Reviews (page 2 of 9)
(2/5) This is the reason I hate prog rock. Soulless, intellectual rock. Just, ugh. I 'feel' my music and the best music makes me feel. I felt nothing but intense boredom during this album and I'm pretty sure that wasn't their intention. I'm sure there's a Wyatt album intentionally made to make me feel bored. I'm only giving it an extra star (2, instead of 1) because I recognize that the musicians were accomplished. They're just playing engineered crap.
In my youth, my mother's favorite album was 90125, and that cassette lived in the tape deck or CD player of every car she owned. Sure, I'd also heard Roundabout, I've Seen All Good People, and the host of their other radio plays, but it wasn't until later in life that I discovered THIS brand of Yes, and it's this one that I find myself more invested in and appreciate more and more the older I get. I've experienced the sonic storytelling and landscapes explored on this one dozens of times, and like rereading a book or rewatching a movie, I feel like I pick up on different details, nuance, and easter eggs every time I do. The musicianship is incredible (that organ in the title track ALWAYS sends me over the moon), the progressions and tempo shifts are inspired, and the subtleties are best enjoyed with headphones for a fuller, more robust experience. There's certainly no way I can gush over it this much without giving a 5/5, and will do the same when their other albums on this list have their turn.
191. Close To The Edge - Yes (1972) 9.1.26 Variety: 5 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 4 = 4.6 rounded up to a 5 "Now that it's all over and done/ Now that you find, now that you're whole" I generally like Yes. Fragile I think has long been my favorite of theirs, but every album I've listened to has been a rewarding experience in some form or another. This one I remember liking quite a bit. Eventually. The road there was a bit difficult though. The first time I listened to this I felt overwhelmed and confused how an album with such a glowing reputation couldn't have any super-catchy classic tracks on it. The whole idea of the album as one whole piece I don't think had stuck to my brain quite yet. But it was one ( much like Tarkus by ELP) that just got better with each listen. As I got more into progressive stuff I grew to appreciate the seemingly endless nooks and crannies, and learned to just vibe out and soak it in. The playing itself was also something I had to wrap my head around picking out and looking at, and mirrored how I eventually began to approach jazz. Let's see if this still holds up for me after a good decade without a listen. THE TRACKS Side One "Close to the Edge" I. "The Solid Time of Change" - We start with some serene nature sounds and then BOOM, we dive right into some complex, almost jazzy bit of facemeltery with everyone going buck wild and laying down the law. The DNA of this opening track can be felt in SOOOOO many albums reaching well into the future, with stops in the 70s ( Genesis, Rush, Gentle Giant), the 80s (Marillion, Dream Theater), the 90s ( Opeth, Don Caballero), the 2000's (Wobbler, the Mars Volta), the 2010s ( Haken, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard), right up til now (Black Midi). The massive influence alone would be enough reason for this album's inclusion on the list, but it also fucking slaps, as evidenced by this track. It settles down into a slightly more traditional form around halfway, and gets into a real groove by the time the vocals come in. Jon Anderson's voice isn't for everyone, but it's so relaxed and suits the spacey, cosmic vibe so well. This is top tier 70s prog, guys. and it's so much more user-friendly than a lot that comes in its wake. Not to mention a lot less prickly than the band's evil twin - King Crimson ( who is also great), so if you don't care much for this, I'm not sure there's much for you in the genre. II. "Total Mass Retain" - We roll right into the next movement with some GIGANTIC bass driven bit of word salad that feels both funkier and more subdued than the previous one, and we transition into ... III. "I Get Up, I Get Down" - ... a blissful, oceanic deep dive, with the harsh bright light of the sun retreating above us until we're floating, untethered by gravity and any cares which might have been holding us steady. The vocals come in with a reassuring Beach Boys-ish harmony, and serves as a slightly disconcerting lullaby before ascending into a scary bit of awesome ( as in full of awe) medieval church organ before one of Wakeman's huge, teeth shaking synths hooks us and rapidly pulls us up where we break through the surface to the ... IV. "Seasons of Man" ... utter chaos of the final movement of side one, all panicked speed drumming and confused keyboards. Turns out we're in good hands though. After flopping around on the bottom of their boat, gasping for air for a bit, the band reaches out with a welcome and reassuring hand, regaling you with some more cosmically soothing gospel, and ending by placing you back on the shores of the peaceful, tropical grotto where you started. Side two "And You and I" I. "Cord of Life" - Side Two starts much more traditionally, with some acoustic guitar noodling, and a bit of studio chatter. A very pretty number follows, and feels a lot more folky, even with the Moog (?) line added over top. Bruford's Gargantuan bass drum feels like the heartbeat of some giant being. Before the end, all teh pieces come together for a brief glimpse into the remaining tracks before falling briefly back to the acoustic before, this time, jumping free from the gravity well, blinded by the... II. "Eclipse" ...and sailing off through the atmosphere and into the stars on a rainbow made of mellotron notes and some haunty folky guitar work in... III. "The Preacher, the Teacher" ... where Anderson seems to be singing about some sort of evolution of self or realization, the trippy synths taking us on a guided trip through outer(inner?)space. Things become plodding and ponderous near the end, just before... IV. "The Apocalypse" ... which ends up being anything but the chaotic, doom-laden mess, but maybe looks back to the original meaning of the word as a sense of unveiling or revelation, ending instead on beautiful, peaceful Arcadian note instead. "Siberian Khatru" - This whole thing feels like the closing credits music for the big cosmic nature documentary you just watched, where the band gets to just jam out. We get some more fat funky bass and noodly jazzy organ, some great harmonies, and even get to dip into both some Indian raga and some classical baroque harpsichord sections. And all without feeling like an anarchic mish mash. An awesome coda for a very engrossing, and attention grabbing album. HIGHLIGHTS - Everything MIDLIGHTS - LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS I think you could choose to listen to this as a total vibe out, background piece or a totally immersive thing where you actively soak in ever moment, and it would be just as rewarding either way. The lack of any short, very hooky melodic bits is not a disadvantage on this one. You might not be able to hum much of it, bit it fills the space in much the same way that a great classical or jazz piece does. I know progressive rock already has this reputation as a classical inspired genre full of pretention, and needless complexity, but I don't think this one ( and much of Yes's catalogue) is necessarily intimidating or unwelcomingly complex. Instead, it's taking all of that stuff and funneling it into a very pleasing, sculpted form. Of all the major prog acts of the period, I think Yes are one of the most accessible. Rush has them beat hands down in that regard, but they are still up there, and maybe serve as the middle ground between the two extremes even. If you like Rush, and don't mind the more esoteric stuff like 2112 that goes a step beyond the radio hits, then check out Yes. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nope FURTHER LISTENING - Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes - Selling England by the Pound by Genesis - Free Hand by Gentle Giant ‧ - 2112 by Rush - Script for a Jester's Tear by Marillion - Images and Words by Dream Theater - American Do by Don Caballero - De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta - Blackwater Park by Opeth - From Silence to Somewhere by Wobbler - The Mountain by Haken - Polygondwanaland by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Cavalcade by Black Midi
I am constantly reminded by this list of the all the music I've never heard of. I had no idea who this band was before I hit play this morning. I gave a heavy sigh when I saw "prog rock" label and 30 minute album of three tracks. Geez... Then I listened to it and read the Wikipedia. So an album inspired by both the Lord of the Rings and the novel Siddhartha? Sounds interesting. So it was. I am finding I can't approach prog rock the way one does popular music. It is a different animal all together. In doing so, I found this to be quite delightful walking music. Tried listening to it while driving and had too much going on in my head. But walking with a couple of earbuds in, this hit fine. Delightfully, even. I read Siddhartha for the first time about two years ago. That was a 5 star book for me on Goodreads. This doesn't reach those heights, but it was fondly enjoyed for a day. 3/5
I know prog isn’t for everyone but this is one of the very best albums the genre has to offer back to front, all over the place stylistically and it all works.
I appreciate Yes, but this album is not for me. Just a bit too long. I know it's a prog record but it didn't change enough for me to like this more than other albums by them. It's a good record though.
Fårn ikke til. Det er noe her, men knekkekke koden..
Peak
Another band I discovered in the 80s and didn't realize they had been around longer.
The first Yes record I listened to and probably still my favourite after all these years, and a genuinely incredible prog-rock album that fires on all cylinders for its entire 38-minute runtime; there is no filler here. Maybe the best thing about Yes, and this album, is its insane ability to balance that typical early '70s prog jerk-offery with genuinely earwormy vocal hooks and digestible harmonies, licks, riffs, and basslines. Something a band like Rush also managed to do quite well. The monster opener title track, for example, has a twisted, more traditional free-jazz proggy piece opening it up, then a large, cascading, ambient, and always (reliably) gorgeous but ominous organ and string part near the middle, with some summery, warm harmonies. But those more "out-there" sections are broken up by this really catchy and sort of poppy chorus and verse segment, with an outro that brings it all back for one unforgettable finale. It mirrors a lot of the rock opera and glam rock of its time in some ways. I remember I would, many times, just skip to that coda part, the "I get uuuup, I get dooowwwn" part specifically...super nostalgic and an absolute tear-jerking finale. And that final groove with the organ soloing is just so tight. What an incredible journey this title track always is; it's been a while since I've listened to it all the way through, but god it's still as good as ever. While the album peaks at that coda of the title track, in my opinion, the other two songs here are nothing short of incredible. 'And You And I' is another undeniably catchy track, with a sort of Celtic feel to it near the beginning. It's a plucky guitar love ballad at its core that goes through all these dramatic shifts. And, just like the opener, it showcases Jon Anderson's really passionate and expressive leads very well. And while I do think the vocals are the star of this album in a lot of ways, it's really that string melody and iconic crunchy Yes bass tone that make the song 'Siberian Khatru' - I'm talking about the bit bookending the track. I hate to use the word, but it's the definition of epic, just absolutely driving, and oddly danceable, and I love that they bring it back one final time before the album ends. And the string of solos starting at the 3-minute mark of this song are also just back-to-back album highlights. Just some more essential early prog-rock, much easier to throw on when compared to a lot of its contemporaries. And it just throws so much at you in such a short amount of time, definitely getting the bang for your auditory buck here. And it all sounds incredible.
Kinda bizarre, but mostly OK
Good album
just one of the worst bands to ever come along. their music and lyrics are just awful and why they were popular I will never understand. Si, I am a Yes hater. I did give this album a chance and listened to the whole thing and there is not one redeemable song on this entire album.
Otrasné...
Es ist wie ein wilder Bergbach: brillant, überbordend, manchmal schwer zu fassen. Yes liefern hier Prog‑Rock auf Maximaldosis – virtuos, komplex, aber auch anstrengend. Die Höhepunkte glänzen, doch die epischen Ausschweifungen ziehen sich gelegentlich. Beeindruckend, aber nicht immer packend. ist ein dreisätziges, quasi‑symphonisches Prog‑Rock‑Konzept, das versucht, Rockmusik wie einen großen klassischen Formbogen zu denken. „I Get Up, I Get Down“ — Ruhepunkt und spirituöse Harmonie Der Mittelteil ist ein bewusstes Gegenstück zum Überfluss: chorale, fast sakrale Klangflächen, die das Album in eine Art spirituelle Sphäre heben.
I've listened to Yes most of my life, but missed this album along the way. I certainly know the songs on "side 2," but it's been a while. It was nice to get a chance to give this album more attention. Not shockingly, I really liked Close To The Edge! Liked Songs Added: And You And I Siberia Khatru
alright
fucking terrible
I wanted this album to be bad enough for me to review it with just “no” but it was periodically interesting enough for a 2
3.3 A bit excessive but you have to give this a bit of respect. Somewhere between Rush and ELP
Yeah my POP had this album but it wasn't one of the slabs of wax he put on so frequently that I soaked up the songs like it was the water we were swimming in. I can tell you that I heard them without knowing what Prog Rock was, or that wearing capes was a thing, or any of that extra contextual baggage or rather, affordances, by which to orient myself and my opinion of what was happening through the speakers. And, what was that anyway? It was certainly sorcery, but not the kind of everyday magic of a zeppelin or a spirit or even of love. It was closer to the edge, and closer to his king, though not quite crimson, it was certainly arcane. It will always have a special place in my listening history for these reasons even if I'll also always rate Fragile more highly for the way that album centers more traditional structures on its singles. Close to the Edge has that meaty Rickenbacker bass tone Chris Squire chased and rode through these years while Bruford's beats remained crisp even when complex. For me it's always been the rhythm section in this era that made them worth listening to. It still stands out, close to the misty edge, even when the rest of the sorcery has slid away.
As an old woman once said of some artistic music, "sounds like a goat shitting into a tin bucket"
Everything has already been said about this album. Imagine this rock album having a jazzy aesthetic, but it's not really a rock album but a poem instead. And then everything gets elevated by Jon Anderson's wonderful and unique voice. There's so much going on that you can feel as if you've lived an entire life through this album.
Album link seemed to be broken, so listened out of order. From what I heard, thought was a good album. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: Siberian Khatru
So inspiring and epic lp. Great thing.
yesssssssssss. and finally more prog. certainly one of the greatest albums. toss up between this, fragile, and relayer most days for me. seen them many times, with multiple lineups. met jon and rick. very nice guys.
Fantastic album start to finish! Never paid attention to YES, was missing out. Definitely some Police vibes in some of the tunes
Does nothing for me. 2/5.
Easily their best album and a cornerstone of the prog rock genre. Even if I don't care too much about this band anymore, "Siberian Khatru" is still one of my favorite songs ever just for all the cool basslines. 9.5/10.
Made me close to the edge
I got The Yes Album early on and it was fine - originally gave it a 2 and bumped it up to a 3 after a couple more listens. This was even better. Really enjoyed it.
This album feels very grand alike. The variety of instruments, and it really goes out of its way to create a feeling of awe. I think that the different parts to each song really add a lot and it doesn't even feel like it's overstaying as welcome. I actually wish there were more songs on this album. I think everything just feels like it's consistently moving. I don't feel like any point I was getting bogged down by the length. It just really understands how to pace itself. I mean, come on, how can you not like the sitar solo into the harpsichord solo, that just sealed the deal for me. I Actually really wasn't a huge fan of the other yes album on this list, but this one really works for me. Great Vibes. I did get jump scared by a special edition of this album I came across initially when going to listen, which was almost 5 hours long. That's insane. Fav Track: Close To The Edge
not for me
Master!
Early YES was a good listen before they got really outwardly spacey. Even still they show an incredible mastery of musicianship and it is quite a nice listen that does border on really awesome progressive music.
Maybe the best prog-rock album ever made
Not for me
For some reason I ever-so-slightly struggle with this one compared with the two prior albums, which I think are great to masterpiece level. I like this album fine. Maybe I need more listens.....
Yes is always an A+
"What are you listening to?" "Yes". Anyway, this was an alright album, with some of the songs having little bits that are quite nice, but it's overall okay to have it all playing in the background while you're doing other things. I fear that the album is just a bit too meh for meh nowadays, although I know that Yes was a pretty popular band back in the day.
toi eka träkki oli huikee lowk nerffattu keskinkertaisella laulajalla
Like Simon and Garfunkel with a bit harder rock
I have never been a fan of prog, until I started this 1001 experiment and it has really grown on me and it started with this album. Holy shite, I heard it and listened over and over, went and bought a vinyl copy I dug it so much. The complexity and beauty are awesome.
Can't in good conscience rate this higher than music from the penguin cafe, had to take the rating from 3 to 2.
Fine. 2/5
2,4 Highlights: Close to the Edge, Siberian Khatru
Hated it.
A pity the song "Close to the Edge" is not available on Spotify. Good album with a distinct sound.
I like a lot of prog. Not all! And initially I felt this album was stretching it a bit. The first Yes album I ever owned was 'Going for the One', which I love and still listen to. But my Yes collection never grew after that (or before — since they were basically done by then). And I can hear the seeds of 'Awaken' in 'Close to the Edge' (the track). It has the same slow build and a similar pipe-organ crescendo. But I think Awaken is by far the better track. CTTE has two basic hooks, overworks them and, compared with the magnificence of Awaken, the organ here is a bit of a damp squib. Of the three tracks on the album, 'And You and I' is by far the best. But whereas this was a 2★ album on first listen, I felt I had to give it the reverence it deserved. Four listens later, it has grown to 4★. If only I had such patience with everything on this list.
At first, I really didn't like it. But after the initial cacophony of sound, I really enjoyed it.
Was not familiar with this album, it had some god musicality… but I was ready for the songs to be over. 2.5
I definitely had my prog phase, though it was more in the direction of Dream Theater and Queensryche — prog metal, if you will. This probably wouldn’t have been heavy enough for me back then. But damn is it some great prog rock. Full of an exploratory wanderlust, but doesn’t overstay its welcome and is never boring. Almost folk-y in places. Fun listen. I may have to add this to my collection. I bet it’s great on vinyl. 8/10 Most Excellent
For the longest time, FRAGILE was my only Yes album. It was my first record by anyone; my much-older brother had given me his scratched copy. (It still doesn’t sound right without the scratch.) When I explored other Yes albums I didn’t get far, initially. Just THE YES ALBUM and CLOSE TO THE EDGE. I loved both so much I didn’t have an appetite for more. Many years later, when I finally got to the rest of the Yes back catalog, I was pleasantly surprised how rich it is. Lots of terrific albums. RELAYER is great. Their debut album is better than you’d expect. Even GOING FOR THE ONE shines. (I assumed the vast quantities in used record bins meant it sucked. Not the case.) Given all that, CLOSE TO THE EDGE is probably their 2nd or 3rd best album.
The complexity of the music smothers the joy for me.
Sorry, but I'm with the punks on this one. I'm a fan of plenty of music that many (most?) people would consider "difficult", but this is just a mess to me. Too many cooks.
one of the albums from Yes that i didn't heard that much until now. And it's one of the best. Despite the overblown intro that always made me tune out, i find the rest of the songs compelling, emotional and more accessible that other songs in the following albums. I enjoyed more than i expected and even if it's not my favorite from them, i find it pretty good
It's fine! Would give 2,5 but rounding to 3.
There is some good guitar work on this, but as with all YES music one always has the feeling a great track is coming up and it never arrives. Often the music doesn't seem to fit together, like the guitarist is in the wrong band.
8/10
I'm amazed I haven't heard this album before. That is some great prog.
I think you had to have been there to appreciate this album. Meaning, been there when it first came out. I remember really enjoying this album and Yes in general at the time. But I cant listen to it now, its too excessive. It seems self-indulgent. But then, I’m old now and all youth now seems self-indulgent. A 3 for the memories.
A little too long
Not my favorite yes album but still still a stellar prog collection, before I went to pompous
Might be the best Yes album on the list - mixed with some great melodic ideas throughout it, and then the other bits are just what I don’t like about 60’s rock.
These guys had really found their groove by now. While I personally don't find it as good as their previous album, it's still really good prog rock. It's kind of epic. Who knows... prog rock might be coming for me (or maybe it's just yes).
Great musicians boring album
I got Fragile earlier in this project and really, really didn't like it. This is... Moderately better. The title track is the excess I hate, and the version I listened to had a cover of America which... yeah, less said about it the better. But I guess And You and I was bearable so this gets one more star than Fragile.
Not sure if I should knock it for being so short, or enjoy that the few songs are quite good. Not bad enough to warrant a 3 so 4 it is
At first glance this feels like it will be a long haul but once you get into it it genuinely flies by Playlist add: "And You and I"
Opener 15 minute rock operetta, in organ competition with Phantom. Organ and synthesizer and all the things. I am not hating this at all, though it meanders and changes and returns through too many minutes. So I sit with my headphones (should be a disclaimer that they are highly recommended) and absorb this one, and allow myself to just be..
Just had Fragile less than two weeks ago and I wasn't particularly impressed. Seeing that this is only 3 tracks and goes for almost 38 minutes, I am not excited... Yeah, I was right. There were some cool bits but they quickly disappeared as the track meandered on. It's like being at a potluck dinner where the person who brought the mac & cheese didn't bring nearly enough. My plate has a bunch of random stuff on it but only one small spoonful of mac & cheese.
Looked at the tracks beforehand and knew it didn't have Roundabout, but I still kept expecting to hear Roundabout.
Popmuzikanten slaan aan het experimenteren. Het zijn de jaren zeventig, dus dan doe je dat. Lange stukken, die allerlei hoekjes verkennen, zijwegen inslaan en met willekeurige winden meewaaien. Het is weer eens wat anders, maar het is ook niet erg goed. Uiteindelijk zijn de beste stukken die waar ze gewoon popmuziek maken, maar ook die zijn niet al te memorabel. Leuk tekeningetje in de binnenhoes, en dat is het wel.
Ik werd al gewaarschuwd, maar na twee maal vijf sterren voor Yes, viel deze mij toch tegen. Vooral het orgel is vaak gewoon chaotisch. Het eerste nummer lijkt het juist daarvan te moeten hebben. De climax richt zich ook hier weer op. Het volgende nummer compenseert wat, maar daar zit de zang mij wat in de weg. Ach, er gebeurt heel wat, en af en toe heeft het wel iets. Maar nee, dit gepiel heeft helaas geen vijf sterren album geleverd.
Het 3e album van Yes en als het goed is het laatste album. Ik kan altijd wel genieten van deze progrock exercities. Ja, ze experimenteren en improviseren wat aan, maar net de juiste hoeveelheid dat ik het erg gaaf vind. Op een andere manier kan ik gepiel op een keyboard of een bas beter hebben dan gitaar, gek genoeg. Hoge mannenstemmen moet je over het algemeen vaak aan wennen, althans ik, maar als je dan eenmaal gewend bent, dan past het perfect bij de rest vd muziek. Zoals bij het titelnummer Closer to the Edge, wat regelmatig tot een soort crescendo komt in de zang. Close to the edge, down by the river! Ik denk dat dit album me het best bevalt. Ik heb met veel plezier alle drie de nummers nog een keer gedraaid en daarna nog een live uitvoering die op de deluxe editie stond, incl roundabout, wat mij betreft het beste nummer van Yes. Ik ga eens lekker op de 5 sterren klikken, want voor je het weet is het de laatste keer van de snoblijst.
This is beautiful musically. The only thing that I never really quite got is Jon Anderson's vocals and delivery. It never quite fit the musical intricacy of the music in my honest opinion.
Nearly had a heart attack when I saw a four and a half hour runtime. Thankfully Wiki assures me the original album is only the first “disc’ which is blissfully short at 37 minutes and three tracks - so that’s all that will be played. Run of the mill prog.
They clearly all can play their instruments. I just dont feel any emotions or souls behind this playtime.
Blind album, honestly for some reason I didnt expect much, but i expected Yes as well, and they met that expectation, so nothing much said honestly. 3
..
***A good easy listening album
I hated this. I hate prog rock. This was only 3 songs and the album was 37 minutes of pure torture.
Fun, but good god that was a lot of meandering instrumentals.
Z wielkiej trójcy, to chyba nie jest moja ulubiona, zdecydowanie. Ale zawsze dobrze zanurzyć się w tym tajemniczym świecie.
I try to ignore prog rock, but this album has enough strange moments to keep me hooked. Pleasantly surprised I made it through most of it. Once a year listen at most, but still worthy of that one listen a year.
3.8/5 - quite cool, but I'm not listening to an 18 minute remix, so I'll cut it early :)
Progressiv rock som med långa låtar är medryckande. Kanske Yes bästa skiva. Skulle vilja betygsätta den 4,5. Får bli en 4.
Litt mindre ille prog.
A great example of a record that was obviously made without the thought of radio airtime in mind. Three songs, the shortest of which is 9 minutes? Yeah they made this one because this is the music they wanted to make. This is definitely not for everyone and I get that. But for those of us who like complicated prog and high pitch vocals, it's a masterpiece. A side-long opening track with multiple movements and masterful playing? Count me in. Some of the best instrumentation of all time on this record. Chris Squire was such a beast of a bass player, his tone and playing on this record are just absolutely perfect. Yes gets compared to Rush a lot and while I think that's a fair comparison I feel like they are actually quite different. I much prefer Rush but listening to this record again makes me realize that I need to come back to Yes more often. I'm not sure if I like this one or Fragile better, I'll have to listen to them back to back today to decide. Either way both would be 5/5
very similar to the mars volta's first few albums. perhaps they listened to a lot of Yes during that era.
Absolutely excellent - reminds me of Genesis (exceptional instrumentation, key changes, and tempo shifts but all paired with jarringly wholesome/friendly vocals).
Not bad, but not my cup of tea
Good album
My love for Yes cannot be explained
Fantastic album. I love prog that is still coherent. I was worried there may be tons of dissonance or odd time signatures. This did have some of that, but it was tastefully done. I am familiar with Yes but have never listened to this album.
Awesome prog music! I can hear this band in two of my favourites: The Mars Volta and Coheed and Cambria, so I'm very happy to have finally listened to them. Five stars.
i don’t like this album. sorry.
Liked the organ bits on the title track, everything else was meh
- Don't listen to the deluxe edition. To get the full power of this record, listen to the original release or only listen to the remastered originally released tracks. It's a perfect record and an easy 5. Just sit back and listen to what they're doing on "Siberian Khatru" ... fuckin' phenomenal. -
It's an amazing album! Honestly, It's my second favorite Yes album (After Fragile). It's so good how they experimented with longer song structures, and I think that's what made this album great. The proggy sound of the album makes it very enjoyable! Truly masterful! One of the best albums out there!
I very rarely listen to prog rock, so this was a bit of a trip! I did like track 3 the most!
I don't think I recognize any of these tracks by title, but it's entirely possible that I do, in fact, know some of these. Otherwise, I've never listened to this album start-to-finish before. Similar to my review for Yes' "Fragile" album, I was expecting this to be more tedious. But I enjoyed it more than I anticipated. Maybe my instincts about Yes have been incorrect all along?
Dreadful
This is a genuinely great album. While listening I was completely blown away by how strong the storytelling is — it feels like one long, epic journey from start to finish. The concept flows beautifully across the tracks and holds your attention the entire time. The solos and instrumentals are perfect. Steve Howe’s guitar work is absolutely stunning, Rick Wakeman’s keyboards are majestic, and the rhythm section (Chris Squire and Bill Bruford) is tight and creative as hell. Everything is complex but never feels pointless — it all serves the music. Close to the Edge is progressive rock at its peak: ambitious, beautiful, technical, and emotional all at once. One of Yes’s absolute best albums and a classic of the genre.
Note: The best music to hear during a flight is very ambitious 70s prog rock. It elevates the experience. I get up, I'm so down (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Appalling, self indulgent slop
An 18 minute first track really capped how well this was going to be received.
Masterpiece, perfect in every way. Maybe my favourite rhythm section on any album
I never listen to Yes, but I really should..
FOODA
Some good and some not so good bits. I need to listen to it again, but I'm not really looking forward to it.
It was Yes. Prog rock.
Nice
It was sure a strange one
Great prog rock band but I am a poser and only like their greatest hits.
Sure, Yes was very influential in the prog rock scene, but this is just really not my jam. Three really long songs on one album?… Even if the music is great, I need a little more variety. I respect their musicianship and creativity, but this is just a middle three for me.
When someone says, "You had me at Yes," you stop talking. No Super Deluxe edition required. I have grown to like Yes but this one is a bit like being trapped between two competing music instrument stores. When things coalesce into a song like "Seasons of Man" and "Eclipse" it is glorious and beautiful. Otherwise, it can be egregious in its acquiescence to requests like "Should we keep this part in as well?"
My favorite part of this album was its relative brevity. Musically, it feels like something made for a film I don’t want to see about far-away kingdoms, ornate costumes, fantasy landscapes and too many dramatic resolutions without any real tension or plot. The church organ was a real choice.
Siberia, the saving grace.
I would love to be a fly on the wall for that moment when, a kid who only discovered Yes in 1983 via their comeback, Owner of a Lonely Heart, first hears Yes from their prog era.
Based on the talent and creativity and all, it probably deserves an extra star. But it doesn't make me feel anything.
Bangers 10 min long jam
Epic.
gah dam some long songs but i vibe with the atmospheric soundscape
# Playlist Track - And You and I (Single Version) # Notes - This album can be very overwhelming at times, especially for those uninitiated in prog rock. Which makes it a tough recommendation. - However, if you got yourself an hour, a pair of headphones and the stomach to take in a thousand moving parts, you might be in for a treat!
For whatever reason this one doesn't grab me like Fragile. Maybe that album is my limit when it comes to the density of Prog Rock. Maybe it's that the album generator gave me E,L,&P's Tarkus, Rush's 2112, and this album in a single week and so I'm just tired of 20+ minute Prog Rock Suites.
Better each listen. I have always like the title track, but this time "And You and I" stood out more than I ever thought. Also Chris Squire is a menace on the bass! 4/5
Masterpiece, one of the best Yes works if not the best, absolutely love this album
Yes! 9/10
Was not excited for this but really liked it. Despite it being mostly instruments I was drawn in throughout. Will be back to listen again. Love getting things like this where I have low expectations and it turns out well.
3.5/5 The songs are too long but I can't deny that it's pretty good.
Not for me
När man klickar här så hamnar man inte på standard albumet, blev så förvirrad om varför de gjort en cover på America på standard albumet. Så lyssnade på någon deluxe version. Förstår att det var så kaos medans de spelade in när man lyssnar på albumet. Vadå att det är ett spår som är 18 minuter med 3 låtar?? Tyckte mer om versionen jag först lyssnade på.
Three songs. Close to 40 mins in length. Prog can fuck right the fuck off.
6/30/26. Genuinely mind blowing, especially the title track. I've been on a prog kick in recent months and this scratched the itch nicely. I'll always love high-level musicianship with deeper or philosophical lyrics.
De la folie pure. Difficile de comprendre comment un band réussi à aboutir des compositions aussi complexes, autant abstraites que cohérentes.
At times this album got dangerously close to the edge of annoying.
ok I’m done
I think I like the album cover more than the album itself. A little too much for my tastes.
Bit nothing really - I want a bit more from my prog.
ooh i've listened to this one
I know of yes but i have ever heard of roundabout so I don’t know what to expect. The instrumentation on this album is great and you can tell they’re amazing musicians but, the vocals are definitely lacking. I’d recommend And you and I, Siberian khatru and America.
I really enjoyed the previous album by Yes that I had on this list, but I do think this one is more of my style. It's deep and rich, taking you in a nice journey across the tracks. Instantly liked it but feel like it could grow even more if I picked it up again tomorrow. Favourite: And You and I
The title track is a little weary for my taste, but I gained some increased appreciation for the songs on Side 2. The (slightly) more compact length of "And You And I" and "Siberian Khatru" gave Yes sufficient time to explore their musical ideas, without dragging them out
As a prog-rock/metal fan, I'm blown away by just how much of my favourite band, Coheed & Cambria, I can hear in this. If Claudio Sanchez had a time machine and got stuck in the 70s, this is beat for beat the album he would have made. The first song goes from Rush, to Bowie, to Phantom of the Opera in very quick succession. I love how extra this all was - like a night at the theatre.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/yes/close-to-the-edge/ Prog I can appreciate!
Brilliant. Highly articulate intelligent music. It will go over most peoples head. Particularly the Yanks.
Definitely the sounds of the 60s/early 70s. Not something I'd seek to listen to, but interesting. This album is kind of crazy - 3 "songs" - one clocking in at almost 20 minutes long.
Yes? More like No. Maybe, at best.
Not on the same level as Fragile but still a really good album
The beginning of prog rock. For that reason this is an important album. Is it Yes’s best album? No. But entertaining.
pretty good
4.1
Какая-то абстрактная дичь
Close to the Edge And You and I Siberian Khatru
Hmmmm didn't love
Yeah I didn't really feel it. I wrote another review but lost it and the album was too boring for me to redo it.
They packed a lot into a short album. It's classically '70s sound while still being memorable and distinct.
Nice. I added “Siberian Khatru” to my playlist.
I don't know how I can review this. An album so deeply loved and listened to hundreds of times by me already (along with Yessongs). When I was home for break from college, I hung out with my two friends matt and nate. And nate would frequently throw parties at his house. When he wanted people to leave, he would put this on instead of pop/hip hop music and people would eventually clear out. And we three would sit around just listening. It's a great memory Nate died in a car accident nine years ago now and he was only 32. Every day on his death I listen to Close to the Edge. I still miss him a lot.
If there was a Prog video game, this would be the final boss.
Non mi ha convinto per nulla, é da qualche giorno che avevo da ascoltare a quest'album ma tutte le volte che iniziavo non riuscivo a continuare Non il mio genere
It’s classic
A bit of a wild listen. Very creative and exciting experimental (progressive?) rock.
Obra maestruli.
Being a fan of the electric bass I have always know. Chris Squire’s best riff ‘Roundabout’. That is nothing in comparison to what he does here, which is all over the place in the most masterful way. You have to love an album that is 37 minutes and only has three songs. It makes picking a key track so much easier (Siberian Khartoum, btw) because I can say I loved 33% of the album and strongly appreciated the rest. The opening track Close to the Edge is a Tour d’Force. Musically, there are so many transitions and time changes and key changes and style changes, and it works. What I liked most about Siberian Khartoum was it was the most straightforward piece, allowing each musician to show off their own unique talents set to a relatively consistent pocket. I have say I also love the background talking and harmonic play at the beginning of And You & I because it personalized an otherwise celestial album. This is definitely not dance music, but insofar as prog rock, this is a solid submission. I say Yes!
Random thoughts: * This definitely sounded like a Yes album. * Is it necessary and a must listen? No, not at all. This feels a bit extraneous to have a 3rd Yes album on the list. I would have preferred to have "Owner of a Lonely Heart" on 1001 * I honestly couldn't tell you much about this one. Not bad but not necessary.
One of the greatest albums ever. Okay, it only has three songs, but they are three great songs, ones I can listen to over and over again. 5/5
As an album actually quite cool. Obviously had some thought about it, but a bit weird to throw a cover (two?) in there. 7/10
Slow start, but it improved. ★★★
3.5★/5 06.13.2026
Yes has better albums than this by far
los temas están muy largos pero el flow está bacano y los temas corticos están tb demasiado buenos, me gustó el álbum
I was all ready to get mad at the length of these songs, but honestly they weren’t bad. Yes!
meh
Solid prog rock and this is the first time I've had an opportunity to sit down and listen to Yes.
I need to spend more time with this one because on think over time it might land at a 4 or 5. Have revisited this several times now and, as I expected I'm digging it more and more.
So, even though I generally really like progressive rock, I wasn't expecting too much from this album as I didn't love the other Yes album I got in the generator before (The Yes Album), which I rated a 3/5. Fortunately, Close To The Edge was a pleasant surprise. As a side note, I'd swear I haven't listened to "Close To The Edge" before, but many parts of the first track seemed quite familiar? Maybe I have listened to it and I can't recall. 5/5
Un disco que parece que se juntaron en un cuarto, fumaron cantidades industriales de marihuana escuchando música, entre su repertorio escucharon Led Zeppelin, y comenzaron a tocar. Estaban tan fumados que no sabian cuando comenzaba y terminaba la canción, por eso estas pistas duran 10 u 8 minutos. Es un disco para quien conozca mas a Yes y le guste, que sepa mas de Owner of a Lonely Heart y Roundabout
Interesting, but I think it's the kind of album you have to listen to several times to completely capture the concept. Maybe with more time I'd like it more.
Great! My favourite part is "I get up, I get down". 5/5
I think this, against some stiff competition, is the best prog rock album ever put out. It's the last Yes recording by the Anderson, Squire, Bruford, Howe, Wakeman line up and the band was never quite the same again. The 4 part 18 minute title track is probably the best example of how to balance an extended rock piece and avoids any meandering. Any you and I was a live favourite and Siberian Khatru is an entirely pretentious but rhythmically interesting track and has appeared in the recent live sets since 1995. Each member is contributing key ideas and the fact that Bruford joined King Crimson straight after and didn't tour the album is one of rock's great what if situations - a masterpiece.
I think this album does deserve its place in this list, as one of the mainstays of the progressive rock scene. But having played it through twice, I really dislike it. The long title track is so fiddly-diddly with all these changes that I find it frankly irritating, presumably a consequence of the recording methods (as recounted in the Wikipedia page). The album's three tracks are strangely lacking in emotional content.
I don’t think I have enough music smarts to understand what’s happening here
Correct spotify link is: https://open.spotify.com/album/1uXol4dKqzMsUiqvHpwhZh?si=JWVvC4KzQt6cxxomCGaTKA
Here's one where I think the 1001 got it right... an artist with several albums on the list, and each of them is absolutely worthy of inclusion. The Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge are all absolutely fantastic records and as a group, almost certainly represent a pinnacle of progressive rock. I'd argue that only King Crimson can compare in terms of a body of work in this particular genre. (Possibly the Moody Blues as well, and I might see an argument for Rush.)
Yes is a great band. They are timeless by their own experimental nature. I am not a superfan but not adverse to them. I suppose I do not really have them on my playlist as their style is just a bit too tangent from my general tastes. I suppose they have a kind of classic feel while being outside any era. They were WAY ahead of their time to be sure, and this is an interesting album as most of them are from Yes. I do not know enough background to know if they are singular or canon as a group, but they are worthy a listen and you might find them more interesting than I do as a personal taste thing. However, they were definitely willing to put it out there judging from when this album came out so that is worth a star by itself!
Funny hippo song
Prog rock has to be one of my least favourite genres of music, but I can appreciate why people like it.
5.5/10
The moments I like shift rapidly into moments I don't. Not my cup of tea.
I feel that one of the things that happens when prog rock gives into it's worst impulses is that it forgets the rock part entirely. And Close To The Edge, despite being comprised of three massive songs, with one as the obvious conceptual centerpiece, *does* remember to rock. It's honestly one of the weird things that I think sets Yes apart from some of their peers. They can still write genuinely cool passages and haven't lost sight of what makes a great rock song, even if they kind of stretch these "great rock songs" into huge, winding epics. Honestly, despite the structure of this album, I kind of think it's one of Yes' most approachable. The title track is pretty gripping from beginning to end, and the other two are also very enjoyable. And, very importantly, the album ends up at a very digestible ~37 minutes. I can digest an 18 minute long prog song if it's part a pretty brisk project, and in this regard, one could argue that some real restraint went into Close To The Edge. Regardless, Yes again shows some of the best that prog can provide by anchoring their epic ideas in familiar rock structures that serve them well.
A little too much speedy synth for me
the guitar is impressive but why does his voice have to be like that 😭
Doodleing around for me, genius for others...who knows?
This album rocks, and I've loved these songs for a long time. Five stars, easily.
This is like a 3.5 rounded down for me. I see the appeal, if you're into long meandering prog rock, it's executed very well. Chris Squire and Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman are legends. I'm sure the other guys are too. That's not always my bag though so I don't love this. It's perfectly cromulent, but not really my style.
hm, ne. Nicht mein Fall
cooles Konzept, aber auch nicht überragend
Hatte coole Momente., gibt schlimmeren ProgRock
The middle bit in America was alright
No denying that this is great music. I wish it was instrumental only, I kind of never cared for Yes' singer. Still, worth a listen.
YES!
Honestly not averse to a bit of prog rock but Yes are just not it for me. There are good wee snatches but then they just go off on one and they lose me. There is no heart to the technical showing off. I’m not a fan of Jon Anderson’s voice or Rick Wakeman wibbling away on his organ. Better than Fragile but that’s not saying much
Opening 60 seconds or so are among the best angular math rock I've ever heard. The last 60 seconds or so are heady, jammy, super dope prog firing on all cylinders. The other 36 minutes are somewhat garbage and bloated and I can't for the life of me find it interesting.
This deserves the full 5 just for the title track alone. I love the other songs here, especially Siberian Khatru but man that first song is just something else entirely.
Yes has pushed the genre of music I love forward. I recognize their contributions. But I have a hard time getting into their music. Here, too, many of their songs remind me of other music I prefer to listen to. So I’ll probably listen to that instead of this album. 3/5
No.
Favorite songs: Close to the Edge (II. Total Mass Retain, III. I Get Up, I Get Down), And You and I (I. Cord of Life)
Absolute classic! Not a single note is wasted. This album fully delivers on the promise of Progressive Rock, that is, a genre that takes the Rock music idiom applies it to contemporary 'art' music formats. The three songs here develop as if they were movements of a classical piece, which several themes that reocurr with variations and modulations, never quite repeating the 'verse' or the 'chorus'. Performance wise we see a band at the peak of their technical powers and these songs do get quite technical for everyone involved. Compositionally it is was the most taste anyone ever got in this long-winded song format. Every theme, instrumental passage, hook, and riff feel intentional and are memorable. Even Yes couldn't keep up with this high quality. On their next album Tales from Topographic Oceans, the band doubled down on the complexity with four side-long pieces that, while technically impressive, lose the restraint and immediacy this album has. The excess of that album started a backlash against Progressive Rock which eventually lead to the genesis of the back-to-basics approach of the Punk movement. Key tracks: Close to the Edge And You And I
I actually own this album on vinyl, not bragging or anything just pointing out that I am already a fan of their work. The vocals are very unique and for me it is immediately identifiable as Yes. Great music that has a nice lite rock vibe. I like to listen to it at home when relaxing or when cleaning. For me it's a great work and every song on the album is a joy to listen to.
Yes’ music is sometimes pretty and at times they have a good variety of instruments. However their songs are too long and have too many squiggly quotas.
culparé a este álbum de atrasarme tanto con los demás. Me perdí un poco pero it was aight
gran experiencia
Yes... it's prog
It’s hard to imagine that music like this was genuinely popular at one point. The peak of rock sophistication.
Mild
This originally took me to the deluxe version of the album, which doesn’t even include the title track for some reason. Switching to the original release was a much better listening experience.
I understand the musicianship that goes into prog rock and the different experiments that come out of it, but most of it is a miss for me. Including this.
I enjoyed this. Would have liked to have rocked out a little more, but these are very proficient musicians.
1.5 stars Not really for me. Forgettable, like a foreign language. Not offensive but not interesting. Glad it was under 40 min.
4/5 Best Song: And You and I Worst Song: N/A Weirdest Song: Yes Honorable Mention: Not Enough Songs Close to the Edge is a wonderful prog-rock balancing act of weirdness and ecstasy that is unlike anything I've ever heard before. Great to listen to in traffic at max volume with the windows down if you want to turn heads.
#9 This was an interesting listen. I am not well versed in Prog Rock, so this appears to be a good introduction. This is 70s rock presented like a symphony, with lots of unique instrumentation and plenty of weirdness. It does get lost in its own excess at times. I feel like this album requires several listens to fully process, and I could see myself coming back to this again.
Some fun moments, but the proggy nature of these super long songs means we’re lacking any real hooks or otherwise memorable melodies.
naw
Maybe a little bit more than the last one from these guys, but still a No from me
The instrumentation was the most complicated work of musical art I have experienced thus far!
Complete BGM lol did not enjoy it
Really solid prog album. Yes have always veered a little bit too hard into the whimsical for me, but it's hard to pick faults with Close To The Edge. Especially with a track like Siberian Khatru.
Prog majesty
Un poquito largas las canciones. Not really my cup of tea, peeero siento que sería un buen soundtrack para darse un buen viaje
4/5
Pretty good prog music the guys voice can get a little grating but I liked it overall
Not something I relisten often but it’s pretty good
A cacophony of noise
Supertramp en 1000 fois plus prog, belle découverte même si pas facile à digérer !
J’ai eu peur au début et finalement trop bien !! Morceaux longs et progressifs avec un mix Supertramp / The Police : tout ce qu’il faut pour me convaincre, c’est sûr que je vais réécouter
No
I don't understand the reason to hand several songs as one track, but I really liked this one
It’s my birthday and the 1001 Gods have really come up trumps with this selection. Just checked back and saw the last year I got The Yes Album the day after my birthday and complained that I should have had it the day before on my birthday. So does someone read and actually watch these ramblings? Certainly my favourite Yes album and in my top 5 of all time. The nature of my top 5 is such that each one of them at one time or another occupies the top spot. Back in 1972 this was the greatest album by far. This was groundbreaking Prog, is still and will always be a Prog classic. The album means a lot to me and is the backdrop and soundtrack to a lot of significant events in my life. I was a young policeman when the album was released, posted far from home in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, an environment very alien to a wet behind the ears 19 year old. These were the days even before personal cassette players so music consumption was done solely at home cramming in every note so when I was away on duty I was able to recall the music albeit in my head. So when trudging around Mexborough on night duty the sounds of Rick Wakeman’s soaring and climatic keyboards on I Get Up, I Get Down filled my head. I recollect once stood at the top of Wath Road marvelling at the nighttime view of the mining pits and related industries lighting up the sky with the sound of the majestic Mellotron and superb guitar work on And You And I recreated in my brain. An image I will never forget and alas due to the de-industrialisation of that area never to be seen again. Nevertheless due to in part this music, something that will always live with me. Just a small but one of many memories I have associated with Close To The Edge. An album I have been so lucky to have in my life and which I celebrate on my 73rd birthday. 5/5 4/5/26
wait cause this is eating
Det finnes en usynlig men høyst reell grense som skiller to segmenter av prog fra hverandre. Den ene siden huser det chaotiske & livsbejaende; den andre det ryddige og sterile. Som de fleste grenser som er verdt å studere, er denne naturligvis også en gradient heller enn et klart skille. Den første proggen kom først og var en avlegger av den livsbejaende jazzen. Så kom det en gjeng med nørds som tenkte: fy faen dette er det kuleste som finnes, sånn vil jeg også gjøre. Så de studerer det som egentlig skal føles, og vi ender opp med den andre proggen: en gjeng med teknisk dyktige nørds som trodde at essensen i proggen var teknisk virtuositet, polytmer, takskifter, og keyboards. Poenget er: Yes er et band som oppererer i gradienten av grensen. Faller de den ene veien eller den andre? I dette tilfellet mener jeg de fortsatt spiller den livsbejande proggen, men det er hele tiden et utilsiktet faremoment: skal de slå over i steril flinkismusikk? Og derfor heter denne skiva Close to the Edge.
Jeg sukket litt da jeg så sporlista med tre lange låter. Tenkte det kom til å bli 40 min med runking. Det var litt det også, men det var overraskende mye Beatles og Hendrix i det som funka bra. Nå skjønner jeg også mer av hvor norske progband kommer fra.
Det er lite som er bedre enn et godt prog album, og dette er en av yes sine beste, kanskje bare slått av relayer
The gold standard of progressive rock.
I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars. I see why this is a classic and enjoyed listening to it. Yet, this record didn't resonate with me as much as some other albums on the list. 3.5/5
Good stuff! As I have now said many times here, I tend to appreciate it when a song is longer as it gives space to really live in it for a while, and this album certainly delivers on that possibility. This is prog rock at its finest. Favorite track: "And You and I"
I am not really fond of progressive rock. Yes is musically a great band. They also showed in the eighties with albums like 90125 that they can play "normal" rock/pop. So on a musical level this album is a 5, but I simply don't like the music so for me it's a 3.
Det va helt ok, men ikke så veldig interessant.
I liked the sound but I thought it was a bit messy and unfocused.
I enjoyed this one a lot, very creative
A pretentious album where I feel the artist thinks they are smarter, better at instruments, and more good looking than the listener. All of which is probably true but I didn’t like it that much
- A journey - Can’t imagine listening to it again, but I did like it
Some cool tunes sprinkled here and there, but gotta be honest don’t think I’ll ever consciously put it on, maybe idk it’s a tough one
Just 3 songs? That’s crazy. Insane rhythms and stuff I kind of dig it. 4/29/26
Only 3 songs
Masterpiece of prog rock with elements of punk, jazz, funk, folk, and church organ.
Pretty immense first track, rest of it is also good but not to the same level for me
I don’t get it.
5/5
never heard this one before and it’s really cool! would never have found this album without doing this
Mukavaa progea, oikein kunnon tykittelyäkin. Laulajan ääni vaan turhan pikkupoikamainen omaan makuun.
Olihan se ny taattua Yessiä, ei voi ku tykätä.
Legendary prog rock. And Jon Anderson's voice is exquisite.
Got this on cd. Perfect classic prog record. 5/5
I'm unsure if it's missing soul, depth, or something else, but it's definitely missing something.
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. 5⭐️
A bit weird. What's the point in making a 18 minutes track if it's going to change so drastically ? Just divide it in 4-6 separate songs, idk. Otherwise it was nice ??
corto pero bueno
an absolute classic prog rock album. The harmonys and melodies here are so uplifting and enchanting and bring me happiness whenevr i listen to this album. The instrumental perfomances are absolute peak aswell. 9/10 Favourite: Close to the Edge Least Favourite: None
Basically the horrid music you fast forward through during Stuart Maconnie’s Freak Zone. This is as contrived and fake as any game show boy band. The classic bigwigs at the record company decided what rock needed was a dose of classical music to educate the youth and keep them docile. The result is a mess of unconnected ideas and hideous virtuosity. Punk must have seemed like a godsend a few years later.
Better than average
Los 1ros 10 mins de close to the edge del disco 1, me gustaron pero se hizo larguísimo. Temporalmente top And you and I, Siberian Khatru tamb esta buena. Me gusta que experimentan con sonidos pero no es tan el otro extremo. Inclusive algunos usos de ciertos sonidos me hacen acordar a la onda de la maquina de hacer pajaros y charly garcia. Total mass retain god.
Prog frogs do not get girls. Elite incel music
Expansive progressive rock built on intricate keyboards, shifting guitar passages, dynamic drumming, and soaring, high-register vocals unfolds in long, complex movements. Listening feels like navigating an elaborate maze where ideas constantly branch and circle back, demanding full attention, feeling only self-indulgent.
liked this more than I thought I would. easy listening!
Oh boy, a YES album! This is the musical equivalent of a Bob Ross painting that's been fussed with too much. It's an album written for musicians by musicians. "Siberian Khatra" starts off with an amazing groove, and then it gets "Yes-ified" 20 seconds in. It's like they're in the studio patting each other on the back "Did you hear that bit where we switched from 15/17 to 7/9 and then back to 15/17? That was genius, right?' And they put in a harpsichord and what sounded like a theremin. I appreciate these guys are extremely talented musicians, but I didn't need to hear this album at all. AND... Spotify gave me the "Deluxe Editiion", so I got EXTRA Yes which I absolutely didn't need. My Rating: 2/5 Not bad music, but I don't see how this is commercially viable.
the greatest pop band in the world gets 18 minutes out of the greatest pop song in the world. yes have never been the most structurally adventurous prog rock band...compare to the more dizzying, intricate epics of genesis or king crimson or something even less conventional like van der graaf generator, and you'll scratch ur head wondering how they ever became the posterboys for "prog excess" (at least until you hear topographic oceans, but that ones a masterpiece too lol). or god forbid, prog "soullessness"...jon anderson sings like he's just descended from the mountain with a spiritual message that must reach humanity as soon as possible, and the rest of the band matches his tone while still being some of the most individually identifiable and personality-filled lineups in the whole genre, certainly at this point. the only thing more important than the unbelievable releases of emotion all over this thing are how perfect all the Buildups to those releases are. i dont need my prog to be this oriented around The Listener, but i think i always rly appreciate it with yes because it sounds Participatory, they have found the enlightenment i now get to partake with them at the same time, preserved on wax for all future generations. only possible quibble: maybe the title track should have taken up side 2! direct comparisons to it are the only thing holding the side 2 tracks back. from start to finish this is basically what music is all about...and striving actively to be so in the highest potency it can manage in skill, vision, courage, curiosity, and sincerity. if its overrated, its only because contact with it wont actually physically heal you.
This rating is for the main album, not the deluxe edition. I really like Yes. I really like this album. I don't think it's amazing or a masterpiece though. Great album 4/5
I had a pretty great music discovery yesterday with the surprisingly very gay Handshake Song from the Great British Bake Off musical. On the other hand, Close to the Edge by Yes was not a great music discovery for me in any way
This was an amazing record. Favourite Track(s): Close to the Edge Least Favourite Track(s): And You and I
I enjoy the artistic nature of their music and use a respect for the different sounds used throughout each song.
Yes? No thanks. Close to the edge of unlistenable.
I prefer songs that sound good. However, I will admit this album sounds way better through headphones than my tiny tinny cell phone speaker.
2 5
Átti mitt progg tímabil í denn og hef smá soft spot ennþá fyrir því. Rush, Gentle Giant, King Crimson og fleira. En þetta fannst mér ekki skemmtilegt. Plús fyrir titillagið samt, það er fínt.
Lítið um þetta að segja. Samt fínt
My rating 2.8. Not my cup of tea. I guess I don’t get cerebral rock.
Feels like it is building towards a climax that never gets here. Incredible musicianship, but not much fun to listen to.
2,4/5
This album might be the best prog rock album from the classical age overall. While there might be others that have more to offer in specific songs, but some lesser tracks, this here is all perfection. And I'm not just talking about THAT organ moment in rock history.
3/5. canción agregada a la playlist "total mass retain"
So. First song. It starts off annoying. Like a broken musical box where everyone's noodling away at their own thing and it doesn't work. Then the guitar line is really nice. Not a fan of the vocals much, too reedy and airy, sounds weak. It seems like everyone is playing a different intricate-for-the-sake-of-showing-off instrumental line and it only works half of the time. Not much to really grab hold of so far. The song progresses (ha) but doesn't really develop, since there's no consistent part to develop from, just independent bits playing simultaneously. There's a bit where everything cuts out and he gets up and he gets down a lot, interspersed with big classical church organ passages as if the song deserves it. Now we're back to the whole band doing some proggy stuff. It doesn't like, lead up to them dropping back in very much, just gives me the impression they decided to start playing again instead of it being a big build up. It ends and it's instantly left my mind. I am thoroughly unimpressed by this song and a bit annoyed because you can tell they really thought they did something with this. Second song, I'm halfway through it and I'm struggling to think of anything to say about it. It sounds.. pretty? It's very boring. Nothing happens in it. God I hate his grating little voice. And it just ends? Okay. What a pointless boring song. NEXT. SONG. Okay this actually has some substance. It actually feels like a SONG. Like an actual thought out piece of music instead of some annoying, pretentious noodling with an asthmatic seagull bleating over it. This feels like an actual band doing actual band shit. It's actually good! It's cool! It's interesting and enjoyable! It develops, it sticks in my mind, it's fun. It's probably the only thing on this album that's worth it. So due to the fact there's only one interesting and enjoyable song on this album of three.. I'm rating the album 1/3. Or rather 5 divided by 3. 1.6666. Lets round it up to two stars.
Great musicians who become very uninteresting and dull quicker than imaginable.
Solid prog rock album. It has all the stuff you want from this kind of record: long songs, big shifts, a lot of technical playing, and just enough weirdness to keep it interesting without disappearing completely up its own ass. "I Get Up, I Get Down" was great and “And You and I” was really strong too. “Siberian Khatru” had a lot of energy and was a good way to close it out.
Probably the best Yes album we have done, and I’ve really liked them all. I am very ready to become a middle aged prog fan.
Why do you have to start with a 18-minute long song? Their take that they can be like Queen with long and unusually-built songs? I don’t know.. The whole album mainly sounded like an outdated chaos and not in the best way - like a messy room.
Indifference I guess is as bad as hate. This did nothing for me. I did not dislike it as hard as Genesis, so it's a 1,5/5, but it does make me think that progressive rock in general is just not for me.
Great album! Great lyrics and engaging last song.
nice