Reviews (page 12 of 14)
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Outdated, bloated, and a likeness to jazz with its random noodling and songs that went nowhere.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
Tää olisi parempi levy jos kaiken Roundaboutin ja Heart of the Sunrisen väliin jäävän trimmaisi surutta pois.
Did not care for
Apart from Roundabout (classic), the album feels a bit repetitive.
Oh joy, it’s the “Roundabout” album… This music doesn’t really do a whole lot for me, I’ll be honest; I like the boisterous bass guitar, the early ‘70s organ keys and synth, and some little spots here and there but as a whole… forgettable, not my tempo.
Not a fan, wouldn't listen to it again but it isn't awful
Not for me. However... there should be one Yes on this list. I can guarantee this isn't the only one.
One minute I am listening to Roundabout, the next minute I am transported to a medieval time where I am drinking mulled wine while I await the commencement of the grand jousting match. The king and court are dressed in their finery, smiling upon the gathered crowd who have been given a reprieve from their toils in the fields. All is merry this day. Or maybe that was a dream I had when I fell asleep listening to Cans and Brahms, which could serve as the soundtrack for a cable access puppet show, also about royal courts and such. There are a couple of great moments in here, but a bunch of yuck too. A couple of tracks throw squawks and bloops over unusual time signatures, incorporating some of the worst aspects of free jazz. Each member going on a separate 32 bar quest, assured they will bring it all together at the end to make it semi palatable. Not a fan of prog for prog's sake. Two stars for Roundabout.
Fine but not for me
Gets 2 stars for Roundabout. The rest is just prime Rick Wakeman knob twiddling guff.
I grew up with Yes fans for parents so it's very difficult to give this an unbiased listen. I have always liked Roundabout as tune, but generally prog rock's tendancy towards 8 minute noodling tracks is not my thing. I would listen to Runaround and Long Distance Runaround again though. 2/5 (I'd get 2.5 if I was allowed half stars)
in all honesty i did not like this at all. thought it was shit tbh. it kinda goes to show that just because you're a great player with super advanced technique, it doesn't automatically make a good song. i was surprised when i heard the first song, still don't remember where i've heard it, but the bassline is phenomenal all the same. same with that one song about halfway through, incredible guitar technique but would i listen to it again, probably not. really out of place interludes that made the album feel really disjointed and confusing. i'm sure this is someone's cup of tea! just not mine...
I recognize that a lot of work went into this. The people who like it probably really like it, and I’m so happy for them. I want to be a person who could not just tolerate but maybe even enjoy 11 minutes (and 31 seconds) of whatever noodly insanity was happening in the one that was 11 minutes (and 31 seconds), but it’s not in me. I can’t, and I won’t. I did like “Mood for a Day” though.
I admire the musicians in this band for their technical prowess at each of their respective instruments. The hallmarks of a competent prog rock album are all here in Fragile, but accessibility to the listener remains an issue. An album like this requires patience from its audience. After the frenetic energy of Roundabout to open, there’s a good 30 minutes of slow moving soundscapes that are beautiful, but don’t really go anywhere. That is until the stellar conclusion in Heart of the Sunrise. So I can’t in good conscience give Fragile anything higher than 2 stars no matter how much I admire the skill and musicianship on display. ⭐️⭐️
Dit album heeft wel een paar leuke nummers, maar is ook veel gepingel. Ik had toch iets heel anders verwacht van de band "yes". **
Not a fan of the experimental nature of this album.
Nog meer progrock, moet dat? De gitaar in de intro en outro van "Roundabout" klinkt als die in een nummer van Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Voor de rest wel een aardig nummer, niet zo deprimerend als die meuk van Genesis laatst. Ik kan nog steeds niks met dit soort nerdrock, maar ik heb ook zeker ergere varianten gehoord. "Long Distance Runaround" is wel oké. "The Fish" zelfs best goed. Hé wat grappig, in de afsluiter "Heart of the Sunrise" hoor ik een sampletje van Pusha T's "What Would Meek Do?". De rest van dat meer dan 11 minuten durende nummer is helaas niet om door te komen. Zoals wel vaker bij progrock, begint het met een aardige intro en wordt het per minuut slechter, pompeuzer en kitscheriger..
Not my cup of tea
Circus ass music
Second 70s prog rock album in a row. This genre will just never be for me. I appreciate being exposed to it. Everything is helping me contextualize a lot of music throughout eras. I will probably never listen to this again.
I can see why people like this, but I'm not one of these people unfortunately. <-To be continued :^)
Not into it
instrumental stuff was the best part. could not do the vocals. would not care if I ever heard again
meh
Not my bag.
I have never been excited by progressive rock...that I found sometimes self-indulgent...This record production sounds "modern" for its time (nice bass)...but a bit gimmicky
boring
I really liked the first song. The rest of the album blended some interesting musical/instrument ideas, but was boring overall.
Like, there’s some good musical arrangements and complex compositions. But it’s lousy to listen to unless you’re really into progrock.
I don't get it. I'm not a prog rock girlie. Heart of the Sunrise was ok but other than that I didn't really like any of it.
Den enda låten jag reagerade på var meme-låten
no, except for "Roundabout". 2/5
Recognizable classic rock - yet nothing I would buy or go out of my way to play.
Progr. Rock, 1971 -> 2
Finally some silly circus music!
na ez sokkal jobban tetszik, mint a multkori tőlük (a roundabout meg a south side of the sky!) de még mindig végtelen unalmas. 😆 ezt a túlságosan művészkedős rockot a pink floyd(pár albumá)nak még elnézi az ember, mert kibaszott zsenik, de ez simán csak unalmaaaaaaaaas.
oh no not prog rock
Nothing stood out to me. I get why it is a huge deal but I personally don’t think I would listen to it ever again.
Roundabout isn’t half bad, but the rest of the album is. I lost interest quite fast afterwards. This is everything punk rebelled against.
I like that one song
------get back here
My only experience of Yes up until today is Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Wow! This album is nothing like that is it. Roundabout was good, the rest was a lot of noise and noodling and what the hell was the cover of America! No thanks, not “Yes” please.
Everything sounded the same lol
Always want to like Yes because my Dad loves them, but something about them just leaves me very underwhelmed. It's not bad, it's just not good and I just don't really want to listen to them again after a whole record. Close To The Edge was a better record, I thought
Other than Roundabout this album wasn’t very good. I’d give it like a 1.5 so I’ll round up and give it a reluctant 2 :/
Thought I liked prog rog but not so much - oh for owner of a lonely heart
Some very cool performances and interesting parts, but too probably just too weird for me tbh
No
Prog rock. Does it take talent? Yes. Do the songs drag on way too long? Also yes. YES.
Nah bro
A rough listen for me, and a good example of how I’m sure there will be many albums on this list that are “technically good” but really don’t resonate with me. I was just bored, to be honest. Tough sell when every song on the album is either thirty seconds or ten minutes long. Some nice guitar tho, I enjoyed Mood for a Day the most out of any other song on the album.
It’s all about layers, but not the kind that fit together. The music sprawls, ambitious and overcooked. It feels tangled, like too many ideas competing at once. It’s more exhausting than exhilarating.
Saved Prior: Roundabout Off Rip: None Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Really wish Roundabout had just continued for the entire album instead of the tomfoolery we got
2 Stars (5/15)
not my cup of tea i think, gonna give it another chance tho
Patchy ! Liked the solo one with guitar but very mixed bag
2.5
This is #day122 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... while this is not entirely terrible, I don't feel this music. It does nothing to me. It sounds like the guys are jamming and having fun, mostly each on their wave, and I'm just not progressive enough to appreciate it. Or, I'm not in the mood for a day. That said, I can try to understand its novelty (?) given the year of the release. Still, it's a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day123.
roundabour is amazing but the rest is just not my jam
Now I know where the meme comes from
Yes, you need better songs for a higher rating. Favorite Song: "Roundabout"
Fav song: Mood For A Day (Roundabout close second though) I think this album is super interesting, especially for the time period. I would have rated it higher but it's just a bit too lost in the sauce in places for me personally. The production is solid though, especially in the low end. That bass really packs a punch. Not to mention the performance! The technical skill from each band member is extremely impressive. But yeah, just waaaaaay lost in the sauce! Side note: the 10 minute songs are actually kinda sick and interesting, especially America.
Roundabout? Amazing The interludes? Whatever The other two songs? They are good but nothing I care a whole lot about even after listening to it. I used to listen to this a lot as a teen but I realize it was mostly Roundabout
More like No, amirite guys?
No Simpsons: No
At points I thought I was back in medieval times, which I would normally love but this is just too weird for me
A very intriguing album. I don't think I've heard anything quite like it before. It's definitely more of a one-off, interesting piece, something to experience for its uniqueness, rather than songs I'd find myself actually puttin on. Overall, not for me.
This irked me some. Long Distance Runaround lost me. I don’t know. I usually like Yes but this is a nah
great start into the album but unless from few 10 minutes stretches there are not many songs to really listen to. Them cuts doesnt feel necessary for the album. its not a transition its just... there?! so yeah 2.5/5.0 doesnt work that well for me as a album
Less cohesive than the other project from them I got.
only gets more than a 1 star cause of roundabout
With such a strong (if long) intro, it’s a shame the middle is so mellow and frankly boring. What’s there is beautiful and well done, but so much time elapses and suddenly you’re hit with another flashy song for the outro. The musicality is good when there; unfortunately, the length kills this one.
I only liked the jojo song
Yes? No
I listened to this last night and have already forgotten everything about it
No.
I'm not sure I'd say yes but I wouldn't say no. To be honest just a little bland with a bit too much noodling but some okay tracks
Operation: play your instruments as fast as possible
One good thing about this album is that it reminded me how good America by Simon and Garfunkel is. It's so good, in fact, that even when it's being butchered by this totem of prog rock excess, it's still great. The rest of the album? Maybe they should have got S+G in as songwriters. And let them sing and play instead.
i mean it’s literally fine. i recognized “roundabout” from…somewhere…this certainly wasn’t as teeth-grittingly bad as some other prog rock but i would never listen to this of my own accord.
Not bad. 2/5
I’ve heard good things about Yes so had high hopes but this felt like a chore to get through. It had some songs and parts I liked but a lot seemed unrefined and felt like a jam session in a basement. Favorite songs were: 1. Roundabout - good but long 9. Mood for a day - this song rocked 3/10
eh, not a huge fan.
But much
It was okay. Roundabout is epic, but the rest... meh...
I didn't listen to the whole thing. There were some songs that I liked but were in my opinion too long. Not my favorite.
prog rock, some good stuff, but tracks too long and joined together by nonsense 2.5
Na. Rubbish
yes = rush’s nerdier cousin
Don’t like prog rock
Ensimmäinen biisi oli ihan hauska, mutta levyn loppua kohti progeilu lähtee lapasesta. Muutama leiskautus mahtui joukkoon vaikka mielenkiinto hyytyy pahasti levyn edetessä.
Not really a yes fan.
Strange album
No.
Meh.
cheesy and annoying
ehhhhhh 46
Better than the other Yes album on here last week. But, my view of Prog hasn’t changed. Too much going on, not enough flow.
# 290 : Not awful, in fact better then I expected. I'm just not so much into instrumentals. Not really my cup of tea. Pleasant enough sound, I just wont be going back to this. I guess there's certain moods for certain tunes and I guess I wasn't in it :-)
Not for me, simply no... To much going on and not enough to latch onto...
Feels like generic Progress Rock, easy to forget.
You can hear how this band was clearly an influence on many other famous bands, so while I don’t deny the significance, I didn’t really enjoy it as it’s not my style. Rating: 2
Decent enough.
I liked this more than their self-titled album, though that isn't a high bar. This felt looser and lighter, and more appealing, though it still frequently drifted into self-indulgent. Plus, one of the songs is used on the Buffalo 66 soundtrack
I know I know a Yes song. Can't quite put my finger on it though. Ooooh this first track might be it. The classical guitar intro is beautiful! Just turned funky. hmmm if that first track was their biggest hit on the album, it's all down hill from here lol. I mean it's okay.. but not crazy about it. Yeah this is crazy music. No melody at all and just all over the place. I'm done with this. 2 stars.
Yes? Track 1: No. Track 2: God no! Track 3: Not quite. Track 4: I begrudgingly decline. Sorry, are you still going? Track 5: Why are you even asking? Track 6: Ahh you nearly had me ... then you opened your mouth. Track 7: Is this a new question? Erm, still probably not. Track 8: Ye gadds, sire. Thrice nay. Track 9: Blimey. You do go on. Ok, this once. BUT with heavy caveats, and you're really pushing my patience. Track 10: Why do you have to make everything so complicated? I'm sure someone else asked me this one before. But much more succinctly and elegantly. Nice try, but no. Track 11: Is this a valid question?
IS THAT A MOTHER FUCKING JOJO REFERENCE?! Hey, this albums not very good. Every song is either bizarrely too short or frustratingly too long. 3 separate times I was like okay that songs over only for it to keep going.
I don't really believe most of the scare stories about algorithms and AI and shit like that. It never seemed likely that there would be any value in monitoring my thoughts or purchases. Surely no-one would bother programming an AI to record what I liked, and then do the opposite just to fuck with me? Fragile by Yes. How are you people getting The College Dropout and Sam Cooke live albums? This was every bit as insufferable as I would have expected, had I ever spent any time considering its existence. It's the sound of wanking. The sound of estate agents, wanking. But much less sexy than even that sounds. I didn't love it, it's fair to say. Not estate agents. Quantity surveyors. The sound of quantity surveyors, wanking.
this was interesting
Yes is a no for me. They were a huge band, I just don’t get their music.
Roundabout
I liked this more than any other Yes album on this list only on the back of Roundabout. That’s not high praise; I still found the rest of this prog rock parade interminable. Sorry not sorry.
It wasn’t bad. Better than The Yes Album certainly. It seemed to have more structure than that album did, and more purpose, although having another entirely acoustic guitar workout was certainly an interesting choice, even if I did enjoy it the best of all the songs on the album. I could stand to listen to Roundabout again, and maybe Heart Of The Sunrise, that intro riff is pretty gnarly
I have a weird relationship with "classic" rock. I do like a lot of music influenced by early prog rock, but something about it never lands quite right with me. I've heard Roundabout a thousand times of course, but the second of this album gets pretty good and I would give it another listen. What's up with the brief classical segment though? It's interesting that they recorded "goof around" tracks like that and "5 percent..." in the era of analog tape...
01) Roundabout - 7,0 02) Cans and Brahms - 4,0 03) We Have Heaven - 5,0 04) South Side of the Sky - 6,0 05) Five per Cent for Nothing - 1,0 06) Long Distance Runaround - 6,5 07) The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) - 6,0 08) Mood for a Day - 6,5 09) Heart of the Sunrise - 6,5 TOTAL: 5,39 (54/100) Current ranking: 188/212 Another album whose importance eludes me. I have nothing to grab onto here. I can't even define what genre this is, how do songs 2 and 8 fit into the concept of this album? And why is song number 5 even called a song? Take those three songs away and you get 6 boring and too long dad rock songs on an album that sounds identical to a bunch of other albums on this list that I had from that era.
I feel like the music is trying to hard to be progressive and unique. I enjoy the more accessible Yes music and sort of like their more pop y albums. I can hear glimpses of what they ended up becoming.
Tää olisi parempi levy jos kaiken Roundaboutin ja Heart of the Sunrisen väliin jäävän trimmaisi surutta pois.
At first I was into it, but now its annoying
It's all downhill after the first song Roundabout). Parts of the last song are okay.
#231. A few bops in there, but a lot of pretty skippable tracks too though. Not one that I'd ever really put on on purpose to listen to the whole ass album. 2/5: too much meh
probably better just instrumental
It was okay.
Some of these songs are famous for a reason - they're good! But as a full album this was too farty / too noodley for me to get into. It just feels sort of goofy and unfocused.
ok nothing special
the actual songs are good, although nothing special imo. the stuff in between was not doing it for me.
Cool concept album at times but ultimately not my thing. Roundabout is great regardless
Meh
Rahhh JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Yeah, nah
Didnt get into it
Very boring and slow
Yes…No. I’ve lived my life without having to listen to one of their albums in it’s entirety. And now I have. Was Roundabout always 8 minutes? I never could listen to that entire thing. Long songs, short songs, it’s like riding a roller coaster in a crappy amusement park. Getting older may have mellowed my opinion of YES though…I still dislike them, but not as much.
Как я могу нормально относиться к жанру, где 10 минутные треки - это базис?? Вот и думайте епт Хотя 1 тречок, который оказывается всплыл в мемах, сочный
How do we explain our music.... We draw inspiration from Rush, but we are sophisticated (Cans and Brahms), spiritual (We have heaven) incorporate some scatting (to be culturally sensitive) and end by doing acid so that the entire thing makes no sense and nobody take knows what they are listening to
Overall, I'm a no on Yes. I can appreciate that their music is complex and interesting but not so much my thing. I like the Fish song. Long Distance Runaround is pretty good. Some great bass playing on that one. I feel like my main criticism of Yes is that it's all kinda too much all over the place. Too many disjointed changes that don't really feel like they gel into cohesive songs (they have their moments).
This album is a little odd. Roundabout is a classic, but the rest was new to me. Some of the songs are too long and drawn out and others are weird interludes. It was a boring listen but might be more interesting on drugs.
Lots of really cool ideas on this. Lots of really bad ones too. Hard to give this more than a 2 when I don't think I would put a single song on by choice. Two probably seems a bit harsher than my feelings for this, but I don't think it is a 3.
Just when you think Yes can't find any more ways to be overindulgent wank, they pull put all the wank stops and indulge some more.
Uninspiring songs not worth listening to this.
#artsyfartsy #groovy #2
Idk i respect if im just not a giant fan of prog rock
They start with the only decent track. The rest is Wankfest™
Not the Yes I like
Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes and How! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNVIsd0eKQ) I am not a fan of prog, not a fan. This album is regarded as being a precursor to the full-blown prog of their subsequent records. Lord preserve us! This still sounds like a rock band (when they are actually playing as a band), with foreshadowing of the over-arranged clever-clogs, full blown progressive of the 70s that was right around the corner, especially in the "individual" pieces (fragments really) scattered across the record. There are really only four proper songs on the record. As with all prog albums, moments of rock and roll appear, only to be lost in a swamp of tedium. There is some occasional proper rock guitar from Steve Howe, Chris Squire's bass playing is consistently muscular, Bill Bruford is always a star (especially when he remembers to keep the beat moving along) and Rick Wakeman's playing can be helpful when he keeps it under control. While I find Wakeman to be often funny and charming in interview, the pretentious and widdly-widdly synthesizer overkill is not to my taste. When Yes play as a focused unit, it's good, but too much of the time, it feels like less than the sum of its all-too-disparate parts. I did suffer to listen all the way through, but it's all talk and no bloody trousers. And the fast bit in Heart of the Sunrise sounds suspiciously like the fast bit from King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man. As many of the contemporaneous reviews stated; it's just showing off. Prog: it's the emperors new music.
Giving me this album right after I rated Yes’ first album a 2/5 is cruel
Not my cup of tea, not even close to being my cup of tea. It's listenable but drab. It sounds like the sort of music made by middle-aged city workers, when they get home at the week-end and have a cheeky glass of red wine with a line, or two, of columbian marching powder. It gets the 2 star treatment from me.
It got my attention with “Roundabout” with some Pre-Queen vibes with the layered harmonies. And then to have a weird, random ass Baroque style piano solo next with “Cans and Brahms”, ok I’m listening…. and then it’s shit. There’s a reason we all know and love Queen and not these guys. Relies way to heavily on the harmonies gimmick. There is some intriguing instrumentation here but they make the cardinal sin of forgetting to make it actually sound pleasing to listen to.
Really like Roundabout but the rest of it wasn’t super memorable. I know I have heard Roundabout before but I don’t know where. I think it must be a song my Dad likes. I definitely associate the familiar part of it with like Chicago or The Eagles. The Chicago part may be similar to 25 or 6 to 4? Idk but I would like to find out. 2 stars for a song I really like on an album that I don’t care for too much.
When I started collecting vinyl records, my father-in-law gave me all of his old ones. A majority of them were Yes albums. I thought I would give them a listen and maybe it would be a band that we could bond over. I didn't enjoy Yes then, and I don't enjoy Yes now. Not really sure what he sees in them, but I just don't get it. Cool album art though.
Again, no.
Ok rock band, a few good songs, couple of them became hits. Never seemed to have a great run like some of the other rock bands of the time.
naja ..(.
First song got cool bass but that's about it for me
Fame is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
A more appropriate name for this band may have been "No"
YES!? More like....maybe.
Prog dorks are so impressed with themselves for having heard classical music. Who cares?! Get over it. This one is better than the yes album bc there is some cool synth stuff (roundabout) and bc they abandoned the flutey folk sound for something with harder riffs (5%) with bass parts that rip (heart of the sunrise) and even coming close to having a groove (the fish). But good lord this crap is always on the precipice of being extremely annoying. Totally incoherent songs where 30 seconds of a good idea immediately ruined by a hard right turn into some goofy nonsense. Favorites: the fish, the first couple of minutes of heart of the sunrise, the part of America where they're doing an Allman Brothers parody until he starts singing
As a friendly-faced presenter of One Show segments, I don't want to be mean to Rick Wakeman, but this is the type of prog rock that bores the old man y-fronts off me. I'm sure it's technically brilliant and I understand that beardy Rick is a virtuoso on keys, but it just doesn't interest me at all. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Roundabout Date listened: 06/03/24
Weird album. 2.3
Roundabout still rules, but the rest of this album thinks it's a lot more interesting than it actually is.
My first 2 star. It just doesn't stand out from the crowd. There was some nice guitar but I was pretty bored and glad when it ended. There's just better rock from this era. Hope this is their only album on the list.
I'm reasonably familiar with Yes, though it's a band that I really don't like. I find the tracks on this album complex (presumably technically proficient), but rather unengaging. It's not an album I particularly enjoyed - I don't really go for progressive rock on the whole. 3/5
roundabout- why is 8 minutes. wait dude........ omg. i cant take it seriously sorry. 4 cans and brahms- 3 or 4 we have heaven- 2 south side of the sky- 2 go away from me five per cent for nothing- 7 tbh long distance runaround- 3. or 2 the fish- 3 mood for a day- 3 heart of the sunrise- im not doing this favorite track- five per cent for nothing
So many changes and so much going on I couldn't really get in to this.
Too much over thinking
The 70s were a magical time - when ugly, uncool white men could put out technically proficient, yet nearly unlistenable music and still make a career of it. "Roundabout" is okay, but the rest almost pissed me off. 2.3
Un poco rollo.
Not really my thing. one or two tracks that I would include in a playing list
No
This was ok but not particularly interesting or memorable.
Some cool tracks, but a pretty forgettable listen overall
It’s cool but nothing mind blowing. Average album that should only be enjoyed from start to finish, and not as independent singles
Maybe I'm in the wrong mood for this but I found a lot of it insufferable pretentious noodling. Add in a terrible cover of Simon & Garfunkle's "America" at the end and I'm ready for this to be done.
Typical prog. Don't care for the sound or the lyrics. I'm astonished to see people commenting "this is music from heaven" or similar.
Rock sinfónico recargado y pretencioso, con indudables momentos de virtuosismo técnico interesantes.
There were some interesting melodies and other aspects, but not once did I genuinely wanted to listen to any given song again.
About what I expected – meandering prog rock. A few catchy hooks here and there followed by endless, pointless, boring improvisational solos. Sadly, I’m just not a classic rock guy. I have now listened to three of the best albums of all time: Disraeli Gears, Station to Station & Fragile. Really didn’t have much use for any of them. Disraeli Gears was gloomy and dark and heavy, Station to Station was cold and emotionless, and Fragile is pointlessly meandering. I need some hooks and melody. I get it – I’m not a particularly sophisticated listener.
•Not owned: Streaming •Never been prone to prog my rock but I listened with an open mind (in multiple time signatures). Quality production/mixing but it just sounds like Hobbit rock to me. Exception: “Heart of the Sunrise,” whose licks and vocal performances I actually enjoyed. • 2/5
Bit waffly
Not good.
I can't deny I caught myself foot tapping along at various points, but overall, it is very bland and largely forgettable.
Oy progrock sucks so much. Roundabout was good until it went off the rails. Like, there’s some good musical arrangements and complex compositions. But it’s lousy to listen to unless you’re really into progrock.
nah
No
I once liked roundabout.
Boring tosh. (I know, I know, it's poor form to belittle the artistic endeavours of others etc. Whatever.)
Prog rock…hmm
I am starting to realize that there was a lot of “Musical Theatre” experimentation in the 70s. The sound of this album is fine, for the most part. The super long (and super short) tracks are a tad annoying. I’d probably enjoy this album more if it was the soundtrack of a live stage production.
Was okay but didn't seem like anything special
Ok, it's very good. Like The Who but way more psychedelic and interesting. The actual musicality is great, but as a preference, since playing piano, guitar and bass for a bunch of years, I've weirdly grown to hate keyboard solos, open chords on electroacoustic guitars and slap bass. This has all of those things in abundance - even which the literal perfect levels of distortion and cool as fuck opening track. So while I want to give it more stars, I physically cannot.
I would've been happier if they just played Roundabout for 40 minutes.
Once again, an underwhelming Yes album. It started off strong with Roundabout, but the song itself began to drag and the rest of the album was so eclectic going from prog rock to baroque to whatever else and I just didn’t understand it. The lack of structure in songs makes it difficult to lose myself in any of them, and the album as a whole suffers with the same issue. It’s a shame as there were lots of really good musical ideas, I just don’t like the way they choose to use them. Prog rock just isn’t for me I think. 2/5
I like yes some years ago. Then I got old, I guess...
Store-brand Pink Floyd. Starts with a banger, then it's all classical guitar and not fully fleshed our themes.
jojo song. I thought there were some cool cuts, but nothing held my interest for the entirety of a song
Was ok
2.5 stars. The leadoff "Roundabout" is great, but the album is all downhill from there. I guess I'm just not into 70's prog rock.
I don't think I'll listen to this again.
Un poco rollo.
I’m Fragile on Progressive Rock. Sorry.
It’s a long with lots of interludes. There are good moments but didn’t hold my attention. I like South Side of the Sky 5.5/10
Had one Yes album here before that didn't impress that much, and this is not really improving on the matter. On paper I should like them, and I wish I did, but I just don't. I think it's just too much, perhaps. It feels like they try to cram in too many notes in their songs for my liking, and it just gets messy.
Not in the mood for "Yes" today at all. Highly technical but found it mostly noisy. I did enjoy the opening track "Roundabout" (made famous by memers). The rest was quite a slog. Not much more to say except I couldn't wait for it to be over.
There were a few enjoyable songs in this album and I appreciated the funky bass. This would be very mood based for me - and I was not in the mood :( Just too much going on - calm the fuck down Yes, I'm feeling Fragile. Track I'd say Yes to again: Roundabout (which I only learnt today is what is sampled to make a song I really love by Slugabed called 'Mountains Come out of the Sky' - who knew!?!)
I have heard of Yes but had no idea who they were. I've heard this Roundabout song a million times but thought it was Rush or something. They're alright at times. I pretty much hate all 70s prog but some of this was bearable.
Me gusta el prog rock, pero este por lo que sea no me ha gustado mucho. Entiendo que tuvo que molar escuchar esto por primera vez en 1971 y puedo apreciar la influencia que tuvo, pero no es mi estilo, y no creo que lo vuelva a escuchar por placer. Favoritas: Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround.
It was fine. Find it interesting that most of the songs are either 8 minutes or a minute and a half. Didn't dislike it but probably won't listen again
Never heard of these guys - pretty interesting sound! Psychedelic a bit... some sounds reminded me of Pink Flloyd, a lot of keyboard, symphony sounds - like a ballet. It sounds like they had a blast making it. Their music sounds like a story ... sometimes trying too hard a bit for me. I'd never seek the album out to listen to personally... but glad I got to experience it.
This album immediately overstayed it's welcome. Some of the funky bass stuff had me tapping my foot, but aside from that it really dragged
Not a huge fan of this. A lot of the tracks have cool bits but the lack of any meaningful lyrical direction was a miss for me. There wasn't a single track that really was good all the way through.
JOJO
Progressive dad rock, eat your heart out. Too many instrumentals and over-indulgent tracks that went for waaaay too long. It’s a no from me. Fav song: America (ironically my favourite song was a cover).
Not my jam
It’s okay
One hit song that I knew of - album is full of basic riffs with transitions that are lacking. Did not spark any emotions in me at all.
This annoyed me
Boring
Not à big fan
Bit strange, some classical riffs and a simon and garfunkel cover. Talented musicians for sure, album felt a bit all over the place- maybe what prog rock is supposed to be?