NO COMMENT

No Comment was Billy Sherwood's second solo album and his first since leaving Yes in 2000 after the tour in support of The Ladder (which was perfectly documented on the fantastic House Of Yes DVD). In the meantime, Billy had also released no less than two albums with Chris Squire as Conspiracy in 2000 and 2003. Released in the same year as Conspiracy's second album Unknown, No Comment is a much better album than either of the two Conspiracy albums and even up to par with The Ladder in quality. In style, it is quite different from Yes however. The instrumental opener Metaphors, for example, is an energetic Jazz-Rock/Fusion number that reminds me of the work of Steve Morse. The same is true of some other parts as well. Another notable aspect of the album is the higher level of acoustic guitars.

Sherwood plays everything himself on this album, including electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums, as well as singing - a true instrumental polymath. In contrast with the debut masterpiece The Big Peace, No Comment consists mostly of shorter tracks (around three to five minutes in length) with one longer piece in Empty Castle. The material is strong throughout both instrumentally and melodically, but my favourite track is probably the fantastic False Prophets.

The biggest complaint I have here is with the cover picture which looks a bit cheap. Please don't think that this in any way reflects the music which is of high quality.

Highly recommended!