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New Yes Album...

Started by keithd, March 05, 2011, 04:38:09 PM

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MarkOneMusic

#60
July 04, 2011, 11:48:22 PM
OK... I actually like it.

In places I *really* like it.

Going onto play rotation for a few days (when I can wrestle it away from Mrs One! :) )

Pedro

#61
July 05, 2011, 12:31:25 PM
After a couple of listens I'd say that it's good.
I wouldn't go much further than that.

The curse of the "difficult twentieth album" is hard to shake...   ;)
"Putting food on the table is more important than 7/8"

Brom

#62
July 06, 2011, 12:51:34 PM
Quote from: "Pedro"Fly From Here - £3.99 as an mp3 download from http://www.amazon.co.uk for a limited time...I couldn't resist trying it at that price.

Ditto!

Started listening to it this morning. So far I think it's OK. There are some bits that have instantly been absorbed, and some that will need further listenings. I guess the use of the yes "badge" is just a marketing thing as to my ears they really don't sound much like Yes - or is that an obvious thing to say considering how long the brand has been in existence.
I am out of the office. Messages can be left with Mr. C Lyons on 020 7722 3333

Pedro

#63
July 06, 2011, 09:14:27 PM
I've been listening to it quite a bit, which is a good thing I guess, but there are some bumps in the road.
The first of which is the aptly named track "Bumpy Ride" which I reckon should have been left out. It sounds too much like Rhapsodies-era Wakeman to me...and that's not good.
The drums sound almost programmed to me....nothing exciting at all.
I really wish Benoit didn't sound so like Jon at times (e.g. when he sings the word "clearly"), in a tribute band it's great but in "new" music it just makes me wish it really was Jon.

I keep saying it; if you ranked all 20 of their studio albums....this wouldn't be in the top 10....and that's not good.
"Putting food on the table is more important than 7/8"

keithd

#64
July 07, 2011, 10:56:37 AM
Some straight talking from Geoff Downes

http://yesworld.com/blog/
My Hovercraft is full of eels

Geetar

#65
July 07, 2011, 07:50:42 PM
Straight? I've got a better word for it than that, but this is a family forum :shock:

Interestingly aggressive post, especially considering the fact that he's really only the about the fourth- or fifth-best keyboard player they've ever employed.
This space for sale.

keithd

#66
July 07, 2011, 08:28:57 PM
Quote from: "Geetar"Straight? I've got a better word for it than that, but this is a family forum :shock:

Interestingly aggressive post, especially considering the fact that he's really only the about the fourth- or fifth-best keyboard player they've ever employed.

Seems he's on the defensive from the start. No doubt he's well aware of the "bring back Jon" campaigners (and yes I'm one of them). Seems like they've developed a Rorke's Drift attitude, pile up the sandbags and get on the defensive. Perhaps they think their in for a "Bumpy Ride"  :lol:
My Hovercraft is full of eels

D S

#67
July 07, 2011, 10:38:38 PM
Just reached the end of my 1st listen and... well, I think I need a few more listens.  :?   Other than the last track, Into The Storm, nothing really hit me as having a wow factor to it.  There is also quite a lot of obvious auto-tune, which is an immediate turn-off for me.  This is unnecessary as we know the guys can sing (well, OK maybe not Steve Howe...  ;) ) and is there any point in trying to make Yes 'trendy' at this point in their career?
I really like Drama - the line-up change and heavier edge kicked some real life back into the band again, even minus 2 key players in JA & RW, so I was hopeful that that line-up might still have some spark.  Not convinced yet...
Come on, you\'re a lion!

Pedro

#68
July 08, 2011, 12:05:37 AM
It's on rotation now, there's a couple of skip-worthy tracks but I'm liking it a little more now that it's familiar. Still not a classic by a hugely long chalk.
I need to get better ears, though, cos I haven't detected any obvious autotune but I'm not really sure how to spot it.
"Putting food on the table is more important than 7/8"

D S

#69
July 08, 2011, 11:55:40 AM
Car broke down this morning so had it on repeat play whilst waiting for the AA.  It does get better with more listenings but agree it is unlikely to replace some old favourites.  Still, it's much better than most recent offerings such as Open Your Eyes, The Ladder, etc.
Come on, you\'re a lion!

Brom

#70
July 08, 2011, 12:40:40 PM
Madman at the Screens has become a bit of an earworm  :)  and I quite like the harmonies on Life on a Film Set, this track also reminds me a bit of 10CC in places. Not convinced about the lead vocals and I haven't quite worked out the meaning of the Fly from Here concept - makes me think of the BBC series Survivors.
I am out of the office. Messages can be left with Mr. C Lyons on 020 7722 3333

Dodie

#71
July 08, 2011, 01:26:53 PM
Dear all,

The missus can't stand Yes, so I confess to being desperate to natter about "Fly From Here" to somebody! I hope Frosties will forgive my desire to give my tuppence worth about the new album. Skip on past if you don't want to read on ;-)

It's funny that I've seen a few remarks in various places about "The Ladder" being below par. I thought it was a really promising return to form, and it's a shame that this line-up didn't really take off fully because of the customary Yes shenanigans in its aftermath. Then "Magnification" had some good qualities, but wasn't quite consistent enough (although Yes Symphonic was smashing stuff, I thought...).

As for "Fly From Here", I've listened to it about 8 times now, and with each listening I really enjoy the title-track/suite/thing 'Fly from here' (maybe the best 'epic' since 'The Endless Dream' - though nowhere near as blistering and inspiring as that, to my ears, and maybe it has more predictable instrumental sections than 'Mind Drive' or 'That, that is' from KTA). But the rest of the new album is, well, it hurts me to say - insipid, characterless and as poor as any of the best bits on "Open Your Eyes". One remark I saw somewhere online said that "Fly From Here" is the best Yes album since "Talk". Now, I love "Talk", but I just don't agree...

I'm neither a Trooper nor a Rabinette; I love "Drama" and I loathe about 3/4 of "Topographic Oceans", and I think "Tormato" has poorer songs on it than "Big Generator" - even though I love the style of the band more on the former. I've always picked and mixed when it comes to Yes, and found something to love on every album of every period (even "Union"). So it isn't with any particular axe to grind that I admit that I'm really disappointed with all the shorter tracks on "Fly From Here". The opening 24 minutes is surprisingly good and restores one's faith, and then the remainder is disappointingly weak and takes the faith away again...

Maybe I need more listens, but it was an interesting experiment for me to finish listening to the last song "Into the storm", and then straight away listen to "The Ladder" from beginning to end. Even the more commercial shorter songs on "The Ladder" have punchy arrangements, colourful keyboards, interesting drums and imaginative vocals; the band sounds like it was playing in tip-top-shape under the guidance of Bruce Fairbairn. I don't want to put anyone off "Fly From Here", and it isn't by any means an awful album to be avoided like the plague, but it just doesn't sound as 'up-for-it' and communicative as the best songs on "The Ladder" such as 'Homeworld', 'Face to face', 'If only you knew' (yep, I'm rather fond of that lovely ballad) or 'New language' (on which Jon Anderson sings his heart out - something that isn't evident anywhere on the new album from anyone singing, regardless of Trevor Horn's impressively crafted production).

Yes fans will never find themselves in total harmony about everything the band has ever done, and "Fly From Here" will continue to nurture that tradition. I'm glad I bought it and I recommend Yes fans should hear it, but there's a part of me that feels really sad that the band - regardless of who is in it - hasn't got the spunk to recapture either the wizardry of "Fragile", the freshness of "90125", the fabulous songs and sonic thrills of "Talk", the positivity and diversity of "ABWH", the eccentric proggy avant-garde jazz fusion of "Relayer", the lyrical sweep of "Going For The One", or the white-hot inspiration of "The Yes Album". Right now I don't feel brave enough to hold out enormous hopes for the reported Anderson-Wakeman-Rabin project, but deep down I'm an eternal optimist, and maybe it'll be another case of the Yes Family getting a massive jolt in the arm that the official band itself can't quite manage (like "ABWH" managed back in the day).

Rant over, but I hope I've struck a chord with at least some fellow Frostie Yes-fans!

Peace and Love,

David

D S

#72
July 08, 2011, 01:42:54 PM
Interesting comments David and your pick and mix approach to Yes over the years is almost identical to mine - which is making me wonder if I should revisit The Ladder!  I love Homeworld but didn't get the rest.  Must try again sometime...  ;)
Come on, you\'re a lion!

keithd

#73
July 08, 2011, 03:45:37 PM
I rather liked The Ladder and saw them on that Tour. Some good points there David. The only track I didn't like on "Tales" is the 3rd one, all that crashing and banging, although Jon's "and I heard a million voices singing" part was the only section of the song I liked.
My Hovercraft is full of eels

Mikey

#74
July 09, 2011, 10:02:12 AM
I used to have a signature
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