Close To The Edge

This album is super important for what it is and also what it isn't. What it is is one of the most pure distillations of prog rock and rock's musical excesses (if not necessarily the chemical excesses). But its overwritten, ornate Baroqueness helped to inspire punk music as a reaction against this brand of complex-for-the-sake-of-complex tryhard bullshit. Prog and punk happen to be my two favorite subgenres, so this one is extra meaningful to me. Beloved for three perfect songs (out of a possible three, hah!), if not any semblance of brevity. One more thing before I hit submit: early on in the title track there is a happy, sweet guitar melody that could have been a lead on a Queen song. Much later the same motif returns as a more sinister and dissonant version with ugly-sounding harmonics from a ring modulator. It's fuckin sick and it demonstrates my favorite joke about prog rock. If you don't like what you're hearing, wait five minutes.

An absolute masterpiece of progressive rock. Long-winded gorgeous songs with so many moving parts. It's not for everybody, but it is most definitely for me.

This is one of my all-time top 5 favorite albums. Truly a masterpiece from start to finish. 5 stars.

it's literally my favorite album and every time I listen to it it's as exactly good as the first time.

Such a thrilling album! It felt like an adventure from beginning to end! Beautiful sounds, great dynamics, perfect length, wonderful ambience.

This is it folks. One of the few moments where I can excitedly proclaim that the fans of a genre have made listening to something unpalatable. I have not touched prog rock, because prog rock has some of the douchiest shithead fan bases I have ever met. But this right here is an easy five, from the almost storytelling soundscapes to the beautiful use of old and new instrumentation. And the vocals have a great Glam/Folk Fusion sound that I love.

No.

I tried. Music from the head not from the heart yo. Listened to some Christy Moore instead though that was banging.

Prog is not a four letter word. Embrace the dramatic power.

I've only ever listened to Fragile but damn did I love this one. The first track may have been 19min, but it did not feel like it at all. Great prog with a lot of fun influences. Favorite track: "Close to the Edge"

Close to the Edge is the greatest progressive rock album ever made. A perfect 5 star record, not a wasted note to be found. Perfection. ::chef’s kiss::

I love Yes! <3

LOVE the transitions. This album is super cool

Prog at it's best. 10/10

YES! YES! YES! Must listen for all prog fans.

This is already one of my favorite albums

What a wild ride. Very fun album. Some of early progressive's finest.

Very very special and interesting. Sometimes it has supertramp vibes, others reminds me of Pink Floyd

The beginning of the first track was a little too zany for me and I thought that this would be a terribly rough ride. After the first few minutes, it settled down and I started to find some enjoyment. It is still a little at arm's length for me, but I listened to it twice while I was working and was always surprised, and maybe slightly disappointed, when it ended.

This sounds like good musicians made songs to prove they were good at music. Not for me.

Only three songs. And yet, all three of them are key songs in their repertoire, ones that have been played now for over 50 years. And I never tire of hearing them. They are perfect songs to me, each member working in perfect sync. It's hard to believe that this was it for Bill Bruford, but really there's nowhere else for him to go in that band. The only flaw in this album is that "Siberian Khatru" fades out, when the live versions have a better ending (at least for me). This is the album I would tell people if they think they know Yes, they truly have not heard them. One of my favorite albums of all time.

One of my favourite albums already so I think you know what the score will be! This is dad rock and I stole it out of my dad's record collection..... These musicians were at the peak of their trade. It's a pleasure from start to finish. If some people want to pigeonhole this and close their ears that is their choice but this is pretty damned near perfect. Constantly changing and reinventing, never dull and played, produced and sang with a skill beyond 99% of todays wannabes. That slow building opening leading the the explosion of sound is like no other. It never lets up and stays with you for the rest of your life if you open your soul.

I get up! I get doooown!! One of my favorite records ever and maybe THE definitive headphone album of all time. (Pink Floyd doesn’t have a pipe organ, sorry.) I haven’t listened to enough prog to really say this is the high mark of the genre, but it sure as shit feels that way. I really think it has so much to do with Jon Anderson’s voice. The rest of the band all go ten directions at once, but that voice - it always cuts through the mix and invites me in. In some ways, it’s a really sweet record; the main melody of “And You and I” feels like it could be a Cat Stevens song sung in a higher register. I think that’s what makes Yes the G.O.A.T. When they’re at their best, the vocals and melody isn’t there just to support the progressiveness of the composition of what the other instruments are doing. It soars above all that. But goddamn the instruments. Insane. The synthy moment in the 2nd movement of “And You and I” always makes me think of 2001: A Space Oddysey. It’s transportive and catharsis in such a specific way. Ditto that pipe organ in the title track. Craig, I’ll recommend finding a clip of them playing the title track live back in the day. They’re on YouTube. You kind of have to commit to taking in that song without doing anything else for it to click, but if it clicks look out. Also, you know damn well that a bunch of teens saw these dudes playing twenty minute songs while literally dressed in capes and were like, “Yeah, fuuuck that.” And thus punk was born. Which is awesome! But so is Yes.

What do you get when you combine the most creative and deft drummer in rock, the most phenomenal bass player in rock, the most nimble and unique guitarist in rock, the most masterful keyboardist in rock, and the most pure and beautiful tenor to ever front a band? You get Close to the Edge! What a soaring triumph of an album! :) Seriously though, these guys are all complete MASTERS of their craft individually. It's ASTONISHING! The fact that they all managed to be in the SAME BAND is practically a miracle. Yes' bassist was more integral to the band's sound than any other bassist of the 70s; the sound he got out of his bass is unreal; so visceral and punchy. Steve Howe's guitar work is insanely original; he plays so swiftly in a way I have never heard any other guitarist play, and I listen to a lot of guitar! Bill Bruford could play ANYTHING on the drums. Sure, he wasn't as loud as other famous 70s drummers, but he could play more intricate, complex rhythms than all of them by FAR. The keyboardist has literally written symphonies, so that should tell you something lol. And who in rock could belt out high tenor notes so beautifully and sweetly as Jon Anderson?? No other band of the 70s of the world could've written this album. None! The sheer creativity and technical skill it must've taken to write this album boggles my mind. As someone who plays several instruments and knows a good amount of music theory, this album dazzles me. This album is rich in complexity, and each new listen unearths new secrets. Even if you don't like it personally, if you are not exceedingly impressed by this composition then you aren't paying attention... While Yes, for some, symbolizes the excesses of progressive rock, I truly think the highs of Yes' music are among the very highest in ALL OF MUSIC. Period. I never knew how magical music could be until I found this group.

There are so many things to dislike about this album. Ridiculously long songs, Anderson's helium-infused vocals, the sheer wankery of some of their vocals. Yet I really like it and it took me a while to realise why. When they get in the groove they rock! Somehow they stay in the groove even through all the key and time changes.

I like a lot of Yes songs, but this album was a hard listen. I imagine this is what it feels like in a schizophrenic's brain

::wanking motion::

This is Mars Volta right? I mean, it sounds exactly like Mars Volta. Didn’t realise they were Yes fans. Love this. Love it so much. I give it 5/4 stars

Yes is one of the few bands who can pull off an 18 minute song. This album is lush, very well constructed and contains moments which sound surprisingly contemporary. With its use of unusual rhythms and jazz fusion like melodic lines, this album pushes hard on what it means to be a ‘progressive rock’ band. At points this album sounds like contemporary indie folk before dropping into a fusion groove. The harmonies give a CSN vibe within a completely new format. Simply put, this album shouldn’t work, but it just does

Does everything right I'd expect out a prog album. Three highly impressive tracks tied together by a central philosophical theme. Probably Yes's best album. Title track is divided in four movements. First movement is a perfect opener, which spiritual nature noises immediately setting off into insane guitar work that sounds so disjointed until abrupt breaks show they know what they're doing. It's symphonic and atmospheric, placing the audience in a position with any number of instruments and noises to shift focus on at any given moment. Vocalists are great, constantly shifting and matching the music. Good pacing, knowing exactly when to change in style to keep the music engaging while still retaining aspects like the chorus to maintain consistency. Geesh, when that organ hits in the third movement, swapping back and forth with the melancholic chorus. Love how the fourth movement largely reverts to the first but ties together the other two movements as well. Everything is tied up nicely in those last two minutes. It's a perfect track with no weak points at any minute in the song. The other two tracks on the second side also have good pacing and follow up on the themes discussed in the title track. "And You and I" is a mellower track, becoming triumphant in the middle. My favorite part in "Siberian Khatru" are the brief instruments about a quarter in, and also the vocal noises later. I don't how they're making many of the sounds in the album, but whatever they're doing it's working, drawing my attention while also being pleasing to hear, never overstaying their welcome.

this record blew me away in a way i was not expecting. 5/5

Masterpiece

10/10. Prog Rock gold.

I love prog. Can’t decide on my least favourite track on Close to the Edge.

not much to say this is a masterpiece

Probably my favorite Yes album that I've listened to

Me acuerdo cuando me cagaba el rock progresivo y me da risa. 5 ESTRELLAS.

Fantastic!

classico

ODÖDLIG KLASSIKER TITELSPÅRET ÄR 7/5

WOW. Was not expecting this at all. I knew they were prog, but I thought it'd be along the lines of Rush. This is a melodic Beefheart or Zappa at double tempo, and clearly influenced bands like Mars Volta and Black midi. Unreal for 1972! Though I will say the vocals are not really to my taste.

This is our second Yes record out of our first 100 or so. I was really surprised by how much better this one held together for me. The intricacy of the arrangement feels much more melodic and restrained than Fragile. It's like they toned down the goofiness and came out the other side with a much more cohesive and moving record. Now I see what all the fuss is about. Favourite track: Close to the Edge

prog that doesn't make me want to die

Album incroyable, je n'aurais pourtant pas misé un copec dessus, ce qui me rapelle une anecdote que je vais vous partager. A l'époque où je passais mon examen du permis de conduire, j'ai proposé une très mauvaise performance face a mon examinateur. Le stress de l'examen me poussa a faire une erreur qui semblait éliminatoire. Je rentrais chez moi très déçu, et l'annonce du déroulé de l'examen à mes parents fit l'effet d'une bombe. Ils etaient fous de rage, me repprochant de ne pas avoir assez exercé la conduite avant de passer l'examen. Cependant, quelques jours plus tard, le resultat me parvint sous la forme d'une lettre recommandée. J'apprennais alors que j'avais réussi mon examen d'une courte tête, et était ainsi l'heureux titulaire du precieux sésame, au nez et a la barbe de mes géniteurs. Ceci prouve donc bien que cet album était excellent, et si l'on lit bien entre les lignes, on peut même deviner la note de 4/5.

I’m not really a big fan of prog outside of Pink Floyd nor do I particularly like Jon Anderson’s voice. However the bass goes bwoom.

This one was definitely hard to wrap my head around and needed a second listen. Even as a fan of progressive metal I found Close to the Edge pretty overwhelming. It's easily enough material for two full rock albums pressed into one 18 minute song. The question of how good it is - outside of just being complex - is a different one. While I enjoy the different styles and experimentation, I am sort of missing a feeling of cohesiveness where the different styles and elements would point in the same direction. Another point of objection is the vocals, which are somewhat bland and don't feel like they do justice to the mind-boggling instrumentation. This turned out a difficult one to rate as well. I'd like to give a 4.5, but I'll round it down because the Simon & Garfunkel was sort of awkward.

Ich bin irgendwie zutiefst betroffen, dass es den Tod gibt und damit solcherlei Entdeckungen ganz unverschämt einschränkt sind; und doch bin ich auch von dieser Entdeckung zutiefst getröstet.

I liked it. Very groovy.

Adventurous.

J'ai écouté cet album dans le train qui allait m'amener au Generator Hostel. Autant vous dire que j'en avais la boule au ventre et que je n'ai pas pu pleinement apprécier son contenu.

I liked the organ, but that's about it. It's a no for this Yes album.

Now I understand why people aren't interested in prog. The shorter the tracks get, the better they are by far.

No

1. cloze to the edge - 1 2. and you and i - 1 3. ziberian khatru - 1 4. america - 1 5. total mazz retain - 0 6. alternate and you and i - 1 7. ziberia run through - 0

Highly skilled but ultimately dull, egocentric, screeching drivel.

Still no

What's so special about this album is not solely the great virtuosity of the musicians but the way they build textures and melodies so seamlessly. There is a little instrumental section during the third track in the 4th minute where all the instruments come together with such force and beauty that my jaw drops every single time. There are actually many such moments throughout the album.

vraiment cool

I was really into prog in high school and I don't listen to it near as much as I used to, but I still love coming back to classics like this. The 'down by the river' refrain has been in my head for over a decade Chris Squier's driving bass might be my favourite thing about Yes, it really helps set them apart from their contemporaries by adding a greater feeling of energy and intensity It's a real skill and a testament to their abilities as songwriters to write such long songs that move through several phases and moods, but still fly by Highlights: Close To The Edge, Siberian Khatru, And You And I

One of my favorite albums ever. I don’t know how they made this. They are mad wizards. It shouldn’t work. It shouldn’t be melodic. It should just be chaotic musical ravings. But no, there are some of the most beautiful melody, harmony and resolves of all time on this album. The “I Get Up I Get Down” phase of movement of Close to the Edge rivals ANY song as the most beautiful thing ever recorded. The climax of And You And I makes me weep. Every player is at the absolute peak of their powers. I am deeply grateful to my dad for introducing me to this album.

yes yes yes!!! me🤝800 minutes long songs

Title track is one of the three best, and most cohesive of, the best progressive rock tracks of all time

the first track is genuinely mind-blowing

Easily the greatest prog epic of all time.

Good

Fantastic. no notes

Far be it from me to pass judgement on prog royalty

Well, damn, there it is: the best album Yes would ever make. I mean, let's not even waste any time here. And, y'know, sure, I've yet to peruse the entire Yes discography; I haven't even heard the one with "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", or the one that I've heard everyone loves, UNION. But I don't think I needa dive too deeply to know that in the pantheon of prog rock albums, this is sitting right up there on Mount Olympus alongside stuff like WISH YOU WERE HERE and IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING. Honestly, I'm not sure if I even have the words to explain why this album is so great. Like, if there's any prog album where I feel like I could just gesture to it and go "Yeh, roight?"... It's, like, this and DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, y'know? I mean, these are just three of the best things this band would ever compose and perform. Melodically, it's so fuckin' good. Jus', ahh. AHH. There's passages in here that are damn **beautiful**. I could listen to them forever, I swear. Particularly the part of the title track that goes "I get up, I get down" and... Y'know, jus', so much of the track "And You And I". That might be the best track on the album, by my measure. Goodness me, I swear. You know what this album is like? If you're not aware, this was originally released in a gatefold vinyl. See, y'might've looked at the cover and gone, "That's it? It's just a green gradient?" Well, that's not all. You're supposed to open this album like a book, and inside you'll find this inner spread illustrated by Roger Dean, depicting this fantastical landscape... This music feels like you're exploring that. Like you're living in that little house you can see, and y'take your boat out on the water, close your eyes, and slowly breathe in the fresh air, at peace with everything around you... Maybe that's a bit hyperbolic, but that's seriously close to how I feel listening to parts of "And You And I", so it's not like I'm bullshitting you here. And I could go on, I really could. But seriously, words can do nothing that just listening to this album wouldn't. I mean, if you're not a fan of prog... Well, I doubt anything was gonna do it for you, so, y'know, sorry about that. For anyone else with a bit more of an open mind for this kind of music... Believe me: it's not just indulgences. It's not just wankery for the sake of showing off technical profession. It's just a simply amazing album, lacking even a single wasted moment. Do yourself a favor: go grab a PNG of the inner spread, put some headphones on, and just explore. You will not be sorry. To all the people whose review of this album is just "No" (so clever, by the way)... Why you gotta be negative? I say, give "yes" a chance! It's a word with a glorious ring! A true universal, utopious thing! Engenders embracing and chasing of blues! The very best word for the whole world to use! In short: great album.

I’m at a 10. I’m just speechless, really. I know Yes is good, because they’ve gotten 5’s from me for each of their last two albums, and I know this album in particular has high acclaim, but fucking hell, I still wasn’t ready for that to be as stunningly intoxicating as it was. It lived up to the expectations & more – that is 38 minutes of electric prog rock, without a single dull moment at any point, or even a single wasted beat or measure. I don’t want to make whoever’s reading this waste any time; if you’re somehow reading this without having listened to it, go listen to it, right now, and if you’re reading this after you’ve listened to it, go listen to it again, right now. Get your headphones in, turn them up to max volume, and just let the sweet, sweet sounds of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman & Bill Bruford wash over your ears and bask in it. It is a 10, through and through. I hesitate to say “perfect album”, but it’s about as sinless as Jesus was. All-timer stuff.

This is the best Yes album. It is not my favorite Yes album. That would be The Yes Album. The title track alone would give this five stars. The absolute euphoria of the finale. They went 3/3.

When I decided to dive into prog rock and really try to understand the genre, this was the first album I listened to. My initial reaction was how different it sounded from the Yes I thought I knew. The Yes I always associated with was more of an 80s synth rock band, mainly because of “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” The first time I heard this album, it was a lot to take in, and I needed some time to absorb it. After a second listen, I realized I needed more context and listened to other prog rock artists to get a better grasp of the genre as a whole. Now, six months later, I’ve returned to it, and I love it. I played it three times in a row. There’s so much going on in this album that it’s hard to break it all down, but I love how it has an experimental edge. Thanks to @Lyieru for telling me more about Rick Wakeman, it gave me something solid to connect with. And of course, his organ anthem toward the end of “Close to the Edge” really stood out and gave me something to hold on to.

great album

One of the most genre defining records ever. Nothing more to say.

The grandees of progressive rock! The best album of this group. I like it. Masterpiece.

Not my favorite Yes album but, WOW, do they take you on a magical music journey on this album! Amazing creativity and musicianship - I had a number of goose pimple moments listening to this - the towering church organ, the glissando guitar accents - it is all so awesome. Bravo!

4.5 stars

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

Just call me Jim Carrey, because apparently I’m a Yes Man. This one didn’t connect with me like Fragile, but it was great nonetheless. Yay to Yes.

Is Yes my new favorite band? No. Has this project made me a fan? Absolutely. They might be my new favorite band.

10/5 probably one of my top three albums of all time. Excellent!

4.5/5

The best of 70s prog rock opera

Great album

nice

even siberia goes through the motions ‼️

Listens: 4 and an increasing amount since hearing it. Added to Library: TRUE First, I didn't have an opportunity to give a proper review of the album when I first listened to it. Second, the album has really grown on me. I've listened to it a handful of times since I first heard it and I find myself coming back to it now with somewhat regularly. I fucking love the organs (I think they are organs) in Close To The Edge part III: I Get Up I Get Down. I love how the music shifts seamlessly between each part of the 18+ minute song. Majorly upgraded to 5. Easily my favorite newly-discovered album since starting this.

I was exposed to this album not too long ago. An 18 minute song sounds crazy, but it's truly a treat to listen to. Fun instrumentals and vocal work! 'Close to the Edge' is my fave, but out of the 18-minute behemoth, the organs around the 12 minute mark are just amazing.

Good album. The trick with any good Progressive Rock composition is to make the listener wanting more despite the fact that song takes up a third of the album. Close To The Edge definitely left me wanting more.

me when the rock progs or something

I genuinely think that Close To The Edge might be the greatest song ever written. I don't think there's another song that combines four separate prog masterpieces into one mega epic that never drags or gets stale. One of the most satisfying musical payoffs by the end, and that's not even mentioning the grand organ interlude. Side B is also excellent, and manages to not feel tacked on despite Side A being the obvious star

This album needs a 10 star option. This is THE ALBUM OF MY YOUTH, which I still revere as one of my fav albums of all time. Never get tired of listening to it and it always feels fresh and vital. 10 Stars!

Best progressive album ever.

Another great album by this group. I can definitely recognize where some of my favorite bands got their influence.

Hmmmmmm, I started listening to this - deluxe edition, and something was off. So I went to the original from 1972. 3 songs. 37 minutes, 42 seconds. Now THAT'S the way I remember it. Beautiful from beginning to end. Saw them at the Aire Crown in Chicago on this tour, and it was magical. Thank you Randy Kolb for introducing me to this band, way back when!

A prog classic! I was originally introduced to Yes via radio in the 80’s during their pop phase (90125). I always loved hearing “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” when it came on my little tape player/radio. Little did I realize what a long wild musical ride Yes had been through to get there. As a young musician starting out in the 90’s, I began hearing the old heads of that time speak about the prog genius that was 70’s Yes. I remember thinking, the ones that did “Owner of a Lonely Heart?” Eventually, when I started down the prog journey from “The Yes Album” to “Tales From Topographic Oceans” my musical brain exploded. “Close To The Edge” is the center piece of this 5 album run of incredible prog installments and it might be my favorite. To this day I still find new things to love about this album and Yes in general so for me this is an easy 5.

Im rating the standard edition album- What’s not to like here? 18 minute songs? Well that’s fair, but let’s just pretend there are multiple songs and that this is like any other concept album. The original version is only 37 minutes, and in those minutes you get some extremely over-produced and over-worked prog rock. Only, as with most music that is touched too much that it turns to dust, this comes across as meticulously polished. It’s an adventure of sound, a foray into so many elements and themes, but stays true to its quirkiness. The production is spectacular and the fidelity is high. I am reminded of Crime of The Century in so many ways when listening to Yes. Both bands just explore their sounds so deeply. Giving us fun and unique music. True gems.

Wow. Quite different and interesting prog rock. Just 3 v long tracks (18, 10, 8 mins), first couple kind of broken down into a few parts/movements (but v much all flows as one track). Some crazy instrumentation - just track one features a crazy keyboard solo and some phantom of the opera style organs (amongst so much more). My fave completely new discovery since starting this (about 10 albums in).

The most prog that ever progged.

Welp, it's time for my final Yes review. And would you know it, I happened to close things out with their best album! Well, best album I've heard, that is. Close to the Edge is amazing! This is far and away the most cohesive Yes experience I've gotten thus far. Everything that I loved about Fragile and The Yes Album is even stronger here. I think what really makes this album work is that there really isn't any filler. There's only 3 songs, all of which are excellent. Compare this to an album like Fragile which had some smaller, less interesting ditties in between the big masterpieces like "Roundabout". Given the low song count, I might as well say something about all 3 songs here. The album starts with its centerpiece, the title track. Yeah this song is a masterpiece. If you wanted to play one song to someone to show them what makes prog-rock so special, "Close to the Edge" might be a good pick. Everything just works, and the 18 minutes are absolutely warranted. I love "And You And I." This one's just such a pleasant listen. I wish I could say more, but I think it really speaks for itself. Finally, "Siberian Khatru" is the album's closer and it's also great. It's probably the most fun song on the album and it serves as a great way to end the album. Jon Anderson's vocals add to the wonder of the instrumentals perfectly. The instrumentation is so technically impressive it's almost unbelievable. The pacing is really good somehow. Albums like this are why I love prog rock so much. There's so many crazy ideas at play that shouldn't work, and yet they do. And it's amazing! This is the kind of album that changes a person's perspective of what music can be. It's not that for me because I've already been exposed to these kinds of songs, but there's no denying that Close to the Edge is an absolutely mind-blowing album that I can't help but love. 5/5.

I’ve really enjoyed the music of Yes that I’d heard before this one, so I went in with some optimism. In a classic prog manner, this is three tracks with a total runtime of 38 minutes. It’s a really journey though, starting pretty frantic, but soon finding the mellows and areas to rock out too. There’s certainly a place for music that easy to listen to, but it’s great when you come across something like this where they clearly wrote things very differently to most musicians. I quite loved this. It’s hard to pick a favourite track out of the three. It’s great as a whole package.