Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.7.0.4 $; site uicsl Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!authorplaceholder 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 Lines: 93 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. ==================================================================== "All in all the journey takes you all the way" Gary Koob University of Illinois ...!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsg!gmk ====================================================================