Fragile

I’ve recently described Roundabout as one of my favourite songs ever so with that and Heart of the Sunrise and all of the other weird songs in between, this surely has to be one of my favourite albums.

Superb

Perfect

Love me some Yes!

Bass tone on Roundabout puts this at 4.5+

Self-indulgent musical masturbation and I'm completely here for it. Brilliant.

JOJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

One of my heros! Highly recommended

I wanted to listen to this album for a while after getting the Yes Album and it didn't disappoint. Everything in Fragile is so good and even better than the previous album. It feels like they got it down with amazing guitar solos, great drums, and well crafted songs. I also like after most major songs they have instrumental interludes which add to the overall experience of listening to the album. Really just Yes at their peak! Favorite songs: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise, America

Whoa

This one's an all timer for me. I got this album because I had a guitar magazine that had the bass tab for Long Distance Runaround in it. It was a lot of fun to play. Chris Squire was a killer player. That fat punchy sound of a Rickenbacker played with a pick, it cuts right through the mix. Excellent album. 5 stars all day.

I thought ok another 1 good song then trash, but this album was actually pretty good!

In my opinion the best line up. Wakeman & Bruford.

Nerd Wizard Rock that I *definitely* asked for

yes

An easy 5 stars for one or my long time favorite albums, though it can be hard to hear it with fresh ears. It strikes me as music that was precision engineered to be loved by dorky music majors in the seventies. Maybe I feel that was because that perfectly describes my dad, who introduced it to me, but I bet the pattern holds. Beyond delivering some absolutely killer bass lines, what this album does so well is layer wild musical complexity while staying approachable and catchy.

People on here hating real music that makes you happy for some reason. 5 stars always for one of my favorites. Not even bill Bruford's best work and it's still objectively better than anything - anything - released after 1999.

Didn't want it to end

The 4 main songs are amazing, the solo stuff adds some charm, works well in-between the longer prog epics

Did I like this? Yes

My Journalism teacher in high school introduced us to this album which introduced me to prog. Next thing you know Jethro Tull and Moody Blues are in heavy rotation on my turntable.

Pump that weird shit into my veins, I love it.

Love it

Love this album. I may pull out my LP copy and listen to it again tomorrow.

Turns out I like Yes.

Yes

Awesome period end of sentence!

One of my favorite albums of ALL time!! Loved it!! Love it a million times over!!

I don’t know why, but I love Yes. This is the 2nd album I’ve gotten from them, and I just love it. Not as noodly as a lot of other prog rock which helps.

Although very much built around two songs (Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise), three if you want to include Long Distance Runaround, the fact of the matter is that Yes' Fragile as a whole is one of the most important albums in not just progressive rock but in rock itself. The album being named Fragile seems intentional, for it belied the epic magnitude of the music contained within it as it nods (at times) to classical and would often foretell genres that would upend prog itself in coming years. Fragile's intrepid nature is something that makes it worth revisiting upon first or many more listens, whether it is the first minute of Roundabout, the throttling bassline of Heart of the Sunrise or the charming South Side of the Sky. Although it was made in 1971, it is music made for 2071.

Such an iconic album. What else can be said about it? I loved it.

The run Yes went on in the early 70s is absolutely unreal. The Yes Album, this, Close To The Edge, and I would also throw Tales From Topographic Oceans in there, is an incredible run of incredible records. Giving this a listen today really confirms Fragile as their masterpiece. Such an accessible easy listen for how complex of a record it is. Every member of the group is firing on all cylinders. The versatility of new keyboardist Rick Wakeman and guitar superhuman Steve Howe are the standouts for me, although Jon Anderson is also turning in a great vocal performance throughout which ties things together very effectively. This gets dogged on for the shorter solo tracks, but I feel save for Cans & Brahms and Five Percent For Nothing they work very well and stand on their own as enjoyable listens. In short, masterpiece? Probably. This rips, and I’d be hard pressed to find better bookends in Prog than opening with Roundabout and closing with Heart Of The Sunrise.

YESSS

JOJO REFERENCE 😮😮😮

Yes. 10/10.

This album was so good. Their use of piano and keyboards hits all the right marks. The ethereal voices. Loved giving it a new listen.

This album is one of the towering achievements of prog rock. The music is huge, emotional, and soaring, with unbelievable musicianship. Yes, there are some pretentious tracks, but that's the price you had to pay for such brilliance. I was a little kid when it came out, but it was very much in the soundtrack of life for decades after. Hearing Heart of the Sunrise again nearly tore me up. So, so, so many feels. If you don't know this music, this is the one to just sit and listen to with headphones and let it wash over you. A powerful masterpiece.

Classic Prog at it's finest. Roundabout has to be top 5 songs over 8 minutes ever recorded. Heart of the Sunrise would also be on a best-of list as well. Lots of really great, wacky, prog staples in here that went on to undoubtedly influence thousands of bands to this day. Long live prog!!!

Have you ever heard a song kick ass so hard, it makes you wonder how a song could kick so much ass? ...But at the same time still suck a little bit? A song that goes on so long that it's quite possibly the last song you will ever listen to before you expire. The kind of music that drives your girlfriend to the brink of insanity. Well my friend... that's prog rock. 5/5 no notes. fantastic album

Amazing musicianship all around!

One of my favorite albums by one of my newer favorite bands. So well written and playful at the same time. Beautiful work of art

This album goes to 11.

Ein Meilenstein des ProgRocks. Das Nachfolgealbum Close To The Edge kriegt dann 6 Sterne

This is basically three of the best prog songs ever written with some appetizers spread in between. 'Heart of the Sunrise' might be my favorite vocal recording of all time. Their cover of 'America' included on the CD version is also glorious.

Yes wrote and recorded a few of the greatest progressive rock tracks of all time and the decided to let every member goof around due to budget and time restrictions. Legendary. Bruford’s drumming on “Heart of the Sunrise” is phenomenal and the introduction of the wizard on keyboards doesn’t exactly hurt either.

ta buenisimoooooooo

LOL its this meme song Pretty chill unexpectedly 5/5

One of my favorite moments with my mom is when we were driving to dinner and “Roundabout” came on the radio. I cranked up the volume and said, “I love Roundabout!” My mom was vibing too but then paused and said, “wait, how do you know Roundabout?” It came out when she was in high school, and I discovered it when I was in high school. Funny how life comes full circle. I love Yes.

genius

classic prog rock! Long Distance Runaround is Yes at their best.

Fanominal, would be high on my vinyl list if the cover art was better but it was 1971🤷🏽‍♂️ favorite album of the list so far after court of the crimson king easy 5

One of my favorite albums

These are great songs and every part serves the album and I am not a big prog guy.

Favorite album so far. Not my favorite yes album, but it’s up there. Heart of the sunrise is great.

What a great sound they produce . Classified as progressive rock (due to the odd time signatures?) the band is one of the classics of the progressive rock movement. And Jon Anderson's voice is a unique masterpiece.

Completamente progresivo. No es el tipo de album que escucharía muy seguido, pero es una gran obra.

In the upper echelon of albums ever created. Absolute peak prog rock.

Over the top musical and lyrical goodness. This album sets such a high bar for accessible prog rock.

Wat een fijne start met Roundabout. Ik weet niet of ik de volledige versie wel eens had gehoord. Het nummer laat de veelzijdigheid van Yes horen. Het is wat dat betreft representatief voor het album. Ook laat het alvast horen dat er goed nagedacht wordt over de compositie en dat Yes soms wel veel door elkaar laat horen, soms complexiteit biedt en soms bijzondere overgangen heeft. Maar dat het toch telkens heel makkelijk luistert. Het album is dan ook een ware luisterbeleving. Van een repeterend nummer als We Have Heaven naar prettig getokkel op de gitaar in Mood for a Day. Op zichzelf is niet elk nummer 5 sterren waard. Ik zou normaal niet snel een nummer aanzetten dat klassieke muziek speelt met elektrische toetsen bijvoorbeeld. Maar in het album valt ook dit prima weg. Dit is één van de weinige albums waarbij de totaalwaarde groter is dan de som van de delen. 4,5 ster

Steve Howe is a monster

Such a creative, unique band that I always treasure the chance to listen to. Favorite track: Roundabout

Classic Album. A littlel bit dusty but still a masterpiece of Prog Rock.

Yes! I think the original album was just the first three tracks. Those tracks were made for me, the perfect blend of rock, pop, psychedelia and jamming. Absolutely love it. The rest of the songs are good too.

Purely based on the fact that this album brings together Bill Bruford and Rick Wakeman I would give it 5 stars without having to even listen to it. However, I obviously did listen to it and have listened to it many times before. I think what I like most about this album is that it's so jam-packed with ideas that all seem to be pulling in different directions, but somehow it ends up cohesive. It's a bit like the musical equivalent of an overstuffed suitcase that refuses to stay closed - in a good way. But perhaps the best thing about Fragile is that I know that this is far from my favourite album by Yes and I have the rest still to come. Finally, I see some popular reviews suggesting that this is "Dad Rock" or "not for women". I have to admit that comments like this give me mixed feelings. Part of me is glad that there's so many people who are closed minded and they will probably never appreciate the quality of albums made long before they were born. This somehow adds to my enjoyment, knowing that this is not popular music. However, I also feel a slight tinge of regret that this level of mental laziness exists and that assigning a label to something you don't like is how ignorant people avoid having to engage their brains. This is one of my wife's favourite albums of all time incidentally, also my daughter's (who is in her 20s).

Wonderful memories

Brilliant, this whole album is great, every track is excellent. Roundabout to open the album, that bass line is superb. Then taking a hard turn into classical music, completely unexpected. It is the epitome of 70s prog rock, experimental yet approachable at the same time. Great album, could listen to it all day

MASTERPIECE. I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH!

Epic. Essential prog album.

imo this is the best yes album and maybe the best 70s prog rock album? there are so many excellent tunes here, from the opening to roundabout until the closer, heart of the sunrise. each one takes you on a unique and inspiring sonic journey. the lyrics are creative and mysterious, the instrumentation lush and varied, the vibes immaculate. yes absolutely broke the mold with fragile. favorites: roundabout, we have heaven, south side of the sky, long distance runaround, heart of the sunrise

Loved this! Roundabout as the opening theme for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is what got me into Yes and this album delivers.

Amazing album, glad i found this gem

Sick album

אחד מאלבומי הפרוג היותר טובים. הוא הרבה יותר מרק האלבום של roundabout ! האלבום הכי טוב עד עכשיו 10 מתוך 10

1. Roundabout (8:30) => Already loved it before listening to the album. The remaster is amazing. The bass is much more audible than before. (5/5) 2. Cans and Brahms (1:38) => It's alright. I don't really have much to say about it. (3.5/5) 3. We Have Heaven (1:39) => Pretty cool. Novelty wears off pretty quickly. Fairly boring, but the transition is really cool (3/5) 4. South Side of the Sky (7:58) => Much better than the last two. Things are looking up; this is bloody brilliant! I still love this, though. Going straight into my playlist. (4.5/5) 5. Five per Cent for Nothing (0:35) => It's slightly melodic noise. Very disjointed. Es ist nicht mein Bier (2/5) 6. Long Distance Runaround (3:30) => It's far better than the last one, but that is not hard by any means. It's actually really good, I love it. (4.5/5) 7. The Fish (Schindleria Praemeturus) (2:38) => I didn't even notice the transition again. Other than that, it's okay. Would've been better as part of Long Distance Runaround. (3.5/5) 8. Mood for a Day (3:00) => It might be an instrumental, but it's a damn good one! Might try learning it (5/5) 9. Heart of the Sunrise (10:34) => I love this! It's amazing! (5/5) 10. America (10:31) => I get why it wasn't on the original, but it's far better than Nothing. Five per Cent for Nothing to be exact. It's still pretty good, though. The solo is the stand out part of the song. It's very good. Sounds like if Angus Young was a blues guitarist. (4.5/5) 11. Roundabout - Early Rough Mix (8:35) => This is amazing!!! Why wasn't this the original studio version?!?! The early start in the middle eight didn't harm it at all. I see no reason for this not to be the original. The ethereal feel of the bridge makes it much better, as does the slight phase difference on the vocals in the final refrain. This improves on the original in every way possible. (5/5) Overall => Starts off with an absolutely timeless classic, before a few hit or miss songs, and really kicking it into high gear towards the end and bookending it with an even better version of the first track. The highs are really high and the lows are meh at worst. Final Thoughts => Overall, it's a really solid album. Definitely one of my favourites of all time. (5/5)

What an album, my favourite Yes album after "Close To The Edge". Opens with "Roundabout" and closes with "Heart of the Sunrise", with "Long Distance Runaround" and "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" inbetween.

Nice find. ;Loved it !

It's on the Mount Rushmore of Prog Rock for me. Really quite short and sweet at just 41minutes. Not overbearing, very melody driven, great album artwork. Superb

Yeah, Yes have done it again here. The amount of power chords they produce from their selection of instruments is really difficult to explain. The grooves they get into on each track are flat out addicting, and the influences drawn from other genres are all welcome and interesting. Favorite track: Roundabout

JOJOS FUCKEN BIZARRE ADVENTURE!!!

I love this. Fra den første sangen (Roundabout) som er en fuckings BANGER, til den siste. Det er funky og fresh og fitness. (Fitness dick In your mouth) 10/10, jeg elsker det. Fuck you.

Jojo

That is peak progressive rock. And in that never boring or too soloey.

So good.

Amazing find. The sound of Roundabout sounds incredible, even on crappy Shokz headphones. Wonder what they'll be like on David's speakers. Experimental with Spanish guitar vibes, but also like flying through space.

Very fragile

a huge classic!!love it so much

i mean i’ve seen the fragile line up live and even tho it was 2004 that was momentous.. it’s a literally perfect album

Stone. Cold. Masterpiece. If I could give it 10/5 I would. Changed the way I appreciate music forever.

Excellent album. Would listen to frequently for reading, study sessions, or driving.

I've know for years, especially as a drummer, that Yes should be on my list to listen to and for some reason I've never listened to an album front to back. Today that changed, and WOWZERS, it was something fantastic. Really dug the Simon and Garfunkel cover too. Kept the spirit of the original but added that Yes flavor to it.

Never heard this band before. Absolutely fantastic album. A lot of the songs do have a very similar sound, but it is a fresh and unique one.

After listening to this, I immediately started it again. The three long tracks (Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, and Heart of the Sunrise) are all pretty epic. I'm not usually big on instrumentals, and there are three here. I didn't dislike them, but thankfully they are shorter tracks. I wouldn't mind seeing more Yes on this list.

Long distance runaround and roundabout are childhood favs. Songs within songs.

This one surprised me! Some tracks sound ahead of their time, other ones - kind of behind. At times I can’t help feeling I’m listening some 90s college band. Cool and still fresh!

I'm a huge Yes fan, and this is my favorite album, by a decent margin. Several of the tunes on it are absolutely fantastic, particularly "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise", also a big fan of "Mood for a Day". Excellent! If somehow someone had managed to live without ever hearing Yes, this is a fine inclusion on the 1001.

Roundabout alone makes this five stars, the rest is just bonus awesomeness.

So prog!

Solid. Unexpectedly cleansing.

Simply a fire album, I feel like I haven’t been able to appreciate it fully just with the time of the day but it feels like one of those that takes multiple listens to grow ok you and fully impact you so I’ll be keeping it in my library running it again and again

A masterpiece, definitely need to own a copy!

Really liked this! Prog is a genre that I definitely have to be in the right mindset to enjoy, apparently I was there today. The Brahms bit was a little cheesy but otherwise highly enjoyable

Yes!

It's funny to think about prog from the '70s as being boundary-pushing, out-there music for its time. In retrospect, it has nearly as much in common with the mainstream rock of its time as it does with today's prog. Sure, the songs are longer, and the playing is more intricate, but the songs have clear melodies and are not particularly alienating to anyone with open ears and an open heart. This is probably one of Yes' top three, alongside The Yes Album and Close to the Edge. Many great tunes here, from "Roundabout" to "Heart of the Sunrise" to "South Side of the Sky", but a special shoutout goes to "Long Distance Runaround" -- I recall it was on my first "stoner playlist" in the weeks after I had first tried weed. I haven't heard it in a long time, and it brought back memories of those halcyon days. While this isn't necessarily a perfect album (a few of the transitional tracks, while spacing out the longer songs well, are forgettable), I'd probably give it a solid 4.5, and in the absence of half-stars, I'm adjusting upwards.

Ah yes, yes!

i love YES. one of the greatest prog bands. the big 4 albums from fragile to relayer is just masterpieces. close to the edge is probably the best thing ever recorded. fragile is my phone ringtone. love this band

4.5/5

Bloody amazing

What a fun album, the instrumentals were so expressive like they’re talking with one another. Meme song aside (which the full ver turns out to be killer btw).

I love this album. Yeah it’s full of showy virtuosity but also deep grooves and snappy hooks. That Simon and Garfunkel cover is insane.

Yes! I was not totally in love with Close to the Edge, but this is some Yes that I knew, and some that was new that I really loved to hear today. Hooray!

I thought I was more familiar with this album than I felt as I listened today. I guess it has just been too long, or maybe I never really knew it. I don’t know, but it is good. I wonder if it was totally new to me if I would have enjoyed it as much. It probably got a bump from the connection to somewhere in my youth or childhood…

I don't remember owning this but I must have because I could predict the start of every next song. My husband hates the song Roundabout due to the bit about the mountains standing there. I love it though with the opening "pling" and the aggressive bass and the rock organ. I love the rest, too. Takes me back to somewhere I guess I don't remember.

Roundabout is an incredible song. Every time I hear it I pick up something new. The bass playing is off the hook, the organ fantastic, and it is filled with incredible guitar work. It's a perfectly constructed masterpiece. Yet this is another instance where my enthusiasm for a song never translated into investigating any further than a Greatest Hits collection. I'm excited to listen to this album. Given Roundabout as the opening track this album is a shoo-in for a 4 or 5 rating. Yes would really have to go off the rails to dissuade me. As expected, I loved the rest of this album! Delightful classical interpretations. Glorious harmonies. Incredible musicianship. Phenomenal!

Nice!

Nostalgia is only worth something if it is a valuable album that is still valid today.

Ja jes kuului mekkölöisen suusta aamusella.. jessiä saa vinguttaa tänään.. ei siis päivökodissa heh..

great prog-rock record. ahead of its time. enjoyed the guitar,drums, evryrhing. this record was a huge step for its genre at the time. 9/10.

yeah, there's a reason why this is considered a classic. very consistent and interesting throughout, the musicianship on this album is terrific! very complex and coordinated things going on. i am a fan of this era's sound, and this is one of the more iconic bands, to me, in terms of sound. i was never much of a prog rock fan but have been more open to it recently, this is one that i will definitely listen to again.

Classic and best Yes line up

Un classique de chez les classiques du rock progressif, entremêlant expérimentation sonore et solides bangers

Super album

Yes? Yes! This was an excellent early 70's prog rock album that was just catchy and fun to listen to throughout. Roundabout is an undisputed banger (For the record I heard it in GTAV before I heard it in JoJo!) and I thought Heart of the Sunrise was excellent too. Just an all-around brilliant album. Favourite: Roundabout

One of the best prog albums ever. My favorite is Heart of the Sunrise.

If Close to the Edge is the long-orchestrated masterwork, this is the grab bag chock full of big ideas. It doesn't have quite the cohesive beauty of its follow-up, but it shines just as bright all the same.

I think Yes might be one of my favorite of the Prog Rock groups. Especially considering this album seems a little more disjointed than its follow up, and I still loved it.

excellent

What an amazing album. Each song feels like a journey, with some breaks along the way to catch your breath. All the instruments are on point. Just great. Highlights include Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise for me, but they are all amazing in their own way.

Early prog masterwork

Classic/10

Prog, proprio il mio genere. L'album è un capostipite del prog rock e non c'è da domandarsi il perché, album fantastico (forse cala un pelo sulla fine ma trascurabile) in combo con la intro di basso più famosa di sempre. Top

Has roundabout 5/7

Roundabout, Cans and Brahms, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, Mood for a Day and Heart of the Sunrise (best song). Amazing bass and vocals. This album would be even more perfect without Five Cents for Nothing.

One of my favorite prog rock albums. The shorter songs are kinda goofy but they add character. The longer songs are dynamic and interesting and actually earn their length. Roundabout especially is just a masterpiece.

Loved it. Highly recommend a nighttime listen.

Roundabout is the "to be continued..." meme! It's also a really good song, I've never heard the whole thing! As an album, it felt determined, but in a sad and melancholy way. Like, the protagonist of a story who was fighting for something they knew they had already lost. I really enjoyed it, 5/5. Favorite Tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Mood for a Day. Maybe Heart of the Sunrise.

What a masterpiece! Incredibly interesting

A classic prog album, straight from the first few seconds of the iconic ‘Roundabout’. That and closer ‘Heart of the Sunrise’, with its great bassline, are the two best songs here. Not much to say except i enjoyed it a lot.

Love it! 5 stars!

Classic AOR rock

Best one so far

This is a headphones favorite Yes brought Jazz to rock I never dug into the meaning of Jon Anderson’s lyrics, but thought of his voice as another instrument This lp was the first time I heard a cover version of a favorite song done completely different and loved America

Peak Yes, for my money. It’s a close race with The Yes Album but this is my favorite of their albums and their many lineups.

The first album by Yes’s classic lineup (Rick Wakeman having joined not long before), Fragile is a gorgeously composed and eternally fresh triumph. The band is at the very peak of their power, creating songs that are both accessible and musically complex in ways that intrigue and delight the ear.

This is a tough one. The album includes three of the best songs of the 1970's in Roundabout, Long Distance, and Heart of the Sunrise. However, the album's other tracks don't do a good job of propelling the momentum. 4.5 stars, rounding up on the strength of the main tracks, but still falls a narrow second to Close to the Edge.

yeah sure it might be flaunty and over technical and wayyy too artsy at times but it has roundabout.

Roundabout is a goofy song. There, I said it. But I think I’ve finally come around to this one. I’m a Close to the Edge diehard, but this quirky little record is worming its way into my heart. My tepid response to Roundabout has been holding me back from enjoying this album. South Side of the Sky is that shit. All the short solo pieces contrast beautifully with the group numbers. Yes’ brilliance is rooted in the fact that it’s 5 virtuosos pushing each other to higher and higher peaks. Fragile lays out that competition plainly for all to see. And when they choose to cooperate, the results are transcendent.

Honestly more interesting than I expected it to be. I thought it was just going to be a technical show-off, but it was actually good.

Progressive rock classic.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Refuse to believe its age. Massively innovative and unbelievably influential on lots of bands I love, without having ever listened to them before. Not a single song passed without me thinking ‘this is class’, or at the very least ‘this is interesting’. Although I am soft for odd beats / angular riffs / general chaos in songs

Wow, Yes are mint. Exactly what I've always wanted from prog work, so many ideas, roundabout sounds like Mars Volta, We Have Heaven sounds like Battles, think it's one of those bands that influenced loads of stuff I like without me knowing. And Amazon suggests it's nowhere near their most popular album, got loads of Yes to listen to!

My introduction to YES. Jazz fused rock, with amazing pacing

Brings back such great memories of my school years!

This is a musical constant in my house and has been since I was a kid. I can probably sing the whole thing front to back without needing to think about it.

Beautiful album. Most of my favorite artists wouldn't exist if it weren't for this band and this record.

Endelig nåke bra!!! Hørte på da 4 ganga før lunsj hehe. Obsessed over overgangen mellom Long Distance Runaround og The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)

Yesss! This must be one of my most played albums of 2022. I discovered Yes early on in the year, became obsessed with this album, and then started a really deep dive into Prog. I love the mad fusion of rock, jazz and classical. There's no bad songs on here, my favourites are Roundabout, Mood For a Day, and South Side of the Sky. Although the songs all flow together so well I find it difficult to remember specific pieces I like. The production is fantastic as well, I listened to this one on the good speakers on my lunch break.

Full disclosure, Yes is my favorite band. I have a tattoo to prove it. I get why people don't like prog. It's long, it's weird, it's pretentious. But Fragile is a great argument against all that. It's fun, it's catchy, it's a little deep. And there is a song for each member to show off their instrumental chops. And, in case you didn't know, every single member on this album is an actual rock god. Even Jon Anderson, the little weirdo.

All time favorite

Fajne

muito bom

Listened to this loudly in my car and it sounds better than like 99% of all recorded music. “South Side of the Sky!” Jesus, that song. This is my Steely Dan.

Own the vinyl. One of the best by Yes!

que dire...wow

Visions of me as a 100lb 12 year old biking home from the used record store with a tattered copy of this under my arm after having heard Roundabout on mystery FM radio for years and putting it on and being given an aural representation of that trippy Roger Dean cover... Honestly I do remember putting the vinyl on my cheap turntable and it being a kind of instant magic. Led me to being a fan of this band's 70s work right around when they were making their big 80s comeback. The combination of instrumentation - interplay between guitar and (lead!) bass and keys - is unlike any band I'd ever heard before or since; like them or not (and even though I have their entire 70s collection, I don't really like all of it) I kind of feel like this version of Yes were possibly the most unique "rock/popular music" band I can think of that ever made it so big. Others were progressive, sure, but either far more bombastic or heavy and just never as appealing as the best Yes could offer. And for this album in particular, those 4 true songs (3 of which you'll still hear on some of the slightly-more-adventurous classic/old radio stations) are progressive melodic perfection. Just listen to "Heart of the Sunrise" and truly digesting it...has there ever been anything like this before? From the powerful repeated riff to those gentle piano runs in the middle... it's not a background song, I can definitely spend 11 minutes in a dark room just blasting this. Incredible musicians - every single one. I've tried to play this stuff. It's not easy and the complexity + melody/accessibility is what made them - and this - stand out. OK. However. The obvious whatthehell?? aspect of this album has always been the 4 (or 5) "individual/solo" pieces are absolutely weird and jarring and really cannot be played as one-offs (i.e. you're not hearing "We Have Heaven" on the radio). Do I "like" them? I've never really known but I honestly don't think so (I like "Mood for a Day" enough for a nice classical guitar piece, I suppose. Couldn't play that for shit either.). But in context they do sort of fit - you have the long band pieces and those interludes give the listener a bit of a rest in-between. Blahblahblah still this is and always has been an all-time keeper for me even with (or because of?) the strangeness. 10/10 5 stars.

So cool. Very funky and experimental. I really enjoyed all of this record. From start to finish the guitar work, the keys, and the overall experimentation was so fun. The lyrics were nothing groundbreaking but the musical aspect of the record definitely were. Some incredible production on this record. The whole album felt very comprehensive and connected. Favorite Track: Heart of the Sunrise, Roundabout Least Favorite Track: The Fish

Bästa albumet nånsin!!!

Take any one performance from this album; guitar, bass, drums, keys, song; and you would have an excellent album. Together, they result in some of prog rock(if not rock altogether)’s finest offerings, still fresh 50 years on. I could say more but the music should speak for itself and, more importantly, I’m tired

Amazing.

This is an instrumental masterclass. I don’t know how they mixed classical with rock and synthesized keyboard. But they did it.

Some of the prog rock I've waded through for this project felt interminable. But I've always liked Yes for whatever reason. The cover art is cool. I know Roundabout is a great song -- looking at the track list, it seems I'm actually already familiar with several songs. I'm happy to dive in and listen to the whole album. On first hearing, I like the pacing and how it all hangs together. I found it had plenty of momentum to sweep me along to the end having enjoyed the whole thing. I listened again and like it even more.

cool

Have I ever told you how much I adore prog?

Prog Masterpiece. Incredible writers + incredible musician + incredible producer = Magic.

One of the finest albums of Yes, and even one of the best albums of the progressive rock movement. This work strikes the perfect balance between complexity and catchy, interesting music. There is also an excellent contrast between heavy/electric music and classical/acoustic music. Furthermore, all the musicians here are at their best and especially Jon Anderson. I consider this record as his best vocal performance ever.

I love the versatility from songs like the prog opus Roundabout to something like Mood for a Day which is just 3 minutes of flamenco guitar. A lot of the smaller tracks in between feel lost like they should be part of a bigger whole or should flow more cohesively between the longer songs. Five per Cent for Nothing is a very rad 35 seconds that doesn't make much sense sandwiched between South Side of the Sky and Long Distance Runaround, the latter of which is my favorite after Roundabout. Some of the longer tracks like Heart of the Sunrise can outstay there welcome but none are bad. I'd be interested in giving this a listen to on vinyl, I wonder if the way the tracks are laid out makes more sense in that format then straight through in a digital playlist. 94/100 gecs

One of my fave Yes albums. Fave tracks would probably be "Long Distance Runaround," "South Side of the Sky," and "Heart of the Sunrise."

Some classic prog rock! The meme introduced me to this album, who says memes are useless..

excellent

When I was 15, I got a record player for Christmas. Four days later, as a reward for getting my learner's permit, my dad said he'd buy me my first record, and this was it. As a result, I'm pretty nostalgic for it. On top of that, it's a pretty good album. I'd give it 4.5 if I could, but I'm rounding up because of nostalgia, my personal love for the 70s prog sound, the strength of "Roundabout", and the cheeky reprise at the end.

Brilliant, love it to bits.

Nicezinho

So much excellence and amazing music. A few odd moments, but who cares.

-Holy crap Lois why does the "We'll Be Right Back" meme continue for 8 minutes? -This album is a little weird, it's like half big epic songs and half shirt little dinky ones. Still pretty cool. Great jams and groove and bass and stuff throughout -I particularly like "Roundabout" and "Long Distance Runaround" -"South Side of the Sky," "Heart of the Sunrise," and "America" are great too -I plan to do plenty more listening, so I think that has just bumped it into the 5 star range

Awesome! What a leading tweak on this album. Love the instrumentals on this

honestly slaps

Meme

Can definitely hear it’s influence on rock & metal that came after it.

I’ll be the roundabout, The words will make you out and out, I spend the day your way, Call it morning driving through the sound …

Wonderful classic rock

This is not a perfect album. Jon Anderson's emotionless singing, the self-indulgent nothing tracks mar it. But still, it has enough amazing things about it for me to give it 5 stars. The musicianship is amazing, particularly the bass and drumming. The actual songs are all great and it holds together wonderfully.

Slightly farty prog rock. Great fun.

Such a good album!!!

Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, den långa versionen av America, Heart of the Sunrise, Long Distance Runaround... Till och med de korta låtarna (varje bandmedlem fick skriva en låt var själva) är kanon. Amagad den är så braaaa .______.

It’s a bit dated in some of its sounds, but for me this album is brilliant. Yes utilizes interesting rhythms, chord changes, and melodies to create music that stands apart especially in 1971. The jazz, blues, and classical influences are apparent and woven well into the music. The musicianship is phenomenal and the occasional suite like song structures further attest to this band’s ambition.

Great album. Jammed out. Loved America and of course Roundabout. 4.6

Great

Roundabout caught me off guard! :)) Prog rock is kinda cool

Gracias Jojo Si alguien me pregunta con que disco meterse en el rock progresivo, de seguro este sería mi elección; es variado, conciso, cortó (para el álbum de progresivo promedio), pero por sobre todo atractivo. Para mí un sólido 9/10

Amo este disco. Es una de las bandas que mi viejo siempre escucha, entonces como que lo tengo en mis recuerdos. Tiene todo el power. Creo que si es alto disco.

yes

Amo el rock progresivo, pero no en su totalidad. Justo este disco si. Es una epoca en la que dijeron "che pero pará la musica no tiene por que tenes distorciones por todos lados y el mismo acorde repetido over and over". La cantidad de experimentación que hubo en esa epoca no se volvió a repetir hasta el resurgimiento del rock psicodelico. Me gusta mucho este disco, es muy dificil no pensar en como fué influenciado por Queen, voces grabadas encima de voces grabadas encima de voces... Amo. La duración de los temas está all over the place, es como escuchar Blue Öyster Cult, si no sabés cuanto dura cada tema you're in for a ride. Ésta musica se aprecia mucho mas en el ambito analogico, casette o vinilo, donde te da paja adelantar o saltear temas. Tampoco se beneficia de los auriculares, creo que está hecha para ser escuchada en habitaciones con parlantes y demas.

a very roundabout album ',:)

Really enjoyed this one. Compared to the other Yes album we've had on this list so far, this one feels much tighter in terms of songwriting and song structure. The tracks seem more cohesive rather than made for the purpose of showing off the musician's (considerable) skill. My other main criticism of the other Yes album still holds: the singer's voice doesn't do the instrumentation justice. He's just not up to par with the others. Still, a fantastic album.

I personally really like this album Did I only know about this album because the first song is a meme? yes, but that's not a bad thing. this album mixes epic rock n roll with beautiful guitar work. It's not the best album in the world, but I love it.

Yes!

Premier album de yes que j’ai ecoute dans ma vie. J’adore ce band et j’ai deja ecoute cette album un cinquantaine de fois. 5*

Great album. Beautiful acoustic/classical guitar parts and fun jam songs. Very 70s rock but in a non jam band way. Into it.

Love this album! Have listened to it already

Great album. Didn't even mind hearing roundabout twice.

YES!!! Delicia de álbum progressivo com instrumental alto nível. Gosto muito do Mood for a day e nem lembrava q era deles.

5/5, love these prog rock jams.

Hey it’s the Jojis. But absolute classic and very accessible Prog Rock. The album art is so iconic too. S/o Chris Squire

I want to like prog rock more than I actually do. Like my first time drinking coffee, I had the sense that it was probably an acquired taste and that if I kept with it, it would be worth it. On my first listen, I would have given this a 3, but with subsequent listening sessions I think I can give it a 4.

guapardo

Love it. Not for folks with short attention spans. I like lots of prog and while Yes is an amazing band, Close to the Edge is the one that I go back to the most.

Legendary album

The lyrics on this should make me hate this but i cant. It is played so well. When the bass kicks in on track 1, chef’s kiss. Infectious in a great way.

Stunning prog feast. Not much else to add

interesting album. loved the back vocals on "we have heaven".

This record has incredibly strong opening and closing tracks, but what's in between is a mixed bag. It can feel quite aimless and even a little trite at times, but when it's good it's really good. It's eccentric and inventive without feeling inaccessible, which is a pitfall a lot of other prog records tend to fall into in my experience. I think after a few more listens I might end up being tempted to up this to a 5, but I'll go with a 4 for now. Favourite tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise

Probably the early 70's peak of prog when it comes to Yes' input and impact. This album has so much fun being popular and progressive that it almost forgot to have a 40 minute epic closing track.

Roundabout South Side of the Sky Heart of the Sunrise America

Roundabout Mood for a Day America

Yes its YES, and a good one at that. I have heard this album a couple of times before and think its just delightful. I recall there's some story about a traveller coming from another world and something about eco-catastrophe. Who cares, the music sounds sublime. Just happy and peaceful and emotive. Good album, hopefully there's more YES on the list. 4 stars.

Not quite a 5 but still a classic album. Love yes’s whole catalog.

This album isn't all gold but when they hit, they really hit.

Not as consistent as their best but Roundabout is REALLY that good

yes. absolutely. definitely. hell yeah. yep. sure. mhm. totally. no doubt.

started with a lot of doubts, but it gradually hooks you in as you listen. the sound might be a challenge at first, but i ended up really vibing to it well balanced mix of classic rock instrumentation, jazz harmonies and metrics, and classical structures that someone decided to call prog rock one of the rare occasions where musical virtuosity doesn't pose a barrier to my ability to enjoy it or connect emotionally.

lineu chapado ao som de roundabout.mp3 álbum excelente, muito mais do que roundabout. só maluco não gosta de prog.

A certified classic, to be sure. I think listening to this album as a whole feels like it exposes some of Yes' weaknesses; that they could create mountainous peaks of compositions like Roundabout or Heart of the Sunrise, but also relied heavily on interstitials that aside from being short, are also not entirely compelling? It kinda is hard to dispute the idea that Yes blow the load pretty early with Roundabout and only have the stamina to produce another banger after a 20 minute or so rest through some okay tracks. Yeah. That's it. Also, I have to say I still prefer the live version of "Heart of the Sunrise" to the studio version.

There’s a lot of fun moments here that really make this an enjoyable experience. But those moments are also brought down by why seems to be some random interludes here and there. Likes: Roundabout; South Side of the Sky; Mood for a Day

Great experimentation with instrumentation, song structure and harmony. I hear some of what I've heard in prog metal, which is a cool anachronistic feeling. Deserves another listen to get into it.

A five star band that puts out 4 star albums with moments of 10 star excellence. Once in a job interview I was asked what my favorite song of all time is. I opened my mouth and out of nowhere I said Roundabout. The interviewer then googled the lyrics and apparently liked them enough to give me a job. I was an extremely okay camp counselor.

"Roundabout" and "Long Distance Runaround" are standouts. The beautiful & skillful classical acoustic guitar on "Mood For a Day" put me in a good mood for the day as I listened while getting ready for work.

Ziemlich fähige Menschen an ihren Instrumenten.

Kyllä. Poikamaisen äänen omaavan miehen lauluilua progressivisen musiikin säestyksellä. Kylläpä lähteekin voimakkaasti liikkeelle, ekan biisin basso-sgittailu on aivan uskomatonta. Kyllä, oivaa musisointia.

Half of these songs on this album I never put together were Yes songs. I think that says something about Yes and how much they mean to me. Roundabout is the highlight track, meaning its the only one I know. South Side of the Sky is pretty good. Mostly the beginning and ending, the middle is like what is this? I think the thing about long songs, especially when there is nothing to draw you into a band, is that long songs feel like a drain, like "what am I doing here?" Overall, I don't love it, because I do not like his voice, but the musical quality overall is well done. There is a lot I can see myself liking by getting into it more.

I on lot listened to disc 1 because I didn’t have 4 hours but does one was fun and flirty!

This has some jams!

It's funky, it's fun, it's largely instrumental. Really good work music, tbh.

Сара 3,5 Марко 4,5

I like memes. Like in general. There are good ones and bad ones. But the concept of memes is a fun one. That said, I do feel bad for songs thst get caught up in the whirlpool of a meme; stripped of all of their original context. The opening song on this album is great. Love the bass. But for me, its identity is indelibly linked to the meme. Try as I might, I cannot hear the opening and not think of the meme. More than 40 years after release, the song has been forever changed by a meme. Which is kinda cool but also a bit sad. The rest of the album is pretty good too.

Probably their best!

An excellent album that blends rock and classical influences surprisingly well. The compositions are rich and ambitious while still remaining very enjoyable to listen to, with a strong sense of progression and variety throughout the record.

Just a small note: I am responding the orignal lp, rather than a deluxe edition. The immediate thing that struck me about this album is how catchy it is. You're getting all the starts and stops and time signatures and all of that, but it also has really immediately engaging melodies. Roundabout really is a smart way to start this process, but for the most part the other songs are as engaging. The only exceptions are two of the instrumentals. The keyboard arrangement of Brahms' 4th is kind of a genuine mystery. Wakeman is clearly a talented player and the arrangement is well played, but it just doesn't feel like it belongs on this album. The record would just be better without it. The solo guitar piece also doesn't quite fit, but feels less dramatically out place. Those are the two points that keep this from being a five star record.

Classic prog rock. Great album.

A classic prog rock album. Standout songs: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Roundaround, Mood for a Day, Heart of the Sunrise

Awesome. Loved the jaunt, the creativity and the fact that they are just doing what they love.

Nice

Didn't know much Yes going into this, but as Zoe Saldana would say: "Yes Yes Yes!" Nice and progish without the use of too much going on, gives a real nice listening experience. First half was better than second.

A light 8

Yes, that's what I am talking about in the case of progressive rock. Love, love, love.

god i hate prog. at least i thought i did. this album kinda kicks ass.

Enquanto a ficha técnica cita 9 canções, eu digo que esse álbum realmente tem só 4: Roundabout, South Side of Sky, Long Distance Runaround e Heart of Sunrise. Cinco se contar America, que talvez seja minha favorita dentre essas aí. Paul Simon my beloved. Meu ponto é: essas 5 que citei são as únicas que carregam alguma alma consigo, o resto parece ensaio pra impressionar ou trip pros alucinados dos anos 70. Já que essas cinco faixas compõem quase todo o álbum eu vou avaliar usando elas exclusivamente. Yes é uma banda de rock progressivo que eu sou capaz de lembrar, fora o apelo que tem com o meu eu de 14 anos, que era fãzasso de progressivo

funky bass lines and great vibes!

This is a good prog album.

I’ve listened to some Yes in my day but I wasn’t ready for that slap-bass on “Roundabout.” They’re like Rush but with taste.

I burst out laughing when roundabout came on. Immediately had to go and watch Seinfeld

I think I quite enjoy prog rock

Only really knew Roundabout before from this. Pretty good.

Classic rock at its finest

Whimsical

Best album so far. Maybe because I've been on a Pink Floyd and prog rock kick but this sounded pretty good. It got a little samey the more I listened to it with the quirky fast bass/guitar licks but still a solid album.

Pleasantly pleased. It was bettter than expected. Needs a few listens to fully appreciate. Will investigate further. I like Steven Wilson and now I see where gets some inspiration from.

I enjoyed this album. Lots going on and some songs you could jam too

Great prog rock.

cool

Great, a bit all over the place and not the strongest effort by Yes, but still great!

é uma obra bem diferente, muito instrumental, tirados de obras clássicas, bem produzido. Interessante que a banda tenha tido esse trabalho, gostei de ouvir fazendo minhas tarefas e vale a pena

This is an amazing prog rock epic of an album. Not all of the tracks are for everyone but Roundabout, side one, track one, is just a banger.

4/5 I wasn't indoctrinated to Yes as a kid, despite the parallels in sound that they have to much of the collection my dad curated. Instead, I found them through their resurgence in pop-culture relevance with appearances in GTA, School of Rock, Jojo & plenty of memes as a result. My curiosity had been peaked, and I eventually gave the album a spin years later. While the rest of the album isn't nearly as strong as the opening track of "Roundabout", I do think there is a great compilation of tracks, with some other real standouts such as "South Side of the Sky" and "Heart of the Sunrise". These tracks in particular really feel like the entire band is firing on all cylinders, and have moments where each member & instrument feel like they truly shine in the mix. Squire's bass work in particular across these tracks are incredibly addicting & impressive. There are some tracks that fall a little flatter on the album though, and really just feel weaker, almost needless compared to the rest of the album. "Cans and Brahms" & "Five per Cent for Nothing" are both tracks that just ultimately feel like a waste of time, and depending on consumption medium would be something I would skip or cull. Meanwhile, "The Fish", "Mood for a Day" and "We Have Heaven" feel, while not as amazing as the longer tracks, a little more purposeful and are enjoyable listens. Overall I enjoy the listen front to back, will give it a spin on vinyl from time to time, but will probably stick to the stand out tracks when listening digitally. Favorite Track: "Roundabout", obviously.

Strange album. Some great songs, but others not so much. Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround are the standouts.

Decent prog rock album to me, not a huge overran of Yes, but I did enjoy most of this album. I’d like some of the instrumentals to be longer but that’s the jamband / improv fan of me coming out. Happy listening all!

First Listen; 3.5; I enjoyed this much more than I expected I would. I've never really listened to prog rock, but this (for this most part) did not feel as drawn out or over-indulgent as I thought it might. I feel like it incorporated elements of jam band music I liked while still keeping things in relative control. This was also more aggressive and rocking than I was expecting. In particular, I really liked the bass riffs and playing. An album that I will actually probably listen to again on my own. Favorite Track: South Side of the Sky

Really good prog rock :), although the album peaks on the first song

I’ve heard this before. I like prog sometimes and I dislike prog other times. This prog is mostly enjoyable, where the odd time signature switches and instrumental noodling serves a purpose to the song and isn’t just showing off or self indulgent. There are a few time signature changes toward the end that seem like they were thrown in just to do it that interrupts the song, but it’s a 10 minute song so things smooth out eventually. Also the opening track on side 2 seems jerky and angular designed to impress music majors, but it’s still only a minute long. One thing about prog bands is they really know how to construct an album as a whole piece, and the little reprise of We Have Heaven at the end really caps things off nicely. So this is a time when I like prog.

Hey, it's a classic album for some reason. Yeah, I enjoyed it. 4/5

This was a fun album that stood the test of time! I have a few mixing notes here and there (mainly related to the keys), but for the most part, I think this record has aged like fine wine, especially the acoustic guitar sound. It's prog-y enough to make it stand out from a lot of other music of its era while not being so prog-y that you lose track of the plot. Also, not a critique, but I think it's funny how almost half of the album's duration is comprised of only two songs.

Interesting album, I really enjoyed "Mood for a Day" though.

Not my favorite band from this era. But the talent is undeniable

Super solid early 70s prog rock album. Roundabout absolutely rips. The rest of the album is good but doesn't quite live up to the opener.

Honestly didn’t know they balled so hard? Knew roundabout but damn it’s like Rodrigo y Yes for a while there

fire

Was indifferent to the first Yes album on the list, but this is an improvement. Roundabout is a classic tune all of its own but pretty much all the longer tracks here are worthwhile, each successfully developing it's own musical themes. The short filler pieces are, however, a bizarre inclusion and I do not care for the reedy vocals at all.

I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting to. I like the proggy weirdness. Particularly obsessed with We Have Heaven.

Que guay

I saw that review which says this album has "goofy noises" and "weird experimental jams" and that's the kind of shit I want! I was impressed with Fragile. Obviously, Roundabout is a beautiful song, and nothing else on the record comes close enough to achieving its iconoclast sound. And that's okay. It was 1971, and digital recording technology didn't exist yet. You could write all the big rock epics that you wanted, but you could only book so much studio time to record it all, and the big boss is breathing down your neck, expecting the album to be done by Sunday! Fragile is about half full-length progressive rock songs, half self-indulgent offshoots. It's inherently a mixed bag, so it would be wrong to expect perfection from it. But while I didn't love anything as much as Roundabout or Heart of the Sunrise, the whole record is still a lot of fun! Five Percent of Nothing, with all its jagged and angular rhythms, happened to be a precursor for bands like Primus and Shellac that people idolize today. We Have Heaven reminds me a lot of the Beach Boys, and I love how it latches onto a groove that feels like it could go on forever. I don't see myself returning to it a great deal outside of a couple songs, but I do feel that it's relevant to the 1001 Albums list. It's a solid piece of rock.

Hahhh hey I recognize that opening track….. I really enjoyed “we have heaven” because it felt way different than all the other songs on the album.

top tier album, guitar play is crisp as hell.

Faves: Roundabout South side of the sky

Another really great album. This one hooked me immediately with Roundabout, an absolutely terrific track. I expected it continue in the same vein, but it actually changed gears quite a lot throughout. Great album that could go up in my ratings with another listen. Favourites: Roundabout South Side Of The Sky Heart Of The Sunrise America

very pleasant

I love this record. Roundabout is a perfect prog track. Second half does falter a bit but I love Yes even at their most mid.

Not my favourite yes album but definitely up there with their best.

I could take or leave the interludes, but when Yes are cooking there’s nothing like it: the sheer technicality of the music isn’t as important as the soundscapes it creates.

Great Songs: Roundabout, Mood for a Day, Heart of the Sunrise Good Songs: We Have Heaven, South Side of the Sky, Five Per Cent for Nothing, Long Distance Runaround Mid Songs: Cans and Brahms Bad Songs:

Roundabout is a banger. Not normally a prog rock fan but this was pretty great tbf

4.25. This was really good. Pretty sure my uncle (or someone equally as nerdy about this type of thing) told me he used to use Yes albums to calibrate and configure his home stereo.

No doubt they are good musicians and have a distinct sound. However, for some reason, I don't really like it that much. At times, I find it even a bit annoying. I enjoyed Cans and Brahms. Overall, I enjoyed instrumental parts (especially if not overloaded with keyboards). My favourite track is probably Mood for a Day (guitar instrumental). In my view, it gets better towards the end (I also enjoyed the last track: Heart of the Sunrise). An interesting thing is that I believe that the keyboard, which is supposed to be a main element, is what disturbs me. Get rid of the keyboard, and this gets 4 stars.