CLOSE TO THE EDGE

In my mind, there are three albums that reach the heights of progressive rock as most of us have come to define it: IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (King Crimson), SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND (Genesis) and this Yes album. They are the proverbial ''cream of the crop'' albums that all prog fans should get around to hearing, and all three represent the progressive rock genre in the most positive way.

CLOSE TO THE EDGE differs from the other two classics in the mood of the pieces; CLOSE TO THE EDGE is a bright and jovial album as opposed to King Crimson's dark and majestic masterpiece or Genesis's delicate, fragile work. The compositions here have an uplifting feel to them, especially ''Siberian Khatru''. It's very hard to ignore Squire's punchy bass, Howe's dexterous guitar layers and Wakeman's full implementation into the group, adding more memorable fluttering keyboard lines than FRAGILE offered, if that's even possible.

The title epic has become the epic that all prog bands want to emulate. It has enough musical skill to dazzle the listener, yet the band takes a simple approach in construction. We don't have twenty themes coming and going without reason; Yes only needed about four or five to expand, develop and reshape in ninteen minutes of vinyl space, and they can make those themes sound terrific. Plus, Yes decided to further up the ante with a lighter tune (''And You and I'') following the epic and an edgier piece (''Siberian Khatru'') as the closer.

I happen to like FRAGILE more because it was my first Yes experience, but artistically and objectively speaking, CLOSE TO THE EDGE is better and the logical continuation of what FRAGILE represents. This is an album to be enjoyed for generations to come.