Music - Album of the Week

This Album of the Week is a real classic, going back to 1971 and is in my top 10 favorites of all time. I never get tired of listening to it. This is 'The Yes Album', the third album from Yes. While Yes was not known for making "hits," there are two songs on the album that have become quite popular on the rotations of most "classic rock" stations; those being "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People." The members of the band - Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Bill Bruford (drums and percussion), Tony Kaye (keyboards), and Jon Anderson (vocals) - are on top of their respective games, and this album represents another example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. There is real interplay here, and the music was so far ahead of its time that it's timeless; it never gets old or sounds dated to me. In fact, each time I listen to this album I "focus" my ears on something different; one time I might just listen to the bass lines, another the guitar, etc. The band uses the four elements of music - melody, harmony, rhythm/syncopation, and dynamics - to near perfection, creating an aural soundscape that is rarely achieved. It's complex music that challenges the listener with changing key centers and multiple time signatures, as well as variations on a theme that weave seamlessly from one movement to the next; but it's not hard to listen to. Even if the listener isn't aware of any of those things, the music is pure enjoyment for the ears. The production and recording quality are excellent. There's really nothing to not like about this album.

Here is the opening track "Yours is No Disgrace."

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