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Fragile by Yes

Fragile

Yes

1971
3.32
Rating
27209
Votes
1
5%
2
17%
3
35%
4
29%
5
15%
Distribution
Genres: Rock Styles: Art Rock, Symphonic Rock, Prog Rock

Reviews (page 2 of 13)

Oh dear No, No, No, No, No Next!

Comes accross as pretentious, self-indulgent claptrap, including the alleged standout track Roundabout. 'Wanky' should sum it up.

Really not for me.

My friends in prog places would have my guts for garters for saying this, but I find it difficult to listen to most prog rock artists. It's too hard to hitch your attention to any single instrument or melody for more than a nanosecond. Gentle Giant's Octopus is the exception (inexplicably). When ‘We Have Heaven' came on, I had a horrendous flashback to my dad playing this record while doing the pools in the Express and Star, which meant it was Sunday. Say No to Yes. NB: if any of my listening peers made it through the whole album, I commend you.

God I hate prog.

listen to this sober then listen to it again on LSD, that is my recommendation to you

Surprised by this album! Strong guitar and psych rock. I'll be visiting again!

Nobody asked Yes to reinvent music in 1971. The British music industry was perfectly happy cranking out blues-derived rock until the planet cooled, and here comes these guys; a bassist who plays like he's trying to start a fight with God, a keyboardist just twenty-three but sounding like he'd stolen the soul of someone with a full classical education, and a guitarist who could make an acoustic sound like a weather system ... deciding that pop songs were basically too small to live in. Fragile is what happens when a gang of weirdos collectively decides that constraints are for people who haven't listened hard enough. It is one of the most arrogant albums ever made. It is also one of the most correct.

YES! One of the albums that introduced me to progressive rock. Even today, I can play the songs from this album back in my head, note for note, without even listening to anything. 5 stars.

Yes always manages to write great songs while still being kind of silly, that's what prog is all about

Masterpiece

Call me nostalgic but I love this album

I had listened to this before, but never with this kind of attention. In the car, beautiful day, countryside, great way to close out an album. Mood for a day and then that bass in Heart of Sunrise. I had never listened to it like that pretty great experience. This album is like an event. Might be one of my favorite albums in general. Time flew by on every listen.

Prog. Masterpiece. Roundabout, south side of the sky, and heart of the sunrise are all like wayyyyyyy up there in all time prog songs. Also this album underratedly sounds fucking AMAZING

I'm amazed that this has come up so soon after its masterly follow up last week, but it just goes to show how on fire they were at the start of the 70s. This album, the first with the classic line up and the first with Rick Wakeman, capitalised on the success of the Yes album (which saw the reactionary hammond player Tony Kaye fired) and is unique for having an individual contribution by each member (cans and Brahms, We have heaven, 5%for nothing, the fish, mood for a day) and four full band pieces. To have your album bookended by 'Roundabout' and 'Heart of the Sunrise' is remarkable. First Roger Dean artwork as well - the stars were well and truly aligning..........

Classic example of some the finest prog rock ever to hit your ears.

Oh hell yes.

Chris Squire is all-time 🔥 This thing is a wild masterpiece. Also, Heart of the Sunrise is the best Yes song.

Prog rock is one of my fav genres, and i love really long rambling ass songs so, yes is for me. plus you can't beat roundabout

Just fantastic. It starts off with incredible energy and pushes that through each and every song. Full of really engaging melodies and countermelodies that shift in and out seamlessly. A joy to listen through

Starts with a banger and keeps that momentum through pretty much the whole album. Somehow, Yes never overstays their welcome even when they’re more or less just noodling. I had fun and I’ll definitely come back to this!

This will be the first album my children will listen for the first time in their lives.

Bello. Angine de potrine hace 50 años. Gracias

Yes yes yes yes yes 5 stars

Tämähän on todella kova progelätty, aloituskappale tuttu meemeistä. Menevää ja pirtsakkaa pääosin, vähän jotain välihölmöilyjä. Eiköhän tämä mene/pysy soittokierrossa, kyllä se takaraivossa ainakin on tallessa.

Top 100 all time album here

really good album. classic rock. I think the first song is widely used in youtube videos of the mileneal era which is funny.

Rotundo sí!

Amazing album but admittedly a little all over the place. With some concept or cohesive theme it would be a masterpiece

I love this album it reminds me of my youth listening to the music of my dad's youth. Obviously they do some weird stuff about Whales at some point but I'll ignore that.

One of the greatest prog albums ever

Yes, yes, and yes. Molly Bloom was so ahead of her time. Joyce would say Viconian history is pretty Roundabout though.

Exceptional and original.

Hard by No

Roundabout!!

What a beautiful album. One of my favourite prog rock bands.

One of the essential prog albums. What else is there to say?

It's giving early Genesis, Queen, Pink Floyd, ELO, and Wings: which means I am very much here for it.

music is love

Rick Wakeman takes a seat behind the keys and I take a seat on the spaceship that is about to rocket me a-roundabout this freakin’ sweet prog rock album. I found it interesting that the first side was all collectively composed and each track on side two were independently composed. That being said, I enjoyed side 1 much more (favorite tracks are Roundabout and Cans and Brahms) Every member shines throughout and deserves credit…. lead vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe (personally Rick and Steve shined brightest, which is hard to state considering the musicianship of all the artists…) Great example of prog rock and a prog band! 4.5

Just a great album, very different to most of what was around in the early 70's.

One of my favorite albums

So good. Thanks dad for the vinyl!

Prog masterpiece. If you don't like this album I'm sorry.

(6 estrellas)

Tons of complex harmonies and cool riffs. Really enjoyed this

Groovy funky very fun. Reminds me of all I love about ELO/Unknown mortal orchestra

One of the great prog rock records, musicianship is off the charts, great songs and superior production.

Always have loved this, I have this on CD from back when I was in High School (a long time ago). Listened to the Steve Wilson mix of this was amazing

אין מה להגיד עם האלבום שלא נאמר כבר - יצירת מופת מההתחלה ועד הסוף. אין לי שיר מועדף כי אני אוהב את כולם

Saw them in concert when they were older but the sound was still there. Great voices and great musicians. I had an album by Rik Wakeman and didn’t realize he was with Yes until years later.

This is a great album. :)

Do I actually attempt to write a nice review for what's basically my favourite band of all time, or do I just give it a 5 and call it a day because I haven't got a clue about how to review music? I swear, they could've made a completely unlistenable mess of an album and I'd still slap a 5 on it just because it's Yes. I don't think I'm the best person for giving well-constructed feedback on this, it's just good. I will say though, there's absolutely no need to be using the nasty deluxe edition album cover, I'm tempted to knock a point off just for that 🤢

One of the best prog-rock albums. One of the best 70's albums. It is amazing! My favorite Yes album. It's the first CD I ever bought. It truly is one of the greatest albums of all time and definitely deserves it's spot on here. It combines heavy, driving riffs with soft piano music. The instrumentation on this album is completely mind-blowing. The lyrics are as well, offering some of the greatest and most touching lyrics of all time. I have a ton of nostalgia associated with this album and it really makes me think back to all of those good times. When I first listened to it I was blown away. When I listen to it for the umpteenth time now, I am still blown away. Roundabout is my favorite Yes song. It was the first Yes song I've ever listened to. Heart of the Sunrise always touches me and makes me think about life. It truly is an amazing album and I cannot stress this enough!

Awesome.

One of the greatest prog albums of all time, with timeless classics on it. A masterpiece! 5/5

High 4. Some wild stuff and some very classically pleasing stuff. Not perfect but a couple incredible tracks

Not the best Yes album (which I consider either Close to the Edge or Relayer) but very fun record nonetheless.

Classic! Probably one of the greatest albums ever made! This is what good music is all about. So much great experimentation with the writing, arranging and recording of these pieces. I hadn’t heard this in ages and it kind of shocked me how great it sounded so many years later. I noticed so much more happening in the mix! The short pieces showcasing each band member are great little interludes to the epic long form songs. I enjoyed this listen so much I’m probably going to have to put this on again soon!

Just a few days ago, The Residents showed me just how bad art rock can be. Today, Yes demonstrate the other end of the spectrum, and you could really say that the whole world lies between “Duck Stab” and “Fragile.” The latter starts with “Roundabout”—perhaps the quintessential Yes song. I find the album’s concept—linking just four “real” songs with short instrumentals—very compelling, by the way. Of course, “Roundabout,” “South Side of the Sky,” “Long Distance Runaround,” and “Heart of the Sunrise” are what most listeners remember, but the other tracks connect them with such virtuosity and dramatic tension that is rarely achievable in a song-by-song format (Abraxas would be the counterexample). And although a different musician takes center stage each time, everything sounds like it comes from a single mold. In this respect, Yes are even playing in a higher league than the Beatles at this point, who simply failed to pull off this feat on their similarly conceived White Album. In my opinion, this is due to the great virtuosity of truly every Yes member—something very few bands can offer.

BUENISIMO ME ENCANTA livianito de escuchar

Progressive rock at its finest.

Overall a really good album. The bass lines are snappy with good tone. Pick style playing over the bridge for a very metallic sound.

Good vibing music for chilling on the bean bag

The quintessential Prog album by the quintessential Prog Rock band. Yes really got into their stride here. Their previous albums were good for sure, but this one reaches far above that. It has the variety you'd expect and long for in Prog. From classic rock staple Roundabout, right into a classicaly inspired piece. The album is also just really well made and produced. I'll never get tired of the Bass on Yes albums.

Это определенно один из знаковых, значимых релизов жанра прогрессивного рока. И неспроста. Очень воздушный, приятный альбом с замечательным вокалом от Джона Андерсона. Понравилось что некоторые большие произведения на альбоме сопровождаются короткими сюитами и, своеобразными, музыкальными зарисовками, вместо того чтобы наваливать 5-6 треков длинной по 15-20 минут, как это делали некоторые из групп этого жанра. Альбом как минимум стоит прослушивания хотя бы из-за Roundabout, который знают многие, но на Fragile и помимо него есть отличные: South Side Of The Sky, Long Distance Runaround и Heart of the Sunrise.

19. Yes - Fragile (1971) Вывод: как сложное может звучать естественно, а кажущееся хрупким выдерживать любые испытания временем. Пять индивидуальностей становятся одним организмом, не теряя лица. Музыкально он строится на чередовании полновесных групповых вещей и коротких сольных фрагментов каждого участника. Симфонический размах с вокалом Джона Андерсона (я обожаю его узнаваемый голос) парит над всем этим, не вступая в борьбу с инструментами, а дополняя их. Обожаемая мною атмосфера ранних 70-х, когда рок впервые задумался о жанровых границах и сочетаниях. Fragile звучит как идеально настроенный механизм, но с яркой энергией. Это достаточно уверенная попытка удержать красоту в мире, где всё стремится к хаосу.

1001 albums bizarre adventures

fuckin CLASSIC front to back? listened a million times already. south side of the sky underrated as hell

One of my favourite prog albums of all time and a clear prog masterpiece this is. Easy 5 stars from me, without too much pondering needed here.

Hard to review this album as I've been listening to it since I was 16 years old. There's quite a bit of nostalgia involved so I may be really biased here but it's one of the best albums out there. But I gotta say this website did help me appreciate this album a bit more. Given that I have one album a day. I really had to pay attention to each song and just enjoy the ride. It gives me classical, experimental while also giving me a sense of futurism that I could never comprehend. It's really an expedition through different genres.

banger absolu surtout l'intro et l'outro

Although this has easily Yes's most popular song on it, I actually find it more disjointed than its surrounding albums, owing to the structure of mostly short solo compositions sandwiched by the group-led prog epics. It's still a 5 though

Yes, yeah even. The full-band songs are taking much of the credit here, but those solo songs add to the experience. It's satisfying to hear We Have Heaven reprise at the end (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

What an amazing album that I know very well. It's interesting how on this album Yes works well as five masterful individuals and as one cohesive group. Liked Songs Added: Roundabout South Side Of The Sky Long Distance Runaround The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) Heart Of The Sunrise

One of the best prog bands of all time. This album is a masterpiece.

Moeilijk, raar, gedurfd, geweldig! Niemand klinkt zoals Yes hier, zelfs Yes zelf.

Really enjoyed it

I love this album!! The harmonies, vocals and keyboards are perfect.

WUGH. happy and bright and nostalgic 10000/10

Ej, this looks familiar! Album, k sm ga v avtu že kar nekajkrat poslušala. Ta začetek z "Roundabout" je fakin amazing. Tko lepo počas, dokler te kar naenkrat ne fukne v najbl hitr kitarski (basovski?) ritem (glih berem, ker nism bla zihr - I guess je to dejansko bas del, v zadnjem verzu zaigran na električno kitaro). "South Side of the Sky" je hud. Prog rock je I guess ful hit or miss za ljudi. Na tem albumu maš skoz vmes kratke komade, k so al variacija na klasiko ("Cans and Brahms"), general weirdness ("Five per Cent for Nothing") ali pa čudovita akustična kitara ("Mood for a Day"). Po pa te 7-12 minutni komadi, k te popeljejo na celo potovanje. And I love it. "Heart of the Sunrise" je insane, sploh prvih neke 4 minut, potem se pa malo umiri. Kinda. Not really. V glavnem, kul.

I found it interesting that a prog-rock album could have moments of whimsy by incorporating folky aspects, perfectly encapsulated by "Mood for a Day". I was completely entranced by the album, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. The groove, weirdness and great composition is undeniably incredible!

Sharp Distance 1001 Albums Generator 238 (3/2/2026) They way that as long as you start and end strong, people will forget if you slumped in the middle? What if you start and end with two of the greatest prog rock songs of all time (and the stuff in the middle aint bad either)? Roundabout is totally a quintessential prog song. It's one of the most famous in the genre, and it showcases a band at the peak of their abilities. From Buford and Squire's insane groove in the verses to Howe's iconic guitar work, especially in the intro, to Wakeman's fun electric piano arpeggios and organ solo, Yes is firing at all cylinders. With that said, my favorite song on Fragile has always been Heart of the Sunrise. Everything that I said about Roundabout still applies, but I think the flow is even better and Jon Anderson's SHARP! DISTANCE! is always stuck in my head. Beyond the bookends, this album is structured really strangely, with lots or short ditties, showcasing that all the members had serious composition chops. South Side of the Sky is the other epic here, and it's great. Long Distance Runaround is a really underrated, gentle track here. I don't have much negative to say about Fragile except that Five Per Cent For Nothing is a little annoying but it's 37 seconds long so I'll allow it. One of my favorite prog albums ever. 5/5. Favs: Roundabout Long Distance Runaround Heart of the Sunrise Least Fav: Five Per Cent For Nothing

Weird but fun. Also, we’ll be right back

Yes. A thousand times, yes.

There's a tendency to say prog rock is endless, purposeless noodling, but I didn't get that impression from this album at all. I thought it was tight and super inventive. I can hear the influences even in post-rock or post-hardcore 20-30 years later. Came out two years after the Who's awful Tommy that I had to sit through two days ago, and sounds light years ahead (I know light years are a measurement of distance). Fav track: The Fish Least fav: Mood for a Day

Yes indeed. Also just want to acknowledge that for a classic British prog rock album, there’re curiously a good deal of Latin rhythms & flavors going on here.

Release the incredible The Yes Album, tour the world, recrute Rick Wakeman, record and release the at least equally incredible Fragile. All in the space of less than a year. As far as a gameplan goes, Yes got it spot on in 1971. Yes, please!

Always fun to listen to a song and be like "Oh that where that meme/trend came from" Anyways, "Roundabout" "We Have Heaven" and "South Side of the Sky" are great, and I enjoyed "Long Distance Runaround" "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" as well.

This album rates this highly for me simply on the strength of Chris Squire's bass on "Roundabout."

Yes is one of my all time favorites so I was pleasantly surprised that this one was chosen.

Certified banger. Amazing bass, fun lyrics just a good time

Wow this ones fantastic- Roundabout is a great opener. The rest of the track list compliments each other in motion. I give this a 4.5 but ill give it a 5 here since there are no half stars

Super leuk en gevarieerd

The series of Yes albums in the 70’s mean so much to me. These are the albums which ignited my love for progressive music and which were at the forefront of the genre. Whilst Fragile is an excellent album it does not quite reach the heights of The Yes Album or perhaps their best ever album Close To The Edge. However the stand out tracks Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise are up there with the very best of Yes and worth the 5 stars alone. 5/5 27/1/26

tijekom: sada sam skontala da je ovo neka Vicina muzika, vec prvu pjesmu Roundabout poznajem i ovo mi je prečudno iskustvo. vidim da neke pjesme traju i po 11 min, cant wait. u roundaboutu je ova gitara PREDOBRA, ovo kao akustično, ja ne znam zašto mi je to toliko poznat zvuk. nažalost sam bila preokupirana učenjem grčkog, no cijeli je album odličan i dobit je 5 zvjezdica, definitivno se planiram vratiti i poslušati opet.

Nothing to really add to the conversation about this album. It’s a classic for a reason. You might be wary of songs longer than a few minutes but honestly, the longer tracks like “Heart Of The Sunrise” will pass faster than you realize. By the way, the “Deluxe Edition” of this album represented by this cover is no longer available on Apple Music, replaced by a Super Deluxe Edition with a fresh remaster of the original mix, a new remix by Stephen Wilson, and some other tracks (including the band’s rearrangement of Simon And Garfunkel’s “America” and the single versions of “Roundabout” and “Long Distance Runaround”).

Wowzers! I've had this thing on repeat all day. The musicianship is bananas. They manage to be so technical without it ever feeling dorky. At least in my book :P I'm a sucker for fanciful, prog, rock opera type stuff, but more groove, soul, dimensions than folks like Rush (❤️). Each instrument is off the hook. Unearthly rhythm section. I'm in love with Jon Anderson's vocals. Sci fi soul ballads. All types of keys. The whole is, dare I say, perfect? Yes! A 20 minute America cover?? YES! I've been under a rock! 🙌

All of us will be the roundabout some day

Great prog rock album. The keys, base and vocals are really nice.

Such a fun album! I loved it, and. I am a very generic Yes fan.

10/10 Great Stuff. I love this album. Got through it all immediately after it was assigned.

Changed my life!

I never thought I’d be a prog rock fan but here we are. Having previously only known Yes for Owner of a Lonely Heart, this was not what expected. The bass on the 8min long (!!) Roundabout absolutely had me in a hold. Ditto for Heart of the Sunrise. Also loved The Fish, South Side of the Sky and Long Distance Runaround. Genuinely listened to this whole album 20 times over the weekend. The pitfalls were some of the filler songs like Cans and Brahms, but I suppose you need some palette cleansers. It was hard to tell when one song started and another ended, which was annoying when I wanted to parse out names of songs, but it generally lulled me into listening to the whole thing on repeat. Given I can’t give this a 4.5, gonna just splurge and give it a 5. Am I a fan now? Yes.

Need to come back to this one!

Strong 4,5

For those of you who don't get this album or refer to it as "dad rock"..... Well, you can listen to the tone-deaf musings of Radiohead while sipping bong water through a non-plastic straw.

I feel like it's a good album to listen to when I want to feel like a teenager again; I feel like it has a rebellious and somewhat villainous touch.

I love prog rock, and this is one of the ultimate classics in the genre. I listened to both the streaming version and the Steven Wilson Mix on Vinyl. There is no doubt, this is a must listen on vinyl kind of album! So classic!

A prog rock classic.

Great album. The first song i recognise from social media

I didn't think that meme came from a masterpiece of an album. There as nothing I didn't love about it.

Roundabout is so iconic and i think it was a great choice to start and end the album with it. I actually preferred the rough mix. So far I would even say this was the most enjoyable listening experience. There wasn't a single second I was bored or didn't like. It's really hard for me to pick my favourite... I also love the huge contrast in track lengths (like a 1:40 song followed by an 8 minute one). I think the juxtaposition adds a lot to both.

Having never heard of Yes before I wasn't really sure what to expect and it took me a while to get into. However, that being said, I did start to enjoy it and will probably go back to listen again now that I know what it's like. I think that the assembly of all of the songs is very clever - each of the instrumental elements complementing each other in a very euphonious way which I would say highlights not only the high level of skill but the precision and attention put into the conception of this album. But, I do have a personal aversion to long songs and this album is full of them, I feel like it gets to a point where each (10 minute) song has turned into a journey in itself which is something I'm looking for more across the entirety of an album and not in a continuous piece of music.

WOW!! Such a strong start, I love funk - may be my favourite genre outside of classic pop, rock etc. Roundabout felt orgasmic. South Side of the Sky amazing, loved it. Heart of the sunrise I love too. Honestly amazing album, outstanding instrumentals.

obviously super good prog yes

Just an all time classic, perfect album. One of our go-tos when have a long drive and aren't sure what to put on. Yes is always a safe bet. It's that perfect midpoint of musically complex and yet approachable. Banger after banger.

I'm glad to revisit this album. Steve Howe is such a unique guitar player and the compositions of these songs are fun to rediscover. I avoided doing so for a long time due to hearing Roundabout way too many times.

No wonder Mr Schneebly shares this album with Mr Cool! 10/10

Perfect

This album changed the way I think about what music could be, the sounds, the structures, everything. After this prog would become one of my favourite genres.

Amazing!

Masterpiece. Even though I'd heard bits of this album, never heard the whole thing. TIL this is 1972. Way ahead of its time, easy 5.

Dad convo

Quite a glorious album, there’s perhaps not a single tracks that are super catchy or stand out too much. But as a whole it has amazing attention to detail and has so many notes but all used so well. Big fan of this album even though im not huge on prog rock.

is that a jojo reference?????

this album by yes is probably their most infamous album. a wide amount of tracks, some smash hits, all members of the band getting their own chances to shine and all sorts of moods channeled throughout its runtime. i mean the first track alone already will get people interested, even with its overplayed status. it really doesn't take a genius to tell you that fragile is an essential listen in the world of progressive rock music. as soon as you press play, you're already gonna feel the energy. it's the kind of music that sounds groovy and carefree, all the guys doing their own fun solos, but the reality is these guys probably meticulously planned every last note out. it's very accessible, but extremely layered and complex. there's a track for every human emotion.

Listening to Yes is like exploring a wonderous alien planet for the first time. Each member is a master of their own instrument, and when put together makes a soundscape unlike anything else. Really pleasing to the ears. Standout Tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise.

Really good bangers!

THAT is how you start a prog album. Holy hell, what a ripper of an album. But it's on rails the entire time! The train is going exactly where they want it to go, at breakneck speed and precision. On top of that, it sacrifices none of the groove. Incredibly ahead of it's time. Bruford is a fucking machine. I mean that figuratively, nobody that plays prog has sex (citing from experience here.)

I love how divisive this kind of thing can be - people will probably either ADORE this record, or they they'll HATE it with every fibre of their being. Personally, I sit comfortably in the former camp. I'm not a big fan of the 'prog' label, but I do love music full of surprising twists and turns - to my ears, this kind of thing is endlessly compelling and it feels like there's something new to discover with each listen. I loved losing myself in this and when it had finished I went on to Relayer and Going for the One before moving on to some Gentle Giant, followed by, naturally, the mighty Cardiacs. Wonderful stuff.

Prog rock from this period were so influential to music that followed that it is impossible to understand modern music without at least a cursory dive into this music. Fragile demonstrates a slightly more accessible and fun sound in comparison with other contemporaries in the genre. The genre-bending experimentation is just as impressive as other contemporaries like Crimson, but Yes’ more melodic songwriting makes albums like Fragile a more relaxed listen. There is great songcraft on display here and outstanding instrumentation from all involved. My 19-year-old son has been encouraging me to revisit prog rock lately. Both classics like Fragile and newer bands who embrace the label. It has been a fun journey. We both listened to this album after it was selected and it generated some interesting discussions. I think this a 4.5* album and I’m starting to think that I’m being too stingy with my 5* ratings. Fun stuff!

So good. Slightly poppier than some yes records maybe - roundabout and heart of the sunrise are just great rock songs. But then there is a steady through line of all that progy goodness and technical displays of real beauty. It's all got great grove too

Yes! The first time I listened to Yes, was when "Owner of a Lonely Heart" became a hit in the early eighties. Years later, when I was on a discovery path into prog- and psychedelic rock, from Pink Floyd to Hawkwind to King Crimson, I came across their seventies albums. And what a discovery it was! Brilliant musicianship, strong melodies, atmospheric, and great song structures, culminating in their greatest albums, "Close to the Edge" and, imho, "Relayer". This is not their masterpiece, but if only for "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise" I would still give it 5/5!

One of the best Prog Rock bands to ever be

The musicianship on display, if nothing else.

Classic Yes, a bit overblown in places a bit pompous in others but that’s what Yes are good at. Exceptional musicians at the top of their game.

This is my favorite of the two I've heard of them, both good. I had no idea the opening song was from Yes so that's a great way to kick the album off. I love the structure of this album. 4 fleshed out songs with unique tidbits filling the space between. The front side of the album was perfect, experimental yet containing catchy melodies. This is up there as my favorite Prog album. Rating: 4.8

I love the harmonies and the genre play. classical prog with 4-part harmony. yes please.

One listen to Roundabout is all I need.

Yes 👑

One of my favorites of prog rock. Diverse, intricate, served as my introduction to the genre. Everybody in the band at the top of their game. Love it.

this album is the reason why I wanted to start this project. it has reignited my passion for music and my drive to learn on a deeper level. every player is just absolutely incredible. great album.

One of the best prog rock albums of all time, I've listened to it multiple times before today. The only song I don't like was "We Have Heaven", but otherwise it's really good. Close to the Edge is still better though.

I had a moment, soon after graduating college, when I hit a wall and lost my taste for Yes, and notably Jon Anderson's vocals, and sold all my Yes CDs. I had heard enough. Well, all these years later, spinning this album was a pleasure. Chris Squire's bass tone is as monstrous as his playing, the compositions are inspired, it's sprawling and concise and epic. Loved it. Even Anderson's vocals. Just the last seconds of "Heart of the Sunrise" started to remind me of the tightening in my chest... and then it was over. Brilliant.

113 Ahora sí po. Había escuchado The Yes Album y le puse un 4 porque sentía que le faltaba algo, y aquí estaba. Lo amé. Definitivamente lo escucharía de nuevo. Es que, Yes po.

Pretty good

Roundabout is amazing, reminds me to Boston first track in the sense that is proggy but memorable at the same time. The album does not feel dull even if it has a lot of interlludes, I don't find them annoying at all. The last song is amazing too and proto heavy, yeah!

Dad says: all time classic. Ok, more grandpa than dad :-D

I love this album! Never heard of them before. Excellent stuff.

Another awesome album I bought new at Tower Records back in the 70’s. An influence of my older brothers, which under normal circumstances, might put me in a pissy mood. Not this time. This one is a beauty, from the iconic Roundabout, to the complex South Side of the Sky and Long Distance Runaround. This one ticks all boxes, and clearly I don’t spin it often enough. Muchos gracias.

Just saw Yes perform this album from start to finish. Just as good today as it was the day it was released.

Quel band!! De bons souvenirs. Encore impressionné de la virtuosité. Heart of the Sunrise c'est du led zep poussé à la sauce prog

Amazing album that holds up well. Top 5 progressive rock bands, top 5 progressive rock albums.

Loved it, perfect prog-rock that flows so smoothly from one track to the next. Incredible opener with Roundabout. Fav tracks: Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, Mood for a Day Saved a song: Y RYM: Y (#297)

Amazing. I love Yes

Awesome

Amazing album, Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise and a solo piece by each member

A masterpiece. One of my very favorite albums as a teen, I’m glad to report that it still holds up. This band is so so tight — Bill Bruford is the best drummer of this era and he and Chris Squire make an amazing rhythm section, which Steve Howe matches and adds to with his precision guitar playing. I love their experimentation with tone poetry and how they pack several ideas into each song. They also break up the mix with diverse efforts, but maintain a consistent identity. A 5.

You thought it was going to be just another regular album, but... it was me, DIO!!! Muda muda muda muda muda muda!!! Za Warudo!!

Perhaps the premiere song-oriented Yes album of their early period, just before they began stretching their wings into prog excess which proved initially brilliant (Close To The Edge) but started to lead to a creative cul-de-sac. There’s some filler here, but the pillar tracks (Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise) are all excellent. This is peak Yes in pre prog-excess form. And its terrific.

isuse, ovo je jebeno. jedino što mi se baš ne sviđa način pjevanja, ne nužno glas sam po sebi :/ al glazbeni dio vrhunski, sve u svemu jebeno, između četvorke i petice i eto petice, neka. slušat ću sigurno još

After hearing the first guitar note, I immediately thought JoJo. Then I heard the bass and my mind was blown. This album is getting added to Discogs. The whole album is very vibe-y and I love it. Favorite songs: Roundabout, Mood For a Day, Heart of the Sunrise

god i love it. steve howe is a classical maestro, bluesy arena shredder, and avant garde jazz player in one dude. gnarly playing all around. the shorter tracks let each guy show his special thing. i love dudes showing off their special things.

Hell yeah prog

Synthesyzer. An instrument that changed music as we know it. This album is one of many hit albums for the group. Historically although they were not the first, they were to the rock world. Were known for their lengthy songs, with a wide spectrum of meaning, and should be called iconic

The whiplash on the first song is why I’m doing this thang

Insert Jojo reference here

Iconic progressive rock and rock wakeman’s debut

Yes is pretty much Prog Rock at its best and this is their least commercial yet accessible release. It’s a fun listen.

This is one of my top 5 albums of all time.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventures Original. Holy guitar licks, this music is very soothing. This is right up my alley. I want to give this album a 4.75/5

Excellent prog album!

Freakishly talented, freakishly whimsical. A collection of oddities and absolute jazz-like prog rock that gets carried away with itself as it sails through tonalities and genres, yet still finds its footing often with ethereal vocals and catchy riffs. Truly impressive and captivating work. This list has really introduced me the the real Yes.

It's peak

I want to hate prog, but I just can't.

Couple big radio hits, important album in Yes's discog.

More tunes from my youth.

Yeah some of the more interlude tracks aren't top-notch. But I enjoyed the album and it's journey as a whole.

4.5/5 - Complex Rock / Smart Rock? - Classically funky - Contains some lovely moments of Classical melody and stylistics - Yes has created a very dreamy record that shakes and shimmies at its loudest and twirls softly at its quietest. - With a good balance all front to back, they never seem to get too clever for their own good.

One of my favourite album covers and one of my favourite albums. Roundabout easily the best song on here, and ultimately up there in their whole discography. Every band members shines, and I like the effectively solo songs they each contribute to break up the album. A cracker

Masterpiece!!

SO GOOD. peak prog rock. i liked how the second track quoted brahms. seemed to draw on religious motifs which was cool and gave the album a very themed feel. “heart of the sunrise” is a GREAT closer. it’s like if pink floyd did their version of “paranoid android”. i love a good all over the place song. 5/5.

The vast majority won't get this! Fantastic musicians playing superb music, far too sophistic for the average punter brought up on the modern pap they call music - "I got together the 100 best composers and arrangers and producers in the world and after a month they had written a song for me" stuff. Music where the video, the the costumes and the dancing are more important than the music stuff. This is the real thing. You may have to listen to it more than once, but it is worth it.

I say yes to Yes.

A monumental prog record that still impresses with every listen. Even with the shorter breaths of air between the longer, more fundamental songs, not a moment feels wasted. Best: Roundabout Worst: Cans and Brahms

Masterpiece! Rick Wakeman's style is present in every key pressing. Roundabout is a masterpiece. This album is in the top 100 of art and progressive rock albums.

Love this album, and always reminds me of dads joke for Christmas. Roundabout of course is great, also Long Distance Runaround

BRILLIANT album, best album I’ve had in weeks. Genuinely can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it. I don’t remember ever listening to Yes before but I will definitely be checking out more of their albums. Top Track - Long Distance Runaround

As soon as you hear the noodling, transcendent bass work on the opening track "Roundabout", you know you're in for a treat, and the quality never dips from therein for me. Quite rightly regarded as a classic, essential prog rock album, Yes would go one better on the following Close to the Edge for my money, but that's not to discredit how vital an album this is. Fragile is absolutely beaming with joy, with each member effortlessly gliding away on their respective instruments and relentlessly leaving you on your toes as to what might follow, courtesy of the freakishly executed erratic rhythms and mind-bending song structures throughout. I couldn't omit the brilliance of the flamenco guitar on "Mood for a Day" either, though, tugging at the heartstrings before the album concludes with an absolute whopper in "Heart of the Sunrise". I don't have this on vinyl, and that seriously needs to change.

Prog was a dirty word to those of us who grew up in the wake of punk. And Yes was the band that would get held up as an example of the self-indulgent and excessive. And usually poor Rick Wakeman in his cape was the pinup to aim that hatred at. But - culture politics in the bin where they belong - prog bands ruled, hacking and slashing genres in bonkers time signatures and strange tunings and dropping elephantine riffs (Heart of the Sunrise!). And this album is particular shows off new organist Wakeman’s incredible virtuosity. I can’t find a fault in it, so it’s a five.

Grandes desarrollos instrumentales. Un disco de 1971

They rock superinfection hard

Classic awesomeness

A good contender against the might of Genesis.

A prog classic, ain’t no doubt. I know and love this album so much.

One of my favorite Yes albums.

Okay! So Nick actually had this album on vinyl and he hadn’t listened to it yet!!! So we listened to it over our speakers and it was actually so good. I really enjoy the layers, I really like the funky 70s vibes. And though it was different, it was still very good. I’m happy I have it on vinyl! And I feel like it’s going to be one I reach for again!

An all-time classic of classic rock. Not much to dispute here; the level of musicianship on display across this carnival-like mind trip of an album is virtually unmatched.

The musical bond on Fragile is anything but, with an egoless back-and-forth between virtuosic group cuts and tight solo explorations that add individual colors to the collective canvas.

Love this era of Yes and this album. Steve Howe was also a big influence on my guitar playing so listening through this again was like a virtual lesson.

A prog rock masterpiece. Of course there's 1-2 tracks you can skip, but there's lots to love – if you like prog rock. And even if the runtimes or time changes aren't your bag, baby, you can appreciate the songwriting, harmonies and guitar SHA-REDDING. I would tell any young guitarist to learn this album front to back. Not only will you learn a ton of techniques and styles, you'll also hear a bunch of pedals and effects to blow all your allowance on. Miscellaneous other thoughts: -I think The Police, Pink Floyd and Rush are probably easier prog bands to get into for someone making their music journey because they're more pop-y. But Yes is still worth checking out -Roundabout – best Yes song? Probably. But more importantly and controversially – best prog rock song ever? I think it's up there, along with the best Pink Floyd or early Genesis tracks. It's got a lot going on. -I probably overrate Yes compared to the average person. But that's only because I was weird enough to ask for the box set for my birthday one year as a youth, then saw them at the NY State Fairgrounds. But hey, they still sounded great 40 years after they formed, so that says something about their talent -If you didn't like this one, just be glad they didn't pick one of the hourlong Yes albums with only 3 songs on it!

YES! Always been a big Yes fan and tho there is some filler, Roundabout is a masterpiece. Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise are great songs as well. Jon Anderson's voice sounds great, Rick Wakeman a wizard on the keyboards. Yes sir I'll have another.

One of the few progressive rock albums that actually has a sense of genuine to it, a sense of human. It's not edgy just for the sake of being edgy, it's not full of bs music theory that requires a certain level of insane mental tolerance to actually understand (sorry Dream Theater), and not existing primarily to mean nothing. And im all here for it 5 stars

Yes!!!

very hood

Roundabout is peak, that is all

Pretty fun album. Underrated imo. My first time hearing the work of Yes, so I'll be delighted to hear more here.

Masterpiece of prog eccentricity. Dynamic, weird, and beautiful all at once, there's something for everyone in this remarkable, fun record

YES, at its best which means progressive rock at its finest which means music from the 20th century at its best which means buy, borrow or steal this album ASAP you need to hear it sometime before you leave the planet. Headphones are not required but strongly encouraged!

q de puta madre este disco, locuron, me flipa. LOS ARMONICOOOOS, EL BAJOOOO, AAAAAA

I am a proud prog nerd so I gotta talk a little bit about this absolute masterpiece. Even after more than 50 years, this album is still icojic and still sooo good. The intro and first bassline kickoff became very famous over last years and I am very glad, but unfortunate thing that very little of the people that know Roundabout from a meme actually know what is that genius music they're hearing. Fragile, just like In The Court Of The Crimson King, is one of the most important and essential albums of the genre, it helped to define it. Fragile is beautiful, energetic, but still has its mellow, but positive moments, the instrumental is ahead of its time, just a gorgeous record from start to finish. I also recommend people check out new Steven Wilson's remix of this album 'cause it's very good. So, my prog enthusiast heart adores Fragile, it's what I seek in music.

This was an actual experience.

## In-Depth Review of *Fragile* by Yes *Fragile*, released in 1971, stands as a cornerstone of progressive rock and a defining moment in Yes’s career. The album is notable for its ambitious musical architecture, inventive production, and the synergy of its classic lineup: Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Bill Bruford (drums), and Rick Wakeman (keyboards)[3][4]. This review examines the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Impressionistic and Thematic Depth** Jon Anderson’s lyrics on *Fragile* are renowned for their impressionistic, often abstract quality. Rather than telling straightforward stories, Anderson crafts poetic images that evoke emotion and philosophical reflection. - “South Side of the Sky” explores humanity’s struggle against death, using the metaphor of a perilous journey across icy landscapes. The lyrics are dark and atmospheric, countering the misconception that Yes’s music is merely whimsical or escapist[1]. - “Heart of the Sunrise” juxtaposes the overwhelming power of nature (“the power of the sunrise”) with feelings of alienation in the urban environment, reflecting on the search for meaning and belonging[1][3]. - “Roundabout,” the album’s most famous track, employs surreal imagery inspired by the band’s travels, blending landscape with introspective musings. The lyrics are cryptic, but the song’s recurring motifs of movement and journeying resonate with listeners[2][3]. Solo tracks like “We Have Heaven” (Anderson’s multi-tracked vocals) and “The Fish” (Squire’s bass-driven soundscape) use minimal lyrics or wordless vocals, focusing instead on mood and musical texture[2][3]. **Pros:** - Evocative and open to interpretation, allowing listeners to find personal meaning. - Themes of struggle, transcendence, and wonder are universal. **Cons:** - The abstract nature of the lyrics can feel impenetrable or pretentious to some listeners. - Occasional lack of narrative cohesion. --- ## Music **Virtuosity and Innovation** *Fragile* is a showcase of instrumental virtuosity and compositional daring. The band’s interplay is tight, intricate, and dynamic, with each member contributing both as an ensemble player and as a soloist. - “Roundabout” opens with a classical guitar riff before expanding into a complex suite featuring Moog synthesizer, harpsichord, electric and acoustic guitars, and layered vocals. The arrangement is ambitious but remains melodic and accessible[2][4]. - “South Side of the Sky” features angular guitar riffs, shifting time signatures, and a haunting piano/vocal interlude, demonstrating the band’s ability to merge rock energy with classical sophistication[1][3]. - “Heart of the Sunrise” is the album’s technical and emotional peak, with rapid-fire unison riffs (inspired by King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man”), dynamic contrasts, and a soaring vocal performance. Bill Bruford’s drumming and Chris Squire’s bass work are particularly inventive, driving the song through complex rhythmic terrain[1][3]. - The solo tracks are miniatures highlighting each member’s strengths: - “Cans and Brahms” (Wakeman) is a playful adaptation of Brahms, using a variety of keyboard timbres[2][3]. - “We Have Heaven” (Anderson) layers multiple vocal lines in a polyphonic web. - “Five Per Cent for Nothing” (Bruford) is a brief, rhythmically complex percussion piece. - “The Fish” (Squire) creates a “symphony of bass guitars,” exploring the instrument’s full range[2][3]. - “Mood for a Day” (Howe) is a solo classical guitar piece, warm and technically impressive. **Pros:** - Dazzling musicianship and innovative arrangements. - Balance between group compositions and individual showcases. - Seamless integration of rock, classical, and jazz influences. **Cons:** - The solo pieces, while interesting, can disrupt the album’s flow and feel like filler to some listeners[2]. - Complexity may alienate listeners seeking straightforward rock. --- ## Production **Clarity and Ambition** Produced by Yes and Eddy Offord, *Fragile* is notable for its clarity and adventurous studio techniques. The production is clean, with each instrument occupying its own space, yet the overall sound is lush and immersive. - The use of overdubbing, particularly on Wakeman’s keyboards and Anderson’s vocals, creates a rich, layered texture[2][3]. - The album’s sequencing alternates between full-band epics and solo interludes, maintaining listener interest and showcasing the group’s range. - Roger Dean’s iconic cover art complements the music’s fantastical and exploratory spirit, becoming synonymous with the band’s identity[3]. **Pros:** - High-fidelity sound that highlights instrumental detail. - Creative use of studio technology for the era. - Cohesive sonic identity despite diverse material. **Cons:** - Some solo tracks feel underdeveloped or experimental compared to the main songs. - The album’s ambitious scope occasionally leads to uneven pacing. --- ## Themes **Exploration, Struggle, and Transcendence** *Fragile*’s themes are rooted in exploration—both musical and existential. The album’s lyrics and music reflect: - The struggle against adversity (“South Side of the Sky”). - The search for meaning in a confusing world (“Heart of the Sunrise”). - The joy of discovery and the beauty of the natural world (“Roundabout”). - Individual expression within a collective context (the solo tracks). The album’s title itself suggests both the vulnerability and the resilience of the creative process and human experience[5]. --- ## Influence *Fragile* was a breakthrough for Yes, propelling them to international fame and solidifying their place in the progressive rock pantheon. - The album reached the Top 10 in both the UK and US, with “Roundabout” becoming a radio staple[1][3][4]. - Its blend of technical mastery, adventurous composition, and accessible melodies influenced countless progressive and non-progressive acts. - The album’s structure—alternating group and solo pieces—was innovative and inspired other bands to experiment with album formats. - Roger Dean’s cover art became a visual template for progressive rock aesthetics[3]. *Fragile* is often cited alongside King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer as a foundational work of the genre, helping to define the sound and ambition of 1970s progressive rock[4]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Exceptional musicianship and interplay | Solo tracks can feel like filler or disrupt flow | | Innovative arrangements and production | Abstract lyrics may alienate some listeners | | Iconic cover art and visual identity | Occasional pretentiousness in concept and execution | | Balance of accessibility (“Roundabout”) and complexity | Uneven pacing due to alternating track types | | Groundbreaking influence on progressive rock | Not all experiments fully succeed | --- ## Conclusion *Fragile* remains a landmark album in the history of rock music—a bold statement of artistic intent and technical prowess. Its blend of group epics and individual showcases, poetic lyrics, and innovative production have ensured its enduring legacy. While its ambition occasionally leads to unevenness, the album’s highlights—“Roundabout,” “South Side of the Sky,” and “Heart of the Sunrise”—are among the most compelling in the progressive rock canon. For both longtime fans and newcomers, *Fragile* offers a journey that is as rewarding as it is challenging, a testament to the enduring power of creative risk-taking.

Time signature and note buffet with the occasional studio trickery is all ryan bait. Brufford and Squire are my all-time favourite backbeat duo. Howe's slithery fingers dazzle and punch out guitar accents alongside Wakeman's wizardry, likely the greatest rock keyboardist, are a treat throughout. Anderson's vocals are pristine... and then you throw Squire's harmonies on top of that. Glorious. This is one of those 'if I had one album on an island' type of records. Absolutely love.

Great Progressive Rock band and album. Probably in my personal top 100.

Yes! Goed album, soms een rare verhouding in lengte van de nummers, maar wel echt goede muziek

5 mil estrelas

I love this album!

One of my all time faves... brilliant musicianship... great songs... fantastic album from start to finish... a masterpiece.

5/5 its great

This was really good, I was so excited to see more Yes on the list.

Classic. The first vinyl record i ever bought.

One of my favorite prog albums.

I know this one! My dad is a big fan of Yes and had most of their catalog on CD. Definitely remember this one though it's been a while since I've done a full listen. Some of my favorite Yes songs are in here like Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, and Heart Of The Sunrise. Forgot how much The Fish jams. The other songs are fine, though admittedly not super special or memorable. This is going to be a 5 for me, but on the lower end of the 5 spectrum.

Among the prog powerhouses, Yes is certainly in the top tier right alongside King Crimson. They are always good, and when they are great, they are untouchable. This album is in that latter category and Yes repeatedly makes a case for inclusion of prog into mainstream rock without diluting the brand. Roundabout kicks things off with a propulsive bassline and some of the finest organ soloing this side of the Mississippi. I think this was among the earliest songs that helped me realize a personal proclivity towards music with strong, forward basslines. Cans and Brahms is a quirky segue into classical cannon. Weird, but its par for the course with Yes. We Have Heaven is more a transitory piece than anything else. An experimentation in vocal layering that gives way to silence before bleeding over to South Side of the Sky -- one of my favorite non-singles here. Absolutely love the tension in the instrumental and proggy composition with dramatic internal shifts in tempo and style. Long Distance Runaround is another standout here. Much brighter in tone than the rest so far, but plenty of bass to sink your teeth into. Just a fantastic little ditty. The Fish is a wonderfully crusty sounding open jam of a piece. Then there is Mood for a Day, a stripped back bit of clean flamenco guitar strutting. The album rounds on Heart of Sunshine, which has drums and a soul that remind me of KC's Larks Tongues. Love this song. Great all around album. Soft 5 / 5 for me.

I’m not a huge Yes fan but this one is really cool, peak Yes. A landmark of prog rock.

This is cool as hell. I feel that this has a very diverse sound such that it consistently demands your attention without becoming a chore. In the best way possible, large parts of this reminds me of the most enchanting video game background music ever, like a Sonic stage on acid or something. Best of all, there's no pretence that any of these lyrics really mean anything, so you never get the grating pretentiousness you might otherwise expect from such an eccentric album. Maybe there's one or two tracks I could do without, but that won't stop me from giving this a 5*.

Perfection. I loved it. Especially the longer tracks like roundabout and the last one on the album being 11:30 min.

One of the prog greats. I prefer Close to the Edge but Fragile is a solid second place. I like how the sides are split between group and solo contributions. The solo ones are stripped down but not lacking in spite of that.

Отличный альбом. Помимо песни из мема "to be continued", которая сама по себе очень хороша и представляет из себя сложный восьмиминутный басо-гитарный запил со сложной мелодичной структурой, тут есть небольшой психоделический вальс и несколько абсолютно отбитых (в хорош смысле) с точки зрения музыкальной сложности и структуры песен. Слушаешь это и понимаешь где черпали вдохновение гиззы и прочие тейм импалы. Это база и основа, слушать всем!

This whole thing is epic Like a rock symphony Would be so cool live

Great. Roundabout justifys the entire album

Ok, so, Yes is one of my favorite bands. This is not my favorite Yes album. A lot of the shorter songs are pretty forgettable. But the majority of this album is so good!! It’s Prog, so this is either going to be the best thing you’ve ever heard or a complete waste of your time. For me, it’s the prior. Having the JoJo meme song also really helps, especially because it’s just genuinely one of the best songs ever. Past that, “South Side of the Sky”, “Heart of the Sunrise” and “America” are all 5/5 songs. I desperately want to give this 5 stars, as I’ve just listed like 80% of the album. I just might. You know what? Yes.

Good ol' nerdy prog. This album has a pretty good balance of nerd rock, mainstream sounds, and classic prog sounding stuff. These are talented musicians for sure and I think it's cool that they could make a pretty technical album that could appeal more to the mainstream. I liked this more and more as the album went on.

Wow. What a record. To me, this album is really defined by the book ends. Roundabout is incredible. Such a classic. The whole journey of that song. Its like a prog jazz rock opera and I'm all here for it. The keys are the winner in this song. Every song after is good, interesting, obscure and enjoyable. Its easy to groove and flow with it, but I also get somewhat lost or distracted. But then Heart of Sunrise pulls you back in, making this album feel more like 4.5 then a 4. I'm all in, I'm jamming, I'm having fun. But then.... America. And holy shit this cover is insane. Mind blowing. I had this on all of my downstairs speakers and was just shredding with this cover. And it just gets better the longer it goes. Its perfect. So that bumps this album to a 5 for me.

This was super cool. I wasn’t sure it would be my cup of tea when it started with and 8 and a half minute song but it was great. The bass is immaculate on this. The songs alternate tempos and dynamics really well, there isn’t constant lyrics which allows the instrumental parts to shine really well. Overall just sounded really, really good.

Finns int mycke bättre

Jakby było samo Roundabout to mocne 5. A dodali do tego idealny album. GOAT/5

Absolute goated album, been one of my faves since high school. Like others have mentioned, front to back I don't think this is their best album. yet another dad rock album on this list

I may be biased because I love Yes, but man what an album. Everything feels so beautifully crafted and purposeful, even the somewhat sillier moments. There's moments on this album, not only because they're explicitly inspired by classical music, but feel as well put together and earnest as classical music. I don't know what else I can say, just listen to it and give in not only to the calm but the chaotic moments. Favorite tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, Mood for a Day, Heart of the Sunrise 5/5

While not my favorite album by Yes, it is still a prog rock statement. It could have done without "Cans and Brahms" which was a great vehicle for Rick Wakeman to show off his considerable musical chops. "South Side of the Sky" and "Heart of the Sunrise" are epic. Always a favorite.

YES!!!! Roundabout is almost enough to make this a 5 star album by itself. South Side Of The Sky is another banger track. Long Distance Runaround feels pretty applicable to me today. Mood for a Day is really soothing. Heart Of The Sunrise is not my favorite but not enough to keep me from 5 stars on this one.

Les virtuoses du prog. Yes maîtrise tout le vocabulaire du prog anglais des années 1970: si, dans certains passages, ils sont capables de sonner comme Gentle Giant, King Crimson ou Genesis, jamais ces autres groupes ne sonnent comme Yes.

Musique de vaisseau spatial avec des lumières qui clignotent partout. Les contributions solo sont cools; les pièces en band torchent toute. Bruford est mon drummer calme préféré. J'y donnerais 4.5 mais faut arrondir.

Großartiges Album! Richtig episch teilweise! Ich fand jeden Song super. Favorit wahrscheinlich „South Side of the Sky“ und „Roundabout“, aber eigentlich war jeder Song gut. Auch teilweise so viel progressive Klänge: Klassik-, und Metalelemente. Ich bin begeistert 6/5.

5 - prog at its best

While this may not be the band's most thematically consistent album, I think it is really the peak of the band's playing as a whole: every member is so completely locked in here, the band sounds so tight and in sync. They rock much harder and get way funkier on this album than any of their later, more whimsical ones. Just unbelievably good playing from all the members, they're all playing at peak level, and on a far higher level than most of the rock bands of their time. It's impressive to hear an album that goes so hard, while also maintaining this high of a level of sophistication. Say what you will about Yes' artsy, fairy, spacey tendencies, but the band could TRULY rock as well or better than the best of the best bands, as showcased here. I adore Close to the Edge, but I think the mixing and sound quality is far better on this album. The instruments all sound so clear and present.

Wow! I knew the first song because of radio play, but I was amazed at the other tracks. I love the classical influences, the wackier sounds on some, such variety. Great musicians. I think there was only one track I wasn't blown away by.

mengmol het s 17jöhrige ich musiggschmack gha. roundabout isch soooo geil. icj denk soo oft a de song aber losen fast nie. IN AND AROOOUND THE LAKE. so viel teil und hooks aaaah. wie hends die orgle so schnell gspielt? würkli die ganz ziit aah de teil gits au no so viel hooks. hammer. picarrrrdiscjer schluss geil. haha cans and brahms isches actually brahms? ok jo 4. sinfonie. we have heaven isch afoch ei idee meh oder weniger und mega verschachtlet findi au easy geil. south side of the sky wieder mega lang und etz gad riese piano interlude. aber s tönt immerno mega noch yes irgendwie. nooooh wie s schlagzüg wieder inechunt aaaalte. und de steve howe cha gitarre spiele fuuuuuuck. five cent per nothing au wieder churz und jo da wärs mega geil mue nöd länger sii. long distance runaround suuuuper geili riffs lieb wie de bass und giti sich doppled. hammer song. mood for a day au hammer de steve how isch insane ade akustische. heart of the sunrise wieder riff central aber crazy schöni chords ufem synthi drüber. und de anderson cha siii ge holy shit. uuuh lieb de chli epilog mit wieder we have heaven. FÜFI.

For Fragile: Not much of a music person, so cool to learn some songs I had heard before names and who sang. Not normally something I listen to. Reminded me of The Wall Pink Floyd, some short songs part of greater album stuff going on... Pretty good For Blonde On Blonde (forgot to leave notes): Another of those everything sounded the same. Good music, he had some harmonica in there which Grant likes, so I went with a 3.

Shout out to Julesy (Dad) for playing this one to me constantly as a kid! Had to repeat Roundabout. Also really enjoyed Mood for a Day

This is a masterpiece, it still hits as hard as the first time I heard it. Just amazing compositions

Good album. Progressive rock is something I have liked for years. Great sound.

Very interesting. My favorite band in the world is phish. It's fun to listen to these bands from the past and hear things that a the bedrock of the phish sound. This album is cool as hell.

liked songs: all of them This is up there as one of my favorite albums of all time. For me, this is the pinnacle of early progressive rock; it's a fantastic show of musicianship with excellent variety between songs. The highlights are, obviously, Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, and Heart of the Sunrise. However, everything that comes in between (even the goofy Five per Cent for Nothing) is also fantastic. As widely varied as the individual compositions are, they hold the highlight tracks together perfectly. It also goes without saying that each band member is at the absolute top of their game on this album. Since this is the deluxe version of the album, I can also say this: the Yes cover of America is a thousand times better than the original. 5

Prog masterpiece- such groove and hooks. Phenomenal bass playing.

Great album. In my opinion, Yes's peak. They're actually five solo songs one for each member interspersed with a group songs, but the group songs are stunning, most notably perhaps their greatest song Roundabout. Each of the five members is at the top of their game.Highly recommended.

I love this silly shit.

Prog perfection 👏

Ah. An old friend. One of my favorites.

I don't always Jive with Prog Rock or Yes, but Fragile is a perfect album.

Just fantastic stuff. Second time listening to this. So great.

Very soul filled

Brilliant album - one of their best.

Yes is right.

OH! THAT’S where THAT sound effect is from! Album is worth it 5 out of 5 for that alone, my mouth dropped hearing it on Roundabout (which is also a great, funky head boppy sound even if you don’t recognize the sound effect). Puts you in a cheery mood.

really fun album

i love the pure sonic experiences of early prog rock albums. magic

must be italian

Oh BABY. I've been on a huge Yes kick lately and have already listened to this album several times lately. Such an absolutely great album. Listening to the Steven Wilson remixes for this listen through. The talent of every member of the band is seriously absurd. I would say this probably isn't my top Yes album but man it is so god damn good.

Surprisingly good. 5 stars tho because it starts with Roundabout

"Fragile" is a great but unusual album in the discography of Yes. People find it sometimes disconnected because of the shorter, experimental songs that seem demos or solo works. And I understand that. 'Cans and Brahms' is really a bit pointless. But: The big songs like 'Roundabout', 'South Sie of the Sky', 'Long Distance Runaround' and especially 'Heart of the Sunrise' are some of the best works Yes ever created! In this respect, Yes newbies should listen to those songs and try to ignore the smaller bits to embrace the masterpieces of one of the defining prog rock bands.

This was fantastic. It will make it into my album collection

Just simply immaculate prog rock from some of the best in the game to do it. 5.5 if it was available.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’m gonna round up to a 5. The only reason I’m not at a flat 5 is simply because of the shorter tracks here – I get that they’re meant to be solo tracks, made as partial filler and a partial showcase of their individual talents, but they don’t have a really cohesive bend to them that makes the concept work – those tracks are no Speakerboxx / The Love Below, to put it one way. There are great tracks within those solo tracks though – Long Distance Runaround is a treat, and for some reason, Mood for a Day really fucking clicked with me. The rest are just sort of there, though. The main tracks on this album, which I would consider to be Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, & Heart of the Sunrise are all spectacular, and they’re the reason this gets a bump up to a 5. Roundabout is obviously the huge one, and I loved hearing it again, but I genuinely preferred South Side of the Sky more in terms of the storytelling, sound design, and atmosphere. Heart of the Sunrise is the longest one, and the most “epic” but the reprise of “We Have Heaven” closing out the album feels like a really staggering mistake to me. The track listing in general didn’t feel as coherent as the stuff on “The Yes Album”. I guess now’s a good time to point out the near-bookending of all this – we did get their last album on January 5th, and it’s now November 18th. That’s 10 months; I have heard so much fucking music this year, that this didn’t quite blow me away in the same way as The Yes Album did, but that’s less a fault of the album and more a consequence of going through this project, and just hearing so much music. It’s still great prog rock, it’s a great Yes album, and I really hope there’s more – it’s a pretty enjoyable 40 minutes, even with a few flat spots in there. It deserves to be bumped up to a 5, and everyone in the world should hear the main 3 tracks on this album at least once.

Ich fand bisher YES uberschätzt. Und jetzt höre ich zum ersten Mal FRAGILE und finde es unsagbar gut.

Should pray for them🤘🏻

While Roundabout is one of my favourite Yes tracks, I feel as if Fragile falls into the same category as Closer to the Edge for me. The records are brilliant and deserve the hype, but I am curious how they became the quintessential Yes albums. The way I see it, their strengt is the combination of complex prog forms and beautiful melodicism with a hard hitting energetic sound. While this comes through. And while both of these albums have loads of that, so does Time and Word, The Yes Album and their later 70s stuff. I even love Yes post 90125, while it is a very different band. This comment is not so much to hate on the two records in question, but to ask why the other albums don't get as much hype when I would say they are at a possibly even higher artistic level. But yeah, 5 stars!

Wonderful album. Been a fan since my friend Randy Kolb introduced them to me in the 70s. Saw them at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, March 21, 1972. Great album!

I have been familiar with "Roundabout" for a long time and, though it is still my favorite track on the album, the rest of the album does not disappoint.

Helped on along drive

Volvemos al reto éste miércoles con Yes, una de las bandas progresivas clásicas que en mi momento de mayor curiosidad por el género escuché y que no me encantó como otras pero siempre aprecié. Siento que es porque siempre fue una banda de virtuosos que buscaron sonidos limpios y luminosos y la oscuridad es lo mío: por eso mi favoritismo por King Crimson, los primeros discos de Rush o las búsquedas sonoras de Pink Floyd. El disco arranca con un bajo criminal, que es lo que siempre me flipó de Yes: todos eran/son musicazos, pero Chris Squire siempre fue un bestia. Mención especial para el ingreso de Wakeman en los teclados: un adelantado a su época. Lleno de temazos, es una gran elección para éste reto. Hasta mañana.

This was great!

Intricate and elaborate, but also oddly emotional. Long orchestral pieces and short interludes, and continued surprises, even though I’ve heard this record many times. I don’t think anyone quite makes music like this anymore, at least not ironically, but to me it still sounds energetic and fresh.

So sick. Such obvious talent.

I had this album long ago. I loved hearing these songs again.

Extraordinary. The obvious - the musicianship, the synchronicity between mates, and the immensely creative song structures. But what makes this album great is what makes any album of songs great - emotional impact; and emotional impact comes from the use of harmonic structure and, most importantly, strength of melody. What's so amazing about this album is that there are often three and sometimes four counterpoint melodic ideas going on simultaneously and most of them are really strong. There are more strong melodic ideas in many of these individual songs than there are in most modern albums. And the complex harmonic progressions SERVE the emotional impact of the songs, rather than just show off an understanding of harmony and a capacity for complex ideas. Yes, these guys are all exceptionally learned, technically proficient and clever. But the album is great because the musicality is primary; and the cleverness and complexity are always employed in service of its pursuit.

I love this album. I was actually getting paranoid that it somehow didn't make the list. I have many fond memories of listening to this record, particularly on vinyl. There are certainly some imperfections so to speak when it comes to this album. Not all of of the "individual spotlight" songs truly hit but I do feel that Mood For A Day is a amazing instrumental; it always has and continues to make me feel emotions every time that I hear it. The "real songs" are all very good. I do think Roundabout might be a bit overrated but Heart of The Sunrise always moves me. I just love the music and the vocal performance is just amazing to my ears. I will always love that song. It has a few flaws that I can overlook because the strength of what works is just so so good. A no trainer 5 for me.

i was mostly expecting "Roundabout" to be the most fun track on here, but as it turns out, almost every track on the album is fun or bright in a way that i wasn't really expecting from how people regard the band Yes. you expect a big, stodgy, self-important piece of rock (and of course there are important, abstract themes of nature and emotion tackled on here) but on each track there's always a joyful little vocal harmony or a funky little bass part hidden in every corner of this ecosystem. i think there's really only one misstep and it's the weird moogy cover of Symphony in E that took 15 hours to record somehow? outside of that, it's kind of no surprise that Yes turned into 80's Trevor Horn pop the next decade. Yes could do whatever they wanted, but they do melody the best.

90% Best: Roundabout; South Side of the Sky; Heart of the Sunrise Must-Hear?: Yes

Amazing cult classic