Late-period Yes fan comes out of the closet

[rael74]

Some may consider it the early onset of mental illness, but over the few weeks I have almost exclusively been listening to 'late-period' Yes.

I've adored Drama and 90125 since they came out, but have never really listened to Keystudio until this month. What an amazing track Mind Drive is. Superb from start to finish. I would seriously rather this than CTTE anytime.

Can I pour further petrol on the fire by confirming my liking of Union also, I admit side 2 is poor, but the first 7 tracks or so are excellent, dynamic muti-layered prog mini-classics. I feel that Union's fate in history is more down to the bands (valid) dislike of it's production, as opposed to the actual music.

Like Genesis, the post 70's Yes may not be to everyone's taste, but I think a lot of this is down to small-minded prejudice as opposed to the actual music.

Expecting a 'Bumpy Ride'...

[jamesmanzi]

Not much to add, but I've got your back here. Drama, 90125, Big Generator are favorites of mine.

I discovered Yes thru classic rock radio as a teen in the early 80's, so 90125 was "my" Yes album - the first one that I could look forward to the release of after discovering the band and buying all their albums (cassettes, that is) to date. So that may explain a lot. That doesn't explain my unholy love of Union, though. That's on me entirely.

[dropforge]

Only die-hard Andersonites won't appreciate Drama, one of my favorite Yes albums. I also like all the new studio material on the Keys To Ascension sets. Many good songs on 90125, Big Generator and Union.

Talk and Open Your Eyes? I've gotta draw the line somewhere!

[Scott Bails]

There are many gems among latter-day Yes, but this:

What an amazing track Mind Drive is. Superb from start to finish. I would seriously rather this than CTTE anytime.

makes me think that you may need help. I'd start with a family doctor, and see if they recommend a specialist. Stay away from sharp implements.

'Cause you're clearly insane.

[Progatron]

Although the 70s stuff is always going to be my favourite (with Keys studio right behind it), and although I find Union, Open Your Eyes and The Ladder all weak albums overall, I can honestly find at least something to like on every Yes album. Hell, I'm in the tiny minority that really liked Heaven And Earth... nothing to be in the closet about IMO!

[3LockBox]

I like a lot of later-day YES, especially the KeyStudio stuff, although the two epics are a tad too long and in need of paring down, especially the Crack Time segment of That That Is (pure Anderson dreck). It was a huge mistake to not to release these tracks as a standalone album.

I like Talk as well, but have to be in the mood to listen to all of it at once. The Ladder and Magnification were hit and miss for me. OYE is mostly miss for me. FFH is good and their latest, H&E, makes Air Supply sound like a hard rock band. Their last two albums are great examples of a band having the right producer at the helm. Yes shouldn't make another album unless Trevor is available and has a handful of songs (Horn or Rabin). Otherwise I'm afraid the well is dry.

[SteveSly]

I am a fan of all periods of Yes. Some albums l like more than others, but there are not any that I hate. I think most Yes fans have been converted to “Drama” over the years, even though it did not do that well when it was released. “Union” I still find underwhelming and “Open Your Eyes” is probably my all-time least favorite Yes album. Really like “The Ladder” and “Fly From Here” from more recent times.

[mozo-pg]

I draw the line at Fragile.

[bondegezou]

I like a lot of later-day YES, especially the KeyStudio stuff, although the two epics are a tad too long and in need of paring down, especially the Crack Time segment of That That Is (pure Anderson dreck). It was a huge mistake to not to release these tracks as a standalone album.

The possibility of releasing all the studio tracks from Keys and Keys 2 as a standalone album at the time did not exist, as the former album was done and dusted before they did the latter sessions.

Henry

[jkelman]

See, when you say late period Yes I thought you meant Fly From Here and the other more recent stuff. While I am not a
huge fan of K2A, Drama, 90125, etc, I think they are fine records...just not as much my cuppa.

FFH is another story...

[Garden Dreamer]

See, when you say late period Yes I thought you meant Fly From Here and the other more recent stuff.
.

My concept of "late period Yes" is anything from Union and beyond, i.e. when their music began to be less highly-regarded and the band became less of a fixture on the music scene. I rarely hear any detractors of Drama, and while I couldn't stand the Rabin-Yes albums, "90125" and "Big Generator" were big commercial successes and kept Yes in the forefront of the music scene during the 80's. There's really no "closet" to come out of when discussing these 3 albums.

So for me, late period Yes encompasses Union, Talk, Keystudio, Open Your Eyes, The Ladder, Magnification, Fly from Here and Heaven and Earth. Rael, you've only praised two out of those eight albums so I wouldn't call that a ringing endorsement of latter-day Yes (unless you like the other six and just didn't comment on them yet).

For myself, I could pick 2 or 3 songs from each of those albums (except Talk) and have a pretty good 16-20 song compilation album. But there's really no pressing need to own any of those albums as I'm not a completist for Yes.

[spotprog]

...as I listen to Duke 5.1, my favorite Genesis album.

I was not so entrenched in Yes that I could not appreciate the latter years. There are plenty of outstanding listens if one has an open mind. Mind Drive is premium, I love Homeworld and the entirety of Fly From Here.

[JKL2000]

Chimpanzees! I'll never understand them...

[trurl]

We're here, we like Magnification, get used to it!!

[progeezer's ghost]

Although the 70s stuff is always going to be my favourite (with Keys studio right behind it), and although I find Union, Open Your Eyes and The Ladder all weak albums overall, I can honestly find at least something to like on every Yes album. Hell, I'm in the tiny minority that really liked Heaven And Earth... nothing to be in the closet about IMO!

While I don't own it, the old man loaned me his copy of Heaven & Earth (yes, he owns it, no pun intended), and I too appreciated it (somewhat, if not inordinately). I'm not at all certain I've even so much as heard Fly From Here, let alone any other album Yes did post-70s in its entirety. That being said, the few tracks I have heard from the Horn/Rabin era I've dug (FtR- "Owner...", "Rhythm of Love", and to a lesser extent "Leave It.)

[Adrian]

I discovered Yes through "Owner of a Lonely Heart," and although I came to love the classic '70s material, I still find plenty about the latter-day Yes to love. From Drama onward, the only two albums I really don't like are Union and Open Your Eyes. Fly From Here doesn't do much for me, and the KTA albums are a mixed bag but have their moments. That leaves The Ladder, Magnification, Heaven & Earth, and most of the Rabin era. I love 'em all. And I don't mind admitting that I've always preferred Rabin to Howe. I'm probably not even allowed to say that, per some stipulation in the Official Yesfan Handbook, but there it is.

[Digital_Man]

[I feel that Union's fate in history is more down to the bands (valid) dislike of it's production, as opposed to the actual music.]

I have felt this way for a long time. I think much of it holds up to the better material on Talk, Big Generator and ABWH. I don't think it's as consistent as those albums but I do enjoy much of it and I think it gets unfairly slagged by most due mainly to the way the album was produced.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

I draw the line at Fragile.

... I'll go a bit further and say, they jumped the shark on Big Flatulator... but then, YES is pretty low on my 'top 100' Prog music artists. CTTE and Relayer have their moments I guess

[at least 100 dead]

Some may consider it the early onset of mental illness, but over the few weeks I have almost exclusively been listening to 'late-period' Yes.

"People are willing to do all sorts of humiliating, torturous and even downright dangerous things..."

[Frumious B]

While I do think seventies era is the best Yes has only released three studio albums that I actively dislike: Union, Open Your Eyes and Heaven & Earth.

[Frumious B]

... I'll go a bit further and say, they jumped the shark on Big Flatulator... but then, YES is pretty low on my 'top 100' Prog music artists. CTTE and Relayer have their moments I guess

Back before 2008 happened and all the dirty water under the bridge since I thought Drama was just about the most underrated Yes record. Nowadays it seems like fan opinion on Drama has turned around so much that I now can't consider it anything other than overrated. Good record? Sure. Crowning definitive Yes masterpiece? Heck no.

The title for most underrated has fallen to Big Generator IMHO. It was the first Yes album I ever heard and it clearly reached me sufficiently that I went back and bought everything else over the years and still listen to Yes 28 years later. So I think BG deserves more love. I also think the first two albums with Peter Banks deserve more love.

[bondegezou]

There are things I like on every Yes album, and things I dislike on nearly every Yes album for that matter. I guess there are two studio albums that I can do without, and that's Talk and Open Your Eyes. I find Talk very bland: never actually offensive, just generally forgettable. Open Your Eyes has some good material -- I dig the title track -- but oodles of terribleness. Both albums are also, and I'm not sure whether this is why I like less about them, distant from the traditional creative forces in Yes.

Union is not a good album, and it has the most f***ed-up back story, but it has enough good tracks scattered along the way ("Masquerade", "Miracle of Life", "The More We Live -- Let Go") that I prefer it to Talk and OYE. Heaven & Earth has, for me, some weak tracks in the middle, but plenty of good stuff at the beginning and end of the album.

But why I am talking about the bad stuff? Preach it, rael74! I too am a fan of 'late period Yes'. Drama is one of my favourites. I love 90125, Big Generator, the studio material on Keys to Ascension 2, and Fly from Here. Plenty to love on The Ladder, Magnification and ABWH. And, indeed, I stand and celebrate the late period solo and other non-Yes work by the band members: Jacaranda, Time, Turbulence, Skin & Wire, Change We Must, Syndestructible, Levin Torn White, Made in Basing Street, &c.

Henry

[martiprog]

I have to agree that, with the exception of Talk & Open Your Eyes, there is a lot to like about Yes from the Drama album onward. While nowhere near as consistent as their 70's output, there are still many excellent songs. I've revisited much of it recently and surprised myself by how good some of it is, even if some of the 80's production & instrumentation can be tiresome, as per the recent ABWH thread.

[Brian Griffin]

Only die-hard Andersonites won't appreciate Drama, one of my favorite Yes albums

As was stated it is kind of funny how this one has risen in most fans ratings

It's middle of the pack at best for me

Any subconscious prejudice likely stems this album / tour seeming like a disastrous end to the decade, having experienced it

Almost all of the top prog acts with different line ups without core members, or broken up, or with a far more "commercial" slant?

Door slammed on the scene, Yes without it's voice and an epic-less setlist, game ova

As to the O/P I've never loved 90125 or BG, but thought Talk was a very good balance between new / old

The KTA's certainly have their moments, but aren't as consistent as back in the day, generally true of the other later ones as well

Love H & E

BG

[Rufus]

Never understood any love for the Key Studio tracks, sound like half finnished demos to me!!!

I can however agree with the OT and that all the Rabin era albums are classics. Drama is a masteriece & FFH was a brief return to form of sorts!!!