CLOSE TO THE EDGE

For many listeners, Close to the Edge is considered the pinnacle of the Yes catalogue. For almost as many listeners, it's also considered one of the crowning achievements of progressive rock history. I am pretty much in agreement with those two statements as I find Close to the Edge to always be an enjoyable listen, from the first time I personally heard it in the mid-1980s to the present day. To this day, Yes still performs all three songs off this album live and their fans appreciate it. During a post-2000 Yes concert, it is these three songs that outshine the rest of the concert. Thus, on historical grounds only, this is considered a masterpiece by many.

What makes this album that good musically? That's hard to put in words. My initial response is that for this album, Yes just had the right combination of melodies, rhythms, riffs, soundscapes, structures, and lyrics. And they mixed it all together in a grand fashion. It's one of those rare moments when every note fills an important role in the entire project. Removing any portion of the album, no matter how small, seems to make it a lesser album. And the melodies and harmonies... they can attach to your brain like a mosquito in a blood bank. Days (sometimes weeks) after listening to Close to the Edge, I have that "I get up, I get down" line in my head, or the chugging bass line in Siberian Khatru, or the soaring keys in And You And I. It was an amazing experience during my initial listen and continues to excite my musical neurons to this day.

Easily five stars and a must-have essential classic that should be in every prog rock collection.