FRAGILE

I am compelled to give this album five stars-to my ears,everything on it is perfect and that includes the all the solo tracks-small gems to my ears,that are perfect counterpoints to the longer group efforts. The whole album has a flow that builds then releases like a tide coming and going. And on top of that,each song stands on its own merits.It's the complete package. It was my introduction to progressive rock before I knew that it was called that (via "Roundabout" of course),and piqued my interest into delving deeper into "YES", and then other groups. I never take a road trip without this CD and I never get tired of it,and my favorite song on it is whichever one is playing at the moment(though right now I have a partiality for "Schindleria Praematurus" and "Mood For A Day"). I love "Close To The Edge" and will defer to those more musically educated who consider it YES' masterpiece,but it's a completely different state of mind and listening experience from "Fragile". It takes me from one place to another before I know what's happened-just "Roundabout" has so many different planes, then there's the cosmic-ness of "Heart Of The Sunrise", the jazzy feel of "Five Percent For Nothing", the deceptively(YOU try playing that guitar piece!) gentle "Mood For A Day", the breath-taking roller-coaster that is "Roundabout"-and the virtuosity and musicality and freshness never get old. "Fragile" is unquestionably an essential on many different levels.