Yes: Worst to Best Albums

Counting them all down! I'm only looking at the 19 studio albums, none of their EPs or side projects or bonus material released on deluxe editions.
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[@xs10tl1]

Your completely subjective non-technical approach is interesting.

[@ingvifrey3720]

xs10tl1 I think it's because he sounds and looks like a true whisky sommelier.

[@Mr6saabs]

Agreed. Objectivity is subjective. All this bla bla bla is the guy’s opinions. Who really cares what albums are his top and worst picks. Every person who enjoys the music of the various lineups of this band has a different order. Some albums are more inspired then others, and some are less interesting. It is a matter of personal taste. So, what is the point of such a video??

[@Mr6saabs]

*than

[@stevenhaywood6027]

Mr6saabs , You are correct that everyone has their own tastes and preferences! My order of Yes albums would be different to this man's! The point is that we all like to talk about the bands we like! And this guy is simply doing that! sttgaegoaktd

[@awickedtribe]

Even though I totally agree with you and would have given you a thumbs up anyways... But when I saw you had 221 thumbs up my OCD over the number 222 was what drove me to give you one.

[@giuseppemaggio5894]

My opinion may be unpopular but I think 90125 is an amazing album. Leave it is a nice, catchy song, Owner of a lonely heart is a great song and IMO Changes is absolutely fantastic.

[@stuartcoyle1626]

You think Yes with 19 albums is a lot...try doing a worst to best of Zappa.

[@ZeroMod]

HAH! Got that right !

[@dougbennett8592]

I'd be tearing my hair out doing a best to worst on Zappa's albums! Hot Rats or Joe's Garage act 1? No, wait, Thingfish!

[@donutcookiepie]

Yeah and they actually have 21 studio albums. If Keys is combined into one then it's still 20. I didnt watch the whole thing so I'm not sure which other one he ignored. Maybe both of Keys I guess? Kinda odd to just ignore it. Many people have cited some of that studio work as among their fave Yes songs ever.

[@franchescopye6551]

try reviewing all the James Last albums in a video

[@bburkie55]

No,wait Uncle Meat, We're Only In It For The Money, Just Another Band From L.A.

[@UkeRichard]

My top 5 1- Close To The Edge 2- Relayer 3- Fragile 4- The Yes Album 5- Tales From Topographic Oceans

[@squinteyedmangle]

Yeah,my top 5 as well.

[@drmanny1957]

YOUR top five?? No. Those are THE top five. Hands down! Although I would order them: 1 - CTTE; 2 - Tales; 3 - Fragile; 4 - Yes Album; 5 - Relayer. (But that's just a matter of personal taste.) Nevertheless, you nailed it. Oh, and, yeah, of course....IMHO.

[@god-shapedhole5505]

The order sometimes changes for me but these are the 5, uke

[@juansanhueza6651]

Same here!!

[@oohyes4355]

Fragile is my personal favorite

[@cmbestkey8114]

1 - Tales From Topographic Oceans 2 - Fragile 3 - Relayer 4 - Close To The Edge 5 - The Yes Album My top 5

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

Top 5 Best? I might change the order slightly, but I'd replace _The Yes Album_ with _Going for the One,_ for the title track, _Awaken_ and the sublime _Turn of the Century._ Better versions of tracks from _The Yes Album_ appeared on _Yessongs._ {:-:-:}

[@waterdive122productions6]

Man, I can't thank you enough for putting Tales at #1. Greatest double album of all time! When The Revealing Science of God kicks in for me, I just want to listen to it again and again. Once you get used to it's length, you'll love the album to death just like me. It's also my second favorite album of all time only behind Rush's Hemispheres.

[@rafaeltalavera3080]

Buena lista pero yo añadiría Tormato

[@chriswakefield9538]

Relayer Tales From Topographic Oceans Drama Close To The Edge The Yes Album

[@docbobster]

Magnification above Fragile and Relayer? The mind reels.

[@docbobster]

But seriously, I enjoyed the video and your enthusiasm.

[@dalewilliams8001]

no doubt !!

[@jimhyman8544]

I was watching this and scrolled down for a bit to look at the comments. Saw this comment, stopped watching. Thanks for keeping me from wasting more of my time.

[@axe2grind911a]

Magnification is my favorite of the millennial albums, and does have it's own sparkle, but I have to agree it does not rise above Fragile or even Relayer. Also, Tormato belongs MUCH further down on the list. Steve Howe virtually slept through it and many of his contributions and solos were uninspired (Don't Kill the Whale esp.) Very unpolished as an album, though some good starter material. In Keys, Steve Howe woke up and truly refined Chris's song "Onward", turning it into a sublime masterpiece. Imagine if they had refined all of Tormato similarly.

[@miser42]

FRagile is virtually unlistenable in its entirety. The Yes album is worlds above that. Even Drama is a stronger album. SO yeah. taste is subjective. Close to the Edge is their masterpiece.

[@paulcooper8818]

I was reading Frank Herbert's "Dune" when Tale from Topographic Oceans came out. Every time I hear a TFTO piece, it casts images from the book. In my mind they were made for each other.

[@foxcm2000]

Another Sci-fi reference is that And You and I includes allusions to Asimov's Foundation series

[@YoqDzewa]

I read Junji Ito's "Uzumaki" while listenening to David Bowie - Blackstar. Same experience. Every time I hear again of Major Tom's death and corpse orbiting a dying star, I see spirals.

[@augustomarchand]

To me the best Yes album is (by far) Relayer. Love Close To The Edge, TFTO, Fragile and GFTO.

[@gdmatter2286]

Exactly!, finally someone who doesent ovverrated the yes album

[@Nikioko]

Well, songwise, from a musicological point of view, Close to the Edge should be called Close to Perfection. Gates of Delirium doesn't come close to it.

[@Wayner71]

Yes, and 'The Gates of Delirium' is their greatest song.

[@johnwallace4797]

Always wondered how Chris Squire got that fabulous bass tone that no one else had, but now I know...He was playing with strings made of 'Derilium'....

[@johnjamesbaldridge867]

Wow. 90125 and Big Generator were two of my favorite albums, probably due to my age, 56, because they were a part of my musical "rebirth" in the late 80's along with Metallica and Anthrax, for example. Trevor Rabin rocks! You have given me an entirely fresh and exciting point of view. I am going to listen to these in your order and I will update this comment (or make a new one) at that time. I am definitely becoming an aficionado of "smaller" KZbin channels such as yours. I love how you provide specific details of your own personal experience in your commentary so we can all enjoy your "opinion" without judgement.

[@rockdrumr2772]

So, update already!

[@markprice9579]

Same here John

[@cindydahl9635]

John are you still with us?

[@cmbestkey8114]

Tales From Topographic Oceans is a masterpiece beyond masterpieces

[@AaronSmith_avocadosmith]

It makes me happy to hear Tales from Topographic Oceans get this much love.

[@rporta]

same

[@RicardoRMartinelli]

The album on his right (our left) side is Olias of Sunhillow from Jon Anderson.

[@nrg16108]

Not very good Jon Anderson solo project. Very slow and trippy

[@tramlad2]

That album is magical, i have that in cd and vinyl format superb headphone album

[@MotorikBit]

Great album

[@Kimo-gt6vs]

Olias is a masterpiece. Just with different instruments. But like a Yes masterpiece.

[@derbystardom]

90125 was such an important album for me and for millions of others, I probably would have never known of Yes ever. The Owner of a Lonely Heart video was the first time I had ever heard of Yes, and it was amazing to hear it! The production, nothing had ever sounded so futuristic and fresh as that! It sounds like it could be released today.

[@ab77blues]

Bless you for being such a positive music lover. I gave up on Yes after "Topographic Oceans" but you make me want to try it again.

[@dankydiecast5686]

“I can feel no sense of measure”...........in your review.

[@timreinke2705]

I have to say I was ready to fight when I first saw the title of this - but after watching I have no real arguments. Well done, my personal tastes may shift a few albums up or down a spot or two but this is a really good assessment of decades of work, and you did it in 20 minutes. You’ve motivated me to give another listen to some albums I’ve passed by. What a great band. Thanks!

[@bubbamike4743]

The Yes Album is my favorite

[@FLORIDAERO]

I was a teenager when the album came out. The true essence of yes.

[@tiluriso]

It's a great record for sure. And definitely better than 'Tales...'

[@russdean9414]

I'm with you here - Relayer is second for me.

[@Belr7321]

same here

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Bubba Mike spoken by a true Yes fan

[@dclark4422]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video since I'm a big fan of Yes. Very good content, and thank you for taking the time to tell about these albums!!!

[@FrancisMaxino]

I am a massive Yes fan but you are talking about albums I have never heard of let alone heard here and there. Thanks for the overview !

[@adriangalysh]

90125 at #17??? Are you high?

[@steveoglesby4120]

@Mr Gonorrhea There is no "terrible" YES.

[@cmbestkey8114]

Yeah should’ve been lower

[@erotomaniac51]

Mr Gonorrhea 90125 is not terrible what the heck is wrong with you??? That album is 🔥 and all you like is fragile so stfu

[@MarceloZ2]

@@erotomaniac51 literally everything that the band or it's members done around that time was better than 90125. Drama and Big are much, much better 80's Yes albuns than 90125, the music that Steve Howe and Geoff Downe were doing on Asia were much better... 90125 it's the worst thing they ever did. You can argue that, since Yes never did bad music, that the album isn't technically bad and ok, I'll give you that. But it's the worst (or least good, if you want to put it that way) album Yes ever put out.

[@erotomaniac51]

Marcelo Viana open your eyes is the worst yes album this is totally not

[@billyh4068]

Its Gates of Delirium, not Derilium; and Relayer should be ranked higher.

[@wiggy009]

He has dyslexia

[@johnpettinari5362]

I can't believe your rankings align with mine exactly. I've been a Yes fan since I was an early teen, first seeing them on the Relayer tour and subsequently about 40 or 50 more times. Good job!

[@piglet5287]

Inspired by your slightly approximate renditions of some Yes titles, I've come up with this food-themed shortlist: Going for the Bun Close to the Fridge Portato Onion Tomato Revealing the Science of Cod (unit for a Catering course?) Wonderloaf (track from Open Your Eyes) Cans and Beans And of course, I forgot.... Fish P.s. I've since found out that Rick Wakeman calls Union, "Onion" already, because it makes him cry.

[@EpicB]

Don't forget The Lettuce.

[@De_Futura]

The Clap

[@elpelp1878]

Lol 😂

[@markvonwisco7369]

What Yes' homage to Star Trek, "The Gates of Dilithium?"

[@fezsquall9]

keys to asparagus

[@Guizupa]

WOW! I disagree SO MUCH with you! But nice vid :)

[@rp89d28]

The Remembering.... great song, don't think it gets enough recognition!

[@patricklauer4452]

Lighterfoot p same!

[@axe2grind911a]

Yep, Wakeman is amazing on this track. Saw the Tales tour back in 74 and it was incredible. The percussion crescendo near the end of Ritual had me pinned to my seat!

[@saurian11]

A Hauntingly, Beautiful Song, with some of their Greatest Vocal harmonies!!!!!

[@architectofechoes4]

Lighterfoot p I agree. This was the track that brought YES into my life way back in 1973-4 superb.

[@aeropilot4419]

I use it for my rowing workouts ... perfect pacing and a great 20 minutes : )

[@kyleh1974]

Glad to hear you enjoy Magnification so much. It's for sure in my top 5 Yes albums.

[@stuarthecht8196]

Nice job! I enjoyed hearing your personal appreciations of Yes's studio albums. I myself would have definitely had 90125 in the top 5. I'm glad "Close to the Edge" was your number one- it's my ultimate favorite as well. I'm also glad you like "Relayer," as it's an excellent album that tends to be overlooked by many fans.

[@johnriley2975]

Love Close to the edge studio, but live these three tracks capture the raw power that we all know and love.

[@RobotUnicornZombie]

I’m kind of upset by how quickly he glossed over Going for the One, without even mentioning Awaken. That is a masterpiece!

[@mr.krinkle952]

Yeah that kinda was dumb

[@janpoelkamp4229]

He gave it an extended review elsewhere.

[@MrThecarebear]

@@mr.krinkle952 More than dumb, it is CRIMINAL that he ignores "Awaken".

[@scentedcandle]

What is the LP to the back and left of you?

[@Rammbock]

Good video, man, I like your "gut feeling"-approach. We have different tastes, though (my no 1 pick would be The Yes Album, followed by Fragile). One question: what recodring equipment did you use in that video (mic and recorder)? Also, song in the end?

[@RafaelPaiola]

One of my favorite moments is that weird guitar solo that opens "The Ancient" It is SO solemn and cerimonial, but also deep, intimate, delicate and, a feature that defines one of their best skills as composers, surprising that thrills me ever since I decided to give it a second (or fiftieth-second chance after almost 10 years of chances) hahhahaha nice review

[@MrDuneedon]

Nice list -- but I truly love 90125. I know you weren't reviewing the expanded releases, but that is one that is truly worth getting, IMO. By the way, I love Magnification, too -- and think it was VERY underrated, and VERY overlooked. That said, well...this album was released on September 10, 2001, so...you can kinda see the reason why, at least in part, that it has been lost to the ages.

[@Boogenhagen100]

i'm sorry , gates of what? by the way relayer is top 5 easy. magnification over relayer?

[@xenofazoli4308]

What is the name of the song at 2:10. I have been trying to find it.

[@NotesReviews]

It's from the song 'The Endless Dream'. It's the long song off the album, which may be why it's hard to find :)

[@TyphoidBryan]

Wow, I love 90125. An excellent transition into the 80's for the band.

[@hubbsllc]

Yeah, I wouldn't have put 90125 that far down. And certainly not below HEAVEN AND EARTH, for crying out loud.

[@JakeRoselli]

'changes' is one of their best tunes. can't believe he didn't mention it

[@steveoglesby4120]

90125 is often underrated because it was YES' most financially successful album and contained their only Billboard #1 song (Owner"). "Cinema" was also YES only Grammy. The first three songs are a mini-concept album: "If you own a lonely heart? Hold on. It can happen." It reignited interest in the band for a whole new generation. So popular acceptance didn't fit the Kings of Prog? Wrong. Its a masterpiece.

[@geographypony]

I liked their 80s output. I even enjoyed Drama.

[@nrg16108]

Rabin saved the band financially with 90125. Its commercial and top 40 style deviates from their other albums but has some great.tracks.Also TTO was not widely accepted it was Way too long and Jon's big ego trip- the reason Wakeman left the band but Ritual is a classic.

[@bacca_boi_2176]

I see your it’s always sunny dvd. I also love 90125- how can you not like Changes?

[@wizardofoz6811]

Changes is AwEsOmE.

[@MacXpert74]

I like 'Changes' but also 'Hearts' is great IMO.

[@tonyjames1953]

Nicely put together, though I was surprised by the placement of some of the "later" albums. Still, I appreciate the effort to prioritize and describe the reasons for the list. Definitely worth a listen!

[@glassslide]

Great video---really enjoyed your list, not in total agreement but that's part of the fun, right? Fun video, well done!

[@N8R_Quizzie]

Relayer is rated too low I feel like. I love this album. Patrick Moraz's influence especially in "war" (the second bit in gates of delirium) and the entirety of sound chaser. The crazy kind of odd beat timing that later resolves itself seems to be a trend. I love it so much. I would probably rate that at number one. I feel like soon is a bit repetitive, and the first bit of gates takes a bit to get going, but you know what, its all worth it.

[@gdmatter2286]

Relayer=the best yes album

[@gdmatter2286]

Relayer is the second ctte

[@gutfeeling3440]

Quite an interesting list you have there. As someone said, no two Yes fans would have the exact same list, yet I was still surprised at how low you put 90125. But each to their own, I guess. I was glad you gave Magnification such a good review - it's a really solid album. Going for the One would be top of my list, Tormato would be a lot higher, Union (well, half of it) would be a bit higher, and Drama would be considerably lower. But all in all, a very interesting list that I really enjoyed listening to 👍

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Have never been able to give Tormato a fair shake. I can't get past that cover. Where was Roger Dean when we needed him.

[@ronwhoyes1311]

Oh c’mon.. you’re not listening to the cover! Formation has some brilliant music on it, track four, Release has the classic lineup and if you like Chris, r.i.p, you must get over the cover..his “Onward “ is beautiful Jon’s voice...we all know & love. The closer “Silent Wings of Freedom “ is a blistering piece & again Chris does things no one else can. Worst for me sadly was their last Heaven & Earth. I tried so hard to like it but just could not get passed Jon Davison & his vocals on a best/worst list is so worst.. l saw them @ The Rumania hoping the way

[@ronwhoyes1311]

Sorry got distracted but must finish my point on Yes with John zdavison , l went to the concert with all hope of changing my opinion, but his voice is so shallow, thin even when he’s in pitch. And visually as painful as the Tormato cover. Also Jon had warned the band over & again not to use Roy Thomas Baker, might matter might not. But my rant is over , let’s listen to whatever Yes record we love, not this wanket

[@dra999]

Glad to see you rated Drama so highly. I love that album and the story around it. Surprised you didn't give a mention to Into the Lens, which was a Buggles tune that Trevor and Geoff brought to the band, their version was released later as I Am a Camera.

[@George19712]

Great share Notes. We definitely agree on number one. A great sound trip. Thanks again for a very enjoyable share. By the way, have you done a Jethro Tull worst to best? I would enjoy hearing your thoughts. Well met.

[@hollowaang5284]

The Yes Album is my favorite mainly because of Starship Trooper and I've Seen All Good People.

[@dthtoneocons1]

@Tommy Hammond, I'm with you on The Yes Album. That particular album is a masterpiece! I know Yessongs is a live album, however, every nanosecond of that album is spectacular. Long live Yes!

[@thelax5311]

My Top Ten 1. Close to the Edge 2. Fragile 3. The Yes album 4. Relayer 5. Tales From Topographic Oceans (not a big fan of Giants under the Sun) 6. Going for the One 7.Time and a word 8. Drama 9. Yes 10. Tormato

[@theelectricpotato]

You win. This is pretty much exactly how I would rank them. To each his own, obviously, but Magnification at 5 and Going for the One at 3? NO.

[@thelax5311]

Notes Reviews had a very unusual ranking but I guess that’s what made it interesting. theelectricpotato what would you change from my list. What’s your Top 10?

[@theelectricpotato]

Honestly, it's essentially the same as yours. I would perhaps move Drama up one slot and maybe swap Tormato and Yes. But 1-6 is the same for me, without question.

[@thelax5311]

7 -10 was tricky for Me and by no means set in stone.

[@blissmaster71]

You nailed it. My 1st Yes album was 90125, so I cherish it more than the typical Yes fan, but it would still be my number 11. Your top ten is perfect.

[@LANED123]

Like your review of Yes albums a lot. I subscribed and will enjoy your thoughtful take on whatever.....! Thanks! BTW Relayer is on my DID list and has been for years.

[@harviejrgfl1989]

The moment you had "close to the edge" as the number one i subscribed. Still got the album sitting on my turntable.

[@jorhay1]

Close to The Edge is edited together and created in the studio. They had to learn how to play it live. But a great work of art nonetheless.

[@bubbamike4743]

Changes is an amazing song

[@tributepage]

Rick Wakeman was quoted saying "Changes is the best rock song ever written." That's a pretty good endorsement. Wakeman & Rabin have a mutual admiration.

[@bubbamike4743]

Vicki Phillips it's very underrated, in my opinion it's better than any other Rabin era song, and I'm shocked it wasn't released as a single

[@tacogladiator7503]

Bubba Mike interestingly enough part of the music in the verse section is outright lifted from Rush’s Xanadu. Still a great song though.

[@bubbamike4743]

Jep Илић interestingly enough the intro to Xanadu sounds just like Genesis' Silent Sorrow for Empty boats and the waiting room

[@tacogladiator7503]

Bubba Mike you think so? I’ve listened to Lamb over and over - even saw The Musical Box do it..plus I also play guitar and keys..I don’t hear it but maybe some of the ambient effect..the actual guitar swells are both in E yes..perhaps Lifeson was subconsciously influenced. Love Silent Sorry In Empty Boats..the guitar phrase in Changes is more overt in relation to Xanadu. On more interesting similarity in Xanadu compared to Genesis- after the first section- Lifeson breaks into a 3/3 riff very Cinema Show ala Seconds Out like - after Neil and Geddy join in - can’t deny its an ode to Genesis..it’s amazing how these bands leaked subconsciously into each other’s music or was it nodding

[@Eric_Nielsen]

Was *waiting* for you to say Astral Traveler! That song, through headphones, in the 1980s, sent me tumbling down the Prog rabbit hole. Good review.

[@soulhavenchannel]

Excellent summary, intelligent, points I overlooked too, thanks!

[@otflipz1]

I was really hoping you'd have relayer on or near the top, it's my favourite yes album and the gates of delirium is one of the very very best prog rock songs ever, the middle section with the battle going on between guitar and keyboards is just so so good, it's god tier prog, and below magnification? Come on now

[@alltheworldsastage]

If you're not including it here, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the ABWH album at some point in a future video. Great list though.... By and large my list would roughly look like yours. The two biggest differences is that (while I do enjoy the album) Magnification would be several albums lower, and Relayer much higher... In fact Relayer would take my #1 spot. It is, in my honest opinion, one of the greatest prog rock albums of all time, "The Gates of Delirium" is what I would consider the best prog rock "epic" of all time. But that's me.

[@martinnike8218]

Interesting review! Was it ever updated with the Quest and Mirror to the Sky?

[@NotesReviews]

I would have to re-upload as this was done before those albums, but they wouldn't be too high on the list.

[@thelegendofeli3887]

Hey notes reviews I was wondering if you ever heard of the supergroup gtr? I would like to see you do a review of them.

[@hamiltonrowan5027]

The best song by Yes (one of the greatest of all time in any band) is Awaken. Hands down.

[@amnril]

Awaken is amazing.

[@chriswakefield9538]

You misspelled "Gates Of Delirium".

[@jeffkalmar7871]

"Keys to 'Assertion'" was bad enough, but "Gates of 'Derillium'"? "Cans and 'Brams'"? "Giants Under the 'Sea""? "Siberian kxhtrtrruhhchhxxx"?!? (Hint: The correct pronunciation is SUNG IN THE SONG) Your video has a hundred obvious cuts so I know you edited it - so why the hell didn't you fix the pronunciation??

[@modularcuriosity]

How about "Steve House" at 13:48

[@jaspergillgannon4991]

I actually think he may have some sort of dyslexia

[@dougmcauliffe2253]

He has dyslexia, hope you feel good though pal.

[@DavidBGoode]

Thanks... very interesting process. I'd have probably put the Yes Album first because I find Starship Trooper so overwhelming and Relayer second because Gates of Delirium is so wonderful. Well done on taking so much care. As a life-long Yes fan, born in 1960, I was too quick to dismiss the later work and I will definitely have a closer look at Magnification and Drama... and Tales (it's been a while!)

[@Manti0]

What do you think about Nektar? I think they've got some great Progrock albums

[@mehcol]

Yeah man.

[@EzioMonty117]

Great video man! Maybe you could do Worst to Best for Rush. They have got a quite a discography so it would be interesting to see where you would rank these albums:)

[@BruceDavisCAL]

They all suck, so no.

[@jimhyman8544]

I don't know...he seems to have trouble pronouncing album titles and such. I'm afraid he'd pronounce "Peart" "Pert," which drives me crazy.

[@TheDogPa]

Worst Rush? Anything with Peart...except some of the first live album. Wait for it...beep beep, bop,bop, biddly biddly, bop, repeat...LOL!

[@EzioMonty117]

Bruce Davis Have you even heard A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Power Windows or Clockwork Angels??

[@RogueReplicant]

For me it's: 1 Moving Pictures 2 Permanent Waves 3 Counterparts 4 Hemispheres 5 A Farewell to Kings 6 Signals 7 Vapor Trails 8 Grace Under Pressure 9 Hold Your Fire 10 Power Windows 11 Roll the Bones 12 Snakes and Arrows 13 Clockwork Angels 14 Test for Echo 15 2112 16 Caress of Steel 17 Presto 18 Fly By Night 19 Rush

[@robertrobertsakarogerslemer]

My faves from Yes are : 1- Yes debut album 2- Relayer 3 -Fragile 4- Drama

[@michaelbyrd7883]

I'm gonna give you props, I'm in agreement with a lot of it. Close to the edge other then Pink Floyd's Wish you were here my favorite album put on vinyl. Good job, fella!

[@Babaziba]

I missed the "Keys To Assertion" albums. Were they before "Tales From Pornographic Oceans" or after "Open Your Ice"?

[@mr.krinkle952]

Tales of pornography oh shits is a great album

[@nicktardifbass7]

Relayer isn't in the top 3. why should I continue watching.

[@umpygoodness2369]

I'm a 1970s SNOB... yet I can admit MOST of the material on 90215 is KILLER. "Changes", "It Can Happen", etc! UNION is absolutely worthless. TALK also has a LOT of cool sounds / great melodies etc. It seems like you are biased for 1970s and are not being FAIR.

[@JUICE-dr6iq]

What is the record on his left?

[@NotesReviews]

Jon Anderson's first solo album: Olias of Sunhillow

[@benmeltzer]

Question: At the end you say "Siberian Khatru" starts off one of your favorite live recordings. Which one? Yessongs?

[@gregfreer9211]

I consider myself a strong Yes fan, but each album they produced has some songs I don't particularly like. Like, I almost gag over them. Like most of you, I could very easily give you my top 10 Howe-era songs, and my top 10 Rabin-era songs. These two groups shouldn't be compared. They stand on their own. For every Starship Trooper, there's City of Love. For every Close to the Edge, there's Endless Dream. And for every Yours Is No Disgrace there's Shoot High Aim Low. All different, all incredible, all incomparable (in many ways)

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Greg Freer Spoken by a true Yes fan

[@EzioMonty117]

City of Love isn't that great. Hearts is a better example

[@gregfreer9211]

Ok, your opinion. But you evidently missed my point.

[@EzioMonty117]

Greg Freer I did get your point! That the Rabin era should not be shitted on just because it isn’t the golden age of Yes! And that there is just as many great songs in the Rabin-era then there is in the Howe-era!

[@hunterthompson2206]

Pretty hard to top Close To The Edge. Quite an achievement. I'm not even a huge Yes fan, but seriously…how does a band even THINK of something like that.?! Just mind blowing in both imagination and execution.

[@michaelyork4554]

I agree with you, with a couple exceptions, of course, but having not met any real YES fans personally throughout my life I must ask, do you listen to the YESSONGS versions of Yours Is No Disgrace, Perpetual Change, Siberian Khatru, Heart Of The Sunrise, and Starship Trooper more so than the recorded versions? Close To The Edge, Roundabout, And You And I, I prefer the original recorded versions.

[@bigEcatMan]

Thanks for doing this video. I"m a original Yes fan-saw them open for Black Sabbath in 1972 (I think). I stopped following them after Tormato, but after listening to your personal reviews, I'll check out some of the later works.

[@halt2045]

I could go either way on Close to the Edge, and Topographic Oceans. I think what puts Oceans on the top for me, comes from seeing them perform Ritual on their Yes Symphonic Live DVR. That is the most unbelievably great live performance of a piece of music, that I have ever seen. I say that even though I have seen them live in person, on four occasions.

[@youandwhosearmy6339]

0:41- Keys to what??

[@MarcusFHurt]

lol... to be honest, maybe that's why everyone typically just says "Keys..."

[@NowhereMan7]

Mispronouncing things is a common trait among his videos for some reason. His hilarious pronunciation of the Genesis song The Fountain of Salmacis is another one I can remember off the top of my head.

[@TmRnBn]

With both Durilium and Assertion, I'll chalk up to Canadianisms. I know nothing of this guy, but he sounds Canadian. Anyway, maybe Durilium is the unobtainable metal on Roger Dean's Avatar.

[@oo88oo]

Keys to Ascension. (And it's "Gates of Delerium," not "Gates of Derilium.")

[@marktilley7222]

The mispronouncings AREN’T Canadianisms, eh?! They’re just embarrassing for Canadians, although they could reflect the state of Canadian education for the last 35 years. Cans and Brams?! Yikes.

[@brucecarter148]

Are those D and D books right behind you? Do you post D and D content on your channel?

[@NotesReviews]

Not yet, but I'm planning a second channel where I talk about TTRPGs 🙂

[@Nark212]

@@NotesReviews can't wait

[@sparkybonehead]

Thank you for putting Olias of Sunhillow in the back ground. It's one of my favorite albums of all time. Never without a copy.

[@henryolsen6248]

Van Der Graff Generator worst to best please!!

[@MrDuneedon]

And then Peter Hammill solo, too. :-)

[@jonesy2111]

All their albums are about the same in my opinion

[@ericlach32]

that'd be a looooooong video

[@MrDuneedon]

Yeah, it would! VDGG only released 12-13 studio albums, but Pete Hammill put out, what -- almost 40 solo albums? It might be best to separate that list, yeah. LOL.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Henri Olson Great point. I never looked at it that way. Facinating

[@SoloGuitar1000]

Nice list, but wrt Relayer @11:50 & @12:17, I believe it's "Gates of de-LEER-e-um", not "Gates of de-RILL-e-um". My all-time favorite YES piece.

[@Galahad-hk4bb]

Had to hear him say it twice ‘De-rill-e-um’ to be sure that is what I heard...😂😂😂

[@MegaJohnhammond]

did you get that tie for Christmas?

[@timn5008]

And, the blue tie with the flannel? What's up with that?

[@henryolsen6248]

Also could you make a King Crimson worst to best as well?

[@DanielPerez-yt8dt]

difficult because King Crimson has from the excellent to the extraordinary, does not have worst

[@umpygoodness2369]

1) I'd argue a LARGE portion of KC's material is eh. (I think even Fripp admitted that Beat and Three Of were CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.) 2) I seem to be the only KC fan who says LIZARD is their most FLAWLESS record (and arguably the best album ever made in any genre EVER, as it does so much, from bizarre pop to gorgeous improv). SAD that album gets no love!

[@GeorgePiazza]

I love most of Crimson, one of the few bands (or in this case artist - i.e. Fripp) that continually strove to break new ground. That said, my fav is the Fripp, Wetton, Bruford (Cross, Muir) trio of albums, with Discipline coming close. As for the first 4, Lizard is also my favorite by far, with Islands in 2nd place. Perhaps it's partly due to the fact that Fripp didn't have a touring band at the time, so he cut loose with Mel Collins.. those stacked sax themes in Indoor Games & Happy Family are brilliant, and Lizard does a wonderful transition from more classic rock to jazz, with fantastic Cornet, Trombone, Oboe & English Horn. The Cor Anglais opening to Battle inspired me as an early composer like few other pieces.If I had to pick a top album, it would have to be Lark's Tongues In Aspic. Truly groundbreaking.

[@tributepage]

Be careful what you ask for. You're likely to get a review of King Chromosome.

[@jonesy2111]

That's something I would like to do... I've been a huge King Crimson fan for years....

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Excellent list. You gave a good argument for each album. Of course not every Yes fan is going to agree. Here is a short list of Yes albums that I think should be in the top 5 Tales from Topographic Oceans Relayer Fragile Close to the edge 90125 I also love the Yessongs Even though it didn't qualify for the list. I really enjoy Rick Wakeman part on the album.

[@joshward7009]

Thank you for putting going for the one so high... it gets overlooked but besides the mediocre parallels it's an absolutely incredible album

[@wendellwiggins2900]

❤ just seeing this and as fan since the 70s as a teens, I must agree with your most of your analysis. Glad you put MAG high up. RELAYER, TALES with CTTE are my all time YES Trinity.

[@misate8993]

Rush or ELP next?

[@waynedent5559]

Stefan Marstrander We share the same respect for Gentle Giant, but best to worst! For me, the GG albums are equally sacred one to another! A band who in my opinion, never misstepped on vinyl! One masterpiece after another!

[@misate8993]

+Wayne Dent Gentle Giant do have some filler albums in the late 1970s in my opinion. But albums like Octopus,Three Friends,The Power Of Glory and Free Hand are excellent, Just prog masterpieces. Bands like Gentle Giant and Camel needs more attaction.

[@misate8993]

+Stefan Marstrander The Power And The Glory

[@stigb56]

Absolutly and then Genesis

[@MrB_2112]

We see eye to eye on a lot of this, especially #1. I understand why you didn't include ABWH, even though it was a great album. I loved how ABWH's management called them "Classic Yes" and the 90125 band "Diet Yes". Anyway, my top five would be: 1) Close to the Edge 2) Fragile 3) Going For the One 4) The Yes Album 5) Relayer

[@gregorydelcore6603]

Keys to Assertion?

[@Muhlenburger]

Ah, so fun to hear your rankings of the Yes discography. I was 17 years old when introduced to Close to the Edge and was blown away by this then new album. I had been, at that time, really connecting with Nature in exploring some caverns and sandstone cliff valleys in Western Kentucky. The beginning of the title track transported me to a closer experience of those places. I had stood literally close to the edge of these cliffs, heard the multitudes of birds in the trees and the sound of waterfalls and experienced the echoing drips in the caves, and now I was hearing it in this immense composition, a rock symphony with movements and resolution from cacophony to harmony. My life was changed because of Close to The Edge and Yes. I saw the tour concert not long after, then the Tales tour, then the Relayer tour. Ive seen them six times in all. They are unbelievably good in concert, especially when Eddie Offord was managing the soundboards in the 70's. Thanks again, man!

[@juzek1958]

1. Close to the Edge (a no-brainer objectively) 2. Relayer (subjectively- I love that album)

[@kevindouglas1778]

Top five from the 70's 1) Relayer 2) Close to the Edge 3) Fragile 4) The Yes Album 5) Going for the One

[@RicardoBirdlegs]

@@kevindouglas1778 My Top 5 from that era 1) Close to the Edge 2) Tales from Topographic Oceans 3) Relayer 4) Going for the One 5) Fragile

[@SunFellow941]

For me, #1 is Topographic Oceans. "The Ancient" was my favorite track when I first heard it, but later on I got to like all of them just as much. The ultimate "adventurer" album because it takes you so many places.

[@2wheels6strings]

None of them you want to return to.

[@lessthanpinochet]

I wish more people would admit the second disc is an absolute masterpiece. If Yes would've just released The Ancient and The Ritual as Tales of Topographic Oceans, it would considered a masterpiece just like Close To The Edge and Fragile.

[@rkb2092]

Sun Fellow, I've had the exact same experience with Tales.

[@patricklauer4452]

Richard Burton same the reason why it’s my favourite from them! :)

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Sun Fellow I love tales from Topographic Oceans My favorite album of all time A incredible master piece.

[@paulinetodd1913]

Very "Close to the Edge" but I have "Topographic Oceans" as my 1 and "Close to the Edge" as number 2. Love your summation and most enjoyable. Your number 18 was my number 18 as well so great minds think alike. As "Awaken" is one of my favourite tracks, I had "Going For The One" high as well. Good luck and all the best .... Richard.

[@classicalbum]

I do these sort of videos myself for my channel... do you find they attract a lot of haters who cannot grasp that you're just expressing an opinion?

[@NotesReviews]

Yeah, but luckily not as much as I thought I would :)

[@justdave923]

Waaay off on ‘Talk’, dude One of the best, in my opinion (from a life-long fan)

[@timmarciniak4388]

just Dave couldn’t agree more ! Talk is so underrated it’s criminal!

[@jonathonedwardmiller]

@@timmarciniak4388 endless dream! That is all!

[@Pete90125]

Same here, since 73, Talk is a masterpiece. 👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Pete90125]

@@jonathonedwardmiller endless dream 👍👍👍😃🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@johnwolf3294]

Totally agree. Endless Dream is just awesome.

[@Metalmara]

Great list and I agree with a lot what you say, but I disagree that the short length of Talk is its only saving grace. I think Endless Dream is a legitimately great song. The rest is really meh though.

[@KrazyKittyTailz]

'State of Play', 'Walls', and 'I Am Waiting' are each amazing from 'Talk'!

[@EzioMonty117]

The Calling and Real Love are really good tracks!

[@louvegas1048]

You need to listen to State of Play again.

[@aeropilot4419]

+1 for Endless Dream :)

[@FrankBond0077]

I have not your same vision at all ... I cant undestand for example how you can put Heaven and Earth over Tormato, while I would put it at the end of the ranking. I think you also understimated Tormato and the first two albums, on the top I would put TFTO and not CTTE ... and finally ...where are "Keys ToAscension(s)"? Did I missed it from your video or did you forget them?

[@kajetanchrumps8076]

And Keys Studio?

[@GDSullivan4]

20. Heaven and Earth 19. Talk 18. Open Your Eyes 17. 90125 16. Big Generator 15. Fly From Here 14. Yes 13. Union 12. The Ladder 11. Time And a Word 10. Magnfication 9. Tormato 8. Tales From Topographic Oceans 7. Drama 6. The Yes Album 5. Going for the One 4. Fragile 3. Relayer 2. Keystudio 1. Close to the Edge Although, ironically and justifiably, my favorite song is "Shoot High, Aim Low" on one of their worst albums!

[@vanstone2000]

George Sullivan. I totally agree yes song shoot high aim low is my favourite. The big shame is not played on the radio so much.

[@Hexmail787]

I love Talk so your list kills me, that being said I do agree that H&E is trash and Shoot High, Aim Low is one of my favorites. Particularly the versions off of The Alternate Generator.

[@DjAtmaWeapon]

I really love tho Big Generator. One of the best of their "easy" albums. Shoot High, Aim Low is truly nice! ^^

[@bassistwithadeathwish7277]

20. Open Your Eyes 19. Heaven and Earth 18. Big Generator 17. Union 16. Magnification 15. The Ladder 14. Yes 13. Tormato 12. Fly From Here 11. Talk 10. 90125 9. Keystudio 8. Time and a Word 7. Going for the One 6. The Yes Album 5. Fragile 4. Drama 3. Tales of Topographic Oceans 2. Close to the Edge 1. Relayer

[@jamesfarrell8339]

George Sullivan great list

[@drewper73]

Okay. Let’s say you were born in the mid-70’s. 1973 to be exact. That means that you would’ve been about 10 or 11 years old the first time you heard “Owner of A Lonely Heart” and you liked it so much that you bought the 45 rpm single. Fast forward to 1988 and you hear the impressive a capella vocal introduction to the song, “Big Generator.” It’s right up your new progressive rock alley, even though it’s not really progressive rock at all. You become very familiar with 90125 and Big Generator around the same time. It’s different from what you have been listening to during your adolescent years. It has odd time signatures and is overall more interesting than the heavy metal bands that you’re used to hearing. So now that you’re officially a fan of Yes, you start listening to albums like Fragile, The Yes Album, and Close To The Edge. What’s my point with this story about a guy who just happened to be born after Yes had already written and recorded what some would call their best music? My point is that when I first started listening to 90125 and Big Generator, I was 13 & 14 and had no other reference point as far as Yes music was concerned. What’s more, the production techniques used for those two albums were the same as the music that was all around me during the 80’s, so I had no problem digesting either album. So I just happened to be turned onto Yes during the Trevor Rabin (pronounced RAY-bin, not RA-bin) years. Of course, as I studied and became familiar with albums like Fragile and The Yes Album, I realized that Yes used to be quite different then. Songs like Heart of the Sunrise, South Side of the Sky, Perpetual Change, Yours Is No Disgrace, and of course, Roundabout, pulled me in big time. But, I still listen to 90125, Big Generator, Talk, and also Union but not as much. I loved that album when it came out during my senior year in high school. I saw them on that tour! I realize that you’re not lumping all of the newer stuff in the bad end of the list. I paused it after 7 or 8 albums. Just because the songs on the 80’s stuff weren’t 10 minutes long doesn’t mean that they were playing it safe. Bands have to change, shift, and play what they want to play. Otherwise, they get bored playing the same old stuff. Trevor Horn and Trevor Rabin breathed life into a lifeless band who were on the brink of being forgotten about forever. Rush did the same thing. My story with Rush is the same in that I became a fan at the height of their synth era. And it’s just a matter of how old I was when I got turned onto Rush. If I had been born in 1960 then I would’ve been 11 when Fragile came out and 23 when 90125 came out and I might have hated it. I would’ve been 16 when Rush’s 2112 came out and 25 when Power Windows came out. I love that album by the way. My words didn’t convey what I had hoped they would, but I think some people might understand what I’m trying to say. Also, it’s Keys To Ascension, not Keys To Assertion. And those two releases contained a total of 7 new, at the time, Yes songs recorded in a studio. Why not include the album that eventually had all 7 tracks together? It was called Keystudio and it was pretty damn good. The song That, That Is is one of my all time favorite Yes songs. Oh well, you had to choose some band to fill up this webcast. I’m gonna see if you have an Iron Maiden episode.

[@andrewdyke5561]

Huge yes fan here cant wait man

[@whitechocolatte5863]

6:51 “I’m hoping Heaven and Earth will be Yes’ last album.” Goddamn this line has aged like milk, hasn’t it?