Most 80s albums seem really dated when I hear them now whether it’s new wave, Rush, Chicago, etc. even 90125 sounds 80s to me. I’ve been listening to Chicago a lot this year and the song Hard Habit to Break has a part in it that reminds me of 90125. It probably not popular that I have 90125 ranked where I have it but that’s ok. I still like the album. It’s just not high up on the list for me.
With very few exceptions (my 4 favorites are 1). Tales 2). CTTE 3). The Yes Album 4). Relayer), my ranking is exactly the same as yours! Good taste! I'm curious: Where would you put Mirror to the Sky?
I’ve listened to Mirror enough times where I know it’s better than their last album, the quest. I think I need to let it settle more. When I figure it out I’ll make a Yes Rankings, Chapter 2 video. Like I said in the video I had Tales #1 FOREVER and I went back to Relayer recently. Right now it’s probably a tie. Haha. Love ❤️ them both.
@@coachplyoguy2637 I go back and forth between my top 4....they're all top notch albums so it's hard to decide. I agree about Mirror to the Sky. Not sure where I'd put it either, but I'd put it above the Quest, which I liked quite a bit!
When it comes to Yes opinions I'm in the minority (I guess that's a given since I'm a huge supporter of the Rabin era). 90125, BiG, and Talk albums never left my Top Six, my #1 is going for the one, Nothing Yes did I would classify as terrible, although it took me up until Mirror to the Sky for me to get used to Davison. Also, don't know what is to blame for this but I have CONSISTENTLY struggled to get into Topographic and Relayer for the entire year-and-change I've been a Yes fan. No matter what environment I try I simply can't appreciate those two albums, I know I should, but something isn't clicking like TYA or Fragile does. One of, if not THE only thing me and 'usual' Yes fans would agree on is that Circus of Heaven sucks heaps
Ok good job, Sammi. There’s a lot to unpack here. ✅❤️👍💰 The Rabin Era is fine. There’s some hidden gems in those albums. I’m a big Shoot High Aim Low, Final Eyes, and Holy Lamb guy. It can happen, Our Song, City of Love, and Hearts make 90125 for an interesting listen. Talk puts me in a good mood. Going For The One as a #1? I get it. Seems like at this point we are committed to Davison. I like his spirit and his song writing. He seems like a nice man based on interviews. And if Chris, Steve and Alan approved of him that’s good enough for me. I can’t help but wonder about Benoit. Such a beautiful voice and he sounds just like Tevor Horn and Jon Anderson. Crazy! Mirror is a big upgrade over H&E and The Quest. What’s your roadblock on TFTO and Relayer? Not into jazz? It may take you some time to come around on those two. Circus of Heaven. Hmmmm. No clowns? 🤡 🍭 🐘🦁🤡🤡🤡
@@coachplyoguy2637 I can't deduce my roadblock on Topographic and Relayer, all I know is that a) there is a roadblock and b) it must be a big ol' boulder. As for the Davison era, I've actually had thoughts about considering whether or not it is ethical to ALSO call Billy Sherwood the Fish bc of the good job he's done carrying on Squire's legacy (the keyword here is *also*). And as for Davie himself....Not Anderson obviously but pretty damn close. Only one who sounds closer to Anderson I think is Horn. I'll admit I used to be a Davison skeptic, but then 'Cut from the Stars' came out and it reminded me of 'Parallels' (my highlight on GFTO) and that was all it took to change my mind. I am one who champions the respect of opinions apart from one's own, but....I read a comment once that said 'Yes did nothing great after 1980' or something like that and internally I cringed so hard...Changes, Our Song, Shoot High, Final Eyes, Holy Lamb and I'm Running all hearken back to classic Yes. And Endless Dream literally exists, I named a recent road trip after it. If only those Howe-worshipping, anti-Rabin snooties would learn not to judge an album by its 'Owner.' At this point, my love of YesWest is doubling as activism. I can't get over how criminally underrated Talk is.
@@Sammeep02 I’m impressed by your Yes knowledge and fandom. How long have you been listening to Yes? Did you mention one year? Tales and Relayer are special. Steve is amazing on them. Some day you will connect with them. Davison and Sherwood are the future of Yes. They must keep writing together. Billy has his own nickname and symbol. I can’t remember what it is but it’s in The Ladder 🪜 insert. He’s a polarizing figure for Yes fans, but I think he’s up to the challenge. I’ve never been a hater. JD seems like a good dude. He must keep writing and collaborating with SH and BS. Keep the train rolling. Endless Dream is pure genius. Talk is solid. The song I don’t like is the one that goes “you are my soul and this you are.” The rest of the album is muy muy bueno. Right on.
The first time I ever heard of Yes was the Roundabout "to be continued" meme in 2017, and sadly that was all I knew 'till last year when my brush with Genesis eventually expanded to other prog bands. ;) (However, I will admit getting into YES the same year Alan passed is a crazy feeling.) In retrospect I'm surprised that with my memory I don't even remember hearing 'Owner' anywhere in public before or since. Yeeeep they've only been in my life that short, but I already know that as far as my taste is concerned they're gonna be the next Queen (I am as into Yes now as I was into Queen in my early teens, around the time Chris passed) Speaking of the Ladder, that's probably my favorite cover art, only thing I'd change about it would be the "traditional" Yes logo instead of the block one. All proggers eventually become able to recognize Roger Dean artworks by sight;)
I did a album ranking on my channel in 2022. Here it is. 20- Heaven & Earth 19- The Quest 18- Tales From Topographic Oceans 17- Yes 16- Time and a Word 15- Open our Eyes 14- Fly From Here 13- Magnification 12- Talk 11- The Ladder 10- Close to the Edge 9- The Yes Album 8- Big Generator 7- Union 6- Fragile 5- 90125 4- Relayer 3- Drama 2- Going For the One 1- Tormato
Trevor Rabin gets a lot stick for 90125 and the Big Generator albums. He started a project with Squire which had nothing to do with YES, eventually Anderson came on board, they had a big 80's hit and the rest is history. If you're a YES fan then this is the mentality you should have for these albums. It's unfair on Rabin who had songs already written and wasn't asked to recreate "Closer To The Edge" Part 2.
Well well well said. I can't believe I have to act like an activist to defend Trevor and his contributions to Yes. This isn't just a Yes thing..I'm like this for Asia and 80's Genesis too...and basically every "prog-gone-pop" phenomenon. And you think all the people who bash Rabin (I imagine the people in question undeniably WORSHIP Howe) would like the current Yes with Howe involved, right? WRONG! They call it stuff like the "Steve Howe Show," and they say "no Anderson no YES" (in general, "no [band] without [iconic member]" people get on my nerves...I've had to deal with that for my entire classic rock fandom career). It should also be understood that not everything can be Topographic Oceans, if that's the case then people such as myself (who had no history of liking any songs longer than 'Bohemian Rhapsody' prior to my first encounter with 'Suppers Ready' 2 yrs ago) would consistently struggle to get into much less appreciate prog. Not to mention, I'm tired of people thinking Rabin replaced Howe...
Supper's was the song that finally made me overcome my hesitancy to songs longer than ~6 minutes. It feels like a cohesive story, that and Tarkus. Close the Edge doesn't vibe the same as those two.
29:44 You would open up the vinyl album sleeve and there would be a picture of some cliffs on “the edge” of the world. Hence the album cover is “close” to “the edge”. 🤓
Is this the photo you are referring to? This photo is inside the CD insert after a couple of pages of lyrics. You can click the link it's safe (from Genius) images.app.goo.gl/ns6TNq1N2f3iiaaf6
Top 10 1. Close to the Edge 2. Fragile 3. Relayer 4. The Yes Album 5. Drama 6. Going for the One 7. Tales from Topographic Oceans 8. Tormato 9. 90125 10. Big Generator I also like Talk and The Ladder, first two are ok, other than that nothing to rank.
1. Close to the Edge 2. Fragile 3. Yes Album 4. Drama 5. Going for the One 6. Tormato 7. 90125 8. Tales from Topographic Oceans 9. Relayer 10. Time and a Word 11. Talk 12. Big Generator 13. Magnification Never listened to the rest of them and I'm in no rush to do so.
my Top 10- I really love the Yes Album and Drama. not a huge fan of Topographic Oceans. 1. Close to the Edge 2. The Yes Album 3. Drama 4. Fragile 5. 90125 6. Going for the One 7. Relayer 8. Tormato 9. Big Generator 10. Tales from Topographic Oceans
Drama is too low on your list, BUT, I am very impressed that you have Relayer as your #1; GREAT record! Their best sheer PLAYING record definitely. It isn't actually my #1 YES record, but I wouldn't argue with that choice. Relayer is YES playing jazz/rock, and they do a FANTASTIC job! Moraz is KILLING on Relayer. Chris Squire on mostly the Fender Jazz bass, NOT the Rickenbacker, and he was never funkier than on Relayer.
Relaxer and TFTP are my two undisputed favorites. Drama is a fine album, but it’s a level below the top 4 Yes albums. I like does it really happen a lot.
I choose not to because I consider it a compilation album. I made a Keys to Ascension review if you care to listen. I think this link should take you there. m.th-cam.com/video/DiWm2AC4nPA/w-d-xo.html
I would have agreed with you from 1995-2022 and then I listened to them back to back on a road trip. Tormato is the better album. It sounded rich and full compared to Drama which sounded thin and slow in comparison. That was an enlightening experience for me. Surprising too.
Well I have my favorites on both of the albums, but really I don’t get too worked up about the bottom end of the Yes catalog. Last month I listened to Union twice and it’s better than I remembered. But a spot here or there doesn’t make too much of a difference. Those three albums are clearly better than OYE in my mind anyway.
@@FormulaProg the Yes West songs are fairly decent. Especially saving my heart. It’s not that I don’t like Rabin Era. Hell today I listened to Cant Look Away album. It’s pretty god damn good. I really like The Game. And the first song on Heaven and Earth. 🌎 can’t think of the name of it.
I lost my yes mojo in the 90s ..they just got to commerical and lost their edge. There are no replacements for squire and anderson. Ctte is 1 for me, it gets tougher after that. Probably fragile, tales, relayer, yes album, the one, drama, 90125. The rest are not quite there but i havent spent a lot.of time on them so its probably unfair.
Tormota wasn't as good as it could be, because the band was wound up so tight that they couldn't slow down and make it work. After years of listening to mediocre music, I've come back to Tormato, and some of the songs really strike me as wonderful, but the "Circus of Heaven, Arriving UFO," and "Don't Kill the Whale" were too much of their time, and the sound engineer must have cranked up "Cringe" to 11 on those tracks. As it was, I think he broke off the treble knob. The sound was not well balanced. You can tell the band wasn't satisfied when they left the studio. Depending on which story you hear, either Chris Squire or Rick Wakeman delivered his opinion by throwing the tomato at the cover art.
Yeah it’s a controversial take to have Tormato ahead of Drama but it’s taken me 30 years to get there. Two things about the speed, the tempos and melodies are much faster than Relayer or GFTO. It is quite startling how fast the music is. Secondly, the speed of the band (probably drugs, we have heard rumors on other albums like Talk Big Generator) has the band passively confrontational towards each other. Jon also admitted in Yes Years that he took his foot off the pedal from a production standpoint. Of the 3 songs you mentioned, Arriving UFO (good keyboards) and Don’t Kill the Whale (excellent lead guitar) work and Circus of Heaven falls flat. The EQ on Tormato doesn’t bother me. There are many other albums where the treble is turned up too high for my liking - Yes-related ABWH (treble too high), And Justice for All (same, AND they also mixed out Jason), all 80s Misfits albums, and most pop albums from 2005 onward the annoying snare drum sound. Those can be fixed with modern day EQ presets (like on iPod) and older style graphic EQ dials and knobs on stereos. I can usually adjust EQ to my liking. Thanks for the comment. What’s your favorite Yes album? What’s your least favorite? What’s your most underrated and overrated?
Relayer is by far my favorite yes album and has been since i first got into yes. It is not only their most techical and impressive album but it is also filled with the most soulfull and expressive passages ever made by the band. Some parts of this album have brought genuine tears to my eyes, like the guitar solo in the middle of the gates, the final crescendo at the end of soon, or the final lyrics in the album, "dont doubt your part be ready to be loved." This is truly a beautiful album and by far my favorite piece of music ever made.
To me, relayer is spoilt by sound chaser. It's probably just me, but I do hate jazz. The sound of that piano at the beginning is enough for me to run away hard. The rest is just chaos. The other two songs are masterpieces though. For me close to the edge is the best. I actually like 90210. It's a very different style, and certainly not their best, but I like it. Owner of a lonely heart is a great song.
The vocals are better on FFH. The content is less doomy. I hear a lot of The Ladder in The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be. Life On A Film Set is great. Into the Storm sounds awesome. FFH Suite is perfect. It’s not that I think lowly of Drama. Fine album. They could have spiced up Drama a bit more. I like Machine, Happen, Lens, and Fugit.
Thanks bro. In some cases it’s difficult for me to choose. When I get stuck I usually decide by “which album have I listened to more?” Or “which would I rather listen to right now?” I’m not even saying I dislike 90125. I listened to it a lot back in 97. I prefer H&E even though the album is poorly produced. Yes and RTB could have done more.
@@Sammeep02 I would argue that Vapor Trials is a metal album. Fly By Night is close - especially the song Anthem. No band is ever only 1 thing or genre. Pink Floyd doesn’t fit perfectly in one category other than generally calling it rock, rock n roll, or progressive rock. Rush is more closer to metal than Pink Floyd. Rush isn’t Metallica, but even Metallica isn’t metal all the time. We use descriptors not to put things in a box to say it can only be one thing. That’s nonsense. Rush is metal, hard rock, prog rock, space rock, pop, prog pop, progressive metal, etc. Rush’s versatility is one of the main reasons I like Rush. I would argue that Metallica is metal too. But they are not only metal. Metallica has hard rock albums more like Alice In Chains. Also, Yellow Submarine, Strawberry Fields, and Maxwells Hammer are children’s music, but it’s also rock, rock n roll, psychedelic rock and probably 10 other descriptors. This goes back to the “No Jon, No Yes.” Think about what you are listening to and what it sounds like and what is the impact to the user/audience. That’s what’s important. This is how I can enjoy Yes, YesWest, ABWH, Pink Floyd in multiple incarnations, and Alice In Chains with either Layne Staley or Will Duvall. It’s all good. They all different in infinite ways, but I can enjoy them and not worry about what category they fit. Sorry I made the offhand comment that Rush is metal, (they can be, so it’s accurate) but it doesn’t paint the whole picture of Rush with one broad stroke.
@@coachplyoguy2637 Which reminds me....as one examines a style then one can better determine the practitioners of such a style. Back in the early days (we're talking the year of Our Lord MMXV) Queen were BOTH metal and prog to me. Now, they are neither. And around that time everything I knew of the 70s and 80s, from a-ha to Metallica, only had one label: "classic rock." Eventually I had a brief modern power metal phase quickly followed by my second Queen phase which eventually got me hooked up with prog Genesis....and having examined them all now not even Queen can be put into a box. I will not deny, however, that 'Stone Cold Crazy' influenced metal and their first 3 albums take massive influence from prog. What I meant by that comment is that although not the common descriptors for those two bands, they are still true descriptors for some of their material.
The yes album. Going for the one. Yessongs.
Bruford is the Man
ive listened to 90125 COUNTLESS TIMES. Never gets old. Always sounds like the first time. Fragile next
Most 80s albums seem really dated when I hear them now whether it’s new wave, Rush, Chicago, etc. even 90125 sounds 80s to me. I’ve been listening to Chicago a lot this year and the song Hard Habit to Break has a part in it that reminds me of 90125. It probably not popular that I have 90125 ranked where I have it but that’s ok. I still like the album. It’s just not high up on the list for me.
Relayer is likely the most technical album ever made. Mind-blowing
Relayer and Tales are my two favorites - nearly interchangeable.
Your top three was spot on
I have a lot of the Yes LP's. I think the first and second LP's to be the best. The best of the rest would fit a 2-3 CD set.
Topographic is my favorite!
I think I’ve already switched back to TFTO is my favorite. Relayer is a ultra close 2nd.
With very few exceptions (my 4 favorites are 1). Tales 2). CTTE 3). The Yes Album 4). Relayer), my ranking is exactly the same as yours! Good taste! I'm curious: Where would you put Mirror to the Sky?
I’ve listened to Mirror enough times where I know it’s better than their last album, the quest. I think I need to let it settle more. When I figure it out I’ll make a Yes Rankings, Chapter 2 video. Like I said in the video I had Tales #1 FOREVER and I went back to Relayer recently. Right now it’s probably a tie. Haha. Love ❤️ them both.
@@coachplyoguy2637 I go back and forth between my top 4....they're all top notch albums so it's hard to decide. I agree about Mirror to the Sky. Not sure where I'd put it either, but I'd put it above the Quest, which I liked quite a bit!
When it comes to Yes opinions I'm in the minority (I guess that's a given since I'm a huge supporter of the Rabin era). 90125, BiG, and Talk albums never left my Top Six, my #1 is going for the one, Nothing Yes did I would classify as terrible, although it took me up until Mirror to the Sky for me to get used to Davison. Also, don't know what is to blame for this but I have CONSISTENTLY struggled to get into Topographic and Relayer for the entire year-and-change I've been a Yes fan. No matter what environment I try I simply can't appreciate those two albums, I know I should, but something isn't clicking like TYA or Fragile does.
One of, if not THE only thing me and 'usual' Yes fans would agree on is that Circus of Heaven sucks heaps
Ok good job, Sammi. There’s a lot to unpack here. ✅❤️👍💰
The Rabin Era is fine. There’s some hidden gems in those albums. I’m a big Shoot High Aim Low, Final Eyes, and Holy Lamb guy. It can happen, Our Song, City of Love, and Hearts make 90125 for an interesting listen. Talk puts me in a good mood.
Going For The One as a #1? I get it.
Seems like at this point we are committed to Davison. I like his spirit and his song writing. He seems like a nice man based on interviews. And if Chris, Steve and Alan approved of him that’s good enough for me. I can’t help but wonder about Benoit. Such a beautiful voice and he sounds just like Tevor Horn and Jon Anderson. Crazy!
Mirror is a big upgrade over H&E and The Quest.
What’s your roadblock on TFTO and Relayer? Not into jazz? It may take you some time to come around on those two.
Circus of Heaven. Hmmmm. No clowns? 🤡 🍭 🐘🦁🤡🤡🤡
@@coachplyoguy2637 I can't deduce my roadblock on Topographic and Relayer, all I know is that a) there is a roadblock and b) it must be a big ol' boulder.
As for the Davison era, I've actually had thoughts about considering whether or not it is ethical to ALSO call Billy Sherwood the Fish bc of the good job he's done carrying on Squire's legacy (the keyword here is *also*). And as for Davie himself....Not Anderson obviously but pretty damn close. Only one who sounds closer to Anderson I think is Horn. I'll admit I used to be a Davison skeptic, but then 'Cut from the Stars' came out and it reminded me of 'Parallels' (my highlight on GFTO) and that was all it took to change my mind.
I am one who champions the respect of opinions apart from one's own, but....I read a comment once that said 'Yes did nothing great after 1980' or something like that and internally I cringed so hard...Changes, Our Song, Shoot High, Final Eyes, Holy Lamb and I'm Running all hearken back to classic Yes. And Endless Dream literally exists, I named a recent road trip after it. If only those Howe-worshipping, anti-Rabin snooties would learn not to judge an album by its 'Owner.' At this point, my love of YesWest is doubling as activism. I can't get over how criminally underrated Talk is.
@@Sammeep02 I’m impressed by your Yes knowledge and fandom. How long have you been listening to Yes? Did you mention one year? Tales and Relayer are special. Steve is amazing on them. Some day you will connect with them.
Davison and Sherwood are the future of Yes. They must keep writing together. Billy has his own nickname and symbol. I can’t remember what it is but it’s in The Ladder 🪜 insert. He’s a polarizing figure for Yes fans, but I think he’s up to the challenge. I’ve never been a hater.
JD seems like a good dude. He must keep writing and collaborating with SH and BS. Keep the train rolling.
Endless Dream is pure genius. Talk is solid. The song I don’t like is the one that goes “you are my soul and this you are.” The rest of the album is muy muy bueno. Right on.
The first time I ever heard of Yes was the Roundabout "to be continued" meme in 2017, and sadly that was all I knew 'till last year when my brush with Genesis eventually expanded to other prog bands. ;) (However, I will admit getting into YES the same year Alan passed is a crazy feeling.)
In retrospect I'm surprised that with my memory I don't even remember hearing 'Owner' anywhere in public before or since. Yeeeep they've only been in my life that short, but I already know that as far as my taste is concerned they're gonna be the next Queen (I am as into Yes now as I was into Queen in my early teens, around the time Chris passed)
Speaking of the Ladder, that's probably my favorite cover art, only thing I'd change about it would be the "traditional" Yes logo instead of the block one. All proggers eventually become able to recognize Roger Dean artworks by sight;)
We should ALL be enviromentalists - Don't Kill the Whale is their most meaningful track !!
No way 😂😂😂😂😂
I did a album ranking on my channel in 2022. Here it is.
20- Heaven & Earth
19- The Quest
18- Tales From Topographic Oceans
17- Yes
16- Time and a Word
15- Open our Eyes
14- Fly From Here
13- Magnification
12- Talk
11- The Ladder
10- Close to the Edge
9- The Yes Album
8- Big Generator
7- Union
6- Fragile
5- 90125
4- Relayer
3- Drama
2- Going For the One
1- Tormato
Trevor Rabin gets a lot stick for 90125 and the Big Generator albums. He started a project with Squire which had nothing to do with YES, eventually Anderson came on board, they had a big 80's hit and the rest is history. If you're a YES fan then this is the mentality you should have for these albums. It's unfair on Rabin who had songs already written and wasn't asked to recreate "Closer To The Edge" Part 2.
I’ve been fair to Rabin over the years. His case was made in YesYears (1991). He is judged and ranked just like everybody else: on what was produced.
Well well well said. I can't believe I have to act like an activist to defend Trevor and his contributions to Yes. This isn't just a Yes thing..I'm like this for Asia and 80's Genesis too...and basically every "prog-gone-pop" phenomenon.
And you think all the people who bash Rabin (I imagine the people in question undeniably WORSHIP Howe) would like the current Yes with Howe involved, right? WRONG! They call it stuff like the "Steve Howe Show," and they say "no Anderson no YES" (in general, "no [band] without [iconic member]" people get on my nerves...I've had to deal with that for my entire classic rock fandom career).
It should also be understood that not everything can be Topographic Oceans, if that's the case then people such as myself (who had no history of liking any songs longer than 'Bohemian Rhapsody' prior to my first encounter with 'Suppers Ready' 2 yrs ago) would consistently struggle to get into much less appreciate prog.
Not to mention, I'm tired of people thinking Rabin replaced Howe...
@@Sammeep02 Suppers Ready = excellent.
Supper's was the song that finally made me overcome my hesitancy to songs longer than ~6 minutes. It feels like a cohesive story, that and Tarkus. Close the Edge doesn't vibe the same as those two.
29:44 You would open up the vinyl album sleeve and there would be a picture of some cliffs on “the edge” of the world. Hence the album cover is “close” to “the edge”. 🤓
Is this the photo you are referring to? This photo is inside the CD insert after a couple of pages of lyrics. You can click the link it's safe (from Genius) images.app.goo.gl/ns6TNq1N2f3iiaaf6
Top 10
1. Close to the Edge
2. Fragile
3. Relayer
4. The Yes Album
5. Drama
6. Going for the One
7. Tales from Topographic Oceans
8. Tormato
9. 90125
10. Big Generator
I also like Talk and The Ladder, first two are ok, other than that nothing to rank.
90125 and BiG in top 10 that's super :)
GFTO awesome too!
@@Sammeep02 These are good albums. Not progressive rock but I like em more than those post 2000 regressive rock Yes albums.
1. Close to the Edge
2. Fragile
3. Yes Album
4. Drama
5. Going for the One
6. Tormato
7. 90125
8. Tales from Topographic Oceans
9. Relayer
10. Time and a Word
11. Talk
12. Big Generator
13. Magnification
Never listened to the rest of them and I'm in no rush to do so.
7 albums of incomplete data. You can skip Open Your Eyes. There is enough likable stuff on the other 6 where you, listener, can enjoy it.
At least check out the first album!!
@@dannycheesums yeah I keep meaning to check out the debut again. Think I listened to it once or twice but not enough for it to stick
First 3. I agree
1. Close to the Edge
2. Fragile
3. The YES Album
4. Going for the One
Only because of “Awaken”. & “Turn of the Century”
my Top 10- I really love the Yes Album and Drama. not a huge fan of Topographic Oceans.
1. Close to the Edge
2. The Yes Album
3. Drama
4. Fragile
5. 90125
6. Going for the One
7. Relayer
8. Tormato
9. Big Generator
10. Tales from Topographic Oceans
Drama is too low on your list, BUT, I am very impressed that you have Relayer as your #1; GREAT record! Their best sheer PLAYING record definitely. It isn't actually my #1 YES record, but I wouldn't argue with that choice. Relayer is YES playing jazz/rock, and they do a FANTASTIC job! Moraz is KILLING on Relayer. Chris Squire on mostly the Fender Jazz bass, NOT the Rickenbacker, and he was never funkier than on Relayer.
Relaxer and TFTP are my two undisputed favorites. Drama is a fine album, but it’s a level below the top 4 Yes albums. I like does it really happen a lot.
You could include Keystudio because it’s only the studio tracks from the KTA albums.
I choose not to because I consider it a compilation album. I made a Keys to Ascension review if you care to listen. I think this link should take you there. m.th-cam.com/video/DiWm2AC4nPA/w-d-xo.html
"Drama" IS better than "Tormato" cos its all classic & 1/3 of Tormato sux hard
I would have agreed with you from 1995-2022 and then I listened to them back to back on a road trip. Tormato is the better album. It sounded rich and full compared to Drama which sounded thin and slow in comparison. That was an enlightening experience for me. Surprising too.
Usually I'd just disagree and that be that however heaven and earth above 90125 😮 there's some crazy drugs going around
Well I have my favorites on both of the albums, but really I don’t get too worked up about the bottom end of the Yes catalog. Last month I listened to Union twice and it’s better than I remembered. But a spot here or there doesn’t make too much of a difference. Those three albums are clearly better than OYE in my mind anyway.
@@coachplyoguy2637 Union is a strange album no doubt, I would rank it low as well
@@FormulaProg the Yes West songs are fairly decent. Especially saving my heart. It’s not that I don’t like Rabin Era. Hell today I listened to Cant Look Away album. It’s pretty god damn good. I really like The Game. And the first song on Heaven and Earth. 🌎 can’t think of the name of it.
I lost my yes mojo in the 90s ..they just got to commerical and lost their edge. There are no replacements for squire and anderson. Ctte is 1 for me, it gets tougher after that. Probably fragile, tales, relayer, yes album, the one, drama, 90125. The rest are not quite there but i havent spent a lot.of time on them so its probably unfair.
Tormota wasn't as good as it could be, because the band was wound up so tight that they couldn't slow down and make it work. After years of listening to mediocre music, I've come back to Tormato, and some of the songs really strike me as wonderful, but the "Circus of Heaven, Arriving UFO," and "Don't Kill the Whale" were too much of their time, and the sound engineer must have cranked up "Cringe" to 11 on those tracks. As it was, I think he broke off the treble knob. The sound was not well balanced. You can tell the band wasn't satisfied when they left the studio. Depending on which story you hear, either Chris Squire or Rick Wakeman delivered his opinion by throwing the tomato at the cover art.
Yeah it’s a controversial take to have Tormato ahead of Drama but it’s taken me 30 years to get there. Two things about the speed, the tempos and melodies are much faster than Relayer or GFTO. It is quite startling how fast the music is. Secondly, the speed of the band (probably drugs, we have heard rumors on other albums like Talk Big Generator) has the band passively confrontational towards each other. Jon also admitted in Yes Years that he took his foot off the pedal from a production standpoint. Of the 3 songs you mentioned, Arriving UFO (good keyboards) and Don’t Kill the Whale (excellent lead guitar) work and Circus of Heaven falls flat. The EQ on Tormato doesn’t bother me. There are many other albums where the treble is turned up too high for my liking - Yes-related ABWH (treble too high), And Justice for All (same, AND they also mixed out Jason), all 80s Misfits albums, and most pop albums from 2005 onward the annoying snare drum sound. Those can be fixed with modern day EQ presets (like on iPod) and older style graphic EQ dials and knobs on stereos. I can usually adjust EQ to my liking. Thanks for the comment. What’s your favorite Yes album? What’s your least favorite? What’s your most underrated and overrated?
Tormato is and always has been one of my favourites, barring CoH...a totally unforgettable track. Some excellent rocking on that album.
Love UNION! The album that introduced me to Yes. Can listen to it all day.
Relayer is by far my favorite yes album and has been since i first got into yes. It is not only their most techical and impressive album but it is also filled with the most soulfull and expressive passages ever made by the band. Some parts of this album have brought genuine tears to my eyes, like the guitar solo in the middle of the gates, the final crescendo at the end of soon, or the final lyrics in the album, "dont doubt your part be ready to be loved." This is truly a beautiful album and by far my favorite piece of music ever made.
To me, relayer is spoilt by sound chaser. It's probably just me, but I do hate jazz. The sound of that piano at the beginning is enough for me to run away hard. The rest is just chaos. The other two songs are masterpieces though. For me close to the edge is the best.
I actually like 90210. It's a very different style, and certainly not their best, but I like it. Owner of a lonely heart is a great song.
Wow. Thoughtful comment 👍🏿
"Fly From Here" is NOT better than "Drama" lol It's WORSE, its MUCH MUCH worse!!!
The vocals are better on FFH. The content is less doomy. I hear a lot of The Ladder in The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be. Life On A Film Set is great. Into the Storm sounds awesome. FFH Suite is perfect. It’s not that I think lowly of Drama. Fine album. They could have spiced up Drama a bit more. I like Machine, Happen, Lens, and Fugit.
"Heaven & Earth" BETTER than debut & "90125"??? LOL OMG NO, it's WORSE! It's MUCH MUCH worse! All sux but "Subway Walls"
Please man it's called an OPINION
Thanks bro. In some cases it’s difficult for me to choose. When I get stuck I usually decide by “which album have I listened to more?” Or “which would I rather listen to right now?” I’m not even saying I dislike 90125. I listened to it a lot back in 97. I prefer H&E even though the album is poorly produced. Yes and RTB could have done more.
"Awaken" is good but OVER RATED
I like Steve Howe’s guitar lines on Awaken.
It's not
Rush is "metal"???? LMFAO
Rush is metal, hard rock, or prog. Depends on what era. Go look at Wikipedia, allmusic.com, or Wikipedia. What genre do you think Rush is?
Calling Rush metal is like calling the Beatles children's music.
@@Sammeep02 I would argue that Vapor Trials is a metal album. Fly By Night is close - especially the song Anthem. No band is ever only 1 thing or genre. Pink Floyd doesn’t fit perfectly in one category other than generally calling it rock, rock n roll, or progressive rock. Rush is more closer to metal than Pink Floyd. Rush isn’t Metallica, but even Metallica isn’t metal all the time.
We use descriptors not to put things in a box to say it can only be one thing. That’s nonsense.
Rush is metal, hard rock, prog rock, space rock, pop, prog pop, progressive metal, etc. Rush’s versatility is one of the main reasons I like Rush.
I would argue that Metallica is metal too. But they are not only metal. Metallica has hard rock albums more like Alice In Chains.
Also, Yellow Submarine, Strawberry Fields, and Maxwells Hammer are children’s music, but it’s also rock, rock n roll, psychedelic rock and probably 10 other descriptors. This goes back to the “No Jon, No Yes.” Think about what you are listening to and what it sounds like and what is the impact to the user/audience. That’s what’s important. This is how I can enjoy Yes, YesWest, ABWH, Pink Floyd in multiple incarnations, and Alice In Chains with either Layne Staley or Will Duvall. It’s all good. They all different in infinite ways, but I can enjoy them and not worry about what category they fit.
Sorry I made the offhand comment that Rush is metal, (they can be, so it’s accurate) but it doesn’t paint the whole picture of Rush with one broad stroke.
@@coachplyoguy2637 Which reminds me....as one examines a style then one can better determine the practitioners of such a style.
Back in the early days (we're talking the year of Our Lord MMXV) Queen were BOTH metal and prog to me. Now, they are neither. And around that time everything I knew of the 70s and 80s, from a-ha to Metallica, only had one label: "classic rock."
Eventually I had a brief modern power metal phase quickly followed by my second Queen phase which eventually got me hooked up with prog Genesis....and having examined them all now not even Queen can be put into a box. I will not deny, however, that 'Stone Cold Crazy' influenced metal and their first 3 albums take massive influence from prog.
What I meant by that comment is that although not the common descriptors for those two bands, they are still true descriptors for some of their material.
@@Sammeep02it isn't?