This was filmed a few days ago. Thanks to my latest members, Leon Smith's Elvis Channel, Todd Jumper and BloomingOnion, all will be credited in future videos.
10/10 my favorite Yes album a very unique album and I love all four movements. Very hard to pick between ‘Revealing’ ‘Remembering’ and ‘Ritual’ and I love ‘Ancient’ too. My favorite double album next to ‘The Beatles’ and Genesis ‘The Lamb’. I could go on all day about how great this album is. Best Yes music ever recorded. Great review looking forward to ‘Relayer’.
One of the few albums that can take me away to where I first heard it. The feelings I have listening to this are literally indescribable. I agree with your side ratings and descriptions. You have really listened and heard this music. Well done!
Although I love pretty much all of this band's work a LOT, Topographic Oceans is definitely my favourite Yes album. It's an adventure and a lot of parts of it just hit me strongly emotionally. I saw them do Revealing Science of God live in 1997 at my first Yes concert. They also did the acoustic part of side 3 that night. This album is one of those ones that has played a major part in my life. I love it! Cheers!
Side 1 or 4 are definitely the more accessible sides to listen to for the first time, but I think that side 2 is the most cohesive and rewarding overall.
Many years ago I heard this album, but couldn’t connect to it at all. So yesterday I gave side A another chance, as you adviced. And this time I really enjoyed it, so much beauty set to music! Still I miss the high energy that Yes produced on other albums. Another fine tip by the Canadian Studmuffin 👍👍🤗
Good stuff, Larry. Btw, Anderson's vocals started straight away on the original, not the other way round. We didn't get to hear the opening sounds of ocean waves until 2002 (in a box set), and 2003 on a reissue. When I heard the new intro. after 30 years of the original, I felt like I'd "waited all my life for this, moment". Roll on Relayer.
Tales is a great album although it took me several hearings to get into it as a Yes fan for almost 40 years. But I love "close to the edge" and "relayed" even more. My ranking: 1. Close to the edge 2. Relayer 3. Tales from topographic oceans 4. The Yes album 5. Yes 6. Fragile 7. Going for the one 8. Time and a word 9. Tormato
I like Tales.. it sure gets panned by critics, calling it bloated and pretentious...I admit it took a few listens to get it, but once I did, it became one of my top four YES albums. Great video
Tales From Topographic Oceans is amazing. It’s one of those albums that always delivers. I hear something different in it every time I listen. Take care😀
Steve Howe wrote the song "I must have waited all my life for this moment." You can hear his demo sketch of this song on Homebrew 1, called "For This Moment." That album is on youtube.
Hi Larry, great video as always! Wanted to mention that the original started immediately with the vocals, just like the remix. In 2003 when they reissued the album in an expanded edition, they added that until-then-unreleased instrumental intro. I, for one, am glad that it’s missing from the remix, because I grew up with the vinyl and earlier cd issues that started immediately with the vocals. However, anyone who first heard Tales from the 2003 edition tends to prefer it to start with the fade-in. Pretty cool, huh?
Larry, not to be "knit-picky," but your rankings of the albums is almost in reverse chronological order with 'The Yes Album' coming before 'Fragile'. That being said, I'm glad you rated 'Yes Album' above 'Fragile' as I consider 'YA' to be in my all-time top 10 albums list. Many others see 'Fragile' as better/more enjoyable that 'YA', but for me there's no comparison. I still need to give 'Topographic' more listens as you have recommended. Also, I look forward to see where you'll rank 'Relayer,' since I think, arguably, it could be my choice for the peak for Yes's musical achievements. Like you, 'Soon' creates a strong emotional response for me, but I'll not get ahead of myself, and save that for your upcoming 'Relayer' review and ranking. Keep up the good work, Larry (you ARE a good reviewer, no matter what you may think otherwise-lol)
TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS has become my all-time favorite YES album. And YES, it did take a long time to achieve this ranking. When I first heard it years ago when it was first released, it was my least favorite (because it wasn't "radio material" like their other stuff). But over TIME it outshines all YES's other works. And here's why: All the other YES albums have grown to be too common. That is, I know all those the songs to where they've become too normalized. But with TALES it's completely different. TALES never gets old, and only gets BETTER with each listen. It is the most RELAXING of all the YES albums. And I ALWAYS listen to it all the way through. Too LONG, you say? NO WAY! Too SHORT!! When listening to it I never want it to end. That's why I've added a couple extra YES songs to it that fit with it well, such as Turn of the Century. The SECRET to enjoying TALES is that you need to listen to it when you HAVE plenty of time to relax. And to listen to it as BACKGROUND MUSIC (not as SONGS). THEN it will hit you! THEREFORE, if you ever grow tired of YES, but have never gotten into TALES, the I urge you to finally take the plunge. TALES is the one YES albums that will remain standing after all others fall by the wayside.
It is a very underrated album, I wasn't getting to it completely besides there was a lot around the music everywhere but I kept coming back to the album after revisiting the band and then it gets to be a connecting album which has a very interesting concept and the more I hear the album it grows on me so much more and then after like the 10th listen it clicked with me as I regard it as one of the top best Yes albums and a classic.
As you probably know I am french. "Nous sommes du soleil" is "We are from the sun" but it could be understood as "We are sunshine", it means more than me. Yes' music is sunshine. Take care of yourself.
Tales is definitely an interesting listen. It’s easily the least commercial thing Yes ever did, meaning it’s probably the most difficult for the casual (and even some hardcore) listener to get into. It’s 80 minutes of pure Prog, which I’m sure for some people is fantastic. For me, it’s good, but not great. I like each song on it, but it’s the one classic Yes album that doesn’t have a single song I can say I really love. There are parts of each song that I love, but I have a hard time getting into every song. Well, actually I do really like “Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” and I often border on loving that song. But aside from that, there are just parts I can pick out from each song. Overall, it’s just too long for me right now. I don’t have the time to listen to an 80 minute album if I’m not going to enjoy every second of it. If I’m going to listen to 80 minutes of music, I’d prefer to love what I’m listening to. I’d rather listen to two of Yes’ previous albums back to back than sit through all four sides of Tales and just think it was okay by the end of it. I know a lot of people here say Tales is one of their absolute best albums because it’s more progressive or whatever, but I can’t agree with that because I don’t personally enjoy music simply because it’s more progressive. The music doesn’t grab me like other Yes albums do, and that’s the sole reason it’s the lowest thing on my list so far. Rating: 7.0/10 Favorite Song: Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) Ranking: 1. The Yes Album (10/10) 2. Close to the Edge (10/10) 3. Time and a Word (9.5/10) 4. Fragile (9.0/10) 5. Yes (8.4/10) 6. Tales from Topographic Oceans (7.0/10)
So agree took me returning to Topo over decades to finally appreciate it. In fact recently got back into YES(longtime fave band) and gave Topo a revisit. Well I ave gone from hating it to being ambivalent to now loving it and it’s in my top five YES albums now.
Absolutely agree! I always said there´s good music, there are masterpieces, and there´s Tales... that´s something more. I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that "The Remembering", its final specially, is the pinnacle of Yes, is the ultimate universe connection they get with and make me get too each time I hear it, and I hear it since 1975 till today
Just heard and deeply appreciated your group discussion of Tales by YES. Every not, every side of every moment is perfection, IMO. I left a more detailed impression in their comments!
Love the review Larry, and Tales is the album I do listen to the most lately, but here is my list of favorites: 1. Close To The Edge 2. Relayer 3. Going For The One (esp. Awaken) 4. Tormato - 1979 5. Tales From Topographic Oceans - 6. The Yes Album 7. Fragile 8. Time And A Word 9. Yes
Steven Wilson has done so many wonderful remixes. What a talent he is. ‘Tales’ is an amazing album on its own. Hard to compare to any others as it’s uniquely. Great video Larry
Even though I find Anderson's lyrics opaque I love the album. The dedication to the long form is something very prog. I'm curious to know, Larry, if you've heard any of the music Jon Anderson made with Vangelis such as "Friends of Mr. Cairo"?
I've only loved this album more and more. By far my favorite moment is the build-up at the end of The Remembering, but the whole album is amazing. The guitar solos in The Revealing Science of God and Ritual are some of my favorite of all time.
Finally got into this album. I’ve gotta listen to it more, but my second listen really made me like it. I’ve become a really big Yes fan thanks to this channel!
I wouldn’t call ‘Oceans’ a disappointment... It’s still an excellent album on its own merits. I think I have it on HD uncompressed download Wav 96/24 bit... Had this on vinyl in like 1978... You need more time to appreciate stuff like that... In the 70s we seemed to have more time for extended tracks... Time to breathe...
Really liked your review. I think you do a wonderful job. You have a great spirit. I couldn't get into the album when it first came out on LP. Never really tried, in all honesty. It was, at the time for me, a let down from Close -- and all the others that came before it. But, I recently got the Steve Wilson remixes on iTunes and am really enjoying this ... finally! Late to the party, I guess. Just ordered the 2003 edition as well. I'll be listening to more of your reviews. As an aside, I just discovered Talk and think it's fantastic. Thanks so much.
Loved Tales and the RAP/1973 music that starts at the begining of Tales Side 1. Sometimes anounced as 1/4 of a "Jungle of Trips" on Yes 1973/74 Bootlegs
Topographic is a masterpiece! Btw, the five CDs you rank here as your top five weren’t exactly in chronological order. The Yes Album came out a year before Fragile. But damn close!!!
If anybody is on the fence about liking tales just compare it to the new album. I have been listening to yes since going for the one. My opinion is tails is a strong album. Rest in peace Chris the fish squire. Gone yes but never forgotten. 🌪️🌪️🌪️
Tales is everything symphonic rock is about and the ultimate album in symphonic rock There was a great review in Dutch leading music magazine Oor in 1973 Ps listen to the original and not to a faulty remix. CTTE, Tales and Relayer are the holy grail in symphonic rock and you can't compate it to nowadays (boring)prog, which is a contradictio in terminis
I haven't completely warmed up to it yet, that being said I haven't given it much time despite having it's fair share of great moments. It feels to me like they stretched their ideas out too much (which I guess technically was the case) and they didn't put as much into the songs as previous. Close To The Edge was so full and brimming with ideas and it feels like they shoot themselves in the foot here with more repetition (I'm looking at you The Remembering, even though I actually like the beginning), leaving much of the soaring "epic" moments to the very end of the tracks, and just a much less uniform feel within the 4 songs. Also, I honestly find the first half or more of Giants to be tiresome. If it was me, TRSOG and Nous Somme would be edited down to 15 minutes or so and the best bits of the two tracks in between to under 10 minutes. This would make it, in my opinion, quite a worthy follow up to Close To The Edge. I guess time will tell if I will like it more, it is certainly an intriguing album in Yes' discography no question...
Tales is a masterpiece, 3/4 of the album is amazing. Personally, I find some parts of Nous Sommes du Soleil too overproduced, but I appreciate that track as well. Everything from side one to side three is some of the best material Yes have ever recorded (even if, as a whole, Tales will never beat Close to the Edge, in my personal ranking).
Tales From Topographic Oceans is a good album but it's patchy and too long. Remove Rick Wakeman and it's really average. The cover sleeve is superb especially on the vinyl version. (Images are taller).
@@marcbergeron8690 I am not telling you anything to like or not like anything. Maybe my comment needed to be more direct. I disagree that Wakeman is the mvp and I feel Howe rips some amazing solos. If I wanted to you what to like my comment WOULD have been like so “ what you don’t like this you are an idiot “ do you see the difference ? I respected YOUR a opinion and gave mine. Here is a tip. If you give your opinion expect a differing one to show up. It’s called conversation. If everyone thought the same way it would be a boring world wouldn’t it ?
Regarding the complaints about the LYRICS in TALES not making any sense: most detractors are MISSING THE WHOLE POINT of Jon's "nonsensical" lyrics. (Firstly, you can't tell me that ANY of Jon's lyrics ever made ANY logical "sense". But you're missing the whole point of his "lyrics"). But the POINT of having lyrics that "don't make sense" is the whole point, because: 1) If the words made perfect sense, then they would get VERY BORING, VERY QUICKLY. 2) The "nonsensical" lyrics are not MEANT to be interpreted as sensible words, but rather as word-sounds that transcend normal conversational words. That is to say, the are meant to be echos of thoughts ... kind of like images we have in a dream which evoke feelings and deeper thoughts than the words themselves. For example, you hear Jon sing the words "We hear a sound and alter our returning", we are NOT supposed to DISSECT and ANALYZE the words. We're suppose to hear the SOUND of the words and focus on what deeper, unspoken words that are conjured up in our OWN mind as a result. So Jon's lyrics are only a springboard to allow the listener to "fill in" with his own thoughts, those things within the person themselves, that Jon's lyrics EVOKE. Get it now?
This was filmed a few days ago. Thanks to my latest members, Leon Smith's Elvis Channel, Todd Jumper and BloomingOnion, all will be credited in future videos.
Canadian Studmuffin this is my favourite Yes album!
10/10 my favorite Yes album a very unique album and I love all four movements. Very hard to pick between ‘Revealing’ ‘Remembering’ and ‘Ritual’ and I love ‘Ancient’ too. My favorite double album next to ‘The Beatles’ and Genesis ‘The Lamb’. I could go on all day about how great this album is. Best Yes music ever recorded. Great review looking forward to ‘Relayer’.
One of the few albums that can take me away to where I first heard it. The feelings I have listening to this are literally indescribable. I agree with your side ratings and descriptions. You have really listened and heard this music. Well done!
Although I love pretty much all of this band's work a LOT, Topographic Oceans is definitely my favourite Yes album. It's an adventure and a lot of parts of it just hit me strongly emotionally. I saw them do Revealing Science of God live in 1997 at my first Yes concert. They also did the acoustic part of side 3 that night. This album is one of those ones that has played a major part in my life. I love it! Cheers!
Side 1 or 4 are definitely the more accessible sides to listen to for the first time, but I think that side 2 is the most cohesive and rewarding overall.
Many years ago I heard this album, but couldn’t connect to it at all. So yesterday I gave side A another chance, as you adviced. And this time I really enjoyed it, so much beauty set to music! Still I miss the high energy that Yes produced on other albums. Another fine tip by the Canadian Studmuffin 👍👍🤗
Good stuff, Larry. Btw, Anderson's vocals started straight away on the original, not the other way round. We didn't get to hear the opening sounds of ocean waves until 2002 (in a box set), and 2003 on a reissue. When I heard the new intro. after 30 years of the original, I felt like I'd "waited all my life for this, moment". Roll on Relayer.
Tales is a great album although it took me several hearings to get into it as a Yes fan for almost 40 years. But I love "close to the edge" and "relayed" even more. My ranking:
1. Close to the edge
2. Relayer
3. Tales from topographic oceans
4. The Yes album
5. Yes
6. Fragile
7. Going for the one
8. Time and a word
9. Tormato
I like Tales.. it sure gets panned by critics, calling it bloated and pretentious...I admit it took a few listens to get it, but once I did, it became one of my top four YES albums. Great video
Tales From Topographic Oceans is amazing. It’s one of those albums that always delivers. I hear something different in it every time I listen. Take care😀
Totally agree!
I agree!
Steve Howe wrote the song "I must have waited all my life for this moment." You can hear his demo sketch of this song on Homebrew 1, called "For This Moment." That album is on youtube.
Hi Larry, great video as always! Wanted to mention that the original started immediately with the vocals, just like the remix. In 2003 when they reissued the album in an expanded edition, they added that until-then-unreleased instrumental intro. I, for one, am glad that it’s missing from the remix, because I grew up with the vinyl and earlier cd issues that started immediately with the vocals. However, anyone who first heard Tales from the 2003 edition tends to prefer it to start with the fade-in. Pretty cool, huh?
I agree that I like both, but I spent so many years with the original that I tend to prefer it to start right away.
Larry, not to be "knit-picky," but your rankings of the albums is almost in reverse chronological order with 'The Yes Album' coming before 'Fragile'. That being said, I'm glad you rated 'Yes Album' above 'Fragile' as I consider 'YA' to be in my all-time top 10 albums list. Many others see 'Fragile' as better/more enjoyable that 'YA', but for me there's no comparison. I still need to give 'Topographic' more listens as you have recommended. Also, I look forward to see where you'll rank 'Relayer,' since I think, arguably, it could be my choice for the peak for Yes's musical achievements. Like you, 'Soon' creates a strong emotional response for me, but I'll not get ahead of myself, and save that for your upcoming 'Relayer' review and ranking. Keep up the good work, Larry (you ARE a good reviewer, no matter what you may think otherwise-lol)
I love Tales, but Close to the Edge is my favorite Yes album by a wide margin.
Put it in your car. Listen to it again and again for about 6 months as I did. Such a joy. To my mind, there is no other progressive album like it.
No other album like it, period.
TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS has become my all-time favorite YES album.
And YES, it did take a long time to achieve this ranking.
When I first heard it years ago when it was first released, it was my least favorite (because it wasn't "radio material" like their other stuff).
But over TIME it outshines all YES's other works. And here's why:
All the other YES albums have grown to be too common. That is, I know all those the songs to where they've become too normalized.
But with TALES it's completely different. TALES never gets old, and only gets BETTER with each listen.
It is the most RELAXING of all the YES albums.
And I ALWAYS listen to it all the way through.
Too LONG, you say? NO WAY! Too SHORT!! When listening to it I never want it to end. That's why I've added a couple extra YES songs to it that fit with it well, such as Turn of the Century.
The SECRET to enjoying TALES is that you need to listen to it when you HAVE plenty of time to relax. And to listen to it as BACKGROUND MUSIC (not as SONGS). THEN it will hit you!
THEREFORE, if you ever grow tired of YES, but have never gotten into TALES, the I urge you to finally take the plunge.
TALES is the one YES albums that will remain standing after all others fall by the wayside.
1. Relayer 2. Tales 3. Close to the Edge 4. Going for the One 5. Fragile
Tales from topographic oceans is their best in my opinion
Νίκος Παπαγεωργίου I ageee
It is a very underrated album, I wasn't getting to it completely besides there was a lot around the music everywhere but I kept coming back to the album after revisiting the band and then it gets to be a connecting album which has a very interesting concept and the more I hear the album it grows on me so much more and then after like the 10th listen it clicked with me as I regard it as one of the top best Yes albums and a classic.
This is my favourite album by Yes!
As you probably know I am french. "Nous sommes du soleil" is "We are from the sun" but it could be understood as "We are sunshine", it means more than me. Yes' music is sunshine. Take care of yourself.
Tales is definitely an interesting listen. It’s easily the least commercial thing Yes ever did, meaning it’s probably the most difficult for the casual (and even some hardcore) listener to get into. It’s 80 minutes of pure Prog, which I’m sure for some people is fantastic. For me, it’s good, but not great. I like each song on it, but it’s the one classic Yes album that doesn’t have a single song I can say I really love. There are parts of each song that I love, but I have a hard time getting into every song. Well, actually I do really like “Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)” and I often border on loving that song. But aside from that, there are just parts I can pick out from each song.
Overall, it’s just too long for me right now. I don’t have the time to listen to an 80 minute album if I’m not going to enjoy every second of it. If I’m going to listen to 80 minutes of music, I’d prefer to love what I’m listening to. I’d rather listen to two of Yes’ previous albums back to back than sit through all four sides of Tales and just think it was okay by the end of it. I know a lot of people here say Tales is one of their absolute best albums because it’s more progressive or whatever, but I can’t agree with that because I don’t personally enjoy music simply because it’s more progressive. The music doesn’t grab me like other Yes albums do, and that’s the sole reason it’s the lowest thing on my list so far.
Rating: 7.0/10
Favorite Song: Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)
Ranking:
1. The Yes Album (10/10)
2. Close to the Edge (10/10)
3. Time and a Word (9.5/10)
4. Fragile (9.0/10)
5. Yes (8.4/10)
6. Tales from Topographic Oceans (7.0/10)
Tales from topographic oceans, 4 songs, 4 sides, 4 brilliant pieces, 4 FREAKING AWESOME PIECES THAT WILL MAKE YOU LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!
So agree took me returning to Topo over decades to finally appreciate it. In fact recently got back into YES(longtime fave band) and gave Topo a revisit. Well I ave gone from hating it to being ambivalent to now loving it and it’s in my top five YES albums now.
Absolutely agree! I always said there´s good music, there are masterpieces, and there´s Tales... that´s something more. I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that "The Remembering", its final specially, is the pinnacle of Yes, is the ultimate universe connection they get with and make me get too each time I hear it, and I hear it since 1975 till today
I’m getting into Genesis and prog rock so I might have to start listening to Yes they seem great
Genesis is the best! Yes is great too!
Just heard and deeply appreciated your group discussion of Tales by YES. Every not, every side of every moment is perfection, IMO. I left a more detailed impression in their comments!
Love the review Larry, and Tales is the album I do listen to the most lately, but here is my list of favorites:
1. Close To The Edge
2. Relayer
3. Going For The One (esp. Awaken)
4. Tormato - 1979
5. Tales From Topographic Oceans -
6. The Yes Album
7. Fragile
8. Time And A Word
9. Yes
Steven Wilson has done so many wonderful remixes. What a talent he is. ‘Tales’ is an amazing album on its own. Hard to compare to any others as it’s uniquely. Great video Larry
Even though I find Anderson's lyrics opaque I love the album. The dedication to the long form is something very prog.
I'm curious to know, Larry, if you've heard any of the music Jon Anderson made with Vangelis such as "Friends of Mr. Cairo"?
Just that album, which I owned in the 70's.
Cool vid
Great video , glad you covered this interesting long album.
I've only loved this album more and more. By far my favorite moment is the build-up at the end of The Remembering, but the whole album is amazing. The guitar solos in The Revealing Science of God and Ritual are some of my favorite of all time.
Tales from Topographic Oceans is my second favorite album of all time. If it were an actual concept album, then who knows where this album would be?
Finally got into this album. I’ve gotta listen to it more, but my second listen really made me like it. I’ve become a really big Yes fan thanks to this channel!
Glad you enjoy it!
Im going to get tales from topographic oceans and see if I end becoming a yes fan after that
@@zeldafan9016 well, verdict?
I wouldn’t call ‘Oceans’ a disappointment... It’s still an excellent album on its own merits. I think I have it on HD uncompressed download Wav 96/24 bit... Had this on vinyl in like 1978... You need more time to appreciate stuff like that... In the 70s we seemed to have more time for extended tracks... Time to breathe...
Really liked your review. I think you do a wonderful job. You have a great spirit. I couldn't get into the album when it first came out on LP. Never really tried, in all honesty. It was, at the time for me, a let down from Close -- and all the others that came before it. But, I recently got the Steve Wilson remixes on iTunes and am really enjoying this ... finally! Late to the party, I guess. Just ordered the 2003 edition as well. I'll be listening to more of your reviews. As an aside, I just discovered Talk and think it's fantastic. Thanks so much.
Loved Tales and the RAP/1973 music that starts at the begining of Tales Side 1. Sometimes anounced as 1/4 of a "Jungle of Trips" on Yes 1973/74 Bootlegs
Topographic is a masterpiece! Btw, the five CDs you rank here as your top five weren’t exactly in chronological order. The Yes Album came out a year before Fragile. But damn close!!!
If anybody is on the fence about liking tales just compare it to the new album. I have been listening to yes since going for the one. My opinion is tails is a strong album. Rest in peace Chris the fish squire. Gone yes but never forgotten. 🌪️🌪️🌪️
Tales is everything symphonic rock is about and the ultimate album in symphonic rock There was a great review in Dutch leading music magazine Oor in 1973 Ps listen to the original and not to a faulty remix. CTTE, Tales and Relayer are the holy grail in symphonic rock and you can't compate it to nowadays (boring)prog, which is a contradictio in terminis
Larry, have you heard Beginnings by Steve Howe?
Maybe just a bit on Spotify.
This album was mad after the exit of Bill Bruford, and think that a lot of so called Yes fans don't know this. This exit changed the sound of Yes.
I haven't completely warmed up to it yet, that being said I haven't given it much time despite having it's fair share of great moments. It feels to me like they stretched their ideas out too much (which I guess technically was the case) and they didn't put as much into the songs as previous. Close To The Edge was so full and brimming with ideas and it feels like they shoot themselves in the foot here with more repetition (I'm looking at you The Remembering, even though I actually like the beginning), leaving much of the soaring "epic" moments to the very end of the tracks, and just a much less uniform feel within the 4 songs. Also, I honestly find the first half or more of Giants to be tiresome. If it was me, TRSOG and Nous Somme would be edited down to 15 minutes or so and the best bits of the two tracks in between to under 10 minutes. This would make it, in my opinion, quite a worthy follow up to Close To The Edge. I guess time will tell if I will like it more, it is certainly an intriguing album in Yes' discography no question...
Tales is a masterpiece, 3/4 of the album is amazing. Personally, I find some parts of Nous Sommes du Soleil too overproduced, but I appreciate that track as well. Everything from side one to side three is some of the best material Yes have ever recorded (even if, as a whole, Tales will never beat Close to the Edge, in my personal ranking).
Tales From Topographic Oceans is a good album but it's patchy and too long. Remove Rick Wakeman and it's really average.
The cover sleeve is superb especially on the vinyl version. (Images are taller).
Steve Howe rips some solos on all four sides that are mind blowing and you think Wakeman is the mvp,here ? Lol
@@Bunbunfunfun Yes I persist. And who are you to tell me what to like and what to not like?
@@marcbergeron8690 I am not telling you anything to like or not like anything. Maybe my comment needed to be more direct. I disagree that Wakeman is the mvp and I feel Howe rips some amazing solos. If I wanted to you what to like my comment WOULD have been like so “ what you don’t like this you are an idiot “ do you see the difference ? I respected YOUR a opinion and gave mine. Here is a tip. If you give your opinion expect a differing one to show up. It’s called conversation. If everyone thought the same way it would be a boring world wouldn’t it ?
Regarding the complaints about the LYRICS in TALES not making any sense: most detractors are MISSING THE WHOLE POINT of Jon's "nonsensical" lyrics.
(Firstly, you can't tell me that ANY of Jon's lyrics ever made ANY logical "sense". But you're missing the whole point of his "lyrics").
But the POINT of having lyrics that "don't make sense" is the whole point, because:
1) If the words made perfect sense, then they would get VERY BORING, VERY QUICKLY.
2) The "nonsensical" lyrics are not MEANT to be interpreted as sensible words, but rather as word-sounds that transcend normal conversational words.
That is to say, the are meant to be echos of thoughts ... kind of like images we have in a dream which evoke feelings and deeper thoughts than the words themselves.
For example, you hear Jon sing the words "We hear a sound and alter our returning", we are NOT supposed to DISSECT and ANALYZE the words. We're suppose to hear the SOUND of the words and focus on what deeper, unspoken words that are conjured up in our OWN mind as a result. So Jon's lyrics are only a springboard to allow the listener to "fill in" with his own thoughts, those things within the person themselves, that Jon's lyrics EVOKE. Get it now?