Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
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Free Music Notes for Tales from Topographic Oceans
Free Music Review: great album
Hit: 4 Stars
being this and other works platformed before my present later times . officially through my scope band members from p floyd , g dead , l zepplin , and such others must of made some phone calls to these guys classifying ya took it . Free Music Review: Great music performed honestly...and I do think very well.
Hit: 5 Stars
From the number of reviews here, it's obviously a sort of "rite of passage" for many prog reviewers to put in their two cents on this album, and it's high time for me to add mine too. For some 30-odd years now, I've revered TFTO as one of my TOP FIVE albums of all time, and I'll try to explain my reasoning for that here.
First, if you never bought into the basic concept and scope of the album, you probably never had the patience to sit through this very demanding (and some say excessive) music long enough to experience its true beauty, and surely nothing I say here will convince you to try it again. Yet I'm still astounded that some self-proclaimed prog heads never realized that this was probably THE MOST progressive album of its time (keep in mind, this was 1973!) - for just how long did you expect this talented quintet to remain content to simply rehash their established (though successful) musical style on new studio releases?
Second, you have to understand that Yes got their positive vibe and harmonies from 60's flower power, hippie, folk-rock (listen to their debut album, a mere four years earlier) - but they electrified it, and played it in an angular fashion using odd time signatures, following the influence of 20th century classical music on their compositional style. That influence manifested itself in the way they wrote longer suites of music (numbered almost as if they were short concertos or symphonies). Think "Starship Trooper", "And You And I", and of course "Close To The Edge". Was it really that much of a stretch for us to see them attempt to expand this form to the max on the very symphonic "Tales"?
This is a magical, beautiful, sophisticated album performed as only the virtuosos of Yes could play. O.K., there are admittedly moments of excess (e.g. parts of "The Ancient"); and the fact that each "song" or movement occupies a full vinyl album side smacks somewhat of artificial structuring. But there is just so much excellent songwriting here too, and I challenge any veteran listener of this album to deny remembering some great lyrics or melodic hooks. (I can probably hum the whole album for you from start to finish, including the great solos!) And one certainly can't refute the mysticism and abstract optimism of the lyrics, which typically include a lot of word-painting and poetry as well. The lyrics are augmented by some of the best three-part vocal harmonies the band has ever done. (Listen to "Ritual".)
Excellent debut for Alan White on drums (which really sound great on this remastered version). Incredible guitar layering and solos by my favorite guitarist. ("Go get 'em, Steven!") Lots of piano and lush synth and mellotron washes from Wakeman add a dreamy coloring to much of the music. Squire's bass may be toned down a bit in the mix, but he's endlessly inventive on this album, and his solos comprise some of the album highlights for me personally.
When all is said and done, it doesn't really matter if you feel as I do about this album - it was undeniably controversial, even within the band! So it's no surprise that this album just won't succeed with some listeners (though I do object to those reviewers who join in on the lynching simply because it feels good to find fault with these seemingly "arrogant and pretentious" innovators of music). Even I am not above admitting that there were some subsequent Yes albums that really missed the mark for me too. (Open Your Eyes indeed!)
This was an ambitious undertaking by Anderson and Howe, and perhaps too spiritual, deep and cerebral for the halfhearted prog fan. (There is no humor to be found here.) But for the ardent fan of thoughtful, serious, meaningful, uplifting and emotional progressive rock played with unparalleled virtuosity, TFTO was a virtual masterpiece in its genre, and the uniquely inspirational magnum opus from a truly progressive band that was in its prime and seeking perfection.
I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 9/10; Performance = 9.5/10; Production = 9.5/10; CD length = 10/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 9.3 ("5 stars")
Free Music Review: The music stands the test of time
Hit: 5 Stars
What cracks me up upon reading the review of this supposed "dud", responsible for the "demise" of progressive rock and the advent of punk, is that for every negative review, there are at least 7 praising it as a masterpiece, and at least 3 holding a fairly favorable position. So, dear readers, make your own conclusions... Not to mention that most of the negative ones are so asinine that they can be dismissed entirely out of hand without risk. "Self-indulgent wankery"? Pleeeeease! Self indulgent wankery is that of people putting out records which readily betray the fact that their instrumental skill does not go beyond grabbing a firm hold of their instruments so they don't accidentally drop them on the floor.
Granted, this music demands attention to be fully appreciated, but great art always does. If you are looking for instant gratification, do yourself a favor and pass this one by. On the other hand, if what you want is something that you will be still listening to 30 years from now, and are up for the challenge, then by all means take the plunge, and do not be discouraged if it seems an uphill battle at first.
Free Music Review: Sounds clear as crystal
Hit: 5 Stars
The most important thing about this release is the sound quality. Even George Marino's WEA remaster release of this album is nothing when compared with Rhino's release. It's something like a sonic 3-D construction, because you can hear guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and vocals as separated parts, clear as crystal, if crystals could be heard. There's a missing intro for "Revealing" that I never heard in 30 years that gives a new perspective for this song. The best one for me still is "Ritual", one of Yes best songs ever. Long live to Tales, long live to Yes. Nous Somme Du Soleil. They always will be an eternal light in Rock History.Free Music Review: Progressive's ocean
Hit: 4 Stars
Una de dos: o maravillosamente complejo y mistico, o densamente aburrido. Dependiendo de como este el estado de animo del dia y de la apreciacion hacia el genero que se tenga. Cualquier palabra queriendo describir la experiencia no le hacen justicia, sea lo que sea que Yes queria decir con este disco es algo que cada uno como oyente debe hacerlo, si es que se tiene la paciencia de echarse todo el disco sin levantarse.
Si eso se hace, el oyente gana. Esto es progresivo en su mas grande escala y en su mas indescifrable. Y precisamente eso es lo que salva al disco al mismo tiempo que le clava el cuchillo.