most progressive yes album

[Bob Barker.]

what do you think is the most progressive yes album?

my vote goes to TFTO

[Yes.2]

CTTE....

Where would the definition of prog be without it?

[orpheus]

I voted for close to the edge. I think Yes was moving towards prog before this came out with TYA and Fragile but that CTTE was the first real fulllength progressive piece. I think this album kind of defined the genre at the time.

[teenyesfan]

I voted for CTTE.. the pinnacle of all progressive rock in my opinion.

although i think Fragile is very progressive...

[milestownyes]

Relayer- CTTE was the first, but Relayer was the best. Kind of CTTE with an attitude.

[Senor Mono]

Tales is Farrr outtt mannnn. Maybe the most progressive album I've ever heard.

Relayer is too, but they figured how to grab the reins of the wild TFTO on that album.

[Bob Barker.]

I voted for close to the edge. I think Yes was moving towards prog before this came out with TYA and Fragile but that CTTE was the first real fulllength progressive piece. I think this album kind of defined the genre at the time.

i totally agree

[yessound_chaser81]

I voted for Fragile (because it came out before CttE), but CttE is a very very close second.....

their four best albums imo are Fragile, CttE, Tales and Relayer, so it's hard for me to divide them up...

[yesyadda]

Tea For Two Oh!

[Timmo]

Relayer. The atonality of it was a direction they'd being going with "The Ancient" at its pinnacle, but sadly they abandoned it.

[True Believer]

I voted CTTE but wanted to vote for Tales too.

[Andrea YouAndI]

Relayer

[islandsofarabia]

__________
k e y s t u D i O
_______________

[happytheman]

Relayer- CTTE was the first, but Relayer was the best. Kind of CTTE with an attitude.
Agree, I love Close To The Edge but Relayer... well it's just on another "level".

[YesHut]

For me, the term Progessive in the music realm, means change. The true change for me is Drama, a real line-up change, and true to form, Yes and the Yes sound. Very Progessive Music and still Yes. YYY YYY EEE EEE SSS SSS.....

[Hill St.]

Ctte

[Hugh Shiebler]

Tales. Their magnum opus.

[CerebralJazz85]

For me, the term Progessive in the music realm, means change. The true change for me is Drama, a real line-up change, and true to form, Yes and the Yes sound. Very Progessive Music and still Yes. YYY YYY EEE EEE SSS SSS.....

For me, and a lot who analyzed that album, 'Drama' was not a progression forward - but a regression back to the formula of the 'Fragile' album. I'm not gunna get into citing all the variables, but Drama, with its prominent bass lines, very agressive, quick and flashy, more concise arrangements - harken back to the direction of music presented on 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'. And, it makes sense that it was when Squire took control of the helm, and wasn't seduced by the ambitions of Anderson and Wakeman, that he went back to the formula that gave the band it's initial success. At least, that's the way I see it.

I think that if you're defining 'progressive' by it's common definition of speedy, complex and rapidly changing rhythms, meandering melodies, use of uncommon keys and time signatures, etc. - then, you have come to the conclusion that 'Relayer' is the bands most 'Progressive' effort, with 'Close to the Edge' a close second. And, with that definition. 'Tales From Topographical Oceans' - with its long, sprawling, epic, storry-telling style would come in somewhere after 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'.

[Wakey's #1 Fan]

only one choice...that's really tough. I've voted for CTTE, but Fragile, Tales and Relayer are close behind. I would have like to choose GftO too, because of Awaken (my all-time favourite), but it's not Yes' most progressive album. I also think KtA (esp. 2) is one of Yes' prog masterpieces, because of the great Mind Drive, Footprints and Bring Me to the Power.

[shortexchanges]

magnification- the song, Relayer- the album

Think of how prog Magnification is after open your eyes and the ladder!!!

[Yes2Yes]

To me it was Ctte. I always have a soft spot for that album.

[nitrus]

That was a very tough choice, especially from the seventies' albums. But I think Tales pretty much denied everything everyone thought a rock album should look like even more than any other Yes album, thus being the most progressive, if your explanation of the word "progressive" corresponds to this.

[CerebralJazz85]

I also think KtA (esp. 2) is one of Yes' prog masterpieces, because of the great Mind Drive, Footprints and Bring Me to the Power.

KTA 1 & 2 should not be considered as seperate titles but as one studio release - KEYSTUDIO. And, as such, the bulk of the material ranks up there with the quality of what was produced during the 'Going For The One' sessions. Not as good as the Fragile/'Yes album' era or the CTTE through Relayer years, but I think it can be placed on par with GFTO.

Which is a lot to say for something that went completely under the radar, for me at least. I heard nothing of the material until the KTA sessions were consolidated and released as one unified effort - KEYSTUDIO. And, I have to say that I was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised by the band's unanticipated shift backwards in time. You get the feeling that the guys were finally conscious of the fact that no one but 'tried and true' Yes fans would be listening to their new material from that point on.

They had weathered the commercial failure of Open Your Eyes and the growth of hard-edged alternative rock. IT was futile to proceed along the path solidified by Rabin and Sherwood any longer. There would be no more Top 40 successes no matter what was produced. The music scene had strayed too far from what had been achieved by them in 80's. There was no one else left to write for except themselves and us the fans.

[MirokuLuvstheGirls]

Tales from Topographic Oceans. Nobody else had recorded anything like that at the time, and neither had Yes. Enough said.

[YesHut]

For me, and a lot who analyzed that album, 'Drama' was not a progression forward - but a regression back to the formula of the 'Fragile' album. I'm not gunna get into citing all the variables, but Drama, with its prominent bass lines, very agressive, quick and flashy, more concise arrangements - harken back to the direction of music presented on 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'. And, it makes sense that it was when Squire took control of the helm, and wasn't seduced by the ambitions of Anderson and Wakeman, that he went back to the formula that gave the band it's initial success. At least, that's the way I see it.

I think that if you're defining 'progressive' by it's common definition of speedy, complex and rapidly changing rhythms, meandering melodies, use of uncommon keys and time signatures, etc. - then, you have come to the conclusion that 'Relayer' is the bands most 'Progressive' effort, with 'Close to the Edge' a close second. And, with that definition. 'Tales From Topographical Oceans' - with its long, sprawling, epic, storry-telling style would come in somewhere after 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'.


Honestly, I wondered who would bite on my off choice of Drama. Only to be corrected here at Yesfans, wrong in my choice. So many Teachers, and not enough Students. I hear the words, and see only a few following thru with action.

CJ85, thanks for your words of Yes like enlightenment. I stand corrected.

[daniel sylvain]

Tales...It was the one that I felt most progressive at the the and still althought not my favorite, tales brought me in a totally new dimension..Love the Remembering

[relayeire]

CTTE or GFTO

[luckeydoug1]

Tales! For me it is the most progressive as well as the best non-YesWest Yes album

[Daney Pancake]

I would say 1) Tales 2) CTTE 3) Relayer!

[JL]

The Yes Album.

At the time, it was ground breaking in the extreme, and a set up for the amazing accomplishments through Drama.

[CerebralJazz85]

For me, and a lot who analyzed that album, 'Drama' was not a progression forward - but a regression back to the formula of the 'Fragile' album. I'm not gunna get into citing all the variables, but Drama, with its prominent bass lines, very agressive, quick and flashy, more concise arrangements - harken back to the direction of music presented on 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'. And, it makes sense that it was when Squire took control of the helm, and wasn't seduced by the ambitions of Anderson and Wakeman, that he went back to the formula that gave the band it's initial success. At least, that's the way I see it.

I think that if you're defining 'progressive' by it's common definition of speedy, complex and rapidly changing rhythms, meandering melodies, use of uncommon keys and time signatures, etc. - then, you have come to the conclusion that 'Relayer' is the bands most 'Progressive' effort, with 'Close to the Edge' a close second. And, with that definition. 'Tales From Topographical Oceans' - with its long, sprawling, epic, storry-telling style would come in somewhere after 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'.

Honestly, I wondered who would bite on my off choice of Drama. Only to be corrected here at Yesfans, wrong in my choice. So many Teachers, and not enough Students. I hear the words, and see only a few following thru with action.

CJ85, thanks for your words of Yes like enlightenment. I stand corrected.


I'm sorry, bro. Every time one goes and puts his or her fingers on those keys, he needs some kinda angle from which to go about it. You gave me an angle, so I took it. You too needed an angle, so you went with an original choice for your pick for "most progressive", as well as utilizing an alternate, but not incorrect, definition of the term "progressive". But, what you said was debatable, so I debated it. I didn't mean any offense by it, but maybe I'm no longer good at gauging what's offensive. Do I think Drama is the least progressive YES title, no, far from it. But, I don't think it was their 'most' either. I think I owe you a round of coffee and doughnuts. Whadaya say I stop by, I don't know, say around 11:00 and we go over to Bobby Allen's for a Mocha Grande?

[SadPreacher]

i chose Tales....i really don't have a definitive reason....i guess i would have to say because of the variety of different mucical styles contained in a single release....i could have easily chosen CTTE also...but just the song "The Ancient" alone helps me to define "prog"......

[MINDRIVE]

IMHO:

Close to the Edge

[RobJ]

Tough choice but I'm going with CTTE as I think it set the standard for progressive rock music. Tales on the other hand is far more adventurous and stepped it up a notch or two; I love it as well. As I said, it's a tough choice.

[relayer_1]

They reached their Prog pinnacle with Tales - creatively and visually, hands down.

[Metal Marc]

Where's 9012Live?

[Lifeseeker66]

Believe it or not I chose Keys to Ascension 2 for That, That Is and Mind Drive (did I get the right album there? I don't have the discography in front of me). To me that was the most progressive Yes has been since the 70's, and maybe it just seemed more progressive because we were so hungry for more epics? I don't know, maybe it felt more progressive to me because it was the old epic style with updated sounds of this century????

[ronw]

TFTO, then CTTE and Relayer.

[chipperoo]

relayer - wow!

[illusion]

I'm going to spend a little time to think about it.

I'm still not sure how I define "Progressive".

I could say any of Close To The Edge, Tales or Relayer.

I'm leaning towards Relayer.

I'll vote later.

[Earl Grey]

I went with TALES, as it still pushes the envelope.

There are those who think it was too long, too meandering, too this or that.

Fact is, it didn't sound like ANYTHING else before itself, and still doesn't.

It is the apex of progression.

An amazing album, and the heartbeat of prog.

eegee:yesbird:

[relayeire]

TFTO or Relayer... they upped the ante on the latter, IMHO...

[Earl Grey]

TFTO or Relayer... they upped the ante on the latter, IMHO...

Amen Pete!

Excellent choices, and spot-on.

eg

[illusion]

I'm going for Tales.

I think that this pushed the envelope even among Yesfans. And I think sometimes you can even forget about it. Does that make sense?

It's ----ing great. I love it.

Sounds like nothing else to me.

I think each piece on it's own is good.

But it's greater than the sum of its parts.

MOMENT MOMENT MOMENT!

[relayeire]

I think Yes took things a step farther with Relayer... though it resembled CTTE in form, and was a kind of bookend with album, sandwiching TFTO in between...

Relayer has jazz fusion... dark themes (Jon talking about demons and devils, albeit metaphorical ones - that was new territory) in one of the most aggressive, violent, dark Yessongs that side of Machine Messiah... there's even some Hawaiian-sounding stuff in TBO... everything they did before was working up to that point... I'd have loved to hear another Yes album with Moraz, but I think they had gone as far as they could at that point...

[Earl Grey]

Another great prog alum, by a band 'other' than YES, is 'UK' by U.K.

And what an amazing progresive rock album it is.
~~~~~~~~~

Other than TALES, all of the YES albums stand up as the definition of progressive rock, but Close To The Edge and RELAYER are indispensable to anyone who is serious about this stuff.

eegee

[illusion]

Another great prog alum, by a band 'other' than YES, is 'UK' by U.K.

And what an amazing progresive rock album it is.
~~~~~~~~~

Other than TALES, all of the YES albums stand up as the definition of progressive rock, but Close To The Edge and RELAYER are indispensable to anyone who is serious about this stuff.

eegee

And DANGER MONEY. Don't forget DANGER MONEY. I prefer it to the debut!

[Earl Grey]

And DANGER MONEY. Don't forget DANGER MONEY. I prefer it to the debut!

U.K. as a threepiece.

But WHAT a three-piece!

[relayeire]

U.K. as a threepiece.

But WHAT a three-piece!

I felt like they were channeling ELP on Carrying No Cross - but that's a good thing... both UK albums are excellent... only two albums, with two of the best drummers in the world! Bruford... Bozzio... wow!

[YESOLA]

I felt like they were channeling ELP on Carrying No Cross - but that's a good thing... both UK albums are excellent... only two albums, with two of the best drummers in the world! Bruford... Bozzio... wow!

Yeah I really like Danger Money, that one gets less props than the original , but I think it's pretty strong. It's too bad ASIA wasn't more like that , at least for a few tracks, but I think on Danger Money , you can hear the beginnings of Wetton's ASIA style writing on one of the tracks.

[allpurechance]

Tales, and for one simple reason.

It sounds better today than it did yesterday; and in observing the now long standing trend, expect it to sound better tomorrow than it did today.

There are times, and I've seen others post something similar here (don't you just love when you read someone else typing what you're thinking? Think this is one of the greatest, maybe The greatest thing about this site), when think I can be persuaded that Revealing is the finest song Yes have ever done.

The album is not only like life, it IS life!

(lol, I need to go home and sleep, now)

(but I'll stand by these words tomorrow!:lmao:)

[foreveryesfan57]

tales from beginning to the end:beerchugr:

[howefan]

Relayer, it just has to be for me. Real Attitude.
toto 2nd
CTTE 3rd

[kirklott]

CttE

Topo wasn't progressive - it was just long. Long tracks does not necessarily mean prog. It did NOT move forward.

Relayer was highly innovative, but had the benefit of CttE proceeding it, ergo it built on the progression of CttE. Had Relayer come first, it would win.

[Robert Shupe]

I voted for Close To The Edge.

Tales was unbeleivably epic in it's scope and Relayer has a very sharp edge to it.

Close To Edge was grand, it was melodic, it was bold, it was varied, it soared, and I think all members were on board during the crafting. To me all three songs are cornerstone songs.

Certainly my opinion and I find it hard to put into words but there you go.
For me iti s Close To The Edge.

Robert

[Ceasar's Palace]

You have to place these albums in their time.

In 1971, amidst a hard rock dominated pop world (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple) there were still few progressive bands.
Genesis had yet to fully develop it's sound, Pink Floyd hadn't set new standards with Dark Side Of The Moon yet, so Yes were right at the cutting edge of Progressive Rock. With Fragile they defined the genre. Rick was the last piece of the puzzle, bringing in state of the art keyboards...

So I choose Fragile as their most progressive album.

:headset:

[Mike Watkins]

Tales

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

Most progressive... Tales,without doubt.
Most innovative.... CTTE.
Favourite.... Relayer.

[oliasofsuffolk]

For me it has to be Tales, although it all depends on the definition of 'progressive'. I don't think anyone really knows what it means. I do know that critical reassessment of prog has found a secure place for CTTE and most can understand Relayer on a fusion level even if they don't like it. But Tales? Even today it is fighting for its rightful place. In the Yes canon it reminds me of Sibelius' 4th symphony (I wonder if Jon would agree). It is the most difficult and at first the least likeable of all of that great composer's symphonies and yet in many ways it is the most rewarding and the most essentially Sibelius. I have come to feel the same about TFTO. Whether that means it is the most progressive I don't really know but I do think that it is the most YES.

[Roan's Lady]

You have to place these albums in their time.

In 1971, amidst a hard rock dominated pop world (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple) there were still few progressive bands.
Genesis had yet to fully develop it's sound, Pink Floyd hadn't set new standards with Dark Side Of The Moon yet, so Yes were right at the cutting edge of Progressive Rock. With Fragile they defined the genre. Rick was the last piece of the puzzle, bringing in state of the art keyboards...

So I choose Fragile as their most progressive album.

:headset:

Of course, so much depends on how you define "progressive". Is it a style or an attitude or a crafty mix of both? Fragile definitely was a defining album of the times as far as being progressive. However, the most progressive album for Yes is to me one that represents a departure from the music that came before, a potential risk-taking venture for them, as much defined by attitude as style and particular musical characteristics. Working within that definition, I'd say that The Yes Album was their greatest leap - what a difference between this and their first two albums - and in such a short time period. Definitely a pivotal album for Yes, incorporating what I see as the true meaning of "progressive".

[Write a punch line]

Big Generator is easily the most prog album ever

[Sonny G]

RELAYER

[AmyK]

I chose TFTO, because nothing like this had ever been tried by a rock band of this scope. 83 minutes of pure "prog". I think its wider possibilities have yet to be realized. Things go in cycles and maybe 20 years from now new rock bands will try to create something like this. In other words its so progressive, it has yet to be built upon.

In the sense mainstream music, The Yes Album was important with setting the stage for the prog movement itself along with King Crimson's In The Court, The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed, and Pink Floyd's Piper at The Gates of Dawn, and The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers. Fragile was in a broad sense only a modified and some might say slightly refined version of the Yes Album.

[90125yes]

CTTE

It is a masterpiece which has no equal after all these years

[90125yes]

Big Generator is easily the most prog album ever

___

sorry it is not prog

it is aor rock /pop

[bjlevine]

Well, if you take progressive to mean "pushing the envelope", then each album is indeed "progressive" in its own right, certainly from The Yes Album thru Relayer.

But since the topic is most progressive, not best progressive, I'm going to have to go with Tales, which pushed the envelope beyond what many could handle. Relayer, while a great album, and added a lot of jazz influence, was still more of a return to form.

[miar]

1.CTTE
2.Tales
3. Going for the One

[oliasdoug]

Relayer- CTTE was the first, but Relayer was the best. Kind of CTTE with an attitude.

What he said, only louder and with wildly-flailing Broadway hands...

[Dramato]

I say Relayer, even if it's not my absolute favorite Yes album, this one's the most "progressive" in terms of radically pushing the Yes envelope. Close to the Edge, Tales, and this one all form a progressive successes-and-excesses trilogy, and Relayer really marks the culmination of all that. It's starker, more daring, and edgier (even explosive at times) than either of its predecessors. Maybe it's too prog for some. "More wildy-flailing attitude," to quote the last two posts. Could they have made another Relayer without going supernova? How far can you push that "guiding spark of true fruition"? (Is that how that goes?)

[marklovesyes]

Tough choice between TFTO and Relayer. Ended up going with Relayer. Patrick Moraz "progressed" them to a sphere never before reached. And I don't think they've ever been back.
They've been to different spheres that were just as good, but Relayer was something to be reckoned with.

[Sound_Chaser1989]

It's very hard to say which Yes album is the most progressive to me, but i voted for CTTE. and the four most progressive albums to me are Going for the One, Relayer, TFTO, CTTE.

Going for the One, the mystically joyful album, recorded in Montreux, Switzerland created a real serene landscape to come up with an album i now love. I never really regarded this as my favorite. I once thought of the album as not very great. but, after givin it a few more spins and listenings, i now love it. Turn of the Century is a very beautiful song to me, and Awaken is incredible. It is the ulitmate Yessong!!!

Relayer was so chaotic and jazzy that it was and is one of my all time favorites. In my opinion, this album is the darker version of TFTO where they moved from the topographic oceans and made more chaotic soundin music. Truely avant-garde!

Tales from Topographic Oceans took a long time to grow on me, and it took a lot of spins for me to fully love the album. But, i see this album as a wonderful gem.

Close to the Edge.....my all time favorite album!!!! I always listen to this album all the way and am still impressed just like the first time i listened to it.:yesbird:

[TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART]

Four great choices there Sound Chaser.
Good to see someone so young has discovered the Jewels in their crown.

[In Camera]

I voted Relayer because that is the album in which they incorporate the most styles and it is their most diverse album.

[relayeire]

I voted Relayer because that is the album in which they incorporate the most styles and it is their most diverse album.

:appl[1]:

who knew we agree on something?

they reined things in a bit with GFTO, though it's a prog masterpiece in its own right...

[YYY]

T F T O

[witeskyn7]

TFTO
CTTE
RELAYER
GFTO

Respectively.

Tales was a very hard one to get into at first, there's just sooo much going on. I almost voted for Relayer, then CTTE...but Tales is THE definition
of progressiveness. A definate move forwards.

Most Progressive. Not most Favorite Progressive here.

That for me would have to be GFTO.


My Fave Prog songs by YES of late would be,

In The Presense Of
Mind Drive
That,That Is (Although a touch wordy.)
Homeworld
New Languages
A New State Of Mind
Universal Garden
and last but not least....

The Solution, with that 'hidden extra' that follows. Very trippy.
Has anyone ever pieced those words together?
Is it just my imagination or is that like some sort
of 'Secret Message'..????

Someone stayed up awfully late to put that one together!

The only Yes track of its kind.




:yesbird:

[bob_32_116]

I haven't voted because (a) I have not heard enough of the albums for my vote to be meaningful, and (b) it all depends on what meaning you attach to the word "progressive", a word whose meaning seems very slippery and is used by some to signify approval and by others as a putdown.

I do know however that Tales From Topographic Oceans seems to be the album (by Yes or anyone else) most cited by those who claim not to like "progressive rock" as an example of what they dislike about the genre.

[Vevey]

My vote was for Relayer

[bob16]

CTTE a CLASSIC !!! Although lately I've been really into Tales.

[somissound]

TFTO is the most progressive-out there recording they have done... Relayer a close 2nd...

Love to see them return to some adventurous-futuristic-progressive new music...

[bjlevine]

I haven't voted because (a) I have not heard enough of the albums for my vote to be meaningful, and (b) it all depends on what meaning you attach to the word "progressive", a word whose meaning seems very slippery and is used by some to signify approval and by others as a putdown.

I do know however that Tales From Topographic Oceans seems to be the album (by Yes or anyone else) most cited by those who claim not to like "progressive rock" as an example of what they dislike about the genre.
With the possible exception of Wagner, I've not heard too many complaints about the great classical compositions being too long or too complex (okay, they rioted at Rite of Spring, but its since been recognized for its greatness).

Each track on Tales holds up very nicely, though The Ancient and the percussion section of Ritual are certainly not easy listens. I still wonder if Tales had just been released with Revealing and Remembering on a single disc, would it have been more readily accepted?

[pablo3]

I first had to clarify the meaning of the term "progressive" for myself. Based on this wikipedia description, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock#Musical_characteristics
I voted for TFTO.
CTTE to me is their best work, and really helped to define the genre when it came out. However, IMHO the band took it farther with TFTO.

[90125yes]

90125 is about as progressive as frank sinatra

[90125yes]

... and who were the dumbos who voted none of them ???

[tidewater]

I voted for TALES:headset:

[kirk]

I clicked Relayer 1st, then changed it to TFTO.
It's slightly more progressive aka "experimental",
and larger in scope, IMO.

K

[Hunnibee]

Relayer first because it has a lot of ups, downs, highs, and lows, making it a very diverse album.

Topographic is close behind! It's very symphy and experimental, but lacks the bite and edginess of Relayer.

All that being said, CttE is my favorite all around Yes album, but it's not the Proggiest one. It just hits all my happy buttons! :D

[Doktor Rokster]

Definitely Relayer for me: Tales is just too uneven. I think the injection of fusion into the sound of Relayer was the final piece of the jigsaw. Yes were never so progressive again

[ASWAS96]

yes you are right. I am in the minority, but it seems like CTTE really moved them in the direction of progressive music.

[yes75]

Tales and CttE.. which one?

I'll go for CttE because it's my favourite Yesalbum!

[pianozach]

For me, and a lot who analyzed that album, 'Drama' was not a progression forward - but a regression back to the formula of the 'Fragile' album. I'm not gunna get into citing all the variables, but Drama, with its prominent bass lines, very agressive, quick and flashy, more concise arrangements - harken back to the direction of music presented on 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'. And, it makes sense that it was when Squire took control of the helm, and wasn't seduced by the ambitions of Anderson and Wakeman, that he went back to the formula that gave the band it's initial success. At least, that's the way I see it.

I think that if you're defining 'progressive' by it's common definition of speedy, complex and rapidly changing rhythms, meandering melodies, use of uncommon keys and time signatures, etc. - then, you have come to the conclusion that 'Relayer' is the bands most 'Progressive' effort, with 'Close to the Edge' a close second. And, with that definition. 'Tales From Topographical Oceans' - with its long, sprawling, epic, storry-telling style would come in somewhere after 'The Yes Album' and 'Fragile'.

That was a very tough choice, especially from the seventies' albums. But I think Tales pretty much denied everything everyone thought a rock album should look like even more than any other Yes album, thus being the most progressive, if your explanation of the word "progressive" corresponds to this.

And this will always be the problem with question such as this: There is no consensus on what, precisely, progressive rock is, and therefore the question has no one definitive answer.

Somewhere back in the archives here I delineated my take on the subject, in this case in a discussion on, I think, whether Pink Floyd is progressive.

You see, I tend to think of qualifying as "progressive", it's more a matter of diagnosis, that is, there are several attributes that can make a song, album, artist or group "Progressive". This can be subject matter, virtuosity, length of work, alternate formats, inclusion of classical, jazz, or other musical themes or instruments, complex time signatures, concept albums, use of orchestra, contrapuntalness, etc.

The question is, in my mind, are enough criteria, or "prog points" earned.

For instance, I could find a handful of Yes tracks that would lead you to believe that Yes is not in the least bit Progressive (Oh, let's see . . . a couple of tunes from their debut album, Money, I'm Down, Circus of Heaven), but, of course, overall, they absolutely are - the dimensions, the color pallette the Yes uses certainly qualifies them.

I went with TALES, as it still pushes the envelope.

There are those who think it was too long, too meandering, too this or that.

Fact is, it didn't sound like ANYTHING else before itself, and still doesn't.

It is the apex of progression.

An amazing album, and the heartbeat of prog.

eegee:yesbird:

Yesirree indeedy. Obscure lyrics, an overall unifying theme of four related movements, frequent time signature and key changes, virtuosity, sound collages, obtuse segments, spirituality, poetic lyrics - it just goes on and on.

Not that CtTE and Relayer are lacking, of course.

TFTO, then CTTE and Relayer.

My list, exactly.

[kirklott]

CttE, because it was the most ground-breaking at the time. Close second is Relayer, but it had the CttE model to work on.

Definitely NOT Topo, which was progressive only in figuring out much filler a prog audience will endure....

[gathernear]

CttE, because it was the most ground-breaking at the time. Close second is Relayer, but it had the CttE model to work on.

Definitely NOT Topo, which was progressive only in figuring out much filler a prog audience will endure....

You forgot the IMO.

[Altres]

Close to the Edge over TFTO. Only because it came first. CTTE is even more ground breaking than the Yes Album to me.


Brian

[gathernear]

Close to the Edge over TFTO. Only because it came first. CTTE is even more ground breaking than the Yes Album to me.


Brian

I remember the first time I heard the song Close To The Edge. My jaw hit the floor, and stayed there. I was completely in awe. I think it could be the most progressive album, ever. At least in 1972.

[pianozach]

I remember the first time I heard the song Close To The Edge. My jaw hit the floor, and stayed there. I was completely in awe. I think it could be the most progressive album, ever. At least in 1972.

Yeah, well, I remember my jaw hitting the floor the first time I heard ROUNDABOUT. That organ solo whacked me right upside the head.

Of course, I also remember my brain hitting the floor the first time I heard ELP's Tarkus too.

[jaynote1]

had to go with Relayer on this one.....Ctte, TFTO, written in sonata form, the songs on Relayer were more radical and jazz-fusion-ish....a breach of the rock/classical motif that permeated the previous Yes albums....Moraz breaks out his best Chick Corea on the keys, and Steve just flat lays it down....Squires melodic yet fanciful dodges on Gates floor me every time....

(Im pretty much working on my own definition of Progressive here, because Im not really sure what others mean.....having been a Jazz/rock fan-Dregs, Mahavishnu, Return to Forever, etc., i tend to think of that music as progressive.....)

[Bluegrunt]

The answer is Tales. There's no doubt, no doubt.

[CybrKhatru]

After mulling it over for, oh, nearly two years, I'm going with RELAYER.

[somissound]

The answer is Tales.

I'm going with RELAYER.

I think you are both right...

Tales is so far out there, then again Relayer hits uncharted territory as well :headset:

[Awakening21]

I voted for close to the edge because it was my first satori

[nzyesfan]

Relayer...with Yessongs in second place

p