CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Close To The Edge is a proggers dream. That and it is apparently Yes' finest hour. It came across much like The Yes Album but more mature and pompous. But I'm not sure how the traditional rock music fan, like myself, would accept it. I like the spontaneous feel and raw textures of Fragile and so assumed that this one would be better and even bigger sounding, especially the guitar. But it certainly does not grab me in the same way as Fragile did. In fact Fragile was closer to the edge while this one ( Close To The Edge) was a little more fragile. I'd even prefer if they could have changed the album covers around. In my crazy mind they would fit better to the concept, or some of the concept. I spent much of this album switched off. Like having a conversation with somebody who is so fucking boring that you get a pain in your face from pretending to laugh at their dumb jokes whilst nodding all the time wondering if the oven is left on and such mediocre thoughts, anything to take me away. OK maybe I 'm being a little harsh but there is nothing on Close To The Edge that brought a sense of wonder that "Roundabout" and the sublime rapid fire guitar fest that was "Heart Of The Sunrise", songs that were the highlights of the previous album. Consistently this album is fine but the themes never rose above the equation of excitement while briefly flirting with it whilst frustrating the fuck out of this rockist arsehole. What I would love to do with this album is mix out Jon Anderson's annoying fucking high pitched wail and inject some nicely distorted guitar along to the same melody, just for fun. Close To The Edge has gained its place in progressive rock history but I am still on the outside of that party not knowing what the hell is going on.