Reviews (page 11 of 13)
Only song I liked was roundabout. Rest of the album sounded choppy
Álbum experimental que parece que foi feito usando uma roleta.
Enjoyed some of the songs
Hoooly shit. I only know the first song cause of the "To Be Continued" meme that went around a while back, never knew that was Yes. The bass slaps for sure. As far as 70s prog go, it's not bad. Not into the vocal stylings so much. Still nothing I'm that into.
Some great songs. A lot of their stuff sounds similar though.
sim
A weird one - loved the first and last tracks but the rest of it didn't do much for me
roundabout is a meme, interesting mix of short and long songs, good sound but not a lot of jams, the long songs are really long
Just some classic rock
Better than expected but it’s not really rock and roll is it?
It was ok
I struggle with the albums where there's clearly a ton of skill involved, and I'm legitimately very impressed, but none of the music is something I would ever choose to listen to, especially a second time. I guess I'll just plop down a 3 and move on. Best track: Mood for a Day
A bit overblown... but fairly decent!
Was okay. Didn't mind some songs but others felt like they dragged on.
5/10 You really get the impression that Yes were limited by budget/time constraints, and instead of deciding to focus on making shorter, better songs as a group, they decided to put all their effort into a couple songs -- which are great, roundabout is an amazing track. first heard it as a "jojo song" but like its genuinely fantastic -- and then filled up the runtime with demos and unfinished garbage. some of them arent awful, the brahms cover was actually very pleasant the first time i Heard it and before i Knew it would be emblematic of the rest of the album, but even when the songs are good they just ruin the structure of flow of the album. also most of them are not very good
not really my thing
Only not a 1 due to the memories of the try not to laughs back in the day that used roundabout
Imagine if genesis sucked shit and the songs were even longer
Not sure I'll ever like this, but I respect the musicianship.
I mean, it's more prog rock, but this was enjoyable. High 2s.
29th July 2026 no from me, sighhh also goofy circus much? track mentions; we have heaven
Not huge on this album unfortunately, as I’ve always considered myself a “yes” fan. It just truly was too long winded. I’m all for a concept piece that spans, but 2 hours of fiddling just wasn’t it for me unfortunately. It pains me to do, but 2/5
album de prog que não foi minha vibe, apesar de eu gostar bastante do genero esperava mais guitarras, mas teve mais violão. e a atmosfera que eu gosto do prog é aquela atmosfera escura, reflexiva e tals. esse album me pareceu mais "upbeat". de qualquer forma, não é um album ruim nota 4,5/10
not good
Bit too long, boring And i was not sitting through the whole 4 hours u having a laugh
Tää oli liian progressiivista mun makuun. Vaikka soitanta on taidokasta, ei loksahtanut kohdilleen.
4/10 - some songs too long for their own good
I initially misread this as "The Fragile" and though I was getting NIN. Bummer that I didn't. I will briefly damn this with some faint praise. I didn't *hate* this. The good songs ("Roundabout" "South Side of the Sky" "Long Distance Runaround") have some fun instrumentation but wear out their welcome. And when they're just getting weird ("Cans and Brahms" is an exemplar) I was somehow doing a whole body eye-roll. Yes is bad.
When they actually played music it was great. When they were divving around it wasn't.
1 okay song with a heap of filler. No idea how this made the list.
Not too bad. Because some songs were remastered in deluxe form, they felt never ending.
Yes? No.
Yes, we get you are very good at playing your instruments. Yes, you are pretentious. Yes, this album is finally over and Yes, so is prog rock.
Its not offensive or hard to listen to but I just think it was music for a moment in time, and that time has passed
"Roundabout" is a very strong start to this album. It's a prog rock song that actually rocks, with driving, almost funky bass and rhythm that the genre often lacks. After that comes a classical interlude and a short piece with repeating vocals that sound cool but that aren't built on in any way. These songs show the two sides of the album: there are four "real" songs and a lot of disposable interludes. The longer tracks are decent, but it often feels like they repeat the same trick as "Roundabout" with the fast rhythm and loud bass. Between those sections are sparser, almost folk pieces, but there's little connection between these parts and the fast ones. This is stronger than the album that preceded it, and it's almost poppy in places, but it still too often sounds like music you're supposed to admire more than feel.
Technically beautiful, felt nothing :/
I can't give this a 1, because I can understand with the rational side of my brain that there is something to be admired in this music. But my irrational mind would like to give this a one and never ever have to listen to it or hear about it again. Just super boring and repetitive.
As far as prog goes its weirdly uncompelling. Lot of technical skill on display and I can appreciate the attempt at more experimental stuff but it doesn't quite feel like it lands here, so the album is really only like 4 or 5 songs long At least the songs themselves are nice enough
Pretty lackluster in my opinion, majority of the songs are instrumental, which isn’t bad, it’s just not music taste. Roundabout is the only song that stands out to me on the album, all the others drag on and aren’t really that memorable
Not really my thing
Unquestionable technical skills and impeccably sounding production, but it is only a show-off with no musical / emotional substance.
My SHOCKED face when I heard that first song, 1001 albums you got my ass good. Anyways, the album is nice, I don't have much experience with the genre, not sure what to call it, so for me it sounds similar to things like pink floyd and led zeppelin. But, while I find myself re listening and seeking out those two artists, I don't see myself listening to this album again actively. It doesn't sound bad and it's quite nice but nothing about it reaches out and grabs me. Perhaps once I lose so steam I will enjoy it better
Some sweet instrumentation but melodically not for me
4/10
A solid start... then a bunch of ugh. The final long song has good snippets but overall this album is an odd progrock snore. Top tracks: "Roundabout," "Heart of the Sunrise"
--Roundabout...prog classic. the classical guitar gets a lot of notice but that bass, hot damn --Cans and Brahms...not a prog classic --We Have Heaven...some weird tape looping experiment --South Side of the Sky...listening to this gives me a new appreciation for Ramones. the back half of this rocks a bit --Five per Cent for Nothing...short and odd --Long Distance Runaround...fun interplay between guitar and bass --The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)...there's something sinister about this. I like it --Mood for a Day...classical guitar stuff --Heart of the Sunrise...this type of music isn't really my thing but I find Chris Squire's bass work consistently compelling. this track is silly
J’étais trop hype par l’album mais j’suis grave déçue Je give quand même des points pour JJBA !
I loved the opening track but after that it felt one long, twiddly prog song. But I think that's the point. Disappointed to see not many reviews just saying 'No'. Thought the jokers would love that.
Apparently this is only the third album by Yes that I’ve encountered on this list. Yet it feels like the 8,000th. Think of all of the things you could be doing other than listening to music by Yes. I’ll bet you can think of more than 10001.
Very underwhelming prog album
No
The 70s really were an odd time...
If a mid-level Queen tribute band decided to try an album of Rush-inspired crap, it would be this. More time signature changes than interesting songs.
I’ve always known Yes from Owner of a Lonely Heart and Roundabout, but listening to this….had I ever actually heard Roundabout? I certainly didn’t know it was 8 and a half minutes long. Meh. No, I don’t like this
Roundabout “slaps”, but I dunno the other stuff feels like quasi-classical okay-ness.
Echt nicht meins Was eigenes Nur Anfang erster Song catchy Hella mid sry
Didnt care for it
Waited for it to be over
half the tracks are really cool and give me classic rock vibes the other half is boring shit that doesnt even sound good at all.
Debería haber grabado mi reacción cuando escucho ESE sonido. Se me hizo un poco largo, con sonido bastante interesante, pero sin mucho que aportar honestamente. Sobre todo me parecieron un bodrio esos últimos tracks (que igual supongo que son del delux) de 10 minutos totalmente innecesarios.
No.
I owned this album back in the day so I was curious to see how it stood up over the decades. Other than 1 or 2 songs I remember nothing about it which tells me I didn't listen to it much. I doubt I'd ever revisit this.
Maybe a little too crazy for me - really cool stuff but just not enough to catch on for the ear for me
One pretty good song followed by a very different rest of the album.
Pretentious, but kind of playful. Not my thing at all, but I enjoyed it slightly more than I anticipated.
Lite för flummigt och proggigt för min smak. Inte sugen på att lyssna på detta igen. 2:a
A little too prog for me
Det här var nog den minst dåliga av av de tre Yes-skivorna i boken. Ingen låt är bra. Men det finns bra delar i låtar som Roundabout, Long distance roundabout och Heart of the sunrise.
Nie je to hudba, ktorú vyhľadávam.
Terribly mid
No. I'm just not a prog rocker. A couple ok tunes but the rest is pretty forgettable
Yes? More like no !!!!!! 2/5 Best Song: Roundabout is a banger tbf can’t deny that baseline
Honking album, but roundabout is an absolute banger so it gets a 2 star.
Not a fan of Yes, and this album was especially annoying. They're just another one of those overhyped 70's bands.
weirdly only really feels like 4 songs on here. very long except!!!! when it isn't!!! it's fine
Some cool sounds, but to be honest, I couldn't get through the first record. The idea of a four hour album is only for the most devoted of fans...which I am not
Really not my cup of tea, I felt like I was being 4 4ed to death, way to straight and rocky for my taste
A point for giving us the Red House Painters cover of Long Distance Runaround
No Durability by No Thanks
Na that’s ok
Thank god punk came around and killed this garbage. I played Brahms when I was forced to play piano as a kid, it doesn't suddenly make you deep guys. Long Distance Runaround is the only tolerable song on here because it's the only one where the artists managed to pull their heads out their asses for a song. If I wanted to listen to guys noodle around on their guitars I'd just listen to the Grateful Dead or some other hippie rock band, at least those guys sound like they're having fun instead of thinking they're creating the next 1812 Overture or something.
So I realized Yes may be the ultimate TikTok music. Great in any 1-minute segment; but a whole 40-minute? No thanks.
I like prog but this is bad prog. Self indulgent, tedious and pretentious.
Interesting! I knew "Roundabout" but everything else was new to me. This felt like a grab bag album. It wasn't bad but it was very forgettable.
Overall just Meh for me, but I’m very familiar with roundabout and it’s the one single included which is interesting
I appreciate the complexity, but some songs were just hard to sit through.
Some decent musicianship here... But this wasn't for me.
Wasnt the biggest fan of this album, couldnt really listen the full versions of any of these songs. There is really something missing here i mean the ones that were only instrumental were just repetitive. I wouldnt really listen to any of these songs except "Long Distance Runaround"
2 - So Shmedium I really was underinspired Fav Songs: Mood for a Day // We Have Heaven
Good
para comenzar. no me gustó tanto y a decir verdad, no tengo mucho que destacarle a este disco más allá que tiene una interpretación que me agrada. fuera de lo anterior, disco simplón y repetitvo desde el tercer tema. este album es para tenerlo de fondo (y sí es que) mientras haces algo más interesante que buscarle algo destacable a yes y su disco
if you're into instrumental sure, but I did not like this album. struggled to pay attention and cannot imagine trying to listen to the deluxe version
No
Okayish
No, my second Yes album in under a month. Too much prog rock for me again who needs a nearly 11 minute prog version of Simon & Garfunkle's America? Not me. 2 stars
Nearly made the mistake of listening to the super deluxe edition… the fist song was good vibes and then got a bit bored
All roads lead back to JJBA.
Just not my genre - this kind of psychedelic rock... Could work for a BBQ, idk
Tedious and pretentious
Liked the first song and the last song. Unfortunately, there is a double album of well-played but forgettable songs
Prog rock just isn’t my thing. There were a couple of good songs on here but I didn’t enjoy the majority of this album.
A great start to the album with Roundabout kicking things off. Very cool guitar licks and a soulful bass coming through to complement the high end vocals and synthesized keyboard. Things were tempered quickly thereafter. One song (Five per cent for nothing) sounded straight out of a video game and I have no idea why that was included on the album. Middle of the road for the rest of the tunes. It’s decent rock and roll, but there is nothing special about this album in my opinion.
Maybe I’m not sophisticated enough to get Prog Rock, but I bet it sounds great when you listen to it sitting alone in your parent’s basement on a Friday night. I penalized them one star for that cover of America. That was unforgivable.
Definitely an interesting experimental kind of album, but not really something I'd consider a "must listen".
Weird. Like Renaissance Fair rock.
Kende alleen het eerste nummer van tiktok
lol I mean it’s fine? some songs way too long but it is funny how hard Roundabout goes despite its new connotation
4 disks, 4 hours running time! FML. Made the decision to judge this off the 1st disc, as the others seemed to be the same songs just remixed. It was ok, not sure if I’d be rushing back
Strong start, and generally I quite like prog rock, but this was pretty uneven and all over the place.
Me: Mom, can we get the Pink Floyd album Mom: We have Pink Floyd at home This is the album at home ...
Unfortunately faded into the background for me after Roundabout, which is not enough credit to the band that went from this album to do "Close to the Edge" (which surely will pop up on this list if this did?) to somehow going on to write quintessential 80s pop cheese in the form of "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
not my type
meme song was cool but otherwise unremarkable
No
i like the first song because of the meme, i like how complex and groovie the songs are, but its not up my alley yet i apreciate them
I prefer my progressive rock to have more bite than this. That memey lick on Roundabout is amazing though.
No
Better than Tommy
Not my style
Top 3 South side of the sky Long distance runaround
Didn't save any songs but it was fine
Nothing wrong with it at all. Interesting. But I didn’t like it.
Not for me.
I really did not like this album very much. I can appreciate the musicianship however, this was not my cup of tea. I’m not a big fan of just endless guitar wanking.
MAGA men.
Not really sure how to place this album genre. Wasn't bad, but not great either.
Too self indulgent. Minus one star for absolutely butchering America.
Zeppeli: "Bastard... How many bland proggy dad rock albums are on this list!?" Dio: "Do you remember how many breads you have eaten in your life?" <----TO BE CONTINUED---|\| Genuinely, when I saw that this album had come up I rushed to see if "Roundabout" was on it - at the time, I thought this was the one Yes song I knew, having not realised that "Owner of a Lonely Heart" was also theirs. I found myself genuinely getting hyped seeing that it was the opening track, and was ready for some JoJo's Bizarre Adventure vibes. "Roundabout" is great. It's way too long, but it's great. It grooves, it rises and falls, it's just a good time. The rest of the album is more eclectic and proggy, and unfortunately every other song is also too long. This results in an album that feels drawn out and unanchored - a slightly torturous mess that doesn't give you a sense of stability for even a moment. Sometimes this would be a good thing - an album constantly keeping you in suspension and holding you there, forcing you to engage as it pulls you further along... unfortunately this isn't one of those. It's somehow both too bland and too nonsensical. It's a shame, I usually like experimental, proggy stuff. It's not completely dreadful, it's just... not great and too much of it.
Not a fan.
It's the Jojo meme song.
⭐️⭐️1/2
Top songs: South Side of the Sky
I've only enjoyed certain classic prog-rock artists, but not all. This isn't quite my cup of tea, even though the first is an all time classic, incredible musicianship and performance. Wish i was into it more.
This was ok, I guess? It had some interesting use of difference musical influences (think I spotted some Latin-style instrumental stuff) but some of these were way too long without actually developing a great deal. Felt like jamming within the confines of a song at times. Bleh
I think I was intrigued for about 20 seconds. I then got the annoying vocals and just to make matters worse there was organ music like it was taken from Brighton pier. Seaside organ anyone. Nope! At times it was also like there was an exorcism going on and could be taken from a dodgy film. I did enjoy the delivery, recording quality and skills, but it was so chaotic and mashed that I failed to engage with it as an album. OK, I could probably find a song or part of it I enjoyed. "Mood for the day" I thought the album had finished and I was listening to a new artist to enjoy. The next and last song was then another shift from the norm which typified the album. It was largely excellent, but it went on too long and had too many elements to it that ultimately ruined it. Interesting experiment I guess but too much I didn't like about it to consider it a coherent masterpiece.
There are three good tracks on this album. 'Roundabout', 'Mood for a Day', and 'Heart of Sunrise'. The rest of the album feels like unnecessary padding. Have I mentioned my hatred of the electric organ? Overlayed with the squeaky vocals, it got quite grating. Also, despite its varied nature, most tracks seemed to be quite shallow arrangements. Certainly not as expansive sounding as other prog rock offerings. The album has a peculiar, very British vibe that somehow remind me of films like 'Willow' or 'Time Bandits'. It's interesting that I just can't imagine anything like this being recorded now. I've always thought that Yes have a pretty middling ranking in British prog rock and this album just cements that view.
Seriously though, this is what you get when you let musicians do whatever they want.
4/10
It’s just not for me. Talented sure and there are moments of greatness throughout, but I just don’t really like it. Most prog rock just sounds cheesy/corny to me and this one is no different. 4/10
Interesting listen, not really for me but I gave it go
Prog rock, wakeman Roundabout
Yeah…actually no.
Respectable ability throughout but nothing jumped out to me that I particularly enjoyed
No.
Used to listen to the shit out of Roundabout from a compilation album I had as a younger lad. The rest of this album is garbage though. And not the good kind. +1 rank for the nostalgia of the only good song on the album.
If you have heaven, then for the love of god send me straight to hell.
Progressive rock is very versatile. I am more of a Golden Earring or Klaatu fan. On this album, only “Roundabout” really deserves attention.
Couple of goods songs but mostly music you have to pretend to understand and look very serious and nod at.
Oh, no, another progressive rock from the 70s. Mood for a Day is very good classical guitar composition.
Nothing very inspiring or exciting to hold on to.
If you dissected their songs, there are parts that are truly great. But for me, this is the sonic equivalent of wearing a paisley shirt with plaid pants.
Sheesh - just roundabout
Not bad but not my vibe. And why were some songs so long???
To symphonic not for me
There's some brilliant musical ability on show... But sadly it's so disjointed. Did they randomly pick songs up off the floor and call it an album? Something good here... But it's hiding somewhere.
A little to prog for me. I enjoy there later stuff better. Too many mediocre guitar solos
Progressive rock it's just not to me. But I can't deny the are incredible here.
I audibly groaned when this came up as the next album to listen to. I get that it's important to listen to different styles and that Yes exemplifies the progressive rock scene of the late 60s and 70s, but damn some of their music is hard to listen to. the opening to Roundabout is iconic, of course, but I don't need 8 and a half minutes of that song. The next two short tunes (under 2 minutes) were unlistenable. South Side of the Sky was pretty interesting, but again long--almost 8 minutes. The next three were interesting and listenable: Long Distance Runaround (the other radio play from this album and a proper length), the Fish (fun bass line and only 2.5 minutes. Mood for a Day is medieval, so up my alley, but not sure why it's on a rock album. I can see that as a musician, this might have been fun music to play, but damn I don't want to listen to most of it.
They make really good hits but not my kind of music😑
This is fine idk? It’s cool but like meh won’t return
Wow! I almost started to miss generic dad rock! For real this is giving nothing.
Not my thing. I can appreciate the musicianship, but to overblown.
gives off king gizz if they were a band in the 70s
Some fine musicianship wasted on painful levels of proggy pretension.
оце прям плоттвіст, що перший же трек - це мем. не моє, на жаль, не зайшло
Writing this Jan 5 ‘26. Catching up on a few old albums I missed. T1 classic song, makes me think of that old meme and trying to learn that little lick at the end of the intro. Such an iconic baseline aswell. T2 very refreshing T8 feels like a Jerry Garcia solo . Maybe from “Garcia” album. Overall a nice album. Not a lot of standout unique sounds. Not that this is common, but there were other groups doing this same type of different much better than this. Thought between 2 and 3 stars
*1971. English prog rock. *Starts with Roundabout, which is the only Yes song I know and has no business being 9 minutes long. *Strange combination of sounds. Some is pretty typical 70s rock, but there are too many synths. *When it’s more rock and less synth, it’s not bad. RATING - 6/10
Partly heard before Saved 3/9 Top track: Roundabout
70s rock. Prog rock. Just don’t enjoy this genre.
It was OK but I remember nothing about it
I enjoyed Roundabout for the first few minutes, but then it just kept going. The story of this album. Songs were either too short, or too long.
Roundabout is ok.
Pretty boring
I appreciate the musicianship here, but just can't get into Yes. Roundabout is a fun song, but it's too long and meanders a bit too much for me. Highlights: "Roundabout"
Cracking first track. The rest of it deserved to be thrown into stark relief by punk.
Not one I enjoyed - didn’t really get it
Not my usual vibe but nice to discover a new artist
Interesting.
Soooo boring
einmal beiläufig gehört, aber ich bin wohl zu jung um das zu verstehen.
Around the age of 12 the song pretty fly for a white guy was one of the coolest songs in my world… Keep them separated was pretty up there too. This type of album makes me think about slamming a can of beer and then crushing it on your head to go skateboarding and also all of the jackass movies a little bit. Did anybody else wait for the last track at the very end for the hidden bonus song?
Alors quand j'ai vu la pochette j'ai cru que ça allait du Hip-hop OG bien crade. Si je m'attendais à ça mon ptit. J'adore Roundabout j'avais oublié que je l'aimais. Correction enfaite j'aime que l'intro...
Não gostei
I just don't seem to fit with them. Vocals, keyboards, songwriting. It just doesn't do it for me despite some clearly outstanding musicians.
Cool guitar riff half way through ‘America’, interesting jazz bass line in the unfortunately abbreviated ‘5% for Nothing’, but overall not my jam. To much same same vocals and synth predominance that’s weirdly prog AND carnival at once.
General quite long. Enjoyed the first song but found it a bit self-indulgent and overly long
your next line is IS THIS A JOJO REFERENCE
No.
I don’t know how to feel about this album. If it weren’t for the first track, which I agree with another user is basically a "lure," I wouldn’t even be listening to this. I don’t know if I’m just too naive to understand progressive rock, even though I like Rush.
This album has some pretty good songs to go along with some real awful music. 2.5
Really could’ve been much shorter. The weird interlude things didn’t really add much, and it actually made the album feel really stilted. The songs themselves were good, but it felt like everything took more space than it needed. Favorites: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise
Interesting ideas but fairly flat for me. Feels like sketches and a bit disjointed. Reasonably listenable but not much going on below the surface. Maybe I just don't like prog as much as I thought I did.
Bit OTT
So, I knew a guy in highschool who was crazy smart, very socially inept, pretty funny when he wasn’t being obnoxious as hell. This dude looooved Yes. Talked to me about how incredible they were. I never really listened to him, cause it was 1996 and I figured that Yes probably sucked. Turns out, I was 100% right. Yes is truly terrible. My probably autistic acquaintance in highschool had terrible taste in music, and I just confirmed it today. It’s not that they’re unskilled. Their guitar player truly shreds; inventive, dexterous, probably a joy to listen to in his own right. The bass player is incredible. The drummer is talented. The singer blows dogs for quarters. Put it all together, and you get a band that sounds like one part Wagner, and one part a cacophony of screeching cats. I didn’t know that was possible, but Yes found a way. 2/5
The musos are good, no question about it. The music the produced was not for me, the album was a chore. Roundabout was good but the rest wasn't particularly enjoyable to listen to.
Same as the Yes album - I don't really like the album or the melodies. Did not manage to get into it after 2 listens so I gave up. 2.5
Only small sections grabbed me and too much wanking in between.
Heart of sunrise is echt een gaaf nummer. Zeer muzikaal, maar het pakt me niet.
Prog rock - prog-ably not for me.
Roundabout is incredible, and this is obviously well made (pretty blown away that this came out in 1971), but I just didn’t have an enjoyable time listening to it
Another one that’s ok but didn’t rock my world. It’s starting to feel like anyone who released an album in the 70s is on this list.
Luck warm 2/5
I think there is a lot of this kind of music out there and it is not my cup of tea. Wasn't particulary bad either but I wouldn't listen this again.
Well, I’m going to go against the grain here. I just found this dull and annoying. Some of the guitar noodling and piano plinky-plonking was fine.
Eigenlijk maar 1 goed nummer (roundabout)
Prog tends to leave me a bit cold, which is bad news for Yes.
Smoggy proggy
Ok
Not my jam but I feel the vibe :)
Weird wankery. Sounds like it might be impressive technically but the output is a bit shit
More like, no
Overall, not my favorite but a couple songs stood out
Roundabout shares some of the same DNA as Supertramp so that one is a hit for me. The rest of the songs don't sound like that though. Instead they feature annoying noises and incoherent melody.
It wasn’t terrible … but I still don’t like Prog Rick
It’s like the definition of mid. Nothing you would turn off in the background but nothing that blows my little mind. Some great riffs throughout.
I literally had an hour and a half Genesis album two days ago, that exhausted all of my patience. What the hell is going on with the randomness of the track structure? Here's an 8 minute track (that albeit is a relatively decent album opening), here's a minute and a half of Brahms? What? Felt properly conceited at times. Stop with the high quantity of prog rock.
I don't know why Wizards had such a grip on Rock music in the '70's, but good golly I'm happy that reign has ended. 2/5
Not going to lie, this was more noodly than a stir fry
It was good for a song and a half.
I was duped, I thought this was a continuation of the yes album, oh how wrong I was, besides roundabout this album was a real challenge to get through, not much to write home about, the only other positive I can really give is that they’re great musicians
one meme song, the rest are ok
Not big on prog rock. Waiting for Aja by Steely Dan
'I'll be the roundabout / The words will make you out and out.' What can only described as a letdown for the nonbeliever, Fragile goes from being an innovative pop-prog record to a schooled but meaningless play of chops in less than two mins. B/c even the hit single, which I admit does get into your head, and for that reason is a semi-success, is too long and too uninteresting to save this record from itself. 'Did we really count to one hundred?' That’s how it feels listening to this ersatz mind-fest: counting aimlessly, never doing the dirty work to yoke thinking w/ feeling. Moments of beauty exist on the acoustic instrumental 'Mood for a Day,' but by then it's too deep in faux intellectualism.
I remember!
Virtuosic playing all around. But after Roundabout it sounded to my ears like a group of people trying to show off rather than make interesting music.
Worked my way through this album more intrigued about it than feeling any sort of love for it. Some strong moments and interesting technical work from the band, but ultimately the album feels disjointed and massively self indulgent. Some elements are utterly bizarre and feels like the band are experimenting for the sake of it, some are momentarily very good. The opener and closer are very good at least. Maybe I'm missing the point of the album but it's not a fave of mine at all.
A chaotic mess with a couple of breathers.
Can't complain. Maybe would not listen again.
Really not my cup of tea. I thought the warbling organ cover of Simon & Garfunkel's America was particularly self-indulgent.
Outdated, bloated, and a likeness to jazz with its random noodling and songs that went nowhere.
This is just as pants as the other offering we’ve been served up. Pick a lane lads, too much noodling.
Coming into this I only knew Roundabout from this record, and dreaded listening to prog rock for its pompousness and the fact that the only people that seemed to enjoy it were constantly high. The album is fine, the band is undeniably talented, but it doesn’t leave me wanting to listen to more prog. Roundabout is a good track, as is parts of Long Distance Runaround, and the solo at the end of Mood for a Day is pretty, but too much of this album just isn’t engaging for me. 4/10
2.5?
I do not know what to do with this. There were some very interesting bass lines and overall vibes. On the other side, this entire record is very all over the place and does not establish a good overarching rythm for me, which makes it rather hard to listen to. Maybe just dont get the concept of this lp.
Prog Rock is not my favorite. My heart sank when I first saw it was a Yes album because I thought it would be an exhausting ordeal. Instead it was just...fine. I recognize the exceptional musical ability of these guys, but that just never affects me in any meaningful way. I will always take the ugly rawness of punk over the mathematical cleanliness of prog rock.
Apparently peak technical prog rock. Very interesting to experience the musical surprises that were synched perfectly across all instruments, and I can't deny that these guys can burn, which I guess was the point they were trying to make. The album itself is basically three long songs featuring this experimental long format plus some solo showcases. For my taste, only the Mood For a Day solo was worth the listen. Of the jams, I liked Roundabout the best. Overall, not sure this is my thing, but I can appreciate its complexity and difficulty, and it's not unpleasant to listen to.
Jojo…. Oh jojo… you are so bizarre…
Minute 2:07 to 5:36 on South Side of the Sky, the bass on Long Distance Runaround, and The Fish bump the rating to a 2. I'm trying y'all.
Not for me
I found it hard to finish this album because some of the songs were long and I tuned out the music after a while. I really liked the album cover though.
Some nice riffs and bridges showing great potential, but too clean for me. It lacks something and somehow that kills the vibe for me. That said, I would not be surprised if this influenced a whole lot of bands who built this into something much more raw, and I grew up on those bands.
Why is Brahms on here? Like pretty much everything on here, it's more of more. This album is really like 2 (maybe 3) songs with a boatload of filler in between 'em, and the songs have filler, too. Virtuosic, but also boring.
An album which would have been vastly improved with no vocalist. 2/5 with vocals, 4/5 in my imagined version without.
I really tried to like this. Roundabout sucks you in but after that it’s boring high-concept prog that is better forgotten.
It took me a couple of tries to get through Roundabout and I can't even remember listening to the rest
Yes? Ummmmm…. No. Not so much
Progressive
Nice to hear the origin of the first song, rest of the album was fine.
Not my favourite.
Not really my thing
Couldn't finish it...
Roundabout is a certified banger! The rest is...fine? A bit too much, but fun in parts.
A prime example of where less definitely would have been more.
This was cool to hear, for one reason or another. I'm sure that Roundabout is the only reason this album is on the list, thanks JoJo. But, that speaks to just how great a song it is, so much of what it has is what I liked about a lot of songs on this album but that song's sticking power is undeniable. It's unfortunate that this is the only song that kept my attention. Favorite song: Roundabout
Roundabout continues to be a banger, otherwise this album can be appreciated but not enjoyed
Just not for me. Listened to the original version and still couldn't wait for it to end.
Has some bops but I'm not a big YES guy.
Really impressive instrumentation, vocals not for me.
Aw man. I knew and like Roundabout, but the rest of the album is so...experimental?
Starts of great but then becomes just okay.
Ah, Yes... A band I’ve heard many times in passing during the 80s, without ever trying to know more about them. I was eager to listen again with a different perspective. Sadly, it was an underwhelming experience. It’s not bad – it’s certainly creative, the jazzy moments are nice... But I’m really not on board with the vocal part of the album, the singing feels lifeless. Despite numerous good ideas and laudable attempts to innovate, the end result just leaves me mostly indifferent. Heart of the Sunrise was the only song that I kind of digged (and only the instrumentals), but it was too little, too late. Won’t listen again.
pioneers of prog rock? sure, I give you that. They probably, inadvertently, had a major impact on me but how I got from Yes to TOOL is another story. In the end, I cannot say I am a fan.
Ooooh, like Yes a lot but never heard anything from this album. Super slay. edit: honestly -- it was good, but nothing memorable.
2.5
Appreciate that Yes are iconic and skilled and innovative etc but couldn’t listen to this
Not really
Dad- 5 Mom- 4.5 Mike- 3 Lori- 5 Michael- NA Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 4.38
Even as a prog rock fan this was a step to far for me. I wonder if it would score more if I listened a few times? Maybe.
Me and prog. A never ending rivalry. It wasn't terrible.
Some songs I liked but in general jut not my favorite genre of music.
couldnt really hack it
I feel like I would love this love, but it may be angry listening to it on a long drive.
Perhaps worse than I ever imagined it would be. Could just about tolerate the sub-two minute “We Have Heaven”. Thanks, but no thanks.
A little overlong and some tracks are bleeps and samples of a min or so. Roundabout is fantastic and some of the tracks are ok Prog rock but nothing to write home about. some anoying piano on some tracks that is unecessary
I can absolutely appreciate the musicianship, I just don't like the music the musicians make.
It’s a bit too prog-y for me but I do appreciate that they kept it relatively short.
Too much prog rock for me. Like...way too much prog rock.
These guys were just having a good time making music together. Roundabout was pretty good but nothing that stood out to me in a decade of other awesome prog rock.
Yes? No, not for me...don't really like them or get them...
2/1001 :: Yes - Fragile Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: Light 4 Fav Tracks: Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky Apparently this Prog Rock virtuoso of an album was released in 1971 but you could've fooled me because it sounded really 80's to my ear (and not in a good way)... While I had never listened to this album there were 2 songs that were very familiar. Roundabout & Long Distance Runaround are staples on my local classic rock radio station (i95 FM). And Roundabout being the first song set the tone for the album. These musicianship is highly skilled, but there was a ton of bad synth and noodley guitar work which frankly is not my bag. Ironically there were many elements here that reminded me of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (who I love) but without the edge and that was my issue with it. Also felt like half the songs were instrumentals and my TBH i only really liked parts of my Fav Tracks (Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky) as both of those songs could have used a real haircut IMO. Now on to No. 3 !
Goeie funk bij momenten Kinda saai though
This album was ok not my kind of genre typically so wouldn’t listen again but it was interesting to hear something different from what I am used to
Prog. If that word makes you tingle go 4 it. If not, settle in for the slog. There will be moments where youre like, this is ok. But those moments will be interrupted w inexplicably annoying turns. Not my bag
The harmony at the end of The Fish is reminiscent of ... Eagles? CSN&Y? Mood for a Day was pretty, too.
Cool instrumental to start off. Besides that….
I've been waiting for the day I could write something positive about a prog rock album... and today is not that day.
Has its moments with some nice and catchy tunes, but overall, it just doesn’t hit for me. While I can appreciate the musicianship and creativity, it feels a bit too scattered and doesn’t quite resonate. It’s just not my cup of tea.
I've heard only a couple of these songs before. I do appreciate some of the juxtapositions, but overall, this isn't an able I'm come back to.
Even though this album has 2 great songs (the opener and closer), the lead vocals really throw it off for me. For the most part, it is a bland rock project with too many things that they try to tackle. A better album from this era would be Boston's self-titled.
Ihan on passelia musisointia, mutta en tästä itse paljoa perustanut.
dnf
Was about as long as tedious I would have expected 2*
eh
2 stars Some good tracks, but doesn’t feel like a full album. The instrumentals sometimes feel like half ideas. The longer tracks are that indulgent.
If, like me, you hate keyboards, moogs, and synthesizer, this album never had a chance. The best track on it was written by someone else and has no keys!
Another where one album from the band would be sufficient. It’s a yes album, like the others. Fine, but nothing more.
The only Yes album I can almost listen to. They’re still doing all the prog shit or at least an initial version of it while retaining *some* songwriting chops. Mostly, any patience I have for them is derived from a cool “Long Distance Runaround” cover Joggers, a Portland indie band, did in the 00s. But there’s still all the other wanker “putting the classic in classic rock” nonsense - this time it’s a classical guitar recital piece and a Brahms something or other. Could not give less of a shit about that blokes.
I guess I just don’t love funky bass lines.
Maybe? Nah. I liked the instrumentals, but the rest is too much in that Rush-Iron Maiden vocal/guitar-space.
Roundabout obviously slaps, rest of the album is a bit underwhelming