Yes is another one of those rock dinosaurs, who seem to be able to continue forever. Formed in 1968, Chris Squire is the only one of the founding members that is still in the band,although both Alan White and Steve Howe also have a considerable mileage in this band.
Don’t expect an eruption of Pompeic size with this band. They bring us, as they mostly do, well crafted melodic songs, with occasionally a slightly harder edge to them, but this is rather rare. And this is exactly what they bring us on this new, 8 track album.
What is new is their vocalist, Jon Davison, a man I’d never heard of before, but who acquits himself ot the task very well. As a matter of fact if I hadn’t been reading the accompanying information I wouldn’t have noticed they’ve got another vocalist, but that being said I admit I always found that Yes, regardless of the vocalist, always sounded more or less the same. Real yes fans will probably crucify me for uttering such – in their eyes at least – blasphemy, but hey, it’s my opinion, and we’re still living in a democracy.
The best songs on this album, for me, are those where Geoff Downes keyboards form the backbone of the song, especially when he brings out the sound of those old Hammond organs, for which I’ve got a fondness.
Conclusion : if they keep on bringing out such material, Yes definitely still deserve a place in today’s rock music, not for their originality, but for their craftsmanship. Not too many bands form nowadays can boast with such an extensive catalogue of albums, and of such a long career in this hard business.