Natural Timbre

[Yes Oz]

Couldn't believe it. I was going through a new CD store in town and came across Natural Timbre. Had to get it.

Brought it home and very impress with the music, not that I doubted Steves ability. I always considered him one of the best in the business but at over 1 hour long I thought it would be a bit much to listen to acoustic music for that long, but I was pleasantly surprised and the more I listen to it the better it gets (typical YES!!!!). Some tracks, in particular, Distant Seas, Golden Years and In the Course of the Day are stand out along with the three Yes numbers he finishes with. I can really recommend this solo effort and look forward to the next. What would be good is an acoustic CD of Yes music. What about Yes-unplugged. Remember a few years ago the unplugged albums were all the rage. Why didn't Yes do one???????

[Aragorn]

I can not find a copy of this album in stores, very annoying! I don't want to order it online and pay shipping, but it's looking like I might have to!

As for an acoustic album by Yes, I would LOVE to hear that. :cheers:

[Skyward]

on the acoustic YES that is. Their music is too dynamic to be bound by such constraints! Don't get me wrong, we know it would be beautiful, but, I would sorely miss too many numbers and their associated SOUNDS that may not replicable under acoustic circumstances.
I love Natural Timbre also. I knew before I bought it that I was not to be disappointed so, there was no surprise there. I highly recommend this effort by Steve ( of course, I would recommend anything by this outstanding guitarist ). 'Nuff said!

[Yes Oz]

You all need to get on the YesHoo forum, (don't like plugging this forum as I don't think it is particularly good). There is a thread on there about Steve Howe being replaced in the group, some of the statements made vary from his inability to get on with others in the group in particular Chris and that his fingers are not as nimble on the fretboard as they once were.

Don't know too much about the "getting on well" bit, but my blood boiled when they mentioned his fretboard ability, especially after just buying Natural Timbre. So of corse I had to add my two bobs worth (or 50 cents) depending where you are reading this.

[Earl Grey]

Steve Howe IS the essence of YESMUSIC: he cannot be replaced.

Trevor was an abberation. It wont happen again.

I brought a musician friend to the Masterworks show, and all that I heard all night was, "Does he do session work: He's the best I've ever heard."

Steve's fret-work is point-perfect. NO contest.

Steve IS the 'music' of TALES, the Heart Of The Sunrise; even Chris's fretwork becomes a backdrop when that Gretch Sunrise guitar rises up like a supernova out from the valley of the sun.

How many angels can dance on a pinhead?

Who could replace Steve Howe on guitar?

...Both equally redundant questions. Mr Howe is the 'high-end' of YES, and I believe that he'll stay, for the good of us all.

Just imagine how furrowed Steve's brow would get if some 'Rabin' raped his parts again! Wont happen.

:yesbird:

[Yes Oz]

Natural Timber is also one of my choices for backgroud music at work. And long may Steve reign with Yes.

[Earl Grey]

SHAME ON AMY!

Trevor is a great solo-artist.

Just dont try & replace Steve with him!

[YYY]

One of the sexiest Steve's lines is at the end of a Live version of 'Starship Trooper', the last guitar part. It can bring me to my knees.

No Yes without Steve!
Steve is the 'S' in YES.
Not that this makes any sense but Chris is the 'E' and Jon is the 'Y'

[Earl Grey]

...for me, would have to be in Heart Of The Sunrise, when the initial ratta-tat-tat! of the song has ebbed away into the slow 'bompa bomp badabaDA' of Chris's bass, Wakey's mellotron shifting like a haze, & Steve's guitar rising up through the center of it all like a pheonix...!

Oh yeah!

[Spinbreath]

I saw Steve live in Chester a few years back. It was a small pub, quite an intimate location. I seem to remember him having trouble getting his guitar working, until one of the crowd members shouted 'plug it in, Steve,' which solved the problem. It was wonderful seeing him so close up, and after a fantastic set he announced that he would soon be rejoining Yes, and we nearly took the roof off.
As a guitarist myself I would say that he is without doubt the greatest. Not only can he play blinding solos, but his versatility into other areas makes him stand out a mile.

[Earl Grey]

I love it!

And there are those who question whether YES could carry off an acoustic tour!

Steve IS the man. One to never fret over the frets......
My hero! Great story, oh ye Welshish rarebit!

Originally posted by Yes Oz
and that his fingers are not as nimble on the fretboard as they once were.

Don't know too much about the "getting on well" bit, but my blood boiled when they mentioned his fretboard ability, especially after just buying Natural Timbre.

It's just unbelieveable--not nimble on the fretboard indeed! It's almost comical that someone could fix their lips or their fingers on the keyboard to say such a thing. They're probably just deaf.

Earl Grey is right, Steve is The Man!

[grasshopper]

I think that YES has all the ability to pull off an acoustic tour or just a show or two to prove it can be done. Even though Yes's music is very dynamic, acoustically rearrangements might prove they have the ability to cover even more grounds than before.
As far as the coments of Steve slacking I have only seen him play as perfect aas possible. He's very refined in his work and seems to me to be a perfectionist and nothing less. I don't beleive he'd even consider walking out on stage if he felt any less.
On another hand, the new box set in the works by Rhino. I hope they add alot of unreleased tracks, or other stuff we don't already have piles of copies of. We need the stuff that's been held back.
Peace, Love, Light, Wisdom, and YES,

~~~~~GRASSHOPPER~~~~~~~

I agree completely with everything you said grasshopper. Yes can do anything they want to do and Steve is the ultimate professional/perfectionist. I too would be glad to see unreleased material on their box set release. Otherwise there would be no reason for me to purchase it.

I am curious about your choices of avatars. What is the origin of thought behind them. They are very cool and mysterious and seem to have an air of sinister about them--but I like them.

[Awaken82]

Besides Natural Timbre which i just got yesterday, can anyone reccomend another of steve's solo albums? I really like the acoustic stuff he does. are all his solo albums acoustic?

[Earl Grey]

I liked Steve's 'HOMEGROWN' CD's... Not all acoustic, but fun in that he put a lot of demos for TALES and other rare YES songs that were culled from his personal tape archives.
Some of the recordings are pretty rough, but the demo of 'Brother Of Mine' from AWBH was pretty cool and worth the price of the ticket for me...

E.G.

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by Awaken82
Besides Natural Timbre which i just got yesterday, can anyone reccomend another of steve's solo albums? I really like the acoustic stuff he does. are all his solo albums acoustic?

Beginnings is a must have.
The sound is mostly acoustic (there's one classical music piece, too). Steve sings on some, others are instrumental (including Ram which is "brother" to the Clap). The songs are awesome.

WK

[grasshopper]

To answer your question on my Avatars, Yessiree. They're just some of the artwork I've done and figured here's as good a place to use them as any. Hope you like 'em.
Hopper

[Earl Grey]

Steve is SUCH an amazing guitarist/melody-writer... I wish I had a virtual-reality nexus-point to plug into for Steve's YES input.

I get the feeling that if we knew how much Howe is responsible for the memorable-bits of YES-lore, we'd be quite amazed.... Humbled. And rightly so.

The man is quiet about what he does. He doesn't bleat on his own trumpet overmuch....

...if you are a 'Classic YES' fan, just pause for a moment: the albums we care about have Steve 'in tow'.... at the helm...

Ever quiet (ZEN!) ever clapping... If a tree falls in the forest, all who count will hear.

[BrianD]

Originally posted by Yes Oz
What would be good is an acoustic CD of Yes music. What about Yes-unplugged. Remember a few years ago the unplugged albums were all the rage. Why didn't Yes do one???????

I couldn't agree more. I would see it as part of an exploration of the breadth of Yes music - I certainly don't think it would satisfy all Yes fans and only selected Yes songs would be suited in an acoustic format. Of course Steve would have to be the guitarist. I had given thought to songs (and parts of songs) that would benefit from acoustic versions - my list is as follows - most are obvious

I've seen all good people
Time and a Word
Long Distance Runaround
Onward
Leaves of Green
Nous somme dous soleil
From the Balcony
The Meeting
Turn of the Century
Soon

Then there are all of Steve's solo tracks to round it off. Now I am sure there are others that could be added - have a go