New YES Album.."Fly From Here"

[miguelbass]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I subscribe Jim

[johnthebassist]

I can't wait to hear them! They'll be here in Nashville in a matter of weeks.

[08 Ric 4003]

Just downloaded the new album. It must be out in Japan and a site already has it. Haven't listened to it yet but I am on my way to the CD player.

[08 Ric 4003]

Listened to the new album once. It was not bad, but I am a tough critic. Not much from Yes has impressed me since Drama. The last song on the album was my favorite Steve was playing some great guitar. The first song is a long song with many parts to it. The new singer is good, he is not Jon but he can sing.

[just_bassics]

I've given it at least five complete listens and it gets better with each pass. I'll hold off my review until the release date here and everyone has a chance to form their own opinion. As for the previous review posted, well, don't quit your day job just yet...

[miguelbass]

I am still having trouble to sleep (after a week in GMT-8)... the best thing is that I can lay down and have a complete listen to the album in the dark, with headphones. I'm really touched by this album.

M

[just_bassics]

... the best thing is that I can lay down and have a complete listen to the album in the dark, with headphones. I'm really touched by this album.

M

As am I, Miguel. These songs are really beginning to take hold on me. The past three years have been amazing, this just ties it all together so nicely for me. It has been far too long since we had a new Yes album.

[jaymi]

seems a lot more mellow than I have heard on previous records....that big aggressive bass tone fits but has been toned down a LOT. I was kinda surprised.....the Fragile/CTTE tone is what nailed me and then into Relayer....That certain grit has been smoothed out some...

[08 Ric 4003]

Yes from The Yes Album to Drama for me were the classic Yes years. I never cared for the re-invented Yes and the last batch of Yes albums had some good moments, but never wowed me. Yes were always a band with a revolving door. Members came and went and sometimes came again and then when again. Squire being the only constant. I really don't care much for the new album, but you need to listen to it decide for yourself.

[just_bassics]

Edit: Alow me to clariy: The following is my review of the new Yes CD and not a response to any particular post, for those who need clarification...

After probably fifteen complete listens over the past three weeks, I can only say that I think Fly From Here is brilliant. I love the production style, the songs are solid, they flow together very nicely as a cohesive set and the melodies and hooks are strong. It took about four listens before it started to gel for me, after that, I couldn't get enough.

They have certainly matured as songwriters and some of the blazing showmanship present on other records is not as prevalent here, but to me, that only makes this effort better. They clearly feel that they have nothing to prove in the skills department and concentrated on making beautiful songs, so if you're looking for another Relayer, look elsewhere... Although, if you enjoy the simple beauty and textural layering of tracks like To Be Over, you'll find much on FFH to your liking as well.

In 1979, a very disjointed and broken Yes band split into fragments. After the Tormato tour, Jon & Rick moved on and the remaining three members joined forces with The Buggles for what I always thought was one of Yes' best records, Drama. But the climate was hostile - resulting in the formation of ASIA in 1982 and the transformed Yes of 1983. Unfinished business for Yes and their fans...

The FFH suite, first six tracks, is an interesting extended theme in pure Yes fashion, at around 25 minutes it takes some time to devour, but they have smartly arranged the opening two tracks in stand-alone single format. It is almost identical to the 1980 recording from Madison Square Garden as performed by the Drama lineup.

Track 3, Sad night at the airfield, I am convinced is as beautiful a track as Yes have ever published. Chris has a bass tone reminiscent of the Tormato period, some background synth patches sound much like the Cinema version of It Can Happen and Steve delivers a very moving steel solo that actually soars. Benoit and Chris are in perfect vocal harmony and I'm guessing that Steve, Alan and even Trevor Horn himself are also mixed in at points. The acoustic opening to the track, along with the airport PA type sound FX and nylon guitar solo lines are a nice touch.

Track 5, Steve's contribution, is Bumpy Ride and the spirit of Rick Wakeman seems to be in this track, although he is, of course, not involved in this at all. Rick had a way of inventing quirky musical characters in much of his compositions and Steve does that well here also... It almost seems tongue-in-cheek, but the mounting chord swells are very classic Yes and the blast into the reprise of the FFH theme, track 6, is wonderful - it will be lost if you listen in mp3 format and there is a break between the tracks. It needs to be heard seamlessly.

I don't have my "official" CD as of yet, so I have no access to liner notes and have been completely avoiding any internet forum discussions about the CD. I'm capable of forming my own opinions about the music and don't need to weigh in at any fan sites. I'm sure that almost all of the FFH suite is the creative work of Horn & Downes, but, as with most Yes music, the others will have had their input as the production moved along. As for the remaining tracks, Hour of need and Solitaire are clearly Steve Howe's, "The Man" and Into the storm are clearly Chris Squire's, although ITS sounds a bit more collaborative, especially Steve's signature closing guitar solo (most likely his Les Paul). Hour of need hints at The Yes Album in one way and could have been extended out into a twelve minute piece, in my opinion. Like "White Car" it may leave you wanting to hear more.

Life on a film set sounds like Trevor's work to me. I'm not familiar with too much Buggles music, but that seems like TH style of song, based on the Drama tracks. I hope the liner notes give some good details about song origins, so that I don't have to pick Chris' brain too much!

I was worried about this one, to be honest, that I may have become too close to the situation over the past three years. If FFH turned out to be a clunker, could I look Chris in the eye and tell him I loved it anyway... Fortunately, that was not a problem. I did meet up with him earlier this month, just before the tour started, and although we only had a few minutes to discuss it before he was whisked off to a rehearsal, I gave him a big thumbs up. As a Yes CD, the wonderful thing about it is that, although it seems to clearly fit into the Drama period, they have again delivered a record that is clearly different and still clearly YES.

That's my take. Your mileage may vary, but I suggest you give this CD several listens over a period of time before forming a conclusion. One thing I did notice is that listening to it makes me reach for a guitar and want to play along (as Miguel already has). If your goal is to prove that Yes is nothing without Jon, or that Rick should be on the keys, or that they should have written all new tracks instead of finishing up old business, etc... then FFH may not be your thing. To me it is the record that should have been done long ago, had the Drama lineup remained intact. I just hope they don't make us wait another ten years for the next one.

[08 Ric 4003]

First of all Yes are probably one of my top 5 fav bands of all time. My goal is not to prove that they are nothing without Jon. He is the quintessential voice of Yes for me, but I also loved when Trevor sang on Drama. Jon can be a little to spiritual for me at times, but his voice is what you think of when some mentions Yes. The new singer is very good. I loved Drama and it is probably, behind - Close To, Relayer, Fragile, Going For and The Yes Album my next fav album in line, and wished that lineup would have made more than one record. One thing I do not do with any group I like is say I love it if I don't feel it. Styles change and bands change, I know that. Musicians want to grow and not stagnate. That is why I said "I don't care for it, but you have to listen for yourself to decide". If you think it is the best Yes album or one of there top albums, that is great. I am just not wowed by it. I have listened to it about 5 or 6 times and it just doesn't do it for me. Everything since 90125 has not made me want to go out and yell at the top of a mountain about how great those albums are, cause for me they are not. I remember the first time I heard Close To The Edge. I had never heard of Yes and all of sudden there were birds chirping and they that chaotic guitar lines of Steve Howe and I was along for the ride. That band has come and gone. All the members of Yes are fabulous musicians, without a doubt. Correct, the new album has a Yes Type Suite with different sections to it and is 25 minutes long like the old days. I do like Steve's guitar work on the last song. The best thing for me is it has a Roger Dean cover.

[just_bassics]

That's nice...

Sorry, did you think my review was directed at you? You have already stated your opinion, why keep rehashing it? We're a pretty clever group here, we usually get things the first time 'round. Chronic complainers usually just get ignored. Here, I'll prove it...

[08 Ric 4003]

Sorry I though you were directing it at me since I was the one to post just before you and then you wrote a novel panning the album. No hard feelings.

Joel

[woodyng]

Jim-interesting what you said about "hour of need",there IS an extended version on Japanese pressings of the cd,and it has been posted on youtube,check it out! it is quite good,so far,that song and Miguel's posting of FFH are the only 2 tracks i have heard in their entirety. my FFH cd along with Jon's new cd "survival and other tales" should be on its way from amazon....just gotta wait a bit for it.
in the meantime,i downloaded fleet foxe's new cd,which is really excellent. I have been reading Geoff Downes's blog,which has been both funny and informative. (something about blowing up arrogant prognerds on a desert island after luring them there with the promise of a new gentle giant album lol) i never got to see the buggles version of yes,so am looking forward to seeing geoff with them on their next go-round.

visualize whirled peas,

[just_bassics]

Jim-interesting what you said about "hour of need",there IS an extended version on Japanese pressings of the cd,and it has been posted on youtube,check it out! it is quite good...

What the... Why won't that be on my CD???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45U88cvhPbM

Sounds like the old Alan White in some spots.