FRAGILE

Though three of the five solo "pieces" on this album and one of the songs are negligable the rest are so powerful that they elevate this album to near perfection. The leading track "Roundabout" is arguably (along with "And You And I") YES' defining and most creative moment. Every shift and twist in this song is where it should be. The new kid on the block Wakeman earns his reputation by infusing YES with the fire down below. Buford's drums are central to the overwhelming drive that carries this song on its perfect 8 minute journey. Like "Ziggy Stardust" did for Glam "Roundabout" propelled the prog rock genre forward into an unforseen territory that would unfortunately be grossly misused by cheap imitations(STYX & KANSAS....ugh....) and finally be destroyed by the unforgiving children of the revolution...punk. But "Roundabout" was one of those perfect moments that happen every once in awhile in rock music. "Long Distance Runaround" is a 3 minute ditty that seems to inhabit both the upbeat and the melancholy space of sound. Beautiful. The album closes with the stunning "Heart Of The Sunrise", an eleven minute epic that seems to wriggle out of your grasp the more you try and pin it down. Jon Andersons' voice keeps the sound grounded in the realm rock fans can understand and just as his vocal hits the hook Wakeman,Buford,Squire and Howe disorient the listener with a sudden jazzy shift. One of their greatest moments. FRAGILE is a truly momentous occasion in the annals of rock history.It's as important as Elvis' Sun sessions,Beatles' Pepper,Bowie's Ziggy,Pistols' Bollocks or Nirvanas' Nevermind.Just because Rock critics have tried to erase YES from the history books doesn't mean they weren't there.