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.