Close to the Edge v, Relayer

[patrickq]

Sorry if this has been done before. I didn’t see it in this forum.

if you had to choose: which of these two is the better LP?

[pianozach]

CttE: Groundbreaking
Relayer: Next level

[madbear]

CttE: Groundbreaking
Relayer: Next level

Quite right, couldn't have put it better.
Close to the Edge, Topographic Oceans and Relayer are the three top Yes albums for me.

[Enlighten]

This one isn’t even close for me. It’s Close to the Edge by a mile.

[soundchaser09]

relayer is wild, but ctte is more controlled, and stronger for it.

[rePete]

Both brilliant albums. But I have to give it to CTTE. Just like Relayer it was groundbreaking, incredible musicianship and excellent songs. But there's something about CTTE - and I don't quite know how to put this = but it feels like there's a logic to every note - like each one was supposed to be exactly where and what it was. Even the songs seem to belong together as though they were always meant to be a set. I think it was Bruford that said that they got lucky with CTTE (refering, I believe, to SK finding it's way on the complete the album). I don't know of it was luck or something else, but the result certainly was extraordinary.

Even when I compare it song for song:

• CTTE vs Gates (the two epics): I give it to CTTE, although Gates is also one of my favourites, so that's a alightly tougher call.
• AYAI vs To Be Over (the two gentler, melodic but 'majestic' mini epics): AYAI by miles. One of the most beautiful tracks in prog history, and considered a classic for good reason
• SK vs SC (the two powerhouses): Again, SK by miles, for pretty much the same reasons as AYAI.

[Kevin W]

CTTE is perfect. Relayer is very good indeed but doesn’t quite hit the same level. But how could it? I am not sure any other album released by any band hits the same level as CTTE.

[Mr. Holland]

Well, while Gates of Delirium is my all-time favourite Yes song, the other two songs on Relayer, while very good indeed, lose out to the other two tracks on CTTE.

So CTTE it is!

[Yesjim]

After decades I've found myself listening to Relayer far more than CTTE. Both amazing, yet they occupy vastly different terrain.

The return to the one epic/two mini-epic format is compelling enough for comparison, but having TFTO setting in between them reveals the complete cycle.

I suppose there are some reasons to view Relayer as CTTE V.2 with two new members on board. I tend to think of both CTTE and Relayer as perfect albums in the Yes cannon. For me CTTE begat Tales which begat Relayer.

And for symmetry's sake one could compare Fragile and GFTO that bookend the other three, as well as the Yes Album vs Drama.
I remember Chris saying Drama was a last minute name change and was originally going to be called The New Yes Album because of the six song format and return to a more basic approach.

[patrickq]

From 1988 to 2008, give or take, CTTE was my favorite album and my favorite song. And over those 20 years I just never paid sufficient attention to Gates. But kind of suddenly I realized that Gates was actually pretty awesome, and next thing I knew it was as good as, then better than the A side of CTTE. Mind blown. It was easy for me to declare Relayer my favorite Yes album. So 15 years ago I would’ve scoffed at the very notion of this poll.

[Soundwaveseeker]

Overexposure to live CTTE material has sort of rubbed off some of the flavor of that album, though it is an outstanding work. Siberian Khatru still gets me goin'. But I'll have to go Relayer, that's been one of my Yes faves for some time now. Though I prefer the Yesshows version of Gates, it's impressive here as well. Sound Chaser is from another planet, but To Be Over may be in my top 10 Yes songs ever. It just oozes with so much dreamy magic, you get fairy dust all over the place when you play it. So Relayer wins for me.

[RelayerI]

Relayer.

[Somis Sound]

CTTE, probably the best prog album on earth.

Relayer, probably the best prog album from outer space.

These 2 albums, along with Drama, are my trifecta of Yes at it's best... CTTE and Relayer always jocking for top position. Today I'll say Relayer.

[brianos]

I might rank Gates above the individual songs on CTTE, but would pick the CTTE album as the more complete package.

[Mr. Holland]

Relayer.

You don't say.