Fave song poll

[Roman]

What is your fave song on The Ladder?

[ANTIOCH]

As much as I like the more progressive and upbeat tunes , I'm a sucker ( and hopeless romantic ) for the 'hit' and I thought with a bit of promotion "If Only You Knew" could have been a radio friendly vehicle for YES.

[Yes Oz]

Its the Messenger for me, especially the HOB version.

[ronw]

I chose Homeworld but it could have been New Languages as well.

[Ilios]

I'm glad peaople are Still talkimg about the Ladder out here. Even if its two and a half years old and we should probably be listening to Magnification instead. It seems that The Ladder is still holding up well. Its an awesome album. I love it when Yes puts out something thats on par with their classic albums. The Ladder is.

[mrgone3]

The thing that I liked about this album is it sounds very clean.It's not muddy or heavily burdened by production values.But the thing is what happened?Chris is not up front and center here.Alan does fine following the guys but doesn't bust out.Igor has a nice opening on Homeworld.It's like you are going to be in for a great album.BUT NOOOOO...!Steve and Jon really save this album from ex-stink-shun.Like about6minutes into Homeworld with the nice guitar and vocal work.it Will Be A Good Day is a decent song.Lighning Strikes is OK.I kind of got into that little bibbity-bobbity-boo on Can I?by Jon.I like To Be Alive(Hep Yadda?)Finally is too convoluted until Steve and Jon save the day again.And I wish the acoustic guitar lasted a bit more here.New Language is very racy.But I sort of got into it.And dig that clean YIND guitar riff at about 6 minutes in. And I love Nine Voices the most.All that talent on the album and it falls short of being excellent. .JOE

[Keith Perks]

but i went for Finally , although i could have also gone with Homeworld.

[RobAdams]

New Language , It Will Be A Good Day & Homeworld are the ones I like best. HOMEWORLD got my vote though.

[Neverthirst]

I went with Lightening Strikes. That the songs flow together so well makes it an interesting choice to make. I rarely listen to The Ladder and think about where one song ends and another begins. Its a quality I really like about the album. The Messenger would be my second choice.

It's New Language for me, followed by 9 Voices.

[Andersonic]

The Ladder will always stay a special album to me, it personifies the essence of YES and is the proof that even in the 2000-era the guys can write some entertaining ad inspired music, the concerts were absolute great too, I remember the second night in Utrecht Holland; while 'And You And I' was played a Yesmeditative moment came over me. Jon told the audience after the song had finished that he felt like Buddha, Christ and Krishna were there at the same time...yesmagic...

The Ladder to me also feels like ABWH part II, it kinda has the same atmosphere, adventurous and playful.

Yesgreetz from Holland

[RobAdams]

I listened to THE LADDER twice YESterday. It will always be in heavy rotation on my CD player. If YES do a new album with the current line-up, I would love to see them combine the edginess of THE LADDER with the textures of MAGNIFICATION and add a dash of FRAGILEness.

[Jim Mikolay]

It would have to be the title track...

I love this album, and it's good to see others feel the same way. I can listen to this, as with most Yesalbums, from beginning to end. I think Igor did a great enough job on the keys, that Mr Wakeman would be glad to play some of these tunes on the upcoming tour. It will be interesting to see...

The Ladder caught my total attention right from the beginning, and it doesn't let up at all. To have the guys put together an album this good all these years later was truly a gift to us all.

Anyone out there thinking of buying this album?... just do it!

[RobAdams]

Hi Jim Mikolay - Welcome to the Yesfans Forum.

I'm torn between HOMEWORLD and NEW LANGUAGE for my favorite LADDER song. I agree - it would be great to hear Yes play something from this album on the upcoming tour.

[Jim Mikolay]

Good to hear from you... thanx fer the welcome.

These guys have SO much good music, they could pick one track from each album, and fill an evening.

No offense to Mr Rabin, but I do hope they skip his albums on this tour, for the very same reason i just mentioned.

Please don't misunderstand... if Trevor were to rejoin the band again someday, I would go see them and enjoy the show very much. But my roots are in 'Yessongs,' 'Close To The Edge,' and 'Tales...'

I will search the audience for sobbing teenage girls, and console them... for they will need a shoulder to sob on when Yes doesn't do "Owner..."

[ycantibu]

Where are all these young, hot-to-trot teenage girls I always hear about when talking about YesWest? I've never seen them at any Yes concerts...

Originally posted by Jim Mikolay

<snip>

I will search the audience for sobbing teenage girls, and console them... for they will need a shoulder to sob on when Yes doesn't do "Owner..."

[Jim Mikolay]

YesWest?? what is that?

The youngins don't come any more... the Rabin-spandex movement is out! (thank goodness) They all go to the "x" fest now... x is for sex... or so the parents are saying.
Besides, we true Yesfans have always loved the guys for their music... Yes?

[ycantibu]

YesWest is Rabin-era Yes. Only Yes concerts I ever attended were Rabin shows [which were great], but I never saw any teenybopping, horny girls at them. My first one was during the Big Generator tour. On the other hand, I *was* a teen. I've said it before - maybe I just hang out with the wrong people.


Originally posted by Jim Mikolay
YesWest?? what is that?

The youngins don't come any more... the Rabin-spandex movement is out! (thank goodness) They all go to the "x" fest now... x is for sex... or so the parents are saying.
Besides, we true Yesfans have always loved the guys for their music... Yes?

[Jim Mikolay]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ycantibu
[B]YesWest is Rabin-era Yes. Only Yes concerts I ever attended were Rabin shows [which were great]

... I too have attended Rabin shows, and they were great shows also. '90125', 'Big Generator' & 'Talk' all have excellent music on them. But, as Yes does so well, Trevor's time is past, and the band has successfully moved ahead. I thought the guys did a fabulous job writing 'The Ladder' with Igor.
As fer the spandex, maybe Mr Rabin could still wear it, but the rest of the Yesmen are now in their fifties, and... well...

[ycantibu]

Yeah but when are ya gonna hook me up with some of these screaming girls from Yes concerts? ;)

[gt76yesman]

My lady loves Lightning Strikes, but I was the one voting. :-)

[lindil]

I was tied w/ 9 voices and Homeworld, and chose the latter.

to be alive also make the a list.

If it were edited down to 45 min [ my picks of course;) ] then it would rank as a pure4 classic but....

[David Momberg]

I love this album too-it still is holding up great after 3 years! I love Homeworld, New Language, and The Messenger-But there's something about "it will be a great day"(like a river")-it's kinda sappy and real simple-but I think it's Jon's best love song ever! And, by the way, why are they playing stuff from Magnification on the current tour, and nothing from The Ladder???? Would love to hear Rick play some of Igor's work! By the way, Igor was and is the 2nd best keyboard player they've had-behind rick of course!!!

[Dale Cleary]

I love the song New language.
Actually I love the whole thing.

[Purple Wolfhound]

I had to go Face To Face. It was the first song on the album that really stood out and reminded me of classic era Yes. Other favourites: Homeworld, It Will Be A Good Day, Lightning Strikes and To Be Alive (love that Hep Yadda chorus!).

Peace,

Phil

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Nine Voices suits my mood at this very moment. I absolutely love
Ladder.

[arrel]

I'm still getting to know this disc, so I'm not ready to pick a favorite track yet.

But, I did want to say that "If Only You Knew" was the first Yes song that both my wife and my guitar-playing son liked a lot. I think it may be one of the few Yes songs that you could dance to at a wedding reception.;) I think it only goes to show that if the guys turned their talents more often to potentially commercially successful music, they would have gone down in history as one of the most popular bands of all time. Not that anyone here would want that!:D

My first impression of the disc as a whole is: my attention was grabbed and held through the first 6 tracks, but the last five, with the possible exception of "New Language", lost me. I'm sorry, but I get really bored with the semi-religious, semi-spiritual mystical talk-singing that turns up on many of their albums since TfTO. I know it really turns a lot of people on, but, oddly, given the nature of the subject-matter, it often strikes me as their most uninspired music. And, it's often stretched out far too long for whatever real musical quality it possesses. (And, by the way, I'm not meaning to put down all their epic pieces - just the ones that have no really interesting musical ideas - and I realize that's probably subjective opinion - but it is mine own.)

In the case of THE LADDER, none of the tracks seem in themselves to be too long, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more variety in the last five songs (especially after the first six wowed me so much by their eclectic-ness). The last five seemed like minor variations on the same theme to me. Maybe I'll feel differently after a few more listens, but those are my impressions after a couple times through.

[arrel]

Okay, I voted for "If Only You Knew". Yes, it's commercial, and kind of pop - but, it's really, really good commercial pop. I thought about being all esoteric-snobby and voting for "New Language", but I asked myself "Why? You know you like IOYK best. Why be ashamed of it?":D

[yes_angel]

New Language

[SonicDeath10]

i voted homeworld. their best epic in years.

[Gabriel]

I was quite taken with New Language for some reason; the tune and lyrics really caught me and I enjoyed the song a great deal.

Homeworld is also a fantastic song too, one of my other favourites.

[mattquarterstein]

Homeworld is my favourite. Great song, great game.

[The Whale]

I had live at the house of blues first and heard some of the songs that way. I thought they were good but lightning striks really kicks on the studio version. Still its got to be the Ladder (home world) for me great song in the studio or live only wish they would have played it this summer. PS I bought this CD for only $4.99 w/ bonus game demo at FYE.

[gus]

Just finished listening to this album at work after watching Live at the House of Blues last night. The video got me back in the mood for The Ladder. Forgot how much I loved this album. They really bounce around with a lot of different styles on this album that makes it interesting.

My vote 'New Language'

[yes_angel]

My thoughts exactly!!

[Skyward]

"Face to Face" beyond any doubt!

[Topographic][Sardaukar]

The variety on this album is just incredible. Yes is one of the most varied bands in rock music but even after thirty years at the making of this album, they offer up several styles that they still haven't covered. My favorite is New Language.

[78910yes]

My favorite is If Only You Knew. But then, I am a sixteen year old girl. But I also like It Will Be a Good Day.

[Amy]

When I first heard this album, Homeworld was instantly my favorite.
Now that I've been listening to it for a while, it's getting increasingly harder to pick one. I usually listen to the whole album. For the past few weeks, I can't get "If Only You Knew" out of my head. Now Lightning Strikes is working it's way in. Nine Voices kept replaying in my head a while back. I love this album. I've listened to it every day since I bought it.

At the moment, If Only You Knew just won't quit. It plays in my head when I'm falling asleep, which I'm not accomplishing to easily tonight!

[SilenceoftheValley]

yep,I'm one of the few who went for It Will Be a Good Day.. that song has always touched me for some reason

[Scaramouche]

For once I seem to be running with the rest of the pack...usually I vote for something that is far behind in any poll.

I voted for Homeworld, because it has everything a Yes song should have...great guitar riffs, swirling Keyboards, fantastic vocals wonderful lyrics, lots of tempo and chord changes, and of course a beautiful moving passage at the end.

Love it. A great album I think. Their best IMHO since Going for the One.

Scaramouche xx

[Scooty]

MAN!
What a toss up. Homeworld or New Languages...

TOUGH CHOICE!!!!

I had to go with Homeworld in the long run..its simply beautiful..

As is New Language..this is a song that should have come out 20 years before it did...
Alas..we got in '99 when very few fans were paying attention...

[allpurechance]

...ah,Homeworld!-
...the version of this tune on Live From The House Of Blues woulda been enough to decimate ME for the rest of that show,I gotta tellya!...mindblowing!

[Jubei_ninpucho]

The Ladder was one of the first Yes-albums I heard and I friggin LOVE Homeworld.
It's in my opinion one of Yes's best compositions

[rememberer]

I voted for Finally. It's great to hear Jon belt out a tune like that, and the break in the song is truly beautiful. Really nice work. But it IS a tough choice, Homeworld and New Language have also had a hook in my ear big time ever since I heard them. So have Nine Voices and If Only You Knew, actually... Heck, if I liked Lightning Strikes just a little more I'd skip voting for a song and vote for the whole album :-)

[allgoodyes]

The Ladder is a wonderful album. Although I am fond of most of the songs, I voted for "New Language" as my favourite song from this album. The opening section has some of the hottest Yes keyboard work ever produced. Other favourites include "Homeworld", "It Will Be A Good Day", "Lightning Strikes", "Hep Yadda", and "Finally".

[Rob.E]

The Ladder will always be special to me. Its the album that got me into Yes in the first place, I heard it on the Homeworld PC game, the highlights for me: Homeworld, If Only You Knew and New Languages. The artwork for the cover is one of my favourites also, its so bright and adventurous, one of Roger Deans best. Homeworld got my vote.

[Roundabout2004]

My favorite is If Only You Knew. But then, I am a sixteen year old girl.

Hey, absolutely NOTHING wrong with "If Only You Knew," and DEFINITELY nothing wrong with being 16!

:angel:

[Skyward]

Following what again appears to be a spiritually-linked theme, I would have to say "Face to Face" does it for me. Personally, I think the entire effort is very seriously underrated.

[yesscl]

Homeworld is my favorite. The Ladder, is according to my opinion, the second best disc of Yes post reunion.

[RABARKS]

It's a good album. A very good one. The best one since, ... since, ...
ABWH. Surely it's derrivative (Can I is We Have Heaven, Nine Voices is Your Move) but it's done with sophistication and taste, at least IMHO. Lightning Strikes is their best attempt at being poppy since Owner. Who would have thought Yes could use a dance rhythm and get away with it?
Homeworld and New Languages come very close to old standards like Roundabout and Heart Of The Sunrise.
At times it seems like the young ones (Billy and Igor) inspired the old ones to go just a little further than they had done in years.

No criticisms? Well, okay, Hep Yedda or what's it called doesn't quite cut it for me. And Roger Dean covers have always been great, but this one, I don't know... And Jon's lyrics were becoming a little too predictable and worn out by this album.
:headset:

[flep]

I went with the masses with "Homeworld"

But the ending of "Finally" is just magical.

[Rob.E]

I think my all time favourite moment is the opening to New Languages.
Who else thinks If only you knew is underrated?

[Frosted Sun]

HOMEWORLD.

'Can I?' ..has a sound thats tribal a bit, that's not a bad thing.
I like the beginning to "New Languages' and the song Nine Voices seems mystical?

Album takes a bit getting use to, but not bad.

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

New Language in any case (especially for the slow part). But I also like the Messenger, Homeworld, To Be Alive and Nine Voices.

[qoquaq]

I love Nine Voices so that got my vote,though Can I is a firm favorite.

Robin

[yessound_chaser81]

I love these songs:
Homeworld--yeah, Yes still has it!
It Will Be A Good Day
To Be Alive
Finally---love the guitar
New Language--love the lyrics
Nine Voices

[scootwhoman]

I was thrilled when 'The Ladder' came out. A Roger Dean cover, a dynamic, upbeat sound, wonderfully inspiring lyrics, awesome recording, and "Yes music you can dance to!" as a friend of mine put it. No, these guys aren't getting old, they are getting better!

"To Be Alive" caught my attention on the first listen, and remains my favorite, in part because of the beat, and in part because of the lyrics. I find it to be very affirming, some how. I revere Nature, and love references like "watching for the morning star, the rhythm of the Sun" and "The passion that we walk upon, The passion that we bring, Is written for the mountains, They love to hear us sing"

"It'll Be A Good Day" is a close second for me, with "Lightning Strikes" third.

I found 'Magnification' to be a bit of a disappointment after this album, because I was hoping that the group would continue in the same vein for a while.

[Salmacis]

Mine is definitely "Finally". I also love "Nine Voices", "Homeworld", "Can I" and most of "New Language" (minus the Doogie-Howser theme song keyboard sounds at the beginning).

This album has a couple of clunkers, but is overall a great album that gets plenty of representation in my Yes playlists.

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

Homeworld,New Language and The Messenger.

[bob16]

To Be Alive I'ts my song of hope.

[harty]

If Only You Knew ( go Anderson )

nine voices otherwise

I love the DVD portion of Homeland. I can so understand the words to the game.

[cjreyes]

I love the whole album and luckily I was able to vote for several favourites: Homeworld, It Will Be A Good Day, Lightning Strikes, To Be Alive and New Language!!!

[crotale2112]

Wow... I thought "finally" would have done better. This is my fave tune by far. To me this tune totality rocks out and has one of my fave guitar solos on it. I'm sure it's steve on the lead solo, to me it almost sounds like the guitar playing in the reveling science of god. That smooth les paul jr. kinda sound.

The energy on the ladder is real and the non digital warm tones of tape and tubes come across in the buttery warm sounds that pour out of my speakers when I play the ladder. A powerful and strong stage of yes history.
:worm:
"The ladder" is a warm, clean gas oven with cookies inside..

"talk" is a microwave oven warming up a syntheic tv dinner. But that's ok, I still love the talk album. Some of trevor's best stuff.

[somissound]

It Will Be A Good Day is one of my ALL TIME fav's... I really like a lot of this album :)

It is a shame Bruce was not able to be involved in finishing the album and hearing the final mix... I heard what he did to INXS Elegantly Wasted... That drum/gtr/bass/vocal/keys mix is slamming (their best sounding album by far -imo)... The Ladder, which is a great album, and was recorded at the same studio with the same producer, does not sound similar for some reason...

[90125yes]

homeworld by a mile

[BlueEagle]

This is a great underrated album - to me even better than FRAGILE or TORMATO(in spite of being Wakeyless). The only song I can live without is FINALLY- it sounds a bit too Jon-solo-ish. It was a tough choice but I went with FACE TO FACE.

[90125yes]

This is a great underrated album - to me even better than FRAGILE or TORMATO(in spite of being Wakeyless). The only song I can live without is FINALLY- it sounds a bit too Jon-solo-ish. It was a tough choice but I went with FACE TO FACE.

---

its a good album but it is not better that fragile or tormato

some of the tracks are a bit untraditional YES to be compared to Fragile

Fragile is in a league of its own