We need to talk about that title track!

[soundchaser09]

Am I wrong for thinking that this might be the best yes song since 1977's Awaken?

The way the song builds and falls, the use of the orchestra, the gorgeous guitar work, the powerful vocals.

For me the emotion is palpable on every listen, and that is a rare thing indeed.

[Mr. Holland]

Sorry, not feeling it (yet). As of now it's not even my favourite track on the album. All Connected, Cut From the Stars, Unknown Place and Living Out Their Dreams I like better than the title track.

And compared to tracks released since say 1978, it wouldn't even make my top 30 I reckon.

[soundchaser09]

Sorry, not feeling it (yet). As of now it's not even my favourite track on the album. All Connected, Cut From the Stars, Unknown Place and Living Out Their Dreams I like better than the title track.

And compared to tracks released since say 1978, it wouldn't even make my top 30 I reckon.

I appreciate the view, it just strikes a chord with my ears, it has been quite an amazing 48 hours or so

[Mr. Holland]

I appreciate the view, it just strikes a chord with my ears, it has been quite an amazing 48 hours or so

I am happy for you it does strike a chord with you. Always wonderful when that happens.

[patrickq]

“Mirror to the Sky” is their best long-form piece in a while. Like Me. Holland, I’m not ready to rank it, though it’s growing on me.

[Frumious B]

Best since “Awaken”? Nah, I ain’t going there. It’s nice though and I like that it’s very different from any other long form Yes track, very much its own thing. Tonally I think it’s pretty dark and somber without that optimistic reassurance and uplift you would expect from a Yes track. That’s not a criticism as I think that mood is part of what makes it unique. And yeah, Howe sounds great on this. He sounds great on most of the album.

[luvyesmusic]

It is the best track on the album hands down . The only song I have been able to listen all the way through, even once, let alone three times.
It is soundtrack-like. However, there are no epic songs on this album. The guitar is too simple, even on this song. But unlike some of/most of the others, there is no predictabliity in the songs and sounds, even for me. There are some great elements and production to this song. I am only going to say this once. I don’t want to be too negative about the album. There is a lot of great stuff, great playing going on throughout the album. Honestly, probably the best sounding, best played and best recorded YES album in years. I liked Heaven and Earth because it was a different, slower paced album, too, somewhat because it was what is was. I really enjoy still seeing YES live in concert, because I can, and because Jon Davison can bring it every night. However, perhaps the title track is far better than every other track on the album is simply because while the music, the song is the most epic of all, and the concept is strong and supported here the most, it is the song with the least of Jon singing lead. Almost all of the entire album has high points for me. Most of the music I prefer is about the music tin the first place. Not the vocals or lyrics of anything that is somewhat complex. I love all types of music. YES has been primarily about arrangements, key and time changes, and taking me on journies as I listen. The bass and guitar have always been the driving force. I always put my music into categories. Symphonic and progressive rock are right up there, but to be honest, I do like the simplicity, vocals and formulas, and production of simple, older pop songs probably the best when I have little time to become happiest, the quickest in the least amount of times, and to be honest, the nostalgia can’t be beat, just like many of the classic YES epics.

That being said, I somehow found out that Def Leppard dropped a new album the same day. Rehashed class is and half the songs newer than when I stopped buying, listening and going to see. Have a hard time with Joe’s voice, too, but somehow he continues. Way, way Mutt Lange over-produced style, but it is a concept symphonic album with some of the greatest symphonic work and orchestra on any recorded pop or metal group album. I just took a quick listen/go thru on YouTube.

Everyone should have variety in music and what they listen to. YES has hit one out of the park here, for putting something new and exciting sounding out. But to be honest, I rarely get excited for almost anything new. I love me some Downes Braide Association and new IQ albums, and old stuff.

[Frumious B]

Also out this past Friday are new albums from Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band that I’m enjoying quite a bit. And Blur dropped a fantastic single from a new album they are releasing in July.

[pjt]

Am I wrong for thinking that this might be the best yes song since 1977's Awaken?

The way the song builds and falls, the use of the orchestra, the gorgeous guitar work, the powerful vocals.

For me the emotion is palpable on every listen, and that is a rare thing indeed.

In my latest ranking of post Rabin material puts it after That, That Is and the Fly From Here Suite, and before Homeworld, Mind Drive and In The Presence Of.
So after Awaken it would be like:

Machine Messiah
That, That Is
Fly From Here Suite
Mirror To The Sky
Homeworld
Mind Drive
In The Presence Of
OTSWoF
Hearts
etc..

So it's up rather high.

[soundchaser09]

In my latest ranking of post Rabin material puts it after That, That Is and the Fly From Here Suite, and before Homeworld, Mind Drive and In The Presence Of.
So after Awaken it would be like:

Machine Messiah
That, That Is
Fly From Here Suite
Mirror To The Sky
Homeworld
Mind Drive
In The Presence Of
OTSWoF
Hearts
etc..

So it's up rather high.

glad to see I'm not the only one, respect for your rating of That That Is being so high (Keys to Ascension 1 is my very lowest yes album, shows you how different opinions can be)

[Davy]

Mirror to the Sky (the song) is pretty impressive, and really doesn't sound like anything else the band has done. The album is still so fresh to me though that I can't really form an objective opinion on any of the songs, beyond Cut From the Stars.

[madbear]

the album has been playing all day and the title track is falling down my rankings... it started fairly high but the more i listen the bittier it gets. And comparing it to Awaken doesn't help as i dislike that song very much.

[Yesed]

Since Awaken? Including Awaken? Thats not saying much for anything in between. Funny, but the buildup of the title track is so subtle, I didnt realize it was there till the 3rd listen. The songs on the album are a bit linear in nature, and lack compositional dynamic compared to 70s or 80s Yes epics, especially Awaken. Thats not to say MTTS isnt a good song. I enjoy it, its just that its an adventure that doesnt stray too far from its path.

[pjt]

On every listen there's a new nuance, another revisited or just briefly mentioned motif. It took me a couple listens to recognize the songs ends the same the intro ends. It needs more listens, before I can put each theme into its place. But it's very much worth it.

[Enlighten]

Mirror to the Sky (the song) is pretty impressive, and really doesn't sound like anything else the band has done. The album is still so fresh to me though that I can't really form an objective opinion on any of the songs, beyond Cut From the Stars.

You mean to tell me you don’t hear the “Bring Me to the Power” riff within the first 90 seconds of the song or the end of “Mind Drive” descending scale at around the 2:34 mark? And you don’t hear a variation on a theme of the guitar riff that precedes the “Leaves of Green” portion of “The Ancient”? It starts with the vocal line, “so the flowering creativity of life, wove its web face to face with the shallow“.