing.

Last night we had band practice right after work.  Yeah, a Friday night, but it was the only night everyone was available, and we have a gig tonight.  Work was hell, practice was good, so last night, dead tired, I put Heaven & Earth on for its second official listen on my drive home.

I loved it.  Sure, I was tired, but I also needed something chill after a long day at work and two hours of loud practice, and this was perfect.  And now that the initial shock was over, I was better able to appreciate where the music was coming from.  Expecting something totally bland, I instead was able to appreciate the relatively upbeat part.  The times when Steve cut loose with his "solo over everything" stuff, the restrained drumming of Alan which is still incredibly tight and perfect as always, the keyboards always did sound good, and Jon's voice might even have a little more emotion to it than I'd first thought.  Chris is still the root of the band and still was too reserved.  But I wasn't expecting anything, and was very pleasantly surprised.

You know how new albums, especially by bands like Yes, can take a few listens to really grasp?  This was like that.  I'm actually looking forward to my third listen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 26, 2014, 11:48:43 AM
Ya know, I have said it's very "Yes-Lite" and it is, but that doesn't mean I don't like it. I've been spinning it here and there over the last week or so and it has grown on me. I do like it a bit more now and I even find myself humming one or two of the tunes that I've happened to remember.

It'll take awhile to get used to, but I'm sure it'll grow on me. Is it as good as, say, The Ladder or Magnification? Nah, and it probably won't, and in fact I think I still like Fly From Here a little more, but it's not their worst album.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on August 09, 2014, 06:01:13 AM
It's grown on me a bit. Certainly better than a Glass Hammer album, but it's still largely uninteresting. What's doing it for me are the instrumental sections. They may not be the best one's in Yes' career, but they're more interesting than the vocal sections. Though Davison's still a good fit for the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 09, 2014, 08:31:17 AM
As much as I love some of the vocals in Yes, it's always been the instrumentals that have drawn me to them, so I agree completely.  Just hearing great musicians like this is a treat.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: 425 on August 10, 2014, 10:59:29 AM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.

Basically popping in here to say this exactly. I also got Fragile, which I like and I'm sure I'll grow to like more than I do right now, but is overshadowed for me at present by Close to the Edge.

So I gather that I should go next to everything from The Yes Album to Going for the One. What about the 80s era, like 90125? I know that's one of their more popular albums; I gather though that it is somewhat of a less proggy one. Is it still worth getting at some point down the road?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on August 10, 2014, 11:44:27 AM
I just got my first Yes album, Close to the edge.
Holy shit.

Basically popping in here to say this exactly. I also got Fragile, which I like and I'm sure I'll grow to like more than I do right now, but is overshadowed for me at present by Close to the Edge.

So I gather that I should go next to everything from The Yes Album to Going for the One. What about the 80s era, like 90125? I know that's one of their more popular albums; I gather though that it is somewhat of a less proggy one. Is it still worth getting at some point down the road?

Beyond the singles, I think it actually carries with it some "neo prog elements".    It's certainly an 80's synth album, but even when I look back at it now, I sometimes forget that there is really incredible musicmanship on that album.

However, of the 3 "Yes-West" albums, my favorite (and most proggy) is Talk.   Completely under-rated album, and a very nice blend of 90125's pop stylings, and the classic 70's albums attitude of "...let's let this one breathe a bit..."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: orcus116 on August 10, 2014, 01:40:45 PM
I must be the only one here who was completely underwhelmed by the song Close To The Edge after all of the praise for it. I've listened to it a couple times and found it incredibly uninteresting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on August 10, 2014, 02:19:30 PM
Close To the Edge took a long time to click with me. It's a dense song, but it's actually really simple in structure. It helped me to sorta zoom out and look at the bigger picture of the song and it see it that way, rather than a multi-part epic.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on August 10, 2014, 03:28:10 PM
Pretty much every song on Close to the Edge ranks up there with the best songs ever written. Part of the reason the album is basically perfect. I remember even being substantially underwhelmed by it as a whole and thought of it as a disappointment after having heard Fragile. It's a clicker, but fuck does it click hard.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on August 10, 2014, 06:03:52 PM
It's also extremely addictive. Once it finally clicked I had a hard time listening to anything else for awhile.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on August 10, 2014, 07:29:14 PM
Pretty much every song on Close to the Edge ranks up there with the best songs ever written. Part of the reason the album is basically perfect. I remember even being substantially underwhelmed by it as a whole and thought of it as a disappointment after having heard Fragile. It's a clicker, but fuck does it click hard.

Top 5 album for me of all time.  Steven Wilson's 5.1 Blu Ray mix will blow you away as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on August 10, 2014, 07:39:13 PM
Pretty much every song on Close to the Edge ranks up there with the best songs ever written. Part of the reason the album is basically perfect. I remember even being substantially underwhelmed by it as a whole and thought of it as a disappointment after having heard Fragile. It's a clicker, but fuck does it click hard.

Top 5 album for me of all time.  Steven Wilson's 5.1 Blu Ray mix will blow you away as well.

It's my favorite album ever so :biggrin: :hifive:

I've not gotten my hands on that yet but Steven Wilson always does an amazing job with these. I've no doubt it's ear-gasmic.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on August 10, 2014, 07:47:18 PM
However, of the 3 "Yes-West" albums, my favorite (and most proggy) is Talk.   Completely under-rated album, and a very nice blend of 90125's pop stylings, and the classic 70's albums attitude of "...let's let this one breathe a bit..."

Seconded. Talk is a great listen, and I believe it needs more praise. I almost wish that they had continued on the style and done another. But you know...Yes lineups and everything.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: 425 on August 12, 2014, 09:17:04 AM
Beyond the singles, I think it actually carries with it some "neo prog elements".    It's certainly an 80's synth album, but even when I look back at it now, I sometimes forget that there is really incredible musicmanship on that album.

However, of the 3 "Yes-West" albums, my favorite (and most proggy) is Talk.   Completely under-rated album, and a very nice blend of 90125's pop stylings, and the classic 70's albums attitude of "...let's let this one breathe a bit..."

Seconded. Talk is a great listen, and I believe it needs more praise. I almost wish that they had continued on the style and done another. But you know...Yes lineups and everything.

Alright, cool!  :tup I'll definitely take a look at those albums then, after I get all the classic ones.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on August 12, 2014, 03:51:50 PM
I agree with JB and FP. I like Big Generator but it's not at the level of the other 2 mentioned.  Though Final Eyes is my favorite Rabin led Yes song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on August 13, 2014, 10:25:59 AM
Big Generator is a very underrated record.

Both of the hits are enjoyable pop rock tunes.

Final Eyes, Shoot High Aim Low and I'm Running are all excellent deep cuts.

Holy Lamb is another sweet laid back Yes tune, ala Turn of the Century, Nine Voices, etc.

The title track and Aways Like Love are the only two average tunes, but neither are bad; just not anything special.

So yeah, I like this record quite a bit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 13, 2014, 11:13:20 AM
I think part of the problem with Big Generator is that it took seven years or something like that.  90125 was huge, with "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and the amazing return of Yes, and people were waiting to see what the follow-up would be.  They kept waiting, and waiting, then when it finally arrived, it seemed like literally just more of the same.  That's how it was for me anyway, and I know others who feel the same way.

However... your points are all correct.  Big Generator, despite having a similar "sound" to 90125, actually takes things a bit further, quite a bit further sometimes, just not in the direction people were expecting.  Old-school Yesfans dissed 90125 for being Pop.  Damned good Pop, but still Pop.  Big Generator is actually proggier and takes a few chances.

The biggest problem, therefore, is that it falls into a very narrow niche.  It still wasn't proggy enough for old-school Yesfans, and after seven years, the "new" Yesfans who came on board with 90125 had given up already.  It is only now with the benefit of perspective that we can appreciate the album properly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on August 13, 2014, 11:18:59 AM
It was only four years - 90125 came out in '83, while BG came out in '87 - but I agree with much of what you said.  However, being one of those "new" Yes fans, who only knew the 90125 hits prior to Big Generator, I was excited when MTV started playing a new video by them in 1987.  And I actually bought Big Generator on cassette as a result!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 13, 2014, 11:38:05 AM
Wow, those four years seemed like longer at the time.  Of course, back then an album per year was still pretty common.  Nowadays, it's more like every two years, but albums are twice as long now, too.

I still figure you're a pretty small minority, though.  One with an appreciation for prog, or at least something more adventurous than basic pop dreck, who was introduced to Yes through their biggest pop hit and therefore found the follow-up more satisfying.  Most people were just confused, or didn't care.

All this talk about Big Generator is making me want to hear it again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 14, 2014, 12:20:55 AM
I really like the three Rabin Yes albums (90125, Big Generator, Talk) and I think they are up there with the classics. And I would have liked another one, because with every album they got better, at least imho.

I think the big problem is, that they are called Yes albums when they are in fact so different from everything Yes has done before. I firmly believe that if these albums were released under another band name, they would get the recognition they deserve.

And I will never understand why the music is called pop. For a large part the songs are more rock-orientated than most of previous Yes, largely due to Rabin's guitar work. And they are at least on the same prog-level as, let's say Marillion or 80s Pink Floyd.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 14, 2014, 10:23:01 AM
I guess I just call it Pop to distiguish it from "real" Prog.  It's all Rock and Roll, and yeah, it's at least as proggy as Marillion or 80's Floyd.

And I agree that calling the band Yes has led to all kinds of issues.  Some say that because it's says "Yes" on the cover, it's a Yes album, end of argument.  Some say that it's so different from any other Yes that that's just a technicality forced on the band by the suits.  Some say that the band changed almost every other album anyway, and this isn't really that different in the grand scheme.  But at the time, with only 70's Yes to compare it to, this was very different and pretty much all sides of the argument had at least some validity.

So I listend to Big Generator again, "Side One" on my way home yesterday, "Side Two" on the way in to work today.  It is indeed better than I remembered.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on August 14, 2014, 03:47:56 PM
I think they were in the studio for 2 years trying to have all 5 members happy about BG so when you read about it all the time it seem much longer really.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on August 25, 2014, 08:41:46 AM
From Steven Wilson's FB:

Relayer is confirmed as the third release in the series of SW remixed Yes (official) albums to be issued in 5.1 & new stereo high-resolution audio configuration. Relayer was the band’s 7th studio album, released in 1974, and contains just 3 long pieces, including the ambitious 22 minute Gates of Delirium.
Mixed by Steven Wilson & released with the full approval of the band, Relayer will be available in CD/DVD-A digipack & CD/Blu-Ray mini LP gatefold editions. These are available to pre-order now from https://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/headphonedust/, release date 3rd November.
Both editions will also contain the original album mix in high-resolution & bonus audio material, full details of which will be announced shortly.
Restored artwork approved by Roger Dean & new sleevenotes by Sid Smith complete the package,the release of which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the album's original late 1974 appearance.


---

Gates of Delirium in surround sound is gonna be bananas. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 25, 2014, 11:15:00 AM
Excellent!  The same treatment as the first two, of course.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 13, 2014, 02:08:11 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 13, 2014, 02:16:25 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Wow, I'm sorry that H&E was your first Yes album. You should definitely check out their 70's output and hopefully Yes will be redeemed in your eyes and ears. Check out Fragile, Close To The Edge, Relayer and/or Going For The One. Any of those are good starting points for what make up the core 70's Prog Yes output. After that, any of their first three albums, and the rest of their 70's material is good to check out.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on October 13, 2014, 02:21:07 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Starting with their latest was probably not the most enlightened decision.

If you have good taste, you'll at least like Close to the Edge. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 13, 2014, 03:22:06 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Gotta echo what others are saying.  This is absolutely, unquestionably not the album to listen to if you want an introduction to Yes.  The fire has all but gone out at this point, and believe me, this is not your dad's style of prog.  The latest album is barely prog at all.

If someone recommended this as a starting point, go back and slap them in the face, hard.  Then check out The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, or Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on October 13, 2014, 04:33:10 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Wow, I'm sorry that H&E was your first Yes album. You should definitely check out their 70's output and hopefully Yes will be redeemed in your eyes and ears. Check out Fragile, Close To The Edge, Relayer and/or Going For The One. Any of those are good starting points for what make up the core 70's Prog Yes output. After that, any of their first three albums, and the rest of their 70's material is good to check out.

-Marc.

This. Fragile, CttE, Relayer and GftO are progressive masterworks. All four albums are a massive far-cry from H&E.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 14, 2014, 12:34:57 AM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Wow, I'm sorry that H&E was your first Yes album. You should definitely check out their 70's output and hopefully Yes will be redeemed in your eyes and ears. Check out Fragile, Close To The Edge, Relayer and/or Going For The One. Any of those are good starting points for what make up the core 70's Prog Yes output. After that, any of their first three albums, and the rest of their 70's material is good to check out.

-Marc.
Yeah, I was told to listen to some other stuff. I liked endless dream, but I'm yet to find another song I truly love  :-\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 14, 2014, 07:06:51 AM
"Endless Dream" from Talk?  Is there some reason you're avoiding the 70's material that put Yes on the map, practically defined the genre, and which everyone is recommending?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on October 14, 2014, 09:08:52 AM
"Endless Dream" from Talk?  Is there some reason you're avoiding the 70's material that put Yes on the map, practically defined the genre, and which everyone is recommending?

I'd be inclined to think that he doesn't want to like Yes, based on his posts and how Yes "was more his dad's style of prog." But that's just speculation on my part.

And hey, if he doesn't want to like Yes, he doesn't have to. I'd just continue to recommend he check out those particular 70's albums before he writes them off for good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 14, 2014, 11:54:28 AM
"Endless Dream" from Talk?  Is there some reason you're avoiding the 70's material that put Yes on the map, practically defined the genre, and which everyone is recommending?

I'd be inclined to think that he doesn't want to like Yes, based on his posts and how Yes "was more his dad's style of prog." But that's just speculation on my part.

And hey, if he doesn't want to like Yes, he doesn't have to. I'd just continue to recommend he check out those particular 70's albums before he writes them off for good.
I haven't listened to 70s yes because I haven't had time yet (exams) I listened to Talk because I asked my dad "Is there some heavier prog metal sounding yes songs, and he said yes, endless dream. Which yes albums from the 70s are recommended and I will give them a listen when I actually have longer than 5 minutes free at a time   :sad:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 14, 2014, 12:04:48 PM
Endless Dream is awesome!  Yes, a lot of the 70s stuff is more influential and definitive, but Endless Dream is still a beast of a tune.

I'm with Orbert, Mister Gold and Marc (mostly) on their recommendations.  The Yes Album is far better than Going for the One, so throw that in with Fragile, Close to the Edge and Relayer, and you are good to go.  Tales might be a bit much for a new listener.  I'd save that one for a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 14, 2014, 12:52:27 PM
If you're looking for something heavy, check out Drama, which has some of their heavier sounding music, especially the opening track, "Machine Messiah".

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 14, 2014, 01:28:45 PM
Yes was never prog metal, but Drama is generally recognized as the heaviest Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 14, 2014, 02:59:38 PM
Yes was never prog metal, but Drama is generally recognized as the heaviest Yes.
I shall have a look for that album amongst my dads collection, and give that a blast!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DerekTheater on October 14, 2014, 03:39:57 PM
Heaven and earth is the first yes album I've listened to (yes is my dad's style of prog more than mine) and, I have to say, I hated it... I'm sorry, but it was simply shockingly bad...

Wow. That's kind of like Systematic Chaos or St Anger being your first DT and Metallica records.

Never start with a new album by an old band!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mister Gold on October 14, 2014, 03:48:46 PM
Yes was never prog metal, but Drama is generally recognized as the heaviest Yes.
I shall have a look for that album amongst my dads collection, and give that a blast!

You'll probably like Drama, I think. Machine Messiah is particularly amazing (in fact, I'm listening to it right now :biggrin: ). If you enjoy it, I'd suggest Fragile after that and then eventually move your way onto Close to the Edge and Relayer.

Fragile is pretty heavy too and is a little bit more song-oriented than CttE or Relayer. Yes was arguably the Dream Theater of the 1970's and that's especially apparent on Close to the Edge and Relayer, IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DerekTheater on October 14, 2014, 06:20:10 PM
Everything they did up to 90125 is worth hearing, and any of that is better than Heaven & Earth or Talk.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on October 15, 2014, 08:04:14 AM
Everything they did up to 90125 is worth hearing, and any of that is better than Heaven & Earth or Talk.

FTFY

Talk is the best of the Rabin albums....amazing album.

That being said, if you're going to listen to Yes, start with The Yes Album, Close to the Edge or Going for the One.  Amazing albums all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on October 15, 2014, 07:46:25 PM
Talk is awesome. Not really what you'd expect from Yes (even with Rabin in the band), but a very nice gem of an album. Heaven and Earth is down their with their worst.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: 425 on October 15, 2014, 09:45:23 PM
"Endless Dream" from Talk?  Is there some reason you're avoiding the 70's material that put Yes on the map, practically defined the genre, and which everyone is recommending?

I'd be inclined to think that he doesn't want to like Yes, based on his posts and how Yes "was more his dad's style of prog." But that's just speculation on my part.

Just popping into say that this was pretty much my prejudice towards Yes, however much I tried to avoid letting it cloud my perceptions. Heck, I only got around to listening to Close to the Edge in the first place because my dad gave it to me for my birthday. But (I apologize in advance for the pun) Yes doesn't really seem to take no for an answer to the question "is CttE spectacular?" One of the finest albums I've ever heard.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 31, 2014, 01:33:18 PM
I get the 5.1 Blu-rays of The Yes Album and Relayer for Christmas and yesterday, when everyone else was out of the house, I listened to them, loudly.

For those of you who are not familiar, Steven Wilson is remixing and reengineering the classic 70's Yes albums, and making 5.1 mixes of each while he's at it.  These are being released on Blu-ray, which supports lossless 5.1 sound, and also on DVD.  DVD of course supports 5.1 but not lossless.  True there is DVD-A (and also BD-A for that matter) but I believe the idea here is to make these as accessible as possible, so they're avoiding those "niche" formats and just going with regular discs that everyone can play on their equipment.

Anyway, these are both amazing.  The Yes Album was somewhat more immersive than Relayer, although both were great.  Everything was crystal clear, and between that and the incredible separation, I was absolutely blown away.  I just sat there, riveted to the couch, until The Yes Album was over.

Imagine this:  Your family didn't have much money when you were growing up, so your only exposure to music was an old clock radio that used to be your grandmother's, and maybe catching some videos on the old TV in the living room.  It's not HD or even LCD; it's an ancient tube with knobs and a little speaker on the front for the sound to come out.  You have only ever experienced music in mono, your entire life.

Then one day, you go over to a friend's house, and he has a stereo.  Your mind is blown.  The same music you've listened to all of your life, now much clearer and cleaner, and best of all, spread out across the room!  Holy shit, the vocals are both in the middle and seeming to come from both sides, there's a guitar on each side, the keyboards are over there, the bass is down there, the drums and cymbals are all around me!

Now...  imagine listening to music you're heard all of your life in stereo, but now in surround.  It's the same thing, to the next degree.  The instruments are not placed at various points along a single X-axis, but spaced around the room into all quadrants.  Not just in the four corners as with your cheesy 70's quadrophonic mixes, but truly spread around in two dimensions.  The vocals are mostly centered, but the lead voice is in the middle and the backgrounds spread around him.  The instruments (and remember that Yes has layers and layers of them) are everywhere, not just in the corners, but blended and spaced everywhere.  Along the walls, across the middle of the room, in front of you and behind you.  Completely immersive.

The sound was everywhere, but it was very natural, and perfect.  There was exactly one time when the surround felt gimmicky, and it was on purpose and exactly where you'd think it would be.  You know that one spot during "Yours is No Disgrace" where Steve takes a guitar break and it bounces back and forth between the left and right channels?  Yeah, you know the place.  It now bounces around the four corners of the room, and it's great.  Semi-random, no discernible pattern, and brilliant.

The entire album is brilliantly done.  It is perfect.  This is what Blu-ray was meant for.

Relayer was not quite as immersive but still excellent.  This time, the music stayed more toward the front of the room, but not entirely.  Instruments did wander forward into the middle of the room, and there was effective use of the surrounds.  The "battle scene" during "The Gates of Delirium" was astounding.  Steven has made an editing choice to not include the sound effects during the battle, and I completely agree with this decision.  I've never liked them anyway, and did not miss them at all.  I'd always rather hear the music speak for itself, and it did that very, very well.  So layered, so heavy, yet so clear and separated.  "Sound Chaser" had me leaning forward for the first half of the song, and I didn't even realize I was doing it.  I must have been trying to get "into" the sound even more, and as you know, the song goes its entire nine and a half minutes without once resolving into a standard backbeat, so being on the edge of your seat, literally in this case, is normal.

I cannot say enough about these new releases.  I picked up Close to the Edge last year, and it was similarly mind-blowing.  The Yes Album and Relayer, while both also excellent albums, are a bit further down my list (I lean more towards Going for the One, Fragile, and Tales from Topographic Oceans) but this may have changed a bit.  I didn't buy all my Yes albums at once, and these two were later, so I just never really absorbed them the way I did my earlier acquisitions.  But I now have a much greater appreciation for them.

I can't wait to hear what he does with Tales from Topographic Oceans and Going for the One.

This is exactly why I have an HD sound system.  Yeah, movies are cool, especially when things go boom or there's a great soundtrack.  But just sitting and listening to Yes, letting it flow around you and through you... it just doesn't get any better than this.

If you have the means, get these immediately.  He's done the three so far, and plans to do all the "classic" 70's albums, but has not clarified exactly which ones that will include.  It doesn't matter.  It's Yes, remastered, reengineered, lossless, surround.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 31, 2014, 03:23:31 PM
Sounds awesome.  I've only heard the Close to the Edge 5.1, and it was utterly fantastic.  I'll have to bug that friend of mine who is the guinea pig for these things, since he has the killer surround sound system, to get these others so I can hear them. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 31, 2014, 03:29:06 PM
I have both and like you Bob, I can't rave enough.  Everything Steven Wilson touches is gold.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 31, 2014, 03:41:19 PM
I read up on these a little bit on the Yesfans boards, and apparently Steven is contracted to do Time and a Word through Relayer.  Obviously, he's not going in chronological order.  Also, he's been quoted as saying that he'd like to do Going for the One, so that's interesting, and encouraging.  I'm pretty sure "Awaken" is going to blow my mind if he does.  My family will come home and find me catatonic on the floor.

Tales from Topographic Oceans is going to kick ass, and I'm curious to see what he can do with Time and a Word.  Supposedly, the original masters without the orchestra still exist, so it would be cool to hear a "naked" version.  These packages are chock full of extras, so I wouldn't be surprised.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on May 19, 2015, 10:58:14 AM
bump.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/05/19/chris-squire-yes-leukemia/27571503/

Chris Squire has been diagnosed with Leukemia.

Billy Sherwood will be filling in for him on Yes's summer tour dates with Toto.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 19, 2015, 11:03:45 AM
Damn.  I hope he can get the treatment he needs and knock it out.  Anything that starts with the word "acute" doesn't sound good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 19, 2015, 11:38:42 AM
That's too bad.  I hope his treatment works.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on May 19, 2015, 11:39:55 AM
Hope he gets better. Really become a bigger fan as of recent
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 19, 2015, 12:14:09 PM
Dang, that's some sad news. Hope he gets better.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 19, 2015, 12:29:20 PM
Read about that this morning and was shocked. The only Yesman to have been in every incarnation of Yes... I really hope that Chris gets better.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 19, 2015, 03:48:17 PM
Sad news. Hoping for the best.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on July 28, 2015, 03:20:11 AM
Orbert, you should seriously write a biography on Yes. I would read it.

Dear Mr. Orbert,

have you written that biography yet?

If not, can anyone recommend me a Yes biography? My internet search put out Close To The Edge by Chris Welch, does anyone know it? And is it a good read?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on July 28, 2015, 04:02:38 AM
It's been a few years since I read it but I remember Close To The Edge being a good one, yeah.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 28, 2015, 09:34:22 AM
Oh you guys.

No, I haven't written the biography yet.  It keeps changing, as the band is still going after 45 years.  So it's like a neverending project.  But that's just an excuse; I have no time for such an endeavor.  It would be at least 95% copied from the Yes Discography thread anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on July 28, 2015, 02:56:47 PM
Nobody needs to know ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 31, 2015, 04:09:17 PM
It's been a few years since I read it but I remember Close To The Edge being a good one, yeah.

I enjoyed reading that book. Learned quite a bit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 24, 2015, 08:47:25 AM
Just gonna revive this thread to say I love Yes now - despite Heaven and Earth being the first Yes album I ever properly listened to and hating it, I was convinced to listen to Close to Edge, and now I'm a huge Yes fan.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 24, 2015, 10:11:27 AM
Very Cool!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on October 24, 2015, 06:59:03 PM
Yeah, Heaven And Earth might very well be the worst starting point possible.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 24, 2015, 07:45:56 PM
Yeah, Heaven And Earth might very well be the worst starting point possible.  :lol

Well, at least it's all up and up from there, right? :rollin

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 24, 2015, 08:56:36 PM
Definitely.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on October 24, 2015, 10:59:03 PM
I still haven't been able to listen to H&E all the way through. Only Yes album where this is the case for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 25, 2015, 09:47:37 AM
I still haven't been able to listen to H&E all the way through. Only Yes album where this is the case for me.
I did. Don't bother.  :-\ I'm sorry, but it's simply not worth it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on October 25, 2015, 09:58:06 AM
I figured as much. It's too bad. They had gotten a bit inconsistent since the 80s, but (at least on their studio albums) they never sounded like a tired old rock band...until Heaven and Earth.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on October 25, 2015, 11:19:45 AM
I figured as much. It's too bad. They had gotten a bit inconsistent since the 80s, but (at least on their studio albums) they never sounded like a tired old rock band...until Heaven and Earth.
Yup. It seemed like the "spark" that Yes had has all but disappeared now. I think the death of Chris may well spell the end for Yes as a truly amazing band, sadly. Maybe if we got John Anderson back we might see some revival, but I doubt that will ever happen. It's sad, really.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 26, 2015, 07:50:43 AM
Jon isn't enough; he's the seasoning, but he is too flighty to man the controls and have it be anything reliable.  Chris was the glue that held it all together.  They may tour, they may release archive stuff, they may even release new studio stuff, but for the most part, my vote is that the creative force that was Yes is over.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2015, 10:13:08 AM
So this arrived yesterday:

(https://i.imgur.com/XR90Zqk.jpg)

I'm gonna play it now.  Will report later.
Title: Fragile Yes on Blu-ray
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2015, 12:20:38 PM
Amazing.  Eleven out of ten, again.

First, the packaging.

(https://imgur.com/plKj5b0.jpg)

It's pretty obvious that the idea is to recreate the original LP packaging as closely as possible.  It's perfect, as far as I can tell.

(https://imgur.com/31UvBqe.jpg)

That's my daughter's compass, left on the table for something.  I kinda like how it provides a sense of scale, so I left it.  We could otherwise be looking at pictures of the original vinyl LP packaging on a big table, and it would look the same.

(https://imgur.com/1Sir9D4.jpg)

The picture booklet that came with the original LP is reproduced here.  Very, very nice.

This came out blurrier than I'd hoped, but whatever.  You get the idea.  The real thing is very crisp.  It looks exactly like the LP jacket, only smaller.

(https://imgur.com/RfVW6Q9.jpg)

The print on the disc itself appears to be new artwork.  I seem to remember reading somewhere that some of the artwork on these editions are new, and some is other stuff from the same era as the original album.

(https://imgur.com/gnHMj7I.jpg)

That reminds me.  As the Blu-ray loads, we get a series of what appear to be Roger Dean's original sketches as he came up with the amazing and unique Fragile Yes logo.  It goes through several drafts, and ends with the familiar version we've all seen.  Very cool.


I could give track by track ratings, but they'd all be the same: perfect.  Instead, some highlights and observations.

Roundabout starts with that glorious acoustic guitar, and it sounds crisp and clear and fills the room.  Instrumentally, the first verse is sparse by Yes standards, and the soundstage reflects that, staying mostly in the fronts.  But as the song progresses and more instruments come in, we eventually fill the room and it's fully immersive from that point forward.

Can and Brahms, which many -- not including myself -- dismiss as "filler" (I know, quotes, but in this case they're appropriate because there are no filler tracks on Yes albums) gets the multidimensional treatment.  The original suffered from a cluttered mix; I've always thought it sounded like it was recorded on a four-track or something, and a kinda crappy one at that.  It's open and alive here.  You can hear each keyboard clearly, and you get a better appreciation for the arrangement itself.  There's a lot of stuff going on here.

We Have Heaven, like every song on this album, sounds the best it ever has.  Layers and layers, all clear and even with plenty of space.  I have no idea how Steven does this, but it's mind-blowing.

I couldn't sit still during South Side of the Sky.  It was in my face, knocking me around the room.

I know I'm not alone in finding Five Per Cent for Nothing somewhat less than enthralling, but I have to admit that it really pops here.  It benefits a lot from having room to breathe and have each part heard clearly, as with Cans and Brahms.  I've always liked how the solo tracks on this album get as much care and respect as the full group tracks, and of course it's no different here.  It just plain sounds amazing.

Long Distance Runaround is another one that just jumps out at you.  So clear, every instrument, including a few you might not have heard before.  In the early days of CD, when I was slowly replacing a lot of my favorite vinyl, I still had time to put on a CD once in a while and play it over headphones, listening for things I'd never heard on the vinyl.  Here it's the same thing.  There are things buried in the two-channel mix simply because of the limitations at the time.  Steven has spread everything around the room, so you can hear every part clearly.  I know I keep saying that, but it's true, and is the biggest impression I get from this release.  Crisp, clear, lossless.

The Fish is no exception.  It seems like dozens of Chris Squires are all over the place, filling the room with all the different bass parts.

I saw some reviews that didn't really like how Mood for a Day is so in-your-face.  I guess it's down to personal preference.  Would you rather sit and listen to Steve Howe as he plays a guitar solo, or would you prefer him standing with the guitar four inches from your face as he plays it and it's so close that your left and right ears actually get a different "mix" from the different ends of the guitar?  Well?  Give me Steve Howe in the face, every time.  And you get it here.

Heart of the Sunrise.  There are no words.  No, seriously, there aren't.


Buy this CD/Blu-ray combo now.  Just go get it, now.  If you don't have Blu-ray, you've got DVD, right?  Get the CD/DVD version.  Fragile Yes in 5.1 Surround.  There's just no excuse for anyone to not have this, period.  My life has been altered.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 20, 2015, 12:32:25 PM
Well, hey, that's a pretty good review.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on November 20, 2015, 02:01:26 PM
And if you don't have 5.1?  :big grin:

They do come with 2.0 mixes right? They're still pretty expensive though, 25 euros (26,60 dollars) even the older ones. Fragile is over 35 dollars.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 20, 2015, 11:19:58 PM
The CDs are the remixed, remastered versions in stereo.  So 2.0, suitable for anywhere.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on November 21, 2015, 02:13:52 AM
The CDs are the remixed, remastered versions in stereo.  So 2.0, suitable for anywhere.

Yeah, but I'd like a hi def blu ray 2.0, for that kind of money  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on November 21, 2015, 07:00:42 AM
Looks really cool. I recently picked up an original pressing of Fragile. The one my Dad bought on release went missing. I'm thinking of going to see them on the 2016 Europe tour. Anyone been to any concerts this or last year? The videos seem to show Jon D. as being a good substitute for Jon A. live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on November 21, 2015, 08:04:20 AM
The CDs are the remixed, remastered versions in stereo.  So 2.0, suitable for anywhere.

Yeah, but I'd like a hi def blu ray 2.0, for that kind of money  :smiley:

The blu-ray (Region 0, NTSC) features:

- 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround (24bit/96khz) mixed from the original multi-channel recordings.
- the new stereo album mix in DTS-HD Master Audio (24bit/96khz).
- the original album mix in a DTS-HD Master Audio flat transfers from the original master tape source. (24bit/192khz)
- exclusive needle-drop of an original UK vinyl A1/B1 pressing transferred in 24bit/96khz audio.
- exclusive instrumental versions of all new mixes in DTS-HD Master Audio stereo (24bit/96khz).
- the six cd bonus tracks, plus two additional alternate takes
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on November 21, 2015, 08:24:00 AM
Ah, that's more like it. Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 21, 2015, 02:56:33 PM
Sorry, I guess I thought it was common knowledge that these editions are completely packed with extras, including every possible mix you can imagine.  Yes, there is an HD 2.0 version.  Every one of the "Steven Wilson edition" releases is like this.

I've read that this is supposedly the last one for now, possibly for good.  If true, this would contradict the original statement that they're doing the everything from Time and a Word through Relayer, although that statement was later changed to be only the "classic 70's albums" (which is harder to define, thus leaving things more open-ended).  I've also read that the mix of Tales from Topographic Oceans is already done, but that could just be a rumor.  Hell, it's all rumors and hearsay.  I just wait until something comes out.  No use getting all psyched up for something promised and then being disappointed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 24, 2015, 04:55:57 PM
Someone on the Yesfans boards was on this year's Cruise to the Edge and had a chance to talk to Steve Howe.  Asked about Tales from Topographic Oceans in 5.1, Steve said it was already out.  He was then corrected by Jon, but he seemed surprised that Fragile is supposedly the last of the 5.1 releases, because he personally tweaked the final mixes of Tales with Steven Wilson.  He's a big proponent of 5.1 music; he sees it as taking Yes into the 21st century.

Meanwhile, Steven Wilson has also confirmed that the 5.1 mix of Tales is done, and doesn't understand why there don't appear to be any plans to release it.  I keep seeing references to Fragile being the last release "for now" but can't find where that story originated.

I have no idea what's going on.  If I had to guess, maybe it has something to do with Tales being a double album, thus likely to command a higher price, and they're still working out the pricing behind the scenes, between the label and the distributor or something.  But I don't know.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on November 24, 2015, 10:04:50 PM
well, I hope they release it eventually.  I've loved every release in the series so far and would like to see the run from The Yes Album to Relayer be complete.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nihil-Morari on November 25, 2015, 07:16:59 AM
Someone on the Yesfans boards was on this year's Cruise to the Edge and had a chance to talk to Steve Howe.  Asked about Tales from Topographic Oceans in 5.1, Steve said it was already out.  He was then corrected by Jon, but he seemed surprised that Fragile is supposedly the last of the 5.1 releases, because he personally tweaked the final mixes of Tales with Steven Wilson.  He's a big proponent of 5.1 music; he sees it as taking Yes into the 21st century.

Meanwhile, Steven Wilson has also confirmed that the 5.1 mix of Tales is done, and doesn't understand why there don't appear to be any plans to release it.  I keep seeing references to Fragile being the last release "for now" but can't find where that story originated.

I have no idea what's going on.  If I had to guess, maybe it has something to do with Tales being a double album, thus likely to command a higher price, and they're still working out the pricing behind the scenes, between the label and the distributor or something.  But I don't know.

The bigger package because of the double album could lead to a box set of some sorts. If they want to release just as much different HQ audio tracks as on a shorter album they could even need a double blu ray (though I doubt that). So that could mean that they'd make a big 45 year anniversary box or something.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 17, 2015, 09:41:17 AM
Update:  There is no completed Tales from Topographic Oceans in 5.1 after all, and there are still no plans to release any more Yes albums in 5.1, according to a post on Yesfans.com.  Crap.

----------

From Steven Wilson's latest newsletter:

"Steve Howe of Yes recently mentioned that you were also working on “Tales from Topographic Oceans”?

Steve heard some work-in-progress mixes I was working on in 2013 of that album, including my first attempt at a 5.1 mix, but as things stand, there aren’t any more Yes releases planned. There was talk about me doing “Drama”, an album I really love and that would sound great in 5.1, but not all the members of that line up are keen for the album to be remixed—which is totally understandable—and I wouldn’t want to do something without the band being behind it.

----------

Whoever said that Steven himself confirmed the existance of Tales in 5.1 was obviously wrong.  I don't subscribe to Steven's newsletter, but unless someone on the Yesfans boards is just plain making things up (which I suppose is a possibility, but unlikely since it can so easily be verified, or not) this would seem to be the official word, from Steven himself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on December 17, 2015, 09:43:29 AM
Update:  There is no completed Tales from Topographic Oceans in 5.1 after all, and there are still no plans to release any more Yes albums in 5.1, according to a post on Yesfans.com.  Crap.

----------

From Steven Wilson's latest newsletter:

"Steve Howe of Yes recently mentioned that you were also working on “Tales from Topographic Oceans”?

Steve heard some work-in-progress mixes I was working on in 2013 of that album, including my first attempt at a 5.1 mix, but as things stand, there aren’t any more Yes releases planned. There was talk about me doing “Drama”, an album I really love and that would sound great in 5.1, but not all the members of that line up are keen for the album to be remixed—which is totally understandable—and I wouldn’t want to do something without the band being behind it.

----------

Whoever said that Steven himself confirmed the existance of Tales in 5.1 was obviously wrong.  I don't subscribe to Steven's newsletter, but unless someone on the Yesfans boards is just plain making things up (which I suppose is a possibility, but unlikely since it can so easily be verified, or not) this would seem to be the official word, from Steven himself.
Little bit disappointing. Love Tales and Drama (it's currently the only non-Anderson release I play regularly) would have loved a 5.1 version of that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 22, 2015, 11:41:14 PM
I've read somewhere that Jon Anderson is working on an opera about Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Not sure if I'm looking forward to this but wonder if he includes a cover of "Have A Cigar".  :laugh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on February 24, 2016, 12:26:52 PM
Sorry to resurrect, but I just learnt that a new book on the history of the band will be released next week. So cool! I hope I manage to get a copy here.

I discovered Yes in 2005. I think the first song I ever checked out on my own was "Hearts". Then in 2006 a friend lent me his father's copies of Talk and Big Generator. I liked one or two songs on the latter, but Talk I absolutely adored (and still do). Later, I checked out their '70s material, obviously. But I was mainly attracted to their '90s discography - so many gems that even the band has ignored since. From the last two albums, there are some songs I like, but most of the rest I find weak.

These are my 10 favourite Yes songs:

1 Homeworld (The Ladder)
2 Love Shine (Open Your Eyes)
3 Going For The One (Going For The One)
4 Believe Again (Heaven & Earth)
5 The Revealing Science Of God (Tales From Topographic Oceans)
6 Time And A Word (Time & A Word)
7 Almost Like Love (Big Generator)
8 That, That Is (Keys To Ascension)
9 Miracle Of Life (Union)
10 State Of Play (Talk)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 24, 2016, 12:57:10 PM
Sorry to resurrect, but I just learnt that a new book on the history of the band will be released next week. So cool! I hope I manage to get a copy here.

I discovered Yes in 2005. I think the first song I ever checked out on my own was "Hearts". Then in 2006 a friend lent me his father's copies of Talk and Big Generator. I liked one or two songs on the latter, but Talk I absolutely adored (and still do). Later, I checked out their '70s material, obviously. But I was mainly attracted to their '90s discography - so many gems that even the band has ignored since. From the last two albums, there are some songs I like, but most of the rest I find weak.

These are my 10 favourite Yes songs:

1 Homeworld (The Ladder)
2 Love Shine (Open Your Eyes)
3 Going For The One (Going For The One)
4 Believe Again (Heaven & Earth)
5 The Revealing Science Of God (Tales From Topographic Oceans)
6 Time And A Word (Time & A Word)
7 Almost Like Love (Big Generator)
8 That, That Is (Keys To Ascension)
9 Miracle Of Life (Union)
10 State Of Play (Talk)

Always the first to acknowledge that taste is an individual thing, and there is no right answer, but only to continue the conversation, I think the difference from the 70's and 80's to the 90's is rivaled only by ELP in terms of how drastically different it is for me.  "Open Your Eyes" is almost an unlistenable record for me, and that's coming from someone who feels Going For The One is his favorite album of all time by any band ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 24, 2016, 06:09:36 PM
This gives me an idea for a ranking game (because DTF): pick your favorite song from each album, then rank them.
Yes, you can count Keystudio as an album.
Yes, you can count the ABWH debut as an album, since it is pretty important in the history of Yes.
Yes, you can conclude B-sides from an album as your pick for that album, but really, when will that happen? (Someone prove me wrong, I dare you lol)

I'll come up with my list later as it has been awhile since I've been in a Yes mood.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 24, 2016, 06:21:56 PM


These are my 10 favourite Yes songs:

1 Homeworld (The Ladder)
2 Love Shine (Open Your Eyes)
3 Going For The One (Going For The One)
4 Believe Again (Heaven & Earth)
5 The Revealing Science Of God (Tales From Topographic Oceans)
6 Time And A Word (Time & A Word)
7 Almost Like Love (Big Generator)
8 That, That Is (Keys To Ascension)
9 Miracle Of Life (Union)
10 State Of Play (Talk)

Wow, that is quite an unusual list, but hey, we all like different stuff, right?  Almost Like Love and Love Shine are definitely two, um, interesting choices. ;)

Off the top of my head, I'd probably go with:

Yours Is No Disgrace
Starship Trooper
Roundabout
South Side of the Sky
Close to the Edge
And You and I
Siberian Khatru
The Gates of Delirium
Hearts
Endless Dream
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on February 24, 2016, 07:25:26 PM
"Open Your Eyes" is almost an unlistenable record for me, and that's coming from someone who feels Going For The One is his favorite album of all time by any band ever.

Oh, I get you. The same happens to me with DT - Train Of Thought I can't stand, but the self-titled is my favourite of all time.

Now that I think about it, I forgot about "Turn Of The Century"! What did I do? WHAT DID I DO? :blush

This gives me an idea for a ranking game (because DTF): pick your favorite song from each album, then rank them.
Yes, you can count Keystudio as an album.
Yes, you can count the ABWH debut as an album, since it is pretty important in the history of Yes.
Yes, you can conclude B-sides from an album as your pick for that album, but really, when will that happen? (Someone prove me wrong, I dare you lol)

I don't know if I can play (there are some albums I've never listened to), but great idea.
Also, I didn't know they had any b-sides! Thanks for the info.

Wow, that is quite an unusual list, but hey, we all like different stuff, right?  Almost Like Love and Love Shine are definitely two, um, interesting choices. ;)

That happens to me with many other bands, mind you :P For instance, I don't see what the big deal is with The Wall or Disintegration. To me, Meddle and 4:13 Dream are far more interesting, respectively.

I like "And You And I" and "Endless Dream" a lot, though. ;)

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 25, 2016, 04:10:56 AM
Excellent to see Homeworld as someone's number one. It is a tremendous song, massively underrated.  :tup

My list has been hanging around for a while now, here it is:

1. The Revealing science of God
2. And you and I
3. Machine messiah
4. Close to the edge
5. Roundabout
6. The Ancient
7. Sound chaser
8. Homeworld
9. Awaken
10. Real love
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 25, 2016, 07:34:51 AM
Top Ten, in quasi-order (the first five or six are essentially tied):

Turn Of The Century
Heart Of The Sunrise
Starship Trooper
Tempus Fugit
Going For The One
And You And I
Into The Storm
South Side of the Sky
Yours Is No Disgrace
America
Love Will Find A Way


Honorable Mention:
Wonderous Stories
Magnification
The Revealing Science of God
The Calling
The Prophet
Release, Release
Lift Me Up
Hearts
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 27, 2016, 03:03:27 PM
Way too many good ones to even attempt this.

I don't know how you guys do it.

Nothing from Open Your Eyes will be on there. (Don't have that one anymore.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 28, 2016, 07:14:01 AM
Open Your Eyes was disappointing on first listen, but over time I've come to like it.  Sure, it's pretty stripped-down and poppish compared to most Yes, but it sounds great, the songs may be simple but they're well-crafted, and there's plenty of good playing.  Steve Howe has been accused of phoning it in on this one, but he's all over it, with his complete arsenal of stringed instruments.  Vocals are tight, bass and drums are tight as always, the only real weakness IMHO is the songwriting.  And the songs aren't horrible or anything; they're just not as adventurous as some would like.  And coming out at the same time as the Keys to Ascension releases invites direct comparison, in which they it does come up short.  But hey, it's more Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 28, 2016, 08:04:28 AM
I was pleasantly surprised with Open Your Eyes when it first came out; I liked most of it a lot, and yeah, Steve Howe is all over the place on it.  Over time, it grew off of me, but I still like a few songs from it a lot.  There are some awkward melodies and transitions, almost like the smoothness of Yes took an album off, but for what it is, it's not a bad record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 28, 2016, 08:44:49 AM
The first two songs on it are pretty great.  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 29, 2016, 06:27:23 AM
Open Your Eyes was disappointing on first listen,

Yes, it was.

Quote
Steve Howe has been accused of phoning it in on this one...

Yes, he did.

Quote
And coming out at the same time as the Keys to Ascension releases invites direct comparison, in which they it does come up short. 

Yes, it does.

but for what it is, it's not a bad record.

Yes, it is. 

;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 29, 2016, 07:53:54 PM
I enjoyed Open Your Eyes and Keys II for what they both were at the same time. It was like getting a double album by Yes, only one was very proggy and the other focused on shorter, catchy songs, yet both recaptured the classic Yes sound to some extent, which was clearly the goal in the wake of Rabin's departure and the return of Steve Howe (and Rick Wakeman, briefly).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on March 01, 2016, 07:00:37 PM
I enjoyed Open Your Eyes and Keys II for what they both were at the same time. It was like getting a double album by Yes, only one was very proggy and the other focused on shorter, catchy songs, yet both recaptured the classic Yes sound to some extent, which was clearly the goal in the wake of Rabin's departure and the return of Steve Howe (and Rick Wakeman, briefly).

Actually a triple album when you think about it! :)
(Not complaining - I love both of them as you do)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 02, 2016, 05:23:45 PM
I am not sure I would say I love them, but I do like them both. ;)

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 06, 2016, 10:02:21 AM
Open Your Eyes was disappointing on first listen, but over time I've come to like it.  Sure, it's pretty stripped-down and poppish compared to most Yes, but it sounds great, the songs may be simple but they're well-crafted, and there's plenty of good playing.  Steve Howe has been accused of phoning it in on this one, but he's all over it, with his complete arsenal of stringed instruments.  Vocals are tight, bass and drums are tight as always, the only real weakness IMHO is the songwriting.  And the songs aren't horrible or anything; they're just not as adventurous as some would like.  And coming out at the same time as the Keys to Ascension releases invites direct comparison, in which they it does come up short.  But hey, it's more Yes.

You've just described what I didn't like about it. The songwriting. That and I'm much more of a fan of Keys.  I've never really been a fan of Billy Sherwood's  work either.  That's a lot of obstacles for me to overcome with this one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2016, 04:14:35 PM
When I did the Yes discography, I listened to every album critically, which includes finding both the good and the bad.  Familiarity can bring acceptance, and after listening to Open Your Eyes a few times, I found a fair amount of good.  The songwriting wasn't great, but it didn't send me running from the room screaming or anything, and it was more Yes.  More Steve Howe's finger-lickin' pickin', more great Yes harmonies, etc.  I was fine putting it on and letting it spin.

Sure, the Keys to Ascension releases are superior, but I hate statements that are "I don't like ______ because ______ is better."  By that logic, only the best of anything can be liked, since it's better than the rest.  Keys being better has nothing to do with the worth of Open Your Eyes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 06, 2016, 08:04:02 PM
Am I the only one here whose favorite YES album is Talk and whose favorite individual YES song is Endless Dream?  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on March 06, 2016, 08:09:50 PM
Am I the only one here whose favorite YES album is Talk and whose favorite individual YES song is Endless Dream?  :lol

My favourite album is also Talk. Not one song I skip.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2016, 08:14:07 PM
Am I the only one here whose favorite YES album is Talk and whose favorite individual YES song is Endless Dream?  :lol

Maybe, but if it makes you feel any better, Talk is a top 5 Yes album for me, and Endless Dream is a top 10 Yes song in my book. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2016, 08:48:08 PM
I need more time with Talk90125 was the first from that lineup, of course, and I embraced it because it was Yes, different as it was.  When Big Generator took so long to come out, and didn't really seem to break any new ground, I gave up on "new Yes" and never bothered with Talk.  I've spun Talk maybe a dozen times total, and it grows on me more each time, but it's gonna take a while.  I don't seem to absorb music as quickly or easily as I used to.  Those who've given it a chance say it's the best of the three.  I can believe it.  I'm just not there yet.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on March 06, 2016, 08:50:48 PM
Talk is a fantastic album.  Easily the best of the Yes-West albums.   Criminally underrated.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2016, 08:55:53 PM
The cool thing about Talk is that it might be the one Yes album that sounds predominantly like a ROCK album (although The Yes Album has much more of a rock than prog sound sonically than the other 70s records).  Not a prog album, not a pop rock album, but a ROCK album.  In that regard, it is completely different from 90125 and Big Generator, which both have that kind of 80s pop rock production going on (which works extremely well for those albums). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 06, 2016, 09:34:57 PM
I am a 90s kid (meaning my teenage years) so my musical tastes were largely shaped by the late 1980s to mid 1990s sound. It was actually DT that led me to Yes, and I guess that 1990s sound of Talk is really what appealed to me.i loved Trevor Rabin's Can't Look Away also.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 07, 2016, 06:26:16 AM
Can't Look Away is a very good album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 07, 2016, 06:50:43 AM
I like all of the Yes West albums, 90125 and Big Generator were my doorway to the older Yes records. And Talk is the best them.

The fact that I really like Rabin's guitar playing may have something to do with it.

Can't Look Away is a great album too and you can hear here that Rabin was a major influence in the sound of Yes West
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 07, 2016, 07:40:12 AM
I ended up liking all Yes albums from Rabin era. Talk is most likely my favorite (Real love, The Calling, Where will you be and I am waiting are all fantastic), although 90125 and Big generator are very good as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 07, 2016, 08:16:47 AM
The fact that I really like Rabin's guitar playing may have something to do with it.

The Lift Me Up guitar solo remains one of my favorites. Still gives me goosebumps.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 07, 2016, 08:18:52 AM
Can't Look Away is a very good album.

I still play this CD a ton.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 07, 2016, 07:52:20 PM
I'm also a big fan of Can't Look Away; great record.  The Cape is a great song to show off a great stereo.

Rabin's debut record is pretty underrated as well.


 and you can hear here that Rabin was a major influence in the sound of Yes West

Not just a major influence, but more or less the main songwriter. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 02:23:44 AM
The fact that I really like Rabin's guitar playing may have something to do with it.

The Lift Me Up guitar solo remains one of my favorites. Still gives me goosebumps.
This!  Union is a fantastic album IMO, even though the band didn't think so. I also love the guitar solo in Silent Talking.  The More We Live, Let Go is another great song!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 02:32:48 AM
Top 10. Tough choice as there are so many.
 Endless Dream
I would Have Waited Forever
Lift Me Up
Changes
It Can Happen
Shoot High Aim Low
Wonderous Stories
Awaken
The More We Live, Let Go
Starship Trooper
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 02:38:26 AM
Btw, has anyone heard the Song Jon Anderson did with Tangerine Dream called Loved By The Sun? It's off the soundtrack to the Movie LEGEND.  It is a hauntingly beautiful song!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2016, 06:48:12 AM
It's the song that plays over the closing credits, isn't it?  If so, yes, that's a great song.  We have the movie on DVD.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on March 08, 2016, 07:42:17 AM
I think two of his songs with Vangelis -"I'll Find My Way Home" and "So Long Ago, So Clear"- are also beautiful.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 09:51:37 AM
It's the song that plays over the closing credits, isn't it?  If so, yes, that's a great song.  We have the movie on DVD.
That is correct. I have the soundtrack to the Movie on cd. Tangerine Dream has a lot of great catchy instrumentals on this release, also with extended version of LOVED BY THE SUN with Jon Anderson. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 08, 2016, 10:13:02 AM
I'm the first guy to say "hey, you can't write off great musicians just because it's not the "classic stuff"", and I'd also be the first guy to defend things like the current Deep Purple, non-makeup and Tommy/Eric era Kiss, etc.    But I can't help think that while the latter day Yes stuff may be okay, or even pretty good, if you have a finite time on this planet, would you rather use it listening to "Open Your Eyes" or "Going For The One" or "Fragile" or "The Yes Album", etc.

I totally get that this isn't entirely fair, but for whatever reason HERE it is the thought that struck me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2016, 11:23:45 AM
It isn't entirely fair, but there is a logic to it.  I still don't think it's that bad, but I'll probably never listen to it again because so many other, superior Yes albums exist.  If I feel like listening to Yes, there are at least 10 albums I'll reach for before I even consider Open Your Eyes.  Is that "fair"?  I don't know if "fair" or not really enters into it.  It's just how it is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 11:58:49 AM
It's "fair" to say Open Your Eyes is a mediocre album at best. I haven't listened to it in years,  the cd itself is probably still like brand new without a scratch in it's case, lol!  The title track is good though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 08, 2016, 12:30:43 PM
It isn't entirely fair, but there is a logic to it.  I still don't think it's that bad, but I'll probably never listen to it again because so many other, superior Yes albums exist.  If I feel like listening to Yes, there are at least 10 albums I'll reach for before I even consider Open Your Eyes.  Is that "fair"?  I don't know if "fair" or not really enters into it.  It's just how it is.

I just said "fair" so that you all didn't think I was just coming in here saying "that album BLOWS, MAN!" like my opinion counted or anything.  It's more just a relative observation. 

Bottom line, fair or not, if that music gives you pleasure (like Tormato, Fly From Here and Magnification does for me) then it's all moot.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2016, 01:28:15 PM
Yep, good point!  I do like Magnification, and some of Tormato, such as Don't Kill The Whale.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on March 10, 2016, 07:42:09 AM
hi DTF,
I guess this this the right thread for my introduction, because I'm a big Trevor Rabin and Yes fanboy. 90125 was basically my first album and YES in 1984 my first concert experience in the Festhalle Frankfurt/Germany.

To this day Endless Dream remains my favorite song. So it's nice to see it's getting some love in here.

Do you guys know Trevor Rabins solo album Jacaranda from 2011 ? It's instrumental fusion-jazz-prog. So it's not for everybody (A friend said it sounds like Yes instrumental sections), but I consider it to be the best music coming from the Yes familiy since Talk.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 10, 2016, 08:25:22 AM
Yes indeed! I prefer the Trevor Rabin era as well. Endless Dream is my favorite Yes song also, and one of my fav songs of all time. I got to see them play that live in 1994 at The Gorge in Wahington State. A beautiful peach colored sunset behind the hills to accompany Endless Dream. Just magnificent! If I could relive any moment in my life again, that would be one of them..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2016, 08:32:48 AM
I've heard good things about Jacaranda, but still haven't heard it.  I should remedy that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 10, 2016, 08:37:05 AM
If I'm repeating myself, I apologize (I can't be arsed to go back and reread what I wrote in this thread) but the thing that kills me about the Rabin era is it is SO damn consistent.   I'm not saying every song is as good as the next, but the difference between the "best" and the "worst" is quite narrow, especially when you look at the rest of the catalogue and recognize that it has "And You And I" and "Close To The Edge" and "Arriving UFO" and "Circus of Heaven" and some of Jon's truly inane lyrics in the '90's (Janie being on "crack time" being one of them).  :)

Plus Rabin was able to get this pretty unique sound that I really really like.  Instantly recognizable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2016, 11:38:21 AM
I agree with you overall, but it's remember that it's easier to be consistent across a smaller sample set and shorter span of albums.  Rabin's band only put out three albums, the first in 1983 and the last in 1994, a relatively short period in the band's history.

It was 25 years between Close to the Edge and "crack time", during which time Jon Anderson's writing style had changed considerably.  Yeah, "crack time" is cringeworthy, but there are people who generally prefer Jon's more literal lyrics as opposed to "a seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace and rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace" which is pure gibberish.  Jon himself admits that the early lyrics were a mix of poetry, trying to create imagery which got the point across, and just throwing together syllables which fit and sounded good.

With over 20 albums across a history now nearing 50 years, I accept the relative low points if it means we get the highs.  Nothing in the Rabin years IMO comes close to "Awaken" or "Close to the Edge".  The Rabin years are very consistent, very good, but they also all sound the same to me.  Every time I put on Big Generator or Talk, in an honest attempt to become more familiar with them and hopefully appreciate them more, there are at least a few times during each album that I realize that I haven't been listening at all, and have no idea how long I'm been daydreaming.  It doesn't grab me and hold my attention.  At least 90125 has some variety.  To me, it's similar to what happened with Boston.  The first album is incredible, groundbreaking, solid cover to cover.  Then the second album came out and sounded exactly the same and broke no new ground.  Then the third album also sounded exactly the same and broke new no ground.  I tried getting into them, but the same thing happened.  I found myself daydreaming, bored with what was playing, because it was all the same.  Great sound, great songs, and still somehow boring overall.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 10, 2016, 12:17:00 PM
Nothing in the Rabin years IMO comes close to "Awaken" or "Close to the Edge". 

Fair point.  Can't argue with that at all. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Bill on March 10, 2016, 01:23:23 PM
One of the first proper bands I got into, back in the late 70s in my case. Looking forward to seeing them at The Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 27th April. My friend has had to pull out, and I have spare ticket if anyone is interested at face value. Middle of stalls, Row B I believe.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2016, 05:32:51 PM
Do you guys know Trevor Rabins solo album Jacaranda from 2011 ? It's instrumental fusion-jazz-prog. So it's not for everybody (A friend said it sounds like Yes instrumental sections), but I consider it to be the best music coming from the Yes familiy since Talk.

It's a very nice record, yes. I don't listen to that much, but whenever I do, I enjoy it a lot.  I am hoping for another Rabin solo album someday with vocals.

And welcome to the forum!  :tup :tup

Nothing in the Rabin years IMO comes close to "Awaken" or "Close to the Edge". 

Fair point.  Can't argue with that at all.

I can.

Okay, Close to the Edge is hard to top, even though it is not my favorite Yes song, but while Awaken is a good song, it doesn't deserve a mention with the best of the best from the 70s. It's a good song, no more, no less, IMO.

I think, from an epic standpoint, Endless Dream is arguably better than Awaken.  It seems weird to compare a song like Awaken to many of the pop rock tunes from the Rabin era, but I will just say that there are probably 8-10 songs from the Rabin albums that would be higher on my favorite Yes songs list than Awaken (Changes, Hearts, Shoot High Aim Low, the majority of the songs from Talk, and maybe another one or two from 90125).

It has never helped its cause, for me, that Awaken comes from an album that sounds like ass, but the live versions have never wowed me either.  It has some awesome moments, but it often seems like work to get through the whole song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2016, 08:22:06 PM
Everyone's entitled to their opinion.  I think "Awaken" is pretty much the epitome of prog, by Yes or any other band.  I know some people have trouble with the middle section, but I love it.  The slow, steady buildup is incredible.  Then it seems to break, but actually continues building, just in a different way.  Then it shifts gears and builds some more, and when it finally breaks, it's mind-blowing.

To me, anyway.  But I know I'm far from alone in that opinion.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2016, 08:32:04 PM
I love the middle section, actually.  Very soothing and great to just kick back and relax to. :coolio

I swear, whoever decided on the sound and mixing of Going for the One ought to be ashamed of himself.  Yeah, let's mix it to where is no low end and everything sounds high and super trebly.  :tdwn :tdwn
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2016, 08:55:53 PM
Supposedly there was a major fuck-up with the mastering of the album.  Dolby noise reduction was used during the recording process, and the prevailing theory is that it was never decoded when they went to create the master tape, the one from which the records were actually pressed.  I don't remember all the details, but I do know that if you record something using Dolby, then play it back without, you get a lot of high end.  Anybody who made mix tapes in the 70's knows this.  To grossly simplify things, the high end is boosted during the encoding, then reduced the same amount during the decoding, but background noise is somehow affected more by this process, so the result is the same amount of music but less noise on the final tape.  Something like that.  But somebody fucked up, and the master ended up with a shitload of high end because the Dolby was never decoded properly.  Because it was the last step in the process, it was never caught.

So yeah, the whole album sounds super bright, but remember that it was the next album after Relayer, which also bothered a lot of people.  Howe's Telecaster is brash and in your face throughout, so many assumed that Eddie Offord was just too fucking stoned to do his job right, and the band was too fucking stoned to notice or give a shit.  And that's probably not far from the truth.

As for letting it affect my opinion of the music itself, not an issue.  Turn down the treble and bump up the bass.  Use graphic or even parametric EQ if you have it.  "Going for the One" is my favorite Yes album, and really, the sound isn't that bad.  Just EQ it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2016, 09:07:27 PM
Interesting; I did not know all of that, or I might have been aware of it at some point and simply forgotten...sucks getting older. :lol

Thing is, Turn of the Century and Awaken are the only two songs from Going for the One that I ever listen to.  Parallels is a solid tune, but it's just not one I go far.  The title track features perhaps the most annoying playing of Steve Howe ever.  And Wonderous Stories isn't bad, but it's just kind of there.  For me, anyway. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on March 11, 2016, 05:05:11 AM
Quote from:KevShmev
Quote
I am hoping for another Rabin solo album someday with vocals.


I was hoping for this for years. Not that the 54 soundtracks hadn't their brilliant moments, but a rock album with vocals is the real deal.
There is a fantastic song he wrote for Bryan Adams "Never Let Go" indicating what can happen when Trevor is returning to the good old rock song structure. 

About 2 years ago Trevor announced he's working on exactly that kind of an album. In January (2016) he put that album, halfway done, on hold to finally get the Anderson Rabin Wakeman project started.

The last years release of the album from the Anderson Pointy band showed that Jon Anderson recovered quite a bit of his voice . Much more power compared to his collaboration with Wakeman The Living Tree and his solo album Survival & Other Stories. 

So I quess looking forward to another Anderson Rabin collaboration isn't exactly a cold comfort. I'm not too hot for the late Wakeman,though, but I trust Trevor to lead this project in the right direction.

 



Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 11, 2016, 08:11:50 AM
Interesting; I did not know all of that, or I might have been aware of it at some point and simply forgotten...sucks getting older. :lol

Thing is, Turn of the Century and Awaken are the only two songs from Going for the One that I ever listen to.  Parallels is a solid tune, but it's just not one I go far.  The title track features perhaps the most annoying playing of Steve Howe ever.  And Wonderous Stories isn't bad, but it's just kind of there.  For me, anyway. :)

Couple things:  Going For The One is my favorite album of all time by any band ever.  Seriously.  LOVE that album. I've come to embrace the sound.  Yeah, it's bright, but Squire's bass has always been bright, and I think it adds to what I see as the "light" and "positivity" of the album.  I know I'm off in lala land with this, but I consider that a very spiritual album, and I think it just all fits.  There are many times I have just turned out the lights, laid down on my bed and listened to Awaken on repeat in order to find some solace and peace.   My opinion only.

I also think that part at about 4:50 of Awaken, with Wakeman's synth, is one of the most epic moments in rock, and seeing it live a couple times has been an experience.  I also like the end part where Wakeman's keys just seem to keep elevating, like a circular staircase.  It helps that I have heard the studio tapes of that, where Anderson was trying to tell Wakeman what to play (or rather, the effect he wanted) and Wakeman just NAILS it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 11, 2016, 10:39:04 AM
Going For The One is my favorite album of all time by any band ever.  Seriously.  LOVE that album. I've come to embrace the sound.  Yeah, it's bright, but Squire's bass has always been bright, and I think it adds to what I see as the "light" and "positivity" of the album.  I know I'm off in lala land with this, but I consider that a very spiritual album, and I think it just all fits.

"Me too" to all of this.  Anderson has always been a very spiritual person, and has named "Awaken" many times as the epitome of what he considers Yes music to be and represent.  The lyrics, the whole thing with the pipe organ and the church choir, it's as close as you can come to religious music without coming right out and labelling it as such.  Our old lead singer (now an ordained minister) said that Yes was the most well-known Christian Rock band that no one realizes is Christian Rock.

There are many times I have just turned out the lights, laid down on my bed and listened to Awaken on repeat in order to find some solace and peace.

This too, except for the repeat part.  I kinda have a rule about not repeating songs, no matter how much I like or even love them.  I never want to tire of a song I enjoy that much, and while it rarely happens, I know it can.  Listen to a song over and over, and eventually burn yourself out on it.  I don't want that to happen to "Awaken".  It's too awesome, and even time I listen to it, it's special and amazing.  I never want to lose that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RoeDent on March 11, 2016, 02:58:08 PM
I bought my first Yes album today, appropriately titled The Yes Album. I heard Starship Trooper last year, not long after Chris Squire passed away. Fell in love with it immediately, and now I have the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 11, 2016, 03:22:57 PM
Congratulations!

You have the opportunity to start with what many consider to be the first "classic" album and proceed chronologically from there.  If you have the means and the opportunity, that is what I suggest.  This is coming from someone who's listened to Yes since 1972, and for whom Yes has been their favorite band since at least 1977.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on March 11, 2016, 09:58:31 PM
That's what I did, except I started from the very first Yes album. One of the best bands to listen to chronologically, especially up to Drama. It's like each album builds on the last until Tales, then they start deconstructing their sound album by album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 12, 2016, 10:08:16 AM
Quote from:KevShmev
Quote
I am hoping for another Rabin solo album someday with vocals.


I was hoping for this for years. Not that the 54 soundtracks hadn't their brilliant moments, but a rock album with vocals is the real deal.
There is a fantastic song he wrote for Bryan Adams "Never Let Go" indicating what can happen when Trevor is returning to the good old rock song structure. 

About 2 years ago Trevor announced he's working on exactly that kind of an album. In January (2016) he put that album, halfway done, on hold to finally get the Anderson Rabin Wakeman project started.

The last years release of the album from the Anderson Pointy band showed that Jon Anderson recovered quite a bit of his voice . Much more power compared to his collaboration with Wakeman The Living Tree and his solo album Survival & Other Stories. 

So I quess looking forward to another Anderson Rabin collaboration isn't exactly a cold comfort. I'm not too hot for the late Wakeman,though, but I trust Trevor to lead this project in the right direction.

Me too, but I still fear that this project is like 15 years too late.  I think it could still be good, but could have been better years ago when all of their creative juices were still working full time.

Going For The One is my favorite album of all time by any band ever.  Seriously.  LOVE that album. I've come to embrace the sound.  Yeah, it's bright, but Squire's bass has always been bright, and I think it adds to what I see as the "light" and "positivity" of the album.  I know I'm off in lala land with this, but I consider that a very spiritual album, and I think it just all fits.

"Me too" to all of this.  Anderson has always been a very spiritual person, and has named "Awaken" many times as the epitome of what he considers Yes music to be and represent.  The lyrics, the whole thing with the pipe organ and the church choir, it's as close as you can come to religious music without coming right out and labelling it as such.  Our old lead singer (now an ordained minister) said that Yes was the most well-known Christian Rock band that no one realizes is Christian Rock.

Wakeman's performance in Awake is definitely nothing short of spectacular. I would never disagree with that.  And again, I do like the song a lot...I just like quite a few of their songs more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 20, 2016, 11:36:07 AM
When I did the Yes discography, I listened to every album critically, which includes finding both the good and the bad.  Familiarity can bring acceptance, and after listening to Open Your Eyes a few times, I found a fair amount of good.  The songwriting wasn't great, but it didn't send me running from the room screaming or anything, and it was more Yes.  More Steve Howe's finger-lickin' pickin', more great Yes harmonies, etc.  I was fine putting it on and letting it spin.

Sure, the Keys to Ascension releases are superior, but I hate statements that are "I don't like ______ because ______ is better."  By that logic, only the best of anything can be liked, since it's better than the rest.  Keys being better has nothing to do with the worth of Open Your Eyes.

Well that is one reason it never thrilled me. I can usually find something to like about most albums and I gave it a chance (maybe not as much of a chance as most albums because of the songwriting and Billy Sherwood.)  I was really happy to see Yes inspired with the Keys and the live stuff and Open Your Eyes didn't seem very inspiring. (at least to me.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 20, 2016, 11:41:14 AM
hi DTF,
I guess this this the right thread for my introduction, because I'm a big Trevor Rabin and Yes fanboy. 90125 was basically my first album and YES in 1984 my first concert experience in the Festhalle Frankfurt/Germany.

To this day Endless Dream remains my favorite song. So it's nice to see it's getting some love in here.

Do you guys know Trevor Rabins solo album Jacaranda from 2011 ? It's instrumental fusion-jazz-prog. So it's not for everybody (A friend said it sounds like Yes instrumental sections), but I consider it to be the best music coming from the Yes familiy since Talk.

I love Jacaranda. Might be my favorite Rabin solo album ever (of the four or five I have.) Without a doubt my most listened to Rabin album. 90124 is second.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 20, 2016, 11:46:53 AM
Never got the love for Awaken than many others get. I like the album well enough and I do like it better live, but I'd definitely prefer any Rabin Yes album over it.  I'm that way with Gabriel-Genesis too. Guess I don't get it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on May 16, 2016, 11:23:21 AM
For the fans of Rabin era, I just found (maybe many of you already know this) a show on Youtube, "Yes - Full Concert - Live in Chile - Talk Tour 1994 Pro-Shot & Stereo", with very good quality like it was filmed for TV.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on May 18, 2016, 01:45:20 PM
Now I found a EXCELLENT soundboard audio boot from the same tour, "Yes - Full Concert Talk Tour 1994 (Stereo Soundboard) Remastered". The version of Endless Dream includes an extended (and wonderful) guitar solo at the end. Cool thing to notice in this recording is how better "mixed" the bass are in Rabin era songs, which IMO, almost always were low in the studio versions, for Yes standards.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 18, 2016, 01:55:00 PM
Just a suggestion, why not post the links to these vids that you find?  I know we could search them out ourselves, but if the idea is to share, it's more likely people will click a link than do the searching themselves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on May 18, 2016, 01:59:56 PM
Sorry, Orbert, I was in doubt if I was allowed to do this. I believe that there's no problem, if they are not official releases, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNqLcYNFlpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYMMam4xXv8

Edited: The page with download link that I posted isn't working.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 18, 2016, 02:01:51 PM
That's my understanding.  Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 18, 2016, 05:56:44 PM
Listening to a little now, those harmonies at the beginning of The Calling sound awesome.  That is one major advantage the Rabin era had over the Howe era: Rabin being the 3rd voice in there, along with Anderson and Squire, made the harmonies so much better.

Also, I remember them playing some of Siberian Khatru at the start of the shows on that tour, but I didn't remember them playing that much.  Pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 18, 2016, 06:10:18 PM
I Am Waiting sounded good, except for the bridge in the middle, which sounded dreadful.  Ouch.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 19, 2016, 11:29:31 AM
What do you think of "Endless Dream"?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RoeDent on May 19, 2016, 11:55:07 AM
I've had The Yes Album for a little over 2 months now, and tbh none of the other songs grab me anywhere near as much as Starship Trooper. They're alright, don't get me wrong, but Trooper is still the best song on there by a huge margin.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 19, 2016, 12:46:35 PM
^^^ The song that pushed me over the edge with respect to Yes, and still a top three all time Yes song for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 19, 2016, 01:54:16 PM
pushed me over the edge

I can see that happening if you were already close to the edge.

 :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

 :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

 :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
















 :|
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 19, 2016, 01:55:14 PM
Starship Trooper is an absolute classic and probably the best of the album but Yours Is No Disgrace is a close second.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 19, 2016, 03:37:49 PM
What do you think of "Endless Dream"?

That live version? What I heard of it (first 5 minutes) sounded good. I'll listen to the rest when I have time this weekend.

Still a top 10 Yes song, in my book.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on May 19, 2016, 05:15:22 PM
The best sounding boot that I heard from Talk Tour:
https://www.filefactory.com/file/cd6f128/n/Yes.1994-06-29.Maryland.Heights.FLAC.by.T.U.B.E.zip
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Hanz Gruber on June 06, 2016, 04:25:18 PM
Don;t know if this is the right place to post this but Jon Anderson released a snippet of his new upcoming album with Roine Stolt (Flower Kings and Transatlantic)

To me this small sample sounds more like Yes than the latest Yes album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuzdnlqWMqI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuzdnlqWMqI)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 06, 2016, 04:30:48 PM
There's a thread for the new Anderson-Stolt album Invention of Knowledge, but it's down on the third page right now. (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=46489.0)

Probably not completely inappropriate to talk about it here a bit, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on June 29, 2016, 03:08:33 PM
So, like Orbert's post, not really the RIGHT place to put this, buuuuuuuuut... just booked tickets for the Manchester date of ARW. This'll be my first "Yes" (although not technically Yes) show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 29, 2016, 03:22:00 PM
So, like Orbert's post, not really the RIGHT place to put this, buuuuuuuuut... just booked tickets for the Manchester date of ARW. This'll be my first "Yes" (although not technically Yes) show.

Well, it's Yes Music played by 3 guys who were in Yes, including a founding member (which, while it doesn't technically mean anything, the currently touring Yes doesn't have a founding member), so yeah, I'd say it's pretty Yes-like. ARW and Circa are just as much Yes as Yes can call themselves, IMO. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 29, 2016, 04:14:29 PM
I wouldn't go quite that far with Circa, although they do have a pretty strong case if they ever wanted to push it.  They did that phenomenal live Yes Medley a while back, a 40-minute tour through the history of Yes, and their lineup has multiple founding and former Yes members.  But they've always promoted their own identity first.  Usually their names comes up in discussions like "If you like classic Yes, you'll probably like..."

ARW, on the other hand, is going the opposite direction, pushing the Yes name in the tour ("An Evening of Yes Music" -- sound familiar?) and Jon Anderson shooting his mouth off about ARW being "the next understanding of Yes" and how Yes is in his blood and soul, therefore any music he makes is Yes music.  He's even said "I never really left Yes."  Yeah, right, Jon.  You quit the band twice, and sold your shares in the Yes, LLC.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 29, 2016, 07:31:47 PM
I wouldn't go quite that far with Circa, although they do have a pretty strong case if they ever wanted to push it.  They did that phenomenal live Yes Medley a while back, a 40-minute tour through the history of Yes, and their lineup has multiple founding and former Yes members.  But they've always promoted their own identity first.  Usually their names comes up in discussions like "If you like classic Yes, you'll probably like..."

True, they do have their own unique sound, but I feel like it's definitely grounded in Yes music, especially the first album, being that that line-up features all Yesmen (in some capacity). However, their new album coming out soon is four songs, and runs about 50 minutes long, which is fairly proggy and quite Yes-like (looking at albums from the 70's, at least). I'm excited to hear what Circa: does with 14 and 18 minute tracks.

ARW, on the other hand, is going the opposite direction, pushing the Yes name in the tour ("An Evening of Yes Music" -- sound familiar?) and Jon Anderson shooting his mouth off about ARW being "the next understanding of Yes" and how Yes is in his blood and soul, therefore any music he makes is Yes music.  He's even said "I never really left Yes."  Yeah, right, Jon.  You quit the band twice, and sold your shares in the Yes, LLC.

Heh, well, if Jon had gotten Bruford/Levin for ARW, you can surely bet he'd be touting the Yes banner even higher, though I still stand that had he gotten them to play with him, their name should've been BRAWL. I'll be interested to see which Yessongs they play on tour, and how their over-all sound develops (as well as who else they get to play with them). I'd be more interested if they decide to make some NEW music in the studio.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2016, 07:38:31 AM
It's hard to even say what the direction is for ARW, since the three of them have said different things in various interviews and press releases, some contradictory to others.  First they were getting together to make some music, which everyone assumed meant a new album, then it was more about the tour, then it was still just in the planning stages and they were passing ideas back and forth over the Internet (Wakeman's in England, Rabin's in L.A., and Anderson is somewhere between here and Alpha Centauri) so maybe everything they'd said up to that point was all hype anyway.

Now they're putting together tour dates, they still haven't actually collaborated or rehearsed anything together, but apparently the idea is to put a new spin on Yes favorites, and that's the "new" part.  So all anyone can do is speculate right now.

Rabin and Wakeman have wanted to work together since before Union, and were looking forward to working together on an album after Union (the album which ultimately became Talk) but the suits put the kibosh on that.  So 20 years later, they're finally doing something, with Jon Anderson as the go-between, so to speak, being the one who's worked with both of them already.  Some believe that Chris Squire's passing last year, which ended any hope of a "re-Union" of any given lineup, is what prompted Rabin and Wakeman to realize that time is finite, life is finite, and if they're going to do this, they need to get off their asses and do it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 30, 2016, 07:43:45 AM
ARW, on the other hand, is going the opposite direction, pushing the Yes name in the tour ("An Evening of Yes Music" -- sound familiar?) and Jon Anderson shooting his mouth off about ARW being "the next understanding of Yes" and how Yes is in his blood and soul, therefore any music he makes is Yes music.  He's even said "I never really left Yes."  Yeah, right, Jon.  You quit the band twice, and sold your shares in the Yes, LLC.

That is kind of disingenuous.  I know Jon is not a minor member (he was the driver behind Tales, for example) but his latter years work with them was, in my opinion, phoned in.   I think Rabin has more claim at this point to the Yes name than Anderson does.

I just got Rabin's first solo album, Face To Face, and Can't Look Away, and while the first one sucks (godDAMN are those some bad lyrics), if you didn't know better and played the four Rabin songs from Union next to about half of CLA, you wouldn't be able to tell they were different ALBUMS let alone different bands. 

Personally, I would consider ARW as valid as any other Yes offshoot, but in my not-so-humble opinion, if it doesn't have Chris Squire (and particularly his vocal harmonies) it's not TRULY Yes.  Though I've had to change my tune before (I always thought there couldn't possibly be a Deep Purple without Ritchie Blackmore, but alas the current incarnation sounds pretty damn good). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2016, 10:10:49 AM
Rabin's work has a particular sound, focused much more narrowly than the "Yes sound" which varies wildly.  That's not surprising of course, since Yes has had dozens of lineups over 40 or 50 years, and Rabin's work is always just Rabin's work.  It's him, with maybe 10% or 20% contributions from others, tops, regardless of what the credits say, and often less than that.  So while I haven't listened to Can't Look Away in a long time, it makes sense that it sounds just like his Union tracks.

I wouldn't go so far as to give him the Yes torch, though, if it came down to a wrestling match between him and Anderson.  Anderson founded the band, and he was in it before, during and after Rabin.  The late 90's stuff wasn't on the same level as the 70's stuff, but there's good stuff on Keys to Ascension I and II, and The Ladder, that was clearly driven by Anderson, and Magnification was definitely his baby.  I don't detect any "phoning it in" on any of those releases, the last ones he did with Yes.  Even Open Your Eyes, which was mostly driven by Squire, has some good stuff, and Anderson seems as strong as ever.

Rabin made three albums with Yes, three very good albums, I'll give him that, but he made it clear that that band was never meant to be Yes, and I while it can't help but sound Yessish because of the personnel, especially Jon's voice, I don't think that that gives Rabin anything over Jon.  Not that he ever would, but even if Rabin decided to make a new album and call it a Yes album, it wouldn't be Yes unless Jon was on it.

If ARW ever releases an album, I'll probably file it with Yes, just as ABWH and the ABWH live album are filed with Yes.  But Rabin's solo work is just Rabin's solo work to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 30, 2016, 10:17:49 AM
Those are all fair points, well articulated.   I would argue with "The Ladder" not being phoned in.   "Open Your Eyes" is my least favorite of the catalogue, and "The Ladder" is one rung above that.  Pun intended.   I know there is really no way to discern between the two, but I like the Jon of "Dreamer easy in the chair that really fits you" and the Jon that made Rick play that swirling end to Awaken a brazillion times so that it really DID sound like a spiral stairway to heaven, and I really don't like the Jon of "Shirley's on crack time" and "Hep Yadda".   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 30, 2016, 10:42:35 AM
Yeah, "crack time" will live forever in infamy among Yesfans.  Jon got into a lot of other styles and genres as time went on, as all musicians do, but the problem was his wanting to bring those influences back to Yes, where they didn't always fit.  That might sound more negative than it is.  In general, I like bands trying new things, pushing in different directions, so maybe the problem I have (and apparently a lot of Yesfans have) is that I just don't like those other sounds that Jon tried to bring to Yes.  I don't want world music or neo-reggae or with my Yes, and I prefer ethereal poetry to literal lyrics about first-world problems.

I'm not a big fan of The Ladder, either, but I do know that a lot of people like it and consider it a return to form, as long as you skip certain songs.  I'm just glad to live in the 21st century, where everything has a Skip button!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on June 30, 2016, 10:54:41 AM
I'm not a big fan of The Ladder

Now, here is where we disagree. I would go as far as to say that The Ladder makes my top 5, behind CTTE, Fragile and Drama. Much like some of Rabin's work, I find some of the lyrics on The Ladder cheesy (cough, Lightning Strikes, cough) I don't think there is an inherently bad song on the record, and hey, who doesn't love a bit of cheese?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on June 30, 2016, 11:49:20 AM
I never had the impression that Anderson phoned it in, even though I don't really like The Ladder or Magnification. If there was one who could be blamed of phoning it in, for me it would be Steve Howe. I get the impression that when he's not really behind the music he just noodles along, whereas when he's behind it he comes up with interesting licks and riffs. His later style is often just soloing over everything but sometimes it gets really annoying.

Re Rabin: he's not Yes and he wouldn't clame to be. He was a big part and I really like the three records, probably more than most but like Orbert says, that was mostly him with a little bit of Anderson. If Anderson had sung on Can't Look Away it would be a great Yes-West album.

And if ARW release new music I would also file it in the Yes vincinity, just like ABWH and Anderson/Stolt.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 02, 2016, 09:28:53 AM


I just got Rabin's first solo album, Face To Face, and Can't Look Away, and while the first one sucks (godDAMN are those some bad lyrics), if you didn't know better and played the four Rabin songs from Union next to about half of CLA, you wouldn't be able to tell they were different ALBUMS let alone different bands. 
 

 :(  I like the first album a lot.  The lyrics aren't great, and there are a few throwaways, but the first four songs, Stay with Me and Painted Picture are all really good musically.

I agree about some of this stuff sounded very Yes-ish, though, and for obvious reasons.  He was, by most accounts, the band's main songwriter during his tenure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 09, 2016, 11:39:13 PM
For any fans of CIRCA:, the band's new album is now out. It's four tracks, ranging from 7 minutes to nearly 19 minutes, totaling just above 50 minutes.

The music is VERY CIRCA:, and if you've enjoyed ANY of their previous albums, you'll definitely enjoy this one. There's a lot of fresh ideas on here that are performed in a way that is still very CIRCA: but with a bit more Yes-flair in my ears. The band rocking pretty hard on this one, and I'm enjoying the longer tracks, the opener and the closer. Nice to see this Yes-offshoot flex their prog muscles a bit more. These guys deserve more recognition than they get.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on July 10, 2016, 09:32:57 AM
I'd seen on Billy's facebook that they were working on a new record. Didn't know it was out. I'll definitely check it out if they're going more "prog". I have the first album, and didn't mind it. Haven't heard anything off any releases other than that, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 10, 2016, 07:29:43 PM
Cool!  I like Circa, and look forward to hearing the new stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 10, 2016, 07:35:05 AM
Tales from Topographic Oceans 3 CDs + Blu-ray with 5.1 mix by Steven Wilson (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Topographic-Oceans-3CD-1Blu-Ray/dp/B01J3JWTIE/ref=pd_ybh_a_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z7F77XWZY4A8ZYFABSG9)

September 30, 2016


Presumably there will be less elaborate packages also created, but maybe not.  There haven't been other versions of the previous SW 5.1 remixes.  Also, for as nice of a package this is, the price isn't bad at all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on August 10, 2016, 08:18:13 AM
I might get this. I don't have the album on CD and Tales in 5.1 sounds like a very immersive experience.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on August 10, 2016, 08:35:53 AM
I don't have Tales on CD either, so I'll probably pick it up. I absolutely love the 5.1 mixes of Fragile. Steven Wilson does a great job.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 10, 2016, 10:11:42 AM
I've never pre-ordered anything before.  For me, nothing so incredibly important that I must have it as soon as humanly possible.  But this price actually seems too low, and I know that if you pre-order, Amazon will honor the price, even if they figure out that three CDs and a Blu-ray for the same price as a regular CD is wrong.  So I'm thinking of maybe pre-ordering just to lock in the price.

Presumably everybody has heard by now, but all of the Steven Wilson 5.1 mixes are just plain amazing.  I have all the Yes ones so far, and will definitely be adding this one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on August 10, 2016, 10:41:12 AM
Orbert, you may already be aware, but your link is to amazon UK and that price is in GBP (and free shipping is only in the UK)

here is the link to the Burning Shed preorder for 27.95 USD plus shipping = 35.75 USD

https://www.burningshed.com/store/progressive/product/494/7824/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 10, 2016, 11:04:48 AM
I was aware, but someone on the Yesfans boards was saying that with the exchange rate, it still works out pretty cheap.  I didn't bother doing the math.  My understanding is that Burning Shed has higher prices in general, although there is some virtue in supporting them and giving Amazon some competition.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytsejam58 on August 12, 2016, 02:39:29 AM
To me it goes like this. 1.Rush 2.Dream Theater 3.Yes.
Not to say that one is better than the other but... Rush, I love their entire discography from end to end and each album feels like a completely different experience while still being Rush. Dream Theater took a lot of influence from Rush and, while I do love a majority of their catalogue, there is still a good few songs I would rather just skip.... and The Astonishing -shivers-.
Yes, I loved up until Going for the One. I don't know, maybe it was the shift from Roger Dean's art to... someone else. Maybe it felt like it was steering away from prog and more towards pop. Tormato I don't hate but it's not what I know Yes to be.
I feel like Drama was a good return back to form. I personally love Drama and the artwork was once again done by Roger Dean. Woo! Next was 90125 and that felt like their Moving Pictures. Every song had a mixture of pop and prog in it and every song from end to end was gorgeous. Kind of reminds me Songs from the Big Chair as well.
I never got a chance to listen to Big Generator or Talk, or Open Your Eyes so I can't judge them. But I know I was never a huge fan on Union or the Anderson Buford Wakeman Howe album. Magnification I know was a derisive album for fans. Some hated it, some loved it. I loved it. I felt it was a really relaxing album all together with its moments of prog. Like Spirit of Survival and Dreamtime. I loved the inclusion of a full symphony. Made it sound fuller. Again, it has a lot to do with the time I was listening to the album as well. It's just very nostalgic for me.
Oh yeah, The Ladder and Keys to Ascension. The Ladder felt too Regae for me and Keys to Ascension was an odd mixture of live stuff and studio stuff. Why wouldn't they just put the studio stuff on one CD and call it an album?
Fly From Here was actually my first Yes song that got me obsessed with Yes in the first place! I heard it from the long gone Prog Rock Block (They haven't been active since around the time Clockwork Angels was new) the album as a whole was OK but I still love Fly From Here. Heaven and Earth isn't as bad as I thought it was but.... yes it's a very boring album. Even the proggy ending song didn't really do anything for anyone.
Yes and Time and a Word feel like the "Before Yes" era leading up to The Yes Album. so from The Yes Album, Fragile, Closer to the Edge, Yessongs (I will include it because it's important), Tales, Relayer, Drama, and then Fly From Here is my definitive collection of great Yes music. Magnification is a personal favorite and the rest are just kinda meh.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on August 13, 2016, 11:40:05 AM
I would strongly recommend Big Generator and Talk. Very important albums..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on August 13, 2016, 04:28:30 PM
Oh yeah, The Ladder and Keys to Ascension. The Ladder felt too Regae for me and Keys to Ascension was an odd mixture of live stuff and studio stuff. Why wouldn't they just put the studio stuff on one CD and call it an album?
I might be wrong, but I understand that the 2 studio songs in the first volume of Keys To Ascension were recorded in late '95, before the reunion shows in '96. The studio songs in the second volume were recorded in late '96, after the first volume had been released. That said, they did put the studio stuff on one CD - called Keystudio, released in 2001.

Do you find The Ladder too reggae-y? I used to listen to that album a lot in 2008/9, and I remember only one song ("The Messenger") felt reggae-y to me. I like that album a lot. "Homeworld", "Lightning Strikes", "If Only You Knew", "Finally"... so many great songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on August 13, 2016, 04:42:50 PM
I've said before, but I'll say it again, as it's come up. The Ladder is one of my favourite Yes albums. Every song is just so... fun. I think every member of the band seemed to be at a really positive time in their lives, and they seemed very happy to be working together. A couple of the songs do have a very reggae vibe, but I like that (then again, I like reggae, so, hey)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 15, 2016, 07:32:02 AM
The Ladder and Open Your Eyes are my two least favorite Yes albums in the catalogue (and for comparison, Going For The One is my favorite album by any band ever). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on August 15, 2016, 10:59:47 AM
The Ladder is also one of my favorite Yes albums, easily the best post-Drama release. It does sound extremely uplifting and positive for the most part, and also features two of their all time best songs - Homeworld and New languages. I also adore the shorter, fun tracks such as Finally, It will be a good day, If only you knew, Nine voices. Such a consistent, entertaining listen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 15, 2016, 02:04:48 PM
The Ladder is also one of my favorite Yes albums, easily the best post-Drama release. It does sound extremely uplifting and positive for the most part, and also features two of their all time best songs - Homeworld and New languages. I also adore the shorter, fun tracks such as Finally, It will be a good day, If only you knew, Nine voices. Such a consistent, entertaining listen.

I guess "best" now means "my favorite", because on any standard except "my favorite", there is no way The Ladder beats out the likes of 90210, Big Penetrator, Talk, either of the Keys studio works, or Magnification for "best post-Drama release".   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on August 15, 2016, 02:52:07 PM
The Ladder is also one of my favorite Yes albums, easily the best post-Drama release. It does sound extremely uplifting and positive for the most part, and also features two of their all time best songs - Homeworld and New languages. I also adore the shorter, fun tracks such as Finally, It will be a good day, If only you knew, Nine voices. Such a consistent, entertaining listen.

I guess "best" now means "my favorite", because on any standard except "my favorite", there is no way The Ladder beats out the likes of 90210, Big Penetrator, Talk, either of the Keys studio works, or Magnification for "best post-Drama release".
I think it beats Big Generator and Talk. Probably on par with 90125. I could never get into Keys or Magnification asides from a couple of tracks. (IMO)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytsejam58 on August 16, 2016, 05:50:22 AM
I had a Ladder phaze when I was getting into Yes more. I would binge the albums while working on long school projects. I did enjoy it but I never returned to it much like I did Close to the Edge and Relayer. I need to get into Big Generator and Talk, if I find it on youtube somewhere or something. Even just out of curiosity, what's the general consensus on Heaven and Earth?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SebastianPratesi on August 16, 2016, 06:11:07 AM
Even just out of curiosity, what's the general consensus on Heaven and Earth?
Here, and in a Yes forum, I've read a lot of opinions about how weak it is - most people agree that there is very little energy and dynamics throughout the album. I love the first song, but otherwise I find it boring too.

That said, (most of) the guys were in their mid '60s when they recorded it, so it makes sense - maybe they intentionally went for a softer approach.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on August 16, 2016, 08:32:31 AM
Only Yes album I still haven't been able to finish.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 16, 2016, 09:54:14 AM
Heaven and Earth was disappointing for a couple of reasons.  It was the first album from the latest lineup, so people were naturally excited to check it out anyway.  Also, the band had just come off a three-album tour featuring classic albums that kicked ass.  I assumed that somehow playing through those classic albums would put the band into a mindset similar to where they were in the 70's, and the music they subsequently wrote would reflect that.  Not really a fair assumption, but not that ridiculous.  The biggest stretch was probably that Jon Davison sounds the most like Jon Anderson of anyone else other than Anderson himself, acts like him onstage, has the same "spiritual presence" and hey, he even spells his name the same way.  When we heard that he was also a songwriter and was working with Squire and Howe on new music, somehow I assumed that the results would be similar.  Yeah, dumb to think that, eh?

What we got was an album of very nice music, I mean it all sounds great, but honestly it's boring as fuck.  No energy, nothing uptempo.  I wasn't expecting an entire album of "Tempus Fugit" but I also wasn't expecting a CD of elevator music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on August 16, 2016, 04:43:26 PM
Yes isn't Yes without Jon Anderson or Chris Squire. I am keenly looking forward to the new release coming from Anderson, Wakeman, and Rabin.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 16, 2016, 10:17:29 PM
Heaven and Earth was disappointing for a couple of reasons.  It was the first album from the latest lineup, so people were naturally excited to check it out anyway.  Also, the band had just come off a three-album tour featuring classic albums that kicked ass.  I assumed that somehow playing through those classic albums would put the band into a mindset similar to where they were in the 70's, and the music they subsequently wrote would reflect that.  Not really a fair assumption, but not that ridiculous.  The biggest stretch was probably that Jon Davison sounds the most like Jon Anderson of anyone else other than Anderson himself, acts like him onstage, has the same "spiritual presence" and hey, he even spells his name the same way.  When we heard that he was also a songwriter and was working with Squire and Howe on new music, somehow I assumed that the results would be similar.  Yeah, dumb to think that, eh?

What we got was an album of very nice music, I mean it all sounds great, but honestly it's boring as fuck.  No energy, nothing uptempo.  I wasn't expecting an entire album of "Tempus Fugit" but I also wasn't expecting a CD of elevator music.

If they ever make another album, I hope there's more of Downes in the writing, and perhaps even input from White, if he's well enough by then, just to vary things up a bit. Downes' only writing credit on H&E was part of "Subway Walls", and that was easily my favorite track on the album.

Compared to this, Fly From Here feels like a B+/A- album, and even while *I* personally liked it, it wasn't so well-received by many fans (I don't think, at least at the time of its release - opinions may have changed since then), but with the way Heaven & Earth turned out, the previous album has way more of that unique Yes-sound that I enjoy than H&E did.

I kind of hope that Yes put out just ONE MORE album, and throw in all of their best material and take it up a notch, just to say "Hey, this is it, this is the last one, so we're giving it all we've got" and just call it a day with one last album, one last tour, and hang up the towel.

Alternatively, if they want to continue the tradition of making Yes the type of revolving-door band, keep Howe and Downes, maybe Sherwood (who is pretty damn good on the latest CIRCA: album release last month), and write some fresh material. If White isn't up to it, find a fresher drummer, or just keep Schellen, who has worked with both Downes and Sherwood, in Asian and CIRCA: respectively, and already has some chemistry with the band.

With the exception of Jon Davison, the rest of the band consists of 3 members of Asia and  2 members of CIRCA:/Yoso, so they've definitely got some pretty good chops, and recent albums by Asia have been fairly good. I think this current band, with Davison/Howe/Downes/Sherwood/Schellen, could turn out one great record. I'd be excited to see how it would turn out.

If not, maybe they should just "pass the torch" and slowly revolve out older Yesmen and bring in new ones, but with White currently out, if Howe left, I wonder if anyone would still go see their concerts? The cries of Yesfans saying that it'd just be another "Yes Tribute Band" wouldn't be unreasonable, but then again, every iteration of Yes is technically a Yes Cover band when you think about it...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on August 17, 2016, 04:58:35 AM
I would love to see Yes write another record. Like Marc, I think it would be good to not leave the majority of the writing to Davidson/Howe. Interestingly, White also wrote the song "To Ascend" (or at least some of it) along with Davidson, as well as Subway Walls, and To Ascend is one of my favourites on the whole album. As someone who could never really get into Fly From Here, I didn't mind Heaven and Earth. General consensus with the fans seems to be one of love/hate. To continue on what Marc said, I really do like the idea of Yes being a revolving-door style band. I think that that might have something to do with me being a teenager, many of the bands I love are no longer together, so to have the band continue for a longer time (albeit without the members of the classic lineup) performing songs that I truly love, at least under the name of the original artist, would be fantastic. I do wonder if many of the people who have already seen Yes live before would even contemplate it again without Howe and White being there, however.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 17, 2016, 08:04:16 AM
First, I generally don't engage in the "[Insert band]-cover band" conversations.   There are great bands - Deep Purple for one - that are not technically "original members" but are still viable.   I've enjoyed several Sabbath that were basically Iommi solo albums. 

There are, however, bands that have members that for me bring critical mass to the proceedings.   Purple was my favorite band ever (because of Blackmore).  I like the post-Blackmore material, and it is case-by-case as to whether I'll continue on, but in contrast, DT is not the same for me without Mike (I'm not trying to open a can here, it just "is").  I don't care about Ace and Peter in or out of Kiss - I actually think the band is better WITHOUT Peter - but I can't imagine Genesis without Tony Banks.   Bruce Dickinson is the greatest metal singer ever in my opinoin, but I love the two Di'Anno albums, and can't stand the two Blaze albums.   

The point of all this is to say... I can live with no Jon, no Rick, no Bill, no Alan, no Steve... but I need proof that this is a sustainable unit without Chris Squire.   I loved Fly From Here (Into The Storm is the best Yes track since Tempus Fugit) but I felt Chris was missing on H&E, and, well, he's really missing now.  We'll see.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 17, 2016, 10:23:09 AM
First, I generally don't engage in the "[Insert band]-cover band" conversations.   There are great bands - Deep Purple for one - that are not technically "original members" but are still viable.   I've enjoyed several Sabbath that were basically Iommi solo albums. 

There are, however, bands that have members that for me bring critical mass to the proceedings.   Purple was my favorite band ever (because of Blackmore).  I like the post-Blackmore material, and it is case-by-case as to whether I'll continue on, but in contrast, DT is not the same for me without Mike (I'm not trying to open a can here, it just "is").  I don't care about Ace and Peter in or out of Kiss - I actually think the band is better WITHOUT Peter - but I can't imagine Genesis without Tony Banks.   Bruce Dickinson is the greatest metal singer ever in my opinoin, but I love the two Di'Anno albums, and can't stand the two Blaze albums.   

The point of all this is to say... I can live with no Jon, no Rick, no Bill, no Alan, no Steve... but I need proof that this is a sustainable unit without Chris Squire.   I loved Fly From Here (Into The Storm is the best Yes track since Tempus Fugit) but I felt Chris was missing on H&E, and, well, he's really missing now.  We'll see.

Chris' presence is definitely missed, though I think if they wrote an album with Billy Sherwood, he'd fill those shoes adequately enough, IMO. His work with CIRCA: has been nothing short of amazing, and he's a pretty good guitarist and bassist, not too mention vocalist, so he'd be able to pull off amazing harmonies with Steve and Jon.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on August 17, 2016, 11:19:01 AM
The Ladder is also one of my favorite Yes albums, easily the best post-Drama release. It does sound extremely uplifting and positive for the most part, and also features two of their all time best songs - Homeworld and New languages. I also adore the shorter, fun tracks such as Finally, It will be a good day, If only you knew, Nine voices. Such a consistent, entertaining listen.

I guess "best" now means "my favorite", because on any standard except "my favorite", there is no way The Ladder beats out the likes of 90210, Big Penetrator, Talk, either of the Keys studio works, or Magnification for "best post-Drama release".
That's why "my favorite" is in the post. That's actually the only standard there is, by the way. And as far as I'm concerned, it surpasses albums like Magnification, 90125 and Talk by quite a bit. Even though I like those as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on August 17, 2016, 11:23:22 AM
First, I generally don't engage in the "[Insert band]-cover band" conversations.   There are great bands - Deep Purple for one - that are not technically "original members" but are still viable.   I've enjoyed several Sabbath that were basically Iommi solo albums. 

There are, however, bands that have members that for me bring critical mass to the proceedings.   Purple was my favorite band ever (because of Blackmore).  I like the post-Blackmore material, and it is case-by-case as to whether I'll continue on, but in contrast, DT is not the same for me without Mike (I'm not trying to open a can here, it just "is").  I don't care about Ace and Peter in or out of Kiss - I actually think the band is better WITHOUT Peter - but I can't imagine Genesis without Tony Banks.   Bruce Dickinson is the greatest metal singer ever in my opinoin, but I love the two Di'Anno albums, and can't stand the two Blaze albums.   

The point of all this is to say... I can live with no Jon, no Rick, no Bill, no Alan, no Steve... but I need proof that this is a sustainable unit without Chris Squire.   I loved Fly From Here (Into The Storm is the best Yes track since Tempus Fugit) but I felt Chris was missing on H&E, and, well, he's really missing now.  We'll see.

Chris' presence is definitely missed, though I think if they wrote an album with Billy Sherwood, he'd fill those shoes adequately enough, IMO. His work with CIRCA: has been nothing short of amazing, and he's a pretty good guitarist and bassist, not too mention vocalist, so he'd be able to pull off amazing harmonies with Steve and Jon.

-Marc.

I miss Chris more than words can say, honestly. Live at Mesa is something I watch very regularly just because it's the last official release with him on it. I do think Billy is doing a freaking fantastic job, though. (although I do wish he'd play a Rick) I think an album with him on bass would do me just fine.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytsejam58 on August 17, 2016, 12:05:51 PM
Yeah, I was really sad to hear about Chris Squire. All this around the time Keith Emerson and Prince passed away too. So many great musicians are falling.
But chris's bass work has always been a favorite thing about Yes for me. It was such a unique sound.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on September 01, 2016, 07:03:32 AM
Man, I really love this live version of 'Onward'. It's much better than the studio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ_UvogGQ_A
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 01, 2016, 08:48:40 PM
Man, I really love this live version of 'Onward'. It's much better than the studio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ_UvogGQ_A

I can't see what it is, but is that the live version from Keys?  If it is, I totally agree.  Fantastic version of a song I never gave much thought to prior to hearing that version (largely because Tormato is such utter shit that I blocked most of it out :lol).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on September 02, 2016, 03:30:11 AM
Yeah it's live from 1996 so I guess it's from Keys.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: theanalogkid7 on January 21, 2017, 11:52:52 PM
Does anyone know why I can't find a copy of the Close to the Edge Blu-Ray mix from 2014 anywhere?  Amazon has used copies and some imports from Japan, but that seems to be it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 22, 2017, 06:47:11 AM
The Steven Wilson 5.1 Blu-ray?  Those were all limited editions.  The market for 5.1 music still isn't really taking off.  If you can't find one, I'm sure it's because all the ones they made were sold.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on January 22, 2017, 08:38:09 AM
I just picked up TFTO and Relayer.   I didn't realize that they would disappear.   Maybe I need to put the other three higher on my queue.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on January 22, 2017, 09:36:50 AM
 Oh my wow! I'm just now listening to Relayer  for the first time in the car! I can't believe what a difference this remaster makes!  I always felt that this was possibly Yes'  greatest album buried in a horrible mix.  Steven Wilson just saved this album!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RoeDent on January 22, 2017, 10:34:28 AM
Thanks for resurrecting this thread! I could not find it. Now I can talk a bit more properly about the fact I've started to get into Yes in the last few months. I got The Yes Album last February, mainly for Starship Trooper, but the interest really started when I bought Fragile in September. What an incredible album! I even love all the shorter tracks, even We Have Heaven, which kind of annoyed me a bit on first listen. Now I just lose myself in it. My favourite off Fragile though is South Side of the Sky. Really catchy, and I often have it stuck in my head.

I picked up Relayer and Close to the Edge in the space of a few weeks in Nov/Dec. The song Close to the Edge absolutely deserves the hype. That pipe organ part c. 12 mins in is extraordinary! And Siberian Khatru is just GROOVY! I had no idea that Yes could groove like that!

Sad that it took the death of Chris Squire to give me the kick up the backside I needed to give Yes' music a try, but I'm so glad I did now! Onwards on the road of discovery I go!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 22, 2017, 01:38:30 PM
Does anyone know why I can't find a copy of the Close to the Edge Blu-Ray mix from 2014 anywhere?  Amazon has used copies and some imports from Japan, but that seems to be it.

Where are you? I just bought it about a month ago.  I think it was a vendor on eBay, but it was a new copy. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 22, 2017, 09:14:55 PM
The 5.1 Blu-rays are all fantastic.  And the remastered CDs sound kickass as well.  Relayer gets the "most improved" award from me, because I've always liked it, but never really got completely into it like I did with Close to the Edge and even Tales from Topographic Oceans.  Now it's right up there, too.  It just sounds freaking amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 24, 2017, 05:45:01 PM
I never had a problem with the sound of Relayer to begin with. Guess I'll need to track down a copy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 24, 2017, 06:15:16 PM
For me, the biggie is that SW omitted the war noises and sound effects during the "battle scene" in "The Gates of Delirium".  I know what they were originally going for, how war is loud and confusing and stuff, but I always thought it was a bit too much and for me it detracted from the song.  I'd rather hear what the guys are playing.  SW apparently felt the same way.

But in general, as with all of the SW remasters, it's the clarity.  Howe's Telecaster is still harsh and brash, as it should be, but it somehow doesn't hurt my ears any more.  Everything sounds cleaner in general.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on January 24, 2017, 08:23:04 PM
I'll have to check that out. I love Relayer but the production is really harsh. I like the battle sounds though, disappointed that they are taken out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on January 24, 2017, 08:31:16 PM
NUH UHH!!!!   I just bought the thing and blasted it in the car!   They are TOTALLY there!  They are much more balanced in the mix so that they don't drown out the music (I feel the original mix suffered from that), but they are NOT "removed"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 25, 2017, 07:28:57 AM
Interesting.  I'll be honest, I found myself liking "Gates of Delirium" a lot more, and wasn't exactly sure why, other than that I thought it sounded fantastic.  I saw some comments about the sound effects being removed, and realized that I didn't remember hearing them, and certainly didn't miss them.

Gonna have to listen to it again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 27, 2017, 08:07:44 PM
Even though the Rock and Roll HOF sucks, it's cool to see that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will be the ones inducting Yes. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 27, 2017, 09:41:47 PM
I hadn't heard that.  Very cool indeed!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 28, 2017, 06:24:18 AM
For me, the biggie is that SW omitted the war noises and sound effects during the "battle scene" in "The Gates of Delirium".  I know what they were originally going for, how war is loud and confusing and stuff, but I always thought it was a bit too much and for me it detracted from the song.  I'd rather hear what the guys are playing.  SW apparently felt the same way.
Wow. I haven't heard Steven's remastered versions, but if I hadn't known this and listened to it for the first time, I would have been very disappointed not to hear the noises. I love those bits.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 28, 2017, 08:04:34 AM
Well, The Dude says they're still there, just mixed a bit lower so they're not so distracting.  I listened again yesterday, and again was not distracted by them.  That is, I again don't remember hearing them.  But it's also possible that I'm so used to hearing them that I just don't notice any more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on January 28, 2017, 09:14:55 AM
One of the other things I liked is that Howe's solo after the war section doesn't hurt any more.

Playing high shouldn't "shriek" like nails on a chalkboard. The old version always hurt my ears. SW must have slightly tweaked the EQ's, because it didn't hurt any more. ...or maybe I'm just getting numb. LOL
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 28, 2017, 11:11:39 AM
Yeah, that's what I meant about Howe's Telecaster sound.  Still harsh and brash, as he intended it to be, but not painfully so.  It cuts through, but doesn't make me go "damn, Steve!"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 28, 2017, 12:47:35 PM
That is my beef with his tone in Going for the One (the song) and the first part of The Ancient; it's like nails on the chalkboard in both cases.  I never listen to either song for that very reason (not that I think either song is that good anyway).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on January 28, 2017, 01:21:12 PM
As much as I like Yes and Howe's playing, I've never cared for any of his guitar tones.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 28, 2017, 06:07:14 PM
As much as I like Yes and Howe's playing, I've never cared for any of his guitar tones.
Agreed, his acoustic stuff sounds great, but he's a bit too much of a traditionalist on his electric tones.
 I like Trevor Rabin"s tone and style on the electric alot more..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 28, 2017, 08:01:25 PM
Howe is definitely different, and is definitely challenging sometimes.  I think that's on purpose.  He's throwing some pretty crazy shit out there, and I think it's amazing, but I can see how some people might not dig it, dig it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 29, 2017, 07:09:13 AM
Steve Howe is an INSANE guitarist!! He has his own voice on the guitar, Rabin is just one of thousands of shredders. Howes playing on Relayer and Tales (Ancient!!!) is unbelievable. Relayer is one of my 3 favorite albums of all time.

I am very happy that this band is being introduced into the RRHOF, especially that Geddy and Alex do. it.

Another thing: I have seen various albums by YES on "new" vinyls. But they were mostly albums that no one needs anymore on vinyl tbh.. Union, Open your Eyes... are there any plans for a remastered RELAYER vinyl release? I only know the original master from my Vinyl and the remastered CD from the 90s or so. I would love Stevens master on vinyl.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 29, 2017, 08:02:45 AM
I think it does a disservice to Rabin to refer to him as "just one of thousands of shredders"; how many of those other shredders have Rabin's songwriting skills?

That said, Howe's style is definitely much more awesome and far more unique.  Even though he has had those moments where his tone does make me want to cover my ears, when he nails it, he crushes it out of the park.  I can't think of any rock guitarist I would rather hear play an acoustic.

Anyone else a big fan of his solo album, Turbulence? I started a thread about it a while back, but got almost no feedback, which really surprised me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on January 29, 2017, 08:07:29 AM
Not once have I ever thought of Rabin as a shredder.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lepprador on January 29, 2017, 08:09:47 AM
Rabin is just one of thousands of shredders.

No way, good sir, you just can't put it this way. Rabin can shred, but he also can create harmonies, melodies and riffs 99% of the guitar playing earth dwellers can only dream of.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 29, 2017, 10:20:07 AM
I said that because we were talking about Howe and Rabin as instrumentalists. Although I don't really like most Yes stuff after 1980, I know that he has great songwriting skills and wrote a lot of good film music. But when you watch the Union Live DVD, for example Yours Is No Disgrace, I think it's very clear to see that Howe is convincing with his tone and unique way of playing, while Rabin.., well, shreds.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on January 29, 2017, 10:27:34 AM
To assess Rabin's guitar playing, you have to use the songs in which he played the studio version and composed the guitar parts. He did not shred in the Rabin-era epic Endless Dream, or in the 1990s Rabin-era hit, Lift Me Up, or in songs in his solo album I Can't Look Away.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 29, 2017, 10:28:33 AM
Yours Is No Disgrace is a Howe song.  Flip that around and watch Howe try to play Owner of a Lonely Heart; he butchers it every single time.  And why?  Because his style is not really suited for that song, just like Rabin's style isn't really suited for a lot of the classic 70s Yes material.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 29, 2017, 01:12:03 PM
Yours Is No Disgrace is a Howe song.  Flip that around and watch Howe try to play Owner of a Lonely Heart; he butchers it every single time.  And why?  Because his style is not really suited for that song, just like Rabin's style isn't really suited for a lot of the classic 70s Yes material.
This!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on January 29, 2017, 02:17:00 PM
Howe and Rabin are polar opposites. Even as a casual Yes fan I could tell Owner of a Lonely Heart wasn't him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 29, 2017, 03:57:21 PM
I have always really liked Howe and Rabin both! Two different styles that both compliment Yes' music very well. While I'm personally more of a Rabin fan, it doesn't mean Howe is less talented. Both are up there with my favorite guitar players of all time, from one of the best bands bands of all time!  :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 30, 2017, 07:08:24 AM
Steve Howe is an INSANE guitarist!! He has his own voice on the guitar, Rabin is just one of thousands of shredders. Howes playing on Relayer and Tales (Ancient!!!) is unbelievable. Relayer is one of my 3 favorite albums of all time.


I can't get behind this at all.  Steve Howe is one of a few talents on the instrument - virtuoso in every sense of the word, but in my humble opinion - except for lyrics, what Rabin lacks in stylists variations, he more than makes up for in compositional skills.   If anyone doubts Rabin's instrumental proficiency (or dismisses him as "one of thousands of shredders") you HAVE to hear  his solo album, Jacaranda.   Blew me away like very little of Howe's solo work ever did. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lepprador on January 30, 2017, 07:32:12 AM
Jacaranda is so damn bloody good. It showed how Rabin matured without cheap hit ambitions.
In an interview Rabin said, no one liked Jacuranda. That's sad, because everybody I introduced to the album was really impressed.

I have always really liked Howe and Rabin both! Two different styles that both compliment Yes' music very well. While I'm personally more of a Rabin fan, it doesn't mean Howe is less talented. Both are up there with my favorite guitar players of all time, from one of the best bands bands of all time!  :coolio

Agreed, but if I had to choose 3 Yes albums for the island, I'd still take the 3 Rabin ones.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 30, 2017, 11:08:25 AM
Jacaranda is so damn bloody good. It showed how Rabin matured without cheap hit ambitions.
In an interview Rabin said, no one liked Jacuranda. That's sad, because everybody I introduced to the album was really impressed.

I have always really liked Howe and Rabin both! Two different styles that both compliment Yes' music very well. While I'm personally more of a Rabin fan, it doesn't mean Howe is less talented. Both are up there with my favorite guitar players of all time, from one of the best bands bands of all time!  :coolio

Agreed, but if I had to choose 3 Yes albums for the island, I'd still take the 3 Rabin ones.
Me too!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 30, 2017, 04:54:30 PM
Jacaranda is so damn bloody good. It showed how Rabin matured without cheap hit ambitions.
In an interview Rabin said, no one liked Jacuranda. That's sad, because everybody I introduced to the album was really impressed.


Nobody liked it?  That album is my favorite Rabin solo album hands down. (Although 90124 is approaching the neighborhood.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 30, 2017, 05:11:31 PM
I've never heard anything bad about that album by anyone who has heard it.

I think what Trevor must have meant is that it didn't sell very well, not that "nobody liked it".  Big difference.  And it's not surprising that it didn't sell well, unfortunately.  Trevor is not exactly a household name anymore, and even those who know the name won't necessarily rush to pick up his latest release.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on January 30, 2017, 08:16:57 PM
I've never heard anything bad about that album by anyone who has heard it.

Is it fair to say that a lot of hard core Yes fans wrote it off, hence "nobody likes it"?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 30, 2017, 09:28:53 PM
I don't know, but I would think not.  In the past, Rabin has been vocal about distancing himself from Yes, insisting that that period of his career was fun and challenging, but is definitely over.  (Then last year, he finally got a chance to work with Anderson and Wakeman in AWR, which we now know is basically a Yes tribute band that happens to feature some significant former members of Yes, but it wasn't originally supposed to be that way.)  My point is that I don't think he was worried about what hard core Yes fans thought of it over 20 years after leaving Yes.

It also depends upon your definition of "hard core Yes fans".  I haunt the Yesfans boards as well as here, and when Jacaranda first came out, people weren't sure what to think, but everyone who actually picked it up and listened to it liked it a lot.  I would consider some folks there to be hardcore fans, but hardcore fans can also be the most closed-minded.  "If Jon Anderson didn't sing on it, it's not real Yes."  "It wasn't really Yes until Howe and Wakeman joined."   And so on.

I have my preferences when it comes to Yes, but I don't write off 80's Yes, and Trevor Rabin has done some killer movie soundtracks and is overall an excellent composer and musician.  If he put out an instrumental album, I'm sure it's great.  He wouldn't release it otherwise.

I haven't heard it, but my impression is that there just isn't an audience for such an album.  Folks who like Rabin's 80's Yes aren't going to jump on an instrumental album he makes 30 years later.  Neither are the ones who dig his movie soundtracks.  Maybe a higher percentage of them, but there are fewer of them to start with.  Who does that leave?  The handful of people willing to take a chance on some new music from a guy they otherwise haven't heard much from in a long time.  Thus the relatively poor sales, and Rabin left with the impression that no one likes it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 31, 2017, 08:12:49 PM
I've never heard or heard of Jacuranda, I gotta order this if it is still in print. I do have Can't Look Away, and I love it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 31, 2017, 11:27:32 PM
A buddy of mine had Can't Look Away, and let me borrow it.  It was great.  There's the one song (I can't remember the name of) which got some radio play back when I lived in Lansing, MI, so when I recognized it years later while living in Maryland, it was pretty trippy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on February 01, 2017, 02:54:18 AM
It's most likely the song Something To Hold On To.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lepprador on February 01, 2017, 06:22:09 AM
I've never heard or heard of Jacuranda, I gotta order this if it is still in print. I do have Can't Look Away, and I love it!

Can't Look Away is great, but Jacuranda is very different. It like a compilation of Rabin-Yes instrumental sections. A lot of fusion and jazzy elements and therefor it lacks the arena rock / big chorus qualities. But as a Rabin fan, I think, you can't go wrong with it.

Yeah, Something To Hold On To (great, great song)  was the only hit from CLA.


I basically agree with Orbert. As a platinum act Rabin was used to different sale figures. In his perception  nobody liked it.   
That's why before joining ARW, he was working (about halfway done) on a rock/song/vocal album. The thing I've been waiting for ages.

It was a bummer to come to know, ARW will not be releasing an album, but several EPs. I hope, someday, Trevor finishes this solo album he put on hold, because I also like his voice very much (and his bass and keyboard/piano playing).

AWR, which we now know is basically a Yes tribute band

I have to disagree here. It's the official Yes band that became the Steve Howe band.
Without Chris Squire and Alan White (who knows when and if he's returning) Steve is the only original member left. For me the Yes heart beats at ARW.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 01, 2017, 07:51:22 AM
And then comes the smart-ass (such as me) and points out that Steve Howe isn't an original member of Yes. But nonetheless an iconic one. But to me all these incarnations are more or less Yes cover bands nowadays.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lepprador on February 01, 2017, 07:58:54 AM
You're right. I completley forgot about Peter Banks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 01, 2017, 05:42:41 PM
Jacaranda is good, but it's pretty out there; I have to be in the right mood for that one.  And I have to admit to being a tad disappointed that the first studio album he released in over 20 years didn't have any singing.

I like most of Can't Look Away a lot.  The Cape is an incredible song, especially on a good stereo with the music bouncing around the channels, and I love I Didn't Think It Would Last is catchy as hell.  Big fan of Cover Up and I Miss You Now, as well.

Rabin's first couple albums are a little spotty. but have some great tracks on them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 02, 2017, 06:30:11 AM
Musically they're sound, but lyrically... he needs to take Peter Sinfield out to lunch or something.    Man. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 04, 2017, 11:47:02 AM
Had Can't Look Away when it first came out but didn't really listen to it much.

Not a favorite. Even sold it back at one point and bought it again a few years back because I do break it out once it a while. Probably been more than a year since I last put it on though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 05, 2017, 09:45:51 AM
So I just watched some of the recordings of Yes' concert on Cruise To The Edge.
I am very sorry to say something like this about one of my all time heroes, but compared to their early recordings, this is pretty bad. And I'm not only talking about the fantastic 70s recordings (Progeny, Yessongs, WOW), but also concerts from like 10 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF7kFAy8rU8
On this song the complete band still had a lot of energy, Howes guitar is absolutely mind blowing, Anderson sounds rough and cool.

Now the still pretty badass Steve Howe is playing with
1. An Anderson-clone
2. The worst keyboard player they ever had (sorry Geoff, but you just shouldn't play Wakemans parts)
3. A drummer who hasn't played anything interesting for 20 years now and can't play the full set anymore - don't get me wrong, all the best wishes to Alan) and has to be replaced in the Tales-set.
4. A Squire replacement that does an admittedly good job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7KlCYWjro&t=1385s

Meanwhile, Anderson is in VERY good shape and still plays and records great stuff, and in a project with Wakeman.
I don't get why Steve Howe doesn't get that this line up of Yes doesn't work. Why not make up and team up with A&W, do a line up with them, get a good drummer and Billy?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 05, 2017, 11:00:50 AM
Trever Rabin is in the Anderson Wakeman line-up as of now, and I prefer they keep it that way. Its called A.R.W.  saw them in concert a couple months ago and it was awesome!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 05, 2017, 11:05:16 AM
Honestly, I just wish Jon Anderson and the current members of Yes would make up, get together, and do one final tour of Yes music before calling it a day. Invite all current and past members of Yes who are willing to play, and do a world tour covering music from all eras of Yes. Have multiple vocalists, guitarists, bassists (I salivate at the idea of Billy and Tony sharing bass duties on that stage), and even multiple drummers (get Bruford to un-retire). Heck, get every keyboard player on there - Wakeman, Downes, Kaye, and even Moraz...is Moraz still alive?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 05, 2017, 11:48:02 AM
That would be a great thing and they could go out with a bang. But Yes being Yes it will never happen and they will let another opportunity pass them by.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 05, 2017, 01:35:02 PM
That would be a great thing and they could go out with a bang. But Yes being Yes it will never happen and they will let another opportunity pass them by.

I worry about who might be the next to go, as sad of a thought as that is. Alan and Steve cannot be getting any younger, and I'm sure if either of them passed away anytime soon, the band might throw in the towel. I mean, if Steve passed away, then what? Get the guy who replaced him in Asia? The band would be even MORE Asia with Billy and that guy, in addition to Geoff. Might as well do a Yesia tour and call it a day.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 05, 2017, 01:43:26 PM
I think they are in the dilemma that their last two albums made the record company lose money. Fly From Here had a brilliant sound and production, but Trevor Horn is not cheap, so Heaven & Earth was produced under the worst circumstances, in a rush and with a very small budget. And you can hear that at ever second. So they send them on tour to play their old classic because let's admit it, no one wants to hear Big Generator at a Yes concert.

But they simply are not able anymore to pull off a Heart Of The Sunrise or Tempus Fugit. IF they have to play classics, why not play the slower stuff and make it easier for them? And You & I, To Be Over, The Revealing Science Of God are not so hard to play as Awaken (okay, Revealing is not easy) but they're still some of the greatest prog pieces ever written. Plus, I would really like to see some of their later stuff live as well, because they did indeed release some great songs after Drama, f.e. In The Presence or Homeworld. But instead they play Starship Trooper for the millionth time, Roundabout for the second millionth time (and way to slow).

I would love a Union-like tour to end with a bang as well. But I don't know if Bill wants to come out of retirement.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 05, 2017, 01:44:34 PM
That would be a great thing and they could go out with a bang. But Yes being Yes it will never happen and they will let another opportunity pass them by.

I worry about who might be the next to go, as sad of a thought as that is. Alan and Steve cannot be getting any younger, and I'm sure if either of them passed away anytime soon, the band might throw in the towel. I mean, if Steve passed away, then what? Get the guy who replaced him in Asia? The band would be even MORE Asia with Billy and that guy, in addition to Geoff. Might as well do a Yesia tour and call it a day.

-Marc.

You mean Guthrie Govan? :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 05, 2017, 01:50:57 PM


I would love a Union-like tour to end with a bang as well. But I don't know if Bill wants to come out of retirement.

I think he would, for the band that launched his career. I doubt he'd play with King Crimson ever again, especially now that they have four drummers, but for Yes, if they told him that it was their final tour, I feel like Bill might consider it.

That would be a great thing and they could go out with a bang. But Yes being Yes it will never happen and they will let another opportunity pass them by.

I worry about who might be the next to go, as sad of a thought as that is. Alan and Steve cannot be getting any younger, and I'm sure if either of them passed away anytime soon, the band might throw in the towel. I mean, if Steve passed away, then what? Get the guy who replaced him in Asia? The band would be even MORE Asia with Billy and that guy, in addition to Geoff. Might as well do a Yesia tour and call it a day.

-Marc.

You mean Guthrie Govan? :D

Nah, I mean Sam Coulson, the guy who replaced Steve after the 3 reunion albums that they did (Phoenix, Omega and the poorly-titled XXX - never Google "Asia XXX").

Asia is currently Geoff and Billy, with Carl and Sam. Yes is currently Geoff and Billy, with Steve, Alan and Jon. It totally makes sense to just tour as Yes AND Asia with the same keyboardists and bassist. Heck, I'm sure Carl could play old Yes stuff better than Alan does these days, and having Steve play the old Asia stuff again would be a treat (and probably not as taxing or complicated as Yes stuff). A dual tour would probably rake in a lot of money.

I just think SOMETHING awesome needs to happen to Yes before another awful thing happens again.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 05, 2017, 01:57:06 PM


I would love a Union-like tour to end with a bang as well. But I don't know if Bill wants to come out of retirement.

I think he would, for the band that launched his career. I doubt he'd play with King Crimson ever again, especially now that they have four drummers, but for Yes, if they told him that it was their final tour, I feel like Bill might consider it.

That would be a great thing and they could go out with a bang. But Yes being Yes it will never happen and they will let another opportunity pass them by.

I worry about who might be the next to go, as sad of a thought as that is. Alan and Steve cannot be getting any younger, and I'm sure if either of them passed away anytime soon, the band might throw in the towel. I mean, if Steve passed away, then what? Get the guy who replaced him in Asia? The band would be even MORE Asia with Billy and that guy, in addition to Geoff. Might as well do a Yesia tour and call it a day.

-Marc.

You mean Guthrie Govan? :D

Nah, I mean Sam Coulson, the guy who replaced Steve after the 3 reunion albums that they did (Phoenix, Omega and the poorly-titled XXX - never Google "Asia XXX").

Asia is currently Geoff and Billy, with Carl and Sam. Yes is currently Geoff and Billy, with Steve, Alan and Jon. It totally makes sense to just tour as Yes AND Asia with the same keyboardists and bassist. Heck, I'm sure Carl could play old Yes stuff better than Alan does these days, and having Steve play the old Asia stuff again would be a treat (and probably not as taxing or complicated as Yes stuff). A dual tour would probably rake in a lot of money.

I just think SOMETHING awesome needs to happen to Yes before another awful thing happens again.

-Marc.


Man that's really good point! You should go to Yes' management and suggest the idea right now.
(Although I'm not sure if Carl wants to practice complicated stuff like the old Yes tunes at his age.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 05, 2017, 02:01:58 PM
Here's a better idea! Hold a two or three day festival, call it the YEStival, and host all of the various Yes spin-off bands and solo acts. Have Yes, Asia, GPS, John Payne's Asia, CIRCA, ARW, Yoso, and whoever else wants to perform, and make it a huge event. Record every performance, and then have a huge everyone-plays-together performance at the end of it all, doing the Yes classics (yes, even Roundabout, because let's face it, even though Yes have played it a billion times to the sun and back, you'd hear it if all of those above musicians were involved).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 05, 2017, 04:11:52 PM
Here's a better idea! Hold a two or three day festival, call it the YEStival, and host all of the various Yes spin-off bands and solo acts. Have Yes, Asia, GPS, John Payne's Asia, CIRCA, ARW, Yoso, and whoever else wants to perform, and make it a huge event. Record every performance, and then have a huge everyone-plays-together performance at the end of it all, doing the Yes classics (yes, even Roundabout, because let's face it, even though Yes have played it a billion times to the sun and back, you'd hear it if all of those above musicians were involved).

-Marc.


Guess we're all a little Morse-influenced ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 06, 2017, 09:54:18 AM
After all my talk about Yes and Asia yesterday, I just saw that Steve Howe is BACK in Asia, replacing his 2013 replacement Sam Coulson, but now Steve's son, Dylan Howe, is replacing Carl Palmer on drums.

The announcement is only so far for four shows in November as a tribute to Wetton, so I'm not sure if this is an on-going commitment from all members, seeing as how Carl is unable to join due to prior commitments.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2017, 04:01:20 PM
For those who care, things are taking shape regarding the Yes induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Of course they will play Roundabout, and Geddy Lee will be playing bass for at least that one tune.  Meanwhile, Rick Wakeman seems to have gotten over his "I don't care and I won't be there" attitude, possibly because he's currently playing with Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin in ARW and the other two will be there.

Linkage! (https://www.yahoo.com/music/well-just-together-fun-yes-singer-jon-anderson-180505967.html)


Yeah yeah, the RRHoF is a joke and real artists don't give a shit, but it's still a cool opportunity to see bands play, especially if you get interesting one-off lineups like Geddy Lee sitting in for the late Chris Squire.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2017, 05:47:02 PM
Since Rush has pretty much called it quits, it would be cool to see Geddy Lee do a tour with ARW, even make an album with them. I bet ticket sales would increase by at least two-fold..
That would be epic imo!  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2017, 11:23:53 AM
Well, crap.  It turns out that Jon Anderson was just high again and Geddy will not be playing bass on Roundabout after all.  Or at least it has not yet been announced.  A follow-up came out hours after the original "announcement" (which apparently was just Anderson talking out of his ass again, as usual).

Response on the Yesfans boards was mixed from the start.  Sure, Geddy is a highly respected bassist, and is even known for his Rickenbacker skillz, just as Chris Squire was, but Yes does have a bass player (Billy Sherwood, Squire's close friend and personal choice as his successor, and even a former Yesman himself), so it would be a slap in his face to not be the one playing.

ARW (Anderson Rabin Wakeman) is also currently touring, doing weirdass rearranged Yessongs, and they have a regular bassist and drummer as well.  Their bassist, Lee Pomeroy, would also be an excellent choice.

Anyway, it seems I jumped the gun on this one.  Got excited about something that was only true in Jon Anderson's mind, when I should have known not to trust it until an official announcement.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2017, 11:33:37 AM
I dunno, I saw on FB this morning that Geddy is playing bass on Roundabout at the induction ceremony..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2017, 11:56:29 AM
If it's on Facebook, then it must be true!

Most likely people have taken the story and run with it.  Who knows?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2017, 12:04:25 PM
I could see why Geddy might feel awkward playing bass with them on stage, he wants to honor YES and not step on anyone's toes.
 I think it would be awesome for Geddy and Alex to do a jam with them. When Rush was inducted, they shared the stage with Ann and Nancy Wilson of HEART and many other musicians.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 09, 2017, 12:10:59 PM
Yeah but that happens at the end of the ceremony every year where all the inductees get up on stage and jam to a few songs.

Squire was one of Ged's idols so it would be cool but we'll have to wait and see.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2017, 12:24:19 PM
If it's on Facebook, then it must be true!

Most likely people have taken the story and run with it.  Who knows?
It was actually posted from ultimateclassicrock.com
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 09, 2017, 02:11:50 PM
(never Google "Asia XXX").

Tell that to BlobVanDam.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 16, 2017, 09:45:29 AM
Does anyone own the NEW 2x Vinyl LP of Tales From Topographic Oceans?

I have the old version but it bothers me that the original intro of The Revealing Science Of God is not included on the original LP.
Can anyone tell me if the intro is on the new LP? Or does it start with Anderson's vocals?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 27, 2017, 05:44:28 AM
Just gonna drop this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmFuK-tdRpk
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 08, 2017, 05:13:02 AM
THIS THREAD NEEDS MORE EXCITEMENT FROM THE FANS! THIS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjm10iXTon4

God, they're old, but it's still so touching to see this.  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 08, 2017, 06:43:22 AM
That was cool. Looking forward to seeing the whole show on HBO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 08, 2017, 07:21:58 AM
Good to see the core members of Yes sucked it up and all showed up last night, even if Howe and the current ARW band barely acknowledged either when playing or during the induction speeches.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2017, 05:57:27 PM
ARW (Anderson Rabin Wakeman) is now billing themselves as "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman".  That just strikes me as wrong.  But I try to get past it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 08, 2017, 06:11:20 PM
ARW (Anderson Rabin Wakeman) is now billing themselves as "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman".  That just strikes me as wrong.  But I try to get past it.

I thought they weren't and that was a European promoter that did that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on April 08, 2017, 06:27:53 PM
here's an animated video for some to check out. Andy Greene of Rolling Stone made it. He's a Yes fan, but also per this article and video, has some less than agreeable opinions. And facts are a little off (pronouncing Trevor's last name even).

animated video about the drama/egos on the history of Yes.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/yes-an-animated-breakdown-of-the-band-over-19-iterations-w475371
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 08, 2017, 08:46:40 PM
ARW (Anderson Rabin Wakeman) is now billing themselves as "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman".  That just strikes me as wrong.  But I try to get past it.

I thought they weren't and that was a European promoter that did that.

When ARW originally announced some concert dates, there were promotional materials out there that boldly included the Yes logo, and those disappeared quickly.  I heard speculation that it was perhaps some overzealous promoter going a bit too far to make the Yes connection.  I don't remember hearing a final word on that; but I kinda stopped following it after a while.  Sounds likely.

Now it seems to either be official, or ARW's lawyers are daring the "real" Yes to challenge them on it.  Still wrong to me.  Yes as a band is still around and working, and yeah, there are now zero original members left, but Steve Howe and Alan White both joined over 40 years ago, so come on.  Downes has been on three albums now, same as Trevor Rabin, so he's a legitimate member IMO now, too.  Amongst ARW, there's only one original Yes member there.  Okay, it's Jon Anderson, arguably the most important member to the overall sound of the group, but it's... arguable.  I love his voice, but Yes to me was always about the music first anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 09, 2017, 07:24:26 AM
Orbert, while I get where you are coming from, I disagree with several things there.

First, Rabin has actually been on four albums (Union isn't very good, but it counts), but that aside, all tenure is not measured the same way.  Rabin was on, and was the main songwriter, two albums which had some of their biggest hits ever (90125 and Big Generator), while Downes was on three albums that didn't make a dent at all (except Drama, which is liked by some hardcore fans like us quite a bit).  Impact, success and relevance matter much more than tenure, more often than not. 

Second, I think we all tend to worry too much about "original members."  I mean, does that really matter that much?  Peter Banks is an original member, but he is more Yes than Rick Wakeman, Trevor Rabin or Steve Howe? Hell no.  To me, with Squire gone, Anderson, Howe, Wakeman, White, Bruford and Rabin are the six who I look at as true Yes guys who are currently alive.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 09, 2017, 07:50:25 AM
Union isn't very good

kek
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 09, 2017, 08:45:31 AM
Trevor Rabin is on four Yes albums.  90125, Big Generator, Union, TALK.  He even did most of the writing on three of those. "TALK" is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned, Endless Dream being one of my all time favorite songs in the Yes catalog.
 I also really like his contributions to Union. Shock to the System, Lift Me Up, Saving my Heart, Miracle of Life,  are all great songs!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 09, 2017, 04:45:43 PM
Okay, I forgot about Union.  But that wasn't the point of my post, even though now, re-reading it, I can see how it came across that way.

I guess I skipped a step.  My point was that three former members of Yes who all chose to leave the band at least once, some multiple times, are now calling themselves "Yes featuring Blah Blah Blah", while the actual band Yes is still active and still touring.  I skipped to the part where people argue about who has the most "legitimate" claim to the band name due to having the most original members and/or having played on more Yes albums.  And because I was in a hurry, I didn't structure any of the argument that well.

So forget original members and number of albums.  Three guys who all quit Yes voluntarily are now specifically promoting themselves as Yes.  They are "the voice of Yes", "the guy who saved Yes from obscurity in the 80's", and "the guy who thinks he's the one everyone thinks of as the keyboard player when they think of Yes".


Caveats:

-- I know, the name of their new band isn't "Yes", it's "Yes featuring...", but come on.  "Asia featuring John Payne" anyone?

-- The "voluntarily" part is also debatable, depending on who you believe, and we as the general public will never know all the facts.  But there are a lot of facts out there, or at least a lot of views from those involved, and when everybody except one person says it went down a certain way, you tend to believe everyone else and not the one guy, especially when it's the one who seems the most wronged in their version of the story.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 09, 2017, 09:02:32 PM
I get what you are saying, but I have to think that some type of deal was struck between the current Yes camp and ARW; I find it hard to believe that ARW would just go ahead and promote the tour like that without having the legal t's crossed and i's dotted.

I'll bet when it is all said and done, the two camps will come together somehow next year to do a 50th anniversary tour, that could end up being another disaster, but still make them lots more cash.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on April 10, 2017, 02:34:50 AM
HoF performances were good, but SH playing bass on Owner was just wrong IMO.
He didn't play on the original and he didn't even bother to play on the Make It Easy Intro.
Body language wasn't good and he didn't take a bow at the end with the other members.

But in good news I was reading today an interview with Trevor.
He's finishing ARW songs, plans for two solo albums, instrumental and vocal rock a la Can't Look Away style.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 10, 2017, 11:33:20 AM
Awesome!  Can't wait to hear the new ARW songs, and Trevors solo stuff.  This is indeed good news..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 10, 2017, 11:49:21 AM
I get what you are saying, but I have to think that some type of deal was struck between the current Yes camp and ARW; I find it hard to believe that ARW would just go ahead and promote the tour like that without having the legal t's crossed and i's dotted.

I'll bet when it is all said and done, the two camps will come together somehow next year to do a 50th anniversary tour, that could end up being another disaster, but still make them lots more cash.

Of course they did; remember, they've been through this before ("ABWH - An Evening of Yes Music and More!").

I watched some video of the ceremony.  GREAT speech by Alex, pretty good speech by Geddy (nice touch with the "blah blah blah").   

Band speeches:   Jon looks GREAT; easily 20 years younger than his age.  I don't know if he had work done or he's just an elf, but he looked great.   Rick Wakeman went on too long and lingered with the sexual stuff a little too much, but the closing joke was worth it (the erection joke).   Steve is just a miserable gnome of a human being.   He really is.   And honestly, his playing is phoned in at this point; I saw him on his last Asia tour, and he was disinterested and there were easily ten or more blatant mistakes in the set, here he botches the ending of the song it is likely he has played more times than any other in his catalogue.   Put in the effort dude.   

Playing:  no exaggeration, I got CHILLS listening to that band play Roundabout. So powerful, so good.   I would gladly, willingly, and with gusto pay significant money to see a full concert with Howe, Anderson, Rabin, White (or Bruford), Wakeman, and Lee.   That was inspiring.  And anyone that says that Anderson's voice is shot, well, at least for that one song, he delivered the goods.    Really impressive. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2017, 12:06:43 PM
Anyone have any idea why Geddy played a Fender bass for "Roundabout"?  Geddy's been known to play a Rick and I'm sure he has at least one, and Chris Squire's use of the Rickenbacker is legendary.  So why not play a Rick, especially for that song?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 10, 2017, 12:14:46 PM
I thought his normal bass was a Fender?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2017, 12:16:38 PM
Geddy's, yes.  But I'm sure I've seen him play a Rickenbacker.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Phoenix87x on April 10, 2017, 12:24:20 PM
Tour dates

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-feat-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-rick-wakeman-announces-north-american-tour/

I may go see them but I would like more Geddy lee in my YES. Its a decent set up, since he doesn't have to sing. His playing is still damn good.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 10, 2017, 12:28:09 PM
Geddy's, yes.  But I'm sure I've seen him play a Rickenbacker.
I don't recall ever seeing him play a Rick.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 10, 2017, 12:43:35 PM
Rick Wakeman went on too long and lingered with the sexual stuff a little too much, but the closing joke was worth it (the erection joke).   Steve is just a miserable gnome of a human being.   He really is.   And honestly, his playing is phoned in at this point; I saw him on his last Asia tour, and he was disinterested and there were easily ten or more blatant mistakes in the set, here he botches the ending of the song it is likely he has played more times than any other in his catalogue.   Put in the effort dude.
Rick is extremely funny. This isn't the first time I see him deliver a stand up act while receiving an award. I don't know if that's the appropriate place to perform a comedy routine, but still.  :lol

Steve is my guitar hero, but he comes across a bit arrogant and grumpy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2017, 01:07:47 PM
The problem I had with Rick's speech is that it went on too damned long.  They had 10 minutes total, and Chris Squire's widow and child were brought up there to accept on his behalf.  She even had something prepared.  Then Rick blathered on so much, telling bad jokes that had nothing to do with music or the RRHoF, that they ran out of time and Scotty (Mrs. Squire) didn't get to speak at all.  She should have been one of the first, probably right after Jon Anderson.  There was a bit of "okay, who's next?" each time, because they'd obviously not planned things very well, likely because the two camps (Yes and ARW) aren't speaking to each other.  So it's entirely possible that some people had no idea who that woman and child were and why they were up there.

Here's the punchline:  Wakeman made a lot of noise at first about not going.  Then he said he'd go, to honor Chris Squire, but only if Scotty was there.  She was there, and he's the one who couldn't shut his hole and let her speak.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 10, 2017, 01:11:24 PM
Geddy's, yes.  But I'm sure I've seen him play a Rickenbacker.
I don't recall ever seeing him play a Rick.

Geddy played a Rick up to the Signals tour where he started to mix in the Steinburger bass.  He then moved to the Wal bass for 2 album and tours and then during the Counterparts recording, Kevin Shirley wanted him to go to a bass with active pickups so Geddy went to a Fender Jazz bass.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2017, 01:12:22 PM
That sounds right.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 10, 2017, 01:13:50 PM
Rock icons Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman are proud to announce that effective immediately, they will officially be known as ‘YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman’, which is the name they will be touring under in North America during the latter half of 2017. (https://progreport.com/yes-featuring-arw-announce-north-american-tour/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on April 10, 2017, 01:38:56 PM
Anyone have any idea why Geddy played a Fender bass for "Roundabout"?  Geddy's been known to play a Rick and I'm sure he has at least one, and Chris Squire's use of the Rickenbacker is legendary.  So why not play a Rick, especially for that song?

There is some footage around, which I saw, post performance Geddy was asked why he didn't use the Rick and he said he tried a few different bass's
and the Jazz sounded and fitted the song the best.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 10, 2017, 02:01:24 PM
Thanks for that.  I'm not gonna argue with Geddy Lee about bass playing FFS, so it's good to hear it right from him, though it still seemed an odd choice to me.  The bi-amped Rick sound on "Roundabout" is probably as well-known as any bass line in rock, and the Fender Jazz just has a much cleaner sound.  Doesn't seem to "pop" the same way to me.  Okay, I guess would be stupid enough to argue bass playing with Geddy Lee.  But as with any artist, he had to go with what felt right for the situation.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 10, 2017, 08:06:05 PM
I get what you are saying, but I have to think that some type of deal was struck between the current Yes camp and ARW; I find it hard to believe that ARW would just go ahead and promote the tour like that without having the legal t's crossed and i's dotted.

I'll bet when it is all said and done, the two camps will come together somehow next year to do a 50th anniversary tour, that could end up being another disaster, but still make them lots more cash.

Of course they did; remember, they've been through this before ("ABWH - An Evening of Yes Music and More!").

I swear, I almost mentioned that in the post you quoted there. :lol :tup :tup

   Steve is just a miserable gnome of a human being.   He really is.   And honestly, his playing is phoned in at this point; I saw him on his last Asia tour, and he was disinterested and there were easily ten or more blatant mistakes in the set, here he botches the ending of the song it is likely he has played more times than any other in his catalogue.   Put in the effort dude.   

Howe is a great guitarist, but he has never struck me as anything more than a total stick in the mud.

The problem I had with Rick's speech is that it went on too damned long.  They had 10 minutes total, and Chris Squire's widow and child were brought up there to accept on his behalf.  She even had something prepared.  Then Rick blathered on so much, telling bad jokes that had nothing to do with music or the RRHoF, that they ran out of time and Scotty (Mrs. Squire) didn't get to speak at all.  She should have been one of the first, probably right after Jon Anderson.  There was a bit of "okay, who's next?" each time, because they'd obviously not planned things very well, likely because the two camps (Yes and ARW) aren't speaking to each other.  So it's entirely possible that some people had no idea who that woman and child were and why they were up there.

Here's the punchline:  Wakeman made a lot of noise at first about not going.  Then he said he'd go, to honor Chris Squire, but only if Scotty was there.  She was there, and he's the one who couldn't shut his hole and let her speak.

Agreed.  A joke or two is fine, but to go on and on like that was in very poor taste.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 15, 2017, 02:29:08 PM
Saw this on FB:


Trevor Rabin
April 9 at 3:35pm ·
As i'm sure you all know, I'm not big on social media. no reason, I just seem to not go there often. So please except my apologies.
I will try to visit here more often.
I did want to thank the fans sincerely for getting us into the hall of fame. It's a tremendous honor.
I also have to take my hat off to Rick Wakeman.
Rick had declined participating unless there was a Chris Squire acknowledgment. So it was fantastic that Scottie Squire and Xilan were there at our table,
I had a great time, I thought Rick was clearly a highlight, lightening the night up with his hilarious humor.
He should be doing SNL.
I was also happy that Jon acknowledge Yes's original guitar player Peter Banks. I too was going to talk about Peter, but what Jon said was beautiful.
For all of us the night was a tribute to my brother Chris Squire.
I have to thank Geddy and Alex for being so gracious.
It was also great fun playing with friends Neil Schon, Eddy Vedder,
Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, Jack Irons and of cause Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee on the finale.
An extra thanks to Geddy for playing as a tribute to Chris on Roundabout. What a player.
Anyway the other inductees where fantastic, and it was a beautiful night.
Now we get ready for Japan, new music, and a loong north american tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 15, 2017, 04:17:27 PM
I also have to take my hat off to Rick Wakeman.
Rick had declined participating unless there was a Chris Squire acknowledgment. So it was fantastic that Scottie Squire and Xilan were there at our table,
I had a great time, I thought Rick was clearly a highlight, lightening the night up with his hilarious humor.
He should be doing SNL.

I'd seen that before, which is why I thought it was so crappy/bizarre that Rick wanted Scottie up there to help honor Chris, then he wouldn't shut up and she never got to speak.

Scottie Squire posts at Yesfans occasionally, and she commented on this.  There was a monitor which they were all supposed to be watching, and it was flashing "Wrap it up" the entire time Wakeman was blabbing on and on.  She could see it from where she was standing.  There was also a clock counting down and it went all the way to zero.  Then Wakeman turned around, handed the award to Xilan, and asked Scotty if she was going to say anything.  It was so awkward and she was so dumbfounded at what just happened that she just walked off with everyone else as they were being hustled off the stage.  Apparently they were trying to keep to a timetable even though no one was broadcasting it live.  They knew it would be edited later and stuff.

Oh well.  It happened.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 15, 2017, 08:25:53 PM
Sounds like a dick move on Wakeman's part.

The more I read about this, the more I realize that was a carefully crafted PR move by ARW, to announce the "Yes featuring ARW" right around the time of the R&RHOF thing, thus giving the appearance that they are the true Yes.  At least they are playing mostly songs that had at least two of the three on the original recordings (the Yes album tunes being the exceptions).  The current version of Yes with Steve Howe has a bunch of guys who had no part of the original recordings of most of the songs they are playing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on April 15, 2017, 09:08:41 PM
Yea. The ARW version seems like the most authentic of the two, but the behind-the-scenes shenanigans makes it hard to be enthusiastic about them. At the same time I have no interest in the Steve Howe version of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 15, 2017, 10:21:54 PM
It's a pretty tough call for me, actually.  As far as I'm concerned, ARW loses points for trying to usurp the Yes name, or whatever you want to call it.  But I would rather hear Jon Anderson sing Yes than anyone else.  I prefer Steve Howe to Trevor Rabin by leaps and bounds, but at this point I'm not sure about Wakeman anymore.  Sure, the Yes material from the 70's with Wakeman playing was my favorite stuff, but I haven't heard him playing anything in the past 20 years that I've found interesting.  He overplays everything and is all about showing off.  It's gotten worse as he's gotten older.  Geoff Downes isn't the technician that Wakeman is, but he's more concerned about playing the songs and making them sound good than feeding his ego and playing as many notes as possible.  Before Chris Squire passed, I would have said that "Yes Official" is the better band.  I have no idea any more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on April 15, 2017, 10:34:21 PM
Pretty much agree with all of that, although I wasn't aware of what Wakeman's playing is like these days.

Ideally they'd grow up and have one version of Yes that's a combination of the two groups. Anderson/Howe/Wakeman/White, Anderson/Rabin/Downes/White, or Anderson/Howe/Downes/White. Something like that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 16, 2017, 06:57:45 AM
Unfortunately, that seems less and less likely as time goes on.  The biggest rift seems to be between Howe and Anderson, although Wakeman has publicly blasted pretty much everyone in the current official Yes at one time or another except for Squire, and Wakeman and Howe clearly don't get along these days either.

Many said that Squire was the glue that held the band together all these years, but I always thought that that was just hyperbole, and the truth is more that he was simply the one who got along with everyone else and was the only one to never quit the band (or get fired), thus he was the only one to play on every album.  But it turns out that there are different types of glue, and in the case of Yes, perhaps this was exactly what they needed.  Both Anderson and Wakeman have said that a full re-union will never happen.  Rabin says he hasn't really thought in those terms; he just always wanted to play with Wakeman, and having Anderson on board was a big, big plus.  I don't think I've heard anyone in official Yes comment negatively on it, it's always "well, we'll see".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 16, 2017, 07:30:05 AM
Good read here:

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-band-name-ownership/#photogallery-1=1

Sounds like Anderson had a gentleman's agreement with Squire to not use the Yes name, but once Squire died, the agreement was no more in Anderson's eyes, and here we are.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 16, 2017, 09:56:40 AM
Oh. So, we've essentially got Yes and Yes ft. ARW, which is the today's version of AWBH. I haven't been following the series of events that much.  :lol

Interesting read, that article. It makes me realize that this kind of development is nothing new. It's confusing, but ordinary. I personally don't have any interest in either of the two Yes line ups, but I'll check the new stuff once they put it out.

And to be honest, I don't think there's that much fan excitement about either of the two bands. Yes released two albums in 14 years and neither of them was a success objectively. Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin are about to release stuff together for the first time in more than 20 years, which leaves you wondering if they still function well as a team and whether they can deliver interesting music. They might as well throw in the towel all together. After the death of Chris Squire, even the reunion of all these guys wouldn't generate excitement. But I do understand they do like playing music still and that there's still some amount of profit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 16, 2017, 12:01:41 PM
Yep, both factions are basically nostalgia acts now, but there is still money to be made, and to some of those guys, playing music is all they know, so I can't blame any of them for wanting to keep playing. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 16, 2017, 06:13:49 PM
As long as the music's still good, I don't care.


That said though, I REALLY hope the music's still good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 16, 2017, 06:56:02 PM
I am sure both factions can still play the old songs good enough, but in regards to newer good music, it's telling that neither faction played anything from the last 25 years recently.  Granted, the last two Yes albums were both pretty blah (and that is putting it nicely), so not playing anything from those albums is probably a good thing, unless they played Into the Storm, which is a good tune.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 16, 2017, 08:46:09 PM
Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin are about to release stuff together for the first time in more than 20 years, which leaves you wondering if they still function well as a team and whether they can deliver interesting music.

Just a nitpick here, but for all the Yes albums they've been on collectively, these three have never worked on a Yes album together.  The closest they've come is Union, which they each appeared on, but there were no songs with Wakeman and Rabin together.  Union was a collection of ABWH tunes, leftover YesWest tunes, and a Howe acoustic solo.

Wakeman and Rabin have never worked together in the studio, and before ARW, they'd only done the Union tour together but nothing since.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 17, 2017, 01:10:10 AM
Ouch, you're actually right. I messed up, for some reason I thought that Wakeman played on Talk. He obviously didn't, that was a mix-up on my part.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 17, 2017, 06:44:45 AM
After the Union album and tour, the two Yes factions (ABWH and official Yes) appeared to truly have be reunited.  There was talk of another album, and Wakeman and Rabin both expressed great interest in working together.  Steve Howe, however, wasn't interested, and neither was Bill Bruford.  This left the 90125 lineup plus Wakeman.  There are even some early promo materials with the six-piece lineup named.  I've seen one but can't find any through Google right now.

Phil Carson from Victory records came along and wanted Yes to do their next album, and he apparently offered some incentives because they jumped at it.  But Carson only wanted the 90125 lineup, Wakeman was like "oh well" and Talk was back to the 90125 lineup.  Then Victory records went bankrupt shortly after Talk was released, so there was almost no promotion, the album sold poorly, and Yes was on yet another hiatus.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 17, 2017, 07:17:52 AM
Funny thing, I actually remember that from the Yes discography thread you ran a while ago. There was also a great Yes documentary on YouTube that dedicated enough time to all various line up shifts and I remember seeing that there as well. But Yes has been so inconsistent with their line ups that it's truly impossible to memorize everything. ;D The hilarious thing is, if I recall correctly, Yes actually reunited with Steve and Rick to do the Keys albums only two years later.  :lol

It's a shame Talk didn't receive enough attention back when it was released. In perspective, many fans would agree it was probably the best record of the Rabin era.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 17, 2017, 08:49:40 AM
I am sure both factions can still play the old songs good enough, but in regards to newer good music, it's telling that neither faction played anything from the last 25 years recently.  Granted, the last two Yes albums were both pretty blah (and that is putting it nicely), so not playing anything from those albums is probably a good thing, unless they played Into the Storm, which is a good tune.

I don't think that's as meaningful with the ARW lineup; what would they play? 

Into the Storm is an EXCELLENT tune.  I don't think that album is as band as that which came before and after, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 17, 2017, 10:52:04 AM
I actually really like that album. Like I said, it wasn't much of a success objectively, but it did it for me. The entire title track is filled to the brim with highlights, The Man you always wanted me to be is very beautiful and features some wonderful vocals by Chris and great bits from Steve, and yeah, Into the storm might be Yes-by-numbers, but it's still pretty rad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 17, 2017, 06:21:38 PM
Funny thing, I actually remember that from the Yes discography thread you ran a while ago. There was also a great Yes documentary on YouTube that dedicated enough time to all various line up shifts and I remember seeing that there as well. But Yes has been so inconsistent with their line ups that it's truly impossible to memorize everything. ;D The hilarious thing is, if I recall correctly, Yes actually reunited with Steve and Rick to do the Keys albums only two years later.  :lol

It's a shame Talk didn't receive enough attention back when it was released. In perspective, many fans would agree it was probably the best record of the Rabin era.

Talk is not only my favorite Rabin-era album (just a little better than 90125), but it's a top 5 Yes album in my book.  I played the shit out of that CD for a long time.

As for the Keys songs, I think the studio songs from them have held up as their best collection of new material post-1994.  Mind Drive always gets the most attention, and it is a really good tune, but Bring Me to the Power, Children of Light, Foot Prints and Be the One are all quite nice as well.  That, That is has some odd melodies, but has some great stuff, too.  That acoustic intro by Howe is fantastic.

I am sure both factions can still play the old songs good enough, but in regards to newer good music, it's telling that neither faction played anything from the last 25 years recently.  Granted, the last two Yes albums were both pretty blah (and that is putting it nicely), so not playing anything from those albums is probably a good thing, unless they played Into the Storm, which is a good tune.

I don't think that's as meaningful with the ARW lineup; what would they play?

True, but I was merely illustrating how both factions are playing nothing but old stuff, thereby making them nostalgic acts.  I'll be curious to see what new stuff ARW might come up with.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on April 17, 2017, 11:15:05 PM
Regarding Post-Talk material, I agree with Kev - the Keys material is probably their best in the last 20 years, though I would put Fly From Here and The Ladder right behind it. If they had released all 7 of those songs on an album called Know (as I recall reading, was Jon's or Rick's idea), I think it might have been better received, and perhaps that line up may have stayed together for another 90's album, but instead, we got Open Your Eyes... :'(

It's weird to think that the Keys songs are now 20 years old, though, and that Fly From Here is turning 6 this summer. Tempus fugit, indeed...

As for ARW vs Yes (Official), I would be more than happy if they just ironed out their differences and did a Final Union tour or something, with members from both bands, and maybe bring back other members for the tour (or select shows), and just go out with a band. Do a year-long 50th Anniversary tour, promote the hell out of it, and then retire the Yes banner once and for all instead of dragging it out with slow tempos. Hell, even if all they do is play their greatest hits for 2 hours, it would still sell a TON of seats every show. Both factions are practically in cover-band status right now, but a combined effort would probably look good for all of them, and it would be a treat ot see Rick and Jon play with Steve and Alan again.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 18, 2017, 10:34:59 AM
I would like to see them go out of their comfort zone with the staples. Play the masterpieces from the Rabin era too, like Shoot High Aim Low, Hearts, and especially Endless Dream! I guess that would only happen if Rick Wakeman was willing to learn Endless Dream, lol, which he very well could but would he?
 I saw the ARW tour in Seattle and the set list was very conservative. They even omitted "Changes" from the set list that night. I heard Trevor was sick with a cold or something, still a great show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mosh on April 18, 2017, 05:09:13 PM
I like the Rabin era of Yes. Big Generator is pretty bad but the other two albums are really solid.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 18, 2017, 05:50:02 PM
Regarding Post-Talk material, I agree with Kev - the Keys material is probably their best in the last 20 years, though I would put Fly From Here and The Ladder right behind it. If they had released all 7 of those songs on an album called Know (as I recall reading, was Jon's or Rick's idea), I think it might have been better received, and perhaps that line up may have stayed together for another 90's album, but instead, we got Open Your Eyes... :'(


Open Your Eyes is kind of an odd record, but I still like it.  The majority of the songs are quite good.

Re: Keys, amazing how things can change. I was big of Be the One at first, but over time, it kind of grew off of me.  However, I turned it on the other day and it was like, "Wait, this song is really good."  Again.  Weird. :lol :lol

I would like to see them go out of their comfort zone with the staples. Play the masterpieces from the Rabin era too, like Shoot High Aim Low, Hearts, and especially Endless Dream! I guess that would only happen if Rick Wakeman was willing to learn Endless Dream, lol, which he very well could but would he?
 I saw the ARW tour in Seattle and the set list was very conservative. They even omitted "Changes" from the set list that night. I heard Trevor was sick with a cold or something, still a great show.

That would be cool, but they probably can't afford to do that.  Their audience is already depleted, and not playing most or all of the staples would likely be too big of a turnoff for many who still go.

I like the Rabin era of Yes. Big Generator is pretty bad but the other two albums are really solid.

I still like Big Generator a lot.  The two hits, I'm Running, Final Eyes and Shoot High, Aim Low are all still great.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 18, 2017, 07:40:48 PM
Final Eyes is amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 19, 2017, 06:22:02 PM
Definitely.  I had BG on cassette back in '87 and listened to it like crazy.  I rarely listen to the title track or Almost Like Love on their own, but they are fine within the flow of the record. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 19, 2017, 06:23:50 PM
My first CD purchased before I got my cd player for Christmas.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 19, 2017, 06:44:25 PM
Nice.  90125 and BG were the first two Yes albums I owned on CD (I got my first CD player in late '90 and did not get into classic Yes until '92/'93.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 19, 2017, 06:47:28 PM
Christmas 87 was,my first CD player.

Big Generator was my younger brother's first concert. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 01, 2017, 08:01:15 AM
If anyone's missed it, here's a pro-shot video of Roundabout from Hall of Fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-NsnlPc54
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 01, 2017, 08:02:20 AM
I watched the RnR HoF ceremony.  Very entertaining.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 01, 2017, 12:00:11 PM
I thought Yes had the best performance at the RNRHOF, Jon Anderson killed it and seeing Geddy Lee jam with them was the perfect tribute to Chris Squire. The only awkward thing was that Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin completely ignored each other on stage.
 Journey was good but it would have been way more appropriate to have Steve Perry sing at least one song.
 ELO sounded great as always, and to my surprise (I've never been much of a fan) Pearl Jam rocked it and made a statement!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 01, 2017, 03:43:07 PM
The Howe/Rabin thing did not surprise me at all.

Perry was asked but declined to sing with them live.

Pearl Jam was fantastic live!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2017, 08:39:24 AM
Pearl Jam's "statement" was the one part that I cringed at, but I recognize that is a very real reason they are first ballot entrants (if anyone doesn't think that "synergy with Jann Wenner's radical left-wing politics" is not a criteria for entrance into the Hall, well, ask Kiss, Nugent, and most metal bands).  The only "statement" I got behind was Jeff Ament's, with a reasoned, logical lobby for a ton of bands that aren't in the Hall, whereas second-tier artists who toe the political and aesthetic line are in (Laura Nyro/Talking Heads/Blondie/The Animals/Bob Seger/Tom Petty/The Dells/ELO/The Famous Flames/Green Day/Jackson Browne/Paul Butterfield Blues Band).


Why are Pearl Jam and Nirvana in, but the bands that made it possible for them - Jane's Addiction and Soundgarden - are not?   Popularity?  Okay, then, why are Maiden and Priest then not in?   Why did it take 15 years for Cheap Trick to get in (FIND ME a metal band or grunge band that doesn't cite Cheap Trick as an influence; I just heard an early demo from Motley Crue called... I forget what it was called, but it was as blatant a CT knockoff as you could get without having either Rick or Robin performing on the track).     

I get it, I really do (and though I'm not nearly as strident, I tend to agree with them) but the above makes me kind of want to tell Ed to shove his "statement" up his ass. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 02, 2017, 08:56:35 AM
I get some of those, but Jackson Browne and Bob Seger both deserve to be there.

And frankly, I understand Jane's Addiction not being there, as well as Soundgarden. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2017, 09:16:52 AM
I get some of those, but Jackson Browne and Bob Seger both deserve to be there.

And frankly, I understand Jane's Addiction not being there, as well as Soundgarden.

Yeah, I'll give you Bob Seger.  I hate Jackson Browne, though, and I don't get why his nonsense is in, but Kiss's isn't.   Or why Red Hot Chili Peppers are in first ballot and Iron Maiden - who fill stadiums without an album - are not.   

But as for the other, do you believe RHCP, Nirvana and Pearl Jam deserve to be?  Because neither exist without JA and Soundgarden.   Nirvana arguably never gets a record deal without Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 02, 2017, 09:34:31 AM
I was just saying Pearl Jam made a statement with a good performance, even though I'm not a big fan. I get what you are saying about the political thing though.
 In a perfect world, Dream Theater should be in there by now. They are one of the hardest working bands out there and have never compromised their music or tried to make a political statement. Iron Maiden should have been in a long time ago!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 02, 2017, 10:43:50 AM
I hate Jackson Browne, though, and I don't get why his nonsense is in, but Kiss's isn't.
Because Jackson Browne is an incredibly gifted singer/songwriter who has proved he belongs there both by hits, influence, and longevity, and popularity among the general public.  Whereas KISS has always been seen by a lot of people as a gimmick.  I know that you don't think they are, and I'm not saying they are, but that's the impression.  Also, they fall in that hard rock/metal genre that is never taken quite as seriously as it should be - kind of like sci-fi/fantasy in film.
 
Or why Red Hot Chili Peppers are in first ballot and Iron Maiden - who fill stadiums without an album - are not. 
Can't help you on the Chili Peppers, but Maiden - see the answer for KISS.

But as for the other, do you believe RHCP, Nirvana and Pearl Jam deserve to be?  Because neither exist without JA and Soundgarden.   Nirvana arguably never gets a record deal without Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden.
Yeah, but I'm not sure that the fact that Nirvana and Pearl Jam were influenced by Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden matters.  That's not enough of a reason to get in, they have to get in on their own merits. And Jane's Addiction was always too much on the outskirts to have a huge, HOF-worthy impact.  Soundgarden was probably big enough, but they didn't have the longevity.

I mean, I get that you disagree, but that doesn't mean that it's unreasonable.  To me, it's perfectly understandable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2017, 12:37:30 PM
I mean, I get that you disagree, but that doesn't mean that it's unreasonable.  To me, it's perfectly understandable.

COUPLED WITH...

Quote from: hefdaddy42
Because Jackson Browne is an incredibly gifted singer/songwriter who has proved he belongs there both by hits, influence, and longevity, and popularity among the general public. 

Okay, and while I'm the very first person to say - even about myself - that "that I disagree has no relevance whatsoever" we have to look at the difference.   For every Kiss and Maiden, I can put in a Cheap Trick or Journey, and we have to ask "what made Jackson Browne - or better yet, Laura Nyro - any more relevant than them?"   Or better yet, a Phil Collins.   And I'm sorry, but politics has a factor here.  Why is Peter Gabriel in as a solo guy but Phil is not?     Name the three people that have sold 100 million records as part of a group and solo.   Paul Fucking McCartney.   Michael Jackson.  Phil Collins.   Phil has the hits.  More than JB.  He has the influence (his drum sound circa 195 was ALL OVER THE PLACE, including on Peter's records).    He has the longevity; over 40 years in the bidniss.   Why?  Because Phil didn't toe the line the right way.  He had his statement records (the demo for "Another Day In Paradise" was called "Homeless", and he drummed for just about every Prince's Trust concert that wasn't a standalone band).   

I think my big beef is, 'hits' and 'longevity' and 'influence' seem to apply when it needs to, and doesn't when the cognoscenti say it shouldn't.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 02, 2017, 12:59:32 PM
I don't even know who Laura Nyro is.

And I'm not sure that politics has as much to do with it as you seem to think.  But hey, maybe I'm wrong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 02, 2017, 01:35:47 PM
I would say it does.  Until the fan vote came into prominence, 70's bands like Yes, Rush, Journey were not getting a chance. 

Look at Jann Wenner, owner of the Rolling Stone Magazine.  He said decades ago Rush would make it into the hall over his dead body.  He despised that style of music.  Yet over pressure they let the fan vote have a say and now all these bands are getting in.  His magazine had a prejudice over certain styles of music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 02, 2017, 01:37:55 PM
OK, I see how that could be a problem.

But isn't that the same problem when Fan X complains about someone else getting in instead of their favorite band?  Especially if the one that got in is from a certain style of music that Fan X doesn't like?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 02, 2017, 01:42:04 PM
Oh yeah I got that.  It was the powers that ran the RnRHOF (The Rolling Stone Mag group) that used their prejudices to stop certain bands from getting in.  That is now a thing of the past.

BTW, the roar and duration when Rush was inducted was glorious and said it all.  I will never forget that moment.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 02, 2017, 03:58:00 PM
Oh yeah I got that.  It was the powers that ran the RnRHOF (The Rolling Stone Mag group) that used their prejudices to stop certain bands from getting in.  That is now a thing of the past.

BTW, the roar and duration when Rush was inducted was glorious and said it all.  I will never forget that moment.
That was awesome!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 03, 2017, 02:44:55 AM
But as for the other, do you believe RHCP, Nirvana and Pearl Jam deserve to be?  Because neither exist without JA and Soundgarden.   Nirvana arguably never gets a record deal without Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden.

Not gonna argue with you about who's worthy to be in or not, mainly because I always thought that the RoRHOf was more of a joke right from the beginning and not to be taken seriously.

But just to add my 2 cents, RHCP are founded in '83, Soundgarden in '84 and Jane's Addiction in '85. So RHCP did exist without Soundgarden and Jane's Addiction.

And now please back to the YES thread.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 03, 2017, 07:19:53 AM
I was listening to Going for the One on my way to drop my 2 year old son off at day care this morning, and Wondrous Stories was playing as I pulled into the parking lot.  I turned off my car, and I can hear my son say, "the end."  It wasn't the end of the song when I turned off my car, but I asked him, "do you like that song, bud?"  and he replied, "yeah!"  I was happy!  Between that and his new found love of Star Wars, I feel like I'm doing a good job as a parent.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 03, 2017, 08:00:48 AM
I was listening to Going for the One on my way to drop my 2 year old son off at day care this morning, and Wondrous Stories was playing as I pulled into the parking lot.  I turned off my car, and I can hear my son say, "the end."  It wasn't the end of the song when I turned off my car, but I asked him, "do you like that song, bud?"  and he replied, "yeah!"  I was happy!  Between that and his new found love of Star Wars, I feel like I'm doing a good job as a parent.  :tup
:clap:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 03, 2017, 08:42:31 AM
I would say it does.  Until the fan vote came into prominence, 70's bands like Yes, Rush, Journey were not getting a chance. 

Look at Jann Wenner, owner of the Rolling Stone Magazine.  He said decades ago Rush would make it into the hall over his dead body.  He despised that style of music.  Yet over pressure they let the fan vote have a say and now all these bands are getting in.  His magazine had a prejudice over certain styles of music.

Dave Marsh said the same thing about Kiss.  Multiple times.  "They would get in over my dead body".  Fuck you, Dave Marsh.  Write another meaningless book about Bruce Springsteen.   

Part of Wenner's prejudice is political.  He absolutely believes in his politics (activist leftist) and believes that artists are required to have a voice, and he feels it makes their music better.   Read the liner notes to John Mellencamp's "Words & Music: Greatest Hits" compilation (by Jann Wenner).    Wenner talks a lot about being "important", and with RS celebrating their 50th this year, EVERY ISSUE is about how they've made a difference politically (well, in their own minds; they forget things like the UVA fiasco).   

Granted most artists lean left, but after 2000 look at all the "first ballot" entries.  Almost every single one has an activist left approach to their music. 

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 03, 2017, 09:09:31 AM
I realize that you find that prejudicial.  However, we are talking about something called the Hall of Fame.  Some of those "artists with a message" that we are talking about, their music has depth.  Yes, you can just listen to it and like it, or you can get a message from it, or whatever - there are multiple layers to it, not just something to listen to in the car.

I love KISS, but there is no depth there.  It is surface level enjoyment.  And that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that.  But are they just as deserving for inclusion in a Hall of Fame that ought to recognize real achievement in the art form as, say, U2 or Bruce Springsteen (just to throw some names out)?  I would think not, if I were ranking them.  And I like KISS.

Same thing with Maiden.  Are they a great metal band?  Yes, I would say so (although personally, I don't care for them).  But that alone doesn't make them Hall-worthy, IMO.

The Oscars are kind of like the Hall of Fame, in a way.  Is the biggest and loudest movie going to win an Oscar?  No, not normally; it will normally go to a film that emphasizes nuance and craft over bombast.  But it will make its fans happy and the actors and director will make a shit ton of money.

That's kind of how I see this.  It's not a perfect analogy, but it works for me.  And I'm not saying that's the case with all of the people that are late getting in (for example, Journey, Rush, Yes, etc), but that is one part of it.

TBH, I am shocked that KISS got in.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 04, 2017, 07:32:24 AM
I realize that you find that prejudicial.  However, we are talking about something called the Hall of Fame.  Some of those "artists with a message" that we are talking about, their music has depth.  Yes, you can just listen to it and like it, or you can get a message from it, or whatever - there are multiple layers to it, not just something to listen to in the car.

I love KISS, but there is no depth there.  It is surface level enjoyment.  And that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that.  But are they just as deserving for inclusion in a Hall of Fame that ought to recognize real achievement in the art form as, say, U2 or Bruce Springsteen (just to throw some names out)?  I would think not, if I were ranking them.  And I like KISS.

Same thing with Maiden.  Are they a great metal band?  Yes, I would say so (although personally, I don't care for them).  But that alone doesn't make them Hall-worthy, IMO.

The Oscars are kind of like the Hall of Fame, in a way.  Is the biggest and loudest movie going to win an Oscar?  No, not normally; it will normally go to a film that emphasizes nuance and craft over bombast.  But it will make its fans happy and the actors and director will make a shit ton of money.

That's kind of how I see this.  It's not a perfect analogy, but it works for me.  And I'm not saying that's the case with all of the people that are late getting in (for example, Journey, Rush, Yes, etc), but that is one part of it.

TBH, I am shocked that KISS got in.

But, and I mean this respectfully, in the spirit of the discussion, and not at all personally, you're proving my point.  You just happen to agree with Wenner's bias.    "Political activism" is just one criteria, and Wenner is PREJUDICIALLY weighing that criterion.  There are countless criteria: 
- records sold
- longevity
- creative advancement (I'm thinking something that created a new genre)
- influence
- political activism
- subjective "talent" (I'm thinking someone that was just supernatural in what they did; McCartney)
- instrumental advancement (I'm thinking someone like a Van Halen who did something no one else really did before)
- industry advancement (I'm thinking like Zeppelin, who revolutionized the business)

Kiss loses out on ONE CATEGORY.  Maybe two (instrumental; they're not exactly Van Halen).  Kiss has the most gold records of any American band EVER.  They're on their 43rd year of active touring/recording.  Creatively, there is no one out there even close to them in terms of showmanship and whatnot.  They, specifically Ace, have influenced multiple generations of players; ask Coz! (But also McReady of Pearl Jam, Cobain, Dime, Motley, Anthrax, Portnoy, etc.).   I wouldn't call them "supernatural" in their talent, but they are way underrated as songwriters.   Look at the Kiss thread here; there are top 20 lists that only have a handful of overlapping songs.  And as for the business, they changed touring, they changed how bands look, they changed how bands market and sell their records, they changed how bands make money, they changed how shows are staged; it's a little known fact, but their road crew(s) are legendary for how they handled the early years, pushing back against the old-school "hard ass opening acts".  They staged their own shows when others wouldn't have them on the bill.  And they were notoriously kind to THEIR opening acts (Rush for one). 

What did Jackson Browne do?  Wrote a couple hits (quick: name one besides "Running On Empty", "Tender Is The Night", and that song about the roadies that no one knows the title to ("The Load Out") and that ends with the squeally annoying Frankie Valli impression ("Stay")).  Hey!  Did you see that shredding guitar solo he laid down at that RnRHoF ceremony?  No?  No.  Because it didn't happen.   

There are PLENTY of acts in there that are deficient in easily half of them, but they have the all-important "political activism" side down, and so they get in.   And I think that emphasis, that trump card, is wrong. Dimebag Darrell had a full face of Ace Frehley tattooed on his leg and he was buried in a Kiss Kasket.    How many people have Jackson Browne tattooed on their leg?   Not even Jackson Browne's mom would do that.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 04, 2017, 08:06:16 AM
Back on topic, I just listened to Heart Of The Sunrise again earlier today. It's even more emotionally powerful than I ever remembered it being. My opinion of the song had been gradually increasing over time, but now I think it's a Top 5 Yes song, maybe even rivaling Close To The Edge (& that's not a statement I use lightly).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 04, 2017, 08:43:36 AM
Stadler, respectfully (and because I don't care that much one way or the other, I'm mostly playing devil's advocate), your prejudices here, and what you look for in a "Hall" worthy act, aren't superior to Jan Wenner's.  They are just different.

I could turn around your KISS vs. Jackson Browne argument, but it would do no good.  These things are largely subjective, and the items that you (or I) may think are most important would be deemed irrelevant by others.

BTW, I didn't say that KISS didn't belong.  I just said I was shocked that they actually got in.

Hell, Iron Maiden probably belongs in there as well.  As do Bon Jovi.  I mean, I could list acts that belong all day.  And most of them will probably get there eventually.  And if they don't, well, I'm torn on whether it actually matters or not.  Their fans will certainly love them no less.  But it's certainly a nice feather to put in your hat.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 04, 2017, 10:09:50 AM
I'll let this go, but my point isn't that mine are superior to Wenner's - they are! :) - but rather that NEITHER of ours should matter.  Yes, it's subjective, in a sense, but there should at least be lip service paid to the integrity of the process, and while all the other things are measurable to some degree or another - we can count records sold; we can count cover versions; we can, in theory, count the artists influenced by a given act - "Wenner's politics" is an extremely arbitrary and capricious standard.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 04, 2017, 10:25:29 AM
*shrugs*
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 04, 2017, 05:54:46 PM


What did Jackson Browne do?  Wrote a couple hits (quick: name one besides "Running On Empty", "Tender Is The Night", and that song about the roadies that no one knows the title to ("The Load Out") and that ends with the squeally annoying Frankie Valli impression ("Stay")).  Hey!  Did you see that shredding guitar solo he laid down at that RnRHoF ceremony?  No?  No.  Because it didn't happen.   


He co-wrote Take It Easy (that the Eagles made famous).

I have no idea if they were chart hits, but Boulevard and Somebody's Baby were both pretty big.

Lawyers in Love was a popular hit in 1983.

Who cares if Browne did a shreddy solo or not?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on May 04, 2017, 07:07:22 PM
Waiting For You
I'm Alive
Looking East
The Barricades Of Heaven
The Pretender
That Girl Could Sing
Take This Rain
Knock On Any Door


Shall I go on?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 05, 2017, 07:30:12 AM
Waiting For You
I'm Alive
Looking East
The Barricades Of Heaven
The Pretender
That Girl Could Sing
Take This Rain
Knock On Any Door


Shall I go on?

You should probably START first, before "going on".   Not one of those is half as relevant or insinuated into the fabric like "Rock and Roll All Nite", "Beth", "Love Gun", "Lick It Up", "I Love It Loud", "Shout it Out Loud", "I Was Made For Loving You".    In the recent movie "Why Him?", big budget, Bryan Cranston, James Franco, who did they fly in by helicopter to play at the wedding?   Kiss or Jackson Browne?   Poll any halfway decent rock/metal guitar player and ask them if they know how to play any songs from Kiss Alive!.  Then ask them if they know how to play any songs from... does he even have a live album?   Pearl Jam; just in the Hall this year.  Listen to the solo from "Alive".   Ring any bells?  It should; the first half is the solo from "She", from, you guessed it, Kiss Alive!.   The one thing I'll give you:   Jackson Browne's first SEVEN LPs have all gone platinum (he has eight platinum total).   Not as many as Kiss (10 or 14, if you count the "solo albums"), but nothing to sneeze at.   

In 1996, without a record, without ANY assurances that it would actually be any good, who sold out Detroit stadium - STADIUM - in minutes.   Who sold out four nights at Madison Square Garden, also in minutes?   Jackson Browne has had a grand total of ONE SONG in the Billboard Top 10, and it was from a soundtrack ("Somebody's Baby", from Fast Times at Ridgemont High".) 

But we're getting off topic.   This isn't about "Jackson Browne" versus "Kiss".    Why are "politics" - and more importantly, "politics that coincide with the guy that founded the joint" - a criteria for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?    Should we do that for other things as well?  Maybe we should get rid of every red neck in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  How about every player that was ever a gang member in the Football Hall of Fame?   What about drug users (not talking steroids) in the Basketball Hall of Fame?   How about every hockey player that voted against sovereignty of Quebec?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 05, 2017, 08:48:35 AM
Getting back to Yes, every so often, I feel a need to listen to Awaken on repeat.  I'm not sure what it is exactly that compels me to listen to it, but there are times when that song hits me in ways no other piece of music does.  There are other songs I like more than Awaken, but when it hits me, it's like I'm compelled to listen to it intently and repeatedly, and nothing else matters.  I think one of the aspects of the song I really like is the fact that there are so many different lines you can follow, and the interaction between those different lines is really quite impressive, especially the interplay between Howe, Wakeman and Squire in the Gentle Mass Touch section.  The same can be said with the middle section with Wakeman on keys, Anderson on the harp, and Alan White on the crotales.  I love the way they build the atmosphere there.  Overall, I really enjoy the journey that Awaken takes me on as a  listener.  Few other pieces of music do that. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 05, 2017, 09:34:17 AM
I love Awaken!  I got to see the ARW tour last November and they played Awaken. Trevor Rabin added a nice touch to it, and Wakeman and Anderson shined..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 05, 2017, 10:41:14 AM
I listened to Relayer today for the first time in a while.

Wow. How can music be both breathtakingly beautiful and maniacally insane at the same time? Tremendous stuff. The last sections of The Gates send shivers down my spine every time, and the ending of Sound chaser just make me laugh because of its awesomeness.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 05, 2017, 11:30:39 AM
I listened to Relayer today for the first time in a while.

Wow. How can music be both breathtakingly beautiful and maniacally insane at the same time? Tremendous stuff. The last sections of The Gates send shivers down my spine every time, and the ending of Sound chaser just make me laugh because of its awesomeness.

This.
Relayer amazes me every time like no other piece of music on this world. It may also be the only album fell in love with instantly at first listen, and still find it as breathtaking as at that very first listen. Usually I have to give an album time, quite a few listens to come to love it OR I like an album at first listen but it gets boring after some time. (Standing the test of time)
But Relayer.. wow there are no words for Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cool Chris on May 05, 2017, 01:38:57 PM
Jackson Browne has had a grand total of ONE SONG in the Billboard Top 10, and it was from a soundtrack ("Somebody's Baby", from Fast Times at Ridgemont High".) 

This thread is now about Jennifer Jason Leigh.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/54/a9/c6/54a9c64f1ce1dd215aa5ba49909ae130.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 05, 2017, 06:15:10 PM
   Jackson Browne has had a grand total of ONE SONG in the Billboard Top 10, and it was from a soundtrack ("Somebody's Baby", from Fast Times at Ridgemont High".) 
 

Rush had none.  Man, do they suck.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DragonAttack on May 05, 2017, 06:29:33 PM
After four years without, I have a fully functional home cassette deck for my home stereo.

There are various songs that I recorded eons ago, where I boosted the record level so that the 'quieter' moments were at the audible level I wanted them to be.  I boosted the last two minutes of the 'Hey Jude' fadeout, so that it was louder.  I really increased the that last piano chord as it faded on 'A Day In The Life'.  The quieter parts of the Queen title track 'Innuendo' as well.

Well, tonight or tomorrow, I'll listen to my decades old cassette recording of 'Awaken', because the quiet moments on the CD are just too quiet. 

It's one of those songs from an artist that ain't a 'hit', but is an absolute for inclusion in their repertoire for 'best ofs'.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 05, 2017, 06:30:03 PM
Relayer is an amazing album (it ranks 3rd for me behind Fragile & Close To The Edge), but I never really got the hype behind To Be Over. While it's a pretty good song, it just seems to drag out & doesn't really do much for me emotionally.

That said, Gates Of Delirium is a Top 5 Yes song & Sound Chaser's really good too (even though it is so chaotic).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 06, 2017, 03:28:37 AM
Relayer is an amazing album (it ranks 3rd for me behind Fragile & Close To The Edge), but I never really got the hype behind To Be Over. While it's a pretty good song, it just seems to drag out & doesn't really do much for me emotionally.

That said, Gates Of Delirium is a Top 5 Yes song & Sound Chaser's really good too (even though it is so chaotic).

In the end of To Be Over you can hear church bells ring, although there aren't any.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 06, 2017, 04:07:14 AM
Relayer is an amazing album (it ranks 3rd for me behind Fragile & Close To The Edge), but I never really got the hype behind To Be Over. While it's a pretty good song, it just seems to drag out & doesn't really do much for me emotionally.

That said, Gates Of Delirium is a Top 5 Yes song & Sound Chaser's really good too (even though it is so chaotic).

In the end of To Be Over you can hear church bells ring, although there aren't any.
:huh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: bundy on May 06, 2017, 06:52:35 AM
I love Awaken!

Me too! For me it is THE prog epic. If someone asked me to play them a track from any band that defines the genre, it would be Awaken. Yes at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 2003 was easily the best live show I've ever seen, and their performance of Awaken was simply mesmerising that night.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 06, 2017, 08:21:32 AM
To be over isn't as fantastic as the other two, but it's still a good song. Very enjoyable, nice way to bring things down a few notches after all the craziness.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 07, 2017, 05:55:59 AM
Relayer is an amazing album (it ranks 3rd for me behind Fragile & Close To The Edge), but I never really got the hype behind To Be Over. While it's a pretty good song, it just seems to drag out & doesn't really do much for me emotionally.

That said, Gates Of Delirium is a Top 5 Yes song & Sound Chaser's really good too (even though it is so chaotic).

In the end of To Be Over you can hear church bells ring, although there aren't any.
:huh:


Listen to the To Be Over finale closely. Whenever I listen to it, I can hear some kind of church bells sound in the background, although in reality they didn't put church bells in the song. It's magical.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 08, 2017, 10:42:08 AM
   Jackson Browne has had a grand total of ONE SONG in the Billboard Top 10, and it was from a soundtrack ("Somebody's Baby", from Fast Times at Ridgemont High".) 
 

Rush had none.  Man, do they suck.


Out of context.  The point was that JP had so many "hits".  Rush doesn't suck - not even a tiny bit on their worst day - but I don't think anyone would argue that they have a ton of "hits" either.  They are an album oriented band (in some ways, similar to Kiss in that way). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 08, 2017, 09:11:31 PM
It's really sad to me that Keys To Ascension was forgotten because of how it was released. If all the studio tracks were on one disc, it'd rank right up there with the band's best albums imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: PowerSlave on May 08, 2017, 10:01:58 PM
Pearl Jam; just in the Hall this year.  Listen to the solo from "Alive".   Ring any bells?  It should; the first half is the solo from "She", from, you guessed it, Kiss Alive!.

That might be a really bad reference to use. That lead is ripped off from Robby Krieger in a very big way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGHhqV_QhzE

I could imagine a band like PJ would be influenced by both Kiss, and The Doors, so it might be hard to nail it down as a reference to She.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on May 09, 2017, 12:28:12 AM
It's really sad to me that Keys To Ascension was forgotten because of how it was released. If all the studio tracks were on one disc, it'd rank right up there with the band's best albums imo.

I thought they had something like that, called Keystudio? I remember it being too hard to find, so I just settled for the full Ascension release..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 09, 2017, 01:25:51 AM
It's really sad to me that Keys To Ascension was forgotten because of how it was released. If all the studio tracks were on one disc, it'd rank right up there with the band's best albums imo.

I thought they had something like that, called Keystudio? I remember it being too hard to find, so I just settled for the full Ascension release..

They did, but it came out in 2001 (4 years after KTA2), messed up the order of the tracks & like you said, it was really hard to find.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on May 09, 2017, 02:09:02 AM
Ah, never knew that about the release date and track order getting messed up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 09, 2017, 07:43:17 AM
Pearl Jam; just in the Hall this year.  Listen to the solo from "Alive".   Ring any bells?  It should; the first half is the solo from "She", from, you guessed it, Kiss Alive!.

That might be a really bad reference to use. That lead is ripped off from Robby Krieger in a very big way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGHhqV_QhzE

I could imagine a band like PJ would be influenced by both Kiss, and The Doors, so it might be hard to nail it down as a reference to She.

McCready has said as much (though he acknowledged the Doors reference as well; the She solo is closer to the Doors solo - Five To One, for anyone curious - than the Alive solo is to the She solo) though McCready takes it somewhere else at the end. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 09, 2017, 03:34:47 PM
It's really sad to me that Keys To Ascension was forgotten because of how it was released. If all the studio tracks were on one disc, it'd rank right up there with the band's best albums imo.

I thought they had something like that, called Keystudio? I remember it being too hard to find, so I just settled for the full Ascension release..

They did, but it came out in 2001 (4 years after KTA2), messed up the order of the tracks & like you said, it was really hard to find.

Any source on what the order was SUPPOSED to be for the original "Know" album that would have contained all of those tracks?

I've always just made up my own track order that opened with "Mind Drive" and included the COMPLETE version of "Children Of Light" (with Wakeman's original keyboard opening and the full first verse for a 7-minute version that closes the album).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 09, 2017, 03:53:49 PM
I always thought the original order of the KTA albums was perfectly done. Sure, it does have two epics back-to-back, but since they're both structured so differently I don't even mind.

Still though, whose idea was it to have Foot Prints as the opener for the Keystudio version? What about that track would make it a good opener? I don't get it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 09, 2017, 04:09:57 PM
I always thought the original order of the KTA albums was perfectly done. Sure, it does have two epics back-to-back, but since they're both structured so differently I don't even mind.

Still though, whose idea was it to have Foot Prints as the opener for the Keystudio version? What about that track would make it a good opener? I don't get it.

"Foot Prints" isn't a bad opener, I like the a capella opening of the song, it works well enough as an album opener, but I just vastly prefer "Mind Drive" as my personal opener for a Keys compilation. I re-worked the tracklist to fit album sides, making for a double-LP styled album:
Side A (18:38) - Mind Drive
Side B (19:02) - Foot Prints, Be The One
Side C (19:15) - That, That is
Side D (17:56) - Bring Me To The Power, Sign Language, Children Of Light

And I agree, had this material been released in the mid-to-late 90's as one album, I'm sure it would have been far better received, and that line-up could have made a great follow-up album, but instead, it collapsed and we got Open Your Eyes instead...(at least The Ladder followed that...).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 09, 2017, 04:11:41 PM
As a sidenote, Be The One is in my Top 15 Yes songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 10, 2017, 01:13:33 AM
So recently (or at least I think it was recently) they added Open Your Eyes & Magnification to Yes's Spotify page, but yesterday they took down Fly From Here. Anyone know what's going on?  :huh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 10, 2017, 04:26:24 AM
Album ranking:

 :hefdaddy
#1. Close To The Edge
#2. Fragile
#3. Drama
#4. Relayer
#5. The Yes Album

:tup
#6. Going For The One
#7. Keystudio
#8. Union
#9. Magnification
10. Fly From Here
11. Time & A Word

 :smiley:
12. Heaven & Earth
13. 90125
14. Talk
15. Yes (Debut)

 :\
16. The Ladder
17. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
18. Tales From Topographic Oceans

:facepalm:
19. Tormato
20. Big Generator
21. Open Your Eyes
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 10, 2017, 05:38:12 PM
Album ranking:

#8. Union

10. Fly From Here

12. Heaven & Earth
13. 90125
14. Talk

18. Tales From Topographic Oceans

20. Big Generator


(https://img.memesuper.com/095a26716d7ea42bbfd98038553bbdac_i-don39t-understand-meme-i-dont-understand-meme_600-467.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Prog Snob on May 10, 2017, 08:29:33 PM
I just got the Yes Close to the Edge Steven Wilson remasters in the mail. I don't think I've ever heard that album with such clarity and intensity through my speakers.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 13, 2017, 06:25:45 PM
The problem I had with Rick's speech is that it went on too damned long.  They had 10 minutes total, and Chris Squire's widow and child were brought up there to accept on his behalf.  She even had something prepared.  Then Rick blathered on so much, telling bad jokes that had nothing to do with music or the RRHoF, that they ran out of time and Scotty (Mrs. Squire) didn't get to speak at all.  She should have been one of the first, probably right after Jon Anderson.  There was a bit of "okay, who's next?" each time, because they'd obviously not planned things very well, likely because the two camps (Yes and ARW) aren't speaking to each other.  So it's entirely possible that some people had no idea who that woman and child were and why they were up there.

Here's the punchline:  Wakeman made a lot of noise at first about not going.  Then he said he'd go, to honor Chris Squire, but only if Scotty was there.  She was there, and he's the one who couldn't shut his hole and let her speak.

Still can't believe that happened.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 13, 2017, 11:25:54 PM
Still mind-boggling.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on May 15, 2017, 02:47:02 AM
What's the general opinion on ABWH?
I had it on cassette many years ago, finally got the remastered CD, sounds pretty good, but a little dated.
I guess the most noticeable two things are Bruford's simmons (electronic) drums and lack of bass prowess.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on May 15, 2017, 02:59:12 AM
Pretty solid beginning, but the final third bring it down a ton for me. I rank it low overall but if they cut it after Quartet it'd probably make at least top 12.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 15, 2017, 09:53:27 AM
I RARELY say this kind of thing, but for me, ABWH suffers for no Chris Squire.   I feel like Anderson's voice and Howe's guitar are just too... thin, for lack of a better word, without Chris's harmonies (Jon) and unique bass (Steve).   I really do feel like Chris is the only unreplaceable member of that band.  It's the same with Onion.  The only non-Yes-West song I really like is "I Would Have Waited Forever", and guess who sings on that one...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 15, 2017, 10:23:24 AM
ABWH came out at a time when Yes was on hiatus, but the official lineup was still the 90125 band.  I grabbed ABWH the moment I saw it, because to me, the "real" Yes was back.  Yeah, yeah, arguments about "real" Yes and official and all that.  Didn't matter.  It was a chance to hear four of the five main guys together again.

It does suffer from a lack of Chris Squire, no question, but they had Tony Freakin' Levin on bass, and he's no slouch, definitely a worthy guy to at least cover the low end in a group like this.  The problem IMO is that they didn't let him loose.  He's low in the mix and lacking the punch which Chris would've provided, but that's not his fault at all, and in fact I find it odd that they didn't let him loose.  Let him thump, let him ring, let him pluck, let him sing.  I know Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe were the "name" guys, but if Levin had been more of an equal member in that band, it would have been a stronger band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 15, 2017, 06:02:59 PM
I like the ABWh album quite a bit.  The first four songs are all dynamite and Order of the Universe is quite good as well. 

I have no beef at all with Bruford's electronic drums.  Some of his drumming on that record is  :hefdaddy :hefdaddy.  He does a drum fill in the live version of Birthright that is one of my favorite drum fills ever, during the crazy section about halfway into the song.  Looking it up, it is around 4:21 or so, where he does these three quick hits which, combined with what Wakeman is doing at the time, is just pure awesomeness.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 16, 2017, 12:00:01 PM
I love the ABWH album!  Very melodic and has alot of charm, I find myself in a better mood after listening. The live concert filmed on that tour in Concord Ca is amazing!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 21, 2017, 10:00:42 AM
ABWH was and is a great record. Teakbois is a low point but the rest of the songs are good or great, I like it a lot. My favorites are Themes, Birthright, Brother Of Mine, The Meeting and Order Of The Universe.

But as others have said, using Levin to his full potential would have made it even better.

And I'm not sure, but a lot of the rhythm guitars don't sound like Howe's playing to me and I was always wondering if Milton McDonald recorded most of them and Howe only added some leads. Does anyone know something about this?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 28, 2017, 08:05:22 PM
What's the general opinion on ABWH?
I had it on cassette many years ago, finally got the remastered CD, sounds pretty good, but a little dated.
I guess the most noticeable two things are Bruford's simmons (electronic) drums and lack of bass prowess.

I love it but those Simmons do sound dated. Actually the production sounds dated as well. Music is great though. Prefer the live album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on July 13, 2017, 08:15:45 AM
of all people, Alec Baldwin interviewed Jon Anderson . Very cool!

https://www.wnyc.org/story/jon-anderson-musical-adventure-isnt-over/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 13, 2017, 09:00:16 AM
What's the general opinion on ABWH?
I had it on cassette many years ago, finally got the remastered CD, sounds pretty good, but a little dated.
I guess the most noticeable two things are Bruford's simmons (electronic) drums and lack of bass prowess.

I love it but those Simmons do sound dated. Actually the production sounds dated as well. Music is great though. Prefer the live album.

There were some good moments - "Brother Of Mine" was strong - but it was just... I expected a lot more from those particular guys.   I saw the tour, and it was good, but it started with "Time and a Word" (I'm pretty sure there was no Howe), "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (I don't remember if Howe played on that or not) and "Teakbois" (my least favorite song on the record, and the side of Anderson that I really, really, REALLY dislike the most), and I was ready to check out at that point.  Then was Howe's solo spot, so I got the unique privilege of hearing the rarely played "Clap" and "Mood for a Day"...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 22, 2017, 09:02:04 AM
What's the general opinion on ABWH?
I had it on cassette many years ago, finally got the remastered CD, sounds pretty good, but a little dated.
I guess the most noticeable two things are Bruford's simmons (electronic) drums and lack of bass prowess.

I love it but those Simmons do sound dated. Actually the production sounds dated as well. Music is great though. Prefer the live album.

There were some good moments - "Brother Of Mine" was strong - but it was just... I expected a lot more from those particular guys.   I saw the tour, and it was good, but it started with "Time and a Word" (I'm pretty sure there was no Howe), "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (I don't remember if Howe played on that or not) and "Teakbois" (my least favorite song on the record, and the side of Anderson that I really, really, REALLY dislike the most), and I was ready to check out at that point.  Then was Howe's solo spot, so I got the unique privilege of hearing the rarely played "Clap" and "Mood for a Day"...

Have no idea what you were expecting ("Time And A Word" and "Owner" was a medley.) and aside from the new album the set was pretty much focused on the classics.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 22, 2017, 04:35:41 PM
I have a Yes 4 CD box set that has a really cool song called "Run With the Fox". I never really paid attention to that song before but I listened to it intently the other night and it is awesome. Anybody know which album that's on? I'm assuming Drama, it has a lot of Chris Squire vocals. It's such a fun song to listen to! 🐕
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 22, 2017, 09:42:49 PM
"Run with the Fox" was something that Chris Squire and Alan White put together, during the Yes hiatus which followed the collapse of the Drama lineup (Horn-Downes-Howe-Squire-White).  It was released as a single around Christmas time 1981, and is credited to Squire and White.  It's not on any album; it's just a rarity that shows up in things like the YesYears box set (which I assume is what you're talking about).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 23, 2017, 12:10:24 AM
Cool, thanks for the info Orbert!  Yeah I have the box set with the yellow packaging. It's cool they included rareties such as RWTF and some studio demos. I also have another cool demo CD called 90124,,  studio out-takes of 90125 with different versions of the songs before Jon Anderson arrived for the final cuts..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 23, 2017, 07:38:55 AM
Yeah, 90124 is an interesting one.  Officially, it's Trevor's demos for the songs which ultimately became the album 90125.  Unofficially, I've read more than one thing that seemed to say that people were wondering how much of the 90125 lineup was Trevor, how much was "real Yes" (Anderson, Squire, White) and stuff like that.  90124 answers that question and shows both.  You can hear how much Trevor already had in place, but also how much things changed before the final versions.  Some of that can be attributed to the normal things you might change before recording, and some I'm sure had to do with Jon Anderson never wanting to record anything that he didn't have at least some input into.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 23, 2017, 01:12:28 PM
Songs such as Changes, and It Can Happen were completely different arrangements and with a lot of Squire on the vocals along with Rabin. The final cut 90125 is definitely an improvement, but the 90124 demos are really cool, plus the golden album cover rather than silver on 90125. Good stuff!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on July 23, 2017, 02:52:39 PM
Apparently there is supposed to be a 20 minute version of 'Cinema' lying around somewhere.
Rabin was asked about it and why it wasn't on the remaster of 90125, he responded he wasn't asked or contributed to the release.
Hopefully one day it will get an official release.

I think Trevor Horn had a huge influence of the sound of 90125, I am pretty sure he would have been involved with the song arranging.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 23, 2017, 03:35:30 PM
Thanks for my cousin I got a 20 bit Japanese remastered version of 90125. It sounds amazing
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 23, 2017, 06:29:41 PM
Pretty cool!  :tup

Apparently there is supposed to be a 20 minute version of 'Cinema' lying around somewhere.
Rabin was asked about it and why it wasn't on the remaster of 90125, he responded he wasn't asked or contributed to the release.
Hopefully one day it will get an official release.

I think Trevor Horn had a huge influence of the sound of 90125, I am pretty sure he would have been involved with the song arranging.

Yeah, what appears on 90125 as "Cinema" is supposedly the intro section of a larger piece called "Time" that they were working on at one point.  After many years of speculation, there's never been any confirmation that recordings exist of it, even rough demos or anything.  That's a shame.  But I'm sure that if anything was confirmed, we'd know about it.  The guys at YesFans are fanatic.  We'd know.

So anyway, they kept the intro part because it led nicely into "Leave It" but called the piece "Cinema" in memory of the original band name (Squire-White-Rabin at first), before they became the next Yes.

I like Trevor Horn as a singer, writer, and musician, but he really shines behind the boards, and that's where he feels most comfortable.  He definitely helped make 90125 as awesome as it was.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 24, 2017, 06:47:25 AM
Even though it was put together with duct tape and bailing wire (there's a great article on the making of the record on the Yes site mentioned above), I think "Talk" is one of the best sounding records I own, and that is almost all attributable to Trevor Rabin. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 24, 2017, 08:33:17 AM
Talk is a great sounding record and one of my fav Yes albums. The kick drum sounds weird but it works for the overall vibe of the album..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 25, 2017, 04:14:19 PM
I see Talk as a very under appreciated album. I always liked that record. Aside from The Calling, which did get some albeit brief, steady radio play in the Philly area, which has always been a big territory for Yes. The rest of that record pretty much mostly went ignored. I like all of side 1, The Calling and Real Love are my two favorites from that record. Side two needed some time to grow on me but parts of it are very good.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 25, 2017, 04:47:16 PM
There are a few reasons why Talk is so underappreciated.  One of the biggies is definitely because it received almost no promotion, because Victory Records filed for bankruptcy shortly after the album was released.  So unless you visited records stores on a regular basis (which some people still did in the 90's), you didn't know it even existed.  Another is that after the Union album, the return of the 90125 lineup caused many longtime fans to just ignore it (and again, that's if they even knew that it existed).

I remember seeing them play "Walls" on the David Letterman show.  I had no idea that Yes had a new album out, and the song seemed fine, but I have to admit that when I saw the lineup, I didn't really give it a fair shake.  Great, more YesWest.  According to one story, Letterman was driving in his car one day and heard "Walls" on the radio.  He actually pulled over and his producer to get Yes on the show.  Talk sold something like 300,000 copies worldwide, probably most of them because of Yes being on the Letterman show.  No one else even knew the album was out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 25, 2017, 05:44:32 PM
KSHE here in St Louis actually played the crap out of The Calling for a while, and even Walls got played quite a bit.  In fact, my supervisor at work at the time, after hearing The Calling on the radio and liking it, asked me if Yes had a new singer.  I think Squire's voice being the dominant one in the harmonies of the chorus must have thrown him off.  I can't imagine what else would have made him think they had a new singer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 25, 2017, 08:05:45 PM
Same here in Boston. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 25, 2017, 09:13:45 PM
 The Calling and Walls was played a lot in the Seattle, Vancouver BC, and Victoria area for quite a while. Sadly, nothing since the mid nineties. Endless Dream is one of my favorite Yes epics of all time and prhaps one of my fav songs of all time..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 26, 2017, 04:55:03 PM
Even better than Talk, coming just two years later are two Phenomenal releases by the Anderson, Squire, Howe, White and Wakeman lineup. Keys To Ascension 1 (1996) and Keys to Ascension 2 (1997) Highly recommend both of these. It is the last studio recordings of that lineup featuring a combination of new studio material and live material on both releases and is in my opinion the closest Yes have gotten back to that classic lineup sound since.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 26, 2017, 05:39:17 PM
Absolutely.  I've heard some say that they were "trying too hard" to recapture the 70's magic, and there may be some validity to that, but in general, I consider the Keys material to be the last great music Yes music.  That's not surprising, since it was also the last music created by the classic lineup.  20 years old now.  Wow.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 26, 2017, 05:58:56 PM
I always looked at it going back to their roots.  Nothing wrong with that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 26, 2017, 06:41:10 PM
"Run with the Fox" was something that Chris Squire and Alan White put together, during the Yes hiatus which followed the collapse of the Drama lineup (Horn-Downes-Howe-Squire-White).  It was released as a single around Christmas time 1981, and is credited to Squire and White.  It's not on any album; it's just a rarity that shows up in things like the YesYears box set (which I assume is what you're talking about).

Great box!

Used to be a Christmas staple for a few years. Always reminds me of Christmas.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 26, 2017, 06:43:09 PM
Yeah, 90124 is an interesting one.  Officially, it's Trevor's demos for the songs which ultimately became the album 90125.  Unofficially, I've read more than one thing that seemed to say that people were wondering how much of the 90125 lineup was Trevor, how much was "real Yes" (Anderson, Squire, White) and stuff like that.  90124 answers that question and shows both.  You can hear how much Trevor already had in place, but also how much things changed before the final versions.  Some of that can be attributed to the normal things you might change before recording, and some I'm sure had to do with Jon Anderson never wanting to record anything that he didn't have at least some input into.

Love that album too. Probably more than I should.  Kind of strange to play 90124 and those Rabin era Yes songs right after.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 26, 2017, 06:50:36 PM
There are a few reasons why Talk is so underappreciated.  One of the biggies is definitely because it received almost no promotion, because Victory Records filed for bankruptcy shortly after the album was released.  So unless you visited records stores on a regular basis (which some people still did in the 90's), you didn't know it even existed.  Another is that after the Union album, the return of the 90125 lineup caused many longtime fans to just ignore it (and again, that's if they even knew that it existed).
.

That would be the main reason right there.

When your label goes under you're pretty much dead in the water. I'm convinced that's why Dream Theater's first album was a resolute commercial failure. If they had gotten ANY promotion in 1989 they would have been as big as Faith No More was back then. At least Dream Theater would have had a fan base to tap too.

 By 1994, the music industry was already fully fragmented and there weren't many radio stations that would play a new Yes record, but if they had done more TV who knows what could have happened.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 26, 2017, 06:52:11 PM
Even better than Talk, coming just two years later are two Phenomenal releases by the Anderson, Squire, Howe, White and Wakeman lineup. Keys To Ascension 1 (1996) and Keys to Ascension 2 (1997) Highly recommend both of these. It is the last studio recordings of that lineup featuring a combination of new studio material and live material on both releases and is in my opinion the closest Yes have gotten back to that classic lineup sound since.

I have nothing bad to say about those albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 26, 2017, 07:07:39 PM
"Run with the Fox" was something that Chris Squire and Alan White put together, during the Yes hiatus which followed the collapse of the Drama lineup (Horn-Downes-Howe-Squire-White).  It was released as a single around Christmas time 1981, and is credited to Squire and White.  It's not on any album; it's just a rarity that shows up in things like the YesYears box set (which I assume is what you're talking about).

Great box!

Used to be a Christmas staple for a few years. Always reminds me of Christmas.

Speaking of that box set and Christmas in the same sentence reminds me. I need to add that box set to my Christmas list for this year  :biggrin: I have it already, I have the Cassette package  :lol I need it on cd. I remember there was some pretty cool stuff on that. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 26, 2017, 07:38:38 PM
As it happens, I got YesYears for Christmas, too, the year it came out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 27, 2017, 03:18:10 PM
Another box set package of theirs I have that is pretty good is "The Word Is Live" a three disc live package put out by Rhino in 2005. This one has some more obscure stuff.

Disc 1.
Then (BBC 1970)
For Everyone (BBC 1970)
Astral Traveler (Gothenburg 1971)
Everydays (Gothenburg 1971)
Yours Is No Disgrace (London 71)
 I've Seen All Good People (London 71)
America (London 71)
It's love (London 71)

Disc 2.
Apocalypse (Detroit 76)
Siberian Khatru (Detroit 76)
Sound Chaser (Detroit 76)
Sweet Dreams (London 75)
Future Times/Rejoice (Oakland 78)
Circus of Heaven (Oakland 78)
The Big Medley (Time and a word, Long Distance runaround, Survival, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon)- Inglewood 78
Hello Chicago (Chicago 79)
Roundabout (Chicago 79)

Disc 3.
Heart of the Sunrise (Oakland 78)
Awaken (Chicago 79)
Go Through This (NY 1980)
We Can Fly From Here (NY 1980)
Tempus Fugit (NY 1980)
Rhythm of Love (Houston 88)
Hold On (Houston 88)
Shoot High, Aim Low (Houston 88)
Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart (Houston 88)

Pretty cool package and some gathered up lesser available songs on it. I bought it mainly for the 78-80 era stuff. comes in a nice paperback sized hardcover package with a bound inner booklet with great pictures.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 27, 2017, 03:54:52 PM
I like this package, too.  Some fans complained that it was too heavy on the rarities and oddballs, but I'm pretty sure that was the whole point.  The 70-71 was the big draw for me, as there's very little proper live material from the early days.  The stuff here is mostly bootleg-quality (and again, fans complained) but most of it probably did come from bootlegs, if not all.  Same with the Drama-era stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 28, 2017, 07:37:17 AM
That is the primary reason I DID buy it.  I'm partial to complete shows as opposed to compilations like this, but Yes is SO good live (I've seen them probably eight or 10 times, and nary a duff show in all of them) that it's worth it.   

I too liked the live versions of the early songs. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 28, 2017, 08:00:18 AM
The early, *even longer* version of "America" is great.  I know the finished version has a quick quote from Bernstein's "America", but the live version actually starts with that, and shows where the song came from.  Most bands start off doing covers, but Yes took covers to an entirely different level.

I just realized that "Something's Coming" (rarity on YesYears), another cover that gets turned into a mini-epic, is also from West Side Story.  I'm not sure how I never noticed that before.  There aren't that many Yes covers.  But they're all amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 28, 2017, 11:59:18 AM
I have every studio album up till and including The Ladder, I've heard some of each of the last three and I'm sure will pick them up at some point just to have them. I have all the commercially released live stuff up until Montreux 2003, and then grabbed the Union Tour dvd that came out a few years later. I forget how many times I've seen them live but probably a dozen or so. The highlights being the Keys To Ascension period and the Union Tour as my first show wasn't until I think the Big Generator tour. The last show I saw them live was with Benoit David in 2011 ,which was a good show and got to hear some Drama songs live. I have yet to see them minus Squire and with Jon Davison on vocals. At present I am more interested in seeing the Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman lineup and can't wait to hear a new album from them.

That means I am missing and probably haven't heard much from the following.
Magnification
Fly From Here
Heaven and Earth

Symphonic Live
In The Present (Live from Lyon)
Like It Is (Bristol Hippodrome)
Like It Is (Mesa Arts Center)

Progeny 72 (Which I will most certainly invest in soon)

Of those listed above what are stand out tracks and live stuff that is recommended to check out or are there any that are recommended to be avoided?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 28, 2017, 12:48:30 PM
Magnification is pretty good.  The joke of course is that Wakeman left (again) and they needed a whole orchestra to replace him.  But the band insists that the music was written to allow space for where the orchestra would fill things in.  Connecting the dots, they're kinda the same thing.  Kinda.  It sounds great, and there are some good songs, but overall I don't listen to it much.  A lot of the songs are on the mediocre side, and overall the album is very homogeneous because of the same instrumentation on every song, so I find myself getting bored halfway through.

I listened to Fly From Here again just the other night, and I always forget that this is not Trevor Horn on lead vocals.  Benoit sounds a lot like him to my ears, and the opening suite being an expansion of a Drama-era song helped with the illusion.  It's been referred to as Drama II, and rightfully so.  Overall I like it.  Try to find the import version with the expanded version of "Hour of Need".  With the instrumental intro and outro, it becomes its own mini-suite and pushes up the prog factor.

I cannot get into Heaven and Earth.  Such high hopes for this album, and this lineup, and the results are just so, so bland.  Most albums benefit from a nice mix of heavy and lighter songs, varying moods, etc.  This one is all light and mellow.  Even when you can feel them trying to get heavy, it never really does.  Such a boring, disappointing album.  My least favorite Yes album of all.

I don't have Symphonic Live, but I have the live Blu-ray, and if it's the same performance, it's great.  Rather than the orchestra replacing the keys, it's used to augment the overall sound, with some pretty impressive results.  I honestly didn't think it would work as well as it does, adding orchestra to killer songs like "The Gates of Delirium" and "Close to the Edge" but it works well.  And after listening to "And You And I" with mellotron strings for 40 years, hearing those sweeping, soaring lines played by a real orchestra actually brought tears to my eyes.  It's really beautiful.  Definitely get this one.

Progeny is pretty cool, but in some ways it's more of an interesting look into how things change over the course of a tour.  The same seven-song setlist for each show, so you have to really listen a lot to catch the differences from night to night, but they're there.  But it takes a lot of listening, and a lot of money (14-disc set!) and may or may not be worth it to some.

I haven't heard the others.  I'm actually not that big into live Yes.  Their studio stuff is just so perfect, that while it's impressive how well they pull it off live, I always find myself reaching for the studio albums when I need my Yes fix.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 28, 2017, 12:58:01 PM
Good info, thanks for taking the time  :hefdaddy

I'll start with Fly From Here and Symphonic then. I actually did hear the Fly From Here title track and thought it was pretty good back when it came out, but never got around to picking up the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 29, 2017, 10:33:14 AM
Up until the last paragraph (and maybe the second to last as well) I agree unequivocally with Orbert.  EXACTLY how I feel about those particular albums. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on July 29, 2017, 05:40:34 PM
I think I read on the ARW FB page that Fly From Here is being re-released this year with the vocals de-done by Trevor Horn.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on July 29, 2017, 07:17:31 PM
I think I read on the ARW FB page that Fly From Here is being re-released this year with the vocals de-done by Trevor Horn.

Nice  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 29, 2017, 08:24:34 PM
Interesting.  Sometimes I hear something and wish there was a version of the song with <someone else> doing <some part> but that's always just fantasy.  I don't know how I feel about them actually re-recording the album with a different singer, even if it's one I prefer and the one I was wishing it was.  It still seems disrespectful to the original.  "Yeah, we too always wished Trevor had sung it, so we'll try it again with him."

Also, interesting that it was on the ARW page, since none of A, R or W are on Fly From Here (presumably?) none will be on the re-recording.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on July 30, 2017, 04:12:54 AM
They are not re-recording the album, just putting TH vocals over the already existing music.
The FB group ARW is about all the various incarnations of Yes, not just the latest.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 30, 2017, 04:57:31 AM
I think I read on the ARW FB page that Fly From Here is being re-released this year with the vocals de-done by Trevor Horn.
Wait, why is that piece of news featured on a band page where none of the band members took part in making of that album?

I really don't see why Fly from here should be re-recorded. The album is fine the way it is, and the vocals are very well performed by David.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 30, 2017, 05:49:34 AM
And right after that will be the re-release of Drama with the vocals re-done by Jon Anderson!

In other news, pigs can now fly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 30, 2017, 02:31:28 PM
As intriguing as it would be to hear FFH with Horn on vocals, it's kind of a HUGE smack in the face (voice?) of Benoit David, who I thought did a fine job on the vocals. There is literally NO REASON to re-release the album with Horn except for money, and given how often Yes are keen with releasing the same setlists in live sets, and multiple boxsets and compilations, it doesn't really surprise me that they want a cash-grab album, especially considering the luke-warm reception that their last studio album had.

Regardless of how much effort a FHH-with-Horn actually takes, any amount of musical energy left in Yes should really be put into making a decent album and perhaps forgetting that Heaven & Earth ever existed. What's left of Yes is really grasping at straws here and on the eve of their 50th anniversary, they're not really doing much to keep me interested in their band or brand.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 30, 2017, 06:13:57 PM
Phrased a bit more harshly than I might have, but yeah, I agree with all of that.  And I ain't even mad, but I am kinda sad and disappointed because this just seems lame.

I know, I know.  I don't have to buy it, some people will, some will like it, cool for them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 30, 2017, 06:18:58 PM
In other news, Steve Howe's son will apparently be sharing drumming duties with Alan White on their next tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 30, 2017, 06:30:51 PM
I disagree with that.   There are 100 reasons why they would/might want to do that.   Why did Kiss/Def Leppard/Foreigner/Countless other bands re-record various songs in their catalogue?   Why did Bruce Dickinson re-record several Paul Di'anno songs?   If the band for some reason is now preferring Trevor sing them, whether for artistic reasons, continuity reasons, performance royalty reasons, or whatever, that is on them to do.  It is our choice whether to purchase that or not (I know I will, immediately). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 30, 2017, 08:40:06 PM
Phrased a bit more harshly than I might have, but yeah, I agree with all of that.  And I ain't even mad, but I am kinda sad and disappointed because this just seems lame.

I know, I know.  I don't have to buy it, some people will, some will like it, cool for them.

Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, but as someone who is (was?) a huge fan of Yes, their recent efforts have been lackluster to me, so hearing them taking the time and effort to going back and re-hashing an album that was already one of their better albums in the last 20 years, and re-recording vocals on it, just seems like a waste.

As for having Horn do the vocals, I wouldn't MIND it so much that he was doing them if he wasn't already involved in the project to begin with - if this was an idea they had back then, they should have just had Trevor record the vocals from the start (which, honestly, was what I was hoping would have happened back when it was announced that he was working with them on a new album). Despite Horn only doing production on the album, I was satisfied with David's vocals and the whole thing sounded pretty good to me.


I disagree with that.   There are 100 reasons why they would/might want to do that.   Why did Kiss/Def Leppard/Foreigner/Countless other bands re-record various songs in their catalogue?   Why did Bruce Dickinson re-record several Paul Di'anno songs?   If the band for some reason is now preferring Trevor sing them, whether for artistic reasons, continuity reasons, performance royalty reasons, or whatever, that is on them to do.  It is our choice whether to purchase that or not (I know I will, immediately). 


I get that maybe they have changed their mind and wanted to meddle with their past, but it really does feel like a middle finger to Benoit. It'd be like if they went back and re-recorded Magnification with Geoff Downes just so it would have keyboard parts in it. As for those other bands you've listed that have re-recorded songs from their back catalog, were any of those instances of WHOLE ALBUMS or just various songs/singles/hits that were updated to fit the current line-up? If so, then that is perfectly reasonable, as they would like to show off their current line-up with their old material. In this case of FFH and Trevor Horn, the band haven't been playing much (if any) FFH material in recent years (opting for classic albums instead), and Trevor isn't even IN the band at this point. I would understand if Trevor were back as the permanent lead vocalist, but from what I understand, that role still belongs to Jon Davison, right?

If the whole process is for the sake of "sounding more like Drama", then I'd like them to be very transparent about it, but to be honest, Benoit's vocals were fairly similar to Trevor's to begin with, and suited the material just fine to my ears. Like I said earlier, it just sounds like a cash-grab to me, given their history of doing similar things, though I am surprised we haven't gotten another round of Yes album re-issues yet (though that 50th anniversary is coming up soon, so ya know...).

In other news, Steve Howe's son will apparently be sharing drumming duties with Alan White on their next tour.

That's interesting. Is Alan's health deteriorating or is just a supplementation? I know one of the biggest complaints about recent Yes tours has been the band's tempos, and I figure Alan would be one of the causes of the dragging songs. At some point he will probably retire (and I would rather see him do that before illness takes him), just so he can live out his retirement in comfort.

Either way, I am still hopeful that this line-up (that features half of Asia's first line-up and half of CIRCA's first line-up) actually records an album before another member leaves. They're all capable players and have the potential to write some great stuff - just let Downes and Sherwood write the majority of the music this time.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on July 30, 2017, 09:01:56 PM
Always been a huge fan of Drama, so I would certainly check out a version of fly From Here with Trevor Horn vocals  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on July 30, 2017, 09:19:09 PM
I think I read on the ARW FB page that Fly From Here is being re-released this year with the vocals de-done by Trevor Horn.
Wait, why is that piece of news featured on a band page where none of the band members took part in making of that album?

I really don't see why Fly from here should be re-recorded. The album is fine the way it is, and the vocals are very well performed by David.

As I already stated, the page is for all incarnations of Yes, not just ARW.
It was posted by a fan and backed up with several other posts.
It is fan page, not an offical band one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on July 31, 2017, 06:05:50 PM
So I've been listening to a lot of YES the last few days on Google Music. Especially live stuff. Question I have is how often did they play Lonely Heart live with Howe? Was it a constant thing or just once in a while?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 31, 2017, 08:53:17 PM
So I've been listening to a lot of YES the last few days on Google Music. Especially live stuff. Question I have is how often did they play Lonely Heart live with Howe? Was it a constant thing or just once in a while?

More often than you'd think, though it wasn't as regular as "Roundabout" or anything. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on August 01, 2017, 04:51:58 AM
So what's the general feel here for Tormato and Going for the One. I've always held these two among my favorites, love both of these records, and while we're at it add Drama, Drama has always been a favorite of mine. I think Squire, Howe and White really raised their game on Drama maybe cause they weren't sure how the singer change would go over at the time since it was the first without Anderson, Love drama! 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on August 01, 2017, 04:54:46 AM
Drama is one of their very best, definitely a Top 5 Yes album for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on August 01, 2017, 05:10:55 AM
IMO, Going For The One & Drama are some of their best albums, but Tormato is one of their worst
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 01, 2017, 06:36:12 AM
Well, "Going For The One" is my favorite album of all time by any band ever, so there's that.  :)

I love Drama (one of the first Yes albums I got into after being introduced to "Classic Yes"; and to this day tied for my favorite cover).

I actually love Tormato.  I think it is much maligned, but if you take off the two Anderson abominations (Arriving UFO and Circus of Heaven) it's actually a strong record.   I get it, that's a quarter of the album that has to go, but in my opinion, it is not their worst, and not even bottom five. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 01, 2017, 07:07:16 AM
Going for the One blows me away.  It is my favorite album of all-time, same as Stadler.  I cannot think of another band with the vision, the resources, and just plain balls to record an album fusing synthesizers and electric guitars with church organ, choir, and harp, and the compositions to incorporate them all.  To me, it's the pinnacle of prog right there.  Jon Anderson has said that "Awaken" to him is everything Yes was about, and I agree.

Drama is great because it's so different, yet still Yes.  I have no problem with The Buggles joining them for this album, especially since Anderson and Wakeman wanted to go off and do more mellow stuff.  Howe-Squire-White wanted to get heavier, so they stayed and did so.  But it's not all heavy; it runs the spectrum just as any other Yes album.  I think "Man in a White Car" is brilliant in its simplicity, and demonstrates Downes' flair for orchestration.  I even like "Into the Lens" and "Run Through the Light", two songs that get slagged a lot.  I feel like I understand what they were going for.  I know that sounds pretentious, but those songs work for me, I get them.

I'll always have a soft spot for Tormato.  To many, it was disappointing, just a "regular" album, with eight songs, no real epics.  "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" comes close.  But I like the variety, I like the insanity, and yes, I even like "Arriving UFO".  "Circus of Heaven" is a bit tougher, but again, I feel like I know what Jon was going for with that song, so I'm fine with it.  Jon was starting to get more wordy, sometimes even using complete sentences rather than letting the sound of the words work for him, and it turns out he doesn't make much more sense here than when we talked about Siberia going through the motions or mountains coming out of the sky, but whatever.  I just kinda ignore the words and let the voice be the instrument as before and it's all good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 01, 2017, 07:24:35 AM
Although I really like Drama and Going For The One I wouldn't rank them in my Yes top 5. For me the classic records and some of the Yes West records are better. And I like Tormato, it's not as bad as some people claim it to be. But Circus Of Heaven is hard to listen to, imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on August 01, 2017, 07:31:51 AM
I think all of the three albums are underrated. Drama and Going For The One are brilliant, especially Awaken & Machine Messiah. Tormato might be their weakest 70s album, but then again I think it ties with Time & A Word. Still, that doesn't mean anything considering the amount of masterpieces they've release in those 10 years. I could never understand why people considered Tormato Yes' worst album ever. I mean, the guys released Heaven & Earth.

#edit: Man I just put on my old Drama vinyl and WOW what an album! Does It Really Happen? is amazing with its stunning rhythmic complexity and killer bass sound, so is Into The Lens! No word has to be said about Machine Messiah of course. I find it crazy how often I find myself thinking.. "I LOVE Yes.. what a band".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on August 01, 2017, 02:27:31 PM
Very Cool to see everybody's thoughts on these and all three of getting some praises.

Going for the One: Awaken is a masterpiece, I love that slide guitar Howe plays in the title track, Squire's work on Parallels, Wakeman on Turn of the Century, and the shorter Wonderous Stories where Anderson shines. Whole album works well together and is fantastic.

Tormato: I always loved arriving UFO, great synth work by Wakeman. Future Times/Rejoice, Release Release, and On the Silent Wings of Freedom are great tracks. Onward is an excellent slow track. Don't Kill the Whale is ok, Madrigal and Circus would be the two weaker tracks IMO.

Drama: I think this entire record is strong, so much so that I have no problem with the one weak track White Car that logs in at all of a minute and change.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on August 01, 2017, 03:11:21 PM
The final three albums of the band's Pre-80's run are a curious bunch. Going For The One comes off a 4-album run of progressive rock masterpieces, and I think for many Yes fans, it can be a bit divided on how they feel. Personally, I love it, it's got their progressive stylings but something fresh infused into it that sets is apart from the likes of CTTE or Relayer.

Tormato is a bit more unusual, though I don't entirely dislike it. I remember reading that one or more of the band members wished they had a second pass at all the music before recording it, and I could tell that there was some potential for greatness in the songs, but it felt unfinished, which is a good word to describe Tormato. It's certainly the first significant dip in over-all consistency in their catalog since Fragile (TFTO might be that, for some, as well), but it's not downright horrible (as some of their later albums might prove to be).

Drama is an absolute favorite of mine, regardless of the Buggles, who I think add a lot to the band. With Wakeman leaving again (and not for the last time either), the over-all landscape of sounds was sure to change, and when the album's first song hits you, you can feel it. Every piece is quite different from each other, and even more so from the albums that preceded it. I think because of how different this one is compared to the rest is what drew me to it and why I love it so much. It's heavy in parts, heavy in a way that the band had not done before, and wouldn't really ever again. Part of me wishes that this exact line-up had done a second album in 1981, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

As a 3-album consecutive run, it's very peculiar, and I can  understand why a lot of fans would stop at GFTO or even before it, but this is a run of albums that shouldn't be over-looked. I often refer to the band's first 10 albums as a fantastic run of music. Some would say it goes from The Yes Album to Going For The One, but it's always a shame when people disregard the first two or Tormato and Drama - just because they're different than what they would be known for doesn't mean they're not good songs in their own right (and I say that knowing full well that I don't really like Open Your Eyes or Heaven & Earth, but I don't think there's much of a fence to sit on with those albums - fans seem pretty unanimous on those).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 04, 2017, 06:58:36 PM
Another box set package of theirs I have that is pretty good is "The Word Is Live" a three disc live package put out by Rhino in 2005. This one has some more obscure stuff.

Disc 1.
Then (BBC 1970)
For Everyone (BBC 1970)
Astral Traveler (Gothenburg 1971)
Everydays (Gothenburg 1971)
Yours Is No Disgrace (London 71)
 I've Seen All Good People (London 71)
America (London 71)
It's love (London 71)

Disc 2.
Apocalypse (Detroit 76)
Siberian Khatru (Detroit 76)
Sound Chaser (Detroit 76)
Sweet Dreams (London 75)
Future Times/Rejoice (Oakland 78)
Circus of Heaven (Oakland 78)
The Big Medley (Time and a word, Long Distance runaround, Survival, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon)- Inglewood 78
Hello Chicago (Chicago 79)
Roundabout (Chicago 79)

Disc 3.
Heart of the Sunrise (Oakland 78)
Awaken (Chicago 79)
Go Through This (NY 1980)
We Can Fly From Here (NY 1980)
Tempus Fugit (NY 1980)
Rhythm of Love (Houston 88)
Hold On (Houston 88)
Shoot High, Aim Low (Houston 88)
Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart (Houston 88)

Pretty cool package and some gathered up lesser available songs on it. I bought it mainly for the 78-80 era stuff. comes in a nice paperback sized hardcover package with a bound inner booklet with great pictures.   

I like this box, but I'm always listening to disc three way more than the rest and I've been known to continually hit the repeat button on Shoot High, Aim Low. Killer version that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 04, 2017, 07:05:03 PM
I like this package, too.  Some fans complained that it was too heavy on the rarities and oddballs, but I'm pretty sure that was the whole point.  The 70-71 was the big draw for me, as there's very little proper live material from the early days.  The stuff here is mostly bootleg-quality (and again, fans complained) but most of it probably did come from bootlegs, if not all.  Same with the Drama-era stuff.

The near bootleg quality was another reason I don't listen to the first two discs much.

I guess it's difficult to nail down a band like Yes live. The only live commercial recordings I can listen to with any regularity at all is Yesshows and the Seven Shows from '72 set.  I almost always prefer live work to studio, but not in the case of Yes usually.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 04, 2017, 07:10:00 PM

Symphonic Live
In The Present (Live from Lyon)
Like It Is (Bristol Hippodrome)
Like It Is (Mesa Arts Center)



Missing these myself, but I would like to pick them up eventually.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on August 04, 2017, 09:30:59 PM
Another box set package of theirs I have that is pretty good is "The Word Is Live" a three disc live package put out by Rhino in 2005. This one has some more obscure stuff.

Disc 1.
Then (BBC 1970)
For Everyone (BBC 1970)
Astral Traveler (Gothenburg 1971)
Everydays (Gothenburg 1971)
Yours Is No Disgrace (London 71)
 I've Seen All Good People (London 71)
America (London 71)
It's love (London 71)

Disc 2.
Apocalypse (Detroit 76)
Siberian Khatru (Detroit 76)
Sound Chaser (Detroit 76)
Sweet Dreams (London 75)
Future Times/Rejoice (Oakland 78)
Circus of Heaven (Oakland 78)
The Big Medley (Time and a word, Long Distance runaround, Survival, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon)- Inglewood 78
Hello Chicago (Chicago 79)
Roundabout (Chicago 79)

Disc 3.
Heart of the Sunrise (Oakland 78)
Awaken (Chicago 79)
Go Through This (NY 1980)
We Can Fly From Here (NY 1980)
Tempus Fugit (NY 1980)
Rhythm of Love (Houston 88)
Hold On (Houston 88)
Shoot High, Aim Low (Houston 88)
Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart (Houston 88)

Pretty cool package and some gathered up lesser available songs on it. I bought it mainly for the 78-80 era stuff. comes in a nice paperback sized hardcover package with a bound inner booklet with great pictures.   

I like this box, but I'm always listening to disc three way more than the rest and I've been known to continually hit the repeat button on Shoot High, Aim Low. Killer version that.

Yeah was very cool to have that included, my favorite song on Big Generator. Funny, I remember that tour, that was a strange Yes tour. They played the Spectrum in Philly and played Hendrix's Hey Joe I believe it was one of the encores. A lot of empty seats too, I believe each tour thereafter they downsized to smaller venues. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on August 10, 2017, 05:21:30 PM
Another box set package of theirs I have that is pretty good is "The Word Is Live" a three disc live package put out by Rhino in 2005. This one has some more obscure stuff.

Disc 1.
Then (BBC 1970)
For Everyone (BBC 1970)
Astral Traveler (Gothenburg 1971)
Everydays (Gothenburg 1971)
Yours Is No Disgrace (London 71)
 I've Seen All Good People (London 71)
America (London 71)
It's love (London 71)

Disc 2.
Apocalypse (Detroit 76)
Siberian Khatru (Detroit 76)
Sound Chaser (Detroit 76)
Sweet Dreams (London 75)
Future Times/Rejoice (Oakland 78)
Circus of Heaven (Oakland 78)
The Big Medley (Time and a word, Long Distance runaround, Survival, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon)- Inglewood 78
Hello Chicago (Chicago 79)
Roundabout (Chicago 79)

Disc 3.
Heart of the Sunrise (Oakland 78)
Awaken (Chicago 79)
Go Through This (NY 1980)
We Can Fly From Here (NY 1980)
Tempus Fugit (NY 1980)
Rhythm of Love (Houston 88)
Hold On (Houston 88)
Shoot High, Aim Low (Houston 88)
Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart (Houston 88)

Pretty cool package and some gathered up lesser available songs on it. I bought it mainly for the 78-80 era stuff. comes in a nice paperback sized hardcover package with a bound inner booklet with great pictures.   

I like this box, but I'm always listening to disc three way more than the rest and I've been known to continually hit the repeat button on Shoot High, Aim Low. Killer version that.

Yeah was very cool to have that included, my favorite song on Big Generator. Funny, I remember that tour, that was a strange Yes tour. They played the Spectrum in Philly and played Hendrix's Hey Joe I believe it was one of the encores. A lot of empty seats too, I believe each tour thereafter they downsized to smaller venues.

I missed them that tour because Rush's Hold Your Fire Tour was around the same time and I didn't have any money left.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on August 29, 2017, 09:35:55 PM
So my little sister is seeing YES (Howe/Sherwood/Davison) tonight.. along with Carl Palmer opening. She MET Carl Palmer.

When the hell did my sister become a YES fan?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 30, 2017, 08:33:34 AM
Don't question, just go with it.  It is a good thing and you should be happy for her. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 30, 2017, 09:11:59 AM
I'm more interested in when she became friends with Carl Palmer.  Sounds like there's a better story there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on August 30, 2017, 01:33:12 PM
Her best friend (who is actually really cute... which is a nice plus) is a huge prog fan apparently. Genesis. YES (she saw Anderson Wakeman Rabin recently), ELP, etc... and is getting my sister into it.

WIN.

I guess they did a meet and greet ? Or it was just an informal chance. My sister met Carl Palmer and Todd Rudgren. Her friend got to chat with Billy Sherwood.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 30, 2017, 02:41:37 PM
Her best friend (who is actually really cute... which is a nice plus) is a huge prog fan apparently. Genesis. YES (she saw Anderson Wakeman Rabin recently), ELP, etc... and is getting my sister into it.

WIN.

I guess they did a meet and greet ? Or it was just an informal chance. My sister met Carl Palmer and Todd Rudgren. Her friend got to chat with Billy Sherwood.

Seems like they like older, doughy guys with questionable taste in music...  I'll PM you my number!   :)   


(I'm kidding, of course). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on August 30, 2017, 06:16:31 PM
:lol

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Herrick on August 30, 2017, 08:53:23 PM
Anyone know of a good quality live version of Close to the Edge?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on August 30, 2017, 09:04:29 PM
Since you're asking, I'm assuming you don't consider the Yessongs version to be "good quality".  That's understandable.  A lot of people have trouble with the sound quality of that album, but the performances themselves are absolutely smoking.  That's still my favorite live version of the song.

In terms of sound quality, the best ones are in the Progeny set.  Soundboard recordings from the original tour.

If you're not in a position to flip for a 14-disc set, the next best version IMO is the ABWH version on An Evening of Yes Music Plus.  Bruford was using his electronic drums at the time, so that could be an issue.  Again, I try to listen to the musical performance itself, but it's tougher here because it's so clear.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on August 30, 2017, 09:09:42 PM
I like to watch as well as listen, I'm very partial to this excellent show and version.  :hefdaddy

Live at the Rainbow Theatre 1972 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrLvReUNcbE
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on August 30, 2017, 11:57:14 PM
I don't mind the sound of Yessongs and the performance is top notch.

The ABWH version is good but (imo) lacks a little bit in the bass department due to Tony Levin being ill and Jeff Berlin stepping in on short notice. And of course Chris Squire not being part of it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 31, 2017, 08:21:11 AM
I know I'm a minority here, and I'm generally a huge fan of Tony Levin, but ABWH suffers GREATLY in terms of the lack of Chris Squire.   You can't just fill in a "talented bassist" and cover the ground that Squire does.   Stick with the Yessongs/Progeny versions, if you're asking me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on August 31, 2017, 10:44:54 AM
I would absolutely agree. Any variation of Yes without Squire is very noticeably lacking. Not just because of his dominant bass playing but also his outstanding backing vocals, which were a VERY important part of Yes's sound and depth. He along with Wakeman, were always my favorite members of Yes through the years, which is why I rank Going For The One and Tormato as high as I do. Drama, another favorite of mine was definitely driven by Squire. He is so much of a loss to Yes's sound, that I probably will hold my memories dear and never bother to see the band live again. Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman's version on the other hand I would love to check out at least once, one because I'm a major Wakeman fan and two because it has been years since I've seen Anderson.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on August 31, 2017, 10:53:58 AM
I would absolutely agree. Any variation of Yes without Squire is very noticeably lacking. Not just because of his dominant bass playing but also his outstanding backing vocals, which were a VERY important part of Yes's sound and depth. He along with Wakeman, were always my favorite members of Yes through the years, which is why I rank Going For The One and Tormato as high as I do. Drama, another favorite of mine was definitely driven by Squire. He is so much of a loss to Yes's sound, that I probably will hold my memories dear and never bother to see the band live again. Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman's version on the other hand I would love to check out at least once, one because I'm a major Wakeman fan and two because it has been years since I've seen Anderson.

Going For The One is my favorite record of all time, by any band.

I have seen Yes too many times to count and I will not be seeing the "Howe-version" again.  No interest.

I will go see AWR, if only to see Trevor play guitar with Rick, but I'm under no illusions that it is "Yes". 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Herrick on August 31, 2017, 12:43:32 PM
Thanks for the recommendations. Sorry, I should've said that I don't like the sound of Yessongs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 03, 2017, 01:17:27 PM
Since you're asking, I'm assuming you don't consider the Yessongs version to be "good quality".  That's understandable.  A lot of people have trouble with the sound quality of that album, but the performances themselves are absolutely smoking.  That's still my favorite live version of the song.

In terms of sound quality, the best ones are in the Progeny set.  Soundboard recordings from the original tour.

If you're not in a position to flip for a 14-disc set, the next best version IMO is the ABWH version on An Evening of Yes Music Plus.  Bruford was using his electronic drums at the time, so that could be an issue.  Again, I try to listen to the musical performance itself, but it's tougher here because it's so clear.

Gone over this before, but I'm one of the ones who doesn't listen to Yessongs a lot despite the amazing set. That album turned be off of live Yes for a very long time. Fortunately that Progeny set me straight on live Yes from that period. Even the first two discs of the Word Is Live I don't listen to much.

Love that Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe live album though. Aside from those electronic drums (minor issue I guess), the music on that album just sings to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 03, 2017, 01:21:40 PM
I don't mind the sound of Yessongs and the performance is top notch.

The ABWH version is good but (imo) lacks a little bit in the bass department due to Tony Levin being ill and Jeff Berlin stepping in on short notice. And of course Chris Squire not being part of it.

I'm a huge fan of Levin and Berlin. Berlin can flat out play but I don't think this was an optimal situation for him. He's never been what I'd consider to be a "flashy" bass player.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on September 05, 2017, 04:01:35 AM
Apparently YES will do a 50 anniversary tour next year and release a live album covering their last tour called Topographic Drama later this year.
Well... there goes the dream of ARW and Yes reuniting for their 50th anniversary for a giant tour.

Here's the full statement from their Facebook page. Yes news are getting less exciting each time.

Quote
YES ANNOUNCES #YES50 - 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
The year 2018 marks half a century since the formation of the legendary group YES, one of the biggest bands in prog-rock history and true pioneers of the genre. To celebrate this remarkable milestone YES will embark on a 10-date UK tour in March 2018 - #YES50.
On this not-to-be-missed tour, YES [Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood] will feature not only many of the band’s classic hits, but performances of Sides 1 and 4 and an excerpt from Side 3 of their 1973 album, 'Tales from Topographic Oceans', which was the first YES album to top the UK Album Charts. YES will also play some European shows. More dates will be announced soon on yesworld.com.
50TH ANNIVERSARY FAN CONVENTION
The final weekend of the UK Tour at the London Palladium on 24th and 25th March will include a 50th Anniversary Fan Convention – more details of the Anniversary Celebrations will be announced soon.
NEW ROGER DEAN 'CLOSE TO THE EDGE' PAINTINGS
Roger Dean (whose fantastical landscapes and logos have become synonymous with the band’s albums) will unveil new “Close To The Edge” paintings at the Palladium on March 25th.
TOPOGRAPHIC DRAMA – LIVE ACROSS AMERICA
YES, deservedly inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017, will release “Topographic Drama – Live Across America”, a new live album, planned for later in the year, recorded during their US 2016/17 tours.
50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR - QUOTES
Talking about their 50th Anniversary, Steve Howe said: “We want to mark this anniversary with a tour that encompasses some of our best loved work - we want to play things we enjoy, maybe songs we haven’t done in a while.”
Geoff Downes adds: “I feel enormously privileged be a part of the legacy of the incredible and unique line of musicians in YES. The band has always remained fresh and inventive throughout its 50-year history, and created an amazing catalogue of music that has inspired millions from all generations."
Alan White says: "Reflecting on the past 46 years that I've devoted my life to playing YES music, it's been an interesting journey and a true labour of love. I've always believed in the power of music and the band's recent induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and our Grammy (awarded in 1985) are testament to the longevity of influence our music has had through the years. I'm extremely grateful to continue to be performing on stages for our dedicated fans and look forward to our 50th Anniversary performing together in 2018. It's been a great ride!!"
#YES50 TOUR DATES - 2018 (UK & Europe)
Tue 13th March - Bristol Colston Hall
Wed 14th March - Sheffield City Hall
Fri 16th March - Glasgow SEC Armadillo
Sat 17th March - Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Sun 18th March - Gateshead Sage
Tue 20th March - Birmingham Symphony Hall
Wed 21st March - Brighton Centre
Fri 23rd March - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Sat 24th March - London Palladium
Sun 25th March - London Palladium
Tue 27th March - Tilburg 013
Wed 28th March - Antwerp De Roma
Fri 30th March - Paris Olympia
UK Tickets onsale Friday 8th September from 10.00am.
Available from BookingsDirect.com 24hr Ticket Hotline 0844 249 2222 (subject to fees).
Also available from venue box offices and select authorised ticket agencies.
Front row, Meet & Greet & VIP packages are available from yesworld.com
There is no support. Please see ticket for start time.
European Dates to be announced soon at yesworld.com
ABOUT YES:
YES is:
• Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 –1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present)
• Alan White: drums, percussion (1972 – present)
• Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980–1981, 2011–present)
• Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997–2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
• Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012–present)
Founded in 1968 by the late and much-missed Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Grammy-award winning recording artist YES has created some of the most important and influential music in rock history, including iconic pieces such as 'Roundabout', 'Close to the Edge', 'I’ve Seen All Good People', 'Starship Trooper' and countless others. The band’s albums, including Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, Relayer, Going For the One and 90125, have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA, selling over 50 million records during the band’s long and successful career that has so far spanned six decades. YES is undeniably one of the world’s all time most influential, ground-breaking, respected and loved progressive rock bands.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 05, 2017, 08:57:24 AM
Why does that do absolutely nothing for me?  (And this a band I've seen as much as any other, "Going For The One" is my favorite album of all time, and I even LIKED Tomato, and (most of) Onion).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 05, 2017, 09:56:27 AM
For me, it's because almost none of the original players are out there playing it.  Steve and Alan are the only ones left who were on Tales, and Geoff was on Drama, but without the original vocalists and the amazing Chris Squire, it will obviously not be the same as if you'd seen the original lineup back in the day, or even now.

I won't go as far as some who've called the current lineup "a Yes cover band" because that's not only stupid and disrespectful, it's just plain inaccurate.  This is the official lineup of the band, today, like it or not.  But I have little hope that they can recapture the magic.

My feeling is:  If you're a big fan of the music itself, and the band itself, by all means go; you'll probably enjoy it.  I don't think you can witness a live performance by five musicians of this caliber playing music at this level and not come away impressed.  But for me, the attraction would be seeing Jon Anderson or Trevor Horn singing, or Rick Wakeman on keys (on Tales), not just whoever's in the band these days.  And again, Chris is absent either way, which cannot be helped, but that's pretty much the deal-breaker for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 06, 2017, 04:32:01 PM
The Masterworks Tour was the last time I was interested in live Yes and it has nothing to do with who is and who isn't in the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on September 06, 2017, 05:12:03 PM
Why does that do absolutely nothing for me?  (And this a band I've seen as much as any other, "Going For The One" is my favorite album of all time, and I even LIKED Tomato, and (most of) Onion).

huh, what year was Onion released?  :lol :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on September 06, 2017, 05:24:07 PM
For me, it's because almost none of the original players are out there playing it.  Steve and Alan are the only ones left who were on Tales, and Geoff was on Drama, but without the original vocalists and the amazing Chris Squire, it will obviously not be the same as if you'd seen the original lineup back in the day, or even now.

I won't go as far as some who've called the current lineup "a Yes cover band" because that's not only stupid and disrespectful, it's just plain inaccurate.  This is the official lineup of the band, today, like it or not.  But I have little hope that they can recapture the magic.

My feeling is:  If you're a big fan of the music itself, and the band itself, by all means go; you'll probably enjoy it.  I don't think you can witness a live performance by five musicians of this caliber playing music at this level and not come away impressed.  But for me, the attraction would be seeing Jon Anderson or Trevor Horn singing, or Rick Wakeman on keys (on Tales), not just whoever's in the band these days.  And again, Chris is absent either way, which cannot be helped, but that's pretty much the deal-breaker for me.

Pretty much agree with everything stated above. The Squire factor really weighs hard on my lack of interest. The simple addition of Wakeman (and that doesn't mean Downes would have to go, duties could be split, kinda like the Union tour) would have made this much more enticing. Ideally I would have liked to see a merge of the two current touring bands of Yes members.

 Actually What the hell, why not do the whole Union thing all over again, the members are getting pretty up there in age and it's been what? twenty six years or something like that since the Union tour. Bring back Kaye, Moraz, Horn, whoever the hell wanted to participate of living band members. Make it a three hour show with an intermission and rotate people in and out playing a wide ranging diverse set list encompassing the whole career. I think for a 50th Anniversary celebration that would have been cool as shit. So that ball has been dropped, pending some 11th hour change of plans. Maybe when the time comes (and it probably won't be long) they could still pull something like that off for a farewell tour. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 06, 2017, 09:21:45 PM
Never say never, but right now the feelings between certain members of the band and certain ex-members of the band are so bad that I really do not think it will happen.  Jon Anderson has said many times that he would love to be back in Yes, but his actions on many occasions prove otherwise.  Wakeman will only play in Yes if he feels like it and it's convenient for him, and also only if Jon is in the band.  Rabin just isn't that invested; he moved on a long time ago, but likes playing the music, so why not?  AWR has managed to bill themselves "Yes Featuring Anderson, Wakeman, and Rabin" because they consider themselves the "real" Yes, despite all three of them not being members of the official Yes because they all fucking quit, some of them multiple times.

Meanwhile, the actual official band Yes has tried to take the high road, but it's tough when three ex-members get together and start calling themselves Yes and basically dare them to take legal action.  Howe and White won't do that.  They still would rather all get along, but they won't kick Davison and Downes out of the band just so Anderson and Wakeman can come back.

Now that he's gone, it's become more clear that not only was Chris Squire the keeper of the flame, but literally the one who kept the band together.  That is, his calming influence is what kept them from tearing each other apart.  With his passing, there really doesn't seem to be much hope of a nice, happy re-union.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 07, 2017, 07:25:31 AM
Orbert, none of this is against you, per se, but as a general comment, I don't quite accept the "they quit" argument.   Maybe it's because I was in a marriage, and I felt a long time that it was my obligation, my DUTY to make it work, and once I got out I realized that literally NOTHING I could have done would have made it work, I'm sensitive to the idea that some of these people shouldn't be penalized - branded, really - for all eternity by the "THEY FUCKING QUIT" label.  Why should a guy like Trevor Rabin, a creative, self-sufficient musician, subject himself to the shit-show that was Yes following the Talk record?   He had a vocalist that didn't get along with his bandleader, he had a keyboard player that wouldn't/couldn't play what was asked of him (requiring Trevor to essentially play all the keys parts as well) and a band leader that, at the time, was widely understood to be in the thralls of a pretty impressive - even by rock and roll standards - affair with the cocaine.   

Steve Howe, I guess it could be said, HASN'T quit, but his output has noticeably suffered.  The recent albums are not at all stylistically what could be expected of Yes as a band and Howe as a player, and having seen him live now twice since Anderson left Yes (including once with Asia), one of the truly, all time greats has been phoning it in, in my opinion.  Tempos are down, arrangements are simplified, and I've heard more mistakes from him in two shows than I've heard in 30 years of live stuff before. 

Creative, artistic musicians should not be obligated to subsume that creativity to some arbitrary standard of "I quit".  It's not and never is that simple.  (And yes, I fully am aware of the irony of discussing the importance of a band member supposedly "quitting" on a Dream Theater fan forum). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 07, 2017, 10:06:29 AM
It's more complicated than that, I admit.  If a member gets sick and can't tour and/or can't record the new album, usually it's not a huge deal for the band to wait until he gets better.  (The obvious exception is Styx, which has already been discussed to death).  But if the rest of the band waits for him to get better, decides not to tour, and goes back to their various side projects and other endeavors, then later finds out that the guy they're waiting for has actually gone out on a solo tour in the meantime, then I feel they have every right to fire his ass.  In the case of Yes, it wasn't firing so much as them deciding to move on without him.  Either Jon Anderson wasn't as sick as he'd let on, or got better but decided not to contact the rest of Yes, even though last he knew, they were all waiting for him.  So I'm not sure what you'd call that, but it seemed obvious that Yes was not his top priority.  And he did outright quit the band after Tormato, as did Wakeman, though that was like the third time Wakeman had left anyway.  So that's two guys who've left Yes when they just didn't feel like being in it, and now are saying "But we are the real Yes!"  I think that's simply crap.

Rabin I'll give you.  He didn't quit so much as decide not to fight about it when the band chose to carry on without him.  Through all of this, he's been the one who seemed the least personally invested in Yes.  Don't get me wrong; when he was leading the band, he was in it 100%.  He's a consummate professional, always has been.  But I don't blame him for not being thrilled about how any of the 80's and 90's stuff shook out, especially since he never wanted the band to be called Yes in the first place.  It got away from him, he rode it as long as he could, and stepped off when the opportunity presented itself.

My post was muddled because I guess I was trying to make at least two points at once.  One that I really don't see the two factions getting back together, and the other that "Yes Featuring AWR" becoming legitimate sure as hell didn't help that situation, and my feelings about that.

I won't go as far as saying Steve has been phoning it in.  He's 70 years old and can't play the way he used to.  He's gone on record saying that yes, they know the tempos are down, but they feel that that's better than trying to play them at original tempos and butchering them.  They've been trying to work on that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 07, 2017, 10:16:02 AM
I won't go as far as saying Steve has been phoning it in.  He's 70 years old and can't play the way he used to.  He's gone on record saying that yes, they know the tempos are down, but they feel that that's better than trying to play them at original tempos and butchering them.  They've been trying to work on that.

Fair point.  I wasn't aware of his acknowledgement, but good for him if that's the case.  At least he's being honest.  Can't find too much fault in that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Herrick on September 07, 2017, 10:34:44 AM
I was always under the impression that Anderson chose to do his solo stuff because he wasn't up to the Yes touring schedule after recovering from his health problems. Honestly I never even looked into how much he was touring with his solo band so I could be way off here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 07, 2017, 11:33:15 AM
That much is probably true, that he chose to do his solo stuff because he wasn't up to the Yes touring schedule after his illness.

The problem is that he kept the rest of Yes "on hold" the whole time.  They waited a while, checked back with him, he was still recovering, so they waited a while longer, etc.  A few years went by with no word from him, then they hear that he's out there touring.  Small or large tour, you don't exactly do that if you're supposedly recovering from an illness in order to get back with your main band.  Knowing Yes, there was probably some misunderstanding involved, but at the very least, he could've let them know what was going on.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on September 07, 2017, 10:08:17 PM
Unless you're talking about in 1979, Jon Anderson didn't quit, he was fired & replaced (without his knowledge until it was announced).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on September 07, 2017, 11:55:18 PM
Really? Didn't Jon leave on his own and then Rick followed him?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on September 07, 2017, 11:56:40 PM
I'm talking about the breakup in 2010-11, that's why I said "Unless you're talking about in 1979,"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on September 07, 2017, 11:59:36 PM
I'm talking about the breakup in 2010-11, that's why I said "Unless you're talking about in 1979,"
Shit. It's 8AM here, pardon me.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 08, 2017, 12:16:40 AM
Regardless of who was fired or quit or whatever, I find Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin nowadays much more interesting than the Howe, Downes, White incarnation. Both tour as nostalgia acts, playing their music from several years ago, but from what I've heard the performances of ARW don't suffer that much from old age.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 08, 2017, 07:32:34 AM
Unless you're talking about in 1979, Jon Anderson didn't quit, he was fired & replaced (without his knowledge until it was announced).

You couldn't tell that I was talking about the 2010-2011 mess?  Okay, you can call it being fired and replaced, but was being an asshole.  He kept them waiting for four years, they scrapped tour plans and plans to go back into the studio while they waited for him, then they found out that he was out touring his solo thing.  Then he cried foul when they found another singer and made an album.  How long are you supposed to wait for someone?  As far as they were concerned, he'd moved on.  He never bothered to tell them what was going on, then he whines that they never told him he'd been replaced?

Regardless of who was fired or quit or whatever, I find Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin nowadays much more interesting than the Howe, Downes, White incarnation. Both tour as nostalgia acts, playing their music from several years ago, but from what I've heard the performances of ARW don't suffer that much from old age.

I've heard that the AWR show is more interesting, because other than the Union tour, those particular three ex-Yesmen were never in the band at the same time.  They've reworked a lot of the songs, which naturally gives them a fresher feel and something different to check out.  Meanwhile official Yes is playing the same songs, same arrangements, only slower and not as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 08, 2017, 07:41:23 AM
Unless you're talking about in 1979, Jon Anderson didn't quit, he was fired & replaced (without his knowledge until it was announced).

You couldn't tell that I was talking about the 2010-2011 mess?  Okay, you can call it being fired and replaced, but was being an asshole.  He kept them waiting for four years, they scrapped tour plans and plans to go back into the studio while they waited for him, then they found out that he was out touring his solo thing.  Then he cried foul when they found another singer and made an album.  How long are you supposed to wait for someone?  As far as they were concerned, he'd moved on.  He never bothered to tell them what was going on, then he whines that they never told him he'd been replaced?

And thus my comment about "fucking quit" being overrated as a factor.  NONE of these things are as cut and dry as we'd like them to be (and thus the existence of forums like this!).   If nothing else, I think we often forget that for bands like Yes, there are THOUSANDS of dollars at stake; nothing happens randomly, and nothing happens in a vacuum.   Chris was a strong man, and had his way of doing things, but if he had showed anything in the 45 +/- years he led Yes, it's that there was always an open door, and always a chance to get back into the band if that was your desire.   Jon clearly didn't.  He may not have outright "quit", but if you effectively force the hand of the rest of the guys (read:  Squire, and to a lesser degree, White), it ends up in the same place.   

I will say this, though:  I think a Yes ship captained by Squire is a different animal than a Yes ship captained by Steve Howe, and for the better.   Howe comes off as a very bitter, very petty man at times, in a way that Squire never did.  That's not at all good for a band that is as much a community as it is anything else.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Herrick on September 08, 2017, 12:59:53 PM
That much is probably true, that he chose to do his solo stuff because he wasn't up to the Yes touring schedule after his illness.

The problem is that he kept the rest of Yes "on hold" the whole time.  They waited a while, checked back with him, he was still recovering, so they waited a while longer, etc.  A few years went by with no word from him, then they hear that he's out there touring.  Small or large tour, you don't exactly do that if you're supposedly recovering from an illness in order to get back with your main band.  Knowing Yes, there was probably some misunderstanding involved, but at the very least, he could've let them know what was going on.

That's messed up. I didn't realize they waited that long for him to return.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on September 09, 2017, 11:39:02 AM
Very good points on this discussion, enjoying this . Another current factor is that now that Squire is deceased, Anderson is the sole original member in this mix now. Does that not give him some more leeway in the rights to calling ARW YES. It's an interesting situation, and he has two yes members with him that were driving forces behind Yes's most revered and commercially successful era's. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 11, 2017, 05:27:31 PM
 So sad to hear about Steve Howe's son  suddenly passing away.  :-[
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 11, 2017, 06:49:24 PM
WHAT?! :omg: I hadn't heard!

 :'(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 11, 2017, 07:08:24 PM
Posted to their official Facebook page. 

Quote

Due to the tragic, unexpected death of guitarist Steve Howe’s beloved younger son, Virgil, YES regrettably announces that the remaining dates of their Yestival Tour have been cancelled.
Ticket refunds for the affected tour dates (in Moorhead, Cedar Rapids, London, Rochester, Boston and Huntington) will be available at point of purchase.
YES — Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood — want to thank all their fans for their support and understanding at this time.
Steve Howe and family ask for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on September 11, 2017, 08:32:54 PM
so sad.

Just noticed how among Virgil's credits, the THEME for BETTER CALL SAUL.

Maybe they'll dedicate something to him in the credits next season.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 18, 2017, 03:01:44 PM
Very sad news.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 29, 2017, 08:01:26 PM
Felt the need to watch this again and figured someone else might enjoy it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blpCcyxAFI
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 29, 2017, 08:21:13 PM
This Chris Squire video from 1987 is great on it's own merits but doesn't anyone recognize the tune at 27:41 of this video? Can't be the first one to notice the similarity to State Of Grace (Liquid Tension Experiment) or vice-versa.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cprcYnffK_o
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 02, 2018, 03:45:53 AM
Yes rereleased Fly From Here with Trevor Horn on vocals and expanded it a little. There's a new song, the FULL Hour Of Need, and a few different interludes on the title suite. Benoit sounded a lot like Trevor, and to a certain extend  think this is pretty disrespectful to Benoit. But I like the new version better. I will wait for the vinyl and probably buy it. Until then it's on YouTube (hope it's not forbidden so say this here).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 02, 2018, 03:55:43 AM
Yes rereleased Fly From Here with Trevor Horn on vocals and expanded it a little. There's a new song, the FULL Hour Of Need, and a few different interludes on the title suite. Benoit sounded a lot like Trevor, and to a certain extend  think this is pretty disrespectful to Benoit. But I like the new version better. I will wait for the vinyl and probably buy it. Until then it's on YouTube (hope it's not forbidden so say this here).

The video's taken down apparently. & other than that I legitimately can't find where I can buy or listen to it. :huh:

Edit: seems like it's only available on PledgeMusic? Whose idea was that?  :facepalm:

Double-Edit: I found a download link don't kill me mods & wow, this is... not good... All the emotion is drained from the vocals & they lack the charisma that Benoit had on the original. They also cut the outros from the FFH suite tracks, which makes it somehow feel even more disjointed & unfocussed than the original (for the record, I love the original album, but I can totally understand why they originally chose to split it up). Oh yeah, & the new track is horrible. Howe's vocals sound totally dead inside & it's like he can't hit any note above a C0, which - coupled with some dorky synth sounds, totally forgettable guitars & drums, & yeah, it's not worth the new purchase. The full Hour Of Need is disjointed as hell & makes no sense from a pacing standpoint. & other than that, there's not a whole lot that sets this apart from the original, so I'd probably just stick with the original. Don't waste your money. Massive dissapointment from someone who absolutely adored the original FFH.  :tdwn
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 02, 2018, 04:23:32 AM
& while we're on the topic of FFH, I still don't understand how TMYAWMTB made it onto the album, considering only 1/3 of it was written by a Yes member, & it doesn't even have Benoit David on vocals. Minor pet peeve, but I think the original would be way better if that song was omitted. & maybe also cut the overture too. Then it'd be a solid 9 song, 40 minute album - just like old times.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 02, 2018, 06:09:51 AM
The Overture??? The Overture is one of the best tracks this mediocre album has to offer :D

I don't have FFH on vinyl and it's very expensive to get. So I think I will get this one since I like Horns vocals (always have).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 02, 2018, 06:28:21 AM
The Overture??? The Overture is one of the best tracks this mediocre album has to offer :D

Well considering it's almost the exact same as Madman At The Screens, & doesn't make sense as an opener at all, yeah, I'd say cut it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 10, 2018, 05:05:54 PM
I saw on Facebook that Yes announced their 50th anniversary tour - the version featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman.

Should be amusing when the Steve Howe version announces theirs as well.

If I had to go to one of them, there is no question I would go to the ARW show.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 11, 2018, 03:10:42 AM
I saw on Facebook that Yes announced their 50th anniversary tour - the version featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman.

Should be amusing when the Steve Howe version announces theirs as well.

If I had to go to one of them, there is no question I would go to the ARW show.

I've seen Yes with Chris and Benoit. Also I saw ARW last year at the Loreley.
Trust me, you made the right choice  ;)
Steve is still awesome, but the band just drags. Anderson and Wakeman have not lost any of their touch and abilities. I never was a fan of Rabin, but he's a decent guitarist. Plus, ARW have a good drummer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on April 11, 2018, 08:58:20 AM
Cool to know! I'm very anxious for the Yes fet ARW album, but it seems that only at the end of this year or the begginning of the next, according to the same Facebook post. Also glad to know that there will be a live CD/DVD in august/setember taken from a 2017 show :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 11, 2018, 09:17:34 AM
I believe in an album by ARW when I hold it in my hands. Yes have the tendency to announce stuff and never go through with it because someone stole another one’s cucumber and it results in a huge fight and possible lawsuit. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on April 11, 2018, 09:43:02 AM
They didn’t  announce the album in 2016 to be released at the end of year or the beginning of the next? :P
I don’t know, in the case of this album, it seems that it ‘s maybe Rabin’s fault, just because I got the impression that he is very meticulous in making any album and I guess it’s not a bad thing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 11, 2018, 12:07:06 PM
I believe in an album by ARW when I hold it in my hands. Yes have the tendency to announce stuff and never go through with it because someone stole another one’s cucumber and it results in a huge fight and possible lawsuit.

HAHAHA.  That about sums it up, no?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on April 11, 2018, 12:22:29 PM
I saw on Facebook that Yes announced their 50th anniversary tour - the version featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman.

Should be amusing when the Steve Howe version announces theirs as well.

If I had to go to one of them, there is no question I would go to the ARW show.
Yeah, I agree with Fritzinger. I saw the Jon Davison version of Yes a few times (with Geoffry Downs on keys) and thought they were very good. However a ton of that was based on the fact that Squire was the man. Now that he's gone it's going to be a pretty sorry deal. They're just sad old men doing it for cash now (Alan White in particular seems like he just doesn't want to be there without his friend). The ARW show that I saw was pretty good, and they really seemed to enjoy themselves (well, two of them--Wakeman always looks bored). They're not a band that's been doing this stuff for 40 years, and it showed, but it was still solid and enjoyable. I'd make a point to see the ARW version if we were in the same town. I've blown off the Howe/Davison version the last couple of times they were in Dallas and will the next time.

I'm actually kind of surprised that White hasn't jumped ship to the ARW camp. Squire's gone and Howe is not a pleasant man to be around. I have to wonder if being the steadiest member of the band all of this time has something to do with it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 11, 2018, 05:09:36 PM
I did chuckle at the blurb about how this album will be the first Yes album to have both Rabin and Wakeman in 28 years.  Oh yeah, what was the name of that album again..."

Union.

I am sure Rick Wakeman is dying to tell us again how much he loved that record. :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on April 11, 2018, 05:24:24 PM
I saw on Facebook that Yes announced their 50th anniversary tour - the version featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman.

Should be amusing when the Steve Howe version announces theirs as well.

If I had to go to one of them, there is no question I would go to the ARW show.
Yeah, I agree with Fritzinger. I saw the Jon Davison version of Yes a few times (with Geoffry Downs on keys) and thought they were very good. However a ton of that was based on the fact that Squire was the man. Now that he's gone it's going to be a pretty sorry deal. They're just sad old men doing it for cash now (Alan White in particular seems like he just doesn't want to be there without his friend). The ARW show that I saw was pretty good, and they really seemed to enjoy themselves (well, two of them--Wakeman always looks bored). They're not a band that's been doing this stuff for 40 years, and it showed, but it was still solid and enjoyable. I'd make a point to see the ARW version if we were in the same town. I've blown off the Howe/Davison version the last couple of times they were in Dallas and will the next time.

I'm actually kind of surprised that White hasn't jumped ship to the ARW camp. Squire's gone and Howe is not a pleasant man to be around. I have to wonder if being the steadiest member of the band all of this time has something to do with it.


Regarding your last paragraph about Alan White. Ya never know how long Wakeman will keep an interest in playing this stuff, and likewise Rabin could also tire of it after the next go round. I'm sure Howe has drilled it in Alan's head that the official Yes is the band to stick with because the other guys are just a short duration project and one that will no doubt  splinter and dissolve in the next two years. And I strongly believe they will wait until that happens before doing their Farewell Tour. That is my thinking.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on April 16, 2018, 11:21:30 PM
Yes rereleased Fly From Here with Trevor Horn on vocals and expanded it a little. There's a new song, the FULL Hour Of Need, and a few different interludes on the title suite. Benoit sounded a lot like Trevor, and to a certain extend  think this is pretty disrespectful to Benoit. But I like the new version better. I will wait for the vinyl and probably buy it. Until then it's on YouTube (hope it's not forbidden so say this here).

I *just* found out about this release, and yeah, as a person who's a big fan of the band Mystery's work, I find the whole idea a complete slap in the face to Benoit David. Rubs me the wrong way completely.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 17, 2018, 09:10:38 PM
I thought at first, too, but then I read that Benoit David was cool with it and will still receive royalties off of the sales of the new release, so not a big deal. Still not sure why they felt the need to redo such a blah record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on April 17, 2018, 11:04:03 PM
Okay, that does ease me a bit. I like the guy, felt this was a disrespectful move, but if he's okay with it and still getting money off it, I'm good.

I really really like "We Can Fly", "Sad Night At The Airfield" "Madman At The Screens" and "Into The Storm", but yeah, the rest of FFH does pretty much nothing for me. It's almost half a great record while holding a lot of dead weight on it.

I listened to some samples of this new version. There are bits I like, but at some points the music seems like it's going over the top compared to the original. I think Chris' chunky bass is a lot more pronounced here, which I enjoy. Don't know if I'd ever buy this, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on April 17, 2018, 11:11:28 PM
Honestly, I’m still skeptical.   I mean, what else is Benoit going to say?   You’re dealing in an industry where it is a general unspoken rule that everyone always speaks nice about each other publicly unless you A) are too big to worry about backlash or b) don’t care about dealing with any backlash which will most likely effect your future of finding work elsewhere.   

Taking the high road is usually best for your long term income in this business.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 18, 2018, 08:30:24 AM
Honestly, I’m still skeptical.   I mean, what else is Benoit going to say?   You’re dealing in an industry where it is a general unspoken rule that everyone always speaks nice about each other publicly unless you A) are too big to worry about backlash or b) don’t care about dealing with any backlash which will most likely effect your future of finding work elsewhere.   

Taking the high road is usually best for your long term income in this business.

Um, you haven't been paying attention to anything said in the Yes, Kiss, Van Halen or Sons of Apollo camps, have you?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cool Chris on April 18, 2018, 11:28:43 AM
You’re dealing in an industry where it is a general unspoken rule that everyone always speaks nice about each other publicly...

Um, you haven't been paying attention to anything said in the Yes, Kiss, Van Halen or Sons of Apollo camps, have you?

Aren't most rap artists' careers built on not saying nice things about other artists?

Serious question for Yes fans.... is it hard to be a Yes fan with all the line-up changes? What I mean is, I know at the end of the day it's all about the music. But is it harder to identify with the band as a group of individuals if those individuals keep changing, than it is with a band like Metallica who have had 2 member changes since their first album over 30 years ago?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 18, 2018, 11:37:09 AM
I've liked Fly from here since it came out. The epic is filled to the brim with fantastic themes and melodies. The song Chris sings on also has a special vibe and some gorgeous guitar work by Steve Howe, and even though Into the storm initially sounded like Yes by numbers, it still kicks ass. The album is probably my favorite Yes release of this centuruy.

That being said, I'm not particularly interested in the new version. No need to mess with an already good album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 18, 2018, 11:47:36 AM
You’re dealing in an industry where it is a general unspoken rule that everyone always speaks nice about each other publicly...

Um, you haven't been paying attention to anything said in the Yes, Kiss, Van Halen or Sons of Apollo camps, have you?

Aren't most rap artists' careers built on not saying nice things about other artists?

Serious question for Yes fans.... is it hard to be a Yes fan with all the line-up changes? What I mean is, I know at the end of the day it's all about the music. But is it harder to identify with the band as a group of individuals if those individuals keep changing, than it is with a band like Metallica who have had 2 member changes since their first album over 30 years ago?

Yes. Especially when the current line up (and the one with Chris) has not produced any good music. There, I said it, Heaven & Earth sucks. I would be fine if the band could still play awesome live OR made good studio albums. But with both not being the case, I always wondered, what WOULD happen if, they brought back Jon (the real Jon), Rick or Patrick and maybe Bill, since Alan's drums are just not good anymore. And Chris, but we all know that's not possible.
I am very excited for an ARW album though if it ever happens. But what I would love most is another Union, BUT with both bands making music TOGETHER.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 18, 2018, 01:00:02 PM
I've got no problem with the line-up changes per se, as long as the end result is good. But the last couple of records aren't that good. The question is, how much the different musicians are responsible for the mediocre song writing.

I've come to believe that they mostly just lost it, that their time is past and their creativity is mostly gone, no matter who is in Yes. And I still don't believe that ARW will put out original music, and even if they do, if it is really good.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 18, 2018, 02:05:14 PM
No disrespect to Fritzinger, with whom I usually agree, but I don't really have a problem with the lineup changes.   Maybe it's because  I've been spoiled because  Chris  has been there since Day One, and I always thought he was sort of the soul of the band.  It took me:

- 4 seconds to get over Peter Banks being gone;
- 9 seconds to get over Tony Kaye;
- 15 seconds to get over Bill Bruford;
- 20 minutes to get over Wakeman the first time;
- 2 seconds to get over Patrick Moraz;
- 5 minutes to get over Howe;

From that point on it got to be 0 seconds for everyone.  That's not to say that all are equal or interchangeable.  "Open Your Eyes" is an embarrassment for a band of the caliber of Yes, and I don't think Heaven and Earth is that far behind (though the recent live disks with the entire albums are pretty good).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 18, 2018, 02:09:00 PM
Oh man, ARW said they were working on a new album two years ago. I'm hoping it is going to be really good and that's the reason it's taking a long time. They also promised a live dvd of the last tour but There's been no mention of it since..
 As far as a new Union project with both incarnations of the band, it will never happen. Trevor Rabin referred to the last Union project as disastrous! That is a shame, because Union happens to be one of my favorite Yes albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 18, 2018, 02:17:17 PM
I agree that the official lineup hasn't really thrilled me lately, but I also have trouble getting excited about ARW.  Rabin is easily the most accomplished musician of the three, but is also the least committed to the project.  Anderson and Wakeman... I love what they did while in Yes, and some of the other things they've done, during and since, but they've become caricatures of themselves. 

Anderson is just too damned wordy now.  Part of the attraction of Yes for me is that it's the music that counts; it didn't matter that the lyrics were nonsense because the voice and melody were amazing.  But as beautiful as Jon's voice is, I don't want to hear it all the damned time.  Wakeman hasn't done anything remotely interesting in years.  His synth patches are shit, and his playing is all literally the same classical and pseudo-classical motifs he's been doing since the 70's.

The ever-changing lineups have never bothered me.  By time I became as Yesfan with Fragile, they'd already had two lineup changes, and two albums later came another.  Then another one two albums later.  Overall, it brings a huge variety to their sound, but because there are also common players (and mostly Jon's voice) there's a consistency to it, something always identifiable as Yes.  Even 90125 and the other Rabin-era albums, the least Yessish of all, still sound like Yes to me.  Some people can't get into Drama because Jon isn't on it.  Sorry, it still sounds very much like Yes to me, and is in fact one of my favorite Yes albums.  I don't think Fly From Here is horrible, though it's not great, but that has nothing to do with the lineup.  It's that the songs are weak.  Jon Davison sounds a lot like Jon Anderson to me, and I was really looking forward to Heaven & Earth, but Heaven & Earth blows, and again it has nothing to do with who's on it.  It just has a lot of really lame songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 18, 2018, 02:22:42 PM
No disrespect to Fritzinger, with whom I usually agree, but I don't really have a problem with the lineup changes.   Maybe it's because  I've been spoiled because  Chris  has been there since Day One, and I always thought he was sort of the soul of the band.  It took me:

- 4 seconds to get over Peter Banks being gone;
- 9 seconds to get over Tony Kaye;
- 15 seconds to get over Bill Bruford;
- 20 minutes to get over Wakeman the first time;
- 2 seconds to get over Patrick Moraz;
- 5 minutes to get over Howe;

From that point on it got to be 0 seconds for everyone.  That's not to say that all are equal or interchangeable.  "Open Your Eyes" is an embarrassment for a band of the caliber of Yes, and I don't think Heaven and Earth is that far behind (though the recent live disks with the entire albums are pretty good).
I agree with most of this, except Steve Howe. He's pretty much a integral part of Yes even though I'm more of a Trevor Rabin fan. I also liked Tony Kay, he was really good live on the Talk Tour in 1994.
My ultimate Yes line-up would be,
Jon Anderson
Trevor Rabin
Alan White
Chris Squire
Rick Wakeman
 
 Now that Chris Squire is gone ( R.I.P.)  I wish they would bring in Geddy Lee to make an album and tour with them. Since Rush has pretty much called it quits, Geddy would be a nice fit being that he's a huge fan of Yes..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 18, 2018, 04:45:53 PM
Ordinarily I would balk at Lee; but you make a good point. Squire has passed, he's free... he can do the background vocals as well (that was a huge, under-appreciated aspect of Yes; I don't think people realize how much Squire sang in Yes).

I like that line-up, frankly.   I disagree on Kaye - I think he blows - but I like that lineup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 19, 2018, 01:19:38 AM
Of course it has something to do with the people playing on there. Someone must have written the stuff. Fly From Here couldn't have been produced by the current line up because Horn and Downes wrote most of it. Same with Heaven & Earth. Jon Davison wrote most of this shitty album.

By the way, the best Yes album of the 2000s is definitely Magnification for me. I don't think they will get better than this anymore. But this album has gems like Dreamtime, In The Presence Of, Spirit Of Survival, We Agree. I even like Don't Do. And it's pretty well produced.

I would love an album with Geddy! I don't know why I had never thought about this, even after seeing him play with Yes at the RnRHoF. My first thought was also that he could perfectly sing Chris's vocals, with his now mature, deeper voice. It would probably be a perfect fit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 19, 2018, 01:33:33 AM
So uh, on the subject of Yes' recent albums...

I was playing through Magnification just now, & I was loving the album even more than I remembered. But then, as the album was ready to finish up, the closing track, 'Time Is Time' played.

& I think I started to tear up a little...

I've been going through a lot of mental issues lately, a lot of which revolved around me feeling worthless & depressed. & well, that song spoke to me. I realised that I could still feel the love in my life that could get me from day to day. I realised that even though everything seemed hopeless, I could still find a love of life through it all. I realised that I could still hold on to the things I loved in life whenever I was feeling everything was hopeless. & for the first time in years, I really felt like a human being with real emotions.

I know this is probably coming off as really tmi (especially since no-one here actually knows me personally), but I just wanted to say that, even though no-one from Yes will probably ever read this, songs like this are the reason that people say music can save lives, & to anyone that went into that song, I owe you my life. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for me hearing that song when I did, & I just want to make it clear how much this song means to me at this point in my life.

Okay, I think I'm starting to tear up again, so I'll wrap this up, but I'm so grateful for everything this band has done for my life, & all the hard times their music has gotten me through. So... thank you... for everything...  :heart
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 19, 2018, 01:43:49 AM
Very touching, dude  :'( Honestly, you should write this to JON. You know how he is, and I think he will be very happy to read this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 19, 2018, 08:18:54 AM
So uh, on the subject of Yes' recent albums...

I was playing through Magnification just now, & I was loving the album even more than I remembered. But then, as the album was ready to finish up, the closing track, 'Time Is Time' played.

& I think I started to tear up a little...

I've been going through a lot of mental issues lately, a lot of which revolved around me feeling worthless & depressed. & well, that song spoke to me. I realised that I could still feel the love in my life that could get me from day to day. I realised that even though everything seemed hopeless, I could still find a love of life through it all. I realised that I could still hold on to the things I loved in life whenever I was feeling everything was hopeless. & for the first time in years, I really felt like a human being with real emotions.

I know this is probably coming off as really tmi (especially since no-one here actually knows me personally), but I just wanted to say that, even though no-one from Yes will probably ever read this, songs like this are the reason that people say music can save lives, & to anyone that went into that song, I owe you my life. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for me hearing that song when I did, & I just want to make it clear how much this song means to me at this point in my life.

Okay, I think I'm starting to tear up again, so I'll wrap this up, but I'm so grateful for everything this band has done for my life, & all the hard times their music has gotten me through. So... thank you... for everything...  :heart

You should send this to Jon in the form of a letter.  Even if he never reads it - even if he never opens the envelope - it might be cathartic to put your thoughts down on paper. 

I know when I got to meet Neal Morse, I really didn't have much  to say to him, and it was rushed a little bit but I said to him "Thank you; your music has really helped me to focus my faith."   And he looked at me as if my fly was down and a flag with "POW!" was sticking out, and said "well, that's the point of it, isn't it?"   Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.  I think Neal is more focused and thoughtful about it, but I think he and Jon are kindred spirits in the sense of the power of music.

(Only saying this because it's not that far off from what you wrote about "hopelessness" and "joy of life", but when I said "focus" I meant only that his music is so POSITIVE, and it helped me to look at God and spiritualism in a different way.  It's happy.  It's joyful.  I grew up Catholic, which is anything but.  "God will punish you; you are a sinner!"  That kind of stuff.  And Neal kind of re-cast that to "God's a celebration".   Whether you believe in God or not, I think one can substitute "LIFE" in for "God" and get some insight.)

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 19, 2018, 10:17:08 AM
Hang in there, dude. Music does help.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 19, 2018, 10:35:25 AM
Yes music has always has a very positive message in general.  Jon Anderson is a very spiritual person, and it comes through in his music and lyrics.  I've been following Yes for over 40 years, and don't think I've ever read whether Jon practices a specific faith or what it is, but he's clearly a theist of some order, most likely a monotheist.  He's all about God and music and love and being one with the universe.
 I tried to turn one of my former worship leaders onto Yes, but he couldn't handle the prog.  He's a younger guy (mid-30's or so) in the Hillside, Chris Tomlin mold.  Christian Pop, basically.  No interest at all in hearing the band take off; it's all about the message, which means the lyrics, which means just the songs, no instrumental pyrotechnics.

Neal has gone all the way with it and created openly Christian music, and in my obsession with putting labels on things, I think Neal may have actually created a new genre, Christian Prog.  If my WL couldn't handle Yes, I know he couldn't handle Neal Morse despite its more overt message.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 19, 2018, 12:09:57 PM
Some Neal, though:  Supernatural.

I find "Wonderous Stories" to be rather spiritual as well (actually, all of Going For The One, really). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on April 19, 2018, 01:20:29 PM
I always got the same impression about Jon in general.

But has anyone seen any insight into what he’s really like? I ask because there’s not a lot of info out there about “the man”...only “the lead singer of Yes”. And I do recal hearing at least one report that he’s actually a bit stuck up and full of himself, which runs completely opposite of the “spiritual man” persona that he puts out front.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 19, 2018, 01:48:09 PM
I always got the same impression about Jon in general.

But has anyone seen any insight into what he’s really like? I ask because there’s not a lot of info out there about “the man”...only “the lead singer of Yes”. And I do recal hearing at least one report that he’s actually a bit stuck up and full of himself, which runs completely opposite of the “spiritual man” persona that he puts out front.

I've heard rumors that he's actually a dick.   There's a tape floating around of him and Wakeman recording the swirling, rising jeyboard parts to "Awaken" and if memory serves, he's sort of busting Wakeman's chops making him play parts over and over and over with little discernible difference.  There's a guy from the old MP.com site that might know. I'll ask him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on April 19, 2018, 01:58:22 PM
Now that Chris Squire is gone ( R.I.P.)  I wish they would bring in Geddy Lee to make an album and tour with them. Since Rush has pretty much called it quits, Geddy would be a nice fit being that he's a huge fan of Yes..

I thought I was the only one who wanted Geddy to tour and record with ARW, but it seems many people here share that opinion. Since I saw the Hall of Fame video of them playing together I knew he's the perfect fit for them, it sounded amazing.
He might not want to play a full set of Yes music (or maybe he does), but if they finally manage to get an album out with original songs, I can definitely see Geddy getting involved.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 19, 2018, 02:08:11 PM
This blog has a lot of insight into the inner workings of Yes.

https://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 19, 2018, 07:46:20 PM
I always got the same impression about Jon in general.

But has anyone seen any insight into what he’s really like? I ask because there’s not a lot of info out there about “the man”...only “the lead singer of Yes”. And I do recal hearing at least one report that he’s actually a bit stuck up and full of himself, which runs completely opposite of the “spiritual man” persona that he puts out front.
My wife and I met Jon Anderson after one of his solo shows at the Beneroya Hall. He was very nice to us and gave us the time of day. He seemed just as happy to meet us as we were him, and his spiritual persona seemed to be very genuine. I've met Alan White twice, he was nice but Jon Anderson was more approachable..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 20, 2018, 06:47:28 PM
Some Neal, though:  Supernatural.

I find "Wonderous Stories" to be rather spiritual as well (actually, all of Going For The One, really).

That's not quite my "Grace Under Pressure" album, but it's lower tier for me.   Open Your Eyes is probably my least favorite followed by Tormato.  Gave up on their studio albums after Magnification (which I like quite a bit actually)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 25, 2018, 01:45:05 PM
I just saw what MP posted on FB about the stupid rumor that he might be joining Rush (pfff). In the end he said this:

Quote
"I don't like when I see bands that are just a memory of what they used to be, and there's a few out there that I've seen recently that are still touring... I'm not gonna name them, but some of the members can barely play their parts, and then they have a lot of other members that weren't even originally in the band. So I don't know. I would rather see a band like Rush go out on top and have all the good memories of what they're capable of."

Do you guys think he's talking about YES? Especially the "not an original member" discussion has been very vivid in the last few year when it comes to Yes.

Here's the source: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/mike_portnoy_to_join_rush_drummer_addresses_the_rumors.html?platform=hootsuite
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 25, 2018, 02:06:33 PM
I'm sure Yes was one of the bands he had in mind when he said that.  Much has been said about the lack of original members in Yes, but I think Yes is an exception to many rules regarding that.  They established a pattern very early in the life of the band of replacing members.  Members leave and come back, some leave and don't come back, and some have been with Yes since they joined, but they weren't original members.

Yes has no original members left.  Chris Squire was the last.  But Alan White has been with them since 1973.  Steve Howe first joined in 1971, and though he wasn't around during "the Rabin years", he's been back since 1996 and is (to many) as good as an original member.  Geoff Downes first joined in 1980.

I do think that the current lineup is weak and doesn't compare very well to the classic lineup of the 70's, but the classic 70's lineup wasn't the original band, either.  Fragile came out in 1971 and they'd already had two lineup changes.  By time Tales from Topographic Oceans came out in 1973, they were already down to two original members.

With some bands, "original members" isn't the best indicator of quality.  I prefer to consider the "classic" lineup.

And just to be pedantic, the classic Rush lineup wasn't the original band, either.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 25, 2018, 04:11:28 PM
Serious question for Yes fans.... is it hard to be a Yes fan with all the line-up changes? What I mean is, I know at the end of the day it's all about the music. But is it harder to identify with the band as a group of individuals if those individuals keep changing, than it is with a band like Metallica who have had 2 member changes since their first album over 30 years ago?

Well...I became a casual Yes fan sometime after 90125 was released.  By the time Big Generator was released four years later, I had become a huge fan, but mostly of the pre-90125 material.  I liked the two singles off Big Generator, but I don't think I ever actually bought it.

With that in mind, the band I fell in love with had already been through two vocalists, two drummers, three guitarists and four keyboard players (with the then current vocalist and keyboardist being in their second stints with the band).  I had no real knowledge of King Crimson at that time, so Bill Bruford was just the guy who played on the first handful of Yes albums; Peter Banks was largely an irrelevancy to me; I only knew of Rick Wakeman from his work on Fragile through Tormato (and the Six Wives album); and Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes and Patrick Moraz were odd anomalies (although I loved and still love Relayer and Drama).

I was really into Union until I stopped fooling myself.  I bought Talk when it came out but have only given it maybe half a dozen spins in 25 years.

After that, Yes became mostly a nostalgia band for me, and their new material has held relatively little interest, so the post-Talk lineup changes have been largely irrelevant, except for Jon Anderson leaving and Chris Squire dying.  I saw Yes (Squire, Howe, White, Downes and Davison) in 2013 and was less than impressed, even though I think Davison does a very good job with the old material.  After Chris died, I have had no real interest in Yes.  I thought about going to see ARW, but they're playing on a Wednesday night at the Greek Theatre, which would be a nightmare for me.

In the YesYears video, Rick Wakeman spoke about Yes still existing 50 years in the future in the same way the London Philharmonic continues to exist regardless of membership changes.  If that's going to happen, they need to start bringing in some more new players who aren't well into their social security years and are interested in creating exciting new music of the sort that the band created in the 70s and early 80s.

As far as Geddy playing with Yes, I don't want to see that.  I could MAYBE live with Geddy and Alex touring with a drummer and doing Rush material.  Given how things ended with Rush, I don't think it would be any sort of slight to Neil if they did that.  But they're not going to do that.  And Geddy with Yes (other than for a one-off kind of thing) would just be weird.  Are they going to do Tom Sawyer and Roundabout as encores?  Geddy is way too accomplished to be a fill-in player.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on April 25, 2018, 04:36:33 PM
Talk is SOOOOO good. I’ve been spinning it all this week. I love 90125, but Talk is my favorite “Yeswest” album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 25, 2018, 05:03:18 PM
Quote
"I don't like when I see bands that are just a memory of what they used to be, and there's a few out there that I've seen recently that are still touring... I'm not gonna name them, but some of the members can barely play their parts, and then they have a lot of other members that weren't even originally in the band. So I don't know. I would rather see a band like Rush go out on top and have all the good memories of what they're capable of."

#BringBackChrisCollins
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 25, 2018, 05:18:30 PM


With some bands, "original members" isn't the best indicator of quality.  I prefer to consider the "classic" lineup.

And just to be pedantic, the classic Rush lineup wasn't the original band, either.

Agreed. The whole "original member" thing is very overstated.  That said, I agree with Portnoy's point, and it seems like far too many older bands now tour with very few or even no members of their classic lineup(s). I think I read that the current incarnation of Little River Band features zero members from their prime.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cool Chris on April 25, 2018, 05:23:09 PM
The Little River Band had a prime?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 25, 2018, 05:28:18 PM
Don't be dogging Little River Band now. They have quite a few damn good songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on April 25, 2018, 06:05:48 PM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 25, 2018, 06:29:59 PM
Talk is SOOOOO good. I’ve been spinning it all this week. I love 90125, but Talk is my favorite “Yeswest” album.
Absolutely this!!!  Talk is fantastic and the song Endless Dream might just be my favorite song ever written by any band ever..  They played that at the Gorge in 1994 during a almost otherworldly sunset, and to this day it is one of the most awesome things I have ever witnessed..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 27, 2018, 07:22:33 PM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 27, 2018, 07:28:30 PM
Talk is SOOOOO good. I’ve been spinning it all this week. I love 90125, but Talk is my favorite “Yeswest” album.

I really should have seen them at least once on that tour, but I had just seen Rush three times and couldn't justify it and the second time around Dream Theater was touring for Awake in 1994.

Everything I've seen online from the Talk Tour was off the charts good.  It's a shame that ended the way it did.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 29, 2018, 08:50:09 AM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

Most people throw the term out like it is an insult to be considered part of that style, but not everything has to ROCK to be good.

Everything I've seen online from the Talk Tour was off the charts good.  It's a shame that ended the way it did.

For sure.  I remember hearing The Calling on the radio prior to the album's release and couldn't believe how good it was. And the rest of the album did not disappoint.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 01, 2018, 08:22:43 AM
https://yesworld.com/2018/05/yes-steven-wilson-remixes-vinyl-box-set/

Yes, Yes, Yesssssss
I've been waiting for a proper remaster of my favorite album of all time on vinyl, and now it's being released along with 4 other masterpieces in a box set, remastered by freakin Steven Wilson!



Oh, my favorite album is Relayer (though I can never decide between Relayer and Selling England By The Pound...)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 01, 2018, 09:57:42 AM
I just saw that this morning.  I think it's awesome for vinyl collectors.

People are complaining about the new artwork.  Sigh.  Losers.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 02, 2018, 08:37:46 AM
I just saw that this morning.  I think it's awesome for vinyl collectors.

People are complaining about the new artwork.  Sigh.  Losers.

People are complaining about everything.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 02, 2018, 09:56:35 AM
Yeah.


But there's no use complaining about it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 02, 2018, 11:59:23 AM
Can we please stop complaining about the complaining?


:) :)   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 02, 2018, 12:54:23 PM
Can we please stop complaining about the complaining?


:) :)

I can’t believe you’re complaining about this right now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 02, 2018, 08:18:39 PM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

Most people throw the term out like it is an insult to be considered part of that style, but not everything has to ROCK to be good.



They renamed '70's soft rock?  Why?  Never understood the need to file everything down.  The bigger umbrella the better.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 02, 2018, 08:24:50 PM


They renamed '70's soft rock?  Why?  Never understood the need to file everything down.  The bigger umbrella the better.

Agreed.  But hey, people love their labels. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on May 02, 2018, 08:41:25 PM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

Most people throw the term out like it is an insult to be considered part of that style, but not everything has to ROCK to be good.



They renamed '70's soft rock?  Why?  Never understood the need to file everything down.  The bigger umbrella the better.

I only just heard it from a 90s kid about 2 months ago.   But I thought it was so freakin hilarious and perfect that it just stuck.   

There's even a YT comedy series that makes fun of it.  Pretty freakin hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNTARSM-Fjc
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 03, 2018, 10:16:40 AM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

Most people throw the term out like it is an insult to be considered part of that style, but not everything has to ROCK to be good.



They renamed '70's soft rock?  Why?  Never understood the need to file everything down.  The bigger umbrella the better.

I think it's less about "labels" than it is the desperate, undying need to be hip and snarky about EVERYTHING. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on May 03, 2018, 11:47:51 AM
I am just gonna leave this here..

https://youtu.be/hutD1J8s6pk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRkDcE1q3ls
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 10, 2018, 07:26:09 PM
And yacht rock is now a subject of two threads.

What the hell is yacht rock?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht_rock

Most people throw the term out like it is an insult to be considered part of that style, but not everything has to ROCK to be good.



They renamed '70's soft rock?  Why?  Never understood the need to file everything down.  The bigger umbrella the better.

I think it's less about "labels" than it is the desperate, undying need to be hip and snarky about EVERYTHING.

You may be right. I may be crazy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 07, 2018, 03:14:55 PM
Hey everyone!  The Yes thread has been quiet lately, so it's time to bring it back.
 I was wondering what is your favorite Yes era?  Many prefer the classic era, but I really like the Trevor Rabin era. Especially towards the end with the TALK album.
I just purchased a dvd of the TALK Tour filmed in Santiago Chile and it is pretty fantastic! It's easily the best footage of that era that I've come across. I saw them on that tour at The Gorge and is still by far the best Yes experience I've ever had. Trevor Rabin brings alot more energy to the band and that's when Yes was at their peak in 1994. :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 17, 2018, 04:17:23 PM
Hey everyone!  The Yes thread has been quiet lately, so it's time to bring it back.
 I was wondering what is your favorite Yes era?  Many prefer the classic era, but I really like the Trevor Rabin era. Especially towards the end with the TALK album.
I just purchased a dvd of the TALK Tour filmed in Santiago Chile and it is pretty fantastic! It's easily the best footage of that era that I've come across. I saw them on that tour at The Gorge and is still by far the best Yes experience I've ever had. Trevor Rabin brings alot more energy to the band and that's when Yes was at their peak in 1994. :coolio

That's a pretty amazing show. Wish I'd seen them on that tour. They were on fire.  Needed to see Rush 4 times that year instead.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 18, 2018, 11:45:40 AM
Hey everyone!  The Yes thread has been quiet lately, so it's time to bring it back.
 I was wondering what is your favorite Yes era?  Many prefer the classic era, but I really like the Trevor Rabin era. Especially towards the end with the TALK album.
I just purchased a dvd of the TALK Tour filmed in Santiago Chile and it is pretty fantastic! It's easily the best footage of that era that I've come across. I saw them on that tour at The Gorge and is still by far the best Yes experience I've ever had. Trevor Rabin brings alot more energy to the band and that's when Yes was at their peak in 1994. :coolio

That's a pretty amazing show. Wish I'd seen them on that tour. They were on fire.  Needed to see Rush 4 times that year instead.
I missed Rush on the Counterparts tour, they didn't come to Seattle that year if I remember right. That's awesome you got to see them four times, but it would have been totally worth it to sacrifice one of those Rush concerts to see YES that year. It was epic!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 18, 2018, 06:47:07 PM
In the span of three months in 1994, I saw Rush, Yes, Moody Blues and Pink Floyd.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 18, 2018, 07:01:53 PM
That sounds like a damned good year, even if it was only three months.  :metal :metal :metal :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on July 18, 2018, 07:02:03 PM
In 1994? Rookie. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 18, 2018, 07:08:11 PM
In 1994? Rookie. :neverusethis:

I was waiting for your one-up post. :lol :P

That sounds like a damned good year, even if it was only three months.  :metal :metal :metal :metal

Hell yeah it was. That was the first time I saw Yes, and the first and only time I saw the mighty Floyd. :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 19, 2018, 05:39:59 PM
Hey everyone!  The Yes thread has been quiet lately, so it's time to bring it back.
 I was wondering what is your favorite Yes era?  Many prefer the classic era, but I really like the Trevor Rabin era. Especially towards the end with the TALK album.
I just purchased a dvd of the TALK Tour filmed in Santiago Chile and it is pretty fantastic! It's easily the best footage of that era that I've come across. I saw them on that tour at The Gorge and is still by far the best Yes experience I've ever had. Trevor Rabin brings alot more energy to the band and that's when Yes was at their peak in 1994. :coolio

That's a pretty amazing show. Wish I'd seen them on that tour. They were on fire.  Needed to see Rush 4 times that year instead.
I missed Rush on the Counterparts tour, they didn't come to Seattle that year if I remember right. That's awesome you got to see them four times, but it would have been totally worth it to sacrifice one of those Rush concerts to see YES that year. It was epic!

Not for me it wouldn't.

Saw Prelude for the first time ever and it would be another 20 years before I'd see it again, Probably the best arrangement of Xanadu they've ever done, Leave That Thing Alone and Alex doing stand up during Closer To The Heart.

I mean I love Yes and all ( Have all of the albums except of Open Your Eyes and last couple) but there's know way I'd miss Rush.

Well,  unless the Presto tour was extended with the same set. I'd have probably not seen them a fourth time on that tour.

I kind of regret not seeing Yes then, but I would have regretted not seeing Rush again more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on July 31, 2018, 10:56:20 AM
bump.

Yes Featuring ARW just posted a new song "Fragile"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFgi-gfTdqg
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 31, 2018, 11:00:31 AM
I made it nearly 2 minutes in, but it didn't seem to be doing anything.  Does it get better?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 31, 2018, 11:22:15 AM
I actually really enjoyed that....even though it feels a bit like pandering.

Sounds like they rewrote Wonderous Stories and named it after a classic album just to get everyone’s attention.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 31, 2018, 11:32:04 AM
Good analysis jammindude! The song has a nice atmospheric vibe to it, great vocals from Trevor and Jon. Trevor throws in some nice fancy guitar work later in the song. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album when released, this is my favorite Yes line-up.  Wish they had Geddy on bass, one can only dream..  :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on July 31, 2018, 11:47:30 AM
Wish they had Geddy on bass, one can only dream.. ::)

I've been wanting this to happen since they played together at RnRHoF, would be the perfect lineup :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 31, 2018, 12:25:12 PM
Same here, that was pretty awesome at the RRHOF!  Very appropriate too, being that Geddy is such a big Yes fan.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 31, 2018, 07:04:55 PM
I don't think Yes Featuring ARW released that song, so much that it was uploaded after it was played on some radio show where Rabin did an interview.  Notice the old transistor radio quality.

That said, it's a nice little song, and will sound a lot better once the quality is cleaned up.  Hearing Rabin and Anderson sing together again is pretty sweet.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on August 01, 2018, 01:46:27 AM
finally new material from ARW!?! :omg:

Yeah, I'm hyped as fuck :woot:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ? on August 08, 2018, 11:29:40 AM
I was wondering what is your favorite Yes era?  Many prefer the classic era, but I really like the Trevor Rabin era. Especially towards the end with the TALK album.
I just purchased a dvd of the TALK Tour filmed in Santiago Chile and it is pretty fantastic! It's easily the best footage of that era that I've come across. I saw them on that tour at The Gorge and is still by far the best Yes experience I've ever had. Trevor Rabin brings alot more energy to the band and that's when Yes was at their peak in 1994. :coolio
Talk is one of my favorite records actually! I had to hunt down a copy on eBay, but it was worth it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on September 01, 2018, 04:30:44 AM
Hilarious ARW interview with Steve Jones
https://youtu.be/s1DWBIBDLPo
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: BelichickFan on September 07, 2018, 10:43:47 AM
This ARW live CD is fine but I wish there was a lot more YesWest (90125, Big Generator, Talk). I like Roundabout, Awaken and I've Seen All Good People as much as the next guy but I already have a dozen live versions of them. Looks like 5 tracks of YesWest not counting Owner of a Lonely Heart. Tripling that and playing YesWest deep tracks would have been great. As it is, it's worth buying but a missed opportunity.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 07, 2018, 01:29:28 PM
This ARW live CD is fine but I wish there was a lot more YesWest (90125, Big Generator, Talk). I like Roundabout, Awaken and I've Seen All Good People as much as the next guy but I already have a dozen live versions of them. Looks like 5 tracks of YesWest not counting Owner of a Lonely Heart. Tripling that and playing YesWest deep tracks would have been great. As it is, it's worth buying but a missed opportunity.
I didn't even know this was released. I agree though, they need alot more YesWest songs. I think it's a crime that Shoot High Aim Low and Endless Dream aren't automatic staples in a set list with Trevor Rabin and Jon Anderson in the line-up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 07, 2018, 01:56:51 PM
I'm having trouble seeing how it needs more YesWest.  Nearly half the tracks are YesWest as it is.  The "classic Yes" tracks are longer, so more runtime, but still pretty evenly divided, considering Rabin was in the band less than 10 years out of 50.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on September 07, 2018, 03:57:16 PM
I'm having trouble seeing how it needs more YesWest.  Nearly half the tracks are YesWest as it is.  The "classic Yes" tracks are longer, so more runtime, but still pretty evenly divided, considering Rabin was in the band less than 10 years out of 50.

Agree.  The album pretty much alternates between "Yes West" material and "classic" material (with the one Union track thrown in).  You've got 4 "classic" albums represented by 7 tracks and 2 YW albums represented by 5 tracks (with 1 YW album not represented and 5 "classic" albums not represented and one non-album YW track included as part of a "medley" with OoaLH).  Given that there's significantly less YW source material, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that the YW material is OVER-represented.

That said, I understand the sentiment of not needing yet another live version of "Roundabout" or "All Good People."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on September 07, 2018, 05:02:58 PM
Double post
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on September 07, 2018, 05:04:32 PM
I’ve heard this album and I liked it a lot! Yes, there’s a lot of expected songs, but also a lot of cool twists on the original arrangements that make these versions very interesting. The band’s performance in itself is stellar, very impressive!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 09, 2018, 10:15:11 AM
This ARW live CD is fine but I wish there was a lot more YesWest (90125, Big Generator, Talk). I like Roundabout, Awaken and I've Seen All Good People as much as the next guy but I already have a dozen live versions of them. Looks like 5 tracks of YesWest not counting Owner of a Lonely Heart. Tripling that and playing YesWest deep tracks would have been great. As it is, it's worth buying but a missed opportunity.

Can't see how Wakeman would ever play on a lot of those tracks although I'd say seeing Howe do it is less likely.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 11, 2018, 11:54:35 PM
I haven't heard the record yet but the tracklist is a huge letdown for me. For almost all of the songs there are many many live versions already. I heard that they sometimes played South Side Of The Sky or The Meeting or I Am Waiting live, why not put those on the disc for a change? If you have Rabin in the band, then play and release more from Talk or some deep cuts from 90125 or Big Generator. Why play I've Seen All Good People for the millionth time where originally neither Wakeman nor Rabin were part of?

This is playing it safe, too safe, but it fits in the grand scheme of Yes, another missed opportunity.  :-\

And where is that studio album they were talking about?

/rant over
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 12, 2018, 06:36:27 AM
The lack of Endless Dream isn't a missed opportunity, it's a big kick in the balls.
I've Seen All Good People is a staple like Owner. They just have to play it. It'd be like no Highway to Hell or Satisfaction.
The production work by Rabin is outstanding. Best sounding Yes live album I know. Like Devi already mentioned, many songs come with a little twist or an extension. I'm happy to hear in what good condition the voice of Anderson is and yes, the wait for an album is killing me, too.
 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 12, 2018, 07:10:38 AM
I think the track listing is fine.  You guys realize that the whole point of ARW is that they've rearranged and recast a lot of the songs, right?

I haven't heard it all yet, either, but a lot of the buzz on the Yesfans boards is about how much people like what they've done with the arrangements.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 12, 2018, 07:53:56 AM
I haven't heard the album yet (though I will) but if I get a chance to hear Trevor and Jon harmonize together, and the vehicle is "Your Move/All Good People", I can think of worse things.   It's better than "Leave It". 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 12, 2018, 06:25:31 PM
The lack of Endless Dream isn't a missed opportunity, it's a big kick in the balls.
I've Seen All Good People is a staple like Owner. They just have to play it. It'd be like no Highway to Hell or Satisfaction.
The production work by Rabin is outstanding. Best sounding Yes live album I know. Like Devi already mentioned, many songs come with a little twist or an extension. I'm happy to hear in what good condition the voice of Anderson is and yes, the wait for an album is killing me, too.

I love Endless Dream, but I get why they wouldn't play it.  It is over 15 minutes long and they know that most Yes fans are gonna want to hear one of the 70's long songs (if they are gonna play a long one).  I am just happy I saw them on the Talk tour where they played six of the seven songs.  I still say Talk is a great record and very underrated.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 13, 2018, 06:21:47 AM
I see your point, but I don't get it. They're playing AYAI, HOTS, Awaken. If they'd play Endless Dream instead of AYAI, they'd be in the hotel room 5 minutes later (or cut the drum solo and go to bed early).

And yes, Talk rules. My alltime favorite album is 90125, because it was my first album and concert, but I haven't heard a better album than Talk by any artist since it's release in 1994. Somewhere I have red, Anderson saying that Rabin alone worked 13.000 hours on the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 13, 2018, 07:25:12 AM
Yeah, basically after they'd worked in the studio for about the "normal" amount of time, Rabin took all the tapes (actually digital multitracks) back to his place and played with them for hours and hours. 13,000 hours is just Anderson using hyperbole, but by all accounts, it was a lot of time and he tweaked everything.  Individual notes were adjusted, entire sections were reworked, drums sounds were removed and replaced by triggered sounds.  It is widely believed that even though Tony Kaye is credited as the keyboard player, there's nothing left on the album that he actually played; his parts were all re-recorded by Rabin.  Some bass parts, too.

Rabin knew that this would almost certainly be his last Yes album, and he wanted it to be perfect.  And it does sound fantastic, I must admit.  Somehow, I guess I prefer a bit less polish.  To me it sounds over-produced, tweaked and corrected until there's no life left in the performances, because they're not even musical performances any more, but digital reproductions and simulations of musical performances.  It sounds great, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 13, 2018, 07:30:40 AM
Talk sounds great and is a great album but it sounds more "futuristic" than organic. Probably because of Rabin's tweaking and the completely digital recording.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 13, 2018, 12:02:22 PM
Jon Anderson did an amazing job on the vocals on the TALK album. He even said his heart was completely into this album and it shows. Trevor's voice is a nice complement to Jon's (more-so then other Yes line-ups) and his lead vocals on Wall's sound great!  Chris Squire really shines here too.
 I will have to say that the kick drum sounds rather peculiar throughout all the songs, but oddly enough.....works! 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 13, 2018, 05:47:33 PM
I know what you guys mean, about Talk sounding more digital, but the songs are just so damn good.  There is a lack of warmth in the sound at times, but the melodies and vocal harmonies shine so much that I can usually overlook it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 14, 2018, 09:06:44 AM
There's a really great interview with Rabin - I think it can be found over at "Notes From The Edge", but I can't give a link since they're "Facebook only" for a while now - that documents from Rabin's perspective, how that album was produced.   Apparently, it was cutting edge from a technology standpoint, and as I understand it, Rabin worked closely with representatives from Apple and the software to develop it in real time as he "needed" something.    Rabin calls it the first "non-linear album ever", whatever that is (I can guess, but still).  Chris was dead set against it, Jon was all for it, and Trevor did most of the work.   

Personally, I don't think it sounds cold.  I like that sort of clean sound that the YesWest albums all have to one degree or another (the Rabin songs on Union have it too).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on September 14, 2018, 09:13:12 AM
Yeah, basically after they'd worked in the studio for about the "normal" amount of time, Rabin took all the tapes (actually digital multitracks) back to his place and played with them for hours and hours. 13,000 hours is just Anderson using hyperbole, but by all accounts, it was a lot of time and he tweaked everything.  Individual notes were adjusted, entire sections were reworked, drums sounds were removed and replaced by triggered sounds.  It is widely believed that even though Tony Kaye is credited as the keyboard player, there's nothing left on the album that he actually played; his parts were all re-recorded by Rabin.  Some bass parts, too.

Rabin knew that this would almost certainly be his last Yes album, and he wanted it to be perfect.  And it does sound fantastic, I must admit.  Somehow, I guess I prefer a bit less polish.  To me it sounds over-produced, tweaked and corrected until there's no life left in the performances, because they're not even musical performances any more, but digital reproductions and simulations of musical performances.  It sounds great, though.

I think it ended up that Tony Kaye only played the Hammond Organ parts, and Rabin played all of the other keyboard parts, and it is credited that way in the liner notes.  I think it was more a case of them finally being honest about who handled what in the keyboard department with the YesWest lineup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 17, 2018, 03:13:55 PM
Just watched the blu-ray, and it is fantastic!!!  Trevor, Jon, and Rick all still have it and are playing as good as ever. The sound and production is stellar imo, and that's probably because TREVOR RABIN mixed it. He knows what he's doing being that he also did movie scores for a few years. Might I dare say that Trevor's guitar playing is right up there with the mighty JP in his own way? I dunno, but it's pretty close.
Like I said earlier, this would be the perfect release if it included Endless Dream. Imagine Rick Wakeman doing all the piano and keyboard parts leaving Rabin more room to sing and shred! Anything from the TALK album would have been nice.
 They did however, do a very nice version of Awaken..  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 18, 2018, 12:46:50 PM
I'm happy you like it that much and yes, it's that good. JP and TR doesn't necessaryly have to be compared, but in my dream band Trevor is playing. His guitar skill is marvelous, but it's about what he is hearing inside. The harmonies he can bring into existence. I always call him the last harmony wizard, while the world keeps suscribing to mediocracy like the Foo Fighters.

I'm not a big live albums guy, but the 2 releases from Fates Warning and Yes (ARW) in this year are fantastic representives of their kind.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 18, 2018, 05:51:07 PM
Just going to throw it out because... but if you're a fan of Trevor, and you don't have (or haven't heard) Jacaranda, you need to rectumfy that immediately.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on September 19, 2018, 02:50:38 AM
Not sure if this has been posted here before, but this left me completely impressed  :o
I am usually not the biggest cover guy, but this one is just incredible.
Needless to say that the song itself is also a huge masterpiece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yVWwjI932k
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 19, 2018, 04:59:18 AM
Just going to throw it out because... but if you're a fan of Trevor, and you don't have (or haven't heard) Jacaranda, you need to rectumfy that immediately.

Jacaranda is amazing. Somewhere I've red, that Jon put his vovals on some of the tracks. That's the stuff I'd like to get my greedy fingers on. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on September 19, 2018, 09:38:20 AM
Not sure if this has been posted here before, but this left me completely impressed  :o
I am usually not the biggest cover guy, but this one is just incredible.
Needless to say that the song itself is also a huge masterpiece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yVWwjI932k

Awesome cover!

And cute girl too!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 19, 2018, 10:56:49 AM
I'm happy you like it that much and yes, it's that good. JP and TR doesn't necessaryly have to be compared, but in my dream band Trevor is playing. His guitar skill is marvelous, but it's about what he is hearing inside. The harmonies he can bring into existence. I always call him the last harmony wizard, while the world keeps suscribing to mediocracy like the Foo Fighters.

I'm not a big live albums guy, but the 2 releases from Fates Warning and Yes (ARW) in this year are fantastic representives of their kind.
Yeah not to compare, I just think JP and TR are in the same league musically. Both have amazing technical and compositional skills with a great sense of melody.  They are at the top of my list of favorite musicians of all time.
 I will have to check out Jacaranda. I do have "I Can't Look Away" and it's awesome!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 19, 2018, 11:27:32 AM
If you already regard Trevor that highly, I think it will be a (positive) revelation.  I always liked him (LOVE his vocals) but it was that album that convinced me he was one of the truly elite guitar players out there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 19, 2018, 11:45:58 AM
If you already regard Trevor that highly, I think it will be a (positive) revelation.  I always liked him (LOVE his vocals) but it was that album that convinced me he was one of the truly elite guitar players out there.
:tup
I will have to order it next on my list. Thanks for the heads up, I forgot about that album even though I heard that it existed before.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 19, 2018, 04:22:45 PM
Yeah, but going in expecting much in terms of rock song structure may lead to disappointment.
It's all instrumental and fusion. Some tracks sound like Yes instrumental sections and it shows a matured Trevor Rabin.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 19, 2018, 05:08:52 PM
Cool, that's what I'm hoping for. I love instrumental music and I'm sure this one doesn't disappoint. 😎🎶
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 19, 2018, 05:26:23 PM
And if you're having it, look forward to track 4 - the section from 1.16 on.
That belongs to the most mindblowing stuff I've ever heard.

note to myself: good job, trying to reduce expectations to rise them only one post later.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 19, 2018, 06:25:14 PM
I don't spin Jacaranda that often, but it is definitely really good.

I have always been a big fan of Can't Look Away. It is a bit 80's sounding at times, and not always in a good way, but the songs are there.  The Cape is an awesome song in general, and even better to show off your stereo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 19, 2018, 06:25:45 PM
And if you're having it, look forward to track 4 - the section from 1.16 on.
That belongs to the most mindblowing stuff I've ever heard.

note to myself: good job, trying to reduce expectations to rise them only one post later.
  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 20, 2018, 09:39:00 AM
All of that.  For me, being a HUGE Yes fan, and loving Drama, when 90210 came out I was like "yeah, I like this guy's voice, but he's a rock guy, and Yes already has one of those in Squire.  Where's the diversity of Steve Howe??" and then when I saw the live version (three times between the 90210 and Big Penetrator tours) it was even more evident that Trevor was a "rock guy".  The eclectic acoustic guitar and country chicken-pickin' solos from Howe seemed to be replaced with more traditional rock parts.   Good ones, don't get me wrong, but more traditional.   

And I carried that for years.  He was the "commercial rock guy" (that's not a bad thing at all for me).   Then my buddy convinced me to listen to Jacaranda (and it was only a couple years ago) and I realized that Trevor was every bit as capable of playing other styles substantively and meaningfully.  It really expanded my appreciation of him. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 21, 2018, 08:18:45 PM
I don't spin Jacaranda that often, but it is definitely really good.

I have always been a big fan of Can't Look Away. It is a bit 80's sounding at times, and not always in a good way, but the songs are there.  The Cape is an awesome song in general, and even better to show off your stereo.

Never been a huge fan of Can't Look Away. Sold it back a few years after it first came out but then decided to buy it again some years later. I still listen to it every once in a while but I guess it's been a few years now since I last put it on.

Love Jacaranda though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 22, 2018, 07:40:27 AM
I Didn't Think It Would Last should have been the single from Can't Look Away.  Shoot, had that been recorded and released as a Yes song, with a slight tweaking to the arrangement, it could have been a big hit. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 23, 2018, 05:26:43 AM
All of that.  For me, being a HUGE Yes fan, and loving Drama, when 90210 came out I was like "yeah, I like this guy's voice, but he's a rock guy, and Yes already has one of those in Squire.  Where's the diversity of Steve Howe??" and then when I saw the live version (three times between the 90210 and Big Penetrator tours) it was even more evident that Trevor was a "rock guy".  The eclectic acoustic guitar and country chicken-pickin' solos from Howe seemed to be replaced with more traditional rock parts.   Good ones, don't get me wrong, but more traditional.   

And I carried that for years.  He was the "commercial rock guy" (that's not a bad thing at all for me).   Then my buddy convinced me to listen to Jacaranda (and it was only a couple years ago) and I realized that Trevor was every bit as capable of playing other styles substantively and meaningfully.  It really expanded my appreciation of him.

It's always delightful to see, when years old conceptions get thrown over.
Did it change your perception of his work/time in Yes ?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 23, 2018, 08:44:02 AM
All of that.  For me, being a HUGE Yes fan, and loving Drama, when 90210 came out I was like "yeah, I like this guy's voice, but he's a rock guy, and Yes already has one of those in Squire.  Where's the diversity of Steve Howe??" and then when I saw the live version (three times between the 90210 and Big Penetrator tours) it was even more evident that Trevor was a "rock guy".  The eclectic acoustic guitar and country chicken-pickin' solos from Howe seemed to be replaced with more traditional rock parts.   Good ones, don't get me wrong, but more traditional.   

And I carried that for years.  He was the "commercial rock guy" (that's not a bad thing at all for me).   Then my buddy convinced me to listen to Jacaranda (and it was only a couple years ago) and I realized that Trevor was every bit as capable of playing other styles substantively and meaningfully.  It really expanded my appreciation of him.

It's always delightful to see, when years old conceptions get thrown over.
Did it change your perception of his work/time in Yes ?

Yes; I'm not sure I can explain how, but it brought a sort of depth to it.  Rather than being the "rock guy" that didn't really fit in, and did only what he was good at, it made the more rock elements more of a choice.  It wasn't at the time, but now Talk is one of my favorite Yes albums (not just YesWest, but overall).   That's not a satisfactory explanation, but there it is.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on September 23, 2018, 09:45:47 AM
Cool.

It's not just that Rabin was an infusion of freshness for Yes. It also worked vice versa. As his biggest fan, I have to admit, his work before Yes didn't stand out. I think working with Squire and Horn, he learned how to achieve greatness.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 30, 2018, 12:40:42 PM
I Didn't Think It Would Last should have been the single from Can't Look Away.  Shoot, had that been recorded and released as a Yes song, with a slight tweaking to the arrangement, it could have been a big hit.

Perhaps, but radio was already walking away from stuff like that by that point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on March 03, 2019, 07:25:32 PM
I'm watching Live at the Apollo, and I was a bit surprised to learn that ARW has now officially changed their name to "Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman"   

I wonder if this might cause another legal scuffle....though to tell you the truth, if I was Steve Howe, I wouldn't risk it.   If it ever did come down to a full blown legal battle over the name, I think this new incarnation may have a better case.   The ARW version is the only "Yes" with an original member at this point. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 03, 2019, 09:03:55 PM
I don't have a link, but I heard that Yes featuring ARW is now on sabbatical and when/if they will return is unknown. Sounds like Jon Anderson got tired of plans for a new album and/or more tour dates always being put off.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on March 03, 2019, 09:10:17 PM
I'm watching Live at the Apollo, and I was a bit surprised to learn that ARW has now officially changed their name to "Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman"   

I don't have a link, but I heard that Yes featuring ARW is now on sabbatical and when/if they will return is unknown. Sounds like Jon Anderson got tired of plans for a new album and/or more tour dates always being put off.

Then, they should just change their name to "No" ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on March 03, 2019, 09:11:00 PM
I brought this up because "Live at the Apollo" premiered on TV tonight.  I just got done watching it, and now I really REALLY regret not seeing this when it hit Seattle.    Great setlist, great show. 

Did they ever go into the studio at all?   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 03, 2019, 09:27:28 PM
I brought this up because "Live at the Apollo" premiered on TV tonight.  I just got done watching it, and now I really REALLY regret not seeing this when it hit Seattle.    Great setlist, great show. 

Did they ever go into the studio at all?

They've been allegedly working on an album since I think 2011. They've had one song leaked & it hurts that the album might not come out because that song was sooo good  :'(

(Edit: somehow my post glitched & sent before I finished writing it. idk how that happened lol)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 03, 2019, 09:43:10 PM
I was at the Seattle show at The Moore, fantastic!   I really hope they release this long awaiting album, I wonder what happened to delay it so much??
 
 They were supposed to do a 2019 tour as well, I think something may have happened with Rick Wakeman which cancelled this leg of the tour and delayed the album once again. 
I'm sure this is why Jon Anderson decided to go on a solo tour and is releasing his new solo album called 1,000 hands.
 Hopefully Trevor Rabin is working some magic in his studio for the next TRUE Yes album featuring ARW.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 03, 2019, 11:04:54 PM
I saw ARW at the Night Of The Prog 2017 and it was awesome. Jon's voice was 100% like it was 1969. I have no idea how that's possible. Awaken was mesmerizing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 04, 2019, 10:10:20 AM
I brought this up because "Live at the Apollo" premiered on TV tonight.

I saw a little of that last night, and then saw it was on again at like 2 am, so I DVR'd it and will watch all of it this week at some point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 04, 2019, 11:32:11 AM
Same here.  Recorded for later viewing in its entirety.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 05, 2019, 09:32:54 AM
I watched a little more last night. I doubt this is something I will buy, as I'd probably never watch it again, but I am glad I am getting to see it on cable.  It is so nice to see 90125 songs (besides Owner) performed live again by Yes, and I am still a sucker for Trevor Rabin singing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 05, 2019, 09:38:29 AM
I watched a little more last night. I doubt this is something I will buy, as I'd probably never watch it again, but I am glad I am getting to see it on cable.  It is so nice to see 90125 songs (besides Owner) performed live again by Yes, and I am still a sucker for Trevor Rabin singing.

You and me both.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 08:12:53 AM
I still wish they would have busted out a song from Talk for that tour and the recorded concert, but oh well, what can you do?  It will be a shame if Yes featuring ARW is done, as I'd love to see them do another tour and get a little more adventurous, like playing some cool Rabin-era deep tracks like Heart, Shoot High Aim Low or I Am Waiting, but I won't hold my breath. :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 06, 2019, 08:23:26 AM
I really liked the re-arrangements of the classic songs.  It's too bad they can't get their act together.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 08:42:53 AM
Getting their act together has never been Yes' thing, which is probably why they have never had the same lineup for more than two albums in a row. :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 06, 2019, 09:25:32 AM
I still wish they would have busted out a song from Talk for that tour and the recorded concert, but oh well, what can you do?  It will be a shame if Yes featuring ARW is done, as I'd love to see them do another tour and get a little more adventurous, like playing some cool Rabin-era deep tracks like Heart, Shoot High Aim Low or I Am Waiting, but I won't hold my breath. :lol :lol

I think they did play I Am Waiting on another leg of the tour, and I think Hearts made an appearance or two as well.  For me, I would have loved to have seen them go really deep and bring out I'm Running, Final Eyes or Endless Dream.  Final Eyes to me felt like the Rabin equivalent to And You And I and Endless Dream is the same answer to Awaken.  Sad to think they might be done.  It's another in a string of missed opportunities for this band since the 80s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 09:30:47 AM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 06, 2019, 09:52:28 AM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat

I would disagree, but it's still a great song.  I would consider Endless Dream to be Rabin's crowning achievement in Yes, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 06, 2019, 10:04:20 AM
I love Talk but nothing compares to 90125.  That's Rabin's masterpiece.   


Getting their act together has never been Yes' thing, which is probably why they have never had the same lineup for more than two albums in a row. :lol :lol

 :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 06, 2019, 11:50:21 AM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat
I'm with you on that bro!  I love Awaken, but Endless Dream is one of my favorite songs ever written by any band. ☀
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 06, 2019, 12:04:01 PM
I still wish they would have busted out a song from Talk for that tour and the recorded concert, but oh well, what can you do?  It will be a shame if Yes featuring ARW is done, as I'd love to see them do another tour and get a little more adventurous, like playing some cool Rabin-era deep tracks like Heart, Shoot High Aim Low or I Am Waiting, but I won't hold my breath. :lol :lol

I think they did play I Am Waiting on another leg of the tour, and I think Hearts made an appearance or two as well.  For me, I would have loved to have seen them go really deep and bring out I'm Running, Final Eyes or Endless Dream.  Final Eyes to me felt like the Rabin equivalent to And You And I and Endless Dream is the same answer to Awaken.  Sad to think they might be done.  It's another in a string of missed opportunities for this band since the 80s.

Final Eyes might just be my favorite Rabin-era song.   Though his period in general was remarkably consistent. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 12:47:41 PM
I would consider Endless Dream to be Rabin's crowning achievement in Yes, though.

 :tup :tup

I love Talk but nothing compares to 90125.  That's Rabin's masterpiece.   

It's a close call, but I think I prefer Talk by a slight margin, although I get why many would say 90125.

A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat
I'm with you on that bro!  I love Awaken, but Endless Dream is one of my favorite songs ever written by any band. ☀

You and me both.  I was obsessed with that song and the whole Talk album for much of 1994 (along with The Division Bell).  And then Awake came out... What a year that was for music.


Final Eyes might just be my favorite Rabin-era song.   

I love that one, too.  Many dog Big Generator, but the two hits were both really good, and it has four legit really good//great deep cuts in Final Eyes, Shoot High Aim Low, I'm Running and Holy Lamb.  Neither the title track nor Almost Like Love are notable, but neither is bad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 06, 2019, 12:50:34 PM
Final Eyes is the best ad ongoing on BG.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 06, 2019, 12:54:29 PM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat

I don't even know how to respond to that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 01:00:49 PM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat

I don't even know how to respond to that.

It's best to just agree instead of disagreeing and fighting a losing cause. :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2019, 01:09:08 PM
Endless Dream is nice, but doesn't come close to the atmosphere of Awaken.

Okay, maybe it comes close, but nothing beats Awaken.  Nothing!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 06, 2019, 01:36:48 PM
I love Talk but nothing compares to 90125.  That's Rabin's masterpiece.   

It's a close call, but I think I prefer Talk by a slight margin, although I get why many would say 90125.

Sorry to split hairs, but "Talk" is RABIN'S masterpiece, but 90210 is YesWEST's masterpiece, if that makes sense.   Rabin basically carried 95% of the water on Talk and that makes it an amazing achievement.  But the band worked together best on the first record.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 06, 2019, 01:41:16 PM
Dylan Mckay is still on your brain eh Stads? LOL
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 06, 2019, 01:44:30 PM
HAHA, my high school concert buddy (who I'd love to reconnect with but can't find him after some trouble with the law) used to always call it that (and the followup, Big Penetrator).   It's stuck. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 01:54:54 PM
Endless Dream is nice, but doesn't come close to the atmosphere of Awaken.

Okay, maybe it comes close, but nothing beats Awaken.  Nothing!

It's not even my favorite from that record! :P

That would go to Turn of the Century.

Awaken does have some glorious moments, but I just have trouble getting through it now.

Sorry to split hairs, but "Talk" is RABIN'S masterpiece, but 90210 is YesWEST's masterpiece, if that makes sense.   Rabin basically carried 95% of the water on Talk and that makes it an amazing achievement.  But the band worked together best on the first record.

Perhaps.  I'd love to hear a warmer and more organic mix of Talk, but given that it was recorded digitally, that might not be possible.  And I doubt they'd have any interest in doing so anyway given how poorly it sold at the time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 06, 2019, 02:58:47 PM
Awaken is great, but I noticed that I'm not always in the mood for it. I'd much rather spin one of the first two tracks on that album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2019, 03:10:48 PM
As with any epic, you have to be in the right mood for Awaken.  I mean, you don't listen to a 15 or 20 minute piece of music if you don't really feel like it, right?

That said, Turn of the Century is a killer tune as well, my second favorite from the album, and probably gets more play from me because it's shorter and I'm in the mood more often.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 06, 2019, 03:27:44 PM
As with any epic, you have to be in the right mood for Awaken.  I mean, you don't listen to a 15 or 20 minute piece of music if you don't really feel like it, right?

True, but if I am in the mood for a 15-minute plus track, I am going for The Gates of Delirium, or Endless Dream, or Close to the Edge.  All three of those would be in my Yes top 10, and I don't think I'd even put Awaken in the top 25 anymore (where it was borderline back in the day).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on March 06, 2019, 03:56:47 PM
Awaken is an odd one. It doesn't feel like it needs to be as long as it is, but I just can't imagine what could be shortened. Turn Of The Century however, is imo the most beautiful Yes song and the most emotionally charged song in their catalog.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 06, 2019, 04:15:35 PM
As with any epic, you have to be in the right mood for Awaken.  I mean, you don't listen to a 15 or 20 minute piece of music if you don't really feel like it, right?

True, but if I am in the mood for a 15-minute plus track, I am going for The Gates of Delirium, or Endless Dream, or Close to the Edge.  All three of those would be in my Yes top 10, and I don't think I'd even put Awaken in the top 25 anymore (where it was borderline back in the day).

I guess I just don't think of it that way.  Since I listen to Yes a lot, at least every couple of days if not every day, it's not a question of "do I feel like listening to a long track?" -- it's more "which album(s) do I feel like listening to?"  And since Going for the One is quite often the answer, I listen to Awaken as part of that experience.  Close to the Edge (the album) is a very close second, and sometimes first.  I tend to listen to The Gates of Delerium only when I play Relayer, which happens to be not as often.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 06, 2019, 10:36:34 PM
For me, the greatest masterpiece that Yes ever released is Relayer. And The Gates Of Delirium is their greatest song in my opinion. The way it just perfectly flows, without even one leitmotif connecting the parts.. I have no idea how they made that work. I am usually a listener who wants a song to have like a "red line" (same reason why I don't like most Marillion 15 mins+ songs, they're just too linear, except for Ocean Cloud). But with Gates, it's different. The finale of that song always has me thanking the universe that I may listen to something that beautiful. As cheesy as that sounds  :biggrin: Genesis' Supper's Ready has the same effect on me.

With all the talk (lol) about Close To The Edge and Awaken (which are of course masterpieces), I always feel that there is one 10 min+ song by Yes which always fall short. And that song is Machine Messiah! I absolutely love that song. The heaviness, Howe's guitar solo, the demonic reprises of the main theme.. Amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on March 07, 2019, 12:36:52 AM
It's really hard for me not to praise CttE as Yes' finest achievement, as great as some of their other albums may be. It's one of the finest examples of prog music in general valuing songwriting and emotional significance above all else. As if the technical complexity of the title track's instrumentation was merely an afterthought, and was more concerned with the spiritual attachment music served to the human condition.

Granted, I say this acknowledging CttE is my favorite album of all time, so :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 07, 2019, 01:02:00 AM
My top 10 Yes tracks:
#1. Close To The Edge
#2. Heart Of The Sunrise
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)
#4. The Gates Of Delirium
#5. Machine Messiah
#6. And You And I
#7. Survival
#8. Onward
#9. The Revealing Science Of God
10. Starship Trooper
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 07, 2019, 07:03:50 AM
My top 10 Yes tracks:
#1. Close To The Edge
#2. Heart Of The Sunrise
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)
#4. The Gates Of Delirium
#5. Machine Messiah
#6. And You And I
#7. Survival
#8. Onward
#9. The Revealing Science Of God
10. Starship Trooper

Your #3 is an interesting choice.  What about that song resonates with you? 

My Top 10:
1. Close to the Edge
2. The Gates of Delirium
3. Awaken
4. Heart of the Sunrise
5. And You And I
6. I'm Running
7. Final Eyes
8. Turn of the Century
9. South Side of the Sky
10. Endless Dream
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 07, 2019, 08:29:37 AM
It is tough to do a specific order of favorites (I am sure I did it already in this thread, but the order is ever-changing and some move up a little and some down a little depending on my mood), but here goes:

1. And You and I
2. The Gates of Delirium
3. Starship Trooper
4. Siberian Khatru
5. Roundabout
6. Endless Dream
7. I've Seen All Good People
8. Yours Is No Disgrace
9. Close to the Edge
10. Changes

Those top 3 are pretty set in stone for me, and I sometimes juggle the order.  Tough to leave off Heart of the Sunrise and some of my other favorites from 90125 and Talk, but with only 10 spots, it is tough. ;)

For me, the greatest masterpiece that Yes ever released is Relayer. And The Gates Of Delirium is their greatest song in my opinion. The way it just perfectly flows, without even one leitmotif connecting the parts.. I have no idea how they made that work. I am usually a listener who wants a song to have like a "red line" (same reason why I don't like most Marillion 15 mins+ songs, they're just too linear, except for Ocean Cloud). But with Gates, it's different. The finale of that song always has me thanking the universe that I may listen to something that beautiful. As cheesy as that sounds  :biggrin: Genesis' Supper's Ready has the same effect on me.

With all the talk (lol) about Close To The Edge and Awaken (which are of course masterpieces), I always feel that there is one 10 min+ song by Yes which always fall short. And that song is Machine Messiah! I absolutely love that song. The heaviness, Howe's guitar solo, the demonic reprises of the main theme.. Amazing.

Machine Messiah is definitely pretty great.

And I agree about The Gates of Delirium.  I love how the ending is so different from the rest of the song.  It's the calm after the chaotic storm of the battle section.  Utter brilliance. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 07, 2019, 08:38:50 AM
Not married to the order - and like Kev, I'm sure I have another list that contradicts this elsewhere in the thread, but right now:

1. Turn Of The Century (text book example of the marriage of music and words)
2. Heart Of The Sunrise
3. Love Will Find A Way (that riff...)
4. Tempus Fugit
5. Starship Trooper
6. And You And I
7. Yours Is No Disgrace
8. South Side Of The Sky
9. The Prophet
10a. The Calling
10b. Into The Storm

Coulda made the list:
- America
- The Revealing Science of God
- On The Silent Wings Of Freedom
- Lift Me Up (I know what it's about, but nonetheless, it's the song I would love to have played at any memorial service for me)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 07, 2019, 09:52:23 AM
I find it interesting that on the two last tours Yes tours with Rabin (1994 and this most recent one), Rhythm of Love was played, but Love Will Find a Way was not, when the latter was the much bigger hit.  Neither Leave it nor It Can Happen were played on either tour either.  Makes me wonder why none of those songs were played. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 07, 2019, 10:55:44 AM
I find it interesting that on the two last tours Yes tours with Rabin (1994 and this most recent one), Rhythm of Love was played, but Love Will Find a Way was not, when the latter was the much bigger hit.  Neither Leave it nor It Can Happen were played on either tour either.  Makes me wonder why none of those songs were played.

I usually question Yes set lists.  It seems like each current and former member of Yes has an aversion to playing certain things.  With Howe, it's no Rabin material.  With Wakeman, it's no material from Relayer or Drama.  Jon, no Drama.  Rabin seems to only want to do the same 70's songs he's always done, plus Awaken.  Etc.  So we get the same tired material as always, with few exceptions, like them playing In the Presence Of with Wakeman or actually getting Mind Drive or Footprints on the 2003/2004 tours.

Although, I just checked out their current set lists, and it looks like they're playing Parallels and Madrigal in the main set, and No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed in the encore.  That's something.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 08, 2019, 12:06:27 AM
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)

Your #3 is an interesting choice.  What about that song resonates with you? 

I absolutely adore the ambiance of the song (lol alliteration). It has such a way of moving me into its world, & I love songs that have the ability to do that to me (Queensryche's Disconnected and Ayreon's Comatose are also good examples). I also really love the melodies. The "it's time to reach the goals we set for ourselves" section especially brings me to tears, & every time it transitions into the chorus I get chills. It's such a beautiful song & I think it's extremely underrated among Yes fans.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2019, 12:49:26 AM
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)

Your #3 is an interesting choice.  What about that song resonates with you? 

I absolutely adore the ambiance of the song (lol alliteration). It has such a way of moving me into its world, & I love songs that have the ability to do that to me (Queensryche's Disconnected and Ayreon's Comatose are also good examples). I also really love the melodies. The "it's time to reach the goals we set for ourselves" section especially brings me to tears, & every time it transitions into the chorus I get chills. It's such a beautiful song & I think it's extremely underrated among Yes fans.
Oh I love this song too. Beautiful melodies and a very captivating vibe, a song with Alot of depth.
My question is, what is there not to like about this song??
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 08, 2019, 02:41:07 AM
The More We Live (Let Go) is one of the few gems of the OnionUnion record. I wouldn't put it in my top 10 but I still love that song. Great moody atmospheric piece.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on March 08, 2019, 05:50:17 AM
The More We Live (Let Go) is one of the few gems of the OnionUnion record. I wouldn't put it in my top 10 but I still love that song. Great moody atmospheric piece.

I actually think the high point of Union is the minute-long Evensong. I wish this would've been expanded a bit more and turned into a real song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 08, 2019, 06:41:31 AM
Co written by Billy Sherwood.  Atmospheric is his strength as a writer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 08, 2019, 06:55:36 AM
That might explaing why The Ladder is such a good album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 08, 2019, 06:55:42 AM
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)

Your #3 is an interesting choice.  What about that song resonates with you? 

I absolutely adore the ambiance of the song (lol alliteration). It has such a way of moving me into its world, & I love songs that have the ability to do that to me (Queensryche's Disconnected and Ayreon's Comatose are also good examples). I also really love the melodies. The "it's time to reach the goals we set for ourselves" section especially brings me to tears, & every time it transitions into the chorus I get chills. It's such a beautiful song & I think it's extremely underrated among Yes fans.
Oh I love this song too. Beautiful melodies and a very captivating vibe, a song with Alot of depth.
My question is, what is there not to like about this song??

It's one of my favorites from Union as well.  I think it would have been interesting if YesWest had continued with Billy Sherwood as their front man after Jon Anderson left to do ABWH.  If you had taken the four YesWest songs from Union and added Love Conquers All from the YesYears boxset you would have had a good start to a solid album, I think.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on March 08, 2019, 07:08:06 AM
#3. The More We Live (Let Go)

Your #3 is an interesting choice.  What about that song resonates with you? 

I absolutely adore the ambiance of the song (lol alliteration). It has such a way of moving me into its world, & I love songs that have the ability to do that to me (Queensryche's Disconnected and Ayreon's Comatose are also good examples). I also really love the melodies. The "it's time to reach the goals we set for ourselves" section especially brings me to tears, & every time it transitions into the chorus I get chills. It's such a beautiful song & I think it's extremely underrated among Yes fans.
Oh I love this song too. Beautiful melodies and a very captivating vibe, a song with Alot of depth.
My question is, what is there not to like about this song??

Count me as another one who really loves that song, especially for that ambiance. Definitely my favorite song from Union and one of my favorites overall.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 08, 2019, 08:44:28 AM
I don't remember much of the back half of Union, because I always thought it was trash.  From the first half, I do like Lift Me Up, Miracle of Life and Shock to the System all quite a bit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2019, 09:49:20 AM
I don't remember much of the back half of Union, because I always thought it was trash.  From the first half, I do like Lift Me Up, Miracle of Life and Shock to the System all quite a bit.
My fav tracks from the second half of Union are Miracle of Life, The More We Live Let Go, and Silent Talking. All three great songs.
 " it doesn't rain, it doesn't doesn't rain,,,  TRUE" 🎶
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on March 08, 2019, 09:50:36 AM
I've always had a soft spot for Holding On as well, but a bit of that might be nostalgia since I really liked that song as a kid.

I could do without Dangerous (What The Hell Was That Drum Break) though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2019, 09:57:54 AM
That drum part is bombastic. It reminds me of some fat happy dude dancing around a bonfire hoping that it will bring the rain.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on March 08, 2019, 11:12:13 AM
I don't remember much of the back half of Union, because I always thought it was trash.  From the first half, I do like Lift Me Up, Miracle of Life and Shock to the System all quite a bit.

Miracle Of Life falls apart after the first 2 minutes, but that may be the most exciting 2 minutes from the entire YesWest lineup. I wish the rest of the song attempted to tie into that intro. Shock To The System is awesome, I don't care who plays on it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 08, 2019, 12:15:26 PM
Ok the strongest Union tracks.
I Would Have Waited Forever
Shock to the System
Lift Me Up
Miracle of Life
Silent Talking
The More We Live Let Go
Saving My Heart

This is the album that got me into Yes.  I know the band doesn't like the album and I think they're crazy!

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 08, 2019, 03:19:23 PM
ALL of Union is great. :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 08, 2019, 03:43:22 PM
ALL of Union is great. :D

Wrong thread. Go here: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=44977.0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 08, 2019, 03:45:27 PM
 :lol


Hey wait a second.....


Btw, Rick Wakeman used to call the album "Onion" because it made him cry listening to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on March 08, 2019, 05:05:53 PM
It's not THAT bad. Sure, Dangerous is goofy as shit, Angkor Wat is pointless, and the band members barely play on it, but the songs are pretty catchy and fun.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 08, 2019, 09:15:58 PM
It's not that good, though.  Even though it has a few songs I like, there are only two Yes albums I'd put below it for sure (Heaven and Earth & Tormato), and maybe one more depending on what day it is (Fly from Here).

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 08, 2019, 10:29:19 PM
It's not that good, though.  Even though it has a few songs I like, there are only two Yes albums I'd put below it for sure (Heaven and Earth & Tormato), and maybe one more depending on what day it is (Fly from Here).

not Open Your Eyes?  :omg:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 09, 2019, 03:06:31 AM
Last time I ranked the Yes albums, the only one that ended up below Union was the debut. I find it odd that such a huge and complex record like Union doesn't have a single memorable moment. I recall Silent talking being tolerable, but that's about it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2019, 06:57:44 AM
It's not that good, though.  Even though it has a few songs I like, there are only two Yes albums I'd put below it for sure (Heaven and Earth & Tormato), and maybe one more depending on what day it is (Fly from Here).

not Open Your Eyes?  :omg:

Open Your Eyes isn't great, but it is solid, and most of the songs are likable.  I remember it coming out the same month as Keys to Ascension 2 back in 1997, and thought it was cool to have two new Yes albums that were not like each other, so I enjoyed both quite a bit. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2019, 07:28:11 AM
Same here.  I like Open Your Eyes.  I avoided it for a long time because I was so bummed that the "classic" lineup had broken up again that I didn't give it a chance, and it was pretty bizarre how their final album came out within weeks of the first album by the new lineup.  Also, the cover was boring and I'd heard the single (the title track) and it was okay, but money was tight at the time, so it was not worth the risk.

When I finally got it years later, it was a batch of regular songs, no epics, but most were catchy and it all sounded great.  The Yes harmonies, Howe's guitars, Squire's bass, everything was there except for a strong keyboard performance, but Wakeman had already been hit or miss for a while.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 09, 2019, 07:40:00 AM
It's in the lower tier for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2019, 08:33:19 AM
Same here.  I like Open Your Eyes.  I avoided it for a long time because I was so bummed that the "classic" lineup had broken up again that I didn't give it a chance, and it was pretty bizarre how their final album came out within weeks of the first album by the new lineup.  Also, the cover was boring and I'd heard the single (the title track) and it was okay, but money was tight at the time, so it was not worth the risk.

When I finally got it years later, it was a batch of regular songs, no epics, but most were catchy and it all sounded great.  The Yes harmonies, Howe's guitars, Squire's bass, everything was there except for a strong keyboard performance, but Wakeman had already been hit or miss for a while.

The harmonies were what really stood out to me when I first heard Open Your Eyes; tons of catchy vocal harmonies all over the place. Some of the songwriting was clunky, but with so many good harmonies all over the place, it was hard to not like it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2019, 09:13:36 AM
I find it interesting that on the two last tours Yes tours with Rabin (1994 and this most recent one), Rhythm of Love was played, but Love Will Find a Way was not, when the latter was the much bigger hit.  Neither Leave it nor It Can Happen were played on either tour either.  Makes me wonder why none of those songs were played.
I totally agree. It Can Happen would be incredible in a live setting, and Love Will Find A Way should be a live staple too. 
Another song that gets no love in a live setting is Shoot High Aim Low. That is an absolute abomination that they didn't play that on the Talk tour or the most recent ARW tour. One of the cooler YES songs ever written!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 09, 2019, 09:25:29 AM
Open Your Eyes is an embarrassment.  I rank it below the "lost Tomato" tracks, which are, shall we say, underwhelming.

As for Union,

I Would Have Waited Forever (with the harmonies)
Lift Me Up
Saving My Heart
Miracle Of Life
The More We Live - Let Go

are the only songs I really listen to regularly.  On my iPod I even broke the songs out to the two "groups".   The Anderson/Howe songs desperately - DESPERATELY - needed Squire's input, vocally and instrumentally.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2019, 09:48:00 AM
It Can Happen would be incredible in a live setting, and Love Will Find A Way should be a live staple too. 
Another song that gets no love in a live setting is Shoot High Aim Low. That is an absolute abomination that they didn't play that on the Talk tour or the most recent ARW tour. One of the cooler YES songs ever written!

Shoot High Aim Low is probably considered too much of a deep cut from a not widely-loved album. 

As for Love Will Find a Way, after listening to it again, while they could played it in 1994, I get why not this time around.  The whole song is basically a Rabin/Squire vocal harmony, with Anderson largely in the background for most of the song, and I am just not sure it would work without Chris Squire's voice. 

All that said, the prog snobs can trash it all they want, but I am still a big fan of Big Generator as a whole.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2019, 10:15:50 AM
Yeah I like BG too. I do remember hearing Shoot High Aim Low on the radio, but not in a long time. I don't really know if it would be considered a deep cut, but it is definitely a top 2 Rabin era song for me along with Endless Dream.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 09, 2019, 10:56:14 AM
I always loved I Would Have Waited Forever. Surprised it hardly gets mentioned here. That 6/4-groove is sick!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2019, 12:21:16 PM
I always loved I Would Have Waited Forever. Surprised it hardly gets mentioned here. That 6/4-groove is sick!
One of my favorite's off of Union.  That would be fun to hear live, the vocal harmonies in the chorus would sound so powerful. Especially after the long ascending build-up later in the song.  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2019, 02:26:42 PM
Yeah I like BG too. I do remember hearing Shoot High Aim Low on the radio, but not in a long time. I don't really know if it would be considered a deep cut, but it is definitely a top 2 Rabin era song for me along with Endless Dream.

Shoot High Aim Low might be my 3rd favorite from the Rabin era after Endless Dream and Changes.  But wait, there is The Calling, and Hearts, and I Am Waiting, and Owner of a Lonely Heart, and Love Will Find a Way, and...so many good songs!!!!!! :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2019, 04:07:30 PM
Listening to Open Your Eyes right now, enjoying it.  Haters are missing out.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 09, 2019, 04:23:16 PM
There are a few songs on OYE that I might have enjoyed (despite the ones that would've been abysmal no matter what), but the over-compressed production makes OYE literally painful for me. I'll pass thanks. :|
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 09, 2019, 05:44:39 PM
Yeah I like BG too. I do remember hearing Shoot High Aim Low on the radio, but not in a long time. I don't really know if it would be considered a deep cut, but it is definitely a top 2 Rabin era song for me along with Endless Dream.

Shoot High Aim Low might be my 3rd favorite from the Rabin era after Endless Dream and Changes.  But wait, there is The Calling, and Hearts, and I Am Waiting, and Owner of a Lonely Heart, and Love Will Find a Way, and...so many good songs!!!!!! :tup :tup
Also there is Real Love, a very unique song that really rocks when it kicks into gear and that guitar solo!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2019, 08:43:36 AM

Also there is Real Love, a very unique song that really rocks when it kicks into gear and that guitar solo!

Yep, Real Love is fantastic; it would definitely rank near the top for me of favorite Rabin-era tunes. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 10, 2019, 09:39:17 AM
I remember Rabin shredding on that song live in 1994, extended guitar solo..  :omg:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 10, 2019, 10:20:28 AM
I discovered the three Rabin era albums around the same time and thought all of them are good. However, Talk turned out to be the only one I return to. For some reason, 90125 and Big generator started sounding a bit dated and way too 80s. But Talk - now, that's some solid prog with a dash hard rock and pop thrown in for good measure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 10, 2019, 10:26:13 AM
I just discovered a full concert of the Union Tour last night on YouTube! I started to watch, couldn't stop watching, abandoned all my Saturday night plans and watched it till the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j81boILNI8&t=4689s

I hope it's okay to post this here, otherwise I'll remove it of course.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 10, 2019, 06:07:47 PM
A large portion of Yes fans would disagree, but Endless Dream kicks the ever-living snot out of Awaken.  :hat

Sure does and Awaken isn't even the best song on that album!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 10, 2019, 06:14:28 PM
Endless Dream is nice, but doesn't come close to the atmosphere of Awaken.

Okay, maybe it comes close, but nothing beats Awaken.  Nothing!

It's not even my favorite from that record! :P

That would go to Turn of the Century.

Awaken does have some glorious moments, but I just have trouble getting through it now.



I'd add Going For The One and Wonderous Stories to that list too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 10, 2019, 06:25:35 PM
Yeah I like BG too. I do remember hearing Shoot High Aim Low on the radio, but not in a long time. I don't really know if it would be considered a deep cut, but it is definitely a top 2 Rabin era song for me along with Endless Dream.

Shoot High Aim Low might be my 3rd favorite from the Rabin era after Endless Dream and Changes.  But wait, there is The Calling, and Hearts, and I Am Waiting, and Owner of a Lonely Heart, and Love Will Find a Way, and...so many good songs!!!!!! :tup :tup

I'll admit to listening to Shoot High Aim Low from The Word Is Live on repeat for an hour sometimes.


Of The '70s albums and Drama, I would only rank Close To The Edge above Going For The One and Tormato,

Title track is OK, but I like two A LOT more.

Have nothing good to say about Open Your Eyes (Only Yes album I've ever sold back) so I won't.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 10, 2019, 06:27:41 PM
I just discovered a full concert of the Union Tour last night on YouTube! I started to watch, couldn't stop watching, abandoned all my Saturday night plans and watched it till the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j81boILNI8&t=4689s

I hope it's okay to post this here, otherwise I'll remove it of course.

Haven't picked up that Live Union set yet.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 10, 2019, 10:10:45 PM
I like Rabin-era Yes the most, especially the Talk album. Endless Dream is  :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 11, 2019, 12:44:02 AM
I like Rabin-era Yes the most, especially the Talk album. Endless Dream is  :hefdaddy
:hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 11, 2019, 07:30:07 AM
I just discovered a full concert of the Union Tour last night on YouTube! I started to watch, couldn't stop watching, abandoned all my Saturday night plans and watched it till the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j81boILNI8&t=4689s

I hope it's okay to post this here, otherwise I'll remove it of course.

Haven't picked up that Live Union set yet.

That has been around for a while in various forms and formats.  It's a good show from what was - at least relative to the album - a great tour.  I think I saw three shows from that tour. 

I don't usually feel this way about musicians/artists that we lose (John Wetton is perhaps the only other one in this group), but I miss Chris Squire so much.   He had a way of making that Rickenbacker look so... small.   I don't know if it was a special model or what, but you look at him, then look at Geddy or Cliff Burton, on whom the Rick looks like a slab from a barn wall...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 11, 2019, 07:34:20 AM
If someone asked me what rock album features the most bad ass bass playing, the answer would be easy and instant:

Fragile

Chris Squire... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 11, 2019, 07:41:29 AM
If someone asked me what rock album features the most bad ass bass playing, the answer would be easy and instant:

Fragile

Chris Squire... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

I actually wouldn't argue with that even a little bit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 11, 2019, 11:00:37 AM
If someone asked me what rock album features the most bad ass bass playing, the answer would be easy and instant:

Fragile

Chris Squire... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

I actually wouldn't argue with that even a little bit.

Word, Kev.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 16, 2019, 12:32:04 PM
https://youtu.be/pEQjXM2wFxk

"All Fighters Past" - an unused song from the Fragile days, with bits later reused for CTTE and TFTO.

Just found out about this from the Big Big Train Facebook group, have NEVER heard it before in my life! Anyone else heard of this before, or is this the first time you've heard about this?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 16, 2019, 03:27:54 PM
https://youtu.be/pEQjXM2wFxk

"All Fighters Past" - an unused song from the Fragile days, with bits later reused for CTTE and TFTO.

Just found out about this from the Big Big Train Facebook group, have NEVER heard it before in my life! Anyone else heard of this before, or is this the first time you've heard about this?

-Marc.

I've heard it before. It was a bonus track on the latest Fragile reissue. It's okay I guess, but I much prefer its re-imagining on TFTO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 16, 2019, 09:00:32 PM
It's a neat little time capsule.  I like hearing stuff like this, even if it was later reworked into other things, or perhaps especially because it was later reworked into other things.  It's a glimpse into the creative process, and a glimpse into the past.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 19, 2019, 03:37:42 PM
Jon Anderson interview, where he confirms that Yes featuring ARW is on indefinite hiatus:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-jon-anderson-interview-new-album-reunion-809684/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 19, 2019, 04:52:55 PM
Jon Anderson interview, where he confirms that Yes featuring ARW is on indefinite hiatus:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-jon-anderson-interview-new-album-reunion-809684/
Well that sucks!  :tdwn :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 19, 2019, 05:54:16 PM
My guess, and this really is just a guess, is that Anderson wanted to do an album, but Rabin did not, which makes me wonder if Rabin didn't feel like he had anything bursting to come out that would sound like what he feels a Yes album should sound like.  Plus, it seems like more and more older bands are content with touring, since that is where the money is, and don't have a lot of interest is making new albums, which aren't gonna make any money.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 19, 2019, 06:58:02 PM
Honestly, the idea of an ARW record was so up-in-the-air for a long time that I began to lose interest. Jon likes to keep busy, as we have seen with his work with Stolt and his upcoming solo album, but it seems like nothing was going to happen with Rabin and/or Wakeman.

Should Jon team back up with the rest of the current Yes band and do a 50th anniversary tour? I don't see why not. It would be a HUGE money-making tour, because fans  old and new will flock to it, just to see Jon with Steve and Alan again. Heck, bring back any and every Yesman they can get, and cover all eras of Yes. Do a retrospective tour where they play one song per album, or celebrate a single album throughout (if Jon's voice can handle that, that is).

Honestly, if there is hope for one major 70's prog reunion left, it's  Yes. While King Crimson still trucks on, the likes of Genesis and Pink Floyd will never reunite, and being that Yes is one of the oldest institutions in progressive rock, it would be a shame if they passed up this landmark because they aren't playing nice. Do it for the band, for the fans, and for Chris.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 19, 2019, 07:08:19 PM
Eh, there is no point.  Chris Squire is dead and Alan White cannot physically do it anymore. It would not be a true reunion.  The band has given us 50 years. I think that's enough. Not to say that they won't find a way to milk a little more from the fans, but it doesn't need to happen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 19, 2019, 08:33:04 PM
I just discovered a full concert of the Union Tour last night on YouTube! I started to watch, couldn't stop watching, abandoned all my Saturday night plans and watched it till the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j81boILNI8&t=4689s

I hope it's okay to post this here, otherwise I'll remove it of course.

Haven't picked up that Live Union set yet.

That has been around for a while in various forms and formats.  It's a good show from what was - at least relative to the album - a great tour.  I think I saw three shows from that tour. 

I don't usually feel this way about musicians/artists that we lose (John Wetton is perhaps the only other one in this group), but I miss Chris Squire so much.   He had a way of making that Rickenbacker look so... small.   I don't know if it was a special model or what, but you look at him, then look at Geddy or Cliff Burton, on whom the Rick looks like a slab from a barn wall...

I know. But there's so much music out there and this one keeps getting put off for whatever reason. 

Emerson, Mercury, Bowie and Kevin Gilbert are the guys I really miss.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 19, 2019, 08:35:17 PM
If someone asked me what rock album features the most bad ass bass playing, the answer would be easy and instant:

Fragile

Chris Squire... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

I actually wouldn't argue with that even a little bit.

Word, Kev.

Not my favorite album by a long shot, but it's a sonic masterpiece. They really nailed the sound on that one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 01:26:39 AM
By the way, does anyone know the current status of Anderson/Stolt? There were going to do a second album right? Plus, I think they signed a two record deal, so they kinda have to release another album now :D (With Jon, you never know).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 20, 2019, 01:40:17 AM
I don't remember if this has already been mentioned in the thread, but didn't anyone else know that Jon Anderson is releasing a solo album on 31/3?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_Hands:_Chapter_One

Interestingly, Chris Squire is listed as a bassist in the Personnel section. Perhaps they're using of his unused Yes material? :huh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 20, 2019, 03:13:17 AM
Interestingly, Chris Squire is listed as a bassist in the Personnel section. Perhaps they're using of his unused Yes material? :huh:

I think this album was a long time in the making, so Chris probably recorded his bass lines some time before his death.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 03:48:04 AM
It was posted in the Yes Discography thread!

It's a curious release, because 1. it's being released on a Sunday and 2. it's not available anywhere except for the 1000Hands website for 60$ plus 24$ shipping (for the vinyl).

I hope the vinyl will be available somewhere else because I refuse to pay so much money for a single vinyl.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 04:05:55 AM
I haven't seen this song posted yet though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JqYFP5UUp8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1lSYRveq7fBHodQlewd6mLMdw34XOQPUCqndebm545u9bhgF23rSBlqsc

What do you guys think?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 20, 2019, 04:36:39 AM
Wow, that's a fast, uplifting song. I was not expecting something so drastically different from that album he did with Roine Stolt. I'm not sure what I think of the song itself, I'm just struck with how different it is. Also, it's great to hear Jon's voice again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 20, 2019, 04:45:00 AM
It was posted in the Yes Discography thread!

It's a curious release, because 1. it's being released on a Sunday and 2. it's not available anywhere except for the 1000Hands website for 60$ plus 24$ shipping (for the vinyl).

I hope the vinyl will be available somewhere else because I refuse to pay so much money for a single vinyl.

CD is 19.95$ plus 14$ for shipping (and 8+ weeks before it arrives).  :omg:

Hi guys, I've made a new record that's really great, but I don't want you to really hear it, that's why I sell it only at my website for ridiculous prices.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 05:21:56 AM
It's like Neal Morse and Radiant but 100 times worse. Why are they cutting themselves off from the European market (and all other markets for that matter)??

This album is not gonna sell if this is the only way of getting it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 20, 2019, 05:25:26 AM
Wow, & I thought the distribution for Fly From Here: Return Trip was bad. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 20, 2019, 06:49:51 AM
i'm going to see him in a small theater in about two weeks.  Can't wait, though won't lie: I'm alternating between "skeptical" and "curious".   If I get 90 minutes of Awaken, and some of stuff like Toltec (which I like) I'll be happy.  If I get 90 minutes of Arriving UFO and Vangelis, maybe not so much. 

Oh, and there's this:https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jon-anderson-yes-reunion/

AWR is on "hiatus", and there was disagreement over an album. 

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 20, 2019, 07:01:00 AM

Oh, and there's this:https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jon-anderson-yes-reunion/

AWR is on "hiatus", and there was disagreement over an album.

I am shocked.  Just shocked!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on March 20, 2019, 09:18:30 AM
If he found it suffocating touring with Rabin and Wakeman, what on Earth makes the guy think he can do 18 months with Steve Howe?

@Kev--What makes you say White can physically do it anymore? It's been a couple of years since I last saw Yes (no Squire-no Yes), but he seemed just fine.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 20, 2019, 09:31:51 AM


@Kev--What makes you say White can physically do it anymore? It's been a couple of years since I last saw Yes (no Squire-no Yes), but he seemed just fine.

He missed a tour a few years ago and then they had a second drummer the last few tours.  That is not a knock, as the guy will be 70 this year, and decades of pounding away on a drum with two sticks as hard as you can takes its toll.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 20, 2019, 09:45:58 AM
I heard similar things about White, he can still play the drums, but not for two hours straight.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 10:06:12 AM
Well, he can still hit some drums, but in my personal opinion, he can't play well anymore. He put together all his strengths for the RnRHoF performance (and he had one hell of a supporter with Geddy Lee), but listening to him play is becoming harder and harder. He drags, the is imprecise, no energy. Exactly the opposite of what made him special in the 1970s (Siberian Khatru on Yessongs holy shit). It hurts me to say that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on March 20, 2019, 10:16:05 AM
Maybe it's time to force Bruford out of retirement? :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on March 20, 2019, 10:18:38 AM
Didn't know that was going on. Last I heard was from a family member who saw him shortly after Squire's death and she said he seemed miserable (and she knows him). Her take was that he just didn't want to be there without Squire. It'd be a really sad thing if he were having to do this for financial considerations.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 20, 2019, 10:51:22 AM
Well, he can still hit some drums, but in my personal opinion, he can't play well anymore. He put together all his strengths for the RnRHoF performance (and he had one hell of a supporter with Geddy Lee), but listening to him play is becoming harder and harder. He drags, the is imprecise, no energy. Exactly the opposite of what made him special in the 1970s (Siberian Khatru on Yessongs holy shit). It hurts me to say that.

I'm with you.   The last couple tours have been dinged for the band slowing tempos down, sometimes radically, and my understanding is that had a fair amount to do with White.   New drummer (is it Jay Schellen?) and that's not as big a problem as it was.

Bart, I'm with you; no Squire, no Yes.   I've been sort of on a nostalgia trip lately with Yes - yesterday I watched a documentary about the Fragile-era Yes - and if a vote was taken right now, he'd be my answer for greatest rock bassist, even over heavy-weights like Entwhistle and Lee.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 20, 2019, 01:27:15 PM
He might get my vote as well (it would be him or Geddy, depending on my mood).

Here is something to ponder: if Howe decides to bring Anderson back in to his version of Yes, what happens to Downes?  From everything I have ever read, Anderson refuses to sing Drama material (and I suspect that would also apply to anything they have done without him in the last decade), which means if Downes stays in the band, he basically does it knowing that any Yes material he originally played on is now off-limits.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 20, 2019, 01:51:30 PM
Alan White SLAYED it on the TALK tour in 1994. One of the best drum performances I've ever seen! I've seen different incarnations of Yes live several times since then, but none of them even come close to the TALK tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 20, 2019, 02:49:50 PM
Alan White SLAYED it on the TALK tour in 1994. One of the best drum performances I've ever seen! I've seen different incarnations of Yes live several times since then, but none of them even come close to the TALK tour.

I don't want to say Alan is a bad drummer, not at all!!! While his playing is not as detailed and perfect as Bill's, he had a LOT of energy, especially on stage. His performances were on FIRE. I have to repeat: listen to Siberian Kathru on Yessongs, toward the end, where Howe plays an awesome guitar solo. The band is almost exploding. That is why it's a pity for me to say that Alan can't do it anymore. People like Carl Palmer or Franz Di Cioccio show how it can work too in that age.

He might get my vote as well (it would be him or Geddy, depending on my mood).

Here is something to ponder: if Howe decides to bring Anderson back in to his version of Yes, what happens to Downes?  From everything I have ever read, Anderson refuses to sing Drama material (and I suspect that would also apply to anything they have done without him in the last decade), which means if Downes stays in the band, he basically does it knowing that any Yes material he originally played on is now off-limits.

Not only that. The next (and in my opinion even more obvious) question would be what the hell happens with Jon Davison? I'm not a fan of the guy at all, but it would be mean to just kick him out. Wouldn't be the first time in that band though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 20, 2019, 06:26:41 PM
Honestly, if you are an unknown replacing a longtime and iconic (still-living) singer in a popular band, you should probably just enjoy the ride, while realizing that it will not last forever, since it seems like most of the time the iconic singer will be brought back.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Hanz Gruber on March 21, 2019, 10:29:54 PM
i'm going to see him in a small theater in about two weeks.  Can't wait, though won't lie: I'm alternating between "skeptical" and "curious".   If I get 90 minutes of Awaken, and some of stuff like Toltec (which I like) I'll be happy.  If I get 90 minutes of Arriving UFO and Vangelis, maybe not so much. 

Oh, and there's this:https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jon-anderson-yes-reunion/

AWR is on "hiatus", and there was disagreement over an album.

Came here to post the Good News/ Bad News but you beat me to it.

Was really hoping for an AWR album
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 22, 2019, 01:26:48 AM
If someone asked me what rock album features the most bad ass bass playing, the answer would be easy and instant:

Fragile

Chris Squire... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy

I may have to correct myself.
I just listened to Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 22, 2019, 12:00:12 PM
Squire is on fire on Drama.  He was always a madman on the bass anyway, but Drama was a different vibe.  It's like he was re-energized, the whole band was different.  Of course that's true of Yes in general.  By constantly swapping out the guitarist, keyboards, drummer, even lead singer, every album has its unique vibe, yet somehow it all still sounds like Yes, and nothing else does.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 22, 2019, 08:49:13 PM
Squire is on fire on Drama.  He was always a madman on the bass anyway, but Drama was a different vibe.  It's like he was re-energized, the whole band was different.  Of course that's true of Yes in general.  By constantly swapping out the guitarist, keyboards, drummer, even lead singer, every album has its unique vibe, yet somehow it all still sounds like Yes, and nothing else does.

Tempus Effing Fugit! I love that album to bits.  Still haven't really heard or seen much of that tour. 

Rumor has it Horn didn't go over all that well live, but he sounds pretty amazing on the album to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 22, 2019, 11:12:41 PM
I love the Drama album.  The tour was a disaster.  Trevor Horn resisted joining Yes because he knew (and anyone with any brains could/should have predicted) that he'd have to go out and "be" Jon Anderson every night, sing the songs from the catalog as well as the Drama songs, and that audiences would react badly.  He was right.  Sales were poor, shows were cancelled.  The few bootlegs I've heard, the Drama stuff sounds fine, but the back catalog is very rough.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 23, 2019, 03:51:59 AM
Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums. It proves that the band isn't about Jon Anderson, as great as he is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on March 25, 2019, 01:15:29 AM
I love Drama, one of my very favourite Yes albums too. Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah are awesome songs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 25, 2019, 02:44:51 AM
Yeah I love the combination of the "rainy", melancholic pop with the virtuose abilities of Yes.
Also, in my opinion, it shows how important Chris Squire's backing vocals were for the sound of the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 25, 2019, 07:18:47 AM
That really is a shame about the ARW YES falling through. They were working on a new album that I was really looking forward to and the single sounded really cool!  Trevor Rabin always wanted to do an album with Wakeman and Anderson in the line-up, plus Rabin would be engineering the album. We all know how good of a job he did with TALK back in 1994. After all his experience doing movie scores since then, I bet he would have produced a mighty fine album with Yes.
 I wonder who decided to drop the ball on this one?  GOOD GRIEF!!!   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 25, 2019, 07:31:40 AM
That really is a shame about the ARW YES falling through. They were working on a new album that I was really looking forward to and the single sounded really cool!  Trevor Rabin always wanted to do an album with Wakeman and Anderson in the line-up, plus Rabin would be engineering the album. We all know how good of a job he did with TALK back in 1994. After all his experience doing movie scores since then, I bet he would have produced a mighty fine album with Yes.
 I wonder who decided to drop the ball on this one?  GOOD GRIEF!!!   :facepalm:

My money is on Wakeman.  The only thing he does more than join Yes is leave Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 25, 2019, 08:11:25 AM
If that's the case Rabin could easily do the piano/keyboard parts in the studio, but the label wouldn't release it because there would be no subsequent tour to follow. Also the label wouldn't release an album for a band that doesn't exist anymore.
It just urks me that they couldn't hold it together long enough to at least get one album completed. This particular line-up really calls for it!  It would have been the only GOOD Yes album in years.  :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 27, 2019, 08:04:35 PM
Isn't White recovering from back surgery?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 28, 2019, 12:01:38 AM
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jon-anderson-yes-makes-me-happy-video-813528/?fbclid=IwAR1rHXa3ijETIbVEMVbR1hVCRXsQLSJnsGevs0JtIZ4K5sy03I2duwvooiE

Opinions?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on March 28, 2019, 01:42:43 AM
Damn, this song & video are so goofy that it's actually kind of cute. :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 28, 2019, 02:40:06 AM
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jon-anderson-yes-makes-me-happy-video-813528/?fbclid=IwAR1rHXa3ijETIbVEMVbR1hVCRXsQLSJnsGevs0JtIZ4K5sy03I2duwvooiE

Opinions?
:rollin
Such a Jon Anderson thing. I like it!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 28, 2019, 07:29:49 AM
So I have a ticket to see Anderson next week.   I think I paid $90 for the ticket (but I'm front row).   For another... $122 I get to meet the guy and get a picture with him. 

Any thoughts?   Anyone ever meet him?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 28, 2019, 10:49:00 AM


Any thoughts?   Anyone ever meet him?
I met him at one of his solo shows in Seattle around 10 years ago. He was very down to earth and nice. He seemed to be just as grateful to meet my wife and I as we were to meet him. He actually had a free meet and greet after the show.  So yeah, it was a very positive experience. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
I'm seeing John tomorrow.  Got free tickets! 

SCORE!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 28, 2019, 10:55:59 AM
I'm seeing John tomorrow.  Got free tickets! 

SCORE!

Post a review, please.  That will help me decide.   I saw a setlist (though I don't know if it is indicative of what we'll see) and it's got one of the three "bucket list" songs I have for Jon.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 28, 2019, 10:58:12 AM
I'll PM you so as not to spoil for all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: goo-goo on April 02, 2019, 09:16:06 AM
Yes, Asia, and Carl Palmer Tour

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-announces-the-royal-affair-tour-with-asia-and-carl-palmers-elp-legacy/

Bumblefoot will play with Asia.
Steve Howe will play with Asia and Yes
Jun. 12 - Bethlehem, PA - Bethlehem Event Center
Jun. 14 - Farmingdale, NY - Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater
Jun. 15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Jun. 16 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun. 20 - Westchester, NY - Westchester County Center
Jun. 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
Jun. 22 - Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavillion
Jun. 24 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
Jun. 25 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark Amphitheater
Jun. 27 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jun. 29 - Gilford, NH - Bank of NH Pavilion
Jun. 30 - Providence, RI - Bold Point Park
Jul. 03 - Rochester Hills, MI - Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul. 05 - Columbus, OH - Express Live
Jul. 06 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park
Jul. 08 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry House
Jul. 10 - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
Jul. 12 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul. 13 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Jul. 18 - St Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Jul. 20 - Irving, TX - Toyota Music Factory
Jul. 21 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
Jul. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
Jul. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
Jul. 27 - Irvine, CA - FivePoints Amphitheatre
Jul. 28 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 02, 2019, 10:41:11 AM
Billy Sherwood doing double duty as well?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: goo-goo on April 02, 2019, 11:55:04 AM
Billy Sherwood doing double duty as well?

Seems like it...Steve Howe will also play with Yes and Asia. Bumblefoot (from Sons of Apollo) is tabbed for guitars in Asia. Quite surprising.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 02, 2019, 12:50:43 PM
I may go to this with a friend at work.  I was saying to him that this sounds interesting, but...

It's Yes without Anderson, Squire or Wakeman.

It's Asia with I'm not even sure.  Is Carl Palmer going to do both the ELP thing and Asia?  How much is Howe really going to play with Asia?  Will Downes be doing both Yes and Asia?

It's "ELP Legacy" with only the "P" (and with Arthur Brown singing??).

Not that there's anything that can be done about the lack of Emerson, Lake and Squire, but I can't say any of those things individually holds much interest for me.  All of them together in one place might be worth checking out (especially since the Orange County show is on a Saturday).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 02, 2019, 01:05:53 PM
I may go to this with a friend at work.  I was saying to him that this sounds interesting, but...

It's Yes without Anderson, Squire or Wakeman.

It's Asia with I'm not even sure.  Is Carl Palmer going to do both the ELP thing and Asia?  How much is Howe really going to play with Asia?  Will Downes be doing both Yes and Asia?

It's "ELP Legacy" with only the "P" (and with Arthur Brown singing??).

Not that there's anything that can be done about the lack of Emerson, Lake and Squire, but I can't say any of those things individually holds much interest for me.  All of them together in one place might be worth checking out (especially since the Orange County show is on a Saturday).

I'm with you on this.  Yes without Squire, ELP without Emerson OR Lake, Asia without Wetton... might as well go see Rush without Peart or Zeppelin without Page. 

Having said that, I'm warming - tremendously - to Sherwood, and I think the spectacle of the night - three bands, all of whom I've seen in their heyday (or at least with classic lineups, even if on the reunion side of things) - might be endearing.  I will have to travel for this, though. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on April 02, 2019, 09:13:04 PM
Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Anyways, I was reading a lot of the comments on FB about this, and reactions are very mixed, with a lot of the negative ones slamming this tour as a Tribute Act. Had they even thrown in Jon Anderson OR Rick Wakeman, they probably would've raked in a LOT of money, if even Yes was only on stage for 45-60 minutes to let the other two acts play, but that would never happen.

It's like the remaining members of Asia (Geoff, Carl, and Steve) wanted to tour together, but didn't want to do a whole show, so Geoff and Steve figured there could be some Yes, some ELP Legacy with Carl, and fill out Asia and Yes with Billy Sherwood. Then it was just a matter of filling in the other missing pieces with ELP and Asia, and boom.

Well, it could be amazing, or it could tank (pun intended), but either way, I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 03, 2019, 07:23:56 AM
I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money  :-\


I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Secretly flipping burgers.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 03, 2019, 07:37:59 AM
I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money  :-\

The last time I saw Asia - the last tour before Steve quit to devote full time to Yes - they played Mohegan Sun Casino's Wolf Den, a 300-seat cabaret setup that is free to people in the casino (the band is paid, but it's fully subsidized by the casino).  That's not a band that is writing their own checks or holding promoters hostage.

Quote

I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Secretly flipping burgers.

Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 03, 2019, 07:57:55 AM
Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.

That's what I just said.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 03, 2019, 10:38:26 AM
Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Making history!

And you?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on April 03, 2019, 01:19:08 PM
Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Making history!

And you?

 :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on April 03, 2019, 06:32:09 PM
Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Making history!

And you?

That's it. You win. Perfect response.  :tup :hefdaddy :rollin

I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money  :-\

The last time I saw Asia - the last tour before Steve quit to devote full time to Yes - they played Mohegan Sun Casino's Wolf Den, a 300-seat cabaret setup that is free to people in the casino (the band is paid, but it's fully subsidized by the casino).  That's not a band that is writing their own checks or holding promoters hostage.

Oof, that's...less than I thought they'd be raking in. Well, maybe by teaming up with Yes and the ELP Legacy, maybe they're all thinking that they could rake in higher numbers than they could separately. Maybe if this tour is a failure, Yes will reconsider retirement, or maybe Steve will finally invite Jon to join them and do one last tour together, maybe bring back Tony Kaye to play with Geoff since Rick will likely not (re)join them ever again.


Quote
I wonder what Derek has been up to, then? :lol

Secretly flipping burgers.

Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.
All by himself? Well, I mean I figured he was writing SOME of it, but hopefully it's not all of Derek's material on the next album.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 04, 2019, 06:41:50 AM
Speaking of Jon, I saw - and met - him last night.   First, meeting him was a treat.  I know he has his reputation, and has had his moments, but with me - and the few people around me - he was kind, gracious, present.   I went up to him and said "Mr. Anderson, it's an honor." and he said "Please, it's Jon.  What's this?" And I showed him my Going For The One, and I said "my favorite album of all time, by any band."  And he said something like "Ah, that's very nice.  That part, in Awaken, with the choir, it's special isn't it?"

His show was... solid as a rock.   Not a marathon - on about 9:05, off about 10:55, with a 15 minute or so break in the middle - but he hit every single note.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  No "rejiggering melodies" to cut out the tough parts, no help (though everyone in the band sang, necessary on his new songs, which were... to coin a phrase, "solid" but not spectacular).  I won't spoil the setlist, but one Yes album in particular got special treatment (three songs) and one song - not a favorite of mine - was by far the best version I've ever heard (and without Chris Squire, that is absolutely saying something).  The other two, both in my Yes top 20, were the highlights of the show, by far.

Not the best concert I've ever seen - the first half of the second set dragged, as the arrangements were full band, but less Yes and more CSN - but certainly up there, and I know I had the thought a couple times listening to him sing "we're watching one of the truly greats".   He's still got it, though whether he can sustain a two-and-a-half-hour rock marathon is to be seen. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 04, 2019, 07:47:56 AM
Sounds awesome, I would love to meet him. But I don't think I will spend 122 bucks for it. Was it worth it for you though?

What do you mean by "he has his reputation"? Were there any strange stories?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 04, 2019, 08:10:47 AM
Sounds awesome, I would love to meet him. But I don't think I will spend 122 bucks for it. Was it worth it for you though?

You know, I'm not a huge "meet and greet" guy.  I did Neal Morse, because I wanted to meet Mike (I think that was $75 or something), and I'm doing Les Claypool and Sean Lennon, for I think $125, because that's as close as I'm ever going to get to a Beatle (my favorite band), and here I did it because simply put, he's a big part of my favorite album of all time (Going For The One).  I think from that perspective - he signed it gladly - it was, but it's a fleeting thing and generally speaking, I'm not really a huge fan of meet and greets. I met Gary Barden - singer for the Michael Schenker Group literally on the sidewalk in NYC outside the Irving Plaza show, and he talked with me - for free - while he smoked his cigarette and it was far more rewarding and worth it.  I tried to be gracious - "Gary, if you want to smoke in peace, I'll gladly leave you be" - and he was very generous.  "No, stay and chat" or something along those lines. 

Quote
What do you mean by "he has his reputation"? Were there any strange stories?

Well, there are several articles about his prickliness with Howe and Squire (on separate occasions) and he has a rep as a stern taskmaster in the studio.   There's bootleg tape of him and Wakeman in the studio doing the ascending organ line in Awaken and he's basically telling Wakeman - one of the greatest keyboardists in rock history - what to play.   A friend of mine - well, I happen to run into him at shows at this one venue because he does like the M&Gs - had met him before, and said he was far more gracious this time; last time he described him as "stand-offish".   The fan site "Notes From The Edge" used to have several of those articles/interviews in their archive.  They were down for a while, though, so I don't know if they are still there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 06, 2019, 10:37:52 AM
Yes, Asia, and Carl Palmer Tour

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-announces-the-royal-affair-tour-with-asia-and-carl-palmers-elp-legacy/

Bumblefoot will play with Asia.
Steve Howe will play with Asia and Yes
Jun. 12 - Bethlehem, PA - Bethlehem Event Center
Jun. 14 - Farmingdale, NY - Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater
Jun. 15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Jun. 16 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun. 20 - Westchester, NY - Westchester County Center
Jun. 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
Jun. 22 - Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavillion
Jun. 24 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
Jun. 25 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark Amphitheater
Jun. 27 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jun. 29 - Gilford, NH - Bank of NH Pavilion
Jun. 30 - Providence, RI - Bold Point Park
Jul. 03 - Rochester Hills, MI - Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul. 05 - Columbus, OH - Express Live
Jul. 06 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park
Jul. 08 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry House
Jul. 10 - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
Jul. 12 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul. 13 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Jul. 18 - St Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Jul. 20 - Irving, TX - Toyota Music Factory
Jul. 21 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
Jul. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
Jul. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
Jul. 27 - Irvine, CA - FivePoints Amphitheatre
Jul. 28 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery

Looks like the opener is going to blow both bands out of the water. Suppose I need to consider this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 24, 2019, 02:07:09 AM
I put on Magnification yesterday. I found it on that lilac vinyl in a chaotic record store somewhere im Hamburg a few years ago. I always liked it, but I'm appreciating it more and more over the years. I don't understand why it gets so much criticism. Spirit Of Survival is a powerful rocker (Chris' bass line rocks), Give Love and We Agree are brilliantly composed bombastic ballads. The two 10min songs bring back old Yes days. Howe's slide guitar at the end of In The Presence Of always gives me chills. Howe's performance is amazing in general on this album. If it's the freaky fills in Spirit Of Survival or the beautiful acoustic guitar work on We Agree or Soft As A Dove. The dude is just a master.

I also put on Open Your Eyes. Sure it's not a masterpiece, but I didn't find it as bad as everyone says. The title track, Wonderlove and Universal Garden are cool songs. I always loved From The Balcony and I still think it's the best song on the album. Howe and Anderson create a magic as a duo that is unmatched. The Solution is a good song too in my opinion, but I never understood why they made it a 23 minute track. After 6 minutes or so it's just noises.

I have to find The Ladder on vinyl and give it a chance. The only song I have heard a lot is Homeworld and I love that one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on April 24, 2019, 03:44:30 AM
Magnification is very solid, but I find The Ladder supperior in every way. I couldn't get into Open your eyes, I've always thought it was underwhelming and not at all memorable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on April 24, 2019, 03:57:28 AM
Magnification is solid, Open Your Eyes has some good tracks but lacks depth and proggyness. The Ladder has some good tracks (Homeworld, New Language) but songs like Lightning Strikes kill it for me. Maybe the worst Yes song ever recorded.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on April 24, 2019, 04:12:11 AM
Magnification is solid, Open Your Eyes has some good tracks but lacks depth and proggyness. The Ladder has some good tracks (Homeworld, New Language) but songs like Lightning Strikes kill it for me. Maybe the worst Yes song ever recorded.

Loveshine would like to have a word with you. :lol


Truth be told, I don't think Lightning Strikes is that bad, but it is a good representation of the bland pop mediocrity that showed its head in The Ladder. The album is fine but it's just fine imo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on April 24, 2019, 05:14:59 AM
The Ladder is remarkably better than Magnification and especially Open Your Eyes, lol.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 24, 2019, 07:29:57 AM
I can at least listen to The Ladder.  I really like Magnification.   I can barely find anything redeeming about Open Your Eyes. 

By the way, I was driving yesterday, and I put on the live record from 2014 where they played Close To The Edge and Fragile in their entirety.

I didn't really like the tempos being slightly slower; you noticed it and it took some of the power away from the songs, especially Close To The Edge.  But what really bothered me was Jon Davidson's vocals.  He's a really good singer, but it didn't work for me on that.   He's got the same countertenor quality that Anderson has, but he doesn't have the edge.  Anderson has that reedy voice, but he's a ROCK singer.  He's not "delicate" in that way.  There were too many moments in that show that Davidson was too... twee maybe?   I don't know what the word is (that's not offensive to someone) but it took the edge right out of the music. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 25, 2019, 08:08:05 AM
Okay, really looking forward to giving The Ladder a really concentrated listen now! I have slowly been getting into the poppier Yes music over the last two years or so. It works when you accept that it's just something different than the music from the 70s (although I put on Close To The Edge last night and I gotta say... this is just a masterpiece. Brought me to tears again... and it's not even my favourite Yes album or song!).

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on April 25, 2019, 10:39:18 AM
The Ladder is really solid. There’s some cringey moments as there are in basically every Yes album, but it’s well produced and has some really good pop hooks. Open Your Eyes has actually grown on me in recent times, though I will never enjoy Man In The Moon or Loveshine. Somehow Someday also amuses me because it sounds like Alan White has no idea what the hell he’s doing. Magnification is great also. Very solid and there’s some really great moments throughout.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on April 25, 2019, 10:50:37 AM

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!

The Keys material is second only to GFTO in terms of what the lineup of Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman and White put out, in my opinion.  Criminally underrated by both the fanbase and the band itself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on April 25, 2019, 11:12:20 AM
Yeah, the Keys studio material is really good!  The live stuff is great too with a fantastic version of Starship Trooper..  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 25, 2019, 11:17:05 AM

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!

The Keys material is second only to GFTO in terms of what the lineup of Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman and White put out, in my opinion.  Criminally underrated by both the fanbase and the band itself.

I should go back to revisit that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 28, 2019, 12:45:02 PM
I like the Keys stuff, The Ladder and Magnification quite a bit.  Open Your Eyes is another story. Don't even own it anymore.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on July 15, 2019, 06:10:10 AM
Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 15, 2019, 10:02:42 AM
Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0
I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like how you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I gave your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 15, 2019, 10:30:19 AM
Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

Cool!  I'm traveling today, but I'll be able to give it a listen tomorrow.  I will and I'll comment.  I'm excited for this!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Heavy Metal Hippie on July 15, 2019, 10:57:53 AM
Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0
I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like bow you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I have your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍

Thanks Archi, I didn't use anything from Jacuranda, because I know this album inside out and I wanted to achieve a fresh experience for myself.

So, you finally got Jacuranda. Just 7 years after the release. :) Enjoy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 24, 2019, 03:04:53 PM
So, serious question(s).  I might have a chance to meet Mr. Wakeman in a few weeks.  I was able to get Jon to sign Going For The One (my favorite album of all time), but I'm torn.  If given the chance, do I:

- have Rick also sign GFTO?
- have him sign something else?
- and if so, here's the kicker:  is it out of line to ask him to sign Tales From Topographic Oceans (it's one of my favorite album covers ever)?   

Thoughts? 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 24, 2019, 03:18:11 PM
Not sure why it would be out of line to ask him to sign Tales.  I know he's not a fan, but he played on it and I'm sure would be gracious about it.  :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 24, 2019, 03:34:36 PM
If I were in your shoes, I'd get him to sign Going for the One.  That's my favorite Yes album as well, and having a copy signed by both Jon and Rick would be amazing.

But... it would also be cool having him sign Tales, and I don't think it would be out of line to ask.  He did play on it and it's a great cover.  Then you'd have two different albums signed by different members of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 24, 2019, 05:44:14 PM
So, serious question(s).  I might have a chance to meet Mr. Wakeman in a few weeks.  I was able to get Jon to sign Going For The One (my favorite album of all time), but I'm torn.  If given the chance, do I:

- have Rick also sign GFTO?
- have him sign something else?
- and if so, here's the kicker:  is it out of line to ask him to sign Tales From Topographic Oceans (it's one of my favorite album covers ever)?   

Thoughts?

Not my favorite Yes album by a long shot, but it is yours so you should probably try and get that and Tales signed.

Funny though, I was actually considering seeing Patrick Moraz but it's on a week night so I might pass on it.
 I likely wouldn't be hanging around to have him sign Relayer or any of  his albums with Bruford either.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 24, 2019, 05:45:49 PM
Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0
I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like how you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I gave your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍

Jacuranda just might be the best thing Rabin's ever done.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 09, 2019, 04:37:28 AM
So YES just posted this. I don't think this is a very good idea. How on earth is this band going to pull off The Gates Of Delirium and Sound Chaser?


Quote
UK TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE ALBUM SERIES 2020
The Album Series 2020 Tour will feature YES' 1974 Relayer album in its entirety together with a selection of other classic YES favourites. (An extensive European tour will be announced soon.)
The show will comprise two sets by the band with full production and a high definition video wall. The first will feature favourite classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue. The second will feature Relayer, the seventh studio album by YES, and one of the band’s most distinctive.
Roger Dean will attend every show on the UK and European dates, and will have an exhibition of his iconic art, will be available to chat with fans front of house and sign merch, plus will be in the VIP meet and greets.
Tickets on sale tomorrow, Friday 11th October at 10AM!
See the full list of dates below and find out more at http://yesworld.com/2019/10/the-album-series-2020
The Album Series 2020 UK Dates:
Tuesday 26 May: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Wednesday 27 May: Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Friday 29 May: Barbican, York
Saturday 30 May: The Sage, Gateshead
Sunday 31 May: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Tuesday 2 June: Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Wednesday 3 June: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Friday 5 June: Royal Albert Hall, London

(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/72465480_3384521261559838_3871029340707749888_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=AQl9CeGm-lAzsAwauEz3tQNtPEqH7IiUEulMvUbW9gZMHF8k9TUrVaJ3zHbCQoaxNdU&_nc_ht=scontent-vie1-1.xx&oh=08f49648d02916dbf18c05fabeea31b6&oe=5E1D9269)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 09, 2019, 06:59:38 AM
They'll slow it down a lot.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 09, 2019, 07:30:45 AM
Is Jay Schellen still subbing for Alan White? If not, he probably should, especially for Sound Chaser.

It'll be interesting to see the YouTube videos from this tour...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on October 09, 2019, 08:45:16 AM
With the current state of Yes being what it is (despicable IMHO), I'm relieved I got to see the band twice in the classic lineup (in 2003 and 2004)
And with Relayer being one of my alltime favourites by them, I agree that this may not be a great idea
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 09, 2019, 08:56:45 AM
I'm going to go ahead and say "No" to this one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 10, 2019, 04:15:34 AM
Is Jay Schellen still subbing for Alan White? If not, he probably should, especially for Sound Chaser.

It'll be interesting to see the YouTube videos from this tour...

-Marc.

He is. There is a YouTube video of the band playing The Gates from June. Schellen is playing and White is sitting next to him on an unmiked (is that how you say it?) drum set, playing ... something very irrelevant to the song. It's very hard to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9FeiU1ymu4&fbclid=IwAR3MLVogN7rV8199O_GdrpAwtpKUDCUfnFwMV953aLf7dhc8ldWvm5dylOc

So be fair, Schellen is not the best drummer ever, but he's playing this incredibly hard stuff quite well.

Oh- and Steve is still awesome.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 07:52:39 AM
Yes is not what it once was, but I think "despicable" is a bit harsh.  Alan is reduced to "good days and bad days" but Steve is indeed still awesome.  Geoff Downes isn't Rick Wakeman, but then either is Rick Wakeman anymore.  I've always liked Geoff and think he tends to get ripped on far too much, usually just for not being Rick Wakeman.  Jon Davison to me sounds a lot like Jon Anderson, though not as good.  I think he has the "light side" of Jon A but not the depth.  Jon Anderson never gets "heavy" but he can rock out in his own way, and Jon D can't quite get there.  I've never really understood people's problem with Billy Sherwood other than him not being on the same level as Chris Squire.  Once again, who is?

I suppose that basically reduces the current Yes to mostly second-string players.  I get it.  Some people go to see a band because it's a band they love and/or have always wanted to see and/or always go to see anyway, but I tend to care more about the specific individuals on stage.  I'd love to see Steve Howe play live again, and I've never seen Geoff play live.  But that's not enough to get me to see Yes.

But... we're still talking about some great music being performed by some pretty amazing guys.  And I certainly won't fault the band for continuing to tour and play this music while they still can.  Some people say they should call it a day.  Fuck that.  Players gotta play.  I've seen some videos from recent years, some pretty good, some not so much.  But they're still out there playing, I'll give them that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 08:12:15 AM
For me the main problem with Yes is that Howe doesn't make a very good band conductor IMO. Yes never had super steady or super even sense of tempo. This sort of looseness was always part of their sound. It was at the whim of Squire who controlled the ebb and flow of the performance. He was (as I once read Bruford put it) the conductor of Yes. Now, they still have that loose-y goose-y sense of time, but it sounds random and unfocused...like a cover band out of their depth still learning the song and struggling to find the pocket in the music. I witnessed this during the battle section in "The Gates" on a Youtube video from a very recent Dallas performance. Billy's a great bass player, but the groove doesn't click-in until they get to the midpoint of the battle. They're all good musicians and players. But great players alone do not create solid band chemistry. The tempos seem to lurch around in an unwieldy way that is almost embarrassing to witness at times. In other moments when things do click, they sound awesome. A very uneven band now. 

It puts them in an odd place because Yes always had this reputation for being a great live act..and now they're lucky if they can pull off any performance that sounds professional enough to live up to their reputation.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 08:44:14 AM
Those are all good points.  I never really thought about it, but Squire was the driver during live performances in just the way you said, and without that rock-solid base, the looseness gets sloppy and unfocused.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 09:44:33 AM
One last thing. Because I don't want to offer only negative points. I was very impressed with how well Billy and JonD tackled the vocal harmonies together (Dallas 2019). To my (sometimes questionable) ears they sounded great. Maybe someone who is more of a Yeshead can verify...but they sound like they are singing the same parts that Chris and JonA would sing. I wonder how much work went on behind the scenes getting all the harmonies figured out? Or are these guys so influenced by Yes that singing those parts is already in their musical DNA so to speak?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 10, 2019, 10:09:33 AM
One last thing. Because I don't want to offer only negative points. I was very impressed with how well Billy and JonD tackled the vocal harmonies together (Dallas 2019). To my (sometimes questionable) ears they sounded great. Maybe someone who is more of a Yeshead can verify...but they sound like they are singing the same parts that Chris and JonA would sing. I wonder how much work went on behind the scenes getting all the harmonies figured out? Or are these guys so influenced by Yes that singing those parts is already in their musical DNA so to speak?

I can't speak for Davison (my criticisms of him are documented here; Orbert clearly agrees with me on those), but Sherwood is a long-time friend of Squire, who was his mentor in many ways.  I'm sure you know that Sherwood was "in" Yes previous to taking Squire's spot, and worked closely with the band and the man in other ways.   I'm loathe to speak for a dead man, but I would be stunned if Sherwood wouldn't be Squire's first choice to replace him if the need arose. 

Sherwood is the real deal, IMO.  He's not the weak link of the new Yes. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 10, 2019, 11:43:13 AM
Sherwood is the real deal, IMO.  He's not the weak link of the new Yes. 

As long as he doesn't mix or produce anything...


I would be stunned if Sherwood wouldn't be Squire's first choice to replace him if the need arose. 

I THINK that's actually a fact. I can't remember where I read it, but I think prior to his death, Chris actually expressed his desire of Yes continuing with Billy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 11:50:43 AM
That is absolutely a fact.  Billy Sherwood was literally picked by Chris Squire as his replacement in Yes.  He told the other guys as much.  He knew his time was limited, and wanted the guys to know that Billy had his blessing.  I'm sure it helps that Billy was an official member of the band prior to that (one album anyway) and behind the scenes of a few more.  I don't know if the band had even thought about potential replacements for Chris, but this made it all much simpler.

Also, it's Davison, not Davidson.  And yep, Jon D is singing Jon A's original parts, and Billy sings Chris' parts.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on October 10, 2019, 11:52:03 AM
I would be stunned if Sherwood wouldn't be Squire's first choice to replace him if the need arose. 

I THINK that's actually a fact. I can't remember where I read it, but I think prior to his death, Chris actually expressed his desire of Yes continuing with Billy.

I recall that as well, although I couldn't begin to remember where.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 11:58:01 AM
Wow. Thanks Orbert. I thought they might. I was all ready to dislike Jon D based on all the comments I've read in threads like these, but I found much to my surprise that I enjoyed his singing and performance -- not as replacement for Jon A, but more of an alternative that works well with the music. I actaully was really surprised I found myself digging on what Jon D was doing (You know what they say about expectation?) Also, his acoustic guitar playing at the end of Soon sounded very competent (I thought). He seems like an extremely talented and musical dude.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 10, 2019, 12:05:03 PM
Wow. Thanks Orbert. I thought they might. I was all ready to dislike Jon D based on all the comments I've read in threads like these, but I found much to my surprise that I enjoyed his singing and performance -- not as replacement for Jon A, but more of an alternative that works well with the music. I actaully was really surprised I found myself digging on what Jon D was doing (You know what they say about expectation?) Also, his acoustic guitar playing at the end of Soon sounded very competent (I thought). He seems like an extremely talented and musical dude.

I don't want anyone to think I'm disrespecting Jon D.   I have no doubt of his musical talent.   But just like Bono might not be the best fit for AC/DC, so here.  I just think that across the board with all seven of the main musicians in the classic era of Yes - Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Kaye, Squire, Wakeman, and White - the beauty of Yes for me was the ghost of a garage band (in the way that the early Beatles was a garage band) that was always behind the lovey-dovey, peace prog pretentions.  That's utterly gone with Jon D (in my opinion).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 12:20:14 PM
Wow, I'm pretty much the opposite.  The main thing I like about Jon D is that he seems very spiritual and positive ("airy-fairy" is what I see too often) in much the same way Jon A was/is.  The fact that his voice has a similar timbre is a plus.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean about Yes having the spectre of a garage band behind their sound.  Maybe because I was getting into them around the same time I was becoming a musician myself, but they've always been on a level way, way above me in terms of musicianship and songwriting.  They came out of the gate with six original songs and two covers that completely transcend the originals, all masterfully arranged and performed.  I will never be more than a garage band musician compared to those guys.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 12:27:54 PM
Wow. Thanks Orbert. I thought they might. I was all ready to dislike Jon D based on all the comments I've read in threads like these, but I found much to my surprise that I enjoyed his singing and performance -- not as replacement for Jon A, but more of an alternative that works well with the music. I actaully was really surprised I found myself digging on what Jon D was doing (You know what they say about expectation?) Also, his acoustic guitar playing at the end of Soon sounded very competent (I thought). He seems like an extremely talented and musical dude.

I don't want anyone to think I'm disrespecting Jon D.   I have no doubt of his musical talent.   But just like Bono might not be the best fit for AC/DC, so here.  I just think that across the board with all seven of the main musicians in the classic era of Yes - Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Kaye, Squire, Wakeman, and White - the beauty of Yes for me was the ghost of a garage band (in the way that the early Beatles was a garage band) that was always behind the lovey-dovey, peace prog pretentions.  That's utterly gone with Jon D (in my opinion).
Totally makes sense Stadler. Especially when you put in perspective of their whole career. In my mind no-one can actually replace Jon A. But still, I like what Jon D does though. It serves the songs well enough. My problems with current Yes performance have nothing to do with him and have everything to do band chemistry (see 1st post in thread).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 10, 2019, 12:45:56 PM
Wow, I'm pretty much the opposite.  The main thing I like about Jon D is that he seems very spiritual and positive ("airy-fairy" is what I see too often) in much the same way Jon A was/is.  The fact that his voice has a similar timbre is a plus.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean about Yes having the spectre of a garage band behind their sound.  Maybe because I was getting into them around the same time I was becoming a musician myself, but they've always been on a level way, way above me in terms of musicianship and songwriting.  They came out of the gate with six original songs and two covers that completely transcend the originals, all masterfully arranged and performed.  I will never be more than a garage band musician compared to those guys.

I mean it in the sense of... there was a lot of polish and sheen to them, the vocals were heavenly, but they were at their beating heart, a ROCK band.   Even with Jon A.'s pseudo-new-age lyrical nonsense, when they needed to close a show, they went with "Gimme Some" Lovin', or "I'm Down", or even "Purple Haze".  He'd run his voice to the edge, and there are countless examples of that pristine tenor running ragged.   I think Jon D.'s voice runs to the twee more than Jon A.'s, and I think Yes as a band needs more of the latter.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 03:56:01 PM
Ah, I get it now.  That's what I meant about Jon D having Jon A's "light side" covered, but he can't rock out; he's got no edge or guts.  Jon A has a high voice, which he can't help obviously, but he can rock out.  First time I heard the Yes cover of "I'm Down" I was blown away.

That's my main complaint about Heaven and Earth.  It all sounds fine, and there are some nice melodies and of course great playing, but gets boring pretty fast.  It's all smooth and light and has no fucking balls to it, anywhere.  Yes has (up until recently) always had that contrast, the heavy and the light.  Benoit David, and now Jon Davison, are both fine singers, but they can't bring the rock and roll.  No balls.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 09:40:53 PM
I think a lot of that is musical background. Look at the tunes Jon was covering back in his old bands. Jon Anderson has soul.  He's comfortable singing the blues. I mean "Have you heard the news? Yes is in the House of Blues!" [from the Ladder tour I think that one was!  :laugh:]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 10, 2019, 11:06:00 PM
Sharp!

Distance!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 10, 2019, 11:15:16 PM
Howe!

Can!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on October 11, 2019, 12:21:54 AM
The Wind!

With its arms all around me!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Curious Orange on October 11, 2019, 03:30:54 AM

Quote
UK TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE ALBUM SERIES 2020
The Album Series 2020 Tour will feature YES' 1974 Relayer album in its entirety...

To be fair, given that they've played The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, as much of Tales as they could reasonably be expected to play, GFTO and Drama, this was to be expected, and we really should consider ourselves lucky they're not playing Tormato...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 11, 2019, 08:34:14 AM

Quote
UK TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE ALBUM SERIES 2020
The Album Series 2020 Tour will feature YES' 1974 Relayer album in its entirety...

To be fair, given that they've played The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, as much of Tales as they could reasonably be expected to play, GFTO and Drama, this was to be expected, and we really should consider ourselves lucky they're not playing Tormato...

Honestly, with no irony or hyperbole, "Tormato" woudl be the one album that would get me to go see them at this point.   Other than "Arriving UFO" and "Circus Of Heaven", that's a stellar album in my book. 

I've seen Yes as much as any band, but that was with Squire (top five favorite musicians ever), and as much as I really like Sherwood, I have no desire to listen to Jon D. cutesy his way through songs that Jon Anderson owned then and still does (I saw him live a couple weeks ago, and although he looked like he was 86, he sounded like he was 26).  It doesn't help that Relayer is not really high on my Yes list (Tormato is, truthfully, higher). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 11, 2019, 09:29:08 AM
Same here.  I recognize "Gates of Delirium" as a masterpiece, but Side Two has always left me a bit empty.  "Sound Chaser" is nuts, and I can see why people like that one, too, but to me it's very uneven.  Same with "To Be Over."  A cool song, but not one I really seek out.  Both of those songs shift moods pretty quickly, almost randomly, and while that can be very cool, it can also be overused as a musical device, and here I think it is just that, overused.  The pretty much leaves only "Gates" for me.  A great song, but not quite enough to push Relayer over Tormato for me.

I picked up Tormato during my initial Yes run, so as much as it gets slagged these days, at the time it was just the next Yes album.  After the glorious Going for the One and coming off the epic-crazed three-album run preceding it, a return to "regular" songs was fine with me, a nice change.  I skip "Circus of Heaven" just because it's so repetitive and never seems to pay off, but I kinda like "Arriving UFO."  That break where we actually get visited by the aliens is cool.  Howe is a madman.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 11, 2019, 09:34:02 AM
It doesn't help that Relayer is not really high on my Yes list (Tormato is, truthfully, higher).

I know "TASTES!!" and all, but that might be the most confounding thing I've seen you post, Stads.  ;D

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 11, 2019, 10:12:28 AM
It doesn't help that Relayer is not really high on my Yes list (Tormato is, truthfully, higher).

I know "TASTES!!" and all, but that might be the most confounding thing I've seen you post, Stads.  ;D

Well, bear in mind that "Going For The One" is my favorite album of any band, ever, and like Orbert said, "Tormato is the next album in that run".  I wasn't a real-time fan at that point - I got in just after Drama came out, and primarily with a cheap cassette of "Fragile" - so I'm not really a "Moraz" guy.   I just thought it was missing the things I really love/loved about Yes.  It's not a bad album at all, but just not up there with the greats for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on October 11, 2019, 11:20:48 AM
For me, with the exception of A Venture and 3 of the 5 solo pieces on Fragile, the run from The Yes Album through Gates of Delirium is top 5 is pretty well perfection.  Side 2 of Relayer brought that to a fairly crashing halt.  I agree with Orbert's assessment of Sound Chaser, and To Be Over is an absolute dud.  The last two classic lineup albums are hit and miss (Tormato is spotty, I don't care for the song GFTO, and I think the studio version of Parallels is also fairly weak, although the live version on Yesyears is epic).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 11, 2019, 12:25:33 PM
Rick Wakeman confirms pretty much exactly what we were saying.

"The whole Yes thing has been a mess since Chris Squire died. Nobody knows what the hell is going on." (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/rick-wakeman-interview-yes-david-bowie-896090/)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 11, 2019, 12:29:35 PM
Double post because it occurred to me that Rick is talking about Yes as a band overall and we were talking about on stage.  So not exactly the same thing, but that's where my mind went first.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 11, 2019, 12:54:34 PM
For me, with the exception of A Venture and 3 of the 5 solo pieces on Fragile, the run from The Yes Album through Gates of Delirium is top 5 is pretty well perfection.  Side 2 of Relayer brought that to a fairly crashing halt.  I agree with Orbert's assessment of Sound Chaser, and To Be Over is an absolute dud.  The last two classic lineup albums are hit and miss (Tormato is spotty, I don't care for the song GFTO, and I think the studio version of Parallels is also fairly weak, although the live version on Yesyears is epic).

What three (or two)? 

I like four of the five, and the fifth is too inconsequential to really "like" (Five Percent For Nothing).   I dig the Brahm's piece, I dig Mood For A Day, I dig The Fish (though it's better live) and I really like We Have Heaven. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 11, 2019, 03:41:12 PM
I agree that Sound Chaser is a bit of a miss, but it can be a fun one.  I like To Be Over a lot, and of course The Gates of Delirium is incredible; still a top 5 Yes tune in my book.  So yeah, I am a big fan of Relayer and don't think either Going for the One or Tormato come close to equaling it.  But that's me.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 12, 2019, 10:13:50 AM
That is absolutely a fact.  Billy Sherwood was literally picked by Chris Squire as his replacement in Yes.  He told the other guys as much.  He knew his time was limited, and wanted the guys to know that Billy had his blessing.  I'm sure it helps that Billy was an official member of the band prior to that (one album anyway) and behind the scenes of a few more.  I don't know if the band had even thought about potential replacements for Chris, but this made it all much simpler.

Also, it's Davison, not Davidson.  And yep, Jon D is singing Jon A's original parts, and Billy sings Chris' parts.

Totally Chris' call.   Never been a fan of the guy myself but he made it pretty clear who he wanted.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 12, 2019, 10:23:27 AM

Quote
UK TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: THE ALBUM SERIES 2020
The Album Series 2020 Tour will feature YES' 1974 Relayer album in its entirety...

To be fair, given that they've played The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, as much of Tales as they could reasonably be expected to play, GFTO and Drama, this was to be expected, and we really should consider ourselves lucky they're not playing Tormato...

Honestly, with no irony or hyperbole, "Tormato" woudl be the one album that would get me to go see them at this point.   Other than "Arriving UFO" and "Circus Of Heaven", that's a stellar album in my book. 

I've seen Yes as much as any band, but that was with Squire (top five favorite musicians ever), and as much as I really like Sherwood, I have no desire to listen to Jon D. cutesy his way through songs that Jon Anderson owned then and still does (I saw him live a couple weeks ago, and although he looked like he was 86, he sounded like he was 26).  It doesn't help that Relayer is not really high on my Yes list (Tormato is, truthfully, higher).

There was a time that I REALLY would have wanted to hear Relayer done live, but those days are long gone. Best option for me is that tour unfortunately.

It's like Rush trying to do something from Caress of Steel live.  I love Caress of Steel but it's just not a good idea to do that live in the 21st Century.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 12, 2019, 10:28:32 AM
I agree that Sound Chaser is a bit of a miss, but it can be a fun one.  I like To Be Over a lot, and of course The Gates of Delirium is incredible; still a top 5 Yes tune in my book.  So yeah, I am a big fan of Relayer and don't think either Going for the One or Tormato come close to equaling it.  But that's me.  :biggrin:

I've never been a "Top Whatever" ranking guy because I don't view music like that, but Relayer is a Top 5 Yes album. (I might put The Yes Album and Drama up there too.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: LudwigVan on October 12, 2019, 03:54:14 PM
Drama was a like an oasis in an desert of loss and confusion. I equate that album to Come Taste The Band by Deep Purple. Both albums were a revelation. They were wonderful anomalies to what came before and after.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on October 12, 2019, 04:02:22 PM
Drama was a like an oasis in an desert of loss and confusion. I equate that album to Come Taste The Band by Deep Purple. Both albums were a revelation. They were wonderful anomalies to what came before and after.
I like Drama a lot and it's one of my alltime favourites by Yes (despite JA and Wakie not appearing on it)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 14, 2019, 02:45:57 AM
Where is the love for To Be Over? I like it a lot more than And You And I and it contains one of the most beautiful finales I have ever heard. This might sound corny, but whenever I listen to the last 2 minutes of To Be Over, I can hear church bells, even though I know there are no church bells on the recording.

Seriously, To Be Over makes Relayer the masterpiece it is and one of the greatest albums ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 14, 2019, 03:23:03 AM
I've always thought it was good, but Sound chaser and The Gates are SO out of this world that they sort of overshadow it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on October 14, 2019, 10:48:41 AM
For me, with the exception of A Venture and 3 of the 5 solo pieces on Fragile, the run from The Yes Album through Gates of Delirium is top 5 is pretty well perfection.  Side 2 of Relayer brought that to a fairly crashing halt.  I agree with Orbert's assessment of Sound Chaser, and To Be Over is an absolute dud.  The last two classic lineup albums are hit and miss (Tormato is spotty, I don't care for the song GFTO, and I think the studio version of Parallels is also fairly weak, although the live version on Yesyears is epic).

What three (or two)? 

I like four of the five, and the fifth is too inconsequential to really "like" (Five Percent For Nothing).   I dig the Brahm's piece, I dig Mood For A Day, I dig The Fish (though it's better live) and I really like We Have Heaven.

Mood for a Day is light years above the other four, although I like The Fish quite a bit (probably wouldn't if I weren't a bass player), so those are the two.  Five Percent is nothing but noise.  We Have Heaven and Brahms are ok the first couple times (and, certainly, Rick's playing on the latter is excellent).  While I undoubtedly have listened to Fragile from start to finish dozens or hundreds of times (to the point that pretty much every note is burned into my memory), I suspect I haven't listened to Heaven or Brahms in probably 20 years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on October 14, 2019, 03:48:15 PM
Where is the love for To Be Over? I like it a lot more than And You And I and it contains one of the most beautiful finales I have ever heard. This might sound corny, but whenever I listen to the last 2 minutes of To Be Over, I can hear church bells, even though I know there are no church bells on the recording.

Seriously, To Be Over makes Relayer the masterpiece it is and one of the greatest albums ever.

Agreed. To Be Over is a brilliant finale and the fade-out never fails to completely move me. And the twists and turns throughout the song are a lot of fun. One of their more unique tracks that I'm surprised was ignored for so long by the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 14, 2019, 04:25:17 PM
Steve Howe once cited "To Be Over" as one of his favorite Yes tracks, one that to him epitomizes Yes.  I can see why.  It has the beautiful serene stuff, the batshit crazy, and everything in between.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 15, 2019, 07:05:49 AM
I saw Rick Wakeman Sunday, on his "Grumpy Old Man Tour"; half comedy half music.   The comedy was okay; he's not Chris Rock, but he's funny if you get the references.   The music was really good.   The Yes piece - a medley of "The Meeting - And You And I - Wonderous Stories" was, well, a wonder, and the couple of Beatles pieces - "Strawberry Fields - While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Help! Eleanor Rigby" (the former done as a ballad, the latter done in the style of Prokofiev; yes, it worked!) resonated with me a lot, being a Beatles fan.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 15, 2019, 07:07:57 AM
I'd actually go see that.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 15, 2019, 07:13:47 AM
It was worth it; no opening act, the show started at 7:30 almost on the dot, and ended about 9:30 or so.  You got your money's worth on the music alone, and the stories/comedy wasn't bad (if you saw/heard his RnRHoF induction speech you get the gist; every story had some reference to penis/sex/some bodily function). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on October 16, 2019, 08:29:37 AM
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/rick_wakeman_calls_current_state_of_yes_total__utter_mess_disrespectful_to_late_chris_squire.html
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 16, 2019, 10:37:51 AM
Yeah, Grumpy Old Rick.  Practically the same bites as the Rolling Stone interview.  I mean, he makes valid points, and the idea that "Yes should just call it a day" isn't new to anyone.  Rick is not currently in the band and has left and rejoined the band many times over the years as it suited him, and he is also the one who said that Yes is a collective, not a specific set of individuals, and much like a symphony orchestra could theoretically continue indefinitely, replacing members as time goes on.  But now that Chris is gone, Yes should just stop.  Okay, Rick.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 17, 2019, 05:10:22 AM
It was worth it; no opening act, the show started at 7:30 almost on the dot, and ended about 9:30 or so.  You got your money's worth on the music alone, and the stories/comedy wasn't bad (if you saw/heard his RnRHoF induction speech you get the gist; every story had some reference to penis/sex/some bodily function).
Just saw him in Seattle last night. That was a excellent show!  He sounded phenomenal on that grande piano, plus his comedy segments were really funny too.  I also didn't realise how much he worked with David Bowie in the past and many others.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Curious Orange on October 17, 2019, 06:32:50 AM
Yeah, he says Yes should call it a day even though he's no longer in the band (why should they quit if there's still an audience for what they do?) then says there'll be a new ARW tour next year, which you just know the promoters will insist on calling "Yes -  featuring ARW" again...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 17, 2019, 06:35:17 AM
It was worth it; no opening act, the show started at 7:30 almost on the dot, and ended about 9:30 or so.  You got your money's worth on the music alone, and the stories/comedy wasn't bad (if you saw/heard his RnRHoF induction speech you get the gist; every story had some reference to penis/sex/some bodily function).
Just saw him in Seattle last night. That was a excellent show!  He sounded phenomenal on that grande piano, plus his comedy segments were really funny too.  I also didn't realise how much he worked with David Bowie in the past and many others.

That was new for me as well.  I knew he was in the Strawbs before Yes, and I knew he did some sessions after (Black Sabbath is a well-known one) but I wasn't aware that they were so extensive before that. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on October 17, 2019, 09:24:47 AM
It was worth it; no opening act, the show started at 7:30 almost on the dot, and ended about 9:30 or so.  You got your money's worth on the music alone, and the stories/comedy wasn't bad (if you saw/heard his RnRHoF induction speech you get the gist; every story had some reference to penis/sex/some bodily function).
Just saw him in Seattle last night. That was a excellent show!  He sounded phenomenal on that grande piano, plus his comedy segments were really funny too.  I also didn't realise how much he worked with David Bowie in the past and many others.

That was new for me as well.  I knew he was in the Strawbs before Yes, and I knew he did some sessions after (Black Sabbath is a well-known one) but I wasn't aware that they were so extensive before that.
he worked with Bowie on Hunky Dory and Space Oddity (and some of Ziggy)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 17, 2019, 07:51:25 PM
Yeah, he says Yes should call it a day even though he's no longer in the band (why should they quit if there's still an audience for what they do?) then says there'll be a new ARW tour next year, which you just know the promoters will insist on calling "Yes -  featuring ARW" again...

I am $ure there are rea$on$ that Wakeman i$ okay with doing an ARW tour where they are billed a$ Ye$.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on October 17, 2019, 09:04:29 PM
Yeah, he says Yes should call it a day even though he's no longer in the band (why should they quit if there's still an audience for what they do?) then says there'll be a new ARW tour next year, which you just know the promoters will insist on calling "Yes -  featuring ARW" again...

I am $ure there are rea$on$ that Wakeman i$ okay with doing an ARW tour where they are billed a$ Ye$.

But he said in the article that he was strongly opposed to ARW being renamed to Yes ft. ARW. :huh:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 17, 2019, 09:25:02 PM


But he said in the article that he was strongly opposed to ARW being renamed to Yes ft. ARW. :huh:

Correct, but being opposed to something doesn't mean you still won't go along with it, for a variety of reasons.  "Yes featuring ARW" is a much bigger draw than "ARW" would be, and Rick Wakeman knows it.  I doubt promoters would promise them as much money without the Yes name.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on October 17, 2019, 10:41:16 PM
Sure, but then that's not really Rick's fault, & it certainly doesn't imply that he's being hypocritical, which was the implication that I got from reading your post.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 18, 2019, 07:30:38 AM
I heard him talk about this - in a more general sense - the other night in person, and I don't get any sense that it's that disingenuous.  He wants to play.  He seems to enjoy the Yes material, and seems to truly enjoy playing with Jon (in particular) and Trevor.  He's always been sort of "eh, whatever, dude" to the business side of things and even though he speaks his mind about what he's feeling, I don't get any sense that it's a moral or philosophical conundrum to him. 

There are plenty of things I don't like in this world, but not enough to on principle stop doing something I love and have dedicated my life to. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Herrick on October 19, 2019, 03:16:29 PM
I heard him talk about this - in a more general sense - the other night in person, and I don't get any sense that it's that disingenuous.  He wants to play.  He seems to enjoy the Yes material, and seems to truly enjoy playing with Jon (in particular) and Trevor.  He's always been sort of "eh, whatever, dude" to the business side of things and even though he speaks his mind about what he's feeling, I don't get any sense that it's a moral or philosophical conundrum to him. 

There are plenty of things I don't like in this world, but not enough to on principle stop doing something I love and have dedicated my life to.

Agreed. I didn't see anywhere in that link where he said Yes should stop playing...he just said they shouldn't use the name anymore.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 19, 2019, 08:16:11 PM
I heard him talk about this - in a more general sense - the other night in person, and I don't get any sense that it's that disingenuous.  He wants to play.  He seems to enjoy the Yes material, and seems to truly enjoy playing with Jon (in particular) and Trevor.  He's always been sort of "eh, whatever, dude" to the business side of things and even though he speaks his mind about what he's feeling, I don't get any sense that it's a moral or philosophical conundrum to him. 

There are plenty of things I don't like in this world, but not enough to on principle stop doing something I love and have dedicated my life to.

Agreed. I didn't see anywhere in that link where he said Yes should stop playing...he just said they shouldn't use the name anymore.

I agree with his comments. I even stopped caring about seeing them live before Jon was replaced But I'm just a fan making a choice. It's not my band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 25, 2019, 07:46:21 AM
YES are putting out something like an EP of unheard songs. Let's see what this is... Most of these are Oliver Wakeman compositions, so that might be interesting.

Quote
https://burningshed.com/store/yes
YES REVEALS FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 2010 RECORDINGS, ON THE NEW ‘FROM A PAGE’ FIVE PIECE MINI-BOX SET, PERSONALLY OVERSEEN BY EX-MEMBER OLIVER WAKEMAN.
OUT NOW!
YES has returned to the recordings made in late 2010 to mix the four completed tracks as new content for a miniature five piece box set of recordings from that era.
The box features two booklets and three discs containing the four studio tracks and Live From Lyon 2009, all of which were recorded by the line-up of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman:
1. To The Moment (6:09)
2. Words on a Page (6:18)
3. From the Turn of a Card (3:24)
4. The Gift of Love (9:52)
Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini.
The box and one of the booklets features new artwork by Roger Dean, and the graphic design was undertaken by Oliver Wakeman, plus the set also includes his newly written liner notes about his time in the band.
The double CD album Live From Lyon was first released in 2010 and this edition restores “Second Initial” which was previously a Japanese only bonus track. The booklet for Live From Lyon has been re-designed and expanded.
Steve Howe described the project as “Good music never goes away or lays down to the commercial pressures that exist. Oliver's compositions, “To the Moment”, “Words on a Page” and “From the Turn of a Card” demonstrate his musicality and talents, while working together on its arrangement “The Gift of Love” explores the collaborative essence of YES, pooling ideas and then working together on its arrangement, whilst utilising all of its many themes and variations. Karl Groom and Roger Dean both contributed their skills towards making this a worthy further 'page' in YES' long and diverse musical adventures."
Oliver Wakeman says: “Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we'd created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit's enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music will get to see the light of day and, hopefully, be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history.”
Alan White added: “I'm pleased to see a gem of YES history coming to fruition in the form of this mini box set. New songs from the past and I'm hoping we can find even more music in the archives for future releases.”
The set is IN STOCK NOW and exclusively available from the band’s own Burning Shed store and it cannot be bought in the shops or on Amazon.
The mini-box set and a vinyl release of the new songs are exclusively available here: https://burningshed.com/store/yes

(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/73364228_3437321899613107_2945747137217953792_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQkVMQ-lAl-fgxPcF49JkKJ5qPhHCHC5cQx2Ig65xyjXJfZ5HsYU09ydAm5iJABINCs&_nc_ht=scontent-vie1-1.xx&oh=503dfec5b2ce35daea1897fe1b1795b6&oe=5E1D4584)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 25, 2019, 08:58:37 AM
Whoa, 25:43 of "new" Yes music with Chris Squire?! Sign me up!!! It can't be worse than Heaven & Earth...can it? :lol

Also, I never picked up Live From Lyon, so this is set would be completely new to me! Odd that this would be exclusive to BurningShed, and the price is probably a bit higher than I'd expect, but I don't really mind since it *is* new Yes material with Squire attached, so that alone has me intrigued.

Hopefully these don't sell out in the next couple weeks. I want one, but I'm a bit tight on funds at the moment. Being the exclusive seller of this set, though, one would hope they have plenty to spare.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 25, 2019, 09:32:58 AM
He co-wrote "Into The Storm" on Fly From Here, and that was my favorite track on an album I like very much, so... I'll probably be getting this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 25, 2019, 10:24:49 AM
I didn't realize that Oliver co-wrote that one.  That's my favorite from Fly From Here as well.  I'm curious to hear any unreleased material from that period, especially because of Oliver Wakeman and also because it's some of the last unreleased stuff with Chris Squire.  But I've seen and heard some live stuff from that tour and it doesn't really excite me.  Tough call.

I've never ordered from a site where the currency is in pounds.  How does that work?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 25, 2019, 10:39:31 AM
I didn't realize that Oliver co-wrote that one.  That's my favorite from Fly From Here as well.  I'm curious to hear any unreleased material from that period, especially because of Oliver Wakeman and also because it's some of the last unreleased stuff with Chris Squire.  But I've seen and heard some live stuff from that tour and it doesn't really excite me.  Tough call.

I've never ordered from a site where the currency is in pounds.  How does that work?

In my experience - having ordered from Fish's site, Marillion's site, and... I forget the site but I  bought the UK box from them - you use your credit card as you always do, and they automatically implement the conversion rate.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 25, 2019, 10:47:29 AM
Whoa, 25:43 of "new" Yes music with Chris Squire?! Sign me up!!! It can't be worse than Heaven & Earth...can it? :lol

Also, I never picked up Live From Lyon, so this is set would be completely new to me! Odd that this would be exclusive to BurningShed, and the price is probably a bit higher than I'd expect, but I don't really mind since it *is* new Yes material with Squire attached, so that alone has me intrigued.

Hopefully these don't sell out in the next couple weeks. I want one, but I'm a bit tight on funds at the moment. Being the exclusive seller of this set, though, one would hope they have plenty to spare.

-Marc.

You don't need Live From Lyon, believe me ;)

I wondered about the BurningShed thing, too. But Fly From Here - Return Trip was also only available there...

I don't get why a band would do that. It's like they don't want you to buy it :D Especially because the BurningShed shipping rates are not the lowest.

This weird move was only topped by Jon Anderson. His 1000Hands album was like 60 Euros for the vinyl, plus around 8400 Euros shipping.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 25, 2019, 12:41:27 PM
NO SHIT on the shipping.   $17.00 for me.   I may still get it, because there's something else available there that seems like a really good deal, but still.  You'd think you'd want to make it relatively easy for people to get your stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on October 25, 2019, 04:37:31 PM
Pfffft hahahaha HAAAAAA

So... In The Present - Live From Lyon is literally the only live album by Yes I own. I'd have to double-dip on the only one I've already got to get these tracks.  :lol

They've been putting out so many live albums since Fly From Here came out that you'd think they'd just attach them to a new one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on October 27, 2019, 12:44:06 PM
New single To the Moment from the new release....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKUK_frQEsQ&fbclid=IwAR22Bd5OHZFQ2iJWGVgZNNy1iTWwvw7K5vsHxO7_3YYLJF79iaRlKDsCON4

I'm pretty freakin impressed!!!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 27, 2019, 12:49:06 PM
Not bad at all.  And call me a sap, but hearing a new (to us) Yes song with Chris Squire was so comforting. :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 27, 2019, 03:09:03 PM
Very cool song!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 29, 2019, 04:31:51 PM
Wow!  I finally listened to it, and I'm impressed.  I guess I was expecting something okay, but not particularly memorable or groundbreaking.  This is really good.

I've always liked Benoit's voice.  To me it sounds similar to Trevor Horn (which is why the Fly From Here material sounds so good) but actually a bit better, more like Jon A.  And Oliver Wakeman is a chip off the old block.  His use of textures is similar to his daddy's.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on October 29, 2019, 04:50:12 PM
Is that actually Benoit? I seriously thought it was Jon Anderson. :omg:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 29, 2019, 07:56:46 PM
No, these songs are from the original Fly From Here sessions, before Horn and Downes came on board.  Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were both out of the band at the time (and did an album together somewhere in there), but they had Oliver Wakeman on keyboards.  Both of Rick's sons play keys, and it's no surprise that they're both very good.  So Wakeman on keyboards, and Benoit David on vocals.  Trevor Horn was brought in to produce, and I'm not sure if it was before or after he became involved, but the next thing I heard was that they were revisiting some material originally from the Drama sessions, and by the way, Son of Wakeman is out and Geoff Downes is now playing keys on the next album.  Um... okay.

I do like Fly From Here.  I like Downes, and as I said Benoit's voice reminds me of Horn's in a way, so Fly From Here really is Drama II to me.  Then they actually re-recorded the album with Horn on vocals, which I thought was kind of a slap in the face to Benoit.  It truly was the Drama lineup again.  But before any of that happened, they had written some stuff.  I think it was an interview I read with Steve that mentioned it.  So these four tracks are apparently from those sessions.  Howe, Squire, White, Wakeman, and David*.  I didn't know that there was recorded material; I didn't realize that they'd gotten that far.

Anyway, this is some good stuff.  I've never actually heard anything by either of Rick's sons before, and that brief Moog solo was nice.  Presumably they gave us this one to get people to fork out for all four.  That's the draw to me, the entire live album is the "bonus" as far as I'm concerned.  Too bad, too.  I'd've probably forked out for a four-song EP.  I still don't know if I'll get this whatever-you-call-it release.  Oh yeah -- "Cash grab" -- that's what you call it.  What some would call it, anyway.


* There's a new age pianist named David Benoit who's been around for a while.  Then comes Benoit David, and I keep getting his first and last name mixed up.  Then I realize it doesn't matter.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on October 29, 2019, 08:29:24 PM
Anyway, this is some good stuff.  I've never actually heard anything by either of Rick's sons before, and that brief Moog solo was nice. 

You should check Headspace, it's a very good prog metal band with Damian Wilson on vocals and Adam Wakeman on keys :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 29, 2019, 10:10:10 PM
Thanks.  I've been meaning to look up what they have out there, but have never gotten around to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 30, 2019, 01:43:30 AM
Oliver has actually played on Fly From Here, you can hear him on We Can Fly From Here and the Reprise, as well as Hour Of Need. He really sounds like his father.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 30, 2019, 07:17:26 AM
New interview with Bill Bruford, where he talks a lot about his time with both Yes and King Crimson.  Very cool to read.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bill-bruford-yes-band-king-crimson-genesis-earthworks-interview-902501/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 30, 2019, 07:32:46 AM
Oliver has actually played on Fly From Here, you can hear him on We Can Fly From Here and the Reprise, as well as Hour Of Need. He really sounds like his father.

Wow, I did not realize that!  I have the CD, so I'm sure I read the credits at some point, but apparently the strange bits and pieces of information that came out over time back then are what stuck in my head.  I just read the Wiki page for Fly From Here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_from_Here), and it's even more convoluted than I'd thought.  More Buggles and less, more Wakeman and less, the album really is a mashup of stuff, yet I always thought it sounded wonderfully consistent, and gave both Horn and Benoit a lot of credit for that.  And they deserve it.

Now I have to find my CD and read the credits again.  I'm up to three stacks of CDs on my desk here, in cases but otherwise not really organized in any meaningful way.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 02, 2019, 11:19:19 AM
New single To the Moment from the new release....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKUK_frQEsQ&fbclid=IwAR22Bd5OHZFQ2iJWGVgZNNy1iTWwvw7K5vsHxO7_3YYLJF79iaRlKDsCON4

I'm pretty freakin impressed!!!

Started off slow, but it got better. Still on the fence.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 02, 2019, 11:22:23 AM
New interview with Bill Bruford, where he talks a lot about his time with both Yes and King Crimson.  Very cool to read.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bill-bruford-yes-band-king-crimson-genesis-earthworks-interview-902501/

Thanks. Always love hearing what that man has to say about just about anything.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 16, 2019, 12:40:45 PM
Anyone else see Dan Rather's "Big Interview" with Jon Anderson?

Nothing terribly Earth-shattering (unless his great desire to reunite with Yes is news), but I always enjoy hearing him talk, and Rather is a really good interviewer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 16, 2019, 03:41:00 PM
Dan Rather is one of the best interviewers ever.  He's not a musician, but his knowledge of music and his love for it is pretty clear since most of his "Big Interviews" are with bands and musicians.  I've watched his interviews with guys I don't even care much about, because I know they'll be great interviews and I'll come away with information and usually more respect for the subject.

Jon Anderson has been saying he wants to reunite with Yes since the early 2000's, not long after he quit Yes.  During the 2000's the band tried for years to put a reunion together, but Jon got sick, so they waited.  The next thing anyone knew, Jon was putting a solo tour together.  Apparently he got better, didn't bother telling anyone from Yes, and went to do his own thing, so the remaining members of Yes found another singer and moved on as well.

Yes have a singer and they're working now.  They're not going to kick Jon Davison to the curb to make way for Jon Anderson, partly because Anderson is an asshole and everyone says he's very difficult to work with.  With Chris Squire gone, the de facto leader of Yes is now Steve Howe, and both Howe and Anderson have indicated that they just can't work together.  So I just don't see how a reunion could ever happen, or why Jon thinks it ever could, unless Howe leaves, which isn't going to happen.  And even if he did, would it even be a "reunion" at that point?  It would just be Anderson and mostly guys he's never even worked with before.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 17, 2019, 05:50:11 AM
Jon Anderson has been saying he wants to reunite with Yes since the early 2000's, not long after he quit Yes.  During the 2000's the band tried for years to put a reunion together, but Jon got sick, so they waited.  The next thing anyone knew, Jon was putting a solo tour together.  Apparently he got better, didn't bother telling anyone from Yes, and went to do his own thing, so the remaining members of Yes found another singer and moved on as well.

Yes have a singer and they're working now.  They're not going to kick Jon Davison to the curb to make way for Jon Anderson, partly because Anderson is an asshole and everyone says he's very difficult to work with.  With Chris Squire gone, the de facto leader of Yes is now Steve Howe, and both Howe and Anderson have indicated that they just can't work together.  So I just don't see how a reunion could ever happen, or why Jon thinks it ever could, unless Howe leaves, which isn't going to happen.  And even if he did, would it even be a "reunion" at that point?  It would just be Anderson and mostly guys he's never even worked with before.

I agree with all of this, except for the comment that Yes are "working now". That band (if you want to call it Yes or not is up to you) is not "working". But a reunion with Anderson would not change that. It's Alan who can't play anymore. His substitute Jay Schellen is a good drummer, but not a great one. Geoff was never the greatest player (his style fit the early 80s rainy pop-prog on Drama though) and he struggles with every keyboard part Wakeman and Moraz wrote for the band. Billy wants to sound like Chris, but he really doesn't. Jon wants to sound like Jon, but he really doesn't.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 17, 2019, 07:52:13 AM
Dan Rather is one of the best interviewers ever.  He's not a musician, but his knowledge of music and his love for it is pretty clear since most of his "Big Interviews" are with bands and musicians.  I've watched his interviews with guys I don't even care much about, because I know they'll be great interviews and I'll come away with information and usually more respect for the subject.


I've long been pimping his interviews.  I've seen most if not all of them - 35-ish if I was going to guess - and with maybe two or three exceptions, I've ALWAYS come out liking the artist more after than when I started, even if I didn't like them before (Kenny Loggins is a great example; as are Joan Baez and Billy Ray Cyrus).  I didn't even realize he started a new season, because I switched cable companies, but I will be checking them out online.

By the way, the ones that Rather couldn't salvage:   Sheryl Crowe, Jewel, and Carlos Santana (and not really him, since it wasn't like I loved him then hated him; I was indifferent before, and indifferent after). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 17, 2019, 01:43:26 PM
Jon Anderson has been saying he wants to reunite with Yes since the early 2000's, not long after he quit Yes.  During the 2000's the band tried for years to put a reunion together, but Jon got sick, so they waited.  The next thing anyone knew, Jon was putting a solo tour together.  Apparently he got better, didn't bother telling anyone from Yes, and went to do his own thing, so the remaining members of Yes found another singer and moved on as well.

Yes have a singer and they're working now.  They're not going to kick Jon Davison to the curb to make way for Jon Anderson, partly because Anderson is an asshole and everyone says he's very difficult to work with.  With Chris Squire gone, the de facto leader of Yes is now Steve Howe, and both Howe and Anderson have indicated that they just can't work together.  So I just don't see how a reunion could ever happen, or why Jon thinks it ever could, unless Howe leaves, which isn't going to happen.  And even if he did, would it even be a "reunion" at that point?  It would just be Anderson and mostly guys he's never even worked with before.

I agree with all of this, except for the comment that Yes are "working now". That band (if you want to call it Yes or not is up to you) is not "working".

They toured this year.  They toured last year.  They toured the year before.  The last two tours produced live albums, and there was a studio album the year before that.  Next year's tour is already being booked.  I'm not sure how that doesn't qualify them as a working band.  They are the official version of the band Yes, the only official version of the band Yes, and that is not up for debate.

Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman had been saying for over 20 years that they want to work together, and they finally put a tour together to promote the new music they would be releasing "soon".  It never materialized.  One single was unofficially released.  They keep saying there's more in the works, but Wakeman has hinted that there really isn't anything.  They did tour, and managed to get permission to call themselves "Yes featuring ARW" but that doesn't change the facts; it was a band composed of some former members of Yes, each of whom has quit the band multiple times, but calling themselves Yes to sell more tickets.  The only thing lending any of it any legitimacy was that Jon Anderson was a founding member.  Him putting together a band including some other former members of Yes, while the actual band Yes is still around, doesn't make them Yes.  That's not up for debate either.  Those are just facts.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 17, 2019, 01:51:21 PM
They toured this year.  They toured last year.  They toured the year before.  The last two tours produced live albums, and there was a studio album the year before that.  Next year's tour is already being booked.  I'm not sure how that doesn't qualify them as a working band.  They are the official version of the band Yes, the only official version of the band Yes, and that is not up for debate.

Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman had been saying for over 20 years that they want to work together, and they finally put a tour together to promote the new music they would be releasing "soon".  It never materialized.  One single was unofficially released.  They keep saying there's more in the works, but Wakeman has hinted that there really isn't anything.  They did tour, and managed to get permission to call themselves "Yes featuring ARW" but that doesn't change the facts; it was a band composed of some former members of Yes, each of whom has quit the band multiple times, but calling themselves Yes to sell more tickets.  The only thing lending any of it any legitimacy was that Jon Anderson was a founding member.  Him putting together a band including some other former members of Yes, while the actual band Yes is still around, doesn't make them Yes.  That's not up for debate either.  Those are just facts.

 :tup To me ARW seemed more like a lazy cash grab orchestrated by Brian Lane. While they do have the benefit of having "the voice" of Yes, I'd seriously bet against any of these guys actually putting in any of the hard work (edit: not to mention $$)  necessary to make it into anything more than doing a handful of shows any given year with the same static setlist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on December 17, 2019, 02:16:33 PM
ARW had every right to call themselves Yes, former members or not.
I really doubt if they were doing it for the money, all three are multi millionaires.

Same as the people that say the Later Years Pink Floyd box is a cash grab, non of them need money and Gilmour gives away millions every year to various charities.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 17, 2019, 02:31:13 PM
ARW had every right to call themselves Yes, former members or not.
I really doubt if they were doing it for the money, all three are multi millionaires.

Same as the people that say the Later Years Pink Floyd box is a cash grab, non of them need money and Gilmour gives away millions every year to various charities.

I don't think any of that really matters to Brian Lane. He's probably ripping them off.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 17, 2019, 02:45:46 PM
If you want the real reason behind anything Yes does, follow the money. These guys (all of them) really stopped caring about the pure musical side of things decades ago. Since the late 70s, it's just been fighting over money and trying to milk whatever remains of the cash cow.

[reason for edit: to try to make my opinion sound less like was stating a fact]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 17, 2019, 04:30:06 PM
ARW had every right to call themselves Yes, former members or not.

I don't see how.  That would be like Sons of Apollo calling themselves "Dream Theater featuring Portnoy-Sherinian".  A founding member, another guy who was in the band for a time, and some other guys.  That doesn't make them Dream Theater any more than ARW is "really" Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 17, 2019, 05:19:10 PM
ARW had every right to call themselves Yes, former members or not.

I don't see how.  That would be like Sons of Apollo calling themselves "Dream Theater featuring Portnoy-Sherinian".  A founding member, another guy who was in the band for a time, and some other guys.  That doesn't make them Dream Theater any more than ARW is "really" Yes.

Good analogy.  You get a gold star.  In fairness, I'm guessing that gazinwales wasn't so much making a legal argument as saying that it is equally as legitimate to call ARW plus two other guys "Yes" as it is to call Howe, Downes and White plus two other guys "Yes."  Of course, that sells Billy Sherwood short, and giving no consideration to the legalities is a bit silly.

I'm also guessing that gazinwales isn't privy to the personal finances of any of the folks mentioned.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 17, 2019, 06:02:10 PM
To be fair, I do understand the argument, and why some people feel that way.  I actually agree that ARW sounds more like Yes to me than what Yes is currently doing.  Anderson and Wakeman to me are very, very important to the sound I think of when I think of Yes, so in that sense they're "more Yes than Yes".  I get it.

But facts are still facts.  The official band named Yes still exists and has continuously existed since the 90's when they reformed.  As always, members have come and gone pretty much every album, never more than two albums in a row without a lineup change.  But it is still the official band Yes.  Jon Anderson didn't just leave the band again, he sold his shares in Yes, LLD or whatever they call them in England.  The name of the band belonged to Howe, Squire, and White, and with Squire's passing, either those shares go to Squire's estate or somehow get absorbed by Howe and White, or maybe some other thing happens.  But as much as I love Jon Anderson's voice and singing, he's a dick.  He had a fucking temper tantrum, again, and quit the band, again, and this time he even sold his shares of the band name because he said he was done, really, for sure, this time.  Oh yeah, but in interviews now he's "I always hope to reunite with the band".

I also agree that these days, it's all about the money.  Still doesn't change facts.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on December 17, 2019, 07:58:36 PM
Orbert, what a great string of posts, man :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 17, 2019, 08:52:54 PM
Thanks.  :blush  As many here know, Yes is my favorite band and has been for many years.  But their history has some really messed-up shit.  Maybe no more than a lot of bands, but it seems so counter to the glorious, positive vibe that permeates their music.  Being a raving egomaniac is practically a requirement to be in the band, because if you're not, you'll never get any of your ideas across, let alone on a record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 18, 2019, 10:19:19 AM
Thanks.  :blush  As many here know, Yes is my favorite band and has been for many years.  But their history has some really messed-up shit.  Maybe no more than a lot of bands, but it seems so counter to the glorious, positive vibe that permeates their music.  Being a raving egomaniac is practically a requirement to be in the band, because if you're not, you'll never get any of your ideas across, let alone on a record.

This.  And it's hard to reconcile the two things.  And I concur with gzarruk
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 18, 2019, 10:30:56 AM
Thanks.  :blush  As many here know, Yes is my favorite band and has been for many years.  But their history has some really messed-up shit.  Maybe no more than a lot of bands, but it seems so counter to the glorious, positive vibe that permeates their music. Being a raving egomaniac is practically a requirement to be in the band, because if you're not, you'll never get any of your ideas across, let alone on a record.

I love that observation.   Going For The One is my favorite album of all time, and for me, part of it's glory IS that it's so positive and uplifting.  It's spiritual to me (seriously).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 18, 2019, 11:21:04 AM
Same here.  Absolutely breathtaking, every time.  And yet it was the product of a band almost actively trying to destroy itself with all the infighting.

But also, it was the 70's.  Lots of weed, in the practice rooms and in the studio.  They got stoned, chilled out, and forgot about all the crap, until next time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 18, 2019, 12:59:57 PM


  But as much as I love Jon Anderson's voice and singing, he's a dick.  He had a fucking temper tantrum, again, and quit the band, again, and this time he even sold his shares of the band name because he said he was done, really, for sure, this time.  Oh yeah, but in interviews now he's "I always hope to reunite with the band".


I wouldn't go as far as calling Jon Anderson that!  He did get really sick for a while and nearly died with a respiratory condition and the band went on without him.  Jon Anderson is the voice of Yes and the other two singers don't even come remotely close to filling those shoes.  I met Jon Anderson and he was a very nice down to earth guy and gave me the time of day.  I don't know what goes on behind closed doors in the band room but I couldn't see him throwing temper tantrums of that nature. He knows what he wants musically and probably isn't afraid to voice that.
Yes is not Yes without JA,  it's just a business..  :biggrin: 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on December 18, 2019, 01:05:57 PM
Thanks.  :blush  As many here know, Yes is my favorite band and has been for many years.  But their history has some really messed-up shit.  Maybe no more than a lot of bands, but it seems so counter to the glorious, positive vibe that permeates their music. Being a raving egomaniac is practically a requirement to be in the band, because if you're not, you'll never get any of your ideas across, let alone on a record.

I love that observation.   Going For The One is my favorite album of all time, and for me, part of it's glory IS that it's so positive and uplifting.  It's spiritual to me (seriously).
as it is for Jon (CTTE basically is Siddartha set to prog, TFTO is based on spiritual Indian literature. There you go.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 18, 2019, 01:53:12 PM
Call me crazy, but to me the three biggest things I identify with as far as Yes goes are:

1) their vocal harmonies
2) Jon Anderson's voice as the lead singer
3) Chris Squire's bass playing

The current Yes, with Steve Howe, has only one of those three, and even that is a stretch since the current harmonies do not have Anderson, Rabin or Squire. 

I initially had a hard time with Drama because it didn't have Jon Anderson, but it won me over because it was so good, and it did have two of those three.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on December 18, 2019, 02:04:53 PM
Call me crazy, but to me the three biggest things I identify with as far as Yes goes are:

1) their vocal harmonies
2) Jon Anderson's voice as the lead singer
3) Chris Squire's bass playing

The current Yes, with Steve Howe, has only one of those three, and even that is a stretch since the current harmonies do not have Anderson, Rabin or Squire. 

I initially had a hard time with Drama because it didn't have Jon Anderson, but it won me over because it was so good, and it did have two of those three.
as does Fly From Here: Return Trip (it's a continuation of Drama, same lineup. I love it.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 18, 2019, 03:01:42 PM
Call me crazy, but to me the three biggest things I identify with as far as Yes goes are:

1) their vocal harmonies
2) Jon Anderson's voice as the lead singer
3) Chris Squire's bass playing

I really like this, and agree 100%.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 18, 2019, 03:10:13 PM
Orbert, what a great string of posts, man :tup

I heartily concur. Great posts Orbert. I also have you thank for that Chicago thread as well. Thanks for all your contributions sir!

I do agree that ARW may sound closer to proper Yes (whatever that is) but it all boils down to personal preferences. I hold Rabin in very high esteem. He's is an awesome guitarist (among other numerous talents). However, his playing style is poles apart from Howe, which means he has to come up with his own approach to the older material. He's sort of in a no win scenario covering Howe's parts and it doesn't help that I've never personally dug any of his interpretations of the 70s material. I do think he does the best he can. Others may like his approach, so if you do then...cool beans. I really have trouble listening to him play any material that is not his own parts from his 3 albums with Yes. I am also not a fan of what Wakeman does with the 80s songs. His style of playing doesn't really work well with those tunes IMO (just not my cup of tea). So it means for me, no matter what they play one of the guys is going to be "butchering" it so to speak. In short, Wakeman ruins the 80s songs and Rabin ruins the 70s ones (Again just my opinion).

So basically, there is not one single tune I want to hear ARW play.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 18, 2019, 03:16:31 PM
Call me crazy, but to me the three biggest things I identify with as far as Yes goes are:

1) their vocal harmonies
2) Jon Anderson's voice as the lead singer
3) Chris Squire's bass playing

I agree as long as (1) these things are not necessarily in order of importance, (2) the vocal harmonies specifically include Chris Squire, and (3) you also include Steve Howe's eclectic guitar work on equal footing with the rest of these.  I generally like 90125, but it's really a different animal (as Lupton explained from a different POV), and the reason is because of Trevor Rabin's BIG, rock guitar playing in place of Howe's playing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 18, 2019, 04:27:32 PM
But as much as I love Jon Anderson's voice and singing, he's a dick.  He had a fucking temper tantrum, again, and quit the band, again, and this time he even sold his shares of the band name because he said he was done, really, for sure, this time.  Oh yeah, but in interviews now he's "I always hope to reunite with the band".
I wouldn't go as far as calling Jon Anderson that!  He did get really sick for a while and nearly died with a respiratory condition and the band went on without him.  Jon Anderson is the voice of Yes and the other two singers don't even come remotely close to filling those shoes.  I met Jon Anderson and he was a very nice down to earth guy and gave me the time of day.  I don't know what goes on behind closed doors in the band room but I couldn't see him throwing temper tantrums of that nature. He knows what he wants musically and probably isn't afraid to voice that.
Yes is not Yes without JA,  it's just a business..  :biggrin: 

He got really sick, but the band waited for him.  And waited.  Most of them had other projects, so it's not like they were just sitting around, but over a year later, after not hearing anything from him, they found out that he was putting his solo tour together, because he'd gotten better but never contacted them.

He knew they were waiting, and until that point they still wanted him back, but instead he decided to do his solo thing.  That's when they found another singer and moved on.

Okay, I used a little poetic license; I don't know that he actually had a tantrum.  Maybe he was actually very calm during the whole thing.  But he did quit the band and sold his shares because he had no intention of ever working with them again; he was done with Yes. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 18, 2019, 05:59:04 PM
But as much as I love Jon Anderson's voice and singing, he's a dick.  He had a fucking temper tantrum, again, and quit the band, again, and this time he even sold his shares of the band name because he said he was done, really, for sure, this time.  Oh yeah, but in interviews now he's "I always hope to reunite with the band".
I wouldn't go as far as calling Jon Anderson that!  He did get really sick for a while and nearly died with a respiratory condition and the band went on without him.  Jon Anderson is the voice of Yes and the other two singers don't even come remotely close to filling those shoes.  I met Jon Anderson and he was a very nice down to earth guy and gave me the time of day.  I don't know what goes on behind closed doors in the band room but I couldn't see him throwing temper tantrums of that nature. He knows what he wants musically and probably isn't afraid to voice that.
Yes is not Yes without JA,  it's just a business..  :biggrin: 

He got really sick, but the band waited for him.  And waited.  Most of them had other projects, so it's not like they were just sitting around, but over a year later, after not hearing anything from him, they found out that he was putting his solo tour together, because he'd gotten better but never contacted them.

He knew they were waiting, and until that point they still wanted him back, but instead he decided to do his solo thing.  That's when they found another singer and moved on.


Understandable from the band's viewpoint and management.  I know Jon always wanted to do a solo project, but I didn't realize he left Yes on his own initiative. Thanks for clearing that up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 18, 2019, 06:46:18 PM
If you want the real reason behind anything Yes does, follow the money. These guys (all of them) really stopped caring about the pure musical side of things decades ago. Since the late 70s, it's just been fighting over money and trying to milk whatever remains of the cash cow.

[reason for edit: to try to make my opinion sound less like was stating a fact]

Going For The One was really the beginning of that road. While I like most of the albums that came after that. The vibe totally changed for me when Wakeman came back.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 18, 2019, 06:52:58 PM
Thanks.  :blush  As many here know, Yes is my favorite band and has been for many years.  But their history has some really messed-up shit.  Maybe no more than a lot of bands, but it seems so counter to the glorious, positive vibe that permeates their music.  Being a raving egomaniac is practically a requirement to be in the band, because if you're not, you'll never get any of your ideas across, let alone on a record.

I'd almost argue that it is more messed  up than other bands over the last 40 years. The problem for me is I enjoy most of the music so damn much that I overlooked a lot of it over the years until around about 1998 when it kind of became too much for me. But I just enjoy the music for what it is. (About 75 percent of it anyway.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 18, 2019, 06:56:02 PM
Same here.  Absolutely breathtaking, every time.  And yet it was the product of a band almost actively trying to destroy itself with all the infighting.

But also, it was the 70's.  Lots of weed, in the practice rooms and in the studio.  They got stoned, chilled out, and forgot about all the crap, until next time.

I perceived the tension in that music long before I knew what was going on. It's always been there for me. It sort of eased up with Drama ironically enough.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 18, 2019, 07:00:43 PM
But as much as I love Jon Anderson's voice and singing, he's a dick.  He had a fucking temper tantrum, again, and quit the band, again, and this time he even sold his shares of the band name because he said he was done, really, for sure, this time.  Oh yeah, but in interviews now he's "I always hope to reunite with the band".
I wouldn't go as far as calling Jon Anderson that!  He did get really sick for a while and nearly died with a respiratory condition and the band went on without him.  Jon Anderson is the voice of Yes and the other two singers don't even come remotely close to filling those shoes.  I met Jon Anderson and he was a very nice down to earth guy and gave me the time of day.  I don't know what goes on behind closed doors in the band room but I couldn't see him throwing temper tantrums of that nature. He knows what he wants musically and probably isn't afraid to voice that.
Yes is not Yes without JA,  it's just a business..  :biggrin: 

He got really sick, but the band waited for him.  And waited.  Most of them had other projects, so it's not like they were just sitting around, but over a year later, after not hearing anything from him, they found out that he was putting his solo tour together, because he'd gotten better but never contacted them.

He knew they were waiting, and until that point they still wanted him back, but instead he decided to do his solo thing.  That's when they found another singer and moved on.

Okay, I used a little poetic license; I don't know that he actually had a tantrum.  Maybe he was actually very calm during the whole thing.  But he did quit the band and sold his shares because he had no intention of ever working with them again; he was done with Yes.

Wasn't that about the time he found the Internet?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 18, 2019, 08:47:28 PM
I don't know.  Do you think might have affected his decision, or his feelings about getting back together with Yes?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 18, 2019, 08:52:33 PM
Call me crazy, but to me the three biggest things I identify with as far as Yes goes are:

1) their vocal harmonies
2) Jon Anderson's voice as the lead singer
3) Chris Squire's bass playing

I really like this, and agree 100%.

 :tup :tup

as does Fly From Here: Return Trip (it's a continuation of Drama, same lineup. I love it.)

I still need to hear that.  I thought the original release was solid, with a few really good tunes, but not something I felt I needed a "better" version of, if that makes sense.


I agree as long as (1) these things are not necessarily in order of importance, (2) the vocal harmonies specifically include Chris Squire, and (3) you also include Steve Howe's eclectic guitar work on equal footing with the rest of these.  I generally like 90125, but it's really a different animal (as Lupton explained from a different POV), and the reason is because of Trevor Rabin's BIG, rock guitar playing in place of Howe's playing.

Nope, not in order of importance, just a list of three things. 

I do not include Steve Howe's guitar work on equal footing with the three things I listed. Maybe it's because I became a Yes fan thanks to the hits from 90125 and Big Generator, but to say Howe's guitar work is as important as anything in Yes feels like it would be dismissive of Trevor Rabin's work with the band, and that is not a road I will ever go down.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 19, 2019, 02:38:04 AM
Agreed KevShmev,   Trevor Rabin is one of my favorite Yes members and also one of my favorite musicians of all time.  Even though it was a whole different direction, his work in Yes is brilliant!  He even brought the band their #1 greatest hit, which is my least favorite song on 90125. :lol
Big Generator and Talk are both amazing albums, and his songs on Union are awesomeness!  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 19, 2019, 09:12:02 AM
I actually love the Rabin years (and AS A WHOLE*, they are better than the non-Rabin years) and they fit the criteria:

Anderson, check! Harmonies, check! The Fish, check!



* What I mean is, there are three Rabin-led albums: 90210, Big Penetrator, and Talk, with four other songs on Onion.  That's 30 songs, +/-, not including unreleased stuff.   It is my humble opinion that the best of those tracks are pretty close to the equal of any of the "classic" material, and the WORST of those tracks is far better than some of the low points of the "classic" material.  There is no Open Your Eyes or Heaven And Earth, there is no "Circus of Heaven", "Angkor Wat", or 'Janie's living on crack time, crack time!' in the Rabin Years.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on December 19, 2019, 09:28:51 AM
Onion :D  :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 19, 2019, 10:15:03 AM
Rick Wakeman always calls it "Onion".  I assumed it's because it's so layered (onions have layers, like ogres) but he says it because it always makes him cry.  :lol


Stadler, you also have to consider that there's a lot more non-Rabin stuff than Rabin stuff.  Rabin's on 3.5 albums out of 20 or something, so it's not really a fair comparison.

I agree with you that the "average quality index" of all Rabin songs is probably higher than that of all non-Rabin songs, and also that you can find low points in the non-Rabin years that are lower than the lowest lows of the Rabin era.  Rabin's contributions have been pretty consistent, pretty consistently good.  But nothing on any Rabin-era album comes close to "Awaken", "Close to the Edge", or "Gates of Delerium".  People talk about "Endless Dream" sometimes, but come on, that song isn't even in the same league.  It's a longer tune with some changes and ambience and it's very nice, but it's not transcendent like the 70's material.  It feels calculated to be impressive and awesome, instead of impressive and awesome just because it is.  I'll still take "Mind Drive" or even "Crack Time" over "Endless Dream".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 19, 2019, 10:24:53 AM




* What I mean is, there are three Rabin-led albums: 90210, Big Penetrator, and Talk, with four other songs on Onion.  That's 30 songs, +/-, not including unreleased stuff.   It is my humble opinion that the best of those tracks are pretty close to the equal of any of the "classic" material, and the WORST of those tracks is far better than some of the low points of the "classic" material.  There is no Open Your Eyes or Heaven And Earth, there is no "Circus of Heaven", "Angkor Wat", or 'Janie's living on crack time, crack time!' in the Rabin Years.)
Agreed, on every point here!    Those "cracktime cracktime" lyrics are pretty cringeworthy and almost ruin what could have been a pretty great song.   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 19, 2019, 10:52:13 AM

I agree as long as (1) these things are not necessarily in order of importance, (2) the vocal harmonies specifically include Chris Squire, and (3) you also include Steve Howe's eclectic guitar work on equal footing with the rest of these.  I generally like 90125, but it's really a different animal (as Lupton explained from a different POV), and the reason is because of Trevor Rabin's BIG, rock guitar playing in place of Howe's playing.

Nope, not in order of importance, just a list of three things. 

I do not include Steve Howe's guitar work on equal footing with the three things I listed. Maybe it's because I became a Yes fan thanks to the hits from 90125 and Big Generator, but to say Howe's guitar work is as important as anything in Yes feels like it would be dismissive of Trevor Rabin's work with the band, and that is not a road I will ever go down.

I'm almost certain that 90125 was the first Yes that I heard.  I liked it then, and I like it now (Changes is one of my favorite all time Yes songs).  Big Generator has a couple worthwhile songs, and Talk just blew hard (as does the Rabin material on Union).  I didn't become a FAN of Yes until I heard the classic era material, so our perspectives being different, it stands to reason we feel differently about the importance of Howe's guitar work.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 19, 2019, 11:13:08 AM
I really like the Rabin years and I like Rabin's playing style a lot more than Howe's, but Howe was still an integral part to the great Yes records of the 70s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 19, 2019, 12:10:22 PM
:tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 19, 2019, 12:38:09 PM
Rick Wakeman always calls it "Onion".  I assumed it's because it's so layered (onions have layers, like ogres) but he says it because it always makes him cry.  :lol


Stadler, you also have to consider that there's a lot more non-Rabin stuff than Rabin stuff.  Rabin's on 3.5 albums out of 20 or something, so it's not really a fair comparison.

I agree with you that the "average quality index" of all Rabin songs is probably higher than that of all non-Rabin songs, and also that you can find low points in the non-Rabin years that are lower than the lowest lows of the Rabin era.  Rabin's contributions have been pretty consistent, pretty consistently good.  But nothing on any Rabin-era album comes close to "Awaken", "Close to the Edge", or "Gates of Delerium".  People talk about "Endless Dream" sometimes, but come on, that song isn't even in the same league.  It's a longer tune with some changes and ambience and it's very nice, but it's not transcendent like the 70's material.  It feels calculated to be impressive and awesome, instead of impressive and awesome just because it is.  I'll still take "Mind Drive" or even "Crack Time" over "Endless Dream".

All opinion, of course, but I think the best of the Rabin era - Hearts, Shoot High, Aim Low, Lift Me Up, any of the first four songs on Talk - absolutely rivals all but the very best of the Anderson years (for me, the highlights are Starship Trooper, Heart Of The Sunrise, all of GFTO).  I don't hold Gates in that high a regard, frankly.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 19, 2019, 12:53:11 PM
Just to add to what many are saying here. The Rabin material is excellent. When I was younger I had more of a disdain for the "poppy" side of 80s Yes simply out of principle, even though I would secretly admit to myself in moments when I let my "prog-guard" down that I enjoyed it. Ah..the stupid idiotic hang-ups of youth! Many years older now, I have no reservations in appreciating stuff that I once would have considered a "guilty pleasure". There are no musical pleasures that I consider guilty anymore. 90125 and Big Generator (and Talk to a lesser extent) are great albums in their own right. They may only be slightly Yes-sy, but it hardly matters because good music is good music.  This is the version of Rabin I want to hear live. I was fortunate enough to have caught the band live on the Talk tour and it was a tremendous show! Endless Dream was played that night. IMHO it's a disservice to Rabin's guitar prowess boxing him in to play vast swathes of material that are not his baby. I'd even rather hear him playing his solo material than attempting 70's Yes. OK starting to sound like a broken record...will stop.

But to disagree a little with Stadler (two of the songs he mentioned ^^^ I love), I concur with Orbert's assessment that the Rabin era has not produced any top tier "masterpieces". I probably consider the older Yes music to be some of my favorite music ever, so nothing will really ever come close to its magic. I even dig the first two efforts with Peter Banks probably almost as much as the Rabin years. Just me.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on December 19, 2019, 01:00:24 PM
Rick Wakeman always calls it "Onion".  I assumed it's because it's so layered (onions have layers, like ogres) but he says it because it always makes him cry.  :lol

There's a long interview with Rick that was posted here a while ago where he says that he hates (not the exact word he used) Union because the guy producing it (whoever that was) brought in a lot of guest musicians that had nothing to do with Yes and replaced some of the band members' parts with these session guys. He also replaced a lot of the keyboard stuff with sequencers, "this isn't what I played", so Rick was obviously mad about that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 19, 2019, 01:01:36 PM
I don't hold Gates in that high a regard, frankly.   

Gates is the one that took me the longest to grok in fullness.  Finally happened after the Steven Wilson 5.1 Blu-ray.  Musical orgasm right there in the living room.  Good thing nobody else was home at the time, although I did of course plan it that way.   :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 19, 2019, 02:11:32 PM
Rick Wakeman always calls it "Onion".  I assumed it's because it's so layered (onions have layers, like ogres) but he says it because it always makes him cry.  :lol

There's a long interview with Rick that was posted here a while ago where he says that he hates (not the exact word he used) Union because the guy producing it (whoever that was) brought in a lot of guest musicians that had nothing to do with Yes and replaced some of the band members' parts with these session guys. He also replaced a lot of the keyboard stuff with sequencers, "this isn't what I played", so Rick was obviously mad about that.

Jonathan Elias.   Butcher.  :)

I'd love to hear a "Union (Naked)" or "Union - Return Trip", with the music the band put down.   Also, while I like and have respect for Tony Levin, Squire needed to be on that AWBH material, stat.   He's one of the more unique sounding bass players in the bizniss, and the difference between the two 'camps' is evidence in that context.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 19, 2019, 04:00:16 PM
There are some demos floating around for the Union sessions. Apparently the one for Without Hope You Cannot Start The Day (then known as Must Be Love) is pretty infamous for being better than the final version, but I listened to it & didn't think it was that much of an improvement.

Lift Me Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hcQhBtqJJ0
Must Be Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1oBiKAHHA
Silent Talking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bFHKGN4aLQ
Dangerous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTw27OmJF30
Holding On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZIzMzfQH8U
Take The Water To The Mountain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKnte_mZMSs
Shot In The Dark (unreleased): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Mr-lOpXKw

& yeah, I still love the final version of Union. Fight me :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 19, 2019, 05:15:52 PM
All opinion, of course, but I think the best of the Rabin era - Hearts, Shoot High, Aim Low, Lift Me Up, any of the first four songs on Talk - absolutely rivals all but the very best of the Anderson years (for me, the highlights are Starship Trooper, Heart Of The Sunrise, all of GFTO).  I don't hold Gates in that high a regard, frankly.

More opinions:

All of the following are "better" than any Rabin-era song:

Yours Is No Disgrace
Starship Trooper
Perpetual Change
Roundabout
South Side of the Sky
Heart of the Sunrise
Close to the Edge
And You and I
Siberian Khatru
The Revealing Science of God
The Remembering
The Ancient
Ritual
Gates of Delirium
Turn of the Century
Parallels (the live version on Yesshows)
Awaken
Don't Kill the Whale
Onward
Machine Messiah
Into the Lens
Tempus Fugit

And probably a couple post-Union songs that I can't think of off the top of my head.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 19, 2019, 05:45:21 PM
You lost me the second you listed anything from Tormato :lol, although the live version of Onward from the Keys live CD is really nice.

Orbert, while I agree that Endless Dream might not be as transcendent* as some of those 70's epics, I think it is still pretty awesome.  The Yes harmonies with Anderson, Squire and Rabin were their best ones, and the ones in Endless Dream are just amazing. 

*Great word to describe their music, BTW. :tup :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on December 19, 2019, 06:09:15 PM
Mind Drive?

I find it to be the best Yes track the last 38 years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 19, 2019, 07:01:47 PM
I was going to make a list of songs I like better than any Rabin-era track, but since The More We Live (Let Go) exists, that list is reduced to only Close To The Edge & Heart Of The Sunrise  :|
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 19, 2019, 07:30:45 PM
Orbert, while I agree that Endless Dream might not be as transcendent* as some of those 70's epics, I think it is still pretty awesome.  The Yes harmonies with Anderson, Squire and Rabin were their best ones, and the ones in Endless Dream are just amazing. 

*Great word to describe their music, BTW. :tup :tup

Thanks.  I'm trying to find different ways to say that Yes during the Rabin years was very good, but just doesn't resonate with me the way Howe stuff -- and especially Howe with Wakeman -- grabs me.  The Rabin material sounds mostly like Rabin's work, and it was.  We do have the Yes harmonies which sound great, and it's all polished to a clean, brilliant shiny sound, but there's a sterility to it.  As nice as it all sounds, it just doesn't move me.  I don't feel it.  Howe's playing has just enough "sloppiness" to it to make it sound more real to me than the computer-precise perfection of Rabin's playing.  Wakeman has some weird sounds that don't always work 100%, and somehow I prefer that to the sterile perfection of Rabin's programmed keyboards.

90125 is easily my favorite Rabin-era album, and it was produced by Trevor Horn, which is probably why I love the sound of that album.  It has a warmth to it.  Big Generator and Talk sound cold to me, if that makes any sense.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 19, 2019, 07:40:05 PM
I know what you mean regarding Howe's "sloppiness."  There are times where his playing sounds like he's about to lose it, yet somehow keeps it together, which adds a bit of a frantic element.  I think the first 13 minutes of The Ancient is a good example of this.

It goes without saying that Howe and Rabin have completely different styles and approaches, and Howe would certainly rank higher on my list of favorite guitarists, but I love the sheen and more hard rock approach of much of the Rabin material.  Very different from the classic 70's material obviously, but once you add in the three elements I mentioned prior (their harmonies, Anderson's lead singing, Squire's bass), it sounds like, well, Yes, at least to me.

And I with ya regarding Gates of Delirium.  Easily a top 5 Yes tune in my book, and there are days where I might even put it at number 1.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 19, 2019, 07:48:47 PM
I saw the Union tour twice.  However was miserable and Rabin was living it up. I loved both for different reasons but that stuck with me.


I read years later how Wakeman would egg Rabin into going next to Howe to piss him off. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 20, 2019, 07:52:19 AM
Yours Is No Disgrace - YES
Starship Trooper - YES
Perpetual Change - NO
Roundabout - EVEN
South Side of the Sky - YES
Heart of the Sunrise - YES (Maybe my favorite Yes song ever)
Close to the Edge - EVEN
And You and I - YES
Siberian Khatru - NO
The Revealing Science of God - EVEN
The Remembering - NO
The Ancient - NO
Ritual - NO
Gates of Delirium - NO
Turn of the Century - YES (If not "Heart" then this)
Parallels (the live version on Yesshows) - NO
Awaken - YES
Don't Kill the Whale - NO
Onward - NO
Machine Messiah - NO
Into the Lens - NO
Tempus Fugit - YES

But the real point is on the other side... what's the "worst" Rabin era song?   Rhythm Of Love?   Big Penetrator?   City of Love?   Any of those are far, FAR better than Arriving UFO, Circus Of Heaven, ALL of Open Your Eyes, Ankor Wat, most of The Ladder....

I actually do not disagree with most of the comments here; the best Yes is that with Howe/Wakeman/Squire at its core; I just think the range is broader in the non-Rabin material.  The gap between the best and the worst, so to speak. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 20, 2019, 12:44:45 PM
Well, like Orbert pointed out, there is a ton more material without Rabin than with, but I don't think Yes made a bad song with Rabin.  Even the least best ones like Saving My Heart, Almost Like Love and Our Song are all still solid tunes at worst.

As for The Ladder, while I don't like it as much as I did at first, it does have some standout Yes tracks for me, most notably Homeworld, Face to Face, The Messenger and Nine Voices. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 20, 2019, 03:02:44 PM
The worst Rabin-era song is Big Generator, easily, & I'd say the only non-Rabin-era songs worse than it are some of the songs from Open Your Eyes.

I don't think this is a fair comparison though. You're comparing the worst song out of 3 and a half albums to the worst songs out of 17 and a half albums. It's fair more likely that the latter is going to have a worse song than the former.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 20, 2019, 03:21:55 PM
Almost Like Love and Our Song are among the better Rabin songs imo and I also like Rhythm Of Love and Big Generator. The cheesy ones like Saving My Heart, Lift Me Up, Love Will Find A Way etc. are the ones I could do without.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 21, 2019, 12:37:32 AM
Almost Like Love and Our Song are among the better Rabin songs imo and I also like Rhythm Of Love and Big Generator. The cheesy ones like Saving My Heart, Lift Me Up, Love Will Find A Way etc. are the ones I could do without.
Lift Me Up is cheesy??   ??? ???
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: frogprog on December 21, 2019, 06:38:04 AM
Did anyone catch The recent Jon Anderson Big Interview with Dan Rather? I usually really enjoy those but I found Jon to be ....just weird. I know he has always been trippy but he was very awkward,a lot non-answers and Dan had to pull a lot of the answers out of him. It almost seemed like Dan was extremely relieved when the interview was over
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 21, 2019, 09:04:53 AM
Almost Like Love and Our Song are among the better Rabin songs imo and I also like Rhythm Of Love and Big Generator. The cheesy ones like Saving My Heart, Lift Me Up, Love Will Find A Way etc. are the ones I could do without.

I'll have to go back and look, but I know Love Will Find A Way is a top 20 song, and even if they didn't make it, Saving My Heart and Lift Me Up were both in consideration (not so much now, because I'm older, but for a long time I wanted Lift Me Up to be played at any wake for me when I passed.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 21, 2019, 11:13:38 AM
Yeah those are all good songs,   I don't know how any of them could be considered cheesy. :justjen
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 21, 2019, 11:24:55 AM
I could see why some do not like Almost Like Love, with Anderson repeating "it's almost" 59 times near the end of the song, plus I am sure plenty of prog fans blew their gaskets over a Yes song having a prominent horn section, but it's a fun little catchy tune.  Not a standout, but I enjoy it when listening to Big Generator.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 21, 2019, 11:55:09 AM
I could see why some do not like Almost Like Love, with Anderson repeating "it's almost" 59 times near the end of the song, plus I am sure plenty of prog fans blew their gaskets over a Yes song having a prominent horn section, but it's a fun little catchy tune.  Not a standout, but I enjoy it when listening to Big Generator.
The tune is tolerable and somewhat decent. Wait! You mean those are supposed to be horns?   :lol  The horns would be alright, if they actually sounded like horns and not some shitty casio patch. Those super fake sounding horns are probably the worst thing in the song. For all I know they could be real, as there are probably production techniques that can make real horns sound that terrible. Should have tried to make them sound more like actual horns.

[oops: forgot to add IMO. Always important in Yes threads  ;) ]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on December 21, 2019, 01:04:32 PM
Mind Drive?

I find it to be the best Yes track the last 38 years.

Along similar lines, "Open" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR3zlvnpyAc) from Jon Anderson is probably the best thing he or Yes have done since, which is rarely if ever talked about which is also a huge facepalm

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Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 21, 2019, 02:31:03 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 21, 2019, 03:52:03 PM
I think the Rabin era albums are very solid, with the exception of Union, which is an enormous mess to me. Talk is my favorite of the bunch. However, if there is a streak of post-Drama Yes albums worth checking out, it's The Ladder - Magnification - Fly from here. I know there's a ten year gap between two of them, but still.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 21, 2019, 05:44:46 PM
Yes songs with Rabin, ranked:

#1. The More We Live (Let Go)
#2. The Miracle Of Life
#3. Real Love
#4. Lift Me Up
#5. Hearts
#6. The Calling
#7. I Am Waiting
#8. Changes
#9. I'm Running
10. Owner Of A Lonely Heart

11. Endless Dream
12. Where Will You Be
13. Shoot High, Aim Low
14. Leave It
15. Cinema
16. Rhythm Of Love
17. Saving My Heart
18. Our Song
19. Holy Lamb
20. Final Eyes

21. Hold On
22. Walls
23. It Can Happen
24. Love Will Find A Way
25. State Of Play
26. City Of Love
27. Almost Like Love
28. Big Generator
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 21, 2019, 08:34:55 PM
Hmmm, I never thought much of The More We Live (Let Go); I will have to give it a fresh spin.

It is never easy to do this, but I'd say my 10 favorite songs of the Rabin era are:

1. Endless Dream
2. Changes
3. Leave It (one of the most amazing songs ever from a vocal harmonies standpoint)
4. The Calling
5. Hearts
6. I Am Waiting
7. Love Will Find a Way
8. Real Love
9. Owner of a Lonely Heart
10. Shoot High Aim Low

Even though it only has two of the 10 spots there, I am still a big fan of Big Generator.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 21, 2019, 08:37:12 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I like the title track from Open Your Eyes, but I don't love it.  I think Fortune Seller has held up as the one standout from that record.  It has just the right amount of weirdness to be great. :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 22, 2019, 02:06:23 AM
So can someone please enlighten me. What's all the hatred for the title song Big Generator? It's not just I Don't not Do not things post. I've seen hate for this song expressed unanimously. Why do people hate it? It's probably in the top 10* of all the Rabin tunes. Is it the psuedo metal guitar riff? Is this a life warning clue that I should be wary of?...To indicate my own horrible penchant for musical taste? I  never saw anything "wrong" with it. Even when I was in my youthful proggy Yes discovery phase. I still think this is one of the more interesting almost Yes-like Rabin period tunes. And to this day I still like it. I love the way the low note in the "heavy" guitar harmonizes with Squire's bass. The OTT production style of this era really serves this tune too. Am I just too stupid? Or maybe nostalgic? It's a good song in my book.

*if my brain actually rated things in numeric order (which it doesn't)

[edit: PRAISE O PRAISE THIS ANTHEM GENERATOR!]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 22, 2019, 07:16:56 AM
I've written a long and detailed answer what I think about it, but it got eaten by the internet, so in short: I like Big Generator but it all comes down to different tastes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 22, 2019, 07:41:13 AM
So can someone please enlighten me. What's all the hatred for the title song Big Generator? It's not just I Don't not Do not things post. I've seen hate for this song expressed unanimously. Why do people hate it? It's probably in the top 10* of all the Rabin tunes. Is it the psuedo metal guitar riff? Is this a life warning clue that I should be wary of?...To indicate my own horrible penchant for musical taste? I  never saw anything "wrong" with it. Even when I was in my youthful proggy Yes discovery phase. I still think this is one of the more interesting almost Yes-like Rabin period tunes. And to this day I still like it. I love the way the low note in the "heavy" guitar harmonizes with Squire's bass. The OTT production style of this era really serves this tune too. Am I just too stupid? Or maybe nostalgic? It's a good song in my book.

*if my brain actually rated things in numeric order (which it doesn't)

[edit: PRAISE O PRAISE THIS ANTHEM GENERATOR!]

I suspect, and this is just a theory, that many old school Yes fans do not care for that heavy riff, and I would bet money that most of them hate those jarring keyboard leads.  Ya know, the ones that sort of sound like horn sections.  The effect is similar to the ones we heard in Owner of a Lonely Heart.  I can see many not liking that, and while I like the song, the hook isn't quite there like it is in many other Rabin-era Yes tunes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 22, 2019, 09:36:35 AM
Is there a way of searching one specific thread for YOUR posts?   This is 72 pages, and I'm 99% sure I posted my top 20 Yes songs, and I'm loathe to contradict that, but I'll post my top Rabin tunes with the caveat that there might not be continuity:

1. Lift Me Up
2. Love Will Find A Way
3. Shoot High, Aim Low
4. Hearts
5. Owner Of A Lonely Heart
6. The Calling
7. Saving My Heart
8. Final Eyes
9. Miracle Of Life
10. Changes
11. Cinema
12. Walls
13. Endless Dream
14. Our Song
15. Real Love
16. Holy Lamb
17. Leave It
18. I Am Waiting
19. It Can Happen
20. Hold On
21. State Of Play
22. Almost Like Love
23. The More We Live...
24. Where Will You Be
25. Rhythm Of Love
26. City Of Love
27. I'm Running
28. Big Generator


This is a forced ranking.  From, maybe, 10 to 20 can be thrown into a hat and reshuffled into almost any order. "Changes" is always going to be higher than "Hold On", but there are times when "Leave It" just hits the spot (I love the a cappella version).   "Big Penetrator" (the name is a sign of mild disrespect) is so low just because it's, to me, too disjointed.   I don't mind the "rough guitar", I don't mind the "horns", but it's just not a well-written song to me, and while I don't listen to Jon Anderson's words for any real world insight, I think his best lyrics communicate a truth and an understanding.    "Going For The One" makes zero sense on paper, but it SPEAKS to me. "Big Generator" does not, and even with Jon's explanation (that we are all a part of the earth, all a voice for the earth). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 22, 2019, 12:41:52 PM
I've written a long and detailed answer what I think about it, but it got eaten by the internet, so in short: I like Big Generator but it all comes down to different tastes.

Ah that's a shame. I would have enjoyed reading that. It's nice to know that some people like it. But then again I don't really consider ANY Rabin era Yes tune worth listening to over anything from the run of albums The Yes Album-Going For The Run. While his contributions to the band are greatness, it's all fairly inferior to classic Yes. AOR by numbers. Hell, give me The Ancient any day over anything on anyone's top # Rabin lists.  :lol A matter of taste indeed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 22, 2019, 01:56:01 PM
"AOR by numbers"...what does that even mean?  I know some like calling certain kinds of late 70's/early 80's rock AOR (Album Oriented Rock) as if it supposed to be a criticism of some sort, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  I guess bands were supposed to feel bad because their music ... *gasp* ... appealed to the masses.

Also, I will take almost every song from the three full Rabin albums over The Ancient (which I like within the context of the record, but it's a mess overall, even with the stellar Leaves of Green section near the end).  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 22, 2019, 02:14:18 PM
Stadler, this is specifically not directed at you, but seeing your ranking, I know a lot of people, that criticize Rabin-Yes for not being proggy enough and too mainstream, and then list the most mainstream and least proggy songs as their favorites.  :D

And as I said, I don't have a definite ranking, but Lift Me Up and Love Will Find A Way would be way down that list, I'm Running on the other hand would at least be in the top 5.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 22, 2019, 02:18:43 PM
I'm Running just missed my top 10 from the Rabin era that I listed above, and might have been in the top 10 before, as I am sure I did a similar-type list before in this thread, but the spots these songs are in are ever-changing.

Ultimately, a good song is a good song, no matter how proggy, mainstream or whatever it is.  It's best to not worry about the labels and just enjoy the tunes you like. :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 23, 2019, 01:56:22 AM
"AOR by numbers"...what does that even mean?  I know some like calling certain kinds of late 70's/early 80's rock AOR (Album Oriented Rock) as if it supposed to be a criticism of some sort, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  I guess bands were supposed to feel bad because their music ... *gasp* ... appealed to the masses.

Also, I will take almost every song from the three full Rabin albums over The Ancient (which I like within the context of the record, but it's a mess overall, even with the stellar Leaves of Green section near the end).  :biggrin:

 :lol Yeah I guess it doesn't really mean anything except a negative connotation. To attempt a more detailed explanation: the verses of Changes, most of Walls, Lift Me Up, Love Will Find A Way, etc.. all sound like fairly generic standard early 80's radio tunes (like you'd hear in the credits of many 80's films) filled will common melodic and lyrical cliches. They don't sound like the work of someone who has a unique musical vision, rather that of a musical jobsmith tasked with the challenge of writing songs that are specifically (and perhaps even cynically) well crafted along the lines what are ('were' by the 90s) currently popular musical trends. Doesn't necessarily always equate with "bad" music, but it can certainly be offputting when in the mood for a more sincere or unique musical expression. Other times it's just enjoyable to turn off the brain and enjoy the musical equivalent of candy or popcorn.

I'm of the opinion that Rabin did good solid work with this approach, hence my praise for his skills. I do actually enjoy his Yes contributions. But they're a tiny patch on the previous band's completely one of a kind and irreplaceable sound.

[edit: This entire post is the opinion of the poster. No facts or empirical evidence were presented, only subjective viewpoints]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 23, 2019, 08:47:19 AM
Stadler, this is specifically not directed at you, but seeing your ranking, I know a lot of people, that criticize Rabin-Yes for not being proggy enough and too mainstream, and then list the most mainstream and least proggy songs as their favorites.  :D

And as I said, I don't have a definite ranking, but Lift Me Up and Love Will Find A Way would be way down that list, I'm Running on the other hand would at least be in the top 5.

That's actually never been my complaint.   I don't get the notion of "proggy"; it's good or it isn't (I should say, "I either like it or I don't").    Reminds me of when Flying Colors was mooted and Mike was teasing people with the songs/lengths, and there were a LOT of people that IMMEDIATELY said - without hearing them - that Blue Ocean and Infinite Fire were going to be "the best" because they were the longest.  Well album out and for me that's my favorite FC album and neither of those two songs are even in the top five of favorites.

With Yes, it was never about length for me; it was about the playing and the writing.   Wonderous Stories is still one of my favorite tunes in their catalogue. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 23, 2019, 09:52:13 AM
I know, that's why I said it wasn't directed at you.

But Blue Ocean and Infinite Fire are top 5, so there's that.  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 23, 2019, 12:46:15 PM
Even though there are only three full length Rabin-era albums, he had a huge commercial impact on the band especially 90125 and Big Generator. TALK is a very underrated album and is my personal favorite (despite the weird sound of the kick drum, lol).
 The song "Real Love" rarely gets talked about, I love the originality and weirdness of that song the way of flows. Trevors guitar solo is a stand out on this track too!
  Endless Dream is just a masterpiece, which easily rivals Awaken imo.  :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 23, 2019, 01:30:38 PM
Even though there are only three full length Rabin-era albums, he had a huge commercial impact on the band especially 90125 and Big Generator. TALK is a very underrated album and is my personal favorite (despite the weird sound of the kick drum, lol).
 The song "Real Love" rarely gets talked about, I love the originality and weirdness of that song the way of flows. Trevors guitar solo is a stand out on this track too!
  Endless Dream is just a masterpiece, which easily rivals Awaken imo.  :coolio

This is where I chime in that Awaken is not only not as great as Endless Dream, but that many hardcore Yes fans overrated it big time.  It's a good tune, and has that warm proggy Yes vibe that you can't help but like, but it just doesn't come together to be truly great like many of their other long epics do.

  To attempt a more detailed explanation: the verses of Changes, most of Walls, Lift Me Up, Love Will Find A Way, etc.. all sound like fairly generic standard early 80's radio tunes (like you'd hear in the credits of many 80's films) filled will common melodic and lyrical cliches. They don't sound like the work of someone who has a unique musical vision, rather that of a musical jobsmith tasked with the challenge of writing songs that are specifically (and perhaps even cynically) well crafted along the lines what are ('were' by the 90s) currently popular musical trends. Doesn't necessarily always equate with "bad" music, but it can certainly be offputting when in the mood for a more sincere or unique musical expression. Other times it's just enjoyable to turn off the brain and enjoy the musical equivalent of candy or popcorn.

I'm of the opinion that Rabin did good solid work with this approach, hence my praise for his skills. I do actually enjoy his Yes contributions. But they're a tiny patch on the previous band's completely one of a kind and irreplaceable sound.

But see, that's the beauty of Yes. There have been so many member changes throughout their entire history that it is impossible to point to a single album and say, "That is what Yes should always sound like."  What each Yes album sounds like is a reflection of which members were on that particular album and who did the writing.  Rabin's approach was obviously more American and straight forward with very much a rock sensibility, rather than the European prog approach of most of their work prior to his arrival, hence the differences in style and sound.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 23, 2019, 02:54:00 PM
But see, that's the beauty of Yes. There have been so many member changes throughout their entire history that it is impossible to point to a single album and say, "That is what Yes should always sound like."  What each Yes album sounds like is a reflection of which members were on that particular album and who did the writing.  Rabin's approach was obviously more American and straight forward with very much a rock sensibility, rather than the European prog approach of most of their work prior to his arrival, hence the differences in style and sound.

I can certainly agree with that. I think the band did the best thing they could at the time outside of simply breaking up. The untouchable majesty of the earlier Yes sound was already over, dead and buried even before Rabin came on the scene. I always felt Squire and White hijacked Rabin's career in a sense and rode his "up and coming" coattails. A part of me will always be curious how the band would have evolved had they continued under the moniker Cinema. I doubt the band would have felt any pressure going forward to write music with more prominent "Yes stamps" had that been the case. OTOH would Owner have been the big hit that it was under a different band name? Would it have gotten the same level of promotion and attention? I'm guessing it would have, as most people listening to the radio would not have known or cared who the song was by. Just simply that it was an infectiously catchy well put together pop song. Without the Yes "baggage", I think Rabin would have had a freer hand going forward and the next album would have sounded like less of a trainwreck of ideals. Although I'm a big fan of this conflict within the music. Makes it much more interesting. Probably explains why Big Generator is my favorite Rabin era album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 23, 2019, 03:09:54 PM
Regarding Big Generator. You've got Anderson on one hand trying to turn everything into this deep, serious spiritual thing and Rabin on the other sticking to his boy meets girl cliched lyrical guns. Good example: "Shoot High Aim Low" Anderson is singing about the Milagro Bean Field conflict (or somesuch thing) and Rabin comes in "In the blue sedan we couldn't get much further" :lol. He's just out cruising around the town with his girl (standard AOR trope ;)) and Anderson is trying to make some sort of meaningful statement on the human condition. It's fairly schizo, but it works.

It's great the way the end result turned out. Good song. Actually sort of hated it the first time I heard it. Took ages for it to grow on me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 23, 2019, 03:41:32 PM
Like you, I have no problem with Big Generator, and I've never noticed these clash of ideas or conflict within the music, but if it's there, it works regardless.

As for them being Yes instead Cinema, it worked out great for all involved.  The Yes name was resurrected and kept in the public's consciousness throughout the 80's and into the 90's, and Trevor Rabin had far more success with Yes than he would have on his own, and I am someone who likes some of his early solo albums, although they are a little spotty.  The debut and Face to Face both have some really good songs, and then his late 80's album, Can't Look Away, is pretty darn good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 23, 2019, 06:25:00 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I like the title track from Open Your Eyes, but I don't love it.  I think Fortune Seller has held up as the one standout from that record.  It has just the right amount of weirdness to be great. :lol :lol

Fortune Seller is cool, I always forget about that one. No Way We can Lose is a secret favorite. I adore that song and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one. I also like The Solution quite a bit, and the first part of Wonderlove is great but then it Miracle Of Lifes itself into something quite bland which is my biggest complaint of Rabin's era. Somehow, Someday is pretty funny in the sense that Alan White sounds like he has no idea what the hell he's doing  and is struggling to stay focused but I quite like the plodding vibe of the song otherwise.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 23, 2019, 07:28:35 PM
I liked most of Open Your Eyes when it was first out, even though some of the songs had this kind of weirdness in the melodies, almost like they did't quite nail it, but it still sorta worked.  However, it hasn't aged overly well for me.

And since we did favorite songs of the Rabin era, how about favorites of (let's call it) the original prog era (1969-1980)?  I won't include solo pieces like Mood for a Day and Clap.

Top 20 (1969-1980):
1. Starship Trooper
2. The Gates of Delirium
3. And You and I
4. Roundabout
5. Yours Is No Disgrace
6. Siberian Khatru
7. I've Seen All Good People
8. Close to the Edge
9. Heart of the Sunrise
10. South Side of the Sky
11. Turn of the Century
12. Long Distance Runaround
13. Ritual
14. Perpetual Change
15. Time and a Word
16. To Be Over
17. Machine Messiah
18. Astral Traveler
19. The Revealing Science of God
20. Does It Really Happen?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 23, 2019, 07:43:59 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I like the title track from Open Your Eyes, but I don't love it.  I think Fortune Seller has held up as the one standout from that record.  It has just the right amount of weirdness to be great. :lol :lol

Fortune Seller is cool, I always forget about that one. No Way We can Lose is a secret favorite. I adore that song and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one. I also like The Solution quite a bit, and the first part of Wonderlove is great but then it Miracle Of Lifes itself into something quite bland which is my biggest complaint of Rabin's era. Somehow, Someday is pretty funny in the sense that Alan White sounds like he has no idea what the hell he's doing  and is struggling to stay focused but I quite like the plodding vibe of the song otherwise.

You aren't  ;)


My OYE Ranking:
(songs I actually like)
#1. Open Your Eyes
#2. No Way We Can Lose
#3. New State Of Mind
#4. Man In The Moon

(songs I dislike)
#5. From The Balcony
#6. Somehow, Someday
#7. The Solution
#8. Universal Garden

(songs I really dislike)
#9. Wonderlove
10. Fortune Seller
11. Loveshine
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 24, 2019, 05:45:40 AM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I like the title track from Open Your Eyes, but I don't love it.  I think Fortune Seller has held up as the one standout from that record.  It has just the right amount of weirdness to be great. :lol :lol

Fortune Seller is cool, I always forget about that one. No Way We can Lose is a secret favorite. I adore that song and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one. I also like The Solution quite a bit, and the first part of Wonderlove is great but then it Miracle Of Lifes itself into something quite bland which is my biggest complaint of Rabin's era. Somehow, Someday is pretty funny in the sense that Alan White sounds like he has no idea what the hell he's doing  and is struggling to stay focused but I quite like the plodding vibe of the song otherwise.

You aren't  ;)


My OYE Ranking:
(songs I actually like)

#4. Man In The Moon



How did I forget this nightmare existed? Glad someone likes it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 24, 2019, 05:52:26 AM
My favorites of the prog era:

1. The Gates Of Delirium
2. The Remembering
3. Turn Of The Century
4. To Be Over
5. Close To The Edge
6. Machine Messiah
7. Going For The One
8. Does It Really Happen?
9. South Side Of The Sky
10. Run Through The Light

I never rated The Yes Album & Fragile as high as others and am always surprised when I see something like Starship Trooper rated higher than Turn Of The Century or whatever.

My Rabin ranking is:

1. Love Will Find A Way
2. The Calling
3. Endless Dream
4. I Am Waiting
5. I'm Running
6. Real Love
7. Hearts
8. Big Generator
9. Final Eyes
10. Leave It
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 24, 2019, 08:14:44 AM
Ooh, since we're doing rankings:

1969-1980:

1.Close to the Edge
2.The Gates of Delirium
3.Awaken
4.And You And I
5.South Side of the Sky
6.Turn of the Century
7.Siberian Khatru
8.Heart of the Sunrise
9.Perpetual Change
10.Wondrous Stories

1983-1994:

1. I'm Running
2. Endless Dream
3. Final Eyes
4. Changes
5. Hearts
6. The More We Live-Let Go
7. Shoot High Aim Low
8. Leave It
9. Real Love
10. Cinema
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 24, 2019, 08:56:21 AM
Regarding Big Generator. You've got Anderson on one hand trying to turn everything into this deep, serious spiritual thing and Rabin on the other sticking to his boy meets girl cliched lyrical guns. Good example: "Shoot High Aim Low" Anderson is singing about the Milagro Bean Field conflict (or somesuch thing) and Rabin comes in "In the blue sedan we couldn't get much further" :lol. He's just out cruising around the town with his girl (standard AOR trope ;)) and Anderson is trying to make some sort of meaningful statement on the human condition. It's fairly schizo, but it works.

It's great the way the end result turned out. Good song. Actually sort of hated it the first time I heard it. Took ages for it to grow on me.

I never once ever looked at the Rabin years that way.  Well, with one exception: the lyric "Here is my soul, I eat at chez nous" is glaringly dumb to me. 

As for SH,AL, it might be schizo, but it's certainly not about what you're claiming.  It's about war in general, Nicaragua in particular, and Anderson and Rabin are providing contrast between the harsh realities of war and the more idealistic way things could be.   Anderson introduced the song once (https://web.archive.org/web/20030705141103/http://www.forgottenyesterdays.com/date.asp?s=5&tname=12&tdate=1739&navb=10) by saying he was singing about "real time" and Rabin is singing about "dream time".

Could be bullshit, I grant you. But there it is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 24, 2019, 08:58:02 AM
Ive asked, but I don't know if anyone answered: is there a way of searching one's posts in a given thread?  Or do you have to manually go through them?  I did a Yes Top 20, but I can't find it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 24, 2019, 09:27:27 AM
It's about war in general, Nicaragua in particular, and Anderson and Rabin are providing contrast between the harsh realities of war and the more idealistic way things could be.

Yes. That's the one. I remember reading somewhere ages ago that the "blue fields" referred to a specific conflict. Thanks for the correction.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 24, 2019, 10:39:15 AM
Shoot High Aim Low is such a wonderfully crafted song!  The ambiance of this track is captivating and lets it breath really well.  Probably tied for first place (for me) in Yes' entire catalogue along with Endless Dream.  The Talk tour would have been perfect if they included SH/AL, same with the ARW tour. Missed opportunities!  I can't believe that song wasn't a staple on all the Rabin era tours.
 Could you imagine the light show that could acompany that song. "Someone shouted Open The Door LOOK-OUT" all of a sudden pillars of white fog explosions in the form of small mushroom clouds shoot up on all sides of the stage with intense lighting.  :omg: :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 24, 2019, 10:47:11 AM
Shoot High Aim Low is such a wonderfully crafted song!  The ambiance of this track is captivating and lets it really breath well.  Probably tied for first place (for me) in Yes' entire catalogue along with Endless Dream.  The Talk tour would have been perfect if they included SH/AL, same with the ARW tour. Missed opportunities!  I can't believe that song wasn't a staple on all the Rabin era tours.
 Could you imagine the light show that could acompany that song. "Someone shouted Open The Door LOOK-OUT" all of a sudden pillars of white fog explosions shoot up on all sides of the stage with intense lighting.  :omg: :metal

That would have been great, but it was not to be.  When I saw them on the Talk tour, I didn't count on hearing much from Big Generator, and sure enough, Rhythm of Love was the only one they played.  They had said in interviews that they'd be playing all of Talk (and they did, except for State of Play), and by the time they played a bunch of 90125 (they played six from this) and a handful of 70's classics (IIRC, they played four), I knew there wouldn't be much time left for anything else.

Ive asked, but I don't know if anyone answered: is there a way of searching one's posts in a given thread?  Or do you have to manually go through them?  I did a Yes Top 20, but I can't find it.

The best way I know how is to search for your own user name in the bar at the top right when in the thread and then any post of yours will show up in the search along with any post that has your user name in it or any where someone quoted you (I think).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 24, 2019, 10:54:09 AM
The Talk tour is still to this day the best Yes experience I've ever had by a landslide.  Plus it was on the Columbia River Gorge accompanied by an incredible sunset during Endless Dream.   :omg:

 I still remember the date.  7-10-1994
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 24, 2019, 10:58:45 AM
Kudos to DTA for including THREE Drama songs in his top 10.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 24, 2019, 11:34:20 AM
The Talk tour is still to this day the best Yes experience I've ever had by a landslide.  Plus it was on the Columbia River Gorge accompanied by an incredible sunset during Endless Dream.   :omg:

 I still remember the date.  7-10-1994

 :tup   Mine was Dallas Starplex 7-31-94. Still got the ticket stub.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 24, 2019, 11:36:09 AM
Kudos to DTA for including THREE Drama songs in his top 10.  :tup

Best Yes album after Relayer/Tales imo. Into The Lens and Tempus Fugit would probably make my top 15.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 24, 2019, 11:40:02 AM
The Talk tour is still to this day the best Yes experience I've ever had by a landslide.  Plus it was on the Columbia River Gorge accompanied by an incredible sunset during Endless Dream.   :omg:

 I still remember the date.  7-10-1994

 :tup   Mine was Dallas Starplex 7-31-94. Still got the ticket stub.
That's awesome!  I lost my ticket stub years ago but not the memories.  I bet the Dallas show was great too,  what did you think of it?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 24, 2019, 11:59:58 AM
The Talk tour is still to this day the best Yes experience I've ever had by a landslide.  Plus it was on the Columbia River Gorge accompanied by an incredible sunset during Endless Dream.   :omg:

 I still remember the date.  7-10-1994

 :tup   Mine was Dallas Starplex 7-31-94. Still got the ticket stub.
That's awesome!  I lost my ticket stub years ago but not the memories.  I bet the Dallas show was great too,  what did you think of it?

It was perfect. After seeing the 8 man lineup on the Union tour I wasn't sure if anything could top that, but they came pretty damn close! The sound was huge where we were sitting and you could hear all the different instruments fairly clearly even though the acoustics there aren't the best. Endless Dream was indeed the highlight. It was sublime. I also remember Hearts being a particularly powerful standout performance (and I'm not even a fan of that song!).

[edit: Forgot to add The Calling absolutely slayed live! Definitely my favorite tune on Talk and it was killer!]
[further edit: Just re-checked my stub to see the "0" was really faintly printed where you could only see one side so it looked like a "1". So the date was actually 7-30-94]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 24, 2019, 07:05:18 PM
That's awesome Lupton!  I agree about Hearts and The Calling, both were fantastic live.  I missed the Union tour in 1991 though. I was working at an Italian Restaurant washing dishes and couldn't get off work that night. I still have kick marks to this day!  :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 24, 2019, 09:41:36 PM
That's awesome Lupton!  I agree about Hearts and The Calling, both were fantastic live.  I missed the Union tour in 1991 though. I was working at an Italian Restaurant washing dishes and couldn't get off work that night. I still have kick marks to this day!  :facepalm:

Aw man.  :'( Sorry to hear about that. Well at least for the Union tour I think there is a video available somewhere (not sure if it is official). Yeah I know...obviously it's not the same thing as being there, but it's nice to have some sort of document of the event on tap.

But on the bright side, seeing that Talk show gave you a chance to hear tunes from that album that would probably never be performed live again. A one of a kind performance. Plus that particular lineup was firing on all cylinders. They were HOT!

Happy Holidays!  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 25, 2019, 03:34:54 AM
It's about war in general, Nicaragua in particular, and Anderson and Rabin are providing contrast between the harsh realities of war and the more idealistic way things could be.

Yes. That's the one. I remember reading somewhere ages ago that the "blue fields" referred to a specific conflict. Thanks for the correction.  :)

And I always imagined sedan meaning the city in France where some battles between Germany and France took place over the centuries, so that the song was more about war in general. But the "blue sedan" could also be referring to a car. So I don't know.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 25, 2019, 10:15:34 AM
The Talk tour is still to this day the best Yes experience I've ever had by a landslide.  Plus it was on the Columbia River Gorge accompanied by an incredible sunset during Endless Dream.   :omg:

 I still remember the date.  7-10-1994

Nice! I saw them I think on June 30th, 1994.  I remember that because I saw Pink Floyd on 6-21-94 in Kansas City, and then I believe Yes was here in St Louis just nine days later.  Factor in that I had see the Moody Blues for the first time in April of that year, and that was a great run for me considering, at the time, Floyd, Yes and the Moodies were three of my five favorite bands.

But on the bright side, seeing that Talk show gave you a chance to hear tunes from that album that would probably never be performed live again. A one of a kind performance. Plus that particular lineup was firing on all cylinders. They were HOT!

Yep, that tour was great, or at least our show was.  It wasn't as well-attended as I would have hoped - it was at our local outdoor venue which holds around 17-18K, and the seats were all pretty full, but the lawn was pretty empty - we had like 5th row center - but we still had a blast.  I remember in particular the live performances of Real Love and Endless Dream being tremendous.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on December 25, 2019, 11:02:22 AM
I am so sad I didn't see the Talk tour.   

Yes had always been on my radar, but I didn't really "discover" my love for Yes until around about the time Talk was just coming out.   It was at that time that I borrowed my sister's "Classic Yes" CD and heard Heart of the Sunrise for the first time, and noticed that the Learning to Live opening bassline was practically a homage to that song.    After that, I did more digging.   

In retrospect, Talk is such a perfect blend of YesWest's pop ideals, and Classic Yes' arrangements.   I love that album, and I would have loved to have seen the tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Big Hath on December 25, 2019, 01:17:03 PM
Ive asked, but I don't know if anyone answered: is there a way of searching one's posts in a given thread?  Or do you have to manually go through them?  I did a Yes Top 20, but I can't find it.

I don't think so but if you do an advanced search you can search for your user name and a unique word from one of the titles you probably would have included and it should pull up all the posts you've had containing that word.  Hopefully it's unique enough where the results are only Yes related and most of them in this thread.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 25, 2019, 01:52:52 PM




In retrospect, Talk is such a perfect blend of YesWest's pop ideals, and Classic Yes' arrangements.   I love that album, and I would have loved to have seen the tour.
Indeed!   Rush is also so good at this same thing,  tastefully blending prog/ pop elements which results in really good songs.
DT has shown they can do this too.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 25, 2019, 07:36:03 PM
Ive asked, but I don't know if anyone answered: is there a way of searching one's posts in a given thread?  Or do you have to manually go through them?  I did a Yes Top 20, but I can't find it.

I don't think so but if you do an advanced search you can search for your user name and a unique word from one of the titles you probably would have included and it should pull up all the posts you've had containing that word.  Hopefully it's unique enough where the results are only Yes related and most of them in this thread.

Excellent; thank you.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 25, 2019, 07:42:38 PM
My best Yes experience is still the first; the first leg of the 90210 tour, Hartford Civic Center.   Opening act was Bugs Bunny, and they had the lasers (which I haven't seen since with the band).    During "Hearts" there were floating hearts over the floor from the lasers, and it was an amazing experience.  Couple that with "Cinema", the a cappella "Leave It", and finally getting to see my favorite member (Squire) play the "Tempus Fugit" riff during "Whitefish", and it was quite the experience.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 25, 2019, 07:46:30 PM
When Brandon and Dylan sang "Hold On" I almost lost it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 25, 2019, 08:02:39 PM
There is a live version on YT of them performing Leave It totally live back in '84 and it was a major struggle to nail the harmonies and have them sound good, which is no shame since they are layered out the wazoo on the studio version.  It makes perfect sense why they changed it to where most of the vocals were pre-recorded except for (if memory serves me, from the 90125 Live video) the lead vocals by Anderson and Rabin. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 26, 2019, 04:11:10 AM
In retrospect, Talk is such a perfect blend of YesWest's pop ideals, and Classic Yes' arrangements.   I love that album, and I would have loved to have seen the tour.

I would love to hear a great remix of Talk where that weird kick drum is toned down a little and replaced with a normal sounding one.

Steven Wilson always delivers great remixes, but 1. I don't think he likes Talk and 2. I don't think he would change the sound of the kick drum, since he always has a lot of respect for the original.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on December 26, 2019, 04:28:56 AM
When Brandon and Dylan sang "Hold On" I almost lost it.
:rollin

I doubt most people got the joke (and it took me a second), but thanks for that laugh!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 26, 2019, 09:48:37 AM
I certainly didn't get it, and I consider myself pretty well-versed in Yes lore.

Anybody care to explain?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 26, 2019, 09:50:41 AM
90120 is a tv show in the 90's. 

90125 is the Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 26, 2019, 09:59:56 AM
90120 is a tv show in the 90's. 

90125 is the Yes album.

I thought this was the Yes Album...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/The_Yes_Album.png)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 26, 2019, 10:04:15 AM
 :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 26, 2019, 11:57:17 AM
90120 is a tv show in the 90's. 

90125 is the Yes album.

Wasn't it 90210?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 26, 2019, 12:11:37 PM
90120 is a tv show in the 90's. 

90125 is the Yes album.

Wasn't it 90210?

-Marc.

Oops.  Yes.

Get it? Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 26, 2019, 12:25:35 PM
In retrospect, Talk is such a perfect blend of YesWest's pop ideals, and Classic Yes' arrangements.   I love that album, and I would have loved to have seen the tour.

I would love to hear a great remix of Talk where that weird kick drum is toned down a little and replaced with a normal sounding one.

Steven Wilson always delivers great remixes, but 1. I don't think he likes Talk and 2. I don't think he would change the sound of the kick drum, since he always has a lot of respect for the original.
Trevor Rabin produced the Talk album and I highly doubt Steve Wilson could make it sound any better. I would think Rabin has more experience in the production room and is much more of an accomplished musician than Wilson, and that's saying a lot!  let the flames begin..
   :flame:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 12:38:47 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I disliked that album so much I sold it back. The last studio album I like is Magnification.

My least favorite albums prior to that (other than Open Your Eyes of course are Tormato and about half of Going For The One.)  I've heard random songs after Magnification but nothing that I've committed to. (I almost feel I have to make a disclaim that it's got nothing to do with Jon Anderson being in or out of the band.  Don't have much of a feeling either way on that. If the music is good it doesn't really matter to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 12:42:53 PM
So can someone please enlighten me. What's all the hatred for the title song Big Generator? It's not just I Don't not Do not things post. I've seen hate for this song expressed unanimously. Why do people hate it? It's probably in the top 10* of all the Rabin tunes. Is it the psuedo metal guitar riff? Is this a life warning clue that I should be wary of?...To indicate my own horrible penchant for musical taste? I  never saw anything "wrong" with it. Even when I was in my youthful proggy Yes discovery phase. I still think this is one of the more interesting almost Yes-like Rabin period tunes. And to this day I still like it. I love the way the low note in the "heavy" guitar harmonizes with Squire's bass. The OTT production style of this era really serves this tune too. Am I just too stupid? Or maybe nostalgic? It's a good song in my book.

*if my brain actually rated things in numeric order (which it doesn't)

[edit: PRAISE O PRAISE THIS ANTHEM GENERATOR!]

No idea. I don't mind it. Never have.  It's not Shoot High, Aim Low, but what is?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 12:49:51 PM

With Yes, it was never about length for me; it was about the playing and the writing.   Wonderous Stories is still one of my favorite tunes in their catalogue.

With anyone, it's not about length. 

Wonderous Stories is a great song....so is Going For The One. Those are really the standouts on that album for me. Both of those are faves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 12:55:51 PM


This is where I chime in that Awaken is not only not as great as Endless Dream, but that many hardcore Yes fans overrated it big time.  It's a good tune, and has that warm proggy Yes vibe that you can't help but like, but it just doesn't come together to be truly great like many of their other long epics do.


Not speaking for other Yes fans, but I'd much rather listen to Endless Dream given the choice. Not a contest in any way.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 12:59:00 PM
Regarding Big Generator. You've got Anderson on one hand trying to turn everything into this deep, serious spiritual thing and Rabin on the other sticking to his boy meets girl cliched lyrical guns. Good example: "Shoot High Aim Low" Anderson is singing about the Milagro Bean Field conflict (or somesuch thing) and Rabin comes in "In the blue sedan we couldn't get much further" :lol. He's just out cruising around the town with his girl (standard AOR trope ;)) and Anderson is trying to make some sort of meaningful statement on the human condition. It's fairly schizo, but it works.

It's great the way the end result turned out. Good song. Actually sort of hated it the first time I heard it. Took ages for it to grow on me.

This is where I admit I sometimes listen to the live version on the Word Is Live on repeat in the car for nearly an hour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 26, 2019, 01:03:49 PM
When Brandon and Dylan sang "Hold On" I almost lost it.

I've already lost it!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 26, 2019, 01:43:44 PM
The title track for Open Your Eyes is a great song. The rest of the album is iffy but that one is definitely a standout for post-Drama Yes.

I disliked that album so much I sold it back. The last studio album I like is Magnification.

My least favorite albums prior to that (other than Open Your Eyes of course are Tormato and about half of Going For The One.)  I've heard random songs after Magnification but nothing that I've committed to. (I almost feel I have to make a disclaim that it's got nothing to do with Jon Anderson being in or out of the band.  Don't have much of a feeling either way on that. If the music is good it doesn't really matter to me.

Magnification is excellent, along with The Ladder which doesn't seem to be mentioned much. The Ladder is really strong throughout, and besides a few JA missteps (If Only You Knew, Can I), every song is high quality. The Fly From Here suite is great but H&E really comes up short of anything worth listening to. Tighter playing, more adventurous arrangements, some editing, and some livelier musicianship would've improved it greatly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 26, 2019, 03:26:51 PM
When Brandon and Dylan sang "Hold On" I almost lost it.

HAHA, I triggered that joke and it didn't sink in at first, but that's a good one!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 26, 2019, 06:28:56 PM

Trevor Rabin produced the Talk album and I highly doubt Steve Wilson could make it sound any better. I would think Rabin has more experience in the production room and is much more of an accomplished musician than Wilson, and that's saying a lot!  let the flames begin..
   :flame:

As great as Talk sounds, I'd love to hear a version that was a bit warmer, especially in regards to the bottom end, but I suspect that would be impossible given the way it was recorded, not to mention that it's not a popular-enough record in their history to warrant such treatment, unfortunately.

Not speaking for other Yes fans, but I'd much rather listen to Endless Dream given the choice. Not a contest in any way.

 :tup :tup


Magnification is excellent, along with The Ladder which doesn't seem to be mentioned much. The Ladder is really strong throughout, and besides a few JA missteps (If Only You Knew, Can I), every song is high quality. The Fly From Here suite is great but H&E really comes up short of anything worth listening to. Tighter playing, more adventurous arrangements, some editing, and some livelier musicianship would've improved it greatly.

This thread got me on a Yes kick in the last week, and a fresh listen of The Ladder reminded me of why I liked it so much when it was first released; it's a great blend of their proggy sound and their pop sensibilities.  Like you said, there are a few hiccups on there, but any album with Homeworld, It Will Be a Good Day, Face to Face, The Messenger and Nine Voices, is damn good in my book, and of course Lightning Strikes is good pop fun.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 26, 2019, 07:06:44 PM
90120 is a tv show in the 90's. 

90125 is the Yes album.

I thought this was the Yes Album...

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/The_Yes_Album.png)

But who's on second?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on December 26, 2019, 07:28:48 PM
No....Who's Next
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on December 27, 2019, 12:31:15 AM
I checked Discogs and it appears that Talk has never been remastered .
There are quite a few re-issues but not REM, must be one of a few or the only Yes albums that has not been remastered?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 27, 2019, 09:31:26 AM
Steven Wilson did several remasters for Yes, but only the albums that he really liked, which were all from the 70's (The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and Relayer).  I know Close to the Edge was remastered at least once before that because someone gifted me a remastered CttE, and I'm sure there were others.  But I doubt Talk is really a candidate for remastering anyway.  Most people think it already sounds great, including Trevor Rabin, whose permission I'm sure would be required for anyone to touch his mixes.

By the way, I have all of Steven Wilson remixes, the 5.1 Blu-ray editions, and they're all amazing.  Revelatory.  Highly recommended.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 28, 2019, 07:01:46 AM


By the way, I have all of Steven Wilson remixes, the 5.1 Blu-ray editions, and they're all amazing.  Revelatory.  Highly recommended.

I've heard a couple of them (Fragile and Close to the Edge, I think) at a buddy's house who has a surround sound set-up and got them all, and they definitely sound most awesome. :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 28, 2019, 07:37:29 PM
When Brandon and Dylan sang "Hold On" I almost lost it.

HAHA, I triggered that joke and it didn't sink in at first, but that's a good one!

I’ve been searching for the bootleg of their secret gig at The Peach Pit for years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 28, 2019, 08:49:07 PM
Holy shit, that's a 90210 reference!  I get it.  Actually, I don't get it, but Brandon + Dylan + The Peach Pit finally clicked for me.  I still have no idea what the connection is to "Hold On".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 28, 2019, 08:57:47 PM
Stads said 90120.  Freudian slip.  That's why I made up the line.  Lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 28, 2019, 10:27:04 PM
Freudian slip?  You mean, he subconsciously wanted to see/hear Brandon and Dylan singing backup for Yes because of some suppressed homoerotic fantasy?






Cool.  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 29, 2019, 07:28:19 AM
 :lol

I now hear the 90120 theme done by Yes.  Trevor Rabin of course. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 29, 2019, 09:14:42 AM
FYI, 90210, Big Penetrator and Onion are all sort of inside jokes.  My best friend all through high school and college was a die-hard prog guy.  While he liked 90125, Big Generator and Union, and we saw them about five times through that period, the nicknames were sort of his way of showing allegiance to the Wakeman/Howe era and it just stuck.  It's a hard habit to break now (especially with 90125).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 04, 2020, 04:22:33 PM
FYI, 90210, Big Penetrator and Onion are all sort of inside jokes.  My best friend all through high school and college was a die-hard prog guy.  While he liked 90125, Big Generator and Union, and we saw them about five times through that period, the nicknames were sort of his way of showing allegiance to the Wakeman/Howe era and it just stuck.  It's a hard habit to break now (especially with 90125).

We affectionately call Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe "Maybe" I suppose the fairly Anderson, Rabin how thing might be called that too, but have not been interested in hearing it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 04, 2020, 05:44:51 PM
When Drama came out and Jon and Rick had been replaced by The Buggles, what I remember hearing a lot was that Yes was now "Yeah".  Then when 90125 came out, they were "Yup".  I think the sound of the 90125 band was so different that even with Jon's voice, it didn't sound as "Yessish" to the old-school fans as Drama did.  Or maybe it was just funny that the lineup kept changing and the sound continued to stray from the wonderful proggy 70's sound.  Then you had the truly hardcore old-schoolers who had dissed Drama anyway because Jon Anderson wasn't on it, and they didn't even know what to think about 90125.  Jon was back, but everything sounds different, and who's this Trevor guy on guitar?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 05, 2020, 06:00:11 PM
When Drama came out and Jon and Rick had been replaced by The Buggles, what I remember hearing a lot was that Yes was now "Yeah".  Then when 90125 came out, they were "Yup".  I think the sound of the 90125 band was so different that even with Jon's voice, it didn't sound as "Yessish" to the old-school fans as Drama did.  Or maybe it was just funny that the lineup kept changing and the sound continued to stray from the wonderful proggy 70's sound.  Then you had the truly hardcore old-schoolers who had dissed Drama anyway because Jon Anderson wasn't on it, and they didn't even know what to think about 90125.  Jon was back, but everything sounds different, and who's this Trevor guy on guitar?

That was a crazy period. You had Drama, Yesshows, Classic Yes and 90125 all within a three year span.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 05, 2020, 06:04:56 PM
When Drama came out and Jon and Rick had been replaced by The Buggles, what I remember hearing a lot was that Yes was now "Yeah".  Then when 90125 came out, they were "Yup".  I think the sound of the 90125 band was so different that even with Jon's voice, it didn't sound as "Yessish" to the old-school fans as Drama did.  Or maybe it was just funny that the lineup kept changing and the sound continued to stray from the wonderful proggy 70's sound.  Then you had the truly hardcore old-schoolers who had dissed Drama anyway because Jon Anderson wasn't on it, and they didn't even know what to think about 90125.  Jon was back, but everything sounds different, and who's this Trevor guy on guitar?

That was a crazy period. You had Drama, Yesshows, Classic Yes and 90125 all within a three year span.

All of them excellent in their own way.  Of course, if you were a fan, it was, like you said, crazy. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 05, 2020, 07:26:16 PM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 06, 2020, 03:34:53 PM
I just ran across this ranking of Yes songs, although it's over a year old (it doesn't appear that it got any mention in this thread at the time it was published):  https://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-songs-ranked/

The bottom 1/3 - 1/2 is full of (1) obscure and not-so-obscure outtakes, (2) post-90215 material, and (3) songs from Tormato.

The first thing I saw that I really disagreed with was Love Will Find a Way at #146.  I like it much better than that.

But I really disagree with City of Love at #119.  That might be my favorite track from 90215 (although I think the Def Leppard comparison is funny).

I dig Make It Easy (#101) and probably would rank it higher.

I'm of mixed feelings about Hearts (#94).  My friend sold me on it as being a "classic Yes" track on 90215.

Parallels at #90 is a bit surprising, although I think the Yesshows version is vastly superior to the album version.

I probably like Don't Kill the Whale better than it's #76 spot (and it's certainly better than Arriving UFO at #74!), but the video (which I forgot existed) was somewhat amusing.  The comments about Howe being out of tune and he and Wakeman battling for how many notes they can play suggest someone wasn't really listening to the song.

I'm surprised the TFTO songs are all ranked in the top 1/3, and I even agree with the comments on The Ancient at #55.

The Fish, while classic, is too high at #43, and Mood for a Day at #42 should be much higher.

Future Times/Rejoice at #34, Wonderous Stories at #32, Leave It at #29 and A Venture at #28?!

Turn of the Century at #30 is too low.

To Be Over, Time and a Word and Survival in the top 15 is nuts.

I could nitpick about the ordering of the top 12, but the only songs I wouldn't have that high are Owner of a Lonely Heart and All Good People.


I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I love Yesshows, and both Yesshows and Classic Yes were gateway albums for me.  My band briefly played Roundabout, and we modeled what we did on the Classic Yes live version.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 06, 2020, 05:11:50 PM
:tup

Back in the 80's, we accidentally put together a bar band with prog tendencies.  It was fun.  We messed around with Roundabout and always said we should actually learn it, because we probably could.  But we never did.  Worthless slobs, all of us.  We did play some of Tarkus for some guys in Manistee, Michigan one time, though.  That was fun.  And for a while, we opened with jazzy jams, courtesy of our lead singer Mitch on Trumpet and myself on Saxophone.  Then segue into something by The Police or Loverboy or something.  In the 80's, you could do shit like that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 06, 2020, 06:34:10 PM
:tup

Back in the 80's, we accidentally put together a bar band with prog tendencies.  It was fun.  We messed around with Roundabout and always said we should actually learn it, because we probably could.  But we never did.  Worthless slobs, all of us.  We did play some of Tarkus for some guys in Manistee, Michigan one time, though.  That was fun.  And for a while, we opened with jazzy jams, courtesy of our lead singer Mitch on Trumpet and myself on Saxophone.  Then segue into something by The Police or Loverboy or something.  In the 80's, you could do shit like that.

We were, at that time, a three piece.  The guitarist was our primary lead vocalist, but somehow I ended up doing lead vox on Roundabout (despite not being half the singer either Jon or Chris was).  The guitarist and I were very good at harmonizing, but the drummer also thought he could sing and did all of the highest harmonies in falsetto.  Needless to say, it was a bit of a train wreck.  Instrumentally, we all played it well, but it obviously was missing something without keyboards or a second guitar.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 06, 2020, 08:40:20 PM
Yeah, but you did the song live.  Maybe it wasn't perfect, but you did the song live.  ♫♫
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 07, 2020, 01:51:24 AM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Curious Orange on January 07, 2020, 04:40:44 AM
I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

And they really show what Patrick Moraz brought to the band - really makes me wish he'd stuck around longer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on January 07, 2020, 09:39:46 AM
I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

And they really show what Patrick Moraz brought to the band - really makes me wish he'd stuck around longer.

Listening right now, and holy wow is the battle section of Gates just furious.  :hefdaddy :hefdaddy  I'd love to hear some good bootlegs from that 1976 tour. 

On a related note, my uncle owns a music store down in Venice, FL, and I guess Patrick Moraz lives near by.  Says he pops into the store from time to time. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 07, 2020, 12:21:29 PM
Just watched ARW (YES)  Live at the Apollo bluray again last night.  I just reminds me how much I like this line-up.  Trevor Rabin brings so much to the table and him and Rick seem to really have fun being in the band together. Jon Anderson gives a flawless performance on this show.  This would have been the perfect show if they substituted Long Distance Runaround with Shoot High Aim Low, and played Endless Dream as an encore.

This is only a dream, but my ultimate Yes line-up (without Squire) would be:
   Jon Anderson
   Trevor Rabin
   Rick Wakeman
   Geddy Lee
   Mike Portnoy

Call it blasphemy,  but I think it would be awesome!   :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 07, 2020, 03:27:07 PM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

I listened to Gates and Ritual at lunch today.  I had forgotten about Jon's little vamp where he thanks the road crew and the sound and lighting guys.  I don't think I've ever heard anything like that on any other live album.


This is only a dream, but my ultimate Yes line-up (without Squire) would be:
   Jon Anderson
   Trevor Rabin
   Rick Wakeman
   Geddy Lee
   Mike Portnoy

Call it blasphemy,  but I think it would be awesome!   :metal

Might be awesome, and I'd likely go see it, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to consider it "Yes."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 07, 2020, 03:28:19 PM
Insert Steve Howe instead of Trevor, and I'm in for it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 07, 2020, 04:27:02 PM


I had to bring in at least one player from each of my top three favorite bands of all time. Rush, Yes, and Dream Theater.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on January 07, 2020, 07:45:48 PM


I had to bring in at least one player from each of my top three favorite bands of all time. Rush, Yes, and Dream Theater.

That would be interesting. Who would do the writing?  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 08, 2020, 01:30:46 AM
Just watched ARW (YES)  Live at the Apollo bluray again last night.  I just reminds me how much I like this line-up.  Trevor Rabin brings so much to the table and him and Rick seem to really have fun being in the band together. Jon Anderson gives a flawless performance on this show.  This would have been the perfect show if they substituted Long Distance Runaround with Shoot High Aim Low, and played Endless Dream as an encore.

This is only a dream, but my ultimate Yes line-up (without Squire) would be:
   Jon Anderson
   Trevor Rabin
   Rick Wakeman
   Geddy Lee
   Mike Portnoy

Call it blasphemy,  but I think it would be awesome!   :metal

I think Yes feat. ARW is a great band! I saw them live at the Night Of The Prog and they absolutely killed it. Only problem with this show was that the lower frequencies were so loud in the mix, at least in the first few rows (I was in the first one in the middle of course  :coolio ).

Jon Anderson still has the voice of an angel he had back in the early 70s, it's really unbelievable. Molino is not a world class drummer, his drumming is not as colourful as f.e. Bruford's, but his beats are rocking and very tight (unlike White's, unfortunately). Lee Pomeroy is a fantastic musician and I like him a lot better than Sherwood. Rabin's playing can't be compared to the one and only Steve Howe, but I have to admit, he is a great guitarist and good background singer. I still would have loved to see Howe in this lineup. And do I have to say anything about Wakeman vs. Downes?

I just don't understand why ARW had to mix in fake audience sounds into the otherwise great live album. It's particularly ridiculous when you see the bluray: you'll see people sitting perfectly still and enjoying the music, but you'll hear a crowd going fucking nuts like on Rush in Rio at the same time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 08, 2020, 01:53:46 AM


I had to bring in at least one player from each of my top three favorite bands of all time. Rush, Yes, and Dream Theater.

That would be interesting. Who would do the writing?  ;D
I would say all five of them could make some pretty great collaboration songs. 😎
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 08, 2020, 01:59:38 AM
Just watched ARW (YES)  Live at the Apollo bluray again last night.  I just reminds me how much I like this line-up.  Trevor Rabin brings so much to the table and him and Rick seem to really have fun being in the band together. Jon Anderson gives a flawless performance on this show.  This would have been the perfect show if they substituted Long Distance Runaround with Shoot High Aim Low, and played Endless Dream as an encore.

This is only a dream, but my ultimate Yes line-up (without Squire) would be:
   Jon Anderson
   Trevor Rabin
   Rick Wakeman
   Geddy Lee
   Mike Portnoy

Call it blasphemy,  but I think it would be awesome!   :metal



I just don't understand why ARW had to mix in fake audience sounds into the otherwise great live album. It's particularly ridiculous when you see the bluray: you'll see people sitting perfectly still and enjoying the music, but you'll hear a crowd going fucking nuts like on Rush in Rio at the same time.
I finally noticed that after watching it a couple of times.  I wonder if during the show it was Rick Wakeman with his sense of humor, hitting a patch on his keyboards that mimic a cheering crowd.. That wouldn't surpise me one bit.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 08, 2020, 03:13:27 PM
I have a question that I think I know the answer to.

When playing Close to the Edge live, Steve Howe starts with his Gibson ES-175 (I think that's the model), which he plays throughout the intro.  He then switches to what looks like a different six-string guitar (looks sort of like a strat) that is mounted on a stand.  What is that second guitar?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: njfirefighter on January 08, 2020, 08:14:04 PM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

I always quite enjoyed Yesshows, it's a little different snapshot and a representation. I do revisit it from time to time and enjoy it. I also love the Keys to Ascension sets (both live stuff and studio) shame that stuff wasn't widely heard beyond the diehards. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 08, 2020, 09:32:59 PM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

I always quite enjoyed Yesshows, it's a little different snapshot and a representation. I do revisit it from time to time and enjoy it. I also love the Keys to Ascension sets (both live stuff and studio) shame that stuff wasn't widely heard beyond the diehards. 

I like Keys to Ascension, too.  I have the studio stuff and live stuff as separate "albums" on my iPod (rather than Keys and Keys 2), because that's how I listen to them. :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 08, 2020, 10:04:43 PM
Keys To Ascension has my favorite version of Starship Trooper!  :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on January 08, 2020, 10:40:29 PM
The Keys studio tracks are really good, probably my second favorite batch of songs by the lineup of Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White.  They should have been released as a proper album, and if I’m not mistaken, the fact that they weren’t was one of the reasons Wakeman left that time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 09, 2020, 02:14:07 AM
The Keys studio tracks are really good, probably my second favorite batch of songs by the lineup of Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White.  They should have been released as a proper album, and if I’m not mistaken, the fact that they weren’t was one of the reasons Wakeman left that time.
I didn't know that, but it makes sense. Those studio tracks are all pretty solid and Wakeman really shines.  Imagine if Wakeman got his way, it could have re-written Yes' modern day history.  The disastrous "Open Your Eyes" album likely would have never happened. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Curious Orange on January 09, 2020, 04:28:52 AM
I bought the Keys sets when they came out, and while I agree they are brilliant, there's a clearly audible difference in the mixing between the Keys1 and Keys2 live stuff - the bass and bottom end is much louder on Keys2, and it has a grungier sound to it. I've never bought the DVD of the shows, but I would imagine all tracks are mixed to the same sound.

But I agree - the KeyStudio tracks are about the best thing Yes have recorded since their glory days. But then the entire history of Yes' later years is a series of bad decisions by record company execs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on January 09, 2020, 04:44:47 AM
I bought the Keys sets when they came out, and while I agree they are brilliant, there's a clearly audible difference in the mixing between the Keys1 and Keys2 live stuff - the bass and bottom end is much louder on Keys2, and it has a grungier sound to it. I've never bought the DVD of the shows, but I would imagine all tracks are mixed to the same sound.

But I agree - the KeyStudio tracks are about the best thing Yes have recorded since their glory days. But then the entire history of Yes' later years is a series of bad decisions by record company execs.
I agree but I actually like Magnification and Fly From Here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 09, 2020, 07:46:56 AM
Imagine the KeyStudio tracks with the production and sound of Fly From Here  :omg:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on January 09, 2020, 05:35:20 PM
The two new tracks from Keys 1 both had their moments, but had these weird awkward melodies, almost like they hadn't been refined yet.  Meanwhile, all of the new songs from Keys 2 sounds like finished products.  Mind Drive gets the most love, and that is a really good tune, but Bring Me to the Power and Children of Light are my favorites, and Foot Prints is really good as well.  While I still kinda like Open Your Eyes for what it is, you can't help but wonder what Yes could have done had Wakeman stayed in the band after the Keys sessions and they kept making records with that lineup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 12, 2020, 06:56:16 PM
It was crazy, but yeah it was fun.  Drama is top-tier Yes to me, but I also liked 90125 when it came out and still do.  I'm apparently in the minority in liking Yesshows, but I'm okay with that; it's an important document of some good live stuff and the CD version is even better.  I nabbed Classic Yes when it came out as well, just because I'm a completist and there were the bonus live tracks.  That was rare shit back in those days.

I happen to like Yesshows more than Yessongs. Not really for the set, but it used to be one of the better albums for capturing the Yes live sound. Yessongs doesn't really do that for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 12, 2020, 06:59:11 PM
I'm 100% with you. I think Yesshows is criminally underrated. Those performances of Ritual and The Gates Of Delirium are not from this world.

And they really show what Patrick Moraz brought to the band - really makes me wish he'd stuck around longer.

I've always wished that. I like him more than Post-Relayer Wakeman.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 13, 2020, 09:27:18 PM
Post-Relayer Wakeman still has some chops, but runs hot and cold a bit these days, and often more cold than hot.  It's disappointing, but he's a self-proclaimed grumpy old man.  He just doesn't give a fuck anymore, does what he wants.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 14, 2020, 08:28:19 AM
I just saw his solo show.   He's certainly struggling a bit physically (a LOT of hand-shaking in between songs) but the man can still play like no one's bidniss. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on January 14, 2020, 09:31:43 AM
I just saw his solo show.   He's certainly struggling a bit physically (a LOT of hand-shaking in between songs) but the man can still play like no one's bidniss.

IIRC, he said he's been dealing with moderate arthritis on both hands, so it's amazing he can still play like that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 14, 2020, 10:19:52 AM
I guess I was thinking more about his collaborative work than his solo work.  He did some good stuff with ARW, but it seemed more apparent than ever that he's got his bag of tricks and uses them all in various combinations and people think he's amazing.  His speed has always been impressive, but it's reached the point where he's just playing the same shit over and over.  So... impressive yet boring at the same time?  Prior to that, my last real exposure to Wakeman was with Yes, and he'd deviated into some truly horrendous patches.  This meant he was playing boring shit, super-fast, and sounding horrible, all at the same time.  That's really quite an achievement.

Rick Wakeman is one of my personal heroes.  There are tricks and techniques of his that I employ to this day (though obviously on a much smaller scale).  So my ranting is mostly out of disappointment.  I miss the old Rick, or I guess I miss the young Rick.  Young Rick isn't coming back; I get that.  But I still miss him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: EPICVIEW on January 14, 2020, 03:44:29 PM
https://youtu.be/p5wQV7_Sfyw


Drama  Into the lens  so good
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 17, 2020, 08:13:07 PM
I guess I was thinking more about his collaborative work than his solo work.  He did some good stuff with ARW, but it seemed more apparent than ever that he's got his bag of tricks and uses them all in various combinations and people think he's amazing.  His speed has always been impressive, but it's reached the point where he's just playing the same shit over and over.  So... impressive yet boring at the same time?  Prior to that, my last real exposure to Wakeman was with Yes, and he'd deviated into some truly horrendous patches.  This meant he was playing boring shit, super-fast, and sounding horrible, all at the same time.  That's really quite an achievement.

Rick Wakeman is one of my personal heroes.  There are tricks and techniques of his that I employ to this day (though obviously on a much smaller scale).  So my ranting is mostly out of disappointment.  I miss the old Rick, or I guess I miss the young Rick.  Young Rick isn't coming back; I get that.  But I still miss him.

I even enjoyed his solo stuff up until about the early '80s. Beyond that he kind of lost me. I should check out some of his live solo stuff somewhere between 2000-and 2015.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 17, 2020, 10:23:09 PM
Wakeman himself admits that he has boatloads of material out there, and not all of it is necessary top quality.  I have a dozen or so Wakeman solo albums of all different genres, and I can't say any of them are really bad, but I think some are weaker than others.

I think my favorite "later" Wakeman solo stuff is the 1991 "Suntrilogy".  Three albums of cheesy New Age stuff, mostly solo piano or just a few different keyboards, but pretty nice for chilling.  I mean, it's cheesy, but it's really good, smooth cheese.  Thick and rich.  His last really good work with Yes was in 2005, the 35th Anniversary Tour (Songs from Tsongas) which also happened to be the last time the classic five (Anderson Howe Squire Wakeman White) toured together.  Wakeman was great on that tour.  The last couple of tours before that, he was getting a bit carried away with the high-speed noodling, and that combined with some really weak patches was getting pretty irritating.  But the 2005 tour was great, he reined it in quite a bit and things were better for it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 24, 2020, 11:52:23 AM
Wakeman himself admits that he has boatloads of material out there, and not all of it is necessary top quality.  I have a dozen or so Wakeman solo albums of all different genres, and I can't say any of them are really bad, but I think some are weaker than others.

I think my favorite "later" Wakeman solo stuff is the 1991 "Suntrilogy".  Three albums of cheesy New Age stuff, mostly solo piano or just a few different keyboards, but pretty nice for chilling.  I mean, it's cheesy, but it's really good, smooth cheese.  Thick and rich.  His last really good work with Yes was in 2005, the 35th Anniversary Tour (Songs from Tsongas) which also happened to be the last time the classic five (Anderson Howe Squire Wakeman White) toured together.  Wakeman was great on that tour.  The last couple of tours before that, he was getting a bit carried away with the high-speed noodling, and that combined with some really weak patches was getting pretty irritating.  But the 2005 tour was great, he reined it in quite a bit and things were better for it.

He really lost me with the new age thing.  He could really play when he wanted to but he chose to work on that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 24, 2020, 12:57:06 PM
It makes it hard for a fan like me.  I would love an album of the "Cans and Brahms" piece on Fragile, and what I remember of Six Wives, I love (it's on my list for upgrade to CD).   I checked out a two-CD album from the library that I thought was instrumental piano versions of Yes songs, but was very.... new age-y for a lack of a better word.  Cheesy electronic sounds, and not what I was looking for. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 24, 2020, 03:07:34 PM
Maybe it's a piano-player thing.  Ever since I can remember, I've liked working up solo piano arrangements of songs I like.  I'm actually rather proud of some of them.  But if someone says "Hey Bob, play something" and I whip out one of my arrangements, they say it sounds like New Age crap.  What the fuck?  I'm playing a piano.  It's not going to sound like drums and electric guitars are also playing; it's going to sound like a solo piano arrangement of a rock song.

I do get the hate of cheesy electronic sounds.  Wakeman has way too many of those.  But his solo piano stuff is great.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on January 29, 2020, 06:38:23 PM
Maybe it's a piano-player thing.  Ever since I can remember, I've liked working up solo piano arrangements of songs I like.  I'm actually rather proud of some of them.  But if someone says "Hey Bob, play something" and I whip out one of my arrangements, they say it sounds like New Age crap.  What the fuck?  I'm playing a piano.  It's not going to sound like drums and electric guitars are also playing; it's going to sound like a solo piano arrangement of a rock song.

I do get the hate of cheesy electronic sounds.  Wakeman has way too many of those.  But his solo piano stuff is great.

Agreed. I do like his piano work.  I can do without all of that other stuff during that period
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 01, 2020, 06:10:37 PM
Stumbled on this a few days ago.  I figure most fans already know about this.  Not in 5.1 or HD or anything like that.  It's a bit rough around the edges, but I'm not sure if I've ever seen a full 90125 show before so I thought it was pretty cool.  This band can play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcnplMQln80
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 02, 2020, 08:17:50 AM
Not being critical at all, because that's a rare find, but it misses an essential point of that show (I saw two shows on that tour).  At that point, I had never seen anything like that stage set; it was essentially an angled circle, metallic silver, almost in the round, but not really, and it was amazing for how it allowed even Alan White to seem like they were at the front of the stage.   Add to that the lasers (which you could see at the very beginning, but not much after) but which formed glistening, spinning, dancing hearts during Long Distance Runaround, haha, no, Hearts, and it was an amazing show. 

Not my first concert, but first major arena act I had seen with no opening act (they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon, I think it was "Ali Baba Bunny") and it was really a special evening.  I saw the second leg as well, and it wasn't as good (they ditched the lasers, for the most part).  For me, the high points of the Howe era were higher, but the Rabin era was far more consistent in my opinion.   Even the worst of the Rabin era ("Almost Like Love", "Big Generator") is still pretty strong.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 02, 2020, 09:35:38 AM
Funky little microphone that JA was using.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 03, 2020, 09:37:43 AM
So a favorite band of mine, Allegaeon (melodic death metal) released a fantastic cover of Roundabout today, complete with a small bit of very tasteful growls. They paid respect to the original for sure, but also made it their own. I personally feel they knocked it out of the park. And the artwork is just  :hefdaddy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_qQyJMlc4E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_qQyJMlc4E)

(https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p960x960/92004406_10157023821313314_2947158609500307456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=DZLffBE0KnkAX_IFnNL&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&_nc_tp=6&oh=fd90f2d9d612e9f03996f763e061ea30&oe=5EAC92B0)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 03, 2020, 09:51:24 AM
I like that homage to the Fragile cover (the original album for Roundabout).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 03, 2020, 10:37:52 AM
Yeah, whoever does their artwork has real talent. All their album covers are brilliant.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 03, 2020, 10:42:15 AM
So a favorite band of mine, Allegaeon (melodic death metal) released a fantastic cover of Roundabout today, complete with a small bit of very tasteful growls. They paid respect to the original for sure, but also made it their own. I personally feel they knocked it out of the park. And the artwork is just  :hefdaddy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_qQyJMlc4E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_qQyJMlc4E)

Roundabout is a REALLY tough song to cover.  I was pleasantly surprised by the beginning of the first chorus.  Didn't like the middle section ("along the drifting cloud"), except for the very end right before the acoustic guitar break.  To me, "tasteful growls" is a complete oxymoron.  Didn't love the 4-4-4-2 solo sections, but the sections over the fast, ascending bass line were good.  Really liked the ending section.  Overall a solid effort.  I'd give it a B or B-.  I watched the same band's cover of Rush's Subdivisions.  I liked the vocals, but the REALLY low guitars on most of the song didn't appeal to me.

This is probably my favorite cover of Roundabout:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frai3asSZW0
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 03, 2020, 10:50:53 AM
Re: the Allegaeon cover

Wow!  I did not expect to like that, but it was really, really good.  The respect they have for the original arrangement is obvious.  An excellent cover. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Ben_Jamin on April 03, 2020, 11:08:53 AM
That's a badass cover. I've been getting into Allegaeon more, this was a nice surprise.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JayOctavarium on April 03, 2020, 01:21:34 PM
Fantastic cover imo
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on April 03, 2020, 01:29:49 PM
That's a badass cover. I've been getting into Allegaeon more, this was a nice surprise.

They've been my favorite band this last year or so, their last album was flat out brilliant.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 09, 2020, 04:03:34 PM
Not being critical at all, because that's a rare find, but it misses an essential point of that show (I saw two shows on that tour).  At that point, I had never seen anything like that stage set; it was essentially an angled circle, metallic silver, almost in the round, but not really, and it was amazing for how it allowed even Alan White to seem like they were at the front of the stage.   Add to that the lasers (which you could see at the very beginning, but not much after) but which formed glistening, spinning, dancing hearts during Long Distance Runaround, haha, no, Hearts, and it was an amazing show. 

Not my first concert, but first major arena act I had seen with no opening act (they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon, I think it was "Ali Baba Bunny") and it was really a special evening.  I saw the second leg as well, and it wasn't as good (they ditched the lasers, for the most part).  For me, the high points of the Howe era were higher, but the Rabin era was far more consistent in my opinion.   Even the worst of the Rabin era ("Almost Like Love", "Big Generator") is still pretty strong.

I'm sure the lasers were great and all and the video probably doesn't scratch the surface on what it was like to be there, but the music is flat out off the charts amazing.  I kinda get now why Squire said that Rabin breathed new life into the band.  Nobody seems happier than Squire and he's nearly possessed. My only reference from this period is the 90125Live edit and it's pretty good but not all that remarkable. I have no idea if this show was just a good night or par for the course.
To me it doesn't really matter who is in this band as long as they bring it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 09, 2020, 04:33:52 PM
Not being critical at all, because that's a rare find, but it misses an essential point of that show (I saw two shows on that tour).  At that point, I had never seen anything like that stage set; it was essentially an angled circle, metallic silver, almost in the round, but not really, and it was amazing for how it allowed even Alan White to seem like they were at the front of the stage.   Add to that the lasers (which you could see at the very beginning, but not much after) but which formed glistening, spinning, dancing hearts during Long Distance Runaround, haha, no, Hearts, and it was an amazing show. 

Not my first concert, but first major arena act I had seen with no opening act (they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon, I think it was "Ali Baba Bunny") and it was really a special evening.  I saw the second leg as well, and it wasn't as good (they ditched the lasers, for the most part).  For me, the high points of the Howe era were higher, but the Rabin era was far more consistent in my opinion.   Even the worst of the Rabin era ("Almost Like Love", "Big Generator") is still pretty strong.

I'm sure the lasers were great and all and the video probably doesn't scratch the surface on what it was like to be there, but the music is flat out off the charts amazing.  I kinda get now why Squire said that Rabin breathed new life into the band.  Nobody seems happier than Squire and he's nearly possessed. My only reference from this period is the 90125Live edit and it's pretty good but not all that remarkable. I have no idea if this show was just a good night or par for the course.
To me it doesn't really matter who is in this band as long as they bring it.

I think it was more par for the course.  Like I said, I saw two shows on that tour and they slayed it.  That Rabin-Squire-White trio was on FIRE.  Squire was always a rock bass player in a prog band anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on April 14, 2020, 05:54:14 PM
Not being critical at all, because that's a rare find, but it misses an essential point of that show (I saw two shows on that tour).  At that point, I had never seen anything like that stage set; it was essentially an angled circle, metallic silver, almost in the round, but not really, and it was amazing for how it allowed even Alan White to seem like they were at the front of the stage.   Add to that the lasers (which you could see at the very beginning, but not much after) but which formed glistening, spinning, dancing hearts during Long Distance Runaround, haha, no, Hearts, and it was an amazing show. 

Not my first concert, but first major arena act I had seen with no opening act (they played a Bugs Bunny cartoon, I think it was "Ali Baba Bunny") and it was really a special evening.  I saw the second leg as well, and it wasn't as good (they ditched the lasers, for the most part).  For me, the high points of the Howe era were higher, but the Rabin era was far more consistent in my opinion.   Even the worst of the Rabin era ("Almost Like Love", "Big Generator") is still pretty strong.

I'm sure the lasers were great and all and the video probably doesn't scratch the surface on what it was like to be there, but the music is flat out off the charts amazing.  I kinda get now why Squire said that Rabin breathed new life into the band.  Nobody seems happier than Squire and he's nearly possessed. My only reference from this period is the 90125Live edit and it's pretty good but not all that remarkable. I have no idea if this show was just a good night or par for the course.
To me it doesn't really matter who is in this band as long as they bring it.

I think it was more par for the course.  Like I said, I saw two shows on that tour and they slayed it.  That Rabin-Squire-White trio was on FIRE.  Squire was always a rock bass player in a prog band anyway.

I know he's done some amazing bass solos over the years, but the one here is pretty sick. It's on 9012Live but it's heavily edited on that and doesn't do his solo justice.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on May 23, 2020, 08:36:04 AM
Just bought the Steven Wilson remixes of The Yes Album through Relayer. They were bundled together on amazon for 20 bucks so I figured it was worth it. I probably won't get around to listening to them in depth for a bit, but I hear they're a vast improvement on the originals (and the 2003 remixes I already own). I'm mainly excited to hear Relayer...some of Steve's playing and the battle sounds are so shrill on the 2003 version that it's tough to listen to.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on May 23, 2020, 09:14:05 AM
I guess this is a relatively new documentary about Close to the Edge for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvEfa5zKK7g&feature=emb_title
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 23, 2020, 06:27:37 PM
Just bought the Steven Wilson remixes of The Yes Album through Relayer. They were bundled together on amazon for 20 bucks so I figured it was worth it. I probably won't get around to listening to them in depth for a bit, but I hear they're a vast improvement on the originals (and the 2003 remixes I already own). I'm mainly excited to hear Relayer...some of Steve's playing and the battle sounds are so shrill on the 2003 version that it's tough to listen to.

Those sound pretty amazing. Two of my favorite Yes albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on May 23, 2020, 09:14:25 PM
Still kills me that SW didn’t get to do GFTO. But I guess I heard something about the original masters being either missing or partially damaged? I don’t remember which.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 24, 2020, 12:26:15 AM
Still kills me that SW didn’t get to do GFTO. But I guess I heard something about the original masters being either missing or partially damaged? I don’t remember which.

The last time I listened to Going for the One the thought occurred to me that it would be my favorite Yes album if it had a decent mix. It's probably their strongest collection of individual songs. The thing is, I never realized this back in the days of my youth when I was discovering Yes and couldn't quite put my finger on why I didn't like that album as much as say Fragile or The Yes Album. Would love to hear this re-mixed.

My guess is even if they had the master tapes, there's no telling how much of the reverb is in the actual individual tracks, or was added by the console in the mix. You can't un-reverb a track that was recorded that way. Maybe they have to technology now to fix those things?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 24, 2020, 04:49:53 AM
Still kills me that SW didn’t get to do GFTO. But I guess I heard something about the original masters being either missing or partially damaged? I don’t remember which.

100% my opinion, and I'd like to add Drama. I would love to hear what he's make out of those two albums. Maybe he just doesn't like them. I heard he only remasters/remixes albums he personally likes (which makes sense)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on May 24, 2020, 03:59:32 PM
I’ve kind of slowly and deliberately gotten into Yes’ catalog. For a long time I only ever had 90125, and then I finally got Fragile, followed relatively shortly by Relayer and then Close to the Edge, all of which I really enjoy. But as much as I enjoy all those albums, I have a hard time prioritizing new Yes albums over all the other stuff I’ve been exploring.

So anyway, which 70s Yes album would you guys say is the next best step to take? The Yes Album? Tales from the Topographic Ocean? Going for the One?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: BelichickFan on May 24, 2020, 04:16:06 PM
I’ve kind of slowly and deliberately gotten into Yes’ catalog. For a long time I only ever had 90125, and then I finally got Fragile, followed relatively shortly by Relayer and then Close to the Edge, all of which I really enjoy. But as much as I enjoy all those albums, I have a hard time prioritizing new Yes albums over all the other stuff I’ve been exploring.

So anyway, which 70s Yes album would you guys say is the next best step to take? The Yes Album? Tales from the Topographic Ocean? Going for the One?
You can't go wrong with The Yes Album or GftO.

Tales is awesome but put that nearer the end. It requires more patience.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on May 24, 2020, 11:11:58 PM
I’ve kind of slowly and deliberately gotten into Yes’ catalog. For a long time I only ever had 90125, and then I finally got Fragile, followed relatively shortly by Relayer and then Close to the Edge, all of which I really enjoy. But as much as I enjoy all those albums, I have a hard time prioritizing new Yes albums over all the other stuff I’ve been exploring.

So anyway, which 70s Yes album would you guys say is the next best step to take? The Yes Album? Tales from the Topographic Ocean? Going for the One?
You can't go wrong with The Yes Album or GftO.

Tales is awesome but put that nearer the end. It requires more patience.

Yeah, I started streaming Tales tonight and got through the first track alright, but the second one seemed to wander on forever without getting anywhere and I lost interest. It’s definitely one I’ll plan to explore later though. Also sampled some of The Yes Album, which I’m already somewhat familiar with.

But while kicking around looking at Yes stuff, Chris Squire’s Fish Out of Water popped up, and man am I loving the sound of this. I actually thought Hold Out Your Hand was a Yes song. Squire had a great voice. A bit like Jon Anderson, but also reminds me of Sting a lot. These songs sound great. Might be my next Yes related purchase.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 25, 2020, 12:19:46 AM
The Yes Album is in my "holy trinity" of Yes album (along with Fragile and Close To The Edge), so you can't really go wrong there. And then you can go to Drama, which is awesome too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: BelichickFan on May 25, 2020, 07:33:51 AM
I’ve kind of slowly and deliberately gotten into Yes’ catalog. For a long time I only ever had 90125, and then I finally got Fragile, followed relatively shortly by Relayer and then Close to the Edge, all of which I really enjoy. But as much as I enjoy all those albums, I have a hard time prioritizing new Yes albums over all the other stuff I’ve been exploring.

So anyway, which 70s Yes album would you guys say is the next best step to take? The Yes Album? Tales from the Topographic Ocean? Going for the One?
You can't go wrong with The Yes Album or GftO.

Tales is awesome but put that nearer the end. It requires more patience.

Yeah, I started streaming Tales tonight and got through the first track alright, but the second one seemed to wander on forever without getting anywhere and I lost interest. It’s definitely one I’ll plan to explore later though.

This is a quote from Rick Wakeman, about Tales, from the book "Yes Stories":

". . . while I think it sucks.  It could have been a sensational album if more thought went into it and if certain parts were thrown out . . . there are some very nice parts, but it's like wading through a cesspool to get to a water lily".

There are some parts I would never choose to listen to other than they're part of Tales so they're part of "the experience".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 25, 2020, 07:50:27 AM
I agree with that.

It took me a long time to really appreciate Tales as a whole, but I like it quite a bit now. Tracks 2 and 3 are a mess and definitely could have been better with some trimming and editing, but when you listen to the whole album from start to finish, you just enjoy it all, warts and all. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 25, 2020, 09:57:59 AM
My TFTO cd is still in mint condition after owning it for over twenty years. Not a scratch on it, it's been kept safe in its case after listening to it maybe once or twice..  Mayby I'll have to give it another chance and see if it still has warts, cesspools,  and lillies.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: BelichickFan on May 25, 2020, 10:29:08 AM
My TFTO cd is still in mint condition after owning it for over twenty years. Not a scratch on it, it's been kept safe in its case after listening to it maybe once or twice..  Mayby I'll have to give it another chance and see if it still has warts, cesspools,  and lillies.

Well, Leaves of Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG0T-yYNT7U and from 17:00 on from Ritual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJzzBUKTFQQ are undoubtedly lilles.  I enjoy the whole thing but I get the other side.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 25, 2020, 02:18:26 PM
I'm definitely in a minority that LOVES the Remembering. The way it just takes its sweet time and is in no hurry. Squire's basswork in that first ten minutes is sublime. It's just so wonderfully stony and contemplative and then just when you think it's going to go on forever...BAM! "Don the cap and close your eyes imagine all the glorious challenge" the minstrel-y section slams in like waking up from a dream and it's nothing but solid ass kicking from there on out. That last build-up before the conclusion ("Rainbows, soft light") is pure musical bliss. One of my all time favorite Yes moments!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on May 25, 2020, 03:35:24 PM
The Remembering is easily my favorite of the Tales songs. The meandering nature of the songs is my favorite part of the album experience, but I can see how others dislike it for that reason.

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to do an edit of those songs that makes logical sense and feels natural.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 25, 2020, 03:44:49 PM
There are probably a lot of people who've made their own edits of Tales, and to them they were logical and felt right.  But I would never be able to listen to any fan edit without being conscious of where the cuts were, and that would always take me out of the experience.  But then, I'm one of those who doesn't any problem listening to it all the way through, having done so many times.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 25, 2020, 04:36:32 PM
Still kills me that SW didn’t get to do GFTO. But I guess I heard something about the original masters being either missing or partially damaged? I don’t remember which.

100% my opinion, and I'd like to add Drama. I would love to hear what he's make out of those two albums. Maybe he just doesn't like them. I heard he only remasters/remixes albums he personally likes (which makes sense)

I like Drama so much more than the previous two albums.  Would have been a killer follow up to Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 25, 2020, 04:49:54 PM
There are probably a lot of people who've made their own edits of Tales, and to them they were logical and felt right.  But I would never be able to listen to any fan edit without being conscious of where the cuts were, and that would always take me out of the experience.  But then, I'm one of those who doesn't any problem listening to it all the way through, having done so many times.

I enjoy it all too though I'm more of a fan of sides 3 and 4.  I don't dabble in much of it, but I always thought those fan things were hit or miss. It really depends on what is being edited and how it's done.  Those fan Abacab Suite cuts just seem so disjointed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 26, 2020, 07:17:23 AM
Tales is actually the Yes album I return to most often. There are several albums I like more, but it's truly a gorgeous experience taking the time and putting Tales on.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 26, 2020, 07:20:25 AM
I've tried many times to get into Tales, but I don't know why it doesn't work for me - it's just impenetrable to my ears. I find nothing to latch onto.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 26, 2020, 08:48:56 AM
I've finally come around on Tales, but man, it was arduous work.  There are no doubt some great moments on it, but Side 3 really kills it for me.  Up until Leaves of Green, it really sounds to me like they are literally running out of ideas for backing up Steve Howe's guitar.  And, this album is where I really start to dislike Howe's guitar tone.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 26, 2020, 09:38:32 AM
The Revealing Science Of God is just... it might be my favorite 20+ track (certainly top three). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 26, 2020, 11:00:30 AM
  And, this album is where I really start to dislike Howe's guitar tone.
That's always been my problem with Steve Howe. He's a great guitarist but his guitar tone has always been a bit thin and cardboard sounding. For example when he was with Asia,  his guitar solo on "Heat of the Moment"  is an absolute mess. It is executed very sloppily and the tone makes it even worse. I can't believe they settled for that take on a otherwise great song.  :lol
Even in Yes, his tone just felt awkward at times but the music is the saving grace. His acoustic tones are excellent!
Alex Lifeson set the example for good electric guitar tone back in the day. I also got spoiled from Trevor Rabins rich tones singing with sustain.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 26, 2020, 01:35:44 PM
The Ancient is the song that made me fall in love with Steve Howe's guitar sound. No words can describe how magical it sounds to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 26, 2020, 05:48:17 PM
The title track from Going for the One is one Yes song I find almost unlistenable because of how atrocious Howe's guitar tone is in that song.  It's not a particularly good song anyway, but Howe's guitar tone pushes it over the cliff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 26, 2020, 06:14:27 PM
The title track from Going for the One is one Yes song I find almost unlistenable because of how atrocious Howe's guitar tone is in that song.  It's not a particularly good song anyway, but Howe's guitar tone pushes it over the cliff.

Finally, someone agrees with me (although keep in mind that he's entirely or almost entirely playing a steel guitar on the title track)!  Parallels is similar, and the live version on Yesshows is SO MUCH BETTER.  The album versions of both songs are so aggressively trebley (and not just the guitar tone).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 26, 2020, 07:06:33 PM
It could just be me but...sometimes I think you have to be really, really high to get where Howe is coming from. Not just his tone, but especially his phrasing.

"Aggressively trebley" is a great way to begin describing the mix on GftO. Add to that "no bottom end" + "tons of reverb" = a perfect shitstorm of unlistenability.  It's a testament to just how damn good the songs are on that album that anyone can even listen to it all (IMHO). I still really enjoy the music itself.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 26, 2020, 07:52:19 PM
I'm not going to go back through 73 pages, but the sound issues with Going For The One are pretty well known, and I think we've discussed them before.  Eddie Offord had been their engineer and producer since 1970, but was replaced by a guy named John Timperley, assisted by David Richards.  Yes did the production themselves, which was a first for them.

It's not in the Wiki for this album, but I know I've read that Eddie was actually replaced partway through the recording.  So some stuff was already recorded by Eddie, who had the habit of applying Dolby noise reduction.  Pretty standard back then, Dolby basically boosts the high end, then when "decoded" applies a complimentary de-boost to the high end, with the net effect of cutting noise.  What wasn't standard was that Eddie never labelled the tapes.  So according to one theory, the new guys taking over the recording and later mixing didn't realize that some of the stuff had had Dolby NR applied.  Listening to it now, it's almost painful how much high end some of the parts have.  But the master tapes have been lost, and what we're left with is a mix of tracks with and without Dolby, which is basically impossible to reverse engineer to deboost only the Dolby tracks.  Maybe if you could go back to the masters and (hopefully) figure out which ones have Dolby applied and which don't.  But no one can find the master tapes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 27, 2020, 08:46:14 AM
I don't say this to argue, but to contrast.... I find some of the earlier Yes to be muddy (though it's improved a lot with the various remasters) and I LOVE Going For The One.  It's my favorite album ever.  I can't say I "love" the trebly, but it does fit with the rest of the instrumentation.   Remember, Wakeman was having a torrid affair with a church organ in Switzerland at the time.   :)

David Richards is no hack; he's got a pretty good track record with the later Queen records (A Kind Of Magic, Innuendo, The Miracle) and Bowie, too, if memory serves. 

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 27, 2020, 09:32:16 AM
Going for the One is my favorite Yes album also, but that is for the songs themselves, and the arrangements, which are incredible.  There's nothing wrong with the St. Martins church organ sound, which is full and rich and you'd never guess that it was literally phoned in.  Same with the choir.  But when people complain about the trebly sound, especially Steve's guitar, I know what they mean and I sympathize.  I've been known to turn the treble down a bit when I listen to this album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 27, 2020, 10:09:29 AM
I don't say this to argue, but to contrast.... I find some of the earlier Yes to be muddy (though it's improved a lot with the various remasters) and I LOVE Going For The One.  It's my favorite album ever.  I can't say I "love" the trebly, but it does fit with the rest of the instrumentation.   Remember, Wakeman was having a torrid affair with a church organ in Switzerland at the time.   :)

For me, the organ is only an issue on Parallels.  It's so harsh -- almost to the point of being unlistenable.  I spent a lot of quality time with Yesshows before ever buying TFTO, Relayer or GFTO.  I thought Parallels on Yesshows was superb.  Once I bought GFTO, I thought, "what the fuck?!"  When I consider how much I like GFTO or rank Yes albums, I sort of think about the live version of Parallels, so the album gets more credit than it probably deserves.  The interesting thing is that Awaken is very organ-heavy, but it works perfectly, and I wouldn't change a thing about it (I've also never heard a live version that I thought did the song justice, except when they played it in the round on the Union tour and maybe also the version with the symphony).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 27, 2020, 10:50:33 AM
It could just be me but...sometimes I think you have to be really, really high to get where Howe is coming from. Not just his tone, but especially his phrasing.

"Aggressively trebley" is a great way to begin describing the mix on GftO. Add to that "no bottom end" + "tons of reverb" = a perfect shitstorm of unlistenability.  It's a testament to just how damn good the songs are on that album that anyone can even listen to it all (IMHO). I still really enjoy the music itself.

Going back and looking at old videos on YouTube last night to see what kind of guitars Steve Howe was using at the time, and it looks like he went from his hollow body and semi hollow body guitars, like the ES-175 and ES-335, respectively, to a Les Paul with P90 pick-ups for Tales and then a Telecaster on Relayer and a Strat for the lead work on GFTO.  Les Pauls tend to have some fullness to their tones, but he was playing them through Fender Twin Reverbs, which combined with the bite inherent in the Strats and Teles, can make for an ear-piercing experience, and not in a good way. 

I think I've said this over in the Trevor Rabin appreciation thread, but I would rather hear Trevor Rabin play Steve Howe's parts than the other way around.  Trevor gets a wider range of tones, that to me, tend to be more pleasing to my ears.  He can get those twangy, bright, mid-to-late 70's Steve Howe tones, but then he also gets much more full sounding and heavier tones as well.  Funny that he plays primarily a Fender Strat, same as Steve Howe on a lot of GFTO, but his tone is much fuller and rounder.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 27, 2020, 11:14:28 AM
Trevor also uses his sig Alvarez guitars for many live applications, which sound awesome imo. He's had that same strat throughout his whole career. I'll take Rabin over Howe any day, even though they both are fantastic in Yes..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 27, 2020, 11:27:41 AM
Trevor also uses his sig Alvarez guitars for many live applications, which sound awesome imo. He's had that same strat throughout his whole career. I'll take Rabin over Howe any day, even though they both are fantastic in Yes..

For sure.  I love Howe's playing on the classic era.  His playing on The Yes Album through CTTE is impeccable, and I love what he does on Drama as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 27, 2020, 11:58:25 AM
I don't say this to argue, but to contrast.... I find some of the earlier Yes to be muddy (though it's improved a lot with the various remasters) and I LOVE Going For The One.  It's my favorite album ever.  I can't say I "love" the trebly, but it does fit with the rest of the instrumentation.   Remember, Wakeman was having a torrid affair with a church organ in Switzerland at the time.   :)

For me, the organ is only an issue on Parallels.  It's so harsh -- almost to the point of being unlistenable.  I spent a lot of quality time with Yesshows before ever buying TFTO, Relayer or GFTO.  I thought Parallels on Yesshows was superb.  Once I bought GFTO, I thought, "what the fuck?!"  When I consider how much I like GFTO or rank Yes albums, I sort of think about the live version of Parallels, so the album gets more credit than it probably deserves.  The interesting thing is that Awaken is very organ-heavy, but it works perfectly, and I wouldn't change a thing about it (I've also never heard a live version that I thought did the song justice, except when they played it in the round on the Union tour and maybe also the version with the symphony).

Wow, I guess I'm kinda the opposite regarding "Parallels".  I love the way the pipe organ comes blasting in, like Bach himself rose from the grave to take the solo.  I guess it does sound pretty harsh, but I've never thought that that was bad, because pipe organs can be deafening.  They are the original heavy metal instrument.

In contrast, I like the live version on YesShows well enough, but always found the keyboard solo a bit lacking.  Maybe not surprising since for me the studio version was first.  I'd listened to it 100 times before I picked up YesShows, which came out years later.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 27, 2020, 01:21:41 PM
Wow, I guess I'm kinda the opposite regarding "Parallels".  I love the way the pipe organ comes blasting in, like Bach himself rose from the grave to take the solo.  I guess it does sound pretty harsh, but I've never thought that that was bad, because pipe organs can be deafening.  They are the original heavy metal instrument.

In contrast, I like the live version on YesShows well enough, but always found the keyboard solo a bit lacking.  Maybe not surprising since for me the studio version was first.  I'd listened to it 100 times before I picked up YesShows, which came out years later.

Yeah, I think it has a LOT to do with which version you heard first.  I didn't get into classic Yes until the mid- to late 80s and used Yessongs, Yesshows and Classic Yes as gateways.  I might not have found the organ quite so jarring if I had not become familiar with the live version first.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 27, 2020, 03:12:19 PM
Even though I merely like the song, I love the organ in Parallels.  It feels like one of those songs where I wish a better song had been written around the organ. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 28, 2020, 09:09:37 PM
I don't say this to argue, but to contrast.... I find some of the earlier Yes to be muddy (though it's improved a lot with the various remasters) and I LOVE Going For The One.  It's my favorite album ever.  I can't say I "love" the trebly, but it does fit with the rest of the instrumentation.   Remember, Wakeman was having a torrid affair with a church organ in Switzerland at the time.   :)

For me, the organ is only an issue on Parallels.  It's so harsh -- almost to the point of being unlistenable.  I spent a lot of quality time with Yesshows before ever buying TFTO, Relayer or GFTO.  I thought Parallels on Yesshows was superb.  Once I bought GFTO, I thought, "what the fuck?!"  When I consider how much I like GFTO or rank Yes albums, I sort of think about the live version of Parallels, so the album gets more credit than it probably deserves.  The interesting thing is that Awaken is very organ-heavy, but it works perfectly, and I wouldn't change a thing about it (I've also never heard a live version that I thought did the song justice, except when they played it in the round on the Union tour and maybe also the version with the symphony).

Wow, I guess I'm kinda the opposite regarding "Parallels".  I love the way the pipe organ comes blasting in, like Bach himself rose from the grave to take the solo.  I guess it does sound pretty harsh, but I've never thought that that was bad, because pipe organs can be deafening.  They are the original heavy metal instrument.

In contrast, I like the live version on YesShows well enough, but always found the keyboard solo a bit lacking.  Maybe not surprising since for me the studio version was first.  I'd listened to it 100 times before I picked up YesShows, which came out years later.

Now Paralells I dig. Awaken not so much.  It's been a while since I've given Yesshows a proper spin.  Should fix that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 29, 2020, 06:58:58 AM
I'm in that boat, too.  I rarely listen to it, but perhaps I should.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 29, 2020, 11:04:25 AM
I've never heard Yes-shows,  but I have Yes-songs double disc set.  Which of the two are better?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 29, 2020, 11:42:09 AM
That depends on your definition of "better".

YesSongs is a younger band on fire, touring the album which would forever cement their place in Progressive Rock history (though they didn't realize it at the time).  But the recording quality is a bit crap, and numerous remasters have never really solved that problem.  It's the way it was recorded.  Still, the musical performances are incredible.  For many years, this is all we had for live Yes, and it's still well-respected.

YesShows is a more mature band playing epics with the confidence and grace that comes with experience.  The performances are stellar, although editing and mixing choices cause problems for some people.

I'd say take a look at the song lists and decide which one you like better.  Then buy them both anyway, because they're both great.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 29, 2020, 12:04:01 PM
I've never heard Yes-shows,  but I have Yes-songs double disc set.  Which of the two are better?

Define "better."

Yessongs (no dash) was originally released as a triple LP, whereas Yesshows (also no dash) was a double LP, so the former has more material.  The former also has the entirety of Close to the Edge (both the song and the album, as well as some of the band's most iconic songs like Yours Is No Disgrace, Heart of the Sunrise and Roundabout.  You also get Steve Howe's Mood for a Day, an extended version of The Fish and excerpts from Rick Wakeman's Six Wive's of Henry VIII (no solo spot from White).  Yessongs was entirely recorded during the Close to the Edge tour (and mostly during a six week period in November and December 1972).

You get no repeats on Yesshows (other than the recorded Firebird Suite intro),* and most of the songs are from TFTO, Relayer, GFTO and Tomato.  You get The Gates of Delirium in its entirety and an extended (if you can believe that) version of Ritual.  There only a couple negatives about Yesshows (IMO).  The first is that, on the original LP version, Ritual was split between sides 3 and 4.  That was an unavoidable necessity given that the total run time is nearly 32 minutes.  On the CD version, Ritual is all on one CD, but it's still split between two tracks with the fade out and and fade in that you got on the LP version.  I have to assume (but don't really know) that this couldn't have been fixed when the album was mastered for CD.  The second negative is that it doesn't include a live version of Awaken.  On the other hand, notwithstanding the split track, the live performance of Ritual is OUTSTANDING, and the live version of Gates might be better than the studio version.  Note also that the performance of Ritual came from the Relayer tour and, therefore, featured Patrick Moraz, rather than Rick Wakeman.  Yesshows features recordings from the Relayer, GFTO and Tormato tours.

* - Looking at Wikipedia, I'm seeing that there's a CD version of Yesshows that has performances of I've Seen All Good People and Roundabout, both of which are also on Yessongs.  Although these are different live versions than you get on Yessongs, they are the same live versions from the CD release of Classic Yes.

I don't have any issues with production qualify of either album (although I can't disagree with what Orbert wrote), so the question "better" probably comes down to what songs you like better or simply the run time of the albums.


Then buy them both anyway, because they're both great.

Yup.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 29, 2020, 12:10:55 PM
DELETED
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 29, 2020, 01:35:31 PM
I just wanted to add that later versions of YesShows have "Ritual" all as one track, correctly restored.

In a ridiculous comedy of errors (yet somehow not surprising for Yes), there are multiple CD versions of YesShows because of how many tries it took them to get it right.  The original CD simply preserved the LP tracks, which as pg mentioned included "Ritual" split into two tracks.  Later, this was partially fixed by putting them together as a single track on the CD, but they literally concatenated the original tracks together, so it faded down and then back up again.  I waited until they finally got it right and re-edited the two tracks together.  The newest CD versions have "Ritual" as one track, correctly restored as performed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 29, 2020, 11:11:24 PM
I just wanted to add that later versions of YesShows have "Ritual" all as one track, correctly restored.

In a ridiculous comedy of errors (yet somehow not surprising for Yes), there are multiple CD versions of YesShows because of how many tries it took them to get it right.  The original CD simply preserved the LP tracks, which as pg mentioned included "Ritual" split into two tracks.  Later, this was partially fixed by putting them together as a single track on the CD, but they literally concatenated the original tracks together, so it faded down and then back up again.  I waited until they finally got it right and re-edited the two tracks together.  The newest CD versions have "Ritual" as one track, correctly restored as performed.

On Apple Music, the song is split into two tracks, but they flow into each other seamlessly, with no fade-out/-in. Gotta love our chaotic guys  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 30, 2020, 08:15:37 AM
I just wanted to add that later versions of YesShows have "Ritual" all as one track, correctly restored.

In a ridiculous comedy of errors (yet somehow not surprising for Yes), there are multiple CD versions of YesShows because of how many tries it took them to get it right.  The original CD simply preserved the LP tracks, which as pg mentioned included "Ritual" split into two tracks.  Later, this was partially fixed by putting them together as a single track on the CD, but they literally concatenated the original tracks together, so it faded down and then back up again.  I waited until they finally got it right and re-edited the two tracks together.  The newest CD versions have "Ritual" as one track, correctly restored as performed.

I just have the Gastwirt remasters. Haven't gotten all of the Rhinos yet.

I'm likely mentioned this before, but I really don't like how most of commercially released  Yes live recordings sound. Yessongs is the worst offender. Decent set, but it doesn't come close to capturing the magic of Yes live during that period.

Yesshows seems somewhat better to me sound-wise and I realy dig the songs on it.  I'm still totally blown away by that Progeny set from 1972.  It totally turned me around to Yes as a live band in those years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 30, 2020, 06:26:37 PM
PG, sorry to be that guy, but there's at least one song on Yessongs NOT from that November/December time frame:  Perpetual Change has Bruford on it, so it is from an earlier date.

Also, the two "repeat" songs on Yesshows were originally available as a bonus 7" single with Classic Yes.  I know this because I had it, but the single had a split in it, so it wouldn't always play.   I was very grateful when the Gastwirt remasters came out because they put both those songs on the CD version of Classic Yes.  I cut my "Yes" teeth on Classic Yes; that was my gateway drug (then Fragile, because to this day Heart Of The Sunrise is one of my favorite Yes songs).   

EDIT: I looked it up; Perpetual Change, Long Distance Runaround, and The Fish are from February of '72 before Bruford left.  Also, the two songs on Yesshows are from '78, the Tormato tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on May 30, 2020, 06:52:58 PM
IIRC, I’m pretty sure that there is an actual drum solo on the album...but it’s on one of Bruford tracks. Which means that even though White’s picture is on the back of the album, the drum solo on the album is performed by Bruford.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 30, 2020, 07:17:41 PM
Yeah, the drum solo is in "Perpetual Change" and Bruford takes the solo.  That and "LDR/Fish" are from the Fragile tour.  The rest is from the Close to the Edge tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 30, 2020, 08:34:06 PM
PG, sorry to be that guy, but there's at least one song on Yessongs NOT from that November/December time frame:  Perpetual Change has Bruford on it, so it is from an earlier date.

Yup.  That's why I wrote, "Yessongs was entirely recorded during the Close to the Edge tour (and mostly during a six week period in November and December 1972).  But I was wrong when I wrote that everything was from the CTTE tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 31, 2020, 10:25:53 AM
Yeah, the drum solo is in "Perpetual Change" and Bruford takes the solo.  That and "LDR/Fish" are from the Fragile tour.  The rest is from the Close to the Edge tour.

That Bruford/White thing seemed to bother a lot of fans with this album. It never really bothered me, possibly because I'd much rather have Bruford in King Crimson/Genesis.  I was OK with not having more of Bruford on this album. Would have been nice in hindsight I suppose, but I never had strong feelings about that.

But then I wasn't all that broken up when Anderson was booted from Yes. I was sad for him I suppose, but I got off that boat around 2004 so it didn't make all that much difference to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 31, 2020, 01:04:18 PM
Yes lost me after Anderson's departure.  That's why I'm bummed we're not going to get a new album from Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman.  I wish Alan White could have been in that line-up, but health problems take their toll.
White was on fire on the TALK tour, great drum sound and performance. The definitive Yes concert for me at The Gorge (7-10-1994).  :coolio :coolio :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on June 09, 2020, 08:10:29 AM
https://SteveHowe.lnk.to/headlandsFA

Steve has released a new song.

I want to like the stuff they are doing nowadays, but I just can't. This is so boring, I don't know what else to say. Of course, guitars are played brilliantly as always. But the harmonies are brutally simple and the drums sound like a drum machine. At the end it gets faded out. It sounds like an exercise put together within a few hours. Sorry I sound so bitter. It's just, the guys in Yes have done such great things. I don't understand where those brilliant ideas have gone.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 09, 2020, 08:27:18 AM
Is this a solo song or a "Yes" song?   I'm a pretty strident Yes fan, but at this point I'm out.  No Anderson, no Squire... that's not enough for me. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on June 09, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
Is this a solo song or a "Yes" song?   I'm a pretty strident Yes fan, but at this point I'm out.  No Anderson, no Squire... that's not enough for me.

It's a song from his upcoming solo album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 10, 2020, 03:52:28 PM
For anyone who's interested, I picked up the latest release From a Page, and added it to The Yes Discography (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=32530.msg2671273#msg2671273) thread.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DragonAttack on July 16, 2020, 01:20:49 PM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Eldomm on July 17, 2020, 04:59:23 AM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/

A million thanks! It was a fantastic read
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on July 17, 2020, 08:18:16 AM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/

A million thanks! It was a fantastic read

Relayer has always been one of my favorite Yes albums and that was an awesome read on the details of how that album came together.  Fun trivia: Patrick Moraz currently lives in Venice, FL and is a semi-frequent customer at the music store my uncle owns. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 24, 2020, 06:09:04 PM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/

I'm one of those guys who would not have been sad had Moraz stayed with them for at least one more album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on July 24, 2020, 06:46:14 PM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/

I'm one of those guys who would not have been sad had Moraz stayed with them for at least one more album.

Same. Maybe it's just because the album he's on is just that good, but I really like the atmospheric element he added to the band, & I would've loved to hear more of that, though I have nothing against Rick Wakeman.

I really need to check out Patrick Moraz's other work.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 24, 2020, 08:45:05 PM
Came across this while googling stuff for the Jethro Tull discography.  Hope someone finds this of interest (I did).

https://musicaficionado.blog/2018/11/28/relayer-by-yes/

A million thanks! It was a fantastic read
I also love this Yes's encarnacion and  didn't know anything about the keyboardists auditions and how Relayer was made. Very interesting read, thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 24, 2020, 09:04:03 PM
I found an excellent bootleg from the Relayer tour (forgive me if it was already posted before, I didn't research here):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9slYwwUhSE
What a great fit Patrick Moraz was! The band was truly on fire then, very cool!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 25, 2020, 08:07:17 AM
Yeah, Moraz brought a whole different attitude to the keys for Yes.  I hadn't really thought about it in those terms before, but a couple of articles mention the jazzfusion influence of bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra (Jan Hammer on keys) and Return to Forever (Chick Corea on keys) and once that's pointed out, it's pretty obvious.  It's a jazzy influence, more adventurous than Wakeman's classical-based jamming, and obviously very different.

I've tried checking out Moraz solo stuff, and I can't seem to get into it.  He's got a good ear for sounds and patches, and everything's well-produced and all, but the music itself feels very sterile and in some ways simplistic.  I'm not in the same league as Patrick Moraz by any stretch of the imagination, but most of Story of I sounds like stuff I could do here in my basement.  Patterns, arpeggios, soundscapes, all very nice, sure to impress, but not exactly the groundbreaking, mind-boggling work I'd been led to believe it was.  Well, maybe in 1976 it was groundbreaking.

Moraz seems like the kind of guy who may do his best work in collaboration with others.  I loved what he brought to The Moody Blues, and I'm not even a huge Moody Blues fan.  Even the Moraz-Bruford Blue Brains (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIuWjKM72_c) stuff is pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 29, 2020, 05:02:06 PM
I like a few of the solo Moraz albums that I have and I also have some of his work with Bruford - Flags and Music For Piano and Drums.

Tend to listen more to the Bruford related work than solo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on September 04, 2020, 03:18:33 PM
Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 04, 2020, 07:24:24 PM
Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?

You are not.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 04, 2020, 07:39:28 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/xD47iak.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/YvinNAh.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 05, 2020, 02:01:22 AM
 :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 05, 2020, 06:34:37 AM
But nowadays he looks more like Gollum  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on September 05, 2020, 06:40:11 AM
But nowadays he looks more like Gollum  ;)
:rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 05, 2020, 07:54:02 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/qrpRPGM.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/CiGG2wy.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on September 05, 2020, 10:21:26 AM
I feel bad because when my friend and I went to see Yes in 2008 we kept calling him Skeletor. Man, we were some shitty teenagers.  :lol

I remember when the intermission came on, he was the only band member who stayed on stage and played an acoustic piece until the others came back. Dude rocks. I just bought his new solo album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on September 05, 2020, 12:00:04 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/qrpRPGM.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/CiGG2wy.jpg)

 :rollin :rollin :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 05, 2020, 02:17:43 PM
Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?

My wife gets pissed at me every time he shows up on screen and I yell "Steve Howe!" But then again I yell "Rick Wakeman" at Christoper Lee in those movies. Guess who I yell Trewavas at in The Hobbit?

You might surmise I'm not much fun to bring to a movie.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on September 05, 2020, 02:20:52 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/qrpRPGM.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/CiGG2wy.jpg)

I prefer to remember him as Elrond.  Besides, I'm sure I'd even get sick of yelling "Steve Howe" every time Gollum is on the screen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: chknptpie on September 06, 2020, 08:32:31 AM
I always thought of him as the crypt keeper from Tales From The Crypt or even Iron Maiden's Eddie.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on September 06, 2020, 09:11:20 AM
Yeah I've seen some crypt keeper comparisons on the web throughout the years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on September 06, 2020, 01:21:48 PM
But nowadays he looks more like Gollum  ;)

Hilarious!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on September 08, 2020, 02:32:28 AM
He might look older than he actually is, however: I watched YES feat. ARW the other night and I realised that Steve's unique, spastic guitar style is so crucial for the Yes sound. As important as Chris' omnipresent bass and Jon's angelic voice. Trevor Rabin can shred, yes, but no one comes close to the magic that Steve Howe is doing in Awaken at 9:50 (original version).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Eldomm on September 08, 2020, 05:43:48 AM

Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?

+1
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 08, 2020, 10:08:44 AM
I always thought of him as the crypt keeper from Tales From The Crypt or even Iron Maiden's Eddie.

I would laugh like hell if the band kicked into "Iron Maiden", with all the fire and lights....   and Bruce Dickinson gets into a sword fight with perhaps one of the few musicians that is shorter than he is.   ;)   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 08, 2020, 11:09:38 AM
He might look older than he actually is, however: I watched YES feat. ARW the other night and I realised that Steve's unique, spastic guitar style is so crucial for the Yes sound. As important as Chris' omnipresent bass and Jon's angelic voice. Trevor Rabin can shred, yes, but no one comes close to the magic that Steve Howe is doing in Awaken at 9:50 (original version).

Although I like Rabin's playing so much more on all levels than Howe's, I agree that Steve Howe is crucial for the classic Yes sound. But his soloing over everything, especially on later records can get a bit much.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 08, 2020, 11:32:15 AM
Now if we could only fix his tone.   :\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on September 08, 2020, 11:47:21 AM
One of the more recent interviews I saw in the last couple of years with Steve Howe he was showing his current touring rig. Seems like he's jumped on the Line 6 Helix bandwagon. I can recall last time I saw a cover band playing a dive bar here in Dallas BOTH guitarists had Helix's and were getting pretty faithful to the album tones for the tunes they were covering. I'm pretty sure if Howe wanted and edgier rockier guitar tone he could easily dial it up on the Helix. He probably just prefers the thin clean tone he seems to have been in love with since the '96 SLO shows.  It's pretty weak sounding IMO, and really does a disservice to his looser, fiery playing style. Makes him sound sloppy as opposed to edgy. I've always felt that Steve's best guitar tone in a live release is on Yessongs (not that we had much else to choose from until recently!). That's is a lovely crunchy (almost distorted) healthy rock'n'roll tone. I think Yes' music sounds better with more of this approach!
 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on September 08, 2020, 04:41:16 PM
I'm gonna give this question another shot.

In Close to the Edge on Yessongs (and I think every other video that features the song and every live show I've seen), Steve Howe starts playing one of his Gibson hollow-body guitars (ES-something or other, I think).  However, right before the vocals start, he switches to a different guitar mounted on a stand.  What is that second guitar, and why is he making the switch?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 08, 2020, 05:29:22 PM
He might look older than he actually is, however: I watched YES feat. ARW the other night and I realised that Steve's unique, spastic guitar style is so crucial for the Yes sound. As important as Chris' omnipresent bass and Jon's angelic voice. Trevor Rabin can shred, yes, but no one comes close to the magic that Steve Howe is doing in Awaken at 9:50 (original version).

But his soloing over everything, especially on later records can get a bit much.

I've seen this criticism before, and while I guess I understand where it's coming from, it's not accurate.  Steve is not soloing, and it's not "over everything".  His countermelodies are well under the vocals, and they are a huge part of the Yes sound.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on September 08, 2020, 07:16:44 PM
I'm gonna give this question another shot.

In Close to the Edge on Yessongs (and I think every other video that features the song and every live show I've seen), Steve Howe starts playing one of his Gibson hollow-body guitars (ES-something or other, I think).  However, right before the vocals start, he switches to a different guitar mounted on a stand.  What is that second guitar, and why is he making the switch?
The what is an electric sitar. As for the why, it's probably as simple as he liked the sound for that section, and that's what he recorded it with. Howe is very detail oriented, so he's going to do his best to match the various tones from the albums, even if nobody notices but him. Nowadays he's got a stand-mounted variax that does the sitar parts (and probably a few other odds and ends).

Interesting instrument, and we've all heard it a gazillion times without ever realizing it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_sitar
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on September 09, 2020, 09:43:17 AM
I'm gonna give this question another shot.

In Close to the Edge on Yessongs (and I think every other video that features the song and every live show I've seen), Steve Howe starts playing one of his Gibson hollow-body guitars (ES-something or other, I think).  However, right before the vocals start, he switches to a different guitar mounted on a stand.  What is that second guitar, and why is he making the switch?
The what is an electric sitar. As for the why, it's probably as simple as he liked the sound for that section, and that's what he recorded it with. Howe is very detail oriented, so he's going to do his best to match the various tones from the albums, even if nobody notices but him. Nowadays he's got a stand-mounted variax that does the sitar parts (and probably a few other odds and ends).

Thanks.  That's what I thought (and the "what" also answers the "why").  I guess if the album had been recorded today, he'd simply click a switch on his pedal board and not have to play a second instrument.  This sort of stuff is what makes a lot of the 70s live videos so cool.  Howe switches back and forth between instruments (including the pedal steel) with little to no obvious effort (although I'm sure his roadies would disagree with my effort analysis).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DragonAttack on September 09, 2020, 01:19:49 PM
 :D :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 09, 2020, 12:11:08 PM
https://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-alumni-announce-new-band-arc-of-life-and-release-video-for-you-make-it-real

New band comprising old and current members of Yes (and CIRCA:) are set to release a new album next February!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on December 09, 2020, 02:10:50 PM
That song was a struggle to get through. Nothing there to connect with.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on December 09, 2020, 06:48:43 PM
Cool, so it's like OYE except now Billy Sherwood can't sing. :-\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on December 09, 2020, 06:56:07 PM
Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?

My wife gets pissed at me every time he shows up on screen and I yell "Steve Howe!" But then again I yell "Rick Wakeman" at Christoper Lee in those movies. Guess who I yell Trewavas at in The Hobbit?

You might surmise I'm not much fun to bring to a movie.

It’s appropriate for The Lord of the Rings to have the most prog rock cast ever. Also, Boromir is Ray Wilson.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 09, 2020, 09:41:20 PM
https://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-alumni-announce-new-band-arc-of-life-and-release-video-for-you-make-it-real

New band comprising old and current members of Yes (and CIRCA:) are set to release a new album next February!

-Marc.

No. Just....No.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 10, 2020, 09:41:14 AM
I want to like that, I do, but....    I don't.   

I'm a fan of Billy Sherwood, at least I think I am, but everything he's on I don't really like.  :)   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 10, 2020, 10:14:15 AM
I also found it quite hard to get through this song... I don't understand how these guys finish a song like this and then say "we can release this song like that" and all agree on it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 10, 2020, 10:16:44 AM
It is legitimately terrible.  The only thing worse than the song is the video.  If Billy Sherwood and Jon Davison are the ones steering the good ship Yes going forward, I'm going to give them a hard pass.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 10, 2020, 10:46:56 AM
Steve Howe is (to me) the only "real" Yes member left.  Geoff Downes has earned some cred with me because I've always liked his keyboard work, even if he's not as fast and flashy as Wakeman.  And with Chris gone and Jon A not likely to come back, Steve is the closest thing we have to an original member.

Anyway, it's discouraging because I'm sure Steve would like Yes to continue, but he can't do it alone.  So he's recently put more effort into his solo and trio work, which I guess left Sherwood and Davison to go do this Arc of Life thing, which is generally disappointing.  Especially disappointing because I like Circa, and Arc of Life is like half Circa, so expectations were high.

Obviously I would have preferred Howe, Davison, and Sherwood to work together on new Yes music, but for whatever reason, that didn't happen and Arc of Life is apparently that's the closest we're gonna get for now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 10, 2020, 11:03:15 AM
https://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-alumni-announce-new-band-arc-of-life-and-release-video-for-you-make-it-real

New band comprising old and current members of Yes (and CIRCA:) are set to release a new album next February!

-Marc.
Are these guys for real??  :metal :metal :metal :metal  :lol  :lol   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 10, 2020, 11:55:48 AM
Kerzner is someone who I've loved his involvement in different projects and I always loved World Trade which Billy and Jay came from.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on December 10, 2020, 12:10:12 PM
Holy shit. I thought you guys were exaggerating a bit. Then I listened to it. No, thank you.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 12, 2020, 08:35:45 PM
Random observation:  Am I the only one who thinks Elrond from the Lord of the Rings movies looks like Yessongs era Steve Howe?

My wife gets pissed at me every time he shows up on screen and I yell "Steve Howe!" But then again I yell "Rick Wakeman" at Christoper Lee in those movies. Guess who I yell Trewavas at in The Hobbit?

You might surmise I'm not much fun to bring to a movie.

It’s appropriate for The Lord of the Rings to have the most prog rock cast ever. Also, Boromir is Ray Wilson.

I had not thought of that.  Kind of makes sense.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 12, 2020, 08:37:50 PM
I want to like that, I do, but....    I don't.   

I'm a fan of Billy Sherwood, at least I think I am, but everything he's on I don't really like.  :)

I am NOT a fan of Billy Sherwood so there is no need for any further exploration from me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 13, 2020, 11:44:53 AM
Yikes...I think I actually kind of like it. Then again, I'm pretty fond of OYE even though it's universally hated.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 13, 2020, 03:49:31 PM
I like Open Your Eyes.  I understand some of the complaints that many hardcore Yesheads have, but I don't agree with most of them.  And I consider myself a pretty hardcore Yeshead.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 13, 2020, 11:11:34 PM
I like Open Your Eyes.  I understand some of the complaints that many hardcore Yesheads have, but I don't agree with most of them.  And I consider myself a pretty hardcore Yeshead.

I agree, Open Your Eyes is not that bad. I think there's a bunch of pretty good tracks on there. The title track, Wonderlove and especially From The Balcony.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 14, 2020, 07:45:22 AM
I like Open Your Eyes.  I understand some of the complaints that many hardcore Yesheads have, but I don't agree with most of them.  And I consider myself a pretty hardcore Yeshead.

I agree, Open Your Eyes is not that bad. I think there's a bunch of pretty good tracks on there. The title track, Wonderlove and especially From The Balcony.

EASILY my least favorite Yes album.... though having said "easily", "Heaven And Earth" is a strong second. 

For you guys that like it - and I respect that, I'm not calling you on that - what's worse? 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 14, 2020, 11:16:44 AM
I don't know, it's okay, it has its moments, but the fact that they shelved the Keys studio material to put OYE out is still a bgi WTF? in a history of WTF moments in their later career.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2020, 11:38:13 AM
the fact that they shelved the Keys studio material to put OYE out is still a bgi WTF? in a history of WTF moments in their later career.

I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Open Your Eyes came out after Keys to Ascension 2.

Keystudio, which combined the studio tracks from the two Keys albums, was actually an afterthought, even if it did put all the studio material together as was apparently the plan at one point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 14, 2020, 01:08:16 PM
the fact that they shelved the Keys studio material to put OYE out is still a bgi WTF? in a history of WTF moments in their later career.

I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Open Your Eyes came out after Keys to Ascension 2.

Keystudio, which combined the studio tracks from the two Keys albums, was actually an afterthought, even if it did put all the studio material together as was apparently the plan at one point.

The Keys studio material was recorded before Open Your Eyes but released a few weeks after, as an afterthought.  It was supposed to be an official studio album, but the band (except Wakeman) changed their mind and that's why Wakeman left that time.  Open Your Eyes was supposed to be a Chris Squire Conspiracy album that they grafted Jon and Steve on to make it a Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on December 14, 2020, 01:10:45 PM
Keys II was released early November and OYE was a late November release.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 14, 2020, 01:31:29 PM
Correct.  All the Keys studio material (save for the re-arranged "Children of the Light") was released before Open Your Eyes.  That was my point.  I'm not sure why you're trying to say otherwise.  We agree that Keystudio was an afterthought and came out after Open Your Eyes, but your initial statement that "they shelved the Keys studio material to put OYE out" is still incorrect.  The Keys studio material was out first.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 14, 2020, 02:23:32 PM
Man, I had that remembered wrong.  I forgot that OYE came in on the heels of KTA 2 because the record label was keen to make that happen.   :-\
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on December 14, 2020, 03:26:20 PM
My favorite part of OYE is how clueless Alan White sounds playing the drum part of Somehow, Someday. It's like he's just playing along to a track he's never heard and isn't quite sure of how the rhythm goes. But the title track is quite spectacular and a song I wouldn't mind them busting out again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 15, 2020, 10:53:24 AM
My favorite part of OYE is how clueless Alan White sounds playing the drum part of Somehow, Someday. It's like he's just playing along to a track he's never heard and isn't quite sure of how the rhythm goes.
:lol
Now I have to dust off that album and listen to it just for that reason.  I don't remember hearing that..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 15, 2020, 10:59:02 AM
Man, I had that remembered wrong.  I forgot that OYE came in on the heels of KTA 2 because the record label was keen to make that happen.   :-\

Different labels, too.  Keys and Keys 2 were on Essential, Open Your Eyes was on Eagle.  Once Yes left Atlantic, I don't think they ever really had another long-term relationship with a label.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 15, 2020, 11:53:12 AM
My favorite part of OYE is how clueless Alan White sounds playing the drum part of Somehow, Someday. It's like he's just playing along to a track he's never heard and isn't quite sure of how the rhythm goes.
:lol
Now I have to dust off that album and listen to it just for that reason.  I don't remember hearing that..

Well, one could be meaning well and say his playing is creating a 3/4 - 4/4 polyrhythm throughout big parts of the song... But really, he probably just played some 4/4 over it (like he did over many things after 1980)  :lol

Like many songs on that album, I think it's overproduced. It's actually a good ballad and it would have worked with just Steve's guitar and Jon's voice. It would also have been beautiful with Rick's piano and some magic Steve comments in-between (yes I know Rick is not playing on Open Your Eyes, but it would have sounded great)...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on December 15, 2020, 12:52:49 PM
My favorite part of OYE is how clueless Alan White sounds playing the drum part of Somehow, Someday. It's like he's just playing along to a track he's never heard and isn't quite sure of how the rhythm goes. But the title track is quite spectacular and a song I wouldn't mind them busting out again.

To me it sounds like typical Alan being creative and having fun deftly navigating groupings of 3, 4, & 6.  Actually sounds pretty smooth to me, but then that do I know?  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on January 16, 2021, 01:46:37 PM
I pulled Fly From Here off the shelf today. I know many people dislike it and even say it's not really  a Yes album. I really enjoy it. It has a comfortable calming quality to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 16, 2021, 02:00:31 PM
I pulled Fly From Here off the shelf today. I know many people dislike it and even say it's not really  a Yes album. I really enjoy it. It has a comfortable calming quality to it.
I listened to it once,  and it's been on the shelf ever since. Perhaps I'll give it another chance.  It's hard for me to listen to Yes without Anderson.  At least Squire is on the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on January 16, 2021, 03:27:18 PM
True confession. I bought Fly From Here Return Trip last November and it's probably the 1st time I've been mostly happy with a Yes album since I devoured their catalog in 1990. Dunno..maybe I've just come to lower my standards over the years, but I'm REALLY digging this album. Spun it again just last night and it just keeps getting better with each listen. (IMO of course)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on January 16, 2021, 03:57:14 PM
Benoit David was such an awkward fit in the Yes lineup,  they lost me after Andersons departure. The only exception of a good Yes album without JA is called Drama.  (imo)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on January 16, 2021, 04:17:32 PM
Love Drama. Way up there on my list of favorite Yes albums. I've been on a Yes and Genesis kick lately. Really reaffirming my love for so many albums. Such strong discographies that stand against the test of time. Each one holds a special place in my heart and can instantly draw me back to memories associated with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on January 16, 2021, 04:34:41 PM
Benoit David was such an awkward fit in the Yes lineup,  they lost me after Andersons departure. The only exception of a good Yes album without JA is called Drama.  (imo)

With Horn on the vocals FFH Return Trip is basically "Drama 2" as far as I'm concerned. A totally legitimate Yes lineup and probably the only Yes record that I actually want to listen to since......well Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 16, 2021, 04:37:23 PM
I loved Fly from where when it came out. It couldn't have cared less for Anderson's departure, I was already aware that this was the 20th Yes line up, so it didn't bother me. The epic track has plenty of amazing moments, especially in the first half, and The Man you always wanted me to be features some tasty guitar work by Steve Howe and glorious Chris Squire vocals.

It might find its way to my top 10 of Yes albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 16, 2021, 06:17:47 PM
Big fan of Drama, and a big fan of Fly From Here.  It's not Drama, but it SMOKES what is immediately around it in the catalogue (everything since the second Keys; Magnification is good, The Ladder is OK, and OYE and H&E are an embarrassment to the legacy, IMO).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on January 17, 2021, 10:51:18 AM
Big fan of Drama, and a big fan of Fly From Here.  It's not Drama, but it SMOKES what is immediately around it in the catalogue (everything since the second Keys; Magnification is good, The Ladder is OK, and OYE and H&E are an embarrassment to the legacy, IMO).

Magnification is actually an interesting album for its uniqueness, but I struggle to think of any one song on it that I really ever want to hear. The title track is nice. Squire's XYZ leftover (Can You Imagine) is alright. Dreamtime is decent I suppose. Yeah, not much else there I'd care to revisit.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on January 17, 2021, 10:48:11 PM
Magnification is the best post-Drama Yes album in my opinion. It's not the whacky prog of the 70s, but it has some very good and actually complex songs and a great production.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on January 18, 2021, 04:01:40 PM
Magnification is the best post-Drama Yes album in my opinion. It's not the whacky prog of the 70s, but it has some very good and actually complex songs and a great production.

Good call on the production. The orchestra really sounds excellent and mixed very effectively with the band. I just wish the songs themselves did more for me. Aw well. Maybe this one will grow more on me over time. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on February 06, 2021, 01:15:17 PM
Spun CttE yesterday. Been years...too many. Masterpiece. As stunning today as the first listen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on February 06, 2021, 01:27:42 PM
Spun CttE yesterday. Been years...too many. Masterpiece. As stunning today as the first listen.

Been on a Yes kick lately and getting to CttE always reminds me why I think it might just be the greatest album ever made, or at least up there. My 1,000th listen was just as breathtaking as the 10th.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 06, 2021, 01:34:25 PM
Same here.  I listen to the main sequence stuff all the time and it's always great.  ♫♫
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 06, 2021, 03:21:40 PM
One of the records I return to regularly. Just awesome from start to finish.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 06, 2021, 05:22:37 PM
I was reminded last weeks of the lyrics to And You and I (which was played by the DJ at my wedding reception), so CTTE is next on my list after I finish my current jaunt through Triumph's discography.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 06, 2021, 11:10:29 PM
My favorite of theirs remains Relayer, and it's one of the greatest albums I've ever heard. But the whole Close/Tales/Relayer trilogy is out of this world. Each a 10/10 album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on February 07, 2021, 04:52:12 AM
My favorite of theirs remains Relayer, and it's one of the greatest albums I've ever heard. But the whole Close/Tales/Relayer trilogy is out of this world. Each a 10/10 album.

Definitely...the amount of intense and deep shit they cranked out in 3 years is mindblowing when you consider bands nowadays release an album once every 3 years if we're lucky.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 07, 2021, 08:09:00 AM
I'd take The Yes Album/Fragile/Close to the Edge as their definitive trilogy (when discussing consecutive studio albums), but Relayer is pretty damn great as well. Tales isn't on the level of those four, but it's still quite good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 07, 2021, 08:35:24 AM
I'd take The Yes Album/Fragile/Close to the Edge as their definitive trilogy (when discussing consecutive studio albums), but Relayer is pretty damn great as well. Tales isn't on the level of those four, but it's still quite good.

Many people do, but I personally disagree.

I even like Going For The One and Drama better than the Yes Album. I'd also put those two at the same level (or even above) Fragile.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on February 07, 2021, 09:32:02 AM
I haven't listened to CTTE in ages... time to change that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 07, 2021, 11:35:19 AM
Fragile is such an odd duck for me.

Roundabout?  Heart of the Sunrise?  Absolute 10/10 classics.

South Side?  Underrated, great song.

Long Distance Runaround?  Quirky, good song.

Mood for the Day?  Incredible solo guitar piece.

But that's really it.

The Fish is cool, but....  Cans and Brahms?  Yawn.  We Have Heaven?  Yeah, ok, Jon.  Five Percent?  Thank goodness it's only 35 seconds.

The Yes Album has two all-time great songs:  Disgrace and Starship.  Sandwiched between them is another great Steve Howe guitar piece (Clap).  I'm not a huge fan of YM/AGP, and I think Perpetual Change is underrated.  A Venture is no better than meh.

GFTO:  I'm not a huge fan of the title track, and I think Parallels on Yesshows is WAY better than the studio version.  So I'd probably put TYA and GFTO on roughly the same level.

CTTE is perfection from start to finish, and TFTO comes pretty close.  Relayer loses it on side 2.  Sound Chaser is good but not great, and To Be Over is just meh.

Drama?  The first and third songs on each side are really good to great, but there's nothing there that makes me say all-time great.

I guess that makes my rankings as follows:

CTTE
TFTO
Relayer
Fragile
TYA/GFTO
Drama
Tormato
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 07, 2021, 12:23:49 PM
Fragile is such an odd duck for me.

Roundabout?  Heart of the Sunrise?  Absolute 10/10 classics.

South Side?  Underrated, great song.

Long Distance Runaround?  Quirky, good song.

Mood for the Day?  Incredible solo guitar piece.

But that's really it.

The Fish is cool, but....  Cans and Brahms?  Yawn.  We Have Heaven?  Yeah, ok, Jon.  Five Percent?  Thank goodness it's only 35 seconds.

On this I agree almost 100%. Cans, Heaven and Five could have been eliminated as they are and I would be fine with it. The Long Distance/Fish double pack is pretty cool. And the three "big" songs are all amazing and deservedly classics.

But:

Relayer loses it on side 2.  Sound Chaser is good but not great, and To Be Over is just meh.

To Be Over meh?
To Be Over?

MEH???

I think To Be Over is one of their most beautiful songs of all time. And I'll put it above And You And I as well! The finale is just amazing. I always hear church bells (although there are no church bells).

I'll fight you over this  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 07, 2021, 01:04:49 PM
I don't hold We Have Heaven or the keyboard or drum solo songs against Fragile at all considering they take up less than four minutes of the entire album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 07, 2021, 01:30:15 PM
Fragile is such an odd duck for me.

Roundabout?  Heart of the Sunrise?  Absolute 10/10 classics.

South Side?  Underrated, great song.

Long Distance Runaround?  Quirky, good song.

Mood for the Day?  Incredible solo guitar piece.

But that's really it.

The Fish is cool, but....  Cans and Brahms?  Yawn.  We Have Heaven?  Yeah, ok, Jon.  Five Percent?  Thank goodness it's only 35 seconds.

On this I agree almost 100%. Cans, Heaven and Five could have been eliminated as they are and I would be fine with it. The Long Distance/Fish double pack is pretty cool. And the three "big" songs are all amazing and deservedly classics.

Long Distance/Fish is greater than the sum of its parts.  Still...

Mood >>> Fish >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cans >>>>> Heaven >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> x1000 >>>>>>> 5%


To Be Over meh?
To Be Over?

MEH???

I think To Be Over is one of their most beautiful songs of all time. And I'll put it above And You And I as well! The finale is just amazing. I always hear church bells (although there are no church bells).

I'll fight you over this  :biggrin:

Gotta find me first!  ;-)  I see TBO get a lot of love here, so I listen to it more frequently than I otherwise would, but after 30+ years I don't think my opinion is too likely to change.


I don't hold We Have Heaven or the keyboard or drum solo songs against Fragile at all considering they take up less than four minutes of the entire album.

Fair point.  It's hard, in retrospect, not to apply modern album length standards and say that I wish they had done another "real" song.


Also, The Yes Album will be 50 years old in 10 days, and Fragile will hit the 50 year mark this November.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on February 07, 2021, 02:24:22 PM
I also agree that Cans & Brahms, We Have Heaven (& its reprise), & 5% aren't that great, but combined, they only make up about 10% of the album.

If they were unlistenable or something, it'd probably bother me more, but personally I think they're just "meh". I think they're nice in the context of the album but don't offer much on their own. That doesn't stop Fragile from being in my top 5 albums of all time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 07, 2021, 02:53:19 PM
I actually think all of those bits on Fragile are either entertaining or pleasant. Even if they were duds, they wouldn't be able to drag down an album otherwise composed of brilliant epic music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 07, 2021, 03:55:56 PM
I actually think all of those bits on Fragile are either entertaining or pleasant. Even if they were duds, they wouldn't be able to drag down an album otherwise composed of brilliant epic music.

I think 3 of the 5 are duds, but yeah, I agree that they don't drag down the album.  They do, however, fail to elevate it beyond three great songs and one that's really good (plus Mood for a Day, which is great, but it's just Steve).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 07, 2021, 04:14:11 PM
I actually think all of those bits on Fragile are either entertaining or pleasant. Even if they were duds, they wouldn't be able to drag down an album otherwise composed of brilliant epic music.

I like them actually. The only one I can do with out is Five Percent, but it's so short, it's not worth complaining about.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 07, 2021, 04:18:13 PM
I love Five percent for being frantic yet brief, such an awesome moment.  :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on February 07, 2021, 04:41:43 PM
.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 07, 2021, 05:28:58 PM
I've listened to Fragile start to finish so many times now (including the first hundred or so on vinyl obviously) that I couldn't imagine it any other way.  Plus, there's a whole reason and logic to the inclusion of the solo pieces, and why Wakeman's is kinda weak (even though I like it), so I can't hold any of that against them.  I think it's a cool concept, honestly.  Back when bands could do stuff like that.  Not trying to be obscure, just don't want to repeat stuff that's already been discussed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 07, 2021, 05:58:38 PM
there's a whole reason and logic to the inclusion of the solo pieces, and why Wakeman's is kinda weak

I must have missed this discussion....?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 07, 2021, 06:01:42 PM
there's a whole reason and logic to the inclusion of the solo pieces, and why Wakeman's is kinda weak

I must have missed this discussion....?

Me too.  I'm in for a recap.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on February 07, 2021, 06:13:21 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Wakeman's extravagant keyboard set up left the band with some financial (& thus, time) constraints. This meant they had to get the album out soon while only having 30ish minutes of material. That's when the idea of filling the rest of the album with the solo pieces came in.

idk the reason for Wakeman's interlude being "kinda weak" though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 07, 2021, 06:36:43 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Wakeman's extravagant keyboard set up left the band with some financial (& thus, time) constraints. This meant they had to get the album soon out while only having 30ish minutes of material. That's when the idea of filling the rest of the album with the solo pieces came in.

idk the reason for Wakeman's interlude being "kinda weak" though.

Well, I know he couldn't write anything because of his solo deal with... I think it was A&M.  So that's why his is a cover.  I don't know if that equates to "weak".  I like how he used different keyboard instruments to play the different orchestral instruments.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 07, 2021, 07:16:05 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Wakeman's extravagant keyboard set up left the band with some financial (& thus, time) constraints. This meant they had to get the album soon out while only having 30ish minutes of material. That's when the idea of filling the rest of the album with the solo pieces came in.

idk the reason for Wakeman's interlude being "kinda weak" though.

Well, I know he couldn't write anything because of his solo deal with... I think it was A&M.  So that's why his is a cover.  I don't know if that equates to "weak".  I like how he used different keyboard instruments to play the different orchestral instruments.

Per Wikipedia (which is largely based on an unauthorized bio written by someone named Dan Hedges):  "Fragile is formed of nine tracks; four are 'group arranged and performed' with the remaining five being 'the individual ideas, personally arranged and organised' by the five members.  Squire reasoned this approach was necessary in part to save time and reduce studio costs, as money was used to purchase keyboard equipment for Wakeman."
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 07, 2021, 08:15:54 PM
It's all of the above.  There was huge pressure from Atlantic to get the next album out.  Part of that was because Wakeman's keyboards were very expensive.  I've never seen it spelled out explicitly, but I've always taken that to mean that the label actually bought the equipment and wanted their investment back.  It seems weird that the label would buy the equipment in the first place, but the Wakeman deal was weird all the way around.  Maybe it was Wakeman personally who went deep into debt?  That doesn't make much sense, either, but who knows?

The liner notes talk about how there are spotlight tracks for each of the band members.  The Fish is Squire, Mood for a Day is obviously Howe, Five Per Cent for Nothing is Bruford, and We Have Heaven is Anderson.  Wakeman had a piece ready, but he was contracted to A&M records, and the terms of him appearing on Atlantic forbade him from recording any original music with them.  So at the last minute, he whipped up "Cans and Brahms".  I personally like it.  In the 70's, it was still pretty novel to arrange a classical piece entirely for keyboards, and the idea of each section being played on a different keyboard seemed pretty cool to me.  I think I was still in junior high when Fragile came out.  I remember my mom had to drive me to the store to get it.

The five solo tracks were literally filler, because the band only had four songs ready and the label was pressuring them to get the next album out because they have bills to pay.  It was presented as a way to spotlight each of the members, but it was really because Yes take a long time to write and record songs, but the solo tracks could be put together relatively quickly.

Anyway, I referred to Can and Brahms as "weak" because on the Yesfans boards, it seems to be considered pretty bad.  At least part of that is because the piece Wakeman had prepared became Catherine of Aragon from his solo album The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and it's one of the standout tracks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 07, 2021, 08:36:25 PM
It's all of the above.  There was huge pressure from Atlantic to get the next album out.  Part of that was because Wakeman's keyboards were very expensive.  I've never seen it spelled out explicitly, but I've always taken that to mean that the label actually bought the equipment and wanted their investment back.  It seems weird that the label would buy the equipment in the first place, but the Wakeman deal was weird all the way around.  Maybe it was Wakeman personally who went deep into debt?  That doesn't make much sense, either, but who knows?

The liner notes talk about how there are spotlight tracks for each of the band members.  The Fish is Squire, Mood for a Day is obviously Howe, Five Per Cent for Nothing is Bruford, and We Have Heaven is Anderson.  Wakeman had a piece ready, but he was contracted to A&M records, and the terms of him appearing on Atlantic forbade him from recording any original music with them.  So at the last minute, he whipped up "Cans and Brahms".  I personally like it.  In the 70's, it was still pretty novel to arrange a classical piece entirely for keyboards, and the idea of each section being played on a different keyboard seemed pretty cool to me.  I think I was still in junior high when Fragile came out.  I remember my mom had to drive me to the store to get it.

The five solo tracks were literally filler, because the band only had four songs ready and the label was pressuring them to get the next album out because they have bills to pay.  It was presented as a way to spotlight each of the members, but it was really because Yes take a long time to write and record songs, but the solo tracks could be put together relatively quickly.

Anyway, I referred to Can and Brahms as "weak" because on the Yesfans boards, it seems to be considered pretty bad.  At least part of that is because the piece Wakeman had prepared became Catherine of Aragon from his solo album The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and it's one of the standout tracks.

Wakeman has had his share of financial troubles over the years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on February 07, 2021, 08:43:06 PM
Popping in to say how much I love To Be Over.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Eldomm on February 08, 2021, 08:03:23 AM
Popping in to say how much I love To Be Over.
Absolutely. One of my favorites!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on February 08, 2021, 10:07:26 AM
Popping in to say how much I love To Be Over.

Yep, the outro to To Be Over is the high point of all their music pre-Turn of the Century for me. Absolutely stunning piece of music from beginning to end.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: EPICVIEW on February 08, 2021, 10:08:53 AM
ive been enjoying rediscovering Yes,   I loved them growing up.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 08, 2021, 10:14:56 AM
Glad I'm not the only one in love with To Be Over. I think it's magical.



By the way, Yes are working on a new album. I read that here:
https://progrock-dt.de/index.php/2021/01/21/es-wird-ernst-das-neue-yes-album-kommt/

Quote
It's getting serious: The new Yes album is coming
We already know that Yes are working on a new album. Now it seems to be largely completed. In a recent interview, drummer Alan White said, "I just finished work on a Yes album and we did everything online by sharing files over the Internet."

The songs were composed mainly by Steve Howe and singer Jon Davison, with some contributions from the other band members. Many ideas go back to Davison, as was the case with "Heaven & Earth".

When asked what the album will sound like, White says: “It will be a completely different album again than last time, as was the case with many Yes albums in the past. I think it will surprise a lot of people. Some things are very commercial, but there are also a bit more funky pieces. ”Contrary to what guitarist Steve Howe has suggested at times, there won't be any epic longtracks on the new album. "We don't have the energy for 27-minute pieces anymore," jokes White. He reports on eleven or twelve songs that are between five and eight minutes long. Whether the supposedly ten-minute "Horizons" (a holdover from the "Heaven & Earth" sessions), "Breaking down on Easy Street" (which dates back to 2012, and was probably made with the participation of Chris Squires) and / or "Midnight" (presumably by Squire and White) will be on the album is still unclear. However, White announced the title of one of the songs: "The Ice Bridge".

As for the status of the work and a possible release date, White cautiously states: “We are currently in the process of mixing the album. That's a lot of material ”. He hopes Yes can release the album in late spring or summer.

In my opinion, all of this doesn't sound too good. Commercial? Funky? ALL via internet? When were Yes ever able to write "commercial" songs (without Trevor Rabin)? And let's be honest, I don't believe White is in the condition to play anything "funky". He was never a "funky" player, but nothing on Heaven & Earth was even groovy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 08, 2021, 12:26:25 PM
^^^ All this.  I agree.

By the way, anyone who's interested in a new Yes album, give Arc Of Life a shot.   The first single came out and was underwhelming to say the least.   The second single, "Just In Sight" is a lot more indicative of the rest of the record (honestly, even the first track isn't that bad in the context of the record).   Billy Sherwood is a beast on bass.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 08, 2021, 12:52:21 PM
I was slightly underwhelmed by Heaven and earth. It wasn't as offensive to my ears as it was to the rest of the fanbase, some of it I found enjoyable, but it was way too vanilla overall. I wonder if they still have it in them to knock it out of the park this time around.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on February 08, 2021, 03:07:35 PM
Heaven And Earth was the most underwhelming, milquetoast album I've ever heard. And, I can almost always find something redeeming in Yes music. Not that one though.

I too find Fragile as an odd duck. Love parts of it but skip others. Still a classic though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 12, 2021, 12:58:50 AM
When I first got into Yes, Fragile was the one album that kind of stuck with me; Close To The Edge took me a LONG time to get into, particularly the title track, and TFTO was even a more difficult album for me to feel. Fragile had shorter songs with songwriting that was just as powerful and complex without being too drawn out or eccentric for me to understand, and I actually really enjoyed the little solo pieces. I felt like "America" should have been on the album, though, and it would've given the album another powerful all-band piece. I re-arranged the track list to fit in "America" and it could have even worked on vinyl!

Side 1 - 24:19
Roundabout
Cans And Brahms
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish
America

Side 2 - 24:47
We Have Heaven
South Side Of The Sky
Five Per Cent For Nothing
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise

I knew I wanted to keep the last two tracks as they were, and of course, opening with the first two seemed obvious (I liked the idea that they put CAB right after the opener to be like "Hey, here's our new keyboard player, check him out!" and show him off). With the reprise of "We Have Heaven" tacked on after HOTS, I figured it would create a neat affect to "open side 2" with that song, and so I kept SSOTS after it. All that was left was placing "America" at the "end of side 1" and filling in the other four tracks. In this configuration, I've really come to love the album even more, with five solo spots and five band songs, it's a great collection of pieces that really showcase the band's strengths at the time with some great playing throughout.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 12, 2021, 01:48:44 AM
I like the way you think Marc ;) That We Have Heaven Reprise idea could have come from me  :biggrin:

I don't dislike any of the solo songs, but they cause a bit of an "all over the place"-character for me. Fragile just has those shorter songs that are all completely different and thus lacks some of the consistency that the other albums have.

In my opinion, an album consisting of Roundabout, Long Distance (maybe plus Fish), South Side, America (great thought to mention this awesome cover!!) and Heart Of The Sunrise would have made up a perfect album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on February 12, 2021, 01:58:00 AM
Side 1 - 24:19
Roundabout
Cans And Brahms
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish
America

Side 2 - 24:47
We Have Heaven
South Side Of The Sky
Five Per Cent For Nothing
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise

I really like this playlist, but I think your math is a bit off for Side 1. It seems like that's closer to 26:45 :P
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 12, 2021, 09:03:07 AM
Side 1 - 24:19
Roundabout
Cans And Brahms
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish
America

Side 2 - 24:47
We Have Heaven
South Side Of The Sky
Five Per Cent For Nothing
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise

I really like this playlist, but I think your math is a bit off for Side 1. It seems like that's closer to 26:45 :P

Oh, whoops. I actually had CAB and 5% swapped. I couldn't remember my exact original re-done play list from years ago and had to guess what it was and I thought I kept CAB as track 2. But I just checked my iPad (which I've had for 15 years) and it has 5% as track two.

Side 1 - 25:55
Roundabout
Five Per Cent For Nothing
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish
America

Side 2 - 25:52
We Have Heaven
South Side Of The Sky
Cans And Brahms
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise

There we go, a lot more even! I remember now that I wanted to have the rhythm section featured on side 1 and the melodic lead players on side 2, so 5% and The Fish came before CAB and MFAD.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 12, 2021, 10:04:52 AM
That really would have been pushing it for 1971.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 12, 2021, 10:09:16 AM
That really would have been pushing it for 1971.

Fragile with "America" is only 33 seconds longer than Genesis' Foxtrot, which came out less than a year later.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 13, 2021, 07:06:21 PM
I was reminded last weeks of the lyrics to And You and I (which was played by the DJ at my wedding reception), so CTTE is next on my list after I finish my current jaunt through Triumph's discography.

That is by far my favorite song on that album. It was a wedding reception song for us as well. Think I posted the full wedding reception list around here at some point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 13, 2021, 07:11:34 PM
Popping in to say how much I love To Be Over.
Absolutely. One of my favorites!

Yes!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 13, 2021, 07:14:40 PM
^^^ All this.  I agree.

By the way, anyone who's interested in a new Yes album, give Arc Of Life a shot.   The first single came out and was underwhelming to say the least.   The second single, "Just In Sight" is a lot more indicative of the rest of the record (honestly, even the first track isn't that bad in the context of the record).   Billy Sherwood is a beast on bass.

At this point, Yes has become Queensryche for me now. Not the least bit interested in anything they have to say anymore.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on February 26, 2021, 10:12:45 AM
Not a YES fan, and have never been in this thread. But I got an email about this and it would be right my alley if I were a fan. Passing along in case this is news.

https://www.popmarket.com/union-30-live-super-deluxe-flight-case-30-year-anniversary-edition-26cd-4dvd/5056083208531?utm_campaign=2112082601&utm_medium=email&utm_source=zaius
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 26, 2021, 12:54:14 PM
That's a LOT of money for what I assume are all virtually identical live performances.  One of the best shows I ever attended, but nah.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 27, 2021, 09:18:57 AM
After listening to all seven shows from Progeny, and a number of bootlets over the years, what stands out to me is how different they really are.  It may seem counterintuitive, because Yes music is so complex and structured, but there's actually a lot of improvisation built in.  Steve Howe's solos and licks are always different.  Every song, every time.  Wakeman's a little more structured, but he also mixes things up a lot.  From what I heard of Rabin's live performances, he is similar.  This is most evident in the solo sections, which always feature greatly in live Yes shows.

All that said, I still think 30 discs is insane.  Maybe pick four or five of the best shows.  Or maybe seven, just so that there's something of a symmetry to the Progeny set.  But the buzz on the Yesfans boards is not about what there is, but what is missing.  Apparently there are some pretty well-known professionally shot shows from the Union tour, and they're not the ones on the DVDs here.  Also... DVD?  This is the 21st century.  I waited years to upgrade to HD, and it's been over 10 years already, so honestly I'm still surprised when anyone with any interest in audio or video has not gone HD.  These should be Blu-rays.

I'd have to think that only the most rabid fans, with a lot of money to spend, would want this, while something a little lower key might sell better.  But laying out $300 and not even getting HD turns me off right there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on February 27, 2021, 07:36:36 PM
Don't assume that everything that is Pro-shot is automatically able to be released.
There are so many variables for this to happen, who owns the rights, where are the master tapes, is the audio good, does the band want it released?
As for BR, not everything shot on tape or video can be upgraded and the licencing costs more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 27, 2021, 08:54:30 PM
The "fan recordings" is what scares me.  I have a copy of the Shoreline show; it's KILLER.  I have to look, I think I was at the Worcester show; I know I saw Hartford (it was really good; way better than the album), but that's not on the set.

I don't know; I think I may be watching this on eBay to see if I can get it cheaper.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 28, 2021, 02:20:33 PM
The "fan recordings" is what scares me.  I have a copy of the Shoreline show; it's KILLER.  I have to look, I think I was at the Worcester show; I know I saw Hartford (it was really good; way better than the album), but that's not on the set.

I don't know; I think I may be watching this on eBay to see if I can get it cheaper.

ebay=cheaper? Seems like your experience with ebay is much better than mine (limited.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on February 28, 2021, 02:27:09 PM
I caught the 35th anniversary show on the Pluto music channel last weekend. Nice little acoustic set in the middle of the show. Anderson sounded great. I was kind of bummed White's toms and cymbals were unhearable. His snare was crisp but that was all. So many things have changed since then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 01, 2021, 03:05:16 AM
I don't have a CD player, I just hope they release something like the Best Of Progeny Vinyl for this one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 01, 2021, 07:20:23 AM
The "fan recordings" is what scares me.  I have a copy of the Shoreline show; it's KILLER.  I have to look, I think I was at the Worcester show; I know I saw Hartford (it was really good; way better than the album), but that's not on the set.

I don't know; I think I may be watching this on eBay to see if I can get it cheaper.

ebay=cheaper? Seems like your experience with ebay is much better than mine (limited.)

Well, depends what it is, and you have to be patient.   The pro sellers are usually not cheap, but if you can find a private seller looking to move it, sometimes you can find a deal.   I get 80% or more of my CDs from Discogs, and the remainder are eBay, Amazon or direct (the only direct I'm really buying, though, is from Neal Morse and Marillion/Fish, and not even then).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 04, 2021, 01:36:41 AM
The "fan recordings" is what scares me.  I have a copy of the Shoreline show; it's KILLER.  I have to look, I think I was at the Worcester show; I know I saw Hartford (it was really good; way better than the album), but that's not on the set.

I don't know; I think I may be watching this on eBay to see if I can get it cheaper.

ebay=cheaper? Seems like your experience with ebay is much better than mine (limited.)

Well, depends what it is, and you have to be patient.   The pro sellers are usually not cheap, but if you can find a private seller looking to move it, sometimes you can find a deal.   I get 80% or more of my CDs from Discogs, and the remainder are eBay, Amazon or direct (the only direct I'm really buying, though, is from Neal Morse and Marillion/Fish, and not even then).

I'm not sure why, but I feel like this has gotten much rarer over the last years. I used to always scan eBay for vinyl, but very often the prices there are outrageous by now, as opposed to 4-5 years ago, when I used to stuff cheaper than on Amazon.

Discogs is a completely different story though! I often find rare stuff on Discogs for reasonable prices. Just the other day I bought Ayreon's Electric Castle on gold vinyl for 80 bucks (I know, it's a huge chunk of money, but usually these limited editions go for twice this money).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 07, 2021, 07:06:31 PM
The "fan recordings" is what scares me.  I have a copy of the Shoreline show; it's KILLER.  I have to look, I think I was at the Worcester show; I know I saw Hartford (it was really good; way better than the album), but that's not on the set.

I don't know; I think I may be watching this on eBay to see if I can get it cheaper.

ebay=cheaper? Seems like your experience with ebay is much better than mine (limited.)

Well, depends what it is, and you have to be patient.   The pro sellers are usually not cheap, but if you can find a private seller looking to move it, sometimes you can find a deal.   I get 80% or more of my CDs from Discogs, and the remainder are eBay, Amazon or direct (the only direct I'm really buying, though, is from Neal Morse and Marillion/Fish, and not even then).

Been on ebay a bit more regularly since Covid but haven't found too much of interest and when I do the prices are laughably unreasonable.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 08, 2021, 04:39:52 PM
I was listening yesterday and today to the ABWH "An Evening of Yes Music Plus" live album -- actually just the Yes songs on the album -- and was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about that project 30 years after the fact.

I was excited about having Bruford, Wakeman and Howe together again, and I liked the one studio album at the time, but I probably haven't listened to it in 10-20 years.  It didn't really sound too much like early Yes, and I suspect a lot of that was a result of Chris Squire not being involved and Bill Bruford's focus on electronic percussion.  I went to a concert on the tour and really enjoyed it, but the live album is very lacking and...antiseptic.  I recall reading somewhere that they (or one of them) regretted not including Tony Levin in the band name or as a full member of the group, and I don't know if that had anything to do with him not being on the tour (or the full tour?).  Jeff Berlin played at the show I saw and on the live album, but his bass is very low in the mix, which really takes away from most of the Yes songs, which should feature Squire's growling Rickenbacker.  Despite the inclusion of an additional guitarist and keyboard player, the sound on the live album is somewhat sparse and wimpy.

So...what'd'ya think?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 08, 2021, 08:59:56 PM
Tony Levin toured with them, but missed some shows because he got sick.  Those included the shows recorded for the live album and apparently the night you saw them as well.  Jeff Berlin was brought in on very short notice, but I have no issues with his performance and think they should've cranked him up.  Berlin was Bruford's bassist and a beast in his own right.

I agree with you that there's something off-putting about the sound of the recording, and it's hard to quantify, but "antiseptic" works for me.  Bruford thought he was joining Anderson's latest project, and was disappointed that it "turned into Yes".  His sound is different from classic Yes because he was into different sounds and stuff by then, including the electronic and synth drums.  When you get this many great musicians together, it's really hard to not be impressed with the results, but the album lacks warmth and somehow doesn't sound very "live" to me, though it's obviously live.  It's almost as though they practiced "too much" and the results were too perfect, too clean and shiny.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 09, 2021, 06:44:29 AM
I have to wrack my  brain, but I'm pretty sure when I saw them it was with Levin.  I remember the "stick fingers".   I was into Maiden and Ozzy and Rainbow, but I liked Yes because they had balls (read:  Chris Squire).   I went to this out of a sense of... completeness but it was unrewarding.  Good set, but it wasn't YES.   I much prefered - at that time, and now - the Rabin Yes.  I thought that core trio of Rabin-Squire-White had the essence of Yes that ABWH did not.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 09, 2021, 07:22:57 AM
I liked the ABWH record and I still do, for sure there are better Yes-related records, but also a lot of worse ones. The only dud here is Teakbois.

And I saw them live with Levin. He had the stick fingers and he had a bass with a simple drawing of himself, just some lines, a bald head and a mustache but very obviously himself, and I thought "how cool is that".  :D

The live record of that tour doesn't match what I remember the show to be. Antiseptic isn't a bad word to describe the record. The show itself I saw was great, but then it was the first and only time I saw Yes (or something as close as could be without being Yes), so that may cloud my judgement.

Isn't there another recording out there with Levin that was released some years ago? Has anyone heard it? Is it better?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 09, 2021, 10:09:20 AM
Tony Levin toured with them, but missed some shows because he got sick.  Those included the shows recorded for the live album and apparently the night you saw them as well.  Jeff Berlin was brought in on very short notice, but I have no issues with his performance and think they should've cranked him up.  Berlin was Bruford's bassist and a beast in his own right.

I agree with you that there's something off-putting about the sound of the recording, and it's hard to quantify, but "antiseptic" works for me.  Bruford thought he was joining Anderson's latest project, and was disappointed that it "turned into Yes".  His sound is different from classic Yes because he was into different sounds and stuff by then, including the electronic and synth drums.  When you get this many great musicians together, it's really hard to not be impressed with the results, but the album lacks warmth and somehow doesn't sound very "live" to me, though it's obviously live.  It's almost as though they practiced "too much" and the results were too perfect, too clean and shiny.

Ah yes...now I remember about Levin and Berlin.  Jeff Berlin was a huge name at the time.  I don't remember how the concert itself sounded, but the bass just isn't there on the recording, which is disappointing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on March 09, 2021, 11:20:58 AM
Hadn't listened to that live album in years. IIRC Bruford's electronic kit makes Close to the Edge close to unlistenable. Most of the other classic material suffers a similar fate. IMO the synth drums only work on on the ABWH tunes for which they were originally proscribed. I doubt I'll ever feel inclined to check this out again.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2021, 03:42:14 PM
I am not much of a live album guy, but I did enjoy that ABWH one a lot, and the live version of And You and I even became my go-to version of that song for a spell.  And I LOVE that live version of Birthright.   And of course that piano/keyboard/piano solo Wakeman does is just ridiculous.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on March 09, 2021, 04:21:04 PM
I saw that tour in a building made for music.   The Wang Center. the acoustics for that show was amazing. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 27, 2021, 07:41:11 PM
I was listening yesterday and today to the ABWH "An Evening of Yes Music Plus" live album -- actually just the Yes songs on the album -- and was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about that project 30 years after the fact.

I was excited about having Bruford, Wakeman and Howe together again, and I liked the one studio album at the time, but I probably haven't listened to it in 10-20 years.  It didn't really sound too much like early Yes, and I suspect a lot of that was a result of Chris Squire not being involved and Bill Bruford's focus on electronic percussion.  I went to a concert on the tour and really enjoyed it, but the live album is very lacking and...antiseptic.  I recall reading somewhere that they (or one of them) regretted not including Tony Levin in the band name or as a full member of the group, and I don't know if that had anything to do with him not being on the tour (or the full tour?).  Jeff Berlin played at the show I saw and on the live album, but his bass is very low in the mix, which really takes away from most of the Yes songs, which should feature Squire's growling Rickenbacker.  Despite the inclusion of an additional guitarist and keyboard player, the sound on the live album is somewhat sparse and wimpy.

So...what'd'ya think?


Still like that album a lot. The electronic percussion does really date it and having the bass that low is a bit baffling but other than that I think it's pretty good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 03, 2021, 10:30:23 AM
Not sure the extent to which folks here are fans of "reaction" videos, but this "classical composer reacts to 'Close to the Edge'" video is just fantastic.  This guy has such great insights (even into lyrics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRw3QlUuuSc
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 03, 2021, 12:35:32 PM
Not sure the extent to which folks here are fans of "reaction" videos, but this "classical composer reacts to 'Close to the Edge'" video is just fantastic.  This guy has such great insights (even into lyrics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRw3QlUuuSc

I often watch this guy and I really like what he has to say! (Except for double bass drumming  :lol)

This video was interesting in particular, because it revealed (once again) how fucking COMPLICATED Yes' music was back in the 70s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 03, 2021, 12:38:34 PM
Not sure the extent to which folks here are fans of "reaction" videos, but this "classical composer reacts to 'Close to the Edge'" video is just fantastic.  This guy has such great insights (even into lyrics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRw3QlUuuSc

I just watched this, and it was fantastic.  Maybe the best, most genuine reaction video I've seen.  I really appreciated his insights, and what seemed to be genuine awe of how they did what they did.  Just really good stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on May 03, 2021, 05:11:58 PM
My thing with reaction videos (in addition to sometimes wondering if the person is really hearing the song for the first time) is that I don’t really want to watch someone listen to a song. I love what Rick Beato does with breaking down a song, and think more people should do “classical composer analyzes” or “explains” such and such. The reaction genre has just gotten kind of gimmicky. I saw one that was classically trained flautist reacts to Jethro Tull (or something along those lines), and I’m pretty sure that was her only video and that she had previously listened to Jethro Tull before. I did get a kick out of it though.

Beth Roars is easily the best of the “[professional so and so] reacts” YouTubers though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 03, 2021, 05:51:17 PM
"professional _____ reacts to metal/prog song"  and  "hip-hop dude reacts to prog song" seem to be the most garden variety of these videos it would seem.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: NoseofNicko on May 03, 2021, 06:06:49 PM
Not sure the extent to which folks here are fans of "reaction" videos, but this "classical composer reacts to 'Close to the Edge'" video is just fantastic.  This guy has such great insights (even into lyrics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRw3QlUuuSc

Subscribed to that guy a short while ago. Really enjoy his videos including that one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 03, 2021, 06:23:45 PM
My thing with reaction videos (in addition to sometimes wondering if the person is really hearing the song for the first time) is that I don’t really want to watch someone listen to a song. I love what Rick Beato does with breaking down a song, and think more people should do “classical composer analyzes” or “explains” such and such. The reaction genre has just gotten kind of gimmicky. I saw one that was classically trained flautist reacts to Jethro Tull (or something along those lines), and I’m pretty sure that was her only video and that she had previously listened to Jethro Tull before. I did get a kick out of it though.

Beth Roars is easily the best of the “[professional so and so] reacts” YouTubers though.

Was the flute girl blonde and vaguely eastern European and named Helene (or something like that)?  I watched one of hers and it wasn't terribly interesting.  She's got a bunch of "Yetro Tool" reaction videos, which isn't surprising because there isn't much else for a flute player to react to.

I watched a few by a vocal coach who calls herself "Rebecca Vocal Athlete," but I haven't seen much by her recently.  The "hip hop guy reacts" videos got old pretty quickly.

I love the Beato videos too, but those are very different, and I still like some of the reaction videos.  For me, it's all about genuine reactions and insight that's beyond what I know myself.  Doug brings that in spades, although he's pumping out a lot of Maiden reaction videos.  Those aren't as interesting because, spoiler alert, they're almost all in Em with a I vi vii progression, although his SSOASS video was pretty good.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 04, 2021, 06:39:40 AM
It's just me, and I don't begrudge anyone watching what interests them, but reaction videos do nothing for me.  Music is an experience, and a sensory experience at that.  I want to react to the music, not watch someone react.  It's like watching someone watch porn.   No thanks.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 04, 2021, 09:56:42 AM
When I watched Doug's video for Close to the Edge, I found myself thinking that it would be interesting to see Jon Anderson react to this guy's video.  It'd be interesting to see what Jon would think of Doug's insights - especially with respect to the lyrics.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: chknptpie on May 05, 2021, 06:53:43 AM
His Lateralus video was very cool. He pointed out things I was unaware of.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 05, 2021, 07:36:30 AM
His Lateralus video was very cool. He pointed out things I was unaware of.

I was quite impressed that he figured out the Fibonacci stuff by himself. He listened and went "wait, are they using the Fibonacci sequence to build this melody?"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 05, 2021, 09:55:42 AM
It's just me, and I don't begrudge anyone watching what interests them, but reaction videos do nothing for me.  Music is an experience, and a sensory experience at that.  I want to react to the music, not watch someone react.  It's like watching someone watch porn.   No thanks.  :)
Maybe they should make videos of us reacting to reaction videos.. 🤔
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Skeever on May 05, 2021, 11:43:53 AM
His Lateralus video was very cool. He pointed out things I was unaware of.

I was quite impressed that he figured out the Fibonacci stuff by himself. He listened and went "wait, are they using the Fibonacci sequence to build this melody?"
What are the chances that this is really true?

These reaction videos do not impress me much, either. To me, they are probably not even what they claim to be. What I would suspect is more often the case is that the person making them understands that the value they offer is affirmation that what the viewer likes is good.

I've seen this "classical composer" and he makes very few comments of original value. As far as I know, he's not even a classical composer - I have never heard of him, at least. The point is, he provides a service, and that service is swooping in from somewhere else to affirm for you that the things you like are recognized as good by someone "out there". It's no different than the "Black Dude/White Chick Listens to Dream Theater" type reaction videos. We all know nerdy white guys love prog. This videos are about catering to the need for affirmation that people who aren't that like it too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on May 05, 2021, 11:49:52 AM
His Lateralus video was very cool. He pointed out things I was unaware of.

I was quite impressed that he figured out the Fibonacci stuff by himself. He listened and went "wait, are they using the Fibonacci sequence to build this melody?"
What are the chances that this is really true?

These reaction videos do not impress me much, either. To me, they are probably not even what they claim to be. What I would suspect is more often the case is that the person making them understands that the value they offer is affirmation that what the viewer likes is good.

I've seen this "classical composer" and he makes very few comments of original value. As far as I know, he's not even a classical composer - I have never heard of him, at least. The point is, he provides a service, and that service is swooping in from somewhere else to affirm for you that the things you like are recognized as good by someone "out there". It's no different than the "Black Dude/White Chick Listens to Dream Theater" type reaction videos. We all know nerdy white guys love prog. This videos are about catering to the need for affirmation that people who aren't that like it too.

These are essentially my thoughts as well. I don’t think most of these are first time reactions (some may be since they tend to take a lot of requests), but in this guys’ case he admitted to being familiar with Dream Theater in his Dance of Eternity video and also having attended a G3 concert. Seems unlikely he’s never heard Close to the Edge or Tool. I think it’s more likely he is embellishing a bit, but some of this may be new to him.

He is a real composer though:

http://www.rdouglashelvering.com/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 05, 2021, 12:21:55 PM
When I watched Doug's video for Close to the Edge, I found myself thinking that it would be interesting to see Jon Anderson react to this guy's video.

If you ever find such a video, be sure to record your reaction to it, and post it on YouTube.  Then we can watch the video of you reacting to the video of Jon Anderson reacting to the video of Doug Helvering reacting to the video of Close to the Edge.

That would be cool. :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 05, 2021, 05:53:58 PM
When I watched Doug's video for Close to the Edge, I found myself thinking that it would be interesting to see Jon Anderson react to this guy's video.

If you ever find such a video, be sure to record your reaction to it, and post it on YouTube.  Then we can watch the video of you reacting to the video of Jon Anderson reacting to the video of Doug Helvering reacting to the video of Close to the Edge.

That would be cool. :tup

Vocal coach reacts to Hip Hop guy reacting to video of you reacting to the video of Jon Anderson reacting to the video of Doug Helvering reacting to the video of Close to the Edge.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 06, 2021, 02:12:10 AM
When I watched Doug's video for Close to the Edge, I found myself thinking that it would be interesting to see Jon Anderson react to this guy's video.

If you ever find such a video, be sure to record your reaction to it, and post it on YouTube.  Then we can watch the video of you reacting to the video of Jon Anderson reacting to the video of Doug Helvering reacting to the video of Close to the Edge.

That would be cool. :tup

Vocal coach reacts to Hip Hop guy reacting to video of you reacting to the video of Jon Anderson reacting to the video of Doug Helvering reacting to the video of Close to the Edge.

I would buy that on vinyl.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 08, 2021, 10:10:11 PM
It's just me, and I don't begrudge anyone watching what interests them, but reaction videos do nothing for me.  Music is an experience, and a sensory experience at that.  I want to react to the music, not watch someone react.  It's like watching someone watch porn.   No thanks.  :)

Totally agree.

It's like someone is getting in the way of my listening experience.  Why would I want that distraction?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on May 09, 2021, 01:11:02 AM
Haven’t you guys ever shown someone Tom Sawyer for the very first time and then thrilled at the joy they get?

It’s like we’ve all heard that song over 1000 times. But when we see someone else hearing it for the first time, there’s that moment when we relive the moment we heard it for the first time.

It’s like that. You don’t necessarily have to find the same thrill that other people do, but I feel like it’s important that you understand that this is the emotion that people feel from reaction videos.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 10, 2021, 10:45:11 AM
Haven’t you guys ever shown someone Tom Sawyer for the very first time and then thrilled at the joy they get?

It’s like we’ve all heard that song over 1000 times. But when we see someone else hearing it for the first time, there’s that moment when we relive the moment we heard it for the first time.

It’s like that. You don’t necessarily have to find the same thrill that other people do, but I feel like it’s important that you understand that this is the emotion that people feel from reaction videos.

Well, let me be clear; I do not in any way begrudge OTHERS these videos.  I would never ever say to not do them or take them down.  I can intellectually undersrand why someone might like the idea of a reaction video (though the concerns about the validity are, well, valid).   I actually DID show my kid "Tom Sawyer" (I think it was the Snakes and Arrows live DVD) and she DID react; she was blown away that a human could play their instrument with that intensity, precision and power.  But I also knew she had never heard/seen that before, and I knew with what she was comparing that.   It was a little more immediate with someone I know as opposed to a stranger who may, in fact, be in it for less than pure reasons.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 10, 2021, 03:06:07 PM
That's really it for me, too.  Sure, I've shared music and videos with family and friends, and wondered how they would react.  I hope they'll like it, or laugh at it, or whatever it is I'm hoping for, based on who they are and what I expect.  But watching complete strangers react to things as a form of entertainment just baffles me.  Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them, and for all I know, their "reactions" are completely scripted and crafted for entertainment value.  I truly hope I never get bored enough with my life to resort to watching people I don't know reacting to things.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 11, 2021, 02:17:58 PM
You guys sound really old lol

I like watching reaction videos sometimes, if it's a reaction to something I already love.  I am certainly not bored with my life.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 12, 2021, 03:43:48 AM
I really like reaction videos. It's awesome to see someone getting worked up over a section that I also love. It's like "wait until he hears that part".  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on May 12, 2021, 12:34:31 PM
I really like reaction videos. It's awesome to see someone getting worked up over a section that I also love. It's like "wait until he hears that part".  ;D
I don't care for all these reaction videos, but I think the ones from Doug are particularly interesting given his background and the insights that he provides, having a wealth of musical knowledge.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on May 13, 2021, 06:06:49 AM
That's really it for me, too.  Sure, I've shared music and videos with family and friends, and wondered how they would react.  I hope they'll like it, or laugh at it, or whatever it is I'm hoping for, based on who they are and what I expect.  But watching complete strangers react to things as a form of entertainment just baffles me.  Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them, and for all I know, their "reactions" are completely scripted and crafted for entertainment value.  I truly hope I never get bored enough with my life to resort to watching people I don't know reacting to things.

Well then why are you here, in a forum, discussing things with people you don't know?  :biggrin:

In my opinion, it's a completely different thing to care/talk about what people's opinion is vs. why it's their opinion. Of course I don't know any of you guys and I shouldn't care what you think, but I do, because we all share some common interests and I want my horizon being broadened by other points of views and opinions. For example, I am in a Progrock fan group on Facebook and many people just state under a post or link: "this is bullshit" or "I don't like this". I keep telling them that I don't know them, so what do I care if some guys from the other end of Germany doesn't like some song? I wanna know why they have that opinion, so I can project those arguments onto my opinion. That's precisely why I love to write in this forum because you guys almost always discuss and don't just state opinions. And that's also why I like to watch Doug's reactions, because he listens with a critical and compositionally trained ear and makes me (who also likes to pay attention to theoretical aspects of music) appreciate things I might not have noticed before.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 13, 2021, 07:11:49 AM
That's really it for me, too.  Sure, I've shared music and videos with family and friends, and wondered how they would react.  I hope they'll like it, or laugh at it, or whatever it is I'm hoping for, based on who they are and what I expect.  But watching complete strangers react to things as a form of entertainment just baffles me.  Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them, and for all I know, their "reactions" are completely scripted and crafted for entertainment value.  I truly hope I never get bored enough with my life to resort to watching people I don't know reacting to things.

Well then why are you here, in a forum, discussing things with people you don't know?  :biggrin:

In my opinion, it's a completely different thing to care/talk about what people's opinion is vs. why it's their opinion. Of course I don't know any of you guys and I shouldn't care what you think, but I do, because we all share some common interests and I want my horizon being broadened by other points of views and opinions. For example, I am in a Progrock fan group on Facebook and many people just state under a post or link: "this is bullshit" or "I don't like this". I keep telling them that I don't know them, so what do I care if some guys from the other end of Germany doesn't like some song? I wanna know why they have that opinion, so I can project those arguments onto my opinion. That's precisely why I love to write in this forum because you guys almost always discuss and don't just state opinions. And that's also why I like to watch Doug's reactions, because he listens with a critical and compositionally trained ear and makes me (who also likes to pay attention to theoretical aspects of music) appreciate things I might not have noticed before.

To be fair to Orbert, I'm in his category too, and I see a difference.   I may not have had you over for Thanksgiving dinner, but many of the people here I consider friends - not "online friends", but friends, period.  I have probably 10 or a dozen of you all's phone numbers in my phone.  So when TAC or Marc or Joe or Bart says "I listened to the new [whatever] and it was great/ass", it's not out of the blue.  The reaction videos I've seen don't have a lot of context, are one-way, and seem to be more about sensationalism than maybe I'm looking for. 

And with my kid, it's not JUST about "the reaction"; it's about something we can now share, a touchstone.  It's improving our vocabulary to relate.  It's about passing things on to another generation.   I don't care if my kid LIKES Rush, but I DO want her to hear HER favorite artists play a drum solo and know that they might have gotten something from that nerdy-looking Canadian guy with the funny hat.   Sorry to go deep here, but I'm not getting that from an 8-minute video of people yapping and saying "Dude, that rocks!" over a song I've heard 50 times (I'm being facetious to make a point; I know they sometimes of more substance than that).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 16, 2021, 04:54:48 PM
That's really it for me, too.  Sure, I've shared music and videos with family and friends, and wondered how they would react.  I hope they'll like it, or laugh at it, or whatever it is I'm hoping for, based on who they are and what I expect.  But watching complete strangers react to things as a form of entertainment just baffles me.  Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them, and for all I know, their "reactions" are completely scripted and crafted for entertainment value.  I truly hope I never get bored enough with my life to resort to watching people I don't know reacting to things.

Kind of where I am on this. No problem with anyone else doing it. I don't need to been involved.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 16, 2021, 05:02:58 PM
That's really it for me, too.  Sure, I've shared music and videos with family and friends, and wondered how they would react.  I hope they'll like it, or laugh at it, or whatever it is I'm hoping for, based on who they are and what I expect.  But watching complete strangers react to things as a form of entertainment just baffles me.  Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them, and for all I know, their "reactions" are completely scripted and crafted for entertainment value.  I truly hope I never get bored enough with my life to resort to watching people I don't know reacting to things.

Well then why are you here, in a forum, discussing things with people you don't know?  :biggrin:

In my opinion, it's a completely different thing to care/talk about what people's opinion is vs. why it's their opinion. Of course I don't know any of you guys and I shouldn't care what you think, but I do, because we all share some common interests and I want my horizon being broadened by other points of views and opinions. For example, I am in a Progrock fan group on Facebook and many people just state under a post or link: "this is bullshit" or "I don't like this". I keep telling them that I don't know them, so what do I care if some guys from the other end of Germany doesn't like some song? I wanna know why they have that opinion, so I can project those arguments onto my opinion. That's precisely why I love to write in this forum because you guys almost always discuss and don't just state opinions. And that's also why I like to watch Doug's reactions, because he listens with a critical and compositionally trained ear and makes me (who also likes to pay attention to theoretical aspects of music) appreciate things I might not have noticed before.

Well it's different if you have some level of knowledge and aren't looking for clicks. Almost everyone on this forum doesn't do that.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dedalus on May 16, 2021, 07:40:49 PM

Well then why are you here, in a forum, discussing things with people you don't know?  :biggrin:

I thought just that.

From my perspective you are as strangers as any reaction guy. All of you.

Most of you can't even speak my language. We are completely different culturally. And so on ...

So the " Why do I care what these people think?  I don't know them, I don't care about them" can apply to everyone in the DTF, if I want to.

Therefore I can understand why people are interested in the opinion of strangers. If I didn't understand that, it wouldn't make sense for me to be here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 16, 2021, 08:25:49 PM
Those of us who've been here for a while get to know each other, even if we've never met face to face.  (And many of us have met face to face.)  We get a feel for each other's tastes in music and other things, and the opinions of DTF members are not the opinions of strangers.  I'm honestly curious, given that I know someone likes this band but not this other band, or whether they like jazz but not bluegrass, what they'll think of a particular band.  It's another data point at the very least, and I find it interesting how bands and artists I know are perceived by others, given what I know about their tastes.

I don't know jack about these anonymous guys on the 'net.  "Classical composer reacts to 2112".  Okay, obviously some classical composer, but other than that, I know nothing about them.  In fact, since most classical composers have been dead for hundreds of years, I'm pretty sure they're a neo-classical composer, but either way, if that's all I know about them, they're still a stranger.  It might as well be "dude who painted my neighbor's house last week reacts to 2112".  If I know nothing about them, their reaction doesn't have any meaning to me.  It's the context that's important.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dedalus on May 16, 2021, 08:45:50 PM
OK, some of you know others well. Nice.
It's not my case. So what the hell am I doing here?  :lol

The initial curiosity is very similar: knowing what other people (whom I don't know) think about things that interest me.

Of course: different platforms, different forms of interaction, different possibilities.

I just think that "I don't know these people, so I have no interest in what they think" is quite radical. If I fully agreed with that idea, why the hell would I have done an account here?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 17, 2021, 08:06:51 AM
OK, some of you know others well. Nice.
It's not my case. So what the hell am I doing here?  :lol

Serious answer to a possibly not-serious question: To discuss music (and maybe some other stuff) with other people.  That's why I joined the original DTF boards many years ago, anyway.  I was obsessed with this new band I'd learned about named Dream Theater and wanted to discuss their music with other people.  I've always assumed that that was the case with most people who join a discussion forum dedicated to a band.  Over the years, the focus has changed, but also during that time, people have gotten to know each other.  That's all I'm saying.  If you spend enough time hanging around the same people, including virtually, you eventually get to know each other.  And some of us have been here a long time.  So their opinions matter to me.

The initial curiosity is very similar: knowing what other people (whom I don't know) think about things that interest me.

Of course: different platforms, different forms of interaction, different possibilities.

I just think that "I don't know these people, so I have no interest in what they think" is quite radical. If I fully agreed with that idea, why the hell would I have done an account here?

That's fair.  I do wonder what other people think about things that I feel strongly about.  And again, that's why I joined up here: to discuss the music.  To me, discussion is two-way; people share their thoughts and opinions, but also consider others' thoughts and opinions, and hopefully everybody ends up a bit more enlightened.  I guess my curiosity just doesn't extend to the point where I wonder what random people on the street think of things, certainly not to the point where I would seek out their reactions.  As was pointed out, it's only one-way at that point.  If I watch a reaction video, I see their reaction (duh) but they obviously have no idea that I'm even watching the video, so it's not like it's going to lead to a discussion.

I can see how others get something out of it, perhaps even find it entertaining, not just informative.  It's just not for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 17, 2021, 01:31:51 PM
OK, some of you know others well. Nice.
It's not my case. So what the hell am I doing here?  :lol

Serious answer to a possibly not-serious question: To discuss music (and maybe some other stuff) with other people.  That's why I joined the original DTF boards many years ago, anyway.  I was obsessed with this new band I'd learned about named Dream Theater and wanted to discuss their music with other people.  I've always assumed that that was the case with most people who join a discussion forum dedicated to a band.  Over the years, the focus has changed, but also during that time, people have gotten to know each other.  That's all I'm saying.  If you spend enough time hanging around the same people, including virtually, you eventually get to know each other.  And some of us have been here a long time.  So their opinions matter to me.

The initial curiosity is very similar: knowing what other people (whom I don't know) think about things that interest me.

Of course: different platforms, different forms of interaction, different possibilities.

I just think that "I don't know these people, so I have no interest in what they think" is quite radical. If I fully agreed with that idea, why the hell would I have done an account here?

That's fair.  I do wonder what other people think about things that I feel strongly about.  And again, that's why I joined up here: to discuss the music.  To me, discussion is two-way; people share their thoughts and opinions, but also consider others' thoughts and opinions, and hopefully everybody ends up a bit more enlightened.  I guess my curiosity just doesn't extend to the point where I wonder what random people on the street think of things, certainly not to the point where I would seek out their reactions.  As was pointed out, it's only one-way at that point.  If I watch a reaction video, I see their reaction (duh) but they obviously have no idea that I'm even watching the video, so it's not like it's going to lead to a discussion.

I can see how others get something out of it, perhaps even find it entertaining, not just informative.  It's just not for me.

I'm probably repeating myself, but it's CONVERSATION here.  We can go back and forth: "what about this?", "what about that?" "How does x compare with y?"   It's not a "reaction" in the same sense of the word, IMO.  Those same people in the reaction videos, which I won't watch, if I was sitting next to them in a bar shooting the shit, I would probably be more interested in what they had to say, because I can fill in the blanks if need be and ask them questions.   

I know for me, the context is important.  I believe Taylor Swift is a premier artist.  I think Miley Cyrus is a GREAT (not good, GREAT) singer, and while I don't go for a lot of her music, or her non-musical nonsense, she CAN sing.  So if I'm discussing and someone says "I hate all pop music, and every one of those female pixie pop stars is a manufactured mannequin", I'm not valuing their opinion very highly.    This is all stuff that comes out in a dialogue, not a one-way video.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dedalus on May 17, 2021, 01:40:59 PM
Of course the dynamics here are totally different from watching a react or something like that. And I'm not even a fan of react videos.

I just disagree with the idea that I don't care at all about the opinions of a total stranger.

How many times have I finished reading a book and searched for someone's text or video giving their impressions, opinions and analysis about that book? Lots and lots! Absolutely unknown people. And without the possibility of having a conversation. I was simply interested in what other people (whom I don't know at all) thought about a book I enjoyed reading.

Perhaps I am one of those weird ones who are interested in the opinion of strangers.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 17, 2021, 01:48:23 PM
Of course the dynamics here are totally different from watching a react or something like that. And I'm not even a fan of react videos.

I just disagree with the idea that I don't care at all about the opinions of a total stranger.

How many times have I finished reading a book and searched for someone's text or video giving their impressions, opinions and analysis about that book? Lots and lots! Absolutely unknown people. And without the possibility of having a conversation. I was simply interested in what other people (whom I don't know at all) thought about a book I enjoyed reading.

Perhaps I am one of those weird ones who are interested in the opinion of strangers.  :biggrin:

I think we're talking apples and oranges.   It's not that cut and dry for me to say "yes or no" to the opinions of strangers.  I LOVE to talk to strangers.  I do that all the time, and part of that is learning what they feel and think, what their opinion is.  But it's a two-way street.  I'm not interested in the one-sided thing.   And media is a part of it:  I like interacting with people.  Seeing their body language, their tone, the way a conversation progresses.  Do they compromise or are they rigid in their beliefs?  How knowledgeable are they?   I generally stay away from video for that reason; there's nothing to learn from, I'm just getting their one-sided view.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on May 17, 2021, 01:59:19 PM
I’m generally interested in the opinions of others, even strangers. The immediate reaction to something they may or may not be listening to the first time, which is given for clicks on a YouTube channel? That’s completely different.

I get why these are popular, and I won’t say I’ve never enjoyed them. But typically I skip past the whole listening part and go to the end to hear their thoughts.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Dedalus on May 17, 2021, 02:02:54 PM
Well, the original sentence that motivated me to write everything I wrote was: Why do I care what these people think? I don't know them, I don't care about them.

I just said that I don't agree with that and gave several examples. I'm here talking to strangers. I watch videos and read texts from strangers (although react videos are not my favorite).

So no, I don't agree at all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on May 23, 2021, 09:43:05 AM
OK, some of you know others well. Nice.
It's not my case. So what the hell am I doing here?  :lol

Serious answer to a possibly not-serious question: To discuss music (and maybe some other stuff) with other people.  That's why I joined the original DTF boards many years ago, anyway.  I was obsessed with this new band I'd learned about named Dream Theater and wanted to discuss their music with other people.  I've always assumed that that was the case with most people who join a discussion forum dedicated to a band.  Over the years, the focus has changed, but also during that time, people have gotten to know each other.  That's all I'm saying.  If you spend enough time hanging around the same people, including virtually, you eventually get to know each other.  And some of us have been here a long time.  So their opinions matter to me.

The initial curiosity is very similar: knowing what other people (whom I don't know) think about things that interest me.

Of course: different platforms, different forms of interaction, different possibilities.

I just think that "I don't know these people, so I have no interest in what they think" is quite radical. If I fully agreed with that idea, why the hell would I have done an account here?

That's fair.  I do wonder what other people think about things that I feel strongly about.  And again, that's why I joined up here: to discuss the music.  To me, discussion is two-way; people share their thoughts and opinions, but also consider others' thoughts and opinions, and hopefully everybody ends up a bit more enlightened.  I guess my curiosity just doesn't extend to the point where I wonder what random people on the street think of things, certainly not to the point where I would seek out their reactions.  As was pointed out, it's only one-way at that point.  If I watch a reaction video, I see their reaction (duh) but they obviously have no idea that I'm even watching the video, so it's not like it's going to lead to a discussion.

I can see how others get something out of it, perhaps even find it entertaining, not just informative.  It's just not for me.

I'm probably repeating myself, but it's CONVERSATION here.  We can go back and forth: "what about this?", "what about that?" "How does x compare with y?"   It's not a "reaction" in the same sense of the word, IMO.  Those same people in the reaction videos, which I won't watch, if I was sitting next to them in a bar shooting the shit, I would probably be more interested in what they had to say, because I can fill in the blanks if need be and ask them questions.   

It's somewhat interactive.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 07, 2021, 06:25:58 AM
https://www.facebook.com/289541335438/posts/10159686046160439/?d=n
YES (official) , who are Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood, release their new studio album The Quest on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on 1st October 2021.
"It is simply an honour for me to have the opportunity to bring together the band members in the development of a well-refined set of songs that capture the band’s true potential,” said Steve Howe, who produced the album. He added "Much of the music was written in late 2019 with the rest in 2020. We commissioned several orchestrations to augment and enhance the overall sound of these fresh new recordings, hoping that our emphasis on melody, coupled with some expansive instrumental solo breaks, keeps up the momentum for our listeners.”   Additional percussion was provided by guest Jay Schellen who supplements YES’ live performances.

Label Manager Thomas Waber said “I am delighted to welcome YES to the label and am looking forward to seeing the reaction of the band's fans to the new album. Being a long-time fan myself, I am really excited by the new material. Steve Howe managed to capture many of the important elements that we all love about YES!”

Containing 11 songs, 8 on the main CD with 3 extra tracks on a bonus CD, The Quest will be available on Vinyl and 5.1 Blu-ray and CD, all on the day of release.

The Quest - 2CD Digipak tracklisting:
CD1:
01. The Ice Bridge 7.01
02. Dare To Know 6.00
03. Minus The Man 5.35
04. Leave Well Alone 8.06
05. The Western Edge 4.26
06. Future Memories 5.08
07. Music To My Ears 4.41
08. A Living Island 6.52

CD2:
01. Sister Sleeping Soul 4.51
02. Mystery Tour 3.33
03. Damaged World 5.20

Formats are:
Limited Edition Deluxe 2LP & 2CD plus Blu-ray Box-set
Limited Edition 2CD & Blu-ray Artbook
Gatefold 2LP & 2CD plus LP-booklet
2CD Digipak
Digital Album

Cover artwork designed and created by the band’s long term collaborator Roger Dean.

Pre-order begins 23rd July
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 07, 2021, 08:10:19 AM
Marketing.  The total of all 11 tracks is only 62 minutes, but three tracks are on a "bonus" disc, so you're getting more!  More discs, that is, when a single disc would've worked.

Oh well, it's a new album on a new label, with a new lineup, the first post-Squire.  I'm cautiously optimistic.  Heaven and Earth was nice, the first couple of times through.  Now I never listen to it because it's so dull.  We'll see if they've got anything left that could surprise me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on July 07, 2021, 08:42:08 AM
Full title: The Quest for a Decent Yes Album
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 07, 2021, 09:09:21 AM
Let's hope to be much much much better than Heaven and Earth that it's 100% boring to me. I would be extremely happy with something at The Ladder level (which I like a lot!).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 07, 2021, 09:28:41 AM
Full title: The Quest for a Decent Yes Album

:lol :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on July 07, 2021, 10:16:46 AM
Fly From Here is always a nice experience. Heaven And Earth is their worst album in my opinion.

I'll listen with an open mind.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 07, 2021, 10:25:11 AM
61:33 of new Yes Music? Well, it can't possibly be worse than Heaven & Earth, right?

Also, I wonder how much percussion Jay Schellen performed on the album compared to Alan?

As much as I like Yes, I may just get the 2CD Digipak, unless thr artbook is reasonably priced, though I may never listen to the BD if all it has is just the 5.1 mix.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 07, 2021, 11:17:45 AM
Supposedly, Alan White played all drums and percussion on the album.  It's only when they're playing live that he needs... assistance.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 07, 2021, 11:50:29 AM
Well crap, I sit here corrected.  Up until now, the word was that Alan would be playing everything on the album, but apparently with this announcement comes the "news" that Jay does play on the album.  So of course now the speculation is how much.  I find it just a bit cheesy that the announcement includes Yes "who are" (list of names of people not Jay Schellen.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 07, 2021, 12:11:34 PM
Fly From Here is always a nice experience. Heaven And Earth is their worst album in my opinion.

I'll listen with an open mind.

I agree with every word in that post.  H&E is even worse than Open Your Eyes.

I really like Sherwood, though, and he's coming off Arc Of Life which is EXCELLENT, IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 07, 2021, 06:30:02 PM
No way will I buy this without trying first, considering the last album I really liked by Yes was nearly 25 years ago.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 07, 2021, 07:09:14 PM
Well since I've already been buying Yes albums (even some I swore I'd never get!) out of an OCD need to own them all, I'll probably have to get this one. I sort of don't care at this point if it is complete shit or if it is good... If it turns out awful, I just hope there's something that will make laugh as hard as I did when I first heard "..crack time.." back roundabout over the hills of long forgotten yesterdays.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on July 07, 2021, 09:03:43 PM
I just want something better than Heaven And Earth. That album suuuucked.

(And I just want to be able to buy a copy of From A Page on CD without having to use Burning Shed and without having it bundled with a live album I already own.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 08, 2021, 12:44:26 AM
Fingers crossed for some Steve Howe magic and a pleasant listen. I'd be content with just that, given that I was really underwhelmed by Heaven and earth. I did like Fly from here, however, but that was ten years ago.

EDIT: I dug out my comment on Heaven and earth from seven years ago. It turns out I liked it at first. That's odd, since I haven't felt the need to listen to it for more than a half a decade now.  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 09, 2021, 08:47:14 AM
Fly From Here is always a nice experience. Heaven And Earth is their worst album in my opinion.

I'll listen with an open mind.

I agree with every word in that post.  H&E is even worse than Open Your Eyes.

I really like Sherwood, though, and he's coming off Arc Of Life which is EXCELLENT, IMO.

It's indeed an interesting album, very Yes, in a good way. Thanks for the heads up!
So there's hope for the new album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 09, 2021, 09:52:04 AM
I would be way more excited if the Anderson/Rabin/Wakeman album would have come to fruition. I still can't believe they dropped the ball on that project.
I wonder what the heck happened?   :mehlin
.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 11, 2021, 11:59:30 AM
Well I watched Yessongs for the 1st time in ages last night, and I was reminded just what a beast Howe was back in the day! The dude's all over it just totally killing everything. He can barely contain his energy. Nothing but fire, fire and more fire!  I'm guessing this DVD I have is an unauthorized bootleg or somesuch as it's just a straight transfer of the old VHS shitty audio and all..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 12, 2021, 12:35:14 AM
I've never seen Yessongs live video but I do have it on double disc cd and it is awesome!  Steve Howe is just super on this performance. 
I just want to ask him:  Steve,  Howe do you you do it??
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 12, 2021, 01:44:44 AM
I've never seen Yessongs live video but I do have it on double disc cd and it is awesome!  Steve Howe is just super on this performance. 
I just want to ask him:  Steve,  Howe do you you do it??

Some of those from the record are the same as from the movie. I'm not sure which, but I think Yours Is No Disgrace, Roundabout and Close To The Edge sounded like the same performances. When you actually see Howe performing this stuff it's really unreal. He's just bouncing and moving like he's wired into some secret hippy sauce. Greatest guitar face I've ever seen. The rest of the band seem placid by comparison. And Yes. Howe did he do it??

[edit: forgot to mention there's a performance of (The) Clap on the video which is not on the record. Also Rick's solo is different from the one used on the record]
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on July 12, 2021, 10:19:59 AM
I've never seen Yessongs live video but I do have it on double disc cd and it is awesome!  Steve Howe is just super on this performance. 
I just want to ask him:  Steve,  Howe do you you do it??

Some of those from the record are the same as from the movie. I'm not sure which, but I think Yours Is No Disgrace, Roundabout and Close To The Edge sounded like the same performances. When you actually see Howe performing this stuff it's really unreal. He's just bouncing and moving like he's wired into some secret hippy sauce. Greatest guitar face I've ever seen. The rest of the band seem placid by comparison. And Yes. Howe did he do it??

[edit: forgot to mention there's a performance of (The) Clap on the video which is not on the record. Also Rick's solo is different from the one used on the record]

According to Wikipedia, the video is all taken from the Dec. 15, 1972 show at the Rainbow Theatre in London, with Close to the Edge and the "Wurm" section of Starship Trooper that plays over the closing credits being the only songs that are the same as on the album.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yessongs_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yessongs
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 12, 2021, 11:20:41 AM
I've never seen Yessongs live video but I do have it on double disc cd and it is awesome!  Steve Howe is just super on this performance. 
I just want to ask him:  Steve,  Howe do you you do it??



[edit: forgot to mention there's a performance of (The) Clap on the video which is not on the record. Also Rick's solo is different from the one used on the record]
The Clap is included on my double disc set.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 12, 2021, 11:24:33 AM
According to Wikipedia, the video is all taken from the Dec. 15, 1972 show at the Rainbow Theatre in London, with Close to the Edge and the "Wurm" section of Starship Trooper that plays over the closing credits being the only songs that are the same as on the album.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yessongs_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yessongs

There we go. The correct information. Thanks!

I would recommend anyone who has not seen it before to check out Howe's rendition of Clap on Yessongs. Man, he beats that acoustic guitar like a red-headed stepchild!


The Clap is included on my double disc set.

Ah. I didn't know that. I must have an older release as it only has Mood For A Day.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on July 12, 2021, 01:03:18 PM
I've never seen Yessongs live video but I do have it on double disc cd and it is awesome!  Steve Howe is just super on this performance. 
I just want to ask him:  Steve,  Howe do you you do it??



[edit: forgot to mention there's a performance of (The) Clap on the video which is not on the record. Also Rick's solo is different from the one used on the record]
The Clap is included on my double disc set.

You sure about that?

The recording of (The) Clap on The Yes Album is actually a live recording, but I can't find any indication of any version of Yessongs that has Clap on it.  The original vinyl release had the following:

Firebird Suite
Siberian Khatru
Heart of the Sunrise

Perpetual Change
And You and I

Mood for a Day
Excerpts from Six Wives
Roundabout

I've Seen All Good People
Long Distance Runaround/The Fish

Close to the Edge

Yours Is No Disgrace
Starship Trooper

I can't find any indication that any of the reissues have different or extra tracks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 12, 2021, 01:24:32 PM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 12, 2021, 02:18:52 PM
The proper title of the piece is "Clap".  Steve Howe has said so many times.  Jon Anderson always called it "The Clap" and announced it as such, but that should be considered a case of misspeaking, and any "official" listing considered a typo.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on July 12, 2021, 02:25:55 PM
The proper title of the piece is "Clap".  Steve Howe has said so many times.  Jon Anderson always called it "The Clap" and announced it as such, but that should be considered a case of misspeaking, and any "official" listing considered a typo.

Nah, let's just add a superfluous "The" to the start of every Yes song from now on... The Roundabout, The Heart Of The Sunrise, The Close To The Edge, The Ritual, The The Gates Of Delirium, The Awaken, The Owner Of A Lonely Heart... it'll catch on!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 12, 2021, 02:29:24 PM
THE Calling.  Oh wait..  :loser:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on July 12, 2021, 04:04:30 PM
The proper title of the piece is "Clap".  Steve Howe has said so many times.  Jon Anderson always called it "The Clap" and announced it as such, but that should be considered a case of misspeaking, and any "official" listing considered a typo.

That's why I (and, presumably, Arch) put "The" in parentheses -- because, regardless of the the correct title, JA introduced it with "The," AND that's how it was titled on original TYA pressings.


The proper title of the piece is "Clap".  Steve Howe has said so many times.  Jon Anderson always called it "The Clap" and announced it as such, but that should be considered a case of misspeaking, and any "official" listing considered a typo.

Nah, let's just add a superfluous "The" to the start of every Yes song from now on... The Roundabout, The Heart Of The Sunrise, The Close To The Edge, The Ritual, The The Gates Of Delirium, The Awaken, The Owner Of A Lonely Heart... it'll catch on!

 :lol :lol :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on July 12, 2021, 07:21:29 PM
There are not many solo instrumentalists pieces that I can listen to over and over and never get tired of, but (The) Clap is one of them.  Still love it just as much now as I did 30 years ago when I heard it for the first time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 12, 2021, 11:58:13 PM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃

Though that does make me wonder why there isn't a bumper release of Yessongs+ including more of the material recorded from these shows? It really is an interesting transitional point for the band with a new drummer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 13, 2021, 07:12:13 AM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃

Though that does make me wonder why there isn't a bumper release of Yessongs+ including more of the material recorded from these shows? It really is an interesting transitional point for the band with a new drummer.

There is a box set that was released called "Progeny", that has seven shows from that Fall '72 tour was released.  I have it, but I haven't listened to all of it yet.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 13, 2021, 07:16:38 AM
Progeny reveals that they played the same set list every night, so there aren't any other songs that weren't already released on Yessongs.  In fact, Yessongs contains a few tracks from the Fragile tour (you can tell because Bill Bruford is on them) to help fill out the three original LPs, now two CDs.  It wasn't like that, though; they're not "filler" tracks or anything.  They just included material from different tours because they wanted their first live album to be a big deal, a triple LP.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on July 13, 2021, 09:39:44 AM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃

Though that does make me wonder why there isn't a bumper release of Yessongs+ including more of the material recorded from these shows?

But there isn't much of anything that wasn't included on the album.  It was, after all, a triple album with over two hours of music.

Wikipedia indicates that the tracks on Yessongs were recorded at 6-8 shows on the Fragile and Close to the Edge tours:  Feb. 19 and/or 23, 1972; Nov. 1, 12, 15 and 20, 1972; and Dec. 15 and/or 16, 1972.  Assuming those dates are accurate, and assuming the set lists on setlist.fm are accurate, the songs on Yessongs are the ONLY songs performed at any of those shows, with two exceptions:  (1) Clap (performed at most of those shows); and (2) South Side of the Sky (performed as a second encore only at the Feb. 19, 1972 show.  The Feb. 19 and/or 23, 1972 shows were from the Fragile tour and are indicated as the source for the recordings of Perpetual Change and Long Distance Runaround/The Fish.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 13, 2021, 09:42:18 AM
Progeny reveals that they played the same set list every night, so there aren't any other songs that weren't already released on Yessongs.  In fact, Yessongs contains a few tracks from the Fragile tour (you can tell because Bill Bruford is on them) to help fill out the three original LPs, now two CDs.  It wasn't like that, though; they're not "filler" tracks or anything.  They just included material from different tours because they wanted their first live album to be a big deal, a triple LP.

I totally forgot about that box set. But then for some reason I think I had falsely assumed that it was from the previous tour with Bill. Probably was a smart move to pick one of those up when it was 1st released.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 13, 2021, 11:24:03 AM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃

Though that does make me wonder why there isn't a bumper release of Yessongs+ including more of the material recorded from these shows?

But there isn't much of anything that wasn't included on the album.  It was, after all, a triple album with over two hours of music.

Wikipedia indicates that the tracks on Yessongs were recorded at 6-8 shows on the Fragile and Close to the Edge tours:  Feb. 19 and/or 23, 1972; Nov. 1, 12, 15 and 20, 1972; and Dec. 15 and/or 16, 1972.  Assuming those dates are accurate, and assuming the set lists on setlist.fm are accurate, the songs on Yessongs are the ONLY songs performed at any of those shows, with two exceptions:  (1) Clap (performed at most of those shows); and (2) South Side of the Sky (performed as a second encore only at the Feb. 19, 1972 show.  The Feb. 19 and/or 23, 1972 shows were from the Fragile tour and are indicated as the source for the recordings of Perpetual Change and Long Distance Runaround/The Fish.

Progeny releases al the November shows, and I think the 15th is the show on the video, so only the Bruford shows from February remain unreleased in their entirety.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 23, 2021, 06:09:41 AM
https://open.spotify.com/album/6tTYoQUuvcNTxpCMQOlUSJ?si=Rhso0LWvQHir1xJCbxBqNg&dl_branch=1
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 23, 2021, 06:10:57 AM
YES launch video for The Ice Bridge; first track taken from the forthcoming new album The Quest: https://youtu.be/PbGEa7ju8bg

Pre-order 'The Quest' now here: https://yes-band.lnk.to/TheQuest

YES, who are Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood, recently announced they will release their new studio album The Quest on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on 1st October 2021. The album was produced by Steve Howe.   "Much of the music was written in late 2019 with the rest in 2020. We commissioned several orchestrations to augment and enhance the overall sound of these fresh new recordings, hoping that our emphasis on melody, coupled with some expansive instrumental solo breaks, keeps up the momentum for our listeners,” said Steve.

The Quest was recorded across the globe. The sessions took place in the UK with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes & Jon Davison, while Alan White & Billy Sherwood got together in the studio in the US. “Billy Sherwood and myself did all the rhythm sections, bass and drum, in America,” says Alan White, “down in Los Angeles at Uncle Studios, where he works a lot. It helps when you’ve got a good place to work,” Alan laughs, “and Billy’s really good on the recording desk, so we got things down relatively quickly.  I spent quite a while studying the music before I went down to LA so I was prepared.”

YES are pleased to reveal the first track to be taken from the album - "The Ice Bridge" - watch the video here: https://youtu.be/PbGEa7ju8bg

Alan White comments: “I’m extremely proud to be a part of this music and believe the video graphics are outstanding. A collaboration of many talents coming together to produce ‘The Ice Bridge’.   I hope our fans/audiences will appreciate the creativity put forward. I’m pleased to share it with the world and hope everyone will enjoy the ride.”

Steve Howe adds: “’The Ice Bridge’ opens the album in the dark and moody key of C minor, aided by the orchestra. The rolling bass part kicks things into gear as the vocals and guitars start a winding journey through the various structures till the breakdown happens, where ice breaking is heard.”

Jon Davison was working with Geoff Downes on The Ice Bridge (Davison/Downes), looking at the dangers of climate change. He explained how he sets about collaborating with his bandmates.

“Usually what happens is each member is left to write their respective parts and put their stamp on things. Geoff sent me a selection of exciting and often gorgeous snippets he had created and made it clear that he wished I experiment freely and develop as needed. This, in turn, gave me the confidence to take on the vocal role - lyrics, vocal melody and harmony, how the vocals are presented and uniquely phrased - but all the while striving to stay faithful to Geoff’s initial ideas.”

“Jon’s vocals are fantastic,” adds Geoff Downes, “he’s really come into his own as a YES vocalist. This time he’s started to get the writing side together and working with the other musicians has been developmental for him. I think he’s hit a rich seam on this one.”

The Quest is also now available for pre-order on various formats, including a Limited Deluxe Box-Set that features a Gatefold 180g 2LP on exclusive colored vinyl, 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak (featuring 5.1 mix & backing tracks), 36-page perfect-bound booklet, enamel pin badge, 60x90cm poster, slipmat & hand-numbered certificate of authenticity, all housed in a rigid lift-off box. 

Containing 11 songs, 8 on the main CD with 3 extra tracks on a bonus CD, The Quest will also be available as Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, 2CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP+2CD & as Digital Album.

The Quest - 2CD Digipak tracklisting:
 
CD1:
01. The Ice Bridge 7.01
02. Dare To Know 6.00
03. Minus The Man 5.35
04. Leave Well Alone 8.06
05. The Western Edge 4.26
06. Future Memories 5.08
07. Music To My Ears 4.41
08. A Living Island 6.52

CD2:
01. Sister Sleeping Soul 4.51
02. Mystery Tour 3.33
03. Damaged World 5.20

Formats are:
•Limited Edition Deluxe 2LP & 2CD plus Blu-ray Box-set
•Limited Edition 2CD & Blu-ray Artbook
•Gatefold 2LP & 2CD plus LP-booklet
•2CD Digipak
•Digital Album

Cover artwork designed and created by the band’s long-term collaborator Roger Dean.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on July 23, 2021, 07:25:09 AM
I will wait for the full album, but I am looking forward to reading your reactions.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on July 23, 2021, 08:03:43 AM
Good song, at least, the band sounds like back from the dead (specially White). :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 23, 2021, 10:09:44 AM
Remember the 1st time I listened to H&E. A few seconds in I thought: "Hey, is this the theme to Top Gun?" Now, here we have the lead off song from the new album. A few seconds in I think: "Hey, is this ELPowell's Touch N Go?".  If Yes continues to make new music, I hope they continue this trend of intro fake-outs in opening tracks!  :lol

In all seriousness though, sounds much better than H&E already. Isn't great, but certainly has some interesting bits. Jon D's choice of vocal melodies are...different. The ending doesn't really go anywhere. But, overall an improvement. If the rest of the album is on this level...well I would say it is not a bad album.  I guess that's something.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 23, 2021, 10:29:18 AM
I thought that was "Touch and Go" by ELPowell at first! 

EDIT:  NINJA'D BY LUPTON!   

Also, at 0:35 the right hand "tower" looks like it's giving us the finger.  Incorrectly, I might add, but still.  :)

I like it, though.  It's not "Going For The One", but it's good.   It sounds a bit like "Arc Of Life", which is not a bad thing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on July 23, 2021, 11:45:45 AM
Just listened... And I can't see a desire to listen again coming. I'll check out the album of course, but my expectations are very low. I actually stopped H&E halfway through and never returned to it, so the bar is painfully low.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on July 23, 2021, 02:01:36 PM
It's a pleasant song with a similar vibe and feel to Fly From Here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on July 23, 2021, 06:00:18 PM
I liked Fly From Here (lost my copy, for some reason it's not on my hard drive, and the only version I can find out there is the re-released version, which is different... so I haven't heard it in a long time...)

but I didn't like Fly From Here THAT much, so I'm not overly excited over this new album. No Squire, no Anderson, no Wakeman, but Howe and White are there??
Hmmmm... I'll hold off on opinions until I hear the music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on July 23, 2021, 09:22:49 PM
The new song is alright
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on July 24, 2021, 11:47:33 AM
I liked the song ok.  The solo section is my favorite part of the song with the dueling guitar/ keys and reoccurring themes.
It's still really hard for me to warm up to Yes without Jon Anderson on Vocals.  His voice would have done that song a huge service..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 26, 2021, 07:27:53 PM
You are absolutely right. I looked at the back of My Yessongs album cover and The Clap is not on there. I did confuse it with the live version on The Yes Album.   🙃

Though that does make me wonder why there isn't a bumper release of Yessongs+ including more of the material recorded from these shows? It really is an interesting transitional point for the band with a new drummer.

There is a box set that was released called "Progeny", that has seven shows from that Fall '72 tour was released.  I have it, but I haven't listened to all of it yet.

This is probably my favorite live Yes document from the 1970's.  Never get tired of this. Blows Yessongs away in my opinion even though Yesssongs probably has the better tracklisting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 27, 2021, 05:55:24 AM
I'm in the middle of watching the "Yes: Acoustic" DVD.    It's good (I'm only two songs in) but Squire looks lost. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 01, 2021, 07:39:53 AM
There's a new Yes single out today. I haven't heard it yet, but the comments I saw about it on Facebook ranged from "This isn't Yes" to "Completely inoffensive", so I'm not in a hurry to listen to it... :lol

https://youtu.be/hhzKdB6ftsc

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 01, 2021, 01:11:55 PM
The first single "The Ice Bridge" wasn't bad.  It still has that mellow latter-day Yes sound which IMO makes Heaven And Earth basically unlistenable (I've tried, but I keep falling asleep) but it at least tries to be prog, with a couple of changes, some interesting accents, and even a not-bad synth solo.

This new one "Dare to Know" fully embraces the mellow "put this on if you need a nap, even if you just woke up" sound.  Take all the mellow parts from Heaven And Earth (basically the whole album) and cross them with some 70's light rock (think Air Supply or Little River Band) and add a healthy dose of Valium, and you have the new single.  I challenge anyone here to stay awake while listening to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on September 01, 2021, 02:20:46 PM
It is very mellow but I enjoyed it. Probably because I'm old :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 01, 2021, 02:40:44 PM
I don't mind a good mellow tune.  This one wasn't too bad. I liked it more than the first song they released from this record, but still not enough to make me want to buy the album.

And don't get me started on the "this doesn't sound like Yes" nonsense, as some Yes fans are notorious for thinking they are THE authority on what Yes should sound like (see: a large contingent with their endless BS about how the Rabin era doesn't sound like real Yes, whatever the hell "real Yes" is supposed to be), when Yes can sound like whatever the current band wants it to. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 01, 2021, 03:21:40 PM


And don't get me started on the "this doesn't sound like Yes" nonsense, as some Yes fans are notorious for thinking they are THE authority on what Yes should sound like (see: a large contingent with their endless BS about how the Rabin era doesn't sound like real Yes, whatever the hell "real Yes" is supposed to be), when Yes can sound like whatever the current band wants it to.
I like all incarnations of Yes,  but the Rabin era is my favorite.  The new single is pretty cool btw..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 01, 2021, 03:29:10 PM
I just wish they'd remember that they're actually a rock band.  Yeah, I get it, they can be whatever they want, including "soft rock" or "light rock" but man, I miss the rock and roll.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 01, 2021, 06:08:06 PM
Soooooo Yes does “yacht rock” now…
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 01, 2021, 06:24:36 PM
I've never fully grokked the definition of "yacht rock" but I think it's something like that.  It all sounds great, the harmonies are nice, the playing is fine, the arrangements are fine, it's all wonderful, chill music, so I do understand why people like it.  But come on, can they literally not create something that one could call Rock and Roll?  It doesn't have to be "Heart of the Sunrise" or "Close to the Edge" but give me something with some kind of balls to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 01, 2021, 07:07:34 PM
General term for that late 70s “light and breezy” rock that made all those hits.

Little River Band
The MM-era of The Doobie Brothers

The peak (and ultimate “jump the shark” moment) was when Christopher Cross swept the Grammy’s in 1980-ish. It was all over after that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on September 02, 2021, 03:43:04 AM
I have a question.

Why is the Talk album not on Spotify?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on September 02, 2021, 03:50:02 AM
I have a question.

Why is the Talk album not on Spotify?

The label it was released on (Victory Music) folded shortly after the album released & now no-one has legal rights to redistribute it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 02, 2021, 05:02:09 AM
I have a question.

Why is the Talk album not on Spotify?

The label it was released on (Victory Music) folded shortly after the album released & now no-one has legal rights to redistribute it.
This is such a bogus outcome for a top tier Yes album.  I can see why Trevor Rabin got discouraged and left the band to do movie soundtracks.  This record was a masterpiece for him and the band and they were on fire for that tour!
Endless Dream easily holds up to the epics of old such as Awaken and CTTE.   Yes hasn't put out any material since then that even comes remotely close to rivaling the Talk album..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on September 02, 2021, 07:46:19 AM
That is such a good album. It is a shame people cannot stream it anywhere.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 02, 2021, 09:10:47 AM
General term for that late 70s “light and breezy” rock that made all those hits.

Little River Band
The MM-era of The Doobie Brothers

The peak (and ultimate “jump the shark” moment) was when Christopher Cross swept the Grammy’s in 1980-ish. It was all over after that.

We had a thread on this once; I think the definition is tighter than that.  I don't know what it is, but I remember thinking "how is "x" not yacht rock?" but it wasn't.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 02, 2021, 09:13:49 AM


And don't get me started on the "this doesn't sound like Yes" nonsense, as some Yes fans are notorious for thinking they are THE authority on what Yes should sound like (see: a large contingent with their endless BS about how the Rabin era doesn't sound like real Yes, whatever the hell "real Yes" is supposed to be), when Yes can sound like whatever the current band wants it to.
I like all incarnations of Yes,  but the Rabin era is my favorite.  The new single is pretty cool btw..

it's funny; I grew up with the Howe era, and Going For The One is my favorite album of all time by any band.  But when I listen to the Rabin era, it is SO SOLID.  Some songs are better than others, but there is no DUFF song.  No "Circus Of Heaven" or "Arriving UFO".  Even the Onion debacle, the four Rabin songs slay the ABWH songs (with the possible exception of "I Would Have Waited Forever"). 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 02, 2021, 09:14:07 AM
Re: Talk - it's a great album, and probably my favorite of the three Rabin albums. I'd say all the '90s albums are pretty good-to-great, except Open Your Eyes (which is just OK, for the most part). Even Union has some stand-out tracks and moments, but Talk, the Keys stuff, and The Ladder are all pretty good Yes albums IMO. I'd rather take all the '90s Yes stuff than the '80s Yes stuff (including ABWH).

And as for the new single, I listened to it, and forgot it almost immediately. Fairly forgettable song, and it felt like more of the same relaxing/chill background music that Heaven & Earth was. I'll probably not pre-order this one and wait to read some reviews, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 02, 2021, 09:19:48 AM
With the understanding that I haven't listened to the two singles yet, one of the problems is Jon Davison's voice.  He's an amazing singer, and he captures one aspect of Anderson's voice, but only one aspect.  Anderson is actually a decent ROCK singer.  He does a really good job on the rock covers they've done over the years, but Davison's voice is a bit too twee to project in the same way, IMO.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on September 02, 2021, 09:22:27 AM
I'll get the new one just because I have every Yes album in at least one physical format and it would bother me not to have it.  But it will be mainly for completeness, and so I can rip the tracks I like and add them to my Yes playlist.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: FreezingPoint on September 02, 2021, 09:54:52 AM
I'll listen to the album when it comes out, but mostly for completeness sake.

I feel there's just zero energy to this new song. And I think that's what bums me out most about it. I get they're not young anymore, and I definitely don't want them trying to do another "Sound Chaser".

If I listened to it blind and didn't know who it was, I'd honestly guess it was a Yes cover band trying their hand at Yes-type music. Which is fine. It certainly doesn't mean "this is not Yes." And Yes has taken many directions and can determine whatever they want to sound like. But man I just wish I felt some excitement or energy in the playing. Maybe its just me.



For a humorous side, after reading some of the earlier comments this morning, I decided to throw on the song for the first time while I was working out. I may have been the first person in the world to have bench pressed to "Dare to Know". Will I remain the only person? Who knows....
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on September 02, 2021, 10:07:14 AM
I'll get the new one just because I have every Yes album in at least one physical format and it would bother me not to have it.  But it will be mainly for completeness, and so I can rip the tracks I like and add them to my Yes playlist.

The nerd in me says I got to have this in physical form. But I will probably wait a few months when it's sold for half the price, because my expectations are very low.

If it's on spotify I will give it a spin, maybe it will surprise me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on September 02, 2021, 10:09:08 AM
I'll listen to the album when it comes out, but mostly for completeness sake.

I feel there's just zero energy to this new song. And I think that's what bums me out most about it. I get they're not young anymore, and I definitely don't want them trying to do another "Sound Chaser".

If I listened to it blind and didn't know who it was, I'd honestly guess it was a Yes cover band trying their hand at Yes-type music. Which is fine. It certainly doesn't mean "this is not Yes." And Yes has taken many directions and can determine whatever they want to sound like. But man I just wish I felt some excitement or energy in the playing. Maybe its just me.



For a humorous side, after reading some of the earlier comments this morning, I decided to throw on the song for the first time while I was working out. I may have been the first person in the world to have bench pressed to "Dare to Know". Will I remain the only person? Who knows....

Interestingly enough, the Arc Of Life album was pretty rocking!   Billy Sherwood CAN "play" Chris Squire (by "play" I mean provide the sort of rock sensibility, not just finger the notes).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on September 03, 2021, 01:49:46 PM
Just read a good review from Progarchives. Dude said this new one is the best since Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on September 03, 2021, 01:56:31 PM
Just read a good review from Progarchives. Dude said this new one is the best since Drama.

That’s a bit too over the top to take seriously.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on September 03, 2021, 01:58:57 PM
Who knows, maybe he truly feels that way. I wasn't going to buy it but I guess I probably should.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 03, 2021, 03:45:18 PM
"Best since Drama" - implying that none of their albums since Drama have been better than Drama. I'm not sure I can trust their opinion then...  :lol

All kidding aside, the first two singles definitely haven't filled me with hope that it will even be better than Fly From Here, let alone Drama, or anything in-between. At least FFH had a bit of heaviness than rock 'n' roll to it.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 03, 2021, 07:10:02 PM
Just read a good review from Progarchives. Dude said this new one is the best since Drama.

Sounds like a lame review on that alone, and since it's from Progarchives, it's probably someone who craps all over the Rabin era, so hard to take it seriously. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on September 03, 2021, 08:25:37 PM
Just read a good review from Progarchives. Dude said this new one is the best since Drama.

Sounds like a lame review on that alone, and since it's from Progarchives, it's probably someone who craps all over the Rabin era, so hard to take it seriously.

Reminds me of the Prog Report reviews, where they blindly praise any new release with Portnoy but are over-critical of MM era DT :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on September 03, 2021, 09:44:04 PM
Just read a good review from Progarchives. Dude said this new one is the best since Drama.

Sounds like a lame review on that alone, and since it's from Progarchives, it's probably someone who craps all over the Rabin era, so hard to take it seriously.

Reminds me of the Prog Report reviews, where they blindly praise any new release with Portnoy but are over-critical of MM era DT :facepalm:

Well, Portnoy is a frequent guest on the Prog Report, and they likely don't want to lose that connection since he's probably one of the few prog "names" that goes on there, so it is in their best interests to praise Portnoy's music and be overly critical of DT's music without him.  Let's put it this way: if they had given Innocence and Danger a bad review, and then came out with a glowing review of DT's forthcoming album, the odds of Portnoy continuing to guest on their shows or podcasts would likely drop dramatically.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Sebastián Pratesi on September 04, 2021, 04:32:03 PM
I have a question.

Why is the Talk album not on Spotify?

The label it was released on (Victory Music) folded shortly after the album released & now no-one has legal rights to redistribute it.
But there was a 2002 reissue, later included in a boxset. Doesn't Eagle Records own the rights?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on September 04, 2021, 07:54:48 PM
I have a question.

Why is the Talk album not on Spotify?

The label it was released on (Victory Music) folded shortly after the album released & now no-one has legal rights to redistribute it.
But there was a 2002 reissue, later included in a boxset. Doesn't Eagle Records own the rights?

I didn't know that. I guess I don't fully understand the situation then.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on September 04, 2021, 11:35:08 PM
Oh that's right,  It is called the collectors edition. There's an extended version of The Calling and a write-up about the making of the album..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on September 14, 2021, 12:10:34 AM
I'm looking at the track lengths for The Quest on wikipedia... why exactly is this a double album? The whole thing's only 61 minutes? Is it just to up the price?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on September 14, 2021, 12:45:21 AM
I'm looking at the track lengths for The Quest on wikipedia... why exactly is this a double album? The whole thing's only 61 minutes? Is it just to up the price?

2nd disc is bonus tracks, to my understanding.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on September 14, 2021, 07:12:40 AM
2nd disc is bonus tracks, to my understanding.

Ah. I was under impression that the album was announced with all 11 tracks from the get-go. At least any time I saw a press release, anyway. Still, seems like a waste to make a whole extra disc for 3 songs that only total 13 minutes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on September 23, 2021, 09:13:13 AM
Not that anyone will be surprised or too disappointed, but...

Quote
Due to unforeseen manufacturing issues, the US physical release of the new Yes album ‘The Quest’ will be delayed. The worldwide digital release of the album will remain on the 1st of October. The US release for the 2CD Digipak, Limited Deluxe Box & Artbook will be on the 15th of October, and the standalone vinyl will be released on the 17th of December.

This does not affect the release outside of the US, where the physical release date will remain 1st of October.

The YesWorld/Manhead Merch store will still be shipping their stock as soon as product is received, as such customers who pre-ordered via this shop will receive their order on or before October 15th

We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused, and we are doing our best to get the album in your hands asap.

Inside Out Music just posted that on Facebook about 10 minutes ago.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on October 01, 2021, 01:04:53 AM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on October 01, 2021, 08:35:04 AM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

 :rollin

I've listened to it once. It's not worse than Heaven & Earth, at least.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheSoylentMan on October 01, 2021, 08:42:53 AM
Those things on the right side of the album cover look like the Audioslave sculpture.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 01, 2021, 01:35:10 PM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

Are you really sure? If a Yes record plays in a forest...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 02, 2021, 01:27:53 PM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

 :rollin

I've listened to it once. It's not worse than Heaven & Earth, at least.

-Marc.

That still leaves a LOT of room for error.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on October 02, 2021, 02:31:45 PM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

 :rollin

I've listened to it once. It's not worse than Heaven & Earth, at least.

-Marc.

I disagree. Even thought H&E is calm, I disagree with the notion that it's boring or that forgettable. It works as an album to listen to when I want to relax.

The Quest on the other hand, I've now listened to three times & can't remember a single note outside the singles. Future Memories is also good, & I guess Leave Well Alone is alright (although parts of it remind me more of Camel than Yes, & those are the best parts imo), but do I remember any riffs or melodies off the top of my head besides The Ice Bridge & Dare To Know? Nope. Do I remember any riffs or melodies from H&E? A pretty decent amount of them, yes. Obviously I've had more time to listen to H&E, but what I'm trying to say is that The Quest doesn't have that surface enjoyment that H&E gave me, & that so far it's not a good sign.

At least The Ice Bridge breaks the trend though. Even if only for one song, it's still quite a refreshing song.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 02, 2021, 03:48:55 PM
I have also only listened to it twice and it does feel like listening to fifty minutes of silence. I do remember Music to my ears being solid, though. But still, I will keep spinning it over the next week.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on October 03, 2021, 10:57:50 AM
First listen to The Quest, and I agree, it exists. Completely forgettable sounding so far.

I liked Fly From Here when it came out, but haven't listened to that one in some time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 04, 2021, 07:42:22 AM
I listened to it while driving home from Vienna yesterday and I had to fight falling asleep momentarily.


At least The Ice Bridge breaks the trend though. Even if only for one song, it's still quite a refreshing song.

Yeah, and The Ice Bridge was accidentally ripped off from a composition by Francis Monkman...
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 05, 2021, 09:39:50 AM
All of a sudden, it sounded better on my fifth listen. Honestly.  ;D

I will actually put it away for a day or two and then come back to it. There are some melodies that sneak up on you after a while, when you're least expecting it. I'll give it a break in order to see if the melodies will draw me to return to it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 05, 2021, 08:27:48 PM
I listened to it while driving home from Vienna yesterday and I had to fight falling asleep momentarily.

Maybe it should come with a warning label for listening while operating heavy machinery?  :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 06, 2021, 08:46:02 AM
I listened to it while driving home from Vienna yesterday and I had to fight falling asleep momentarily.

Maybe it should come with a warning label for listening while operating heavy machinery?  :D
   :lol

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on October 06, 2021, 04:09:52 PM
They're running out of ideas. I'd dismiss Geoff and bring on Clive Nolan.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on October 08, 2021, 08:51:46 AM
Damn. Despite being able to recognize occasional Yes magic and melodies here and there, I do not think I will be returning to The Quest too often. In comparison to Heaven and earth, it might be just a tad more energetic. The attitude that was there on Fly from here is in no way present.

I understand that the guys are older, but the music that they make nowadays doesn't grab me as much. It's very bland and average overall.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on October 08, 2021, 09:53:34 PM
So I finally picked up a copy of Chris Squire’s Fish Out of Water. I had heard it briefly a few times before, but this is the first time I’d really sat down and given it a full listen. It is extraordinary. Not sure how to put it in words, but I’m sitting here in silence because, well, that was awesome and I’m not ready to move on yet!

Easily the best Yes-related thing I’ve heard between Relayer and 90125, and honestly up there with anything else by Yes probably.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 08, 2021, 10:36:02 PM
I consider Fish Out of Water to be the best solo album by any Yes member, and a damned good album overall.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 09, 2021, 02:09:53 AM


I understand that the guys are older, but the music that they make nowadays doesn't grab me as much. It's very bland and average overall.
They lost me right afterJon Anderson's departure.  I just can't get into either of the other singers at all.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 09, 2021, 12:44:08 PM
They're running out of ideas. I'd dismiss Geoff and bring on Clive Nolan.

Fair enough, I don't know who Clive Nolan is, but I don't think the problem is Geoff Downes.   This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: darkshade on October 09, 2021, 01:05:36 PM
New album feels more like a Steve Howe solo album (and it may as well be) and there's no original members left, which is a good sign the band is dead, and more of a marketing tool for Howe and the gang. None of that would matter if the music wasn't flat out boring.

Fish Out of Water is the best Yes album not under the Yes moniker, and sounds more like a real Yes album than The Quest.
Bruford on drums certainly is a factor as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on October 09, 2021, 05:26:26 PM
They're running out of ideas. I'd dismiss Geoff and bring on Clive Nolan.

Fair enough, I don't know who Clive Nolan is, but I don't think the problem is Geoff Downes.   This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.

Well, I think bringing on a prolific composer like CN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Nolan would take SH out of the sole leader position. Geoff here is no more than a session player and a heavyweight like Nolan would bring balance within the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 09, 2021, 10:24:16 PM
This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.

This is the real problem, right here.  Steve Howe is at best the third most important ingredient in the Yes sound, and now he’s leading the band. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on October 10, 2021, 08:03:21 AM
This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.

This is the real problem, right here.  Steve Howe is at best the third most important ingredient in the Yes sound, and now he’s leading the band.

OK, but he cannot be removed. He`s one of the last two classic members and Alan is very close to retirement. Billy and Jon are keepers now. So, if you want Steve not to lead the band you need to include a major composer in there. And the weak point are the keyboards, not because Geoff is uncapable. He's a gifted player, but (and I'm sure it`s because of Steve) he's working here as a session player more than a creative force.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 10, 2021, 08:18:17 AM
I think Yes would be better off if Jon Anderson and Steve Howe patched things up.  The absence of Chris Squire would be more tolerable if Jon Anderson was still in the band.  I wish that the Anderson Rabin Wakeman project hadn’t run out of steam.  That sounded more like Yes than Steve Howe’s version.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on October 10, 2021, 08:36:44 AM
I think Howe and Anderson have patched things up to some degree.  Didn't they work together on Anderson's solo album from 2019? 

I suspect with Howe, it is probably both a monetary and leadership thing.  He can probably get away with paying Davidson a lot less than Anderson would get paid if he was back in the band, and with Anderson not in the band and Squire deceased, Howe is pretty much the man in charge and doesn't have to worry about anyone trying to take over like Anderson inevitably would.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 10, 2021, 09:02:17 AM
  I wish that the Anderson Rabin Wakeman project hadn’t run out of steam. 
I wonder what the heck happened with that project?? They were even working on a new album and somebody dropped the ball..  good grief!   :facepalm:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 10, 2021, 09:07:22 AM
They're running out of ideas. I'd dismiss Geoff and bring on Clive Nolan.

Fair enough, I don't know who Clive Nolan is, but I don't think the problem is Geoff Downes.   This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.

Well, I think bringing on a prolific composer like CN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Nolan would take SH out of the sole leader position. Geoff here is no more than a session player and a heavyweight like Nolan would bring balance within the band.

Geoff Downes is an AMAZING composer.   Remembering that I don't know who he is what would Clive Nolan have that Downes doesn't in terms of being heard?   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on October 10, 2021, 10:41:08 AM
They're running out of ideas. I'd dismiss Geoff and bring on Clive Nolan.

Fair enough, I don't know who Clive Nolan is, but I don't think the problem is Geoff Downes.   This is Steve Howe's band, and that, IMO, is not a good thing.   The heart of Yes was always Chris Squire.

Well, I think bringing on a prolific composer like CN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Nolan would take SH out of the sole leader position. Geoff here is no more than a session player and a heavyweight like Nolan would bring balance within the band.

Geoff Downes is an AMAZING composer.   Remembering that I don't know who he is what would Clive Nolan have that Downes doesn't in terms of being heard?

Just check out Arena or the Nolan - Wakeman project.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on October 11, 2021, 04:33:20 AM
I think Howe and Anderson have patched things up to some degree.  Didn't they work together on Anderson's solo album from 2019? 

Well, that album came out in 2019 but was recorded over the last 387 years, so I guess Steve could have contributed his parts before they stopped playing together.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on October 15, 2021, 06:18:31 PM
Third single: "Future memories"

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-unveils-video-for-future-memories-third-single-from-new-album-the-quest/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on October 16, 2021, 03:11:37 PM
So I had to pick this up. As a Yes completist it was mandatory, although I must say I was not looking forward to checking this out.

Well...I finally got the courage to put this in the player last night after drinking about six 9.0 IPAs, I found myself perilously drunk and ready to embark on The Quest. Having only previously heard the Ice Bridge, had no clue of the rest of what I was in for. Considering my state, it's no surprise I can't remember any of the actual music. What I do remember is being pleasantly surprised and pleased with each unfolding song and thinking: "Hey! This is not as bad as everyone's saying. Digging this slightly. This is good. Not great, but actually good."  So I know I actually enjoyed it! But of course I don't remember a single note. And now I'm sitting here in the sober light of day wondering; do I dare chance listening to this again now at the risk of ruining my alcohol fueled delusions?  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 16, 2021, 06:17:48 PM
I too am a Yes completist, and have no intention of listening to this album for the first time sober.  I have yet to actually order the damned thing.  I didn't want to do Amazon, so I tried Burning Shed, and couldn't find any option to not use fucking Paypal to order it.  And I won't use Paypal, so I had to wait until Amazon had it, which was not until yesterday, and then I forgot to order it.  Yeah, that's how high of a priority this album is.  But I'll get it, eventually.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on October 16, 2021, 06:48:32 PM
So I had to pick this up. As a Yes completist it was mandatory, although I must say I was not looking forward to checking this out.

Well...I finally got the courage to put this in the player last night after drinking about six 9.0 IPAs, I found myself perilously drunk and ready to embark on The Quest. Having only previously heard the Ice Bridge, had no clue of the rest of what I was in for. Considering my state, it's no surprise I can't remember any of the actual music. What I do remember is being pleasantly surprised and pleased with each unfolding song and thinking: "Hey! This is not as bad as everyone's saying. Digging this slightly. This is good. Not great, but actually good."  So I know I actually enjoyed it! But of course I don't remember a single note. And now I'm sitting here in the sober light of day wondering; do I dare chance listening to this again now at the risk of ruining my alcohol fueled delusions?  :lol
  :rollin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on October 16, 2021, 09:19:55 PM
I'm behind. All I want is a CD copy of From A Page that does NOT require me to rebuy Live From Lyon and does NOT require me to use Burning Shed, who've rejected my payments any time I've tried to ordered from them in the past decade.

And now I need The Quest for my collection too. Le sigh.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 16, 2021, 10:22:22 PM
I want to support Burning Shed.  Hell, I want to support anyone who is not Amazon, just because.  But I won't use Paypal, and I don't know where else to get physical media.  I want the discs.  I refuse to pay real money for digital(-only) music.  My brain just can't.  Even farkin' Best Buy doesn't carry CDs anymore (but they do have vinyl -- go figure).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gazinwales on October 16, 2021, 11:22:35 PM
Why won't you use PayPal?
I use it for just about everything I buy online or via a phone app.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on October 16, 2021, 11:27:55 PM
Why won't you use PayPal?
I use it for just about everything I buy online or via a phone app.

Yeah, PayPal has made online shopping so much more convenient. Don’t have to enter a credit card or create an account for every random place you shop online.

If you’re in the US, I’d say use Laser CD for new physical releases (in the prog realm), but it looks like they are sold out of all the regular stand-alone CD of The Quest (or never had it). Have to get it with an LP package.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 17, 2021, 07:05:38 AM
I had some good experiences with PayPal, but if anything ever goes wrong with the payment or you need a refund, you're shit out of luck.  The merchant wouldn't help because they say it's an issue with PayPal, and PayPal wouldn't help because they said it's an issue with the merchant.  It's been years and I don't even remember what it was now.  I also don't remember my PayPal login and account information.  I just remember swearing to never use PayPal again.  It's possible that things are better now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 03, 2021, 06:11:17 AM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

I finally got around to listen to this and there's really nothing to add to this statement.

An unexciting, unoffensive record, it's so uneventful you can't even call it bad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: JediKnight1969 on December 05, 2021, 05:50:23 AM
The need a good producer ASAP:

Steven Wilson
Kevin Shirley
Bob Ezrin

Someone.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 05, 2021, 06:39:46 AM
The album is out

First impressions: it exists

I finally got around to listen to this and there's really nothing to add to this statement.

An unexciting, unoffensive record, it's so uneventful you can't even call it bad.

This statement summarizes this album perfectly.


The need a good producer ASAP:

Steven Wilson
Kevin Shirley
Bob Ezrin

Someone.

I'm not sure Steven would be up for this. For example, he only remixes/remasters albums he loves himself. I think he is aware the last Yes albums weren't exactly masterpieces and that a new Yes album probably won't be either - with or without his help.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 07, 2021, 07:28:22 AM
I'd be REALLY interested in seeing what Bob Ezrin would bring to the table.  He's one of the few producers that I will listen to an album because he produced it.  He has a knack for bringing out the best of bands yet putting his stamp on things.  Plus he's done wonders for Deep Purple, IMO. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 07, 2021, 09:03:28 AM
Steve Howe produced the latest album, because he was tired of working with producers that he felt didn't understand Yes.  I think the new album sounds great.  It's the writing that's weak, and I'm not sure how much a producer can do about that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 07, 2021, 09:24:07 AM
Steve Howe produced the latest album, because he was tired of working with producers that he felt didn't understand Yes.  I think the new album sounds great.  It's the writing that's weak, and I'm not sure how much a producer can do about that.

I think a producer can do a lot about that. Also, he can do a lot about how the compositions are arranged and presented, see Nigel Goodrich on Roger Waters' latest album. The songs are clearly by Roger, but they are presented and produced with a quite modern, very guitar-less sound (which I love and I am a guitarist). I'm sure Nigel also told Roger to throw out some stuff every now and then or if some ideas were just shit. Yes would benefit from that. What they need is someone who kicks their asses.

Edit: then again, between their last albums, there was always quite a long period of time. I can't imagine Alan still swinging drum sticks in, say, 8 years. Maybe The Quest was Yes' last album. Or maybe they'll continue as Chris wanted it and just keep swapping members (which I wouldn't like).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 07, 2021, 09:48:11 AM
Steve Howe produced the latest album, because he was tired of working with producers that he felt didn't understand Yes.  I think the new album sounds great.  It's the writing that's weak, and I'm not sure how much a producer can do about that.

I think a producer can do a lot about that.

Yeah somebody like Trevor Rabin.. 😁
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 07, 2021, 10:15:41 AM
I had relatively high hopes for Heaven & Earth, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who has produced a lot of my favorite albums.  That, plus Yes was coming off one of their full-album tours, and after playing Close to the Edge and The Yes Album, I'd assumed that they were reminded of what Yes was capable of creating.  I assumed that they'd take that into the studio with them.  Then the album came out and it's basically "lite rock".  Then later we heard that the Baker and the band had butted heads a lot during the recording.  The previous album, Fly From Here, was produced by Trevor Horn and was the last album that actually rocks.  But that was 10 years ago.

I've read multiple statements from Howe and the others that "this is the band now" or some shit.  They've all but come right out and said that they're a bunch of fucking lightweights now, they're old and tired, and they want to make wimpy, mellow music, and they're tired of fighting with producers who want them to play rock and roll.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on December 07, 2021, 11:15:56 AM
I would like if the Yes of now were more rocking, but if they don't want to, or if they can't rock anymore, so be it. But if they put out new music, at least keep it interesting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 07, 2021, 11:28:11 AM
I had relatively high hopes for Heaven & Earth, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who has produced a lot of my favorite albums.  That, plus Yes was coming off one of their full-album tours, and after playing Close to the Edge and The Yes Album, I'd assumed that they were reminded of what Yes was capable of creating.  I assumed that they'd take that into the studio with them.  Then the album came out and it's basically "lite rock".  Then later we heard that the Baker and the band had butted heads a lot during the recording.  The previous album, Fly From Here, was produced by Trevor Horn and was the last album that actually rocks.  But that was 10 years ago.

I've read multiple statements from Howe and the others that "this is the band now" or some shit.  They've all but come right out and said that they're a bunch of fucking lightweights now, they're old and tired, and they want to make wimpy, mellow music, and they're tired of fighting with producers who want them to play rock and roll.

If you want to reduce it to stereotypes, Squire was the "rock" guy; he's the one that played with Page and Plant, etc., while Howe was more the folk guy; all his solo pieces are acoustic, he's put out acoustic versions of Yes songs, and did a covers album of Bob Dylan songs.  Given that Jon Davison sounds like Jon Anderson, but doesn't have the rock/power/edge that Anderson has, and this isn't unexpected, even if it is unwelcome (for me; I love the rock side of Yes).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 07, 2021, 12:06:25 PM
That is reducing things to stereotypes, but yeah that's basically it.  I guess I still think of Steve as a rocker, since I have many memories of seeing him just ripping through 32nd-note flourishes in Yes videos.  Geoff Downes is in the band now, and hell, Asia rocks more than Yes does these days, and some of that is due to Downes.  Oddly, Downes and Howe don't seem to write together, even though they're basically the core of both Yes and Asia.

Squire was present on Heaven & Earth, though, and it was a real snoozefest.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 07, 2021, 02:34:03 PM
That is reducing things to stereotypes, but yeah that's basically it.  I guess I still think of Steve as a rocker, since I have many memories of seeing him just ripping through 32nd-note flourishes in Yes videos.  Geoff Downes is in the band now, and hell, Asia rocks more than Yes does these days, and some of that is due to Downes.  Oddly, Downes and Howe don't seem to write together, even though they're basically the core of both Yes and Asia.

Squire was present on Heaven & Earth, though, and it was a real snoozefest.

The best song on H&E was the only one with Downes as a writer, "Subway Walls" co-written with Davison. It's about the only song from that album that I remember even enjoying enough to listen to again, and it's the last song on the album too.

Conversely, "The Ice Bridge", which opens The Quest, is one of two songs with a Downes writing credit, and is probably the best song on that album as well.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on December 07, 2021, 03:04:27 PM
Steve Howe and Geoff Downes never really wrote together when they were in Asia, either.  There was some collaboration on the first record, but Alpha is all Wetton/Downes, and the reunion albums up to Howe's departure were largely Wetton/Downes as well.    So, I'm not the slightest bit surprised they don't write much together.  It seems their styles are too disparate.

Honestly, I don't even know why this lineup of Yes exists, outside of the fact that this was the lineup when Chris Squire died.  They really need to either bury the hatchet with Jon Anderson and welcome him back, or retire.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on December 08, 2021, 10:18:25 AM

  They really need to either bury the hatchet with Jon Anderson and welcome him back, or retire.

This!  Yes lost me with the absence of Jon Anderson.   I loved the ARW version of Yes, but sadly that didn't last and we only got a live tour and concert video from them.  They were in the midst of recording a new album and somebody dropped the ball during the process. I don't know what happened but it's really too bad.   :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 09, 2021, 07:02:51 AM
There was an interview in the new Guitar World with Steve Howe, and it was rather... illuminating.   When ARW announced their tour/activity, Steve said he said he sent all three - Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman - an email saying "Good luck!" and then he said "as in, this is never going to work!".  He also talked about the RnRHoF ceremony, and sort of pissed on that, distancing himself from everything but Roundabout and his playing bass (he didn't say what song, and I didn't watch the ceremony). 

He's a sort of miserable guy.  I can't imagine that at this stage of their career that someone like Jon Anderson, who fancies himself the leader of the bands he's in, is going to want to compromise to that level.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on December 09, 2021, 08:26:53 AM
The interviewer should have asked him, "Speaking of things that are never going to work, how is Yes going without both Chris Squire and Jon Anderson?"
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 09, 2021, 09:20:45 AM
The interviewer should have asked him, "Speaking of things that are never going to work, how is Yes going without both Chris Squire and Jon Anderson?"

HAHA, no shit!   :) :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on December 09, 2021, 11:03:51 AM
Let that sink in.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on December 09, 2021, 11:17:47 AM
Imagine Steve Howe colaborating with Roger Waters. How long would the session last?  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on December 10, 2021, 07:30:50 AM
He also talked about the RnRHoF ceremony, and sort of pissed on that, distancing himself from everything but Roundabout and his playing bass (he didn't say what song, and I didn't watch the ceremony). 

I rewatched that the other day... the tension between Howe and Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman was something, that's for sure. The man's a good guitar player, but every interview I see with him, I dislike him a little more.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on December 11, 2021, 05:21:03 AM
He also talked about the RnRHoF ceremony, and sort of pissed on that, distancing himself from everything but Roundabout and his playing bass (he didn't say what song, and I didn't watch the ceremony). 

I rewatched that the other day... the tension between Howe and Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman was something, that's for sure. The man's a good guitar player, but every interview I see with him, I dislike him a little more.

What's there to complain about the RnRHoF introduction, other than it being way too late? The performances were good and they showed that all they need(ed) was each other. Rick's jokes were a little under the belt but still funny. They were induced by none other than Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson who declared their love for Yes. Steve should be fucking flattered.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 11, 2021, 09:25:07 AM
Coming so shortly after Chris Squire's death, it was widely expected that some time would be taken to acknowledge Chris, the only one to play on every Yes album (at the time).  Chris' widow, Scotland, was in attendance and was prepared to say a few words.  But instead, Wakeman rambled on and on.  Some thought he was hilarious, some not so much.  Then they were out of time and everyone was ushered off, including anyone else who thought they'd get to say something.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 13, 2021, 06:41:34 AM
In the article I referenced, there was a LOT of bitterness that Chris didn't get to see the induction, as it was something he wanted very very much (at least according to Steve).  That sort of jives with my impression of Chris, who was always the more traditional rock star in the band.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: MinistroRaven on February 10, 2022, 07:43:31 AM
The band have launched a brand new video for the track ‘A Living Island’, created by Wayne Joyner who has made all of the promotional clips for ‘The Quest’. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/xZtnIUzdEFQ
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on April 08, 2022, 11:45:08 PM
https://www.q13fox.com/news/thieves-steal-piece-of-rock-and-roll-history-from-local-hall-of-fame-drummer

WTF. Although I'm not sure if the stuff they stole is as concerning as Alan's health.  :sad:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on April 09, 2022, 11:59:58 AM
https://www.q13fox.com/news/thieves-steal-piece-of-rock-and-roll-history-from-local-hall-of-fame-drummer

WTF. Although I'm not sure if the stuff they stole is as concerning as Alan's health.  :sad:
Pretty sad. But yeah, Alan's not looking good at all. I can't imagine him being able to play drums in such a fragile state. :sad:

Only thing is that I don't full understand is these thieves being described as squatters. Gives me the impression that this is not their primary residence unless maybe they were traveling for an extended time since it sounds like the thieves were able to take their time. Either way, at the very least, I would think they would want to have some sort of security system installed or even have someone house sitting if they were just traveling. I'd also be worried about ID theft, too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 09, 2022, 01:22:26 PM
Yeah, "squatters" is an interesting choice of word there.  Maybe it means something somewhat different over there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 11, 2022, 06:17:44 AM
Well, they said in the video that they broke in and stayed there for "several days".  That's kind of the definition of a squatter; staying for an extended time on a property you're not authorized to be staying on.

Alan looks... haggard.  I hope he's okay.

I say this in a light-hearted way, but watching noobs talk so earnestly about topics they don't know much about is always fascinating to me; they must have used the phrase "rock and roll history" 98 times (as if the history of music, Alan White and rock and roll are all separate things).   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 12, 2022, 06:29:49 AM
Holy shit, Alan is not looking good. I wish him all the best.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 12, 2022, 07:48:50 AM
Well, they said in the video that they broke in and stayed there for "several days".  That's kind of the definition of a squatter; staying for an extended time on a property you're not authorized to be staying on.

That makes sense.  I didn't watch the video.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cocopjojo on April 13, 2022, 10:13:17 PM
Alan looks... haggard.  I hope he's okay.
Yeah, he's looking pretty frail. Is he really going to play in 4 weeks? Their 30+ show tour is scheduled to start.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on April 13, 2022, 10:26:43 PM
Alan looks... haggard.  I hope he's okay.
Yeah, he's looking pretty frail. Is he really going to play in 4 weeks? Their 30+ show tour is scheduled to start.

Weren't they touring with Jay Schellen because Alan couldn't play live anymore?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cocopjojo on April 17, 2022, 06:58:28 PM
Alan looks... haggard.  I hope he's okay.
Yeah, he's looking pretty frail. Is he really going to play in 4 weeks? Their 30+ show tour is scheduled to start.

Weren't they touring with Jay Schellen because Alan couldn't play live anymore?

Oh, you're right. They had named some other reasons in the past ("Alan recovering from an illness," etc.) for Jay's tour support, but it seems like a safe bet that he will be with them again on their upcoming tour as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 20, 2022, 11:36:56 AM
So...sometime last year, I bought Topographic Drama.  If you don't know and it isn't obvious from the title, it's a live album from the tour on which they performed all of Drama and about 60% of Tales from Topographic Oceans (along with a handful of other classic songs).

I forgot I had the album until this weekend and finally listened to it over the last couple days.  I don't know what it is, but this is a BAD album.  It's lifeless and dull.  The tempos of the songs were noticeably slowed down.  Very disappointing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 20, 2022, 12:25:56 PM
Yeah, I've heard that one is downright embarrassing.  The band is a shell of its former self, even if they still have most of the guys that played on those two albums.  I personally think it was a mistake for the current lineup to try to tackle Tales.  Drama they had a slightly better shot at, with most Geoff on keyboards, but they just can't play like that anymore.

I'll always love Yes, but I only check out stuff they've done recently (like in the past 20 years) out of curiosity.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on April 20, 2022, 12:34:25 PM
So...sometime last year, I bought Topographic Drama.  If you don't know and it isn't obvious from the title, it's a live album from the tour on which they performed all of Drama and about 60% of Tales from Topographic Oceans (along with a handful of other classic songs).

I forgot I had the album until this weekend and finally listened to it over the last couple days.  I don't know what it is, but this is a BAD album.  It's lifeless and dull.  The tempos of the songs were noticeably slowed down.  Very disappointing.

So the Tempus is no longer Fugiting then?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on April 20, 2022, 05:36:57 PM
Yeah, I've heard that one is downright embarrassing.

Yeah...and I admittedly may be way off with this, but it seemed apparent to me that Steve can't handle the material any more (and, given his age, that's not even a dig).  There were CONSTANT guitar driven ritards where they didn't need to be.


So the Tempus is no longer Fugiting then?

More like tempus ratibus.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on April 20, 2022, 06:27:39 PM
I've deliberately not listened to any live Yes albums since Songs From Tsongas, which I think was the last live album to feature Jon Anderson. That's not a dig at the other vocalists who have come and gone from the band, but I just don't find myself interested in hearing the same dozen Yessongs played live again, especially at slower tempos. As tempting as it is to hear some of their classic albums played in full, I just can't bring myself to listen to them in the condition they're played in. If I wanted to hear those albums, I'll just spin the original studio recordings.

I wonder if they'll call it quits in 2024 and do a 55th Anniversary Tour and just bow out. At least King Crimson and Genesis knew when to call it a day, as did Rush. Steve just seems insistent on keeping the band going no matter what the music ends up sounding.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on April 21, 2022, 04:20:06 AM
Yes delayed their tour once again. What I find interesting is the following statement:

Quote
The tour line-up features Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Jay Schellen (additional drums and percussion). 

It looks like Alan will be joining the band after all. Although I expect Jay to manage most drumming duties. Relayer is such a beast to play (on every instrument).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on April 25, 2022, 07:28:15 AM
Yes delayed their tour once again. What I find interesting is the following statement:

Quote
The tour line-up features Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Jay Schellen (additional drums and percussion). 

It looks like Alan will be joining the band after all. Although I expect Jay to manage most drumming duties. Relayer is such a beast to play (on every instrument).

I've had tickets for the (now CTTE 50th anniversary ) tour in the UK for a while now. I believe Alan is always scheduled to be on the tour, but only plays one "set" - either the entire album or the collection of hits, depending on which one is less physically demanding for him - so I imagine Jay will be playing most, if not all, of Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on April 25, 2022, 07:50:41 AM
Yeah, I've heard that one is downright embarrassing.  The band is a shell of its former self, even if they still have most of the guys that played on those two albums.
This immediately makes me think of Rush, and as Marc said, knew when to call it a day (dunno about KC - are they truly "done" and given how frail Phil was on this last tour, it's debatable about Genesis, too). Better to leave on a victorious high note than milk it until it's just a dragging whimper that needs to be put out of its misery. (I hope DT doesn't eventually end up doing the same)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 25, 2022, 08:54:35 AM
Yeah, I've heard that one is downright embarrassing.  The band is a shell of its former self, even if they still have most of the guys that played on those two albums.
This immediately makes me think of Rush, and as Marc said, knew when to call it a day (dunno about KC - are they truly "done" and given how frail Phil was on this last tour, it's debatable about Genesis, too). Better to leave on a victorious high note than milk it until it's just a dragging whimper that needs to be put out of its misery. (I hope DT doesn't eventually end up doing the same)

It's a fine line though, and I think there are variations on this that ought to be explored.  I look at Kiss; they're calling it a day - in theory - and by all accounts it's not what it once was; but once, it's still as good as it ever was (thanks Toby Keith).  Some people can walk away; REM.  The Kinks.  I totally speculating here, but for someone like Michael Stipe, I don't get that "REM" is his life; it's not the only avenue for his creative outputs; he has his singing, his lyrics, his album art, but he also has his photography, his filmmaking, etc.  But for, say, Keith Richards, I guess it's easier when you're touring arenas and stadiums, but I can't imagine him walking away since that's what he does.  That never seemed a job for Keef, but rather a facet of his life.  He's not going to walk away from his life, metaphorically.

Maybe it ought not take the form of the band we know in the form we now know it, but I can't assume that each of my favorite artists are going to handle this all the same way.  Steve Howe, maybe he can record and tour with his son(s) and not use the Yes vehicle for his art, but maybe he can't.  Maybe he can't walk away, and while it's something that I'm not interested in humoring, well, it's not my call.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 25, 2022, 09:12:42 AM
I'm not one of those that complains about bands continuing when they're clearly past their prime.  You won't hear me say "They should just pack it in."  I'm obviously not a player anywhere near that level, but I feel the need to play and to continue to find musical outlets.  There is a need to create, a need to collaborate.  Also, for a lot of these guys, it's the only life they've ever known.  Genesis formed when they were in high school.  Yes has been at it nearly as long.  It's not like they're going to retire, take a pension, and go fishing.  I dream of the day I can retire from my office job and just make music.  Musicians, in a way, don't have that to look forward to because music is already their life.  So they keep making music.  If it's not great, people don't have to buy it.  But I'll never begrudge them wanting to continue doing what they love doing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on April 25, 2022, 12:15:26 PM
It's not like they're going to retire, take a pension, and go fishing.  I dream of the day I can retire from my office job and just make music.  Musicians, in a way, don't have that to look forward to because music is already their life.  So they keep making music.  If it's not great, people don't have to buy it.  But I'll never begrudge them wanting to continue doing what they love doing.
Well I'm sure they have other hobbies they are interested in. Look at how Alex keeps up with doing painting and Geddy kept busy with his bass book and now working on his biography; plus both seem to be involved in a bunch of causes, too. And I wouldn't fault any of them for continuing to make music. But if they're not doing the material justice live, then they should at least give that up unless they redo the songs in the way that they can still do them justice - doesn't sound like that's what Yes is doing. Or they could go another route and continue making music in other ways. Look at how busy Alex has been, first with doing stuff for other bands/artists, and now this Envy of None thing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on April 25, 2022, 02:41:51 PM
I don't disagree with that.  I have some of Steve Howe's solo albums, and they vary a bit but are mostly good to great.  His more recent jazz trio stuff is pretty good.
 The other guys I'm sure have similar "other outlets".  But while Yes hasn't done anything truly exciting in a while (the opening track from their latest album had me cautiously optimistic, but it turned out to be the only real highlight on the entire album), I still can't fault them for wanting to continue with it, and continue calling it Yes.  It's just not up to us to say that they should stop.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 06, 2022, 08:17:32 AM
What is y'alls take on Yesshows?

I remember so vividly being ordered to a transit barracks in Rota, Spain awaiting orders to whatever ship I was going to ge assigned to. I was supposed to be there a week but instead spent 3 long months. Large groups of sailors would get shipped in and then right back out again so you couldn't make friends. It was very lonely. And the only cassette I had was Yesshows. I must have spun it hundreds of times. I remember one time during The Gates Of Delerium, having tears in my eyes as I wondered what in the he'll I had done with my life by joining the navy. Anyways, sometimes I just crave the album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 06, 2022, 08:57:41 AM
Given it's circumstances - a live album of a disasterous tour, after a disasterous album, and the band splintering like it did - I think it's a way underrated live record. Howe hated it (wanted it a triple) and the splitting of Ritual was a necessary but unfortunate move. Having said that, I listen to it as much as I do any other Yes live album.   My only complaint, now that it's on CD, is the song choice; it SHOULD have been a triple and it should have been more reflective of the whole setlist instead of live selections over the years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 06, 2022, 09:18:45 AM
I've generally considered it bad form to quote yourself, but in this case it's just easier.  I was going to spew a bunch of facts and background about Yesshows, but I'd already done the most ridiculously thorough job I could over in the Yes Discography thread.

When Jon and Rick left Yes in 1979 following the Tormato tour, the remaining members chose to carry on, but Atlantic Records was not so sure about the future of the band.  It was therefore decided that it was time for another live album, to keep Yes in the public eye and ear, and of course to bring in some revenue for the label.

Chris sat down with tapes from the past three tours and began editing.  At one point, Yesshows was to be like its predecessor Yessongs in that it would be a triple LP package and feature the entire album Tales from Topographic Oceans, just as Yessongs had contained all of Close to the Edge.  Chris was also asked to prepare a two-LP version, in case it was decided that another three-LP release wasn't feasible.  Then the famous meeting of The Buggles with Steve, Chris, and Alan took place, leading to the Drama sessions and eventual album, and the Yesshows project was shelved.

After the band officially broke up in 1980 following the aborted Drama tour, Atlantic decided to release Yesshows after all.  Apparently because Yes technically did not exist at the time, no one from the band was consulted, and someone at Atlantic dug up the two-LP rough cut that Chris had put together.  This became Yesshows.

Yesshows has material from the Relayer, Going for the One, and Tormato tours, which is why both Rick and Patrick appear on keyboards.  Patrick plays on "The Gates of Delerium" and, perhaps surprisingly, on "Ritual".  The remaining tracks have Rick on keyboards as they were taken from the later tours.

The album opens, as does Yessongs, with an excerpt from Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite".  But in this case, we join the excerpt nearer to its conclusion.  We hear the applause as the band takes the stage, and they play along with the final segment, leading directly into "Parallels" to open the concert.

Because of its length, "Ritual" was originally split across the two sides of the second LP.  There was a fade-down at the end of side 3, then a fade-up at the beginning of side 4, just before the point of the fade-down, so no music is actually missing, but it was still unfortunate that the song had to be treated this way.  Incredibly, the two parts were not rejoined on the original CD release but instead the fade-down and fade-up were preserved as on the original vinyl.  This was eventually corrected, and current CD versions of Yesshows feature a seamless 28-minute performance of "Ritual".

Another questionable edit is the joining of "Time and a Word" with "Going for the One".  The performances were taken from different nights, from two different tours.  It is a clever segue, but it never actually took place in concert.

Chris is alternately quite proud of the job he did in creating Yesshows, or quick to point out that it was merely a rough cut, (perhaps to apologize for the questionable edits he made), depending on when you ask him.  Other members of Yes were generally unhappy with the results, including the choice of performances, the mixes, and the sound quality in general.  They tend to point out that no one consulted them about Yesshows at all, including Chris.  Some fans complain that the bass is too prominent in the mix.  (The album was produced and mixed by the bass player; go figure.)

Most fans, however, were just happy to get more Yes.  With live versions of two fan favorite epics, both of the band's recent hit singles, a classic from the early years, and two songs from Going for the One which took on new life in concert, there is much to like about this album.  Even if it had been a triple-LP release, by the time all of Tales from Topographic Oceans was included, and "The Gates of Delerium" given its own side, there would have been only one LP side left for anything else.  The two-LP release, with its greater variety, was probably the right decision, although to this day, fans would still love to hear a complete live performance of Tales from Topographic Oceans.

I personally like it a lot.  The editing is clever enough to present the illusion of a single concert experience, and I think the performances themselves are great.  I'm not really sure what specific issues are that the band members have/had with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 06, 2022, 09:55:49 AM
What is y'alls take on Yesshows?

I remember so vividly being ordered to a transit barracks in Rota, Spain awaiting orders to whatever ship I was going to ge assigned to. I was supposed to be there a week but instead spent 3 long months. Large groups of sailors would get shipped in and then right back out again so you couldn't make friends. It was very lonely. And the only cassette I had was Yesshows. I must have spun it hundreds of times. I remember one time during The Gates Of Delerium, having tears in my eyes as I wondered what in the he'll I had done with my life by joining the navy. Anyways, sometimes I just crave the album.

It's really good.

Looking back at it, there are some real oddities, including the fact that it was released a few months AFTER Drama.  Hey...let's release a live album, with songs from three prior tours (apparently the "solo albums tour," GFTO and Tormato)...but not the tour that we're smack in the middle of...and with nothing from our current lineup.  That's a real WTF.

I didn't know any of this since I didn't start getting into Yes until the second half of the '80s, so it didn't matter to me.  I'm pretty sure I first bought Yesshows on vinyl.  Ritual being broken between two sides was weird (it was something they used to do on 8-track tapes), but it made sense for something that was 32 minutes long.  The Yesshows version of Parallels is, for me, definitive.  Time and a Word is meh, and Going for the One, while still not great, is an improvement over the album version (I heard Yesshows before I heard any of the predecessor albums).  Gates is epic.  I really like Whale, and Ritual is so good.  Stories seems like a throw in, but it's a nice little song.  My only complaint is that, when I replaced the vinyl with CDs, it still had the fade-out and fade-in in Ritual.


Because of its length, "Ritual" was originally split across the two sides of the second LP.  There was a fade-down at the end of side 3, then a fade-up at the beginning of side 4, just before the point of the fade-down, so no music is actually missing, but it was still unfortunate that the song had to be treated this way.  Incredibly, the two parts were not rejoined on the original CD release but instead the fade-down and fade-up were preserved as on the original vinyl.  This was eventually corrected, and current CD versions of Yesshows feature a seamless 28-minute performance of "Ritual".

28 minutes?  The component parts on the original vinyl and CD releases are 14:53 and 17:06 (total 31:59).  Is there stuff missing on the CD re-release?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on May 06, 2022, 10:29:33 AM
Can't add any more facts, Orbert has that covered in detail :clap: so all I can say is, I like it a lot but it's always second to Yessongs for me. That's the one I reach for the most when I want to listen to Yes live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 06, 2022, 10:53:10 AM
I knew none of this info. Thanks for sharing.

Love both Yessongs and Yesshows.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 06, 2022, 11:31:34 AM
Speaking of live album titles, I always wished they had continued that trend and named albums like Yessuites and Yessymphonies.

As for Yesshows, I don't spin a lot of live Yes anymore, but I remember really liking this one when I was first discovering Yes nearly two decades ago. The killer versions of epics like "Gates" and "Ritual" were stand-outs for me, and really definitive live versions of those songs, and the other shorter tracks are all excellent as well. An underrated live album for sure!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 06, 2022, 02:55:09 PM
Because of its length, "Ritual" was originally split across the two sides of the second LP.  There was a fade-down at the end of side 3, then a fade-up at the beginning of side 4, just before the point of the fade-down, so no music is actually missing, but it was still unfortunate that the song had to be treated this way.  Incredibly, the two parts were not rejoined on the original CD release but instead the fade-down and fade-up were preserved as on the original vinyl.  This was eventually corrected, and current CD versions of Yesshows feature a seamless 28-minute performance of "Ritual".

28 minutes?  The component parts on the original vinyl and CD releases are 14:53 and 17:06 (total 31:59).  Is there stuff missing on the CD re-release?

Hmmm... now I'm not sure.  I have everything ripped to my hard drive, and Windows tells me it's 28:07.  I just opened it in Audacity, which also tells me it's 28:07.  But I'm pretty sure they didn't cut anything out of the song.

It may just be a matter of where they placed the track markers.  After "Don't Kill the Whale", there's over two minutes where Jon introduces some of the sound and light crew, pushing the length of that track to 6:50 when the song itself is only four minutes or so.  Then they start "Ritual".  On the CD, that's where the track marker is; the actual beginning of the song.  I don't remember now, but if that chatter was all originally considered part of "Ritual", then that would've upped the original vinyl track length.  Subtract the original overlapping fades, and we could be down to 28:07 total time.  My original vinyl is currently inaccessible, so I can't check.  (Maybe someone else could?)

I'm often torn when it comes to live albums where there's talking to the audience.  Sometimes it's just a quick word or two to introduce the song, sometimes there's a little story or something which is okay but I'd like to option to skip it.  And with CDs, there doesn't seem to be a standard.  Sometimes the track marker is always at the start of the song, regardless of any chatter preceding it, which is good if you want to just jump to the song, but sometimes they include the chatter as part of the track.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 06, 2022, 03:10:16 PM
It may just be a matter of where they placed the track markers.  After "Don't Kill the Whale", there's over two minutes where Jon introduces some of the sound and light crew, pushing the length of that track to 6:50 when the song itself is only four minutes or so.  Then they start "Ritual".  On the CD, that's where the track marker is; the actual beginning of the song.  I don't remember now, but if that chatter was all originally considered part of "Ritual", then that would've upped the original vinyl track length.  Subtract the original overlapping fades, and we could be down to 28:07 total time.  My original vinyl is currently inaccessible, so I can't check.  (Maybe someone else could?)

I'm often torn when it comes to live albums where there's talking to the audience.  Sometimes it's just a quick word or two to introduce the song, sometimes there's a little story or something which is okay but I'd like to option to skip it.  And with CDs, there doesn't seem to be a standard.  Sometimes the track marker is always at the start of the song, regardless of any chatter preceding it, which is good if you want to just jump to the song, but sometimes they include the chatter as part of the track.

That's got to be it (and I'm now a bit annoyed with myself for not thinking of it).  That little "rap" (or whatever you want to call it) is probably about four minutes long.  I actually really enjoy that part.  Jon had such a way with stuff like that.  It'd be great to have a video version of Yesshows.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 06, 2022, 03:15:24 PM
Because of its length, "Ritual" was originally split across the two sides of the second LP.  There was a fade-down at the end of side 3, then a fade-up at the beginning of side 4, just before the point of the fade-down, so no music is actually missing, but it was still unfortunate that the song had to be treated this way.  Incredibly, the two parts were not rejoined on the original CD release but instead the fade-down and fade-up were preserved as on the original vinyl.  This was eventually corrected, and current CD versions of Yesshows feature a seamless 28-minute performance of "Ritual".

28 minutes?  The component parts on the original vinyl and CD releases are 14:53 and 17:06 (total 31:59).  Is there stuff missing on the CD re-release?

Hmmm... now I'm not sure.  I have everything ripped to my hard drive, and Windows tells me it's 28:07.  I just opened it in Audacity, which also tells me it's 28:07.  But I'm pretty sure they didn't cut anything out of the song.

It may just be a matter of where they placed the track markers.  After "Don't Kill the Whale", there's over two minutes where Jon introduces some of the sound and light crew, pushing the length of that track to 6:50 when the song itself is only four minutes or so.  Then they start "Ritual".  On the CD, that's where the track marker is; the actual beginning of the song.  I don't remember now, but if that chatter was all originally considered part of "Ritual", then that would've upped the original vinyl track length.  Subtract the original overlapping fades, and we could be down to 28:07 total time.  My original vinyl is currently inaccessible, so I can't check.  (Maybe someone else could?)

I'm often torn when it comes to live albums where there's talking to the audience.  Sometimes it's just a quick word or two to introduce the song, sometimes there's a little story or something which is okay but I'd like to option to skip it.  And with CDs, there doesn't seem to be a standard.  Sometimes the track marker is always at the start of the song, regardless of any chatter preceding it, which is good if you want to just jump to the song, but sometimes they include the chatter as part of the track.

Regarding in-between chatter for live albums, when I'm feeling up to it, I usually make it so every track is indexed to start at the beginning of the song proper, unless the spoken intro overlaps into the song itself, then I'll leave it as is. Otherwise, I'll tend to go into Audacity and move the opening bits of a track that aren't the song itself to the end of the previous song/track, unless there's a disc-split where the first song on the next disc has to include the intro to the song before the song itself starts.

As for "Ritual" on Yesshows, looking at discogs, the vinyl version (https://www.discogs.com/release/1346618-Yes-Yesshows) shows a total track length of 28:52, while the 1994 remastered CD (https://www.discogs.com/release/9725780-Yes-Yesshows) shows the track total to be 28:54.

I don't feel like checking All 70 versions of Yesshows on discogs (https://www.discogs.com/master/35481-Yes-Yesshows), but I didn't see any version where the track lengths for "Ritual" were 14:53 and 17:06. The CD I've had for over 15 years has been the 1994 remaster, so I've always see "Ritual" as near 29 minutes in length. I did find a Japanese pressing (https://www.discogs.com/release/4215837-Yes-Yesshows) where "Ritual" was 29:26 long, but "Don't Kill The Whale" is also 6:51, a whooping 2:39 longer than the 1994 CD pressing. I'm not sure where all this extra time is coming from but almost every track on that version is longer than other versions.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 09, 2022, 07:27:02 AM
I do a LOT of ripping from DVD to audio, to put on my iPod, and unless the chatter actually is over-top the actual music, all chatter is on the end of the preceding track.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 22, 2022, 11:33:54 AM
Quote
YES MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCE CHANGE TO UK TOUR LINE-UP

YES Management have announced today that due to current health issues Alan White will not be taking part on the forthcoming 50th Anniversary Close to the Edge UK Tour.

Alan was really looking forward to playing live again preparing to celebrate 50 years with Yes, having joined the band for the July 1972 Close to the Edge Tour, coming full circle in 2022.  Alan’s close friend Jay Schellen will be taking on drumming duties in Alan’s place.

The Album Series Tour 2022 which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of YES’ iconic album Close to the Edge and will feature the album, performed in full, along with other classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue.

The tour line-up will feature Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) with Jay Schellen (drums and percussion).

The show will comprise full production and a high-definition video wall directed by Roger Dean who will also be joining the tour with an exhibition of YES related art.

A full performance of the Relayer album will now be featured in a future UK tour in The Album Series.  European dates were recently announced for rescheduled dates in 2023.

The 10 date UK and Eire tour starts on 15th June - full dates are:

Wed 15th June Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Fri 17th June Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Sat 18th June Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Mon 20th June Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Tues 21st June London  Royal Albert Hall
Wed 22nd June York Barbican
Fri 24th June Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sun 26th June Newcastle  O2 City Hall
Tues 28th June Dublin Vicar Street
Wed 29th June Cork Opera House

Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled shows. For full details and to book tickets for all shows go to venue website or http://yesworld.com/live where you can also book Meet and Greets with the band.

More info at www.yesworld.com

Hopefully Alan will recover.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on May 22, 2022, 02:47:03 PM
I know that everyone in the camp has always said “Yes will continue“ but this is starting to get ridiculous.

This is why I hate the business of music. Because everybody knows this is just Steve Howe with guest musicians. But for some reason, the legal entity always seems to be a game of survivor and who ends up being the last on the island to own the legal title.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 22, 2022, 08:08:36 PM
I know that everyone in the camp has always said “Yes will continue“ but this is starting to get ridiculous.

This is why I hate the business of music. Because everybody knows this is just Steve Howe with guest musicians. But for some reason, the legal entity always seems to be a game of survivor and who ends up being the last on the island to own the legal title.

That's exactly how it works.  There are published cases from the days when bands didn't have well-drafted band agreements.  I think the seminal case involved the Beach Boys, but I could be wrong about that.  Almost without exception, any band of any prominence will have a written agreement (essentially a partnership agreement) that says a "leaving member" gives up the right to use the band name and is required to sell his/her interest in whatever corporations/LLCs have been formed to advance the band's interests.

Regarding Yes, I always look back on the YesYears VHS.  Rick Wakeman commented that he expected Yes would continue to exist 50-100 years after every then-living member had died.  He compared the band to the Royal Philharmonic, which obviously continues to exist no matter who the members are.  We're getting near the time when this concept will or may be tested -- with Yes and other bands from the '60s, '70s and '80s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 23, 2022, 07:33:48 AM
I know that everyone in the camp has always said “Yes will continue“ but this is starting to get ridiculous.

This is why I hate the business of music. Because everybody knows this is just Steve Howe with guest musicians. But for some reason, the legal entity always seems to be a game of survivor and who ends up being the last on the island to own the legal title.

As long as everyone DOES know it's Steve Howe (and don't forget Geoff Downes; he has to count as a "Yes member" since he was on Drama back in the day; he's not original, but neither is Steve Howe) and guest musicians, so what?   Billy Sherwood was a close friend of Chris Squire, worked with him extensively and (it's my understanding) had Squire's blessing to carry on.  So that's three out of five that have a legit right to be "Yes".  There are only two original members in Dream Theater.  Kiss; for me they are just as legit (and a BETTER live band) than with Peter and Ace.   Hell, there's only ONE original member in Deep Purple (Ian Paice). 

I certainly get "liking" a particular lineup; there are certainly bands that I only listen to if a certain member is there, but that's on me, not the band. Music is how they make a living. Touring is, today, a key way of doing that.  I don't begrudge Howe his career, and while I probably won't go see them, that's more logistics than any moral conundrum.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 23, 2022, 08:00:42 AM
I'm pretty sure I've said this before in this thread, but Steve Howe is, of the lineup that was considered classic, is the last person in that lineup that I'm interested in seeing live.  I'm like zero percent financing because I have zero interest in seeing the current iteration of this band.  I think, at this point, Steve needs to put his ego aside and reach out to Jon and Rick to get Yes properly reconstituted.  I just don't think Steve's legacy in the band is what they can hang their hat on at this point. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 26, 2022, 10:38:36 AM
RIP Alan White...

Quote
Alan White, our beloved husband, dad, and grandpa, passed away at the age of 72 at his Seattle-area home on May 26, 2022, after a brief illness.

Throughout his life and six-decade career, Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world; band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him.

Alan was born in Pelton, County Durham, England on June 14, 1949. He began piano lessons at the age of six, began playing the drums at age twelve, and has been performing publicly since the age of thirteen.

Throughout the 1960s, Alan honed his craft with a variety of bands, including The Downbeats, The Gamblers, Billy Fury, Alan Price Big Band, Bell and Arc, Terry Reid, Happy Magazine (later called Griffin), and Balls with Trevor Burton (The Move) and Denny Laine (Wings).
In 1968, Alan joined Ginger Baker’s Airforce, a new group that was put together by the former drummer of Cream and other noted musicians from England’s music scene including Steve Winwood, formerly of Traffic.

In 1969, Alan received what he thought at the time to be a prank phone call, but it was John Lennon calling to ask Alan to join the Plastic Ono Band.  The next day Alan found himself learning songs in the back of an airliner headed to Toronto with Lennon, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voormann.  The ensuing album, Live Peace in Toronto, sold millions of copies, peaking at number 10 on the charts.

Alan’s association with Lennon continued, recording singles like ‘Instant Karma’ and the subsequent landmark album, Imagine, with Alan providing drums for the title song, ‘Jealous Guy’, and ‘How Do You Sleep at Night’. Alan’s work with Lennon led to an introduction to George Harrison, who asked Alan to perform on the album All Things Must Pass, including the single, ‘My Sweet Lord’, released in 1970. Alan subsequently worked with many artists for the Apple label, including Billy Preston, Rosetta Hightower, and Doris Troy.

Alan joined YES on July 27, 1972, and with only three days to learn the music, YES opened their US tour before 15,000 fans in Dallas, Texas on July 30, 1972.  Alan has been with YES ever since, and with the passing of founding member, Chris Squire, in June 2015, Alan is the longest continuously serving band member.

Alan is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and May White (née Thrower), his sister-in-law, Mindi Hall, and many loyal furry companions. He is survived by his wife of forty years (May 15, 1982) Rogena “Gigi” (née Walberg), his children, Jesse (Emily), their two children JJ and Ellie, and Cassi (Kela), and sister-in-law Andrea Holmqvist (Robert).

Gigi, Jesse, and Cassi
Seattle, WA

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 26, 2022, 12:09:51 PM
Wow.  I'm bummed.  He's the drummer on my favorite album of all time, ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on May 26, 2022, 12:38:14 PM
Wow.  I'm bummed.  He's the drummer on my favorite album of all time, ever.
I am sorry if this is well known, but I am curious. Could it be Tales or Relayer?

Sad news indeed. I need to spin Relayer.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 26, 2022, 01:26:53 PM
I'm thinking Going for the One, which is mine as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 26, 2022, 02:16:42 PM
In his honor I will spend the next few days running through the discography.

On any given day, Awaken could be my favorite song of all time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 26, 2022, 03:04:22 PM
Wow.  I'm bummed.  He's the drummer on my favorite album of all time, ever.
I am sorry if this is well known, but I am curious. Could it be Tales or Relayer?

Sad news indeed. I need to spin Relayer.

Stads is regularly effusive for his love of Going for the One.  While I don't hold that album in the same regard, Alan White had a knack for making Yes's complexity sound effortless.  Unfortunately, and even though he appeared on one of the most iconic songs in the history of rock music, he's an unknown to mainstream music fans.

Somewhere, he and Chris are jamming again on Whitefish.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 26, 2022, 03:39:10 PM
In his honor I will spend the next few days running through the discography.

On any given day, Awaken could be my favorite song of all time.

Doing that right now, and I echo the sentiment about Awaken.  There are times when I feel that it is their greatest achievement.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 26, 2022, 03:50:10 PM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 27, 2022, 06:42:02 AM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.

He actually said something similar to me when I met him.

EDIT:

(https://i.imgur.com/PM3wmLU.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on May 27, 2022, 09:31:41 AM
Gave Drama a runthrough yesterday (which I love, believe it or not, my favourite White era Yes album). It hurt. Lots.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on May 27, 2022, 10:39:39 AM
To quote from the YesStories book: "Anyone who says anything bad about Alan is lying!" - Trevor Rabin

  :'(  RIP Alan
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 28, 2022, 07:46:16 AM
Gave Drama a runthrough yesterday (which I love, believe it or not, my favourite White era Yes album). It hurt. Lots.

Don't qualify it; Drama is an excellent album and one of the "gateway" records for me and Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 28, 2022, 09:28:29 AM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream.  :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on May 28, 2022, 11:03:22 AM
I consider Drama a perfect, 5-star record.

#2 on my Yes album rankings.

"Into the Lens" is among the best songs Yes ever wrote/recorded.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 28, 2022, 11:56:00 AM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream.  :coolio

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default. :P :P

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 28, 2022, 12:27:29 PM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream.  :coolio

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default. :P :P

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 30, 2022, 10:11:12 PM
He's such a flake.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 30, 2022, 11:31:46 PM
In and around the flake.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Puppies and the Acid Guppies on May 30, 2022, 11:33:33 PM
I consider Drama a perfect, 5-star record.
Agreed! Drama is amazing.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: frogprog on May 31, 2022, 02:52:55 PM
Love me some Drama! Also, probably my favorite YES album
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on May 31, 2022, 03:52:11 PM
Jon is also doing a 50th Close To The Edge tour. Why can't these old farts just make up, get back together and do a farewell tour? I know, never gonna happen.

https://bravewords.com/news/yes-legend-jon-anderson-with-the-paul-green-rock-academy-to-launch-close-to-the-edge-50th-anniversary-summer-tour-video-trailer

July
7 - Plymouth, NH - The Flying Monkey Performing Arts Center
8 - Beverly, MA - The Cabot
13 - Huntingdon, NY - The Paramount
14 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
16 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
17 - Sugar Loaf, NY - Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
20 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
22 - Kent, OH - The Kent Stage
23 - Des Plaines, IL - Des Plaines Theatre
27 - Greensburg, PA - The Palace Theatre
30 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater

August
3 - State College, PA - The State Theatre
6 - Albany, NY - The Egg
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 31, 2022, 05:19:22 PM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream.  :coolio

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default. :P :P

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..

Okay, so that kind of backs up what I alluded to the other day.  :)

Sadly, there will always be a percentage of Yes fans who refuse to give props to anything the band did with Trevor Rabin, so Endless Dream will never get the credit for being as great as it is from the fanbase as a whole.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 31, 2022, 05:36:42 PM
I think Endless Dream is a cool song, certainly one of the best from the Rabin era.  I still spin 90125 once in a while, and have given Talk a good number of spins.  It's good stuff, but if I'm going to listen to Yes, there are a dozen Yes albums I'd reach for before Talk.  I'm not a Rabin hater; I just happen to prefer Steve Howe as a guitarist, and as guitarist for Yes.  Similarly, I prefer Jon Anderson on vocals, but Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.  No hating, just stronger preferences here and there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on May 31, 2022, 05:44:36 PM
Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material.  :hat :hat
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on June 01, 2022, 01:07:17 AM
Jon Anderson says that he considers "Awaken" to be the pinnacle of Yes music.
I remember him saying the same thing about Endless Dream.  :coolio

When did he say that about Endless Dream?  I am guessing it was right around the release of Talk, which means it falls under the "our new album/song is our best ever" talking points to which many musicians often default. :P :P

Granted, I think Endless Dream is a lot better than Awaken, but I would guess if we asked Jon Anderson today which song he thought was better, he'd answer Awaken without hesitating.  Which of course proves that artists often are wrong about which of their songs are the best/the pinnacle.  :biggrin: :biggrin:
It was around that time when he said that on a very long live radio interview.  I also saw them on that tour and he said it again right before they played Endless Dream.  In fact he specifically said that this song represents and is the epitome of what Yes is all about..

Okay, so that kind of backs up what I alluded to the other day.  :)

Sadly, there will always be a percentage of Yes fans who refuse to give props to anything the band did with Trevor Rabin, so Endless Dream will never get the credit for being as great as it is from the fanbase as a whole.
Spot on!   :tup
Endless Dream is one of my favorite songs of all time by anybody!  It deserves to be heard around the world ..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 01, 2022, 06:55:17 AM
Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material.  :hat :hat

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on June 01, 2022, 07:49:02 AM
I do hope you love CTTE too though :D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on June 01, 2022, 07:57:06 AM
Yes is on my list of retired favorites now, meaning a band that will always be a favorite, just not one I ever listen to regularly anymore, but when I do, I am just as likely to reach for the Rabin era as the 70s stuff.  Granted, if you ask me what the best Yes albums and best Yes songs are, the vast majority in both categories will come from the 70s, but I grew up listening to 80s Yes and then Talk blew my mind when that came out, so the nostalgia factor is strong with the Rabin material.  :hat :hat

So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Well, Saving My Heart could be the one clunker in the YesWest catalog.  Otherwise, I agree completely.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 01, 2022, 08:28:27 AM
I do hope you love CTTE too though :D

Oh, I do.  "And You And I" is a top 10 track, and I used to listen to the title track on my way to hockey back in the day; it would take almost exactly 20 minutes to get to the rink.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 01, 2022, 09:37:57 AM
I think Endless Dream is a cool song, certainly one of the best from the Rabin era.  I still spin 90125 once in a while, and have given Talk a good number of spins.  It's good stuff, but if I'm going to listen to Yes, there are a dozen Yes albums I'd reach for before Talk.  I'm not a Rabin hater; I just happen to prefer Steve Howe as a guitarist, and as guitarist for Yes.  Similarly, I prefer Jon Anderson on vocals, but Drama is one of my favorite Yes albums.  No hating, just stronger preferences here and there.

Every time someone shouts about how great Talk is, I put it on and struggle to get through it.  Maybe I'll START with Endless Dream next time.


Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on June 01, 2022, 10:27:29 AM
Trevor Rabin did a great job with the production on the TALK album. The only thing that is weird,  is the sound of the kick drum.  I know it was on purpose,  but it has this strange boomy sound that works but it's quite peculiar.  I still to this day haven't made up my mind whether I like it or not. 🤔
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 01, 2022, 11:33:30 AM
I LOVE "The Calling".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 01, 2022, 05:42:28 PM


So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Agreed.  I think Big Generator gets a bad rap, but I really like that record a lot, although it is kind of thin-sounding, so I can some not digging the production. 

Yes has had flashes of greatness since Talk IMO, but they have been just that: flashes.  I loved The Ladder when it came out, save for a song or two, but while I still like the album, there are only a few songs I'd go out of my way to hear on their own anymore.   For me, The Yes Album through Talk will always be where it's at with me and Yes, so long as I can discard Tormato in the dumpster.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 02, 2022, 08:26:14 AM


So, I'm a Yes fan.  Going For The One is my favorite record of all time by anybody, and I think there are other albums (The Yes Album) and songs (Heart Of The Sunrise) that are close.  Having said that, I got into Yes around the time of Drama, and I loved that record too.  At heart, I'm a Chris Squire guy; I think he was the heart and soul of that band.   When I got the opportunity to see them in 1983, the "YesWest" version, I was all over it.  I loved the single ("Owner...") and I loved "Hearts" (It's not on the video, but at my show the lasers were like nothing I've ever seen; there were two laser hearts that joined in the center of the arena - "two hearts are better than one!"). 

In hindsight, Yes fell off a bit after Keys To Ascension.  As much as I love Billy Sherwood (hand-picked by Chris) I'm out now on Yes. Jon Davison is a good singer, but he's not Jon, but he's too close to Jon for me to be able to forgo the comparison.  I think the highs of the Classic Yes era are higher, but the quality of the Rabin years is on the whole higher.  There are no "Circus Of Heaven"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   There are no "Arriving UFO"'s in the YesWest catalogue.   I think those three studio records are solid, top to bottom, and even the three or four tracks from Onion are the best on that record.

Agreed.  I think Big Generator gets a bad rap, but I really like that record a lot, although it is kind of thin-sounding, so I can some not digging the production. 

Yes has had flashes of greatness since Talk IMO, but they have been just that: flashes.  I loved The Ladder when it came out, save for a song or two, but while I still like the album, there are only a few songs I'd go out of my way to hear on their own anymore.   For me, The Yes Album through Talk will always be where it's at with me and Yes, so long as I can discard Tormato in the dumpster.  :biggrin:


Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on June 02, 2022, 08:44:09 AM
I've always wondered how they could put out such a clunker in Tomato so soon after Going For the One, which is such a fantastic record. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on June 02, 2022, 09:01:43 AM

Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"

Woah, wait. Onward is the standout track on Tormato IMO. I also like Don’t Kill the Whale.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on June 02, 2022, 09:07:06 AM
I've always wondered how they could put out such a clunker in Tomato so soon after Going For the One, which is such a fantastic record.

I prefer Tormato to Going For The One. The only track on GFTO that really connects for me is Awaken.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on June 02, 2022, 09:33:34 AM
I think Tormato is much better than most Yes fans are ready to admit. It isn't as progressive as its predecessor but it's really rocking and I like that.

The only real clunker is Circus Of Heaven, and yes, that's really cringeworthy bad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 02, 2022, 10:08:14 AM

Tormato is confounding.  It's a half of a great album.

1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
3.   "Madrigal"
4.   "Release, Release"

1.   "Arriving UFO"
2.   "Circus of Heaven"
3.   "Onward"
4.   "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is great:
1.   "Future Times"/"Rejoice"
2.   "Madrigal"
3.   "Release, Release"
4.     "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"

This is not so great (though DKTW and Onward are a step above the other two embarrassments):
1.   "Don't Kill the Whale"
2.      "Arriving UFO"
3.   "Circus of Heaven"
4.   "Onward"

Woah, wait. Onward is the standout track on Tormato IMO. I also like Don’t Kill the Whale.

Right?!  Onward is awesome -- particularly the more acoustic versions they played in Squire's later years -- and Whale is just a cool little track.  It was the first song from the album I heard, as a result of Yesshows.  And Madrigal on the "great" side?  It's fine, but it's nothing special (sorta like Rush's song of the same name).  The video with Wakeman dressed like a Georgian era fop and playing a harpsichord is kinda hilarious.


I think Tormato is much better than most Yes fans are ready to admit. It isn't as progressive as its predecessor but it's really rocking and I like that.

The only real clunker is Circus Of Heaven, and yes, that's really cringeworthy bad.

I agree, except that Arriving UFO also belongs in the clunker category.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 02, 2022, 01:22:02 PM
I'd be willing to switch out "Madrigal" for either "Onward" or "...Whale".  My point was, I think they just lost focus midway through.  There are the bones of a really GREAT record there.  The only two real duds are Circus of Arriving UFOs from Heaven.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on June 02, 2022, 02:10:37 PM
I'd be willing to switch out "Madrigal" for either "Onward" or "...Whale".  My point was, I think they just lost focus midway through.  There are the bones of a really GREAT record there.  The only two real duds are Circus of Arriving UFOs from Heaven.

I’d agree with this assessment overall. I just really like Onward. And Circus is the only really major flop for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 02, 2022, 05:48:47 PM
Tormato just sounds ugly.  There might be more good songs in there, but they all get lost in the production and ugly sounds and tones.  Onward is great on the Keys live album, which was quite a revelation for me when I heard that, so I do think there is more good in those songs; we just have never heard cleaner versions of most of them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on June 02, 2022, 06:13:20 PM
Tormato sounds like it was made in the sixties.. Now I need to go and listen to it again,  so I can be reminded of how much it sucks.  Perhaps the album cover is a forgleam of how well it would be received..lol! 🍅
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on June 02, 2022, 07:13:09 PM
I don't like Rick's keyboard choices. Other than that, Tormato's a pretty solid record with a slight excess of twee in certain spots.  I dig it. Dig it.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on June 02, 2022, 07:36:34 PM
Tormato just sounds ugly.  There might be more good songs in there, but they all get lost in the production and ugly sounds and tones.  Onward is great on the Keys live album, which was quite a revelation for me when I heard that, so I do think there is more good in those songs; we just have never heard cleaner versions of most of them.

The sound choices may be a bit on the wired side, but in general I like the sound on Tormato (it’s Yes after all, they always sound weird). It’s much better sounding production wise than Going for the One at least.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 03, 2022, 06:10:23 AM
Tormato just sounds ugly.  There might be more good songs in there, but they all get lost in the production and ugly sounds and tones.  Onward is great on the Keys live album, which was quite a revelation for me when I heard that, so I do think there is more good in those songs; we just have never heard cleaner versions of most of them.

The sound choices may be a bit on the wired side, but in general I like the sound on Tormato (it’s Yes after all, they always sound weird). It’s much better sounding production wise than Going for the One at least.

Call me a nut job, but the sound of GFTO is one of the things I LIKE about it. It's got a unique sound, and while granted, Chris has sounded better at other points in the catalogue, it has it's charm.  The octave bass line in "Turn Of The Century" sounds so cool in that trebly register, and the sound of Rick's organ really lends a church-like vibe to the whole album, even the parts that WEREN'T played over the phone from the Swiss church.   

I listen to some of the live versions of a song like the title track, or Wonderous Stories, and it loses that dream-like quality I love so much.  The title track SHOULDN'T, in my opinion, be a heavy rock track.  It's beauty is that airy, spiraling feel, especially to the vocal line at the end. 

That record is MAGIC to me, even after all these years.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 03, 2022, 06:23:04 AM
I do think Turn of the Century, the best song on Going for the One by a pretty good margin if you ask me, is the one song on that record that benefits from the production. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 03, 2022, 09:40:33 AM
I don't hear a ton of "production" in Turn of the Century.*  But the rest of GFTO suffers from being very harsh and trebly.  In this regard, it's very similar to Grace Under Pressure, but with much, much better material.  Tormato's production (save for the keys) is better, but the material isn't nearly as good.


* - Last Friday, Doug Helvering did a reaction to Turn of the Century and the Yessongs version of Close to the Edge as a tribute to Alan White.  Not a ton of analysis, but listening to someone listen to TOTC for the first time reminds one of just how damn good the song is.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on June 03, 2022, 10:07:26 AM
Love GFtO but the last couple minutes of the opening title track, Howe's guitar has an overpowering, high pitched whine that can almost hurt your ears if the volume is too high. Other than that it's near perfect.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 03, 2022, 02:20:09 PM
Love GFtO but the last couple minutes of the opening title track, Howe's guitar has an overpowering, high pitched whine that can almost hurt your ears if the volume is too high.

Yup, and the fact that the end of GFTO just repeats the same stuff over and over and over and over...only makes it worse.  I get the same thing with the organ on Parallels.  I had heard the live Yesshows version first and LOVED (and still love) it, so I was really disappointed with the studio version.  Those issues don't exist at all with TOTC, Wonderous Stories and Awaken.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 03, 2022, 02:24:15 PM
Love GFtO but the last couple minutes of the opening title track, Howe's guitar has an overpowering, high pitched whine that can almost hurt your ears if the volume is too high.

Yup, and the fact that the end of GFTO just repeats the same stuff over and over and over and over...only makes it worse.  I get the same thing with the organ on Parallels.  I had heard the live Yesshows version first and LOVED (and still love) it, so I was really disappointed with the studio version.  Those issues don't exist at all with TOTC, Wonderous Stories and Awaken.

Dammit.  That ending to GFTO is one of my most favorite moments on the record.  I LOVE that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 03, 2022, 07:56:02 PM
I like it, too.  It's building the entire time.  True, the lyrics repeat in a cycle, but musically it continues to build.  A lot of that comes from Steve's unbridled guitar work throughout, so I suppose if that doesn't do anything for you, then it probably doesn't work.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on June 13, 2022, 07:52:41 PM
Metal Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73WTnRa0d6M

I think I'm okay with this, sans for the Blast Beats.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on June 14, 2022, 12:11:18 AM

Metal Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73WTnRa0d6M

I think I'm okay with this, sans for the Blast Beats.
Well that was cool!    :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 14, 2022, 09:44:03 AM
I wanted to turn it off just past the 1:00 mark - right after the heavy rhythm guitar came in and drowned everything else out - but I stuck with it through the first chorus (just to hear what they did with the harmony vocals).  There's a way to make a metal Roundabout that still retains the character of the original.  This could've been it.  The vocals were really good, but the guitars were excessive and the instrumentation was terrible.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on June 14, 2022, 10:23:22 AM
I wanted to turn it off just past the 1:00 mark - right after the heavy rhythm guitar came in and drowned everything else out - but I stuck with it through the first chorus (just to hear what they did with the harmony vocals).  There's a way to make a metal Roundabout that still retains the character of the original.  This could've been it.  The vocals were really good, but the guitars were excessive and the instrumentation was terrible.

They also do 2 Rush cover's of Subdivisions and Animate.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 14, 2022, 10:27:50 AM
I wanted to turn it off just past the 1:00 mark - right after the heavy rhythm guitar came in and drowned everything else out - but I stuck with it through the first chorus (just to hear what they did with the harmony vocals).  There's a way to make a metal Roundabout that still retains the character of the original.  This could've been it.  The vocals were really good, but the guitars were excessive and the instrumentation was terrible.

I'm kind of with you; the essence of that song for me is the walking (running?) bass line and that was lost beneath the ridiculous drums and wall of guitars.  On the original, if I'm not mistaken, Howe plays an acoustic and it was arguably as heavy as this in it's own way. 

And I get it's a style, but it's not for me: there ought to be a limit as to how many bass drum strikes there can be in a song. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on June 14, 2022, 11:53:19 AM
I liked it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 15, 2022, 12:44:54 PM
the essence of that song for me is the walking (running?) bass line and that was lost beneath the ridiculous drums and wall of guitars.

100%


On the original, if I'm not mistaken, Howe plays an acoustic and it was arguably as heavy as this in it's own way. 

If I remember correctly, he played each verse differently.  The first two verses are only an acoustic playing between Em, a funky A chord, and Em7.  I believe he added an electric guitar for the third verse, and the last verse doubles the bass line.  Someone should correct me if I'm not remembering that correctly.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 17, 2022, 08:55:40 AM
the essence of that song for me is the walking (running?) bass line and that was lost beneath the ridiculous drums and wall of guitars.

100%


On the original, if I'm not mistaken, Howe plays an acoustic and it was arguably as heavy as this in it's own way. 

If I remember correctly, he played each verse differently.  The first two verses are only an acoustic playing between Em, a funky A chord, and Em7.  I believe he added an electric guitar for the third verse, and the last verse doubles the bass line.  Someone should correct me if I'm not remembering that correctly.

I don't have it to hand right now (maybe I'll listen in the car later) but I thought one of the verses at least was just harmonics.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 17, 2022, 09:44:27 AM
the essence of that song for me is the walking (running?) bass line and that was lost beneath the ridiculous drums and wall of guitars.

100%


On the original, if I'm not mistaken, Howe plays an acoustic and it was arguably as heavy as this in it's own way. 

If I remember correctly, he played each verse differently.  The first two verses are only an acoustic playing between Em, a funky A chord, and Em7.  I believe he added an electric guitar for the third verse, and the last verse doubles the bass line.  Someone should correct me if I'm not remembering that correctly.

I don't have it to hand right now (maybe I'll listen in the car later) but I thought one of the verses at least was just harmonics.

I had the same thought, but I just gave a quick listen and didn't hear it, so maybe it's something he started doing live.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 22, 2022, 06:36:53 PM
Rewatched Mike's Cruise tribute to Chris Squire last weekend and I really liked the set he came up with given the limitations he had. I'm kind of glad that those limitations were in place too otherwise many of those set choices would never have been played.  Of course I thought think there was anything past 1983, but it was still pretty cool.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 24, 2022, 01:49:48 PM
Jon Anderson performing Close to the Edge with the School of Rock (https://youtu.be/Pg045YaWWhw).

I always find School of Rock videos amusing for lots of reasons, and this is no exception, but it's immensely cool of Jon to do this.  I swear this guy will still be able to do this song when he hits the age of 100.


And here’s the same group (mostly) doing Heart of the Sunrise (https://youtu.be/agdbmHWeKYY).  Excellent performance by the bass player.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on June 24, 2022, 02:35:27 PM
The bassist and drummer are locked in.  Love the energy and drive!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 24, 2022, 02:41:29 PM
There's a comment to the CTTE video that compares this performance to a 2018 performance of what the commenter referred to as "Yes featuring Steve Howe."  He noted that there were several misses with these kids but that it's still more enjoyable to watch it with this sort of energy (along with Jon "I sing better at 77 than you did at 25" Anderson) than the mopey way that "Yes" performs this material these days.

I'm inclined to agree.

And yeah...it takes a REALLY tight rhythm section to pull of CTTE live!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 24, 2022, 06:22:11 PM
I'm always divided on these.  Generally, they're very good performances of songs that I like.  But... I don't know, it's almost like I'm self-stigmatizing it.  Why would I want to listen to a bunch of kids play Close to the Edge?  Well, if it's a good performance of a song I like, then that should be enough.  But I'm not going to go out of my way to check it out.  If I'm browsing YouTube videos and see a School of Rock thumbnail, I will probably click on something else.  Maybe if it's a video that started automatically after something else because I wasn't quick enough to stop it.  And once it's playing, yeah, I'll probably check it out.  But to think that I would literally not put any effort into it otherwise... fuck, I guess I am an elitist!  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 25, 2022, 06:31:22 PM
I'm always divided on these.  Generally, they're very good performances of songs that I like.  But... I don't know, it's almost like I'm self-stigmatizing it.  Why would I want to listen to a bunch of kids play Close to the Edge?  Well, if it's a good performance of a song I like, then that should be enough.  But I'm not going to go out of my way to check it out.  If I'm browsing YouTube videos and see a School of Rock thumbnail, I will probably click on something else.  Maybe if it's a video that started automatically after something else because I wasn't quick enough to stop it.  And once it's playing, yeah, I'll probably check it out.  But to think that I would literally not put any effort into it otherwise... fuck, I guess I am an elitist!  :lol

Fair point.  I doubt I'd have watched it if Jon Anderson weren't singing with them.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 26, 2022, 04:07:20 PM
@Orbert

Here's another one of them doing And You and I:  https://youtu.be/gpNiRb99Kus

During the Eclipse section (starting around 3:23) one of the girls comes to the front and is playing some sort of electric/electronic wind instrument.  Any idea what it is?  I asked my woodwind-playing daughter, and she had no idea.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 26, 2022, 05:19:26 PM
@Orbert

Here's another one of them doing And You and I:  https://youtu.be/gpNiRb99Kus

During the Eclipse section (starting around 3:23) one of the girls comes to the front and is playing some sort of electric/electronic wind instrument.  Any idea what it is?  I asked my woodwind-playing daughter, and she had no idea.

After a quick Google search, I found this:
https://www.roland.com/us/products/aerophone_ae-10/

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 26, 2022, 06:21:11 PM
Marc is correct; that's a Roland Aerophone.  Someone sent me a video of someone playing one, years ago, and said I should get one.  It's a neat idea; a MIDI controller that's not a keyboard but based on a scaled-down Boehm system.  The Boehm system is used on all modern woodwinds and basically means that if you can play the flute, you can mostly play the saxophone, oboe, and clarinet as well, because the fingering patterns are all the same.  That's the really TL;DR version.  Each individual instrument has its differences, hence the "mostly".  Anyway, driving a synth, sampler, or anything else you might want to drive with a keyboard but using a woodwind-like controller would be fun.

It's a neat idea, and I've never played one, but it seems like it would feel very restricting.  It doesn't have all the keys, just most of them, and after 50 years of playing winds and muscle memory, I'd think I'd have issues.  Given unlimited funds, I'd probably opt for a Yamaha Digital Saxophone (https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YDS-150-Digital-Saxophone/dp/B08JX3ZLTB) or even hunt down an old Lyricon instead.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 27, 2022, 07:17:30 AM
I'm always divided on these.  Generally, they're very good performances of songs that I like.  But... I don't know, it's almost like I'm self-stigmatizing it.  Why would I want to listen to a bunch of kids play Close to the Edge?  Well, if it's a good performance of a song I like, then that should be enough.  But I'm not going to go out of my way to check it out.  If I'm browsing YouTube videos and see a School of Rock thumbnail, I will probably click on something else.  Maybe if it's a video that started automatically after something else because I wasn't quick enough to stop it.  And once it's playing, yeah, I'll probably check it out.  But to think that I would literally not put any effort into it otherwise... fuck, I guess I am an elitist!  :lol

When I saw Jon last time around, the School opened the show (I don't remember him playing with them).  They were AWESOME.  I don't remember the setlist, but they were playing some difficult material and it was so energizing and fun.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 27, 2022, 10:09:12 AM
Marc is correct; that's a Roland Aerophone.  Someone sent me a video of someone playing one, years ago, and said I should get one.  It's a neat idea; a MIDI controller that's not a keyboard but based on a scaled-down Boehm system.  The Boehm system is used on all modern woodwinds and basically means that if you can play the flute, you can mostly play the saxophone, oboe, and clarinet as well, because the fingering patterns are all the same.  That's the really TL;DR version.  Each individual instrument has its differences, hence the "mostly".  Anyway, driving a synth, sampler, or anything else you might want to drive with a keyboard but using a woodwind-like controller would be fun.

It's a neat idea, and I've never played one, but it seems like it would feel very restricting.  It doesn't have all the keys, just most of them, and after 50 years of playing winds and muscle memory, I'd think I'd have issues.  Given unlimited funds, I'd probably opt for a Yamaha Digital Saxophone (https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YDS-150-Digital-Saxophone/dp/B08JX3ZLTB) or even hunt down an old Lyricon instead.

Interesting...what will these kids think of next?!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 02, 2022, 06:35:33 PM
I'm always divided on these.  Generally, they're very good performances of songs that I like.  But... I don't know, it's almost like I'm self-stigmatizing it.  Why would I want to listen to a bunch of kids play Close to the Edge?  Well, if it's a good performance of a song I like, then that should be enough.  But I'm not going to go out of my way to check it out.  If I'm browsing YouTube videos and see a School of Rock thumbnail, I will probably click on something else.  Maybe if it's a video that started automatically after something else because I wasn't quick enough to stop it.  And once it's playing, yeah, I'll probably check it out.  But to think that I would literally not put any effort into it otherwise... fuck, I guess I am an elitist!  :lol

Conflicted. I usually ask myself. "Do the kids get it?" I don't mean the notes but do they get the spirit of the song. Same goes for tribute/cover bands too. The fashion/style means nothing to me unless you get inside the song and it's not as common as you'd think for that to happen. But it can be a beautiful thing. Nothing wrong with people practicing to see if they can do something, but I don't need to see it. I get myself caught up in rabbit holes I don't need to be in anyway. (Like watching different versions of Pete Townshend playing Slit Skirts. Forgot Phill Collins played a show with him on that song back then.)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on November 15, 2022, 06:08:27 PM
Lizzo digs her Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qRQUNnm3MM
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: lonestar on November 15, 2022, 06:21:19 PM
That alone gives her every right to play that flute. Fucking love it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on November 15, 2022, 09:42:08 PM
I just saw that Jon is playing the Arcada next year and am seriously thinking of going. I would much rather hear him perform Yes than actual Yes at this point. I get a perk from my employer to get 20% off all tickets from that venue so that sweetens the pot for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on November 16, 2022, 10:00:14 AM
Lizzo digs her Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qRQUNnm3MM

So many things to say about that, but I'll leave it as...not worth watching/listening past the 30 second mark.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on November 16, 2022, 10:08:55 AM
Are we sure that it isn't just her stage band that likes Yes and not her? I mean she probably has some say in what they play but I've seen instances where a singer has a band that plays stuff without the singer that is clearly not in the singer's wheelhouse simply because the musicians dig music like that.

Either way, what an interesting place to find Yes music.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 16, 2022, 01:01:59 PM
I just saw that Jon is playing the Arcada next year and am seriously thinking of going. I would much rather hear him perform Yes than actual Yes at this point. I get a perk from my employer to get 20% off all tickets from that venue so that sweetens the pot for me.

I saw him a year or so ago, and his voice is still solid.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: El Barto on November 16, 2022, 01:21:47 PM
I just saw that Jon is playing the Arcada next year and am seriously thinking of going. I would much rather hear him perform Yes than actual Yes at this point. I get a perk from my employer to get 20% off all tickets from that venue so that sweetens the pot for me.

I saw him a year or so ago, and his voice is still solid.
I saw him a couple of years ago as ARW, or whatever they called themselves. Good show. They seemed to have a lot of fun, unlike the Howe incarnations. Official Yes ended for me when Squire croaked. Add White into that and there's just not much interest for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 16, 2022, 01:45:00 PM
I just saw that Jon is playing the Arcada next year and am seriously thinking of going. I would much rather hear him perform Yes than actual Yes at this point. I get a perk from my employer to get 20% off all tickets from that venue so that sweetens the pot for me.

I saw him a year or so ago, and his voice is still solid.
I saw him a couple of years ago as ARW, or whatever they called themselves. Good show. They seemed to have a lot of fun, unlike the Howe incarnations. Official Yes ended for me when Squire croaked. Add White into that and there's just not much interest for me.

BOOM.  Me too.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on November 16, 2022, 02:19:51 PM
Lizzo digs her Yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qRQUNnm3MM

So many things to say about that, but I'll leave it as...not worth watching/listening past the 30 second mark.
Thanks for the warning! Duly noted!  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on November 16, 2022, 02:23:13 PM
I just saw that Jon is playing the Arcada next year and am seriously thinking of going. I would much rather hear him perform Yes than actual Yes at this point. I get a perk from my employer to get 20% off all tickets from that venue so that sweetens the pot for me.

I saw him a year or so ago, and his voice is still solid.
I saw him a couple of years ago as ARW, or whatever they called themselves. Good show. They seemed to have a lot of fun, unlike the Howe incarnations. Official Yes ended for me when Squire croaked. Add White into that and there's just not much interest for me.

BOOM.  Me too.

Same here.  While Steve Howe's contributions to Yes in the 70's are beyond reproach, he was never the main reason I listened to them.  The lack of respect that he has consistently shown to Trevor Rabin is childish.  In terms of talent, Rabin is a way better overall musician, and I think he's just as versatile of a guitarist as Howe, if not better.  Rabin sounds just fine on the Howe material, but Howe trying to play Owner of a Lonely Heart?  Hell the fuck no.  Rabin doesn't come across like a sour, jealous dick either.  Steve Howe doesn't look like he's had fun on a stage since the ABWH tour.  He seems to get super butt hurt when anyone looks like they're having fun on stage playing Yes music.  Any time I watch any moment where Howe and Rabin are sharing a stage, Howe always comes off as this jealous, insecure prick while Rabin is up there to have fun and vibe with the other guys on stage. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 16, 2022, 02:44:38 PM
The story was always that Anderson and Squire had beef, which was why Anderson never came back after his brief health thing.   But Squire has been gone for years now and there's not even hints of Anderson (or Wakeman) rejoining the group, which tells me that Howe was at least a part of the acrimony.  That Anderson and Wakeman chose Rabin for their excursion speaks volumes as well.

I love Yes, Going For The One is my favorite record of all time, but the RABIN Yes is perhaps the most consistent part of the band's history.  Three SOLID records and a handful of great songs on Onion.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 27, 2022, 10:43:04 AM
Was listening to the Esoteric release of Anderson Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe (With Levin) which I find to be less bright than the original and was reminded reading the liner notes that Howe wanted to do his guitar parts in London rather than record the album with the rest of the band. He recorded a whole lot of guitars for the album and was upset that not all of his guitar parts made the final recording. It's almost a miracle Yes has survived this long but I guess at this point, it's his show to run.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on January 12, 2023, 09:39:49 PM
Jon Anderson - Zamran coming?

extensive trailer

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=922398029119240&ref=sharing
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 16, 2023, 05:11:33 PM
If anyone is interested, over in the Polls & Survivors (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?board=9.0) subforum here, I've begun the Yes Survivor, hot off the heels of my Genesis Survivor! Tonight I've put up the first rounds for the band's first four albums, where you can vote for your LEAST FAVORITE Song each round. Check out the main Results & Discussion thread for more info there.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 17, 2023, 03:10:51 AM
Jon Anderson - Zamran coming?

extensive trailer

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=922398029119240&ref=sharing

As always with JA solo material, it sounds good, but I will believe it is being released when I have the CD/LP in my hands :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 23, 2023, 09:57:13 AM
Quote
YES and Warner Music's Global Catalog Division announce Milestone Deal
Warner Acquires Recorded Music Rights to YES’ Complete Atlantic Records Catalog

“The entire YES family came together and worked enthusiastically with Warner Music Group to secure this historic deal, ensuring that these iconic recordings will continue to be curated in the optimum manner to delight their fans across more than five decades, while also finding and developing new audiences for this timeless music.”

- YES

Read more: https://www.yesworld.com/2023/01/warner-musics-global-catalog-division-and-yes-announce-milestone-deal/

New re-issues incoming... maybe. If so, am I willing to replace all my older CD remasters? Perhaps...

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 23, 2023, 11:30:59 AM
Without a Steven Wilson remaster of Going For The One, all that is "blah blah blah".  Haha.  The Steven Wilson remasters of the other classic albums are kind of all that needs to be said, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 23, 2023, 12:20:56 PM
I'm not sure how much there is to get excited about this, honestly.  The "Complete Atlantic Records Catalog" is not everything.  I know most people are in it for the 70's stuff, which is all included, but as Stadler said, the Steven Wilson versions are widely considered the definitive versions of those albums and I honestly don't see how they can be improved upon.  The multitrack masters of Going for the One are conceded by many to be lost forever, so unless they turn up somehow, we're not going to see a remix/remaster/whatever of that one.  For those for whom the 80's stuff is where it's at, note that 90125 and Big Generator were Atlantic, but Talk (widely considered the best of the Rabin era) is not.  Keys to Ascension I and II aren't as highly revered by some as much as me, but they do have the virtue of being performed by the 70's classic lineup and I think each has some great stuff, and they're not included.  I even like a lot of Open Your Eyes, which is also not included here.

So basically, the Atlantic albums are now Warner, but all the others are still whatever they were before.  Okay.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 23, 2023, 03:35:42 PM
(https://i.ibb.co/cgmYPbk/Screenshot-2023-01-23-at-22-33-55.png)

Roger Dean showed a near-completed artwork for the new Yes album on his Facebook page today.  (https://ibb.co/YRr06DP)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 23, 2023, 03:43:17 PM
(https://i.ibb.co/cgmYPbk/Screenshot-2023-01-23-at-22-33-55.png)

Roger Dean showed a near-completed artwork for the new Yes album on his Facebook page today.
 (https://ibb.co/YRr06DP)

Great art work! So wait... there's a follow-up to The Quest?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on January 23, 2023, 04:30:00 PM
I actually downloaded The Quest in preparation for the survivor round and I actually like it more than I thought I would. A new album seems really unlikely though
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 23, 2023, 04:47:57 PM
It seems fairly likely. The FAMES orchestra and Paul Joyce who worked on The Quest were recording new material for Yes sometime last year. Billy and Geoff have both confirmed that they were in the studio last year for work on a Yes album. Some fans with close ties to Yes have said we should hear some new material by May/June. I really enjoyed The Quest. It's leagues ahead of Heaven and Earth, and Jon D seems to have improved remarkably as a lyricst. I'm excited to see how this one turns out
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 24, 2023, 01:39:58 AM
I didn't really care for Heaven and earth and The Quest, but I'll check out a new one. It's Yes, after all.  :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on February 09, 2023, 01:03:30 PM
Finally grabbed Trevor Rabin's Jacaranda album this weekend.  I'm kicking myself for not getting it sooner.  Listening to it made me realize that his talents were kind of wasted in Yes!  It also reminded me, again, that the greatest error of Yes was not doing an album or two with the lineup of Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman, Squire and White.  Trevor certainly had the ability to play whatever they wanted to from the 70's material, and Wakeman certainly had the ability to be the Rudess to his Petrucci.  It's a shame that never happened!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheSoylentMan on February 09, 2023, 01:24:53 PM
Cool interview with Benoit David, the short-lived vocalist who replaced Jon Anderson in the 2000's. He has an interesting perspective as a guy who was never really part of the music industry, at least not on that scale. His experience was not entirely positive; I think he does a good job trying to stay respectful while being honest about it.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/benoit-david-yes-singer-still-hurts-1234671770/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cocopjojo on February 09, 2023, 02:40:04 PM
Cool interview with Benoit David, the short-lived vocalist who replaced Jon Anderson in the 2000's. He has an interesting perspective as a guy who was never really part of the music industry, at least not on that scale. His experience was not entirely positive; I think he does a good job trying to stay respectful while being honest about it.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/benoit-david-yes-singer-still-hurts-1234671770/
This was a very interesting interview.

I could totally see Squire doing what he did in the example Benoit gave. These guys have been doing this at a high level of quality (eh, give or take) for literally 40 years, so of course when the new guy starts to crack under the pressure, their response is more "do your job" rather than empathizing with him. They were probably also thinking, "I could have another one of you in a minute - as a matter of fact, he'll be here in a minute", which of course Jon Davison was.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: billboy73 on February 09, 2023, 02:45:48 PM
Great interview!  The only time I saw Yes was in 2009 when he was the singer.  Glad I got to see them with Squire and before Alan White started really struggling.  I remember when David's vocals were replaced on Fly From Here, and I felt bad for him.  I thought that was pretty dumb, as that record wasn't too bad.  I always thought he had a good voice, and it stinks that he had all those vocal issues.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 09, 2023, 04:18:49 PM
Benoit always seemed like a really nice guy! This interview is really interesting, very unique perspective of someone who was in the music industry for such a small amount of time. Love his comments on Alan White. Seems noone ever had anything bad to say about the fella. I remember an interview with Oliver Wakeman where he said how much Alan took he and Benoit under his wing during the initial 2008-10 tours.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on February 09, 2023, 08:33:47 PM
Interesting interview.  You could tell he was trying his best to be respectful of Chris Squire, especially since he has passed, but it's clear that Benoit thought he was a prick.  I saw them on that Styx/Yes double bill tour and can definitely confirm what he said.  Yes was okay, but Styx had a tightness and energy that Yes was sorely lacking that night (Gowan's silliness notwithstanding).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 09, 2023, 09:03:25 PM
Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman, Squire and White.

Definitely a shame that it never happened, though I wouldn't call it an "error".  It's not like they could've chosen that lineup and didn't.  Every Yes lineup change was organic; it came about because someone, or more than one person, was leaving and was replaced.  Rabin and Wakeman wanted so badly to do a studio album together and it just blows me away that in 30+ years, they could never do it.  WTF?

ARWSW would've been great, but it would never have happened.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on February 09, 2023, 09:08:33 PM
It only just recently occurred to me that three of the five original members of yes are still alive, and none of them are in the band.

I think it would be interesting to see a project from Anderson, Bruford, and either Kaye or Wakeman…either one.

Heck, just to think that 4 of the 5 members of the Fragile/CTTE lineup are still with us and won’t even pull together for a “one-off” makes me kind of sad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 09, 2023, 10:37:50 PM
I still wish they had formed BRAWL - Bruford Rabin Anderson Wakeman Levin. The name alone probably would've enraged Howe.  :lol

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 10, 2023, 02:52:52 AM
I still wish they had formed BRAWL - Bruford Rabin Anderson Wakeman Levin. The name alone probably would've enraged Howe.  :lol

-Marc.

I don't know, I think Steve Howe likes a good BRAWL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ohHqRg7PGE
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 10, 2023, 06:28:47 AM
I can count on one hand the number of bands for which this is true, but this is one of them:  there's no Yes for me without Chris Squire.  I love Billy Sherwood, but it's not the same for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 10, 2023, 10:06:31 AM
I think it would be interesting to see a project from Anderson, Bruford, and either Kaye or Wakeman…either one.

Not sure what you're getting at.  The first two Yes albums featured Anderson, Bruford and Kaye, and ABWH was a thing.


Heck, just to think that 4 of the 5 members of the Fragile/CTTE lineup are still with us and won’t even pull together for a “one-off” makes me kind of sad.

Meh...the last 10 years have demonstrated fairly well that Howe can't pull off the material well anymore, and isn't Bruford retired from music?


I can count on one hand the number of bands for which this is true, but this is one of them:  there's no Yes for me without Chris Squire.  I love Billy Sherwood, but it's not the same for me.

I don't know if I'd go that far, but the band currently performing under the "Yes" name is basically a travesty.  Squire, Howe, White, Downes and Davison did a solid enough job when I saw them play CTTE, GFTO and TYA in 2013, but I'd have ZERO interest in seeing the current incarnation.  I would, however, pay to see Anderson's tour with The Band Geeks or even one of the school of rock shows.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 11, 2023, 07:32:53 PM
Finally grabbed Trevor Rabin's Jacaranda album this weekend.  I'm kicking myself for not getting it sooner.  Listening to it made me realize that his talents were kind of wasted in Yes!  It also reminded me, again, that the greatest error of Yes was not doing an album or two with the lineup of Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman, Squire and White.  Trevor certainly had the ability to play whatever they wanted to from the 70's material, and Wakeman certainly had the ability to be the Rudess to his Petrucci.  It's a shame that never happened!

Tell me about it. I love this album. I think I waited about a year or so after it came out to get it. Probably my favorite Rabin solo album from the half dozen that I have. Really like 90124 too but I went into that knowing a lot of the source material.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 11, 2023, 07:37:57 PM
Bruford has been retired for long time now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on February 11, 2023, 07:47:22 PM
I think it would be interesting to see a project from Anderson, Bruford, and either Kaye or Wakeman…either one.

Not sure what you're getting at.  The first two Yes albums featured Anderson, Bruford and Kaye, and ABWH was a thing.


My point was that Anderson, Bruford, and Kaye are the only surviving members of the original lineup (the first two albums) and because of that, it would be interesting to see them do something together.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on February 11, 2023, 08:19:30 PM
raelnyc did a doc on Relayer and the solo albums that followed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz3jBBKSkTk
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on February 12, 2023, 07:12:03 AM
raelnyc did a doc on Relayer and the solo albums that followed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz3jBBKSkTk

This is incredibly interesting.  My dad was a big fan of Moraz’s solo records, but for some reason, he never got into Relayer.  I’m going to have to dig into his vinyl collection to find the album that has his version of Awaken.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 12, 2023, 07:43:38 AM
I'm somewhat the opposite regarding Moraz.  I like nearly all of the stuff I've heard him involved with, but his solo albums leave me feeling a bit disappointed.  It all sounds nice and there's some nifty composition going on, but it all feels very pedestrian to me.  But his stuff with Bruford is really cool, Mainhorse and Refugee were both pretty cool, he brought some great stuff to The Moody Blues during his time with them, and Relayer is really different but still one of my favorite Yes albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 14, 2023, 07:09:36 AM
https://www.loudersound.com/news/drummer-jay-schellen-joins-yes-on-a-permanent-basis

Quote
Prog legends Yes have announced that US drummer Jay Schellen has now joined the band on a permanent basis. Schellen had been acting as a stand-in for Alan White, who sadly died in May last year.

“We're all delighted to welcome Jay officially into the fold," exclaims guitarist and longest-serving member Steve Howe He's been a great support throughout the last seven years, and we couldn't have found a better all round team player.”

“I am thrilled to become the new drummer with Yes,” adds Schellen. “I grew up playing along to Yes records and I am proud to have worked so closely with my musical hero and great friend Alan White these past few years. I will strive to honour his memory as we drive towards the future with the band.”

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 14, 2023, 09:06:20 AM
Pretty much expected.  I'm actually surprised that they waited this long to announce it.  Probably they wanted to wait a bit after Alan's passing, and also they're apparently working on a new album, so this gets them a little press attention.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 14, 2023, 09:27:45 AM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 14, 2023, 02:25:56 PM
It fascinates me that Jay has had such a history with Yes and is now finally a fully fledged member. From what I can recall, he joined the John Payne version of Asia in the mid 2000's, and just before he would record an album with Payne and Govan as Asia, Geoff Downes left the band to reunite with Howe/Wetton/Palmer as the original line-up. This left Payne to reform the trio as GPS and invited Ryo Okumoto of Spock's Beard to play on their album Window To The Soul (one of my favorites of that era, more so than much of the Payne-led Asia).

Jay was also in Conspiracy with Squire and Sherwood, as well as CIRCA: with Sherwood and Kaye (and Jimmy Haun). It seems like it was only a matter of time before Jay became a full-time member of Yes considering how many Yes-related projects and members' bands he was a part of.

I hope what Roger Dean is painting a new cover for is a new studio album as I would love to hear what Jay can do with Yes in the studio, and hopefully he can breathe some life into Howe and company.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 14, 2023, 02:37:23 PM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?

It certainly does seem very likely it's a full studio album. Potentially with Alan and Jay sharing drumming duties.

From the well connected Henry Potts at bondegezou.co.uk :

Quote
The band have worked on a new studio album. The blurb for Davison at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert website said, "2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA." In an interview conducted late 2022, Davison said, "Steve [Howe] is as excited as ever to propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity, and we're currently exploring such horizons on our latest effort, which'll be released early next year." A Feb 2023 interview had this exchange with Sherwood:

Interviewer: I understand there is a new [Yes] album in the works for 2023. What can you tell us about the project?

Sherwood: I'm not at liberty to discuss except to say we're all very excited about it.

Interviewer: Was Alan involved in any part of the process, or was it started after his passing?

Sherwood: It was right after production of the Quest record. Demos were plenty, pencil sketches of ideas etc...

Links to the interviews:
https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/ (https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/)
http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html (http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 15, 2023, 07:16:29 AM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?

It certainly does seem very likely it's a full studio album. Potentially with Alan and Jay sharing drumming duties.

From the well connected Henry Potts at bondegezou.co.uk :

Quote
The band have worked on a new studio album. The blurb for Davison at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert website said, "2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA." In an interview conducted late 2022, Davison said, "Steve [Howe] is as excited as ever to propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity, and we're currently exploring such horizons on our latest effort, which'll be released early next year." A Feb 2023 interview had this exchange with Sherwood:

Interviewer: I understand there is a new [Yes] album in the works for 2023. What can you tell us about the project?

Sherwood: I'm not at liberty to discuss except to say we're all very excited about it.

Interviewer: Was Alan involved in any part of the process, or was it started after his passing?

Sherwood: It was right after production of the Quest record. Demos were plenty, pencil sketches of ideas etc...

Links to the interviews:
https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/ (https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/)
http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html (http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html)

I'm as big a Yes fan as anyone, but that bolded just doesn't ring true to me at all.  AT ALL. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 15, 2023, 07:28:04 AM
Yeah, bring on another snoozefest, exactly what we're waiting for.  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 15, 2023, 07:45:30 AM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?

It certainly does seem very likely it's a full studio album. Potentially with Alan and Jay sharing drumming duties.

From the well connected Henry Potts at bondegezou.co.uk :

Quote
The band have worked on a new studio album. The blurb for Davison at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert website said, "2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA." In an interview conducted late 2022, Davison said, "Steve [Howe] is as excited as ever to propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity, and we're currently exploring such horizons on our latest effort, which'll be released early next year." A Feb 2023 interview had this exchange with Sherwood:

Interviewer: I understand there is a new [Yes] album in the works for 2023. What can you tell us about the project?

Sherwood: I'm not at liberty to discuss except to say we're all very excited about it.

Interviewer: Was Alan involved in any part of the process, or was it started after his passing?

Sherwood: It was right after production of the Quest record. Demos were plenty, pencil sketches of ideas etc...

Links to the interviews:
https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/ (https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/)
http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html (http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html)

I'm as big a Yes fan as anyone, but that bolded just doesn't ring true to me at all.  AT ALL.

I have to agree. My hope is that Billy will force a switch in energy as he did with the recent live performances. That being said, I did really enjoy The Quest. It wasn't particularly energetic but it was a nice listen. I'm excited to see where this one goes. Even if it's not a new creative endeavour
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on February 15, 2023, 07:47:21 AM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?

It certainly does seem very likely it's a full studio album. Potentially with Alan and Jay sharing drumming duties.

From the well connected Henry Potts at bondegezou.co.uk :

Quote
The band have worked on a new studio album. The blurb for Davison at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert website said, "2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA." In an interview conducted late 2022, Davison said, "Steve [Howe] is as excited as ever to propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity, and we're currently exploring such horizons on our latest effort, which'll be released early next year." A Feb 2023 interview had this exchange with Sherwood:

Interviewer: I understand there is a new [Yes] album in the works for 2023. What can you tell us about the project?

Sherwood: I'm not at liberty to discuss except to say we're all very excited about it.

Interviewer: Was Alan involved in any part of the process, or was it started after his passing?

Sherwood: It was right after production of the Quest record. Demos were plenty, pencil sketches of ideas etc...

Links to the interviews:
https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/ (https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/)
http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html (http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html)

I'm as big a Yes fan as anyone, but that bolded just doesn't ring true to me at all.  AT ALL.

Holy hell is that second link unreadable!  I thought we left that type of website design behind in the late 90's!

And yeah, that bolded part made me LOL.  Steve Howe hasn't been innovative since Drama, and the likely hood this next album is more of the same milquetoast pablum they've delivered on their two previous records is way higher than them journeying "into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity"  :lol.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 15, 2023, 08:07:17 AM
WTF does "the far-reaching realms of studio creativity" even mean?  It sounds to me like going a little crazy and actually taking some chances in the studio.  I'd love to hear that, but I don't hold out much hope at this point.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 15, 2023, 08:08:26 AM
Quote
propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity

How can Yes release two albums like Heaven & Earth and The Quest (and a bunch of other mediocre ones) and then STILL say stuff like this with such confidence  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 15, 2023, 08:21:39 AM
By the way, to we know if the album in question really is a studio album? What if Roger Dean is working on a cover art for another live thing from the archives?

It certainly does seem very likely it's a full studio album. Potentially with Alan and Jay sharing drumming duties.

From the well connected Henry Potts at bondegezou.co.uk :

Quote
The band have worked on a new studio album. The blurb for Davison at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert website said, "2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA." In an interview conducted late 2022, Davison said, "Steve [Howe] is as excited as ever to propel the band into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity, and we're currently exploring such horizons on our latest effort, which'll be released early next year." A Feb 2023 interview had this exchange with Sherwood:

Interviewer: I understand there is a new [Yes] album in the works for 2023. What can you tell us about the project?

Sherwood: I'm not at liberty to discuss except to say we're all very excited about it.

Interviewer: Was Alan involved in any part of the process, or was it started after his passing?

Sherwood: It was right after production of the Quest record. Demos were plenty, pencil sketches of ideas etc...

Links to the interviews:
https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/ (https://ramzine.co.uk/interviews/jon-davison-of-yes-continuing-with-the-quest/)
http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html (http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/billysherwood2023.html)

I'm as big a Yes fan as anyone, but that bolded just doesn't ring true to me at all.  AT ALL.

Holy hell is that second link unreadable!  I thought we left that type of website design behind in the late 90's!

And yeah, that bolded part made me LOL.  Steve Howe hasn't been innovative since Drama, and the likely hood this next album is more of the same milquetoast pablum they've delivered on their two previous records is way higher than them journeying "into the far-reaching realms of studio creativity"  :lol.

I think it's a touch unfair to say he hasn't been innovative since Drama. The GTR album, despite it's flaws, was pretty innovative with it's use of guitar synthesisers. A lot of the late 90s and early 00s Yes stuff was, at the very least, interesting. Hell, even Fly From Here had it's moments. I think Heaven and Earth was the only Yes album that didn't at least try to do something new, even if the attempt wasn't particularly pulled off well
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: billboy73 on February 15, 2023, 08:31:23 AM
Steve Howe and Yes making an EDM record  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 15, 2023, 08:32:48 AM
I heard there's a rap breakdown in the middle of the new single.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 15, 2023, 08:56:57 AM
Steve Howe and Yes making an EDM record  :biggrin:
I mean, I'm here for it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: billboy73 on February 15, 2023, 10:04:39 AM
I heard there's a rap breakdown in the middle of the new single.  :)

Maybe someone was like, "Steve, have you heard Roll the Bones by Rush?"  Steve pulls it up on the ol' Youtube and...

 :metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on February 15, 2023, 01:51:29 PM
Yeah. And let's not forget the C+C Music Factory breakdown in the middle of "Dangerous". I mean Yes have always been down with the hip new sounds..  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on February 15, 2023, 02:04:48 PM
Someone will probably start a separate thread for this article, but check out #3 on this list:  https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/horrible-albums-by-brilliant-artists-1234672895/yes-6-1234674916/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 15, 2023, 02:11:20 PM
Someone will probably start a separate thread for this article, but check out #3 on this list:  https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/horrible-albums-by-brilliant-artists-1234672895/yes-6-1234674916/
Nothing that controversial about that.  Union really IS a shit album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 15, 2023, 02:30:32 PM
Especially with what came before and after it in the 80s and 90s, I'd say it's their weakest album in those two decades. Heck, I may even prefer Open Your Eyes over Union in its entirety. Been a VERY long time since I've listened to either, though, if I'm being honest.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on February 15, 2023, 02:32:36 PM
Yeah. And let's not forget the C+C Music Factory breakdown in the middle of "Dangerous". I mean Yes have always been down with the hip new sounds..  ;)

It's the "doo wop bop" sections in the middle of Lightning Strikes that always remind me of just how hip and trendy and down with the kids Yes are.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on February 15, 2023, 11:45:29 PM
Someone will probably start a separate thread for this article, but check out #3 on this list:  https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/horrible-albums-by-brilliant-artists-1234672895/yes-6-1234674916/
Nothing that controversial about that.  Union really IS a shit album.
Union is the album that got me into Yes.  There are some excellent tracks such as I Would Have Waited Forever,  Shock to the System, Silent Talking, The More We Live Let Go,  Lift Me Up, Miracle of Life, and more.  I don’t know how anybody could call it a shit album..  :mehlin
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on February 15, 2023, 11:49:48 PM
Someone will probably start a separate thread for this article, but check out #3 on this list:  https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/horrible-albums-by-brilliant-artists-1234672895/yes-6-1234674916/
Nothing that controversial about that.  Union really IS a shit album.

It’s not even the worst Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 16, 2023, 01:37:03 AM
The Union is a very mixed bag, half good and great songs, half forgettable. And because of the mash up of the at the time different line-ups it doesn't flow well. But it is far from the worst Yes album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on February 16, 2023, 02:18:24 AM
The only two albums I would rank below Union are Open your eyes and the debut. I can hardly listen to any of them, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on February 16, 2023, 02:28:22 AM
I would probably rank the debut, Time And A Word, Open Your Eyes, The Ladder, Heaven And Earth and The Quest below Union.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 16, 2023, 07:45:40 AM
Yeah, that's Rolling Stone talking their bullshit again.  The Elder is one of my favorite Kiss records. I wouldn't call "Forbidden" one of my favorite Sabbath albums, but it's got some songs I actively go back to frequently (only the first song is truly horrid).   Nine Lives isn't nearly the worst Aerosmith record.  I actually LIKE Union; especially the YesWest songs (Lift Me Up is a particular favorite), which were less polluted by Jonathan Elias.  But I frequently point to I Would Have Waited Forever as one of the better examples of the vocal harmonies in that band.   I actually saw I think three shows on that tour.

I prefer Union over ABWH all day long.

EDIT:  I just realized, though, that implicitly, Rolling Stone is conceding that Yes (and KISS and Black Sabbath!) are "brilliant" artists.  Dave Marsh just pissed himself.  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on February 16, 2023, 07:54:49 AM
I Would Have Waited Forever is kind of underrated, IMHO.  The song structure is actually pretty interesting, and Bill's drumming is low key awesome, especially when he starts Brufording towards the end of Steve Howe's guitar solo.  Bruford and Levin do some great work as a rhythm section as well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 16, 2023, 08:00:31 AM
The Elder is one of my favorite Kiss records.
That is not a universal opinion.  That usually ranks amongst or at the bottom of KISS album rankings.  So Rolling Stone ranking it there is not off base in any way at all, regardless of your low opinion of the publication.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on February 16, 2023, 09:26:54 AM
Union has never been disliked by me. I recognize that it’s a mess but there’s so many strong tracks with only a few that I’d consider not good (Angkor Wat and Dangerous mainly). Way better than ABWH
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 16, 2023, 11:20:40 AM
The Elder is one of my favorite Kiss records.
That is not a universal opinion.  That usually ranks amongst or at the bottom of KISS album rankings.  So Rolling Stone ranking it there is not off base in any way at all, regardless of your low opinion of the publication.

Give me my moment.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on February 16, 2023, 11:26:40 AM
The Elder is one of my favorite Kiss records.
That is not a universal opinion.  That usually ranks amongst or at the bottom of KISS album rankings.  So Rolling Stone ranking it there is not off base in any way at all, regardless of your low opinion of the publication.

Give me my moment.  :) :) :)
You got it
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on February 27, 2023, 06:40:27 PM
Union has never been disliked by me. I recognize that it’s a mess but there’s so many strong tracks with only a few that I’d consider not good (Angkor Wat and Dangerous mainly). Way better than ABWH

I have no problem with either of those. Open Your Eyes is another story.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on February 28, 2023, 12:22:58 PM
I've been wanting to dive into more Yes for some time now. I already like some of their stuff, but they tend to be hit or miss for me.

What I wanted to know from your opinions is, now that they're officially made of 3 full time Yes members (Davison, Sherwood, Schellen), should I also check the Arc of Life albums? It's a pretty obvious Yes spin-off, but there's been a few others through the years as well and I don't really have too much interest in them. Should I bother with AOL or just stick with Yes? They have a wide enough catalog for me to check out already :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on February 28, 2023, 02:19:35 PM
I've been wanting to dive into more Yes for some time now. I already like some of their stuff, but they tend to be hit or miss for me.

What I wanted to know from your opinions is, now that they're officially made of 3 full time Yes members (Davison, Sherwood, Schellen), should I also check the Arc of Life albums? It's a pretty obvious Yes spin-off, but there's been a few others through the years as well and I don't really have too much interest in them. Should I bother with AOL or just stick with Yes? They have a wide enough catalog for me to check out already :lol
So.....  I listened to the one early release and though it was HORRIBLE.  DRECK.   Then I volunteered to do a review of the record, and I listened to it, and lived with it for a couple weeks, and it really resonated after a spell. I thought it was really good and went out and bought it.  So yes, I would if I was you.  I wouldn't expect top-flight, Close To The Edge Yes, but it's a good record.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: gzarruk on February 28, 2023, 02:45:56 PM
I've been wanting to dive into more Yes for some time now. I already like some of their stuff, but they tend to be hit or miss for me.

What I wanted to know from your opinions is, now that they're officially made of 3 full time Yes members (Davison, Sherwood, Schellen), should I also check the Arc of Life albums? It's a pretty obvious Yes spin-off, but there's been a few others through the years as well and I don't really have too much interest in them. Should I bother with AOL or just stick with Yes? They have a wide enough catalog for me to check out already :lol
So.....  I listened to the one early release and though it was HORRIBLE.  DRECK.   Then I volunteered to do a review of the record, and I listened to it, and lived with it for a couple weeks, and it really resonated after a spell. I thought it was really good and went out and bought it.  So yes, I would if I was you.  I wouldn't expect top-flight, Close To The Edge Yes, but it's a good record.

 :tup :tup :tup

There's two AOL albums, btw, in case you missed the second one.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on February 28, 2023, 03:43:26 PM
Check out the band World Trade. First album was in 1989.

Billy Sherwood's band. Jay joined on the 2nd album.  The 1st drummer was the brother of Joseph Williams of Toto.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on February 28, 2023, 04:30:44 PM
I JUST TODAY learned that the covers of Relayer and TFTO connect together like two pieces of a jigsaw!

The granite rocks on the left back cover of Relayer intersect PERFECTLY with the rocks on the right of the front cover of TFTO. With both gatefold cover spread out, they make a single panoramic picture!

Am I just late to the party???
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 28, 2023, 05:10:16 PM
(https://imgur.com/t9J5G2e.jpg)

I've seen that before, and was never 100% convinced.  It does seem like a few too many things line up for it to be coincidence, but the backgrounds are completely different, so even if the thing with the rocks was intentional, the two paintings don't really make one large work.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on February 28, 2023, 05:30:47 PM
It seems most likely to me that someone had their Yes albums on a table one time and just happened to notice how the Tales and Relayer covers do that.  These album covers are from original paintings by Roger Dean and are cropped to fit the standard 2x1 shape of a gatefold album cover.  The rocks on the Tales cover actually go further to the right, for example.

I actually have some relatively hi-res versions of most Roger Dean covers, being the huge Yesnerd that I am.  I don't know if I've ever seen a larger version of the Relayer cover, but the Tales cover is cropped for sure.  So I lined up the uncropped pictures, had to rescale the Relayer cover, and it turns out that some of the rocks actually line up better, and some do not.  So the jury's still out, as far as I'm concerned.

(https://imgur.com/9u7gNGG.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 01, 2023, 06:45:09 AM
I've been wanting to dive into more Yes for some time now. I already like some of their stuff, but they tend to be hit or miss for me.

What I wanted to know from your opinions is, now that they're officially made of 3 full time Yes members (Davison, Sherwood, Schellen), should I also check the Arc of Life albums? It's a pretty obvious Yes spin-off, but there's been a few others through the years as well and I don't really have too much interest in them. Should I bother with AOL or just stick with Yes? They have a wide enough catalog for me to check out already :lol
So.....  I listened to the one early release and though it was HORRIBLE.  DRECK.   Then I volunteered to do a review of the record, and I listened to it, and lived with it for a couple weeks, and it really resonated after a spell. I thought it was really good and went out and bought it.  So yes, I would if I was you.  I wouldn't expect top-flight, Close To The Edge Yes, but it's a good record.

 :tup :tup :tup

There's two AOL albums, btw, in case you missed the second one.

I did miss it!! Thank you for that!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 01, 2023, 06:47:00 AM
I JUST TODAY learned that the covers of Relayer and TFTO connect together like two pieces of a jigsaw!

The granite rocks on the left back cover of Relayer intersect PERFECTLY with the rocks on the right of the front cover of TFTO. With both gatefold cover spread out, they make a single panoramic picture!

Am I just late to the party???

Well, if it matters to you, I just learned about it too (from you!)

I also understand that if you listen to Dark Side of the Moon while watching the Wizard of Oz, they line up too (yes, I've done that, and it matches about as well as the Yes covers).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 01, 2023, 07:14:28 AM
I'm not sure anyone would care about AOL if it wasn't a Yes spinoff.

When The Quest by Yes was released I listened to it (of course) and decided it's a rather boring, always-15bpm-too-slow album that not many people would care for if it wasn't made by Yes - but still a far better album than Heaven & Earth. I still had some time left on the drive home so I randomly put on a different album I didn't know that much yet: Rise Radiant by Caligula's Horse. The contrast was huge.

I felt the same with AOL. I listened to both albums. Badly composed, lazily played and with a Sherwood-typical bad production and sound. I thought... why bother with albums like these just because it's a Yes-spinoff if there's way more interesting music out there by smaller/less known artists? Just my two cents.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 01, 2023, 07:18:55 AM
Well, I liked AOL, and I'm a lot more lenient to Billy Sherwood than it sounds like you are, but your underlying point is still valid:  I'm still not stepping over Going For The One or Scenes From A Memory to get to AOL.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTA on March 01, 2023, 08:45:20 AM
The Quest actually had a lot more replay value for me than I expected. The Ice Bridge, Dare To Know, A Living Island, and Leave Well Alone all feel pretty substantial which I didn't expect. And the other songs have some solid moments too. I agree that it's ultimately a non-essential album but it feels like there's some effort present in the songwriting. It's hard to compare it to a modern band in the midst of their creative peak.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 01, 2023, 09:54:38 AM
The main problem I have with recent Yes (like in the last 10 or 15 years) is that it sounds "tired".  It sounds like decent music being written and played by guys in their 60's and 70's.  Which is exactly what it is, I get that, but where is the fire?  Where is the drive, the excitement?  It all sounds "nice" but it lacks something.  Maybe bumping up the tempo a tiny bit would help, but I don't know if that's it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on March 01, 2023, 06:38:08 PM
The main problem I have with recent Yes (like in the last 10 or 15 years) is that it sounds "tired".  It sounds like decent music being written and played by guys in their 60's and 70's.  Which is exactly what it is, I get that, but where is the fire?  Where is the drive, the excitement?  It all sounds "nice" but it lacks something.  Maybe bumping up the tempo a tiny bit would help, but I don't know if that's it.

I think you may have just described why I threw in the towel on YES after about 2003-4. Also a valid enough reason why I've bailed on other bands in general.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 02, 2023, 03:39:24 AM
Compared to The Quest and Heaven and earth, Fly from here has so much fire it sounds like it's played by guys in their 20s.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 02, 2023, 07:04:43 AM
I had high hopes, after that first tour years ago when they did Close to the Edge and The Yes Album in their entireties.  Or maybe it was two other albums.  Anyway, they did that tour, then went into the studio.  I was hoping that having played albums from the 70's again, they'd be inspired, remember what it was like to play actually exciting, challenging music.  Then we got Heaven and Earth.  :(
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on March 02, 2023, 07:13:20 AM
I enjoy Fly From Here and still listen on a regular basis. The last two are one rung below elevator music. Boring slogs.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Nel on March 05, 2023, 07:09:26 PM
I enjoy Fly From Here and still listen on a regular basis. The last two are one rung below elevator music. Boring slogs.

Agreed. I really wish the newer stuff was a bit more like "Into The Storm", which has a lot of energy behind it and is really fun, but Heaven & Earth and The Quest just sound like background music to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 06, 2023, 07:41:50 AM
I enjoy Fly From Here and still listen on a regular basis. The last two are one rung below elevator music. Boring slogs.

Agreed. I really wish the newer stuff was a bit more like "Into The Storm", which has a lot of energy behind it and is really fun, but Heaven & Earth and The Quest just sound like background music to me.

"Into The Storm" is a GREAT song, but, IMO, is an anomaly in the latter years of the Yes catalogue (and I LIKE "Fly From Here" generally).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 06, 2023, 08:13:17 PM
After seeing the title in the 2023 Album Release pinned thread, I searched for "Yes 'Mirror To The Sky'" and came up with this link:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/new-yes-album-with-atmos-mix-out-may.33899/#post-681461

Quote
A new Yes album, called Mirror to the Sky, is due out in May, with a blu-ray with Atmos (and presumably 5.1) mix!

Yes, it's the new Yes, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I for one really enjoy the last album The Quest, which had a great 5.1 mix, so I'm hopeful. Reading in the latest edition of Prog magazine, this album has 6 tracks, including a 10 minute one and a 14 minute one.

If this is true/accurate, I remain cautiously optimistic but I won't hold my breath in hoping that it'll be any better than H&E or TQ.

Track list info from a r/yesband

Quote
1. Mirror To The Sky
2. Luminosity
3. Circles Of Time (written by Davison, "simple in texture and presentation but musically complex with a lot happening" per Howe)
4. Cut From The Stars
5. All Connected
6. Living Out Their Dream

Bonus Disc:
1. One Second Is Enough
2. Unknown Place
3. Magic Potion

https://www.yesfans.com/forum/main-forum/yesmusic-aa/39830-mirror-to-the-sky-new-yes-album-due-in-may

https://www.reddit.com/r/yesband/comments/11kgbpy/new_album_mirror_to_the_sky/

Release date is May 19th.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 07, 2023, 05:56:48 AM
Grrrr; "including a 10 minute one and a 14 minute one". As if "song length" is the problem here.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on March 07, 2023, 09:02:51 AM
Honestly very excited for it. Will be interesting to hear Yes' first attempt at a longer piece since Mind Drive!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 07, 2023, 11:55:59 AM
I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful, but I'm very curious how Yes sound with a new drummer. Alan was a very good and powerful drummer back in the day and I miss him dearly, but his later contributions were not that great anymore.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on March 07, 2023, 12:12:05 PM
I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful, but I'm very curious how Yes sound with a new drummer. Alan was a very good and powerful drummer back in the day and I miss him dearly, but his later contributions were not that great anymore.
I definitely get what you mean. Since Billy and Jay came in as Yes' rhythm section on a more permanent basis the tempo and energy of their live performances have been on the up. It's going to be interesting to see if that will translate into a studio setting
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 07, 2023, 01:06:55 PM
Some of the songs on The Quest were actually pretty good, they just lacked a little punch, not just in production, but also in performance. Hopefully the new guy pounded the crap out of those drums and inspired the rest of the band to kick it up a notch.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on March 08, 2023, 06:12:57 PM
And let's also hope that Steve Howe is singing less...     :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on March 09, 2023, 08:03:52 AM
Steve's voice certainly is more suited to the traditional Yes 3-part harmony than some of the co-lead parts we saw on The Quest. I'd like to see them returning to that with this new release as opposed to just Billy or just Steve doing BVs. Given there is so much overlap with The Quest I'm not sure it will be the case, though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 09, 2023, 10:09:36 AM
And let's also hope that Steve Howe is singing less...     :lol

"In her white lace,..."

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2023, 12:23:31 PM
Fair point, but remember that that was 50 years ago, harmonized with Chris Squire, and in a supporting role.  It was supposed to contrast with Jon's voice.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on March 09, 2023, 09:17:24 PM
https://open.spotify.com/track/3zqQQos627x2yRoTGKkLoI?si=E6Y4Lg4iTiekcmmewBG8Qg&app_destination=copy-link
New song
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 09, 2023, 10:13:03 PM
https://open.spotify.com/track/3zqQQos627x2yRoTGKkLoI?si=E6Y4Lg4iTiekcmmewBG8Qg&app_destination=copy-link
New song

Also on YouTube
https://youtu.be/5WSqjH6mFhk

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 09, 2023, 10:21:35 PM
Not bad.  I like how the bass is pretty in-your-face, with Sherwood doing his best to channel Squire.  Drumming is pretty tight, and keeps things moving.  Doesn't sound lethargic like so much of their recent material has.  Keyboards are kinda weird.  I usually like Geoff Downes' keyboards but he's picked some weirdass patches here.  Davison as usual sounds okay, but is basically a pale imitation of Anderson.  Didn't hear much of note from Howe, which is actually surprising.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 10, 2023, 05:09:14 AM
Quote
YES (official) announce new studio album ‘Mirror To The Sky’ for release 19th May 2023 - Launch first single ‘Cut From The Stars’: https://youtu.be/NdEF-vMO8vc

YES, who are Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen, are pleased to announce their new studio album Mirror To The Sky on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on the 19th May 2023. “This is a very important album for the band,” says Steve Howe, Yes’ longest serving member, master guitarist, and producer of Mirror To The Sky. “We kept the continuity in the approach we established on The Quest, but we haven’t repeated ourselves. That was the main thing. As Yes did in the seventies from one album to another, we’re growing and moving forward. In later years, Yes often got going but then didn’t do the next thing. This album is demonstrative of us growing and building again.” For Yes, that “next thing” is a collection of high energy, intricate, lush and layered new studio songs for an album which adds to the band’s much heralded legacy, while charting a path to exciting future times ahead.

Today also sees the launch of the first track taken from the album. Listen to Cut From The Stars & watch the video here: https://youtu.be/NdEF-vMO8vc

Mirror To The Sky features not one, but four tracks clocking in at over eight minutes, with the sweeping and cinematic title track coming in just shy of fourteen minutes. What’s more, the tracks, like Yes’ best, take the listener on a wide dynamically ranging journey of soundscapes which also showcase Steve Howe’s dazzling guitars, keyboard wizard Geoff Downes’ impeccable sounds, exquisite melodies and fills, Jon Davison’s angelic, crystalline vocals, Billy Sherwood’s deftly dancing bass and Jay Schellen’s masterfully controlled explosions, on drums.

‘Mirror To The Sky’ will be available on several formats, all featuring artwork by long-time Yes artist & collaborator Roger Dean.
Ltd Deluxe Electric Blue 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook with poster
Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook
Ltd 2CD Digipak
Standard CD Jewel case
Gatefold 2LP+LP-Booklet
Digital Album

The Blu-ray editions include the album as Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound, Instrumental Versions & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes.

Pre-order now here: https://Yes-Band.lnk.to/MirrorToTheSky

The tracklisting is as follows:
CD1:
1. Cut From The Stars 05:27
2. All Connected 09:02
3. Luminosity 09:04
4. Living Out Their Dream 04:45
5. Mirror to the Sky 13:53
6. Circles of Time 04:59

CD2:
1. Unknown Place 08:15
2. One Second Is Enough 04:04
3. Magic Potion 04:08

(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/334971177_115293171504062_5895524973429227659_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=6bUKYI7ZmJoAX8E5CWL&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDeVYmrY31FLKT-oXSDbJWc_FtcrdrjVCV9AZKDfsB0yA&oe=640F7909)


https://www.facebook.com/289541335438/posts/pfbid0XBeGGdfnNUqy3XcdsnNt56BjjuT7qc334wfWaqZpjwJM4HPNWuZqcWESRFtpw7ZSl/?mibextid=Nif5oz

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 10, 2023, 06:25:39 AM
Not bad.  I like how the bass is pretty in-your-face, with Sherwood doing his best to channel Squire.  Drumming is pretty tight, and keeps things moving.  Doesn't sound lethargic like so much of their recent material has.  Keyboards are kinda weird.  I usually like Geoff Downes' keyboards but he's picked some weirdass patches here.  Davison as usual sounds okay, but is basically a pale imitation of Anderson.  Didn't hear much of note from Howe, which is actually surprising.

It sounds like a Yes cover band, to be honest.  Davison sounds like a poor man's Jon Anderson, and Sherwood sounds like a poor man's Chris Squire (his tone isn't thick and fat like Squire's was).  I have never been a fan of Sherwood, so he'd have to do a lot to win me over, but this basically sounds like a cover band trying to sound like old Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 10, 2023, 06:49:46 AM
Not bad.  I like how the bass is pretty in-your-face, with Sherwood doing his best to channel Squire.  Drumming is pretty tight, and keeps things moving.  Doesn't sound lethargic like so much of their recent material has.  Keyboards are kinda weird.  I usually like Geoff Downes' keyboards but he's picked some weirdass patches here.  Davison as usual sounds okay, but is basically a pale imitation of Anderson.  Didn't hear much of note from Howe, which is actually surprising.


I'm going to listen to this later today, but the recent Yes has two problems for me, which are really the same problem at heart:  One, no Chris Squire.  I really do like Billy Sherwood, and he CHANNELS Squire, but he ISN'T Squire.  For me, no one is. It's also the fatal flaw with ABWH and the non-Squire tracks on Onion. It's just so obvious to me he's got a muscularity and a power that is really the compelling force of Yes.  Yes is prog, sure, but they are at heart a ROCK band, and that comes as much from Squire as anyone else.   Two, Davison is a very, very good singer, but he is missing that same element; he's got Anderson's tone, and he can do the twee stuff, but Anderson is a surprisingly good ROCK singer, and Davison doesn't have that.  On all the live stuff they've released recently, Davison is close enough to Jon that you forget for a second it isn't, but then a passage will come up where I'm waiting for that power in the vocals, and... it just isn't there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 10, 2023, 06:57:40 AM
I enjoy the new track, it has a bit more punch than the previous two albums. Even Jon Davison is more in your face than usual.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on March 10, 2023, 08:30:18 AM
Listening to the new song now.

I do not hate it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 10, 2023, 08:48:07 AM
The new song is pretty good. Anyone notice the Pale Blue Dot lyric?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 10, 2023, 10:01:41 AM
Not bad.  I like how the bass is pretty in-your-face, with Sherwood doing his best to channel Squire.  Drumming is pretty tight, and keeps things moving.  Doesn't sound lethargic like so much of their recent material has.  Keyboards are kinda weird.  I usually like Geoff Downes' keyboards but he's picked some weirdass patches here.  Davison as usual sounds okay, but is basically a pale imitation of Anderson.  Didn't hear much of note from Howe, which is actually surprising.

It sounds like a Yes cover band, to be honest.  Davison sounds like a poor man's Jon Anderson, and Sherwood sounds like a poor man's Chris Squire (his tone isn't thick and fat like Squire's was).  I have never been a fan of Sherwood, so he'd have to do a lot to win me over, but this basically sounds like a cover band trying to sound like old Yes.

Chris Squire is gone.  Even if Sherwood somehow managed to get that same tone, people would complain about the notes or the playing or something.  No one sounds like Jon Anderson.  Anyone else will in fact sound like someone covering Jon Anderson.

The "Yes cover band" argument is so old.  Of course it will not sound exactly like old Yes.  If all members were still alive and together, it would still not sound like old Yes.  The best we can hope for is music that is interesting and worthwhile to listen to.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on March 10, 2023, 01:35:23 PM
I really enjoyed the new track! Billy really is coming into his own now to me. I thought his playing was fabulous and his tone, for me was as close as it could be to Chris' without it coming over as a copy.

Not bad.  I like how the bass is pretty in-your-face, with Sherwood doing his best to channel Squire.  Drumming is pretty tight, and keeps things moving.  Doesn't sound lethargic like so much of their recent material has.  Keyboards are kinda weird.  I usually like Geoff Downes' keyboards but he's picked some weirdass patches here.  Davison as usual sounds okay, but is basically a pale imitation of Anderson.  Didn't hear much of note from Howe, which is actually surprising.

It sounds like a Yes cover band, to be honest.  Davison sounds like a poor man's Jon Anderson, and Sherwood sounds like a poor man's Chris Squire (his tone isn't thick and fat like Squire's was).  I have never been a fan of Sherwood, so he'd have to do a lot to win me over, but this basically sounds like a cover band trying to sound like old Yes.

Chris Squire is gone.  Even if Sherwood somehow managed to get that same tone, people would complain about the notes or the playing or something.  No one sounds like Jon Anderson.  Anyone else will in fact sound like someone covering Jon Anderson.

The "Yes cover band" argument is so old.  Of course it will not sound exactly like old Yes.  If all members were still alive and together, it would still not sound like old Yes.  The best we can hope for is music that is interesting and worthwhile to listen to.

This is why I will always have infinite respect and compassion for Billy. He gets a lot of undue hatred. I can't claim to have known Chris in the same way Billy did, but the man was my idol and I can't imagine the pressure Billy must have felt to step into Chris' place.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on March 10, 2023, 02:41:14 PM
I couldn't make it through the first listen.  Yeah, it's up-tempo-ish, but it still doesn't really rock.  It could be better.  As Stadler said, at their heart, Yes was a ROCK band, but that isn't there in this song, in my opinion.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Willthescout7 on March 11, 2023, 03:33:35 AM
Bothe the main album and the bonus disc together comes out to be 63 minutes. Grinds my gears when bands do this. Just put the bonus songs on the first disc, instead of charging more and gouging customers for no reason. I hate it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 11, 2023, 05:35:36 AM
Bothe the main album and the bonus disc together comes out to be 63 minutes. Grinds my gears when bands do this. Just put the bonus songs on the first disc, instead of charging more and gouging customers for no reason. I hate it.

The RIAA considers albums with multiple discs as multiple units sold, so it's possible that when an album comes with a bonus disc, it can be considered as a sale of two units and not just one. I'm no record industry expert so I can't be too sure, but I think I remember reading once that double albums, or albums with extra discs, do count as multiple sales in some instances, but according to a Google search, SoundScan only counts those kinds of sales as one unit (so a 15-disc set counts as 1 just as a single-disc would).

The vinyl track list for MTTS even reflects the CDs as the tracks aren't evenly spread across vinyl sides.
Quote
A
1. Cut From The Stars 5:25
2. All Connected 9:02
3. Luminosity 9:04
 
B
1. Living Out Their Dream 4:45
2. Mirror to the Sky 13:53
3. Circles Of Time 4:59
 
C
1. Unknown Place  8:15
 
D
1. One Second Is Enough 4:04
2. Magic Potion 4:08

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on March 11, 2023, 06:00:44 AM
Not bad, not great. Has some of the latter day classic Yes feel to it but doesn't offer anything very exciting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 11, 2023, 07:48:30 AM
So is this a double album or an album with a bonus disc? Probably and hopefully the latter.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 11, 2023, 08:03:43 AM
So is this a double album or an album with a bonus disc? Probably and hopefully the latter.

Considering there is a single-disc edition with the main album, I'd say the 2nd disc is considered "bonus" material. If there was just the 2CD edition ONLY, then I'd say it's a very skewed double album, but the existence of a single-disc package says to me that those other three songs were just bonus songs/cutting-room-floor fodder.

The Quest, on the other hand, ONLY had 2CD packages, which says to me that the second disc was part of the album, despite the packaging saying it was a "Bonus Disc". The digital album even included all 11 songs (8 from the first disc, 3 from the second), so who knows at this point. Inside Out has done weird and funny things with extra/bonus tracks in the past, so there could be any number of reasons why TQ included the bonus disc in all CD packages, while MTTS has the option.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 11, 2023, 01:25:01 PM
I still like physical media too, but if it all fits on one disc, use one disc.  Calling it a 2-disc set so that your sales count double or something is lame.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 11, 2023, 02:52:20 PM
I still like physical media too, but if it all fits on one disc, use one disc.  Calling it a 2-disc set so that your sales count double or something is lame.

If there was a thematic reason for the songs to be separated onto two discs, then I could see a reason, like with Porcupine Tree's The Incident, whose songs could have all fit onto one disc, but Steven Wilson felt the need to keep the four non-song-cycle songs separate from the main part of the album.

As far as I know, Yes' The Quest doesn't have any thematic or narrative concept to justify 3 bonus songs on a whole other disc, and I doubt Mirror To The Sky will either.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 11, 2023, 03:28:49 PM
InsideOut has done this before, not only with The Quest, but also with the latest album by Spock's Beard and the Sea Within album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on March 11, 2023, 04:23:08 PM
I'm one of those, that like their bonus songs separated from the main album, so I don't mind them putting out a double disc.

But then this is later days Yes, which means I will listen to it on spotify, probably fall asleep during it and then decide I don't need to buy it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTwwbwMP on March 11, 2023, 04:25:46 PM
Not bad, not great. Has some of the latter day classic Yes feel to it but doesn't offer anything very exciting.

this
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Willthescout7 on March 12, 2023, 03:08:04 AM
Inside Out is saying it is a bonus disc, but in their press release are treating it like part of the main album. They can't have their cake and eat it too. Regardless of the cheap reporting tricks they gain, it's still an irritating and cheap move.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 17, 2023, 06:33:54 AM
Quote

It is with enormous regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the band’s control, YES have taken the decision to postpone their 2023 Relayer European and UK tour.YES and their management have explored every possible avenue to arrange insurance cover for the tour in the event of COVID-related exemption or Act of War exclusion.

The insurance industry has withdrawn all such insurances which made touring possible pre-COVID and before the Ukraine conflict.There have always been calculated risk assessments to consider when touring and YES has unfailingly paid a premium to cover against terrorism in addition to conventional cancellation risks.

With a view to supporting venues and crew, YES toured the UK in 2022 but the band simply cannot undertake such a large-scale tour with so many risks being uninsured. Insurance cover was promised for events in 2023 but this has now been withdrawn until 2024, with confirmations of normality in ’24 following representations to the insurance industry to reassess its attitudes to COVID and Act of War insurance.

Bands at some levels can mitigate against these risks but YES’ touring model creates unjustifiable levels of risk

YES’ 2023 Eventim Apollo (London) show is not happening and tickets are now being re-funded. The remainder of the tour dates are being rescheduled to 2024 with new dates to be announced shortly – all tickets will remain valid.

YES wish to express their sincere regrets to their faithful fans and ask for their understanding. The band has now received the necessary assurances for 2024 and are committed to returning to the stage then.

From the Yes Facebook page about 23 minutes ago.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on March 17, 2023, 07:41:47 AM
Quote

It is with enormous regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the band’s control, YES have taken the decision to postpone their 2023 Relayer European and UK tour.YES and their management have explored every possible avenue to arrange insurance cover for the tour in the event of COVID-related exemption or Act of War exclusion.

The insurance industry has withdrawn all such insurances which made touring possible pre-COVID and before the Ukraine conflict.There have always been calculated risk assessments to consider when touring and YES has unfailingly paid a premium to cover against terrorism in addition to conventional cancellation risks.

With a view to supporting venues and crew, YES toured the UK in 2022 but the band simply cannot undertake such a large-scale tour with so many risks being uninsured. Insurance cover was promised for events in 2023 but this has now been withdrawn until 2024, with confirmations of normality in ’24 following representations to the insurance industry to reassess its attitudes to COVID and Act of War insurance.

Bands at some levels can mitigate against these risks but YES’ touring model creates unjustifiable levels of risk

YES’ 2023 Eventim Apollo (London) show is not happening and tickets are now being re-funded. The remainder of the tour dates are being rescheduled to 2024 with new dates to be announced shortly – all tickets will remain valid.

YES wish to express their sincere regrets to their faithful fans and ask for their understanding. The band has now received the necessary assurances for 2024 and are committed to returning to the stage then.

From the Yes Facebook page about 23 minutes ago.

-Marc.

I won't lie. At this point I'm just resigned to the fact that I am not going to see Relayer played live. This will be the... 4th or 5th time it's been postponed/rescheduled/cancelled now. I'm now curious if the US tour will be announced as expected, or if that is going to be knocked on the head too.
On the plus side, it frees me up to see The Mars Volta on one of their UK dates.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 17, 2023, 08:13:21 AM
This is a terrible thing to say, but this is a relief. I couldn't decide whether or not I wanted to go see this tour, I've been ruminating on this for months and months.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RodrigoAltaf on March 21, 2023, 11:57:36 AM
Brand new interview I did with Rick Wakeman https://www.sonicperspectives.com/interviews/interview-with-rick-wakeman/

We spoke about his new album and tour, playing with Geddy Lee, the Union tour and much more, even though we only had 15 minutes to talk.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 21, 2023, 12:48:24 PM
Wow!  You covered a lot in 15 minutes!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RodrigoAltaf on March 21, 2023, 01:00:16 PM
Wow!  You covered a lot in 15 minutes!

The interview was VERY rushed, and I knew that was going to be the case...so I thought about going wide with the questions. His agent kept texting me "I need to move on to the next interview".
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 22, 2023, 07:04:17 PM
Nice interview! :tup :tup

Wakeman always comes across as one of the most likable members of Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: RodrigoAltaf on March 22, 2023, 08:37:53 PM
Nice interview! :tup :tup

Wakeman always comes across as one of the most likable members of Yes.

Thanks! Yeah, he could have chatted for hous if his PR did not interrupt the interview.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on March 22, 2023, 09:11:13 PM
Never seen Yes, but I just bought a ticket to see Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks perform Yes classics in May at the Arcada. I'm pretty excited for this show and to see Jon in such a small venue.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 23, 2023, 06:42:00 AM
Never seen Yes, but I just bought a ticket to see Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks perform Yes classics in May at the Arcada. I'm pretty excited for this show and to see Jon in such a small venue.

Let me know about that, please.  I saw him a couple years ago in Ridgefield, a 500 seat theater, and he sounded AWESOME.  Really good.  I got to meet him before and he was a gentleman.   He signed some dudes harp!  No, his REAL harp with like 40 strings!  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 23, 2023, 10:32:26 AM
Never seen Yes, but I just bought a ticket to see Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks perform Yes classics in May at the Arcada. I'm pretty excited for this show and to see Jon in such a small venue.

I really hope they add some west coast dates.  I also wish Anne Marie was going to be part of this.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on April 03, 2023, 12:51:59 PM
Huge interview with Jon. My biggest takeaway, is the excitement I got from reading that he is pretty much sticking with just 70's material on his upcoming tour, except for Mind Drive! So glad I picked up a ticket for this.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jon-anderson-seventies-yes-throwback-tour-1234698321/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on April 03, 2023, 01:52:23 PM
This is just beautiful on every level:

I woke up from the dream and told my wife. I said, “I just saw Chris. He was heading towards the light of Heaven.” She said, “He loved you.” I said, “Yeah. We were brothers.” It was an incredible moment.

A couple of months later, I was doing a show in Phoenix. I met Chris’ widow, Scotland, and I told her the story. She said to me, “He kept saying before he passed away that he wanted to go to Maui.” There you go.


But you didn’t actually speak with him before he died?
Didn’t need to. He had his life to live, and I had my life. I actually had a great dream about Alan White last night. It was a lovely dream. He was with all the guys in the band … Not just one or two, but everybody who has been in the band. They were up there doing some gig or something. The next minute, he was right next to me. We hugged since he was the best man at my wedding about 25 years ago.


Did you speak?  DIDN'T NEED TO.  I love that so much.   There's a great book called "Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms", that I read in the wake of my father's passing.  This isn't exactly that, but it's close enough. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on April 04, 2023, 06:11:53 AM
I suspect some would find Anderson's answer there a bit strange, but I thought it was the perfect answer given his personality over the years.  His positivity and optimistic attitude in general, which practically jumped off the pages in that interview, is something a lot of people would do well to emulate these days.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheCountOfNYC on April 16, 2023, 09:41:11 PM
Just got home from the Yes Epics and Classics show in Newark. What an absolutely amazing show. Knowing Jon Anderson’s backing band The Band Geeks personally I knew they had the talent to pull this music off, but they knocked it out of the park, and Jon Anderson sounds incredible at 78 years old. I highly recommend any Yes fan to see this tour when it hits your city.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: DTwwbwMP on April 17, 2023, 12:28:02 AM
Was there in Newark as well. Yes, wonderful performance. Was kind of shocked at the low turnout though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheCountOfNYC on April 17, 2023, 08:16:41 AM
Was there in Newark as well. Yes, wonderful performance. Was kind of shocked at the low turnout though.

Sunday night shows will do that for you. I woke up at 3am for work this morning and was absolutely exhausted.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on April 18, 2023, 01:17:41 PM
Just got home from the Yes Epics and Classics show in Newark. What an absolutely amazing show. Knowing Jon Anderson’s backing band The Band Geeks personally I knew they had the talent to pull this music off, but they knocked it out of the park, and Jon Anderson sounds incredible at 78 years old. I highly recommend any Yes fan to see this tour when it hits your city.

Having seen the videos on YT, I'm hoping more than ever that they find a way to bring this tour over to Europe. I'm seeing Jon with the Paul Greek kids when they're over here in the summer but wow the Band Geeks are great!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on April 18, 2023, 02:00:29 PM
Just got home from the Yes Epics and Classics show in Newark. What an absolutely amazing show. Knowing Jon Anderson’s backing band The Band Geeks personally I knew they had the talent to pull this music off, but they knocked it out of the park, and Jon Anderson sounds incredible at 78 years old. I highly recommend any Yes fan to see this tour when it hits your city.

Having seen the videos on YT, I'm hoping more than ever that they find a way to bring this tour over to Europe. I'm seeing Jon with the Paul Greek kids when they're over here in the summer but wow the Band Geeks are great!

I'm hoping they do a second NA leg in the fall with more Midwest dates.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on April 26, 2023, 01:50:23 PM
Anyone else hear the new single today?

I thought it was decent.  Sounded like Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on April 26, 2023, 02:04:26 PM
Anyone else hear the new single today?

I thought it was decent.  Sounded like Yes.

Didn't know it was released today.  I will check it out.  Thanks Hef!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on May 12, 2023, 11:39:17 PM
Good lord.

Just got home from the Jon and Band Geeks show at The Arcada. Just an epic evening. Jon sounded incredible and the band is just fire. They all looked as giddy as kids who somehow managed to get on stage with their idol, which they did. The power and intensity was fantastic. The show was sold out and the crowd was super into everything. I mean, Jon got a standing o the first time he stepped foot on stage and then they pretty much got one after every song.

Heart of the Sunrise was just amazing to see live and The Gates Of Delirium was otherworldly. Some dude was having quite the crisis during Awaken. Thought he was going to rock himself right off the balcony.

I will say that at 46, I was the young whipper snapper in the crowd. It was a geriatric fest.
 
Anyway, if you are a fan of Yes and this tour comes anywhere near you, do not miss it. You will not be disappointed. This is hands down going to be one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on May 13, 2023, 01:56:27 PM
I hope they schedule more dates - specifically west coast dates.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 15, 2023, 07:44:59 AM
So my 8 year old son is very interested in Yes.  And You And I is one of his favorite songs, and his favorite Yes album is Close to the Edge.  I was telling him about Relayer, because it's like a weird, alternate universe version of CTTE, and he got really stoked about it.  So, the other day, we were driving, and he wanted to listen to Relayer.  So I put it on, and explained that the "battle section" would be really intense, like Yes was off their meds, and he was all in for it.  As it gets towards the end of the battle section, he asks, "Dad, when will this song be over?" and without hesitation, I replied, "Soon."  ;D Best prog-related Dad joke I've made yet!  Oh, and he now likes Relayer too, especially Sound Chaser.  He loves the frenetic nature of that tune!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 15, 2023, 08:54:29 AM
So my 8 year old son is very interested in Yes.  And You And I is one of his favorite songs, and his favorite Yes album is Close to the Edge.  I was telling him about Relayer, because it's like a weird, alternate universe version of CTTE, and he got really stoked about it.  So, the other day, we were driving, and he wanted to listen to Relayer.  So I put it on, and explained that the "battle section" would be really intense, like Yes was off their meds, and he was all in for it.  As it gets towards the end of the battle section, he asks, "Dad, when will this song be over?" and without hesitation, I replied, "Soon."  ;D Best prog-related Dad joke I've made yet!  Oh, and he now likes Relayer too, especially Sound Chaser.  He loves the frenetic nature of that tune!
:metal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 15, 2023, 09:03:47 AM
Wow!  Raising 'em right.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 15, 2023, 12:44:47 PM
Wow!  Raising 'em right.

Just continuing the family tradition!  My Dad had me listening to ELP and Genesis at the same age.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 17, 2023, 11:33:03 AM
So my 8 year old son is very interested in Yes.  And You And I is one of his favorite songs, and his favorite Yes album is Close to the Edge.  I was telling him about Relayer, because it's like a weird, alternate universe version of CTTE, and he got really stoked about it.  So, the other day, we were driving, and he wanted to listen to Relayer.  So I put it on, and explained that the "battle section" would be really intense, like Yes was off their meds, and he was all in for it.  As it gets towards the end of the battle section, he asks, "Dad, when will this song be over?" and without hesitation, I replied, "Soon."  ;D Best prog-related Dad joke I've made yet! Oh, and he now likes Relayer too, especially Sound Chaser.  He loves the frenetic nature of that tune!

WOW, that is world class.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on May 18, 2023, 11:36:25 AM
So my 8 year old son is very interested in Yes.  And You And I is one of his favorite songs, and his favorite Yes album is Close to the Edge.  I was telling him about Relayer, because it's like a weird, alternate universe version of CTTE, and he got really stoked about it.  So, the other day, we were driving, and he wanted to listen to Relayer.  So I put it on, and explained that the "battle section" would be really intense, like Yes was off their meds, and he was all in for it.  As it gets towards the end of the battle section, he asks, "Dad, when will this song be over?" and without hesitation, I replied, "Soon."  ;D Best prog-related Dad joke I've made yet! Oh, and he now likes Relayer too, especially Sound Chaser.  He loves the frenetic nature of that tune!

WOW, that is world class.

 :tup
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 19, 2023, 10:16:56 AM
Looks like the full album is up on their YouTube channel. Can't listen now at work but will tonight. Read one review on Progarchives that was quite positive. Looking forward to headphone time later.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Skeever on May 19, 2023, 11:42:42 AM
I thought it was pretty enjoyable. The thing is, it's got Steve all over it, and Steve is one of the finest guitar players and finest prog composers of all time.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on May 19, 2023, 01:21:58 PM
My copy of the album was delivered yesterday from Laser CD, but I've been too busy with work and other things to get around to listening to it. I'm hoping to squeeze in a spin or two in the next week when I have time. Seems like reception has been over-all positive so far, with claims that it's their best album in over 20 years (which means only 3 other albums, with Fly From Here probably being it's best competition). If this proves to be the best post-Anderson album, I'll be surprised, but pleasantly so.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: devieira73 on May 19, 2023, 01:53:25 PM
Well, sure it's the first Yes album since the mega boring Heaven & Hell that I want to invest some time to really hear it. Overall good first impression, better than The Quest, and Mirror to the Sky seems to be a truly very good song. I still think Jon Davison lacks energy in his singing, which doesn't help.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 20, 2023, 06:37:39 AM
Went in with an open mind. Headphone on and eyes closed.

Unfortunately I found spin #1 underwhelming. Tempos are mostly all the same and nothing jumped out as refreshing or above average. Basically I didn't connect with it. There is some classic Yes DNA there, maybe enough to click with repeat listens. Title track is the best song for me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 21, 2023, 08:49:37 AM
Haven't bought a Yes album since the departure of Jon Anderson.  It bums me out that ARW never got around to releasing that new album they started working on.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 21, 2023, 08:31:15 PM
I'm on my second listen now.  Definitely a step up from The Quest, which makes it two steps up from Heaven & Earth.  More Steve Howe goodness all over the place, and at this point he's carrying the band pretty much by himself.  When we still had Squire and White... well, we got Heaven & Earth, so I guess their presence or absence wasn't the missing magic ingredient.  I'm always disappointed that Geoff Downes doesn't contribute more to Yes musically.  He plays, but he rarely writes.  One co-writing credit on the album.  For some reason I thought he was more of a collaborator, with Asia and The Buggles for example.  Maybe not.  I've never actually bothered to check.

Jon Davison sings in the same range as Jon Anderson, so it's obvious why he is the vocalist, and sometimes he even sounds like him in some ways, but I agree with those who say he doesn't have the range of emotion or the strength that Anderson has.  Yeah yeah yeah, Anderson is out there doing amazing shows with a bunch of other guys playing Yes music.  That's still not new music.  Here, we have new Yes music, and while it's not blowing me away, it's not bad.  A bit of a pleasant surprise, actually.  There's more uptempo stuff, more actual rocking.  Steve is all over it, basically carrying things as I said, but hey, someone has to.  Produced by Steve Howe, all three songs on the Bonus Disc solely written by him, co-writing credits on 4/6 of the main tracks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on May 21, 2023, 11:47:05 PM

Here, we have new Yes music, and while it's not blowing me away, it's not bad.  A bit of a pleasant surprise, actually.  There's more uptempo stuff, more actual rocking.  Steve is all over it, basically carrying things as I said, but hey, someone has to.  Produced by Steve Howe, all three songs on the Bonus Disc solely written by him, co-writing credits on 4/6 of the main tracks.
You're making me want to buy this album now.   :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 22, 2023, 07:31:35 AM
I'm on my second listen now.  Definitely a step up from The Quest, which makes it two steps up from Heaven & Earth.  More Steve Howe goodness all over the place, and at this point he's carrying the band pretty much by himself.  When we still had Squire and White... well, we got Heaven & Earth, so I guess their presence or absence wasn't the missing magic ingredient.  I'm always disappointed that Geoff Downes doesn't contribute more to Yes musically.  He plays, but he rarely writes.  One co-writing credit on the album.  For some reason I thought he was more of a collaborator, with Asia and The Buggles for example.  Maybe not.  I've never actually bothered to check.

Jon Davison sings in the same range as Jon Anderson, so it's obvious why he is the vocalist, and sometimes he even sounds like him in some ways, but I agree with those who say he doesn't have the range of emotion or the strength that Anderson has.  Yeah yeah yeah, Anderson is out there doing amazing shows with a bunch of other guys playing Yes music.  That's still not new music.  Here, we have new Yes music, and while it's not blowing me away, it's not bad.  A bit of a pleasant surprise, actually.  There's more uptempo stuff, more actual rocking.  Steve is all over it, basically carrying things as I said, but hey, someone has to.  Produced by Steve Howe, all three songs on the Bonus Disc solely written by him, co-writing credits on 4/6 of the main tracks.

Asia was, for all intents and purposes, a vehicle for the Downes/Wetton writing team (I'm ignoring the Payne years, because I don't like it at all and I'm not familiar with it beyond that "I don't like it at all".)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Skeever on May 22, 2023, 08:18:02 AM
I was listening to both Mirror in the Sky and Anderson/Stolt over the weekend, and while this is not a comment on Jon Davison, it's apparent to me that Anderson still has a lot to bring to the table as a vocalist and a lyricist, even if his voice sounds a bit more worn. There's an energy to him that is just undeniable, and can't be replicated easily. I like Jon Davison very much, and I like Mirror in the Sky as well, but I'm at the point where I consider Anderson one of the greatest creative minds in rock at all time, and his abilities have not really diminished over time, even as his physical ability to hang with an enterprise such as Yes may have.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 22, 2023, 08:22:05 AM
I've written about this a lot: I've seen Jon probably 10 times live, including recently (not this current tour, but the one before) and his voice has always been STRONG.   He's a ROCK singer, even if his capabilities go well beyond that.  Listening to Jon Davison, he's clearly a good technical singer, and he's got the general tone of Jon Anderson down, but his voice just does not have the range and breadth that Anderson does to deliver some of the more "rock" parts of the Yes catalogue.  It's plainly evident on any of the recent "album feature" live sets the band has put out in recent years.  In a word, it's too "twee". 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Zydar on May 22, 2023, 08:22:36 AM
I didn't bother listening to Heaven & Earth or The Quest, so I can't make any comparisons. But after one listen I don't have any complaints so far. It's neither great or bad - I mean it's not Fragile or CTTE, but not horrendous either. A couple of more spins will hopefully reveal something to grab onto.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on May 22, 2023, 08:25:44 AM
I didn't bother listening to Heaven & Earth or The Quest, so I can't make any comparisons. But after one listen I don't have any complaints so far. It's neither great or bad - I mean it's not Fragile or CTTE, but not horrendous either. A couple of more spins will hopefully reveal something to grab onto.

See, this is... intriguing.  Heaven and Earth sucked so bad, I didn't even bother with The Quest.   But with all these moderately positive reviews...  it still doesn't have Anderson/Squire, though, and that's a tough hill to climb.  I avoid listening to stuff on Spotify before (because my history with digital music isn't good; I tend to underestimate stuff when listening to it that way) but I might not have any choice here.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on May 22, 2023, 08:58:19 AM
Almost through my first listen.

Not bad.  Not great, by any means, but a pleasurable listen.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on May 22, 2023, 10:20:36 AM
I decided to spin Magnification and Keys To Ascension albums this weekend. Enjoyable. KtA has the phatest bass sound and low end. Still slowly warming up to the new one but not sure there is enough there to bring me back often.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on May 22, 2023, 10:33:58 AM
I'm on my second listen now.  Definitely a step up from The Quest, which makes it two steps up from Heaven & Earth.  More Steve Howe goodness all over the place, and at this point he's carrying the band pretty much by himself.  When we still had Squire and White... well, we got Heaven & Earth, so I guess their presence or absence wasn't the missing magic ingredient.  I'm always disappointed that Geoff Downes doesn't contribute more to Yes musically.  He plays, but he rarely writes.  One co-writing credit on the album.  For some reason I thought he was more of a collaborator, with Asia and The Buggles for example.  Maybe not.  I've never actually bothered to check.

Asia was, for all intents and purposes, a vehicle for the Downes/Wetton writing team (I'm ignoring the Payne years, because I don't like it at all and I'm not familiar with it beyond that "I don't like it at all".)

I suspect that the Downes/Wetton writing team may have been more Wetton than Downes.  I like a good singer, and I like a good song, but I'm still mostly a prog guy, so Wetton's work with King Crimson is what first drew my attention.  His work with U.K. was fine, and he collaborated well with Eddie Jobson, but you could feel that singer/songwriter side screaming to come out.  With Asia, it finally did.  I know, I've ranted about this before, so I'll stop now, but considering the history here, it seems like Downes was probably more the one to help round out Wetton's songs, give them a little punch and prog, while the main ideas all came from Wetton.

Similarly, just guessing here, but based on their personalities, I suspect that Trevor Horn was the primary force behind The Buggles, and sure Downes was there and a great collaborator/writing partner, but while The Buggles surprised me with their occassional prog moments, I almost feel like they were accidental.

With Yes, I guess I was hoping for more from Downes.  I seem to like him as a keyboard player more than many, but now that I think about it, it's his choice of sounds and feel for orchestration.  I rarely listen to his work with Yes and go "Wow, that's a great keyboard line!"  He and Howe being together in Yes seemed to me to portend some great collaboration, being that they've worked together for years in two different bands, but I guess it's just not meant to be.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 12, 2023, 04:44:32 PM
For folks who dipped out of my YES Survivor a few weeks ago once we got past Magnification and into the Post-Anderson albums, the CONSOLATION Rounds have begun, so you'll be able to vote for songs you recognize again!

For the first consolation round, please be sure to VOTE FOR FIVE songs that you think are your LEAST FAVORITE. The round will be up for three days!

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 12, 2023, 07:43:28 PM
So I'm going to try and get myself through the first few Yes albums. I've never heard them. I did rent Close To the Edge from my library many years ago.

My hangups with Yes generally revolve around Jon Anderson's voice. And I've never thought they were heavy enough. Yeah, that's a me thing.

Spinning the first album tonight.


Beyond And Before- Feels longer than 4 minutes. Sounds like a first song on a band's first album. Kind of ordinary.
I See You- Wow, this is really cool. Great vibes. The mellow part is nice. Cool soloing. The middle part definitely ends heavy enough. Let's just say they should've just ended it right there.  :lol
Yesterday And Today-Er...next!
Looking Around-Great start on this one. Anderson's voice has a slight youthful gravelyness to it.  Chris Squire is absolutely killing it! I like this one!
Harold Land-This is a pretty cool song. I'm trying to place a comp to it, but I can't think of it. Again, I don't find Anderson all that annoying here. I like the outro. They just sound like a rock band here.
Every Little Thing-The beginning of this sounds like early Alice Cooper for sure. That's a nice long instrumental intro. Yeah, I like this one too. The guitar sound is heavier than I expected. I know this is Peter Banks and not Steve Howe, so that's most likely it.
Sweetness-Yeah, I don't think so.
Survival- I liked that first minute and a half intro. Not a fan of the quite parts with vocals. Can't say that I love this one either, but that's a neat little ending.


All in all, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much of this I actually liked. They seem like a guitar based band with keyboards at this point instead of the other way around, which is how I generally view Yes. I detected a very slight rawness in Jon's voice which makes it a bit more palatable to me.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 12, 2023, 08:49:03 PM
They seem like a guitar based band with keyboards at this point instead of the other way around, which is how I generally view Yes.

Interesting.  What drew me to them, and similar bands of this era, was that the keyboards and guitars seemed on more-or-less equal footing.  In most rock bands, it's all about the guitars, with keyboards in a supporting role.  Yes hasn't had a lot of guitarists over the years, but all three (Banks, Howe, Rabin) I think bring enough to the table to not be considered subservient to the keyboards, even when Wakeman was in the band.

I detected a very slight rawness in Jon's voice which makes it a bit more palatable to me.

On the early albums, I think Jon hadn't gone "full falsetto".  His voice is high anyway, obviously, but I think he made a deliberate choice at some point to always use the "airy fairy" voice.  His regular voice only made rare appearances past the third album.  It's not that different from his falsetto, but it is different.  There's a little bit of gravel there.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on June 12, 2023, 10:00:26 PM
Can’t wait til he hits The Yes Album.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on June 13, 2023, 03:39:53 AM
Can’t wait til he hits The Yes Album Relayer.

FTFY  ;D

They seem like a guitar based band with keyboards at this point instead of the other way around, which is how I generally view Yes.

Interesting, this is also the one sentence I just HAVE to reply to (like Orbert): I always thought one of the most unique things about Yes (in their prime) was that every instrument had equal value. They are not a keyboard-oriented band (like Genesis 78-82 or ELP) or a guitar oriented band (like most hard rock bands) or a band backing a singer. Every instrument is equally present, to the point that during large parts of songs, basically ALL musicians are soloing at the same time :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 13, 2023, 07:02:01 AM
So I'm going to try and get myself through the first few Yes albums. I've never heard them. I did rent Close To the Edge from my library many years ago.

My hangups with Yes generally revolve around Jon Anderson's voice. And I've never thought they were heavy enough. Yeah, that's a me thing.



I've long had a theory that the bigger prog bands were all amalgamations of various things; Crimson was a JAZZ-based prog band, Genesis was a CLASSICAL-based prog band as was ELP...   Yes was a ROCK-based prog band. They weren't "prog-metal" like DT, but they were the band that could play the rock hits of the day if they had to.  Their encores would be "Gimme Some Lovin'", the Beatles "I'm Down", things like that.  Chris Squire's post-Yes (before Rabin) gig was XYZ with Alan White, Jimmy Page, and (for about four seconds) Robert Plant. 

Jon is a far better ROCK singer than some of his material lets on.  I'm excited to hear what TAC thinks of "Sweet Dreams", "The Prophet", "Starship Trooper", "South Side of the Sky"...  and that's with Bruford; it got more of a rock groove with Alan White.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 13, 2023, 03:30:24 PM
They seem like a guitar based band with keyboards at this point instead of the other way around, which is how I generally view Yes.

Interesting.  What drew me to them, and similar bands of this era, was that the keyboards and guitars seemed on more-or-less equal footing.  In most rock bands, it's all about the guitars, with keyboards in a supporting role.  Yes hasn't had a lot of guitarists over the years, but all three (Banks, Howe, Rabin) I think bring enough to the table to not be considered subservient to the keyboards, even when Wakeman was in the band.


Interesting, this is also the one sentence I just HAVE to reply to (like Orbert): I always thought one of the most unique things about Yes (in their prime) was that every instrument had equal value. They are not a keyboard-oriented band (like Genesis 78-82 or ELP) or a guitar oriented band (like most hard rock bands) or a band backing a singer. Every instrument is equally present, to the point that during large parts of songs, basically ALL musicians are soloing at the same time :lol


Well, understand the only Yes I know is whatever was on the radio. Roundabout, All Good People, that sort of thing. I just found the guitar parts heavier on the first album.  Heavier than I was expecting, anyway.

Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 13, 2023, 05:20:42 PM
Peter Banks was a heavier player.  More driven, more rocking.  And Tony Kaye did lean on the Hammond Organ a lot; it was his preferred instrument.  So overall the early albums were a bit heavier.

With the advent of Howe and Wakeman, the dynamic shifted.  Wakeman was definitely the flashier keyboardist, with those insanely fast fingers, academy trained mastery of both theory and tech, and years of working as a studio musician to learn how to best add color to pretty much anything.  Plus he was all about synthesizers and Mellotrons and anything else with keys.  Howe was pretty flashy himself, but not as heavy as Banks and maybe didn't stand out as much.  Howe is all over the albums he does play on, but rarely playing chords, let alone power chords.  He's playing countermelodies all the time.  Bill Bruford once said that it seemed like Wakeman and Howe were having a contest to see who could play the most notes per minute.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 13, 2023, 05:35:35 PM
I've long had a theory that the bigger prog bands were all amalgamations of various things; Crimson was a JAZZ-based prog band, Genesis was a CLASSICAL-based prog band as was ELP...   Yes was a ROCK-based prog band. They weren't "prog-metal" like DT, but they were the band that could play the rock hits of the day if they had to.  Their encores would be "Gimme Some Lovin'", the Beatles "I'm Down", things like that.  Chris Squire's post-Yes (before Rabin) gig was XYZ with Alan White, Jimmy Page, and (for about four seconds) Robert Plant. 

Jon is a far better ROCK singer than some of his material let's on.  I'm excited to hear what TAC thinks of "Sweet Dreams", "The Prophet", "Starship Trooper", "South Side of the Sky"...  and that's with Bruford; it got more of a rock groove with Alan White.

The interesting thing about this is Chris Squire once said he didn't really like rock music.  He came from a gospel background.  Bill Bruford characterized himself as "a jazz character," and said he "perceive[ed] of [him]self" as a jazz drummer.  He also said the selling point when he was recruited into the band was that he would play jazz drums while the rest of the guys played rock and sang like a gospel choir.  The original lineup was dominated by rock players (Banks and Kaye, along with Anderson) with classical leanings.  When Howe replaced Banks, it amped up the jazz and classical components and also added a country element.  When Wakeman replaced Kaye, it was a real melting pot of jazz, classical, rock, country and gospel.  That's one reason why the two albums recorded by that lineup are regarded as two of the greatest prog rock albums ever.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 13, 2023, 05:41:24 PM
Peter Banks was a heavier player.  More driven, more rocking.  And Tony Kaye did lean on the Hammond Organ a lot; it was his preferred instrument.  So overall the early albums were a bit heavier.

With the advent of Howe and Wakeman, the dynamic shifted.  Wakeman was definitely the flashier keyboardist, with those insanely fast fingers, academy trained mastery of both theory and tech, and years of working as a studio musician to learn how to best add color to pretty much anything.  Plus he was all about synthesizers and Mellotrons and anything else with keys.  Howe was pretty flashy himself, but not as heavy as Banks and maybe didn't stand out as much.  Howe is all over the albums he does play on, but rarely playing chords, let alone power chords.  He's playing countermelodies all the time.  Bill Bruford once said that it seemed like Wakeman and Howe were having a contest to see who could play the most notes per minute.

Thanks O! I do like the Hammond Organ in any band that uses it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 13, 2023, 05:41:49 PM
Time And A Word


So I was reading the Wiki article bout how Peter Banks wasn't happy with them using an orchestra. Seems he was out of the band after it was recorded.

Time to dive in!


No Opportunity Necessary- Not an orchestra fan, but this intro is really cool. Has a whirling wind feel. And wow, this song is like one long bass solo. Amazing. Great sound on the bass too. Jon's voice is still fine here. Again, the orchestra shows up again, but I have to say that their parts are awesome in this song. I like this song!
Then-Starts off kind of mundane, but this mid section is really cool. Sounds a little like Alice Cooper, but fancier, and more keyboards. I would've been fine with a hard stop at the end of the instrumental section. I could've lived without the soft final part.
Everydays-I like the classic keyboard sounds in the beginning. Has a cool sleeking around feel. This has a great intense instrumental interlude in the middle. The song winds down pretty good, and wow, what an ending.
Sweet Dreams-Not much to say about this. The layered vocals a forshadowing to what I've heard from Yes?
The Prophet-Wow, once this song gets going the bass takes over. Not a fan of the orchestra in this song. The last minute or so is pretty decent, but I can't say I'm crazy about this.
Clear Days-Err...ok.
Astral Traveller-The vocal effects are a bit distracting. Not sure if the original was like this or it's the remaster. Some definite noodling going on here. Switches over to a cool part at 2:55. Bill Bruford has some gentle chops here. Guitar solo!!!! Awesome! Not a bad song on the whole.
Time And A Word-Not something I'd be into.
Dear Father-This song needs Freddie Mercury. I mean, every song needs Freddie Mercury right? Seriously, I think this would've been a better Queen song. I like the orchestra section in the back half. But I don't mind it at all.



So a few thoughts.
* First, Jon is still digestible for the most part. He is a tough go for me, so as long as I can deal with him, the better I'll be.

*A number of songs have a similar structure where they have a beginning and an end that's the same, and a cool instrumental part in the middle. Not an uncommon structure by any stretch, but I find that the part after the break is kind of a letdown.

*I am not a fan of orchestral parts, but I really like most of what they're doing here. Maybe it's an old school sound, perhaps the way it was produced, but I have to say, I understand peter banks' issues, but they really do work.

*Chris Squire is a BEAST!


How does everyone feel about the pre Steve Howe material? How are these first two albums thought of  in Yes' catalog? I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised how much of them I enjoyed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 13, 2023, 09:30:45 PM
I like the first two albums.  Sure, when Steve joined, they made a big jump up in both playing and songwriting, then another jump up when Wakeman joined on the very next album, so a lot of people tend to dismiss the pre-Howe material, but I think it's pretty strong overall.  They're better than the first two albums of 99% of any bands that have ever existed.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on June 13, 2023, 11:47:43 PM
How does everyone feel about the pre Steve Howe material? How are these first two albums thought of  in Yes' catalog? I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised how much of them I enjoyed.

Huge fan of those first 2 records and find myself listening to them way more often than anything that was released after Drama (1980), but not as often as the albums leading up to Drama.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on June 14, 2023, 01:04:28 AM
I do not like the first two albums, but I don't think it's necessarily due to the absence of Steve Howe. I think they just needed some time to figure out how to write memorable songs. Not to mention that The Yes album in comparison to Time and a word is a huge step forward in terms of the progressive nature of the songs, it's all of a sudden much more adventurous and daring.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 14, 2023, 06:34:56 AM
I dig those first two records for what they are.   There was a compilation from the mid-70's, "Yesterdays" that had a cool 10 minute version of Simon and Garfunkel's "America", and then I think six or seven songs from the first two records (six, plus one b-side, technically).   I really dug that record, and while I'm with TAC, some of the orchestra stuff is tough, I think those are good records.

I'm also more lenient to the other eras of Yes as well; the Trevor Horn era, and the Rabin era, so maybe that has something to do with it.  I don't consider the "The Yes Album" through "Tormato" to be sacred in any way.   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 14, 2023, 09:55:21 AM
How does everyone feel about the pre Steve Howe material? How are these first two albums thought of  in Yes' catalog? I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised how much of them I enjoyed.

From a macro perspective, the only songs from the debut that have been played since 1970 are Every Little thing (couple dozen dates in 2004) and Survival (couple dozen dates in 2017-18).  The Time and a Word material has seen a bit more daylight, but the reality is that the band largely ignored the pre-Howe material since Howe joined (and especially since Anderson left).  Personally, I own Time and a Word (because the title track was on Yesshows, I went back and bought the album), but I rarely listen to it.  I've never owned the debut (largely because I don't think much of TAAW).  Perhaps your reviews will prompt me to give them a fresh listen.


So I was reading the Wiki article bout how Peter Banks wasn't happy with them using an orchestra. Seems he was out of the band after it was recorded.

Yup.  Banks absolutely did not want to go the same direction as the other four.


There was a compilation from the mid-70's, "Yesterdays" that had a cool 10 minute version of Simon and Garfunkel's "America"

I actually prefer the edited version of America.  A little too much noodling with the 10-minute version.  Either way, though, it's a great cover, and I wonder if Paul Simon ever commented on Yes's cover.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 16, 2023, 07:10:36 PM
The Yes Album

Yours Is No Disgrace- Pretty decent tune. The bass is killing it. Wow. Bruford has a nice pitter patter drum style. Very precise and tight. This doesn't feel like 9 minutes. It's pretty easy on the ears. Could use a power chord or two.. Ok..there's some guitar for the last minute and a half..
The Clap-I mean, ok..sure.
Starship Trooper- Loving the drumming here in the first part. Jon's vocals ..I don't know. I don't love him, but he's not too distracting. The acoustic part brings me to those familiar Yes layered vocals. I actually like the last third of the song. Seems like one long outro, but to me it calms the song down a bit. I was thinking I'd have to listen to it again to get a grip on it, but it gets tied up very nicely.
I've Seen All Good People-Yay, a song I know. I'll be honest. I've always liked this song. There's something full about Jon's voice, especially in the beginning. Even on rock radio, the two parts, along with the transition still always seemed to work. Nice!
A Venture-This didn't do a lot for me, but I liked that piano/bass solo to close it out.
Perpetual Change- Listening to this, I feel like this would've been a great Queen song. This band has excellent control in some of the softer? moments including Jon's singing. It goes along, and I like that turn at 5:10. Even here, Bruford has a great touch, and never overplays it. Cozy Powell would've beaten the hell out of it. lol. Yeah, I don't mind this too much. It stays pretty interesting. I mean, there's nothing holyshit about it, but yeah, nice.


Pretty much enjoyed my listen to this. Jon didn't annoy me and really liking my introduction to Bill Bruford. Man, what a touch he has. The 4 longer tracks are all pretty good, and I'm obviously familiar with All Good People. I'd revisit the longer tracks again, simply to try and digest them a bit more. I am feeling a bit of blue balls when it comes to the guitar though.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 16, 2023, 07:17:06 PM
The Yes Album

Yours Is No Disgrace- Pretty decent tune. The bass is killing it. Wow. Bruford has a nice pitter patter drum style. Very precise and tight. This doesn't feel like 9 minutes. It's pretty easy on the ears. Could use a power chord or two.. Ok..there's some guitar for the last minute and a half..
The Clap-I mean, ok..sure.
Starship Trooper- Loving the drumming here in the first part. Jon's vocals ..I don't know. I don't love him, but he's not too distracting. The acoustic part brings me to those familiar Yes layered vocals. I actually like the last third of the song. Seems like one long outro, but to me it calms the song down a bit. I was thinking I'd have to listen to it again to get a grip on it, but it gets tied up very nicely.
I've Seen All Good People-Yay, a song I know. I'll be honest. I've always liked this song. There's something full about Jon's voice, especially in the beginning. Even on rock radio, the two parts, along with the transition still always seemed to work. Nice!
A Venture-This didn't do a lot for me, but I liked that piano/bass solo to close it out.
Perpetual Change- Listening to this, I feel like this would've been a great Queen song. This band has excellent control in some of the softer? moments including Jon's singing. It goes along, and I like that turn at 5:10. Even here, Bruford has a great touch, and never overplays it. Cozy Powell would've beaten the hell out of it. lol. Yeah, I don't mind this too much. It stays pretty interesting. I mean, there's nothing holyshit about it, but yeah, nice.


Pretty much enjoyed my listen to this. Jon didn't annoy me and really liking my introduction to Bill Bruford. Man, what a touch he has. The 4 longer tracks are all pretty good, and I'm obviously familiar with All Good People. I'd revisit the longer tracks again, simply to try and digest them a bit more. I am feeling a bit of blue balls when it comes to the guitar though.

The live versions of the longer TYA songs on Yessongs are the definitive versions, IMO. Definitely give that live album a spin once you get past Close To The Edge.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 16, 2023, 07:18:06 PM
I will. Is Yessongs one concert? a collection of live stuff?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: jammindude on June 16, 2023, 08:00:48 PM
I’m really happy you liked this one. I find it to be miles better than the overrated Fragile. This was the album that prompted me to check out the rest of Yes’ material.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on June 16, 2023, 08:51:52 PM
I will. Is Yessongs one concert? a collection of live stuff?

As was more common back then, Yessongs takes performances over two tours, and thus features two lineups - one from the Fragile Tour with Bill on drums and then from the CTTE Tour with Alan White on drums.

Despite being a live compilation, the performances are pretty great (though the overall sound quality isn't too crisp or clear). It's the definitive early live Yes album IMO, and sits with the likes of Genesis' Seconds Out or ELP's Welcome Back My Friends in regards to great live albums from 70s prog bands.

-Marc. :hefdaddy
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 17, 2023, 05:14:03 AM
You had me up through Genesis.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 18, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
The live versions of the longer TYA songs on Yessongs are the definitive versions, IMO. Definitely give that live album a spin once you get past Close To The Edge.

 Like a lot of bands of Yes's vintage, the live album was a great gateway to earlier material.  I don't know that I necessarily agree about Disgrace and Starship being definitive, but Perpetual Change on Yessongs is superb and, IMO, quite a bit better than the studio version.  Remind me...is the drum solo Bruford or White?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 18, 2023, 05:13:06 AM
Eh, I don't agree with any of the live versions being definitive versions.  Some of them are really good, yes, but you just can't top the originals from the studio albums.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 18, 2023, 07:09:21 AM
The drum solo on Yessongs is by Bruford.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 18, 2023, 07:40:54 PM
So I'm going to try and get myself through the first few Yes albums. I've never heard them. I did rent Close To the Edge from my library many years ago.

My hangups with Yes generally revolve around Jon Anderson's voice. And I've never thought they were heavy enough. Yeah, that's a me thing.

Spinning the first album tonight.


Beyond And Before- Feels longer than 4 minutes. Sounds like a first song on a band's first album. Kind of ordinary.
I See You- Wow, this is really cool. Great vibes. The mellow part is nice. Cool soloing. The middle part definitely ends heavy enough. Let's just say they should've just ended it right there.  :lol
Yesterday And Today-Er...next!
Looking Around-Great start on this one. Anderson's voice has a slight youthful gravelyness to it.  Chris Squire is absolutely killing it! I like this one!
Harold Land-This is a pretty cool song. I'm trying to place a comp to it, but I can't think of it. Again, I don't find Anderson all that annoying here. I like the outro. They just sound like a rock band here.
Every Little Thing-The beginning of this sounds like early Alice Cooper for sure. That's a nice long instrumental intro. Yeah, I like this one too. The guitar sound is heavier than I expected. I know this is Peter Banks and not Steve Howe, so that's most likely it.
Sweetness-Yeah, I don't think so.
Survival- I liked that first minute and a half intro. Not a fan of the quite parts with vocals. Can't say that I love this one either, but that's a neat little ending.


All in all, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much of this I actually liked. They seem like a guitar based band with keyboards at this point instead of the other way around, which is how I generally view Yes. I detected a very slight rawness in Jon's voice which makes it a bit more palatable to me.

Did I step into the Twilight Zone?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 19, 2023, 05:33:50 AM
I will. Is Yessongs one concert? a collection of live stuff?

As was more common back then, Yessongs takes performances over two tours, and thus features two lineups - one from the Fragile Tour with Bill on drums and then from the CTTE Tour with Alan White on drums.

Despite being a live compilation, the performances are pretty great (though the overall sound quality isn't too crisp or clear). It's the definitive early live Yes album IMO, and sits with the likes of Genesis' Seconds Out or ELP's Welcome Back My Friends in regards to great live albums from 70s prog bands.

-Marc. :hefdaddy

More specifically: Perpetual Change and Long Distance Runaround are from February 1972, with Bruford on drums.  He left the band after recording Close To The Edge, but about two weeks before the tour started, so they recruited Alan White to the band.  The rest of Yessongs comes from a run of shows in November of 1972 with White. Seven of those were released in their entirety on a box set - kind of like the UFO Strangers Box - though two songs on Yessongs come from two London shows that AREN'T on the box.  Those shows, though, makes up the Yessongs film, which is based only on the London shows (so is different, except for two songs, from the album).

Sorry, I should have put "NERD ALERT!" at the start of the post.  ;)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TAC on June 19, 2023, 05:45:48 AM
In this thread it’s assumed.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on June 24, 2023, 12:17:30 PM
I will. Is Yessongs one concert? a collection of live stuff?

As was more common back then, Yessongs takes performances over two tours, and thus features two lineups - one from the Fragile Tour with Bill on drums and then from the CTTE Tour with Alan White on drums.

Despite being a live compilation, the performances are pretty great (though the overall sound quality isn't too crisp or clear). It's the definitive early live Yes album IMO, and sits with the likes of Genesis' Seconds Out or ELP's Welcome Back My Friends in regards to great live albums from 70s prog bands.

-Marc. :hefdaddy

More specifically: Perpetual Change and Long Distance Runaround are from February 1972, with Bruford on drums.  He left the band after recording Close To The Edge, but about two weeks before the tour started, so they recruited Alan White to the band.  The rest of Yessongs comes from a run of shows in November of 1972 with White. Seven of those were released in their entirety on a box set - kind of like the UFO Strangers Box - though two songs on Yessongs come from two London shows that AREN'T on the box.  Those shows, though, makes up the Yessongs film, which is based only on the London shows (so is different, except for two songs, from the album).

Sorry, I should have put "NERD ALERT!" at the start of the post.  ;)

I love that Yes Box a lot more than Yessongs. It's great to hear the improv from the various shows.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 24, 2023, 01:34:32 PM
Yeah, you might think that with seven shows with all the same setlist that things might get too repetitive.  But there's a lot of improvisational moments, more than I expected, considering how complex and highly structured Yes music tends to be.  But this is their show, their music, and they have to mess around a bit every night, change things up, just as any band does.  Otherwise things get boring, no matter what the music is.  Yes just "messes around" on a different level.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on June 27, 2023, 12:54:49 PM
Steve Howe pisses on anyone who was holding out hope that Jon Anderson might ever play with Yes again:

https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-howe-yes-i-love-jon-anderson
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 27, 2023, 01:05:23 PM
I don't understand why Steve is always painted as the bad guy in these things.  Jon is very, very well known to be a dictator within the band.  In the early days, there may have been more compromise, but by the end Jon was pushing his ideas, his songs, his rules or the highway.  When Jon got sick, they postponed the tour for him, waited, waited, and finally found out that he was unavailable because he was putting together his own solo tour.  So they replaced him and never looked back.  Why would anyone want to deal with that kind of shit?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 27, 2023, 01:14:52 PM
I don't understand why Steve is always painted as the bad guy in these things.  Jon is very, very well known to be a dictator within the band.  In the early days, there may have been more compromise, but by the end Jon was pushing his ideas, his songs, his rules or the highway.  When Jon got sick, they postponed the tour for him, waited, waited, and finally found out that he was unavailable because he was putting together his own solo tour.  So they replaced him and never looked back.  Why would anyone want to deal with that kind of shit?

I think it's because it's not always black and white "this guy is good, this guy is a tool".  Howe is prickly, and there's no getting around that.   EVERYTHING he gets involved in in some form or fashion is a problematic.  He left Asia, twice.  He had problems on the Union tour (even though others, Rabin and Wakeman in particular, raved about it).  He had problems at the RnRHoF.   He's got problems now with working with Jon, even though he "loves him".   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 27, 2023, 01:24:05 PM
Jon Anderson left Yes twice, so I'm not sure what that really proves.  And I'm not surprised that Rabin and Wakeman love him.  They are the two he hooked up with to tour as "Yes featuring..." when there was already a Yes out there.  The one he left twice, but still considers "his band".

Howe is prickly, by many accounts just as difficult to work with as Anderson, but if Anderson will only work in a band that he (Anderson) has full control over, then I don't blame Howe for not even considering it.

I never said Howe was guiltless.  I'm just wondering why everyone thinks Jon Anderson is this saint who's been wronged and somehow deserves to be back in Yes and Howe is the bad guy.  Right or wrong, Howe (who has never left Yes) is running the show now and has chosen not to invite Anderson back.  I'm just saying that I don't blame him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 27, 2023, 02:18:14 PM
Jon Anderson left Yes twice, so I'm not sure what that really proves.  And I'm not surprised that Rabin and Wakeman love him.  They are the two he hooked up with to tour as "Yes featuring..." when there was already a Yes out there.  The one he left twice, but still considers "his band".

Howe is prickly, by many accounts just as difficult to work with as Anderson, but if Anderson will only work in a band that he (Anderson) has full control over, then I don't blame Howe for not even considering it.

I never said Howe was guiltless.  I'm just wondering why everyone thinks Jon Anderson is this saint who's been wronged and somehow deserves to be back in Yes and Howe is the bad guy.  Right or wrong, Howe (who has never left Yes) is running the show now and has chosen not to invite Anderson back.  I'm just saying that I don't blame him.

Am I missing a nuance you're trying to make?   He left twice himself; once after Drama, and once after Onion.  The YesWest unit happened twice.

I'm not arguing with you; I too don't think either one is blameless.  I think it's more complicated than that.

(https://i.imgur.com/PM3wmLU.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 27, 2023, 02:41:12 PM
Am I missing a nuance you're trying to make?   He left twice himself; once after Drama, and once after Onion.  The YesWest unit happened twice.


After Drama, Yes officially broke up.  Later, Trevor Rabin was putting together a project that he planned to call Cinema and had hooked up with Chris Squire and Alan White.  That project eventually became Yes because the label said so.  I suppose it's a matter of semantics, but Howe did not "leave" Yes.  Yes did not exist, and then it existed again in a different form that he wasn't in.  Similar to how the band Ian Anderson had put together for his solo project [A] "became" the new Jethro Tull at the suits' insistence.  Evan, Palmer, and the others found out they were no longer in Jethro Tull sometime later (via letters in the mail, of all things).

After the Union project, the future of Yes, and whether or not they existed as a band, was again uncertain.  Victory Records offered "Yes" a contract for what would become Talk, but they only wanted the 90125 lineup, no Howe, Wakeman, or Bruford.  (Rabin eventually convinced them to allow Wakeman to join, but that never happened.)  So Yes again moved forward without Howe.  Semantics again, but Yes "left" Howe, not the other way around.  When I say someone "left" a band, I mean that they willingly chose not to continue with them, not that they were fired or that some backroom deal happened and they weren't a part of it.  The two times Yes made albums without Howe, after making albums with Howe, both happened because the suits decided who the band was, not because Howe "left" the band.  It definitely was not consensual.

Anderson and Wakeman left Yes after Tormato.  Anderson wasn't happy with Yes at the time and Wakeman followed him out the door.  That's leaving a band.  In the mid-2000's, after making them wait for a year and a half for his health to recover, they finally found out that he'd put together a solo tour.  Okay, maybe we don't count that one; Yes chose to move on without him, but Anderson himself had chosen to move on without Yes.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on June 27, 2023, 02:45:01 PM
I know, we're totally quibbling over nuances at this point.  But for some reason people seem to think that Anderson has more "right" to decide who's in Yes than Howe, perhaps by virtue of his being an original member, or maybe just because he was the lead singer for so long.  And somehow it's important to me that Jon voluntarily left Yes twice, but still considers it "his band".  Meanwhile Howe is currently trying to keep the damned thing afloat, despite being kicked to the curb twice by the band he clearly still loves.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on June 27, 2023, 02:54:08 PM
I think Anderson presents himself better with his holy man schtick, this wise enlightened dude who is totally at one with the universe happy happy happy.... Howe naturally comes across as genuinely more curmudgeonly and prickly, but that's just both their respective personalities.

I'd imagine most of the conflict in Yes was always fighting about the money and control. So most of the disagreements between Anderson and Howe would probably lie more along those lines, and (most likely) Anderson notoriously always demanding a larger share of the pie in both regards. I can completely see why Howe would never want to get burned again if that's the case.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on June 27, 2023, 03:01:11 PM
I know, we're totally quibbling over nuances at this point.  But for some reason people seem to think that Anderson has more "right" to decide who's in Yes than Howe, perhaps by virtue of his being an original member, or maybe just because he was the lead singer for so long.  And somehow it's important to me that Jon voluntarily left Yes twice, but still considers it "his band".  Meanwhile Howe is currently trying to keep the damned thing afloat, despite being kicked to the curb twice by the band he clearly still loves.

I get your point clearly, now, and actually don't argue with you. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on June 27, 2023, 05:19:24 PM
Steve Howe pisses on anyone who was holding out hope that Jon Anderson might ever play with Yes again:

https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-howe-yes-i-love-jon-anderson

I honestly mean this in the nicest way possible, but if anyone is still holding out hope that Jon Anderson, who is almost 80, might play with Yes again, it might be time to reconsider your musical priorities. :P

What's next?  "Jeez, I hope Paul and Ringo get to play together again some day!" :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 01, 2023, 11:09:27 AM
Steve Howe pisses on anyone who was holding out hope that Jon Anderson might ever play with Yes again:

https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-howe-yes-i-love-jon-anderson

I honestly mean this in the nicest way possible, but if anyone is still holding out hope that Jon Anderson, who is almost 80, might play with Yes again, it might be time to reconsider your musical priorities. :P

What's next?  "Jeez, I hope Paul and Ringo get to play together again some day!" :lol



While I wouldn't see Anderson ever going back to working with Steve Howe again (or even rejoining Yes) He's still writing music and touring at that age and so are Paul and Ringo. They just aren't reuniting. But I guess that's more of a comment about age than anything else.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 01, 2023, 01:32:19 PM
What's next?  "Jeez, I hope Paul and Ringo get to play together again some day!" :lol

Paul and Ringo have done stuff together musically since George's passing.  So... that means Jon and Steve could/should?  I guess I'm not sure what the analogy means.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on July 01, 2023, 03:13:33 PM
Steve Howe pisses on anyone who was holding out hope that Jon Anderson might ever play with Yes again:

https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-howe-yes-i-love-jon-anderson

I honestly mean this in the nicest way possible, but if anyone is still holding out hope that Jon Anderson, who is almost 80, might play with Yes again, it might be time to reconsider your musical priorities. :P

What's next?  "Jeez, I hope Paul and Ringo get to play together again some day!" :lol



While I wouldn't see Anderson ever going back to working with Steve Howe again (or even rejoining Yes) He's still writing music and touring at that age and so are Paul and Ringo. They just aren't reuniting. But I guess that's more of a comment about age than anything else.

To each their own, but I never quite understood "retiring" from music.  Maybe from touring, or those particular aspects that you don't like, but even Billy Joel said "I didn't stop WRITING, I just stopped the process of making ALBUMS."  I get the touring part.  But for a guy like Noel Gallagher that still plays guitar every day even if just for 15 minutes, that's like breathing. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 13, 2023, 08:09:51 PM
What's next?  "Jeez, I hope Paul and Ringo get to play together again some day!" :lol

Paul and Ringo have done stuff together musically since George's passing.  So... that means Jon and Steve could/should?  I guess I'm not sure what the analogy means.

That's kind of what I meant, but you wrote it better. Reuniting seems to carry huge connotations. Playing together is more low key.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on July 13, 2023, 08:42:16 PM
Ah, I think I get it.  Steve could play guitar on one of Jon's solo albums, just a song or two, something like that.  It doesn't have to be a full-on reunion.  But it wouldn't surprise me if those two are already sugar-coating things as much as they can, and they basically can't stand each other right now.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on July 13, 2023, 09:31:20 PM
Ah, I think I get it.  Steve could play guitar on one of Jon's solo albums, just a song or two, something like that.  It doesn't have to be a full-on reunion.  But it wouldn't surprise me if those two are already sugar-coating things as much as they can, and they basically can't stand each other right now.

I think so too. I'm not sure I can ever picture them  being in the same room anymore. I can't recall the hall of fame gig very well, but I'd be surprised if Steve Howe even acknowledged Jon was there. I should rewatch that. It's been a few years.

When was the last time you could apply the word "friendly" to Jon and Steve?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Lupton on July 14, 2023, 02:44:24 PM
One thing I remember is when Steve gave his speech Jon was in the background behind him with the other Yesmen sort doing the "blah blah blah" things with his hands and looking like he was sort of mocking Steve. Like he could barely stand listening to him or something. I don't think there's any love lost between those two.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on October 06, 2023, 04:37:10 PM
The wife & I with the great Patrick Moraz!

(https://i.postimg.cc/7hxdKMbY/20231006-173121.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgN0BnWp)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Metro on October 06, 2023, 05:57:54 PM
Very cool!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on October 07, 2023, 02:18:19 PM
The wife & I with the great Patrick Moraz!

(https://i.postimg.cc/7hxdKMbY/20231006-173121.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgN0BnWp)

Looking good. Solo gig? Wait. Isn't Progstock this weekend? He'd have been one guy I wanted to see.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cocopjojo on October 14, 2023, 06:06:14 PM
I've not listened to much King Crimson before, and so I didn't know until today that Jon Anderson sang on their 1970 album, Lizard. Does anyone know what the story is behind how/why this happened?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Metro on October 14, 2023, 06:16:49 PM
Here you go

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yes_frontman_shares_opinion_on_king_crimson_recalls_how_robert_fripp_treated_him_during_collaboration.html
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Cocopjojo on October 14, 2023, 06:40:56 PM
Here you go

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yes_frontman_shares_opinion_on_king_crimson_recalls_how_robert_fripp_treated_him_during_collaboration.html
I was hoping some article like this existed. Thanks!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 15, 2023, 06:57:03 AM
Hmm, more than I knew previously, but not a lot of info there.  "How Robert Fripp treated him" isn't really addressed.  I guess I was expecting a direct comment on how he was great to work with, or an asshole, or something.  "Bob comes over, he looks over his glasses, 'Well, Jon, could you sing just like the demo?'"  That was it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Metro on October 15, 2023, 07:01:58 AM
Considering how many people have come and gone from King Crimson (especially in those early days), I think it's a given that Fripp is and was hard to work with.  :lol

Here's another article on Lizard. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/king-crimson-lizard/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 15, 2023, 07:33:45 AM
My impression is that in the early days, King Crimson was more of a collective, a more democratic band in terms of roles within the band.  It was an evolution of Giles-Fripp and some other earlier collaborations.  But Fripp's personality, musicianship, and focus are naturally dominant and he essentially took things over because someone has to provide direction, and the others deferred to him.  How amicable any of this was, I have no idea.  King Crimson today is obviously whatever and whenever Fripp says it is, but it wasn't always "his" band.  There's a story how at one point, the band was on the verge of breaking up, and Fripp was so dismayed by that that he said he'd quit the band if the band would continue without him.  Totally selfless, or a calculated move?  I have no idea.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 16, 2023, 08:42:01 AM
My impression is that in the early days, King Crimson was more of a collective, a more democratic band in terms of roles within the band.  It was an evolution of Giles-Fripp and some other earlier collaborations.  But Fripp's personality, musicianship, and focus are naturally dominant and he essentially took things over because someone has to provide direction, and the others deferred to him.  How amicable any of this was, I have no idea.  King Crimson today is obviously whatever and whenever Fripp says it is, but it wasn't always "his" band.  There's a story how at one point, the band was on the verge of breaking up, and Fripp was so dismayed by that that he said he'd quit the band if the band would continue without him.  Totally selfless, or a calculated move?  I have no idea.

But that's a big part of it. Greg Lake LEFT.  He went to form ELP.  So after a point, it was only Fripp left; not hard to see that it would be considered "his band". 

Hey, on that Anderson interview; what's the deal with the ABWH question?  So he asked Howe (and the others) what they would play, went to a studio with OTHER musicians who played shit based on what the guys said, then took the songs back to the group and they played what was on the demo?   Or did the "other" musicians play on the "better recordings"? 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 16, 2023, 09:03:24 AM
Jon Anderson's version of events never seems to reconcile with the general consensus of anyone or everyone else, and add a few decades of time in between then and now, and he basically has no idea what he's talking about.  Okay, he knows what he's talking about, but it usually has nothing to do with reality.

The Union album is generally considered a Frankenstein creation of Jon Anderson and Jonathan Elias.  As has been pointed out, it was mostly made up of tracks that ABWH were working on for a possible second album, and some songs by the Rabin-led 90125 lineup.  One story I read said that Jon had asked Trevor for a song, thinking that they needed something more accessible (more "pop") for the new ABWH album and Rabin sent him three, expecting Anderson to pick one.  Anderson said Wow thanks and took all three.  Eventually the 90125 lineup, and a new solo acoustic piece by Steve Howe, rounded out the album and they repackaged it as a new Yes album.

But that was all still basic tracks, and when it was time for edits and overdubs and other fine-tuning, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe were already done.  They weren't that invested in ABWH if it was just going to be another version of Yes, and now that it was offically Yes, they found more interesting things to do.  So Anderson and Elias hired a boatload of session guys to do the overdubs.  Wakeman always calls this one "Onion".  My first thought was because of all the layers (like ogres have layers) but it's because it always makes him cry.  He says he listened to the album once, couldn't even hear anything that he'd actually played, and through the CD out the car window.  Howe has made similar statements, and I don't think Bruford cares enough to even comment.  It was just a paycheck for him.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on October 16, 2023, 11:01:54 AM
I knew a lot of that, but was the ABWH album like that too?   
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 16, 2023, 01:06:05 PM
I knew a lot of that, but was the ABWH album like that too?

I think Steve Howe was the only one who didn't go to Monserrat to record the album, preferring to record his parts later on in England. But, Rick, Jon and Bill were all down there with the guys that were in the backing band for the tour. I think the songs were more or less written ahead of time, but I think Bill was at least involved in the demoing process.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on October 16, 2023, 01:29:10 PM
There are conflicting stories surrounding the (first) ABWH album as well.  Bill Bruford said he was asked by Jon to play on a new album he was working on, with a new band.  Jon did not mention that the "new band" happened to include Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman, but even after finding that out, Bruford said that there was still hope.  There was a window open for about ten minutes which slammed shut and it just became another version of Yes.  Wakeman is always down for whatever Anderson wants to do, and I don't remember Howe's position, but obviously he was on board.  The ABWH album was mostly performed by ABWH, with Tony Levin on bass, although there are credits for some additional keyboard and guitar work.  It's unclear how much they did, but I don't remember hearing Howe or Wakeman complaining about their tracks being replaced or overdubbed on ABWH, certainly not the extent they were on Union.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on October 16, 2023, 01:38:43 PM
I think those guys provided the bed tracks that Wakeman and Howe came in and added to, with solos and leads and stuff.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on October 16, 2023, 02:08:18 PM
Some of the rhythm guitars don't really sound like Howe, it could still be him, but I doubt it. The leads are probably done all by Howe.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on October 16, 2023, 02:23:54 PM
My impression is that in the early days, King Crimson was more of a collective, a more democratic band in terms of roles within the band.  It was an evolution of Giles-Fripp and some other earlier collaborations.  But Fripp's personality, musicianship, and focus are naturally dominant and he essentially took things over because someone has to provide direction, and the others deferred to him.  How amicable any of this was, I have no idea.  King Crimson today is obviously whatever and whenever Fripp says it is, but it wasn't always "his" band.  There's a story how at one point, the band was on the verge of breaking up, and Fripp was so dismayed by that that he said he'd quit the band if the band would continue without him.  Totally selfless, or a calculated move?  I have no idea.

I read somewhere that at one point Fripp was considering leaving and would have recommended Steve Hackett as his replacement if the others had carried on. Guessing that was the same period you’re referring to but not sure.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on October 16, 2023, 04:13:51 PM
Drums:  Bill Bruford vs Mike Portnoy

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOO. JUST NO.  :tdwn
Have ever actually HEARD Bill Bruford play drums?

(edit)

Sorry, I know I'm overreacting, so I'll give a better reason. Listen to Close to the Edge. From a drumming stand point, it is one of the most complex and beautifully intricate works in drumming, hands down. Bill keeps the rhythm completely smooth while still throwing in complex polyrhythms and maintaining a really unique style of playing while doing so. The parts he wrote for that album are so intense that you'll find something new that he's doing each time you listen to the album. Mike is great, don't get me wrong. But even he would openly agree to Bill being the better of them, I'm sure. Bill's later work and even his jazz albums contain some of the most hardcore drumming I've ever heard.

i don't think this is an overreaction. bruford is one of the best ever. his KC work is unreal
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: khalpin on November 14, 2023, 05:33:17 PM
Quote
Chris Squire(1993): Just about everyone in the world played on the ABWH tracks [on Union].  Half the time it wasn't Rick when it was supposed to be Rick.  The same thing happened with Steve: it was other people.  Jimmy [Haun, guitarist for the Chris Squire Expirement] played a lot of guitar Steve thought was him!  He didn't realize until about halfway through the European leg of the tour that it was somebody else playing on the album.  He hadn't even listened to it.  I told him he might want to check it out and he got very annoyed.  I don't quite know how that happened - whether Jon was in control of it with the producer. I don't know. It's definitely a very strange album.  I think it's important to note that on the album there was no point where the eight of us were playing together on any one song.  It was really like Jon was going back and forth between the ABWH band and us like a loose cannon.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on November 15, 2023, 07:23:20 AM
i really like Union, i know it is one of their most hated ones but it's really not that bad
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 15, 2023, 07:52:04 AM
i really like Union, i know it is one of their most hated ones but it's really not that bad
I mean, I'm glad you like it, and you shouldn't stop.

But it's pretty bad.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 15, 2023, 09:15:55 AM
I actually liked it well enough until I started reading the credits.  The songs aren't bad, the playing is fine, the production is pretty good.  It just has huge amounts of music that isn't actually played by Yes.  It's a studio concoction cooked up by Jon Anderson and Jonathan Elias.  Elias says that he was just doing was Jon A said to do, which was to finish the album after Wakeman and Howe buggered off and wouldn't come back for overdubs.  Anderson, typically, has a different take.

I think those guys provided the bed tracks that Wakeman and Howe came in and added to, with solos and leads and stuff.

Where did you read that?  That's basically the opposite of every other account I've read.  Except for Anderson, who says he doesn't know.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: romdrums on November 15, 2023, 12:16:58 PM
I actually liked it well enough until I started reading the credits.  The songs aren't bad, the playing is fine, the production is pretty good.  It just has huge amounts of music that isn't actually played by Yes.  It's a studio concoction cooked up by Jon Anderson and Jonathan Elias.  Elias says that he was just doing was Jon A said to do, which was to finish the album after Wakeman and Howe buggered off and wouldn't come back for overdubs.  Anderson, typically, has a different take.

I think those guys provided the bed tracks that Wakeman and Howe came in and added to, with solos and leads and stuff.

I was referring to the sessions for the first ABWH album, not Union.

Where did you read that?  That's basically the opposite of every other account I've read.  Except for Anderson, who says he doesn't know.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on November 15, 2023, 12:52:26 PM
Interesting.  That's still contrary to what I've read, though.  Supposedly it was a new project Jon Anderson project and he got Wakeman, Bruford, and Howe to join him.  I was surprised that there were any others on the album except for Levin.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 15, 2023, 01:21:40 PM
Trevor Rabin talked about Union a little in one of his recent interviews.  I cannot recall the exact way he put it, but he said someone called him and asked if he had any songs that could be turned into Yes songs for the project, and he offered up Lift Me Up right away and then eventually Miracle of Life and Saving My Heart as well.  I always think Miracle of Life is one of those songs that needed a bit more work (the back half goes off the rails a tad, but the first half of so is pretty great), but is still a good tune.  Lift Me Up is probably the best song on the record, although I do like Shock to the System a lot as well. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on November 15, 2023, 02:34:28 PM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on November 16, 2023, 04:51:14 PM
I like Union but then I like every album up to about Magnification except for Open Your Eyes. I got off the Yes train in 2003 which I think is before Anderson left.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 17, 2023, 09:05:40 AM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift
the hell
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 17, 2023, 09:59:14 AM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 17, 2023, 10:16:18 AM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
It would surely be interesting.  But where does that suggestion come from lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on November 17, 2023, 10:19:33 AM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
It would surely be interesting.  But where does that suggestion come from lol

my neurodivergent brain lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: HOF on November 17, 2023, 10:40:25 AM
Taylor Swift and Trevor Rabin produced by Trevor Horn. There you go.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 17, 2023, 10:57:01 AM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
It would surely be interesting.  But where does that suggestion come from lol

my neurodivergent brain lol
Next collab suggestion:  Peanut butter and pimento chesse
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 17, 2023, 01:07:09 PM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
It would surely be interesting.  But where does that suggestion come from lol

my neurodivergent brain lol
Next collab suggestion:  Peanut butter and pimento chesse

Ewww.  Way to make it weird...



HAHAHA.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on November 17, 2023, 06:01:25 PM
Trevor Rabin should do a collab with Taylor Swift

I'd pay for that.
It would surely be interesting.  But where does that suggestion come from lol

my neurodivergent brain lol
Next collab suggestion:  Peanut butter and pimento chesse

Ewww.  Way to make it weird...



HAHAHA.

 :rollin :mehlin :rollin :rollin

anyway the idea of Trevor Horn producing it is actually pretty fucking dope, lmao. i would pay for that trio collab, lmao
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 05, 2023, 09:15:03 AM
So...  I finally picked up the video for "9012Live".  I stayed away because I knew it didn't have what I still consider the highlight of that tour, the live "Hearts" with the lasers (which they dropped early on and didn't have at the end of the tour or the second and subsequent legs). 

But I'm wading through the interviews and docs on the disk and it's fascinating to go back and see these interactions.  There's an interview with Jon where he says the tour is "laying the groundwork for the next two years or so, or however long this lasts".  He's smiling, and I think he knew there wasn't a life-long commitment here.  Chris mentions the hardships of the previous couple years and also seems resigned to the fact that this was now a unit whose stability was measured in increments.


Interesting that in the interview, done presumably in 1983, Jon Anderson says point blank that he didn't want to talk about Brian Lane (who managed the Drama-incarnation of Yes), and the statement was said right after clips of Alan and Tony saying that they did not trust Brian at all.   BUT... Lane managed Asia (Howe), ABWH, and the Anderson/Rabin/Wakeman lineup, so they must've settled their differences.  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 05, 2023, 09:33:27 AM
So...  I finally picked up the video for "9012Live".

Damn...I haven't watched that in probably 30 years, but I think I still have my VHS copy (did they release it on DVD?).  The wife and son will be out of town from tomorrow through Sunday, so I may pop it in.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on December 05, 2023, 10:22:54 AM
Interesting.  I never bothered with the video because the album (9012Live: The Solos) is a bizarre release that includes the solos, a few songs, and... that's all.  The solo segments of a Yes concert have always been an important part of the show, but releasing them without the rest of the concert is kinda pointless IMO.  Anyway, I never checked out the video because I assumed it was the same track listing.

According to Wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9012Live_(video)), it was released on DVD and has a bunch of bonus stuff, including just the concert footage without the effects and also "Roundabout" which wasn't on the original VHS release.

Being something of a Yes completist, I should actually try to hunt down a copy.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 05, 2023, 11:15:07 AM
I mean, it's a GREAT show, for what it is, but it's not a complete show (it's directed by Steven Soderbergh, so there's "art" involved, too) and they are amusingly dated with the hair and parachute clothes, but those sunsofbitches could PLAY in the day.  White and Squire are beasts, and I have secretly preferred some of the more muscular versions of the songs with Rabin.

1. Introduction (an amusing, if not more than mildly sexist, video)
2. Cinema
3. Leave It
4. Hold On
5. I've Seen All Good People
6. Changes
7. Make It Easy/Owner Of A Lonely Heart
8. It Can Happen
9. City Of Love
10. Starship Trooper
---
11. Roundabout (bonus features)

The video (and, in part, the CD) omit:
4a. Our Song
4b. Hearts (the best part of the show, IMO)
5a. Solly's Beard (Rabin solo, it's on 9012Live the CD)
6a. And You And I (second best part of the show, and the classic song done best by Rabin, IMO)
6b. Soon (Anderson solos, it's on 9012Live the CD)
8a. Amazing Grace/Whitefish (Squire/White solo, it's on 9012Live the CD)
11a Gimme Some Lovin' (second encore)




Dammit, I miss Chris Squire.  He was so much fun on stage.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 05, 2023, 11:25:01 AM
Interesting.  I never bothered with the video because the album (9012Live: The Solos) is a bizarre release that includes the solos, a few songs, and... that's all.  The solo segments of a Yes concert have always been an important part of the show, but releasing them without the rest of the concert is kinda pointless IMO.  Anyway, I never checked out the video because I assumed it was the same track listing.

According to Wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9012Live_(video)), it was released on DVD and has a bunch of bonus stuff, including just the concert footage without the effects and also "Roundabout" which wasn't on the original VHS release.

Being something of a Yes completist, I should actually try to hunt down a copy.

It can be expensive; in some places it's $70, $80 bucks, but if you're diligent, you can find it for closer to $20.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on December 05, 2023, 11:57:43 AM
I mean, it's a GREAT show, for what it is, but it's not a complete show (it's directed by Steven Soderbergh, so there's "art" involved, too) and they are amusingly dated with the hair and parachute clothes, but those sunsofbitches could PLAY in the day.  White and Squire are beasts, and I have secretly preferred some of the more muscular versions of the songs with Rabin.

1. Introduction (an amusing, if not more than mildly sexist, video)
2. Cinema
3. Leave It
4. Hold On
5. I've Seen All Good People
6. Changes
7. Make It Easy/Owner Of A Lonely Heart
8. It Can Happen
9. City Of Love
10. Starship Trooper
---
11. Roundabout (bonus features)

The video (and, in part, the CD) omit:
4a. Our Song
4b. Hearts (the best part of the show, IMO)
5a. Solly's Beard (Rabin solo, it's on 9012Live the CD)
6a. And You And I (second best part of the show, and the classic song done best by Rabin, IMO)
6b. Soon (Anderson solos, it's on 9012Live the CD)
8a. Amazing Grace/Whitefish (Squire/White solo, it's on 9012Live the CD)
11a Gimme Some Lovin' (second encore)




Dammit, I miss Chris Squire.  He was so much fun on stage.

I've always wished the band would release a complete show from the 90125 Tour on CD, and maybe even bonus tracks from shows where they might have swapped out songs (did they do that back then? Or was the set the same throughout the whole tour?). Seems like a huge missed opportunity. Maybe they'll get to it next year since it'll be the 40th Anniversary of the 9012Live tour?

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 05, 2023, 12:48:22 PM
They did swap stuff out, both within legs and between legs.  Long Distance Runaround, Yours Is No Disgrace, Perpetual Change... they were all played at some point or another.   They were good shows.  I saw the first and second legs.  Say what you want about the new music, but it a) translated live, and the b) the band clearly enjoyed playing it.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on December 05, 2023, 01:21:19 PM
Interesting.  I never bothered with the video because the album (9012Live: The Solos) is a bizarre release that includes the solos, a few songs, and... that's all.  The solo segments of a Yes concert have always been an important part of the show, but releasing them without the rest of the concert is kinda pointless IMO.  Anyway, I never checked out the video because I assumed it was the same track listing.

According to Wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9012Live_(video)), it was released on DVD and has a bunch of bonus stuff, including just the concert footage without the effects and also "Roundabout" which wasn't on the original VHS release.

Being something of a Yes completist, I should actually try to hunt down a copy.

I'll have to hunt down the DVD too.  I never bothered with the album (EP?) because I've never been a big fan of solo spots (not live and definitely not on an album).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 05, 2023, 06:04:33 PM
Ignore my other post; it's pretty readily available for $15, $20 on eBay.  There's even someone selling the DVD and CD together for like $40.

Also, Alan White slays the intro to Hold On.

Also, the solo to Owner Of A Lonely Heart is AMAZING live; he plays it note-for-note, but it's killer.

Also, there was almost an Asia with Wetton, Palmer, Rabin and Wakeman.  But Kalodner said he didn't like Rabin's songwriting.  WTF?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: SoundscapeMN on December 05, 2023, 08:33:07 PM
Jon Anderson - Christmas EP 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALiSFcphgvM
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 08, 2023, 11:36:24 PM


Also, there was almost an Asia with Wetton, Palmer, Rabin and Wakeman.  But Kalodner said he didn't like Rabin's songwriting.  WTF?

What? Asia with Rabin and Wakeman? Did I forget about this?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on December 12, 2023, 08:50:15 AM


Also, there was almost an Asia with Wetton, Palmer, Rabin and Wakeman.  But Kalodner said he didn't like Rabin's songwriting.  WTF?

What? Asia with Rabin and Wakeman? Did I forget about this?

It was early days, early on, but as I said Kalodner didn't think Rabin's writing was "commercial enough". The irony, right?  Rabin said this in one of the interviews on the 9021Live set.

I'm on a Yes kick; I'm actually listening to the Keys to Ascension live video now; man, they were so good.  I miss Chris Squire a lot.  We never did a "bass players" list here, but he's probably number one. 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ytserush on December 19, 2023, 04:54:14 PM


Also, there was almost an Asia with Wetton, Palmer, Rabin and Wakeman.  But Kalodner said he didn't like Rabin's songwriting.  WTF?

What? Asia with Rabin and Wakeman? Did I forget about this?

It was early days, early on, but as I said Kalodner didn't think Rabin's writing was "commercial enough". The irony, right?  Rabin said this in one of the interviews on the 9021Live set.



Checked David Gallant's Heat Of The Moment book and Rabin is mentioned which I'd forgotten (Now recall there are Rabin Demos on you tube somewhere.)

No mention of Wakeman being considered. Journey's vocalist before Steve Perry (Fleishman?) was also considered early on too according to that book.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 23, 2024, 06:33:52 AM
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-prog-rock-billy-sherwood-1234939989/ (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-prog-rock-billy-sherwood-1234939989/)

Interesting interview with Billy. Most notable for fans of the current Yes line-up... is that we will be getting another new Yes album. I don't think it has yet happened in my lifetime that Yes have released 3 albums so close together. It's always nice to hear him talk about Chris as well.
Well worth a read.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on January 23, 2024, 06:43:20 AM
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-prog-rock-billy-sherwood-1234939989/ (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/yes-prog-rock-billy-sherwood-1234939989/)

Interesting interview with Billy. Most notable for fans of the current Yes line-up... is that we will be getting another new Yes album. I don't think it has yet happened in my lifetime that Yes have released 3 albums so close together. It's always nice to hear him talk about Chris as well.
Well worth a read.

If the next Yes album is out before the end of 2025, that'll mark three albums in 4 years (The Quest in 2021 and last year's Mirror To The Sky). This hasn't happened since the 1997-1999-2001 run of Open Your EyesThe Ladder, and Magnification,  so it has definitely been quite awhile.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on January 29, 2024, 01:43:30 PM
will it be good though? i thought Mirror to the Sky wasn't bad but i'd guess they can't match it up again so quickly
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 30, 2024, 06:36:00 AM
will it be good though? i thought Mirror to the Sky wasn't bad but i'd guess they can't match it up again so quickly

Imho Mirror is easily the best post-Anderson release, and each album since H&E has gotten steadily better. The signs seem to point to it being a pretty good release. Most of Mirror and The Quest were written in the same period and I think the broad opinion is that Mirror is easily the superior album. So I would guess the time frame potentially doesn't impact the quality of it too much... but, I suppose we shall see!
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on January 30, 2024, 07:17:21 AM
I actually liked Mirror even less than the previous two albums. The Quest actually had a couple of really good tunes, Heaven and earth at least featured some fun grooves and melodies in major keys, but Mirror was a chore to get through.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Kwyjibo on January 30, 2024, 07:25:08 AM
Heaven & Earth was boring
The Quest was boring
Mirror To The Sky was boring

New one will probably be boring too.

I'm all for bands not to become solely a nostalgia act but release new material once in a while but imo Yes should just call it quits. I can't imagine that they release something from this point on that will be interesting.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on January 30, 2024, 10:15:28 AM
they wrote close to the edge tho, we owe it to them to see if they can repeat its glory
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 30, 2024, 10:20:14 AM
It's hard for me to defend contemporary Yes without sounding too much like a fanboy, but I liked The Quest and Mirror to the Sky.  I thought Heaven & Earth was pretty boring overall and I found it a chore to get through, but the last two have at least had some interesting things on them.  I don't think Yes will ever recapture the fire they had back in the 70's, but I don't think that's the goal here anyway.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 30, 2024, 10:44:33 AM
they wrote close to the edge tho, we owe it to them to see if they can repeat its glory

They?

There's only one person in the current band who had anything to do with Close to the Edge, and it's been 20 years since the band had a majority of members involved in CTTE.  While I appreciate Steve Howe for all his great work in the past, neither I nor any other fan owes Steve Howe anything.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 30, 2024, 10:59:07 AM
they wrote close to the edge tho, we owe it to them to see if they can repeat its glory

They?

There's only one person in the current band who had anything to do with Close to the Edge, and it's been 20 years since the band had a majority of members involved in CTTE.  While I appreciate Steve Howe for all his great work in the past, neither I nor any other fan owes Steve Howe anything.

I'm with Orbert.   H&E blew, but the last two aren't bad (I attribute that to Billy Sherwood, myself).   But they are a shell of what they once were.  I love Drama, and am a big fan of the Rabin era, but the original Yes dynamic FOR ME was Anderson and Squire, and they are no longer a part of the creative process.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: emtee on January 30, 2024, 11:01:13 AM
Fly From Here is the last album I can say I really enjoy. I still go back to it every few months.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 30, 2024, 12:22:35 PM
Fly From Here is the last album I can say I really enjoy. I still go back to it every few months.

I'd agree with that.  The original or the redo with Trevor Horn? 
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 30, 2024, 12:50:46 PM
I'd also agree with Orbert. Enjoyed quite a few moments on The Quest, and think Mirror is genuinely a great album... but I am quite possibly one of the biggest Yes fanboys out there.

I'm all for bands not to become solely a nostalgia act but release new material once in a while but imo Yes should just call it quits. I can't imagine that they release something from this point on that will be interesting.

I think it just comes down to (whatever Steve Howe may think, aside) that Chris and Alan both wanted it to. They were both such massive characters I would think at least Jon D, Billy and Jay would want to honour that wish. I remember Rick also said at some point that he sees the name continuing once they're all long gone.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 30, 2024, 03:03:42 PM
To me, Yes is similar to Big Big Train in that the lineup has changed many times over the years, but the "spirit" of the band has remained consistent.  There are members were around for a long time, some have come and gone, and fans each have their own ideas about who is most "important" to the sound, and of course everyone has their favorite albums, but both bands continue to make new music.

Also, I just listened to Mirror to the Sky again, and man, Steve Howe should not do lead vocals.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: James Mypetgiress on January 30, 2024, 04:45:11 PM
Every time he sings lead, I'm reminded of "come to Australi-UH"
Iconic as part of the Yes harmony. But on his own... hmmm
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 30, 2024, 05:05:36 PM
This always reminds me of the Rick Wakeman interview footage from the Union tour.  He said that he thought Yes would still even after all eight of the then current members were dead.  He compared the band to a symphony orchestra where players come and go.  Not a completely apt comparison given the differences between classical and rock music, but it's still an interesting thing to think about.

Yes has only one "classic era" member and hasn't had any original members since Chris Squire died.  Will it continue when Howe dies or retires (at which point it will have no link to its "classic era")?

Will the Rolling Stones continue after Jagger and/or Richards die?  Chances are we'll find out the answers to these questions within the next decade.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 30, 2024, 06:42:42 PM
This always reminds me of the Rick Wakeman interview footage from the Union tour.  He said that he thought Yes would still even after all eight of the then current members were dead.  He compared the band to a symphony orchestra where players come and go.  Not a completely apt comparison given the differences between classical and rock music, but it's still an interesting thing to think about.

Yes has only one "classic era" member and hasn't had any original members since Chris Squire died.  Will it continue when Howe dies or retires (at which point it will have no link to its "classic era")?

Will the Rolling Stones continue after Jagger and/or Richards die?  Chances are we'll find out the answers to these questions within the next decade.

I would say that The Rolling Stones must have Jagger and Richards at the core.  The others are not trivial, but Charlie and Bill have both retired and I would say that Ronnie Wood is not what makes the latest album sound like The Rolling Stones, or not.  It's Mick and Keith.  I wouldn't call it the Stones without them.

There are those who steadfastly (stubbornly) stick to the "No Jon, no Yes" rule.  Fine.  The lead singer is definitely an important part of the core sound.  But there are Yes albums I enjoy which do not have Jon Anderson on lead vocals.  There are Yes albums I enjoy that do not have Steve Howe on guitar and/or Rick Wakeman on keyboards and/or Chris Squire on bass.  Blasphemy, I know.  But that's how I roll.  Yes is more of a "collective" (similar to BBT, as I mentioned) that somehow transcends any given individual's participation.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on January 31, 2024, 08:46:31 AM
Yeah, I think all bands are different, and there's no rule for that. Yes very early on established itself as a sort of collective.   The Rolling Stones very early on established itself as sort of the vehicle for Jagger and Richards to fight their way to some semblance of "art". 

Kiss has made waves with saying that it will continue without Simmons and Stanley, but I think that undersells what Kiss is.  Kiss is basically "Paul Stanley's Vision" in the sense that he's driven the decision-making in the band for decades now and I think it can continue as a revue, but the creative force, the innovation will die with Paul.

We all know that DT survived without Mike, but I don't know if that would be the case if it was Mike AND JOHN that decided to pursue other artistic endeavors.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on January 31, 2024, 11:27:03 AM
We all know that DT survived without Mike, but I don't know if that would be the case if it was Mike AND JOHN that decided to pursue other artistic endeavors.

Would anyone REALLY notice if John left?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on January 31, 2024, 11:45:21 AM
I'd guess I would yes. John's guitar sound is distinct IMHO. (I presume you meant John Petrucci here and not JM)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on January 31, 2024, 12:26:39 PM
Kiss has made waves with saying that it will continue without Simmons and Stanley, but I think that undersells what Kiss is.  Kiss is basically "Paul Stanley's Vision" in the sense that he's driven the decision-making in the band for decades now and I think it can continue as a revue, but the creative force, the innovation will die with Paul.

I saw something about that, too.  I don't remember now who they quoted, but as with many things I see attributed to Paul, and most things I see attributed to Gene, I took it with a grain or two of salt.  Once the original quartet broke up, it became clear (to me and my cadre anyway) that Gene and Paul were the core of the band.  You know a lot more about KISS that I do, though, so if it's really just Paul and not so much Gene, I believe you.  But the idea of KISS continuing without them is pretty silly IMO.

We all know that DT survived without Mike, but I don't know if that would be the case if it was Mike AND JOHN that decided to pursue other artistic endeavors.

Similarly, I wouldn't consider it DT without JP.  They've changed singers, keyboard players, and drummers now.  JM is great, but if he were replaced it would still sound like DT.  I think if MP and JP for some reason left at the same time, Dream Theater wouldn't continue anyway, so it's probably a moot point.  I just don't see JLB, Jordan, and JM checking in with each other and choosing to try to keep DT alive.  It seems far more likely that they'd agree that they had a good run, but they each have other things they can and would like to do.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 11, 2024, 05:22:31 PM
Just saw that Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks will be touring again this year.  The list of dates appears to be more extensive than last year, and they're doing a southern California date!  Woo hoo!

They're also releasing an album together.

https://www.jonanderson.com/
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 18, 2024, 10:29:23 AM
Watching the Yes Symphonic show for the first time in a while.  Another great piece.   Chris is on fire, as is Jon, though Chris seems to be a bit... energized.  :).   He's foregone his typical cape for a more laid back black outfit, but during Starship Trooper you'd've thought he was playing Madison Square Garden with Zeppelin!   Haha.  But still top notch playing all around (and not for nothing, but that - the European Festival Orchestra - has to be the best looking symphony I've ever seen).
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 18, 2024, 12:12:26 PM
There's nothing like a talented group of attractive young musicians.  I was a regular on the old YesFans boards for many years, and when YesSymphonic came out, there was a poll for who was the "hottest" of the young ladies featured in the video.  And by "featured" that of course meant that the camera lingered on them just a bit longer than one might think.  The poll itself may have been in questionable taste, and was decried by many female members, and some male members as well, but let's face it; someone decided on the camera angles and chose to let the camera linger, and some of the young ladies were cute.  There's a reason why it was edited the way it was.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: ProfessorPeart on March 18, 2024, 12:16:57 PM
Just saw that Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks will be touring again this year.  The list of dates appears to be more extensive than last year, and they're doing a southern California date!  Woo hoo!

They're also releasing an album together.

https://www.jonanderson.com/

Man, not happy with the Chicago date. Wish they would've returned to the Arcada. They sold it out so I guess they wanted a bigger venue. Probably won't make that show. Actually, I can't make that show. The wife and I will be in Pigeon Forge for our anniversary. Don't feel so bad now. Excited for the album coming later this year.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 18, 2024, 12:50:54 PM
There's nothing like a talented group of attractive young musicians.  I was a regular on the old YesFans boards for many years, and when YesSymphonic came out, there was a poll for who was the "hottest" of the young ladies featured in the video.  And by "featured" that of course meant that the camera lingered on them just a bit longer than one might think.  The poll itself may have been in questionable taste, and was decried by many female members, and some male members as well, but let's face it; someone decided on the camera angles and chose to let the camera linger, and some of the young ladies were cute.  There's a reason why it was edited the way it was.

At the start of Roundabout, the entire orchestra came out and stood in a line across the stage, dancing, in front of Alan White.  I wonder if that was why the band played a relatively abbreviated version (only about six minutes!)  :)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 18, 2024, 01:46:23 PM
There's nothing like a talented group of attractive young musicians.  I was a regular on the old YesFans boards for many years, and when YesSymphonic came out, there was a poll for who was the "hottest" of the young ladies featured in the video.  And by "featured" that of course meant that the camera lingered on them just a bit longer than one might think.  The poll itself may have been in questionable taste, and was decried by many female members, and some male members as well, but let's face it; someone decided on the camera angles and chose to let the camera linger, and some of the young ladies were cute.  There's a reason why it was edited the way it was.

There was one girl - an oboe player if I remember correctly - who was SUPER into the music.  She was obviously over the moon being there, and her attitude was infectious.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 24, 2024, 03:44:22 PM
So March 21st was the 30th anniversary from the release date of the album "TALK". This is one of my favorite Yes albums and the sound of it stands alone in its own unique way. I've seen Yes many times live, but the TALK tour was by far the best Yes experience I've witnessed. Endless Dream is amongst the greatest Yes epics. I can't believe it's been thirty years allready. Any thoughts about this album?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Mladen on March 25, 2024, 12:27:51 AM
Of the four albums the band released with Trevor Rabin (I'm including Union), Talk is my favorite. The poppy stuff is better than all of the poppy stuff on the preceding albums, and then there are some other bits that are heavy, progressive or experimental. It's a refreshing listen and an underrated release.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Stadler on March 25, 2024, 06:36:54 AM
Of the four albums the band released with Trevor Rabin (I'm including Union), Talk is my favorite. The poppy stuff is better than all of the poppy stuff on the preceding albums, and then there are some other bits that are heavy, progressive or experimental. It's a refreshing listen and an underrated release.

I think this is fair.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 25, 2024, 07:52:08 AM
Talk got screwed a bit.  It was released on Victory Music, which went bankrupt shortly after, and Talk didn't end up getting much promotion.  There was no WWW yet, so promotion was still a major factor in album sales.  That and word of mouth, and since it had been three years since Union, basically no one knew a new Yes album was out there.  That's a bummer because in many ways it is the best of the "YesWest" era.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 25, 2024, 09:00:49 AM
Speaking of Talk:


New four-disc box set for 'great lost Yes album' Talk due in May (https://www.loudersound.com/news/new-four-disc-box-set-for-great-lost-yes-album-talk-due-in-may)


Hmmm... are hyperlinks being done differently these days?
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 25, 2024, 09:57:09 AM
Thanks for the link! After reading the article,  there were no live recordings from that tour that were done right, as Trevor lamented. Only soundboard recordings. There's one from New York that will be in the box set. I actually have a live recording on 3 cd's from the Gorge amphitheater in Washington state, that a lady recorded on Adat from the audience perspective. 7-10-1994.  It's awesome!  :coolio
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: pg1067 on March 25, 2024, 09:59:23 AM
Hmmm... are hyperlinks being done differently these days?

You need to put spaces between the parentheses and the link.


With respect to Talk, I didn't know it was released at the time.  I think I found it in a discount bin a good 5-10 years later.  I bought it and don't think I listened to it immediately and it got buried.  I usually listen to it every time folks here gush about how great it is.  And I just don't get it.  It has a couple decent moments, but nothing sticks.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on March 25, 2024, 10:37:38 AM
Thanks for the link! After reading the article,  there were no live recordings from that tour that were done right, as Trevor lamented. Only soundboard recordings. There's one from New York that will be in the box set. I actually have a live recording on 3 cd's from the Gorge amphitheater in Washington state, that a lady recorded on Adat from the audience perspective. 7-10-1994.  It's awesome!  :coolio
Not a huge Yes fan so I don't collect their boots, but I read that on the Talk tour, the band made devices available for those who were hard of hearing so that they could hear the concert better. So some enterprising bootleggers got ahold of these devices at numerous shows, hooked them up to their tape recorders and made (essentially) soundboard recordings. So apparently there's many more shows from the Talk tour in circulation with superior sound than any other tour.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Orbert on March 25, 2024, 10:57:29 AM
You need to put spaces between the parentheses and the link.

That's wacky, because I didn't put in the parentheses in the first place.  Also, the link and prompt text seem to be correct now, and I didn't change anything.  Oh well.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on March 25, 2024, 11:03:31 AM
Talk was never one of my favorites but i do generally enjoy the Rabin era. i'm also one of the weirdos that likes Union (my first Yes album, lol)
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: The Letter M on March 25, 2024, 11:39:48 AM
Speaking of Talk:


New four-disc box set for 'great lost Yes album' Talk due in May (https://www.loudersound.com/news/new-four-disc-box-set-for-great-lost-yes-album-talk-due-in-may)


Hmmm... are hyperlinks being done differently these days?

This looks nice, but I'm not sure I'm willing to plunk down $50+ for the box set, despite being a pretty good mid-era Yes album (and probably my favorite of the Rabin albums). That live show track list looks appealing, but like others have said, there are numerous A+ boots out there that would probably be about the same. If this goes on sale I might get it, but I'm not in any rush to get it on release date.

Did they ever play "State Of Play" live? Looks like that was the only then-new song they didn't play live on that tour, at least on that particular show included in this box set. Pretty amazing to see them play so much new material at the time, and still make room for other Rabin-era songs. Good picks for the pre-Rabin stuff, though, even though it's only three songs. It's been a long time since I've listened to any of the Yes boots I collected back in the 00s, but I do wonder how well Rabin handled Howe's parts by this point in his career with Yes. I may have to dig out those boots and give them a spin as I'm pretty sure I collected a couple Talk era shows (both video and audio).

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: cramx3 on March 25, 2024, 11:42:25 AM
That's wacky, because I didn't put in the parentheses in the first place.  Also, the link and prompt text seem to be correct now, and I didn't change anything.  Oh well.

Links were definitely bugged today, I tested myself earlier, but looks like they are fixed
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 25, 2024, 02:38:13 PM
Not a huge Yes fan so I don't collect their boots, but I read that on the Talk tour, the band made devices available for those who were hard of hearing so that they could hear the concert better. So some enterprising bootleggers got ahold of these devices at numerous shows, hooked them up to their tape recorders and made (essentially) soundboard recordings. So apparently there's many more shows from the Talk tour in circulation with superior sound than any other tour.
Very interesting!  They also presented that tour in surround sound. I remember hearing it quite well at the Gorge show. Especially during Endless Dream when they get to the part with all the weird panning that almost sounds like a screaming crow or raptor..  :lol
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 26, 2024, 07:42:11 PM
i'm also one of the weirdos that likes Union (my first Yes album, lol)
I love Union!  Also my first Yes album..
Title: Re: The Official Yes Thread
Post by: TheHoveringSojourn808 on March 27, 2024, 07:26:31 AM
I love Union!  Also my first Yes album..

it just has a little bit of everything on it, and a lot of the songs haven't aged poorly at all