Fragile

Some songs I liked but in general jut not my favorite genre of music.

Heart of the Sunrise was longer on a different edition. From Wikipedia, I discovered there was a hidden track originally. I was able to hear it on the original from Spotify.

couldnt really hack it

Roundabout- the album blows all the other songs out of the water tbh

70er progrock

I say yes to Yes.

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

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.

A couple of truly great songs and a fair amount of noodling.

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.

I feel like I would love this love, but it may be angry listening to it on a long drive.

Really enjoyed this.

Is this album a Jojo reference?

3.5 Early Yes is a mess. But a joyful one at that. The covers were excellent ("No Opportunity Necessary") and the originals were taking shape ("Starship Trooper.") When Rick Wakeman joined, the writing sped up and they figured our to bottle the lightning ("Heart of The Sunrise" and "Long Distance Runaround." They even got a badass single with "Roundabout." The cohesion is not on "Fragile" and it is so vaunted in places. So, it makes me wish they slipped their amazing cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "America" in there. Then it wouldn't be so full of itself. Which ultimately is their downfall, ("Close To The Edge" is alive with tension and a need to make it work AND make it fit together - therefore, their best.) and the exposure of taking yourself too seriously as the Achilles Heel of Prog Rock.

-6 charisma +9 bass on "Roundabout"

Like the hits

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

So much music so little reason

dont like

Perhaps worse than I ever imagined it would be. Could just about tolerate the sub-two minute “We Have Heaven”. Thanks, but no thanks.

Mwah, sommige nummers zijn wel oké, andere minder.

This was an interesting new discovery. Not sure why it's in this list, but some solid organ rick - kinda 60s psychedelic type stuff.

IS THIS A JOJO’S REFERENCE?!?!?

very fun, doesn't get tiring!

Did I enjoy this album? Yes. 7/10

Rating: 6/10 They can play their asses off, no question about that. The longer songs were all quite good, even though these songs would oftentimes meander and the band would focus on the wrong ideas. The other songs are pure filler.

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

5/10

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

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

A little overlong and some tracks are bleeps and samples of a min or so. Roundabout is fantastic and some of the tracks are ok Prog rock but nothing to write home about. some anoying piano on some tracks that is unecessary

Fun and creative but a bit all over the place with no guiding thread

it's pretty interesting but there are one too many indulgent guitar solos (an inescapable part of this genre, i suppose.)

I can absolutely appreciate the musicianship, I just don't like the music the musicians make.

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

Roundabout is too long but a banger. Then two random songs that I do not need again. That is the prevailing theme of this album, a great instrumental idea that’s too long followed by little snippets that don’t add much. There is a straight primus song on here that rules though. Heart of the Sunrise is great until he starts singing but then it will not end. Feeling a hard 3.

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.

I’m conflicted. Half of this is really good, but then it overstays its welcome and becomes everything that sucks about prog rock. These dudes can clearly play and the bassist is stellar in particular. I think the album gets progressively worse with each song, im feeling a strong 3/5 still though.

It’s a bit too prog-y for me but I do appreciate that they kept it relatively short.

La cancion Roundabout es buena

Grandes desarrollos instrumentales. Un disco de 1971

They rock superinfection hard

I’m on a streak of fair to middling albums. This is one of them. I have affection for Yes because I greatly enjoy prog rock, but this album is a little underwhelming. Fine, perfectly OK, but nothing special.

Classic awesomeness

Too much prog rock for me. Like...way too much prog rock.

Way too long but the first disc was pretty good. Had the meme song! Did not listen to the rest. So 3 stars

Nerdy singers talking bout sum nerdy shi idk didn't listen much but the mixes and unique production was fire lot of ear candy and doubled vocals

These guys were just having a good time making music together. Roundabout was pretty good but nothing that stood out to me in a decade of other awesome prog rock.

michelle found it extremely enjoyable, which in skeptical about. she appreciated the instrumentals. i thought it was aight.

A good contender against the might of Genesis.

solid classic rock

Enjoyed it more than thought; perhaps ahead of its time. Some stand out more. 4* for sound and timing

I once was so down for prog rock. I also was a teenage stoner at the time. Now, while I appreciate the musicianship, I don’t have the interest or patience for the epic jams. 3.5 stars

Yes? No, not for me...don't really like them or get them...

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

Very cool prog rock album Standout songs: Southside of the sky Heart of the Sunrise

One of my favorite Yes albums.

2/1001 :: Yes - Fragile Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: Light 4 Fav Tracks: Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky Apparently this Prog Rock virtuoso of an album was released in 1971 but you could've fooled me because it sounded really 80's to my ear (and not in a good way)... While I had never listened to this album there were 2 songs that were very familiar. Roundabout & Long Distance Runaround are staples on my local classic rock radio station (i95 FM). And Roundabout being the first song set the tone for the album. These musicianship is highly skilled, but there was a ton of bad synth and noodley guitar work which frankly is not my bag. Ironically there were many elements here that reminded me of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (who I love) but without the edge and that was my issue with it. Also felt like half the songs were instrumentals and my TBH i only really liked parts of my Fav Tracks (Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky) as both of those songs could have used a real haircut IMO. Now on to No. 3 !

Surprisingly good easy fun spring listen. 4/5

Goeie funk bij momenten Kinda saai though

This album was ok not my kind of genre typically so wouldn’t listen again but it was interesting to hear something different from what I am used to

Good! Only thing I didn’t like was too much piano

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

Enjoyed this, thanks.

Heard a bunch of these songs. Not something I will listen to often but decent.

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.

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

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

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!

No

I can’t. I tried.

Prog. If that word makes you tingle go 4 it. If not, settle in for the slog. There will be moments where youre like, this is ok. But those moments will be interrupted w inexplicably annoying turns. Not my bag

Classic

I don't think I can adequately explain how much I hate this. I'm not a prog fan or of jam bands in general. This band is both. They're all very talented. Playing around in all these off-kilter time signatures playing difficult fills constantly. Bands like these play and noodle around for a long time with no payoff musically or emotionally. I find it all so boring. And frankly irritating. Just...no.

4,5

Since I started listening and buying Rock music (55 years ago) I have skirted around the prog bands without ever going fully in, loved Genesis and Jethro Tull at the time but don't revisit their music hardly at all these days. Yes passed me by, but I gave it a good go this morning - listening to 'Fragile" twice, there is a lot to admire in the sheer musicianship in the band but it didn't connect for me on a deeper level I am afraid. YES? sorry lads, but it's a NO for me!

So so

Good album. Yes has a unique sound that I like in small doses. A whole album starts to get a bit tiring. Fortunately they’re not long albums.

This was kind of interesting. For starters I was floored to find the theme music of the "To be continued" meme. The rest of the song is quite good, as is the rest of the album. It's a unique sound the band has, and parts of the album feel pretty epic in their composition. It's nice... But I don't think it's totally my thing. I can acknowledge how the music is well put together, but I don't feel the need to listen to more.

Banging opener. Uneventful continuatio.

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

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

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

The harmony at the end of The Fish is reminiscent of ... Eagles? CSN&Y? Mood for a Day was pretty, too.

I was confused by how much I liked this. Had to listen twice.

More like yasss

I want to like Yes, I really do, but they don't make it easy. There's some great stuff in here (like the surprisingly funky Roundabout) , but there's also plenty of noodling for the sake of noodling that frustrates me. Heart of the Sunrise is the best and worst of Yes all within 11 minutes. In the hands of a more restrained band that guitar part has the making of an absolute rock classic, but instead it's a sprawling opera that dilutes it to the point where it could barely be considered a coherent song, let alone a great one. Bumping it up to a 3 just so I don't disappoint my dad too much.

is that a jojo reference ?!

Was excited to listen to this one, but was disappointed. "Roundabout" is a great track, the rest is your typical boring 70s prog rock with noodling and jamming.

Sometimes great, sometimes too kooky.

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

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.

• 3/5 • love love the baseline on Roundabout, but don’t find the rest of the album enjoyable - too experimental/prog/self-indulgent

Yes!!!

very hood

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.

A lot to digest with this one. The musicianship is obviously top notch, and for me the opener is probably still the most enjoyable. Plenty of other musical surprises peppered throughout, especially a very original and different take on America. I was wanting to like it more, but it just didn’t quite get there for me. It’s still quite good, just not the next level I was hoping for.

Really only one song on this that does anything for me, and the rest mostly not really my thing.

Yep, Yup, Yeah, Yea, Uh-huh, Sure, Sure thing, Absolutely, Totally, Definitely, For sure, You bet, Affirmative, Indeed, Without a doubt, Of course, By all means, That’s right, Roger that, Aye, A-OK, Indubitably, Fo’ sho’, Hell yes, Hell yeah, I do, I will, I can, Consider it done, No doubt, Sure enough, Right on, Word, Mm-hmm, You got it, 10-4, Sounds good, Works for me, Copy that, I’m in, Count me in, Naturally, As you wish, Fine by me, Why not, All right, Looks good, Okay, Okie dokie, Yes.

Hard to keep up the pace after a banger of an opening track. Thought this was good but not great. 3.25/5

Roundabout is peak, that is all

A wonderful mess of an album. Bookended with two of the best Yes songs (Roundabout is an all timer), but the middle of the album feels like sketches of an idea rather than a coherent work. A joy to listen to this album as a bass player though, Chris Squire really had it going on here.

This is reductive of me but this album really is just the home of Roundabout and 8 other songs... South Side of the Sky, Long Distance Runaround, and Heart of the Sunrise are good but man these runtimes are brutal. Not enough meat for the duration but some really great sounds.

No

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

I hear a lot of pink Floyd Wish you were here, but it was released 4 years prior! Especially South Side of the Sky. I don’t mind this record. It probably needs a few listens to take it all in.

OK

I have my problems with Yes albums. I really like prog rock, but the influences from classical music or jazz, for example, should not get out of hand so that the virtuosity overshadows the melody. Ian Anderson's voice also depends on my mood. But the album has some great moments and the positives outweigh the negatives.

why is it so looooooonnnnnnggggg

Not as tightly composed as other Yes albums, but still a great time.

the instrumentals are soooo cooool

aha znam

In equal parts impressive and annoying. I’ve never really cared about virtuosity in music. Here it’s a bit much ”we play rock music but we’re serious musicians”. I don’t feel it. Except when I do. There are some intensely groovy parts. Especially the first two-three minutes of ”Heart of the sunrise”. And ”Roundabout” is great. I think I am at risk of being sucked into the black hole of prog rock if I stay in it’s proximity. I should probably put on something with worse musicians quickly.

Only made it a couple tracks in, wasn’t really our thing. Bit much, sounds dated.

Favoriten Mood for a day

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

Cool instrumental to start off. Besides that….

Back half of this album was much better than the front half, mostly bc they kept their mouths shut and just played their instruments. 2.5 stars. Will not listen again willfully.

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

A lot of the songs sounds like roundabout

I’ve never knowingly listened to Yes though I generally like prog rock as long as the concept isn’t too tossing, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected to. Something about the mix of soft sound and classical references didn’t work for me.

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.

Music that sounds more fun to play than to listen to.

I love this album. Chunky bass lines, crazy drumming.

Mars volta vibes, wel te weinig echte liedjes

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

It has the traditional prog problems of dragging on too long and beating its best ideas into dust. I like quite a few long songs (Queen's The Prophet's Song, Taylor Swift's full All Too Well, Elton John's Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, and Rush's 2112 come to mind), but those songs feel distinct moment to moment; they adapt both lyrically and musically as the piece progresses, while still feeling like one thing. This just feels like dragging out solos to give the vocalist a break. That's a shame, because there's a lot of good in the three grueling songs, especially Roundabout and South Side of the Sky. They even find a way to play out ideas in record time. We Have Heaven goes on too long at 100 seconds. It's a weird record to evaluate song to song as a commercial album, because there's three songs that are a "usual" length (which I'm GENEROUSLY saying is two to seven minutes), and two of those are just riffing. Still, despite being frustrating in its construction, there's a lot of good in this. Long Distance Runaround stands out as a hidden jem, South Side of the Sky works great when it focuses, and Roundabout has a LOT of moments that are aching to be fleshed out on their own. I wonder how much of what I'm critiquing here is affected by the industry, and the format that people consume music. First, it might sound samey because they didn't have access to the tools that later artists did. And not even new recording or processing equipment, it took advanced computing to even understand how and why certain instruments sounded the way they did. Less than a decade later, the available sounds from a single chord on an electric guitar grew rapidly. Also, these tracks can't be pressed for 45's, and radio hates long songs, too. TikTok and similar platforms have given rise to short songs in recent years. It will be interesting to see how popular music progresses in the era of... this. What will song length mean? What will albums mean? The longest number 1 song was broken a few years ago by an extended cut rerelease of a failed single, and three years previously, biggest song in the world was under two minutes. There's clearly a shift in music consumption that the industry has not figured out yet. I'm curious to see what will happen, because the music industry is usually the most interesting when technology creates new methods of either production or consumption, and we're at both. That barely related to this album, but it felt good to get it out. It's a bit of a chore, but there's a lot of good bits. I understand why it was influential, and I like a lot of what it influenced more than I like it.

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

I've been waiting for the day I could write something positive about a prog rock album... and today is not that day.

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

é muito interessante que sim, tem algumas músicas convencionais ao mesmo tempo, uma parte considerável é tipo OST de primeira rota de absolutamente qualquer pokemon da era GB/GBC/GBA/DS não vou dar uma nota baixa pq eu curto prog escondido, mas saibam que sem roundabout esse álbum seria bem esquisito das ideia

hoje somos todos LINEUZINHOS chapados de maconha na mesa de jantar!!!!! aí, achei que gostaria mais. parece que tem uns filler entre as música, sei lá. não eh ruim, mas falta algo pô

Know the band, Roundabout is a banger. Wouldn’t go out of my way to play the album, but wouldn’t change the channel if it was on.

Yup... It's prog

Has its moments with some nice and catchy tunes, but overall, it just doesn’t hit for me. While I can appreciate the musicianship and creativity, it feels a bit too scattered and doesn’t quite resonate. It’s just not my cup of tea.

I remember going to see Yes in concert at Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, NE sometime in the mid seventies…it was one of my first concerts. What I remember most about the concert was that the band started an hour late and I was pissed off, screaming “where the hell have you been?”, while they walked out onto the stage. Today I would call it rock star entitlement. Anyway, I didn’t particularly enjoy the concert, as I was familiar with only 2 or 3 of the songs, and my attitude was a bit foul due to their tardiness…and the songs seemed to go on forever, with lots of meandering riffing. Which is not unlike this album. Having said this, I enjoyed this album more than I expected…but still, prog rock just isn’t my thing. I liked the band’s hits well enough, but could take or leave most of the rest of their work. Another 3 star album for me.

prima canzone giro di basso sentitissomo

This was an actual experience.

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.

Nope

Some solid B sides

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

Fairly interesting, the instrumentals are quite good, but I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals, and the lyrics don't grab me.

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

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.

I've heard only a couple of these songs before. I do appreciate some of the juxtapositions, but overall, this isn't an able I'm come back to.

Fantastic on headphones. Clever compositions

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

70’s

70’s rock

Kłuje w uszy, kupa

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

Even though this album has 2 great songs (the opener and closer), the lead vocals really throw it off for me. For the most part, it is a bland rock project with too many things that they try to tackle. A better album from this era would be Boston's self-titled.

First song is great Very groovy Kinda lost my interest

Reminds me of Styx? Some fun, playful instrumental things happening.

Ihan on passelia musisointia, mutta en tästä itse paljoa perustanut.

dnf

Was about as long as tedious I would have expected 2*

eh

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

I know this is well done and highly complex, but I'm not a musician so I cant reach the levels of appreciation required to give it a high score. It wasn't bad but its never done a lot for me.

Good album, only one real hit though.

2 stars Some good tracks, but doesn’t feel like a full album. The instrumentals sometimes feel like half ideas. The longer tracks are that indulgent.

i dont care

this was pretty good, obviously roundabout is a classic but the rest was also very solid.

If, like me, you hate keyboards, moogs, and synthesizer, this album never had a chance. The best track on it was written by someone else and has no keys!

Prog gold!

Favorite Track: Roundabout

I only liked the first track. Every progressive rock band sounds similar to me. Who knows, maybe I find something I like along this journey. 5/10

Another where one album from the band would be sufficient. It’s a yes album, like the others. Fine, but nothing more.

The only Yes album I can almost listen to. They’re still doing all the prog shit or at least an initial version of it while retaining *some* songwriting chops. Mostly, any patience I have for them is derived from a cool “Long Distance Runaround” cover Joggers, a Portland indie band, did in the 00s. But there’s still all the other wanker “putting the classic in classic rock” nonsense - this time it’s a classical guitar recital piece and a Brahms something or other. Could not give less of a shit about that blokes.

Første sangen er gøy!

5 mil estrelas

beginnen en eindigen met een knaller... er tussen wat vulling (maar niet allemaal slecht natuurlijk)... solide plaatje

Familiar with Roundabout but most of this was new for me….very different. Appreciate it but not something I feel like going back to right away. Needs some listens.

I love this album!

My least favorite Yes album so far. Not bad but not interesting enough for a 4. 3/5 Highlights: Roundabout We Have Heaven America

I guess I just don’t love funky bass lines.

Fucking tedious

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.

Interesting record. Not my favorite Yes record, but nice. Still, just a 3 for me.

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

This album goes way back to my high school days. Roundabout was ubiquitous on the radio back then, and is still played occasionally now. Long Distance Runaround is another track heard frequently now on the classic rock channels. Some of the music on this album is very good, while some is forgettable.

Maybe? Nah. I liked the instrumentals, but the rest is too much in that Rush-Iron Maiden vocal/guitar-space.

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.

5/5 its great

This improved my Mood for a Day. Had me looking to the South Side of the Sky when I listened to this Fragile album.

no

Dope

Not all of this works but enjoyable, with some bits going pretty hard. Good fun!

5/8/2025: Roundabout is a jam. Not all that into prog rock, but solid.

Roundabout obviously slaps, rest of the album is a bit underwhelming

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

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.

Has a few really good songs (particularly the opening Roundabout) but is kinda lopsided with a few pieces that are mostly these instrumental bits that lean into more folk stylings. While I'm not a bit fan of Folk these songs just like they would have been better as full-bodied songs at best or unfinished jam sessions at worst. Seriously Roundabout does a lot of heavy lifting 『TO BE CONTINUED』

This album contains Yes' best known song. Unfortunately, that's about it. The only other real track of note for me here is "Heart of the Sunrise", the rest of the album is fairly mediocre filler.

I thought close to the Edge was a Masterpiece, Roundabout is a great song, but am I completely off the ball by feeling this album is pretty one hit wonder? I really enjoyed the fish as well but nothing else on the album had any strong effect on me. 6/10

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

Alternativ 70’er rock, funk, symfoni, lidt mærkelig instumenter

Classic. The first vinyl record i ever bought.

already heard this so many times, it's a classic Roundabout - 5/5 (realistically 1000000/5) Cans and Brahms - no rating We Have Heaven - no rating South Side of the Sky - 4/5 Five Per Cent for Nothing - no rating Long Distance Runaround - 5/5 The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) - 3/5 Mood for a Day - 4/5 Heart of the Sunrise - 5/5 Average score: 4.3/5 (rounding down) really wish i could hear Roundabout for the 1st time again i feel aside from that, Long Distance Runaround and maybe Heart of the Sunrise were the only standout tracks here though. the other short tracks in-between were either too short or were just instrumental filler in comparison. as much as i love this album, i can't justify scoring this any higher based on these factors rating aside, i can't deny the musicianship on this album are top-tier, and it really is a fun listen all the way through. these guys don't miss

Tää olisi parempi levy jos kaiken Roundaboutin ja Heart of the Sunrisen väliin jäävän trimmaisi surutta pois.

Roundabout! Other songs not hitting as much.

Did not care for

I know and like this album!

I would like to thank my prog rock-obsessed 90s boyfriend for introducing me to classic albums like this, in all their multi-metre glory--and including a cover of one of my favourite Paul Simon songs.

Apart from Roundabout (classic), the album feels a bit repetitive.

Great but not their best. Could’ve used one more good song

Fragile is a great example of 1970s prog rock at its peak. While the entire album showcases incredible musicianship, "Roundabout" is the obvious standout, anchoring the record with its bassline and energy. This pro album balances group effort with individual solo tracks. While it seems to lose a bit of momentum during some of the experimental solos, it remains a classic of the genre.

Great album! Not their best, but definitely top 3 of their Discography.

Oh joy, it’s the “Roundabout” album… This music doesn’t really do a whole lot for me, I’ll be honest; I like the boisterous bass guitar, the early ‘70s organ keys and synth, and some little spots here and there but as a whole… forgettable, not my tempo.

Almost a 5 just for Roundabout. Absolute slapper

Not a fan, wouldn't listen to it again but it isn't awful

I enjoyed this, I think I am ready to enter my prog stage (I believe this is called middle age?).

Not for me. However... there should be one Yes on this list. I can guarantee this isn't the only one.

One of my favorite prog albums.

One minute I am listening to Roundabout, the next minute I am transported to a medieval time where I am drinking mulled wine while I await the commencement of the grand jousting match. The king and court are dressed in their finery, smiling upon the gathered crowd who have been given a reprieve from their toils in the fields. All is merry this day. Or maybe that was a dream I had when I fell asleep listening to Cans and Brahms, which could serve as the soundtrack for a cable access puppet show, also about royal courts and such. There are a couple of great moments in here, but a bunch of yuck too. A couple of tracks throw squawks and bloops over unusual time signatures, incorporating some of the worst aspects of free jazz. Each member going on a separate 32 bar quest, assured they will bring it all together at the end to make it semi palatable. Not a fan of prog for prog's sake. Two stars for Roundabout.

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

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

Yes has a lot more hits that I always thought were Led Zeppelin songs lol. Looking back at Close to the Edge I also mentioned them sounding like Led Zeppelin Another strong album from Yes.

Roundabout is awesome, so was Long Distance Runaround. The rest was not my favorite that I have heard from Yes. But Heart of a Sunrise was more my speed with the 11 minute prog jam.

Solid some more prog! I listened to Roundabout while driving on a beautiful day last week and it was just delightful, so I'm excited for the whole album. The rest of the album wasn't a 5 like Roundabout, but definitely some good stuff. Would come back.

Fine but not for me

Every cliche about prog on one album

Gets 2 stars for Roundabout. The rest is just prime Rick Wakeman knob twiddling guff.

I grew up with Yes fans for parents so it's very difficult to give this an unbiased listen. I have always liked Roundabout as tune, but generally prog rock's tendancy towards 8 minute noodling tracks is not my thing. I would listen to Runaround and Long Distance Runaround again though. 2/5 (I'd get 2.5 if I was allowed half stars)

Some stellar prog rock, I prefer early Genesis a bit more but this is great.

It's a good prog rock album, even if it's a bit uneven at times. The highs are really high but the lows are painfully mediocre, which is why I can't give it more than 4 stars. Highlights: Roundabout, Mood for a day, Long distance runaround 4 stars

once again another classic. unfortunately not really up my ally so i feel like i cant give it a 4, but it wasnt bad enough to be a 3. 3.5 potentially

I don’t have much to say I’m a little bit confused to be honest. Like when it was good it was great, and then the rest had me raising a brow. Heart of the Sunrise reminded me of the War of the Worlds album which brought me back to my early childhood - loved that. The bass on this album is legendary holy wow, kind of an Audioslave vibe sometimes but way before Audioslave so I wonder if there are some influences there?

roundabout - i had no idea what i was in for. then i realised it was that meme sound and i started laughing. then i heard the bass. then my head exploded. "kaboom!" it went. this song is ridiculously good. THE GUITAR SOLO?? ORGAN SOLO??? HELLO??? can and brahms - pretty nice but very unexpected. we have heaven - i do love a good old ritual chant. south side of the sky - back to the original sound. holy fuck this guitar is good. bass goes so hard too. production on all of these songs has been phenomonal too. PIANO SOLO??? what is going on? drums in this section are amazing. back to part a now. holy frickin shit the guitar is good!!! next 4 songs were okay but nothing stood out to me. heart of the sunrise - very long song. 11:26 is longer than i would normally tolerate. this song is interesting - but i dont know if its interesting enough to be 11 minutes long. vocals are very cool. i do like it tho. it reminds me of king crimson. overall it gets a 3/5. whilst the highs were very high the lows were very low and thay has kinda skewed the rating. will be listening to this one again tho.

in all honesty i did not like this at all. thought it was shit tbh. it kinda goes to show that just because you're a great player with super advanced technique, it doesn't automatically make a good song. i was surprised when i heard the first song, still don't remember where i've heard it, but the bassline is phenomenal all the same. same with that one song about halfway through, incredible guitar technique but would i listen to it again, probably not. really out of place interludes that made the album feel really disjointed and confusing. i'm sure this is someone's cup of tea! just not mine...

I recognize that a lot of work went into this. The people who like it probably really like it, and I’m so happy for them. I want to be a person who could not just tolerate but maybe even enjoy 11 minutes (and 31 seconds) of whatever noodly insanity was happening in the one that was 11 minutes (and 31 seconds), but it’s not in me. I can’t, and I won’t. I did like “Mood for a Day” though.

Not for me

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

Steve Howe is a monster, Rick Wakeman is superb and Chris Squire was out of this world. This album has a distinct 70s and prog rock tone that it's mesmerizing, now I get why many felt like they trip far away to magic and mystic worlds while listening to this album. Is it mind-blowing for me? Almost there, but I can tell how many of many favorite artists find this band as a great inspiration. <==To be continued==|

I'll give it a 4 just for the meme song

woof

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

I admire the musicians in this band for their technical prowess at each of their respective instruments. The hallmarks of a competent prog rock album are all here in Fragile, but accessibility to the listener remains an issue. An album like this requires patience from its audience. After the frenetic energy of Roundabout to open, there’s a good 30 minutes of slow moving soundscapes that are beautiful, but don’t really go anywhere. That is until the stellar conclusion in Heart of the Sunrise. So I can’t in good conscience give Fragile anything higher than 2 stars no matter how much I admire the skill and musicianship on display. ⭐️⭐️

A very good sandwich of Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise, with not that much in between but those two tracks stand out a lot.

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

Yes!

Quality Album

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

Dit album heeft wel een paar leuke nummers, maar is ook veel gepingel. Ik had toch iets heel anders verwacht van de band "yes". **

Usually not a prog rock guy, but this was actually really good. There are a couple bangers here as far as this style can really have such a thing.

Pretty good prog rock. Some screechy parts in songs

I loved this. “Nerd wizard rock” that I DO want hahaha. I was unfamiliar with this band + album before this listen, but there were a ton of sound bites I recognized from sampling in modern media. Altogether very fun.

2 songs are worth the whole album

Weird but cool

Simple and dope

Super tight orchestration. Steely Dan meets the Beatles.

The 70s is goated

This band is more prog rock than I expected. Good combo of interesting/complex music with a few radio hits.

This is an odd album. There's some interesting melodies, album is pretty experimental. Decent but not really grabbing me either.

Not a fan of the experimental nature of this album.

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

3/4

not my cup of tea, ears were unhappy

Nog meer progrock, moet dat? De gitaar in de intro en outro van "Roundabout" klinkt als die in een nummer van Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Voor de rest wel een aardig nummer, niet zo deprimerend als die meuk van Genesis laatst. Ik kan nog steeds niks met dit soort nerdrock, maar ik heb ook zeker ergere varianten gehoord. "Long Distance Runaround" is wel oké. "The Fish" zelfs best goed. Hé wat grappig, in de afsluiter "Heart of the Sunrise" hoor ik een sampletje van Pusha T's "What Would Meek Do?". De rest van dat meer dan 11 minuten durende nummer is helaas niet om door te komen. Zoals wel vaker bij progrock, begint het met een aardige intro en wordt het per minuut slechter, pompeuzer en kitscheriger..

No, just no.

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

Not my cup of tea

it was...ok. Not my style but i didn't not like it. Not going to listen to it again. Nothing stood out

When you listen to "The Yes Album" to "Fragile" to "Close To The Edge," you can definitely feel the band upping their game. With the addition of Rick Wakeman into the mix, the band gets the progressive sound they were looking for. Bill Bruford stated that Rick Wakeman is one of the few players he knows who does not have an ounce of jazz in his playing. The solo pieces on the album are a bit of a throwaway, but they are definitely re-listenable. If it wasn't for "Five Percent For Nothing," Bruford would not have grown to the composer and musician he is today. The big song for them, THE hit: "Roundabout". I had first heard the live version of this that is on the "Classic Yes" compilation. So the whole acoustic opening I had missed. It really brings a lot to the song, but I still like the live version. Can I listen to this song over and over again? More than I can "I've Seen All Good People". And "Roundabout" (for me) isn't the best song on the album. That would have to go to "Heart of the Sunrise". Bruford and Squire's interaction in the beginning is exquisite. The album has a lot of great pieces, and is definitely up higher for me than the previous album. Not as good as "Close To The Edge," but it is still a great and important album. If someone asked me what Yes is all about, this would be one of the albums I tell them to listen to. Classic.

Probably the first time I heard Yes, or paid attention to Yes, was Owner of a Lonely Heart. But that has some mid-80's synth feel to it so I didn't know what Yes is really all about. These guys can jam. And they do, with a number of prog rock songs and instrumentals. Even Roundabout, their big single, has many twists and turns and different tempos. I can't remember how much they used to play of it on the radio but you couldn't have got the whole thing. But it's an 8 minute display of deft musicianship. Perhaps only bested by Heart of the Sunrise on this album, thanks in part to its ferocious opening 3 minutes. The instrumentals are cool, but a little abrupt. It would've been cooler if they had integrated all the short songs, like they did with Long Distance Runaround (another song that saw a bunch of radio airplay) and The Fish. South Side of the Sky and Mood for a Day were also great displays of musicianship. It doesn't all fit together but this is a solid album.

My absolute favorite Yes album - in fact, this is a desert-isle disk for me. Roundabout is such an iconic tune - that first reversed piano chord followed by Steve Howe's iconic harmonics is just perfect. I first listened to this on vinyl and there was a little crackling sound in the background that always made this sound like it was being played on a rainy day. Probably one of the few experiences I preferred on vinyl. The classical guitar intro leads into a rocking tune, driven by Chris Squire's awesome bass line. Particularly love the interlude (the section singing about an eagle). The whole song is outstanding, especially live. Cans and Brahms is the first of the five individual showcase tracks. It's fine - Rick Wakeman could have contributed something better, but it's ok because he took Yes to a new level in joining the band for the first time on this album. We Have Heaven is the second showcase and it lets you know what an army of Jon Andersons singing would sound like - y'know, if you ever wanted to know that. South Side of the Sky is awesome - a hard-edged song (especially live) - you can almost feel the struggle of an expedition in the snowy mountains or south pole, whatever it was supposed to be. After Five per cent for Nothing, a throwaway showcase track (apologies to Bill Bruford), we hit the classic jazzy Long Distance Runaround followed by The Fish, showcasing Chris Squire - he used to ham it up live and solo really dramatically...I remember how he would hold his bass straight up and would slowly pluck this super-deep bass note and let it ring out, vibrating the entire arena. In fact, I need to take a moment to point out Squire's incredible bass sound and style on this entire album. He was so unique - RIP, bass god. Next, the final individual showcase - Mood for a Day, a beautiful Spanish guitar piece by Steve Howe that I've played more times on guitar than I can count (or at least tried to). Finally, Heart of the Sunrise - one of my favorite songs. Not favorite Yes songs - favorite songs period. I read recently that Steve Howe felt the opening riff had a very King Crimson sound. I don't know if I hear it, but it's an amazing song (and, again, even more so live - these guys were an amazing live band). The frenetic beginning followed by the mysterious sounding section with Wakeman's keys building over Squire's awesome bass line - Billy B. building the drum line from simple to more complex as it proceeds, and Steve Howe joining in with a quiet yet building version of the opening motif until they all come together with that frenetic opening riff again. Then we reach the verse, which feels like floating down a river, complete with ebbs and flows, followed by side trips down musical tributaries, all building to a final majestic finale. Ok, I'll settle down now. I don't know how this album sounds to non-prog fan ears - I imagine it's a tough listen for some - but to this prog fan Fragile is as good as it gets. One of the easiest 5s I'll give.

Das Album Fragile der britischen Progressive-Rock-Band Yes erschien 1971 und wurde in den Advision Studios in London aufgenommen. Es ist das vierte Studioalbum der Gruppe und das erste, auf dem Rick Wakeman als Keyboarder zu hören ist. Seine stilistische Vielseitigkeit ergänzt das komplexe Klangbild der Band, das sich bereits in früheren Werken angedeutet hatte. Die Bandmitglieder stammen aus dem Vereinigten Königreich und setzen sich zu dieser Zeit aus Jon Anderson (Gesang), Chris Squire (Bass), Steve Howe (Gitarre), Bill Bruford (Schlagzeug) und dem genannten Rick Wakeman zusammen. Diese Besetzung gilt für viele als prägend für die musikalische Ausrichtung von Yes in den folgenden Jahren. Musikalisch bewegt sich Fragile im Bereich des Progressive Rock, wobei Elemente aus Klassik, Jazz und Folk erkennbar sind. Die Stücke sind teils lang und instrumental aufwendig gestaltet. Besonders auffällig ist dabei das Wechselspiel zwischen Gesang, Gitarre und Keyboard, das immer wieder neue Klangräume eröffnet. Zu den hervorstechenden Titeln gehört „Roundabout“, ein Song, der durch seine eingängige Gitarrenarbeit und die rhythmische Vielfalt bekannt wurde. Auch „Heart of the Sunrise“ ist hervorzuheben – ein Stück, das zwischen kraftvollen Passagen und ruhigen Abschnitten wechselt und die Fähigkeit der Band zeigt, komplexe musikalische Strukturen mit einer gewissen Leichtigkeit zu verbinden. Daneben enthält das Album mehrere Solo-Kompositionen der einzelnen Mitglieder, die jeweils eigene stilistische Akzente setzen. Im Gesamtbild wirkt Fragile wie eine sorgfältig zusammengestellte Collage individueller Beiträge, die durch die Gruppenstücke miteinander verwoben werden. Das Album dokumentiert eine Phase, in der sich Yes klanglich weiterentwickelt und ihren charakteristischen Sound festigt. Fragile ist ein abwechslungsreiches Werk, das technische Versiertheit mit einem ausgeprägten Gespür für atmosphärische Dichte verbindet. Die Aufteilung zwischen Solo- und Gruppentracks gibt Einblicke in die musikalische Handschrift der einzelnen Bandmitglieder und macht das Album zu einem aufschlussreichen Dokument der frühen 70er-Jahre im Bereich des Progressive Rock.

You know roundabout was written while going round a roundabout? They didn’t exit until they were completely happy with the track. Then they recorded it going around a roundabout too. Listen back. You can real feel the roundabout. UK prog rock pioneers, Houmous & Chutney gave them the idea! Absolute magic! 3.0

Great. Roundabout justifys the entire album

Technically this album is pretty cool and when the funky bass kicked in on the first track I was like, let's go. Not too long after that, I wanted to actually go. Heart of the Sunrise is a cool track I guess, but I kept thinking of my daughter's criticism of 'I no like this.' Almost went with a 2, but I think I would go 2.5 and bumping up to 3 for the technical proficiency and imagination it takes to put these songs together.

Circus ass music

Really not feeling this one. Roundabout is clearly a classic, and the pure skill on display is out of this world. The problem is that the end product is overly long, meandering, and contains a pointless Simon and Garfunkel cover.

is that a JoJo reference???

- Roundabout er timeless classic. - Kule drumbeats, melodier og vokalisering gjennom albumet - solid album wallah - «South Side of The Sky» minner veldig om Aladdin Sane.

Great

Second 70s prog rock album in a row. This genre will just never be for me. I appreciate being exposed to it. Everything is helping me contextualize a lot of music throughout eras. I will probably never listen to this again.

I cannot recommend this album highly enough. It’s strange that it is so similar to King Crimson, and yet the latter really rubbed me the wrong way. Fragile takes one on a journey that is both an escape and a deep immersion into reality.

I know Yes have a stellar reputation, and that this is supposed to be one of their best albums, but it really isn't the sort of progressive rock that does it for me. To be fair, there are only a few broadly prog rock bands that do (King Crimson, Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, Mahavishnu Orchestra, some Hawkwind)

"Heart of the Sunrise" is the banger here. The rest is overplayed or simply dull.

I can see why people like this, but I'm not one of these people unfortunately. <-To be continued :^)

[guy pointing at TV meme]

Great band & great album

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

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

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

Not into it

Solid nostalgic album. It was a fun listen to take me back to being a kid discovering this lite prog. I was fully invested about 80% of the time, but got some prog fatigue by the end Rating: 4.0

instrumental stuff was the best part. could not do the vocals. would not care if I ever heard again

I liked it more than I thought I would. The bass slaps on multiple songs. I heard pieces that influenced Radiohead and some other bands. I enjoyed it.

Interesting but kinda not that musical.

Fantastic 70's Prog-rock; this is a classic example of the genre that has great melodies alongside superb musicianship that doesn't feel self indulgent to me. Standouts: Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround

Excellent though dated

Yep

GOOD

Jojo memes here (and a pretty darn good album)