FRAGILE

The first thing to say about this album (in my opinion) is that it has its ups and downs. Every time I listen to it, unfortunately, I'm tempted to skip the tracks I don't like to the ones I do on this album. But if you're patient with this (as with most prog rock), you are well rewarded. So, firstly, Roundabout. This is one of the best opening tracks to an album ever. The thing I really love about this track is that you can listen to it when you're in a really proggy mood, but when you want something a bit more conventional, it can fit that bill too. It's just got everything: really nice, intricate work between Wakeman and Howe and some nice unisons; a great guitar solo; some solid vocals from Anderson; and a thumping rhythm section from Bruford and Squire. One of my favourites. As I was saying before, there are some tracks that I am tempted to skip sometimes - Cans and Brahms being one of them. It shows very well that Wakeman is a damn good keyboardist, but i just think that he could've done something so much more interesting given his skill and musicianship. The same applies to Anderson in We Have Heaven. Again, it shows that he writes lovely harmony and he is a very talented singer, but in my opinion, he could've written a far better album track than what sounds like an (albeit very good) demo. South Side of the Sky is a welcome return for the rest of the band. I really like this song, and it has a great middle section with moving vocals and some great keys work by Wakeman. The main chunk of the song is also good, with intricate work by Bruford and nice augentation from Howe. If I was being really picky, I would criticise Anderson for singing completely bum notes continually on "Were we ever colder..." at various points, but this is a minor issue (and I'm really critical :)) Five Per Cent For Nothing is a nice little lead in from the deep SSOTS to the more jovial Long Distance Runaround. According to the sleeve notes, the melodic parts were read straight off a percussion line, which is surprising seeing that they actually make a rather nice tune. I always think of this as like a coffee break in the album - it certainly wakes you up! Many people find Long Distance Runaround annoying, but I think it's really quite clever. It is a bit of a cheesy love song, but it sort of...isn't, quite. I do like the melodies and once again Anderson's vocals are solid, however what I really like is that Squire finally gets to tease the listener with his skill with cheeky little solos every so often! One reason why I like LDR so much is that it is essential to listen to it to appreciate the lead in to the next soaring high point on the album, The Fish. This track has fantastic bass work from Squire (because it's his track....) that to me actually sounds like a fish underwater (listen to it with your eyes closed - you'll be amazed), and it has a wicked 7/4 beat, if you're into analysing more technical stuff. I wish I knew what the vocals meant or symbolised, but to be honest, most of the time I really don't care - they don't need to make sense. However, after that we get to another weak point on the album - Steve Howe's Mood For A Day. Once again, it shows that Howe is a great guitar player and can write a tune, but personally I think that it goes on a bit too long and gets really boring after a few listens; my main gripe is that there is a lot of repetition in this piece, and as a result it kind of suffers. I think the album would work better if The Fish went straight into the final track, but that's just my opinion. So yes, onto the final track. Heart of the Sunrise is a Yes masterpiece. It has everything - a kick-butt intro, a lovely transition into a beautiful slow bit with great Anderson vocals, and a gradual journey to an amazing climax at the end. Bruford really stands out for me here, as his drums go from pounding beats to intricate hi-hat work to technically incredible fills, which takes a lot of skill. Again this piece has some really good complex rhythms, with mixes of 5/4 sections, a couple of 7/4s and some innovative 3/4 and 4/4 hybrids. There's so much to this piece, and I hear something new in it every time I listen to it. As a whole this album is really great. It's a great starting point for listeners new to Yes, as it provides a good bridge between conventional rock and prog rock, and it leads perfectly into Close To The Edge which, if you're reading this without having listened to Yes before, should be your next priority after hearing Fragile.