The 120 Days of Shameless Bids for Publicity!

I think Dave Q should listen to "SMPTE" by TransAtlantic ASAP, and I think Ned should remember that Smashie Pumpkie wrote a trax0r called IIRC "Porcelina of the Vast Ocean" which even Jon ANderson (who RULE, F3WL) would have prob considered A BIT MUCH, LIKE.

BTW Yes = more working class than The Clash TRUE!!!!!

Tormarrtow - not my favourite it must be said. Arid production, caked in mud. Wakeman and Howe still chasing eachother around the mix (just about worked on GFTO, not here). And they needed Trevor Horn to remind them how to really do short songs. Two standouts for me: "Onward" (really beautiful when done live) and "Release, Release". You are spot on about "DKTW", but it's still not v. good. Funniest moment: "On the Silent Wings..." - Even Jon can barely hit the top note (I bet this was take #47), and he never hit it again.

Re: Relayer - you keep saying it's overrated. I must have missed the anti-backlash piece. Until I see evidence of this, I must put down a reserve on your anti-anti-backlash.

"In the end we'll agree, we'll accept, we'll immortalize."

BTW, how are the first two albums? I looked up the discography on the web yesterday and realized that I've heard nothing from the first two albums, which feature a different lineup from Fragile and most of the stuff on Classic Yes.

dave q is my unchallenged hero again. Maria was catching up for a while. Why isn't this on FT?

np: Classic Yes

The first two albums are a different animal for the most part; they really took a quantum leap into their 'classic sound' on The Yes Album. That being said, the first two both definitely have their moments (especially the first, s/t album), and there is an appeal to the youthful sound of the band at this point (especially for those inclined to think them pompous) that would never come again, particularly due to the edginess and at times glorious sloppiness of Peter Banks's Rickenbacker combined with Tony Kaye's Hammond drives-- quite a contrast to the delicate classical guitar of Howe or the tinkling arpeggios of Wakeman. Much like you could hear traces of influence passing from Anthony Phillips to Steve Hackett in Genesis, one can also detect some traces of influence passing from Peter Banks to Steve Howe. The original material on the first album I think is quite strong, and the covers (Beatles' "Every Little Thing" and Byrds' "I See You") are also strong.

Second album, Time and a Word, is generally a step-down, mostly due to the ill-considered (and poorly mixed) addition of orchestra section (Banks objected, and apparently didn't get along at all with the producer; he left shortly afterwards), but still has some great moments, particularly "The Prophet" and their cover of Havens' "No Opportunity Necessary".

For a glimpse of what The Yes Album might have sounded like had Peter Banks stayed instead of Howe, I would highly recommend getting the first Flash album (the band Banks formed upon leaving Yes, also with Tony Kaye), where the music is more expanded...

such weird sounds from squire's bass and wtf keyboard wakeman plays
lol @ stock footage of ocean/whales

Personally, I think 'Relayer' is WAY overrated, except for "Sound Chaser". "Gates of Delirium", yecch. Sounds like bad Rush or Styx! You know something's awry when people talk about a "Battle Sequence" of a fucking SONG. 'Battlefield Earth', more like!

revive!!!!!!!!

I was really hoping there would be naked Norwegian krautrockers on this thread.