Mark Woollon Not sloppy, but I’ve never thought it sounded as good as the rest of the stuff on the album or anything on Fragile. I’m not really sure what it is but stuff like Heart of the Sunrise just has a much crisper and clearer sound. I think it’s just that the arrangement on Close To The Edge is so much denser than most Yes songs.
@@emdiar6588lmao that is the most standout prog keyboard performance to you? It fits the track and all but Wakeman is too weighed down in classical traditions. Emerson was going for something new.
They recorded each part of "Close to the Edge" separately up to 20 times on 24 tracks and then literally glued the best takes together with superglue. Compositionally definitively one of the greatest songs in rock history. Amen.
Close to the Edge is like the holy grail of progressive rock and as a statement and communication in music, each line in Close to the Edge is a story itself, the ultimate song about god, mankind, and the universe
"A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace, and rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace." No truer, more relatable words have ever been sung, imo.
@@nectarinedreams7208 oh, the profundity! my soul is ascending just thinking about it! jk, i've listened about 50 times and never picked out more than a half dozen words beyond, "round by the corner" "down by a river" "I get up, I get down" and, most bizarrely, "mass retain", whatever that means. Although, now I see what you've written, I can immediately match it to the tune - never would have guessed that i've heard someone sing about rearranging my liver so, so many times without noticing - let alone doing it to a solid mental grace (again, whatever that means)
I went to a wedding a couple of months back and the couple had "And You and I" played. It reduced me to a blubbering puddle of happiness. Beautiful song.
Yes's output in the 70's, hell the 70's in general is possibly the single best decade of progressive rock ever. A complete explosion of virtuosity, musicianship and musical entertainment from so many bands. But even among them this one sits on the very top.
Zanti I knew it was now that your whole, because we discover that everything is within us and we aren’t missing a thing, we are one with the creator at every moment in time in our physical and spiritual bodies
this band i listened to when i was in middle school. i was just going through my dad's library and found Realayer and it changed the way i hear music forever. Thank you for reviewing this.
A solid assessment. A great album. One of my three favourite prog rock albums of the 1970’s, the other two being Selling England by the Pound and Dark Side of The Moon.
So much yes, no pun intended xD I love for the most part all of their 70's releases up to Duke, the rest I have not heard fully yet but my interest levels in their 80's and later albums have not been that high tbh.
I've been listening to the title track a lot over the past few days and I love it to the point where I'm afraid of listening to it too often and wearing it out. It's a good thing there's a lot of meat on its bones.
I get the impression we're never gonna hear anthony talk about steely dan because he doesn't like them and doesn't want to get torn apart by steely stans such as myself like the fact he's been making videos for 12 years and they haven't come up once clearly shows he's just not into them. which is a shame because he clearly likes music from their contemporaries and countless artists they've inspired. I mean shit, I don't see how you can consider Random Access Memories a great album and not fuck with any part of Steely Dan's discography. I had a similar aversion to them until I gave Aja an honest listen. maybe he just needs a convincing nudge
TFTO seems to be a failure... I need to listen to it again, but it didn't give me the willing to listen to it again to get its complexity like Close to the Edge did. I missed Bill Bruford :(
Vincent Fillieule Yeah, TFTO is massive as hell, the songs feel kinda too drawn out at times, I mostly love the first song out of the four. Now, if you want an album from them with a song that is in the 20 minute mark, look at Relayer and it's opening track Gates of Delirium, along with the other two tracks. My favorite one is Sound Chaser, god I love the last like 3-4 minutes of it.
My teenage years, I played this record over and over. Saw them live three times, each time I went right down the front right I front of the stage. They were mesmerising. Them and ELP. What a great time in music.
Yes is my dad's favorite band and I love listen to them with him: he knows all the lyrics and sings along (his voice is also really similar to Jon Anderson's!). His favorite album is Fragile, but I prefer Close to the Edge. Also, Siberian Khatru is my favorite track of this album :D
first time i listened to the title track i had to stop a few minutes in and thought it just sounded like noise. but eventually after many listens later it has become my favourite song of all time. every member is nuts but im convinced rick wakeman is from another galaxy
Unassailable album on every level. Glad I was old enough to even begin to absorb it when it appeared, then walked into the EDGE concert tour. My consciousness was never the same again after that encounter, thank God.
Occasionally during live performances, Yes would modulate down a step for the final chorus of “Close to the Edge” which made it feel so much more complete and-well-FINAL. Something about moving down that half step gave it so much more emotion and made it so much more interesting. Such a beautiful song.
This was actually done at pretty much every show after the first few (with some rare exceptions) because Jon Anderson couldn't consistently hit the highest notes. The current lineup did the same thing with Jon Davison until the 50th anniversary tour.
On the topic of prog rock, Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield would make for an interesting review. Personally, I think that album is a fuckin' masterpiece.
I remember picking up close to the edge at my local record store for $8 VG+ rated, nice deal. I love this record even if I don't listen to it often, which is how I treat my favorite albums so I don't grow tired of them. The title track is groovy to say the least, on a good set of headphones the bassist is fast and sublime. The refrains with the organ still make me tear up, what great and unique change to song! And you and I is my go to song, one of Yes' best songs in my opinion. It's a journey of feeling, from "All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you" to "And you and I crawl over valleys of endless seas" I'm just captivated by it all. Such a rich album overall, including Siberian Khatru. Also, if I haven't found the video yet, I don't want to be part of the many who ask you to review this or that album, but I've seen Animals on your shelf *wink* *wink*
This is a perfect prog rock album! And there are few of them. "Siberian Khatru" is totally amazing just like the two other tracks. Not having "parts" isn't a bad thing just because the two other tracks do.
One of those very rare albums that clicked with me immediately. Hearing that ambient beginning of the title track morph into Howe's vicious guitar playing will always be one of my favourite moments in music. Glorious stuff.
Classic albums that would be cool to hear you talk about. jethro tull - thick as a brick new york dolls - new york dolls slayer - reign in blood culture - two sevens clash public enemy - it takes a nation of millions to hold us back jean michele jarre - oxygen de la soul - 3 feet high and rising lcd soundsystem - sound of silver (it was released in 2007 so i don't really know about this one... might not be a "classic yet") pink floyd - the wall
The title track is one of the only pieces of music in existence I’d call truly transcendent. The journey it takes you on is one of emotions that can only be expressed through abstract poetry and the power of music. Thank God for this record.
Great to hear an absolutely essential album given it's due. This is desert island for me and probably on the short list of last things I'd like to hear in this life. It led me to Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha," which is the inspiration behind the title track, which led me to so many other important revelations in my life. It was also, for me, the gateway to being able to appreciate, and set the standard for, prog rock and what it can achieve. The only thing better than listening to the album was getting to hear these songs live, the virtuosity, energy and cosmic spirituality truly takes you somewhere and then brings you back again changed for the better...'all in all the journey takes you all the way.' Thanks for the review and spreading the news! Just a note...the Yes Remixes was not an official Yes release, it was Jon Anderson's son, Damian, who asked for the masters and then did some noodling. Nothing serious but a lot of fun to hear the songs recontextualized focusing on different parts in the songs and creating different rhythms with them.
Have you listened to Relayer? Relayer should be called "Slayer" because its so awesome and other worldly you'll be completely slain. No joke. Its a masterpiece.
Objectively, gotta be close to the edge. The skill level comparison of Chris squire to Roger Waters is honestly laughable. Any of the members, honestly. All that being said, I fucking love dark side, but close to the edge would still be the subjective winner for me, too. Both evoke such strong emotion, and they're 2 of my favorite albums of all time.
This is first album I heard by Yes. Stuck it on vinyl found in my friends sisters room back in 2002. Smoked a bong. Mind blown. When I was 17... it was a very good year... Great review. You describe it so well.
Amazing body of work by an amazing group. Everyone should be required to listen to Close to the Edge, The Yes Album, Relayer, Going for the One and Fragile. It's really amazing the quality of music this band put out just during the 70's, not to mention what they've done since then. Do yourself a favor if you haven't heard any of these albums and check them out when you can.
Anthony reviewed one of my favorite albums of all time, sweet. Wish more attention was given to "And You and I" and to the very beautiful and relatable lyrical content throughout the album, but solid review overall. I agree that the closing track feels a little out of place, but it's still one the band's best tunes and super solid so can't really knock it that much.
Before I watched this video I just listened to the album, and man you describe it so well. It's totally nuts. Different layers, good flow, great intensity, a bunch of ideas, classical. It's easy for me to visualize a surreal landscape, or setting, with this album. Nature is a recurring theme. Rivers, valleys, summits. Then you have all the radical music to give these things an out-of-this-world coloring. A fantastic fantasy world.
90125, Big Generator, Union, Talk and The Ladder....plenty of great progressive rock and pop stuff going on throughout all of those albums. The only people who dismiss those records without a thought are people who didn't spend any time at all with them. Close To The Edge and Relayer were the band at their pinnacle, but their later output is actually a lot of fun.
I remember when I was 13 in 1975, and I listened to Fragile, Close To The Edge, and The Yes Album, I had a brother who was 5 years older than me and had a Killer Stereo Setup and I remember saying to him "There is no way they could play all this live though" and then Yessongs WOW, I must admit I like the Live versions of Yours is no Disgrace and Siberian Khatru than the recorded versions, These are all Masterpieces, my favorite band of all time even now at 56 years old. Plus Relayer and Going for the One, TFTO I was disappointed when 90125 came out, I figured that it was the end of these types of compositions, but they had to keep up with the changing times I suppose. Great Review, takes a lot of words to describe all they have going on. Steve Howe is the reason I started playing guitar back then, true for many people I knew.
Classic reviews I'd love to see: 1. Liquid swords 2. Animals 3. Master of puppets (something tells me you prefer ride the lightning but any Metallica will do) 4. Black on both sides OR black star 5. Dirt 6. Symbolic 7. The bleeding 8. Jane doe 9. Focus 10 Marshall mathers lp To name a few...
I almost want to see anthony review peter gabriel more than I want a hd remaster of Wallace and Gromit Curse of the Were-Rabbit on steam make it happen music man
I'm a huge fan of Yes and I love how you explained this wonderful album with words alone! It shows how much effort you put in to explaining something so complicated as progressive rock! Good on you, man!
This is one of my aunt's favorite albums. I can remember her writing the lyrics to Close to the Edge--and other YES songs--out on paper that I would carry with me to school. I use to memorize the lyrics and surprise teachers and classmates.
Loved and listened to Yes and Close to the Edge when I was young fella - a classic. Yes stood out as a group of musical prodigies; each of them a virtuoso musician.
Love to see what you think about Radiohead-OK Computer Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magik Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here Arctic Monkeys-Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Fuck yes Anthony, I love Yes. Undeniably this is their most important album. Early career proggy Yes is eargasmic. I personally love the more indulgent Relayer album, when they had another keyboard player. Their albums are such a trip.
I love this album. I spent so much of last summer listening to it that I heard parts of it in my sleep. The weird thing about Yes that I can't really say about any other prog-rock outfit I love is that, melodically, they were all over the place. Rush Songs always had movements or a chorus, but with Yes, the instrumental sections just kinda dance wherever they go. They aren't there to get you somewhere else. It took a while to get used to that aspect of them, and it's one of the reasons Tales from Topographic Oceans is such a challenging listen for me when compared to this album or Relayer (which I also sometimes hear in my sleep).
Anthony I feel like a video series you might be able to do besides your reviews that I would find really interesting could be a music history series. You could talk about the formation of certain genres give a series of bands and albums that defined the genre, talk about the impact of the genre on culture and vice versa, and then after that you would have like four or five albums to review that you briefly talked about in the genre segment. Just an idea. Thumbs this up so he can see this!
If you consider Siberian Khatru as the last movement of a 3 movement romantic symphony (i.e. vivace), it fits well with the rest of the record, the middle movement being an expansive adagio, and the first movement being an expansive allegro (though with highly dynamic sections). As a recommendation at classic status, review Gentle Giant's Freehand. I think GG opened for Yes on occasion. Freehand strikes me as the album that best speculates what a classical era composer would sound like, if "forced" to faithfully deploy tactics of mainstream, pop, punk, and jazz styles. Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, ELP, and KC are also relevant, but they seem closer to incorporating classical music in their rock as opposed to acting like a classicalist trying to do rock.
SIBERIAN KHATRU KICK ALL ASS!!! the hypnotic multi timed overlayed rhythmic theme with Chris Steve Rick is a MESMERIZING FUNK GROOVE that DRIVES towards BLISS in a way few others can do! I LOVE that track which FITS PERFECTLY as a UNIQUELY needed change. Speaking of it's changes, these exhilarating intersections are BRILLIANT, unexpected, gorgeous and powerfully hypnotic. It's one of my TOP YES tracks making the CTTE album JOURNEY one of absolute PERFECTION !
I always really loved the simplicity of the single staccato synth note played in the background during Total Mass Retain. It gives those parts of the passage a sweetness and a kind of consistent musical thread. It was a tiny detail that made a world of difference.
+Luis Gutiérrez that's what I was implying. He's a living proof that modern prog can be songwriting oriented instead of just technical wankery. Then again King Crimson and ELP were very much about technical wankery so I guess that has been an aspect in certain areas of prog.
+Kip Dynamite technical? Sure! But that was never the point of his music. It was always about emotion, atmosphere and storytelling. I personally love every album by PT except TSMS and Signify. And the only SW album I don't like is Insurgentes.
BEST ALBUMS: 1. Close to the Edge 2. Nursery Cryme 3. The Yes Album 4. Aqualung 5. Meddle 6. Permanent Waves 7. Fire of Unknown Origin 8. Secret Treaties 9. Leftoverature 10/ Fly By Night (WILDCARD - Everything Goes Numb)
Thanks for featuring this album. I don't know what my 10/10 would be, but this album is probably the closest I've ever heard. My favourite rock album by far. Would also love if you could discuss Rush - 2112. Much love Anthony. Forever.
What people overlook is that this shit came out in the early seventies. People where just tying to figure out what rock was supposed to be and what it was supposed to sound like. Some of the most talented people of the time came out with some retroactively grandiose material that is still incredibly awesome. Close To The Edge Is a remarkable album that hooks you in with tracks like Siberian Khatru and keeps you with Close To The Edge. This album after all these years still brings tears to my eyes with all its beauty.
Thanks for loving this record as much as I did when it first came out. For me it's great to hear such praise for what is truly awesomw music from someone of a later generation
Some other reviews I'd love to see: Burial - Untrue Portishead - Dummy Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Ramones - Ramones Run-D.M.C - Raising Hell The Avalanches - Since I Left You The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds The Doors - The Doors
Dimas de la Peña He did it for his special monthly classic review in March I believe. So he'll upload that one and the rest so far this year in the next classics week.
factoid: I really like the melt album a lot i bought the double lp remaster today and spent all my wallace and gromit collection money on my favourite musican peter gabriel
I also really like his first album car, I didn't at first but I like how diverse it is first we have some dark prog then we go to some cheery guitar then we have some jazz and rock and at the end we have this epic yet simple piano piece very powerful and underrated album
What I've always admired about Yes and this record is that Yes is able to fit in so much emotion with all those notes. I also think that you can't have a serious discussion about the greatest rock guitarists without mentioning Steve Howe.
It’s interesting how you took particular dislike to the fade-out in Siberian Khatru. I think it’s an awesome fade-out, myself. The combination of the synths and the guitar solo create an amazing groove and mysterious vibe that leaves you wanting more.
Agree with everything you said in this review... other than Siberian Khatru, which I think is a total banger. The bass line in that song is next level.
I love this album, and thanks for the awesome review! I know what you mean about Siberian Kahtru, but I still hold it in the same regard as my other favourites from this album. Would love to see more Yes reviews too
You always sell the music so well with your descriptions. As soon as any classic review is over I have to go and listen to it right away. Even if I know and love it. Thanks Man!
Personally, and Im sure a lot will agree, Yes could only exist in the 70's because of their sound and the coming new age movement. 90125, while not a bad album, is pretty representative of what happened to a lot of the classic Prog groups as they were adjusting to the sudden decay of the genre, and thats why I really have no interest in their 80's-90's catalog.
Of the great Prog bands, I think only King Crimson and Peter Gabriel (he's not a band, but I think you'll get what I mean) managed to hold the quality of music they released.
Fabian Garcia I don't really count Eno as Prog Rock, though he has made some important contributions to that genre, as he has made a bigger impact on New Wave. I'll give you Alan Parsons (man, do I love Eye In The Sky). As I was writing my comment, I was thinking more about musicians who started in the late 60s and were in their prime during the early 70s.
Well done! Yes has so much going for them it's very difficult to give them full justice and I feel that you did a great job. Also, if you had given this album a low rating, I would've probably had to unsubscribe from your channel seeing as that would've proven you don't understand music
good review. i wish you would touch on lyrics in your reviews more. growing up my dad would play this record and recite lines to me almost as poetry before bed and on weekend car rides. i think to the people that grew up around this time the prog/psych rock lyrics really meant something strong to them and it's unfortunate that you did not capture the zeitgeist of this period here
An excellent summation of the "Close to the Edge" track. Yes not only employed silence, but they actively incorporated pauses and silence, and stripped-back layers and meanderings...to give us a rest, to assess what we've been listening to...to prepare us for the next passage or, indeed, to signal and bring about a transition, or key change, or the dominance of one instrument giving way to a different one. in short - a complex evolving of themes and sounds into a cohesive piece, with the beautiful addition of short guitar/keyboard riffs, or percussion some of which leave you wondering whether you've actually heard them or not?
the first track alone is worth the price of a full album
Never enjoyed the title track. I’m totally enamored with And You And I and Siberian Khatru, but I think the first song is just sloppy sounding.
And You and I is a fucking masterpiece.
The title track of Close To The Edge could easily constitute an EP in its own right.
jaketaz the album is a true masterpiece amazing album
Mark Woollon Not sloppy, but I’ve never thought it sounded as good as the rest of the stuff on the album or anything on Fragile. I’m not really sure what it is but stuff like Heart of the Sunrise just has a much crisper and clearer sound. I think it’s just that the arrangement on Close To The Edge is so much denser than most Yes songs.
I get upppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp!!! i get dooooooOooOooOooOwwnnnnnn!!!
Rich Tremblay the best part of any song ever written
gives me goosebumps everytime
I know it's Steve Howe, guys. Was just having a flashback to my Iron Maiden review.
Please review any of cream's albums for classic reviews
would you do Dummy by Portishead
Moving pictures by Rush baby girl
+Bruce Wayne yea remain in light tho
Please review more pink floyd albums Another-tony brick in the wall-tanno!
"Greatest living prog keyboardist"
Well thanks for reminding me Keith Emerson died. :(
saddest story in prog history
Even if he hadn't, the statement would still stand. No disrespect, but Wakeman always dominated.
@Doodle Bob You can debate it all you like, then I'll play you the intro to Awaken and drop the mic.
@@emdiar6588lmao that is the most standout prog keyboard performance to you? It fits the track and all but Wakeman is too weighed down in classical traditions. Emerson was going for something new.
Emerson was way more versatile, and had a better technique and improvisation
The organs that “sound like church organs” actually are genuine renaissance church organs that the studio recorded Wakeman’s playing of
Hoping someone would say this
Lol, it's not a medieval organ. It was built in 1733, rebuilt several times since.
Rollo Maughfling Eh, not really a big deal. I’ll edit it though
right on the money.
They recorded each part of "Close to the Edge" separately up to 20 times on 24 tracks and then literally glued the best takes together with superglue. Compositionally definitively one of the greatest songs in rock history. Amen.
I don't think you meant to say superglue? It wasn't invented yet (and I'm not sure how that would work anyway). Editing tape was though.
Close to the Edge is like the holy grail of progressive rock and as a statement and communication in music, each line in Close to the Edge is a story itself, the ultimate song about god, mankind, and the universe
I wholeheartedly agree, hippiecheezburger.
"A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace, and rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace." No truer, more relatable words have ever been sung, imo.
@@nectarinedreams7208 oh, the profundity! my soul is ascending just thinking about it!
jk, i've listened about 50 times and never picked out more than a half dozen words beyond, "round by the corner" "down by a river" "I get up, I get down" and, most bizarrely, "mass retain", whatever that means. Although, now I see what you've written, I can immediately match it to the tune - never would have guessed that i've heard someone sing about rearranging my liver so, so many times without noticing - let alone doing it to a solid mental grace (again, whatever that means)
@@jackstrawfuljust google the meaning of the lyrics of close to the edge and it makes a ton of sense
Damn what's on the back of your head, that guy on the right looks terrified
Yekros that my friend is King Crimsons in the Court Of The Crimson King a absolute progressive rock classic
Patrick Lauer r/whoosh
That's where he keeps his hidden weapon, "Light 7".
21st Century Schizoid Man!
@@patricklauer4452 Yeah but does it work?
I actually love the fade out is Siberian Khatru....
me too!
The part with the harmony vocals (As one changes, heart gold etc ...) and the mellotrons is pure heaven! Siberian Khatru, forever.
They don't use fade outs as much these days in general. Love the fade out.
Dude, that song is fucking phenomenal, Needlestick is wrooooong
Dude. The powerful refrain showing up from the beginning, the wandering guitar, the drums subtly letting loose its an amazing fade out.
I went to a wedding a couple of months back and the couple had "And You and I" played. It reduced me to a blubbering puddle of happiness. Beautiful song.
good one. Forget the wedding lets listen to YES!
Close To The Edge is one of the best albums of all time. I'm glad you gave the time to review it.
Yes's output in the 70's, hell the 70's in general is possibly the single best decade of progressive rock ever. A complete explosion of virtuosity, musicianship and musical entertainment from so many bands. But even among them this one sits on the very top.
chris92945 The fact that England produced so many incredible prog bands at the same time is a true wonder.
1971: Meddle
1973: The Dark Side of the Moon
1975: Wish You Were Here
1977: Animals
1979: The Wall
Pink Floyd absolutely ate that era.
Albums Animals is a contender for the greatest album ever created by any band, regardless of genre.
Prog Rock goes from 1969 to 1975. After that nothing new was invented probably till Dream Theater and Opeth came into existence.
@@bemersonbakebarmen try Cardiacs
NOW THAT IT'S ALL OVER AND DONE
GONE TO THE SEA, RIGHT TO THE SUN
NOW THAT YOU'RE FINE, NOW THAT YOU'RE HOME
Xenfare SEASONS WILL PASS YOU BY
Xenfare I GET UUUUUUUUP I GET DOOOOOWWWWNNN
From the album cover, the lyrics are actually:
Called to the seed, right to the sun,
Now that you find, now that you're whole
As Zanti's pointed out, that's not what Anderson's singing.
Zanti I knew it was now that your whole, because we discover that everything is within us and we aren’t missing a thing, we are one with the creator at every moment in time in our physical and spiritual bodies
this band i listened to when i was in middle school. i was just going through my dad's library and found Realayer and it changed the way i hear music forever. Thank you for reviewing this.
A solid assessment. A great album. One of my three favourite prog rock albums of the 1970’s, the other two being Selling England by the Pound and Dark Side of The Moon.
Please review an early Genesis album!
I second this. I can't believe I had to scroll down this far to find the first mention of Genesis. What's the deal?!
selling england by the pound or nursery cryme would be cool!
So much yes, no pun intended xD
I love for the most part all of their 70's releases up to Duke, the rest I have not heard fully yet but my interest levels in their 80's and later albums have not been that high tbh.
I want to see a review of Foxtrot
Or what about red?
Steve Howe on guitar
This is definitely a flawless masterpiece that should be 10/10
I've been listening to the title track a lot over the past few days and I love it to the point where I'm afraid of listening to it too often and wearing it out. It's a good thing there's a lot of meat on its bones.
I know what you mean. I ration myself with a lot of my absolute favourites from this period these days.
I agree, this album is sensational. The late great Chris Squier sounded wonderful. Everyone on this record sounded great. I loved this review.
Next review: Steely Dan - Aja
Its weird, I’ve never heard him mention Steely Dan, and I’ve been watching his videos for 6+ years...
@@petterv6604 which is weird! Lol I'd like to hear his thoughts. I haven't listened to Aja yet, but I have listened to Pretzel Logic quite a bit.
@@Descro382 Aja is amazing, bro! The production is so clean and crispy! Besides, the jazz fusion influenced, the lyricism is such story-telling.
I get the impression we're never gonna hear anthony talk about steely dan because he doesn't like them and doesn't want to get torn apart by steely stans such as myself
like the fact he's been making videos for 12 years and they haven't come up once clearly shows he's just not into them. which is a shame because he clearly likes music from their contemporaries and countless artists they've inspired. I mean shit, I don't see how you can consider Random Access Memories a great album and not fuck with any part of Steely Dan's discography. I had a similar aversion to them until I gave Aja an honest listen. maybe he just needs a convincing nudge
This album gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
Would you review Tarkus by ELP?
Deeeeee has the dawn ever seen your eyes? Dwa dwa dwa dwa dwa
Garlic is a bit of a dodgy one, I feel like he’d do trilogy or self titled
SCATTERED ON THE ASHES OF THIS PLACE
Side A is monumental, Side B is an abortion
@@SpiralDream side B was actually good! Fuck u
Yes, Anthony!!!!! Yes is a FANTASTIC band which I have seen live and am seeing again soon. You should review Tales From Topographic Oceans
Plus I have seen Jon Anderson and I am seeing him and Rick Wakeman later this year as well.
TFTO is like writing a thesis paper. it's such a MASSIVE record lol. he'd have to take like a week to thoroughly review it.
TFTO seems to be a failure... I need to listen to it again, but it didn't give me the willing to listen to it again to get its complexity like Close to the Edge did.
I missed Bill Bruford :(
Vincent Fillieule
Yeah, TFTO is massive as hell, the songs feel kinda too drawn out at times, I mostly love the first song out of the four. Now, if you want an album from them with a song that is in the 20 minute mark, look at Relayer and it's opening track Gates of Delirium, along with the other two tracks. My favorite one is Sound Chaser, god I love the last like 3-4 minutes of it.
My favorite album by them.
close to the edge is my favorite song ever.
I fucking love this album. Listen to it all the time.
Same, I'll never get tired of it
My teenage years, I played this record over and over. Saw them live three times, each time I went right down the front right I front of the stage. They were mesmerising. Them and ELP. What a great time in music.
easily one of the greatest albums of all time. Close to the Edge FOREEEEEVER!!!!!
My favorite album of all time. It's rare for something to be so happy that is so enjoyable to me
Yes is my dad's favorite band and I love listen to them with him: he knows all the lyrics and sings along (his voice is also really similar to Jon Anderson's!). His favorite album is Fragile, but I prefer Close to the Edge. Also, Siberian Khatru is my favorite track of this album :D
Which of these super great albums do I like better? love it.
I prefer 90125
first time i listened to the title track i had to stop a few minutes in and thought it just sounded like noise. but eventually after many listens later it has become my favourite song of all time. every member is nuts but im convinced rick wakeman is from another galaxy
Fragile < Close to the Edge
O B J E C T I V E L Y W R O N G
correct
Fragile < Close to the Edge < Relayer
@@grfalk8012 This
They are both great in their own way. I could never really choose because they both hold rich music and incredible song writing
Close to the Edge is better than Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall
The wall is overrated asf.
Close to the edge is better than most albuns
I would take it over dark side
Not the wall tho
selling england by the pound takes them all EZ
No
Dude Yes removed "It's Yes Close To The Edge Dammit" from the album cause it was your least favorite track!
What
lmao
Wow, that was an actually clever joke. I congratulate you for making a comment section confused.
Unassailable album on every level. Glad I was old enough to even begin to absorb it when it appeared, then walked into the EDGE concert tour. My consciousness was never the same again after that encounter, thank God.
Occasionally during live performances, Yes would modulate down a step for the final chorus of “Close to the Edge” which made it feel so much more complete and-well-FINAL. Something about moving down that half step gave it so much more emotion and made it so much more interesting. Such a beautiful song.
This was actually done at pretty much every show after the first few (with some rare exceptions) because Jon Anderson couldn't consistently hit the highest notes. The current lineup did the same thing with Jon Davison until the 50th anniversary tour.
I always thought the way it ended was beautifully succinct. Especially the outro with the wildlife sounds
On the topic of prog rock, Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield would make for an interesting review. Personally, I think that album is a fuckin' masterpiece.
Side two is a fuckin mess
+Matthew Fauria To be honest, that's one of the reasons I like it. I'm a fan of unforgiving, crowded, and overplayed prog rock.
Ommadawn is much better IMO.
Side 1 of Tubular is great, Side 2 is a nice but not as good
+DreamPurpleFloyd I've actually never heard Ommadawn in its entirety, I'll have to check it out. I agree, side 1 is the better part of the album.
Five Miles Out would be great as well, but Tubular Bells is surely the more classic record.
I remember picking up close to the edge at my local record store for $8 VG+ rated, nice deal. I love this record even if I don't listen to it often, which is how I treat my favorite albums so I don't grow tired of them.
The title track is groovy to say the least, on a good set of headphones the bassist is fast and sublime. The refrains with the organ still make me tear up, what great and unique change to song!
And you and I is my go to song, one of Yes' best songs in my opinion. It's a journey of feeling, from "All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you" to "And you and I crawl over valleys of endless seas" I'm just captivated by it all. Such a rich album overall, including Siberian Khatru.
Also, if I haven't found the video yet, I don't want to be part of the many who ask you to review this or that album, but I've seen Animals on your shelf *wink* *wink*
This is a perfect prog rock album! And there are few of them. "Siberian Khatru" is totally amazing just like the two other tracks. Not having "parts" isn't a bad thing just because the two other tracks do.
One of those very rare albums that clicked with me immediately. Hearing that ambient beginning of the title track morph into Howe's vicious guitar playing will always be one of my favourite moments in music. Glorious stuff.
Classic albums that would be cool to hear you talk about.
jethro tull - thick as a brick
new york dolls - new york dolls
slayer - reign in blood
culture - two sevens clash
public enemy - it takes a nation of millions to hold us back
jean michele jarre - oxygen
de la soul - 3 feet high and rising
lcd soundsystem - sound of silver (it was released in 2007 so i don't really know about this one... might not be a "classic yet")
pink floyd - the wall
I think if an album was released before his channel started it should be a clasic
This is why I love this channel. Every single Classic album you've reviewed I've listened to prior, for about a million spins.
The title track is one of the only pieces of music in existence I’d call truly transcendent. The journey it takes you on is one of emotions that can only be expressed through abstract poetry and the power of music. Thank God for this record.
Great to hear an absolutely essential album given it's due. This is desert island for me and probably on the short list of last things I'd like to hear in this life. It led me to Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha," which is the inspiration behind the title track, which led me to so many other important revelations in my life. It was also, for me, the gateway to being able to appreciate, and set the standard for, prog rock and what it can achieve. The only thing better than listening to the album was getting to hear these songs live, the virtuosity, energy and cosmic spirituality truly takes you somewhere and then brings you back again changed for the better...'all in all the journey takes you all the way.' Thanks for the review and spreading the news!
Just a note...the Yes Remixes was not an official Yes release, it was Jon Anderson's son, Damian, who asked for the masters and then did some noodling. Nothing serious but a lot of fun to hear the songs recontextualized focusing on different parts in the songs and creating different rhythms with them.
Have you listened to Relayer?
Relayer should be called "Slayer" because its so awesome and other worldly you'll be completely slain. No joke.
Its a masterpiece.
Please review one of the Genesis albums with Peter Gabriel, Foxtrot or Nursery Cryme. Some of my favorite prog albums.
or Caravan's album In the Land of Grey and Pink!!
DRGONZOOBOOGIE selling england by the pound
Or you know A trick of the tail, which i feel is on par with the gabriel stuff. Also the lamb lies down on broadway
Esteban Nualart my favourite from them!
This vs. Dark Side of the Moon for greatest album of all time. I know the term gets thrown around a lot but I'm deadly fucking serious here.
Yes
Close To The Edge by a longshot. I'm sorry but for me, Dark Side of the Moon is a snoozefest
@@jaspergillgannon4991 dude literally what
Jasper Gillgannon what?!
Objectively, gotta be close to the edge. The skill level comparison of Chris squire to Roger Waters is honestly laughable. Any of the members, honestly. All that being said, I fucking love dark side, but close to the edge would still be the subjective winner for me, too. Both evoke such strong emotion, and they're 2 of my favorite albums of all time.
This is first album I heard by Yes. Stuck it on vinyl found in my friends sisters room back in 2002. Smoked a bong. Mind blown. When I was 17... it was a very good year...
Great review. You describe it so well.
Amazing body of work by an amazing group. Everyone should be required to listen to Close to the Edge, The Yes Album, Relayer, Going for the One and Fragile. It's really amazing the quality of music this band put out just during the 70's, not to mention what they've done since then. Do yourself a favor if you haven't heard any of these albums and check them out when you can.
Anthony reviewed one of my favorite albums of all time, sweet.
Wish more attention was given to "And You and I" and to the very beautiful and relatable lyrical content throughout the album, but solid review overall.
I agree that the closing track feels a little out of place, but it's still one the band's best tunes and super solid so can't really knock it that much.
I agree, the groove during the verse is monstrous! The bass is just so god damn filthy!! Chris Squire, what a legend
Before I watched this video I just listened to the album, and man you describe it so well. It's totally nuts. Different layers, good flow, great intensity, a bunch of ideas, classical. It's easy for me to visualize a surreal landscape, or setting, with this album. Nature is a recurring theme. Rivers, valleys, summits. Then you have all the radical music to give these things an out-of-this-world coloring. A fantastic fantasy world.
90125, Big Generator, Union, Talk and The Ladder....plenty of great progressive rock and pop stuff going on throughout all of those albums. The only people who dismiss those records without a thought are people who didn't spend any time at all with them. Close To The Edge and Relayer were the band at their pinnacle, but their later output is actually a lot of fun.
I remember when I was 13 in 1975, and I listened to Fragile, Close To The Edge, and The Yes Album, I had a brother who was 5 years older than me and had a Killer Stereo Setup
and I remember saying to him "There is no way they could play all this live though" and then Yessongs WOW, I must admit I like the Live versions of Yours is no Disgrace and
Siberian Khatru than the recorded versions, These are all Masterpieces, my favorite band of all time even now at 56 years old. Plus Relayer and Going for the One, TFTO
I was disappointed when 90125 came out, I figured that it was the end of these types of compositions, but they had to keep up with the changing times I suppose.
Great Review, takes a lot of words to describe all they have going on. Steve Howe is the reason I started playing guitar back then, true for many people I knew.
Classic reviews I'd love to see:
1. Liquid swords
2. Animals
3. Master of puppets (something tells me you prefer ride the lightning but any Metallica will do)
4. Black on both sides OR black star
5. Dirt
6. Symbolic
7. The bleeding
8. Jane doe
9. Focus
10 Marshall mathers lp
To name a few...
Pink Floyds Animals?
+Tim Karlsson the very same!
I would love to see liquid swords be reviewed
nice knowledge of music u have
Steve Howe on guitar, one of my favorite albums and bands of all time
I almost want to see anthony review peter gabriel more than I want a hd remaster of Wallace and Gromit Curse of the Were-Rabbit on steam
make it happen music man
I'm a huge fan of Yes and I love how you explained this wonderful album with words alone! It shows how much effort you put in to explaining something so complicated as progressive rock! Good on you, man!
This is one of my aunt's favorite albums. I can remember her writing the lyrics to Close to the Edge--and other YES songs--out on paper that I would carry with me to school. I use to memorize the lyrics and surprise teachers and classmates.
Loved and listened to Yes and Close to the Edge when I was young fella - a classic.
Yes stood out as a group of musical prodigies; each of them a virtuoso musician.
Love to see what you think about
Radiohead-OK Computer
Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here
Arctic Monkeys-Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
When he did a review of Kid A, he said he preferred it to OK Computer.
Fuck yes Anthony, I love Yes. Undeniably this is their most important album. Early career proggy Yes is eargasmic. I personally love the more indulgent Relayer album, when they had another keyboard player. Their albums are such a trip.
I love this album. I spent so much of last summer listening to it that I heard parts of it in my sleep. The weird thing about Yes that I can't really say about any other prog-rock outfit I love is that, melodically, they were all over the place. Rush Songs always had movements or a chorus, but with Yes, the instrumental sections just kinda dance wherever they go. They aren't there to get you somewhere else. It took a while to get used to that aspect of them, and it's one of the reasons Tales from Topographic Oceans is such a challenging listen for me when compared to this album or Relayer (which I also sometimes hear in my sleep).
One of my all-time favourite records. Thanks for giving us your thoughts!
My dad introduced me to Yes. It is probably the best thing he has given to me.
Anthony I feel like a video series you might be able to do besides your reviews that I would find really interesting could be a music history series. You could talk about the formation of certain genres give a series of bands and albums that defined the genre, talk about the impact of the genre on culture and vice versa, and then after that you would have like four or five albums to review that you briefly talked about in the genre segment. Just an idea. Thumbs this up so he can see this!
Other than Time and a Word and Yessongs, I have every 70s Yes album. They are great.
I remember when this album came out, and it is still one of my all time favorites. I can literally listen to this anytime....
If you consider Siberian Khatru as the last movement of a 3 movement romantic symphony (i.e. vivace), it fits well with the rest of the record, the middle movement being an expansive adagio, and the first movement being an expansive allegro (though with highly dynamic sections).
As a recommendation at classic status, review Gentle Giant's Freehand. I think GG opened for Yes on occasion. Freehand strikes me as the album that best speculates what a classical era composer would sound like, if "forced" to faithfully deploy tactics of mainstream, pop, punk, and jazz styles. Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, ELP, and KC are also relevant, but they seem closer to incorporating classical music in their rock as opposed to acting like a classicalist trying to do rock.
SIBERIAN KHATRU KICK ALL ASS!!! the hypnotic multi timed overlayed rhythmic theme with Chris Steve Rick is a MESMERIZING FUNK GROOVE that DRIVES towards BLISS in a way few others can do! I LOVE that track which FITS PERFECTLY as a UNIQUELY needed change. Speaking of it's changes, these exhilarating intersections are BRILLIANT, unexpected, gorgeous and powerfully hypnotic. It's one of my TOP YES tracks making the CTTE album JOURNEY one of absolute PERFECTION !
Nick Drake Classic!
I always really loved the simplicity of the single staccato synth note played in the background during Total Mass Retain. It gives those parts of the passage a sweetness and a kind of consistent musical thread. It was a tiny detail that made a world of difference.
8:44 - 8:57 Modern prog in a nutshell.
Steven Wilson?
+Sledgehammer I wouldn't say Steven Wilson is that flashy or technical, but maybe that's just me
+Luis Gutiérrez that's what I was implying. He's a living proof that modern prog can be songwriting oriented instead of just technical wankery. Then again King Crimson and ELP were very much about technical wankery so I guess that has been an aspect in certain areas of prog.
+Kip Dynamite technical? Sure! But that was never the point of his music. It was always about emotion, atmosphere and storytelling. I personally love every album by PT except TSMS and Signify. And the only SW album I don't like is Insurgentes.
+Kip Dynamite It's okay. I just don't care for Moonlop and the title track could be about 10 minutes shorter, but like I said I don't hate it.
Many moments in this album bring me to tears. I get up, I get down
BEST ALBUMS: 1. Close to the Edge 2. Nursery Cryme 3. The Yes Album 4. Aqualung 5. Meddle 6. Permanent Waves 7. Fire of Unknown Origin 8. Secret Treaties 9. Leftoverature 10/ Fly By Night (WILDCARD - Everything Goes Numb)
Is this best prog album or in general
John Cantatore It's my favorite album of all time.
cool
Youre a BOC fan ... so it's hard for me to shit on your other choices ... except Fly By Night ... that must have shit placed on it ...
Thanks for featuring this album. I don't know what my 10/10 would be, but this album is probably the closest I've ever heard. My favourite rock album by far. Would also love if you could discuss Rush - 2112. Much love Anthony. Forever.
What people overlook is that this shit came out in the early seventies. People where just tying to figure out what rock was supposed to be and what it was supposed to sound like. Some of the most talented people of the time came out with some retroactively grandiose material that is still incredibly awesome. Close To The Edge Is a remarkable album that hooks you in with tracks like Siberian Khatru and keeps you with Close To The Edge. This album after all these years still brings tears to my eyes with all its beauty.
Thanks for loving this record as much as I did when it first came out. For me it's great to hear such praise for what is truly awesomw music from someone of a later generation
Review Trout Mask Replica! Captain Beefheart deserves some love!
Some other reviews I'd love to see:
Burial - Untrue
Portishead - Dummy
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Ramones - Ramones
Run-D.M.C - Raising Hell
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Doors - The Doors
Expect it next classics week :)
Frijolero18 Is he actually reviewing it?
Dimas de la Peña He did it for his special monthly classic review in March I believe. So he'll upload that one and the rest so far this year in the next classics week.
Frijolero18 Fucking awesome! Thanks for the info dude. :D
I barely got into prog, but I'm glad I checked this out a few years back. The bit in I Get Up just after Rick's organ break is wicked.
is there a peter gabriel reveiw planned, you should do his third solo one
it's his best
I agreee
Melt is his masterpiece
factoid: I really like the melt album a lot
i bought the double lp remaster today and spent all my wallace and gromit collection money on my favourite musican peter gabriel
yes
I also really like his first album car, I didn't at first but I like how diverse it is
first we have some dark prog
then we go to some cheery guitar
then we have some jazz and rock and at the end we have this epic yet simple piano piece
very powerful and underrated album
Vrotdogi Pronin's Home of Suicide and Depression yes
What I've always admired about Yes and this record is that Yes is able to fit in so much emotion with all those notes. I also think that you can't have a serious discussion about the greatest rock guitarists without mentioning Steve Howe.
Hoping you do a Beatles classic review one day
It’s interesting how you took particular dislike to the fade-out in Siberian Khatru. I think it’s an awesome fade-out, myself. The combination of the synths and the guitar solo create an amazing groove and mysterious vibe that leaves you wanting more.
yea.. it leaves me wanting more
the album is so grand that i feel like it should have a grand finish instead of a lame ass lazy fadeout
great review tony maybbe you should do some peter gabriel next he's a great artist I think you would enjoy
Favorite classic band by far. Thanks for the review, Anthony!
It's Steve Howe, not Harris. C'mon Antoine! Decent vid regardless.
Agree with everything you said in this review... other than Siberian Khatru, which I think is a total banger. The bass line in that song is next level.
RIP Chris Squire
please review a tool album
I love this album, and thanks for the awesome review! I know what you mean about Siberian Kahtru, but I still hold it in the same regard as my other favourites from this album. Would love to see more Yes reviews too
haha that King Crimson album is scared of the Yes album. Final one with Bill Bruford too who went on to join King Crimson. lolz
You always sell the music so well with your descriptions. As soon as any classic review is over I have to go and listen to it right away. Even if I know and love it. Thanks Man!
Personally, and Im sure a lot will agree, Yes could only exist in the 70's because of their sound and the coming new age movement. 90125, while not a bad album, is pretty representative of what happened to a lot of the classic Prog groups as they were adjusting to the sudden decay of the genre, and thats why I really have no interest in their 80's-90's catalog.
Of the great Prog bands, I think only King Crimson and Peter Gabriel (he's not a band, but I think you'll get what I mean) managed to hold the quality of music they released.
You're right but there are still gems there. The 'Talk suite' (endless dream) is fucking epic, for example.
agree. id also add alan parsons and brian eno to that list
Fabian Garcia
I don't really count Eno as Prog Rock, though he has made some important contributions to that genre, as he has made a bigger impact on New Wave. I'll give you Alan Parsons (man, do I love Eye In The Sky). As I was writing my comment, I was thinking more about musicians who started in the late 60s and were in their prime during the early 70s.
I definitely agree.
Well done! Yes has so much going for them it's very difficult to give them full justice and I feel that you did a great job. Also, if you had given this album a low rating, I would've probably had to unsubscribe from your channel seeing as that would've proven you don't understand music
close to the edge is the best song ever and I'm not joking.
good review. i wish you would touch on lyrics in your reviews more. growing up my dad would play this record and recite lines to me almost as poetry before bed and on weekend car rides. i think to the people that grew up around this time the prog/psych rock lyrics really meant something strong to them and it's unfortunate that you did not capture the zeitgeist of this period here
ride the lightning classic review?
I'd love to see a by the way classic review
larsthony ulrichtano
+Joe Halawani blood sugar sex magik is better than BTW
not even. maybe commercially successful, but by the way is a stronger record by a long shot.
Nah, too much sap.
And on top of that, Yes's album covers are so amazing and eye-catching
Why does Anthony look 5 years younger in this video?
He recorded the reviews this week last year
An excellent summation of the "Close to the Edge" track. Yes not only employed silence, but they actively incorporated pauses and silence, and stripped-back layers and meanderings...to give us a rest, to assess what we've been listening to...to prepare us for the next passage or, indeed, to signal and bring about a transition, or key change, or the dominance of one instrument giving way to a different one. in short - a complex evolving of themes and sounds into a cohesive piece, with the beautiful addition of short guitar/keyboard riffs, or percussion some of which leave you wondering whether you've actually heard them or not?