What does it sound like?:
Yes have had a hard time recently; difficulties when they wanted to tour and Jon was ill, bad feeling around the execution of the Rock n’Roll Hall of Fame entry performance, the death of Chris Squire, and the decline of Alan White, who was no longer able to keep up with the frenetic tempos and precision playing Yes’s best music requires. Steve Howe has worked hard to create a non-Fragile (hah!) version of the band which can meet their marks and give the music the seriousness and the syncopation it needs.
With Jon Davison on vocals they have a convincing new Jon without the grating “Lancastrian-Californian pixie” vibe, Billy Sherwood doing a great job on the bass; Geoff Downes getting into his role (as he should, given he has been doing this for 40 years, on and off) , and Jay Schellen doing the faster drumming work (Alan White still providing what he does), so it all sounds good. Better in fact than the last Yes live album I reviewed here (Yes 50 live, in July 2019).
I was disconcerted that there was no “FireBird Suite” to kick things off (has there ever been a better statement of intent, and more thrilling introductory music?), but as they break into the lovely and dynamic “No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed”, we are on initially strong ground. “Tempus Fugit” is perky, as is “Going for the One”. “Onward” is it’s usual wetness, dignified by the association with Chris Squire, but only just. As ever, and throughout, Steve Howe is effortlessly brilliant and in full command of instrument. It’s all played well, and most best known tracks are represented (though no epic is performed (a relative matter – some people would think these tracks are epic if they were unfamiliar with “Topographic Oceans” or “The Gates of Delirium”). Doubtless as they will have those on the NEXT live album.
And that is the sad point. This is the 16th live Yes album. They occasionally change arrangements, but you need to be a fan to really hear it. On this album they do Paul Simon’s “America” (very good), but the toe-curling version of “Imagine” – did they HAVE to? OK, Alan played on it. It probably went down a storm in America, some pensioners waving lighters and telephone lights around. But I can’t but wonder if the typical British fan will cringe at it’s cruise-band hippie earnestness, and it simply reminds me that John Lennon was – blasphemy! – a bit of a creep, and the song is a bit platitudinous. The album ends on “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper”. There’s a surprise.
What does it all *mean*?
Despite some sad losses and fallings-out, Yes have found a line-up that can play the music to the standard it needs. They are a little trapped in that the best 9 albums from 1970 to 1980 have been played and played again, the newer material often being weaker, and clearly recognised as such, given it’s omission from the set. The covers suggest a way forward, as there are a lot of songs that could be Yessified wonderfully. But please, not more cheesiness like “Imagine” (I suppose we should be glad it wasn’t “Woman”). The component members of the band know better, and should stretch each other to bring out their best, ditching the Vegasisms.
Goes well with…
This was a gig at “The Joint” at Las Vegas. If you’d had a real joint, security would have kicked you out and, if you were unlucky, called the cops. It was an audience of late boomers some of who doubtless went back to the slots later. There would have been overpriced weak beers, under-strength cocktails, and humongous portions of processed food. Please, not with our age and incipient metabolic syndromes. Steve Howe keeps looking fit despite his venerable years, and that’s because he looks after himself. We should, too.
Release Date:
October 30th, 2020
Might suit people who like…
Yes, Asia, Marillion, symphonic progressive rock, hippie-lite music
Uncle Wheaty says
Sounds horrendous.
And I like Yes, Asia (first album only) and Marillion (first 4 albums with Fish).
Steve Walsh says
I was wondering whether to leave a comment. But this says it all for me. I agree.
Vincent says
If you hadn’t heard the first 15 live albums, you’d think it was pretty good. The shark-jumping moment of “Imagine” is a deal-breaker. It’s up there with Tormato’s “Circus of Heaven” or Jon Anderson’s “reggae” moments. Or anything on “Heaven and Earth”. We’re a long-suffering fandom.
Baron Harkonnen says
Bloody hell Bargie bit of controversy re: Saint John.
I used to like Yes but I fear they may be part of my next CD/LP/Box Set cull, lots of live stuff included.
SteveT says
They did 4 decent studio albums and then a half decent live album – Yessongs. After that they disappeared up their own arse.
Topographic Oceans was the start of the decline and I had the misfortune to see them play it live a week before its actual release. The crowd wanted the favourites but got this in its entirety start to finish. Dreadful and only redeemed by an encore of Roundabout and Yours is no disgrace.
Twang says
That sounds like a long old evening.
fitterstoke says
Each to their own, of course…..but I’d suggest that the run of albums from ‘Time and a Word’ to ‘Drama’ are all worth listening to, ranging from exceptional to decent – even ‘Tormato’ has a few good tunes.
As for Topographic Oceans…it’s in my top 3 Yes albums and has been for years. I’m not contrarian for the sake of it – I genuinely love it…and if I had the proverbial time machine, I’d go back to see Yes on that tour. I’m sure that there used to be more than me around here…but these days, it seems that I’m a party of one…
tkdmart says
Crank up the DeLorean. I’m in!
thecheshirecat says
I like Toppo too. It’s the old story isn’t it? They couldn’t do The Yes Album or Fragile again, so, in the spirit of the times, they got ambitious. Think of it as their Kid A.
duco01 says
Personally, I rate “Yessongs” a lot higher than “half-decent”, but there you go.
fitterstoke says
Ditto…also, Yesshows….
Smiles Diles says
The hilariously-named Topographic Drama live album is worth a listen on the streaming services, for this reason. Listen to the between-song audience reaction. Find the voice saying “Oh YEAH! Steve Howe! Steve Howe!”…
…then, try not to notice it’s cut-and-pasted all over the rest of the album including during some of the songs. Pity because the band is doing a great job on this album.
The Yes 50 album is a tragic listen, in the time between the Topographic Drama album and this one, Steve Howe’s playing declines where you can hear him struggling to keep up. It’s a shame because he is really good on the first of the two.
Vincent says
I’m booked to see next year’s “Relayer” show (if it happens), and Howe’s playing is always great, but their glory years are behind them unless they can break the formula. What they need is some unplugged versions of electric tunes (as on the 2004 tour), some inspired (not cliched) covers, some surprises (“My White Bicycle”, perchance?), and more confidence for something like “Mind Drive” or one of the better tracks on “Magnification”.
Smiles Diles says
My White Bicycle would be amazing… it would be good if they took a leaf out of the Nick Mason book and make shows a bit more fun.
eddie g says
I love Yes up to and including ‘Close to the Edge’. After that they kind of lost me although I did enjoy Squire’s ‘Fish out of Water’ and Anderson’s ‘1,000 Hands’ is rather pleasing too. I’m not sure if the band really ‘are’ Yes anymore. How can it be Yes without the two most important founder members who defined their sound? And there’s something weirdly incongruent about Yes playing Vegas. I’m with Macca on this. It’s a place where entertainers go to make a packet. And die.
Went to see Steve Howe do a solo show a few years back in St Donat’s just outside Cardiff. Dragged Lady g along. She hates Yes and all they stand for (except perhaps saving the whale). Her verdict? He played the same tune twenty times and he can’t sing. His repartee was dull and he looked awful.
I hate to admit it. But she was spot on.
Uncle Wheaty says
Appearances…don’t be a veggie. Eat the odd bit of fish now and again.
You might live longer but you won’t look good.
He is the proof.
Bargepole says
I suppose it’s easier to release live albums of the old classics that fans buy tickets to hear than go to the time and cost of recording a new album that no-one buys,
Imagine is certainly an odd choice as a cover version – as you say, they have such a back catalogue do they need to do covers at all – there’s a lot of material that rarely, if ever, gets played,
I like the idea of doing something along the lines of the Saucerful of Secrets shows though.
Twang says
A bit like The Musical Box recreate early Genesis, right down to having some of the original costumes and instruments. They do the later stuff too but the early stuff made my hair stand on end.
Colin H says
I’m not a Yes fan but if I was, I would look at this release – everything about it – and cringe with pain.
Cozzer says
I must say, I’m a big fan of Yes’ studio output up to and including Going For The One. After that I only seem to like the odd track here and there.
And I was a regular at their concerts up until 2004 when the ‘classic’ line-up last toured.
There are unfortunately numerous issues I have with them as an ongoing entity: Steve Howe plays like he has arthritis. Compare him now to when he was at his blistering best and it is just sad. He cannot keep up.
The conveyor belt of keyboard players has not helped … IMO the best person in that role in the past 35+ years was Tom Brislin who played on the Magnification tour. He nailed everything and his keyboard sounds were sublime (unlike Mr Wakeman who seems to favour the Bontempi and Casio patches).
I could go on about Alan White needing a stand-in (carer?) to handle most of the drum duties these days. Or Geoff Downes who has played with his back to the audience since I first saw him playing for Asia in 1982. Why does he do that? Is he shy?
But mostly because their recordings after 1977 are just so ‘meh’. They are irrelevant .. and worse still, they have become their own tribute act(s).
duco01 says
Yes, I, too am a big fan of classic-era Yes (i.e. from the Yes album until Going for the One).
As regards live albums, I have and enjoy …
– Yessongs
– Yesshows
– Keys to Ascension vol. 1
I don’t need any other live Yes albums, do I? Maybe the 2CD “Highlights from 72” selections from the big Progeny box?
Bargepole says
Progeny is pretty similar to Yessongs. KTA vol 2 is worth a look, not so much for the live element but because it has some of their best later period studio material with the classic line up.
fitterstoke says
Another vote for KTA vol 2, duco…
You might also consider the Symphonic Live cd, if you can pick up a copy second-hand, or stream it first to see if the basic premise appeals to you…I have to say, Tom Brislin was sounding much better than Rick Wakeman at the time – and the orchestral arrangements suit the scale of the music: it feels less “grafted on” than some of the older examples of “band with orchestra”…
tkdmart says
Looking forward to their next one… Puppet Show and Yes
Twang says
I reviewed a Yes live album earlier this year and based on that experience I won’t be investigating.