CLOSE TO THE EDGE

This is my personal favorite album of all time. It's a drum that's been beat to death, but for anyone deciding whether or not to listen to this? Just give it a try. If you find a dark room, a nice pair of headphones and an open mind, this album--specifically Jon Anderson-- will sing to you. This album features amazing work from all members of the band, and each member preforms at their absolute best on this record. I know my review will get drowned out by the thousands of accompanying 5 stars "This is the best thing ever," but it really is. It is honest to god the best thing ever. Give it a shot and tell yourself what you think.

Close to the Edge: Subjectively the best song ever composed, this is actually on the shorter side for a one side epic. That length is used perfectly however. The quality of the first track cannot be overstated. No, it's not flawless, but I think it's as close as you're gonna get. This song is really what the album is all about. I think if you need cohesive lyrics to enjoy a record, this might not be for you. I think lyrics are an extremely important part of progressive rock music, but I would also argue that the lack of sensible lyrics works to this tracks advantage. Don't let the lyrics scare you away, they're no deal-breaker by any stretch of the imagination. 10/10

And You and I: And You and I has been described before as "the quintessential Yes song" by some commenter on Youtube. While it's always a good idea to take opinions on that side with a heavy helping of salt, it is to some degree really the case. This song is symphonic, beautiful, emotional, and according to my friends stepdad, a ripoff of the people who made Roundabout... brilliant opinion. In any case, this track really shines, and Anderson's usual grand and eerily beautiful vocals make this track another one of my favorites of all time. 9.5/10

Siberian Khatru: This track is really catchy, but it's not the bad kind of catchy. It's the kind of song that sticks with you because it's such a sonic joy to listen to. After the arguably lyrically significant And You and I, this track is a nice break back to the meaningless hogwash of the title track. Unlike the title track, this one really doesn't feel like it's about anything, which is a minor setback, but I don't believe this song was meant to be meaningful, so it won't take too strong a hit in my rating for that reason. 9/10

If you're familiar with the album, and considering getting it on vinyl, I highly encourage this decision. A good copy will run you about $10 at the time of writing this if you stop by a local record shop with it in stock. Even on the old paper thin 70's discs the grooves on this one track well and sound great. I highly encourage grabbing it.

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