Drama: Yes

It's one of their best albums, Anderson or no Anderson. Some of Squire's best basslines, too. "Machine Messiah" is actually one of the songs that led to my being a Yesfan.

Definitely in my Top 5 Yes albums. Squire absolutely cooks on this recording, his bass never sounded so good before or since......

Drama is actually my favorite Yes album, I prefer Trevor Horn's voice to Jon Anderson. 

Knowing that the album was without Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman I was skeptical when it first came out.  After first listen my skepticism vanished and I recognized it as another great one by Yes.  

Fearabsentia wrote: Yeah, I think Drama matches Fragile's greatness

I....don't think that.

I think what may elevate Fragile a notch above Drama is Heart of the Sunrise.  I love that song…

Nearly as valiant an effort without Anderson as Relayer was without Wakeman. A little goofy, but much more entertaining then most of their catalog from the following decade. Not to be compared to earlier efforts, though. I mean, seriously.

I couldn't bring myself to get it until about 5 years ago. I love the energy and freshness of it and it has aged well. Yes always had a happy knack of not ever standing still whatever you think of the music. This is partly due to the constant line up changes. 

Into The Lens is such a great workout here. The Buggles' version was nice - I Am A Camera (but only in an electro pop way). I think that 5 out of the 6 tunes are great - only Run Through The Light is a bit more 'Buggles' than Yes, but I do love both Buggles albums so it's a minor glitch in an otherwise great album from 1980.

Dellinger wrote: I mainly love Machine Messiah, and that's the one song I put at the same level as Yes's 70's work. However, I also enjoy a pair of songs that are usually dismissed when discussions of this album come, which are White Care and Run to the Light.

I really like Run to the Light as well but would put Tempus Fugit and Does it really happen on the same par with their 70's output. Sure it is not the same,  but are filled with what their 70's output so great, Chris Squire unleashed.  They cleverly made Squire and Howes backing vocal harmonies more prominent thus rendering Anderson's absence a non issue as with the new singer, vocally.. it still sounded completely like a classic Yes album. As far as Wakeman's absence, after the DREADFUL display he had on Tormato, Downes was a very welcome change. I'd rank it in their top 5 albums of all time. It is a great album, especially by a group that really had nothing to prove and had spent a decade pouring out creative album after album.