YES

Yes' debut album is exceptionally strong for the inexperience of the band members, and in comparison to a lot of other English albums from this time. You can tell this band was going to be big from this debut alone. The heavy bass work and the prominence of the drums, guitars, and keys was very influential and innovative for it's time.

The album starts with a bass and vocal heavy song called "Beyond and Before", a very solid track. Then comes in a cover of The Byrds' "I See You", another good effort, the best parts of the song are Peter Banks' and Bill Bruford's jazzy break in the middle of the song. The next song was written by vocalist Jon Anderson, it's a slower and more vocally-driven song making it mellower than the other songs on the album. "Looking Around" features Tony Kaye's keys more than anything and decent melody, remeniscent of The Beatles. The end of the song features one of the heaviest moments on the album. "Harold Land" is one of the first songs to feature Chris Squire's heavy playing style that drives the song, but other than that the song is pretty weak. Now comes the daring Beatles cover "Every Little Thing". It's the best and most original cover of a Beatles song from anyone around this time. "Sweetness" is a melodically strong and beautiful song. The closer "Survival" starts off with some pretty intense melody by Squire and the gang, and then meandering into delicate melody until Jon comes in with that warm tone and finishes the album.

The problems with this album are some unusual engineering and production and some passable songs, but it still proves to be a good debut album with some good moments.

Highlights: Beyond and Before, Every Little Thing, Sweetness