Post your Magnification Reviews here please!

[1yesfan]

With the new album Finally coming out tomorrow, 12/4, I thought we should have a thread dedicated to it. Soooo, post your reviews, thoughts, concerns, what ever, in this thread please.

[Olias_01]

Being lucky enough to have had the album for some time I can say this:

At first listen I thought 'Give Love Each Day' and 'Can You Imagine' were the strongest tracks, with 'Can You Imagine' being the obvious single. The rest were so-so and 'Don't Go' should have. Gone, that is...

After many weeks and numerous plays I now feel and this is as objective as I can be, that this album is potentially not only Yes's greatest work at least since GFTO but possibly of all time.

IMHO this album is groundbreaking in a way that has not been seen since Nirvana hit the scene.

The orchestral and electric sounds fuse seamlessly and complement each other beautifully, no better example than on 'Give Love Each Day'.

Other offerings of orchestral rock sound more like warring factions of genres better kept apart.

The consistency of this work shows a clarity of vision for the project. With an enthusiasm usually reserved for a great bands early offerings and in my opinion not seen since Close To The Edge.

This work will rank with the vast majority of Yes fans and music lovers the world over as a pivotal album of the early 21st century.

Yes, I like it THAT much. :thumbs:

[nightliner]

In my initial review which became a monster of a topic, I also described it as so-so. As time went on, things changed. I voted for great.

[Purple Wolfhound]

I’ve had Magnification for some time also and I’d have to say Olias, that “We Agree” (had to slip that one in there ) on just about everything you have said. Magnification is an artistic achievement, no doubt. Is it an album that I have or will play often? No, and probably not. Except for the songs that you mention, along with Magnification and In The Presence Of, nothing else grabs me on an emotional level. Which, imo is what great music is all about – appealing to a listener’s emotions as well as their intellect. That’s not to say that there isn’t both on this album. I don’t know, maybe it’s in the delivery, but I feel there’s something missing. For that, I rated it: decent.

[1yesfan]

Well I picked up my copy. Got it from Best Buy which is selling the bonus tracks Ritual and LDR. Both live tracks are good.
As for the new stuff on the album. Huuuuuuuuuuum. For me it is a new path for them. Upon my first couple plays I must give In The Presence OF best song on the album. Very strong, great movements that I think can be a radio played tune perhaps with some shortening. A few of the songs are just tooo dry for me. Well I am off to listen to it some more.

PLEASE NOTE: You can go back and change your vote if your feeling for the album have changed. I have the site set up to allow this feature.


Tim

[yesindeed]

First run through and my only clear impression is that "Can You Imagine" should be on the radio....

Need more time to digest the rest of this but it is without a doubt a great album.

[bjm0rwo]

I just listened to this cd just @ 1hr.ago.After reading all the reviews and comments these past months I was pessimistiic on my liking it.But put simply I was blown away by it.The orchestration did not get in the way.To me it complimented the arrangements nicely.This is impressive to me because the orchestrations were written after the basic tracks independent of any input from the band.That's the impression I got from the Howe interview in Notes.I agree it is their finest accomplishment since GFTO.I hope they play more from this alblum on the second leg of the tour when (hopefully) I'll see them.Bravo!

[ANTIOCH]

It has always been the mark of a GREAT 'YES' album that it MUST take a few listens to absorb the music , and "Magnification" is that type of offering.
I personally like "Dreamtime" and think "Time is Time" would make a fine single , and having had the import for a month think this is as strong an effort as the band has delivered in years.
I'm buying the bonus CD's as gifts , and I hope 'YES' realize the leap of faith they took was worth the gamble!

[charl8e]

On first listening...
i voted Great.
I consider myself to be an enormous YES skeptic. Because i hold them to such high standards... because they set them, that we should always expect something special, and even The Ladder, a decent effort, but still somehow not the real thing... i expected to be disappointed this time... and embarrassed, ashamed, ridiculous... somehow they can't make the avant-garde move, via Brian Eno, and go orchestral and symphonic but not get too lush or gooey... they must go the YES way, sentimental, melodic, etc.. so where to?... i don't know, but crucially the lack of keyboards seems to have freed them up to a collosal degree here, that must be a part of it, they sound just right, somehow... not nostalgic or retrogressive...
well, how exciting this is...
Best album since GFTO, as someone already said, i do believe...
my gosh, what a delight... i didn't expect that, but i always figured that if anyone could do it, it would be YES...

[ronw]

I've had the cd since September but was still excited yesterday for all you who did have it. I did go buy the 3 copies though to get the bonus tracks. This is a wonderful piece of work done by the ultimate band. I agree that using the orchestra over the keyboards was a excellent move. I would love to see them continue with this style. It also makes the live shows so much better.

[mykyes]

Thinks for setting up the poll.

File this CD with Relayer and Going for the One.

Finally, we celebrate a true Yes CD... The group has created an album worthy of the name Yes; it is about time. I believe this is their best effort since Keys Pt II. I was worried that the orchestra would overpower things; it didn’t. I think it really works.

Only in the recent past…… I have been somewhat disappointed. I thought The Ladder was a bit pasteurized. Even though it has a few good moments (the instrumental section in New Languages is especially good), I was worried that they might have lost it. And can someone tell me what Open Your Eyes was all about? I thought Trevor was on the first half of the CD. It wasn’t until Balcony that I could recognize Steve. Anyway…

I became optimist about the new album when I heard the band play In The Presence of during tour. However, I had to remind myself that everything they play live is great. Just compare Face to Face on the Ladder CD to House of Blues; it is much better live (don’t you think?). So, I approached this new CD with reservations. I was pleasantly surprised and excited when I first listened to it; what a treat! The studio stuff stands on it own. Gates, Ritual, and Close to the Edge just make this point in Yestory even more special.

The band has really challenged themselves. This is a good one. Yes! Yes! Yes! Maybe Rick will come back now. One can hope.

[Angkor WHO??]

Upon the first listen, I'm very pleased. "Spirit of Survival" is very powerful along with "We Agree". Squire and White are just chugging along like a fine tuned machine. I will be buying additional copies for everyone in my band (but not before stealing the bonus disc!)
I love the orchestration, and the many starts and stops and odd time changes...like many of the classic albums. Like the Ladder, this album is very well produced, but not overproduced. The artwork is different, but fresh. I think I'm really going to like this one a whole bunch.

[ram111_98]

I just bought Magnification. I have only listened to it once but there seems to be something missing to me. Steve Howe's guitar just doesn't seem to be there, yes there are spots that he does well with the slide guitar, and many spots he has acoustic guitar riffs, but where the heck is the cranking guitar that we all know and love in Yes music. Too me this sounds like more of a Jon Anderson love fest album than anything else. Don't get me wrong, as far as that goes it sounds great with the orchestra, but as good as GFTO??? Sorry folks

[Olias_01]

Good news for all of you that are hearing Mag for the first time...

Wait 'til you've had it a few weeks....It gets better....and better.... and better...and better.... ad nauseum.

I genuinely believe that with the exception of 'Don't Go', this is potentially one of the best albums of all time by anyone ever.

As an aside, I was at the show at Hammersmith last night. 'Gates' and 'Ritual' just blew me away. Also they played 'Magnification' this track plays fantastic live. I don't know if they played it on the US tour, anyone?

Judging by the programme notes and Jon's ramblings, 'Don't Go' is the intended single release. THIS IS A MISTAKE.

I would rather they release a good 'off centre' single like 'Can You Imagine' than a bad pop offering like 'Don't Go' It's bad, corny, pop. The AAaaHHaaa's in the background with Jon singing through that funny megaphone is reminiscent of a bad take of 'Video Killed The Radio Star' only not as good.

[Purple Wolfhound]

Olias, you are so correct, Magnification would have been the perfect track to witness live (umm, well GLED or CYI would've been nice, too). As it was, we had Don't Go and ITPO (which was really good).

As for Don't Go sounding like The Buggles - ack! Don't let Jon read that. I don't think he would appreciate ANY comparison to Trevor Horn.

[Olias_01]

<LOL> You know the start where Trevor sings 'I heard you on the wireless back in......' I swear Jon has borrowed that megaphone.......... It's horrendous :jaw1:

[yesindeed]

FYI

www.dailyvault.com will be doing a review "soon".

I will let you know when it is posted.

[PaulH]

I just finished my 3rd complete listen to the CD. The Jury is still out for me, but there are some things that I absolutely love.
Can you Imagine, with Chris taking the lead vocal role, sounds like a new squire solo album may have sounded like, reminissant of that Fish out of water feel.
In the presense of....has some strong vocal and melody work by anderson, and for me shapes that tune as one of the CD strong cuts. I remember really enjoying this tune at last summer's US tour.
I think strong kudos and praise must be sent Larry Groupe's way.
He has done a suberb job of interacting with a group of musicians that have had the benefit of over 30years together, and found a nitche in the music that definitely pays homage to the original vision of the project. It reminds me of some of the orchestrations of someone that called the "fifth beatle", except that YES music is so much more involved and Mr Groupe has been able to keep up.
By the way....did anyone notice that "Soft as a dove" ( i think)
sounds a lot like a recycled..."From the balcony" the guitar riff especially....anyway....as people have stated, it is an album that needs to be ingested over time, and for that I am grateful....
blessed to be face with this Yes-feast...good listening.....

[charl8e]

... the initial elation of last night's first hearings has worn off, and... i still think it's a great record... listened three times all the way through last night, and i haven't done that with an album of new YES material (as opposed to the live stuff on Keys) since, oh, i don't recall...
i was one of those who complained about Don't Go live, but actually i think it's a really good song, a new Roundabout... well, maybe not that strong, but it's a fine pop song, lovely production, and the whole Beatles-feel of the CD works especially well on this track... i even like the megaphone bit!
other faves -- Can You Imagine (i agree, very Fish Out Of Water)
ITPO, as we knew from hearing it live, is fabulous...
the title track and Spirit of Survival, too, are very fine...
i love the way the whole CD hangs together...
someone here told me that i'd like We Agree eventually, when heard in context, but i still think that this is a weak weak track, out of place, much more so than Don't Go....
but i love the way the whole CD is of a piece, but in separate bits, like side 2 (oh, i'm ageing myself there!) of Abbey Road...
why does the absence of keyboards free them up so? don't know...
great stuff!
what a thrill...

[siddhartha]

Hello! I'm a newbie to this board, but not to Yes' music. (I've been listening since 1971.) I was wondering if there was a place where fans could discuss Yes-related things, and it looks like I've found it.

Ooooooh boy..... now I know where all of my spare time will be going :rolleyes:

Like several others who've posted here already, I was lucky enough to have bought the new album back in September. I must say it didn't really grab me the first few times I heard it, but it certainly has had time to grow on me. (That's usually the mark of an exceptional Yes offering.) I give it a "decent" vote now, but that may change upward in time (?) The first two tracks are great - very well executed, and the orchestral touches are VERY tastefully pulled off. I agree that "Don't Go" is a rather weak track: inane lyrics and less-than-catchy melody. "Can You Imagine" would have made a MUCH better choice for a single. I understand this track was originally from the sessions they did with Jimmy Page back in the early 80's, along with "Mind Drive." I sort of like "We Agree," though I wish it "cooked" a little more, musically speaking. However, "Soft As A Dove" sounds a bit weak to my ears, and "Time Is Time" seems like an afterthought. It enters relatively unnoticed and then departs pretty much in the same manner, without much transpiring in between. Not the best way to close out an album of such huge scope, in my opinion, and a bit out of synch with the rest of the music, which is quite excellent in comparison.

I'm jealous of all those who can buy this album in the States (I'm in Korea) because of the extra tracks! I did get to see Yes on the Masterworks tour, so at least I have that memory.

Hope to see you all here again very soon...

siddhartha

[Yes Rocks]

I've given Mag 2+ listens now and I pretty much agree with Squire348's sentiments. We Yesheads are quite a bunch though, aren't we? Some of us like this song, some of us like that song, but we agree on one thing, we love Yes!
I don't understand the bashing Don't go receives, I like it. Even my 10 year old will juke a little to it. I think it does need to be released as the single. Is it my favorite? No. Magnification is my fave cut at the moment. We'll be lucky if radio plays any of it though. Either you 'get' Yes or you don't. For 30 years, radio really hasn't figured out Yes, why should they now? A lot of cuts off The Ladder could have made the airwaves but didn't!
I made the mistake though of reading the lyrics as I listened to it the first time. The musical side of Yes is really what sells me, and the second time I just 'listened' to it and liked it a lot better. My only gripe (like we Yesheads really have anything to gripe about, I think not!) would be too much lyrics and not enough instrumentation. I like Jon's lyrics when he was a little more vague with them, and put them out there to sound good with the music! I like the orchestra, it adds a fullness to the music.
So, at the moment I'm leaning towards rating it decent (Hey, there are a lot of great Yes albums and THAT'S quite a high standard!). But, then again ALL Yes albums are decent, so it's either that or it's great! You can't lose! So far, enjoyable!

Paul

[1yesfan]

Well I have played it a few more times, about 6 in all. Last night I played it while I was in bed. Many folks in the reviews here have posted about Steve not really being UP FRONT int he sound tha much. I feel this album is not about any one band mate being IT for a comeplete tune. Even Chris is not really featured if you will. For me this album is more about the Orch. I think it all blends greatly. I think if Steve would have been OUT THERE MORE so to speak we would have yet another "Rock Band" sound with a orch in the back round. More me this album really blends well for the most part. Sure there are a few that don't make my :funmeter2 go off that well, like Soft As A Dove, YIKES! But overall I think Yes pulled this album off just fine. Some bands have done this thing to some extend int he past and they jsut don't sound right. This album, the way Steve or Chris mixes in is as if it has always been this way, sounds natural to me. Hell it is hard for me to put into words.
I was mentioned here that Alans drumming was not cool in this. I can see that here and there. Kinda hard to mix in a rock band drumming sound.
Don't Go. While it is not a great tune it is ok. I think it can be a radio friendly tune. Hey folks, not all the tunes will be like Awaken or In The Prensence OF.
Well so far it is sitting with me rather nicely. This album sound very OLD Yes yet something new and fresh. I like that there are parts of it where it sound NOTHING like Yes. Hats off to the Orch.

[charl8e]

Not only is this a lovely song, but i suggest to you that it's the perfect coda/ending to such a big orchestral album, much better than a bloated finale, and its scale fits the mixture of long/short, big/small pieces on the album really well... once again, it's very Abbey Road i think...

[Raptor]

Just bought Magnification at Best Buy with the Ritual as a bonus track.
Got to listen to it once so far and my first thoughts were "this is good"
" this is hot" a must buy for any Yes Fan. I was very pleased to find
the song "can you imagine" I have the demo of this that was recorded
around the drama era and have always liked it and now I have a refined
recording of it.I just wish they kept it as long as tthe demo this is a
little shortened version. Go out and buy this CD








YES is the Best... Thank you Yes for the best music for the last thirty years

[Angkor WHO??]

I've listened to the new disc four times now, (love it), and I think this is going to be one of those discs where you catch something new every time you hear it.
For instance today's discovery was hearing how the production totally drops off in "Time is Time". The drums have no "THWACK" to them and the volume and effects are dropped considerably on other instruments.
This is a good thing, though. It gives the song a late 70's feel, and I like how the album ends with mellowness and not a bang. But Yes is usually awesome at that, anyway.

Paul

---------------------


Did you know that Magnification makes a great stocking stuffer?

[Topographic_Oceans]

I have listened to Magnification oh some 30 times or so. I have had it in my computer for 3 days on continuous play.

The blokes have actually did it! This album is the best release since GFTO. I will be so bold to say that it’s the best release ever with Tales coming in second and Relayer third (editor’s note: I am from the Howe school of thought). This album is not for commercial consumption. In fact, I hope the critics get a severe flogging on their arse.

The album is magical. It has a mystical and Medieval feel. All of the songs on this album, except one, go together and are dependent on the title track. “Don’t Go” is a good song but it does not fit the magical mood of the other songs. When I listen to “Give Love Each Day,” I feel as if this is a sub-song or sub-part of Magnification. The only independent song is “Don’t Go.” I wish this song was at the end instead of being smack-dab in the middle of the Magnification movement. Then again, I am not sure it would fit at the end either. This is in contrast to the Ladder which had independent commercial songs. Magnification sounds nothing like Ladder which was border-line adult contemporary. I often hear “If Only You Knew” in the grocery store.

The mix is better than the Ladder. Jon’s voice is better in Magnification with more angelic/harmonic vocals that the seasoned Yes listener has come to expect. The lyrics are better, not as cheesy as the Ladder.

The orchestra does not dominate and ruin the music. I was fearful of this.

What's with this LDR Talisman thingie? Reminds me of the "Great Conjunction" in the Dark Crystal. Perhaps the Talisman is to Yes as the "object" was to Led Zeppelin on Presence.

Magnification is excellent! It’s a masterpiece!

[Yes Rocks]

Ok, as alot of people have said, it gets better and better and better each time you listen to it. I threw on the headphones last night after the wife and kids went to bed, turned everything else off except the Christmas tree and immersed myself into the world of Magnification! What a powerful album. It Rocks! I vote great!

Paul

[charl8e]

I agree whole-heartedly with those of you who think that Magnification gets better the more you listen... even Soft As A Dove seems to fit after awhile... my only gripe now is Spirit of Survival (described as "Spirit of Union" by one critic, as Yesworld, i think!)... it's a clumsy, A-O-R, neo-Cinema moment that does little for the album as a whole... but even We Agree (which i disliked at first) is growing on me, and i'm now a total convert to Don't Go, too... and ITPO and Can You Imagine are, i think, classic YES tracks, as good as anything on GFTO... we can hardly expect something that stands alongside the classic 1970s albums, but this is so much closer than their previous efforts that i can hardly believe it... the album has its own special, magical feel, it exists in a Beatles-esque sonic world of its won... so many of us have noticed this that i know it cannot be wishful thinking on my part...

[YESOUL]

IF NOT FOR THE ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENTS THIS EFFORT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER LADDER OR OYE.THE DIFFERENCE IS GOOD MELODIES AND RIFFS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO GREAT ONES WITH THE ADDED FIREPOWER OF ALL THOSE WONDERFUL INSTRUMENTS AND SOUNDS OF THE ORCHESTRA.HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE ORCHESTRA IN THERE FUTURE RECORDINGS. MY ONLY CRITICISM OF YES IS THERE IS TOO MUCH JON AND NOT ENOUGH JAMMING.I LOVE JON'S VOICE AND HIS LYRICS ARE SPIRITUALLY ON TARGET, BUT LET STEVE,CHRIS AND ALAN DISPLAY THERE AMAZING TALENTS FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE MINUTES AT A TIME. WITH EACH LISTENING TO MAGNIFICATION ,YOU HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR DEEPER THAT YOU MISSED BEFORE, TRULY A SIGN OF A GREAT PIECE OF ART.(WONDER IF THAT RICK GUY HAS HEARD IT?)

[yesindeed]

Anyone can get a review posted at barnesandnoble.com. I encourage all of us to submit one.

I just sent this one:

The talent in this group flows in rivers of enormous scale.
So, you want an album that embodies elements of rock and classical music... but you don't want it to be too far to the symphonic side and you don't want to listen to screaming guitar riffs either... You want something that will take your soul on a soaring musical ride. You want lyrics that reflect current societal issues and the infinite truths of certain absolutes that are time independant. You want it all in one package and you want it all produced with superb musicianship. You don't want MUCH do you?! Here it is. Buy it.

[dyingpoet]

The new album: As usual, it's taking me several days to digest the new material, but it is settling well. The vocal performances are as beautiful and sophisticated as ever (how about Squire getting some rare exposure with a lead vocal on track 5?) A fair amount of individual instrumental accomplishment, outstanding sound quality and mix, with perfect arrangements. In paratially formed opinions, my favorite tracks so far are 4,5 and 8. Weakest tracks are 3 and 10.

My only notable regret thus far is that they never really break out and rock on this one, though they come close during the latter stages of track 8. However, the material really isn't written from a "rock out" starting point, and the music is strong and true to itself without it. (Not all movies require a car chase, right?)
There is a consistent relaxing quality to the music, and it still spikes interest in the intellectual listener.

The album, regretfully, will not sell well, but the world has repeatedly turned a deaf ear to music of this style and quality. There are enough YES fans out there to make it worth their while, though, and their effort will ultimately be rewarded with accalaides from those of us with a trained ear.

Good album.

For now, a strong 7.5 on a scale of 1-10.

-dyingpoet

[dyingpoet]

You might go back and listen to The Ladder more carefully. There are some wonderful moments on that album, with plenty of Jon and some jamming thrown in, too. It's not my favorite either, but it doen't deserve to be categorized with OYE. OYE also has some good moments, but they are wasted on the "pop approach" production style. On Ladder, the tracks are more developed, more melodic, there is a logical progression of the music throughout the album and individual talents are more exposed.

An average rating of 6 on a scale of 1-10.

[charl8e]

Someone posted that Entertainment Weekly had given the new album a B rating, but i've been unable to locate that review... does anyone know where it is?

[charl8e]

Maybe you tech-head dudes already know about this, but i just found a very thoughtful and insightful review of the new album at:

www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Concert/8459/magnification.html

The writer is wrong about ITPO, which is odd when you see what careful attention is paid to the musical (& lyrical) details of each song...

UH?
It won't let me post the address... what's up with that??

[Angkor WHO??]

Great review, yesindeed.


I would recommend you all check out the website on the previous post. THAT is an in-depth review. I don't agree with ITPO, though.
-------------------------

I wrote my review before this thread came out and it is posted on NFTE--current issue--if you might be interested. It's the first one listed. Get to it here. http://nfte.org.

[nickrun]

I don't know how anyone can say anthing negative about this album. Okay , there is some typical stuff you have to deal with, but, WOW, FANTASTIC, GREAT AND THANKS TO THE GUYS FOR THIS ALBUM. Some of these songs are the best I have heard in a really long time. DreamTime, Spirit of Revival, Can You Imagine and most all the others are great.

[Plastic Man]

after a few listens, i believe dont go is one of the strongest tracks, its definatley one of the most original. it would make a great single.

[Original_Shifty]

I like the music to Don't Go, and the vocal harmonies are pretty good.

My difficulties with this song are the lyrics, especially the section that begins "So he booked himself a trip, extended holliday...." Just reading that section off of the liner notes, make me queezie.

[charl8e]

My 16-yr old son has stopped laughing at me for liking YES. Since he heard the track Magnification. What more can i say? He reckons it sounds "less seventies" and that YES are much better without a keyboard player. An interesting perspective. It makes you wonder about the alternative history YES might have had, if they had carried on as a 4-piece when Rick Wakeman left the band. Anderson, Squire, Howe and White had talked of doing this, i believe, before Moraz joined. Now Moraz is my favorite YES keyboard player, so i'm glad they didn't try the 4-piece thing. But it does make me wonder, what might have been... Of course, in the meantime, we have this magnificent album. And the more i listen to it, the more i like it...

[Plastic Man]

Originally posted by Original_Shifty
I like the music to Don't Go, and the vocal harmonies are pretty good.

My difficulties with this song are the lyrics, especially the section that begins "So he booked himself a trip, extended holliday...." Just reading that section off of the liner notes, make me queezie.
whats wrong with those lyrics? i actually like them better than something like "drving throught the mountains the river sees the way" or something like that, that makes no sense at all. and what about hte car horn? i think that adds something that genesis had with their lyric writing back in the day, lyrics that tell a story.

[dyingpoet]

The presence of a virtuoso keyboard specialist would not likely detract from the strength of the band. Some of Wakeman's work on the Keys tracks, for instance, really help the music make it. Even if only limited to piano and organ, without the "seventies" electronic effects, it could be worked in to future music easily, along with the orchestration. I am rapidly falling in love with the new album too, but because the music is so strong, not just because there are no featured keyboard solos. I think we need to cut Wakeman some slack, as well as Kaye, Moraz, Downes and Korochev. The band's history would not have been nearly as rich without them, but particularly Wakeman. I hope they find a way to feature some keyboard work in the future, if for no other reason, because it has long been a signature trait of the YES sound we've all grown to love.

[dyingpoet]

The intro to track three is just a letdown after what starts out as a fantastic transition out of track two. It's not a bad track, neccesarily, it's just weak compared to the songs that surround it.

By the way, one should not attempt to quote anything from Fragile unless they can quote it correctly. Do not mess with the band's keynote album like that. It is heresy to do so.

[yesskater]

I just returned from several audits that took me from San Diego to Denver by automobile; therefore, I've listened to Mag about 10 times in the car.
Given that, let me say that "Spririt of Survival" is a very appropriate soundtrack when driving during a blizzard in the Utah mountains!!
Mag is a solid Yes album, a bit more straightforward and structured than previous efforts but nevertheless a plesant and inspiring listening experience. I believe that the orchestral experiment is successful in the respect that it adds color to fine compositions by Jon/Steve/Chris/Alan. The title track, Spirit, and In the Presence Of are the linchpin tracks on the album. I'm very grateful that in the year 2001, with so much useless and uninspiring ear candy polluting the airwaves, an album like Magnification can continue to provide as insightful and inspriational listening experience.

PS The day I purchased Mag w/Gates I also picked up Rick's Recollections 1973-1979 compiliation. Fine remasters of a genius at work.

[dyingpoet]

What is it I've heard about there being different live tracks thrown in with different copies of Mag? Mine has "Ritual," with some kick-a$$ solo bass work, and "Long Distance Runaround." What else is out there, and is this a distributors ploy to sell more copies of the CD? (Like that "Keys I & II" situation?)

[slamsound]

OK, here we go...

I guess I've had about 5 listens so far...I'm one of those "Tales" groupies, so I've got to give a "thumbs up" for Magnification.

Strongest tune: Give Love Each Day

Best Single: Time is Time

Worst song: Don't Go (big suprise!)

The strings in GLED are just amazing. I do miss, however, the Steve Howe of yesteryear, raunchy (dare I say) fender sounds. He seems to be more careful at this stage. Almost afraid to take some chances. Allan, also, seems to be more subdued. I was looking forward to some more instrumental pieces with Steve, Chris and Allan. Maybe I've still got Gates on my mind...

Definitely the strongest release since the classic period!

[charl8e]

Must say i agree with previous post... ITPO was my fave at first, but now i find myself singing GLED in my head constantly... i was put off by the cheesy title of that song at first i think (still wish they'd called it Sad Day, or maybe Let It Be!) but with time it has grown on me... in fact, i can even listen to Spirit of Survival and Soft as a Dove now without cringeing... i like both tracks... this album, as so many have said here, just gets better & better... how very fortunate we are, that our favorite band is still together and is still making good music, after all this time... and i have to ask myself, how do they do it, and yes i know it's partly about the $$$, but also i have to believe that the band's "spiritual" vision (for want of a better term, and i do wish i had one, as a card-carrying atheist and confirmed anti-metaphysician) has enabled them to rise above the creeping cynicism of middle age and the bleak conditions of the music industry to deliver something new and fresh, something that the Zen folks would call beginner's mind i think, and to which Jon Anderson refers on the album... give love each day, indeed...

[Original_Shifty]

While I was fixing breakfast this morning, I kept humming the verse to Don't Go. It wouldn't stop!!!!

...but I'm feeling much better now. :shrug: It was the strangest thing.

[Mrsteve]

Now that I've had Magnification in my computer for a week I'm ready to post. I'm a CTTE and Tales guy.

First listen *really* liked it. Second listen - even more. after about 30 this is a truely great pice of work!! This ranks with the best of what for me is their second teir of work - Fragile, The Yes Album, GFTO.

Rarely have rock and orchestra been melded together so well. Some of the Beatles, McCartney's Live and Let Die, Led Zep's Kasmir.

I was one who voted for no orchestra and was positive if they added one we'd get a full CD of "If only You Knew" clones. Should have know better than to doubt our hero's ability to create magic.

I prefer the orchestra to all the synth's (I can't believe I actually wrote that). The depth and variety of sounds is precisely what I think their music has needed. Keys or no keys I do hope they make one more attempt with the orchestra.

Spirit of Survial, Can You Imagine, and Dreamtime if edited to 5 minutes all have potential to be accepted by many listeners of "Alternative Rock" radio - but I doubt the programmers would allow it.

[dyingpoet]

An athiest who loves YES? Well, I guess there's hope for everybody!

[dyingpoet]

HEY! "If Only You Knew" is a great little love song! When YES does pop songs, they can really be nice if they remember themselves, and they succeeded with that one. (Granted, there have been some remarkable failures, but this isn't one of them.) I prefer the more progressive work of YES as I'm sure most of us do, but as far as pop-style love songs go, "If Only You Knew" is a hell of a lot better than the endless tripe we get from Bryan Adams, Britney Spears, and all of those other talent-deprived top-40 "artists" who get the multi-million dollar record deals and unending airplay.

[Mrsteve]

dyingpoet,

"If Only You Knew" is a beautiful song and I enjoy it very much (as I do the entire Ladder). I wasn't very clear on my post. When I heard that Yes was doing an entire CD with orchestra and no keys my tiny narrow mind could only hear them doing a whole CD of If Only You Knew type material.

My 11 year old daughter is so into The Ladder it's been the only CD in her bedroom player for the last 3 weeks.

[charl8e]

dying poet,
forgive the length of this post, but i just sent an e-mail to a friend in England, who had asked me about Yes lyrics, and do they really feel all this love that is in the lyrics... i'm posting this because i think it addresses your comment on atheists and Yes...

"You asked about the lyrics and do they really feel these emotions, and what kinds of relationships do they have...
Jon Anderson writes the lyrics. He's besotted with his wife Jane. His third wife. I think. Just a little reality check there. For us all.
And i think it's crucial to see that when he writes about love he's often writing about Love. Like The Beatles. I think most of the songs on the new CD are about God, Love in the bigger sense, not (just?) romantic love, although it's easy to see how you can merge the two. It's a very "spiritual" album.

But what does "spritual" mean? If you don't believe we have souls. Which I don't. To me it means appreciating nature, our part in nature, wanting to merge with other people, to show them compassion and understanding, and feeling alive, seeing how miraculous life is, and trying to experience Time in new ways. (It's obvious that we don't understand Time. That it's a much more complicated thing than we can understand.) Without believing in God or souls or spirits or anything at all beyond random chance and natural selection, it is still a miracle that ANYTHING exists. We can still be in awe of that, without having to be religious.

Lots of people these days try to separate God and religion. They'll say they believe in God but dislike religions. I think that's ridiculous. If you believe in God then surley you have a desire to share your experience and belief with others who agree with you. And surely you have a duty to set up institutions to preserve your ideas. And surely you must feel that you should tell other people about what you believe to be true, and which could save their lives. That's a religion. The two are inextricably linked and cannot be pulled apart. Virtually everyone who has ever believed in God has set up a religion. Of one kind or another.

I don't think we're missing anything, though. You can still have all the feelings and experiences that the religions talk about without believing in God or becoming religious or using meaningless words like "soul" and "spiritual". And anyway, even if you're enlightened and/or have a deep sense of God in your life every day... you still have to take the kids to school, deal with traffic, go to the shops, make dinner. Even when you don't want to. So, there is no "answer". That's the joke of it. Even if you're the Pope or the Dalai Lama, you still forget about God sometimes and get in a bad mood. They don't have any special knowledge that we don't already have. But they do know about rituals like meditating and fasting and prayer, which seem to work. Sometimes. And sin is, i think, a really interesting concept. A shame that we've lost our sense of that one, in the modern world.

Well, that's my own personal Theory of Everything. Arrived at after much thought and reading, etc.

Although i don't believe in God, or religions, i know what JA is talking about. And when i listen to YES i often feel it. Which is an extraordinary thing that they've done. To evoke the feelings of a wider, bigger Love not just with the words, but through the music..."

Peace & Love and Happy Holidays,
charl8e x

[dyingpoet]

charl8e,

I appreciate the amount of thought you obviously put into your reply, and I am sure that you are secure in your beliefs, or lack of them as the case apparently is, and that's fine. I'm all for representing my faith, not imposing it. But I do have a couple of questions for you: How can the soul-less be spiritual, as you assert, and are you aware that in your third paragraph you described life as "miraculous?" Hardly a term suitable for use by an infidel, (hee-hee, just kidding) by an athiest.

I understand your position with regard to YES, though. I myself don't buy into the harmonic convergence crowd of which Mr. Anderson is apparently a part, but he does seem to have a belief in the Judeo-Christian Almighty, or One True God, as I like to refer to Him. Even if he didn't, he and the group still make beautiful, challenging music without which my life would be poorer.

I apologize if my earlier message to which you replied was offensive to you or anyone else on the board in any way.

- d.p.

[charl8e]

I didn't find the earlier post about atheists in the slightest bit offensive, quite the contrary, so there is nothing to apologise for at all... it seems to me that it is a miracle that life exists, and one of the things we have to keep reminding ourselves of is to notice that... i suppose "spiritual" could just be shorthand for all the things i was talking about, it's just that this implies a "spirit", which is an entity for which we have no need, and no evidence!

Maybe we should have a YES poll on which of us believes in God!

[Plastic Man]

i dont.

[EnoSiDog]

One of the best Yes albums in years. I jumped on board during the 90125 years, but I've come to love all of Yes' musical outputs. Magnification is just simply one of the best. Not much to add concerning the reviews posted so far. But I do agree that Don't Go sticks out like a sore thumb, but it is not a bad song at all. The lyrics really do reverberate the changing times we live in, and the simple truths of life that are constant and clear. The album flows seamlessly from beginning to end (except Don't go).

When a group of individuals view a piece of art, the true value of that exhibit is in the ability of that piece to be intrepreted uniquely by each individual. This is what seperates the artist from the painter. Well Yes music is like a fine piece of art, the beauty is that everyone can mold the music around their beliefs and lives. There are simple truths that emerge from Yes' music that CAN touch anyone on a spiritual level. Inspirational, Refreshing and Beautiful.

Magnification exibits this quality. The musicianship is of the highest quality as well. The individual members are like a fine wine that matures sweetly as time flows behind us. Thank you Yes, for the musical adventures that truely add color and texture to my life. Magnification is no exception.

...you can fly, you can glide, you can dream
you can see through this interactive vision streaming.....

[Dragonfly]

Re: God (last posted by PlasticMan): Nor I.

As for dyingpoet's question: I find the act of listening to certain musical movements to be very spiritual. To me, spirituality is an extention outside of oneself of the emotions felt within. Whether you associate that with some "being" who is "out there" (or even "within") is a personal issue. "Feeling God's presence" seems to be the same thing: and outward extention of an internal "event" (emotion).

And, just to add another twist, just because I don't believe in a god or gods doesn't mean I don't wonder about having a soul. I don't believe anyone "knows" whether they have a soul. I guess that's one of those questions that is only answered when one dies!

And (just to bring this back to the thread) these thoughts may explain why I like the MAGNIFICATION cut "Dreamtime" better than "In The Presence Of".;)

Dragonfly:yesbird:

[TOIT-TOM]

They should have named the album "MASTERPIECE''

[1yesfan]

I must say that this album, having it for close to 3 weeks is growing on me even more. At this point with the last album the songs that I didn't really like, I never really got to like them..
Yes did well with this one!

[Flo]

Magnification is a great album, by far the best Yes has made for years. At first, I thought it was so so. But as I listen to it I discover its power and richness and I like it more and more especially since I've been to the concert in Paris.

I like the orchestra which is well integrated, never play too much. And the atmosphere of the record is quite even : this time there is no real weak song or filler of any sort, although there are tracks I like less.

My favourite one is definitely "Dreamtime". I like the intro which seems like a cascade of guitar, strings, etc. I feel transported when I listen to it. "Can you Imagine" is great too and really reminds me of old Yes stuff, full of vocal harmonies.

I consider Magnification as a classic by now, much more impressive than opus like The Ladder.

Impressive how Yes can remain so powerful after all those years and still improve.

[YYY]

I agree with you so much. this album has a flow that glides from beginning to end beautifully. Although the songs like 'Dont Go' & 'Spirit' are starting to loose my appreciation again. After repeat listenings, I finally got used to them but now in find myself wanting to advance to 'Give love' and so on. in my heart I really want to hear just one more classic Yes album that breaks all bounderies. This CD seems to have a certain safistication but lacks that young, wild and crazy hardcore spontaneous edge that may not be possible in YES of 2002. Fan since Nov. 1970. 'Perpectual Change' converted me completely.

[lindil]

Well , I am listening to it a couple times a day and thwe songs that annoyed me at first still do.
SoS and Dreamtine. I consider it a great attempt, but i rate it dead even w/ The Ladder. As much as I would love to hear a new Yes album as good as my favorite Gft1. It just never seems to happen. Tormato was a 1/2 great -1/2 ok-

lame. drama was pretty interesting, Yes west great to lame, and the last 2 albums are for me back to the Tormato model , 1/2 great - 1/2 ok-to lame.

I am glad some folks love it.
I will keep trying !!!

[dyingpoet]

The problem with new YES albums, for me anyway, is that I hear the release date, mark my mental calender, then the release date gets pushed back (every time) and a hype builds up in my mind, so that by the time the CD becomes available, I have unrealistic expectations that the new music will change my life, save my soul, shatter new ground in the industry, etc. And when it doesn't, I am dissappointed, so I spin Fragile, The Yes Album, Close to the Edge and others until I feel better.

When I bacame a YES fan, I would buy albums as I heard tracks from them played on classic rock radio or by friends of mine, so I knew what to expect. When I started buying the new ones as soon as they were released, having not heard any of the material, starting with Union, I have been dissappointed initially with each one, so far, except Keys for some reason.

It always takes awhile, but I eventually come to find the value in each CD upon repeated listenings over time, with days or weeks in between them. Talk took forever. I'm still working on parts from OYE, and The Ladder took about a year.

Magnificaiton took half a day, maybe three listens, and I fell in love with it. (I'm not even skipping track three anymore, even though I still don't think it fits.)

The moral, so to speak, is to be prepared to accept the music for what it is, not what we expect. Not every album can have a "Heart of the Sunrise" or "Awaken" on it, but a "That, That Is" or a "Dreamtime" can be quite nice, too.

- d.p.

[TOIT-TOM]

You all really just need to listen to it. It is like a very fine wine, you cannot rush it. It WILL grow on you. I promise!!! It is PURE YES enjoyment to the max! When it does, and I guarantee it will, you will be typing raving reviews like everyone else! YES-THEY-PRODUCE-THE MOVEMENT!

[YYY]

The bottom line for me is that 'MAG' is a very beautiful smooth album that flow wonderfulluy from beginning to end. Unfortunately (for me) it maintains a safisticated childlike quality but has left behind the "teenage angst and raw edgy side" of their abilties. Its a very powerful and seriously serene album. its has lots of "Yin' but not enough "Yang'. The playfulness of a'YES Album', the intensity of a CTTE, the chanting and tribal elements of 'TALES', the violent and combative tendencies of 'Relayer' and the progressive jazzy qualities of their early works are all but lost. I truly miss that part of YES with all of 'Mags' brilliants and sincerity. Peace

[TOIT-TOM]

YYY: Why don't you try to be a little more defining in your review next time? It sounds like your resume to Rolling Stone, or something!!

[ronw]

Your right that does sound like a review from Rolling Stone. Like I've said time and time again if your looking for CTTE then listen to CTTE. Don't try to get that from MAG. It has its own qualities that those other mentioned works do not have.

Yes Yes Yes, Toit-Tom and ronw. I agree with you both. Magnification is splendid in its own lovely way--in a way that Yes has never done before. That's one thing that is so great about them, you never know what they are going to do but chances are better than good that the results will be great--as they are with Magnification.

[charl8e]

I think that YYY is right, and i say that even though i do love MAG... but it isn't on a level with CTTE or Relayer, or even The Yes Album or Fragile... and it is the musical lack of tension that stops MAG from going all the way, as YYY argues... we shouldn't even expect that, not now, but that YES got so close is quite the miracle... because GFTO, which is the next album after the others i have mentioned above, also lacks the tension that YYY talks about, and it is still a fine album... almost as good as MAG?

[charl8e]

It won't let me Edit, for some reason...
(clearing of throat)
i meant to describe GFTO as the next "best" album, after the others i'd mentioned (i rate TFTO next after this group... i love many parts of it but considered too flawed, overall...)

Originally posted by charl8e
(i rate TFTO next after this group... i love many parts of it but considered too flawed, overall...)

Charl8e, you're talking about a masterpiece that's too close to my heart now. You are certainly welcome to your opinion but I must weigh in on statements like Tales being flawed in any way. I know I hold the minority opinion regarding this. I should know better by now than to even make such a comment but I believe in everything I know to be true that Tales is the greatest work of art in all of creation. To me, it's as close as any human could come to getting us next to God telling us the way to happiness. I just love it and see it as the highest art any human could make--every moment of it.

[dyingpoet]

You've been posting on the "YES and marijuana" thread, haven't you? [ Hey, I kid because I can, :) ]

Tales may be the most definitive YES album, if only because it is their most distinctive work, setting them the furthest apart from the rest of the music industry. It fulfills the "sound painting" and "music-scape" style that they, and pretty much they alone dove into successfully.

It is not, however, the best YES album. Musically, it is too under-developed in some places, overdone in others, and it rarely rocks, one of the drawbacks of another great album, Mag. My favorite movement from it is "The Remembering," partly because it makes no pretense, and does not tease us with abruptly cut off rock sections like "Revealing Science..."
In all fairness, "Ritual" has a great rock section and resolution, too.

While Tales is in my top five, Fragile remains the best. It has the perfect mix of all the classic elements of YES, and nothing is overdone.

I hold no fault against anyone who claims Tales as their favorite. But call it the best, and I canot keep silent. Ain't the first ammendment great?

- d.p.

[ronw]

I think Tales is the most distinctive work ever done, beginning to end it is absolutley phenomenol. As a complete work it is probably my favorite. I find it very hard to say though that one YES album is my favorite, they are all so close and depends on what day you ask. I would include MAG. in my evaluation on some days. They have obviously done better works than others and MAG. rates as one of the best, but I wouldn't say any are bad.

[charl8e]

Yesiree, can you imagine (ha!) hypothetically speaking, an album that moves you in spiritual ways beyond any other music, but which is NOT the greatest act of creativity ever in human history?

A very interesting question Charl8e. Probably not. After all, if something or somebody can somehow bridge the gap that would allow a person to experience the oneness of the universe, (whatever name that would be--God, nirvana, nibanna, etc.), I'd say that would be the definition of profound and that vehicle is successful in achieving the very highest that we mere humans could experience. As art is creation and if a creation takes us back to the source, then by definition I suppose that creation must be the greatest act of creativity. Now I know I am no philosopher and logic has never been my strong suit but that's how it feels to me.

And to those of you who feel Tales is padded, I would humbly suggest further and deeper listening. Heaven awaits you. I don't argue with dyingpoet regarding the brilliance of Fragile. It ranks as one of the 3 greatest musical creations of all time. It is simply genius.

[dyingpoet]

So then I'm curious...If Tales is #1 and Fragile is #3, what's #2 ?


Something I have learned over my years is that there are at least some moments of great value on any YES album. ronw is quite correct to point that out.

But there are reasons why I rarely pull out Tormato or Drama, and why I am burning holes in my copies of other YES albums: Some are distinctively better than others. But they can be so different in format and style from album to album, as many of us in this and other threads have pointed out, their relative greatness can only be determined on an individual basis by those of us who speak the YES language as fluently as we do. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my point of view, that would be stupid. I just like it when people defend their opinions so that I may learn from them.

I guess I love Fragile the most because I respect it more. It sounds like they put more of themselves into it, and tried very daring things within it at a time before they were a really big name and could afford the risk. Tales, Relayer, GFTO and others which I also love, sound more effortless and smooth, but somewhat less punctuated with progressive elements. (They also lack Bruford, which is a discussion for another thread.)

So when you tell me Tales is the "greatest creation ever" and so on, don't just tell me it takes you close to God and such, which is great, but get into the raw, musical side also and get specific. Help me hear it as you hear it. Point out the magical moments that make it your #1 and let's compare notes. I'm sure we'd all benefit from the sharing.

Maybe we should start threads for each individual album for in- depth discussions such as these. Sort of a workshop atmosphere. Who knows, you might even make me listen to Tormato more often!

- d.p.

[TOIT-TOM]

I would never dispute Tales as being THE ultimate YES album. It is the "Platinum" of YES music.

In my mind, each YES album is an ongoing story of itself. Each song on each album relates to another song from the same album in a very unique way. They all seem to tell a story, while each one of us hears, and understands them in unique ways.

It took me awhile to like MAG, however now it too is extraordinarily unique!

It certainly brings me "Pleasure Time" each and every time I listen.

[Robert Shupe]

I was vote 100 on this thing and I voted GREAT.

I tend to rate my Yes albums high and give the benefit of the doubt on most stuff. The weak albums to me are Union and Open Your Eyes.

Now Magnification. I loved the orchestra being the fifth member. The instruments to me ebbed and flowed in a natural progression. The orchestra brought a depth of sound. For instance can any of you really imagine Star Wars without an orchestra.

Yes is one of the few bands that I can think of where an orchestra was an obvious extension of the music. Do I want it on every album? No. However, it was long overdue. In the orchestra survey I voted in support of Yes touring with an orchestra. I thought the vote was close so I beleive this was a good example of how an opinion does matter. We got the tour and the album.

The orchestra was able to provide various layers to the music and it pulled the other instrument into a nice cohesion. I did not need the soloing on this album as it was really a team effort where each instrument of the band and orchestra tried to compliment each other rather compete with each other. It was nice fresh wind for me.

Upon first listen it was Magnification and In The Prescence Of which stood out. ITPO most likely being favorable memories from hearing it for the first time live. Magnification was just powerful for me.

Upon repeat listenings I support Give Love Each Day and Dreamtime as the best on the album. I can play both of these in my head and I think that says something.

Chris had some effective and noticable bass work. Alan was the timekeeper with jewels sprinkled here and there. Jon delivered and I thought Steve got to shine with small pieces fitting well in a grand scheme of things (couldn't resist).

Larry G. is to be given much credit as the orchestration was to me an enhancement and not a distraction.

The weak spot of the album for me were that I thought the harmony vocals were nothing special but rather just a mirror of the lead vocal on differnt notes and octaves. Nothing difficult or challenging in the harmony vocals as there has been on previous efforts. Having said that my favorite harmony vocals were provided by Jon Anderson on Can We Imagine. Great lead vocal for Chris and good harmony by Jon. However, the orchestration more than made up for a lack of harmony vocals for me.

Don't Go. I am glad there are those out there who like it. It is by no means horrible but to me it is not as cohesive as the rest of the album.

I believe this was a very successful venture for Yes. It was logical and even progressive for them. It it were their swan song (I truely hope it is not) than I would be greatly content and pleased.

It is up to us to spread the word. I am currently working on a possible convert. He tolerated the entire history of Yes one day at lunch and was utterly fascinated. We all should be.


Robert Shupe

"Originally posted by dyingpoet
So then I'm curious...If Tales is #1 and Fragile is #3, what's #2 ?"

That's easy, Close to the Edge. Really, what else could it have been?

"Something I have learned over my years is that there are at least some moments of great value on any YES album. ronw is quite correct to point that out."

I agree with you dyingpoet, ronw is correct on that and on many other things as well.

"But there are reasons why I rarely pull out Tormato or Drama, and why I am burning holes in my copies of other YES albums: Some are distinctively better than others. But they can be so different in format and style from album to album, as many of us in this and other threads have pointed out, their relative greatness can only be determined on an individual basis by those of us who speak the YES language as fluently as we do. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my point of view, that would be stupid. I just like it when people defend their opinions so that I may learn from them."

Makes sense to me.

"I guess I love Fragile the most because I respect it more. It sounds like they put more of themselves into it, and tried very daring things within it at a time before they were a really big name and could afford the risk. Tales, Relayer, GFTO and others which I also love, sound more effortless and smooth, but somewhat less punctuated with progressive elements. (They also lack Bruford, which is a discussion for another thread.)"

I agree with you that Relayer and GFTO were less punctuated with progressive elements--but that's as far as I can go. Tales is in a class by itself.

"So when you tell me Tales is the "greatest creation ever" and so on, don't just tell me it takes you close to God and such, which is great, but get into the raw, musical side also and get specific. Help me hear it as you hear it. Point out the magical moments that make it your #1 and let's compare notes. I'm sure we'd all benefit from the sharing."

Well, dyingpoet, I've been thinking about this request and as this is a Magnification site I'll try my best to be brief. You asked that I point out my #1 magical moment so we might compare notes. I think a more fruitful way to explore it would be an exercise in "extreme" listening. My proposition is that on those segments of Tales that you feel are padded, excessive, irrelevent, uninteresting, etc., my recommendation would be that you focus deeply on them--with a one-pointedness of mind--when they present themselves to you. In that inquiry and search you will find the hidden gems. I think Tales is so profound that those areas that don't hit you at first are just experiences that you have not been ready to have. The wonder is sitting there waiting for you but you have to open the door. It takes some serious and uninterrupted listening and I would recommend having the lyrics in front of you. I would also say that it won't happen immediately but with a pure heart and unbending desire, you too will see. I really believe that. I think Tales is inexplicable and very nearly beyond us all--but the journey, well, that is worth the price of admission right there.

"Maybe we should start threads for each individual album for in- depth discussions such as these. Sort of a workshop atmosphere. Who knows, you might even make me listen to Tormato more often!"

- d.p.

I don't know if I would try to talk you into listening to Tormato more but in depth discussions of each individual album might be an interesting thing--if folks have the time and energy for such a thing.

Sorry folks for taking up so much space on the Magnification site. I like Magnification too and think that Robert Schupe had some very interesting things to say about it. That we all should be utterly fascinated makes sense to me.

p.s. please note that my comments to dyingpoet are interspersed into his original note. Hope you can make sense of it. I was hoping the font would be different but it's not so I put quotes around his statements for clarity.

[charl8e]

Jeez, WORKSHOPS? DP, "workshops" on all the classic albums (TYA, F, CTTE, TFTO, R, GFTO, & MAG) going over them track by track and section by section? You must be barmy!
(When can we start?)

[dyingpoet]

I just thought it would be a good way to affirm ourselves and each-other's viewpoints during the down time between new albums.

We might want to seek permission, or at least a blessing from the site master before starting 18-or so new threads all at once, though.

I'm glad you seem to like the idea!

- d.p.

[YYY]

Rolling Stone! I haven't read that magazine in 25 years. I'm just trying to say that its the best thing they've done in awhile but still lacks the drama that we all enjoy in their earlier works!

[ANTIOCH]

You paint eloquent pictures with your word play .
I for one , enjoyed your reply and to comment on your response ; after 30 plus years of YES music , it seems appropriate to venture into a progressive/smooth this time around ( in my humble opinion ) but like so many others , I'd like to see a "Relayer/Drama" ( energy w/musical tightness ) accompanied by an orchestra next time around !?

[YYY]

After 30 years since they first captures my imagination - its very difficult for me to make very simple straightforward comments about YES and their music. The music has inspires and moves me so much. Sometimes I think that I shouldn't be opinionated or critical at all of what YES does because any YES is better than 'NO YES'. Especiallly now, when the world is so confused and readjusting in this transitional period. But one thing is certain - The message in 'MAG' is so clear and wonderful. Please pray for a brighter day and 'GIVE LOVE EACH DAY' - Happy New Year

[TOIT-TOM]

Happy New Year to all YES fans!!! I hope that 2002 will bring a much yearned-for concert experience for everyone!!! I don't think I will get any of the songs from Magnification off of my mind until I hear them live! It shall be like a homecoming of sorts. It is like the thirstiest person in the desert being offered a cold Coke. Or like the person who has been away from their spouse for too long, and the getting back together experience is just magical.

One good thing is that up until then....that magical YES night, we all still have our CD's, etc. to keep us alive.

Best of all to you all. NOUS SOMMES DU SOLEIL....YES, THEY PRODUCE THE MOVEMENT!!![COLOR=darkblue]:yesbird:

[dyingpoet]

Absolutely! The new album just begs to be heard live! (As does most YES work). But I live in po-dunk U.S.A., as far as top artist tours go. I've only seen them once, in 1997. (And Steve Howe solo in 1993). The closest they came last year was a 12 hour drive and I had no decent car at the time, (I know, I know, oh, boo-hoo, woe is me...). But if they hit Dallas or Kansas City next time around, I'm there! For those of you living in big cities, count your blessings. The biggest name we get around here anymore is a Journey re-set at the state fair between the cattle dung and the game-stand grifters.

I hear that YES played in the round for the G.F.T.O. tour right here in Tulsa. They could come back, "surely...surely"!

- d.p.

[Earl Grey]

...there ought to be clones! Haha!

How often do I say to myself, "I wish I lived in Podunk!"

Los Angeles: land of the clover-leaf highway. Home of Brittany Spears (I think she lives here: does she live anywhere? I think: therefore, I was, I think! I thunk. Thank. "THUNK" The sound of one hand with the clap! Thunk!).

YES should simply transmorgify themselves into the livingroom of any living YESFAN. It's only fair, JON said it, I believe it, and so, it shall come to pass.... But what do I know: I live in California, land of Baywatch. Who's watching the bay? Never been there, sorry! ;)

I hope that you get a YESSHOW soon, friend: you deserve the BEST!

:ele: Earl.

[dyingpoet]

Thanks for the sentiment.

By the way, does anyone know a way that we can keep up with how the new album is doing sales-wise? I doubt it's charting, but I am curious to know if we in this forum have the only copies purchased so far, or if there are more of us out there.

- d.p.

[Earl Grey]

...mirroring back all the good things we have learned, and have become through YES!

Happy New Year, Tom! And all of you at YESFANS!

Give Love Each Day, and Night, and back again.....

Swimming in a topographic ocean....

Earl :yesbird:

[Plastic Man]

after some more listens, i would have to say that i dont really like the orchestra on there. i mean it sounds good and everyhting, but yes is supposed to be 5 people, not 50...i wish they would get back to the basics. i think open your eyes is better than magnification now.

[dyingpoet]

I make it a point to respect all opinions as valid, Plastic Man, but you have got to be kidding. I can understand not liking the orchestra, but do you really think OYE is better than MAG? What tracks do you like from OYE? It is just the orchestra on MAG you don't like, or are there other aspects that turn you off? I like OYE too, but not nearly as much as the new CD.

- d.p.

[ronw]

I must agree with dyingpoet. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but to say OYE is better than MAG. would most definetly be the minority. I like OYE better than most other people but IMHO Mag. is much better.

[Plastic Man]

i guess the only reason i said i like OYE better is because of fortune seller...that is their best song in years, IMO. and i don't like the orchestra because...well, it sounds good, but i wish yes would make the music they made in the past. and another thing i don't like is that squires bass sounds completely different, it sounded that way on the ladder too, just sounds too "rocking" or something. and i guess i was overreacting when i said OYE was better, but i like that fortue seller song so much.

[dyingpoet]

Can you explain the "1-800" thing at the end to me then? I've never understood that.

- d.p.

[Plastic Man]

actually, the only thing ive heard from that was like a 30 second clip at barnes and noble...

[dyingpoet]

You say "Fortune Seller" is the best YES song in years, and you've only heard 30 seconds of it? Am I missing something?

d.p.

[bjm0rwo]

The test to me personally is what I will be listening to repeatedly without getting tired of it.Although I liked OYE alot,I had to take a break from it and I haven't listened to it in many a blue moon.Same with The Ladder.But with Mag,I'm finding more and more nuances in the music I haven't caught in previous spins.So I am enjoying this one much more than the last 2 efforts.To me,I haven't been blown away by a Yes alblum like this since GFTO. The orchestra is part of the whole,not just a gimmick.I don't know if they should attempt this again,but I'm glad they did with much success.Beautiful!

[Earl Grey]

I think most of my posts BEFORE the Europian release of 'MAG' have gone the way of the Tyrannosaur... Thank Tim (Bow to the East, er, I mean The South: genuflect, drink another beer. I'm a religious fellow, don't you know?!).

I was more critical than most about YES doing a project with an Orchestra.

I was oh, SO WRONG! Magnification is the best YES in decades, and I'm waiting with baited breath for the other two 'rumoured' YES+Orchestra outings...(I believe it was Jon who mentioned in a recent interview, that 'MAG' was one of three, but Jon tends to change his mind a lot... We'll see).

Here's hoping!

Earl :yesbird:

[Dangermouse]

I hope magnification was just an experiment, as fdar as the orchestra is concerned. I thought it got in the way and detracted from the music. I'd be driving along, tapping my fingers on the wheel, and all of the sudden, well, I wouldn't be. I liked the songs when they previewed a couple of them in a concert during the summer, but I was drunk then, and the air smelled kinda funny, too. If I want to listen to an orchestra, I will. If I want to listen to yes, I'll dig out some old stuff.
DM

Well Dangermouse, I'm curious. By old Yes, are you referring to, say, Owner of a Lonely heart?

Regarding tapping your fingers, it's been my experience that when I want the kind of song that I tap my fingers to, I don't put on Yes. In my experience, Yes transcends that--but that's just me. Maybe you can try some Def Leppard or Metallica when you are in that sort of mood.

And as far as being drunk at a Yes concert? Not to be unfriendly, Dangermouse, but what did you expect to hear when you've got your senses numbed like that? Yes will have a tendency to leave you behind if you can't keep up and because of this--Yes and alcohol are not a good mix. If you must be altered for a concert, I would recommend something that would give you access to a greater vision of Yes music--not dumb it down. Try some LSD if you can get it. If you did, I would wager that you would find their new material quite fascinating and perhaps even a religious experience.

If Lsd does not appeal to you, I would recommend that you go to the show completely unaltered. That state would be far superior to an alcohol induced brain fog.

One final thought Dangermouse, exactly when was the last time you wanted to listen to an orchestra?

[seyyes 2]

IF THEY TOOK THE BEST MOMENTS FROM THIS ALBUM,THERE MIGHT BE ONE GOOD SONG THERE...I AGREE W/SOME OTHER COMMENTS...VERY LITTLE EMOTIONAL POWER,AND HOWE IS BURIED.......DROP THE DAMN ORCHESTRA!!!!..THEY SHOULD HAVE TRIED IT 15 YEARS AGO BEFORE EVERY OTHER BAND IN CREATION DID IT!!!!...THEY WORK TOO HARD FOR TOO LITTLE...SIMPLIFY,YES!!!!SIMPLIFY....

[seyyes 2]

WELL I'VE ALREADY BEAT THIS ALBUM UP ON THIS WEBSITE A BIT,BUT I FIND IT VERY UNINSPIRED...VERY FEW FRESH IDEAS--EVEN A STEP OR TWO DOWN FROM RECENT EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCONSISTENT WORKS AT BEST......G'NITE

[ronw]

Jon himself compared MAG. to CTTE in the fact that it exploring other areas.

[SEYYES]

SEE NOTHING NEW OR ADVENTUROUS IN MAG...

[ronw]

Hey, everyone can't like everything. Don't listen if its that bad.

[SEYYES]

HA,HA!!!!...I'VE LOVED YES FOR YEARS(FIRST SAW THEM LIVE IN'74)---BUT THEY CAN PUT OUT SOME BAAAAD STUFF!..MAG HAS ITS MOMENTS....I'M TIRED OF LOOKING SO HARD FOR A FEW QUALITY YESLIKE MOMENTS IN A LONG ALBUM...YES ALBUMS ALWAYS DESERVE A FEW LISTENS,BUT THERE IS A LOT OF BOREDOM ON THIS ONE...YES FANS TEND TO RATIONALIZE CRAPPY MUSIC INTO MASTERPIECES...BUT I'M GLAD THERE IS STILL SUCH LOYALTY!

[Dangermouse]

Hey yessirree

Old yes, to me at least, does not equal 'owner of a lonely heart.' I was thinking more along the lines of their first album, or The Yes Album, Tales or something like that. Close to the Edge. You know, old stuff, finger tapping stuff, if you will.
And for the record, I never said that I needed to be drunk at a concert, only that I happened to be. I'm new to the forum, and thought that these posts were a bit like having a conversation. I didn't think everything would be so closely scrutinized. I'll try not to be too light-hearted, or make any jokes.
The last time I felt like listening to an orchestra was when I went to see the Plymouth Symphony in November. Solid group of pros, they are. Highly underrated. If you're ever in the area during a concert, they're worth checking out.
DM

Originally posted by Dangermouse
The Yes Album, Tales or something like that. Close to the Edge. You know, old stuff, finger tapping stuff, if you will.
And for the record, I never said that I needed to be drunk at a concert, only that I happened to be. I'm new to the forum, and thought that these posts were a bit like having a conversation. I didn't think everything would be so closely scrutinized. I'll try not to be too light-hearted, or make any jokes.
DM

Well Dangermouse, I suppose we all have our own experience when we hear Yes (see SEYYES's above post) but I can not begin to fathom calling Tales finger tapping stuff--but like I said, that's just me.

That you did not need to be drunk at a concert is a good thing. That you went to a Yes concert drunk is another unfathomable thing to me--but again, that's just me. I do know though that should I have ever done such a thing and then didn't fully appreciate one song or another--I would never think that it would be Yes' fault or that any of the songs were in any way flawed. I would just chalk that up to my having been mentally altered in such a way that would keep me from fully appreciating Yes.

As far as being closely scrutinized, and being new to the site Dangermouse, I think that it is another good thing to consider that all we have here is our printed text. In real life, we have facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice... If one wants to be correctly percieved, it might help to consider that. As far a jokes go, we are great fans of those who joke with us. Please don't feel like that is not welcome.

And, even though you may not have gotten the responses you may have initially desired, I am glad you decided to join us and are willing to be a part of our discussion about Yes. I hope you continue to visit us and let us know your point of view.

[Original_Shifty]

STOP YELLING!!!

;)

We can hear you just the same if you talk in a softer voice.

[SEYYES]

No Prob,Shifty..it has been brought to my attention in another thread...I had found it easier to read and not as annoying as in standard chat formats..I also use upper case at work...still aggravated at Yes,tho.....

[TOIT-TOM]

Shame on you "SAYYES".... for being so negative about Magnification. I know everyone has their own opinions, however this is a site for YES-loving people. Not to say that you have to love every song, album, etc. but to me personally YES music is something so unique, so wonderful, that YOU* should not have to try to like it, or force yourself to listen to it. YES should (as it always has) grow on you. I know it does grow on me.

*negative vs. affirmative

[seyyes 2]

I love Yes...I just wish they would scale back and write some simple beautiful tunes and/or kick ass Yes rock that stays somewhat in the same place....like I have said before,if they stripped down and consolidated a bunch of their long tunes over the last 4 or 5 years,it would have been some phenomenal Yes music...........

[Earl Grey]

The early YES albums had their charm: hell, they were, and ARE, the soundtrack of my life.
But Sayyes2, don't be SO quick to knock the new cd. I KNOW it doesn't grab you by the throat like, say, Heart of the Sunrise, or 'something', but YES was a young, new band back then, with something to prove. Now they are our beloved, doing what they do because they LOVE what it is that they do. Not trying to edge N'SYNC out of their stupid, meaningless place as the #1 darlings of the hearing & taste impaired masses (mass: a tumerous growth, only fit to be surgically removed).

YES is matured, they aren't competing with TOOL (who aren't 'new' now either, in the mayfly-world of current pop-mentality: not much cerebral fortitude there either! Haha. TOOL. Progressive? Hmmm.), they aren't in competition with anyone, as far as I know: there's noone else doing ANYTHING even half as amazing as YES right now. Nobody. Nothing. Not a word, not a demi-semi-quaver.

Nothing but YES.

MAGNIFICATION doesn't grab you by the gonads, or the throat, or by the Billboard top 10 list.

If it did, it wouldn't be the seasoned, mature work of the astounding musicians that YES are.

But. Magnification will grab you by the heart. By the quick of your soul. By everything deep within yourself. IF. If you give it a chance.

Turn off the TV.

Put down the Racing form, or 'Rolling Scone', or whatever it is that's keeping you from giving it your full attention. Put down the bong, put down the bottle, put down your eyelids and give a good listen to the best record of the decade.

MAGNIFICATION: I was very sceptical at first: YES & a Symphony: hmm. Couldn't they just pay-off Wakey, and do Relayer part 2?
I was wrong. It is Magnificent.

If you give this CD your time and attention, it will pay off in spades. The best YES in years, and I'm not deluded about this: the album is GRAND: like John Steinbeck's 'East Of Eden', like Beethoven's 9th, Like The Beatle's 'Abbey Road', but even better, because it's YES.

But you have to LISTEN. With no preconceptions. With no distractions. Give MAG a chance, you owe it to yourself.
If you love YES, it's a worthy endeavor.

That's all.

Yours, Earl Grey. :yesbird:

[seyyes 2]

Well,Earl of Grey..I'll sure give it another listen...but it has been a while since a Yes song hit me like something I heard from Tool recently,and U2 does a damn good job of not flyin'off the handle and holdin' a groove without sounding mainstream..Yes needs to heed your advice...kick back and relax...

Originally posted by Earl Grey

the best record of the decade.



Very well said Earl Grey. Only one point that I can't wholeheartedly agree--"best record of the decade". I see it as (and I'll probably get in trouble for this) IMHO the best in two and one half decades. But a small point--otherwise, nice post!

[Earl Grey]

...Can't remember LAST decade.

I think there was something about Pearl Jam, but I'm not too sure.

MAG is a great album, that's all I know!

[Mrsteve]

I agree completely with Earl Grey also. Thank you Earl for statng the case better than I could.

I also agree with Yessiree best complete work I've heard maybe since Pink Floyd's "The Wall".

Steve

[ronw]

2 1/2 decades would probably be a fair assessment.

[Dragonfly]

I have to disagree with most. I really like "Don't Go". The song that I like least (annoys me most) is "We Agree".

Dragonfly:yesbird:

[bataisflow]

I agree - "We Agree" is the weakest track. Although, I like the guitar intro.

[SEYYES]

Well.... at least you Mag lovers have finally set the bar so high even Yes cannot do better next time...the prior threshold seemed to have sunk pretty low for Mag to be rated so high

[Mrsteve]

After hearing Fragile my Yespectations have always been high. The core of Anderson, Howe and Squire when given enough time have always produced GREAT work.

I enjoy Relayer temendously but, for me, after CTTE and Tales it did not meet my Yespectations.

Creating great art goes in cycles.

Steve

[Earl Grey]

...to follow up MAGNIFICATION with an even greater work: I've learned that YES is full of surprizes... so, don't get me wrong.
As great as 'MAG' is, I'm convinced that they could put out something even better.

The bar is high indeed, but YES is capable of great leaps of artistic expression.

As with MAGNIFICATION, whatever it is that they DO follow it up with will require your full attention.

YES doesn't put out 'background music'.

:yesbird: Earl

[SEYYES]

...Certainly they are capable of greater work than Mag...I wholeheartedly agree!!....and I shall give more attention to Mag......however,it shouldn't be work to enjoy them...there was a time when they swept you away!!!

[TOIT-TOM]

Earl, you my friend are right on the money! This in my opinion is one of the best YES albums' ever made. And ""hey"" SEYYES....he is right, listen to it. And as Jon says...."Hey do me a favor....call me sometime".Otherwise we won't "SPEND ANOTHER MINUTE WAITING FOR YOU''!! :yesbird:

[SEYYES]

I'll listen some more over the weekend,though I only have a good boombox,but a boombox nonetheless,to listen to it on....this album better get better!!!!!............

[Earl Grey]

I didn't find it to be 'work', necessarily, to get into MAG, but it isn't 'Roundabout', you know: different.
I don't think they are so concerned with trying to be a hit machine (HAHA! I'm 'sure' they're going to knock Brittany Spheres & N'SYC right off the charts!) anymore!!!
Thank Gawd.
Sheesh, you make it sound like toils and tribulations to sit back and do nothing but 'listen' for a bit... Sounds more like 'relaxation' to me, but that's just IMNSHO! ;) I think there's a 'Cliff's Notes' available for MAGNIFICATION, if you get too burnt out! Just kidden', ok? And I'm writing with a grin (which you can't see), and not trying to be 'too' offensive (OK: maybe just a little!): It's just that it's really no big deal, dude!: sit back, turn off Baywatch, and listen: you'll have fun! I promise. And girls will love you, you'll become a billionaire, the world will be your oyster!

Tell me what happens, and good luck!

Hey Toit-Tom: usually WE are the guys out there sparring with words! HAHA! Nice to see ya, guy: missed ya!

Hihohiho: off to the salt mines!

Earlbeard :ele:

[TOIT-TOM]

[COLOR=red]SEYYES: amazingly I thought the exact same way not just one month ago. The album in itself does not need to get better.....TRUST ME....THE ALBUM IS ALREADY THERE....IT IS "WAITING FOR YOU"......

Tom

I think that Tom and Earl have very helpful ideas for you SEYYES. I've heard others who have had the same reaction as Tom had and like him are now true believers. Try it again, You'll like it!

[seyyes 2]

Hellooo...Listened again to Mag....parts I liked were attached to more parts I like..(loved the intro to GLED from the gate)....sounding better...still feel that some of the raves on this site are unwarranted.... Yes is aiming for the heart...but I need POWER!!...Yes power...kickass instrumental...take no prisoners Yes Rock......

[bjm0rwo]

Ah,those clouds are maybe parting enough to let some light in.Keep listening,maybe you'll end up getting a nice tan.

[YYY]

OK die-hard fans, I haven't been able to stop listening to MAG since I bought it 4 weeks ago and there are several MAGnificent pieces on this CD.

TIT is a wonderful conclusion after the beautiful experience of the flawless 'ITPO' , another classic by YES.

'In the Presense of' is simply amazing

Dreamtime again is great although I feel it could be a bit harder during the rock out sections, but satifying nonetheless.

'Soft As A Dove' - very sweet medievelesgue lullaby - no complaints

'We Agree' - very cool song "Love it" My heart pours out in Agreement.

'Can U Imagine' - very very Chris-ish. sounds like 'Fish out of Water once again' - great to hear him finally! Heavenly.

'Give Love Each Day' - my new motto - beautiful taste of Stravinsky-esgue orchestration. Just another sincere (wash away your troubles) song. I listen to it before I leave the house each morning.

Don't Go - DON"T LIKE IT! too commercial and not clever at all. I've tried over and over & no matter how many times I listen.
Then again I haven't liked commercial music in over 20 years.

'Spirit of Survival' - Can't Handle it - worse than 'Don't Go!

'Magnification'.- A bit commercial but OK. has that cool YES attitude although the chorus is a bit corny. Sounds like this would have been a good radio hit while maintaining some of that YES safistication.

[Earl Grey]

Originally posted by bjm0rwo
Ah,those clouds are maybe parting enough to let some light in.Keep listening,maybe you'll end up getting a nice tan.

Those clouds DO sound like they may be parting! Haha! As to MAG not 'rocking' enough, maybe I'm just getting older (NO WAY!), I have no problem with the mellower aspects of the playing on this CD: it meshes well with the orchestra: Metallica's "S&M" is my favorite example of a BAD idea: just blast away like usual, and smother it with an orchestra ("Just pour a bunch of lumpy gravy over the mess, and maybe nobody will notice what little substance there is beneath!).
All my fears were for naught, as YES and the Symphony fit like the proverbial velvet glove...

If Magnification had been a louder album, it wouldn't have flown as gracefully, I think.

YYY, I agree with you about Dreamtime: it could have been played 'harder' at points, but just think how great it'll be live (As YES usually DO intensify those promising bits in concert)! Something to look forward to...

The string intro to 'Give Love Each Day' sounds like Aaron Copeland to me! With, yes, a bit of Stravinsky as well...

'Don't Go': still don't care for it too much, but I don't get up and skip the CD to the next song or anything...

SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL: I LOVE this one! I love the heavy bass lines, and the little morse code-like bass line during the 'In this world I truly do believe...' sections.

Magnification seems to please different people for different reasons, it works on many levels...
A sign of a great work!

:yesbird:

[TOIT-TOM]

One thing that I found very helpful (although I did not need much help) as far as getting into the album, is to listen to it while you do something you really like. It might be gardening, it might be a drive in your new Chevrolet, or walking through the park...whatever. One of my hobbies is woodworking. Im not a swearing man, however....I guarantee everyone that my latest woodworking project has gotten really unique. I attribute this to listening to MAG! It motivates me, gives me creativity, inspiration, and I just plain LOVE the band's music!!!!

"YES"...they produce the movement.:yesbird:

[Earl Grey]

WHAT exactly did you wood-work there? Hmm....
A 'swear-word' five miles high, to replace the HOLLYWOOD sign? I certainly hope so, Couldn't have come at a better time!
...So I hope to be driving through Hollywood, look up from the freeway, and see a HUGE "FU C..." Sign rising through the smog, compliments of Mr Tom-Toit while under the salubrious effect of YES! Haha!
So really, what did you wood-work under the influence of YES? Just wondering!
See Ya! Earl.

[Yes Oz]

Had to wait an age to post here as the album is still not released in Oz, but I got hold of a downloaded copy the other night at work and played it half a dozen times to form this opinion.

Magnification. Great start to the album. getting straight into the group/orchestra combo is brilliant and lets you know what your "in for". love the tempo change afte a couple of mins an great vocals.

Spirit of Survival. Great opening to this track and really launches with Chris's strong bass lines and orchestral accompaniment. the bass is certainly the highlite for me on this one.

Don't Go. A good example of Yes "harmonies" Very catchy tune that I need to listen to more I think.

Give Love each Day. Love the orchestra intro. I bet it sounded great "Live" Cant find a weakness in this song at all. Very beautiful.

Can you Imagine. was very surprised to hear Chris lead the vocals. Took me back to "Fish out of Water". Orchestra really rocks on this one. Did they play it "Live".

We Agree. Its good to here Alan's drums more prominent. Good track well sung by Jon (as always).

Soft as a Dove. reminded me at first of a Paul McCartney type song, then as it goes on Steves duo with violin could belong to "Natural Timbre".

Dreamtime. Great intro by band/orchestra combo. I believe this tracks gives both group and orchestra a chance to "solo". I could imagine this being well received "Live". Love the bass/orchestra finish.

In the Presence of. heard allot about this track and wasn't disappointed. The orchestra really links the various parts of this track together and IMHO this could become a Yes "epic". beautifully sung by Jon and is truly a track for group and orchestra where the combination seems to be right for this peice of music and it has a definite Yes contruction about it (tempo changes etc).

Time is Time. On a few albums Jon has always saved a little gem to conclude. Holy Lamb, Nine Languages being just two examples. With that said I was a little disappointed in this one. his voice sounds weak, if that is at all possible.

So what more can I say. This is an exceptional album. I can understand now when Jon says "if this is not a success what is the point of continuing, may as well take a break for a few years". of course for me it is too early to say where this stands along with their other works. But I can asure you that it won't be leaving my CD player for a while. I love the orchestra and the way it combines with the group. It has got to be the BEST example of orchestra/group ever recorded. And for what its worth Jon. Unfortunately this won't be the success it should be just like a number of the groups previous recordings, but please do not stop making these beautiful sounds as there are still a significant amount of people out here that could not imagine life without YES. We will always support you. Thanks for another great album.

[nightliner]

Not to rub it in or anything...well, maybe ;) , but if you like the cd, wait until you hear the dvd audio. Its much cleaner, fuller, and loaded with more music.

[ronw]

The dvd-A will have to be another copy of MAG. I buy, of course I have to buy the DVD-A player first.

I'm afraid you're right about that ronw. I'm trying to justify that dvd-a purchase on a daily basis. And of course another copy of Magnification must follow.

[SEYYES]

Does "Time is Time" remind anyone of Geoge Harrison's sound?--I think it's the guitar...

Absolutely SEYYES. I put that in my original review on NFTE.

[Dangermouse]

I'm finding all of this helpful, because I'm not that excited about the cd, either. I've listened to it time and a word (I mean again), but it hasn't grown on me. I've just grown more familiar with it, and why it didn't excite me in the first place.

[TOIT-TOM]

Earl,
My goodness you can sure get technical in your vocabulary! I make projects out of wood, and craft hardware. It is hard to explain. The projects range from plaques, to jewelry boxes, to trophies...or whatever I feel like at the time. My next endeavor is going to be a Roger Dean "YES" logo. I think I will use Red Oak, and give it to a good friend. Not to spoil the surprise, but she lives in the same town as I do. She is a huge YES fan, as well as a member of "YESfans". Other than that I don't want to give out too much info....other than she is a moderator. :yesbird:

That is going to be one lucky Yes fan! I wonder who....

[seyyes 2]

..Don't wanna go too far off Yessubjects,but I'm taking my son to Bruins vs. Blues on MLK day at Fleet Center in Boston...(Maybe Rams/Patriots in Super Bowl!!!)...

[ronw]

God don't say that name (RAMS). I'm already sick of it.

[TOIT-TOM]

Hey Seyyes2:
That sounds like a great time! The Blues/Bruins alumni from the 1970 Stanley Cup are playing tonight here in STL @ Savvis Center. Our St. Louis Post-Dispatch paper had a black & white photo in the sports section today of Noel Picard tripping Orr after the game winning goal in one of the games!! You can check this out at STLtoday.com or just type the name of the paper. Then the current teams play Saturday night. GO BLUES!!! YEA BABY!!
OK.....OK.... I hope the bRUINS have a okay game too!!

Maybe if during the periods they play excerpts from "Magnification" both teams could ice-dance. Just kiddin'

Tom:yesbird:

[TOIT-TOM]

I understand your frustrations concerning the RAMS. It is hell not having a winning sports franchise to cheer for. Look at us here in STL, 1988 the football Cardinals leave (overnight) for Arizona. Not that they were good, but it was something to watch and cheer about during the winter. They actually did have their glory days back in the 70's and 80's. HOWEver, what we have now is just as sweet as a Heath bar, and as shiny as gold. Blue and gold to be particular! So, we are going to enjoy it while we can, because nothing lasts forever except YES music!

Tom

[Earl Grey]

Originally posted by TOIT-TOM
Earl,
My goodness you can sure get technical in your vocabulary! I make projects out of wood, and craft hardware. It is hard to explain. The projects range from plaques, to jewelry boxes, to trophies...or whatever I feel like at the time. My next endeavor is going to be a Roger Dean "YES" logo. I think I will use Red Oak, and give it to a good friend. Not to spoil the surprise, but she lives in the same town as I do. She is a huge YES fan, as well as a member of "YESfans". Other than that I don't want to give out too much info....other than she is a moderator. :yesbird:

A much better endeavor than my sign-idea! And actually, it 'should' be a giant 'YES-logo' overlooking the Hollywood Hills: (my idea is a little too down-beat there: thought about it today), so get on it Tom!

I could never guess 'who' the project is going to either! Haha!
Well, she should be pretty amped about that one!
See you guys, Earl :ele:

[TOIT-TOM]

Golly!
I don't meen to sound like Gomer Pyle, but I am overwhelmed as well that this is going on for so long. I actually am wondering if we are in the correct area for this type of chat. Anyway, we finally got some snow here in STL last night. It is beautiful!!! I actually am not one who likes Winter, but this is perfect snow. It is around 35 degrees, so it is perfect for snowball fights, and making Roger Dean snow figurines in the yard!!! I really get a kick out of my neighbors who drive by, pause, and shake their heads! Oh well!!!

I must go listen to MAG now, I didn't get enough last night while organizing my latest wood carving project.

Tom :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird:

[khatru77]

I like the album & thought the tour was great but, I think Jon is getting too carried away with the redundant love lyrics. Also, not enough Steve Howe guitar solos!

[seyyes 2]

TOIT...Went to Bruins/Blues in Boston today w/ 8 year old son...same result...darn..Khatru..I agree Jon too lovey..guess that can't be all bad...sometimes too saccharine...

[Sister Bluebird]

I'm surprised at some of the lukewarm responses to Magnification. I think it is probably the best Yes album since Tales or Relayer. Its magical, mystical and joyful. I'm totally in love with it. The title track and Dreamtime particularly stand out as real masterpieces - fantastic!

There's a lot to love on Magnification that's for sure Sister Bluebird (I love your member name by the way) and I agree it's the best thing since, dare I say it, Tales.

Welcome to Yesfans! Come back often.

[TOIT-TOM]

You are right on the money! Also, add in "In the presence of" and there are your top 3 songs of the entire CD, in my OPIO Opinion!!

[Sister Bluebird]

Oh yes, In the Presence of is wonderful too. I love all the songs but I think you are right about these three tracks - beautiful and uplifting music - I really do fly high when I listen to this album!

[TOIT-TOM]

Now you have got me singing "Starship Trooper" to myself!!! You picked a wonderful name for yourself! When I say I am singing the song to myself, I really mean it. It gets to the point to where I am playing the studio version now on my CD player. Actually it is sort of a nice break from MAG. Not to downplay MAG, but I don't want to burn myself out on it. I want to cherish it, yet kindle it for a long, long, long time.

"YES"....they produce the movement!!! :yesbird:

[seyyes 2]

Have upgraded my opinion of Mag to "ok"...some good stuff,but does not leave me inspired,,a nice,mature Yes maybe...but I hope they don't slow down much more....like to see more acoustic Howe ,alone w/Anderson singing..nothing else

What an idea seyyes2! I would love to see/hear that myself.

And Tom, you're right about that Sister Bluebird. I'm doing that myself!

[seyyes 2]

..you are a nice bunch of people...Bedtime!!(1:00 am est)...take care all..

[Earl Grey]

Sister Bluebird.....................................

Great Nom DePlume!

I would LOVE to see a Howe/Anderson album. Should have already happened (Well, "TALES" I guess, but the acoustic-thing is past-due!).

I was at work today, the radio was playing, and 'ISAGP' blasted out of those 'YES-unfriendly' speakers, and I laughed & rejoiced!

Sometimes we DO get our cake, and get to eat as well!

:ele:

[TOIT-TOM]

You know what....I have thought about this very thing, for years. Just HOWE wonderful that would be, a duet with the two of them!! HOWEver, in thinking about it, we actually have gotten a fair dose on several albums the group, or factions thereof, put out: in recent memory I think of "From the balcony", on OYE, or HOWE about part(s) of "Silent Talking", from UNION., or HOWE about "Mood for a day" from Fragile., oh and HOWE about "The Meeting", from ABWH!! These are just a few, and I know there are plenty more!!!

"YES" they DO INDEED produce the movement!:yesbird:

Yes, they are so very wonderful. I've had them on all evening listening while baking chocolate cookies. What a nice accompaniment!

Regarding Jon and Steve collaborating, I recall an interview with Jon in which he stated his desire to do just that--performing with just Steve. Jon said that Steve is always too busy. I guess that's why Steve's not on Jon's solo albums. Surely be nice though!

[Earl Grey]

RIGHT!

Wrong. They could do it. The problem is, it's the McCartney/Lennon syndrome. They might kill each other (in a nice way! Heeha!) by the end of the day.

We know that Tales From Topographic Oceans was a collaboration between Steve & Jon.

And it probably takes the lubricant of much 'green-leaf' & self denial to accomplish such a thing. Perhaps I should offer them a truck-load of brownies and a gazilion kudos (OK JON/STEVE. I offer the above. Just e-mail me, and I'll figure out the details. It's THAT important!).

I'm serious. Steve/Jon Project:
Should've happened, (yet another comma!) and 'From A Balcony' etc. is but a teaser.
Steve and Jon ARE the 'spiritual' ones (Well, Alan is so good & kind. He is spiritual too, in his own 'Aw Shucks' kind of way. I'll make double-brownies... OK Alan?). I wonder WHY it hasn't happened yet (There IS that rumoured JON & IGOR CD in the cans... The Vampire strikes, & We'll never hear it: mark my words. Bootlegs, anyone?).

YES is so complex. Amazing we get anything, ya know?

Still nice to think about the JON/STEVE thang.
Knock us out.
:ele:

[BHazard003]

I've been hearing a lot of talk about don't go being a mistake, but I've got to disagree. There's not a song on Magnification that I don't listen to over and over again, and Don't Go happens to be one of my favorites, it's not as deep as some others but it's got the most soothing, light counterpoint of pretty much anything I've ever heard. So I gave the whole thing 'great'

[dyingpoet]

"Don't Go" is not really a bad track, I agree, (We Agree? heh-heh), but it is the weakest track on the album. That's not meant to be hyper-critical, but that particular song, along with "Time is Time," does not fit in well with the mood, if you will, of the rest of the album. "DG" has a good hook and it develops nicely. It just offers too much contrast against the high-quality tracks around it, almost like filler. There is no crime in making an album five minutes shorter if it means maintaining a logical and creative progression within it. (My humble opinion, of course...)

"Time is Time" doesn't even need to be on the album at all. It only adds an "etc." to a fine essay of a CD. It seems so, "tacked on," y'know?
Kinda like the "Don't Let it End" reprise at the end of Kilroy Was Here, by Styx. --Didn't need it.
Or "The Secret Marriage" at the end of Nothing Like the Sun by Sting. --Didn't need it.

Save the B-Sides for the box sets and don't over-paint albums that are potential masterpieces with little ditty-type songs that contradict the rest of the album's vibe.

In any case, I still give MAG a solid 8 on a scale of 1-10.

- d.p.

...but ... (and maybe it's just my own POV, being a pianist/keyboardist myself)...I just can't agree with those of you who say this record "proves" that Yes should ideally be 4-piece.
If ya want to get really nit-picky, there is actually a little bit of piano here n there on Mag...One place that I really wish it had been expounded on is "Deeper"... the piano in the intro begs for more (at least for me)....not to cast stones at all - please don't get me wrong here...but imagine that track with a more developed piano accompaniment...dare I say, some Wakeman-esque scales/arpeggios, etc.??? I've been playing along with that track on my acoustic piano, and not to by any means compare myself with the magnitude of Mag, I must say, it sounds good with a bit o' ivory in there!!!

And to whoever said that virtuoso keyboards are a "thing of the seventies".... :P :P :P I think that's a pretty narrow statement.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I strongly disagree!!

Anyway...Once I got over (for the most part) no keys, I must say
that Magnification is one of the most beautiful Yes records in some time. I particularly like the title cut, and ITPO....and though
I can see very clearly the point repeatedly made on how Don't Go
sort of interrupts the flow of the album, I don't think that means it's a bad song. Perhaps you didn't see/hear it "live"? I thought it
came across quite nicely in concert - but, again, that was not within the context of the disc we're discussing here.

I've enjoyed reading everyone's reviews and commentary...
.....hope this thread continues to grow as our opinions and
interpretations of Mag grow also....

Peace, love and understanding ~
~Dawn Livingston.

[TOIT-TOM]

I certainly don't mean to be negative about anything our beloved band puts out, howe-ever Time is Time, is just that....time....a back seat song thrown in for good measure on Magnification. I on the other hand would prefer it over nothing. Does that make me second guess the bands abilities? NO. I just cannot wait for the next album. I was one of those who voted against having an orchestra on the album, but as we all know now, it was a blessing.

YES.....they continue to produce the Movement!!! :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird: :yesbird:

Hey there Tom. You really don't like Time is Time? I think it's lovely. Very different to be sure but lovely nonetheless. Perhaps you are not accustomed to thinking "lovely" in terms of Yes. I'd recommend that if this might be the case, if you would try to erase that idea for 2 minutes--hold it in suspension--and listen to it again. I think it will sing to you. Try it, you'll like it!

[dyingpoet]

Time is Time is indeed a lovely little ditty. It just doesn't fit on a high-caliber journey of an album like MAG.

-d.p.

I don't know, dyingpoet. Somehow the words Blah and Lovely don't seem to be synonyms to me. I'd recommend the same exercise to you as I recommended to Tom. For what it's worth...

[seyyes 2]

...Remember"Tell the Moondog,Tell the March Hare" from Fragile???..Some similarity....

Hey seyyes2, you're right! That is a wonderful song! It certainly cannot be thought of as having been tacked on as an afterthought in any way. I love that song.

[seyyes 2]

I agree Yessiree!!.."Time" no afterthought..Listening to "Mag" now...think title track is best cut...also..found jFurono had interesting views on earlier post...hard on"Mag" as I was at first-still am ,to a lesser degree--but "J"stated that it would not be an album for first timers,implying it would not attract new fans...this may be true.

You know seyyes2, Magnification is so different from any other thing Yes, and it is so good, I think that it could cross over. I think that only those with preconceived ideas of what Yes "should be" (all of us from time to time) could have problems with it. Which would make it a great debut album for the uninitiated! I know I have given it to folks with no Yes in their brains and they love it.

[seyyes 2]

..I have just told my 1 year old nephew that he is ready for Yes...going to turn him on to Yes Album...not sure i'd start w/"Mag" tho.......

[seyyes 2]

..meant 21 year old!!

[dyingpoet]

The comparison between "Time is Time" and "We Have Heaven" does not really fly, because (according to my most humble opinion) "Time is Time" does not really fit with the rest of the album it is part of as well as "We Have Heaven" fits with Fragile. I never said it was a bad song, I just don't think it's appropriate for MAG, especially as the album's closer.

I know YES is lovely, too. "And You And I" is lovely. "Turn of the Century" is lovely. Songs from every album and parts of some of the hardest, most intense YES tracks are lovely. I have associated that word with this band since I first heard the accoustic guitar sections of "Roundabout" on the radio all those years ago. "Time is Time" is lovely, too, but out of context with MAG. That's all I am trying to get across.

"Peace, love and ammunition."

- d.p.

Well, dyingpoet, I suppose we must continue to agree to disagree on Time is Time.

And I could be totally wrong but isn't the quote, "peace, love and pass the ammunition"?

[seyyes 2]

...Never thought Time is Time and We have Heaven are completely analogous in the context of the respective albums,just bear a certain similarity in texture,delivery...change of pace...

[Earl Grey]

...and she danced around like a dervish, and then became a pheonix, and then tore the sky into tiny shards of mirror, just like Dadaulus.
And that's the end of my tale. OK?
Just distracting you.
haha!
:ele:

[Rogo]

My daughter of 8 is mad about "Arriving UFO"! She and her pals have made this dance to go with it... Great!

Good influences on the younger generation!

[Earl Grey]

I finally consider myself an adult.
It's official. I finally "don't understand or like the music of the young."
I finally get to say, "Hey! Turn off that noise! Now, when I was young we used to listen to...."

All the way through Grunge I was the "cool dad" : turning my son on to 'Smashing Pumpkins' and 'STP'..... ...The dad who thought Soundgarden was #####en and wanted to go to Lallapalooza! Perry Farrell! Yahoo!

Now it has finally happened: I'm an old fart: I HATE the crap they play on the radio, the stuff I listened to WAS better: SO MUCH BETTER, than the crapola the kids are listening to...
Hey, would you turn that down a bit? Your mothers and I are talking?! Thanks! Haha!

YES. Play much YES for the children: their earballs might fall out and roll over the edge of the world if you dont!
:ele:

[RobAdams]

Those who recognize the greatness of this disc I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT. I picked mine up the day it was released in the USA, and lucky enough to find a store that carried the bonus disc version. (Mine has the 2000 version of Gates Of Delirium). The negatives : 60 minute albums should be a thing of the past, with the compact disc's ability to contain at least 20 extra minutes.
The artwork seems at first nearly as dull as OYE, but somehow the design seems to fit the mood of the recording. There is no AWAKEN here. No AND YOU AND I. No PERPETUAL CHANGE. Hoping that MAGNIFICATION will resemble the Yes of the 1970's is the wrong approach. The positives: YES have created yet another masterwork. The overall consensus seems to be that SOFT AS A DOVE is the album's clunker. If I had to pick one I like the least, SOFT AS A DOVE would be it. But it grows on me. It has a demo-like structure that has an intimate feel to it. Same feeling I get from hearing Pete Townshend's SCOOP collections. TIME IS TIME doesn't do much for me as of yet. Compared with the rest of the album, it seems to be a throwaway. GIVE LOVE EACH DAY, CAN YOU IMAGINE, WE AGREE and DREAMTIME were the first songs to make a good impression on me in my first few listens.
At first I didn't care for DON'T GO, but now I like it. The only part of the album that I would have changed if I were Jon Anderson is the lyric in DON'T GO where Jon sings the line "That's what friends are for". Even more uncomfortable to my ear is how he pronounced 'for' as 'far' so it would rhyme with car.......My overall feeling of MAGNIFICATION is that this is a work that shows they are not a nostalgia act. I really don't like the orchestrations on the TIME AND A WORD album. If a version of TAAW was available without the orchestral tracks, I'd be thrilled. When I heard that MAGNIFICATION was to feature an orchestra I admit I winced. When I heard Igor was gone, I was sad because I was starting to like his style. Especially after seeing him with Yes on the Masterworks tour. Still, I rushed out to get magnified, and even took my portable cd walkman because I couldn't wait to hear it.
I'm very pleased with it. I've spent a lot of time getting familliar with it, and I see it as a brilliant audio painting for my ears. The orchestra suceeds without sounding pretentious or cheesy. Everyone shines equally here without stepping on each other's toes. One last thought...Am I the only one who hears DREAMTIME as a sequel to ON THE SILENT WINGS OF FREEDOM ? Seems the two would make a nice pairing at a Yes concert......peace

Originally posted by i-and-i
Those who recognize the greatness of this disc I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT.

The artwork seems at first nearly as dull as OYE, but somehow the design seems to fit the mood of the recording.

The overall consensus seems to be that SOFT AS A DOVE is the album's clunker. If I had to pick one I like the least, SOFT AS A DOVE would be it. But it grows on me.

My overall feeling of MAGNIFICATION is that this is a work that shows they are not a nostalgia act. I'm very pleased with it. The orchestra suceeds without sounding pretentious or cheesy.

A couple of things i-and-i, I agree with you regarding the greatness of this disc. It is great. But when you said the artwork was dull and that fit the mood of the recording, I found myself confused.

I can't agree with you on Soft as a Dove. I loved it the first time I heard it. I know others have expressed disappointment in it too but others have expressed disappointment in just about all the songs--at one time or another. I don't think that the general consensus is that Soft as a Dove is THE clunker. Just a thought anyway.

What I really agree with you on is that Magnification shows that Yes is not a nostalgia act. I think that is VERY true and explicitly demonstrated on this recording. And I also agree about the orchestra succeeding without the cheese factor.

All in all, they have come up with another success story--even though only Yes fans get to hear it.

[Earl Grey]

Yeah. I can see that. Nice observation.

MAGNIFICATION is the right stuff, and I'm definately not tired of it yet!

Haha!
Earl.

[TOIT-TOM]

Dear i and i:
I really liked your synopsis of the album. It is wonderful to realize that I am not the only one who compares new releases to past ones. Very keen observation!!! I bet that you have a sibling by the name of "and you and i"!!!! If so, you are really going for the one! YES, pun intended.....because............as I always say:

"YES.....they produce the movement"!!!!:yesbird:

[1yesfan]

"Clunker" I love that word! Ha ha ha
I must say I still am finding NEW sounds in the album this late in the game of listening to it, which is everyday.
I was about done with The Ladder after about 2 months of listening to it.

[gunsfornuns]

to me, magnification conjures up visions of the band having fun touring with orchestras. i wish touring with orchestras was enough; i dislike strongly the orchestration on magnification. i'm back to listening to the ladder. you can keep magnification.

Gee, I'm sorry you feel that way gunsfornuns (I love your name by the way). Did you get a chance to see them last year with the orchestra? I too felt that the orchestra was a bad idea and voted against it but I thought the shows were nothing short of marvelous. I really enjoy the orchestrations on Magnification. I wonder how many times you have listened to it? I would recommend listening and listening and listening some more. Give it a real good shot. I think it is far superior to the Ladder. But that's just my opinion. But try it again. The guys tried something totally new this time. An open mind is necessary to get what they are doing--as it is so different from what they have done in the past. It's worth the journey.

By the way, welcome to the site.

[TOIT-TOM]

Hey take it from me, Nuns do not need guns. I remember back through grade, and high school the nuns I encountered had that "pyramidal habit" head dress thing, and it was literally incorportated with a natural defense system. All that "Sister Mary Elephant" had to do was look at one of the students....and invisible "guilt rays" shot out of the habit, thus rendering the poor student helpless, hopeless, crying, begging for mercy, etc.

On a positive note: Hey NUNSFORGUNS: take the advice of Tim(site owner/admin) and Pat (better known as the "moderator"), the album is in a totally advanced dimension compared to "The Ladder".

I for one am living proof. It took me 3-4 weeks to have it captivate my senses. You can inquire with Pat, she is witness to my maturity into MAGNIFICATION. Once you are hooked, (and you will be hooked) it is like the berry inside of a chocolate covered strawberry, or the fruit at the bottom of a yogurt cup, or the Honeymoon of a newly wed couple.

One thing I would recommend is to never forget:
"YES"....they do....produce....the....movement!!!

:yesbird::yesbird:

[gunsfornuns]

i didn't see the boys with the orchestra. a friend of mine went to the show in atlanta and gave me a review.

i took my 12-year-old daughter to see the masterworks show. i must have raised her wrong; she liked kansas better.

anyway, i want to hear the boys play. there aren't 15 or 30 or 75 boys; just the four or five of them.

what's this i hear about wakeman touring with the boys this summer? wouldn't that be too groovy?!

[seyyes 2]

........11:53 est...a few intriguing spots in "Dreamtime"..unrealized gem..turned into filler...the Yes problem,....consolidate,my boys...

[RobAdams]

My first look at the MAGNIFICATION artwork struck me as dull and nothing special, but somehow the artwork 'enhanced itself in my mind' once I became MAGNIFIED. The dark purple grape colors do fit the mood of the music, which I do not consider dull at all. I may have not have expressed my thoughts as clearly as I had tried. Sorry!

I see now i-and-i.

And Tom, I'm glad Magnification finally got ahold of your throat and won't let go. It doesn't need to. It feels fine.

[RobAdams]

The Yes catalog is wonderful. They have music for every mood. MAGNIFICATION is hardly the greatest thing Yes ever recorded, but it is a very fresh, innovative work by a band who could have rested on their old chops instead, lazily making tunes that sound like SON OF ROUNDABOUT. There is a sincerety behind MAGNIFICATION that is lacking from much of THE LADDER. But for what the LADDER was, they did what had to be done. I was rather displeased with OPEN YOUR EYES. It is clearly the lamest thing Jon, Chris, Steve and Alan ever released. I listened to it once and said to myself "Thank God that's over". When I saw THE LADDER in the store I bought it and hoped it wasn't going to be like OYE. They won me back with THE LADDER, which prepared me to be more open to MAGNIFICATION, which does need to be absorbed. THE LADDER is more instantaneous gratification. I myself am very happy with both albums.

We agree again i-and-i.

[RobAdams]

I am oh so careful with my cd's...But I have a complaint about the packaging for the us issue of MAGNIFICATION with the bonus disc. The hinge that allows you to get to the bonus disc has just snapped off on my copy.....Upon examination it is a rather shoddy design for a jewel case... Anyone else notice this???

[dyingpoet]

I'm still concerned with the metallic strip that came in the back of my "Ladder" jewel case. Just take out the CD, and there it is, between two layers of plastic. I wish I could call Mulder and Scully to investigate.

There was also just a faint whiff of cigarette smoke...(just kidding!)

- d.p.

[TOIT-TOM]

I think that we are all doing too much comparisons on their last few albums. Or, for that matter even their Masterpieces of the last 3 decades. For me personally, nothing will ever replace, or compare to Tales, Fragile, the YES album, etc. These albums were not put out to be improved upon. IT IS NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, where you have "Star Trek", and then "The Wrath of Khan", then another, and another, etc. I look at each album as a unique piece of artwork. They are not meant to compete with each other. They are each their own best competitors in themselves. OH....BYE THE WAY....OYE is in my opinion is an excellent album, and the tour in 1997-98 was fantastic as well.

I feel better now. I think I will go listen to "Survival" from their very early works.

-Tom
:yesbird:

[dyingpoet]

...don't be to hard on us. As YES fans, we are spoiled rotten by the band's previous accomplishments, and as a result we have come to expect too much. This is one reason why it takes many of us so long to warm up to the new albums as they come out. (I'm still working on OYE, although I love "Man on the Moon")

By the way, could everyone please, PLEASE check their copies of Ladder and see if those metallic strips I described a couple of posts ago are in your jewell cases as well as mine? (And remember, "Trust no one.")

Thanks!

- d.p.

dyingpoet, I think they are only on yours.......

The truth is out there.

[RobAdams]

No metallic strips in my LADDER jewel case, but I have noticed that many new CDs have those square stick on security tabs in between the plastic. I bought The Who 'BBC Sessions', and Paul McCartney 'Driving Rain' recently, and had to pry the plastic apart to remove these. I think they're put there to keep them from being stolen at the factories......peace

I was just kidding with you dyingpoet--attempting to add to your, "Trust no one" motif.

But I don't have a cd copy of the Ladder so I really can't comment on that.

Thanks i-and-i for your input. Anyone else have dyingpoet's experience?

[TOIT-TOM]

Man on the Moon was actually the one song I did not like at first. After awhile it was pretty fair, HOWEver, it was not really necessary on the CD in my opio opinion.

So anyway, I did not want it to seem like I was preaching to anyone with that last post, but let's be honest, comparing YES albums is like trying to say which of your children you like more!
It is just not applicable.

GO RAMS !

[Earl Grey]

Could be a monitering device meant for you only! Someone's watching! Yikes!

I just downloaded i-and-i's YES animation, as another bit of my montage desktop wallpaper-thang! Getting too crowded on my desktop: had to delete a couple more icons to fit it on!

Ah. The sacrifices I make for my YES-obsession!

:ele:

[ronw]

Speaking of The Ladder. If you go to FYE they have The Ladder for $6.99. It seems as though they are promoting that more than MAG. At 2 different stores in 2 different states I seen it prominently displayed near the front of the store. Whats going on? I'm glad to see any YES displayed but come on MAG. should be up front.

[Insane Teacher]

Magnification has enjoyed the top spot in my car CD player since I purchased it the day it was released in December. I waited eagerly for months for the release of Magnification due to the use of an orchestra rather than a keyboard player. I was intrigued by keyboards and synthesizers when I first heard Yes as a seventh grader in the early 1970s. And I have always been amazed at the effects and moods Yes has created by blending their instruments. But, the older I get, the more I desire real instruments in the music I listen to. As a 43 year old, keyboards now sound a bit synthetic to me when used to imitate other natural instruments. So, to put it mildly, I was fired up as the release date for Magnification approached.

But my mind played tricks with me for a while when I listened to Magnification for the first few days. For some odd reason my mind separated from each other the playing of Yes and the orchestra. The only explanation I can give for this is that orchestras have always seemed like background music in most orchestrated rock music I have listened to with the exception of some Beatles songs. With the two sounds separated in my mind, Magnification was interesting, but not great. After a week or so, the orchestra and Yes came together and now I "Give Love Each Day" as I drive to and from work.

I think that Larry Groupe provided the best description of Magnification I have heard to date during his interview in Notes From The Edge. He described Magnification as a Yes Concerto, with Yes being the featured soloist with the orchestra. The playing of each Yes member seems styled to work with orchestra. Each member plays well and when needed for the appropriate effects, but not constantly. I think that the lack of constant playing by each musician serves to highten the impact of their work. Alan White, in particular, plays in a simpler almost minimalist manner that reminds me at times of Bill Brufford's playing. Steve Howe plays with almost equal parts acoustic and electric guitars, but his playing compliments the orchestra. It does not compete with or drown it out. The same is true of Chris Squire's bass playing, but I must say he gives the four woofers in my VW a real workout every day. I think Jon Anderson's vocals, both as a lead and backup vocalist, are superb, as are the lead by Chris and the harmonies provided by Chris, Alan and Steve throughout the album.

Mr. Groupe and his orchestra are nothing short of magnificent. They create countless interesting effects througout. They add tremendous power and beauty to Spirit of Survival, Dreamtime, In The Presence Of, and Give Love Each Day as large portions of the orchestra play. But the use of a single flute or a violin or two on songs like Soft as a Dove and Time is Time demonstrate the beauty of simplicity. I would love to know what the deep beautiful harmonic sound is in the middle of Time is Time. Is it a vocalist, a string instrument, or something else.

I have only a few wishes for this album (I don't even call them criticisms). I wish the lyrics were a little more paint like on Magnification. They occasionally border on "New Age," and only sometimes harken back to the days when "seasoned witches" rearranged livers, spaces between notes related "color to the scenes," or dreamers rested easy in the chairs that really fit you. I wish Time is Time was a little longer. One ending was a bit abrupt for my taste, although I like it now. Another song seemed to just melt a little aimlessly at the end.

In sum, Magnification to me is a gem. Yes's return to natural instruments reminds me of the movement of baseball in the United States away from the cookie cutter astroturf stadiums and to natural grass in small, unique, old fashion ballparks. I think keyboards still can and should play a significant role in future Yes music, even together with an orchestra. But the use of natural instruments makes Magnification something special to me.

[RobAdams]

I respond to your review of MAGNIFICATION in the words of the Firesign Theatre.....NOT INSANE!!!!!

I agree and enjoyed your analysis

[RobAdams]

Not to mention, we have enough Yes members past & present to have a Yes baseball team. And wasn't STEVE HOWE on the Yankees for a while?

[Insane Teacher]

Thanks for your kind words. I do think that Steve Howe played for the Yankees, but he must have lost weight since rejoining the band.

Hey there Insane Teacher!
First of all I love your name.
And secondly, I agree with your post. I found it to be very well thought out and well written.
Thirdly, welcome to the site. Hope to see more of your posts.

[Insane Teacher]

Thank you too for the kind words. I like your name too. Did you get it from the Live at the House of Blues CD/DVD? I think Jon said, "Yes sir ree" after one of the songs.

[dyingpoet]

"...be there reminded of the rhyme?"

Now we need a sad preacher and we'll be set. (Do you suppose T.D. Jakes listens to......naaaaaah).

- d.p.

[Earl Grey]

Yeah...

I miss the E.E. Cummings stuff of earlier days.

Jon did it better than anyone else, Mr Cummings included i think!

Jon has mentioned in a few interviews that he thought his older lyrics were too abstract, that he wanted to be better understood...

I liked the mountains that fell out of the sky & stood there...

Oh well... at least we have SOMETHING contemporary to complain about...

:yesbird:

Originally posted by Insane Teacher
Thank you too for the kind words. I like your name too. Did you get it from the Live at the House of Blues CD/DVD? I think Jon said, "Yes sir ree" after one of the songs.

Sooooo, Jon mentioned my name, did he? Well, I always knew we were close but to put me on the Dvd? I guess I'll have to watch it again. hahaha

[RobAdams]

I think I'm gradually beginning to like Jon's newer lyrics. As long as they come from his heart I think we're still in for more great lyrics from him. I clearly see a difference between these and the older ones. I think Jon may be trying too hard to avoid old ideas. RELAX, JON.

[dyingpoet]

Jon is also coming up with completely new ideas. He is becoming more narrative with songs like "That That Is" and "Don't Go," while staying poetic with "Soft as a Dove," "In the Presence of" and "Good Day," etc. He's also trancending English and grammar here and there. "Seeing through the eyes of child," for instance. And I'm pretty sure "Magnificate" is not a word.

Actually, I'd kind of like to see him write an entire album without using the words or forms of the words "love," "song," and "dream," just to see if he could do it, heh-heh.

- d.p.

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by dyingpoet
And I'm pretty sure "Magnificate" is not a word.

That's right. I've had "Magnificate Magnification" as my cellphone welcome message since september and never noticed it wasn't english.

I was assuming it meant "magnify", of course, as in

magnificate:magnification=celebrate:celebration

(seeing things in proportion)... ;)

WK

Don't you just love how they so completely create new worlds for us? Even changing the English language. I just love those guys.

[TOIT-TOM]

That is so true!!
Can you see their next album entitled:"YESSLANGS"....it could be a follow up to Tormato, where we learned about celestial seasons, the Circus of Heaven, and even Silent wings of freedom!!! I actually took the pen name of "Dantallion" for a short while!!! during my early internet days.

Here is another weird fact. When I first listened to "Heart of the Sunrise " I was still pretty young, around 14 or so. The part where Jon sings: "I feel lost in the city".... had such an effect on me, that I honestly did not venture into the city of St. Louis, for fear of getting lost. I stayed within the boundaries of St. Louis county. As I got older, going to St. Louis Cardinal baseball games made things easier, or maybe it was the cold Budweiser, I'm not sure!!!!

"YES" they DO continue to produce the movement!!! :yesbird: :yesbird:

[R'tanys]

I must admit that I've been struggling with this one. The material as a whole doesn't seem to have any clearly defined direction and certainly doesn't hold a candle to the masterpiece GFTO.
However, I've only listened to it a few times and that opinion may change as the album becomes more familiar to me.
It just seems like this whole project stems from the band's ongoing keyboard troubles. As though they've spent all their lifelines and they don't have a final answer. I do hope they can find someone with the chops to sit on that bench on a more permanent basis. Yes has always appealed to me due to their efforts to amalgamize classical composition stylings with contemporary performance techniques, creating a balanced synthesis of the two and pretty much everything else in between.
I wouldn't call this effort a failure, but it just seems a bit of a hollow victory to me.

Well, R'tanys (what does that name mean anyway?), I suppose we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I think Magnification demonstrates how Yes does not require a keyboard player to display majesty and splendor and wonder and happiness and enlightenment.

Oh, by the way, welcome to the site. Do come back soon.

[TOIT-TOM]

Hi R'tany!!!
Just wait till you listen to this masterpiece for awhile, and it will lure you like the best bait lures a fish! I know it may be difficult to realize this now, but BELIEVE ME, and believe Pat as well, it will capture your keen interests in a way that you thought was lost since GFTO, or for that matter, any previous YES album. It will prey upon you like nothing else. All of a sudden one day, you will find yourself wanting to listen to it over, and over, and over. The wonderful thing is that it NEVER gets old. Just wait,,, WOW you just wait!!!!!!!!! HA!!!!!! I can't wait to hear your feedback in about 3-4 weeks!!!!!!!!:yesbird:

Well, Tom, you're right! R'tanys' got some happiness waiting for him/her.

[Squireaholic]

I was just noticing how much the orchestrations in Magnification remind me of the 1974 Mahavishnu Orchestra recording Apocalypse (sp? sorry..). The album featured Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony, along with Johhny M and his new version of his band. Anybody else notice this?
BTW: "Magnificate" is a variation spelling of Magnificat, as in the musical form of praise. never underestimate that Jonny A!

Originally posted by Squireaholic
never underestimate that Jonny A!

Indeed!

[TOIT-TOM]

"YES", Jon continues to inspire all of us in so many ways! He is just so wonderful, so alive!!!

Originally posted by TOIT-TOM
"He is just so wonderful!!!

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!


Did you know that I agree with you on that one Tom?

[TOIT-TOM]

It goes without saying!
And what is the most affirmative word in the English language?

"YES":yesbird:

And who is the most wonderful Mr. Wonderful in the world?

It's got to be our Jon!

[ronw]

Jon discussed this orchestra thing with Steve during ABWH. So lack of a keyboardist wasn't the issue here.

Very interesting, ronw. That makes me think that it would be possible for an orchestra and Rick to be on the same stage. I could not see that before. I'm sure Jon's got it all worked out.

Hey, by the way ronw, are you going to need some help with that copy of the Jon interview--getting it out to YYY? I have not seen any activity on that thread.

[Ahkin]

Originally posted by yessiree
And who is the most wonderful Mr. Wonderful in the world?

It's got to be our Jon!


Yeah. Jon is really amazing. When I saw him on stage dancing and singing and talking I thought "Wow, what an energetic and pleasant and sincere guy, I got to meet him some day!"

Ahkin, once more, you and I are on the same page!

[Earl Grey]

Originally posted by R'tanys
...The material as a whole doesn't seem to have any clearly defined direction and certainly doesn't hold a candle to the masterpiece GFTO.
...However, I've only listened to it a few times and that opinion may change as the album becomes more familiar to me.
...I wouldn't call this effort a failure, but it just seems a bit of a hollow victory to me.

It took a couple of weeks for me to be drawn into MAGNIFICATION, but once I got used to the new direction (Which MAG is: more of an Adult Alternative Album than past efforts: wonderful acoustic work from Howe... gentler melodies... Swathed in orchestral lushness.) It joined the ranks of GFTO and RELAYER on my CD player.

I think this album was directed towards YES' long time fans who have grown with the band to have a more eclectic palate. 'Mellow' doesn't necessarily mean a lack of fire. It just means that there are more subtle details. The difference between a Dali and a Monet.

Magnification doesn't grab you by the earballs like CTTE: it slowly wooes you in like a long time trusted lover.

There is a certain wisdom and growth for YES found in Magnification: YES' Magnificat indeed! (I was listening to Bach's Magnificat this morning. Similar edification found in the new YES album!).

Give it time my friend: you'll be glad you did!

:yesbird: Earl Grey.

[TOIT-TOM]

Just wait like Earl said, MAG will capture you, like nothing has in a long time. "You'll be amazed like a true believer"!!!:yesbird:

[Earl Grey]

I seem to have these songs running through my head day & night... Something that hasn't happened to me with a new YES outing since the 70's...
A good sign I think!

Earl Grey

[TOIT-TOM]

Earl,
Believe me, you are not the only one with those "songs" being played over, and over in your head each day. I dream about it alot. I normally would diagnose myself with being too involved with something when I act this way. With YES music, I don't bother trying to define it. All I know is, that this affliction will continue in my head forever. Or at least until I see them again live on tour.

Oh, here is something kinda funny.....what do you think Jon is referring to when he sings "when I touch you there"? He has never to my knowledge gotten naughty before.... HA! ;)

[Earl Grey]

I'm sure that's what he meant.

That he is well aware of his rhyming dictionary, and is thinking of dictation therein!

hah! "Don't touch me there!"

No comment: I'm blushing now (Or am I just red with laughter? Both!).

I'm sure Jon has been luckier than most of us...
and at least he knows about the YES-Spot. "YES! YES!"

Some happy Yesgrrls out there I'm sure! Jon aint' dumb!
I'm SO happy that there are cavemen that don't know what we're speaking of! "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. The way to a woman's heart is through her thesaurus!"

Funny post there Tom! THeehee!

:ele:

[ex-nrmman]

I really like this album from start to finish. The guitar on "Soft as a dove" kinda sounds like one of the songs on OYE (I'm not sure which song-haven't played this disc in awhile). Maybe somebody else noticed, I haven't read all the reviews. As far as "Don't go", it's not a bad song, it's just not a Yes song. They should have given it to Sir Paul McCartney for his new album.

Another thought: wouldn't it have been great for Yes to have played "Give love each day" at the super bowl last month? The words to that song really fit the events of 9/11 (I think there was a tribute before the game). Plus the Boston Pops were already there. This may have already been a topic, but I'm new to the site.

Originally posted by ex-nrmman
I really like this album from start to finish. The guitar on "Soft as a dove" kinda sounds like one of the songs on OYE.

Another thought: wouldn't it have been great for Yes to have played "Give love each day" at the super bowl last month?

I've heard things kind of resembling Soft as a Dove in the past but I can't put my finger on it right now. OYE does not ring true for me though as I really like Soft as a Dove and I have a hard time listening to anything on OYE.

Yes, it would have been nice if Yes had performed that song or any song. Heck, I just want to see them out there getting the extreme kudos they so richly deserve.

And I want to welcome you to the site ex-nrmman. Please tell me what your Yesfan name refers to. Very interesting...

[TOIT-TOM]

The song Ex-nrman (or whatever) and Yessiree are referring to is "From the Balcony" from OYE. Your right, it sure sounds very similar to "Soft as a dove". Needless to say, both are very YES.

[ex-nrmman]

Indeed the song in question is "From the balcony". As far as the name ex-nrmman goes, Iworked for company called National Record Mart (NRM) for 16 years. They went belly up in Jan. 2002 so I no longer have the privilege of working there. we did have a store in a town (or mall) called Chesterfield, MO. That store may been called Waves Music though. Thank you for the warm welcome Yessirree (sorry if I spelled that wrong)! I've been a Yes fanatic for 25 years.

[ex-nrmman]

I'm not sure how the flag got there (although it does look great!).
The store in Chesterfield may have been called Waves Music.

[ex-nrmman]

OK, I give up! The flag is too mighty to argue with!

You're welcome ex-nrmman.

I live not too far from Chesterfield. I wonder what the name of the place is? I also am stumped by that flag. It happened to me one time and even Tim could not figure it out. It's a mystery. Do you think the patriotic thought police are watching us?? hahaha

And thanks for the explanation of your name. It's always so interesting to me to see where the names come from.

[ex-nrmman]

Ok yessiree, let's try it this awy. The store may have been called
braves-br+w music. I hope that makes sense!