TOPOGRAPHIC DRAMA: LIVE ACROSS AMERICA

What is the best Yes live album? That's a difficult question and the answer isn't simple either. Some might say it's a 1979 recording, when the band was more technologically equipped to perform their complex material than they were in 1972. Others might argue for the Relayer tour, where those same complex songs were delivered with incredible precision and mastery.

For me, as a fan, I've always loved Yessongs, despite its rough sound and the band's struggle to fully capture their studio magic on stage at that time. I also have a deep appreciation for the Patrick Moraz era, and even the Union tour, with its epic, emotional performances that are hard to match.

However, I believe the true peak of Yes live performance came with Keys to Ascension. There's a reason for that : technological, musical, and generational. By that point, the classic lineup had reunited with all the tools and maturity to finally deliver the ultimate live Yes experience. It's a moment very hard to surpass.

And now, I'm not a fan of the current incarnation of Yes at all. I personally prefer Jon Anderson's solo work over the version of Yes led by Steve Howe who refuses to retire or fade away. With the passing of Alan White, Howe is now the only remaining classic member of the band. Despite that, Yes is like a giant that keeps rising and refusing to disappear. It has survived Jon Anderson's departure, the death of Chris Squire, and now Alan White.

Topographic Drama includes Jon Davison on lead vocals, acoustic guitar, and percussion; Steve Howe on guitars and backing vocals; Billy Sherwood on bass, backing vocals; Geoff Downes on keyboards; Alan White on drums and percussion; and Jay Schellen on additional drums and percussion. Schellen, now the current full-time drummer, would later replace the legendary Alan White. I think Topographic Drama Live Across America. It revives songs that had been long forgotten in the Yes repertoire, while also honoring the all time classics. The album opens with the entire Drama album, performed impeccably. Then come a few classics like "And You and I" and "Heart of the Sunrise," followed by an ambitious dive into Tales from Topographic Oceans with "The Revealing Science of God", the "Leaves of Green" (excerpt from The Ancient) and a powerful rendition of "Ritual." The set closes with an outstanding encore, stretching into a long and energetic finale with "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper."

Topographic Drama Live Across America, beyond its historical significance is the last live recording with Alan White, and the first with Billy Sherwood as a full time member replacing the irreplaceable Chris Squire. It also features one of the best Roger Dean covers. The album is incredible: it sounds fabulous, the instruments are perfectly mixed, and the performances are some of the finest I've ever heard. Stylistically, it's almost flawless. This isn't just a good Yes live album it's one of the best made by any incarnation of the band, and perhaps one of my personal favorite.

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