Finnish River Band Het FRB, Thanks for your great message! I admit I'm shocked-and glad- that you're out there! The radios never played alot of YES even in the 70s so its miraculous they have such a huge audience. Its fantastic that you've discovered YES. Their music is so good it just simply cannot fade into music history. It cannot be forgotten. It really concerns me that my coworkers have never heard of YES and think popsters katy perry and kanye west are great music.(insert vomit here😝) The fact that you share prog music with the people you know is huge! Keep doing it! I think if your generation heard more of this music it would inspire more bands to cut the pop crap and play real compositions. Its difficult since education has been so dumbed down to the point where today people can't even process music that is longer than 2 minutes long. I wish some entrepreneur would start a prog only radio station. Imagine this generation hearing YES, Genesis, Renaissance, Emerson, Lake and Palmer for the first time! It would blow their minds to hear songs that don't begin with "Baby, baby,baby...."
Yes...you are dead on...should be listened to the way one listens to classical music.CTTE is in Sonata Form(modified sonata form actually,but with all the elements of that form.expositions,developements,& coda)..a true Prog Symphony....or at least tone poem...masterpiece
It is their definitive album and their best . Do you know that Bill Bruford left Yes to join King Crimson following this album because he was convinced ( he was right ) that Yes could never improve upon Close To The Edge .
It is somehow surprising me to hear how much of the music Rick Wakeman disliked. Obviously, Jon Andersons spiritual ideas are definately not for everyone (I quite like them), but whats even more surprising is that the sound of the band is still as good as it is. Solo - and this is a rather mundane insight - none of those musicians achieved the same quality of output. Not sure whether any other band has reached this level of compositional and musical complexity AND could perform it admirably. I absolutely love the classic genesis albums, but musically they were much more conservative. However their Solo projects (specially Peter Gabriel, and to a lesser extent Phil Collins) were much more successful. On CTTE, my all time favorite is "And you and I" - probably amongst the 3 most popular songs the band ever recorded. On a side note: Do you guys know how Jon Anderson is going? I read he had very serious health problems, but there are relatively recent stage recordings where he sings nicely, he didn't loose his crystal clear voice at over 70yo! - Greetings from Germany.
I'm not sure. I got the impression he had respiratory problems around 2005 and needed time to recover. Supposedly the band just carried on without him without telling him - that's how he left! Hopefully that's all it was and he's okay, now. I agree recent performances sound pretty good. As for Wakeman, tbh i think there just wasn't enough widdly keyboard on it. That's why he only likes Revealing - it's got loads of his type of keys. He was always a hired gun in Yes, really, although obviously he did co-write some cool stuff.
Of all the points in this review (which I watch curiously often so good job guys) I agreed with Sam saying Chris Squire is a bit lost in the shuffle on this album compared to Fragile. With The Yes Album or Fragile, it’s very much like the bass is the architecture of the music and that’s why it’s able to be so rocking and grounded but still have all of the business going on on top. For a while I’ve held the opinion that Fragile has an overall better sound than Close To The Edge, and I think that’s because the precision of the playing and kind of relative sparseness of the songs off of Fragile give it that crispiness, where this album has a more organic, ethereal thing going on. That’s not really a criticism, but I think the arrival of the more washy full band sound here is what developed into the soup that is Tales From Topographic Oceans. There’s a lot missing from that album, but Bill Bruford is definitely the first that comes to mind. Although he isn’t know for being a metronome like Peart or something, I think he tied together and organized the music in a similar way to Phil Collins in Genesis, and the drumming by Alan White is a big reason that album seems more underdeveloped. A good example for me is the big moment at the beginning of Revealing Science of God when the drums and bass come in, it just sounds like White and Squire tripped and fell into the studio. The snares and hi-hats of outrageous fortune.
Although not my first Yes exposure, CttE was my "first best" exposure, already having heard 90125, Fragile and Yes Album. "Close..." just blew my mind to pieces by albums end. Whereupon I played it over and over again... which explains some things. (Steve_Howe == ~(Metallica)): I think during the multitude of reviews I'm not seeing Sam at the table, he's shut himself into the closet listening to Metallica albums. I'd check on him, Kev ;-)
TOTALLY AGREE...YESSONGS is the greatest live recording in history and the band actually plays many classics as well or better on it. Yours is No Disgrace being the absolute example of YES and Steve Howe completely smolder blasting it over the studio version.. I consider it Steve's best song. and that is saying something with Relayer out in the ether !
To the slow one on the right; It is a concept. The concept is that all life is on the edge, from viruses to bacteria, to aquatic and land base animals each species lives out it’s drama in its own way. The music is indeed impression art taken though the lens of the times.
Since this review I have had a bit of a rethink and a re-evaluation - you can read what happened here - wenton.co.uk/2017/02/25/close-edge-yes-review/ ;)
stilifegman It was along time ago, but I certainly never said that. Maybe Sam did, I don’t know. Sorry for not taking your word for it, but we get this a lot.
@@MrLtia1234 you don't have to take my word for it, just watch. At 8:08, guy on the right: "I think it's (the bass) lost a little bit in there." Guy on the left's reply: "It's not out in the front as much." Sorry, I don't know which is Sam or Kev. My point is, the bass is absolutely NOT lost on this album. If anything, it is more prominent on this album. Certainly as prominent as it is on Fragile. I would probably agree if you said TFTO.
stilifegman Ah, I get you. We’re not talking about mix, we’re talking about space in the music. We’re quite early on here and Sam doesn’t yet get stuff like ‘mix’ - just what’s being emphasised. Sam has a problem with Wakeman’s tone which overwhelms a lot of music on this album (specifically CTTE we’re talking about) in a way it doesn’t on Fragile. There keyboards all the time! But a pretty obscure point, it has to be said. Obviously I agree there’s tons of bass on this album and it’s probably Chris Squire’s finest hour... maybe. Also remember there was no Steven Wilson mix back then- this was the 1994 remaster or the 2003 one (don’t know which one we used).
These guys have a shit ear for music...They dwell far too much on the disfunctions of bands and shit like that. They cannot properly dissect the musical content of any band.
Anderson's lyrics mean nothing. Once you realize this, you achieve eternal peace and enlightenment.
Are you sure? What's a Total Mass Retain, then? I would definitely let Bill Bruford know, at least.
Quick, send it to Bill! Oh wait, you just made that up. Jon himself admitted he has no idea what it means.
One of the best albums of all time. Arguably, the most definitive prog rock album of all time.
Sir, I raise you The Lamb.
No argument here. @@MrLtia1234
Tales From Topograghic Oceans
Sad that the Millenial generation has never heard most of Yes' catalog which is just one masterpiece after another.
Finnish River Band Het FRB, Thanks for your great message! I admit I'm shocked-and glad- that you're out there!
The radios never played alot of YES even in the 70s so its miraculous they have such a huge audience. Its fantastic that you've discovered YES. Their music is so good it just simply cannot fade into music history.
It cannot be forgotten.
It really concerns me that my coworkers have never heard of YES and think popsters katy perry and kanye west are great music.(insert vomit here😝)
The fact that you share prog music with the people you know is huge! Keep doing it!
I think if your generation heard more of this music it would inspire more bands to cut the pop crap and play real compositions.
Its difficult since education has been so dumbed down to the point where today people can't even process music that is longer than 2 minutes long. I wish some entrepreneur would start a prog only radio station. Imagine this generation hearing YES, Genesis, Renaissance, Emerson, Lake and Palmer for the first time! It would blow their minds to hear songs that don't begin with "Baby, baby,baby...."
Emm excuse me!!!
Nice bait.
What a dumb comment
Yes...you are dead on...should be listened to the way one listens to classical music.CTTE is in Sonata Form(modified sonata form actually,but with all the elements of that form.expositions,developements,& coda)..a true Prog Symphony....or at least tone poem...masterpiece
ps would love you guys to review Yessongs & Welcome back my friends live LP's
It is their definitive album and their best . Do you know that Bill Bruford left Yes to join King Crimson following this album because he was convinced ( he was right ) that Yes could never improve upon Close To The Edge .
With his leaving
They were forced to change
It is somehow surprising me to hear how much of the music Rick Wakeman disliked. Obviously, Jon Andersons spiritual ideas are definately not for everyone (I quite like them), but whats even more surprising is that the sound of the band is still as good as it is. Solo - and this is a rather mundane insight - none of those musicians achieved the same quality of output. Not sure whether any other band has reached this level of compositional and musical complexity AND could perform it admirably. I absolutely love the classic genesis albums, but musically they were much more conservative. However their Solo projects (specially Peter Gabriel, and to a lesser extent Phil Collins) were much more successful.
On CTTE, my all time favorite is "And you and I" - probably amongst the 3 most popular songs the band ever recorded.
On a side note: Do you guys know how Jon Anderson is going? I read he had very serious health problems, but there are relatively recent stage recordings where he sings nicely, he didn't loose his crystal clear voice at over 70yo! - Greetings from Germany.
I'm not sure. I got the impression he had respiratory problems around 2005 and needed time to recover. Supposedly the band just carried on without him without telling him - that's how he left! Hopefully that's all it was and he's okay, now. I agree recent performances sound pretty good.
As for Wakeman, tbh i think there just wasn't enough widdly keyboard on it. That's why he only likes Revealing - it's got loads of his type of keys. He was always a hired gun in Yes, really, although obviously he did co-write some cool stuff.
Of all the points in this review (which I watch curiously often so good job guys) I agreed with Sam saying Chris Squire is a bit lost in the shuffle on this album compared to Fragile. With The Yes Album or Fragile, it’s very much like the bass is the architecture of the music and that’s why it’s able to be so rocking and grounded but still have all of the business going on on top. For a while I’ve held the opinion that Fragile has an overall better sound than Close To The Edge, and I think that’s because the precision of the playing and kind of relative sparseness of the songs off of Fragile give it that crispiness, where this album has a more organic, ethereal thing going on. That’s not really a criticism, but I think the arrival of the more washy full band sound here is what developed into the soup that is Tales From Topographic Oceans. There’s a lot missing from that album, but Bill Bruford is definitely the first that comes to mind. Although he isn’t know for being a metronome like Peart or something, I think he tied together and organized the music in a similar way to Phil Collins in Genesis, and the drumming by Alan White is a big reason that album seems more underdeveloped. A good example for me is the big moment at the beginning of Revealing Science of God when the drums and bass come in, it just sounds like White and Squire tripped and fell into the studio. The snares and hi-hats of outrageous fortune.
Although not my first Yes exposure, CttE was my "first best" exposure, already having heard 90125, Fragile and Yes Album.
"Close..." just blew my mind to pieces by albums end. Whereupon I played it over and over again... which explains some things.
(Steve_Howe == ~(Metallica)): I think during the multitude of reviews I'm not seeing Sam at the table, he's shut himself into the closet listening to Metallica albums. I'd check on him, Kev ;-)
+Daniel Moore lol! Sam will like that one.
Can you please review the album DRAMA ?
I like the versions on Yessongs better so thats what I listen to, not the studio version. I like The Lamb by Genesis live better also.
Yes' best album (not counting Yessongs).
Yes' best album, including "Yessongs". Among the best prog albums ever made.
TOTALLY AGREE...YESSONGS is the greatest live recording in history and the band actually plays many classics as well or better on it. Yours is No Disgrace being the absolute example of YES and Steve Howe completely smolder blasting it over the studio version.. I consider it Steve's best song. and that is saying something with Relayer out in the ether !
To the slow one on the right;
It is a concept.
The concept is that all life is on the edge, from viruses to bacteria, to aquatic and land base animals each species lives out it’s drama in its own way.
The music is indeed impression art taken though the lens of the times.
Wow that's so profound. I'd have never have guessed this deeply involved critique would change the whole way I look at this album, mr sixth former.
Since this review I have had a bit of a rethink and a re-evaluation - you can read what happened here - wenton.co.uk/2017/02/25/close-edge-yes-review/
;)
it certinly aint throw away music thats for sure
What, Close To The Edge??
I wonder who would win in a fight?
How many eggs?
Six for me. Probably one for Sam.
I have never ever heard anyone say that the bass gets lost on this album! Please get a better stereo.
stilifegman It was along time ago, but I certainly never said that. Maybe Sam did, I don’t know. Sorry for not taking your word for it, but we get this a lot.
@@MrLtia1234 you don't have to take my word for it, just watch. At 8:08, guy on the right: "I think it's (the bass) lost a little bit in there." Guy on the left's reply: "It's not out in the front as much." Sorry, I don't know which is Sam or Kev. My point is, the bass is absolutely NOT lost on this album. If anything, it is more prominent on this album. Certainly as prominent as it is on Fragile. I would probably agree if you said TFTO.
stilifegman Ah, I get you. We’re not talking about mix, we’re talking about space in the music. We’re quite early on here and Sam doesn’t yet get stuff like ‘mix’ - just what’s being emphasised. Sam has a problem with Wakeman’s tone which overwhelms a lot of music on this album (specifically CTTE we’re talking about) in a way it doesn’t on Fragile. There keyboards all the time! But a pretty obscure point, it has to be said.
Obviously I agree there’s tons of bass on this album and it’s probably Chris Squire’s finest hour... maybe.
Also remember there was no Steven Wilson mix back then- this was the 1994 remaster or the 2003 one (don’t know which one we used).
These guys have a shit ear for music...They dwell far too much on the disfunctions of bands and shit like that. They cannot properly dissect the musical content of any band.
Then why are you watching?