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Ok, I love the Album Cover! It is their best. In 1973, I felt the content, has fallen somewhat from "Close to Edge". It seemed a little bit long and wandering at times as their trademark segways didn't seem to catch my ear as much. Since then; however, this album has grown on me every time I listen to it and I give it much more of the credit to their superb musicianship that it deserves today.
This IS my top choice desert-island album! But let me qualify that... The depth, detail and expansiveness of the musical ideas have made it so (for me). But it is not an album I pull off the shelf all the time, 'cause there's just SO MUCH to it that a typical casual listening can hardly be justified. So as other reviews have stated, if you're fairly new to YES, or only know their few radio hits, this may not be the album to begin with... Perhaps check out 'Fragile', or 'Going For The One', or even 'Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe' first (though 'ABWH' is not officially a YES album.) This album was the follow-up album to 'Close To The Edge', which was in the classical form of a concerto. Three movements: 1. fast - 2. slow - 3. short & very fast... Then came 'Topographic Oceans'... essentially in the form of a post-romantic symphony. Four movements, each of approximately 20 minutes: Unorthodox intro, followed by a fairly straight ahead first movement. The last movement builds and culminates in some extreme sonic tension, followed by a release with a beautifully lyrical ending. Mellower meandering sections fill in the middle movements. The keyboardist Rick Wakeman took a hiatus after this album, partly because it meandered a little too much for his taste. But he was back after sitting out only one album. And though the band has made several extremely long songs since, they never quite re-visited the true classical, epic structure of 'Topographic oceans' as a unified album concept. Although their more recent album 'Magnification' comes close, in the sense of its full-orchestra concept replacing the keyboards altogether. (And perhaps my #2 desert-island album...)Read full review
It was a good idea to go back to this record after so many years... more than twenty. It was highly underestimated record - I can't even say why I didn't like it too much. Excellent music. Great songs. Even though nobody uses keyboards like Rick's nowadays, I must say their music is still fresh and vivid. So many brilliant moments, melodies, rhythms and texts...
If you are a Yes fan, A true Yes fan, than this is definately for you, but if you just heard a 5 minute air of owner of a lonely heart, please don't start here. The one thing I truly love about progressive rock is that the songs don't strive to be 3 minute songs with only one purpose in mind, to get mainstream airplay. When did you last hear "Close to the Edge," "And you and I," or "The Gates of Delirium" get air time, never. Although I did hear once the entire Rush 2112 album on the radio which was unbelievable. Anyways, this is a very strong, and daring album for those afraid to say so. The time of Mindful, Influential, and Enlightining 20 Minute Plus songs has come to an end so enjoy what you can, and remember if you have to, to think for yourself. Also Try: Pink Floyd - Animals, Wish You Were Here, Piper, A Saucerful, Etc. Camel - Moonmadness, Mirage Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Trilogy, Tarkus, Brain Salad Surgery, Etc. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick, Aqualung Yes - Close To The Edge, Fragile, The Yes Album Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Center, Myths and Legends King Crimson - In The Court, Lizard, Red, Larks' Tongues in Aspic Roger Waters - Amused To Death The Flower KingsRead full review
Yes is a great band with several outstanding CDs but this is not one of them IMHO. Just TOO ARTSY for my taste. Should have stuck to the basics like The Yes Album or Fragile.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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