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.