Reviews (page 4 of 9)
The songs were not good and it sounds like all the band members recorded their parts separately and then mailed them to the producer to stitch everything together, doesn't feel organic at all.
A personal favourite.
Goated prog vibes
Unique, playful, I enjoyed it.
It's tough.
Grand, meandering, long form compositions that no doubt are dripping with my musicality and talent. There are definitely moments in here, it's just that you have to be willing to listen to 10+minute tracks to get there. Patience is the only way to approach this one, and if that's not what you're looking for, it's going to probably miss you
Boring
Listening to this list I came to the realisation that I really don’t, with some notable exceptions, like prog rock. Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, early Queen, Zappa, Rush are most of the exceptions. What they all have in common is songs. Sure there’s complex harmonies, obscure time signatures and diverse melodies but there are songs. You can sing them. You can dance to some of them. You can remember them. Yes should be one I dislike. I like Yes. I find that Yes has songs as supposed to onanistic ramblings. A magnificent rhythm section in Bruford and Squire. Great guitar playing by Steve Howe and exquisite harmonies by Anderson. Wakeman on keyboard and what more do you want? 4 stars with one taken off because I wanted to hate it.
I've always had a soft spot for Rick Wakeman. In 1974 Mr Eagan my Year 6 teacher (World War 2 vet with a three piece suit, all year round) had a student teacher who was straight out of Miss Honey central casting. Man how we loved her, and she would play Journey to the Centre of the Earth at the end of the day and we loved it. Do I play it now, in the depths of the horror that is the 21st century? Or do I leave it as a unsullied memory? Dunno. Meantime, as much as I love Rick, I just can't do this. The first track, 18 minutes of prog heaven (hell). Look if you are not into the genre, spare yourself, it's not good.
ugh. Prog. Why do lists like this rate prog so highly? It's because these lists are written by pretentious white-boy, pseudo-intellectual rock snobs who have blighted the pages of rock magazine and bookshelves with their critical musings on rock music for decades now. They love this kind of shit because it is sooooo clever and they are soooooo clever and if you don't appreciate prog then that's because you aren't clever enough to get it. This 1001 list, with its focus on 'albums' -- the preferred format of "we don't even do singles" pretension-- is inherently biased towards pompous white male and their musical wankery. Prog often forgets to just rock, you know? Too much talk, not enough trousers. Some good moments, but just too clever clogs for me. This album is the epitome of a too-clever-for-their-own-good band disappearing up their own orifice of self-indulgence. As the initial NME review said, this album is "an attempt to overwhelm us which resulted in only unmemorable meaninglessness". I would rather open a vein than suffer through the title track again. That is 19 minutes of my life I will never get back, even if it felt like hours. (Checks notes) I seem to own a copy of this record. I better give it to my son, Hal, who likes prog more than I do. (Interestingly, the deluxe version I listened to tacked on the studio run-through guide track for Siberian at the end. I MUCH preferred the more straightforward playing approach)
Fav Song: Siberia I can always trust Yes to be lost in the sauce (affectionately)
Solid no bullshit prog rock.
No
Knowing that Yes is prog rock, and that all their hits are on other albums, I was dreading this one. Started with great news: this album is only 37 minutes and change. Immediately hit with bad news: there are only 3 songs on this album. Hoo boy. It's not terrible. It's nowhere near as pretentious or annoying as say Genesis or King Crimson. But if grunge was the stoner kids starting a band in their parents' basements and garages, prog was the theater kids doing it, and theater kids are really weird, man. Influence 3, I guess. Quality 3. Intangibles (I hate where this is going) 3. Hits: the album charted with no single - wild 2. Again, I didn't hate it 3.
I'm not sure Yes is for me. There were bits that I appreciated. It's not a No, but a Maybe? 2.5 rounded down to 2 because it felt a bit longer than it was.
Litt for lange sanger for meg, de er flinke osv, men det passet meg ikke særlig. Var greit å høre på da imens jeg studerte
The first side of this record is a masterpiece. It exists at the crossroads of technical virtuosity and masterful imagery, perfectly understanding its own grandiosity without ever feeling pretentious. The rest of the album stands in the title track's shadow; they're good songs, but I resonate with them much less, which holds this album back for me. Standout Tracks: Close To The Edge.
It's Yes, thus hella prog, which indeed it is. I really enjoy the more ambient moments. There's excellent portions throughout. It's prog though, so it's always changing and doing too much overly-complex stuff all over the place. Plus some of the synths on here are straight dorky. I've always liked the singer's voice. The cover of "America" is an interesting take. "And You and I" is great. I like listening to Yes. I'll never be a full-on prog dude, but it's usually fun to listen to.
"Oh, another 1970s prog rock album. Great." Surprisingly I actually liked this one.
one word: yes
Great sound and groove. Love the epic songs too.
Experimental, kinda liked a few. Would be distracting in a bar but really neat to listen to on its own.
Bit odd
Yes give me more 10 minute songs! With only 3 songs you get the full quality of what Yes could do in their prime. Big organ sounds, sharp rhythm work from the drums, guitar parts that cut through without showing off and a bass line that refuses to sit still. Slaps, runs, weird accents, all of it. For early 70s rock this is absurdly tight. "Close To The Edge" feels like five or six ideas smashed together in the best way. Great lyrics, sharp shifts from loud organs to slap heavy moments to bright synth lines. It never drags. It just keeps unfolding. "And You And I" opens soft with that calm guitar part, then drops in those strange talk box textures and warm synth layers. It stays peaceful but never boring. "Siberian Khatru" hits immediately. Funky bass, fast riffs, synth and guitar parts that almost sound like trumpets. The whole thing shows why Yes had such an impact. A lot of these sounds are still copied today. Strong album. 9/10.
If you're not into prog-rock or experimental jazz, the first three minutes of this record are going to be a real challenge for you. I don't think you'll like anything after that either, but those first three minutes are definitely going to take you "Close To The Edge" of your mental fortitude. The title track is eighteen minutes long and takes up the entire first side of the record, even though it feels like five different songs. Only "And You And I" and "Siberian Khatru" made up the original B side, and then there are four bonus tracks for anyone who still hasn't had enough. Those bonus tracks do contain a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "America", which might be enjoyable for casual listeners. The instrumental landscapes are expansive and exciting, and the tempo stays pretty high so it really feels like you're on an adventure! However, the vocals start to wear on me after a while. It's like the adventure has a tour guide who keeps squawking facts and anecdotes over the PA while you're trying to look at the scenery and there's nothing you can do about it. I guess it's hard to plead for a "less is more" vocal approach in a genre built on ornate sonic excess. Prog rock is for nerds! But this is an important listen to appreciate context for the backlash that gave us a lot more low-brow rock and roll (and punk!) in the 70s. Ironically, I hear the roots of post-rock in prog too, but that won't develop until the 90s as a reaction to all the low-brow rock and roll (and punk!) of the late 70s and 80s. A fun ouroboros to explore in a (quite nerdy) future discussion!
There cant be more than one Yes album on this list, can there? Surely nobody would put multiple albums by Yes on this list of important releases. That would have to mean that more deserving albums wouldn’t make the list so that multiple albums by Yes could be on it. And that wouldn’t make any sense at all.
Prog rock gives me a headache.
# **Close to the Edge** – *Yes* (1972) ## An In-Depth Review of Lyrics, Music, Production, Themes & Influence --- ### 🎵 **Album Overview** Released in September 1972, *Close to the Edge* is the fifth studio album by British progressive rock band **Yes**. Widely regarded as a **masterpiece of the genre**, it marks the peak of the band’s creative powers and the end of the classic lineup before drummer **Bill Bruford** left to join **King Crimson**. The album consists of **three epic tracks**, with the 18-minute title track taking up the entire first side. It’s a **symphonic, spiritual, and technically dazzling** journey that helped define what progressive rock could achieve. --- ## 🎼 **Music & Composition** ### **1. Close to the Edge (18:42)** - A **multi-sectional suite** that flows like a classical symphony. - Opens with **ambient nature sounds** (birds, water), followed by a chaotic, polyrhythmic explosion of sound. - Features **shifting time signatures**, **modal harmonies**, and **counterpoint** reminiscent of classical and jazz fusion. - Highlights include: - The **syncopated vocal section** (“I get up, I get down”) – a spiritual and emotional climax. - Rick Wakeman’s **church organ solo**, which feels both majestic and transcendent. - Steve Howe’s **eclectic guitar work**, blending rock, country, and classical styles. ### **2. And You and I (10:08)** - A **folk-infused, acoustic ballad** with a cosmic and emotional tone. - Divided into four parts, it builds from **gentle acoustic guitar** to **soaring Mellotron and Moog solos**. - Thematically, it’s about **human connection, love, and transcendence**. - Wakeman’s **Mellotron and Minimoog** textures are especially lush here. ### **3. Siberian Khatru (9:00)** - The most **energetic and rock-oriented** track. - Driven by a **groovy guitar riff** and complex rhythm patterns. - Features **oriental-sounding scales**, **harpsichord**, and **blistering solos**. - Lyrics are **cryptic and surreal**, but the music is tight and propulsive. --- ## 🖋️ **Lyrics & Themes** - **Jon Anderson**’s lyrics are often **abstract, spiritual, and poetic**, sometimes bordering on **nonsensical**. - The title track explores **spiritual awakening**, **existential struggle**, and **transcendence**. - “And You and I” is more **intimate**, focusing on **love, unity, and cosmic harmony**. - “Siberian Khatru” is **mystical and imagistic**, evoking **nature, myth, and ancient lands**. > While some fans find the lyrics **pretentious or incoherent**, others see them as **evocative and emotionally resonant**, especially when paired with the music’s grandeur. --- ## 🎛️ **Production & Sound** - Produced by **Eddie Offord**, who was instrumental in shaping Yes’s **layered, pristine sound**. - The album is **technically flawless**, with **clear separation of instruments**, **dynamic range**, and **stereo panning** that was **ahead of its time**. - Wakeman’s **organ and synth tones** are **rich and analog**, Howe’s guitars are **multi-tracked**, and Squire’s **bass is punchy and melodic**. - The **nature sounds** and **ambient transitions** add a **cinematic quality**. --- ## 🌌 **Influence & Legacy** - Considered **one of the greatest progressive rock albums ever made**. - Influenced countless bands, including **Dream Theater**, **Tool**, **Opeth**, and **Porcupine Tree**. - The **title track** is often cited as the **quintessential prog epic**, alongside Genesis’s *Supper’s Ready* and Pink Floyd’s *Echoes*. - It helped **define the symphonic prog subgenre**, blending **rock, classical, and jazz** into a **cohesive artistic statement**. --- ## ✅ **Pros** - **Musical virtuosity** without sacrificing emotion or cohesion. - **Flawless production** and **innovative arrangements**. - **Spiritual and uplifting** tone that resonates deeply with listeners. - **Timeless appeal** – still sounds fresh and powerful decades later. - **Peak performance** from every band member, especially Wakeman and Bruford. --- ## ❌ **Cons** - **Lyrics** can be **inaccessible or overly abstract** for some listeners. - **Length and complexity** may be **intimidating** for casual rock fans. - **Repetitive motifs** in the title track may feel **overstretched** to some ears. - **Lack of traditional song structure** can make it hard to connect with on first listen. --- ## 🏁 **Conclusion** *Close to the Edge* is not just an album – it’s a **spiritual and sonic journey**. It represents the **pinnacle of progressive rock**, where **technical mastery**, **emotional depth**, and **artistic ambition** converge. While its **lyrical abstraction** and **musical density** may not be for everyone, those who connect with it often describe it as a **life-changing experience**. > If you’re a fan of **ambitious, genre-defining music**, this album is **essential listening**. --- **Rating: 5/5 – A Masterpiece** **Recommended for fans of:** Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, early Rush
That was just unnecessary. We've already reviewed albums from this era of Yes' catalog. No need to cram it down our throats. Maybe listen to their 80's mid-to-late-career megahit album, "90215" instead.
It's Yes. It's prog rock. If you like prog rock, you'll like this, and if you don't you won't. In all seriousness, I think I liked side 2's "And You and I" more than side 1's "Close to the Edge." But prog rock is really hit-and-miss for me.
Solid 3...nothing amazing, sometimes it feels like it is trying too hard but I think that is just part of the progressive rock vibe.
Yes is a good band. I’m not a huge prog fan, but I enjoyed this record quite a bit. It felt like a real journey rather than an excuse to randomly change things up every minute or two in the name of prog. Even their 80’s pop hits have been nicely cooked (umm…Owner Of A Lonely Heart). For a pointless yet apt comparison, I enjoy their peers Genesis FAR more as an 80’s pop band than I do for their 70’s prog (AND Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins’ 80’s solo for that matter). All outstanding songwriters when they are focused and concise.
It's hard for me to really get into prog rock. These songs were so long and kept losing me, but I appreciate the epic feel of it. There's a lot of heart here.
I enjoyed this. A Yes album that I don't own or have heard before. It did however deliver as expected. Proggy, technical and self-indulgent, which I'm OK with. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
Our third yes album and they're still not a particularly standout band to us. This one did not start off strong but got better as we continued to listen and landed somewhere in fine territory.
Nothing redeemable about this one
This had me Close to the Edge
HELL YES
Just horrendous
Maybe I was just having a bad day when I listened to this but I found it less than what I expected, and a bit of a drag to boot.
I enjoyed this album but I’d put this below the other 3 Yes albums I’m familiar with ( fragile, debut album, and 90125). It’s just alittle too much. Like all of their albums are wild and overly complicated whether for good or bad. And usually I’d say it works and that’s part of their charm, but this album definitely challenges that. Mainly the song that really stands out the most, the opening track, has this repeating key progression in the background of like the first several minutes and it became grating pretty quick, but I did enjoy Siberian Khatru the most. Also this isn’t necessarily a complaint just an observation, there’s like several different versions of this album and each one is pretty wildly different which is kinda crazy. But I do believe this specific version with 7 tracks is my favorite version. But if you like yes this is a must listen, but if you already know u don’t like Yes than this will be torture cause it’s a lot even for them.
just the worst
Probably the greatest progressive rock album ever recorded. 5/5
O fechamento da tríade de obras primas da maior banda de Rock Progressivo, em termos de representatividade do conceito, iniciada com "The Yes Album" e "Fragile", ambos de 1971.
pure iconic genius. once in a lifetime stuff
great long and instrumental progressive rock. 4/5
Simply one of the best prog rock albums I've ever heard, and probably the earliest example of it I know. I love it. The opening of Siberian Khatru is my favorite.
Really enjoyed this excuse to listen to Yes.
All right, prog rock of epic proportions. This type of progressive music hasn't really appealed to me ever, parts of it is very much to my liking, but all the meandering side quests to get to the next bit are a bit too much. Again, I notice my focus is on the "song", not how it's performed nor the merits of the technicalities. I didn't have the feeling of I hope this ends soon, but didn't particularly enjoy it either. Hi-Res source did make it sound wonderful with my gear tho (noticeable difference to the "CD-quality" version). I was surprised how much some things on this record sounded like Sting's endeavours, I especially noticed it in the first track, but more in some later bits too. Probably vocal mannerisms and accompanying bass lines were to blame, but I'm not interested enough to make sure what it was. I'd say 3.5/5 for me, but with the wonderful listening experience, I'll bump it to 4/5.
It was decent. Not the vocals, vocals sucked, but I enjoyed it overall
I absolutely love what they do with their guitars in the slower, more intimate sections such as the start of And You and I A little less when it is more grand and energetic, but still really enjoyed this
Unbearable!
Ohhh look and me and my fancy prog rock. We get it dude. Some parts I like but the problem is it's on 12 minute songs with parts I really don't. Damn. 4/10
This is maybe a bit too proggy too quickly for my liking but once you get over the initial mental mess it settles down. The cover of America on the deluxe version is unforgivable, though.
Good stuff
sygt nok (positivt)
Superfedt, aldrig hørt det før! Kæmpestort prog, ret nørdet, men også en meget mindre "svær" plade end jeg havde regnet med med de sanglængder. Hvorfor i alverden hørte jeg ikke det her som 14-årig, jeg ville have været obsessed
Really nice. Lots of Hammond organ in the first half and just great songs!
Hey, I remember seeing this album a few weeks back when rifling through the book. I thought I hadn't deleted the entry for Willie Nelson's Stardust at first. The jury's out on what this could be going from the cover, though I'm getting a bit of a psychedelic feel from the lettering. Guess I've got nothing else to do but bust this one open. Prog rock. Shoulda knowwwwnnn. I can't imagine there being an album on the list with fewer tracks than this one, which makes it exceptionally difficult for me form a consensus on the music. Anyways, this was solid. As I've said many-a-time before, I will always be partial to albums that have a cosmic sound, of which this definitely fits the bill. The guitar performances on this are pretty distinctive and admirable, though truth be told I get pretty lost in how expansive these tracks are. Still, I had a decent time listening to this one overall. "Close to the Edge" succeeds at being cool despite having such an immense runtime. The bouncy instrumental goes a long way in keeping the music engaging, and the vocals aren't bad, either. The atmospheric stuff during the latter half of the song loses me, but for what it is, it's decent. "And You and I" is a nice, relaxing break from the previous track. Those reverberating acoustic guitars are surprisingly quite effective, and I like the cosmic synths near the end of the track. Book time. Nothing much of note in there. Wikipedia says that this album charted well and has a good critic backing. Yeah, I guess I can bat for this one. It's pretty unique and has an admirable level of ambition. I cosign this inclusion.
Very interesting experience. There are a few songs I'd heard before, but most of them were new. I really enjoyed listening to this, and a few of the songs have been added to my rotation.
Not bad
Sounded really different from the other 2 Yes albums I've listened to. I still liked it but it didn't blow me away like Fragile did
I am really trying to be a Yes man. I am almost there, but within Prog rock, there are other band I like more, and they also have a different vibe.
The longer it went on the more I hated it. There was absolutely no need to make the opening track 18 minutes long - and why did they repeat the same song 4 times?!!!!! 1.5/5 rounded down to 1/5
Wasn't looking forward to this, but when it started off a bit like Trout Mask, I thought "hello, have I misjudged it?" But then it went to the endless twiddly nonsense shit I was expecting. And then a church organ came along. I like Rick Wakeman because he knows how preposterous this stuff was, but that doesn't make it a pleasure to listen to. Overblown nonsense can be good when done with humour, this ain't doing it for me.
I wrote a bunch about this but I realized all the tracks after Siberian Khatru weren't on the original album, so maybe I should only be judging the original runtime. That being said, the title track really comes into its own in the last third with the big church organ (I Get Up I Get Down?) and then the last section (Seasons of Man?) has an aggressive instrumental break I really dug. It's a lot to process. And You And I is different, dreamlike and majestic. The keyboards have a fantastic analog sound. And the third track has some really good riffs and sounds. For whatever reason, this is hard to wrap my head around. I'm deducting a star because it's almost too dense, but it's close to top marks.
Prog rock masterpiece.
красивая музыка
This is some peak prog nonsense and it's great. You get lost in it, it's way over the top and overly complex, and everyone should hear it if they enjoy it or not.
This is a headphones are a must. Some of the soundscapes are crazy. The depth of audio on albums like this after a bunch of over compressed stuff reminds me that my ears are working. I'm not sure if this would be an album I'd recommend, but I might. I would like to absorb it more. The way the vocals play with syllables fascinates me. Yes is one of the bands I'd like to go back and explore more some day, If I'm not sick of music after this.
I was never a huge fan of Yes when I was younger. I had a cousin who was a big fan but I never really listened to them. I always thought they were a bit pretentious. And this album does reinforce that a little - the title track (suite?) starts with a freeform, cacophonous band improvisation, reminisent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and ends with a Rick Wakeman solo played on the organ in St Giles Church in the Barbican. It is also a great album. I grew into Yes, particularly this and the two albums which preceded CTTE. The lineup is probably their best - Jon Anderson's folky falsetto, Steve Howe's excellent guitar, Rick Wakeman, Bill Buford's amazing drumming, and Chris Squire's trebly, melodic, lead bass playing. Things would get really pretentious later but this is excellent stuff.
It was cool, enjoyable, and on par for the time period. I appreciated that there were only 3 tracks. However: they were marathon tracks lol
12 minutes in, a refrain of “I get up, I get down” climaxes with a church organ dropping blazing mournfully and I’m amazed by authentically raw feeling. Then Yes repeat this a minute later, quartering the force, follow up with some UFO sounds and a trippy gallop that resolves into a concluding segment of hippy healing circle involving that now-cheesy refrain and I’m deflated and laughing at having been tricked. Yes is Yes.
If Yes were the only prog music I had heard, I think I would hate prog. My esteemed colleague has observed before how fidgety this band are, all musical prodigies with severe ADHD. This album is probably the worst of the lot, so irritating to listen to: 18 minute songs, different every 2 minutes! Get a groove going, motherfuckers, please! The bonus cover of "America" is surely self-parody? I couldn't satirize their style any better. Jon Anderson's vocals really annoy me, with the exception of the incredible sample used in "Dark Fantasy". No.
Nope. I just can't get into this type of prog.
Prog hasn’t aged well with me, usually it just feels like too much, but this certainly isn’t. Every minute is well spent, the fantasy is still beautifully there. If you didn’t enjoy it, I think you literally need to take a hike with this album, preferably somewhere with mountains and oceans.
Of the last seven albums generated, six have been from the seventies. So the last thing I wanted was to get some prog, and it didn't start well. I quite liked the different passages of the second piece though.
I'll never be entirely confident that prog rock wasn't an elaborate and long-running practical joke. Second star because some of this is so absurdly noodly that I chuckled.
Yes fucking rules
Groovy, progressive, and (just a bit) over the top. This list has introduced me to two Yes albums and both have been really pleasant surprises. Wild and creative instrumentals and really nice production. The songs are long and winding but the pacing is good and the album as whole doesn't drag out as much as other similar prog-rock albums of the day.
This is a fun, quirky little album. Three tracks amounting to just under 40 minutes of entertainment. The music is spacey, the vocals are like frolicking through an Irish pasture. It’s very orchestral and cinematic at times, creating a really engaging mood. Uplifting throughout and keeps my attention. I dig it.
I love DMB. I like Phish. I hear the obvious influences here. But I didn’t enjoy it.
I debated 4 and 5, heavily. I’ve always really enjoyed this album and appreciated it even more after running through their whole discography last year in chronological order. Ultimately landed at 5 as this is really a durable album. It stands the test of time still sounding fresh, adventurous, and grounded. I love that “And You and I” got a refresh and their version of “America” has captivated me since first hearing it in high school. The epics are also EPIC and this collection of musical superstars doesn’t hold back one bit. Powerful stuff. 5 stars.
No
I liked Yes a lot in high school and tho I like them less now, there are still moments on this album that still slap But I bet this album doesn't connect with even the Phish heads in this group not only bc of the generational divide and the super hippie lyrics, but it's so organ/keyboard-driven and Phish and most other modern prog rock are more guitar-driven or at the very least, not keyboard-driven.
Three albums in, I do declare Yes is the squirreliest band here. Impossible to pin down, and I tire. I enjoyed parts of the third and fourth movements(?) of the Close to the Edge suite(?)
Not my cup of tea, but the cover of 'America' was fun
maybe
This felt like a prog fan's pilgrimage. Wonderful odyssey
Prog Rock has so much charm and minimal upsets. High highs and few mids sounds pretty good to me
yep yep yep!
:(
I liked it. Feels like the album was passionately made.
Everything it was made out to be! At first I thought it would be 4 stars for me because it felt like a work in a genre I didn’t understand. Then I picked up on the continuity with more recent trippy stuff I like. Then I fully committed when the choir came in. And the riff of Siberian Khatru won’t be denied.
I like prog rock but I could never really warm to the Yes for some reasons. Their musicianship is amazing and it is also a well produced album. Perhaps the songs themselves aren't that memorable and melodic, and it's very much 'head' music instead of 'heart' which makes it less interesting to me. I haven't got this problem with most other prog rock band (for instance, Genesis is one of my favourite bands). Well anyway it was a good listen and appreciate their talent but it'e only 3 stars.
I guess I love Yes now.
Prog-tastic!
Yes are certainly a talented ensemble and this a very ambitious album. And for the most part it's rather enjoyable. They can get a little long winded though. But the musicianship is top notch and a a bass player myself, Chris Squire is an inspiration. 4/5 #207
I’m never going to actively listen to yes, but this wasn’t a chore. The early track was some interesting prog. The standard Prog complaint though - way too long.
The was early Yes. Still good, but their later stuff was more polished and more entertaining.
Complex for the sake of being complex, but I guess that’s prog in a nutshell.
I always thought Yes kind of sucked but this is a cool prog album. Not bloated with sounds and layers and well arranged.
This album is everything thing that's wrong with early 70s prog rock. Technically brilliant musicianship but all head and no heart.
A lot of slow and almost instrumental songs from a band I had only heard one song from before. Not at all what I expected. Its good old-school rock with a lot of experimental parts. Not something I would listen to every day but not inherently bad music that I would turn off either.
Absolute masterpiece. I don't listen to this one as much as Fragile, but I will take it out more often now after listening to it more closely. It's so moving to hear a group of musicians performing in sync at the peak of their ability.
Very fun listen, beautiful, unique album
Some songs were ok but they lost me 9 minutes into the first 18 minutes song...
Non-stop wankery.
4.0 RYM
Their fifth album. Prog Rock. This is clearly complex and requires highly skilled musicians to compose and play. The album is brilliantly whimsical at times yet also over the top. I cannot deny it's magnificence on many levels. The opening track alone is a journey. However I can also understand why a group of kids just behind this generation stripped music right back to it's simplest two or three minute track form, as this kind of album is just not accessible to the average kid with a guitar in his garage in the working class mid 70s areas.
I genuinely didn’t dislike this anywhere near as much as I thought I would. A three-track album lasting almost forty minutes is never a good omen and the opening passage of noodling did nothing to dispel my feelings of dread. There were some listenable moments, although these sounded very much of their time and were too few and far between.
No.
Having a collection of proficient musicians and some grand ideas of what music should be does not necessarily a good album make. This has probably been a significant influence of the prog rock that followed but it was long, meandering, and I felt little emotional connection after listening to it. It probably benefits from repeated listens but I’m not sure when I would otherwise decide, “right, today I fancy listening to a bit of ‘yes’”.
Such a ride. This is very, very close to peak prog. To me prog has always been about struggling through protracted periods of complete nonsense, but with the payoff being incredibly sections where everything works. This album has all of it, but despite the overly long tracks, there is less of the wank.
Good
Not a fan. Not sure what those combo tracks are supposed to be.
Another classic prog rock album along with In the Court of the Crimson King that I love but don't quite think is a masterpiece. I can’t really explain why. Outside of the opening track, this album is not that memorable and lacks some extra punch for me. A lot of the talk around this album is mostly concerning the title track, which makes sense because it is exceptional. And I think that’s largely the problem. The two other tracks are still very good, but they pale in comparison to the absolute magnum opus that is the title track. Every time I listen to this album (and I’ve listened to it a lot), when I reach the end of the first track, it feels like I’m done, and the other songs are an unnecessary weight that’s only there to reach a time goal. Don’t get me wrong, I still like them, but they just can’t match the title track in sheer scale and ambition. A lot of albums have standout tracks, but they rarely have ones that stand out this much. I feel like in any other album, I would find these two tracks to be fantastic, but not in the one that opens with arguably one of the best songs in the history of rock (that is also almost 19 minutes long).
Long tracks were interesting but the album didn't interest me.
Nope.
One of the best prog rock albums hands down.
At least we got punk rock in response to this.
Worse than I remember, and I didn't like it then. By turns dull and exhausting.
I saw the 18 minute song and rolled my eyes. Then I listened to it and rolled my eyes harder. No thanks.
The kind of music that makes me appreciate silence. No.
2.5
Track 1 is awful. 18 minutes is a very long time to listen to something you can't stand. Track 2, I liked. To my complete surprise! Will listen to all 10 minutes again some time. Track 3 and I'm struggling. The formula of starting busy with quite groovy guitars, then slowing with keyboards, then back up with guitars is becoming clear. Track 4 and a surprise cover version! They murder a great song though. Both stars are for track 2. 'And You and I' which I'm listening to for a second time already!
Didn’t have the willpower
Trying to do too much, to the extent that this is mostly nonsense. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Superfluous.
this was funky~ an 18 minute meeting!
7.6
Probably the greatest Prog album ever made.
3.6 2x nice prog rock
This is one where if I gave it more time, another 3-4 listens, it MIGHT get bumped up to a 4 stars....maybe not. Some great beautiful moments on this album but a lot a floating and meandering and jagged noise-making as well
hear me out - what if we did the coolest thing, all the time, for 40 minutes
Pretty crazy record and NJ turnpike reference. Yes I enjoy but they can be hard to grasp sometimes. 3.5/5
Yes the ultimate 4 star band with moments of 5 star energy
Technically impressive and stratified I guess, but deep down I couldn’t feel a soul
Great progressive rock sounds. Definitely will take more than one listen to "get it". But, overall I liked it!
Legendary prog rock. The title song is a masterpiece but otherwise this whole album sounds like life itself; messy, weirdly connected but often incoherent, a real journey. The only thing I do not like and which really impact the listenability is the production quality.
What in the prog rock is going on here? Certainly no lack of effort here, but I can't get there in terms of calling this Yes's greatest album or anything. A lot going on of course, and I think I enjoyed side two compared to side one, despite the fact that this side is more folk and traditional rock-oriented compared to the rest of the album. I found "Fragile" slightly more memorable as an album I guess.
Pretty interesting. Didn't generate a strong attraction, but it's clearly something special.
Yes to Yes. No to this.
Yes. oh yes. This bangs. Space traveling falsetto screeching psych rock opera revealing the mysteries of the universe. I'm all about it.
I put this on but didn't really listen to it. I just couldn't get into the jam band feel.
Is this album supposed to be only three songs? I clicked on Apple Music and my mouth dropped at seeing an almost 19 minute track. The whole album keeps glitching too so it won't let me even play or listen to it, oddly enough. I found it on YouTube and wtffffff hahahahah I knew Yes was weird, but I am 2 minutes into the 18-minute song and OVERWHELMED. This is a great track for listening to for this assignment, but I could not drive with this album on. I think I would freak out. I think the bass parts and the harmonies are always such a standout of this band. It almost feels like psychedelic madrigal music. Like if knights had mushrooms they'd have made this kind of music hahaha.
I oscillated a lot between "this sounds really cool" and "i don't like this" but ultimately i can tell a lot of music i like was influenced by music that was influenced by this band and i think if i heard them in college, i probably would've listened to them a lot
This is 100% the step before Rush. I actually enjoyed it more than I enjoy Rush by far. Not a ton of variation sonically or lyrically but solid air guitar songs.
Is this The Mars Volta?! I LOVE how the title track starts and then settles in. This is some solid squiggly prog rock. I feel like it meanders at times to its detriment but overall I really enjoyed this.
Unequivocally the greatest progressive rock album of all time and a massive triumph of musicianship, songwriting, and orchestration. Even if not your thing, you have to be impressed by the sheer ambition of it all. One of the great albums in rock music history.
I mean it was ok but the start of the first song was too much. 2.6
This album has everything that I love about Prog, and none of the things I hate about Prog.
I like Yes, but I'm surprised to find this particular album on the list. “Close to the Edge” is undoubtedly a fine testament to the musicality, technique, and enthusiasm of this band (e.g., “Siberian Khatru”), but for me it's not the ultimate reference. A very good album, but not in the highest category.
Great classic album. Didn't click with me as much as some of their other stuff but at least a 3.5
A fantastic follow-up to Fragile and coming in at under 40 minutes, this album is a ripper. Classic 70s prog rock, the swelling crescendos and tight musicality are killer. Huge fan of prog and a huge fan of this album.
I really tried but this just doesn’t do anything for me
1 hour and 4 minutes. 7 songs... why are so many of these albums self absorbed long arse (15 minute plus) escapades in to the forest of wandering shit? There's way more talent in keeping a great song under 10 minutes than rambling shit over it.
I cannot believe I am giving Yes a 3, but some parts were nice
It was really cool. 4.5 ⭐
Wanky long songs but they weren't terrible.
And You and I was the track I was most familiar with, but it’s all standard Yes prog stuff.
Daunting to put up at first, being a 3 song 40 minute album, but actually very enjoyable to listen to. This album is full of memorable moments and brilliant playing. It's amazing just how fast this goes by. Easily one of the best prog albums ever made.
Great
My brother fairly pointed out that it would be much easier to be in the mood for some of this if they just split the songs into separate tracks. I know that might upset some purists but when you consider that a lot of them are just cobbled together from bits the members had individually written anyway it's really not too much of a reach from the final product. With that being said, I'm bang into prog and this is towards the better end of it so 4*
Прекрасный альбом! Ранее я не слушал yes, потому как мне не нравится голос вокалиста, а также мне больше по душе симфонический прогрессив. Но "And You and I" изменила мое мнение об этой группе, и укрепила моё первое впечатление "Siberian Khatru". Мне чрезвычайно нравится работа с басовыми партиями в этом альбоме, местами напоминает мне "Discipline" от King Crimson. Но заглавная композиция меня не сильно впечатлила. Лишь отдельные её части были интересны для меня. P.s. Послушав второй раз я распробовал заглавную композицию, и да, она тоже шикарна
Not all that familiar with Yes's work. What I do know is that it's a bit hit and miss. Didn't know this album but it is mostly hit so that's good.
Good The only reason I write these reviews is because my stupid 12 year old ahh did and I want to keep it consistent
Not for me
Pretentious and long winded and uniquely YES. Piercing and complicated and occasionally engaging.
Pretty good. Really only a couple tracks but each one is like several songs. I had already heard “and you and I” which I already liked.
Absolutely mental prog rock album, I loved this. It's hard to pick a favorite song because it's pretty much packaged as a full listening experience. I do know that as Siberian Khatru was fading out I wanted more. Great prog is always as fun as it is pretentious, and this was very fun.
Knew there'd be more Yes. Grow up. I think this is the good one though
I don't mind a bit of prog. I don't love a LOT of prog though and this list does seem to have a bit more prog than it probably needs. I hadn't heard this before and it's pretty good; like the best prog I've discovered so far, plenty of good stuff emerges from the long, thick clumps of music that sort of chug away. But it's always just buried so deep within these needlessly long and elaborate passages. I do understand why people love it and I can imagine it being pretty mind-blowing when it all emerged from the jazz and rock of the 70s. But I think at this point I get the gist of it and we're just adding context for the sake of it. There are some great moments but I'm not going to be coming back to plough through all this to find them with much regularity.
Bra prog, liker stemmen til Jon Andersson.
Fav: Siberian Khatru Least Fav: Close To The Edge Takes a while but when it hits it’s quite good
Interesting sounds but pretty forgettable. Maybe the coolest yes album? But idk if im ever gonna listen again. THREE
The excellent drum work merits a third star. The not-so-excellent vocals almost took it away.
Not generally a fan of songs over 7-8 minutes long, beyond that and it’s basically just a jam session. Good luck trying to play an 18 minute song on the radio today.
Close to the edge is an all time banger, no notes. Every track is unique and complete. Maybe the instrumental stuff can drag, but it all works in the focused listen. Close to the edge the track is of course stand out, but Siberian Khatru and the cover of America are stellar shorter tracks to listen to with less commitment.
Really one of the best ever. I <3 Yes!
I liked it.
Yeah this rules
Undrade just när vi skulle behöva utsättas för symfonirock. Det positiva är att originalvinylen enbart består av 2 spår, tyvärr innebär det ändå 37 minuters musik. ...och nej jag tänker inte helt plötsligt recensera en deluxe utgåva bara för att det är den på bilden, det är originalalbumet som gäller. Detta är oerhört schizofrent och visst det ligger i genrens dna men min huvudvärk är densamma för det. 17 taktbyten på 45 sekunder, ena stunden låter det som en funkrocklåt och i nästa som Bo Hansson på MDMA, hur recenserar man det? Det finns ingen rim och reson nånstans. Men jag tänker inte slentrianmässigt avfärda det här. Det finns också korta partier som jag är musikaliskt tilltalande, helt okej eller rentav bra, som t.ex. när en vilsam orgel bara får ligga å puttra en liten liten stund i något som nästan blir ambient och innerligt, Det finns också nåt där när det i partier musiken liksom bara tar ny ansats mellan solon och taktbyten och bara blir ren kraft. Dessa partier är korta men också återkommande. Jag har hört värre saker, men jag har också hört betydligt bättre symfonirock. Med näbbar och klor håller det här sig över godkäntstrecket men det är verkligen en hårsmån. Lyssna hellre på Bo Hansson - Mellanväsen, Genesis - Selling England by the pound
Önskar att mer hade låtit som avslutningsspåret. Även om den Beach boyska mittenfasen i öppningsspåret och avslutningsstycket i andra spåret också har en poäng. Vacklar mellan tvåa och trea, men magkänslan säger till slut två.
Bara en av tre spår är över 15 minuter. Hade de andra också varit det plus om bandet varit finskt eller italienskt (gammal kvalitetsmärkning vid backarna hos vinylpågarna) hade det blivit en 5:a. Nu är det inte så. (Emellertid inte heller värdelöst hela tiden).
Enligt skrönan kommer ett gäng apor med skrivmaskiner och oändligt tid till slut att skriva ned Shakespeares samlade verk. YES jobbar enligt samma princip. Om bara låtarna är tillräckligt långa så kommer till slut någon ton som går att lyssna på att fastna på band. Det finns element här och där som har potential till att bli något. Men överlag går de vilse i sin iver att vara progressiva. Sången är ingen höjdare. Efter tre låtar på 18, 10 och 8 minuter så slänger de in en meningslös cover på Simon & Garfunkels America.
Technical insanity.
I understand that this is a very good prog rock album. But it’s just so not my thing, that I couldn’t get into it. Might be one I need to come back to again.
I’m confused. I spent the last 20 years thinking I hate prog. Now I apparently like Rush and Yes? The first 4 minutes is like a terrible fever dream but enjoyed everything after that
Tää on must iha ehtaa kamaa! Joskus tuntuu että progen kanssa se on tosi itseriittoista ja menee megaöveriksi, mutta tässä mun mielestä on sellainen sopiva balanssi. Antaa mennä vaan! 4/5
Hyvä proge-levy! Vaikka Yes tuntuu vähän suoraviivaisemmalta kuin moni muu genren edustaja, niin kyllä se silti hyvin toimii. 4/5
Disneyland for the ears
This project has encouraged me to be more patient with music than I ever was and it has allowed me to truly appreciate Prog. A genre I once scoffed at, I won’t claim to have a full understanding of Prog yet. I’m not sure anyone truly understands what’s really going on with Prog. I gave this one a few plays through to sink my teeth into all that’s happening. They dip and dive with some great shifts in energy and pace. The 18+ minute opener does reward those who stick with it. The second track has a really cool string arrangement to open the track, such dramatic pauses and inquisitive tones, I think I was drawn to the play style because I’ve been really into a present day artist, Hayden Pedigo, who seems to demonstrate the same odd pace with his playing. Again, it’s an album that has a lot going on but the goings on are good. 4 stars
A few fun moments, but way too much jam band for me. The third track is the strongest.
Prog Rock. Just say no, kids.
I don't know this record at all. It was pretty good, though I think I would need to listen again with more focus to really appreciate it. 3.5/5
I like this album quite a bit. I've listened to it a few times. 3.5/5
An absolute worldie, no question or much elaboration needed here. How do you follow up two stone cold classics (released in the same year as each other)? By creating something arguably even better the following year. For my money, this is their apex and essential listening in every sense of the phrase.
Always liked Jon Anderson’s vocals and this album showcases it well. Good musicianship but a little overindulgent. Not as bad as I remember it tbh
2/5 I like prog, but this is a bit long-winded for me. However, I did enjoy some sections of the songs a lot.
I like progressive rock, and I like Yes, not a whole load, but their first eight or so albums got a lot of listening when I was younger. I know this is seen by many as a classic, but I've never really liked it that much. It's not bad, and I'll give it a four, but it just never seems to go anywhere; too much noodling and not enough happening. The melodies that repeat start annoying me just a little, as they repeat just a bit too often. In theory, this should tick every box for me, especially with Bruford drumming, but it just falls a little flat. I might pick out Jon Anderson's voice as being annoying, but that doesn't seem fair, as I don't mind it on other albums, and I love Rush.
If I was in the mood for it I would probably listen more thoroughly, but all the "widdly widdly" keyboards put me off
I have mixed feelings about this album. I am not a huge fan of prog rock, but this somehow was quite enjoyable. I still dont like the instrumental excessive part, but the songs are great when they are actually playing the song (with the lyrics). I know it is part of the genre, but yeah this is better than Pink Floyd (or ehat I know of them)
sure
These songs are hella long but kinda good
Yes has always been a No for me, and this album just solidified it. I’ll give them credit for keeping it a tight 37 minutes instead of some double-LP endurance test, but that’s about as generous as I can be.
Classic Yes. I'm a big fan of the band and know this album very well. Brilliant musicianship as always. It's a 5 from me.
No.
I love Yes. I can’t say I love this. I suppose I love certain Yes albums. The last song was the best.
Epic, good on its own as well and not just a background; quite enveloping, imagine good music to get high to lol
Not quite the brand of Prog I like, but was glad I finally listened to this in full.
Just lostened to forst song but it was fire
I liked this one, good proggy stuff Will I listen to again: 67%
I can't believe I actually enjoyed an 18 minute long song. The final two songs are definitely weaker than the first, but they still hold up. There is no filler, only beautiful rock. If you enjoy complex instrumentals, beautiful soundscapes, and being taken away by an album, this is the place for you.
Prog!
No. Just no.
I've held off on rating this one, because I didn't know if I wanted to write a long review, or just say - One of my tip-top favorites of all albums, 5 stars easy... As a child, I...jkjk. But seriously, I'm not sure where to start with this one - I know every note, and still find new things within this masterpiece. Sure, it is over-the-top, but what's prog without grandiosity? 'And You And I' is rarely my choice for best song ever. But not never! I could go on and on, but this is my top album so far, with very few coming that could surpass it. It's not for everyone, but it is for me. One of my tip-top favorites of all albums, 5 stars easy
2 in a row??
didn't realize how formative these guys were in established the kinda psych rock i love
oh my god
Can't go wrong with some prog rock
Great prog record.
lmao i started fucking cracking up when that evil-ass organ instrumental section played, ran that shit back so many times hahah the balls
Ah, the infamous Yes album. I now understand why so many people dread this album, but at the same time I don't. The title song is lacking, but the other two songs rescue Close to the Edge. "Siberian Khatru" could be considered forgettable as the last song on the album, but what makes it stand out is the South Asian inspiration mid-song. The title song must be heavily inspired by Peter Gabriel's Genesis and straddles the experimental/electronic divide. Without a doubt it's an interesting song, but an 18-minute song gets muddles along the way. I wasn't mad at the hymnal-like tone toward the end of the song--just confused. The real gem of the album is "And You and I." This song has everything (said like Stefan): soaring instrumentals, light electronic, capturing lyrics, a jam session with a clear ending. Because of this song I'd like to give this album a 5, but the album is weighed down, even if the best song is a quarter of the album.
Parts of this album were okay, and parts were downright insufferable. Upon reading some reviews for this album, it seems others find it quite polarizing as well. This ultimately falls into the "that's a no for me, dawg" category. My tolerance for prog rock is just sooo low. Yes has some material that I enjoy, but this definitely isn't it. This album brought me one step closer to the edge, and I'm about to break.
Have always enjoyed Yes’ sound. Not going to listen every day, but glad this one was on the list. 3.5
Rating: 1.7 Boring old boomer rock, but not a cool boomer like one that drinks beer and Monster who you’d catch out on the riding lawnmower. More like a creepy boomer who has 3 pet parrots and wears a bathrobe with no underwear all day.
As mentioned in my first Yes album review, it’s hard to imagine the band said ‘no’ to any idea for a song, not just for their namesake, but because they seem to follow any musical whim that came to mind. But here we are, with an album of some ideas that had apparently been put on hold previously. So how does it work out? Yeah this still isn’t totally hitting for me. Much like the last Yes album, there are moments. But only moments. The 13 minute mark of “Close To The Edge” is nice (crazy thing to say), when things get softer and more atmospheric. The “America” cover is interesting, but nothing more than just interesting. My pick from this album is probably “And You And I” for its most memorable motifs and lyrics. Strong 2/5, I can be done with Yes.
hell yes, it's.... yes! you know a prog album is going to be amazing when the album only has three long tracks spanning an almost 40 minute run. yes swings into this list with a small yet HEFTY set complex symphonic rock compositions. this album is simply jawdropping. the main track is literally structured like a classical piece with multiple movements. it's progressive, but despite how bonkers it gets, it's very accessible. it's BEYOND pretty, puts you at the top of a mountain, the wind blowing in your face. it's prog rock from the gods.
Like all Prog Rock one listen probably doesn't do the album justice, first time listening to this, lots of moving parts, lots of great moments. Needs many more listens to really enjoy.
J - 2/5 Best Track - "America" (From Deluxe Version)
70s rock. Inspired by by the Herman Hesse novel Siddhartha. Their greatest success. Quite the magnum opus. Realky varied and quite beautiful.
Like, don't Love. It still reminds me too much of growing up with my asshole older brother. Also Like, don't Love.
Full-on prog is like Marmite. I love Marmite
I like prog rock, I think, or maybe I like the idea of prog rock? I love Yes the first album, or at least one song! Same with King Crimson to be fair. I can listen to Rush all day long.
Brilliant, was fun listening to it, need to listen to more from them... It is a strong 4.5
Fico per cene
They are clearly talented, you can hear a lot of later music in this but by itself, not my thing.
The was a fricken ride. No idea where it took me, but it was cool
I've always liked Yes, even though Jon Anderson's voice grates on me sometimes. The musicians on this album are fantastic! Drummer Bill Bruford, guitarist Steve Howe, and keyboardist Rick Wakeman are all masters of their craft. But Chris Squire is an absolute legend! He's one of the greatest bassists in all of rock history. Not just his solid backbone, awesome fills and "lead bass" moments... but the tones he wrung out of the instrument are sterling. I really only love half of this album though. Something about the lead 18 minute track sets me off and I almost never finished it. There are great bits, but overall, I don't know. But "And You and I" and "Siberian Khatru" are great. This is a truly representative prog album! Amazing musicianship with long meander-y songs that sometimes get a little lost in translation, I guess. Wish I could have seen this lineup live!
This was a solid prog rock album! I definitely liked ‘And You and I’ into ‘Siberian Khatru’ more than the first song of the album. That’s where things started picking up steam and getting interesting for me instrumentally. Overall, I give this album a thumbs up and I would give it a listen again in the future because of how short it is. Even though it’s a short album it still packs a punch!
The boffins at Prog Archives consider this to be the best prog album ever made and it's easy to see why. It exemplifies the genre. For that reason alone it's an obvious inclusion on this list, but it also helps that the music is exceptional. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
this is what im talking about. this album is a masterclass in writing music that keeps you interested the entire time. its so easy to get lost in this that i put it on and the first time i checked my phone i had 3 minutes left of the last song. incredible album
Psychedelic rock meets jazzy funky fusions. Makes ya feel a bit entranced by all the audio. A nice good beach vibes coast this album into a 4/5 for me. Slightly chaotic but nice nonetheless. Not my type of genre to listen to but I appreciate the ride.
Some very long songs with beautiful beginnings and end but 17 minutes might be a bit of a stretch. I preferred the shorter songs for easier listening. Album flowed well and I like the nature themes, perfect for a walk in the woods
Very grand album. I think I enjoyed the second side over the first. The first side definitely had its moments, but the parts in between felt too much like filler. Great vocals and instrumentation, but overall, the album drags at points. After listening, I stepped back and questioned if I really got an album’s worth of music from the runtime it had.
Not too bad
Very entertaining vocals sound great
this album is a difficult but rewarding listen. "Siberian Khatru" struck a nerve!
I didn’t give this a fair go but it was so unappealing from first couple of songs that I just couldn’t face it.
You know you're listening to some self-indulgent prog when it opens with a track that is nearly 20 minutes long and that itself opens with awful, tuneless, rhythmless, toneless guitar squeaking and flat vocals. Annoying from the very first minute, almost calculatedly so. This is Spinal Tap's Prog Odyssey. That said, I do agree with the points made by the top-rated review (at time of writing): A - This deserves its place on the list as some very distilled, representative prog; B - It's a stepping stone to punk, as a stripped-down, simplified reaction to this absurd, overelaborate, overproduced music.
Not bad.
Wow. Never heard before but this is a fantastic album. Prog rock. Sounds of Boston and CSNR and Mars Volta. Heard the deluxe version and the cover of America by Simon & Garfunkel was also fantastic.
You like prog? This is prog. Some of the proggiest prog of the time. So prog.
I'm not a big fan of prog rock. It wasn't the worst thing I've listened to (Moby), but I'm fine never listening to this again.
A clear step above the Yes Album. I can see why people really go in for prog based off this. I would need to listen to it more but I had a good time. Very uncool but that doesn't matter.
It was ok but for me it's a oncer of an album. It felt like one of those albums you have to work to appreciate. Music from the head not from the heart.
I like the theory of Yes more than the actuality—the sudden changes of rhythm and instrumentation are a little jarring to my ear. 3.5
Honestly, this album was a slog. I'll start by saying that performance from the musicians are absolutely top drawer. The level of skill is very clear. They can sing, they can play and they have obviously spent a long time throwing this together. But, that's what it feels like; thrown together. Each song is broken up into small pieces of songs that span across a wide range of genres. I know, I know! That's prog, right? However, I found it hard to latch onto any one of the four songs I found on this album (and I was gutted to find out that there were bonus tracks on the version I located!). It's disjointed for a verse/chorus/verse/chorus simple mind like me, and frankly, I didn't enjoy this. There's a lot of 70s stuff that I'm sure they pioneered, but we've heard heaps of since then and I don't really like. I did enjoy the 70s synth, I'm a big fan of that sound. 'And You and I' is probably the one take away from me, probably because it has some melody that sticks, amongst all of the randomness. And, personally, I preferred the bonus track version (so, I'm not even sure it counts!). I cap my song length at about 8 minutes. Sorry, Prog. 2 Stars.
This album is like the time you illegally downloaded a movie to watch with a girl you’ve just started dating. However when you start the movie you find it has been recorded on a phone camera in a cinema. In Uzbekistan. And someone in the row behind is watching another movie on their phone.
Mostly just noise
Prog rock musicians Spent so long wondering if they could they never stopped to think if they should
Dad music
Exactly what you’d expect from early yes. Ultra proggy, great musicianship. The whole time I just thought I’d so much rather be listening to Rush.
Yes, has been a bit of a mixed bag for me. I thought perhaps three albums in this book were too much, as Yes (self-titled) wasn't as strong of an album as Fragile was. Close to the Edge only has three songs on it, but this is much closer to Fragile than the self-titled album. I am not sure why but I do not find Yes's version of prog-rock to be terribly pretentious like some (Rush) tend to come off for me. The drummer apparently left for King Crimson after this album, which checks out as it pertains to the "prog-rock band to prog-rock band" pipeline that I assumed existed. All three songs here are strong and at no point do they drag. I Get Up I Get Down has a very funeral-sounding organ on it and it creates a different mood than I am used to hearing on prog-rock. Recommend this one, though I think I like Fragile more.
Brilliant!!
It's ight.
Each song takes you on a wild journey without failing to be surprising and also pleasing to the ears.
This was mediocre for me.
Overall, not bad. I started skipping through songs at the end of the album, but I like listening to the instruments.
It was fine. If anything, I liked it more than I thought it would. I've never been a prog rock guy. These guys are super talented, but this isn't something I'm going to listen to again.
neat
In a nutshell: sticking to their lane, and having fun while doing it. Overall: 6/10
Yes!
Overlong songs, but at least they sounded good.
Fantastic
Kinda bummed I didn't love it all, but there were some great moments.
big vibes, liked the rock style, never heard of this band before but will like explore more.
The critic’s darling of the Yes catalogue. The British 2112. Or is 2112 the Canadian “Close to the Edge?” The year is 1972 which has already delivered like 25 albums. Do you think we’ll be this obsessed with 2025 in 2078? Will I be alive in 2078? Will the planet be habitable in 2078? A whole lot of digits in there, and now dread of the existential variety is colouring my Tuesday morn. Yes, whisk me away to a simpler time. Before women could have credit cards, and when the lack of cell phones had serial killers putting up generational numbers. Huh. Maybe every time has been plagued with issues. Close to the Edge - Oh this puppy is gonna be long. Almost 20 minutes of prog rock ahead of us before we reach track 2. I have my 16 sided die ready to roll. Rolling a solid god damn 5 right now. This musicianship is insane. Oh no. The reggae break is so unnecessary. Why does every white man insist on “taking it to Kingston?” For a song that started so well, this trailed off into lame territory for me. And You and I - More reggae in parts. The bass is the MVI for this band. Is MVI some sort of medical acronym? I should’ve paid more attention in community college. I would imagine my writing is evidence enough of that epiphany. Anyway, this song was fine. Siberian Khatru - What a cool song title that is immediately let down by gentle singing. A cosmic closer that is kind of schizophrenic in A three song album. Crazy. Anyway, the bass on this record hovers around me like a biblically accurate angel, embodying dizzying complexity, whilst also swaddling me in comforted bliss. The singer is like a hyperactive child attempting to remove me from my trance by shouting “watch me watch me. I can sing lamely.” If this was an instrumental album we may be approaching 5 stars. Yes’ strength isn’t in songwriting, but rather their bold and fascinating instrumental ideas that truly embody the “progressive” part of prog rock. This album was ok. Too many songs getting in the way of some incredible instrumental music. And I know I’m fifty years too late, but I plead with the white boys of the world. Please stop the ska/reggae madness. Close to Edge was good, not great and maybe that’s why this review was so boring? Who knows. On to the next. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Yes and No.
Boring rock opera
It's prog. I just don’t get prog.
I’m kinda shocked that I didn’t hate this, as I fully expected to. I only listened to the 1972 edition though. No way am I listening to prog rock for over an hour if I don’t need to. The music itself on this one was less useless noodling than lots of other prog rock, I must admit.
Not my thing
Yes, but no actually. I know this band is loved by many, but they aren’t doing much for me. Lots of organ, that’s different… otherwise it was pretty bland to me.
I do wish we'd had the Yes album "Fragile" as the first album from this group. Close to the Edge is good, but it isn't built for a one time listen. I'll be back, but I prefer Fragile and I consider myself fairly tolerant of prog rock in general (except for Genesis - stupid lambs on Broadway). That said, isn't it amazing you can really hear how a band like Rush could evolve from listening to albums like this? Call this one 2.5 rounded up to 3 for now.
Three tracks, 37 minutes, a slow crescendo fade in of nature sounds on the first track..... this better be doom metal or I am out of here (I know Yes isn't Doom Metal -- but a boy can dream right!) This is why I don't listen to Yes, this sounds like that Spinal Tap song where the tiny Stonehenge lowered onto the stage but this is a sincere effort to make thoughtful music. I know people love this ish', there are all good musicians -- just not my speed.
I don't get it. Like, even a bit. I can tell they are all amazing instrumentalists, but it doesn't sound like they were making music together. It sounds like everyone recorded some music in a studio to some beat (seemingly not always the same beat) and then put it altogether into 1 package.
Man this album absolutely flew by. I feel like there was nothing about it I disliked. The guitar work was unique and catchy. This album was Right up my alley
This was a lot. Kudos to Yes for being able to make these songs - it takes a lot of artistry and skill - but this was too much into the prog rock side of things for me.
la cançó de 18 minuts? 🧍🏻♀️ àlbum correcte però les cançons duren massa m'he avorrit un poc
I'm genuinely excited to dive into Close to the Edge by Yes. This album holds a unique and influential place in music history — it's not only a cornerstone of progressive rock but also one of the genre’s finest achievements. As pioneers of prog, Yes crafted something truly special here. The album consists of just three expansive, beautifully composed tracks, each filled with intricate movements and shifting dynamics. Despite their length, the songs never drag. Instead, they feel like musical journeys — adventurous, immersive, and emotionally rich. The variety and complexity are stunning, yet everything flows naturally. I absolutely loved it. In summary, Close to the Edge is a brilliant experience. I’m honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Listening to it feels like embarking on a sonic adventure — unpredictable, vivid, and full of atmosphere. The soundscapes are lush, the ambience is striking, and the musicianship is off the charts. Favourite Song: With only three tracks, it’s hard to choose — especially since each one evolves so much throughout. But if I had to pick, the title track Close to the Edge stands out as a true masterpiece. Least Favourite: Honestly, everything on this album is fantastic. There are no weak points. Album Artwork: I love the minimalist cover. It's simple, elegant, and fits the music perfectly.
and yet another too psychedelic album.
just so good
My third Yes album and the third to get a 3/5. I like Yes just fine. I think this is definitely the strongest of the three I've heard. One of the better examples of a genre I otherwise totally despise.
Didn't go in expecting to love this as much as I did. But honestly, it was fantastic. 5/5
The musicianship is excellent 2/5
166/1089 - There are only three good songs on this one ;) I don't usually like a lot of prog rock because it usually sounds like almost-classical music and kinda misses the mark for me. This Yes album is clearly more jazz influenced and the solos and riffs are really cool.
Interesting album. I can see/hear how they were an influence on Rush.
8/10
This is the probably the greatest prog rock album. Only 3 songs, but it’s just musically perfect. So many good riffs and melodies. An album for any mood
Actually liked the other songs but the 17 minute whopper was too much. A lot going on without direction and couldn’t get behind it