yes: classic or dud? search and destroy

Allegedly the early albums are pretty good, but I haven't yet investigated.

The trailer to the movie 'Buffalo 66' makes PERFECT use of "Heart of the Sunrise": that's when I actually set abt repurchasing LPs not heard for nearly a decade and a half. (In the movie itself, the use of "Heart" is nothing like so great.)

Achilles heel: Rick Wakeman. Whatever the Prog equivalent of "4 Real" is, he only pretended to carve it somewhere, made a spectacle of himself being a fat drunk, made a spectacle of himself in recovery, played everything he did as a grand oafish joke, and appeared in and wrote music for several Ken Russell movies, which is taking the piss in anyone's language. By contrast, Jon Anderson is a naked fool, but a fool committed to a VISION of SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE UNDERSTANDS. Classic.

Search: Yes, The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the edge.

Search if it's like a quid at a market stall: Tales from topographic oceans (1 good album spread haphazardly across 2 LP records - beats thee a$$ off "sandinista!" - 1 good ep spread across *3* LP records!) "going for the one" (because "awaken" is really nice, tho the rest of the album sucks)

Destroy: EVERYTHING after "going for the one" ALL LIVE ALBUMS.

IMO "yes" is one of the best band names ever

x0x0

Yes do however bring back happy memories of 6th form common room battles between the Proggers and the Punks. Best moment was when a copy of Dark Side of the Moon was hurled from a third floor window to arc gracefully across the yard and land gently in muddy puddle. As one of the proggers ran out to retrieve it, it was followed by "Wish You were Here" and, if I'm not mistaken, "Tales from Topographic Oceans".

Now Dr.C what's the deal with Dark Side of the Moon? ;)

what is sixth form?

On Ice. In Capes.

Oh yeah... Yes are more PUNK ROCK than PUNK ROCK. Well, Rick Wakeman is anyway. Also, when concerning Yes, boring facts don't matter. The fun stuff counts double though. Because its prog.

I'm tired.

Search: THE YES ALBUM (esp 'Starship Trooper' and 'Roundabout') Destroy: BIG GENERATOR

o_O

STEVE HOWE, CHRIS SQUIRE AND ALAN WHITE OF GROUNDBREAKING ROCK GROUP YES UNITE FOR “IN THE PRESENT” U.S. TOUR
Members will be joined by Oliver Wakeman on keyboards and vocalist Benoit David to perform the group’s classic repertoire in live spectacular

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10, 2008—Albums like Fragile, Close to the Edge Tales from Topographic Oceans and 90125 and singles such as “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “I’ve Seen All Good People” are just some of the enduring classics that have made YES one of the most influential and groundbreaking groups in rock & roll. Now, the classic YES line-up of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White will launch the "In The Present" tour starting November 4th in Hamilton, Ontario, marking yet another chapter in the art-rockers’ amazing, 40-year career of legendary live performances. The three will be joined by keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, the son of YES’ Rick Wakeman, and vocalist Benoit David, a Montreal, Quebec, native and vocalist in several YES tribute groups, who was discovered by the band on the Internet.

someone's not happy

September 18, 2008

Disappointed, and very Disrespected

Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.

And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.

Getting sick was not "on my radar”, and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ''things happen''.

Of course I wish the guys all the best in their 'solo' work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.

This is not YES on tour...

I send best wishes to one and all,

Jon Anderson
September 2008

What's Trevor Horn doing other than swimming in his big pile of money? Come on guys, time for a Drama tour

otm

bring back moraz

One gets the distinct impression that they aren't the classiest bunch of ppl out there, eh.

I had "Going for the One" on in the car on the way in this AM. Pretty weak album overall, but my got that "Awaken" track brings it. Probably the last totally awesome thing they recorded?

got god

In 2 words: Bruford-Squire. Everything else... pass. I still love Rickenbackers.

Douchebag move by Squire. I get the picture that he is essentially "Yes", at least when it comes to decisions like this.

What's Trevor Horn doing other than swimming in his big pile of money?

According to his Wikipedia page, in 2006 his wife was the victim of a particularly horrible accident: "[She] has been in a deep coma since and, as of September 2007, it is not clear whether she will recover."

here's the freaky tribute band replacement for anderson, does sound like the dude

All Yes albums on sale now! Long-gone New York City area record store chain.

Siberian Khatru just came up on shuffle and OMG this is so awesome! In the 10s, Prog will become the new cool thing, mark my words. (I wish.)

Yes bass is as funky as Parliament's.

no it will, people will realise the limitations of verse-chorus and seek thornier fixes

l0u1s jagg3r = prophet.

Mid 10s zeitgeist bands sounding like Magma meets Max Tundra here we come.

Hah when you type Louis Ja... it comes out like that! How about it.

jeez, i don't know what came over me there :/

I'm not sure either, to be honest.

probably a suggest ban amirite

anyway

Mid 10s zeitgeist bands sounding like Magma meets Max Tundra here we come.

this could be pretty cool. throw in a bit of neurosis and a dash of the fall and we're talking

For you or for me? Let's not get carried away here. All good tidings on ILM...

xpost to 'probably a suggest ban amirite'

anyway yeah <3 and all that. you should come to FAPs more often! also you should listen to Van der Graaf Generator, they're where you go when you graduate from Yes

although CTTE, Relayer and 'Awaken' are all-time

Sorry what is 'FAP'.

VDGG...haven't really investigated...they're waiting for me when I get back from uni I guess. There is a draconian upload/download cap, so no mediafire or torrents.

The signature Van der Graaf Generator sound in the 1970s was a combination of Peter Hammill's distinctive and dynamic voice and David Jackson's electronically-treated saxophones, generally playing over thick chordal keyboard parts (such as Hammond organ and/or clavinet). The band explored the complete range of phonaesthetics from euphony to cacophony, often within the same song[1]. Van der Graaf Generator albums tended to be darker in atmosphere than many of their prog-rock peers (a trait they shared with King Crimson, whose guitarist Robert Fripp guested on two of their albums), and guitar solos were the exception rather than the rule.

Okay this sounds awesome.

it is 'Fancy A Pint' and happens when London ILXors meet up IRL, usually for a drink. it is absolutely terrifying and usually someone is scarred for life.

VDGG released 5 absolutely stone-dead phenomenal albums in a row and plenty afterwards that reached the same heights - they're one of my 3 or 4 favourite bands ever - they're just the best. so much more than prog.

HAHAHAH, more IRL stuff this, but how do you know I've frequented some of the more Poptimism/FAP meetups? Or maybe you don't and I'm misreading you. Either way sounds cool.

i know you've done Poptimism (which I haven't, really, year-end pub-crawls apart) but every so often there's a general London FAP, which is generally a miserable and entirely fruitless experience which i thoroughly dissuade you from

anyway yeah sorry for the (affectionate) name-flood, if you want it googleproofed i'll make a mod req

Yeah i changed my name to something else for a reason, not that I'm too frightened of a distant aunt finding me writing guff on Max Tundra.

considering we are mad keen max tundra fans who live in london you'd have thought the dude might bro down w/ us or at least let us watch him sequence a synth with faces of awe

looooooool mod edit makes it look like we're gettin' worked up over my claim that prog is in

which is probably not far off how it should be tbh :/ :D

Yes Reunite With Producer Trevor Horn for New Album

Quintessential prog-rockers Yes have announced that they have reunited with legendary producer Trevor Horn for their highly anticipated new album, 'Fly From Here.' The album marks the band's first studio album in ten years.

The album originated from a conversation between Horn and Yes bassist Chris Squire, who re-discovered the song 'Fly From Here' and realized that it had never been recorded in a studio. "Chris and I were talking one evening about the song 'Fly From Here' that we never recorded," explains Horn. "I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with Yes recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn't refuse!"

'Fly From Here' retains Yes' signature brand of mysticism and large-scale compositions. The record contains plenty of the complex arrangements, beautiful harmonies, and heavy riffs the band is known for. "The new album represents the best of Yes from the '70s and the '80s with a current twist," said Squire.

Keyboardist Geoff Downes, who originally joined the band for 1980's 'Drama,' has also re-joined the band for the new album. Yes now consists of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Downes, and lead singer Benoit David.

'Fly From Here' will be released on Frontiers Records in July 2011.

Never mind that, just show the photo:

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.noisecreep.com/media/2011/03/yesrobshanahan.jpg

Who's the grandma in the middle? And what's Camilla Parker-Bowles doing there (standing behind grandma's left shoulder)?

Steve Howe - still the ugliest man in rock n' roll. Who's the youngster on the right??

side 2 has my favorite melodies and cosmic synth washes

side 4 would be perfect if they got rid of the drum solo

the strength of you seeing lies with you

I made some half-length, half-assed edits of TFTO a couple of years ago, they're up on Youtube somewhere. I probably cut the drum solo out, don't remember actually. I still had difficulty making any kind of coherent structure out of it, I suppose it should just be thought of as a series of musical moments strung one after the other.

I mean that's what all music is but you know what I'm saying

Your edit helped me get into the album more.

Listening to the Steven Wilson mix of Tales now. It's a nice clean mix, the drums in particular sound fantastic, but honestly it's not nearly the revelation his mixes of, say, King Crimson's Larks' Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black were. Plus, he returned to the vinyl running times, which means he cut off the two-minute intro to the first track that was added with the 2003 reissue, and that, frankly, is some bullshit. That intro gave the track and the album a slow build that was really nice.

Is it a bonus track now?

Nope, it's been memory-holed.

Intro or not the Tales remix/remaster sounds glorious

Hall of Fame, Class of 2017
http://yesworld.com/2016/12/yes-to-be-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-class-of-2017/

Nice.

It is crap they waited this long especially after Squier died. Screw that knick knack shop.

guessing ELP is gonna make it in next year

Can't wait to visit the Hall next year to see the collection of Yes' time signatures.

It is crap they waited this long especially after Squier died.

especially given how badly Squire seemed to want to get in. Idk if it matters much to the other members.

Now he's not wrong:

https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/811242090457866240

especially given how badly Squire seemed to want to get in. Idk if it matters much to the other members.

Per Rolling Stone interviewing Steve Howe:

How do you think Chris would feel about the Hall of Fame if he was still around?

I think he'd be really delighted. I think Chris valued this kind of feedback from the business more than all of us. He was really keen on that sort of thing. He always loved the feedback from the industry, and of course this is the big one. Chris would be very pleased.

Should add:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/yes-steve-howe-on-rock-hall-i-dont-regret-the-wait-w456816

I bet half of the members of Pearl Jam can't wait to jam with Journey, and the other half can't wait to jam with Yes.

Wakeman said he will not attend

curious to see if they reform in any manner since howe and anderson allegedly hate each other now; and whether bruford shows up and plays (doubt it)

What a perfect time to all get together and say "Thank you. We were, at various points, Yes. Thank you, and farewell."

Won't fucking happen, though.

LOL!

...and so the saga continues!

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-feat-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-rick-wakeman-announces-north-american-tour/

Yeah, and/but the other (Steve Howe, Alan White, various others) version is still on the road, too. This is gonna turn into a Goblin situation. Ugh.

Rock icons Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman have announced that effective immediately, they will officially be known as "YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman," which is the name they will be touring under in North America during the latter half of 2017.

"It's very simple," explains band founder and vocalist Jon Anderson. "The fans want it, we want it and it's our right to use the name. YES music is in our DNA!"

The weird thing is that Howe's Yes has no original members, Anderson's Yes does, and I thought Chris Squire's estate owned the name!?

YES music is in our DNA!

Ya, I hope their legal standing is weightier than this specific argument.

should recruit Tony Levin and Carl Palmer and become YELP

Lotsa issues on "Owner of a Lonely Heart" from the induction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa843_cTqGU

Well, technically Anderson should be able to call his band Yes, surely? He's a founding member, after all, not to mention the frontman for the band for the longest time.

damn how did alan white miss the 1 on the fucking solo? that dude has played the song 5 million times. shoulda let bruford up there and do the dual drummer thing.

i thought geddy on roundabout was really amazing and special!!!

I think that the hardcore Yes fans feel that White's drumming has deteriorated quite a bit in recent years. He's been able to keep up the pace of being able to play Yes' most complex pieces for decades, though. I bet Pbil Collins couldn't play the drum fills in 'The Musical Box' by the back end of the '80s.

well he's been ill and barely plays with them live anymore.

those performances just increase my respect for prince

I bet Pbil Collins couldn't play the drum fills in 'The Musical Box' by the back end of the '80s.

Dunno about the '80s, but by the late '90s he certainly couldn't, by his own admission:
http://www.genesis-news.com/c-The-Musical-Box-Phil-Collins-about-his-guest-performance-in-Geneva-s238.html

This is gonna turn into a Goblin situation. Ugh.

So long as it doesn't turn into a Union situation I'm alright with it.

Howe Yes announced that Anderson has a legal right to tour under this name so it sounds like this won't get litigous

I'm not particularly interested in Howe Yes without Squire and with Alan White still drumming, as much as I like Downes. I wish they'd called it a day after the relatively great Fly from Here. Interested to hear what Anderson Yes do when they record.

Yo cmon Downes sucks SO BAD live

and it's fucking ridiculous to have anyone else sing this stuff when Jon's voice is in such great shape. esp after we thought he was going to lose it!

oh yeah I know but I liked his work on Fly from Here.

yeah Anderson sounds great. everyone saying he was so ill and couldn't do it anymore.

I thought the singing was the weakest link in the "Roundabout" clip but it's p impressive for a 72yo dude.

I thought the drumming the the worst

anyway I posted this in the rush thread but billy sherwood posted a magnificent screed against wakeman the next morning, which even the Yes (official) FB page reposted; which is now mysteriously gone and he says his page was hacked, which is not very believable.

yah that was... weird. dude seemed so bitter. the audience loved rick and he was only up there for 3 minutes.

peeping into yesfans forum is some depressing shit. people seriously upset "this means there may not be a yes in 10-20 years out there"really dude? I'll give you, maybe, 7... but 10 years? 20? you really think they would be putting out an album and touring when some of these guys are in their 90s? Yes is over once Howe and Anderson are retired/dead. I don't want to see Yes featuring Igor Whatsit, Billy Sherwood, and Jon Davison

I don't even give Yes another decade, really... my feeling is that it'll all have folded within a decade.

But for now, I just think it's hilarious that the singer who got fired from Yes can now tour under the name Yes.

Listening to Close to the Edge this morning and the middle section of 'And You And I' still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.