Mind Drive -- Rate this tune.

[1yesfan]

OK, here is our first Yes tune to rate. It will be on a scale of 1-10 1-horrible ---- 10-Fabulous

[luckyseven]

I have not listened to it in awhile, but I think I would give it a seven. For a long piece, especially for a recent effort, it is pretty good. Too bad it was never performed live. :(

[Trooper]

I like this song a lot!! I gave it an 8. It's certainly one of the more "Yes-sounding" songs in recent years (...hmm, that always seems to happen when Wakeman is playing with them...). The ending keyboard solo is very reminicent of the "Criminal Record" days. For you Wes Montgomery fans, check the little break Howe does in the middle (literally) of the song....maybe it was an "unconscious" tribute to "James and Wes". And agreed, I'd like to hear this one "live" someday....

[fragilesi]

Yep, I just about agree, gave it a seven.

By the way, am I the only one who gets dumped to a blank page whenever I vote or is it a general problem? Either way it's a nit but everything else seems to work soooo smoothly here . . .

Simon.

[Aragorn]

I voted 6, this song hasn't totally caught on with me yet. Mayeb seeing it live would help :cool:

[Earl Grey]

It was the closest thing to Classic Yes that they had put out in years, and not surpassed till 'Homeworld'.
I was just glad to have something new with 'that feel' to it, so even though I'd honestly have to rate it around a 7 compared to, say, Heart of the Sunrise, I gave it a 10: I miss the classic period...

[bataisflow]

I gave it an *. I tis a classic Yes peice - not as good as previous but good none the less. Original lineup with Rick - always provides Yes Music.

[bataisflow]

Sorry that was an 8

[Devotee]

I'm a sucker, I gave it a ten. I always love the epics how they twist and turn to tell a good story. I liked it much better than That That Is, and want to encourage the guys to do more .......

[charl8e]

I don't remember what I voted. But then, I don't remember anything of "Mind Drive" either!

[1yesfan]

Have have not listened to Mind Drive????

[Devotee]

I learned the Bass on Mind Drive which is a blast!
It's also about the eternal minddrive og meditation
These guys are soooooooo multi talented............................

(You gotta do Mind Drive someday guys...we know you're watching.)

[charl8e]

I've listened to Mind Drive many times and it never makes any impression on me... i mean, i can't remember any of it... isn't that odd?

[jcostello]

Give it several more listens, eventually it will leave some sort of impression, hopefully a positive one.

John C.

[1yesfan]

I was impressed the first listen through! WOuld LOVE to hear it LIVE!

[Earl Grey]

Hey Tim (sorry about your computer dude! sh*t!). So I think that most of us YESFANS want to hear Mindrive live: it's definately up there in the 'South side of the Sky': I'm surprized they haven't done that one yet....(Or 'South Side' either, for that matter!). See Ya! "E"

[jcostello]

They should definitely do Mind Drive live (or come up with a talk show by that name, whatever comes first). It would have been cool on this tour to hear it with an orchestra, but, oh well ...

Peace, Love, and Tune In to Mind Drive Live,

John C.

[Devotee]

"we know you're watching guys, glad to be home for awhile; sleep? - then maybe start working on some new songs for the future?HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM???????????"

[Dragonfly]

I only gave "Mind Drive" a "6".

There are moments of pure brilliance in there but they're surrounded by mediocrity. I thought Jon was the weakest link on this song. Rick did some wonderful lead work that I hadn't heard in some time. Steve was great. Alan and Chris were good. Jon, well, there are times when the song moves along quite nicely and then Jon drops it all down to a rather boring point. In particular are the sequences such as "To the eyes of child. To the song of songs. It will bring the moon. It will transfer you". BORING! It brings the whole song down.

When this song was new I tried getting an old Trooper to revive his interest in Yes by playing him this song. His reaction was similar to what I just describe: great stuff - sometimes.

Dragonfly:yesbird:

[jcostello]

I'm a Cancer (a.k.a. Moon Child), so if "it will bring the moon," I'm cool with it. Yeah, Mind Drive is no "Awaken" or "Close to the Edge," but I still think it's a better epic attempt than "Endless Dream."

Peace, Love, and Yes Does Better Epics Without Trevor,

John C.

[Earl Grey]

I don't know, Dragonfly, I kinda' like that part! It's not And You & I, but what is? I get the feeling of building-up, coming down, and building up the tension with the quiet-bits (which Jon always seems to write: the quiet bits. Heart of the Sunrise was a sweet ballad, & then Chris & Steve got to it!).
I'd like to see YES do more like Mindrive, & if they can 'better it', more power to them.
"YES, WE WANT EPICS PLEASE!!!! Thank You." :yesbird:

[Dragonfly]

Even with whatever doubts I have about "Mind Drive" I would still LOVE to hear it live. This song screams to be played for an audience.

"That, That is" is also an important one for a show. It's my understanding that Steve was expecting to play it on (I'm guessing here) the OPEN YOUR EYES tour because he made sure to re-learn all of his Spanish/acoustic work. He was prepared to go out and do it.

Dragonfly:yesbird:

"Live within the power, you can be the strength it is"

[1yesfan]

Man, MD and THAT, THAT IS would be GREAT live. I did not like T, TI on the first few places, but think it is a strong tune that would come off well live. Same for MD, FOR SURE!!!!!!!

[Dragonfly]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
"Heart of the Sunrise" was a sweet ballad, & then Chris & Steve got to it!)...

Actually, (and I expect many flaming arrows aimed at me for this one) "Heart of the Sunrise" is no longer one of my faves. I find the ballad section unsatisfying. I think Jon's ballads can be beautiful and fulfilling. I like the lighter tunes like "Circus of Heaven" - so that's not the problem. But the "tension building" going from hard to soft in many songs, can be frustrating depending on how it's done.

That's not my reaction when hearing "On the Silent Wings of Freedom" which also has a lower section:

"On the darkest night so painful Do you hunger for love midst the torture of being one".

I think that, there, it works. It goes from "hard and driving" to "dark and mysterious" not "hard and driving" to "light and lilting". Progressive rock is partly defined by its ability to combine diverse elements. The question then is: which elements do they choose to combine. Sometimes the choices work for me, other times they don't - just as in "Mind Drive". It just doesn't work for me.

Dragonfly:yesbird:

[Earl Grey]

I don't care what the people say. I LOVED 'Mindrive' before I had a computer, and had ever heard another opinion about it, I was wishing YES would put out a whole album like that, and it appears they finally have....
Not to worry Dragonfly: One of my 'fave' YESSONGS is 'Wings'.
I remember when Tormato came out, thinking, "Well. At least there's ONE good song on this 'THING'! :yesbird:

[Jackaranda]

Thumbs up. I'll give it a seven. One the better of the 90's recordings.

[Jallan]

This is one of the all time best.

Crank It up

10

[Randelerium]

I gave this tune a 9, only because I haven't heard it live. With Rick back, maybe we'll get it! It is a great epic of the 90's.
Please boys....play it for me!

[taineer]

When I bought Keys2 and heard this for the first time I was astounded.You have to understand that I started listening to yes when Drama came out and was extremely impressed by that album. I then went on to allthe classic Yes music and loved all of that. Then 90125 happened. Although I liked the music it wasn't the same as the classic stuff. Nothing was until I heard Minddrive.This is why I'd put it in my top 5 for all of the Yes catalog.I'm hoping like hell that since Rick's back they're going to play it.

[taineer]

I forgot to add that it"s the best driving tune ever!!

[Martin Riley]

yeah - slam it on in the car - 9, excellent piece.

[gt76yesman]

Of course I am just getting into it. Right now it is my favorite to listen too. Ever day at work. About two months ago it was That, That Is. I would love to hear either or both of those this summer.

Glendo

[illusion]

I can't remember what I voted, but the guitar intro gets a 9, and the rest of the song is OK.

An 8 seems about right.

[gt76yesman]

Give us the MIND DRIVE

[Insane Teacher]

I knew I was going to like it the first time I heard it. Now I absolutely love it. I would love to hear it live.

[markjyes]

As I have said many times: It's about 7 minutes too long.

Gave it a 7.

[Q]

This is the most credible and Yes-like piece of music to emerge since Rabin's departure

[Bugeyes]

Love Mind Drive, crank it up, 10! KeyStudio seems to be leading over the #1 spot in the cd player edging out the Ladder and Magnification lately.

[Earl Grey]

My favorite YES track of the last decade. It has all the earmarks of a YES classic, yet we've yet to hear it live.

Maybe YES will suprise us someday!

Earl:yesbird:

[BrianD]

This track has some fantastic parts to it but there are some weak sections that irritate me. I don't think Jon was singing as well in 1996 as he has in the last 4 years - his voice sounded a bit strained to me on all the KeyStudio pieces. So I'd love to hear it re-recorded - live would be best to sharpen it up a bit.

Overall its a very credible effort - their best epic since the 70s.

[Jackaranda]

Keys 2 is a sorely overlooked album. They could have really gained momentum there, but, what can we do now? Just enjoy it.

I've changed my mind. An 8 or 9. I'll give a 10 to Footprints, and a 9 for Bring Me to the Power.

[PastPresentMover]

And I'm dying to hear it live but they keep passing it over. I gave it a 9, only because I don't like that line "Through the eyes of child". Something about that line that rubs me the wrong way. I mean, I understand it but I just don't like it. Everytime I hear it I grimace (did I spell that right?) BUT IT'S AN AWESOME TRACK !!! The boys are right on the button on this one.

Slam

[YYY]

Unfortunately for me, I still can't find the enthusiasm for KEYS 2 to buy it. I've tried listening to it many times but compared to KEYS 1, 2 simply doesn't have anything that is amazing or unique enough for me to break out the $20 bucks.

[Ascend_Create]

I agree w/ Tim. I would love to hear this song live. My daydream when I hear this song is going to the Union tour, and instead of the hinting of this song that Bill B and Alan did, they play the whole damned thing with all 8 musicians. Ah, the Yes concerts I have in my head!

[Erdy1]

Mind Drive is one of my all-time favorite Yes songs, easily up there in the top 10.

[Earl Grey]

They still need to visit something other than 'Children Of Light' from Keys II when they play live...

So where is my Mind Drive? Cmon! ;)

Love it! Still waiting to hear all of Howe's and Wakey's amazing Mind Drive solos live. I believe.

[Andersonic]

'Mind Drive' is an rate 8 song for me...last week I heard 'That, That Is' and because I haven't heard it a while I really got into that one. I think it a better song than 'Mind drive'...especially because of the very realistic lyrics... Play the song LOUD!

[Mr. Holland]

Listened to it again today, and then I saw this thread. I rated it an 8. It is a very good song, but I'm comparing it with all other Yes songs. So Awaken is my 10+, CTTE is a 9 1/2 and compared to that Mindrive is an 8.......

[SallyKhatru]

I don´t like comparing yessongs. They´re all to different and each one is beautiful in other ways. There are many songs that are a 10+ for me and some only 8, I think because I don´t understand them yet.
Mind Drive shows all the talents of Yes and all the different styles. It´s a perfect example. If someone would ask me what Yes is, I would tel him to listen to songs like Mind Drive, Awaken, CTTE, Starship Trouper and revealing Science of God as it is on keys to Ascension.
Listening to Mind Drive always makes me happy and feeling proud to belong to the YESFANS.

[lrs]

I just bought Mind Drive 4 days ago, I've listened to it several times. I like the song (I voted 7 or 8, I can't remember which because I more wanted to see what the consensus was) it definetley has some high points, i don't have the lyrics tho which i think may make me like it better.

Mike

[headrott]

I gave the song a 6. Most of the 6 comes from the quality of the playing on Rick's part. This is really the first time Rick has done a stand out (studio, of course) solo in a long while. The arrangement and lyrical content of Mind Drive bring down the song for me. Not that I think it's a horrible song by any means, but it's certainly not nearly as nicely arranged and well written as That, That Is (IMO of course).

Greg

[R'tanys]

I gave it a solid, respectable 7.

[Rabin105]

Love it love it love it. The production is truely beutiful as is rick/billy's keyboard playing (still not sure who is playin key on that track really hear a lot of billy and i alsso hear a lot of rick maybe it's both maybe just rick maybe just billy who knows) good track

[marklovesyes]

Mind Drive is a great piece of music, for about 12 or 13 minutes. There is about 5 or so minutes that is a bit much, in my view. I am mainly taking about the musical section near the end with the extra solos. It just feels as though they are padding to add more time to the song. There is a good place to end Mind Drive around the 14 or 15 minute mark, but then they stretch it out. It ends up breaking the mood and feel of the piece as a whole to me. Doesn't "bring [me] whole", so to speak.

So, had they kept it to about 12 to 14 minutes, I would probably give it a 9 or 10. As is, though, I gave it a 6.

Pieces like CTTE and Awaken I would give 10's. Not only is the music absolutely stellar, but each section and their respective lengths fit right in with the rest of the piece and its lyrical content.

[SallyKhatru]

Oh,
I´m getting so ... whatever, when I read you judging the songs.
I don´t have anything against you saying what you think, but when I hear : ,,this is too long, this is a little too loud, this is a wrong word...", It makes me think wether you have ever tried to write a song. I did and now I´m unable to say anything bad about yessongs. It´s great work, you shold not forget who they do it for.
Although if you would stop crticize their songs this thread would die. So do what you wanna do.
All I can say is that Mind Drive is a song I can identify myself with.

[Earl Grey]

If you ever have an extra moment, I wrote a long LONG piece on Mind Drive, under the topic of 'Keys To Ascention'.
If you go to the topic, you can archive it from last year: I don't know that anyone else has written much in that thread.
It should be easy to find! ;)
I think the title of my review was called 'Reflections on KEYS TO ASCENTION II in the Airport: or some clap-trap like that. Tell me what you think! Better yet, respond to the thread and bring it back from the dead! That'll show 'em! :ele:



Keys ll is a GREAT album.

It snuggles easily beside the finest classic Yessongs of all time. Mind Drive is an epic, harshly judged and even ignored by many who should know better.

That's just me. And you. And hell, we know what is what, eh?!

Good to see you! Mind Drive lives!

:cheers:

[taineer]

This is by far the song I'm hoping to hear live the most.

[Earl Grey]

Originally posted by taineer
This is by far the song I'm hoping to hear live the most.

We heard a quiet version of Children Of Light back in 1997, and that was the extent of KEYS being performed live.

I would love to hear the entire studio CD from Keys II live. Now THAT would be quite the thing!

Wakey's back, you never know...

Earl:yesbird:

[Mr. Holland]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
Mind Drive is an epic, harshly judged and even ignored by many who should know better.



......amongst those are the Yes men themselves. In my opinion, they should set the example and the way to do that is play the song live. As I pointed out in another thread (or was it this one, I haven't been reading the previous pages at the moment?) I was much surprised by Jon's comment, when on the Yesfocus meeting in june this year in Holland someone asked why they did not play this song:"Well, not many people know the song, so that's why we rather play ISAGP, 'cause everbody knows that."
Now, it is a true and honest answer, but it is also turning the world around. I mean, how are people ever going to know a song if you refuse to play it live???
Almost all people that do know the song, love it, so I think it is time to let this one out of it's closet and present it to the rest of the Yes concert attenders that don't know the song!!

[lrs]

I posted earlier and gaveMind Drive a 7 or 8, however, after listening to it for another month I hae to say high 9 or maybe een 10. This song is amazing, the Ascend and Create line is the emotional highpoint around which the song revolves.

I agree with everybody, this song MUST be done live.

I find all of Keys studio at the least very very good with many gusts up to excellent. I am encouraged also because for thsese guys to be able to produce such a fine work after 30 or more years writing music is great. Their music has grown with them but still has the energy and creativity of earlier works. I am anxious to see what it is next.

Mike

[Rabin105]

Originally posted by lrs
I posted earlier and gaveMind Drive a 7 or 8, however, after listening to it for another month I hae to say high 9 or maybe een 10. This song is amazing, the Ascend and Create line is the emotional highpoint around which the song revolves.

I agree with everybody, this song MUST be done live.

I find all of Keys studio at the least very very good with many gusts up to excellent. I am encouraged also because for thsese guys to be able to produce such a fine work after 30 or more years writing music is great. Their music has grown with them but still has the energy and creativity of earlier works. I am anxious to see what it is next.

Mike
I'd love to see this in a setlist of rarities (wonder what rabin would have done with southside) includin survival i am waiting tempus fugit and parralels as well as endless dream

[Earl Grey]

Mind Drive is much like Endless Dream to me.

Both have epic qualities.

Both fall short of the mark.

The mark is high. This is a world in which 'Close To The Edge' exists.

And to me, as much as I would LOVE to hear Endless Dream, or Mind Drive...

I'd still rather hear Close To The Edge.

Let's hope we hear all three!

;)

Earlie:ele:

[Rabin105]

Mind Drive is much like Endless Dream to me.

Both have epic qualities.

Both fall short of the mark.

The mark is high. This is a world in which 'Close To The Edge' exists.

And to me, as much as I would LOVE to hear Endless Dream, or Mind Drive...

I'd still rather hear Close To The Edge.

Let's hope we hear all three!

;)

Earlie:ele:
Rick on Endless dream cool Steve on endles dream awesome I would love to hear that.

[yessongs72]

Mind Drive and the rest of Keys Studio,well imho is a piece of cr*p and appeal mainly to Yeswest as the Classic Crew was trying to achieve,it ranks with OYE,another Yes groupee cd.

[Marco78]

I love the Keys studio tracks, especially "Mind Drive", for me the Greatest Yessong since 1977.
Vote: 9

[Timmo]

Mind Drive and the rest of Keys Studio,well imho is a piece of cr*p and appeal mainly to Yeswest as the Classic Crew was trying to achieve,it ranks with OYE,another Yes groupee cd.I have to vehemently disagree.

I am a Trooper and NO fan of YesWest.

I love "Mind Drive," and really like the rest of KeysStudios, especially "Children of the Light.

TIM
Venice, CA

[the'YES'kid]

I love this song, but That, That is and Be the One are my favs from KEYS. I'd give them a 10 and 8 for Mind Drive.

I'm very haappy that the guys played that tune in this tour. It wasn't that nice seeing Jon reading the lyrics while singing, but it sounded great though.
At some moments ("Whole...") it sounded even better than the original, more emotion.

[Braniff92]

It's a perfect 10 with me. It's an excellent tune live also (as those who attend this tour's show's will see).

[Amy]

I gave Mind Drive a 9.
I can't give it a 10, (although I was tempted), because I still can't put it up there with the 70's stuff.

[WOLFman]

I would agree Mind Drive is a decent tune, but whether it deserves the praise it has been receiving, I'm not so sure. It's duration posits it as an 'epic', in the same manner as CTTE, or even Endless Dream, but I would contend that it stems from a period in which, rightly or wrongly, lengthiness was being striven for and, subsequently, many tracks were stretched far more than their musical content merited, let alone demanded. I would argue Mind Drive, to a large extent, suffers from the same problem.

Whereas CTTE, Awaken and Endless Dream (surely deserving of its place in this canon) HAD to be lengthy, in order for the musical themes to naturally progress, some Yes tracks such as MD appear the subject of an unnatural extension. This can, at times, lead to tediousness the acceptance of which, however, renders a Yesfan ostracised from the majority of his peers, or designated 'not a real Yes fan'. On the other hand, when 'length for length's sake' stopped being the goal of Yes, epics of similar or, in the case of Homeworld, New Languages, Give Love Each Day and In The Presence Of, far superior quality emerged, all the better for not being extended further than their musical structure demanded. That these songs are not similarly recognised as 'epics' is, in my opinion, the result of a major misconception on the part of many music fans, namely that to have an opus you must have duration.

So, how good? In a world of CTTE, Awaken, ED, it falls short. Compared to the mini epics (of which AYAI, Heart of the Sunrise, Hearts, Machine Messiah Siberian Khatru, I'm Running and all the aforementioned far surpass it) it still falls short. Basically, it's not 'classic Yes'.

[mood for today]

funny that this thread has now been resurrected since the tour. as i've mentioned in other forums. i was away after tormato and came back into the fold recently. the mention of mind drive as a tour possible prompted me to purchase keystudio. don't know if this mix is different from ktaII but this is the stuff that should have evolved after tormato instead of the various splits, reunions, experiments (cinema....bad)

i'll agree mind drive is no ctte or god but it is a smokin' tune that i can't wait to hear tomorrow night. others on the disc are all very good as well. jon's voice is as angelic as ever on this disc

[prem895]

I love this song, but That, That is and Be the One are my favs from KEYS. I'd give them a 10 and 8 for Mind Drive.

I'm very haappy that the guys played that tune in this tour. It wasn't that nice seeing Jon reading the lyrics while singing, but it sounded great though.
At some moments ("Whole...") it sounded even better than the original, more emotion.
I agree 100% That, That is & Be The One are that much better. I am hoping they replace MD with That, That Is.

[CybrKhatru]

When Keys came out I'd have rated it a 5 or 6.

I loved portions of Mind Drive, but thought other parts weren't so strong, some parts repeated too much, and that a few sections just didn't work--almost as if Yes felt compelled to do a long song just for the sake of doing one. If it had been edited in places, I'd probably have liked it better. (ever notice that it's about 18:35 -- almost exactly the same length of Close to the Edge? Musta been a coincidence...) I actually made my own "edit" of Mind Drive one time---cut it down to about 12 or so minutes.

However---I thought that if they toured Mind Drive and played it in front of an audience, it'd not only be effective, but likely improved, whether they toyed with the arrangement or not.

Now that they have played it, and we have witnessed it...IMHO they have improved it so much that for me I can give it an 8. It was better than I expected! Maybe it's the energy they bring to it in concert...that had to be a contributing factor. Plus...they fixed the ending, which to me was always the weakest part of the song!


---Matt, donning his flame-retardant suit

[Rabin105]

Musca I know you don't like yeswest but what on earth does that have to do with Mind Drive. that is like saying you don't like peter banks but like starship trooper.
oh and Mind Drive is like Endless Dream awesome on the album and I'm sure it is Awesome live

[Rabin105]

Musca I know you don't like yeswest but what on earth does that have to do with Mind Drive. that is like saying you don't like peter banks but like starship trooper.
oh and Mind Drive is like Endless Dream awesome on the album and I'm sure it is Awesome live

[Timmo]

Musca I know you don't like yeswest but what on earth does that have to do with Mind Drive. that is like saying you don't like peter banks but like starship trooper.
oh and Mind Drive is like Endless Dream awesome on the album and I'm sure it is Awesome liveREAD THE QUOTE I was responding to.

The poster said that "Mind Drive" only appealed to YesWest fans. I was stating that I'm not a YesWest fan, but I love mind drive.

Tim
Venice, CA

[Rabin105]

well I love all of yes so it really applies to me

[Earl Grey]

I scrolled-back and read what I originally wrote about Mind Drive, and I must say...

I must have been in a questionable mood that day, or perhaps those mushrooms weren't so good after all.

In retrospect, nothing else is Close To The Edge. I was correct about that.

BUT: If we compared everything to CTTE in this world, we would be in for a looooong wait for anything worth getting excited about.

Mind Drive is an amazing work.

When I came back to YES in 1996, after a few years of exasperation, Mind Drive reminded me of what I loved about YES in the first place. Mind Drive won my heart back to YES. I started hanging YES posters on the wall again. I became something of a fanatic, again.

YES was back again.

Like Starship Trooper, Mind Drive is a YES Suite.

A segmented bit of bewilderbeast and glory, augmented by sequins and spectors and soldiers and peacenicks...

If Mind Drive has any shortcomings, the edges of it are in our own ears.

I am so used to thinking of music as being this perfect world where every new idea segues into the next, tone into tone, pattern into pattern, as if it were a well-ordered round of drinks...

And life isn't like that.

We go from the highest high to the lowest low, we take the quick journey from glory to the flame in a hairbredth instant.
Joy gives way to analysis, and we segment ourselves into fifty arguing parts, we turn on the wonder, wondering where the hell THAT came from!

If Mind Drive has any heavenly failing, it's in the lack of 'segue' between the movements.

Close To The Edge does this better. Every color blends into the next color as if it were the kaleidescope of God.

This doesn't happen very often. :ele: If at all, in one's generation. Talk talk talking 'bout my gen...

You get the picture.

I think I was too harsh on Mind Drive when I wrote my initial post here.

I love Mind Drive. I would have rather heard MD than CTTE this tour. We've never heard it previous to now now now... And it was the stuff.

And my initial post was, well... It must have been BAD shrooms. That's it.

Blame it on the shrooms.

Wish I'd had some, you wouldn't happen to know where I could procure some shroo... Never mind. Drive. Just drive.

Anyhoo... There ya go.

Mind Drive is YES's 'Eroica Symphony'.

CTTE is YES's '5th'.

If we are lucky/blessed/etc...

There will be a YES's Great 9th Symphony. I Am Waiting.

I thrill to what we've had so-far, Classic YES, YES West, and Mind Drive.

And here's to the future, which is invariably sweet.

I can't wait to watch it unfold.

Earlie-Gee!:yesbird:

[Rabin105]

If they preformed all the epics including Endless dream and Mind Drive that would be an amazing concert

[SoundscapeMN]

After GOD, I think it's their best epic, and it's a top 10'er for me.

Kyle

[tranceofdances]

mind drive is an excellent tune that moves in many directions, very much like their old stuff. it's not rythmically driven, it is more along the melodic basis like close to the edge, and gates of delirium. it is more of what yes does best, and that's challenge the listeners ear. i agree with john c. yes does better epics without trevor, but i don't think the trevor era was about epics. jon anderson was quoted saying that he wanted to expand while playing with trevor, and trevor said he was determined to hold him down. every yes album i have bought in the 90's i have bought with the hope that it would have stuff that went back to the old days on it, and only keys has given me that. mind drive is my #1 yessong from the 90's, followed by that, that is. also, if any of you guys that said you wanted to see it live went to any of the 35th anni shows...well now you have heard it live, along with south side of the sky too. i would love to get another album from the guys with alot of mind drive type stuff on it again. that would be superb.
jason
"stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays"

[Rabin105]

I always though that Endless dream was very melodic. but then again that is just me Mind drive very good song would like to hear the xyz version.

[Serious Dreamer]

I like it a lot. But there are better songs, even on KTA. I give it an 8.

[Sweet Dreams]

As a new Yes fan can anyone tell me what album Mind Drive was off please, just curious.

[Timmo]

It's on the "Keys to Ascension" material, Volume 2.

"Keys" was a weird hybrid album, with some live material from the San Louis Obispo concerts and some studio tracks.

There's also a "Keys To Ascension Volumes 1 AND 2" floating about.

I bought the "Keysstudio" version, which has all of the studio stuff and none of the live stuff. Oddly enough, "Children of Light" was retitled (to "Children of the Light," rearranged, and has a "tacked on" keyboard intro by Rick) that I'm not very fond of. Other than that, I THINK it's identical to the studio material on the original "Keys 1" and "Keys 2."

Confused?! LOL.

If you saw them live on this tour, they did segements of "Mind Drive" during their first set, and it ROCKED!

By the way, I gave this song a "10, crank it up!" rating.

TIM
Venice, CA

[RJE]

Definitely a 10...crank it up......Awesome live!!!!

[Thoughtbecontact]

I kind of got used to MD being split up in concert, but I still wish they would do the entire piece.Oh, how I would love to hear that lovely Spanish guitar section in the middle, the part where Jon sings, "Heaven help the love that you send." That's a slow section, but it's part of what I call "soaring Yes."

[justyes]

Entering the mind drive...

[crotale2112]

I Love Mind Drive As Most Yes Fans Do. I Love It Even More After Seeing That Song Live At Madison Square Garden In N Y C. Dam What A Good Show That Was. A Special Night For Us All As Yes Fans

[Hill St.]

Love it!

[allpurechance]

...Chris!You were there,too?!!Amy and I have spoken of this magical night!And we will speak some more of it!

...MindDrive that night was truly amazing,wrapped as it was around South Side Of The Sky...although,lol-the studio version I give only a 6.Kinda leaves me cold,or at least somewhat tepid,lol.Always liked That,That Is from Keys 1 more.But,live,Mind Drive was amongst the many special factors that were in play that night at The Garden.

...Amy has spoken to me of Ritual,and how hard that hit her.The thing that struck me the most about that night was how rowdy and initially inattentive in general the vast majority of the crowd was...only to be captured so solidly by the moment when And You And I seemed to burst through the roof of the place...I have never seen anything quite like this,in many years of attending concerts...it was indeed,as you said,a special night for Yesfans-to be able to send wave after wave of love and adoration to the band,after all these years-it was like a great,unspoken,collective and spontaneous thank you to these wonderful musicians who have affected our lives in such a positive way for such a long time...

...Frank is grinning!....lol

[slazman]

I am neutral on this one ... gave it five. Enjoyed the live version in Birmingham last year and bought Keys 2 on the back of it. Occasionally play it in the car.

Not the best, far from the worst.

[Whitefish]

Crank it UP to 10!

The song is one of the best pieces of music Yes has ever done!

Does anyone know if it has ever been played live?

[Timmo]

Rulez.

Especially live. To the above poster, they played it on the first leg of their latest tour, albeit in pieces.

It RULED.

[Orbert]

I gave it a 10. I really, really like it. When the "real" Yes got back together in 96, I was thrilled. But neither "Be the One" nor "That, That Is" really do much for me. I was glad to have new Yes to listen to, and really wanted to like them. I tried like hell to keep my expectations low, and I really think I succeeded. I listened to the live tracks first (actually, I played everything through in order, as I always do on first listen) and realized that it's the same band that gave me "Awaken" and "Silent Wings", but older, maybe not quite as nimble. Still, most of the Keys I tracks bore the heck out of me.

When Keys II came out, I snatched that one up immediately, and when I got to "Mind Drive" I knew the boys were back! Great song. I do understand why some people don't like it, or certain sections of it, but hey, it's all subjective anyways, and "Mind Drive" rocks me mucho. So there!

[Timmo]

"Mind Drive" is up there with the great 70s epics.

[loulamb]

It has its moments, but I can't totally get into it. But I keep an open mind. It was years before I finally "got" Tales. Then one night about 5 years ago I was listening to it and it all came together. And just in time - when they started laying Ritual live again, I was totally enraptured.

[Amy]

...Chris!You were there,too?!!Amy and I have spoken of this magical night!And we will speak some more of it!

...Amy has spoken to me of Ritual,and how hard that hit her..
I take it Amy is your sister?

Nevermind!!! LOL!

[Amy]

"Mind Drive" is up there with the great 70s epics.
I might just have to agree with that. I've been listening to Mind Drive a lot lately. I loved it the first time I heard it, but it seems to be taking on that 70's epic feel a lot now. For some reason, it keeps getting better and better.

[Jackaranda]

I might just have to agree with that. I've been listening to Mind Drive a lot lately. I loved it the first time I heard it, but it seems to be taking on that 70's epic feel a lot now. For some reason, it keeps getting better and better.

Why does this not surprise me? :1loudspkr

[Amy]

Why does this not surprise me? :1loudspkr
I dunno!

[allgoodyes]

"Mind Drive" is a very good song and the production of the song on Keys to Ascension 2 is excellent. What I find is that the individual parts of the song are well done but the overall direction of the song does not seem to reach the same emotional crescendo as some of the earlier Yes epics such as "Close To The Edge" or "Awaken". Nonetheless, it is still a great song to listen to. I give the song a rating of 8.

[Amy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by allpurechance
...Chris!You were there,too?!!Amy and I have spoken of this magical night!And we will speak some more of it!

...Amy has spoken to me of Ritual,and how hard that hit her..

I take it Amy is your sister?

Nevermind!!! LOL!
ok, for those of you who are interested, yes, Frank was referring to me.
This just goes to show how much of a putz I can be at times. Frank - my apologies for my putziness, but I still want to know your sister's name!

I have posted the awesomeness of Ritual so many times, it's a blur. No excuses though!

Just to go back on topic - Mind Drive Rules!

[cactus jon]

The YES songs I like all rate 10, the ones that are not my favorites still rate 9 !!!

[CTTEfan]

I really like "Mind Drive". I don't think it's their BEST song, but it is much closer to the top than most. What I like about it is that it seems to cover the whole history and spectrum of YES. It opens with music that sounds like it comes from the "Yes" or "Time and a Word" era then moves into a more recent sound, then back to "old" YES, then back to the present, etc. All through the song you hear passages that sound like YES through many different stages of their career. You even hear parts that sound like they are from the solo careers of each member. I think it's a wonderful retrospective piece that keeps alive the "YES music" formula of changing from fast to slow, loud to quiet, intense to relaxing, etc... I gave it a 9.

[Timmo]

You get the heaven you like.
You get to heaven.
You get the heaven you need.
You get to heaven NOW.

[Amy]

Thank you Timmo....and Keystudio will be with me in the car tomorrow now.

[MoonGateClimber]

Although I've only heard Mind Drive live, but every time I've heard it, It has amazed me - it seemes to cover all of Yes's previous musical styles. However, it is not better than CttE, Awaken, or Ritual... I gave it an 8.

[Ancient tales]

I was just listening to the Switzerland show today and had MindDrive cranked all the way up! I love the way it was performed on this last tour.

Cherry

[PrimeMover]

Never payed so much attention to Mind Drive, but it was a good livesong. The song it's quite good 'til it passes eight minutes when Jon starts to sing about "It wil bring the rain, blah blah." Then the song only repeats itself. And what's so fun about that? Do anyone agree with me?

[The Whale]

This song kicks some tail after that part, thats when it realy gets going! and I mean GOING!!!

[Mostly Harmless]

I was just listening to the Switzerland show today and had MindDrive cranked all the way up! I love the way it was performed on this last tour.

Cherry


Me too! I loved the way they dropped SSotS and TotC into the middle. Just when I thought they had completely abandoned Mind Drive......Here it comes again!!!!

[sissywoods]

What? No option for crank it up to 11?!

[Jackaranda]

After seeing Lugano and hearing Manchester from the last tour, my appreciation of Mind Drive has gone through the roof. A great modern Yes classic.

[smatt]

Agreed Jack! I was never a big fan of Mindrive, that is until this last tour! It grew on me nightly all the way through the tour. I still think they should've sone it as one piece though instead of breaking it up.

:band:

[Jackaranda]

Exactly. I fast forward through South Side and watch it separate, or listen separate, because it's great also, but the more I hear Mind Drive live the more I appreciate how great it is.

[Ancient Al]

For me, this song moved up the scale after they played it live on the 35th Aniversary tour. It kicked. I gave it an 8.

Al

[packattack4]

A solid 9, after seeing it live on their 35th tour, it was simply outstanding, quite worthy of a 9 and possibly a 10

[Stever]

I give it a 5. A solid middle of the road Yes song for me. I will say, it was pretty awesome on this last tour, though.

[gitsy]

I feel lonely here as I only gave a mere 3, not one of their best IMHI.

[Imperatrix]

I gave it a 3, too...the only way I consider it listenable is when it's heavily edited. Ask CybrKhatru---he did the most brilliant chop job on it a few years ago.

[Terry Shea]

I gave it a 10. It may be the best song Yes has ever recorded, certainly the best song they've recorded since the 70's and probably their best epic ever.

[pedro skychaser]

not being au fait with music theory i can only say its a great rolling epic of power+softness+power+softness+power+power....ooh and its about computers run with the brain,no fingers on keyboards...ascend+create indeed!!!

[YesJen357]

Glad too see that the voting has given this 'Masterpiece' its due recognition.
Wonderful to hear it live on the 35th tour, as well.

[True Believer]

I love it - and to hear it live was amazing!

[Silent_wings]

Yup it's fantastic live

I didn't care for it when I first heard the studio version but it's grown on me.

[YesForSure.]

It's a very good song. It just doesn't contain enough material to be 19 minutes long though. I think hearing "They will bring the rain.." come in 50 times is a little too much. Maybe 12-15 minutes. still great though, I have it a 8.

[pedro skychaser]

DIscmanned it to work along the trainTracks...squire plays amazing bass behind jon's voice,teasing+embelishing the vox... i like the spacious feel,not overproduced by billy with a million parts...would like more darker,denser sprawling stuff from the boys next time-NOT rocky,general-messages-of-hope songs with a boppy bounce...

[Scooty]

This song only came alive when it was performed on the 2004 tour...

[YesJen357]

This song only came alive when it was performed on the 2004 tour...
Well, I think it was fairly much alive before then; but it certainly did soar when played live.

[MrZuLu]

i just watched the Lugano Jazz Fest 2004 version... Fantastic!

IMPECCABLE!

[Orbert]

This song only came alive when it was performed on the 2004 tour...
I didn't see that tour, but I heard they broke the song up into pieces and played a little bit here, a little bit there. That seems kinduva weird thing to do, honestly, but if that made it come alive, I guess it's okay.

[YesForSure.]

I didn't see that tour, but I heard they broke the song up into pieces and played a little bit here, a little bit there. That seems kinduva weird thing to do, honestly, but if that made it come alive, I guess it's okay.
You don't have the Tsongas DVD?! For shame! The bulk of Mind Drive is played in entirety, then they cut to another couple songs and came back and covered a part they've already sort of been through before. doesn't seem very chopped at all.

[Orbert]

You don't have the Tsongas DVD?! For shame! The bulk of Mind Drive is played in entirety, then they cut to another couple songs and came back and covered a part they've already sort of been through before. doesn't seem very chopped at all.
I sit corrected.

The track listing says Mind Drive, pts 1-2; then South Side of the Sky, Turn of the Century, then My Eyes/Mind Drive pt 3. This frightened me. I really, really don't like it when bands chop songs up, or play silly medleys, or even run two songs together, if it means they delete any part of any song. I like to hear the songs in their entirety. Some of my favorite bands succumbed to medleyoma, and it just wrecks things for me. If, as you say, "pts 1-2" are essentially the whole song, then they come back later and finish it after visiting a few other songs, I guess that's not too awful. But I just don't understand why they do this.

Yes, I know, it's their music, their songs, they can do whatever they want. But I don't have to like it, and generally don't. Thanks for the info, though. Maybe I'll pick up Songs from Tsongas after all.

[pedro skychaser]

[QUOTE=Orbert]The track listing says Mind Drive, pts 1-2; then South Side of the Sky, Turn of the Century, then My Eyes/Mind Drive pt 3. This frightened me. I really, really don't like it when bands chop songs up, or play silly medleys, or even run two songs together, if it means they delete any part of any song. I like to hear the songs in their entirety. Some of my favorite bands succumbed to medleyoma, and it just wrecks things for me. If, as you say, "pts 1-2" are essentially the whole song, then they come back later and finish it after visiting a few other songs, I guess that's not too awful. But I just don't understand why they do this.

mystery for sure...who can second guess these guys?

[YesJen357]

Er....Medleys aren't such a bad thing.
What about the terrific medley performed on the Tormato Tour. Brilliant!
I didn't mind splitting 'Mind Drive' the way they did during the 35th shows. I did laugh though when some 'not so dedicated' (most likely) audience member turned to me (MSG May 13, 04) and said "haven't they already played that one?" when the second part began.
Phew...Heathen!

[Orbert]

Er....Medleys aren't such a bad thing.
What about the terrific medley performed on the Tormato Tour. Brilliant!

As a musician with some experience in arranging, I can admire a good medley. The way they went from this part of this song to that part of that song and made it seem quite natural, or adding a few bars of stuff to ease the transition, can be nice. Sometimes it's really clever. But I still would just rather hear each song played in its entirety. Medleys seem like a way for the band to touch on each of a number of songs in a shorter amount of time. I can understand that, I guess, but hearing a verse and a chorus of a song, or just the instrumental, etc., doesn't do much for me. It really just whets my appetite and, again, makes me wish they'd play the whole song.

I didn't mind splitting 'Mind Drive' the way they did during the 35th shows. I did laugh though when some 'not so dedicated' (most likely) audience member turned to me (MSG May 13, 04) and said "haven't they already played that one?" when the second part began.
Phew...Heathen!
Indeed!

[Terry Shea]

[QUOTE=Orbert]The track listing says Mind Drive, pts 1-2; then South Side of the Sky, Turn of the Century, then My Eyes/Mind Drive pt 3. This frightened me. I really, really don't like it when bands chop songs up, or play silly medleys, or even run two songs together, if it means they delete any part of any song. I like to hear the songs in their entirety. Some of my favorite bands succumbed to medleyoma, and it just wrecks things for me. If, as you say, "pts 1-2" are essentially the whole song, then they come back later and finish it after visiting a few other songs, I guess that's not too awful. But I just don't understand why they do this.

mystery for sure...who can second guess these guys?I think they did it this way because they chopped so much out of the middle of the song and the only effective way to do this was to reprise the ending after throwing in a few songs in between. Parts 1, 2 and 3 really isn't accurate, they played more like parts 2 and 3 and then came back and played parts 8, 9 and 10 or something along those lines, and it wouldn't have sounded right at all if they had jumped from part 3 to part 8, or whatever it was. It would have ended up sounding like the edited single version of Roundabout or (even worse yet) the edited single version of America. The big question is why they decided to chop off the acoustic intro and so much from the middle of the song.

[Orbert]

I think they did it this way because they chopped so much out of the middle of the song and the only effective way to do this was to reprise the ending after throwing in a few songs in between. Parts 1, 2 and 3 really isn't accurate, they played more like parts 2 and 3 and then came back and played parts 8, 9 and 10 or something along those lines, and it wouldn't have sounded right at all if they had jumped from part 3 to part 8, or whatever it was. It would have ended up sounding like the edited single version of Roundabout or (even worse yet) the edited single version of America. The big question is why they decided to chop off the acoustic intro and so much from the middle of the song.
Guys, I'm scared and confused again. Like after watching a Jerry Bruckheimer film or something. That this man should be allowed to continue making films is soooo frightening. But I digress already.

First I heard that Mind Drive is pretty much butchered. A couple of parts played, and not even all together. Then I hear that they pretty much play everything, wander around a bit, then come back and finished it up. What you're saying agrees more with what I'd originally heard, that they really don't play the song, just bits and pieces of it.

I guess I'll download it and find out myself. I didn't want to do that, but I can't drop 20 or 30 bucks on DVDs these days, only to be disappointed by what I get.

[Mind Driver]

I think it is amazing that this piece is already 10 years old!

I had wanted to see it live since I first heard it in 1996. When they played it on the 2004 tour, I'll never forget jumping up (with the rest of the audience) and cheering! I wasn't alone in my desire to see this tune live.

They way they did it - in a medley - didn't bother me at all. The only thing I missed was the lower octave, rumbling end we get on the studio version. They cut that off. They could have "rattled the rafters" with that ending.

I want more of these songs on their next album!!!

[Timmo]

I think that Keystudio in general and this song in particular are highly underrated. The album ROX, and so does the song.

I also love Children of Light, particularly Steve's solo at the end.

[Terry Shea]

Guys, I'm scared and confused again. Like after watching a Jerry Bruckheimer film or something. That this man should be allowed to continue making films is soooo frightening. But I digress already.

First I heard that Mind Drive is pretty much butchered. A couple of parts played, and not even all together. Then I hear that they pretty much play everything, wander around a bit, then come back and finished it up. What you're saying agrees more with what I'd originally heard, that they really don't play the song, just bits and pieces of it.

I guess I'll download it and find out myself. I didn't want to do that, but I can't drop 20 or 30 bucks on DVDs these days, only to be disappointed by what I get.
No, it's not "butchered" at all. They skipped the acoustic intro and the middle section. The end of the first segment segues nicely into South Side Of The Sky, which features an amazing duel between Steve and Rick at the end. Then they change things up with an excellent version of Turn Of The Century which features Steve playing volume pedal guitar replacing the acoustic at the end of the song. The middle section is pretty amazing to watch and hear as Steve, Rick and Chris are playing totally different riffs but are able to keep it together nicely. Then they play My Eyes which is a short snippet from Footprints and features Rick using a vocal keyboard patch that really adds to the song. Then they reprise Mind Drive doing the final 5 minutes or so and it kicks ass! They conclude the first set with Yours Is No Disgrace, and Steve plays the best solo I've heard from him yet on this tune. I can't get enough of this sequence and find myself playing it over and over again.

[Orbert]

Thanks for the additional detail. I do like the acoustic intro, and would miss it. (Actually, I like most of Steve's acoustic playing, and am always disappointed when those parts are dropped, or he plays them on electric instead.) The tune's so long, I'm not sure what "the middle section" would be, but again, if they're cutting it out, they're not really playing the song, are they? It sounds like an interesting medley. I guess I'll have to see/hear it to really appreciate it.

[marklovesyes]

Mind Drive is a great piece of music, for about 12 or 13 minutes. There is about 5 or so minutes that is a bit much, in my view. I am mainly taking about the musical section near the end with the extra solos. It just feels as though they are padding to add more time to the song. There is a good place to end Mind Drive around the 14 or 15 minute mark, but then they stretch it out. It ends up breaking the mood and feel of the piece as a whole to me. Doesn't "bring [me] whole", so to speak.

So, had they kept it to about 12 to 14 minutes, I would probably give it a 9 or 10. As is, though, I gave it a 6.

Pieces like CTTE and Awaken I would give 10's. Not only is the music absolutely stellar, but each section and their respective lengths fit right in with the rest of the piece and its lyrical content.

Just revisited this topic and my thoughts on it. To reiterate, I still feel the same way these many years later. And honestly, the length they gave it in the last tour did it justice - I just wish they included the acoustic guitar intro.

[Terry Shea]

Thanks for the additional detail. I do like the acoustic intro, and would miss it. (Actually, I like most of Steve's acoustic playing, and am always disappointed when those parts are dropped, or he plays them on electric instead.) The tune's so long, I'm not sure what "the middle section" would be, but again, if they're cutting it out, they're not really playing the song, are they? It sounds like an interesting medley. I guess I'll have to see/hear it to really appreciate it.
Well I like the acoustic intro too, and I like the quiet middle section that they cut out, but it's certainly better than not playing it at all. Even with the missing sections it still comes off much better than the abridged version of Roundabout IMO. And just to clear up another point, it is not a medley per se. South Side Of The Sky and Turn Of The Century are played all the way through. In fact South Side has an extended jam at the end of the song.

[pedro skychaser]

No, it's not "butchered" at all. They skipped the acoustic intro and the middle section. The end of the first segment segues nicely into South Side Of The Sky, which features an amazing duel between Steve and Rick at the end. Then they change things up with an excellent version of Turn Of The Century which features Steve playing volume pedal guitar replacing the acoustic at the end of the song. The middle section is pretty amazing to watch and hear as Steve, Rick and Chris are playing totally different riffs but are able to keep it together nicely. Then they play My Eyes which is a short snippet from Footprints and features Rick using a vocal keyboard patch that really adds to the song. Then they reprise Mind Drive doing the final 5 minutes or so and it kicks ass! They conclude the first set with Yours Is No Disgrace, and Steve plays the best solo I've heard from him yet on this tune. I can't get enough of this sequence and find myself playing it over and over again.

what this guy said X 10...

[YesJen357]

No, it's not "butchered" at all. They skipped the acoustic intro and the middle section. The end of the first segment segues nicely into South Side Of The Sky, which features an amazing duel between Steve and Rick at the end. Then they change things up with an excellent version of Turn Of The Century which features Steve playing volume pedal guitar replacing the acoustic at the end of the song. The middle section is pretty amazing to watch and hear as Steve, Rick and Chris are playing totally different riffs but are able to keep it together nicely. Then they play My Eyes which is a short snippet from Footprints and features Rick using a vocal keyboard patch that really adds to the song. Then they reprise Mind Drive doing the final 5 minutes or so and it kicks ass! They conclude the first set with Yours Is No Disgrace, and Steve plays the best solo I've heard from him yet on this tune. I can't get enough of this sequence and find myself playing it over and over again.
I'm with Terry, too.
Couldn't say it better!

[allen toth]

I love this Tune! (All of it) And thought they would never Perform it Live. Then came the 35th Ann. Tour, and wow, there it was, Delivered with the Energy I had only Dreamed about!

[jaynote1]

I gave it a 6. it has a good beat and you can dance to it..........

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

A resounding 11 out of 10.

[Mind Driver]

I love Mind Drive, as if you can't tell by my screen name.

Even though it is now 13 years old, it shows Yes still has the ability to put together another epic.

[ladybugjt68]

10 ! That song got me through some rough school exams !! I would pick up my girls on exam day...they knew what was coming and crank it the whole way...I still have to hear stories about "MIND DRIVE" from them ...lOL the good OL' DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!We all ACED the exams too!!!!!

[rmig68]

I give it a 7. Probably should have done 8, but I think there is a part they keep plodding through throughout the song for which I must subtract points.

I love the acoustic "They will bring you rain" part and when they bring the shock and awe near the end.

Just think it takes a little long to develop through the middle.

[rmig68]

I think that Keystudio in general and this song in particular are highly underrated. The album ROX, and so does the song.

I also love Children of Light, particularly Steve's solo at the end.

Lots of good stuff there. I have some issues, but overall, not bad.

[90125yes]

10/10 fabulas

[90125yes]

A resounding 11 out of 10.

---

good one

:beerchugr:

[rphheather]

9, but still crank it up! :headset:

[90125yes]

love it love it love it

and LOVE IT



in the cd player at the moment