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From: gmk@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Yessound chaser
Message-ID: <8500005@uicsl>
Date: Sun, 30-Jun-85 21:29:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uicsl.8500005
Posted: Sun Jun 30 21:29:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jul-85 07:35:53 EDT
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Nf-ID: #N:uicsl:8500005:000:4618
Nf-From: uicsl.UUCP!gmk    Jun 30 20:29:00 1985


["The strength of you seeing lies with you!"]

Random comments about the recent flood of articles on Yes:

1. "You'll see perpetual change"

	One reason why Yes is my favorite band is that they
never fall into the trap of complacency (i.e. stagnation).
No matter how devoted their fans are to a particular style,
they have no qualms about abandoning it and experimenting with
something new. Even though no two of their albums conform to the
same style, however, they all bear the unmistakable mark of Yes
and maintain the high standards and integrity of the band.
In some cases, a new album will be criticized as being "too
commercial", and I admit that that has been my first impression on
more than one occasion. My faith in the band has always caused me
to reserve judgement until the complexity and subtlety of the music
has had ample opportunity to reveal itself (usually after several
listenings and a live performance.) It took me quite awhile to
appreciate "90125" and now it is one of favorite albums. I've
also recently rediscovered that bastard child "Drama" (the only 
one *not* fathered by Jon Anderson) after ignoring it for 4 years.
It is extremely interesting rythmically and structurally and is
a logical transition from the twilight of the 70's ("Tormato") to
the austerity and subtlety of 80's ("90125"). ("Into the lens" is
a worthy successor to "Sound chaser".) Although the newer music
may seem superficially simpler and more commercial, it really just
requires more work from the listener to extract the gems.

2. "As you throw away misconceptions..."

	Jon Anderson once claimed that "Going for the One" was about
the 1976 Olympics. I don't completely believe him since most of his
pre-1980 lyrics are not on such a mundane level. He was probably
using the Olympics as a metaphor for more cosmic messages.

3. "From the moment I reached out to hold, I felt a sound"

	"Sound Chaser" is an unequivocally mystic hymn in the tradition
of "Close to the Edge" and "Tales from Topographic Oceans" and the
subsequent "Awaken". It is *not* an articulation of the
conflicts/motivations/influences that compose Yes's music.
I believe it was Rich Rosen who said that it sounded like
a collage of 3 or 4 distinct pieces of music. I couldn't disagree more.
To me it sounds like a brilliant, innovative, coherent expression
of its message.

4. "Distant drums"

	I still like Alan White. Although he doesn't have the brilliance
or creativity of Bill Bruford, he has served Yes well over the years
and provided them with a solid rythmic foundation. Witness his
work on "Tales" (especially "The Ancient" and "Ritual"), "Sound Chaser",
"Into the Lens", etc.). Of course the drum solo on the live version
of "Perpetual Change" was reserved for the departing Bill Bruford,
a master of improvisation. But Bruford left the band at a rather
inopportune time (in the middle of the '72 tour) and White had
about 2 weeks between engagements to learn *all* of the material. In
view of the circumstances, I think he performs quite well on "Yessongs".

5. "What happened to this song we once knew so well"

	The lyrics have definitely changed over the years. The worst
lyrics are obviously on "Drama", but even Anderson's lyrics have
mellowed from the cosmic mysticism of the "Edge"/"Tales" days to a
sometimes mushy romanticism (also seen in his solo work during his
3 yr. absence from the group). Again, although I prefer the profundity
of the earlier lyrics, I don't think the more mundane lyrics detract
from the music. Yes has always treated the vocals as another instrument.
The phonetics and rhythm of the lyrics have always been at least
as important as their content. Yes has experimented with numerous
vocal styles and forms for their lyrics (including their trademark
"paragraphs" and "litanies" and wordless vocals, e.g., "Ritual",
"Sound Chaser", "Leave It") all of which are interesting on a
musical level regardless of what the lyrics are saying.

6. "Leaving all the changes far from far behind..."

	Rich pointed out that White had already joined the group
when "Close to the Edge" was released. Trivia fans should also note
that the group photo on the U.S. cover of "Time and a Word" includes
a rather uncomfortable-looking Steve Howe, who of course does not
play on the album. He also bears no likeness to the individual
photo of Peter Banks on the back.

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"All in all the journey takes you all the way"

Gary Koob
University of Illinois
...!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsg!gmk
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