Yes: 'Mirror to the Sky' | Review | Track by Track
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2024
- A review of the brand new Yes album 'Mirror to the Sky' in which I lokk at the album track by track ranking them all out of ten
Buy the new album 'Mirror to the Sky':
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Amazon UK: amzn.to/41KUfJU
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3AmRXoH
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#yes #ranking #classicalbum
Will definitely give it a listen. Classic bands of this stature will always face the tough hurdle of competing with their past (in the eyes of many fans). At this point, they don't need to record one additional note of new music and still prosper on the touring circuit, so I give them credit for at least attempting to further the legacy.
Have no idea who is in this band but has zero to do with Yes
@@Stonecutter334 Steve Howe and Friends
@@cyounger5716 thats a much better name. Love Steve but he’s not Yes
I've certainly been impressed with the 2 tracks I've heard so far and look forwards to hearing the album in it's entirety.
All Connected sounds very boring to me but cut from the stars sounds ok.
They are the best tracks!
I remember Yes in the late 60s/mid 70s - they were great. P'raps after over 50 years of ageing they should have renamed to Maybe.
Touche
Or 'Nyet', which would also work well with a Roger Dean-like logo...
😂😂😂😂😂
Ouch
Have you heard...??? They have decided to rename the group to "Never", and the new studio release will be titled "Again".
Well well well....who would’ve thought that this new-model Yes (fronted by Jon Davison) could come up with a *great* album, just like they used to make them? Even after the sad losses of Chris Squire and Alan White no less. But with Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen now in the fold, Yes move forward. It took them three albums, but I think they finally nailed it with Mirror To The Sky. This is a great album in my opinion. Musically strong, with solid playing from everyone, great production, and I’ve even warmed up to Jon Davison (finally!) as the established new lead singer (Jon Anderson will never ever be erased, but Davison is more than up to the task of fronting this veteran band). Yes are definitely getting more adventurous with this album - the nearly 14-minute title track alone is mighty impressive, but the whole album shines. The band definitely sound *inspired* on Mirror To The Sky, which I love. I also have to tip my hat to Steve Howe. Not only is he still delivering superb guitar work, but I think he has now firmly established himself as the band leader. I wasn’t sure about Yes carrying on after they lost Chris Squire, but, as evidenced by Mirror To The Sky, I think that Yes is still in safe hands with Steve Howe steering the ship. Now, personally, I’m not sure I would want Yes to carry on after Steve Howe is gone, as I think he’s the last remaining bit of veteran “glue” holding the band together (I like Geoff Downes, but he wasn’t there in the 70’s like Steve was). But as long as they still have Steve Howe there, I can still accept them as Yes.
I’m thrilled to see Yes come back with a great album. I just think this latest version of Yes needed time to gel. It took them three albums (Heaven And Earth was rushed and misguided, but The Quest was a step in the right direction), plus weathering the sad losses of two veteran members (rock on in Heaven, Chris and Alan), but with the excellent Mirror To The Sky, I think they’re finally there. I don’t know how much longer Yes will go on, but I’m glad they’re still around for now, and are once again making great music. 🙂
I actively hate the previous two Yes albums, but I must confess that I really enjoy the two singles released from the new album. I think they are the best songs from the post-Anderson era.
You mean the "post Yes" era, right...???
After the first listen, I agree with your assessment of the songs. Since then, I have listened to the album well over a dozen times & it grew on me to the point that I love all the songs. I really like this album. But I will admit, it did take more than 2 listens. Now. I just let the album play from beginning to end & I enjoy it all. It's a winner!
Interesting review........Die hard Yes fan who finds it hard to listen to anything post Anderson / Squire........Like others I now consider the latest reincarnation to be a Yes tribute band......As such I'm happy to just keep playing my 70's classics.......Don't think I could handle Davison trying to mimic Anderson or Sherwood front of stage.....Sad really!
Cut From the Stars and All Connected have impressed me, I hope Luminosity will strike a chord with me more than it has with you, given its length. The epic title track sounds extremely promising from what ive read.
Hope is more than this group needs.
I was always a massive Genesis fan, but I have to admit I'm somewhat a lapsed Yes fan. (Was never so much a fan of Yes West). Last Yes album I properly liked was Magnification. Didn't even bother with their last 2 albums. But on your review here I may well give this album a go.
2 final comments :-
1) You give many tracks on the new album no more than maybe 5/10, yet you say you really like the album. Mmmmmm
2) Ah love the t-shirt 😊
Listen if you MUST...just don't waste nay cash on it.
@jamesaka007
Ok thanks for the tip. Last Yes album I bought was 'Fly From Here', which was OK. I've not been impressed with Yes since tbh
I’m enjoying this album for what it is. I would love more backing vocals from Billy. Chris’ backing vocals were essential to those old Yes songs.
Really interesting review and appraisal here Barry delivered in a style that sets the standard for how a review should be delivered. All the best. Dave
Thank you for your kind words.
@@classicalbum I do have a quick question. Is it best to contact the band or the record company to try to obtain advance copies of releases. I’m not quite sure the best way to approach. Obs mine is a much smaller channel but interested to get a little more info if you can help a fellow brother out. Cheers. Dave✅✅
To be reasonable it must actually be very difficult to create and play such dull music. Props for such ability.First class in fact.
You are being extremely nice and respectful; can't be mad at that, but what I've heard thus far is one shade brighter than beige...but I will listen to it and keep an open mind.
I'm really digging this album. Not one skip-it track on it. Yes, I even like the quirky, 60s-psyche sound on "Living Out Their Dreams" and the gorgeous earworm "Circles of Time." Great album! I liked most of The Quest as well. Yes fan of 46 years.
I am really looking forward to this album!!! 🎶🎶🎶
Okay, okay, you convinced me - I'll give it a listen. Not hopeful though that this is going to have any more of an impact on me than their last two offerings. Beige music is a good description.
No original members left, so I don't think I'll bother. Actually haven't bought a YES album since The Ladder. What made them exceptional back in the 70s was the amount of virtuosity from each member of the band, but ever since it has seemed to me as a rehash of old ideas. And mind you, I still think they made the best prog the world has ever heard back then. If I once in a while get an urge for YES, Fragile, CTTE, Tales and Relayer still works fine for me to this day.
The true Yes fans surely agree mate...!!!
Late to the party, but I've just bought it and have played it four times in the first four days of owning a copy, and that's rare for me.
Thank you for your efforts. Good stuff.
I've seen those Facebook posts. I wish I had £1 for every mention of "Tribute band" in the comments.
I am very surprised how good this album is!
I rather like it.
Me too!
T-Shirt in background says everything. Confess, Genesis is the Best.
interesting review...thanks...glad i have this on pre order...
One of the most impressing gig's in modern days is "live at the apollo" . Stunning performance full of Joy. Check it Out!
And I have followed the band since -72😊
That's what Yes is all about for me// U G
Great music is timeless; J.S. Bach, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, and yup, “Close to the Edge”… They’ll always be innovative, fresh, remembered, wanted to be heard again…..It seems like the reviews for this new YES release , as well as the past few, the operative phrases are, “There are moments”, “It’s better than the last two”, “Of the three recent albums, this is better, but that’s not saying much…” “The singer is filling in the shoes..” etc…. I suppose it’s fine to defend a band you love (I used to, big time…). But look into the future; do you suppose there will be a time where YES tours entirety the recent records, (‘The Quest”, “Fly From Hear”, “Cut From The Stars”?). Please then, wake me when that happens….. It’s all “filler now”, baby blue (sorry B.Dylan). Despite how A.I was tossed into the “lyric salad” (I suspect), It’s all quite forgettable. But I’ll wait for that tour…Oh, I didn’t even mention that Jon Anderson and his band are touring the classics…and playing them as they were meant to be heard and enjoyed….
The brutal truth... its not yes.
It's a solo album
I've been a very very big YES fan since the beginning. I've also learned a lot from them and Wakeman in my keyboard playing and song writing. I'm sorry to say that I am not into this new YES music. They are very good, but not my style of YES. I know I'll probably be trashed for saying this, but that's how I feel. I'll hold on to my old memories of them and continue to listen to all those great songs of art and remember the awesome concerts of the day's past.
A true Yes fan will always hold on to the great music they were known for, so fret not as this newer generation has no clue of what it was like to be there in the moment.
@@jamesaka007 I really love Tales FTO. I know Rick never did like it or playing it, but IMO, that's one of the greatest albums ever! I listen to all four songs as one whole song. Amazing writing for the 70's!
I heard the track which begins with Howe on steel guitar. It wasnt objectionable, and it DID feel like a return to form in many respects. So i wont instantly disregard the other tracks when i encounter them going forward.
I try to keep an open mind with these guys, whom I first fell in love with in 1986 with a cassette dub my brother gave me of Classic Yes/The Yes Album. But I've pretty much given up on them. Including ABWH, I've seen Yes live 9 times. Last time I saw them was 2012, at which point I finally accepted Benoit as their singer. Then he was out not long after that. At this point I don't think I'll bother ever seeing them live again and Yes I've given the last couple albums and the preview tracks a listen, and they do nothing for me. Unbelievably, in a week, KT Tunstall will be eclipsing Yes for the act I've seen the most time live, then will be seeing her 3 more times later as well. Her latest album is kinda tepid but she is still absolutely at her peak live.
Being a die hard yes fan I’ll give it a go.
Being a die hard YES fan, I'll give it a miss. To me, this is little more than a tribute band.
I haven't received my review copy yet. Not cool!!! Cannot wait!!!
damn, I gotta hear your thoughts, what did you think of the first two songs that were released?
The problem with this lineup is that there is no songwriter in the band. Steve is capable of writing amazing guitar parts, but what made YES the inspired leaders of prog was the lyrics and melodies of Jon Anderson, with the great musicians backing him. This lineup is trying to copy the Anderson style but it's just not happening. If Wakeman and Anderson return there may be a chance to rekindle the magic, but even then it's doubtful as Anderson himself hasn't produced anything comparable to his great works in at least 15 years. That there are now 3 terrible to mediocre albums staining the YES name is a shame indeed.
If Mirror to the Sky is a 10/10 .. what would Siberian Khatru or Awaken rate? Or And You And I?
I think that rating is relative to just that album and not their entire discography.
@@modeltrainfan Almost meaningless then, but makes more sense. Thanks.
Like an 18/10 lmao
It's got no spark they should call it a day I mean not make any more
To each their own,but I'll pass.....and it's not a matter of comparing the new to the old,it's simply a lack of interest in something that I think has already exceeded its shelf life...but that's only my opinion...
I might go for the 1cd version if the 'bonus' tracks are of a similar 'filler' track quality as last time.
Having now heard them, yes buy the 1cd version!
Where did you get that really cool Seconds Out T-shirt?? My favorite Genesis Live album 🙂
I'm not sure ...
I had the misfortune of getting Circles of Time stuck in my head while supervising a 3-hour exam and trying not to look at the clock. Have to agree Cut from the Stars and the title track are stand-outs but some of the others growing on me especially Living out their Dream.
I hope at some point we get archival releases from the 70's and 80's. I'm tired of Rhino milking the Wilson remixes and Progeny tapes over and over.
The Rhino remasters are still available and sound great.
Those 2 songs alone gives me the impression this is going to be way better than Big Generator in the ranks which had Anderson. This is even with the rest of it was just blank space. So where does that put this?
You're giving Cut From The Stars a 10:10? Essentially saying it's as good as Close To The Edge, South Side Of The Sky or Awaken? Yeah, no. Maybe, _maybe_ a 6:10, but certainly not a perfect rating. I've tried to give this one more than a fair chance, and I'm just not seeing (hearing) it. My impression isn't one of an organic composition, it's design by committee. And Jon seems to be trying far too hard to channel JA's lyrics and it comes across as near parody IMHO. "Karmachromatic"? I'm not sure I ever cringed so hard. I wish them luck, and am happy for people loving this and Rok Flote. I got to see the greats during the golden era of prog, but I'm happy to move on. I'll give the rest of the album a go, but really have no desire to return to the first 2 songs any time soon. Better than the last 2 albums? Almost anything is.
That's not what I'm saying at all. The rankings a relative to this album only
Wise choice to move on from this...just not worth the time.
Thank you for your great reviews! I only hope that my favorite band (Marillion) can find their way back after 3 disasterous albums, in my opinion. AHBID is extremely disappointing to me....
seems to me prog bands are gettin to be like trigger's broom.....
ie. not much left of the original !
Очень хороший альбом, мне очень понравилась музыка
Magic Potion is 7 out of 10.
Absolutely not worth reviewing, as it is neither worth the ranking of any tracks at all... The only part of this work that I found interesting is the traditional art from Rodger Dean, which is always amazing. It really is a nicely packaged disc set of music from a three legged dog band.
ill listen to yes again if they get rid of jon davison
Quite like Peter paul amd mary actually 😂
Living Out Their Dreams is a great song, but has no business on a Yes album! It’s like somebody had been watching too much television during the covid crisis and condensed into a bitingly sarcastic song! Maybe it could been placed at the end of the record than smack in the middle.😂😊
Ordered, hope Steve is not going to try vocal (lead or leed).
Got album Surrealistic Pillow upto and including Volunteers today. Have also found the 3CD boxset and some live albums and waiting for their first album to arrive at a later date. The latter albums are hard to find but were here somewhat degraded.
Bad news for you...
Its not benn released on the other side of the pond as it were Unless amoeba employes of berkeley ca location hate yes as much as I suspect?..Lets hope not!...
I find very dificultad to consider this band as YES. Even though the album is ok, Is not YES for me. Same as Uriah Heep and some other bands with only one or none of the original members.
Rankings applicable to this album only is a cop-out and means nothing, completely pointless. It's starting to feel like you are afraid to upset the band. After all, if you upset them, they won't come on your videos. Most folks that watch your channel aren't stupid, we realise this is what's happening.
So your review is not biased. Therefore, not honest and truthful I feel.
As others comment here, Yes are now, no more than an imitation and a far cry from a real Yes.
This is very poor stuff indeed just like Tull is no longer really Tull and also very poor stuff.
The lack of genuine reviews may mean after building your channel up, it will start to lose views, for me personally, this is the start of that process.
Fan Boy People and bands don't like it when they hear someone tell the truth and say when a dud is a dud. So more and more reviews don't tell the truth, which is a shame.
But inevitably the truth comes out over time. This album is yet another dud.
Your comment could not reflect my views any better...too many podcasting review/critic/perk grabbing suck-ups.
Darren Locke hates the new Yes. He hates a lot of music, actually. I can’t watch his stuff
Can't wait for all the stupid "no anderson = no Yes" comments.. At least give the album a shot before you start criticizing! Also, great to hear the mostly positive review, from first hearing All Conected, i knew this will be something special!
It's not that this band can't be good without Jon Anderson. I'm open to a new album with him or without him. What I don't want to hear is a fake Jon Anderson.
No Squire= No Yes
I especially like laughing at the dummies who complain about dead people not being on the album!
You don't have to wait...all of the "stupid" yet valid comments are all over You Tube. As a Yes fan from day one in 1968, I did give this several listens over three days (about two per), and some good smoke. After trying to be forgiving for each track, and every strained effort from the passionless vocals to the less-than-stellar producing, it still came off as average. At this point, an old Starcastle album is more enjoyable.
Aw jesus, fuck Yes already. I mean I love Yes, but I just can't anymore.
Even if they seem to be "finding their way back", there is just simply too much other great music out there to gravitate towards. For me, Yes fulfilled their duties from debut to Drama, but even after 1977, they were starting to push it with me. Sure, it's great that they keep the legacy rolling, but in my opinion, no band from that golden era can ever gain my excitement for new material except for the likes of Wire or The Damned.
Damn...the Damned are good...!!!
Sounds like three good tracks the rest average to poor
If you mashed up these 3 new albums you would have something really good
Like...??? horsesh!t on a shingle?
Admittedly I've only heard one track from this in any detail. It seemed like Yes doing a cover of itself ca late '70s, and sounding more than a little like Starcastle. Of course Starcastle came on the scene in '76 sounding like a Yes covers band, while the members of Yes were busy promoting their various solo projects. I'm old school, so: no Anderson, no Squire, no Yes.
Starcastle is a good listen!
You never stop trying, Christ….
Talk to me in three months about how..ahem..GREAT this is..
Please
It’s still Howe and Davidson.
Won’t ever be more than that
You'll never convince someone running a podcast who is asking for favors and money to try and "influence" your thoughts on their choice of subjects, especially something as subjective as music. I am always in awe of just how far these newer types of social hucksters go in length to get in your face with and expect you to accept this kind of bull. I usually give the biased and unbiased reviewers a second chance, and if I can't be happy with their rose colored glasses opinions...I delete the channel. And please don't give Davison that much credit.
An excellent work of forgery. It’s like a bad comb over, time to let it go.
Steve Howe continues to drag the Yes name to shame.
First off its not Yes only by name, how long will this band go on will my Grandson will be wondering why this band is putting out their 76th album, with this bunch of muzos, it will have a quality to it, the sound of this band has gone the cornerstones have long gone, and I know it will be a left on the self gathering human dust.
The old Yes has set the bar so unbelievably high. That’s my real issue with this lineup; I can’t take it seriously in comparison to what the band once was.
Calling “Cut from the Stars” a 10/10 just seems absolutely ridiculous to me when we know what this band could be capable of.
I'm not comparing these songs to the older songs
@@classicalbum Then quit with the propping up the new fluff.
A very generous review to a once great band that’s a parody at this point.
They are a cover band at this point.
How in the world does group of nothingness get to be called Yes?
Yes doesn’t exist any more and hasn’t for a very very long time
These names are just brands, trademarks
How true, it may be proggy but just call yourself by another name and then see if you get this much recognition😮😮😮😮😮😮
Well, I've had a listen, and to be honest I won't be giving it another airing. Once was enough. It's Heaven and Earth Mk 2 isn't it? Maybe slightly more 'interesting', but still boring as hell. Geoff Downes might as well not be there for all the contribution he's making. It's obvious that he is not in the same class as Wakeman/Moraz. Jon Davison's vocal style grates on my nerves as well. Trying so hard to sound like Jon Anderson and just doesn't. They dumped Benoit for some reason, and he was a far better prospect. Be honest, if this album didn't have the Yes logo with the Dean artwork on the cover it would have disappeared into the dark recesses of the bargain bins pronto. May still do.
You didn't spend money on this...DID YOU???
@@jamesaka007 Streamed it.