How would you rate Magnification?

[Topographicfish]

just to clear this up! 10 is the best and 1 is the worst all right? this album is really great because it shows that after so many years Yes has still got it in them... recently they have been making collection type things but i hope they come out with another great one! only thing that i don't like on this album is the lyrics of track two... the rest is awesome!

[new_sum_do_solve_ay]

Nothing higher than 8. I can think of at least five better albums, but whats exciting is that they still have new material that sounds as classic as ever.

[The Whale]

Nothing higher than 8. I can think of at least five better albums, but whats exciting is that they still have new material that sounds as classic as ever.

My thoughts exsactly. But I'll add that In the Pressence of is a master work in its self, one of my absolut favorits.

[Balrog]

"In the Presence Of" is in my opinion a masterpiece worthy of comparison with such greats as "GoD' and "CttE".

[BredYes]

After four years, I still love listening to this album. In the Presence of is a true masterpiece indeed, from the same level as And You And I. One of my favorite Yes albums.

[Mostly Harmless]

I give it a 7, but keep in mind that I'm not an easy grader. Like many who posted above, I love In the Presence Of. (oh crap, that rhymed)

[Store Hadji]

This one is in the top three of all Yes albums. It is certainly their finest achievement since Going for the One. I was so pleasantly shocked when I first heard it.

I gave it a 10. It's a true masterpiece - the entire album.

[luckeydoug1]

A very strong 9. In fact had it not included Soft as a Dove and Time is Time it would be a perfect 10.

As it is 90125 remains the only perfect Yes album, from start to finish. My top 5 Yes albums would now include:

1. 90125
2. Talk
3. Big Generator (tie)
3. Magnification (tie)
5. Open Your Eyes

[relayerjim]

I gave it a 8. Every time I play this album it grows on me, I like it a lot. Over time "Magnification" could grow into a 10, it needs time to age. I think I'll play it now!

[CybrKhatru]

Missed these the first time around!!

I give it a 7, on the strength of "Mag", "Give Love Each Day" and especially "In The Presence Of".

[kirk]

I gave it a "3", a point for each decent song.
See Matt's list.

K

[Ajay]

I had to give it 10. I love Magnification so much. I can understand why most people would rate it lower, but I just love it!

[Robbie693]

Not one of my favourites, for some strange reason I kind of like the cover logo colours

[gathernear]

The DVD Audio has an excellent surround mix. It works much better that way. You'd still have to lose two songs.

[SouthSideGuy]

Again, it's a solid 10

Superb craftmanship.....

[Roan's Lady]

It's a solid 3, and if it wasn't for ITPO, it would barely register.
I find Magnification to be nestled comfortably among the weakest of their albums. Essentially, Jon's saccharine lyrics set to limp-wristed, uninspired music.

[True Believer]

Again, it's a solid 10

Superb craftmanship.....
While I wouldn't give it a 10, Dom, it's more likely to score higher than OYE!

[Steve Mahoney]

Its a 10 .
In The Presence Of .
Says it all,

[yesanneyes]

I just got Magnification and ITPO is great. I want to listen a couple more times before I make a judgement, but I guess it says something that, as a whole, it didn't grab me on the first listen, as many YES albums have.

[Steve Mahoney]

Its a 10 , I love it.

[kirk]

Its a 10 , I love it.

So, 1 song makes it a "10" ?

I guess Union's a 10 for "Let Go" then.

This album was far cry from Yes at their peak.

K

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

I gave it a 6. There are three excellent songs here plus the same number of turkeys. What totally spoils it for me though is the orchestra. I just don't like it at all. This album confirms what I've always known...the keyboards have,and always will be,a vital and integral part of the whole YES sound. For the most part they are,sadly,conspicuous by their absence here.
If this album had been recorded without the orchestra,but with Rick and if the three dud tracks had been replaced with another of the quality of,say, ITPO,then Magnification would have scored an 8 or 9 for me.
If YES have still got one more studio album left in them then here's hoping they bring back onboard any one of the past keyboard players.

[VentureRG]

Hey RL, I see that Mag. has grown on you in the last couple of years (just as I said it would or should). Ah the memories: http://www.yesfans.com/showthread.php?p=1105159#post1105159

[Roan's Lady]

Hey RL, I see that Mag. has grown on you in the last couple of years (just as I said it would or should). Ah the memories: http://www.yesfans.com/showthread.php?p=1105159#post1105159

LOL! That brings back memories, all right!

Hey, next time at the diner, I'll bring a copy of the new Syn disc for you! ;)

[Senor Mono]

This record demonstrates the boys still have the magic flowing. Mag, ITPO, and GLED are fantastic, top form Yes songs, imo.

I would have traded the orchestra for some edgier guitar, bass, and drum sounds (Drama style)!

[RickyG]

I gave it a 9 though 9.5 is what my gut response says.
My head says 8 but my heart also says 9.5!

ITPO, Dreamtime, Magnification, We Agree,... are all great tracks. All have great lyrics, all are inspired strong music.

"Don't Go" is the only weak track as far as I am concerned.

"Time Is Time" is great.
"Soft As A Dove" is great too... if you aren't so afraid to be gentle and easy, fragile and opened with yourself.... for a mere couple of minutes... that's what it brings up... drop the armor....

[RickyG]

I would have traded the orchestra for some edgier guitar, bass, and drum sounds (Drama style)!

Of course the whole point was they wanted to do an album with an orchestra.
Which they did.
Exceedingly well.
Best rock album with integrated orchestral arrangements ever...
....should have won a Grammy....

[Senor Mono]

Of course the whole point was they wanted to do an album with an integrated orchestra.
Which they did.
Exceedingly well.
Best rock album with orchestra ever...
....should have won a Grammy....

I agree. But I just love the way they rock on TYA, Fragile, Drama, etc.

It was an artitic success, for sure :):appl[1]:

[Roan's Lady]

"Soft As A Dove" is great too... if you aren't so afraid to be gentle and easy, fragile and opened with yourself.... for a mere couple of minutes... that's what it brings up... drop the armor....

I wonder if it's possible to be gentle, easy, fragile, and opened with yourself, yet - just - not care for that song? Hmm.

[RickyG]

I wonder if it's possible to be gentle, easy, fragile, and opened with yourself, yet - just - not care for that song? Hmm.

Just not caring for the song is one thing, hating it with a passion and feeling a need to repeatedly make that point is another thing, which has been expressed around here at least a few times over the years. For such a simple and unoffensive little heartfelt tune/arrangement/lyric to elicite such extreme negative responses indicates that it is a trigger, a button pusher... and that the response is about it touching something deeper than the actual content of the song would suggest.

[Roan's Lady]

Just not caring for the song is one thing, hating it with a passion and feeling a need to repeatedly make that point is another thing, which has been expressed around here at least a few times over the years. For such a simple and unoffensive little heartfelt tune/arrangement/lyric to elicite such extreme negative responses indicates that it is a trigger, a button pusher... and that the response is about it touching something deeper than the actual content of the song.

I'd say that's probably true, as music can certainly touch something much deeper than the song itself - and I'd say that it does within most of the people here. That's quite the awesome power of music. Negative and positive responses to music, no matter with what intensity they are expressed, are equally valid and provide the balance that exists in anything natural.

[Dantalion Rides Again]

Just not caring for the song is one thing, hating it with a passion and feeling a need to repeatedly make that point is another thing, which has been expressed around here at least a few times over the years. For such a simple and unoffensive little heartfelt tune/arrangement/lyric to elicite such extreme negative responses indicates that it is a trigger, a button pusher... and that the response is about it touching something deeper than the actual content of the song would suggest.

I was just gonna say the same to you about "Don't Go". :D Actually I wasn't going to say exactly that ... I think though, that both "Don't Go" and "Soft as a Dove" have their merits, and for me, there's nothing really standing in the way of my enjoyment of those songs.

[RickyG]

I was just gonna say the same to you about "Don't Go". :D Actually I wasn't going to say exactly that ...

I agree.
The same concept applies to my dislike of "Don't Go".
Though I don't hate "Don't Go"... merely dislike it, find it unappealing in certain regards and weak in relation to the rest of the album. Some of that dislike is definitely because of what it triggers in me....