The worst thing about this album is the lack of originality when it came to coming up with a name.
Some of the material is spectacularly good.
Of course Anderson's drivel makes the same amount of sense as usual, but then I always consider vocals to be a throat instrument and never read them when listed on various albums.
Persoanlly I find Wakeman in top form on this LP, never bettered, ecept perhaps in his solo material.
Great album, great cover, spun it today.
I'd argue that the worst thing about this album is Wakeman's choices in sounds, but to each his own.
What they call ts doesn't affect how I enjoy the actual music.
Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally
And his hair.Originally Posted by Scott Bails
I like the first half of the album a lot. Some great tracks, lots of energy, good playing... and then after "The Meeting" it falls apart into some of the worst material to have emerged from those guys. But yeah, "Brother Of Mine", "Birthright", "Themes", "Fist Of Fire"... all good stuff.
Interviewer of reprobate ne'er-do-well musicians of the long-haired rock n' roll persuasion at: www.velvetthunder.co.uk and former scribe at Classic Rock Society. Only vaguely aware of anything other than music.
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I'd argue that the worst thing about this album is Wakeman's choices in sounds, but to each his own.
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.
The keyboard sounds were cutting edge for the time and didn't sound so obnoxious back then. The electronic drums were always a problem, though.I'd argue that the worst thing about this album is Wakeman's choices in sounds, but to each his own.
The first half of the album features some good song ideas that occasionally needed more development. The second half is an unmitigated disaster area.
This was the album where I really noticed how important Squire's vocals are to the Yes sound. Their absence on ABWH is a far bigger drawback than not having his bass playing, since Levin did a good job in that department.
don't like the drums, Bruford used electronic drums on this CD- sounds like a drum machine through a tunnel.
That's my main problem with this album too. It has it's moments and I was exited when I heard these guys were together. I wouldn't call it a bad album, but the Bruford drums are horrible. Makes the recording sound plastic.
Bruford's solo spot in the show (the last of the four) sucked, too. It was pointless. Likewise, the drum duet with Bruford and White in the Union concert was underwhelming.
I think the Bruford/Levin duet was a highlight. For those that saw ABWH with Levin, not Berlin.
Yeah, I saw them at the Greek, with Berlin on bass. Hence no Bruford/Levin duet.
Overall this album gets too cheesy for me after a few minutes. Different sounds & less singing might have helped, but I'm not sure.
Don't you find that is always the case with Yes?
Overall this album gets too cheesy for me after a few minutes. Different sounds & less singing might have helped, but I'm not sure.
Seems to me that the name is solely for recognition, which worked.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
But besides the terrible name, awful keyboard sounds, awful drum sounds, bad hair, often lazy and/or terrible writing, fake Howe guitars and lack of Chris Squire it's not bad.
Exactly!!!
The Prog Corner
In other words, the best part is the Roger Dean cover.But seriously, I like Tony Levin's bass playing on this one, even if it sounds more like 80s King Crimson than 70s Yes.
The tour was simply amazing.
I remember 2 tours supporting this album. At least I saw them twice and yes both times were great.
Agreed. Forget which one was which, but one show featured a transcendent "Close to the Edge" and the other had a magnificent "Order of the Universe."
Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally
Curious why you changed the name of the band.I can see you dig Wakeman so maybe that's it. ANDERSON WAKEMAN BRUFORD HOWE. More recognizable I'm just sayin'. I have no problem with this album I love it.
Funny, I think side 2 of ABWH contains the only standout tracks on the album: "Quartet" and "Let's Pretend." The rest of the album I find to be crap, with the exception of maybe "Brother Of Mine" and "Themes." I was so excited at the time and then so disappointed.
You don't like "Fist of Fire"? ABWH is a very good (not quite great) album, but the concert was outfuknstanding.
Sorry, but that's the song I hate the most. Glad you like it.
Agreed. The biggest offender of Wakeman's awful keyboard sounds, IMO.
Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally
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