| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
raeloneq 
Forum Groupie
Joined: August 26 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 47
|
 Topic: A thought on 90125 and Big Generator..
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:45 |
Hey guys,
I'm trying to figure out if I should hate or love 90125 and Big Generator. I know it departs from the classic Yes sound that we all love. But, it opens a door to a new sound that is quite enjoyable. I for one love these 2 albums. But hanging out with Yes purists makes me wonder if I should.
Would you have the same feeling for these 2 albums if they would have been called "cinema" and if Jon Anderson was not present? I guess they wouldn't be listed as progressive albums anymore.
I really would like to hear your opinions on this.
|
 |
Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:51 |
Should you love or hate them? 
You want someone to tell you? I love them and couldn't care less what other Yes fans say. Does that help?
|
|
|
|
octopus-4
Special Collaborator
RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo,Post/Math,PSIKE Team
Joined: October 31 2006
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 14934
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:53 |
personally, I love the first and hate the second even though a lot of people says they are similar.
|
|
I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution
|
|
harmonium.ro
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:54 |
It all boils down on whether YOU like them or not. I for one like them A LOT (Big Generator more than 90125). If you like them too, that's cool, but this is not the best place to ask sympathy for this. 
|
|
raeloneq
Forum Groupie
Joined: August 26 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 47
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:54 |
|
Umm, I guess disregard the love or hate. Just wanted peoples opinion on these 2 albums as yes fans or not.
|
|
Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:55 |
 raeloneq wrote:
Umm, I guess disregard the love or hate. Just wanted peoples opinion on these 2 albums as yes fans or not. |
Well I guess I covered that too. 
|
|
|
|
Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32587
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 12:58 |
|
I really like 90125. I like Big Generator slightly less.
|
|
|
|
harmonium.ro
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
Status: Offline
Points: 22989
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:00 |
|
And for the other question, I think that if some completely unrelated band came up with 90125 and Big Generator, they'd be considered here a minor 80s band, maybe a Crossover Prog band if the suggester really tried.
|
|
lazland
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13887
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:10 |
|
I think 90125 is an incredible album, but Big Generator a huge disappointment - rushed and forced. I would, though, highly recommend Talk to you - that is nigh on as good as the band got, in any incarnation.
|
|
Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org
Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!
|
|
moshkito
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 04 2007
Location: Grok City
Status: Offline
Points: 18697
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:12 |
harmonium.ro wrote:
And for the other question, I think that if some completely unrelated band came up with 90125 and Big Generator, they'd be considered here a minor 80s band, maybe a Crossover Prog band if the suggester really tried. |
Which is a scary thought.
And the main reason why I prefer that we consider these people artists, and not be bound to some definitions or other, because in the end, we're telling the artist that he/she/they can not improve and do different things.
I don't know ... maybe we need 5 more versions of Harry Potter. At least that rarely changes, and I guess that makes it a good candidate for a progressive style of definition!
|
|
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
|
|
Negoba
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 24 2008
Location: Big Muddy
Status: Offline
Points: 5210
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:18 |
Essentially, this was a different band. They (wisely for commercial reasons) called the band Yes. What if Jimmy Page had called The Firm Led Zeppelin? That about answers your question.
There is some great synth-based 80's pop on those albums (I too like 90210, er 125 better than Big Generator too). At a modern Yes concert, when "Owner of a Lonely Heart" is played it seems so out place. Not a bad song, but so so completely different.
|
|
You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
|
|
Epignosis
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 30 2007
Location: Raeford, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 32587
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:21 |
|
90125 has some amazing vocal melodies.
I love "It Can Happen." Probably my favorite track on the album. I initially hated "Leave It," but damn what a fun and catchy tune. And "Hearts" is just a beautiful song.
|
|
|
|
Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 23 2005
Location: Caerdydd
Status: Offline
Points: 32995
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:23 |
Negoba wrote:
Essentially, this was a different band. They (wisely for commercial reasons) called the band Yes. What if Jimmy Page had called The Firm Led Zeppelin? That about answers your question.
|
Essentially they were the same band. The dfifference between them and the Firm is that rabin era Yes was styill Yes, The Firm was a band with Jimmy Page on guitar.
|
|
|
|
ShipOfFools
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 23 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 107
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:24 |
|
Don't let people dis allude you to what you can enjoy. Just enjoy it.
I particularly enjoy a lot of 80's pop, and even pop acts of today. I enjoy Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera, you can't get much poppier than that!
At the same time, I also enjoy Close To The Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, and Relayer. I consider those three to be my favorite Yes albums.
Yes is one of those rare creatures that has balanced both pop and prog, and has a little bit for everyone. While I don't enjoy everything that the Yes-men have done solo, I enjoy all 19 of their studio albums, and will probably enjoy the 20th (Fly From Here) when it comes out in July.
Something doesn't have to be complex and innovating for it to be good. Sometimes simplicity is better.
|
"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace" - Buddha
|
|
cstack3
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 7547
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:29 |
Epignosis wrote:
90125 has some amazing vocal melodies.
I love "It Can Happen." Probably my favorite track on the album. I initially hated "Leave It," but damn what a fun and catchy tune. And "Hearts" is just a beautiful song.
|
I agree! It was fun to hear Yes break out a bit and get back to pop-radio roots, while combining some very good prog sensibilities. Not my favorite Yes, but not my least favorite (I save that for "Union" sadly). Rabin and Squire put in some excellent work on 90125.
I never did warm up to "Big Generator"....but with the upcoming Anderson/Wakeman/Rabin project coming together, it is probably time to review the entire Rabin-era catalog, because I'm sure we'll hear some of it again. I must spend more time with "Talk" as well!
While walking into a restaurant over the weekend, I heard a bit of Jon Anderson's solo acoustic version of "Owner of a Lonely Heart." It was touching. The single was played to death, but it did save the band from bankruptcy, so I accept it as pop fluff. I'll see Jon play this on his upcoming acoustic tour.
Also, it is hilarious to see the faces that Howe makes in concert when he plays OOALH! He looks like he bit into a lemon (or worse)! I don't think he cares much for the song, or any of Rabin's material.
|
|
ShipOfFools
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 23 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 107
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:31 |
If you enjoy the Rabin era albums, you should probably check out his solo cds. I have them all, and while there is some filler, all 4 of them are pretty good. Good pop. If you're expecting prog, prepare to be disappointed.
Edited by ShipOfFools - April 11 2011 at 13:38
|
"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace" - Buddha
|
|
lazland
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 13887
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:32 |
cstack3 wrote:
Epignosis wrote:
90125 has some amazing vocal melodies.
I love "It Can Happen." Probably my favorite track on the album. I initially hated "Leave It," but damn what a fun and catchy tune. And "Hearts" is just a beautiful song.
|
Also, it is hilarious to see the faces that Howe makes in concert when he plays OOALH! He looks like he bit into a lemon (or worse)! I don't think he cares much for the song, or any of Rabin's material. |
When I saw him play it in Birmingham for the first time, it was much worse. He looked as if he had been given a rabbit pooh pie to eat  Surprising really from a man partly responsible for one of the finest pop/prog/rock albums of all time in Asia's debut.
|
|
Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org
Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!
|
|
clarkpegasus4001
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 13 2011
Location: Nottingham
Status: Offline
Points: 635
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:41 |
|
I don't mind both of those Yes albums, I think I prefer 90125 over Big Generator. I still prefer the earlier 70's stuff myself but if YOU like them, why care what others think? it's YOUR opinion, so if you like them enjoy them.
Edited by clarkpegasus4001 - April 11 2011 at 13:42
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
cstack3
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 7547
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:41 |
lazland wrote:
cstack3 wrote:
Epignosis wrote:
90125 has some amazing vocal melodies.
I love "It Can Happen." Probably my favorite track on the album. I initially hated "Leave It," but damn what a fun and catchy tune. And "Hearts" is just a beautiful song.
|
Also, it is hilarious to see the faces that Howe makes in concert when he plays OOALH! He looks like he bit into a lemon (or worse)! I don't think he cares much for the song, or any of Rabin's material. |
When I saw him play it in Birmingham for the first time, it was much worse. He looked as if he had been given a rabbit pooh pie to eat Surprising really from a man partly responsible for one of the finest pop/prog/rock albums of all time in Asia's debut. |
Rabbit-poo pie! Thanks, that was what I was hinting at!! 
I agree, Asia's debut LP was some stunning prog-pop....but I'm not sure how much Howe had to do with that. When I saw that first tour, Wetton was clearly the front man & seemed to be band leader.
All Asia members had some success with radio singles (except Wetton I suppose, LTIA Part 2 never made the charts), so it was a slick formula that has worn well over time. I particularly like Howe's guitar on "Sole Survivor."
|
|
pbm3
Forum Newbie
Joined: December 12 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 2
|
Posted: April 11 2011 at 13:43 |
I'm a fan of both of those albums, and that's coming from a guy whose very first exposure to prog was when I heard the 45-single version of Roundabout played on a jukebox. It caught my ear and I've love progressive music since, but not exclusively. Owner of a Lonely Heart also caught my ear the first time I heard it. So did Rhythm of Love. Shoot High, Aim Low has been a favorite album cut off of Generator.
Is it pure Yes? Let's not forget this is a band that covered the Beatles "Every Little Thing" on its first album!
And for what it's worth, Rabin played a heavier guitar than Howe, and that was a nice addition to a great catalog. It complements Howe's lighter style overall.
Enjoy what you enjoy!
pbm3
|
|
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
A thought on 90125 and Big Generator..
