Rate ABWH Album [Archive] - Yesfans.com: Founded 4/01

BMiz

03-24-2007, 10:38 PM

I've noticed a lack of a ABWH poll -- let's give this a try and see what happens. Is it Yes if Squire is not booming away with the bass and vocals?

True Believer

03-24-2007, 10:42 PM

I like it, but I don't play it all that much to be honest.

Faceintheplace

03-25-2007, 12:37 AM

pianozach

03-25-2007, 01:50 AM

Like it, but it did need Chris . . .

Mostly Harmless

03-29-2007, 08:12 PM

It was the first cd I ever bought, so it will always be kind of special to me. It's a decent album, there's good material on it, I'm not big on the electric drums.

"Brother of Mine" and "Themes" are the standout songs for me.

I like those as well and I'm not a huge fan of electric drums either.

I said "good stuff, but not CTTE"

Jackaranda

03-29-2007, 10:11 PM

It's a very weak Yes album, imo.

allen toth

03-29-2007, 10:21 PM

I like a couple Songs, the Album is Weak.

Andrea YouAndI

03-29-2007, 10:59 PM

I too said "good stuff, but not CTTE." I really do play it a lot, as I love Steve and Rick's contributions. Squire fan that I am, I just wish Chris had been on it. That (and the electric drums) is about the only reason the album gets 4 stars instead of 5, IMO...

My favorite tracks are Brother of Mine and Order of the Universe. Rock gives courage! :D

Ian B

03-30-2007, 10:49 AM

Close to the edge, but only a moderately expensive cigar, not a hand-rolled Cuban. Some indispensable tracks on it though, Quartet, Order of the Universe. I'm glad they made it. No Chris, sniff, sniff.....Who's that Tony Levin bloke though, he could have a great future with the right band..... :lmao:

Dantalion Rides Again

03-30-2007, 11:04 AM

I say "great stuff, not CTTE" ... my ears are deaf to the problems people typically complain about. No Chris, too much Rick, dated sounds, too cheesy ... none of those things even come to mind when I hear this record.

It's probably because it was one of the first Yes albums I ever really thoroughly enjoyed, and its got this positive energy that keeps me enjoying it still.

kirklott

05-15-2008, 02:47 PM

How can anyone say ABWH isn't Yes? It sure is. It's even listed in official discographies, and it's in the new official Yes documentary.

ABWH is more Yes than the Drama or YesWest line up.

People need to not get stuck on semantics.

somissound

05-15-2008, 05:35 PM

Themes
Birthright
Brother of Mine
Quartet
The Meeting

It was the first "Yes" tour I saw. And WITHOUT Tony Levin... :(

A double bummer- No Squire OR Levin............. It was pretty good though. I don't know why there were all these additional musicians on stage though?

Suntower Asking

05-15-2008, 05:58 PM

This album came out when i was in the 7th grade.

Every morning before school I would listen to the Order of the Universe on headphones.

I have fond memories of this album.

I would rate it at least and 8 out of 10.

Suntower Asking

05-15-2008, 05:59 PM

It was the first cd I ever bought, so it will always be kind of special to me. It's a decent album, there's good material on it, I'm not big on the electric drums.

"Brother of Mine" and "Themes" are the standout songs for me.

Yeah this came out right after the advent of CD's . It was one of the first ones in my house too.

illusion

05-15-2008, 11:49 PM

Steve Mahoney

05-15-2008, 11:51 PM

There are some great tracks here.

Steve

luckeydoug1

05-16-2008, 07:04 AM

It's not Yes, and I don't really enjoy any of the music on that album, either.

Suntower Asking

05-17-2008, 02:50 PM

This is Yes all the way.

I still find it crazy that there were so many people in Yes that there were two groups at this point.

Not having the name was a mere technicality. It must have actually sucked not to legally have the name as far as promotions interviews and things were concerned. This must have been really anoying.

I imagine that Chris Squire was not too happy with the situation.

gates od

06-01-2008, 08:21 PM

I remember the time that this album was put out, it excited me. This was the first "Yes" album that came along, while being a huge Yes fan, that reminded me of the classic pre-Tormato lineup that I never got to be a part of. It was a strong album in its time and in my opinion, is the strongest album since GFTO. But, the lineup is what makes this band, quite possibly the strongest lineup the band has ever had.

I checked out the ABWH concert on dvd and was able to see and hear what made this group sound superior live in comparison to previous live Yes material that I've heard within the previous years before this album was put out. Sorry Alan White, but I truly feel that Bill Bruford's drumming is, without a doubt, brilliant. I really can't listen to "Heart of the Sunrise" when Alan plays it. It's one of my favorite Yes songs and Alan can play a good version of it. I've agonized on many live concerts listening to him play it but it doesn't sound right. Bill nails it!

Here's my controversial reason that I like this album and lineup. I think that Levin is not just able to play Squire but he can do more than Squire on bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1xBV3v3QWI

I remember listening to an ABWH concert on XM's BBC hour (no longer playing) and heard the band play with Tony Levin on bass. He was impressive. It's too bad that I cannot get a copy of that concert. It sounded great.

Believe me, I love Squire's bass playing but he really hasn't done much to impress me in recent albums. Billy Sherwood's bass playing on Circa has been more Chris Squire than Chris Squire has been on Syn or even recent Yes material. Although he had a great moment on the Ladder's "Lightning Strikes". But other than that, where has Chris been? Come back Chris, please!

I won't consider the ABWH lineup used on Union because the producers were probably paid-off to sabotage to their efforts.

Back to the ABWH album, I would personally put it up there with the best Yes albums. I love every song and know the album all the way through. Two reasons why I would make any album one of my favorites.

illusion

06-01-2008, 08:46 PM

This sounds bad, but I haven't listened to this for probably five years!

I always remember it sounding a little cheesy to me; a little like the Ladder but not as good.

I'm going to drag it out and give it a spin sometime soon.

I like Teakbois and Brother of Mine, and Quartets OK, but not really keen on the rest.

I don't like the backing vocals. I think this is where I miss Squire the most.

DWStraile

06-01-2008, 09:05 PM

Lets not forget "Fist of Fire." That was awesome. Classic Wakeman. Great CD but could have been better - who knows where they would have gone had it progressed.

yessound_chaser81

06-01-2008, 09:12 PM

Lets not forget "Fist of Fire." That was awesome. Classic Wakeman. Great CD but could have been better - who knows where they would have gone had it progressed.

That's my fav track on this album as well....it's an alright album but I missed Chris...

CybrKhatru

06-01-2008, 09:24 PM

I have many great memories associated with the ABWH album and tour. Summer 1989 I'd just graduated from high school and was thrilled that Anderson was working with these three, and with Tony Levin on Stick no less (!).

The tour was my first "Close to the Edge", so for that alone it would be memorable. But I loved most of the album, so hearing it live was great...even without Levin on the CA dates!

I think after all these years my favorite ABWH track is still "Birthright" and I'd love it if Yes would play it with the current lineup.

harty

06-02-2008, 10:38 AM

Tony Levin - he was a big part of Gabriel's solo stuff. I was awe struct when he was on stage for the show. To me...disappointed as I was it was not Squire...Levin was one tremendous fill in.
The album was refreshing. There was so much turmoil in the ranks at that time and I was glad that almost all members were back doing an album. And then when I heard the album it had, for me, a number of Yes traits. Something that was missing during the Rabin years. So many of the songs had that signature Yes ending...a simple riff from Howe or a ping of a keynote from Wakeman. I was so pumped. The fact that they didn't put out a second album bummed me again. Here I was finally getting that Yes felling back and instead of following thru on this music genre, they switched again. Sure Squire was back with White ( no complaints ) but this meant that there was 2 different musical inputs for the next album. But that is what we've come to expect form Yes, haven't we!
Bottom line is that this Yes fan really enjoyed the album. It reaffirmed my love for Yes music. The tour was awesome. I especially remember Anderson sounding quite spiritual. And you and I was uplifting.

YesCarolinita

06-02-2008, 10:48 AM

I have to admit it took a little getting used to listening to. I prefer the CTTE album-the sound of YES.

Lifeseeker66

06-02-2008, 10:48 AM

I've noticed a lack of a ABWH poll -- let's give this a try and see what happens. Is it Yes if Squire is not booming away with the bass and vocals?

We've debated this before, whether "That's really Yes", as Jon says on the ABWH video In the Big Dream. My position is this... It is Yes because 4/5 of the band consists of Yes alumni. (Granted, I do not consider Circa or White to be Yes in any way, because I think Anderson or Squire have to be one of the members in order for an iteration of the band to be considered Yes).

I loved seeing the return of Wakeman on this album, and it was good to hear Bill again as well. There is a lot of great material on the album, and I listen to it often!

Stever

06-02-2008, 03:55 PM

It's wierd, you know? When I listen to Drama, I miss Jon a bit, but it still sounds decidedly like Yes to my ears. In fact it's one of the strongest albums in the Yes Canon for Chris and Steve. So........................ABWH. It's only down one member, instead of two, and Jon is the vocalist. It's going to be even more representative of the Yes sound than Drama, right? Wrong!

Apparently, the guy that you can't do without in the Yes sound is not Rick. It's not Steve. It's not even Jon. It's Chris Squire!! I was just stunned at how vacant the Yes sound is without Chris Squire. It just doesn't ring true. I was cool with Drama. I was cool with the Rabin years. Even the Sherwood years, but just not into any incarnation of these guys without Squire.

He's apparently the X factor for Yes. You can do virtually anything else, (within reason), and still have the Yes feel come through. It doesn't matter if you get another killer bass player. They got one of the best in Tony Levin.

Just humdrum soft prog. Birthright stands out as a really good cut. I liked Brother of Mine when it came out. In retrospect, it's very repetitive, and goes on for way too long with the same theme. I REALLY like the 'I'm Alive' segment out of Quartet, but they didn't put the whole song on the albume. Ditto Vultures. Overall...entirely forgettable. You really need Chris for his energy, his vibe, his bass, and his background vocals and writing. The whole package.

progmusic

06-02-2008, 04:37 PM

The Yes sound comes from Squire and Jon, for me a lineup missing one of them is not Yes.

illusion

06-02-2008, 04:42 PM

I think it sounds too much like a Jon solo album than a Yes album.

somissound

06-02-2008, 07:13 PM

I think after all these years my favorite ABWH track is still "Birthright" and I'd love it if Yes would play it with the current lineup.

Birthright is a great track...:appl[1]:

Bruford and Levin really dig in the middle section.:headset:

Lifeseeker66

06-03-2008, 10:41 AM

Here's my controversial reason that I like this album and lineup. I think that Levin is not just able to play Squire but he can do more than Squire on bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1xBV3v3QWI

I remember listening to an ABWH concert on XM's BBC hour (no longer playing) and heard the band play with Tony Levin on bass. He was impressive. It's too bad that I cannot get a copy of that concert. It sounded great.

Believe me, I love Squire's bass playing but he really hasn't done much to impress me in recent albums. Billy Sherwood's bass playing on Circa has been more Chris Squire than Chris Squire has been on Syn or even recent Yes material. Although he had a great moment on the Ladder's "Lightning Strikes". But other than that, where has Chris been? Come back Chris, please!

All I can say is that you've got to be kidding! Sure, Tony Levin was fine as a stand-in, but he is no Chris Squire! A great moment on Lightning Strikes? Where has Chris been? What about Face To Face? What about Mind Drive, and That That Is? The Messenger? New State of Mind?

As much as I love the ABWH material, and as good as Tony Levin was, I noticed the absence of Chris Squire. It would have been that much better with Chris in there IMO.

Full Tilt Boogie

06-03-2008, 11:07 AM

There's not a bad track on the album.

It is EVERYTHING Yes could/should have been after that YesWest, Rabin-centric nonsense/distraction.

It's got fine songs, superb tunes and they sound like their having a whale of time - albeit without Chris Squire. They all sound like they've received a new lease of life and inspiration and are caning it for all it's worth. And God bless 'em!

The DVD 'An Evening of Yes Music Plus' positively smites bottom.

Mostly Harmless

06-29-2008, 11:38 AM

Internaut

06-29-2008, 12:39 PM

It's a top 3 YES album for me... The 80's sound was going downhill, and this was very refreshing! You can't judge an album JUST because one guy or another isn't on it. To me, it's a bit narrow minded to see things that way...

Brother of Mine, The Meeting are in my top 3 YES songs... and I enjoy the rest of the songs too....

Scooty

07-01-2008, 02:05 AM

It's not a Yesalbum...

And it really isn't very good to be honest.

Dated, lackluster and, as with Union, to many cooks in the kitchen...

Andersonic

07-01-2008, 02:21 AM

Birthright alone is making this album very special...I can't understand how people cán't like this adventurous album. It meant a true progression in my opinion. I didn't see as Yes, despite Roger Dean's involvement, just a sidestep from a familiar path, a crossroad perhaps...

Actually; ABWH was the gateway to the realm of Yes music for me...