Time and a Word vs Union vs The Quest

[soundchaser09]

three very different albums here from three very different eras of the band, all somewhat underrated, which is your favourite?

[patrickq]

I’m not sure The Quest is underrated tbh, unless that means “poorly received by most.” Which perhaps it does.

Anyway, Time and a Word by a mile, even recognizing that Union has some very nice songs on it.

[madbear]

Union is unlistenable, The Quest is just bleugh, Time and a Word is a classic Yes album.

[Soundwaveseeker]

For me personally, I pick Union. Fun, vibrant album of cool tunes. I didn't know much about the making of it or record label shenanigans or Jimmy Haun or "Onion" or any of that stuff back in 1991, I just enjoyed it as a Yes album with some nice songs. A lot of variety on it - pop/rock songs, new age space-outs, an acoustic Howe instrumental, the King Crimson rhythm section, a Rabin track that sounded like a Classic Yes track, a Classic Yes track that sounded like a Rabin-era track, just all kind of stuff all over the place. I think I like it better than T&AW by a molecule, despite T&AW being a classic Yes album from the earliest days.

Maybe it's the slapped-on rent-a-strings on Time And A Word, or because Union was an album that I waited for. The time between Big Generator and Union seemed kinda long back then, even if ABWH came out between them. Union hit the spot and has good memories, while Time And A Word was just a back-catalogue album (though a good one) for me at the time. Also, The Quest is too new, too soft and was released during non-magical years, so I can't pick that one, though I do like The Quest.

So, Union! Good solid melodic content, enjoyable and fun album for the most part, despite how the sausage was made.

[Roundabob]

Lots of contrast here. Time and a Word is the product of an emerging band of players in their 20s trying to make an impression. Union is a forced reunion of rock stars from various eras of a well established enterprise. The Quest is an effort from a cohesive band of gentlemen in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. Talk about apples and oranges..

To my ears, considering the results vs. realistic expectations, I would rate Time and a Word first, The Quest second, and Union third. TAAW and The Quest didn’t disappoint me. Union did.

[pianozach]

For me personally, I pick Union. Fun, vibrant album of cool tunes. I didn't know much about the making of it or record label shenanigans or Jimmy Haun or "Onion" or any of that stuff back in 1991, I just enjoyed it as a Yes album with some nice songs. A lot of variety on it - pop/rock songs, new age space-outs, an acoustic Howe instrumental, the King Crimson rhythm section, a Rabin track that sounded like a Classic Yes track, a Classic Yes track that sounded like a Rabin-era track, just all kind of stuff all over the place. I think I like it better than T&AW by a molecule, despite T&AW being a classic Yes album from the earliest days.

Maybe it's the slapped-on rent-a-strings on Time And A Word, or because Union was an album that I waited for. The time between Big Generator and Union seemed kinda long back then, even if ABWH came out between them. Union hit the spot and has good memories, while Time And A Word was just a back-catalogue album (though a good one) for me at the time. Also, The Quest is too new, too soft and was released during non-magical years, so I can't pick that one, though I do like The Quest.

So, Union! Good solid melodic content, enjoyable and fun album for the most part, despite how the sausage was made.

Good observations.

Union for me as well, for many of the same reasons.

[rabin105]

The quest for fairly obvious reasons

time and a word suffers from the rent an orchestra nonsense and that does drag the music down a bit

union is not bad but not great

As for the quest it’s a strong album from start to finish

[bondegezou]

For me, Union and The Quest are both very patchy, with highs and lows. You could mix them and create one terrible album (including "Give and Take", "Angkor Wat", "Mystery Tour" and "Music to My Ears") and one great album ("The More You Live - Let Go", "Miracle of Life", "Masquerade", "Dare to Know", "The Western Edge", "Leave Well Alone").

[alex peters]

Someone here gave a good description of the Yes albums in the post Anderson Era. Marshmellow music

[Somis Sound]

I really like Sweet Dreams, Astral Traveler, and TAAW. But I like every song on Union except Without Dope You Cannot Start the Day, Agkor What, and Dangerous. Levin and Bruford are super enjoyable, great vox from Jon, and the Yes West stuff is good too. I'll say Union !

Regarding marshmellow music, The FFH suite is the best thing they've done musically or production wise since Talk. I'm tasting some marshmellow creeping in on H&E, and now firmly planted on TQ. I've figured out what else I'm not digging is that after hearing the unique voice of Squire on every single album, and now it's suddenly gone, I'm not digging what I'm hearing. My favorite singers in Yes were Anderson, Squire, Horn, Benoit, and Rabin... So at least I know what I'm not digging about it besides being so soft and derivative..

[Enlighten]

I really like Sweet Dreams, Astral Traveler, and TAAW. But I like every song on Union except Without Dope You Cannot Start the Day, Agkor What, and Dangerous. Levin and Bruford are super enjoyable, great vox from Jon, and the Yes West stuff is good too. I'll say Union !

Couldn’t have said it better, Erik. Bass in your face and Broofy on drums, this is an easy choice. Without Dope You Cannot Start the Day, you are the dude, Erik. According to Jonathan Elias, that was true, at least when it came to Howe.

[Somis Sound]

Couldn’t have said it better, Erik. Bass in your face and Broofy on drums, this is an easy choice. Without Dope You Cannot Start the Day, you are the dude, Erik. According to Jonathan Elias, that was true, at least when it came to Howe.

Yup. Apparently too stoned ! He did write some great parts that Jimmy gave some edge tone wise to. And definitely love me some Levin and Broof too ! Chris even really liked Levin's work

[Enlighten]

Yup. Apparently too stoned ! He did write some great parts that Jimmy gave some edge tone wise to. And definitely love me some Levin and Broof too ! Chris even really liked Levin's work

Levin sounded more like Squire on Union than Chris did. That Musicman Stingray with round wound strings was sweeeeeeeeeeet.

[Somis Sound]

Levin sounded more like Squire on Union than Chris did. That Musicman Stingray with round wound strings was sweeeeeeeeeeet.

Yea, Chris loved it! Them damn funk fingers are sweeeeet ! I'd still love to hear a remix of ABWH with Levin as loud as he is on Union, and throw in a real snare too

[Enlighten]

Yea, Chris loved it! Them damn funk fingers are sweeeeet ! I'd still love to hear a remix of ABWH with Levin as loud as he is on Union, and throw in a real snare too

For sure, he got screwed in the mix by Chris Kimsey and our friend Jon A. The best Yes music is bass dominant, of course, I’m not biased whatsoever, Erik.