Compared to their contemporaries, Yes had already distinguished themselves as a technically proficient act on the self-titled. Fly From Here 15. In its wake, the second half of Relayer feels like an addendum to the main attraction; “Sound Chaser” and “To Be Over” are nowhere near as powerful or perfect in their writing or execution. All Yes albums ranked from best to worst tentatively by Sam May in January 2016. Even in their unabridged forms, “Starship Trooper” and “I’ve Seen All Good People” have the potential to instantly stick in a casual listener’s mind. Most importantly, the impressive prog-pop epic “Fly From Here” was largely written by Downes and Horn in 1980. If Howe was based in classical music, Peter Banks has a clear love for jazz. It’s the true definition of a grower album, and though Yes demands more here from the listener than they ever had or would again, the ultimate rewards for sticking with it are incredible. I would say that there is a resounding sense of hope here, but that would suggest the potential for a darker outcome. Even so, the album’s greatest strength is blatantly obvious, and while I would normally condemn an album for being so one-sided in my love for it, Relayer continues to challenge and provoke me a listener. A look at live albums by the band Yes. I wanted to do something special for my 100th list. There are unsung gems in the Yes catalog that are know only to hardcore fans, and there are utter disasters that ought to be avoided by any sentient being. With the notable exception of King Crimson (who set the standard for proficiency in the genre), progressive rock was nearly indistinguishable from psychedelic rock at the time. Join host Pete Pardo as he ranks the studio discography of legendary British prog rock act Yes. To be fair, Yes had only truly slipped on 2.5 albums (Union, Open Your Eyes and the first half of Talk) but they hadn’t anything great outside of Magnification either. Tormato 9. Part of the reason I may not have been able to see the full brilliance of Close to the Edge initially may have been my own experiences as a listener. Thanks in large part to Patrick Moraz‘s recent addition to the band as keyboardist (Wakeman had grown tired of the band’s direction on Tales from Topographic Oceans and made like a tree), there is a strong jazz fusion kick to the music, in a space that would have usually Wakeman‘s high classical influence. Like any mid-life career change, the transition Yes made with 90125 was a risk, but it certainly paid off. This ability to write distinctive tracks served Yes well in the past, but it is especially relevant on 90125; strangely enough, the only forgettable track included—that being “Cinema”–seems most like a trace of their proggy past, a longform introduction to “Leave It” with ambient guitar flourishes that that don’t sound entirely unlike what Howe would have done, had he performed on the album. Everybody starts somewhere. The Ladder 13. In combination with the in-vogue London psych rock direction, Banks‘ jazz leads gave Yes‘ debut an urbane and cultured feel. But here is my ranking of Yes studio albums. I would like to call “New State of Mind” and the catchy title track the highlights of the album (which they are), but those songs would have felt lacklustre even on Big Generator or Union. Time and a Word is, in many ways, typical for a band’s second album. Those of us who are old enough to remember the original are always surprised when it starts to play, sort of like sticking Strawberry Fields in the middle of Sgt Pepper. Union Info. Updated 1y ago. Location: Virginia. On the other hand, even compared to the band’s ‘80s material, Union feels sloppy. Its follow-up, Big Generator, recorded in a long and tedious process, and eventually released 4 years after its predecessor, found itself on the opposite side. Going for the One opens with its hyperactive title track, a high-energy rock tune that signifies the album’s general approach. See the list below, and let us know how do you rank them in the comments. But, before you know it, the acoustic guitar has picked up the pace and ushers in a tight rhythm from Bruford and one of the most immortal grooves Chris Squire ever dictated with the bass guitar. You often hear people discussing progressive epics as the centrepiece or highlight of an album. Yes is a solid psych rock album, with strong melodies and tight musicianship; what more could a listener ask for? Hey, look at what my kid made with MS Paint! Although undeniably rooted within prog rock territory, The Yes Album is an incredibly accessible album. The Yes Album 4. Fly From Here is never excellent, but it’s plenty enjoyable. Time and a Word – 8/10. A list by Jimpy O'Houlihan, Break Taker. Yes official website: http://www.yesworld.com. Going For the One 7. The disastrous collaboration of the old and new band incarnations on Union was a severe misstep, but nothing on that album was as mind-numbing and lifeless as some of the songs here. Regardless, the replacement for Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman (Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes, respectively) made for a decent fit. Once again, Roger Dean unveiled an incredible cover that sought to capture my imagination. Product Details. Before “Roundabout,” before Fragile or Relayer or any of the band’s notable achievements, Yes were a psychedelic prog act with a pair of commercially unsuccessful albums. No. It’s undeniably more uneven and rough than its spiritual predecessor, but that’s part of what makes it so damned good; this is Yes at their most uncompromisingly creative. Prog Sphere is a website for devotees of progressive rock, progressive metal, jazz fusion, and ALL of its varied sub-genres. After all, given time and patience, I was even able to find some things to love about the unpopular Big Generator, and there are just enough hints of the ‘old’ Yes here to have piqued my interest. It’s certainly not as obvious, but it’s there. Yes 90125 (1983) Is this an album cover or a pie chart used in a corporate presentation? I’m in complete agreement except I would switch GOING FOR THE ONE to #3. The only part of the “Fly From Here” suite that seems out of place is the aptly titled “Bumpy Ride”, an instrumental climax composed by Howe that seems intent on giving the epic a proggier flair, but lacks the tact and intensity to properly accent it. Tales From Topographic Oceans 6. When they’re ambitious enough to emerge beyond the fold of adult-oriented rock, the orchestrations are tired and predictable. Regardless what idealistic notions paved the way for Yes to pull this “all together now” gimmick, every defining problem on Union is a cause of the decision to merge rosters. Next: Yes Albums Ranked Worst to Best Filed Under : Yes Is this an album cover or a pie chart used in a corporate presentation? 'Union' (1991) After Jon Anderson left Yes' '90125' lineup to form Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, an alternate Yes in all but name, a schism … Yes' Albums Ranked by flamingyesdept (2020) 1) Close To The Edge 2) Roundabout 3) And You And I 4) Heart Of The Sunrise 5) Starship Trooper 6) South Side Of The Sky 7) I've Seen All Good People 8) Siberian Khatru 9) Awaken 10) Yours Is No Disgrace … The logical choice, of course, would be for Yes to fall back on their proud history with prog. In the context of Yes‘ career as a whole, Time and a Word is a transition piece, elevating the band from the psychedelic organ rock of the self-titled into something more ambitious and nuanced—Time and a Word would start a streak of ambitious symphonic prog that would last a decade. It has not aged as well as the masterpieces to come, but Yes‘ fusion of pop-infused cheer with prog rock sophistication set a strong foundation for the band’s golden era. If anything, the cognitive dissonance going into Talk made the anticipation that much more compelling. If there’s anything Yes‘ latest disasterpiece Heaven and Earth has taught me, it’s that I will always prefer a solid pop album over a dogshit prog one. The following list of the Who Albums, Ranked From Worst to Best sets the record straight -- and yes, we included Live at Leeds, because it's not your typical live album. My first impression to consider the shorter pieces as interludes was sorely mistaken in any case; they may be short, but each track makes a clear statement of its own. Yes have never shirked away from the risk and rewards an epic potentially offers, and even during their otherwise weakest moments (such as Talk), they’ve managed to do some pretty great things with longform composition. If you can find any redemptive worth in that album beyond the title track, you’re probably a Saint and have a blessed place waiting for you in AOR heaven. Here, you'll find a complete list of the best Pink Floyd albums, including pictures of the album covers when available. I hear that seeing King Crimson perform compelled Yes to brush up their skills and push the envelope; whatever the case, it worked to their benefit. Yes completely revamped their sound in the ‘80s, reforming their line-up with new guitarist Trevor Rabin, original keyboardist Tony Kaye, and of course the return of their trademark voice, Jon Anderson. Is this an album cover or a pie chart used in a corporate presentation? The Yes Album 5. Without that stress on the composition’s back, new territories are more capably explored. 17: 17. Though still in the midst of its golden peak, progressive rock was already beginning to get comfortable with its own set of conventions. 16: 16. Please note that I consider the ABWH album to be a Yes album and I’ve included “Keystudio” because it contained the studio tracks from the two “Keys of Ascension” albums. Tormato 9. Hey, look at what my kid made with MS Paint! Keys to Ascension 2 14. Even on the most disastrous albums (their latest one included), there were always a handful of tracks that stood out, at least a passage or two that stuck after the record ended. A crescendo draws steadily out of my set of speakers. The songs on this album are generally longer and more exhilaratingly far-ranging than on previous records, but not tangential. #yes Especially in the months prior to the album’s release, the band and fans were left with a question: could Yes exist without the immortal voice of Jon Anderson? Yes wouldn’t begin to unlock their potential until The Yes Album, but the debut certainly deserves more recognition than its earned. For close to a half century, prog has been the breeding ground for rock’s most out-there, outsized and outlandish ideas: Thick-as-a-brick concept albums, an early embrace of … Rather than choosing to welcome the listener in with a resounding theme or overture, Yes erupt into a chaotic swirl of guitar-based jamming and synthesizer-fuelled madness. As much as I preferred Yes‘ prog side over the later pop, Trevor Rabin was a clever songwriter and leader for the band. One of their most ambitious and thrilling works, 'Close To The Edge' proved so good that drummer Bill Bruford immediately quit the group following the album's release, convinced that Yes would never be able to produce anything even half-as-good. Share. Open Your Eyes 17. Tales From Topographic Oceans 11. The Keys to Ascension duology gave some strong hopes that Yes were going to push their career forward post-Rabin with some strong new material, but Open Your Eyes shows the band unsure of where they want to go. Part of me would like to see Union in a positive light. Greatness has to start somewhere, and though Yes have long since earned a place in the pantheon of prog rock legend, there was in fact a time when Yes found themselves in troubled waters. Looking back at the band’s 19 studio albums, minus the Keys to Ascension duology, we have come up with the ultimate ranking of Yes’ albums. When the band brings the chaos down to earth a couple of minutes in and goes for a more typical sort of focus, the melodies and symphonic warmth are refreshing, thanks in large part to the jarring contrast. There’s far more I could say about “The Gates of Delirium,” really, but it’s enough to say that it’s possibly the greatest work of progressive rock I’ve ever heard, classic and contemporary alike. 17: 17. Like Yes‘ first two albums, Tormato seems to have flown under the radar, even for many otherwise-hardcore Yes fans. Tormato 16. It’s a slice of near-perfection, and still sounds monumental over forty years since its recording. If anything, it’s that quality that makes the album (among) the best this band has ever done. Although Jon didn’t get his wish to record their sixth LP out in the woods with the owls and squirrels, Yes instead decorated their studio to make it look more like a farmyard. Going for the One marked the end of an era for Yes, what I outline in this and other reviews as the band’s 1golden era.1 Spanning from The Yes Album to Going for the One, Yes released gem after gem, and every album within that six year space warrants attentive listening from anyone who dares mention a passing interest in progressive rock. In 2017 Yes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; the celebration was also an inauguration for the former members of the band—Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman—to start working under the name Yes Featuring ARW. Say what you will about the dated ‘80s cheese, almost every song on the album manages to feel memorable and distinctive. Writing a set of catchy, concise and effective tunes is potentially just as much a challenge as penning a grandiose epic; it just requires a separate set of skills. Somewhat in the vein of what Pink Floyd did with Ummagumma (albeit far more successfully), Fragile features a piece built specifically around each musician. Time and a Word 10. Tales I wouldn’t put quite as high. Was I right? Open Your Eyes 18. This is a discography of the English progressive rock band Yes.Over the years they have released 21 studio albums, 14 live albums, 35 compilation albums, 28 singles and 22 videos From the days of Syd Barrett to the last album with Roger Waters, Pink Floyd changed rock music throughout their career, releasing some of the greatest music of their time and beyond. In order to get the lowdown on the prog rock rulers’ entire output, we’ve conveniently organized them for you here, from the surefire stinkers to the indispensable triumphs, with lots of intriguing stops in between. For one, it’s virtually the exact same membership as it was on Drama; one-time keyboardist Geoffrey Downes reprises his role. I’ve had it playing in my car for 8 months now. Fly From Here 15. The Wakeman-orchestrated “Cans and Brahms” is a fine nod to Western classical tradition. The instrumentation feels more lively and balanced than before, Chris Squire‘s bass guitar in particular has finally been given a well-deserved showcase in the mix. Fragile – 9/10. Really, the epic can be interpreted more broadly to reflect a battle; before, after, and in the midst of it. Album Peak chart position Certifications (sales thresholds) UK AUS CAN US; 1975 Yesterdays: 27 31 13 17 1981 Classic Yes — — — 142 UK: Silver; US: Platinum; 1991 Yesyears — — — — 1992 Yesstory — — — — 1993 Symphonic Music of Yes — — — — Affirmative: The Yes Solo Family Album — — — — Highlights: The Very Best of Yes — — — — US: Gold; 1998 Yes, Friends and Relatives — — — — 1999 After all, virtuoso musicians they may be, who wants to listen to musicians without inspiration or passion? Join host Pete Pardo as he ranks the studio discography of legendary British prog rock act Yes. The upbeat, central theme “We Can Fly” stands as arguably being the most memorable and immediate single Yes have crafted since “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” It’s pleasantly contrasted by the more in-depth and melancholic “Sad Night at the Airfield” which, in turn, is sent up by the quirky pace and tone of “Madman at the Screens.” The whole thing is held together by the overture and reprise, which draw ideas from the three central parts in a fairly satisfying way. Yes 11. Fly From Here 12. As far as the title track is concerned, Yes manage to make this backscaling of their sound really work. Drama and Relayer – Tie - 10/10 – Slight preference for Drama. Even if Jon Anderson‘s performance here retains its trademark optimism, the mood is instantly tense; the tempo is fed with a drive and expedience far removed from the leisurely pace of Tales from Topographic Oceans, as if the music has been spurned forth on a forced military march into battle. 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