Yes - Yes Album
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Free Music Notes for Yes Album
Free Music Review: Probably the most radio-played Progressive Rock album ever made
Hit: 5 Stars
When rock radio had to recognize that it had to let go of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and all the other established rock icon's of the sixties, a new sound was being sought after since all the legends we suddenly gone.
Yeah, many of us were ready to just get away from the "icon rock guitarist" and start to look for a sound that was much more adventurous and other-worldly. Suddenly, we started to explore the sound of Progressive Rock. It was a sound like it was trying to put Science Fiction to music. Some of the most intelligent rock music was recognized as "progressive rock". About 1970, Pink Floyd was venturing into experimental instrumental music and wasn't quite making much of an impact yet, but new bands like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, King Crimson, and Yes were really challenging our tolerances of what an adventure or a fantasy could sound like when put to music. I'd personally like to give credit to The Moody Blues for starting the humble beginnings of "progressive rock". The Moody Blues were like "gods" during their day because nobody else sounded like them and they were taking us into the worlds of questionable mystique (and spiritual guidance).
The first couple of albums from Yes sounded very experimental at best. Several groups from Europe were doing this and many never really hit international stardom like The Moody Blues did. But when Yes came out with this album "The Yes Album", this opened the door to unimaginable cerebral adventures and outer as well as inner space travel. Nearly every track on this album became an FM rock staple, but what made this Prog album such a legend (and a few of the following albums from Yes) are that these albums became even more important as they got older.
Even today's kids cannot deny that they're heard "I've Seen All Good People", "Yours is No Disgrace", and "Starship Trooper". Whenever I turn on typical classic rock radio, any given moment, one of these tracks will come on.
The early seventies had the most known classic albums from the progressive rock genre, but I'll bet they were growing stronger in appeal many years after they have been released. Prog artists are the Immortal Gods of album rock. You can't just buy a greatest hits album from prog rock bands. Their albums are extremely important episodes of the overall big picture of what album rock was all about.
Unfortunately, there probably aren't that many true "prog fossils" like myself anymore. But, I'm happy to continue to be Proudly Unhipp and hang on to the Rock icons of the Prog genre. I wouldn't doubt that my review here ever even gets read by anyone. Nobody's even responded to my review on Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's first album that I reviewed many years ago, so I must truly be the only "prog dinosaur" left. Nobody in California seems to care about 1970's Prog Rock. I'm originally from Detroit, Michigan and I wonder if they even care about Prog rock anymore. It's a lonely world still lovin' classic prog rock, but I will never give it up. It is the most creative and adventurous music ever made. Even to this day.
Free Music Review: The Classic Yes Album
Hit: 5 Stars
1970 found Yes with a new, multitalented guitarist in Steve Howe, and a new sound as Yes jumped feet-first into the then-hot progressive rock style.
The Yes Album catches the band at a crucial turning point from a sort of baroque/psychedelic pop group into a band that would soon become the very definition of prog rock. Keyboard player Tony Kaye would be replaced on the next album by Rick Wakeman, but 4/5ths of the "classic" lineup was already in place and the prog stylings only hinted at on the earlier lp's exploded for the first time into the classic Yes sound.
Every track on this record with the exception of "A Venture" has been a staple of classic rock radio for decades, even Howe's solo turn "Clap." Even though many songs get over-played, I find that The Yes Album still holds up as a tremendously solid record that never gets boring from the moment the band explodes into "Yours is no Disgrace" to the closing "Perpetual Change." This is in my opinion Yes's second best record ever after Close to the Edge, with Relayer a close third.
What makes this record stand out from the other Yes classics is the palpable sense of raw energy and excitement pouring out of the band as they explored what was at the time a new and endlessly explorable form of music. The jaded virtuosos to come could never have recorded those joyous close harmonies on "All Good People" or "Perpetual Change" quite so joyously. All these years later, when I think of the classic Yes sound, it's not "Roundabout" or something, it's those "and there you are..." choruses on "Perpetual Change."
Tony Kaye was an unfairly forgotten man once Wakeman came aboard, but his work is very effective and his "rockier" style (compared to Wakeman's "classical" style) actually fit these songs perfectly. Jon Anderson's singing has never been better, and his lyrics not as obtuse as they would soon become. Chris Squire was busy reinventing the possibilities for the bass guitar with his mighty Rickenbacker. My all-time favourite drummer Mr Bill Bruford was in his Yes hey-day, and Steve Howe's staggering abilities were the icing on the cake.
Close listeners and musicians can actually pick out some guitar parts that were edited in later, probably due to Howe's recent joining. It sounds to this musician's ears that the source of Howe's infamously trebly tone in spots is due to parts recorded late in the recording process at the wrong levels and edited in. I'm no audiophile but even casual listeners will notice a lot of details like that in this remastering. The "bonus tracks" are pretty useless but guitarists and Howe fanatics will love the expanded version of "Clap" with a bit of what later became "Mood for a Day" included.
As a music lover and a prog fan I give this 5 stars and a hefty recommendation.
Free Music Review: The start of the classic Yes sound.
Hit: 5 Stars
With the exception of Tony Kaye, this album was the beginning for Yes' classic lineup, which was Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire (the best bassist I've ever heard!), and Bill Bruford (and Rick Wakeman who would replace Tony on the keyboards on the next album). While a few lineup changes in the near future didn't really cause any severe problems (and that includes even when Jon was replaced), but this will always remain the lineup they're best known for. Many fans believe that The Yes Album was their first masterpiece. Well, I can't say for sure, since I also liked their debut, and I have yet to hear Time And A Word. But this album is great nonetheless, and definitely a masterpiece. The album opens up with Yours Is No Disgrace. While it's a bit too repetitive for my tastes, and while I personally don't think it can hold its own to future Yes album openers like Close To The Edge and The Gates of Delirium, it's still an awesome song, with great, obscure lyrics, and long soundscapes. I really don't care for the acoustic instrumental Clap; it's just Steve showcasing his talent on the acoustic guitar. However, the album really picks up Starship Trooper. It's easily my favorite off the album and one of my all-time favorite Yes songs. It's frantic, relaxing, spacy, [place adjective hear], everything I want in a Yes song. Then comes I've Seen All Good People, which is my 2nd favorite song off the album. It's also one of their most popular songs, right up there with Roundabout and Owner of A Lonely Heart. Tony Kaye (keyboards) gets to really shine here, especially near the end when his organ effect builds and builds until the whole song slowly fades out. Venture is mostly a keyboard song, dominated by Tony. While I think Rick Wakeman, who would come in after this album, was far superior (and you'd probably agree with me), he's still good. It's just not something I want to listen to every day like the others. Prepetual Change makes up for that song though. It's the 3rd best off the CD, as well as the jazziest and most melodic, and Jon's best peformance on the album. Like I've Seen All Good People, it keeps playing until it finally fades out. Thr lyrics are also great and fasinating.
My only real complaint is that the production is awfully dry. I mean really, really dry. Sometimes I have to listen real hard to hear an instrument. But still, that complaint is very minor. I would also like to compliment Chris' stellar bass work (which is also great on all the other albums). I, as a bassist with above average skill, can tell you that this stuff is VERY hard to play. He's my favorite member of the band and my favorite bassist of all time. So buy this album if you're a Yes fan, or if you're looking for some great progressive rock. Though I wouldn't recommend it for newbies (that's what Close To The Edge is for).
Free Music Review: Arty accessibilty - Yes at their most immediate.
Hit: 5 Stars
Yeah, I have no idea what the heck these songs are about, either. Anybody who claims to draw deep spiritual meaning from Jon Anderson's lyrics has either taken a lot of drugs in their youth or is putting you on. But the music speaks to you on levels other than the literal: soaring, ebullient, noble, and challenging...and all held together by the debut of one of rock 'n' roll's most commanding guitarists, goofy-toothed self-taught string-bendin' genius Steve Howe.
"Starship Trooper" is a star turn worth enshrining, "Clap" is the concept of "chops" boiled down into 3m17s of acoustic honky-prog perfection, the filigrees on "Yours Is No Disgrace" singlehandedly prevent that song from sagging under the weight of its running time, and while I might argue that "Perpetual Change" is an awful lot of the former and not nearly enough of the latter, everything comes together for "I've Seen All Good People," where these five snooty prog-rockers manage to combine all of their various ideas and influences into a fittingly joyful 6 & 1/2 minute celebration of arty accessiblity. If you're new to Yes and wondering where to begin with them, look no further: you begin here. Fragile probably gets more good press than this one (because of the addition of Rick Wakeman on keys), but this is their most immediately welcoming album. What's more, its immediacy isn't merely ephemeral; you can (and hopefully will) go on to buy many more Yes albums to hear the full sprawl of their career, but I guarantee that you, like me, will keep returning to this jolly little stolen moment from 1971. A time when progressive music sounded so fresh and outrageously memorable precisely because nobody knew what the boundaries were yet. This might not be Yes' most "accomplished" album, nor contain their single greatest song...but if I conclude that on The Yes Album, early into their career, they put out their most truly definitive work, understand that theirs is no disgrace for it.
So who cares if you can't make heads or tails of most of these lyrics? Jon Anderson has always argued that most of the time he meant his voice to function as a mere instrument in the ensemble anyway, singing contrapuntal melodies to strengthen the overall harmonic musical structure, and that the words were often chosen with that in mind. (To be perfectly honest, the only major progressive band you should be listening to strictly for the lyrics is Genesis, and then only during the Gabriel years.) Yes has always been about the MUSIC, and the music on this album is the sweetest and most joyfully energetic affirmation of their stated goal available.
Free Music Review: My favorite Yes album....
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok, I am listening to "The Yes Album" for the first time in many years - in digital format, no less - having been on a little bit of a "break" from certain kinds of music. It's just so long one can go before they start craving music bordering on other- worldly... at least that's how it is for me.
The Yes Album is my favorite Yes album. With the addition of Steve Howe to the line-up, the band seemed to take on a different energy and form. There is no disputing that Howe was an "up-grade" in the guitar dept. for the band. But, he seemed to bring with him a different direction that the band sorely needed. I did not know this - if not for the liner notes included in this expanded edition - but, the band was on the verge of being dropped by their label. Howe may very well have saved them from such a fate - and all of us from being deprived of Yes music as we all know it today.
The line-up on "The Yes Album" represents my favorite Yes incarnation. I like the line-up which added Howe, but retained Tony Kaye on keyboards... and with Bill Bruford still on drums. On this album, Yes still has that "jazz-folk-rock" feel. With the up-coming loss of both the band's more jazzy influences (Kaye and Bruford) within the next 1-2 years, Yes would lose that original flavor in their music and move towards a more "classical" rock (aka "Progressive Rock") feel. That's cool... but "The Yes Album" is THE one and only example of what I view as the definitive Yes sound. Arguable? Of course. But, this is MY review.
"Your Is No Disgrace" is a heck of a track to kick-off the album with. One of my favorite songs by Yes..... Steve Howe's "The Clap" was one of those tunes that made me both want to throw my guitar in a dumpster, as well as continue to try to develop my playing further.... "Starship Trooper" is another of my favorite Yes tracks. Not unlike The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever", or the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", "Starship Trooper" is, at times, not so much a song as a dream-like state..... "All Good People" was one of those tunes that first attracted me to Yes in the first place..... "A Venture" is a great song with some neat piano work by Tony Kaye, and cool bass runs by Chris Squire.... and "Perpetual Change" - what can I say about this song other than it is a brilliant piece of music. Everything is going on in that song in just the right amounts.
I've yet to hear the bonus tracks, but they don't appear to be anything to get too excited about. The studio version of "The Clap" will be cool, for sure.
Yes's finest album recorded by their finest line-up.