Is MAGNIFICATION good or not? [Archive] - Yesfans.com: Founded 4/01

Dr Yes

05-12-2003, 08:47 AM

Magnification has always been something of an "Emperor's New Clothes" story for me. I remember getting it in September 2001 and there being far more important things going on in the world to give the album much time. When I did listen to it I found it plodding, one-dimensional, somewhat plageristic (in that it seemed to borrow a lot of motifs from musicals, classical and film music in an unimaginative way), sentimental (in the sense of Anderson's lyrical output has gone this way in the last few albums), and Howe was mixed way too low for my taste.

Hence with this rather negative impression in mind I was surprised to hear Yes fans heralding it as the best album since GftO and in some cases the best since CttE. Strange. But as we know it's all opinions. Mine has moved a bit since then. I quite like the title track, love Give Love Each Day and In the Presence of and can listen to the rest (barring Don't Go and Soft As a Dove) without feeling that the band are past it.

Just one interesting question on the rating of this album. If you were to put forward an album for potentially interested new fans, would you choose this one? I don't think there is a right or wrong answer but I just can't imagine anyone thinking it would hit the mark or show people what the band is capable of.

Having said that my wife says I pick the wrong stuff to use to introduce the band to new listeners (i.e. Gates, The Ancient, RSOG, Awaken etc) and that sometimes the simpler melodies are more catchy. So what do I know!!!

BredYes

05-12-2003, 08:57 AM

I introduced someone to Yes by Maginfication last year. I recommend the album to her, she bought it and loved it. After this she got Yessongs and The Yes Album.
So it can work, but most of the time I use the classic albums (TYA, CTTE) for introduction. Relayer and Tales are too complex for new listeners and the Rabin area does not give a good first impression about what Yes is all about.

PaulH

05-12-2003, 10:29 AM

I like it...

I would have liked to seen the band get behind the album a bit more and feature more songs from it live.

I think it would have heightened fan awareness...and given the music an energy that only a live performance can give.

I am glad that Rick is back in the fold, but alas it seems that yet another line-up change has (for the most part) sidelined most of the albums cuts.

Whatever happened to the good old days of putting out a record and actually making those tracks the featured songs of the show and tour?

I guess the Ladder was the best featured since the TALK tour.

Maybe the Europe tour and beyond will get a taste of some more
of this album?
Maybe Rick will take some time to learn the parts...so he can leave his glasses back at the hotel?

Martin Riley

05-12-2003, 11:41 AM

MAGNIFICATION is MAGNIFICENT

Byroan

05-12-2003, 12:07 PM

Well it seems like most of the answers have skirted the issue, so I'll do the same- I'm ambivilent (sp?) towards this cd. However I do like some of the songs, if not all of them. I think the experiment with the orchestra was just that, and for me it just wasn't a solid Yes cd- I say that because, when I heard them live last summer I loved the new stuff- especially Magnification. Don't get me wrong though, I do like Mag, I just don't love it. I thought Open Your Eyes was better than the Ladder which is better than Mag. However, Magnification is so much better than anything else out there, that its really a matter of is it really good or great. I'll listen to anything they record. So when is the Live cd coming!

Dantalion Rides Again

05-12-2003, 12:09 PM

I have taken a strong liking to most of Yes's 90s output. I love this album especially. Took a bunch of listens to really decide what to make of it though.

I also think it has a serious atmosphere that is refreshing in a weird way. Ever since Tormato, they seem to be trying to keep it light, but this one is darker and heavier than usual. I love the Ladder, and this one makes a great contrast to that album. The Ladder was very light hearted and upbeat; this one is more . . . what is it? More introspective or something. They're like daytime/nighttime companion albums. (Does that make sense, or is it just strange?! :confused: )

It kind of reminds me of the more intense nature of the early 70s Yes records. It's a return to form in way. One of many different returns for Yes lately, I think.

TNyesfan

05-12-2003, 12:41 PM

I love this CD. It is rather dark in places, but then Yes, in all it's various configurations, has always managed to play what we've needed to hear.

ycantibu

05-12-2003, 12:43 PM

Dale Cleary

05-12-2003, 01:59 PM

:D :D
I love it.

Ron Drummond

05-12-2003, 02:30 PM

I love this album too. Takes awhile to get to know though. I liked it the first time I heard it, but it took a dozen hearings before I fell in love with it. The only track I don't care for is "Don't Go", though it's a fine example of Chris's neo-doowop -- I just don't think it fits the rest of the album very well.

But yes, as someone said, it's like one long piece. Larry Groupe did a fine job, IMHO -- a loving contribution from a talented lifelong Yes fan. He adds just the right touches again and again. And when the orchestra goes off on its own, the musical materials progress and transform in interesting ways -- like the whole end sequence to "Dreamtime", which is marvelous.

I agree with some of Bobby Dantalion's comments. I too love latter-day Yes, and The Ladder and Magnification do make an interesting pair, light and dark. It's interesting that the "Eyes of Child" vocal motif first shows up on Keystudio, and then "Soft as a Dove" is a reworking of (and vast improvement on) "From the Balcony". (I twice listened to tracks 1-3, 6-7, & 11 of OYE over the weekend, and noticed that "Wonderlove" reworks the central rock-out in "Mind Drive".)

Also, I've always been intrigued by the fact that Magnification was officially released in the U.K. on 9/11/01 -- the album sounds to me like it was written in response to 9/11, and yet of course it was not. Eery though, particularly the chorus from "In the Presence Of", which sounds like a direct description of the towers coming down.

And though I've been a Yes fan since the mid-70s, Magnification was the album that convinced me I had to own the entire Yes catalog -- a catalog I love precisely because of its magnificent diversity, no two albums alike and every one of them well made, lovingly crafted, even if the inspiration is uneven. But how could it be otherwise? Incredibly high standards throughout, though. What an achievement -- what a gift to the world and to posterity. Long may they continue!

Dantalion Rides Again

05-12-2003, 02:45 PM

:cheers:

Right on.

I'll have to listen to Wonderlove for it's relation to Mind Drive. And In The Prescence Of as well . . . I don't think I remember which part you mean.

But yeah, Magnification seems to be a better album each time I hear it. I couldn't tell if I liked it at first either. Now I love it. The Ladder reaffirmed Yes's greatness, and Magnification sealed it. For me it definately put the icing on the catalog.

Now my Yes catalog is all sticky. :rolleyes:

arrel

05-12-2003, 02:52 PM

I've liked MAGNIFICATION from the start, but I don't consider it very representative of the group's output as a whole. I wouldn't think of introducing someone to Yes from this disc, but I'm glad to hear it worked for some people. That's cool.

I would still pick THE YES ALBUM or FRAGILE as the best-to-introduce-someone albums - even after all these years. If someone doesn't like those two discs, I couldn't imagine them liking much of the other non-Rabin material.

illusion

05-12-2003, 03:21 PM

It's quality. The best since Drama! Nice one boys.

There is to much of Jon on this one though, and not enough Steve. Still good though.

eri-chan

05-12-2003, 03:49 PM

I love Magnification....most of it anyway. I'm fully aware of the difference in sound between this album and their first few, especially concerning Jon's lyrics and the especially melodic quality of the music on this CD. In all honesty, I think there's a lot of pop-influence on this album. But its almost because of this that I love it so much. The melodies and harmonies are breathtaking in spots, and I have to say that although the addition of the orchestra takes away someof the punch of the music, it certainly sounds beautiful.

Initially, when I first bought Magnificaiton, the orchestral parts turned me off to it. It took me 3 or 4 listens to really "get it" and get around the classical instruments to really hear the songs. I have a feeling I'm in the minority when I say this, but Spirit of Survival, Don't Go, and Can You Imagine are probably my favorite tracks. I also love Dreamtime and the title track, and of course In the Presence Of. The only tracks I really dont like are We Agree and Soft as a Dove...but even those I can appreciate to a certain degree. Even if I don't much care for We Agree musically, certain moments I find quite enjoyable, and the message speaks to me (like so much Yesmusic does). I really dislike the thin, over simplified sound of Soft as a Dove, and I don't much care for the way Jon's voice sounds on that track, but the lyrics are rather sweet, especially when you look at it as being sort of a lullabye.

All in all I really do love this album. Its uplifting and somber, melodic and dark, beautiful and thought-provoking, all at the same time. I do wish they'd play more of it live though, the last show I went to they only played In The Presence Of, and I wish they'd give a nod to some of the other tracks. I'd love to hear Spirit of Survival or Dreamtime live.....

eri-chan

05-12-2003, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by arrel
I've liked MAGNIFICATION from the start, but I don't consider it very representative of the group's output as a whole. I wouldn't think of introducing someone to Yes from this disc, but I'm glad to hear it worked for some people. That's cool.

I would still pick THE YES ALBUM or FRAGILE as the best-to-introduce-someone albums - even after all these years. If someone doesn't like those two discs, I couldn't imagine them liking much of the other non-Rabin material.

*nodnodnod*

I fully agree....I haven't actually heard the Fragile album yet, but I know all the songs and I think they're really a great representation of what this band can do.

Teakbois

05-12-2003, 03:57 PM

was one of the first albums I got. I like Magnification because it has like the other YES albums something uniquely its own. ;)

eri-chan

05-12-2003, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by Teakbois
I like Magnification because it has like the other YES albums something uniquely its own. ;)

exactly, its different, but its beautiful in its individuality.

arrel

05-12-2003, 04:15 PM

It's nice to hear people express themselves about this cd.

I just wanted to add, from a somewhat different perspective, that I immediately liked the orchestral balance on this disc. It's the first rock/orchestral fusion album I've heard where both the band and the orchestra had interesting and unique things to contribute to the whole. In my experience, the orchestra is usually relegated to some kind of glorified rhythm section (as in much of the Symphonic Yes dvd - with the exclusion of CTTE and AYAI which did achieve a degree of balance).

But, then, my perspective does seem to differ from most, since "We Agree" and "Give Love Each Day" are my favorite tracks, and I don't mind "Soft as a Dove" at all.

electricfreedom

05-12-2003, 04:16 PM

I think Magnification's a different but good album. There are some songs on there that Im still having to adjust to, though I've owned the album for a year and a half. I love Deeper and Mag. I think Can You Imagine is a wonderful song. Chris should at least have another spot on the next album, especially since there's been no follow up to FOOW. So, another vocal spot for Chris should hold us over again. Overall, I think Mag is a wondeful album. More track should've been performed on the last three tours.

eri-chan

05-12-2003, 04:48 PM

yes, yes, more Chris vocals!!!!

and its not so much that i don't like the balance of the orchestral sections...I actually think they compliment the music very nicely, they aren't over or understated, its just enough. And now, after listening to it as many times as I have, I really love the orchestral parts. it was just that my experience with yes before hearing Mag was with the more powerful, more ROCK songs from their earlier days, so hearing this softer sound was a bit of a shock to me. Now though, I think its just as good as anything else I've heard from them. Its a nice change - I listen to Magnification when i wanna relax and and unwind, but I listen to Yessongs when I want good rock music ;)

Silent_wings

05-12-2003, 05:20 PM

Welcome to Yesfans eri-chan cool avatar.

I love it now.
I didn’t like Magnification when I first heard it. It took a long time for me to get into it. Hearing In the Presence Of live at the Hollywood Bowl started softening me up and the Symphonic DVD finished it off. Now I just love it can’t figure out what I had against it. Guess I’m just slow.:D
Magnificate Magnification.

leqin

05-12-2003, 05:29 PM

Well I own 2 copies - the standard and the Limited Edition and I don't consider it a album that people, unfamilier with the bands more recent output, will find hard to get into. Quite recently I've managed to convert 2 ex fans back into the fold - mind you they keep wanting to borrow my CDs and they happen to be clayheads so maybe it wasn;t that good a idea.

I think we need to keep it in perspective as a one off - they wanted to do some thing with a orchestra and they aren't suddenly going to start making all their new material sound the same - no chance with Ric back in the fold and if anything I expect some truelly inspired output just around the corner - maybe not another Tales and more like another GFTO given enough inspiration.

eri-chan

05-12-2003, 10:24 PM

i hope your right......are they back in the studio again, or is everyone just speculating when they talk about a new album?

R'tanys

05-13-2003, 01:39 AM

It's a good album. Love the title track and CYI, with the vocals mixed differently. It's the same voices, but the dynamic is fresher sounding. I just wish it were longer.

Earl Grey

05-13-2003, 02:17 AM

Originally posted by eri-chan
i hope your right......are they back in the studio again, or is everyone just speculating when they talk about a new album?

Just speculation there Erica... But we just KNOW that YES will be recording that great 'classic line-up' album in 2004, which will knock Close To The Edge out of first place! (Tossing salt over my shoulder, Ouch! Threw-out my back! Oh well...). :ele:
~~~~~~

Bravo Mr Drummond! I didn't know about the 9/11 connection, although MAGNIFICATION is ever ravelled in that strangely vulnerable time for me. Maybe for all of us.

I think of Magnification as a gift.

A gift from YES to the world, in the worst of times. Sweet honey in the rock.

'In The Presence Of' is a prayer of healing.

I took it quite personally then... I still do.

Magnification is a gift. One of the few sweet things I can actually hold to myself from that dark year.
It makes everything ok in a strange way...

And in looking back, years from now, I will think of 2001 as the year of Magnification. The darker aspect of the historical pagent is merely a footnote.

I love 'Magnification'. Could you tell?

:ele: :yesbird:

R'tanys

05-13-2003, 05:51 AM

I'm not sure I remember where I read it, but Rick has suggested that they are planning to do another studio album and promised that this one would be "a bit different". They've been composing new material during the last US tour, and I can only speculate that Jon's solo, "Show Me" would be part of that. All I really know for sure is that Rick said they were planning to return to the studio at some point in time.

Earl Grey

05-13-2003, 06:16 AM

I can hear an epic in there.

Just let Wakey, Howe, Squire and White at it...

Heart of the now.

Dream on!

Dreams are reality.

So I speak it.

And we were there for the genesis of the tome...

To live in interesting times.

The chinese blessing.

:ele:

eri-chan

05-13-2003, 07:54 AM

well just the fact that they're discussing it gives me hope :) *crosses fingers*

Earl Grey

05-13-2003, 08:04 AM

And then some...

No worry. And no question whatsoever.

There WILL be a new great YES album. It will knock us out.
We will sing it's praises...

And then, we will wish for another.

Yesfans. SO predictable.

We always believe, we always know...

There is always that signpost up ahead.

It reads 'INFINITY'.

And we believe.

That is our continuance.

Our reason to be here.

Always the new album.

We are SO lucky! All goodness and virtue. The sort that isn't quantified.
YES!

Oh YES.

:yesbird:

eri-chan

05-13-2003, 10:10 AM

Earl, I love your posts. You always say so eloquently what is in my heart that I cannot express. Thanks you for giving me words for what I feel.

TNyesfan

05-13-2003, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Ron Drummond
I love this album too. Takes awhile to get to know though. I liked it the first time I heard it, but it took a dozen hearings before I fell in love with it.

Also, I've always been intrigued by the fact that Magnification was officially released in the U.K. on 9/11/01 -- the album sounds to me like it was written in response to 9/11, and yet of course it was not. Eery though, particularly the chorus from "In the Presence Of", which sounds like a direct description of the towers coming down.

Ron, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention the 9/11 correlation. I bought Mag here in the USA soon after 9/11. I put it on but didn't get past, "In this world the gods have lost their way..." I just couldn't take it in. Long story short, it was the only CD I took up to the mountains with me that summer. Providence smiled upon me as I came to terms with what had occurred the fall before. Like all art that is universal, the music that was too confronting in pain, also had the power to heal.

eri-chan

05-13-2003, 12:21 PM

the more the 9/11 issue is discussed, the more i can see the correlation you're talking about.....it makes me wonder about what the band members' reactions were to the 9/11 incidents.......i wonder how it affected them, and if it will come out in any of their future music.

Insane Teacher

05-13-2003, 10:00 PM

It is my favorite album, perhaps of all time. It has had the number 1 spot in my car CD player since I bought it the day it was released in December 2001. Maybe someday it will break Cal Ripken's record.

yessongs72

08-06-2003, 02:54 AM

Magnification is a Masterpiece!It's the best music that Yes has done since Tales,with the exception of Don't Go.I sit down and listen to this pice of music in 5.1 on the DVD-A and am just amazed of all that's going on,it's awesome.If you don't have a DVD player that play's DVD-A'S,find a friend and buy the DVD-A of MAG,you wil be truely amazed.

Earl Grey

08-06-2003, 03:00 AM

This old thread just kind-of popped-up in the 'Today's Posts' area... Without a new post to speak of. Was it the ghost in the machine (well, some strange ghosts on the site lately, to be sure. And if they want to bring back the MAG thread, it's probably a good thing! Better than a new political thread anyway...
HAR! ;)).

Magnification is a gift. Jon must have been chanting properly, Steve: eating brown rice no doubt... For some reason, our band was on top of history, and knew what the world needed even before the world knew. 9/11 and Magnification.

I pick Magnification!

;)

Earl Grey

08-06-2003, 03:04 AM

The ghost in the machine...

You must have just posted when I saw the thread pop-up on the 'Today's Posts' thread... and I posted back before your post even registered (And I think I KNOW this site... did you know, that as you 'edit' your old post is still seen? Yipes! I found that one out a while ago... and it causes me to pause before I ever write something that could be of offence, believe you me! Haha!).

Glad you brought this old war-horse ('Peace-Horse'?) back.

Magnificate magnification!

:ele:

yessongs72

08-06-2003, 03:16 AM

Originally posted by Earl Grey
The ghost in the machine...

You must have just posted when I saw the thread pop-up on the 'Today's Posts' thread... and I posted back before your post even registered (And I think I KNOW this site... did you know, that as you 'edit' your old post is still seen? Yipes! I found that one out a while ago... and it causes me to pause before I ever write something that could be of offence, believe you me! Haha!).

Glad you brought this old war-horse ('Peace-Horse'?) back.

Magnificate magnification!

:ele:

What?? What did I do this time,lol? :) Earl, one day we shall have a brew and a tequilla shot!;)

Mr. Holland

08-06-2003, 01:34 PM

I love this album, I only got it a year after it's release and the first few times I had to get used to it, but it seems to grow on me, the more I listen to it, so you know what, Im going to put it on right now!!

upbgirl

08-06-2003, 03:12 PM

well, seeing as i DO-i LOVE magnification.. [i am very sight-challenged these days!! aarrggh!]

as for the whether i like the lp??
in a word..

YES!!

:D

[oohh! looky! my post count is the same as the year of my wonderful gmc pick up!! woowoo! 1954 was a very good year for trucks!!]:cheers:

Dances w/PURPLE

08-06-2003, 05:13 PM

it's YES..it's all good. Well, maybe not ALL but for the most part.

BlueEagle

08-08-2003, 12:23 AM

Like most of the post-GFTO albums, it has some high points and not so high points. Some of the songs are very good and some are just ok. All in all though, the orchestra doesnt really add much to it. At some points its even distracting.
I think it's a case of the concept being better than the execution.

Kevin Still

08-25-2003, 05:30 PM

I like it.

But, then again, I really find things on all of the releases that I like. Even a few bits on Union. Things from ABWH and Yes West.

K

Byroan

08-26-2003, 10:40 AM

I finally bought the DVD-A version- it blew me away- The sound is awesome, as a result Magnification is really starting to grow on me.

SonicDeath10

09-03-2003, 12:04 PM

great great album. the orchestra works well, actually amazingly well. it's more of an experience than an album to listen to for song by song (unlike the ladder, which was very varied).

ToneTone

09-23-2003, 01:12 AM

Magnification will never be over and done for me, I watched it being recorded in Santa Barbara.

spedblavio

09-23-2003, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by ToneTone
Magnification will never be over and done for me, I watched it being recorded in Santa Barbara. Do tell!! And welcome to Yesfans, ToneTone, I hope you'll share some inside views with us.

tardistraveler

09-30-2003, 05:30 PM

Welcome ToneTone! Glad you found us and hope you come back and post often!

I've said MANY times out here - I LOVE Magnification! I still love it as much as I ever did - had it playing in the car all day yesterday and this morning too!

And I've turned others on to it too - gave 5 copies last year as Christmas gifts!

SonicDeath10

09-30-2003, 05:38 PM

wow five copies!

Soundchaser148

09-30-2003, 09:28 PM

Originally posted by Dantalion Rides Again

But yeah, Magnification seems to be a better album each time I hear it. I couldn't tell if I liked it at first either. Now I love it. [/B]

I was the same as you, Danta, as regards getting into Magnification. I liked parts of it from the start but it took me a number of listens to get fully into it. But then that just goes to show it is a wonderful YES recording as all of their best work always takes a while to get into. Why? Because of the sheer depth and many-varied quality of YES music. What a magnificent band they are!

Dantalion Rides Again

10-02-2003, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Soundchaser148
I was the same as you, Danta, as regards getting into Magnification. I liked parts of it from the start but it took me a number of listens to get fully into it. But then that just goes to show it is a wonderful YES recording as all of their best work always takes a while to get into. Why? Because of the sheer depth and many-varied quality of YES music. What a magnificent band they are!

Magnification strikes me as being mysteriously great. I didn't have a strong feeling about it at first, and now it's really the one disc I go for most often, I must say. I listen to lots of music throughout any given day, and it's amazing how frequently I grab for Magnification!

And yeah, I have 90125 and Relayer in my car now and I can't forsee a time when I'll be ready to bring either of them back into the house to trade for a different tape to travel with. Okay, well maybe I'll bring in 90125 sooner, but I'm realizing how much more I'm digging both of these albums than I expected to!

Tonydess

10-11-2003, 07:26 PM

I like this album alot.Very strong material since the Keys albums. Magnification is a great song opener reminiscent of the Beatles"A Day In The Life". Spirit of Survival sounds very heavy metal to me.Dreamtime is my favorite off the album though.I especially love the instrumental jam in the middle of the song.Bass and drums kicking away with a slide guitar solo.

Koen Dejonghe

10-27-2003, 06:41 PM

The album "Magnification" is before everything else a work of art of a rock-band with a classical orchestra. In the past there are many examples of it (Deep Purple, Zappa, Porcupine, The Beatles,..). Very often I had mixed feelings about the result because most of the time the orchestral arrngements were pretty flat. And most of the time the band with the singer is too loud in the balance. This is always a great problem for the engineers to get a nice result with so many different players with electric and acoustic instruments.

In the "Magnification" album there are nice orchestral arrangements that makes this album what I should call the classical one. The balance between the electric and the acoustic instruments is well done. Sometimes the woodwind is too silent for me and is the orchestra recorded too general. But never you get the feeling that one of the two groups are more important than the other one. As always there are the strong melodies of Anderson on the lyrics written in a very natural way.Strong pieces are "Magnification", "Give love each day", "Dreamtime" and the symfonie "In The Presence Of".

:band:

B.T.W. has anybody heard the bassoonsolo in the beginning of "Magnification"?

tardistraveler

10-27-2003, 07:05 PM

Welcome to YesFans Koen! Glad you found us! We're a friendly bunch here, so please come back and post often!

petemargowskins

10-28-2003, 12:37 AM

MAGNIFICATION is the best yes album since the 80's--hard to believe there's no keyboard player! but wakeman brought it to life last winter, and the yessymphonic tour was incredible as well. the album is more inspired, more dynamic, and more passionate than any yes music from the 90's, give or take a song here and there ("take the water," "without hope," "endless dream," "universal garden"). the new millenium has been very promising so far for us yes freaks!

BredYes

10-28-2003, 03:58 AM

After not listening to it for a while, I listened to it last weekend and I loved it from the first to the last second. It is a very coherent album. Give love each day and In the presence of are my favorites.

tardistraveler

10-28-2003, 10:24 AM

Hi Pete! Haven't noticed you out here before - welcome to YesFans! Glad you enjoy Magnification - it's one of my favorites - and I agree about Wakeman bringing it to life - I really enjoyed how he took up the orchestral parts and made them his own!

Dr Yes

10-28-2003, 11:56 AM

Dr. Yes, it took me an eternity and a day, but ah finally got a copy of it from the library and played it. Can't say I really liked it. Just didn't do it for me, especially the song with the beeping noises [can't recall the name of it off-hand]. It drove me mad. Soft As A Dove...Jon's voice was sounding a bit strained on that. I can't really recall much about the other songs.

I know exactly what you mean ycantibu. My overriding memory of the first time I heard it (in the car on 10 September 2001 I am sure I am right in recalling), was that it was laborious, plodding, unimaginative, Steve was virtually inaudible, and it heavily plagerised a lot of other sources. Some now say this is just a nod to other writers and that the borrowing is somehow in tribute, but I remember thinking ah, that's the one with The Beatles ending, that's the one that sounds like Copeland, that's the one with the riff from Get Carter, that's the one with the bit of West Side Story, that's the one with the theme to Angel, that's the one that sounds Beatle-esque again, and so on. Moreover, I couldn't BEAR to listen to Soft as a Dove and can barely bring myself to say that one with the initials DG. What a pile of pants.

Since then with much hard work (should listening to great music be this hard - it wasn't with CttE, tales, Relayer, GftO etc) I have come to appreciate In the Presence Of, Magnification and Give Love Each Day, but it isn't top of my list of Classic albums.

The King is in the altogether, he's altogether . . .

hiddendragonet

10-31-2003, 10:13 AM

yessongs72

11-09-2003, 05:05 PM

petemargowskins- Hey, I have been listening to Mag more since we talked, and... I gotta say, I really am enjoying it more and more. I still think the vocals are a bit overproduced, but musically- it is Yes. Howe is Howe, what can you say? It is very musically mature, moving, dynamic- I like it very much, and think soon I will love it.

Welcome Petemargowskins, all- best friend of mine since forever, and we have seen Yes together- what, three times? Good man, music-lover extraordinaire.

HD

Hey HD,I am happy to see that you are liking Magnification abit more since we last chatted.Keep listening and imagine how fullfilling it could have been if Rick would have been there to work with the orchestra,ohhhh,blows my mind thinking about it. Keep listening and let us know updates.
Don,aka,ys72

WhiteKnight

11-18-2003, 08:16 AM

I mainly listen to music in my car. I have 24 cassettes in a container sitting on the front passenger's seat, and an unknown quantity of additional tapes swarming in the mysterious garbage undergrowth of my backseat.

When a cassette goes from front seat to undergrowth, its listening life cycle is supposed to be over. (It becomes something that someday I'll be happy to accidentally find - Wow! Long Time No See!)

I have to say MAG did that - it is now in the backseat of my car. Alas, 2 years have passed, more or less. I think it was pretty good at the surviving game, better than any album I can think of since the 80s.

In retrospect, and rearview mirror, I confirm that MAG is as good as many classics, the better since the classics.... more than that, it actually feels like a classic to me now!

WK

SallyKhatru

11-18-2003, 09:26 AM

I definitely love Magnification. tunes like Dreamtime, ITPO, Giev Love each day and We agree belong to my favourites. it makes me dream all the time and if you remember the Symphonic DVd you can´t deny that there´s a lot of magic in the songs. Hope they go on like this. I liked having an Orchestra there again.

TOR-NUE

12-09-2003, 06:57 PM

I got Magnification last summer and I also saw two Yessyphonic shows debuting the material. Got the Symphonic DVD recently.

I think it's a good album, especially "In the Presence Of"", which I believe is destined to become a Yes classic piece. "Don't Go" is fun upbeat piece.

There is a peculiar mix of sugary pop and exalted prog in this album, which is good 'cuz it adds variety.

All in all, it's a tasty album for the long=time Yesfan, but not really representative of the true Yes feel.--as far as Yes classicists may deem.

martzy

12-09-2003, 06:59 PM

It has its moments and certainly could have been better!
But overall it was a brave approach to tour with the symphony, which produced some fine live entertainment!

Faceintheplace

12-09-2003, 07:28 PM

Is MAGNIFICATION good or not?

Its good except for "Soft as a Dove."

sleeptalker

01-05-2004, 02:25 AM

THE DVD-Audio version in 5.1 is simply brilliant - check it out :popcorn:

About The Round

01-05-2004, 02:46 AM

Magnification is average. Too mutch "Moody Blues" in some of the verse-chorus tunes. Too little progressive in other words. Also as in the last twenty years or so – Anderson has too mutch to do. He covers all areas included some sequents where he should have stepped back and let his fellow Yesmen do their instrumental input. In the Precence Of, Can You Imagine and Magnification though, is well written and will for sure be classic Yes-tunes.

gt76yesman

01-07-2004, 12:37 AM

I really like Magnification >Spirit of Survival. I also like We Agree, Give Love Each Day, Time is Time, Soft As A Dove and Dreamtime. For being a 30 year fan I was suprised I like evey song on the CD! I think my least favorite (though I still like it a lot) is ITPO. Don't know why, 200 listens later and it just has never grown on me, even after seeing it 10 times in concerts the last two years.
Glendo

stevie

01-11-2004, 11:00 AM

I love this CD. I know it's probably already been said but IMO this is the best since GFTO. I like every track. There are signs of influences from every era of Yes music. Soft As A Dove and Time Is Time remind me of the first 2 Yes albums. Dreamtime sounds like something that could have come out of the Rabin era. It's great to hear Chris take the lead vocal on Can You Imagine. We are so lucky to have two of the finest most distictive voices/singers in our band. Magnification and ITPO are already classics to me. Give Love Each Day is another Yes classic with such emotion in it. As I say I love every track on this CD including Don't Go.

jaynote1

01-14-2004, 12:53 PM

heheheee....I have to laugh, there is so much negativity thrown towards 'Dont Go', which is the song that initially drew me into the album....I like the album, and I like Dont Go, its a nice little pop tune that captures(in its own little way) the sadness of a dissolving relationship....Magnification(the song) is wonderful, and ITPO is certainly what I expect from Yes....A friend of mine says that the last three Yes albums sound like Jon solo stuff, and I have to agree to a point, but all in all, I like it........

SonicDeath10

01-14-2004, 01:44 PM

really good jon solo albums. ;)

Kevin Still

01-26-2004, 11:10 AM

Magnification is another chapter in the YES story that I don't mind hearing about again and again. Took a couple listens to reach that point but that is not unusual. The only YES album (going back to the olden days folks) that grabbed me from play one was Close to the Edge. All of the others took a time or two. Of course, like you, I like some releases a little better than others.

SonicDeath10

01-26-2004, 11:15 AM

i'ts a great album with great, wonderful songs. steve is playing in a more minimalistic, steve hackett way and the results are astonishing: gone are his weaker attempts at playing like he did in the old days. he has a new style of playing, one that fits the rather busy music well. the rich melodies are only enhanced by the orchestra. was the orchestra 100% neccesary? well with rick playing they probably wouldn't have needed it. but without him it was great. even if they never work with an orchestra again (they shouldn't) it was a great experiment, one of the best rock classical bondings ever.

yessongs72

01-26-2004, 05:44 PM

i'ts a great album with great, wonderful songs. steve is playing in a more minimalistic, steve hackett way and the results are astonishing: gone are his weaker attempts at playing like he did in the old days. ]
Great album,yes,or you can quote me on the best since "Tales".Now to Steve,Weaker attempts??? What tree did you fall out of?

SonicDeath10

01-26-2004, 06:27 PM

Great album,yes,or you can quote me on the best since "Tales".Now to Steve,Weaker attempts??? What tree did you fall out of?
his stuff on the ladder is weak.

yessongs72

01-26-2004, 07:13 PM

his stuff on the ladder is weak.
your post is weaker than some coffee i have had...it's evident you don't know the music.

SonicDeath10

01-26-2004, 07:54 PM

yesindeed

01-26-2004, 08:31 PM

come on and honestly tell me you think his solo in face to face after jon says "come on steve" is anything less than completely banal?

and by the way it's just a matter of opinion. you don't have to be a prick about it you know?

Yes he does...

oh that was naughty my precious... no no no, we doesn't mean it! yes we does..naughty naught nasty yessongses..

SonicDeath10

01-26-2004, 08:32 PM

TRUEYOUTRUEME

01-26-2004, 09:15 PM

Dont forget...

Give Love Each Day!

I love Magnification.

I feel that it is an incredible album because of it's spirit. I love it musically also but the songs really speak to me. For months I couldn't stay in my seat while listening to it. I would jump up and sing and hop around the room, just ask my friends they'll tell you. I don't know the album really speaks to me.

Though what was said before by Ron Drummond about it seeming to speak of 9-11 is something that I felt also. I first heard the two songs they pre-released in the US (In the Presence of, and Dont Go) right before seeing them live, first at Jones Beach and then the next night at Radio City music Hall in New York. Two days later and we were attacked and the Twin Towers went down. After that I heard the album and not at first but as I listened day by day I would get a feeling that there was a connection. Even when I look at pictures from the show at Radio City I cant help thinking of 9-11. This is not why I love the album but I guess it also became connected for me.

I love the album because it Magnifies me!

Soft As A Dove rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yessongs72

01-26-2004, 09:55 PM

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by SonicDeath10
come on and honestly tell me you think his solo in face to face after jon says "come on steve" is anything less than completely banal?

and by the way it's just a matter of opinion. you don't have to be a prick about it you know?

************************************************** **********

Yes he does...

oh that was naughty my precious... no no no, we doesn't mean it! yes we does..naughty naught nasty yessongses..

a prick and nasty at the same time,i really got some ditto points!! so the finger you point at,you have three nasty pricks coming back at ya!

yesindeed

01-26-2004, 10:28 PM

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by SonicDeath10
come on and honestly tell me you think his solo in face to face after jon says "come on steve" is anything less than completely banal?

and by the way it's just a matter of opinion. you don't have to be a prick about it you know?

************************************************** **********

a prick and nasty at the same time,i really got some ditto points!! so the finger you point at,you have three nasty pricks coming back at ya!

:sofunny:

Full Tilt Boogie

02-03-2004, 08:42 PM

The more I play it, the more it becomes one long song!

Aye, and for me, that's a good thing, because it is in no way 'samey' anywhere on the album. Indeed, they've taken great care to add depth, variety and tonal harmonies in both voice and instrument.

And, if you listen to Chris Squire interviewed at the end of the YES Symphonic DVD, then you'll hear that this is precisely how they wanted the album to be - 'like one long song'! Chris also prefers the longer songs to the 'pop ditties' of certain previous albums.

I've only had the Magnification CD for a coupla weeks and put it on with some trepidation as to how it might sound and feel; now I have to say that it grows on me more every time I play it. It is, for my money, YES back on track after the lamentable AOR norz of the Rabin-era and its flirtations with pop, spandex trousers and the constant wittering on about lost loves, broken hearts (lonely or otherwise) and 'help me break through to the dawn....'. Yawn.

The songs and instrumentals on 'Mag' will grow on you, I promise.

Between 90125, Big Jenny and Talk (and whilst it goes without saying that with out Rabin, Yes might have been filed in the 'Where are they now?' files), Yes put themselves in a much needed (due to musical trends and commercial pressures) 'holding-pattern' - this only broken by the ABWH output, the live KTA releases (with Rick back!), then took a minor slump again with OYE and then reached nearly a full head of steam with The Ladder (a fine album, btw). HOB, whilst having some decent tracks on it, is by no means their finest live album.

And then, with 'Mag', they came steaming back at full throttle - they even sound happy on the recording! And Steve Howe doesn't have an assortment of peripatetic guitar players getting in the way! Yes had released how many albums with only one guitarist since 1969 - why on earth might they need another 'part time' or session player with which to record or play live??

Magnification is Yes with out a key member of the line-up (Wakeman), and they had to deploy an orchestra to fill the hole - now they are whole again and about to tour with the full, classic line-up......it rarely comes better than that!! :D

Enjoy Magnification, it's one to treasure!

SonicDeath10

02-03-2004, 09:09 PM

i disagree that OYE is a slump although that's just musical opinion and that's not really debateable. you like what you like. sherwood helped the band along when they were pretty low, and while not quite the same as rabin did, he helped keep them going. and even if some of the music is a bit questionable sometimes (even if i like OYE and love the ladder) he helped keep the band alive to record magnification a truly brilliant album.

gimme some sherwood love.

C0ops

02-10-2004, 11:50 PM

I am a big fan almost all the tunes are enjoyable and interesting...so much love on this album...its truely the right way to use a orchestra

Mr. Holland

02-11-2004, 06:29 AM

...its truely the right way to use a orchestra

Yeah, your're right, allthough I'd like to hear what Rick would do with the pieces. We got Magnification and ITPO last tour. IMO Mag. sounded better with Rick then with the orchestra, because it seemed to have more power. ITPO however, I liked the orchestral version better, because I felt that Rick was very low in the mix in this song. But I would love to hear his take on tracks such as Give Love Each Day, Spirit of Survival and Dreamtime. So, how about the upcoming tour, Rick??!!

Snarly

02-11-2004, 09:25 PM

Snarly

03-17-2004, 08:20 PM

Magnification is certainly overall their best album since 90125, maybe since Tormato, IMO.

Between it and Keystudio I think we are seeing the future of Yes. I found OYE unlistenable and The Ladder gave me hope, left me wanting more.

The music is well formed and there's no Billys or Igor-Rick-imitators on the album.

Just goes to proove what I've always said: It would take an entire symphony orchestra to replace Mr. Rick Wakeman.

Magnification is the best studio album since TORMATO. DRAMA didn't have Jon and 90125 didn't have Rick OR Steve so it's hard for me to take them as true Yes albums even though they were good. ABWH was more Yes to me than either of the former.

I agree that People like myself should stop living so much in the past and wake up and smell the Yes coffee. Magnification is the latest studio Yes and the best they have done in 20 years to me. Better than Ladder or Keysstudio (which were good) and certainly better than OYE which I found unlistenable. Like Earl, I had been listening to Ladder and Magnification up to the point of Rick rejoining, then added KTA audio and video to see what they were like last time with this line-up. Basically I belive their next studio album will be a lot like a cross between Mag. and Keysstudio. (an easy bet)

I hear new things every time I listen to the Mag. album and like it better every time I hear it. I just finally got YESSPEAK, and the versions of Magnification and IPO gave a whole new slant on those tunes. The Wakeman slant. I love it.

As for songs I too have a hard time picking a favorite. It's like the CTTE album in which all 3 songs are classics. That being said, I really love the title track, Dreamtime, IPO and GLED and can relate to it being like one long song (concept album).

SonicDeath10

03-17-2004, 11:49 PM

that's what's awesome about magnification: it's all one long song. i mean of coruse i'ts not ACTUALLY one song, but the sound is uniform (which is a compliment by the way: i love the ladder a lot, but sometimes there was too much adult contemporary attempts for my liking, even if they were arranged much more creatively than phil collilns slop) and uniformly excellent.

i don't find OYE unlistenable, a lot of it is good to my ears, but that was not a direcdtion for Yes to continue in. a cute experiment with some great songs, and also some week tracks.

yessongs72

03-18-2004, 05:20 AM

Magnification the best Yes album since Tales.The problem is,could this be the last Yes album.It's pretty evident they don't have a record contract.It's been almost 3 1/2 years now since Mag.

They have been touring as we all know for two years.This is their only money maker.Yesspeak,Ultimate Yes,In A Word and the rest of the rhinhole crap has't sold well at all.Especially Ultimate Yes.I think that was the nail in the coffin.

Back to Magnification.I can't vote for a favorite.The favorite changes with every time I listen to it.SO,my vote is for the complete album as my favorite!

Sticks

03-18-2004, 05:59 AM

I love this album. One of the things I like best is the absence of a wall of electronic keyboards. The orchestration makes a wonderful change and, in a way, resulted in Steve & Chris 'relaxing' a little as they didn't have to enter into battle with any keyboard wizardry.

Of course it's cool to have THE man back and I await the next studio album with great expectations but Magnification was, and will remain, a cool break from the past...a small oasis where we can rest before we continue the a long journey.

Best songs? The first 3 (Magnification; Spirit Of Survival; Don't Go) are a cracker way to arrive and In The Presence Of is a classic way to exit. Time Is Time is OK and I can understand why the producer might have wanted to ease the mood a little after the minor epic but I would have preferred the album to have ended with In The Presence Of.

Balrog

04-06-2004, 05:19 PM

"In the Presence Of" is in my opinion, a true masterpiece. "Mag" is a wonderful work.

jimmygtr

04-07-2004, 03:53 PM

Very good album. Kind of cool that another XYZ song surfaces here as 'Can you imagine'. I think the songs come off better on the symphonic DVD

Gabriel

05-19-2004, 08:02 AM

Hey guys, I was thinking of getting Magnification to complete my Yes collection for now, is it worth it do you think? I love every Yes album up until that point if that helps, so you can say i'm as big of a fan of their music as the next person. Worth picking up do you think?

Mr. Holland

05-19-2004, 09:16 AM

Definetly Gabriel, one of their better albums, as far as I'm concerned!!

tecladista

05-19-2004, 09:20 AM

This Album Was A Very Pleasant Surprise! To Me, There Are A Lot Of Flash Backs Throughout The Album, And The Orchestra Really Works Well With The Band.

My 2 Favorite Tracks Are Give Love Each Day And In The Presence Of!

My 21 Month Old Son Also Likes This Album, So Much He Dances To It! His Favorite Track Is #2, I Forget The Title, It's The One With The Modified Peter Gunn Theme...

I Saw It In Strawberries For $4.99 - What's Up With That Price?

snnrissrvd

05-19-2004, 09:28 AM

_Magnification_ is a very good album. The title track, "Time Is Time," "In The Presence Of," "Give Love Each Day"--all excellent songs. "Spirit of Survival," "Dreamtime," & "We Agree" are also very good. There's some 'fluff/filler' ("Don't Go," "Soft as a Dove"), but these are not nearly as bad as most of _Open Your Eyes_. If the album belongs to any member, it's Anderson, whose voice truly sounds amazing throughout. Up until _Mag_ I thought that Anderson's voice sounded best on _Talk_, but now it's a close call.

Kevin
http://www.cdbaby.com/caffrey

BredYes

05-19-2004, 09:44 AM

Magnification is one my favorite Yes-albums. In the Presence Of and Give Love Each Day are the tracks I love most. The combination of band and orchestra really works. It is an unknown treasure. You will love it as most people do who have this album.

canadarago

05-19-2004, 10:57 AM

A very good album indeed! Also like Symphonic Music of Yes - the arrangement of Woderous Stories is particulary good - used it as background music on a DVD of a vacation I took in Nova Scoita a couple of years ago - really made a huge difference!

Yikes, can't beleive its' been 3 1/2 years! What news of new studio stuff?

canadarago

05-19-2004, 11:03 AM

canadarago

05-19-2004, 11:03 AM

Gabriel

05-19-2004, 11:48 AM

Excellent thanks guys, i'm going to purchase it asap.

Looking forward to it after reading some good reviews as well as your comments!

canadarago

05-19-2004, 11:51 AM

Sorry for the repeat posts. Really SSLLLOOOOWWWW server response this morning. Didn't realize there were multiple clicks.

SonicDeath10

05-20-2004, 10:13 PM

you should get it as soon as possible. you can probably find it for about 5 bucks any ways. it's a masterpiece, not only their best album in the last 15 years, but probably one of their best ever.

Gabriel

05-22-2004, 09:59 AM

I'm going to purchase it right now actually mate. Although, funnily enough I cant find it for a cheap price..only about £10 which is about $15 I think. Strange, would have thought it would have been abit cheaper but ah well, its worth it!

Gabriel

05-22-2004, 12:55 PM

Well, just bought Magnification for only £8 from amazon.

I heard a few seconds of the title track and thought 'Buy this NOW!'

Cant wait! :D

chipperoo

05-25-2004, 11:46 AM

Just got it along with "the Ladder" for$4.99 in the cutout bin at Strawberries...........very sad that it's there but very good for me! Just bought it and it's growing on me like most of YES' music. I'm sure given enough time I'll enjoy it as I do most of their work.

CageyPea

05-25-2004, 12:37 PM

I do like it! Actually I bought it back when it first came out solely on word of mouth on how it was a "return to form" for Yes, but only thought it "Okay". But a few months ago I listened anew and got to deeply appreciate it, mainly "Give Love Each Day" (a surefire single, if such a thing still would exist), "We Agree" (with its great Howe acoustic guitar / Squire contrabass guitar duet at the beginning), and the Fish Out of Water-y "Can You Imagine".

chipperoo -- $4.99 in the cutout bin??! It's come to that for Yes, huh. Nevertheless -- great find!!

SonicDeath10

05-25-2004, 09:50 PM

for me every yes album has great stuff. even union, even though the bad overwhelms the good by such an amount i can bairly listen to that album. magnification is probably the most consistent, most purely beautiful yes album since going for the one.

06-21-2004, 04:28 PM

onslo

07-01-2004, 07:44 AM

i think it's their best album since Drama

paulovajao

07-01-2004, 07:50 AM

So&so,i Prefer Drama!!!!

Emily A. Poppe

07-01-2004, 10:04 AM

I thoroughly enjoy it!

yesman7

07-01-2004, 07:08 PM

magnificate.....magnification!!

I love it, I love it, I LLLLove it!!!
SNL
magnificent,imagination!!

word to your mother.....!?hahaha

Dantalion Rides Again

09-03-2004, 11:07 AM

Magnification, to me, is an album filled with Songs Jon Thinks Are Good. I believe that it was not a particularly democratic album in the sense that The Ladder was.

On the other hand, The Ladder wasn't particularly brilliant, either.

Oh, come on, man. The Ladder was particularly brilliant.

Magnification though . . . Jon said in an August '04 interview that a couple guys in the band don't want to play anything from that album!! What's up with that??? And who??

These guys limit their live show so much it's scary sometimes.

How can this album be considered not democratic? The four guys in the band all shine on this one, and it seems pretty balanced to me. Watching that second DVD/movie thing that comes w/Symphonic gives some good insight into Magnification's recording sessions. It didn't seem like he was the only one who liked it or anything.

Gabriel

09-03-2004, 11:14 AM

Magnification took a while to grow on me for some reason but now that it has, I can safely say its probably the best CD post-Rabin [give or take The Ladder and not counting Keys to Ascension]

I love it! In The Presence Of is a modern classic

hiddendragonet

09-13-2004, 02:16 PM

I agree completely with Gabriel on this. Love it! But it took a while. Initially, I couldn't shake the feeling that Jon's vocals were overproduced. I got over it.

HD

mattquarterstein

09-14-2004, 07:41 AM

So&so,i Prefer Drama!!!!

I prefer Drama, but I still think Magnification is quite a good album.

SonicDeath10

09-14-2004, 12:10 PM

i prefer them about equally even though i like machine messiah better than in the precense of. blasphemy!

jimmygtr

03-10-2006, 06:32 PM

It's very very good. I think it would have better if either:

1) Wakeman had participated on keys
2) Rabin had particpated by arranging orchestra bits.

But that's just me.

heishere

03-10-2006, 08:53 PM

03-10-2006, 09:23 PM

I completely dig Magnification!!! The title track, Dreamtime and In The Presence Of are my favorite tunes from this one.

I'm surprised Dreamtime isn't more popular. Fantastic Steve performance!!!!

heishere

03-10-2006, 09:35 PM

really and truly, jl, it should get more play

is it possible? i think i hear a banjo right before the final build-up of the titlecut "magnification"? i wonder if yes ever used a banjo before, or if i'm imaginin it.

pedro skychaser

03-11-2006, 01:17 AM

i hear a banjo,too,as well as congas briefly,i rmember the first time i listened to it on discman walking home from work,after the drawnout ending of mag,the blending of jon's voice out of the vacuum to begin "spirit of survival made me swoon+nearly collapse(does that sound too girly???i don't care, i live to swooooooon to yesmusic...southside of the skychaser...swoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooon!

Mind Driver

03-12-2006, 01:55 PM

Dreamtime and Soul Survivor......outstanding tunes.

YesJen357

03-12-2006, 10:16 PM

I think Pedro Skychaser might like this album!
Well, don't worry Peter; I had the same reaction.
In my pre-Internet days, I'd not even been aware of the release of Magnification until late 2002. As YES were coming to Australia in March '03 I decided to put off purchasing to the album, so that I could get a surprise by hearing it live in concert, first. Of course Jon's back injury put a 6 month hold on hearing Mag. live so I relented and bought the cd.
Yet even while I was waiting for the cd to arrive, a late night special on TV here showed excerpts of the Symphonic dvd. The show aired on Channel 9 (for Aussies) at 2300hrs local time was simply called 'Yes-TV.' Magnification was one of the songs featured and immediately it struck a chord with me.
When it finally came time for the YES tour in september '03 my biggest curiosity was how good Mag. and ITPO would sound when Rick did the orchestra parts. Well, I needen't have wondered too much. To my ears they were simply wonderful. Consequently, most often these-days, I prefer to listen to my concert recordings of those songs than the album version. But hey, that's taking nothing away from the album.
What Magnification best does for me, is to prove that by their creativity and power, YES aren't finished yet. There is still plenty of life in the YES machine!
So come-on guys.....we want the next album....and soon!

KPatrick

03-12-2006, 10:32 PM

I love it. I can't place where in my top 5 Yes albums it is, but there are 5 I can pick that stand out, for me, above all the others, and this is one.

Ancient tales

03-13-2006, 02:01 AM

The first time I heard Magnification was a time I'll never forget. My family was experiencing a major crisis then. In The Presence Of was what kept my head together during all this. Thanks Yes!

Cherry

heishere

03-13-2006, 07:54 AM

What Magnification best does for me, is to prove that by their creativity and power, YES aren't finished yet. There is still plenty of life in the YES machine!
So come-on guys.....we want the next album....and soon!

Yes, yesjen! You said it all!

rmig68

03-13-2006, 08:26 AM

Never did like this album. There are a couple of good songs but overall I find that even when I think I'm in the mood to hear it, I ultimately shake my head and grab something else. Like almost all their newer stuff, I usually like the first song, the last song and maybe one in the middle. The other 75% I find to be very bad. It's a formula that, quite frankly I've gotten sick of as of late. When I have to jump around from track to track that much, it gets annoying and it's not worth the effort.

I just don't connect with Jon anymore. Too much the same (Yes Jon, the river. Yes Jon, the mountains, Yes Jon, the um eagles) I don't know why I'm not connecting. The old river, the old mountains and that old bird of prey still do it for me on the old albums. It just may be in the delivery and how the newer songs are presented. It doesn't sound mystical or spiritual. It sounds contrived and lazy. I know that's not true before. The lyrics went hand in hand with the environment of those wonderful earlier albums. Hell, I could load in the first 9 or 10 Yes albums and listen continuously for the most part.

Speaking only for myself mind you, I believe out of the last 3 albums, OYE, The Ladder and Magnification that they only had ebough material for one album. I do believe that album could have been great, since I do love the few good songs on those albums.

Anyway, since you asked, that's what I feel.

rmig68

03-13-2006, 08:43 AM

We could debate this all we want but the reason Yes hasn't made any waves at all the last 10 years has been a slew of rotten albums. I know they wouldn't be breaking any billboard charts but, you know, they aren't even showing up where they always did. What I mean by that is, even though they may throw a bone to Howe in Guitar Player magazine and show tabs for The Clap, that's about it. I remember when musicians would compare Howe to Rhoads, Squier to Lee, you know like athletes. The younger generation isn't impressed at all. There is nary a mention. Little effort will get you little fanfare. I remember when I'd pick up any kind of musician magazine and there was always someone from Yes. That was the domain for them when the pop world stopped calling. Now, because of lack of innovation, progression and originality, the argument that they are being neglected by the pop world (true as it may be) is countered by a lack of enthusiasm by younger musicians. garbage in garbage out

Hacman

03-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Well, younger people listen to what they are exposed to. Unfortunately, I've never heard any Mag tunes on the radio at all. My teenage son likes Mag a lot.

I think it's a brilliant album - Jon's best lyrics in a while, Steve doing some really original sounding runs and expanding his list of stringed instruments even more (banjo!).

I thought the Ladder is probably the most accessible album to non Yes fans, but Magnification was a true return to form. My favorites vary from "We Agree", "Dreamtime" and "In the Presence Of".

I thought this album proved that the guys could still pull it together and make striking, original music.

I still hold out hope for 2007..

rmig68

03-13-2006, 02:15 PM

I do agree with some of your assessments. If I pick it apart, I find great playing here and maybe there, a good idea here and maybe there. It's just that the album runs in fits and starts for me and I can't seem to flow through it. It's uncomfortable for me to listen to. The songs are microcosms of that. They too lack order. It's like catching a fish and although after you cook it, parts of it taste good, there are just too many bones to pick through and the meal is ruined. I submit that Manification is a very boney, albeit tastey fish.

This is true for me for the last few albums. In the case of all of these, I have all but wrapped them up in newspaper and sent them out.

glyn

03-13-2006, 02:28 PM

Well, I don't think it's one of their best albums, but it's my favourite release since Drama

YESYOUANDI

03-13-2006, 06:32 PM

It's Good.

Under-rated I feel by many YES fans.

Cheers fans.

The Whale

03-13-2006, 09:06 PM

YesJen357

03-14-2006, 01:45 AM

Me too!
I'm sorry so many don't get Magnification.

The fact that The Ladder didn't get the exposure it deserved, raises another thorny issue.....What the *&#@ happened there? It'd have to be an ideal radio play album.

ToBeOver

03-14-2006, 02:10 AM

I think it's a brilliant album - Jon's best lyrics in a while, Steve doing some really original sounding runs and expanding his list of stringed instruments even more (banjo!).

My favorites vary from "We Agree", "Dreamtime" and "In the Presence Of".

I thought this album proved that the guys could still pull it together and make striking, original music.

I still hold out hope for 2007..

My thoughts exactly, Homer. I think Magnification is an excellent album and 'In The Presence Of' simply takes my breath away.

I still hold out hope for 2007, as well.... (keeping fingers and toes still crossed... :eeek:)

:keyboard:

pedro skychaser

03-14-2006, 04:03 AM

the ladder had one everest-homeworld....magnification is a himalayan range...many epics -60 mins of music+a few small fry... yet much broader than fragile minus 5%,cans+brahms...trouble is howe is ----ty about it,wouldn't play it,too many compromises he felt with jon....

Scooty

03-14-2006, 04:19 AM

Of course it is..don't be silly.

True Believer

03-14-2006, 04:26 AM

My thoughts exactly, Homer. I think Magnification is an excellent album and 'In The Presence Of' simply takes my breath away.

I still hold out hope for 2007, as well.... (keeping fingers and toes still crossed... :eeek:)

:keyboard:
Yep, me too.

Teacher travelling

03-17-2006, 11:35 AM

Buy it. Listen to it. Their best album since "Going for the One". You'll also be supporting the band and they might realise we actually do still like their music and it's worth releasing a new album!

allpurechance

03-20-2006, 08:48 AM

oh, waytogo, jimmy! you go and resurrect an 18 month old thread!
YES!
now we can perpetuate this song of love! i salute you jimmy!
"i love you, man!"
this album is SO GOOD! "every song is the perfect place"... it's "sacred ground"... it's "the song from the book of time"... it will "change your existence for another kind"... jimmy: these are the days that we will talk about!!

and after all,
this fusion of insight is all that we imagine...
deeper than any ocean...
deeper than any river...

these are the days that we will talk about...
after all,
we agreed to let it change our lives...

to justify, to magnify, to realize that everything is love

.

(As I listen, Jon sings "song from the book of time" just as I read it in this post[again!I should've repped you the first time I read it!].Very affecting, this experience, to say the very least.And, I'm not one to, ahh, say the very least!heishere has said it all, very neatly)

M-Class Planet

01-06-2007, 09:45 AM

I’m sorry, but I think it suffers from a lack of imagination from all concerned, but in particularly Alan White’s drumming
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>
Over the years, he simply plays the big stadium 4/4 beats over everything giving every song a similar feel previous one.
<o:p> </o:p>
I mean, how many times do they do that ascending chord thing in 4/4 with half time drums - it’s sooooooooooo predictable.
<o:p> </o:p>
Frankly we need a far more inventive drummer on board to bring that looseness and unexpected flair that BB has.
<o:p> </o:p>
If it were up to me I’d have Stewart Copeland on drums in Yes. that’s assuming Bill wasn’t available.
<o:p> </o:p>
To be honest I suspect that there is guitar playing Yes chap that would agree.

yes_angel

01-06-2007, 10:04 AM

plodder

01-06-2007, 02:06 PM

This is the album you fine folk on Yesfans told me to buy as the last album i had bought previous to Magnification was Big Generator. I was pleased that it sounded more Yes than I feared. It's certainly whetted my appetite for the band again.

Bradders

01-06-2007, 02:08 PM

Oh yeah? And what song is that eh, eh, eh,eh??????
I feel a bad rep comin' on!!!!!! ha ha LOL

Bradders

01-06-2007, 02:11 PM

yes_angel

01-06-2007, 02:44 PM

Oh yeah? And what song is that eh, eh, eh,eh??????
I feel a bad rep comin' on!!!!!! ha ha LOLjust try that again Braddy baby hehe xox hey plodder help me out here!!!!

Bradders

01-06-2007, 02:47 PM

Plodder's gone......you're on your own Lisa Pisa........Soft as a Dove...Dum de dum ...........

yes_angel

01-06-2007, 02:50 PM

Plodder's gone......you're on your own Lisa Pisa........Soft as a Dove...Dum de dum ...........Arrrrrrrggggg no Grrrrr for you tonite! LOL

plodder

01-06-2007, 05:31 PM

Hey!! You two play nice now!!

Scottie

01-06-2007, 06:19 PM

Hey!! You two play nice now!!
You told them Plodder! They're off to who knows where now. Maybe petting a Dove at the moment?

yes_angel

01-06-2007, 06:31 PM

You told them Plodder! They're off to who knows where now. Maybe petting a Dove at the moment?oh stop that! LOL

plodder

01-07-2007, 06:24 AM

You told them Plodder! They're off to who knows where now. Maybe petting a Dove at the moment?

Well, they're so soft. Who wouldn't?

GatesOfDelirium

01-24-2007, 09:27 AM

Sorry for me, this isn't all THAT good. Lots of fans saw it as a monumental return to form but I still don't get why. A lot of twee, mawkish ballads like 'Soft As A Dove', 'We Agree', 'Give Love Each Day' and 'Time Is Time' which are even more syrupy than usual due to the orchestra. Some of it is rather excellent, sure- the title track, In The Presence Of, Spirit Of Survival and Can You Imagine I rated highly. But the rest of it I don't...and I absolutely loathe 'Don't Go'- sounds more like Buggles than Drama did with Buggles in the line up!!

SonicDeath10

01-24-2007, 11:42 AM

A lot of people (myself included) simply think it's a return to form as far as songwriting goes. Instead of trying to force themselves into areas they shouldn't go, or rehashing old glories, they simply write the kind of music they are capable of, and the kind of music they want to write. The orchestra is used VERY well, throughout, to help support the songs, instead of make them sound syrupy. Sure, this isn't the prog Yes of Close To The Edge. But I don't think they have it in them any more for that kind of music, I really don't. If you prefer that stuff, then this album isn't really for you then, of course.

cjreyes

12-19-2007, 11:40 PM

Macfinigation is Good, but it's not Great!

Earl Grey

12-20-2007, 04:18 AM

Magnification is a really good YES album.

It didn't knock me over the head like 'Fragile' or 'CTTE'.

It is an actual complete work, unlike 'Union' or 'Open Your Eyes'.

It's the only real YES album since the two 'Ascention' CDs, which were welcome, and classic yes.

MAG is a beautiful CD. Wakey embellished it 'live' in 2002/2003.

I wonder what it would have sounded like if Wakey had been on the actual album. It makes me wonder, and I have no bustle in my hedgegrove, thank you. :ele:

MAG is a fantastic, complete YES album for me.

...Yet, one wonders what it would have sounded like if Rick had been playing the string parts...

As it is, a fine YES album, not perfect, but damned good.

eegee:yesbird:

Frosted Sun

12-20-2007, 10:02 AM

With several threads covering this album I posted a comment on another thread how I think it's a masterpiece. I'm not writing for wikipedia, english is for professors and politicans. lol.

I tell you what I find after listening to MagMAGNIFICATION fora few times and then playing CTTE. Close to the Edge comes across as kind of raw. Of course, I like it for sure. Magnification has 30+ years of music writing behind it and experience. Some of the songs would have been better if they were longer. The song at the end, Time Is Time, different than the others , it sort of sounds like The Beatles.

I'm not saying the album is Handels Messiah, but it takes listening to at least two or more times to appreciate it. It's on a different level. I think it's a 10, but I don't know anything. hehe

It's nearly as much as one long song, except for Time Is Time. I love it.

Full Tilt Boogie

12-20-2007, 10:23 AM

Is it any good?

Isn't that rather a subjective question? How long's a piece of string?

Have you listened to it?

If so, did you like it?

If not, why not listen to it and then let us know?

Scottie

12-21-2007, 03:17 PM

Is it any good?

Isn't that rather a subjective question? How long's a piece of string?

Have you listened to it?

If so, did you like it?

If not, why not listen to it and then let us know?
Yours is always a welcome opinion in my opinion. So do you own it?

May I be so bold as assuming not. Apparently so, otherwise we may have heard from you on this subject.

Wakey's #1 Fan

12-21-2007, 03:18 PM

I love it!!! One of my favourite Yes albums, even though Wakey isn't on it...and if I say that, it has to be good!

luvyesmusic

12-21-2007, 11:19 PM

Do you really have to ask?

Full Tilt Boogie

12-22-2007, 12:47 AM

Yours is always a welcome opinion in my opinion. So do you own it?

May I be so bold as assuming not. Apparently so, otherwise we may have heard from you on this subject.

Yes mate, I got it a couple of years ago and I don't think there's genuinely bad track on it - in fact, it's rather good. It was refreshing, after all, to hear 'new material' - albeit without Wakeman. :(

Frosted Sun

12-22-2007, 01:16 PM

Time Travel back to 2000-2001-2002

Wakeman not on the Magnification album.
I am not sure if it has already been stated but at the same time Magnification was being created, a masterpiece. Wakeman was working on the creation of Out of the Blue with his son Adam and The New English Rock Ensemble, a masterpiece. They toured some in South America, not sure where else, but from Yes and Wakeman’s standpoint I can see the point. Mag comes across as it is and without help from Wakeman, it is what it is, and concerts covering the tracks with him is all that’s needed. (IMHO) whatever that’s worth. My thoughts,…So I hope I can post this and be cool about it.

Meng

04-18-2009, 08:39 AM

Glad to see this has a huge "like" vote in the poll.

ITPO is a bona fide Yes classic, and I also really like Groupé's arrangements.

TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART

04-18-2009, 09:30 AM

Some great songs. Some not so great. And a couple of clangers.
Horrible orchestra. Not enough keyboards.
This is one of those "what could've been" albums.

A Student of YES

04-18-2009, 10:36 AM

I think we all have hopes of the great second coming of YES in album form. Magnification is an interesting work. It might be the last album they make with a promotional tour atttached and this is sad but hey it's been 40 years for these guy's and they ain't writing three cord progressions like John Cougar...if ya see my point. I found the fact that Chris's song "Can You Imagine" with him singing the lead was very interesting and as much as I like the song it makes me sad to think that would have been another song he sacrificed for YES and it did not end up as one of the tracks on his FOOW 2 album.
"In the Presence of" is another of the long awaited masterpieces like Awaken or CTTE. I find I liked it very much the first time I heard it. It is in a good key for me to sing all the way through and execpt for two very short complicated runs by Chris I can play the bass lines complete while singing. Only YES song ever where I can boast this ability.
Overall the rest of the album is good listening but hard core fans like us will not care for the top 40 stuff. My first listen to this was the DVD. On the DVD they used a harmonizer for the "Don't Take Love.........For Granted" it is unmistakable. It is a perfect 5 part harmony and although Jon is capable of just doing his own parts the rest of the band has never had nor ever will have perfect harmony capabilities. That is the only time I have ever heard them use one but it does sound great, but just a little too good.

I have to agree with Earl about Wakey. This album could have been another CTTE if he were involved....No offence to the kid who is now working with "The Syn" he did a good job but Rick is and it looks liek will always be "The Man" ...sad to say, no one from my generation has been a worthy replacement and taken his place behind the keys.

Overall a very good album..............God I hope it is not the last work they do............? we will see.

Randy

Meng

04-18-2009, 11:00 AM

Some great songs. Some not so great. And a couple of clangers.
Horrible orchestra. Not enough keyboards.
This is one of those "what could've been" albums.
When I think of Yes and horrible (and shoehorned) orchestra, I think Time And A Word.

Mind Driver

04-18-2009, 12:42 PM

Glad to see this has a huge "like" vote in the poll.

ITPO is a bona fide Yes classic, and I also really like Groupé's arrangements.

I agree completely.

fovman

04-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Seeing it live in concert helps win you over.

Sonny G

04-18-2009, 02:01 PM

Magnification is a really great YES record.

TRUEYOUTRUEME

04-18-2009, 04:23 PM

I have to admit that it has maybe been a year at least since I have listened to Magnification. The past week or so I have been yearning to hear it again.

I am not sure where it is. lol.

Magnification is a classic for me in the sense that it did blow me away when it came out. I was very moved by the album and to how it fit for me in my life. I love the work and the result. I never stopped getting the same feeling each time I heard it. It is a classic.

I would of course rather of had Rick Wakeman involved but it is what it is and I love Rick's appreciation for Magnification and respect his decisions. His love for the Magnification album made it even more special for me though and I am so happy that I got to see Rick with Yes and in solo in the coming years after Magnification. ( I still wish that he and Jon would release "TrueYouTrueMe" )

For me Magnification is pure magic.

TRUEYOUTRUEME

04-18-2009, 04:35 PM

Seeing it live in concert helps win you over.

I wish Yes would of played more of the album on the Magnification tour (with the Orchestra) but the Radio City show will always stand out in my memory as one of the greatest concerts I have ever seen in my life. Incredible show and an incredible night.

bemore

04-26-2009, 01:28 AM

Magnification is to me an example of a very mature band getting it exactly right one last time. To me it was the album we had been waiting for from Yes since probably "Going for the One" - there were certainly great things in between - and they seemed to be moving towards it with "The Ladder" - but Magnification seemed to pull it all together - and it did take a few listens to "get it" - it packs the same transcendent feel you get from "Awaken"- but with a maturity (and melancholy) that befits them at this late stage in their career - To me it's their "Abbey Road" - they may never get this close again - I find it brilliant and heartbreaking at the same time - "In the Presence of" seals the deal. For them to pull this album out the hat at this particular point was absolutely brilliant - it's just too bad so very few people (except avid fans) ever heard it.

Mind Driver

04-26-2009, 09:46 AM

In the Presence Of is one of my favorites from Magnification, along with Sole Survivor.

rmig68

04-26-2009, 10:12 AM

I looked back at my post on this thread from 3 years ago. My thoughts are still the same, in that, I don't like this album.

Since I listened to it quite a few times back then, I don't feel guilty in the fact that, quite honestly, I haven't played it since.

Magnification, We Agree and Can You Imagine all are great songs. In The Presence had potential but ultimately it falls apart.

That's about it.

TRUEYOUTRUEME

04-26-2009, 10:33 AM

One of the things that most impressed me with Magnification is the way the album really worked the Orchestra into different tempos from song to song. The album truely was symphonic.

From the driving songs such as Spirit of Survival and Dreamtime to the softer songs such as Soft As A Dove and In the Presence Of.

The title track is perfect as well.

From beginning to end the album does take you on a musical adventure that sweeps the full spectrum of emotion. And being completely orchestrated masterfully it is incredible.

And there is no denying that the album features some moments for those who hear this to somewhat magnify themselves on this level. To magnify the love. You can really feel that when connecting to this work.

Of the most recent work of Yes (the Ladder, Open Your Eyes, Talk, Union) this Yes album (Magnification) is most definitely the best, imo.

The only thing that would of possibly made Magnification a better album for me would of been if it was a two-record set.

90125yes

04-27-2009, 05:57 AM

magnification is good but it would have been great with rick and without the orchestra

TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART

04-27-2009, 07:06 AM

magnification is good but it would have been great with rick and without the orchestra

Spot on,Mike.
Been saying this for ages.

Meng

04-27-2009, 07:27 AM

Spot on,Mike.
Been saying this for ages.
Nah, can't agree. I love the orchestra and Groupé's arrangements. For me it helped to lay to rest the ghost of Time and a Word, which was a perfect example of an album that would have been much better without the strings and horns.

TOBYSGRAPHICGOKART

04-27-2009, 08:46 AM

Nah, can't agree. I love the orchestra and Groupé's arrangements. For me it helped to lay to rest the ghost of Time and a Word, which was a perfect example of an album that would have been much better without the strings and horns.

I do take your point,Pete,regarding the Groupe arrangement on Mag,compared to the truly horrendous orchestra on TAAW (though I still don't like it).
However,and this is just me,an orchestra is an orchestra is an orchestra and I think it should be written into any prog/rock musician's contract that they are permanently banned from any association with one!! http://www.yesfans.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Meng

04-27-2009, 08:52 AM

However,and this is just me,an orchestra is an orchestra is an orchestra and I think it should be written into any prog/rock musician's contract that they are banned from any association with one!! http://www.yesfans.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
So ... Deep Purple's Concerto For Group And Orchestra (or whatever the feck it's called) wouldn't be one of your Desert Island discs then? It certainly wouldn't be one of mine.

chuckles

05-06-2009, 09:01 PM

Wow.

Cool so many of you like it. I could not listen to it for over a year after recording them. I guess that's called "Overload"

I got a couple of copies in the mail, and will listen to them again, hopefully in a more detached manner.

Chuckles

The Whale

05-06-2009, 09:02 PM

No.

Its flickin' Awsome!

90125yes

05-07-2009, 03:51 AM

Spot on,Mike.
Been saying this for ages.

----

cheers :appl[1]:

somissound

05-07-2009, 10:47 PM

In the car player right now! In The Presence Of...

mike on the goldie

05-08-2009, 03:53 AM

magnification is good but it would have been great with rick and without the orchestra

Check out Live at Montreux to compare. Rick performs on two Mag songs, the title track and ITPO, and both are brilliant. But I like the orchestral versions a lot too.

90125yes

05-08-2009, 04:37 AM

Check out Live at Montreux to compare. Rick performs on two Mag songs, the title track and ITPO, and both are brilliant. But I like the orchestral versions a lot too.

----

great point -agreed - will do

ITPO is beautiful music

rikensquire

05-08-2009, 10:24 AM

----

great point -agreed - will do

ITPO is beautiful music

It's very good, had anyone other than Yes put that out it would have been a great album. Sometimes expectations will minimize your efforts to the point that they become wasted. It's kind of like a woman who watches a lot of porn, unless you are up to the standards she was led to believe with her own eyes and wristwatch, she could end up very disappointed. It's all about the masterpieces, even Babe Ruth struck out, but if he struck out more and homered less, he wouldn't have been Babe Ruth.

http://originaldo.com/batman-babe-ruth.jpg

Roan's Lady

06-25-2009, 09:50 AM

It's very good, had anyone other than Yes put that out it would have been a great album. Sometimes expectations will minimize your efforts to the point that they become wasted. It's kind of like a woman who watches a lot of porn, unless you are up to the standards she was led to believe with her own eyes and wristwatch, she could end up very disappointed.

"Wristwatch", lol.

Magnification was a disappointment to me; I think because in listening, I was remembering the past musical glories (i.e., brilliant songwriting and performance) of Yes - and there was little for me to find glorious on this album. I do think there's validity to your opening comments.

CybrKhatru

06-25-2009, 10:50 AM

I love "In The Presence Of" and the title track.

crotale2112

06-25-2009, 01:32 PM

I love "In The Presence Of" and the title track.
"In the presence of" is as solid as a mountain and flows like honey out of my speakers. A powerful yessong with deep color tones and energy.

Yes music has always helped me through some real tough times in the past. In the last month or two things have been real crazy in my life and I found myself not listening to much yes at all. But what is most important is that lately I have been back into listening to yes and the one song that truly sticks out in my mind when it comes to helping me with my problems and sadness is the song "in the presence of".

As time go's on this has become one of my fav yes tunes of all time. It might be up there in my top 10 yes songs, I love it. It has that magic yes feeling to me.

A jem stone in the crown... I think thats what squire said about this song and I beleave him.

rabinmovies

06-25-2009, 02:13 PM

It's not heavy enough for my liking.
Perfect for a Jon solo album tho

CybrKhatru

06-25-2009, 02:30 PM

Re: In The Presence Of...

a lot of you who saw Yes in the 70s remember that they'd often start a tour before an album came out, so you might hear something "brand new" before you could buy it.

This had never happened to me at a Yes show, until 2001 when they were debuting "In The Presence Of" on the Symphonic tour, 3 months in advance of the Mag album.

Me and T were blown away by it, especially the last 3-4 minutes. It had that "X-factor" quality found in the best Yes music, and was easily one of the highlights of the Hollywood Bowl show.

Ron Prange

06-25-2009, 04:37 PM

This is another Yes masterpiece that will probably be appreciated more in the future than now only because of the genius it took to do it is not being understood. Dreamtime...wow...

chuckles

07-06-2009, 12:06 AM

Dantalion Rides Again

07-06-2009, 12:46 AM

Wow,

Such great replies from everyone. I bought two copies again a few weeks ago, and am now able to listen to it all the way through without stopping.

I still hear things in there that I don't clearly recall recording(14 hour days 7 days a week of work will do this to you), which is a great testament to the guy who mixed the album, Steve MacMillan. He did a great job with the mixes. And so did Larry Groupe do a great job on the orchestration.

Cheers,

Chuckles

One of my favorite Yes albums. Seriously, I've heard the classic tunes so many times man. This is a serious effort, and it's the Yes music I'm most compelled to hear. I'll put this in first, before any other Yes stuff.

In fact I find the late 90s output thru Magnification in 01, to be terribly satisfying on the whole. It's sad that the momentum didn't continue, but my feeling is that it ended with the strongest work since at LEAST Going For The One.

Thank you Yes for a fantastic album that I continue to enjoy.

Ceasar's Palace

07-06-2009, 05:35 AM

It's good. Second only to The Ladder in the post-Drama output. :headset:

Mind Driver

07-06-2009, 06:00 AM

The Ancient

07-06-2009, 06:10 AM

chuckles

08-27-2009, 03:28 PM

Do you mind telling us what instrument you played?

The recording studio.

I was the recording engineer. As such I did not actually play anything, but recorded everything.

Cheers,

Chuckles

chuckles

08-27-2009, 03:31 PM

Yes, it's a good album. Not great but good.
First of all I miss keyboards on this album. The orhestra is a bit too much at times.
I really hope that some day we may hear some of the tracks with Wakeman replacing the orchestra on a live album. Then it could be fantastic.

Well, I'm starting slowly to harass the band, and see if eventually there can be a new Yes album. Hopefully with me at the recording controls... or anything involved with it really...

Cheers

gathernear

08-27-2009, 03:35 PM

The recording studio.

I was the recording engineer. As such I did not actually play anything, but recorded everything.

Cheers,

Chuckles

Hey very cool! I have a question. Was Magnification originally mixed for surround? I have the DVD-Audio, and the 5.1 surround mix is super!
This album is really a major work. It's too bad it didn't catch on and sell.

CosmicDebris

08-27-2009, 04:16 PM

When I originally bought this CD, when it first came out, I didn't really feel like getting into it. It wasn't until last summer when I rekindled my love for Yes that I pulled it out again and started really listening to it, and I rather like it! My favorite tracks are In the Presence Of, Give Love Each Day, and Don't Go, but the ones I'm more inclined to skip are Spirit Of Survival and Dream Time. The orchestration is nice, kind of like listening to Days of Future Passed...except with Yes music, lol.

The tour was amazing, btw...if you don't have the Yes Symponic DVD, get it!

jaynote1

08-27-2009, 06:24 PM

its a f#@$%ing great album

08-27-2009, 06:56 PM

If Magnification is the last Yes album (a state of affairs which seems more and more likely with the passage of each year), then they went out with a great one. Their best since Drama, and IMO one of the five best albums of this decade.

tidewater

08-27-2009, 07:00 PM

Just speculation there Erica... But we just KNOW that YES will be recording that great 'classic line-up' album in 2004, which will knock Close To The Edge out of first place! (Tossing salt over my shoulder, Ouch! Threw-out my back! Oh well...). :ele:
~~~~~~

Bravo Mr Drummond! I didn't know about the 9/11 connection, although MAGNIFICATION is ever ravelled in that strangely vulnerable time for me. Maybe for all of us.

I think of Magnification as a gift.

A gift from YES to the world, in the worst of times. Sweet honey in the rock.

'In The Presence Of' is a prayer of healing.

I took it quite personally then... I still do.

Magnification is a gift. One of the few sweet things I can actually hold to myself from that dark year.
It makes everything ok in a strange way...

And in looking back, years from now, I will think of 2001 as the year of Magnification. The darker aspect of the historical pagent is merely a footnote.

I love 'Magnification'. Could you tell?

:ele: :yesbird:

AMEN brother:headset:

somissound

08-28-2009, 01:41 AM

08-28-2009, 02:01 AM

Magnification, Give Love Each Day, In The Presence Of? Wow! Classic Yes to these ears...

Imagine their next recording with heavier guitars and keyboards instead of the orchestra and we will have an intense heavier follow up to the wonderful Magnification!

After the passage of nearly a decade, could anything that Yes may do in the future accurately be described as a follow up to Magnification?

somissound

08-28-2009, 02:28 AM

After the passage of nearly a decade, could anything that Yes may do in the future accurately be described as a follow up to Magnification?

Yea. The next studio recording due for 2010...:headset:

It would be the follow up they have been wanting since 2005-6...

Seems things are in place.

Hunnibee

08-28-2009, 02:35 AM

Wow, this is an OLD thread! Sorry, I am not going to read six years worth of comments, but I will say that I LOVE this album! :hearts:

It's a very romantic album, I think. If the songs were not meant to be love songs, I certain see them that way.

somissound

08-28-2009, 02:36 AM

Wow, this is an OLD thread! Sorry, I am not going to read six years worth of comments, but I will say that I LOVE this album! :hearts:

:beerchugr:

Mars looks good tonight ;)

Mind Driver

08-28-2009, 11:47 AM

HOTsunrise

08-28-2009, 01:52 PM

I love it! It sounds just as good to me today as it did the day it hit the shelves.

chuckles

08-28-2009, 02:57 PM

Hey very cool! I have a question. Was Magnification originally mixed for surround? I have the DVD-Audio, and the 5.1 surround mix is super!
This album is really a major work. It's too bad it didn't catch on and sell.

No. It was originally done for Stereo, although there were some ramblings about getting it done in surround. I'm glad they did go and mix it in Surround.

Cheers

Earl Grey

08-28-2009, 03:12 PM

AMEN brother:headset:

I LOVE 'Magnification'. As the years go by, the album sounds richer, fuller, and more satisfying than it did, even when I first heard it. It's one of those albums that sounded 'good' when it arrived, and sounds GREAT today.

Time has only added to the beauty of Magnification. And if (A big "IF'') it were to be the last YES album, it's a fitting end-piece to an extraordinary band's recording output.

I still believe we'll get at least one more great YES outing from the guys. Perhaps I'm an optimist, but my optimism has paid-off in the past.

What needs to happen, I think, is that the band needs to realize that with digital home studios, you can now record a fine album at a pittance of what it once cost.

For god's sake, YES could record in any number of garage-based studios now, and get a sound comparable to the most expensive studios the old glory days had to offer.

Hell, if I can do it, YES certainly could do it.

Magnification DID leave a bad taste in some of the band members mouths, as it barely touched the charts/received minimal radio play... And the CD was a bit of a money-suck for the band.

The day of Supergroups going into The Record Plant, and spending millions of dollars on a project are over. Or at least, aren't required.

Any little garage band can bang-out a decent CD now, on a shoestring budget, and really have something to show for it.

I think YES are still tied to the idea of going into a huge studio with a huge budget. Which can be a fiscal disaster if the CD doesn't go into heavy rotation/win Grammy's/etc.

I can count at least 10 really good home studios on my fingers where the band could record something comparable to Close To The Edge for a fraction of the cost.

Will YES utilize the new technology, and record something new?
Who knows.

I do know one thing: If they did, it would sound great, it could be recorded on a shoestring budget, with amazing results, and MAGNIFICATION, as great a work as it is, wouldn't be the band's last album.

All said, Magnification dances and soars, and only gets better with age.

A Magnificent album. One of my favorites.

Earl Grey:yesbird::beerchugr:

Borris

08-28-2009, 05:31 PM

I LOVE 'Magnification'. As the years go by, the album sounds richer, fuller, and more satisfying than it did, even when I first heard it. It's one of those albums that sounded 'good' when it arrived, and sounds GREAT today.

Time has only added to the beauty of Magnification. And if (A big "IF'') it were to be the last YES album, it's a fitting end-piece to an extraordinary band's recording output.

I still believe we'll get at least one more great YES outing from the guys. Perhaps I'm an optimist, but my optimism has paid-off in the past.

What needs to happen, I think, is that the band needs to realize that with digital home studios, you can now record a fine album at a pittance of what it once cost.

For god's sake, YES could record in any number of garage-based studios now, and get a sound comparable to the most expensive studios the old glory days had to offer.

Hell, if I can do it, YES certainly could do it.

Magnification DID leave a bad taste in some of the band members mouths, as it barely touched the charts/received minimal radio play... And the CD was a bit of a money-suck for the band.

The day of Supergroups going into The Record Plant, and spending millions of dollars on a project are over. Or at least, aren't required.

Any little garage band can bang-out a decent CD now, on a shoestring budget, and really have something to show for it.

I think YES are still tied to the idea of going into a huge studio with a huge budget. Which can be a fiscal disaster if the CD doesn't go into heavy rotation/win Grammy's/etc.

I can count at least 10 really good home studios on my fingers where the band could record something comparable to Close To The Edge for a fraction of the cost.

Will YES utilize the new technology, and record something new?
Who knows.

I do know one thing: If they did, it would sound great, it could be recorded on a shoestring budget, with amazing results, and MAGNIFICATION, as great a work as it is, wouldn't be the band's last album.

All said, Magnification dances and soars, and only gets better with age.

A Magnificent album. One of my favorites.

Earl Grey:yesbird::beerchugr:

Great post Earl, you are so right, Magnification has grown, I love it more with each play and I play it a lot.

:appl[1]: :appl[1]: :appl[1]:

You're also spot on with the recording, Phil Judd with no real money and no recording contracts has released two great albums in recent times recorded at home and they sound fantastic.

Yes should do the same thing, just go in there and record, don't spend money, use inspiration, call me an optimist but I think they still have plenty (with Jon). No talking with record companies, just do something good, sell it at concerts (with Benoit) find a distributor surely Amazon would stock it.

Earl Grey

08-28-2009, 06:01 PM

Great post Earl, you are so right, Magnification does grown, I love it more with each play and I play it a lot.

:appl[1]: :appl[1]: :appl[1]:

You're also spot on with the recording, Phil Judd with no real money and no recording contracts has released two great albums in recent times recorded at home and they sound fantastic.

Yes should do the same thing, just go in there and record, don't spend money, use inspiration, call me an optimist but I think they still have plenty (with Jon). No talking with record companies, just do something good, sell it at concerts (with Benoit) find a distributor surely Amazon would stock it.

Thank You Mate!

Amazon/CD Baby/i-tunes... so many options for distribution, without an actual distributer. Everyone does it now-a-days.

Look at Radiohead's last CD: Home-grown, and it defied all the critics predictions, and brought a fortune in. And they sold it as a download, where the consumer paid 'whatever they thought it was worth'.

Obviously we thought it was worth quite a bit.

Radiohead made a financial KILLING with 'In Rainbows'.

I'm putting it on the stereo right now...

:cheers:!
urliejeepers:yesbird::rightG:

jaynote1

08-28-2009, 09:03 PM

I liked it right out of the gate........but it only gets better with age....and thats a good point about the 'self-distribution' thing, Earl.....I dont know about the 'pay whatever you want' bit(being short-pocketed right now, i would feel bad about taking the music for nothing, and im sure there are those that would do that anyway), but to cut the BS out and deliver the product directly to the consumer is sound bidness............(hahahahahaaa)

somissound

08-28-2009, 11:24 PM

Amazon/CD Baby/i-tunes... so many options for distribution, without an actual distributer. Everyone does it now-a-days.

Look at Radiohead's last CD: Home-grown, and it defied all the critics predictions, and brought a fortune in. And they sold it as a download, where the consumer paid 'whatever they thought it was worth'.

Obviously we thought it was worth quite a bit.

Radiohead made a financial KILLING with 'In Rainbows'.

I'm putting it on the stereo right now...

:cheers:!
urliejeepers:yesbird::rightG:

You are right Earl... If they did it with no big money to recoup and in a nice independent studio, they could make almost ALL the dough!

I think something new and great could happen... :headset:

The days of big budgets and big studios are gone for most big bands...

Mind Driver

08-29-2009, 11:09 AM

I agree.

I wonder how hard it would be to get a band that is used to a big recording studio to collaborate and make an album without it?

Roan's Lady

08-29-2009, 11:48 AM

I agree.

I wonder how hard it would be to get a band that is used to a big recording studio to collaborate and make an album without it?

How hard it would be to get a band to do this, you say? LOL...
Most bands want to do that, if they have any interest in continuing as a recording band. It's beyond me why Yes would still be tied to dinosaur ways of developing/recording music. Hopefully they're not.

Mind Driver

08-29-2009, 12:03 PM

How hard it would be to get a band to do this, you say? LOL...
Most bands want to do that, if they have any interest in continuing as a recording band. It's beyond me why Yes would still be tied to dinosaur ways of developing/recording music. Hopefully they're not.

What I am referring to are bands, like Yes, that are used to running off to a huge house in Scotland, and not come out until they have the album finished.

Today's musicians are different - I agree.

But take the Rolling Stones as an example - I'm sure they still record out of a recording studio.

What about the new Asia album Phoenix? Was that done in a recording studio, or the way most bands are doing it today?

crotale2112

08-30-2009, 11:10 AM

I LOVE 'Magnification'. As the years go by, the album sounds richer, fuller, and more satisfying than it did, even when I first heard it. Earl Grey:yesbird::beerchugr:
Yup.. it's kinda like a good tray of lasagna. It will only get better the next day.

so meny of us use music as a tool to help when we are feeling down or depressed. For a while now when I have been feeling a little down in the dumps I've been playing "In the presence of" to help with my personal depression. I find this song to be one of there best when it comes to that special "yes energy" that we feel from so meny of there songs.

It seems that "5% for nothing" is a good song for when your popping pop corn in your microwave. the tempo works very well with the popping action going on.. try it.

Earl Grey

08-30-2009, 11:37 AM

What I am referring to are bands, like Yes, that are used to running off to a huge house in Scotland, and not come out until they have the album finished.

Today's musicians are different - I agree.

But take the Rolling Stones as an example - I'm sure they still record out of a recording studio.

What about the new Asia album Phoenix? Was that done in a recording studio, or the way most bands are doing it today?

The Stones discovered early-on that you could get a great sound with a 'mobile studio'. Exile On Mainstreet (One of their best sounding albums) was recorded with a mobile studio...

Buddy Holly: He bought a little two track 'reel to reel' and recorded his last tunes in a hotel room. He thought he was recording 'demos', but alas, after the plane crash they took those recordings into a BIG studio, added a band, and there you go...

My favorite Buddy Holly stuff are those un-embellished 'demos' that he did on an acoustic guitar: You can buy them that way now, without the posthumously-added studio musicians, and the songs sound great... Recorded on an old two-track in a hotel room. This was back in the late 1950s.

Todd Rundgren discovered in 1978, with his home-brewed 'Hermit Of Mink Hollow', that you could get a killer sound at home. It's still one of his best sounding albums.

So home recording has been out there for quite a while, it's just that now, with all the digital magic available, you can put out a record, and get a sound indistinguishable from a huge studio.
~~~~~~~

Crotale2112: Speaking of lasagna: One of the perks of recording in my friend, Burleigh Drummond's garage was this: Burleigh's wife Mary would often invite us all into the kitchen for, you guessed it, home made lasagna during our sessions!

Back in the glory days, you'd record at say, The Record Plant, or A&M Studios/etc... And you'd have a guy walk in with a big silver tray of cocaine... Every little need was met. So you were paying for luxury.

I imagine, after working in such coddled conditions, it might feel like a step down for some of the older established acts...

But truly: I've recorded at Warner Bros Burbank, back in the 70's, and there was ALWAYS the mighty clock of expense, so you'd rush through things, and not always git what you wanted.

Home studios are just, well, 'homier', more laid-back. And I LOVE 'em! ...And my wallet loves them as well.

urlIE:yesbird:

soporjoe1

09-04-2009, 01:20 PM

I LOVE 'Magnification'. As the years go by, the album sounds richer, fuller, and more satisfying than it did, even when I first heard it. It's one of those albums that sounded 'good' when it arrived, and sounds GREAT today.

Time has only added to the beauty of Magnification. And if (A big "IF'') it were to be the last YES album, it's a fitting end-piece to an extraordinary band's recording output.

I still believe we'll get at least one more great YES outing from the guys. Perhaps I'm an optimist, but my optimism has paid-off in the past.

What needs to happen, I think, is that the band needs to realize that with digital home studios, you can now record a fine album at a pittance of what it once cost.

For god's sake, YES could record in any number of garage-based studios now, and get a sound comparable to the most expensive studios the old glory days had to offer.

Hell, if I can do it, YES certainly could do it.

Magnification DID leave a bad taste in some of the band members mouths, as it barely touched the charts/received minimal radio play... And the CD was a bit of a money-suck for the band.

The day of Supergroups going into The Record Plant, and spending millions of dollars on a project are over. Or at least, aren't required.

Any little garage band can bang-out a decent CD now, on a shoestring budget, and really have something to show for it.

I think YES are still tied to the idea of going into a huge studio with a huge budget. Which can be a fiscal disaster if the CD doesn't go into heavy rotation/win Grammy's/etc.

I can count at least 10 really good home studios on my fingers where the band could record something comparable to Close To The Edge for a fraction of the cost.

Will YES utilize the new technology, and record something new?
Who knows.

I do know one thing: If they did, it would sound great, it could be recorded on a shoestring budget, with amazing results, and MAGNIFICATION, as great a work as it is, wouldn't be the band's last album.

All said, Magnification dances and soars, and only gets better with age.

A Magnificent album. One of my favorites.

Earl Grey:yesbird::beerchugr:

major cosign to all of the above.

I listened to it last night, and 8 years later, it still sounds as fresh as the day I got it in the mail.

Easily my favorite album of their's from the last 29 years.

rmig68

09-04-2009, 01:31 PM

I'm not big on it.

somissound

09-04-2009, 03:47 PM

Magnification, Give Love Each Day, and In the Presence Of are some of my ALL time favorite Yes songs :)

Including songs from TYA, CTTE, Relayer, Drama, 90125, BG, Union (Lift Me Up), The Ladder (the river), etc...

Sigil

09-23-2009, 05:30 AM

It's a fine album, and it does grow on you. A good back-up for understanding and appreciating it is to watch the documentary on the Symphonic Live DVD.

As far as my own taste goes, In The Presence of is a time-waster - not really enough going on to sustain it throughout. On the flipside, 'Don't Go' isn't just a throwaway single-length song for me; the refrain's slow syncopated bassline marries with the overlaid vocal harmonies beautifully, and lyrically is about the most true-to-real-life as anything else Jon has ever written. Standout track, though, is 'Can You Imagine'. The raw first recorded version from Chris's abortive XYZ project is available on Y**Tube, but here it's given the life it never had: the wonderful black-note suspended piano chords (reminiscent of the organ chords in 'Hold Out Your Hand) flirt with resolving to major chords, helped by Steve's little fills, and, more than anything else, I find the parts when Jon and Chris sing in complete unison so INCREDIBLY emotive, like they're forgiving each other for the YesEast YesWest debacles of the 90s.

gitsy

09-23-2009, 05:35 AM

'Can You Imagine' is a gem without doubt I wish it was a little longer.

Sharp on Attack

09-23-2009, 05:46 AM

I agree with Sigil. Don't Go may be a short song and a failed attempt at a hit single but the arrangements are wonderful with lots of stuff going on. I still don't understand why its gets so many bad words. And I agree with Gitsy too. Can You Imagine is one of the best later YES tracks.

shortexchanges

09-23-2009, 08:27 AM

This is an album for the faithful. The title track up to the ending is one of the best in the catalog. Spirit of Survival reminds me of the 9/11 tragedy. The rest is ok. In the presence of is overrated although it feels in the same vane as to be over.

I am deeply saddened this is the last studio output in 8 years.

90125yes

09-25-2009, 05:46 AM

deeply sad this thread is from 6 years ago and is the last official new YES release for studio material

AmorReal

10-25-2009, 12:44 PM

Magnification was the only Yes album I bought as a fan, so it has a special place in my heart (as albums like Genesis's "Calling All Stations" and King Crimsons's "The Construkction Of Light" and "The Power To Believe" do.) I remember I had mail ordered it from the UK, because it was being released 3 months earlier over there, so I got it 3 months earlier than everyone else.

I also have lots of memories of listening to it on my cd player in my high school classes, or walking across my high school campus with it blaring for one of the first times. "Give Love Each Day" was inspirational, and I still think it is one of the finest Yes songs ever done.

Magnification was a step back in the right direction musically. It had that old Yes sound, but with a newer production. It's a shame they never put out the followup to it that they planned, I'm sure it would have been phenomenal!

HaroldLand

10-25-2009, 01:41 PM

I liked Magnification when it came out and I've grown to like it more since then. My only complaint about it is the same complaint I had of it when it was first released. There's no keyboardist. I understand one of the reasons the band worked with the orchestra was to have the orchestra take over what would've been/could've been the keyboard parts to the music. I believe that concept works for the most part throughout the album. BUT the album would've sounded better had there been a full-time keyboardist involved on the tracks, in addition to the orchestra. The keyboardist would've enabled the sound of the band to rock more as well.

the greenman

10-25-2009, 02:06 PM

It was ok, but there was no moog, no birotron, no synthesizer.. No Rick.. (he says paraphrasing Circus of Heaven).

Having calmed down from my Rick-bashing over Tormato t'other day, I do think this is one album where his orchestrations & general 'Yessympathies' would have made this a better album.

Groupe did ok, but Wakey maybe could have made it better..

Just what I think.

kirk

10-25-2009, 02:47 PM

I didn't vote, but it occurs to me that no one will likely start
a "CTTE...Good or NOT ?" thread.

Mags runs hot and cold for me, will never be in my favorites.

Re: recording-

While home rigs have made some huge advances, so have studios.
There's a reason SSL, Neve boards are going for $100,000+, aren't in
any danger of going out of business.
Having recording software is like saying " I own the same guitar as
David Gilmour ".

It then comes down to engineering, production skills.
If you don't have highend mics, know the techniques to say, mic
a guitar cabinet, you won't have professional results, or tone.
Mastering is a skill unto itself.

Radiohead, btw, recorded In Rainbows in 4 different locations, including
a condemned mansion, w/ long time producer Nigel Godrich, finishing
up in his private studio.

K

mageestout

11-09-2009, 08:43 PM

Great CD
As many say, gets better with age.
Recently played it during a dinner party my wife & I hosted. Folks were curious; "Is that YES? That's good"

My wife & I love GIVE LOVE EACH DAY

Melissa

11-10-2009, 04:05 PM

Roan's Lady

11-10-2009, 04:37 PM

the greenman

11-10-2009, 05:01 PM

It's in my car CD player today.

Right now, I have very mixed feelings about this album. There are some amazing songs on it, to be sure, but IMHO, there's too much shmushy-mushy schmaltz.
I don't mind a love song here and there, but by-and-large, love songs are not what I like about Yes - I actually don't care for most love songs at all, Yes or no Yes.

Really, the schmaltzy stuff turns me off.

Quite by chance, I was playing myself in the car today (wrong tape in wrong box) & I thought EXACTLY this! A couple of tracks really rock, they have power & might. But a few of them.. where's the 'fast forward..'??

BUt I did wonder what it would have been like without the orchestra & with keyboards instead. Previously, I've only really thought what it might have been like with keys as well as the strings etc.

But today I found myself thinking, what if you stripped all that off & just had some stonking hammond & some great soaring moog. & I listened hard to Steve's playing, to Alan and to Chris & I thought - having that extra interaction this could have been amazing.

I think they were brave to go for the 'crossover' market & try it with the orchestra, but overall, I'm not sure it worked. & financially, boy it must have been a drain.

Life's not a zero sum game is it? So when I read that the company went bust before they could do all the promotion, I think, hmm, must have spent too much on the recording side of things...

It's an album which should have had a wider hearing. Still, soon be time for a 10th anniversary 're-launch'!

CybrKhatru

11-10-2009, 05:04 PM

I haven't reloaded this one onto the iPod yet....but soon.

I love a few tracks...most notably "In The Presence Of". I voted "I like it". and I still do...but I wish I loved it. If more of the tracks on it were as great as ITPO....

kirk

11-10-2009, 05:28 PM

Quite by chance, I was playing myself in the car today (wrong tape in wrong box) & I thought EXACTLY this! A couple of tracks really rock, they have power & might. But a few of them.. where's the 'fast forward..'??

Really ?! 'Good way to get into a nasty accident. :winknudge

BUt I did wonder what it would have been like without the orchestra & with keyboards instead. Previously, I've only really thought what it might have been like with keys as well as the strings etc.

But today I found myself thinking, what if you stripped all that off & just had some stonking hammond & some great soaring moog. & I listened hard to Steve's playing, to Alan and to Chris & I thought - having that extra interaction this could have been amazing.

I have to agree. They underestimated the keys position
importance to the fanbase, imo.
I'm not saying that some of the buzzkill pieces would've
exactly shined, but may have been improved.

K

Michelle Johnston

11-10-2009, 05:32 PM

Magnification is one of those Cd’s where not for the first time Yes played a kind of artistic jeopardy where they tested their fan bases notion of what is Yes Music.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
For several years Jon had been talking about making music involving an orchestra. To their credit they made it a priority that this would not be a cut and paste job where the orchestra was needlessly tagged on to a rock band, but like ELP’s pirates, band and orchestra would be integrated. Though I do understand the recordings were cut and paste!!
<o:p></o:p>
As Larry Groupe said at the time this meant the emphasis would be on the harmonic potential of the music at the expense of the rhythmic and pyrotechnical invention they would normally display. Jon & Chris’s harmonies are at their best and for me very moving and Chris and Alan are energised and drive the music and orchestra but without the convoluted invention of Drama or the Keys studio tracks.
<o:p></o:p>
I love Magnification the vibe is quite different from other Yes projects the music unfolds in a very understated musical way, which means their normal cut and thrust is absent it doesn’t grab at you, and I am also aware that a great deal of the normal musical assets of the Band are out to lunch . I can therefore see why people are not drawn to it. But like the very best Yes music I feel the patient listener is rewarded by fresh insights but they are essentially harmonic ones rather than playing insights.
<o:p></o:p>
I enjoy the music except Don’t Go and Soft as a Dove, the former sounds crass particularly in the middle section and the latter twee and I wasn’t caught up in Jon’s lyrical concept (the sign posting isn’t there for me). The intro and outrun of pieces are great and sequence well and Time is Time is a great tribute to the Beatles and a wonderful look back to their roots, effortless and beautiful. But should you finish your career, Jon said in interviews at the time of the Ladder that there was one possibly two more projects in them, with such an atypical set of music?
<o:p></o:p>
One chilling postscript I was listening to the link between Magnification/Spirit Of Survival on the car stereo when someone phoned to tell me the twin towers had been attacked, having purchased the Cd that day.
<o:p></o:p>
What I do feel and hope for is that the new music next year really does need to return to the rip and tare way of doing things a la Mind Drive. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>

the greenman

11-10-2009, 06:11 PM

another thoughtful & thought provoking post, Michelle - good stuff.

funnily enough on the tape that I found myself listening to I'd cut out that 'crass' middle section in Don't Go. The bit that goes:

So he booked himself a trip, extended holiday
None of this always working late
The porter took him to his room; he headed for the bar
To get another drink
She got a phone call saying her lover had ran away
Just another phone call, another bad day
She packed her keys got out of town
Stole her best friend’s car (Parp Parp)
Promised he would bring it back
That’s what friends are for

The carhorn bit reminds me of Madness & that whole section drives me nuts. Without it, it's actually not too bad a song, with some quite nice deep vocal harmonies. But even knowing that middle bits on CD is enough..

Ah the good old days of taping & editing!

A thought struck me as I motored along - is 'soft as a dove' the bastard son of Wondrous Stories?

Actually, I woudnt mind getting battered if it was for another Gates..