I've gone back and listened to the whole album - the first time since its release... Its not as bad as I remembered... point in fact, if you listen on TH-cam, and watch it at 1.25 speed, it improves quite a lot. It makes me want to take a stab at remastering it as a fan's album. Thank you, Todd Evans for spotting the thing that makes Jon Anderson so unique... he's got a bite in his voice that Jon Davidson doesn't. I thought Davidson's voice really worked with Glass Hammer, but I think they wrote music that combined well with the smoothness of his voice.
Hey guys! Thanks for the review of this album. I respect your opinions of the album. However, in my humble opinion, this is the worst Yes album to be released. I can't even get thru the whole album in 1 sitting. I haven't tried listening to it in about 5 years. Maybe in another 5 years I'll try it again. Again, if I had to rank it....maybe a 2.....and that's a stretch. And yes, I'm a HUGE Yes fan. There's nothing on this album that remotely interests me. Sorry. Again, I loved your guys takes on it though. Very interesting.
Do you gents like Magnification? I really like it as the last really amazing Chris Squire outing. I think the orchestrations suit the writing and feel like it's seriously overlooked, maybe even "contrarian..."
@@GrantsRockWarehausJust to give you an idea of what you're missing, Magnification is my 2nd favorite Yes album and 6th in all music history. Just under the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history, Tales From Topographic Oceans.
This is the most negative I have ever seen Todd in any episode, and I agree with him! I love his idea that RTB walked out on it, probably true. Also concur that Squire and White were not 100% at this time, I think they were both struggling with health issues, hence the pretty limp rhythm section on this album. Plus no Jon Anderson, who usually was the motivational force. Pretty weak tea for a Yes album for many reasons.
As weak as it is, it's still Yes music. Not because it has the name Yes on it. But because it was created by Yes. Heaven And Earth does fit in the Yes catalog whether anyone likes it or not. ABWH proved to me that their album is not Yes music, and should never be. Yet, Union is Yes music in spite of the fact that 2/3 of that Yes album are songs from ABWH. Those Union songs are as Yes as ABWH could ever hope to be.
My issue with this album is that NO ONE seems to care on this album. Everything plays like a funeral dirge. But... the worst part by far is Jon Davison. He can do the classic Yes songs justice in concert, but here, when forced to sing his own melodies he sounds like he's shy, or perhaps nervous to do his own thing. There's no conviction, no kick to any of it. I'd love to see a great producer handed this album, maybe ask Horn to do it, and bring Davison back for another stab at it, and it might be a passable Yes album, but as it is, it's a damn shame that this was Squire's last album. I said it after this album came out, I wish Benoit David were singing on the albums, and Davison was touring. It would give us the best of both worlds in a post Anderson world.
This one is almost the bottom of the barrel of Yes for me. I know for me it was over-hyped as I loved Jon's work with Glass Hammer and thought the sound of those albums would be what we would see translated over. Both "The Ladder," and "Magnification" were pretty energetic and did a good job of pushing the classic sound forward, so I thought this would be a highlight. I feel like the production on here is what really makes a big impact towards the negative - sure the songs are mostly sloppy-pop-rock tunes with echoes of the band in the next room, but it just SOUNDS flat and uninteresting. There's a few fun chorus lines and melodies, but not much else. Now that we've gotten a few more albums with this (mostly same) lineup, I can say that I actually enjoy this one more than The Quest (save for that album's opening tracks), but Mirror to the Sky I think shows a bit more of the direction the band can go in.
I tend to agree. It's not like Open Your Eyes is really great or anything but I think Universal Garden and Fortune Seller are about on the level of Tormato and The Solution sounds like a mashup of 70's Yes and 80's/ early 90's Yes.
I put most of the blame 🤷 for this on a well past his prime Roy Thomas Baker not capably Producing. His days with Queen , The Cars & Journey a distant memory.
Nope. Open Your Eyes by far worst YES album. This is next. Only song worthy on this album is Subway Ways…a great track! OYE only has Steve’s Balcony song which is pleasant but not great in any way.
Yeah I would place this album just above 'Open Your Eyes' at the bottom. Billy (and I like him/his bass playing as well) may have engineered alot of this album, but at least it doesn't have his production values as well (Like 'Open Your Eyes') with that wall of bassy thickness and muddy layered vocals. Heaven & Earth is an odd, too mid tempo /easy listening album to have been placed under the YES banner, but hey I will put it on now and again if I'm in a mellower mood - glad I have the CD though.
Wow, lucky I got it when it came out as well as the original version of Fly From Here too, (which I like better than the ‘revisited’ one) which is difficult to find.
@@GrantsRockWarehausI really don't understand the hate that Open Your Eyes gets. I will admit that it's the worst Yes album with Anderson on it. And I only listen to it twice or thrice a year skipping over Fortune Seller and Man In The Moon. If I only have 25 minutes to listen to it, I'll skip a couple more, probably From The Balcony and The Solution. Not because they're bad songs. But because they are my least favorite songs from my least favorite Yes album with Anderson on it. There are only two GREAT YES POP SONGS on OYE. New State Of Mind is so outstanding pop Yes. In the top 10 of the Yes pop catalog. And I love Love Shine so much, It's my 2nd favorite pop song of that decade. Only Mysterious Ways is a better pop song in all the 1990s. Love Shine alone is worth the cost of OYE.
I agree that this album really lacks any kick. I really tried to like it when I first got it. But it sounds like the band went out to pasture for this one. I didn’t buy The Quest until after getting Mirror to the Sky because Heaven and Earth made me give up on the band. Oh, yes. Jon Davison is very soft, clean, and clear. Jon Anderson could put some punch in his voice, put some edge in there. Davison is too soft. Nice guy. Good singer. But soft. Nah, this is Yes’s retirement home prog album.
@@stephenzevetchinThe only song I skip is Don't Go. Everything else is very good or great Yes songs. In The Presence Of is the sequel to Ritual. And the rest of that album is almost as great as Tales From Topographic Oceans, which is the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history.
A very boring album that other than the names involved is very hard to call Yes....I agree with Grant, Squire is Yes as that is the focal point for me and its almost non existent....
I hate to say it, but I believe that not getting Anderson back in Yes is why Chris lost his life to cancer. If Anderson was brought back after Benoit was finished, Anderson Squire Howe and maybe even Wakeman would be kicking butts. And Alan might still be with us.
Open Your Eyes might be the worst Yes album that Anderson is on. But compared to all Yes albums without Anderson, OYE is very good in spite of the two lousy songs on it.
I've gone back and listened to the whole album - the first time since its release... Its not as bad as I remembered... point in fact, if you listen on TH-cam, and watch it at 1.25 speed, it improves quite a lot. It makes me want to take a stab at remastering it as a fan's album. Thank you, Todd Evans for spotting the thing that makes Jon Anderson so unique... he's got a bite in his voice that Jon Davidson doesn't. I thought Davidson's voice really worked with Glass Hammer, but I think they wrote music that combined well with the smoothness of his voice.
Hey guys! Thanks for the review of this album. I respect your opinions of the album. However, in my humble opinion, this is the worst Yes album to be released. I can't even get thru the whole album in 1 sitting. I haven't tried listening to it in about 5 years. Maybe in another 5 years I'll try it again. Again, if I had to rank it....maybe a 2.....and that's a stretch. And yes, I'm a HUGE Yes fan. There's nothing on this album that remotely interests me. Sorry. Again, I loved your guys takes on it though. Very interesting.
Thank you
Do you gents like Magnification? I really like it as the last really amazing Chris Squire outing. I think the orchestrations suit the writing and feel like it's seriously overlooked, maybe even "contrarian..."
Minty, I don't think I've heard Magnification... yikes
@@GrantsRockWarehausJust to give you an idea of what you're missing, Magnification is my 2nd favorite Yes album and 6th in all music history. Just under the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history, Tales From Topographic Oceans.
This band changed my musical world. I love them dearly and I see them live when I can.
But I have no use for any of their albums after Drama.
Drama = brilliant
@@GrantsRockWarehausVery brilliant indeed. Finest album Buggles ever made.
Rand Kelly is BACK...and I told u so...😎👍🎹🎛🎚🎼😎👍
he never left... lol
This is the most negative I have ever seen Todd in any episode, and I agree with him! I love his idea that RTB walked out on it, probably true. Also concur that Squire and White were not 100% at this time, I think they were both struggling with health issues, hence the pretty limp rhythm section on this album. Plus no Jon Anderson, who usually was the motivational force. Pretty weak tea for a Yes album for many reasons.
As weak as it is, it's still Yes music. Not because it has the name Yes on it. But because it was created by Yes. Heaven And Earth does fit in the Yes catalog whether anyone likes it or not. ABWH proved to me that their album is not Yes music, and should never be. Yet, Union is Yes music in spite of the fact that 2/3 of that Yes album are songs from ABWH. Those Union songs are as Yes as ABWH could ever hope to be.
My issue with this album is that NO ONE seems to care on this album. Everything plays like a funeral dirge. But... the worst part by far is Jon Davison. He can do the classic Yes songs justice in concert, but here, when forced to sing his own melodies he sounds like he's shy, or perhaps nervous to do his own thing. There's no conviction, no kick to any of it. I'd love to see a great producer handed this album, maybe ask Horn to do it, and bring Davison back for another stab at it, and it might be a passable Yes album, but as it is, it's a damn shame that this was Squire's last album.
I said it after this album came out, I wish Benoit David were singing on the albums, and Davison was touring. It would give us the best of both worlds in a post Anderson world.
Enjoyed the discussion! I'm still on the fence about this album. On a scale from 1 to 10. I give it a 3.5. Take Care!
3.5... I get that
This one is almost the bottom of the barrel of Yes for me. I know for me it was over-hyped as I loved Jon's work with Glass Hammer and thought the sound of those albums would be what we would see translated over. Both "The Ladder," and "Magnification" were pretty energetic and did a good job of pushing the classic sound forward, so I thought this would be a highlight.
I feel like the production on here is what really makes a big impact towards the negative - sure the songs are mostly sloppy-pop-rock tunes with echoes of the band in the next room, but it just SOUNDS flat and uninteresting. There's a few fun chorus lines and melodies, but not much else.
Now that we've gotten a few more albums with this (mostly same) lineup, I can say that I actually enjoy this one more than The Quest (save for that album's opening tracks), but Mirror to the Sky I think shows a bit more of the direction the band can go in.
"Open Your Eyes" is a thousand times better than "Heaven and Hell"
3-4 damn good tracks on Open Your Eyes.
To me, Love Shine is the 2nd best pop song of that whole decade. Only Mysterious Ways is better.
I tend to agree. It's not like Open Your Eyes is really great or anything but I think Universal Garden and Fortune Seller are about on the level of Tormato and The Solution sounds like a mashup of 70's Yes and 80's/ early 90's Yes.
Open your Eyes is an easy target for people and I understand but if you give it a chance there are some good moments.
Listening to this record, for the first time in a VERY long time, to prepare for this show. I saw this tour as well.
and...
I believe Roy Thomas Baker also produced 3 Ships for Jon Anderson in 1985.
Do I have 3 ships?? I'll have to look
I put most of the blame 🤷 for this on a well past his prime Roy Thomas Baker not capably Producing. His days with Queen , The Cars & Journey a distant memory.
I think it was a combo of things... Yes should have hung it up way before this
Didn't he wreck Tormato?
Love the band, not a big fan of this record. Lineup changes and time do odd things to the sound and dynamics. Bottom of the catalog dweller for sure.
Wait till you hear Pete and my ranking on the Firefall catalog! haha
th-cam.com/video/aSMwnrs_gP0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pwsPTiWZo94EUkMA
Nope. Open Your Eyes by far worst YES album. This is next. Only song worthy on this album is Subway Ways…a great track! OYE only has Steve’s Balcony song which is pleasant but not great in any way.
Yeah I would place this album just above 'Open Your Eyes' at the bottom. Billy (and I like him/his bass playing as well) may have engineered alot of this album, but at least it doesn't have his production values as well (Like 'Open Your Eyes') with that wall of bassy thickness and muddy layered vocals. Heaven & Earth is an odd, too mid tempo /easy listening album to have been placed under the YES banner, but hey I will put it on now and again if I'm in a mellower mood - glad I have the CD though.
The CD isn't cheap if you are trying to pick one up... ouch!
Wow, lucky I got it when it came out as well as the original version of Fly From Here too, (which I like better than the ‘revisited’ one) which is difficult to find.
@@GrantsRockWarehausI really don't understand the hate that Open Your Eyes gets. I will admit that it's the worst Yes album with Anderson on it. And I only listen to it twice or thrice a year skipping over Fortune Seller and Man In The Moon. If I only have 25 minutes to listen to it, I'll skip a couple more, probably From The Balcony and The Solution. Not because they're bad songs. But because they are my least favorite songs from my least favorite Yes album with Anderson on it. There are only two GREAT YES POP SONGS on OYE. New State Of Mind is so outstanding pop Yes. In the top 10 of the Yes pop catalog. And I love Love Shine so much, It's my 2nd favorite pop song of that decade. Only Mysterious Ways is a better pop song in all the 1990s. Love Shine alone is worth the cost of OYE.
Fun show ❤❤
I agree that this album really lacks any kick. I really tried to like it when I first got it. But it sounds like the band went out to pasture for this one. I didn’t buy The Quest until after getting Mirror to the Sky because Heaven and Earth made me give up on the band.
Oh, yes. Jon Davison is very soft, clean, and clear. Jon Anderson could put some punch in his voice, put some edge in there. Davison is too soft. Nice guy. Good singer. But soft.
Nah, this is Yes’s retirement home prog album.
yep
I’d rather give someone “Tormato” as an intro.
the last best Yes album was Magnification, i'm afraid after that my lifetime Yes journey ended unfortunately.
Even that is uninspired and crappy
Magnification is magnificent. Only Tales is better.
@charleswagner2984 is completely uninspired and forgettable
@@stephenzevetchinThe only song I skip is Don't Go. Everything else is very good or great Yes songs. In The Presence Of is the sequel to Ritual. And the rest of that album is almost as great as Tales From Topographic Oceans, which is the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history.
Davison, not Davidson…
Terribleson
We get on a roll...
Grant, you have to let your guests finish their thoughts.
Haha… it’s all good. It’s very loose. I’m not like the other shows
Grant has star quality. That's how he gets away with it.😊
@@micolsen9824 and it's my show... haha
A very boring album that other than the names involved is very hard to call Yes....I agree with Grant, Squire is Yes as that is the focal point for me and its almost non existent....
Thanks Mark!
The beginning of their full and complete self destruction.
Such a sad album to end Chris' career
I hate to say it, but I believe that not getting Anderson back in Yes is why Chris lost his life to cancer. If Anderson was brought back after Benoit was finished, Anderson Squire Howe and maybe even Wakeman would be kicking butts. And Alan might still be with us.
Egos and cancer killed the band. Please disband!!!please!!
Unlistenable. It isnt Yes. Yes is now Mes!
It's open your eyes 2 = crap
Open Your Eyes might be the worst Yes album that Anderson is on. But compared to all Yes albums without Anderson, OYE is very good in spite of the two lousy songs on it.