BIG GENERATOR

Why Big Generator gets chided so much here at PA is really perplexing. Agreed, it's football fields away from the groundbreakers that are Close To the Edge and Fragile - but what it does do is propel the slick commercial 90125-era Yes into a land of risky daring-do not seen on a major international musical front since Fleetwood Mac's Tusk (the unusual and quirky follow-up to its mega-seller Rumours - not that Yes & Mac sound remotely alike, of course).

Maybe it's the mindless cliche-ridden hit single Love Will Find a Way that chased people away. And yep, that tune is pretty darn awful. But literally every other track here on Big Generator is just a thrilling ride in dynamics, heavy rock, soaring choruses and a couple of musical vistas that even Yes have seldom visited.

I'm certainly no Trevor Rabin fan, but his guitar work here is just exemplary. His very rocking and loud riffing on both Almost Like Love and the title track can really shake a house's foundation (it sure has mine!). Even the normally unspectacular Alan White shines like never before or since. Producer Trevor Horn certainly knows how to get the most out of these guys.

The album also offers what I feel is Yes' finest collected example of ensemble singing (perhaps studio-enhanced, but, hey, this IS a studio album!). And for one of THOSE classic Yes moments, check out 3:25 into Final Eyes. Whew! Man, just breathtaking stuff, this!

Recording this album was from most accounts not a pleasurable one for the band. But you'd never pick up on that based on what all's coming out of the speakers! Cheap copies of this album are seemingly available everywhere. So part with a few cents 'n' shekels and treat yourself to one of Yes' finest, if unheralded efforts. Nice payoff, trust me. 4.5 stars from me.