KEYS TO ASCENSION 2

The studio disk is great. Okay, so in the context of their 70's brilliance, it is lacking. But it's the best effort they have made since at least Drama, if not before that. Mind Drive is worth the price of the album if you ask me. The other tracks have varying quality, with the final two actually being my favorite after Mind Drive for their lovely ambiance and great guitar from Howe on the final track. You can't expect a group of over 50 gentleman to really be able to recapture the past fully and completely now can you? (okay, VDGG did it, but that is the only exception I've ever heard)

I think they did an excellent job on this material and when compared to the next two studio albums is sounds even better. I think perhaps Yes fans have too high expectations of their favorite band? You'd think after the 80's they would have given up on those.

The live material doesn't quite work as well as on the first Keys, but is still pretty decent. Turn of The Century actually stands out for me, due mostly to Jon Anderson's outstanding vocals. Close to The Edge just seems to slow and seems to really be hurt more by the lack of youthful energy than other tracks in this set or Keys 1. And You And I works pretty well, but the first 3 tracks have never been favorites of mine anyway, and the less energetic performance (as compared to Yessongs and Yesshows) makes them even less appealing to me.

But overall, another 4 star Keys album.