Francesco, I must respectfully disagree, or better still, offer a different viewpoint. The evolving complexity of Yes' music as their careers in music progressed is what makes it worthwhile. I do not see it as self-indulgent but evolving the capability to realize the music in their souls. Everyone is entitled to their likes and opinions; I just wanted to add a different perspective.rickinroma wrote:Hi JakeJakeK wrote:There are a number of tracks by the Kinks, Rolling Stones, Who, Byrds and Petty I've listened to that are almost as good as the hits or even more so. There've got to be some Yes tunes that are in that league?
My opinion is that from someone who's been used to the quintessential typical 60s classic rock and pop-rock standards you have just indicated, and having his ears and tastes set in that way, approaching YES starting from stuff like Fragile, Close To The Edge and (oh my God) what followed the latter, may be a little bit indigestible....
Try to play Tales From Topographic Oceans for a couple of times, and then you will just feel the desire to hear early Beach Boys or Beatles albums for at least 10 consecutive days 24/7 to detoxify yourself
The evolution of the Yes music is comparable to the Beatles to some extent, meaning that every album they published from the 1st one onwards was always different, and in the case of YES, less catchy from the previous one, and getting more and more sophysticated, maybe too much self-indulgent and more focused on the execution of complex and intricated arrangements that extended the song format up to its limits....strictly speaking about the original classic YES Band (in the 60-70s) the more you proceed ahead along their career from the beginning, the less you will find tunes to whistle and keep in your head....
Being said that, I believe that a "safe" approch would suggest to start in cronological order....
- YES
- TIME AND A WORD
- THE YES ALBUM
- FRAGILE
- CLOSE TO THE EDGE
I also thought it was great the way every new Yes offering one-upped the last one,and only loved that things got more complex as they went along. Prior to getting into Rock music,i was a big instrumental music geek,from classical and jazz to pop, And i find most of TFTO imminently hummable,too.......
