Reviews (page 4 of 13)
There are some great tracks on here, and it’s way more jammy than I expected, but I dig it. That said, a few songs fall flat for me and break up the flow a bit. Overall, I’d put it around a 3.5/5.
On the strength of the very first song this gets a 4. Rest of it is... experimental, shall we say.
I somehow didn't know where that one section from the beginning was from, now I do. The album was very good. I liked the vocals the long instrument sessions.
As I’m sure I have mentioned in other reviews, it took decades for me to get over my innate aversion to prog rock and while I am significantly more open minded on the subject, I remain cautious if not downright cynical. As I have dabbled, I have confirmed that I cannot tolerate ELP and some others, but I have also learned to, first accept, and later embrace Yes. My Yes gateway was Close to the Edge which seemed to transcend prog into a place of pure, joyful celebration of music. My next foray was this album Fragile, and I was initially dubious. Having now familiarised myself with the album, I can see that the issues I was having on early listens are the same problems that still cause me to rate it below Close to the Edge. The band’s “great” idea to give each member their own spotlight at various points across the album’s duration may be something that makes some fans drool over Fragile as unique, but to me these tracks are a cop-out, and I actively dislike some of them. Had they shown the conviction to instead come up with just one more track of substance and left off the indulgent filler altogether, this would likely have been a 5* album. The ones we do get (Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, and Heart of the Sunrise) are all-timers in the Yes catalogue. So, still a brilliant record, but if I had it on CD rather than LP, I would likely skip some tracks.
Fun album, pretty weird but in a good way
Pretty good. A couple of solid songs. Fun explorations.
The keyboards didn't work for me. The bass was fun.
Prog rock with complex arrangements and unusual, shifting time signatures. I've heard this before and it's a lot of fun to listen to every now and then but not quite accessible enough to want to put on repeat. Long Distance Runaround is my favourite, but since my last listen I have a greater appreciation for the beautiful acoustic guitar in Mood for a Day.
Top moumoute belle bite
Roundabout is a fantastic song. The brahm's symphony excerpt was unexpected. I just kinda.... Don't think I get it? But of course that's the point lol
Rock progresivo
80/100. Another strong showing by Yes. In my opinion this is some prog rock of the highest calibre, it feels like a band that can truly have fun while being really creative with their sound. It is a landmark album for the genre.
Familiar with the first song - honestly a bit tired. Love the progressive rock elements and experimental style. The opera elements and choral singing style in track 3 are a little off putting. Second half of the album was wonderful. Ended up favoriting 4 tracks and 2 that Spotify delivered once album was over. I will be back. 4/5
I didn't realize Yes was around in the early 70s. I first heard them in the 80s with Owner of the Lonely Heart and Leave It. Roundabout was familiar, and I would have thought that Long Distance Runaround was from the early 80s as well. 4
I like that one, may relisten
Pretty good with a catchy base line. Nice album
I'm a sucker for the upbeat and dynamic acoustic guitar sound, and found this enjoyable, if a bit inconsistent
Lots of memories associated with this album. First introduction to it was in high school by classmates. It’s been a while and only recognized three of the songs. Seemed longer than I remembered. Maybe I had more patience back then. Stoners across the hall in college borrowed it (a lot). lol. Worth the time to listen and will likely stick it back in my rotation.
Really good album. Roundabout is an all-timer. Lots of really interesting ideas. I really liked Cans & Brahms. About a 3.5 rounded up.
Roundabout is practically a 5 star album on its own but the totality of Fragile comes just shy for me. Still a fantastic album overall.
I don't think everything on here works as well as Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround (best track on the album by the way) but I love this
I like my music Past Progressive
RYM 3.5
Very much enjoyed the instrumental interludes and the heavy focus on instrumentals throughout, even in the longer songs. Very pleasant to listen (and of course, Roundabout is a classic!)
While some songs do not stand out, the whole project is a great listen. I am not the biggest prog rock guy but this is the best album I have heard in this genre so far.
Yes, I'm so sorry I'm not familiar with your game. I really need to be. This rules. I think a couple of the solo tracks are a slight miss, but I'm not going to hold that too much against the album, since it was limited because of money/time, but this album would be so much better if it didn't have them. I loved this a lot more than I thought I would. Even the music, for being rock, is very melodic and developmental. And now I feel like I need to be on the lookout for Yes albums on vinyl. Favorite Song(s): Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround
It's no steely Dan but it's close
This was so bizarre. I knew the first song out the gate, but don't ask me how I know it. The rest of the album wildly swung between something incredibly 70's and something that could've been made in the mid 00s. An eclectic album, one that I strangely enjoyed.
I’ve always been very fond of Roundabout, but I’ll admit I've never listened to anything else from this album before. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and the musicianship on display here. The keyboards, bass, guitar, and drums are all outstanding. It was certainly much better than yesterday’s prog rock album, Larks’ Tongue in Aspic, which I somewhat hesitantly gave 3 stars to. I feel inclined to give this 4 stars by comparison, a relatively solid 4 stars though.
4 Rest of the album doesn't quite live up to Roundabout but it is one of the best songs ever written to be fair. Still a solid album though
If any of you were planning to get into progressive rock, Yes's Fragile is practically the perfect choice. This album is easy to listen to and not overly complicated. It sounds beautiful, if a bit heavy in places. However, if you start to analyze it in more detail, you realize that none of the parts are easy to play, and yet the musicians have managed to juxtapose them without degenerating into cacophony. Are there any downsides? Of course there are. Of the nine songs on the album, only four are full-length; the rest are short vignettes from each musician, a sort of "talent showcase". Here's a keyboardist arranging a piece from Brahms. Here's a short drum fill. Here's an acoustic guitar number with a medieval sound, and so on... They're all skilled guys, they've proven themselves, there's no denying it, but these performances could have been reserved for live performances only. What else can I say? ⬅️To Be Continued
This album is one hell of an experience, it throws you from prog rock to classical to beautiful instrumentals and back again. I had to listen to it twice through, and once more a bit later on, just to work it out. Some of the shorter tracks aren't the best and a bit forgettable, but the strong tracks are STRONG. My favourite songs were Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, Mood for a Day and Heart of the Sunrise. Mood for a Day is a gorgeous instrumental track. Roundabout is a classic and Heart of the Sunrise is just as good. My first experience listening to Yes was a very enjoyable one.
8/10
4.5
I vaguely remember giving multiple attempts to this album at some faraway point in my life, influenced by a certain anime and hunting for more Roundabout-type songs. I suspect I bailed pretty quickly each time when the second and third tracks sounded nothing like the ending theme of my favourite show, because nothing past 'We Have Heaven' sounds familiar to me now. ...This album is excellent. The band takes many sorts of left-field detours, which I've learned is due to every song being written by a different member? But I just chalked it up to your usual prog fuckery, and from a band like Yes that's more than welcome. Maybe that’s just something I’ve grown to appreciate more with time. What’s funny is that the album ends with exactly what younger me was looking for: a longer, proggier Roundabout-type song. It might honestly be the best cut off the album! I now curse my past self for never sticking around long enough to hear it. What a fool 😭 Standouts: Roundabout • Cans and Brahms • We Have Heaven • The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) • Heart of the Sunrise
This album is good but it lacks the cohesion of Close to the Edge and I feel like a lot of the middle is kind of soft and forgettable. The ends are perfect.
Wow, this album held my attention the whole way through, what a creative collection of pieces. Very cool, much enjoyed.
I enjoyed it, it was some good fast driving music.
This was a cool album. I'd only listened to Roundabout before, but the whole thing was filled with such an impressive wall of finely layered sounds. What a joy.
Classic prog
ok another jojo’s reference
Roundabout - найкраща, інші теж добре впринципі
Its more of like a 3.75 than a actual 4 its good, but not amazballs. It was also weird in the timing of each song it was like 7min song, 1.5min song, another 7min. overall would buy to have on record I think.
03/03/2026 *1. roundabout - more acoustic than i thought it would be... oh my god i've heard this before! bass is great!! really like the vocals :) love the quieter bit about 5 mins in. 2. cans and brahms - harpischord-y? sounds like something off of the soundtrack for a clockwork orange. nice! 3. we have heaven - kindof folsky... love the bass and the drums. love the layering... like the ending! *4. south side of the sky - very atmospheric... why do so many prog songs start with wind blowing. love the drums.... guitar and bass are so great! love the organ (keyboard?) in the back. love the electronic thrumming noise.. 5. five per cent for nothing - ooo liking this :) only 35 seconds though.... nice palette cleanser after a longer song. 6. long distance runaround - reeaaally liking the bass and drums on this album. *7. the fish (schindleria praematurus) - nice! 8. mood for a day - nice as well :) *9. heart of the sunrise - really liking the start...feel like i've heard this before... love it!!! bass is great again!!! <3 great ending.... found out about the song starship troopers literally two days ago and made a mental note to listen to yes and this showed up! really liked it. maybe because yesterday was pink floyd, i don't think i enjoyed this as much as i probably would've if it was a shit album yesterday - but still wanting to listen to the other albums of theirs on this list :)
Eu amei o álbum
Un po' troppo sperimentale per i miei gusti
Being a prog-rock album, Yes's Fragile is full of fascinating rhythms and melodies that create songs with immense depth and incredible energy. It would be impossible to catch every little detail in each song on first listen, which is why it's practically impossible to ever get tired of this album. 4.8/5
Very cool
UUUUUUUUHHH i wanted to give the time to listen to this. So the that time has come. So they hit you full force with Roundabout and leave you hangin with quirky classical music. I'd hang out with the band integrants, they seem like fun. And they do it again... and again, quirky interlude after quirky interlude, we have bangers.
Très sympa!! bien séquencé, bons morceaux, bons mix, bonne longueur. pas de point haut TRÈS haut, cependant. 3.5+/5
Some great tracks but the personal solo fillers aren't are compelling except maybe Squire's Fish. Still in the top 5 Yes albums though.
JoJo reference; roundabout is peak.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 These characters are NOT teenagers, dude.
Let's go, this was really cool. Roundabout is iconic, thanks JoJo, but there are some great songs here, including the very sentimental feeling Mood for a Day, which was probably my favorite. It's not as good as the other Yes albums, as there are some strange interludes that seem like the guys just messing around. I didn't mind it, but it does make for a weaker album experience, in my opinion. Heart of the Sunrise was also awesome. Cool album.
Massively surpassed (admittedly low) expectations. So many wonderful moments - found it a pretty joyful listen that I’m glad I’ve had (even if some of the keyboard touches sound a little cheesy/dated).
Todo álbum que começa com clássico, é um bom álbum.
Classic
would be 5 if it wasn’t for all the filler
What a ridiculous album, that opening bassline on Roundabout just kicked me in the balls
I used to like this album a lot more than now. Technically it's impressive and enjoyable but also feels empty?
one of the few i have on vinyl. a classic
Sounded like the nerdiest kids in your music program got together and formed a band. Haha. I enjoyed it mostly but it's not something I'm going to be going back to.
Side 1 is about as good a prog rock can possibly be. Side 2 🤷♂️
A really strong opening song for an album. It's between a 3 and a 4, but I really love the beginning. We'll see how my feelings change over time Favorite Song: Roundabout
Phenomenal bass work from Chris Squire. An overall solid prog-rock album. The highlights being Roundabout - obviously - and South Side of The Sky. I also really like the cover of America on the deluxe version.
Yes! My first reaction upon seeing this album, was No! But then I listened to the album. And now it is Yes. Somehow, I ended up liking this one a good bit, easily the most enjoyable of the three Yes albums we’ve had. “Roundabout” goes crazy and exists as a perfect opening song. Sparks intrigue immediately, has a flare for the dramatic, gets a little tension & release. “We Have Heaven” was a very peaceful little interlude style track. Which would normally be odd this early in an albums track sequencing, but this is Yes doing prog rock stuff, where rules are intentionally thrown out the window. “Mood For A Day” kinda mirrors the same placid feeling amidst a flurry of proggy chaos. Feels like sitting in the sunshine. Then there’s a cover of S&G’s “America” that goes over pretty well. Nothing will beat the original, but this is a refreshing take on it. Can’t believe I’m giving this album a light 4/5, but Yes gets rewarded for locking in a bit more on specific melodies and motifs for Fragile, finally ditching their penchant to switch up the time signature every ten seconds just for the fun of it. That being said, this can be the last Yes album. Three is plenty.
first song on the album is FIRE
Roundabout (Of Course) Lond Distance Runaround Mood for a Day Heart of the Sunrise
8/10
So weird. When it was good, it was good. Much needed funk...
i liked the songs but at times the instrumentals felt like legend of zelda theme music. 8/10
What a great album
Not quite. 5 but roundabout is lovable
this band is responsible for the only enjoyable part of jojos bizarre adventures. thank you yes, you're the best
There isn't anything that needs to be said about this album. The production is insane for 1971. The three long songs are perfection, and Long Distance Runaround and The Fish together make great companion pieces. ...Alright, I guess there is one thing that needs to be said: do the short indulgences from the individual band members enhance the experience or detract from it? For me, Cans and Brahms and Five Per Cent For Nothing have always been whatever inclusions, Cans doesn't work as an epliogue to Roundabout, Five Per Cent doesn't work as an intro to Long Distance runaround. And I've always hated We Have Heaven. The Fish and Mood For A Day at least stand on their own as good listenable material within the context of the tracklist. I have to wonder, if those three Side 1 indulgences had been cut, would this album be regarded as even better than Close To The Edge? But as it is, it feels like The Yes Album, but with untrimmed fat. I prefer The Yes Album to this. But come one, its still at least a 4/5.
I liked dis one
Heel afwisselend. Heel leuk! Toffe ontdekking
Well, no-one pops fragile on so thry can specially listen to Tin Cans and Brahms or Five Percent for Nothing. The album really consists of four songs - Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, and Heart of the Sunrise - with the solo bits and bobs thrown in as, well, not padding, but bonuses. So then; the bonuses. Tin Cans and Brahms is a surprisingly accurate transcription for keyboards of the third movement of Brahms 4th Symphony and, to be honest, is the sort of thing Wendy Carlos did better. We Have Heaven is Jon Anderson being all hippy and cosmic, if you like that sort of thing. The slamming door and footsteps seem a bit Atom Heart Mother to be honest. Five Percent for Nothing is a Bill Bruford drum solo that the band play along with: all tricky time changes and rhythm tricks. The Fish is Chris Squire overdubbing unfeasible numbers of bass riffs. Mood for a Day is a sort of folk flamenco guitar piece.by Steve Howe. They're all short, they're all palatable and they're apparently there to save money on studio time. The other tracks are group songs. This was Wakeman's first outing and he brings a level of virtuosity and classically trained skills that push the band into a new level of playing. Bruford and Squire have two of the most distinctive sounds in rock music, Anderson has a voice like no other (you may think this good or bad) and Howe is a guitar dynamo. Of course the band songs are over the top and the lyrics are pretty dopey and it goes on too long and has pretensions to symphonic grandeur. But these songs rock like Grandma's chair. I put down my hard earned pocket money when i was 14 to buy the vinyl and never regretted it. 4 stars, but only because you need somewhere to go when you get to Close to the Edge.
Prog rock! I definitely enjoy me some Yes. Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround are highlights here. And very cool version of America. Didn’t even know Yes covered it. Love what they did with this. As much as I like much of the record, it does meander a bit. And the a few of the tracks are self-indulgently long. I think there are better Yes albums, but on whole, a quintessential prog rock Yes work.
Lots of good stuff, a few medium things that feel kinda cheap
I loved the sound of this record, but it definitely gives me a British prog for prog's sake vibe. The music is incredible, but it definitely feels like Yes put their intense musicality first before any intellectual substance. Pink Floyd had its social commentary; Jethro Tull had its vivid imagery, Genesis had its British heritage. What did Yes have other than serious musical talent? I'm just not sure yet. The music is unparalleled, but I need more substance for full marks. Four stars.
Первая и последняя топ, остальное какие-то инструментальные малослушабельные филлеры. Но я обожаю Roundabout, поэтому меньше 4 поставить не могу...
As an old punk I fully expected to hate this but I found myself locking into to the virtuosity, the bananas timing and arrangements and the baroque weirdness of it all. I must be getting old.
8/10 Favourite: Heart of the Sunrise Least Favourite: The Fish
bello, sopratutto un paio di canzoni (long distance runaround aggiunta alla playlist). buona scoperta, da approfondire
Started out strong and I enjoyed it, but by the end it lost some of the initial charm. Happy to listen to it when it comes on but I’m not going to actively search it out or put it on.
This is excellent. I think I'd listened to it once through before but hardly remembered anything other than Roundabout, but Heart of the Sunrise also fucking slaps hard. Love the little intermissions as well. ⬅️ To Be Continued
Is that a motHER FUCKIN JOJO REFERENCE?!?! (I don't have much else to say, this album fucking rips dude)
Liked this a lot, Roundabout is a revelation and there are other great jams too, like that this has either massive sprawling prog rock masterpieces over 8 mins or short two minute noodlers
Only 3.5 songs and then a bunch of noodling, but still good. Was stuck between a 3 or 4, but decided to lean generous, I think this is about the best prog we're going to listen to. Looked at the other reviews and these ones from less generous ratings made me laugh: "Nerd wizard rock that I do not want." "Guess again fuckface!! All you're getting is an album full of scrapped Super Mario 64 music." "Goblin Slop" "You know those girls who really dig Yes? Yeah, me neither."
Yes and ELP are top competitors in the effort to explore the soundscape elements of prog rock, envisioning an artistic environment not physical but sonic, woven together and undulating to carry the listener on flights through fantastical realms. Sometimes these work, and work well, such as with Roundabout, but often the listener is left behind, having missed the flight, confused and disappointed. If are in the mood to get taken along on the flight though, it can be enjoyable. Three stars, with an extra one for creativity.
Looooots of bangers and work on this one
Roundabout Long Distance Runaround Mood for a Day - Renaissance sound Heart of the Sunrise - nice singing Nice contrapuntal sounds, good use of classical influences and incorporating favorite pieces, prog rock - not exactly happy w/high pitched singer but like their sound overall Rococo keyboard by Rick Wakeman
I don't think this is a bad album, and despise the comments saying "Tidbits of noise don't make music", however i also agree with comments saying this isn't a masterpiece either. I only wish the entire album was made of songs such as Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Mood For a Day and Heart of the Sunrise. Sadly, rest of the album falls short.
The long songs are long (7:57, 8:29, 11:16) and the short songs are short (ranging 0:35 to 2:55), with only 'Long Distance Runaround' seeming appropriate for a radio single for a progressive rock band of the time. (Saying this ignores that I grew up hearing 'Roundabout' in all its glory on my local classic rock station, but surely you know what I mean). Somehow the long songs were so transportive they were over too quickly, and the short songs were so captivating that time stretched itself out. The first interlude "Cans and Brahms" was jarring, albeit a little funny/cheeky (I hope humor was part of the intent). To follow with a second solo interlude at first felt like a 'wrong' choice (I do imagine sequencing decisions were at the mercy of physics for pressing LPs, to be fair), but 'We Have Heaven' quickly becomes so loopy and weird in contrast to the preceding classical organ arrangement, that the two songs together quickly become a mutant diptych distillation that hints at an overall thesis for the record. Ultimately, for these little solo jaunts on Fragile, they take space that could have been other complete songs. The sketches, while entertaining and sufficient contributions to the album as a whole, place the album short of a clear higher potential. What I love about this record, especially in comparison to it's prog rock contemporaries (fun fact: Yes drummer Bill Bruford went on to be in King Crimson for over a decade, across some of their best albums.) is how accessible they make their music without sacrificing heady ideas, instrumental showmanship, and non-four-divisible time signatures and phrasing. 'Roundabout', 'We Have Heaven', and 'Long Distance Runaround' are each outright catchy. Particularly 'Roundabout' carries a thinly disguised pop sensibility that could have come from the NYC's Brill Building powerhouse studios. Particularly notable to me, are the clear and implied impacts that this album had on Alternative Rock of later generations. The 'Heart of the Sunrise' repeated centerpiece is a rapid, heavy, tremolo, band-in-unison blues lead-off that we hear uncanny echoes of from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 'Life is Beautiful'. 'We Have Heaven' is entirely predictive of Dan Deacon's science-experiment pop vocals and electronic looping. The moody, delay-laden, motorik 'The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)' although doing work entirely contemporary of Can, for this time, foretells aspects of Tortoise, Primus, and Mars Volta. The pop precision and vocal harmonies of 'Roundabout' sound at home with much of the New Pornographers work. Also noteworthy, just in anecdote and not really in sound, the Replacements drummer and bass player came together over a love of Roundabout.
Self-indulgence never tasted so good.
A great example of prog at it's best. Catchy but complicated. Hooky but hard. And Heart of the Sunrise is just badass. There are three Yes records in the list: Fragile, Close To the Edge and The Yes Album. We really only need one of the more proggy ones. The Yes Album is classic rock cannon, it needs to be here. I like Close to the Edge a little more than Fragile so that would be my choice.
First song transported me back to 2016-2017 like that scene in ratatouille. Was really not expecting it and honestly banger of a song for the rest of it. Other songs were ok but a bit too instrumental at times for me. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - roundabout Least fav- five percent for nothing
Good
De har fået ny pianist/synth med siden the yes albummet. Det er her de finder deres symphonic progressive rock lyd. Det kom ud på samme tid hvor dette var populært i England med bands som King crimson osv. Der blev eksperimenteret meget med længder, kompositioner osv som også er tydligt på albummet på sange som South side of the sky, Heart of the sunrise osv. det som er fedt ved Yes er at de lavede mere optimistisk prog fremfor den der mørke lyd som King crimson f.eks. har. Spirituel søge, kosmisk og menneskelig skrøbelighed er mange af temaerne de kommer ind på i teksterne. Jeg kunne super godt lide det, det er bare sådan noget som jeg synes er rigtig godt. Orchestral rock og symphonic rock som tager fra det klassiske er bare ofte en vinder. Men jeg ved heller ikke hvor meget anderledes jeg synes det er end deres første. Det er ikke fordi jeg synes jeg hører noget nyt hvis man kan sige det sådan.
Liked it a lot! My favourite was South Side of The Sky, also didn't know the "to be continued" meme sound came from this album, that was a fun surprise Love Jon Anderson's voice :)
A little bit ashamed that I know this music only from meme reels hahaha but i really enjoyed listening this album 4/5
Wow that was amazing. So interesting textually throughout and I was never bored. Just so clever, especially with Cans and Brahms. Works incredibly as an album as a whole, which is quite rare apparently.
8/10
I like some prog rock, but Yes tends to get a little too proggy... a little too "we're a prog rock band that wears capes." "Roundabout" and "Long Distance Runaround" are kind of hard to deny as more fun prog rock songs. I'm enjoying this more than I anticipated. And the reason why is because they keep coming back to rock. There's the prog sections, and then rock sections, balance those out correctly, and it works.
8/10
As is very often the case with prog albums, this feels like the case of something made by musicians, for musicians. If you seek sophisticated, jazzy rock instrumentals, you will most likely enjoy this record. However, if you like your music to have substance beyond arrangements, then there's not too much to be found here. Coming from a Bruce Springsteen's record, some nice arrangements was exactly what I needed.
ROundabout incredible. i dont really want to hear Brahms' 4th symphony on synth. Enjoying the chaos. Energetic & interesting. Consumable enough, not too insane.
Honestly a vibe
Did not think it was possible to feel so much freshness and nostalgia at the same time
perfect room cleaning album
Know this one. Good prog and record. Roundabout rocks
Recognized some of the songs . Quite a fan of this album 4/5
4.1
These early albums by Yes are my favorites for sure
Really vibing with Yes during this project. This one is great I want to listen to it more 4-4.5
If hobbits had discovered Chris Squire's bass tone and the 7/8 time signature, the War of the Ring would have ended even sooner. Also, they would have made something that sounded a lot like this fantastic album.
Não sou muito fã de rock progressivo, mas é um álbum muito bom. Alguns faixas tem o contrabaixo em destaque, o que é sensacional. QoA Cloudscape.
Another good find, music was pretty mesmerizing and easy to listen to for an early 70s prog rock album. The guitars and keyboards carry the record, but I also really liked the classical piece too after the juggernaut that is “Roundabout”. Vocals are very tolerable and fitting as well. The whole album was an interesting vibe and enjoyable listen for me.
Because nothing says Merry Christmas like a little Roundabout!
Such a great album. I do wish this sight would NOT link to “deluxe” versions of albums. I did not listen to that one - I listened to a remastered version of the original studio release (also on Spotify). Reading some of the negative reviews I wonder if the deluxe version has a lot more musical masturbation filler. Because the 41 minutes on the studio release felt, for prog rock, reasonably tight and cohesive. There are self indulgent moments for sure and times I found my interest fading. But for the majority of the album I was engaged and enjoying things.
Probably need a dedicated time to listen to straight through. Can see the appeal.
Really liked the first track. Vibed to everything else while I worked.
Lovely <3 Roundabout was the first song I heard from Yes and I loved it from the very start. I have never heard this album in full, so this was a good experience :)
Decent wizard rock!
I have and like this album. Although this was the first time in a while listening to it, and I definitely like it less. Strange how that happens. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes: 37/140 (26%) Will I get? Already have
Prog rock albums are usually not really great as they get the real experimental parts of the music wrong, and it results in music that is skilful but not the greatest listening experience. However, this album certainly achieves both. Yes, some of the songs are too long but each song has its own charm and fare that is so pronounced from everything around it. The opening track of Roundabout is evident of this and is so fun and groovy while keeping to what they do best. I did not expect Yes to have this in them.
Fragile is an iconic album - I remember downloading roundabout onto my old iPod classic and listening to it in high school. After listening to most of Yes' discography over the years, it is clear that the sequencing is not as tight as other releases, with back to back interludes and variable song quality. Still, I have a lot of love and nostalgia for this record. Also, It's fun to see it have such a popular recurrence today via jojo. <--To Be Continued--- 4/5
Listened Before? N Epic prog album. Loved it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Roundabout
Great music definitely prog rock of the early 70s sounds
Although they are not my favourite band out of the first prog rock era, this album is a classic. It has some great songs and complex writing. I enjoyed it. The best part of it is... ...to be continued
fun instrumentals and great lyrics
Steve Howe you elf looking bad MFng guitar genius. Is this nerd rock at its finest?
Not quite as good as the other 2 Yes albums on this list. 4 stars is generous but I do love me some 70s Prog.
Interesting guitar instrumentals. I enjoyed this but it didn’t really stand out.
Interesting album. There are a number of classical feeling pieces mixed in with the couple of hits you've heard from the radio. I might keep this one in regular rotation. My rating: 4/5
I could see liking this
Sick one
I saw them when this album came out! Weirdly, the other bands playing with them were The Allman Bros and Edgar Winter Group! Pretty enjoyable listening.
Not a prog fan, but I really liked it. Weird at times, but extremely well-executed. And Roundabout is a wonderful, wonderful track.
Roundabout. That's it. What an epic 8 plus minute journey, some of the best bass playing around. One of the greatest rock songs of all time. The rest of the album is playing catch-up. It's one of the strongest side 1 song 1s of all time and the album may suffer from it, nothing really gets you back to that level of energy. 'We Have Heaven' has it's moments, 'Long Distance Runaround' is a standout, everything else just melts together in a fun sound that often feels experimental or half baked, but the vibes are good, you could set this in the background and just groove.
Honestly I’m a bit disappointed with this but my expectations were probably too high. I like Yes and I like their really insane concept albums like Tarkus but this doesn’t really reach those heights. It’s stuck between that and more traditional classic rock. “Roundabout” is easily the highlight and nothing else gets that good. I also enjoyed "Heart of the Sunrise" because it was like more of their really eclectic prog work. The only track I actively disliked was "Cans and Brahms" because it sounded like a midi demo track. This was still great to me but I kept wanting to listen to some other Yes stuff. You obviously have to be in to prog in general to want to listen to Yes, and this was no exception. I get the hate.
Not my favorite work from the band, but really solid overall. I think maybe the middle wasn't particularly giving with me, but no doubt those longer songs are where their creative musicianship shines
Bigger than the meme
Some really good prog rock here. Every member is spotlighted on the album, the song structures are complex yet pretentious and hit the ear right. Rick Wakeman rips a couple solos. Best tracks: Southside of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, Heart of the Sunrise 4/5 Stars
Good album with some great standouts.
First listen: This is silly music for nerds. Second listen: This slaps and I am a nerd!
Standout Songs: Roundabout South Side of the Sky Long Distance Runaround Heart of the Sunrise Absolutely beautiful prog album that’s so much more than just the “To Be Continued…” meme. Very much enjoyed it.
Awesome album
Start to finish, a wonderful ride.
Probably my favorite Yes album. Good balance of prog, proper songwriting and great band playing at their top level. On top of this, both the 2024 remaster and the Steven Wilson remix version i listened to sound really good!
Classico classique
The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" was the first video played on MTV in August of 1981. By that time, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes (of The Buggles) had joined Yes and released the album Drama, which featured Horn on lead vocals. It was the first Yes album that did not have Jon Anderson singing lead. Trevor Horn stuck around to produce the immensely successful Yes follow-up 90125, which included "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Horn also produced ABC's The Lexicon of Love (including "The Look of Love"), Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock ("Buffalo Gals"), and Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Welcome to the Pleasuredome ("Relax"). His Wikipedia page says he has been called "the man who invented the eighties" which does not feel too far off. Meanwhile, Geoff Downes formed Asia in 1981 with John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson), Steve Howe (who was estranged from Yes at the time) and Carl Palmer (the "Palmer" in Emerson, Lake and Palmer). Downes and Howe have since rejoined Yes and continue with the band to this day. None of this is really germane to this review, but I find it interesting. My uncle was more of the Yes fan in my household. He owned 90125 and Classic Yes on CD. Classic Yes included "Heart of the Sunrise," "Long Distance Runaround" and "The Fish" off Fragile. But I invariably would skip "Heart of the Sunrise" and "The Fish." Frustratingly, it also included an inferior, live version of "Roundabout." I eventually acquired the album version of "Roundabout," which is probably my second favorite Yes song after "Starship Trooper." I read an interview with Jon Anderson who said the lyrics were mostly written while on a bus ride, driving through roundabouts and around lakes. Checks out. So, while I like Yes, this is the first time I have listened to Fragile in its entirety. Whether or not I give it a five depends on "We Have Heaven," "South Side of the Sky" and instrumentals from Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford. (Incidentally, Bill Bruford left Yes in 1972 to join King Crimson and was the touring drummer for Genesis in 1976, when Phil Collins took over lead vocals.) Survey says: Fragile is a four.
Heard about it from School of Rock. Great album and I hope we get more like these going forward!
I knew there was a pocket connecting the psych sounds of the sixties to early genesis. Here it is and I really enjoyed it. Will be digging in to more Yes.
Yeah I liked this! Had to listen a few times through to actually let it sink in but will be back.
Love me some prog rock albums and Yes does it the very best.
Yeah this rips actually. Super catchy, awesome guitar work
This album marks the introduction of Rick Wakeman to the Yes lineup, and his addition brought a whole new dimension with the Mellotron and Moog synthesizer. Just that alone gets high approval from me! This is a really solid album, and I think it’s a great entry point for someone new to prog rock. The musicianship and arrangements are more complex, but it’s also one of their easier albums to digest, with shorter track lengths and a more accessible sound. That’s probably why it includes one of their bigger radio hits as well.
I've never heard of Yes before, so I was pleasantly surprised by this. A bit bizarre, but the good kind. The melodies and instrumentals are very pleasant, even when the vocals leave more to be desired. The tracklist is a mix of group-composed songs and solo-composed songs (seemingly from time/budget constraints?). This means that one moment you'll be listening to an 8min prog rock suite, the next it'll be a keyboard cover of a Brahm's symphony, or a 35s cacophony composed by the bands percussionist. It makes for nothing if not an interesting listening experience, with many moments of "I have no idea why you would make that decision, but I'm fascinated that you did". Faves: South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround
SOLID, LAST SONG HAS A SWEET MOMENT
Some great tracks live & nice acoustic work
Love that I’m, high school again.
I'm extremely picky with prog rock. But damn when it's done well it kicks ass
Better than Coldplay
signature 70s organ and fantasy 'charging thru the universe' vibes, the big tracks on this album were on heavy rotate throughout my childhood - our dad liked them and rock radio had them on all the time. I like this record for its unique sound and super tracks, the sound flows like a fairytale
So original and creative. Simply no one else with this sound. Such a talented band.
While Roundabout got all the attention, Heart of the Sunrise transported us more. Foundational prog, it still works today--creative, inventive, mysterious, built for drug-euphoria accompaniment (marijauna, LSD, mushrooms, Seagram's, your choice) (hey, just trying to do our part). I defy anyone not to sing along with "In and around the lake," even if you don't try more. It is possible without too much of a stretch to recognize the head-banging possibilities invited by half of this.
Side one starts off great with Roundabout, but the rest are pretty weak. Side two starts off OK, but the rest are amazing. I'm giving this a 4 because the great songs are truly something else, even though I skip fully 1/3 of the album whenever I need my Yes fix.
Ahhh those glorious teen years listening to this album. But really it was only Roundabout and Long Distance that knocked my socks off. And for those two songs, I bump a star! Because listening to those two songs before you die is a real joy.
Yes is almost always a yes from me
Solid album. Not my jam, but all respect.
good music
This was an awesome album. I generally love yes, but I had only really heard two of the tracks on this album before (Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround), and I do think that they were bright spots of the record for me, but the other tracks were also great. Some of the classical excerpts were a little on the boring side, but I still enjoyed them overall. Four stars.
Roundabout er meget sterk. Litt for mye eksperimentering utover for min del. En svak 4er fra meg.
This is psychadelic prog rock at its best. The instruments are flying and the lyrics are crazy and it's a complete trip. I liked the album. It's weird, wild, and fun to listen to. From distorted rock guitars to classical arrangements to acoustic jams to organs and synths just going off, there's a little bit of everything. Standouts were "Roundabout" "South Side of the Sky" and "Heart of the Sunrise." Honestly pretty solid album. Very strong 4, with some more listens and time to digest, this could be a 5.
This album was so confusing… Twórcy postanowili iść za ideą ‚never let them know your next move’ Połowa to super vibe w stylu electronic futuristic cosmic music, ale potem nagle z bomby leci klasyczna muza w stylu Chopin followed by dad rock type of music. I mimo że wiele momentów mnie wkurzało i wybijało z rytmu, to wciąż nie mogłam przestać słuchać. Osobiście najbardziej podobały mi się momenty lekkiego rocka, dużo basu i syntezatorów, i gdy robiło się za gęsto, nie wyłączałam bo czekałam na to aż znowu się pojawi super wstawka. Basically sinusoidalny love-hate relationship. Chciałabym dać temu albumowi mniej za chaos, jaki wyrządził w mojej głowie, ale daje 4 za te wszystkie nieoczywiste zwroty akcji i mocne momenty Best tracks: Long Distance Runaround Roundabout
A very nice and elegant album, moreso for a prog rock album. Something to eat your smoked salmon and caviar to. Plus, this album has Roundabout on it! Favorite tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, The Fish, Mood for a Day, Heart of the Sunrise
Agréable! Est-ce que le programme c’est pour moi? Peut-être pas.
Nice progressive rock album. The song 'Roundabout' is of course iconic, I am mainly a fan of the bass playing. Overall strong album. 4/5
A pleasant surprise for me. Beautiful music.
so much great stuff here, I love how much territory it explores, and it how sometimes just bursts wide open
“Roundabout” might be a perfectly composed rock song. The others on this album could not attain that level, but they are very good, too - or, at least, very interesting.
Good stuff. 4.5*. There's a lot of Yes stuff I like a lot, but they've never been in my top 10 bands/artists. I have a Best Of collection that keeps me pretty happy with their offerings. Musically, amazingly talented. Not sure what keeps me from rating them 5* for this album, but I can't quite get there. Maybe it's that some of lyrics seem to be gibberish?
Roundabout and long distance runaround are enough to get this album to 4 stars.
Good songs, some nice instrumental music
kind of interesting, the last song reminded me of mars volta a lot
Another childhood classic. Dad loves this one and so do I.
Jojo reference yeah man
Lustiges Album natürlich vom meme aber auch so banger Songs sehr zu empfehlen Special Mention: Long Distance Runaround Best Song: Roundabout Rating: 3,6/5 To be continued…
I'm not always a prog rock guy, but this album is pretty cool. Biggest discovery for me was Yes's cover of America, which I thought was really well done; they took that song in a completely new direction musically and it sounded awesome.
Yes! Thank you. Loved this. Another case of “turns out there’s nothing new, I just haven’t heard it yet.”
Yes being Yes. They’ll hit you with a perfectly crafted “Roundabout” or “Long Distance Runaround”, then a nine-minute synth-orchestral instrumental that’s about extraterrestrial frogs. Yes is one of those bands that sound good only when you’re older.
Really enjoyed this one and all the diverse instrumental tracks
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Definitely music made by dorks, but that is cool. No surprise, but the bass tone rips. The standout tracks are the long ones.
Music to pick bellybutton lint to.
Although not my favorite album of theirs I can say that this is their best album. The drummer is way out of control and the keyboard player on cue just taking the rythym to an extra level of progression in most songs.
Solid prog rock. Never really hits the high of the first track but still solid all around.
Love it. Yes, pretentious. But they’re good and pleasant to listen to.
Muy lindo. Para volver a escuchar. Rico y adelantado. Nota: 4.1
Album 64 of the challenge and the 14th that I actually own!! A cornerstone of progressive rock, Fragile is a showcase of virtuosity, ambition, and eccentricity. Roundabout kicks off with its iconic acoustic intro, then the album plunges into a kaleidoscope of shifting time signatures, soaring harmonies, and intricate instrumental passages. Each band member gets a spotlight moment—some more compelling than others—but it’s “South Side of the Sky” and “Heart of the Sunrise” that truly shine. While the Spotify link takes you to the Deluxe Edition, the original vinyl’s omission of the Simon & Garfunkel cover “America” is, frankly, a blessing. While the Deluxe Edition adds it for completists, it feels more like a curiosity than a necessity. The album’s strength lies in its original material, where Yes blend classical precision with rock energy in a way that still feels fresh. I can see why Fragile ranks so highly on ProgArchives (#10 all-time)— for old school progheads, it’s a defining statement of the genre.
There were a couple moments I could kind of do without but, on the whole, it's a cool album.
Just some bloody good prog rock!! 4.5 stars
Great album. Had Roundabout in my head since listening. Would probably be a five if I were listening properly, not while working.
My first love was Rush but this is still pretty cool
Perfectionism much, level of talent in this band is mind-boggling, but there’s something a little too crisp and clean about their sound. I wish I left a couple hairs out of place. Overall, first time listening to Yes. The way they flip from progress rock to classical and everything in between is pretty impressive. This must’ve sounded like they were fucking aliens or something. When the first came out I love the ties the classical music. Not sure I would revisit any of this, but it is cool to hear just nerd. It’s being a nerd you know.
Roundabout.
Ein gutes Prog-Rock Album. Mit Yes bin ich trotz Vorliebe für die Musik der Zeit und Art bisher nicht warm geworden. 4/5
Bastante chulillo
The non-vocal tracks age much better than the vocal ones.
A little more in my current wheelhouse. First time I’ve listened to a Yes album front to back. I’ll be listening to more.
“It must be Italian…” 🤷🏼♂️ Rick Wakeman tries his best to spoil the broth with his over-the-top playing but despite that, this really blew me away.
Great prog rock!
‘Roundabout’ is a pretty great song and the other tracks were a nice variety of styles, amazing guitar picking showed quite a talent. Got a bit overlong but I think I may have listened to a deluxe version and not the original release. 4/5 solid
This worked for me. It is weird and does a lot, but it’s fun. The whole thing is silly and entertaining. Long distance runaround is great. Heart of the sunrise is a great closer
Prog rock is not my thing at all but this is good! Will listen again
Enjoyable album
YEA
A very bright album with a lot of weird but fun stuff going on musically. I’m for it. Best song: Roundabout
To be continued...
Oh, I knew roundabout thanks to JoJo. What I think about this album I think it's a good one love the energy and vocals of it. 4/5
lowk fire???? not rly my thing but def nixe and owner of a lonely heart is so good this reminded me
Classic
wide variety of styles in the album. I like the instrumental based tracks
roundabout is a sweet bass jam Will I listen to again: 88%
Really good. People complaining about the minute long instrumentals but I think they were cool little pace breakers between the main songs and said main songs were very good so overall 4 stars
its a jojos refrence so fire
Classic prog. And with a playfulness and lightheartedness. Some amazing songs on this. Couple of average instrumental/interludes. Yes would top this with Close to the Edge.
Classic Yes
Uno de los discos ideales para iniciarse al vasto mundo del rock progresivo. Además, se le suma la popularidad que ha adquirido gracias a Roundabout (ya sea por el meme o por el anime). También destaca Heart of the Sunrise sobre otros temas más cortos pero igual de buenos. 4'5/5
was already familiar with yes (my dad is a white middle aged man) but goddamn this goes crazy whatever they were putting in coke in the early 70s BRING IT BACK nobody is operating on this level anymore roundabout is the obvious standout here, but i really loved the instrumental cans & brahms and the 11-minute final track, heart of the sunrise guitar riffs are always catching you off guard with how funky and smooth they are, and plenty of times i had to rewind to hear it again because it went that hard. loved this down but i don’t think most of the songs are built for everyday listening, the album’s just must better listened to as a whole
> The Beatles Yes, indeed
This was a great album. I knew the song roundabout but ever other song was new to me and interesting!
hahahaha meme song. I don't consider myself a prog rock guy, I went through a huge math rock phase in my late teens/early twenties but even that has mostly passed. However I think more recent bands, especially those trying to escape the UK Windmill/Post Punk label (Black Midi, Squid, etc.) have embraced and breathed new life into the genre, albeit under the label of art rock but the influence is definitely there. Five per Cent of Nothing is straight up proto Black Midi. Upon reaching the end of this album I don't really have a lot to say about it other than I really enjoyed it. It didn't feel as bloated or excessive as I expected, it had its lulls but there were a lot of moments were it really shined. Incredible musicianship too. Favourites - Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Five per Cent of Nothing, The Fish, Heart of the Sunrise
Good
"Fragile” is often cited as being one of Yes's best albums, along with "Close To The Edge". It is representative of Yes's individual brilliance as musicians, and their collective creativity, and for many this record represents the quintessential Yes line-up: Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford, and Steve Howe. Listening to “Fragile” is an enjoyable experience overall, as when it hits, it is engaging, containing intricate arrangements and spirited performances. Roger Dean’s iconic artwork provides the perfect visual compliment to the music within. That said, not every track here hits its target, but “Fragile” is an example of an album where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Even when individual moments falter, the record holds together. The album is not without its challenges. The complexity of the compositions demands attentive listening, and certain instrumental segments could be perceived as filler. At times, the album’s cohesion is tested. Yet, this is ultimately what makes “Fragile” a very good listen, 4⭐. Would I listen to this album again? Yes, but I have to be in the mood for Yes. Would I buy this album? Yes, I did. 1 "Roundabout" - Wonderful acoustic guitar introduction from Steve Howe. Then Chris Squire's brilliant bass line kicks in. Rick Wakeman is on fire. Wonderful vocals from Jon Anderson. This song isn't self indulgent and is just kept in check. Dazzling. - 5 2 "Cans and Brahms" - 4 3 "We Have Heaven" - 3 4 "South Side of the Sky" - And again everything gels into a cohesive, excellent song. - 5 5 "Five per Cent for Nothing"- 4 6 "Long Distance Runaround" - 4 7 "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" - 4 8 "Mood for a Day" - 3 9 "Heart of the Sunrise" - This is musically excellent, being both thrilling and gentle. This really works. - 5 Total - 37 Average - 4.11
Excellent
Interesting
yes!!!!!!!
Delectable instrumentals
In college, with trepidation I once confessed that I had not heard a Yes album that was released before 1980. With a twinkle in his eye, my roommate slapped on this album and blew my mind with "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise". After albums 90125 and BIG GENERATOR this is my 3rd favorite album from Yes. Yes, while there maybe filler in the middle of the album, it is sandwiched by those 2 stone cold classics of "Roundabout" and "Heart of the Sunrise" that amounts to nearly 20 minutes of music. That's nearly half of a standard length 43 minutes album, and as far as I am concerned that is as good as 4 hits on an album with pop length songs.
It came off as a bit pretentious, kind of like The Wall for me. A bit better and less filler, but I enjoy that this album has a bit more groove. Roundabout is classic as always, the latter half of the album is pretty great too. Love the bass and drum work. 4 of 5 is fair
4.1 Really liked it. Maybe some of the progressive parts got a bit campy at times. All-time bass album
Wow this is the same year as the other yes one which I hated, but this is infinitely better, more similar to close to the edge and more experimental. There’s not that many vocal parts on here, and when there are, they are quite well integrated. Instrumentally and performance wise, this is top notch. I think it’s Bill Bruford on drums, who I think is great. The synth and keyboard stuff is also great, I think that’s what makes this era of prog-rock very interesting. Love the long songs, and there’s also a lot of variety with some of the simpler shorter ones. Obviously I know the first song, quite surprised it’s a yes song. Favourite songs: roundabout, we have heaven, south side of the sky, long distance runaround, the fish (Schindleria Praemeterus), heart of the sunrise, America (what a random cover - thing it only came out 1 or 2 years prior). Overall around 7/10
Cool
The songs flow into one another so smoothly I didn't even notice the time passing by. Roundabout alone makes this record deserve such high praise
Yes has some great tunes and some weird, but fascinating soundscapes. However, this 4-disc set is super repetitive with multiple remixes of the same song.
25/07/2025 I've only ever known of one of their songs, but this was a pleasant surprise.
I adored most of this album. It just got a little too wacky here and there for my taste. I know that’s a defining feature of prog, but it’s also a line that can’t be crossed too far before it becomes a headache for me. For the most part, this album was in the sweet spot. The highlights for me were Roundabout and Mood For A Day. The acoustic guitar playing in the latter really shows off the talent in the band.
jaja jojo
Never listened much to Yes before, and I can say it definitely got my attention. Love the cool fusion of classical and rock. Roundabout and Heart of the sunrise were both phenomenally complex and interesting pieces. Some of the instrumentals did drag on a little. Overall though loved the experimental sound to it.
Would have given it 5 stars but always felt that even though it's a great album, the solo tracks (other than The Fish and Mood For A Day) are lackluster and bring it down.
Roundabout- the album blows all the other songs out of the water tbh
70er progrock
It's ambitious and chatoic with sprawling epics and iconic riffs. It's still cohesive even though each member made their own tracks. The themes are interesting and it feels timeless. The "interludes" are a breath of fresh air before the next "normal track" Best song: Roundabout Worst song (excluding short songs): Long Distance Runaround Cover check: I love the cover art. Fragile earth.
Album 839 of 1089 Yes -Fragile (1971) Rating : 4 / 5 There's no doubt this is a strong, well-crafted album, and I definitely enjoyed it—but something kept it from fully landing as "great" for me. That said, I have tremendous respect for the talent and musicianship on display here. Every member of the band clearly excels at their craft, and they come together to create what is—without argument—an iconic album. Iconic doesn’t necessarily equal perfect, I guess. My head wants to give it a 4.5, but my gut says it’s more of a 4. Still, I'm glad to have spent time with it and absolutely understand why it’s held in such high regard.
Really enjoyed this.
very fun, doesn't get tiring!
Did I enjoy this album? Yes. 7/10
I thought this was a really fun album. First song is a Tik tok song, but it was cool to listen to it all the way through. Bass is soooooo phat. There were moments that I thought were weaker than others, but I was engaged throughout the entirety of the album. It could've been a little shorter, but those are my only critiques. weak to decent 4.
La cancion Roundabout es buena
Enjoyed it more than thought; perhaps ahead of its time. Some stand out more. 4* for sound and timing
Very cool prog rock album Standout songs: Southside of the sky Heart of the Sunrise
Surprisingly good easy fun spring listen. 4/5
Good! Only thing I didn’t like was too much piano
Enjoyed this, thanks.
Pioneering prog rock album with masterful electric + acoustic guitar playing, and drumming by Bill Bruford (before he got bored and moved over to King Crimson). The intro to "Roundabout" has been meme'd into legendary status but the song is honestly incredible when giving it a real listen.
This album is everything I LOVE about psyche rock. It’s so imaginative and fun. There’s amazing instrumentation, and the album is a staple in the genre. This is easily top 3 Yes albums. If you like KGLW this album is for you. Also this album has a meme in it! That’s pretty crazy and weird right? I don’t even know how Roundabout became one, but when you listen to the album you will hear it right at the beginning. Awesome album!
Classic
4,5
I was confused by how much I liked this. Had to listen twice.
More like yasss
is that a jojo reference ?!
This album has three good songs. Yes, they're more than half of the runtime, but there are only three. Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, and Heart of the Sunrise (the best one, in my opinion) are fantastic epic prog songs with unique composition and satisfying vocals, but the rest of the songs on this album feel like filler and are just alright. All of them, even the better ones, feel out of place and an afterthought. I think the best one out the filler is Mood for a Day, and it's actually pretty decent, but even it feel like it's from a different album. It is so fun and satisfying even through minimalist acoustic songs is not what I usually enjoy, but this style is so different from the lush, psychedelic approach the big songs take that it still feels wrong. The same is true for all the other filler. Overall, I still love this album because the long songs are incredibly engaging. There are no bad parts in them, and they don't feel drawn out in any way. Long-form tracks is when Yes really shines. All three of them arguably compete for their best work. But the filler on this album can easily ruin the vibe. Listening through this album felt like I was just waiting for the next good part at times.
Cool album for the weekend, I ran it 2X. I was familiar with the obvious hits they are known for, but I really enjoyed the full play through. “Heart of the Sunrise” plays a little long, but I ended up flagging five tracks including their take on “America” which I was not aware of and was a nice surprise. It’s not quite full stars but I thought this was great.
Not as tightly composed as other Yes albums, but still a great time.
the instrumentals are soooo cooool
aha znam
Roundabout has always been a favorite, enjoyed Heart of the Sunrise a lot, overall felt a lot like Rush in some ways as well.
One of the best albums of Yes and they were at their peak after Rick Wakeman joined the best. I like prog rock but I found myself not easily get into the music of Yes, perhaps it is because their songs aren't that melodic as other bands from that era. Their musicianships is amazing, though and I liked this album more than their previous ones. 4 stars overall.
I love this album. Chunky bass lines, crazy drumming.
When I think of “progressive rock” this is the album that comes to mind. Released well before Pink Floyd began their classic run in ‘75 with Dark Side of the Moon, “Fragile” epitomizes the 70s progressive sound, complete with uncommon, rapidly changing time signatures, heavy usage of complex soloing and aptly placed synth, arena-sized vocals, not to mention the masterful drums holding it all together. Yes and King Crimson were the bridge between the late 60s and early 70s necessary for bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, and a little later, Rush, to really let their progressive flags fly.
This album is proof that even the best bands are not immune to underwhelming filler tracks. Which is a shame, because this album easily contains some of Yes' best work, but the solo songs dont really feel as cohesive and do detract from an otherwise incredible album in my opinion. Top tracks: Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise
prima canzone giro di basso sentitissomo
A lot of old dad/mum rock on this app which can be good or crap, this took me back though. I remember listening to a bit of YES, usually after a suitable amount of drugs and occasional acid trip. Some of the tunes and jingles remind me of so many other songs by other bands, but it feels impossible to place them. Although classed as rock, I would place it in a folksy style, folksy rock maybe? Actually, reminds me White Noise which was introduced to me by some friends whilst tripping. Now that was an album. Compared to some of the shite offered on this app its got to be 4 stars.
The first song had me from the first few notes. WOW. good classic rock overall, nice guitar work. Would re-listen, added roundabout to my library.
Fantastic on headphones. Clever compositions
A bit wandering, a bit of added filler, but a fun album. I think Prog Rock in general is going to rank well with me, and I'm curious how this stacks up with other Prog Rock on the list - Lost my notes from before... I was halfway through. TLDR I'm enjoying, but there is definitely filler in the album. Leaning 4 stars
good
this was pretty good, obviously roundabout is a classic but the rest was also very solid.
Prog gold!
Første sangen er gøy!
beginnen en eindigen met een knaller... er tussen wat vulling (maar niet allemaal slecht natuurlijk)... solide plaatje
Cans and Brahms, We Have Heaven, and Five Per Cent for Nothing feel like filler but are all under 2 minutes and don’t get in the way of the meat of the album. Everything else is Yes firing on all cylinders and it’s fantastic.
I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I like progressive rock, or at least go through phases where I listen to a lot, so I have listened to a lot of Yes in my day. I like this album, it's got some classics and I like the blend of classical guitar with 70s rock.
This improved my Mood for a Day. Had me looking to the South Side of the Sky when I listened to this Fragile album.
Dope
Not all of this works but enjoyable, with some bits going pretty hard. Good fun!
I genuinely never knew out Roundabout outside of the meme. Honestly, for every good song on this thing, the next 2 were shit. I didn't hate this record, but I just can't see myself coming back to it. If I wanted to listen to something in the same realm, I'd listen to King Crimson. I quite enjoyed the laters of Spanish guitar on this thing though. Makes me see where the #1 hater of this album on the global reviews called it "wizard rock". This thing definitely got better towards the end. Heart of the Sunrise was a banger. I wasn't going to rate this more than a 3, but the latter half of the album was so damn good I think this is very deserving of a 4.
Roundabout, Heart of the Sunrise and a mixed bag inbetween. I love prog rock and this album is fantastic but I can also recognise when it's being self-indulgent. Highlights, Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, Heart of the Sunrise