All YES Appreciation Thread

Originally posted by American Khatru ^ I see what you meant.  But really?  I don't agree.  Well, different strokes... How do you like Drama?

Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy Originally posted by Bitterblogger For both Anderson and Wakeman to quit, and Yes to decide to carry on, took courage.  For it to involve two practically unknown musicians more attuned to New Wave than progressive rock, was risky. The resulting Drama was not only a clever title, but actually delivered two great numbers to the Yes repertoire: Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah (Into The Lens isn't bad either).  Can you think of other groups who've parted ways with two of their most popular members, including the main songwriter, that did as well? I can only think of disasters, like the J Geils Band, or "pushes", like with 10 cc.   Ahh, another one who agrees with me on Machine Messiah and the Buggles' songs being the high points.

Wait a minute, I know Into The Lens was a "Buggles" song (real good song imo). But Machine Messiah was supposedly based at first on another Buggles song.

I like what Bitterblogger had to say about the daring of Drama.  I agree, and can't think of another passable switchout of major members.  I always respected how Led Zep didn't even try - tough in fact to think of any bands that stopped completely when their drummer died, or even just left.

Anyway, Drama is an accomplishment.  And let's not leave out how fresh Howe's playing is on it, how fitting White and Squires playing is, and how excellent the vocal compliment works - mainly I'm saying how great the Horn/Squire, and even Horn/Squire/Howe, vocal combination is on the record.  (Btw, apparently White does "vocals" on the album, but I don't know what song(s) that could be as I don't know what he sounds like.)

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I really like Machine Messiah, just because of this song was this line-up worth existing for me. It may be only me, but I also liked Run Through the Light a lot, and even White Car, I find both nice to listen to (even though White Care is far too short, but I guess it acomplishes whatever it needs in so short a time). Tempus Fugit and Into the Lens have never been very interesting for me. By the way, anyone heard the live songs played by this lineup on the live compilation The Word is Live? Go Through This, and We Can Fly From Here. I found both songs quiet nice, however the sound quality on this two particular songs is rather dreadful.

^ The songs are merely nice; not offensive at all, just nice.  Btw, I like Run Through The Light too, weird as it is for a Yes song.  Certainly a good B-side tune.

For me, YESSONGS, and the live version of Perpetual Change takes it for me.

The Symphonic Live version of Starship Trooper is also brilliant!

My first contribution (I think) here.

I heard the almost 30 minute version of "Ritual" on Yes's Symphonic Live yesterday (had the album two weeks and just now got around to it)...WOW...they even squeeze in some of "The Ancient."

Squire solos for like three freaking minutes on it too.

My favourites are Keys to Ascension and Yes Symphonic, they really add to the songs in this two albums (and they're available both on CD and DVD). I love the work done to Time and a Word, Awaken, and Starship Trooper on Keys: Time and a word with a beautiful piano added by Wakeman. The piano intro to Awaken is more beautiful here than on the original song, and the middle part is longer (and for me sounds better). And the added keyboard solos on Starship Trooper by Wakeman really enhance the song, no other version of this song sounds complete to me anymore without those solos. Onward's also got a pretty acoustic guitar intro by Howe. On Yes Symphonic, the orchestra really works great with the band: Killer version of Close to the Edge, Gates of Delirium, And you and I, Long distance runaround (with an orchestral intro), and ofcourse, In the Presence Of is a beautiful son too; I didn't like this version of Starship Trooper beacause of the lack of the keyboard solo I mentioned from Keys to ascension. I've only seen videos on Youtube from the Union Tour, but I'd really love them to release it on DVD and/or CD, there seems to have been some really cool moments there. Another song I like live a lot is Heart of the Sunrise performed by ABWH, I find this one stronger than the original and other live versions: stronger vocals and stronger drumming, it sounds awsome.

Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy Originally posted by Moogtron III For me Bruford's drumming on Heart Of The Sunrise. And for Alan White: I quite like his drumming on Release Release (Tormato).   Yes, that's very good.  And his work on Ritual is outstanding and parts of GFTO (as mentioned by Bitterblogger) are also outstanding.  But I never felt that he REALLY lived up to Bruford's legacy until I heard That, That  Is.  Sure, it's a severely flawed epic, but some of the things White is doing in that are outstanding enough to punch him up to Bruford's level, given his historical output as well.   At least that's how I feel about it.  I realized that That, That Is doesn't get a whole lot of love from Yes fans, even though the 70% of it that isn't utter crap is pretty darn good.

Personally I didn't mind that White wasn't really stepping into Bruford's shoes. I have the feeling that White brought more rock to Yes and some other kind of subtleties. I think he does some great parts on Topographic Oceans as well.

That, That Is? I must listen to that one again! I'm curious about White's drumming on it now.