CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Many call Close to the Edge THE progressive rock album. While I wouldn't necessarily say it is far and away the best in this very diverse field, CTTE is definitly near the top of the list. Representing the pinnacle of the experimental art rock era (which I had the misfortune to not be a part of) CTTE does many things today's prog bands just can't pull off. Firstly, the songs flow. Really, Really, Really well. Unlike the abrupt changes in volume and tempo, Yes managed to blend the changes together to create one coherent epic, as opposed to what sounds like a patchwork of songs strung together with a few seconds of filler here and there. The transition from Total Mass Retain to I Get Up, I Get Down never strikes one as rushed or forced, as if Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Rick Wakeman were all seperate rivers merging into one slow, steady stream seamlessly. That is the essence that makes Close to the Edge such a fantastic album. Next time you listen to this album, focus on the bridges in between the sections of CTTE, And You And I, and Siberian Khatru and you might get what I'm talking about.