SheriffJohnBrown Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 What are your favorite studio albums from Yes? Feel free to list all the ones you've heard in order. ABWH not included. Fragile The Yes Album Close to the Edge Drama Relayer Going For the One Tales From Topographic Oceans 90125 Magnification The Ladder Union Big Generator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Close to the Edge Fragile The Yes Album Relayer Going For the One Union Drama 90125 Tormato Big Generator Keys To Ascension 2 (excluding the live tracks) Tales From Topographic Oceans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 This one was REALLY tough, and it could change: 1. Tales From Topographic Oceans (far and away their best - one of my favorite all time albums by any group) 2. Time and a Word (a criminally overlooked and underrated album - beautiful stuff) 3. Tormato - (their best of the late 70's - stunning release) 4. The Yes Album (so many classic songs!) 5. Close to the Edge (some of their best long suites) 6. Fragile (often considered their best - not by me, but still truly great) 7. Going for the One (not quite the heights they'd reach on Tormato, but still a wonderful album - wondrous stories is so beautiful) 8. 90125 (took this album awhile to grow on me - their last great album I've heard) 9. Relayer (a disappointment after the magnificent Tales - great playing, but lacking melody) 10. Yes (very good, but they hadn't quite found their sound yet) 11. Drama (NO Jon Anderson??? yikes, what were they thinking?! still halfway decent considering...) 12. The Big Generator (no thanks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanEHdian Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 I saw YES live once during the 90125 tour.. Can't say that I can remember much of it tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheriffJohnBrown Posted August 21, 2005 Author Share Posted August 21, 2005 Edit: Fragile The first Yes album I heard with open ears and it remains my favorite. I can never get past the magic of this lineup, especially the spirited AND rocking organs of Wakey. Every song on this album kicks my ass, even after 50 listens. The Yes Album Nearly the same experience as Fragile. This has some of Yes' most unique songs (A Venture, The Clap) in addition to being the cornerstone of early Yes and the disputed beginning of their "progressive" era. Close to the Edge IMO the pinnacle of Yes. At this point they had a perfect blend of melody, complexity and ROCK. The title cut is my favorite, with Siberian Khatru in second. A flawless album in the Yes catalogue. Drama Jon Anderson's writing skills were beginning to deteriote at this time (for reference read the lyrics to Circus of Heaven and Arriving UFO), but it was far from natural that the elf/falcetto voice of Yes leave the group, of which he had been a founding member and frontman throughout their success in the 70's. With Trevor Horn taking lead vox, Yes surprisingly released a progressive masterpiece. With Machine Messiah as the breathtaking opener, Yes went in new and twisted directions on Drama. Their finest moment in years. Relayer On Relayer, Yes became too complex for their own good. With the stunning Patrick Moraz on keyboards, they also managed to incorporate a strong fusion moment, Sound Chaser, next to the epic Gates of Delirium. Tales From Topographic Oceans I never settled in with Tales. It's often hailed as Yes' greatest achievement and a "prog" masterpiece. It also pissed off Rick Wakeman so much that the songs were extended to fit four album sides that he left the group (temporarily). I could never appreciate this album from Tales followers' point of view because I always fell asleep in the middle. Nonetheless a more than worthy album. Going For the One This album always leaves me cold. The title track is, IMO, one of Yes' most creative moments, along with Turn of the Century and Awaken. 90125 The only pop album from Yes that I listen to AND enjoy on a regular basis. Not comparible to original Yes, but worthy of 80's AOR. Tormato Yes deserves to be pummeled with rotten tomatoes simply for the tasteless, pathetic attempt at an "unwimpy" band portrait on the back cover. Stick with the robes, kimonos, and hemp clothing for God's sake! Anyway. One can see the train-wreck Circus of Heaven as unforgiveable, or Chris Squire's On the Silent Wings of Freedom as unforgettable. Nevertheless, Tormato has a few classic songs and some of Yes' best playing and production. Magnification Don't Go...horrid! *shudder* The Ladder I absolutely HATE Jon Elferson's vocals on this album and with ABWH. It's like 80's adult alternative meets other ballsless music and then gets put in a blender with "progressive" song structure. Union It's not as bad as people make it out to be. It's quite enjoyable, actually. The problem is it just ain't that good. Big Generator Refer to two word review of Spinal Tap's Shark Sandwich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetaxe&saw Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 A wonderful band. The Yes Album Fragile Relayer Close to the Edge Tormato Going For the One Tales from Topographic Oceans Yes Drama 90125 Magnification Time and a Word Union Talk The Ladder Big Generator Keystudio (also available on Keys to Ascension 1 & 2) Open Your Eyes - a thundering disgrace of an album. Live Albums Yessongs Keys to Ascension 1 & 2 House of Blues Yesshows 9012live - one of the worst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppetKing2112 Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 Relayer Close to the Edge The Yes Album Tales from Topographic Oceans Fragile Drama Going for the One 90125 Tormato Everything else - forget it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustard Death Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 I just have Fragile, Going For the One and Tormato... but they're all fantastic albums. I'll have to get some more soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheriffJohnBrown Posted August 21, 2005 Author Share Posted August 21, 2005 QUOTE (PuppetKing2112 @ Aug 21 2005, 10:05 AM) Everything else - forget it. Nope. I still need Yes and Time and a Word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mongo Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 Close To the Edge Fragile The Yes Album Relayer Going For The One Tales From Topographic Oceans 90125 Drama Tormato Big Generator Magnification Time And A Word The Ladder Yes Union Talk Keystudio Open Your Eyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimique Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 To be honest, I just recently got into YES (thanks to my mom), but I do own about four of their CD's, so I'll just list those, ok? 1.) Fragile 2.) Drama 3.) The YES Album 4.) Close To The Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oberon Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 Close To The Edge Fragile 90125 and 9012live Tales From Topographic Oceans Yessongs ...is all I heard yet. My dad has tonnes of others so I might check them out. However, Jon and Vangelis's album "The Friends of Mister Cairo" is fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra sneachta Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 QUOTE (SheriffJohnBrown @ Aug 21 2005, 08:14 AM) Big Generator Refer to two word review of Spinal Tap's Shark Sandwich. My favourite ever review was one of a crappy disco song in the late 80s called Let's Dance (not, I hasten to add, the Bowie song of the same name). The review simply read "Let's not". Back on topic, while I don't have the same breadth of knowledge of Yes as the rest of you, I must acknowledge a deep love for Tormato. (Particularly Future Times/Rejoice). I'm listening a lot to Tales.... on Goob's recommendation, and will post mt thoughts soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plodder Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 QUOTE 1. Tales From Topographic Oceans (far and away their best - one of my favorite all time albums by any group) Amen to that. I saw that tour and I also saw them tour Relayer. I own all their stuff upto and including Totmato. After that I know nothing. I own the Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford and Howe album and also the VHS Video that was released at the same time. Has anyone see the performance of "Heart of the Sunrise" on there? Sends shivers up my spine every time I see it. Awesome band. Oh yeah...in order. Tales From Topographic Oceans Going For The One (Listened to "Turn of the Century" midnight 1999) Close To The Edge Relayer Fragile 90125 Tormato Yessongs (I bought it with my first pay packet) The Yes Album Big Generator Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ES-335 Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 is one of my favorite bands ... right there with RUSH ... seen them many times ... all the different line ups ... also, I love all of these albums. OH ... and I do love the 80s CDs .... Big Generator isn't the best album but still blows away most of the crap we had to choose from in the late 80s. Tales From Topographic Oceans Close to the Edge The Album Fragile Going For The One Magnification 90125 Big Generator Relayer " " Time & A Word Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe Drama Keys To Ascension (Studio Tracks considered only) Keys To Ascension II ( Same as above) The Ladder Union Tormato Talk Open Your Eyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyrob Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 I have always liked YES. But don't have too many albums, and haven't actually heard most of them. My favourite is (and someone is going to say - yuk, coz its not the original line up) 90125 I like all of this album and bought it when it first came out. I don't play it now, as I have no turntable any more, and don't have the CD I also like Relayer, and Going for the One is a classic. Rick Wakeman is a Man City fan, and nearly bought the club about 15 yrs ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 I'm glad I'm not the only one who's such a big fan of Tales (though there aren't a lot of us). I can understand why some people wouldn't like it though. Handling one twenty minute song can be a lot to ask of a casual prog fan, much less four of them, and I think you have to be a really pretty hardcore 70's progressive fan to handle it and really appreciate it. It took me awhile myself to get through the whole thing because it's just so long. Then there's the lyrics. Yes have never had the clearest, simplest lyrics by a long shot. They're very unique in that their lyrics are often spiritual in a way, which I think is a great deal of their appeal. That being said, the lyrics on Tales are at their most spiritually cryptic and surreal - besides isolated moments like "I must have waited all my life for this moment," the rest of it can be somewhat obtuse to say the least, and it doesn't have the radio-friendly catchiness of some of their other more well-known songs. I love this album for all these reasons - I love that they pull off 4 20-minute songs so magnificently without getting boring or it feeling forced. Not many musicians could pull this off, but of course that was one of the main things progressive music was all about - complex, involved music and great musicianship. I find the lyrics really beautiful - admittedly they're extremely non-linear, so if you need a recognizable easy to sing along with verse-chorus-verse, you won't find it here. I still maintain it's by far the best thing they've ever done, not to mention one of the very best progressive albums of teh 70's. It takes patience to get into, but IMHO, it's well worth it. Madra, I look forward to your further thoughts on it... Peace, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheriffJohnBrown Posted October 10, 2005 Author Share Posted October 10, 2005 QUOTE (rushgoober @ Oct 9 2005, 08:46 PM) I can understand why some people wouldn't like it though. Handling one twenty minute song can be a lot to ask of a casual prog fan, much less four of them, and I think you have to be a really pretty hardcore 70's progressive fan to handle it and really appreciate it. It took me awhile myself to get through the whole thing because it's just so long. That's not why I don't like it. I don't like it because it doesn't hold my attention...I've listened to so much symph prog that more of the same stuff is to me just "zzzzzzz." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 QUOTE (SheriffJohnBrown @ Oct 9 2005, 08:54 PM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Oct 9 2005, 08:46 PM) I can understand why some people wouldn't like it though. Handling one twenty minute song can be a lot to ask of a casual prog fan, much less four of them, and I think you have to be a really pretty hardcore 70's progressive fan to handle it and really appreciate it. It took me awhile myself to get through the whole thing because it's just so long. That's not why I don't like it. I don't like it because it doesn't hold my attention...I've listened to so much symph prog that more of the same stuff is to me just "zzzzzzz." it didn't hold my attention at first either, it took awhile - it was a grower... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indica Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 I always liked YES, but I honestly don't know the albums good enough to rate them. It's been a few years before I had all their albums at one time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Whatever happened to sheriffjohnbrown?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeddyRulz Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Krinkle Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Top three.... Going For The One Close To The Edge Time And A Word all the rest...........especially Yesshows. G.O.D. on that is incredible. last on the list...... Open Your Eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaldad Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 QUOTE (CanEHdian @ Aug 21 2005, 01:01 AM) I saw YES live once during the 90125 tour.. Sorry to hear that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetaxe&saw Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 QUOTE (metaldad @ Dec 30 2010, 06:05 PM) QUOTE (CanEHdian @ Aug 21 2005, 01:01 AM) I saw YES live once during the 90125 tour.. Sorry to hear that You are f*ckin' KILLING me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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