Big Generator- Rating out of 5?

[soundchaser09]

was finding this album almost like love for you?

[Ceasar’s Palace]

4 stars. I don’t know why and how it happens, but I just keep on liking it more and more. I like to think that on 90125 Rabin was trying to turn Yes into a hardrock band, and by Big Generator Yes had turned Rabin into a progmeister. I know this makes zero sense, but hey, I never said I was sensible.

[pianozach]

A high "3".

A mostly harsh-sounding LP, and without the sincerity of 90125. It sounded like it had been rushed, slapped together in a hurry, and that wasn't the case at all.

One absolutely astonishingly great song ("I'm Running"), a few very good songs, some good songs, and some filler.

I like it better than when it first came out, when I would have given it a solid "2".

[Gilly Goodness]

4.


An improvement on 90125. The zigzag history of the production might have helped. A bit quirkier. A bit wackier. Some magic dust.

[luna65]

It's my favorite - I've said that before numerous times.

[Yesed]

The balance and progression with TR with Yes after 90125 was genius, with this album. The music is strong, even though the band is moving it different directions, even away from 90125.
Favorites are side 2... Side 1 is good, can play it through, in spite of the main riff on the title song. Shoot high...is great. Rhythm of Love is tolerable, but after hearing and seeing JA singing it in his paint splattered jacket hasn't helped it much in my memory. lol

[Dantalion Rides Again]

One of the first for me, will always root for BG. I started with a cassette copy, I don't find it a bad listen as far as the complaints about its mix or mastering.

It really does play as a sequel to 90125. I like it even more, wish it were more widely regarded as a strong record. The cover really doesn't help. Also the title track's chorus isn't a peak moment, so it's an awkward place for the album title. Anyone feeling that?

Four ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Oldie on the Goldie]

I'm Running is to my ears the most adventurous piece Yeswest ever did. A classic. I also like Almost Like Love and Final Eyes a lot, But overall I don't find the album as consistently good as 90125.

[Soundwaveseeker]

My first 'new' Yes album, so I have soft spot for it.

The GOOD:

Vibrant and fun, crisp keys, crunchy guitar, bold harmonies, energetic and fun! Shoot High Aim Low is a great atmospheric anthem. The title track had Trevor Rabin in the same bracket as Eddie van Halen and Dweezil Zappa. That guitar! But the real meat is on side 2. Final Eyes and I'm Running are Yes enough for me. Anyone turned off by the AOR rock sounds of Big G should find the last three tracks on the album more to their liking. Those are the ones with the most identifiable Yes bits. Listen to that bass on I'm Running.

The BAD:

Well, late 80's anything gets a lot of stick. I can imagine a dyed in the wool Close To The Edge-and-Nothing-Else type Yes fan probably would not take to something like the hard rock riffola of Almost Like Love. Maybe side one is a little riffy if I had to come up with a 'Bad'.
It should have been released way sooner, and I believe that if it had come out in July 1985 it may have more successful.
And sadly only Rhythm Of Love was the only track ever played live from the album after the Big Generator tour.

The UGLY:

The CD cover! I'm sorry, but yellow and mauve are not pleasing color combinations. Talk about tacky. The vinyl had an aqua purple and white color scheme - much more pleasing to the eye and more indicative of the futuristic music of Atlantis contained within.

This album and Rush' Hold Your Fire kinda go together as a tech-rock double pack for me. I love Big Generator.

[pjt]

After 90125 it was a disappointment for me, hence the vote of 2. Kind of directionless, the title track battles Arriving UFO for being messy just to be messy, I'm Running is quite fine, but not exceptional.
Which is the big problem of this album, that all the songs, exept for the title track I really don't like, are unexceptional. Neither is bad, but as an album of these tracks it's practically invisible.

[rabin105]

5 out of 5 for me it really is a brilliant album

[Old Frothingslosh]

Other than Shoot High Aim Low there's not much that I can get into. Especially the god awful title track

[alex peters]

A high 2 from me also. PJT and I are so similar here 😉 There are a few tracks I enjoy. But the album is directionless and wandering. The Live show was great but the Live show was 90125 Part 2. The title track is God awful and sets the wrong tone for the album. The title track belongs backing up Aliens.

[Ash Armstrong]

I have nothing to say. It's an irrelevance.

[rabin105]

I have nothing to say. It's an irrelevance.

but Teakbois is classic yes... sure ok