BIG GENERATOR

1. A musical standpoint. Excellent use of melody, harmony, counterpoint (Intro to Big Generator), vocals, innovative rhythms and instrumentation, all while being encapsulated in an 80's envelope. If you are a true musician, you will appreciate Big Generator (except for Holy Lamb, which is a purely spiritual song with little musical innovation).

2. THICK vocals. Wow, the vocal work on this is amazing! Great harmonies, interesting intervals. WHO CARES if it's processed in studio, it's all about the sound, not how it was created! Trevor Rabin did a great job on this one.

3. It has appeal to the musician, the YES fan, the 80's fan, and the casual listener. No matter what category you fall into, there is something on this album for you. Classic YES fans are used to the eclectic sound of YES, with their offbeat rhythms and vocals. I'm Running fulfills this role with their 7/8 time signature and fluctuating drums, while adding 80's feel with the keyboard sounds and gated snare and drums.

As a musician, I am impressed with this album. I like the mix of artistry and sellability. The complexity of the music and the soundscaping has created countless analyses and discussions amongst musical circles. I look forward to their next work (if it happens).

You must take this work on its own merits! Don't try to compare it with older YES works. This is not your grandfather's YES...The band proves that they are flexible and adaptable. These are two traits that are necessities if survival over time is desired.

My only gripe with this album is the song Holy Lamb. Jon Anderson, while having an excellent and unique voice, is a bit too weird for the rest of this group. If he would just stick to singing, this band would be better off. After seeing them in concert several times, I'm convinced that if Jon didn't have a great voice, he'd have been out a long time ago.

However, he DOES have a great voice, which is what it's about. It's about the music, not the philosophy. If the sound isn't good, it doesn't matter why you're doing it.

Pure musicians will love this album. Pure YES fans probably won't, because they will miss the epic songs that take an entire album side to finish. This album is marketable to the masses as well as the musicians. It's a shame that some YES fans will be upset that their exclusive club has been breached by the average listener, because Trevor Rabin made it so. Way to go, Trevor!

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