Fish Out of Water vs Olias of Sunhillow

[soundchaser09]

The ultimate yessolo albums IMO.

One a proggy jazzy fusion complete with orchestra, it really demonstrated where yes could have gone to after Relayer to me, Chris sounds magnificent, mesmerising work.

The other a masterpiece in adventurous musical soundscapes, a true successor to Tales. Jon Anderson goes above and beyond to create a magical journey for the listener.

Which is your favourite?

[Sam I Am]

I like them both quite a lot. Chris' work holds up much better for me - Jon's is just a little too much Jon and not enough other influencers.

[Ash Armstrong]

Olias.

[Susanne]

I like both.
But: Olias.
I just can't help myself. So many vocals. I love that.

[Awaken]

Totally Fish Out of Water!!!

[madbear]

I love both of these albums, but Olias is quirkily original.

[Drone Decipher]

I voted for Fish but then realized it's way closer than I thought.

[Davy]

It is tough, they're both very good.

[Homemade Parachute]

Jon's is just a little too much Jon and not enough other influencers.

That’s exactly what I love about Olias — it’s the one time Jon was removed from a lot of influencers, and what I hear is discovery, exploration of sound, unusual instruments and combinations, which really kind of fit the otherworldliness of the narrative. FOOW is good, but not unexpected, and I can imagine its songs being contributed to a Yes album more easily than I can imagine Olias’.

[Roundabob]

I went with Fish, but I like Olias as well. I really enjoyed the first wave of solo albums during that period. They were all good, in their own way. Hearing the Yes guys play a wider range of musical styles helped my younger self become a little less rigid in my listening habits.

[Susanne]

I went with Fish, but I like Olias as well. I really enjoyed the first wave of solo albums during that period. They were all good, in their own way. Hearing the Yes guys play a wider range of musical styles helped my younger self become a little less rigid in my listening habits.

Although I went with Olias, I feel similarly about the solo albums. I had only discovered Yes shortly before I got those solo LPs, but Yes was already entrenched as 'my band'. I was fascinated by how the solo albums stretched out in differing ways from the main Yes-hub. And I was especially surprised by Ramshackled!

[patrickq]

To me FooW is a five-star masterpiece. Bruford and Jackman are great, and it’s tough to get too much Squire. Anderson, Howe, and Squire are my favorite Yes members, but I done’t miss Anderson or Howe here at all.

[Gtkgasman]

Great Poll! Couldn’t be any closer of a choice, but I go with FOOW -doesn’t get any better than the opening of Hold out your Hand. And full on CS lead vocals for a whole LP. It’s close, I love my JA, and love the world created on Olias, but my go to first of the 76 Solos is Fish…..

Fish….
Olias…
I (almost a tie with Olias).
Beginnings.
Ramshackled.

[Soundwaveseeker]

I love both albums and are among the very top tier when it comes to any solo work by any member or ex-member of the band Yes. There was a time I would have said Olias. It's a magical album, it takes the listener into a magical land full of adventure and emotion, as any great music can do. Its an colorful animated film for the ears. But these days I feel more attuned to Fish for some reason, so I'm going to vote FOOW - but only by one molecule. Its such a masterful recording, I just love Fish Outta Water.

[Ceasar’s Palace]

Quantity doesn't always beat quality, but my 'lost 1975/76 Yes album' has three songs from FOOW and five from Olias.
So Olias it is.

About missing the other members: I miss the others on all solo albums, but least on Olias, probably because it's the least song oriented of the bunch. It's more... orchestral?