YES The Revealing Science Of God TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS | REACTION

[@bookhouseboy280]

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) expressed excitement for the challenge of Transatlantic doing this work with Jon Anderson, but once they began rehearsing it, he said that's when they realized "the composition was so unbelievably unorthodox and complex. I can honestly say that learning 'The Revealing Science Of God' was the biggest challenge I’ve ever had! I cannot imagine how this music was composed. It’s almost like, ‘OK, do this 5⁄4 riff 11 times and then do this 9⁄8 jungle groove five times and then let’s do 13 vocal stabs into a keyboard solo and then drop into an acapella vocal part in free time, etc.’ There was no way to remember these twists and turns unless you had written it. But once we began rehearsing the piece with Jon, he was conducting the transitions and the tempo changes and then suddenly it all made sense. I always wondered how Jon’s musical contributions fit into the equation of such virtuoso musicianship in Yes, and from this I was able to see that he was the centre of it all. He was the glue that held these four incredible individual musicians together.”

[@wendellwiggins3776]

I LOVE THAT you are sharing this because Justin has said things early in his YES journey that showed his naivety about Jon contributions. I also just saw a new Steve interview and as always, he too, honestly and respectfully gave props to Jon's vision & overall steering of the ship abilities!

[@saurian11]

Great Reaction to a Great Epic song, Justin! I’m very happy that you played the version with the instrumental intro. The original version started with the vocal chant of “Dawn of the light lying…”. And like all of their long epics, it does take several listens to “absorb” everything in the song. Okay, on to the next Yes voyage: The Remembering-High the Memory! It may take a bit more patience to get through, but it has some beautiful moments to it! I feel the vocals/ harmonies are some of the finest that the band has ever recorded! ONWARD!

[@philsmith2444]

@@saurian11The Remembering definitely takes more effort from the listener, it’s a slow burn delayed gratification song. But when it hits you, man! My favorite off the album (I still haven’t been able to get into The Ancient yet but I’m sure I’ll be ready to get it someday), and tied with Awaken for my favorite Yes song.

[@saurian11]

@@philsmith2444 I totally agree with you! When I first heard it, back in 1975, I thought it was a bit Ho-hum at first, but I did like all the vocal/ harmonies parts of the song. In time and a few listens later, it grew to a point where It became a personal favorite of mine!

[@thomassharmer7127]

Jon has a great sense of musical shape and 'architecture' which comes from his love of classical music. His instrumental abilities may be limited (apart from his voice!), but his symphonic ear for arranging long-form pieces is often overlooked.

[@mathieujoly4143]

My favorite album, They have never been so classicaly oriented. Like a symphony in 4 movements. Lot of space, very wide spectrum.

[@johnwallace3990]

Someone on another video said: People who don’t like this album don’t understand it. This is Yes.

[@Kenneth_Fishing]

Dude it’s crazy seeing the amount of people that don’t like tales. For me, it’s a contender for my favorite album of all time

[@harleyw]

Life is better. My day is better, taking this time to listen, to hear your reaction to this. Thanks, Justin. I'm looking forward to The Remembering. Bam.

[@brucefelger4015]

Amazing what 5 musicians can do.

[@kerrfoot]

so glad you listened to the re-released version with the full intro. The original release started abruptly with the vocals, because of the limitations of viny, they cut that instrumental introduction, which in my view, sets this stage, mood perfectly for the vocal to come in. I was about 15 years old when this album came out and I remember waiting in a very long line at the record store (a place where you bought vinyl records LOL) to get that album on the day it was released. forever etched in memory. Thanks!

[@vanytasticsone9071]

In bed reading sci-fi in my teen years in the late ‘70s My little portable phonograph beside me and the only time I stopped reading was to turn over the next side or replace the next Yes LP in line. When I hear this I am 15 again and I am lost in Asimov and Heinlein. Yes as background music for sci-fi and fantasy novels is perfection. When I focused on listening to every aspect of their productions I was always blown away. This was dismissed by many but I believe it has some of their most beautiful and powerful pieces they created.

[@saurian11]

@@vanytasticsone9071 I hear ya! I used to love listening to Yes while I read my Conan books, back when I was a teenager in the 70s!

[@andrewbailey9124]

Been listening to this for 50yrs (I'm 73) and you forget how overwhelming this must be on a first time listening even for someone as musically attuned as you. It's like hearing a heavy Malher Symphony for the first time. There's so much complexity. I hated this to begin with and it took me several listens... and then suddenly I got it. You're so right it takes time.

[@frankmcbride7051]

I have listened to this song so many times. This is the first time I have heard the introduction. It's definitely less abrupt at the start. It never occurred to me, though, "hey, this song needs to be longer!" :)

[@reneelyons6836]

I played this for my friends when i was 15. They thought that i was from another planet. They always laughed at me for liking YES. 🥲It's ok. Turns out I am just the music lover of the bunch.😇💙💙🎵🎶🎶

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

Extended intro was surprising! This was my #1 homework time background music in high school. Once you hear it a dozen times, it makes sense.

[@fernandotor3266]

Justin. You have to listen this several times...

[@jattotling3475]

Total masterpiece

[@Bawookles]

There's no way one can listen to this song once and really get into it. It's a really complex tune with a lot of different changes and parts. It's the sort of piece that you fall in love with it on the fourth or fifth listen when you've already digested it before. It's a really beautiful tune and is the best tune on Topographic along with Ritual. Oh, and it has the coolest Wakeman minimoog solo ever on it. I saw them play this live and Wakeman would go even more berserk on it.

[@philsmith2444]

I think the best time to listen to the album (if you don’t partake of mind-altering substances) is when you’re going to sleep and your subconscious mind is more receptive. All of a sudden the last piece of the puzzle will fall into place and you’ll have an insight about a verse or line. “We move fast We need love A part we offer is our only freedom”

[@Andrew-t6z]

I had the very same reaction when I bought this 1973! Didn't love it except the odd passage. I gotta say, after some 50 years... I couldn't be without it in my life!

[@glenstambaugh2022]

It took me a few listens to really appreciate this song, but it kept moving up among them until it’s the one I want to hear! The genius of Anderson is introducing a bit, but catching your interest, and leaving it, only to return with it in more developed and catchy iterations. This song moves through several themes, that tie together in a most satisfying manner!

[@scifimonkey3]

I don’t remember everything after fairly regularly listening to it for 50 years and maybe that is the point. It is so packed with detail and accents that it supports thousands of listens and some of the elements that don’t appeal in the first 100 are favourites after 600 listens. Multiple listens also build the anticipation of those sections which you love . It rewards patience and attention, something that the modern world is sadly very short of.

[@donaldanderson6604]

Got this on the day it came out and have loved it ever since. How the hell did they do it? No digital recording , no Pro Tools, just fantastic talent.

[@DanPemberton]

Not my fave Yes album, but I'm sticking with it in hopes you'll finish this great Yes series. Thanks as always. Relayer is a real treat.

[@mattleppard1964]

Wakeman left because he found Tales to be “experimental.” So after he left, Pat Moraz joined - and took the keyboards into amazing jazz-fusion directions on Relayer. Rick refused to play any Relayer tracks when he rejoined, and he never has. He can’t relate to that sort of avante-garden approach, possibly as he is classically trained. And Relayer may be the best album of Yes’s career. Gates of Delirium is right up there for me ❤

[@markusantonio4866]

I read somewhere that Vangelis was thinking about joining YES after Rick left.

[@mattleppard1964]

@@markusantonio4866 Actually, Jon knew him and he was invited to join. Long story short, Vangelis did play with them for a few weeks but the band found him very odd

[@TheProgCorner]

Tales is my favorite album ever!!!

[@rodneygriffin7666]

This is a deep ocean trip. Many motifs repeated throughout the whole album. For you, And you, And you... They played this entire album in 1974. Insane.

[@samwatson2039]

Chris Squire is featured in 4th track " Ritual " his solo and rhythm performance is one of his best . Is my favorite from the most talented basist ! Also Rick Wakeman was involved with his solo album " journey to the center of the earth " . He was bored with tales and didn't realize this album was a masterpiece, especially with his magical background synthesizer sounds . The ebbs and flows make for outstanding musical effects . I was lucky enough to attend this tour and saw them perform at Madison Square Garden in 1974. Was incredible concert and will never forget how magnificent Yes was to see in concert !

[@mattleppard1964]

Ritual is the best track, I think. Chris is just amazing on that, indeed ❤

[@krisdoggett483]

It must have been awesome to be there. I saw them in 1991 but I wish I'd been old enough to see them in the 70s 🤩

[@krisdoggett483]

​@@mattleppard1964He was the best ❤

[@bookhouseboy280]

Rick on revisiting "The Revealing" with Yes: I whilst I as I have said before, I have my feelings about TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS, "Revealing" is certainly, for me, far and away the strongest piece on the album... I've found ways of playing it, I've found ways of putting in new things and putting in other sounds in different things I didn't have before, which I actually would have probably liked to have had at the time of the recording which would have been quite nice... It's a piece that gives me a chance to improve upon from what I did initially. And if you go into the piece of music with the attitude where how can I take it more forward from where I did before, then you can get a lot out of it, and I'm getting a lot out of playing it. I'm enjoying playing it very much, and I'm going, "Hey, that's a buzz," you know what I mean, and I think it also helps everybody else perhaps, and it lifts the piece and things up and that as well. Jon: ‘Dawn of Light’…..’Dawn of Thought’..was all about the development of the human consciousness, and how we came from the ocean, etc, and learned to fly, all in metaphors. It’s always a lot of fun to write this way, then look back and think, “oh!!! that’s what I was trying to say!”

[@figgybass]

Totally agree with the observations about the more cliché harmonic spots albeit not that many. There is so much in this piece of music. As a youngster this took me a while to digest. Now when I hear it it's a wonderful walk down memory lane. I remember vividly listening to this on my record player in my room. Thanks so much 👍🎶🤟

[@ryanr5319]

Thank you for reaction Sir! This album is challenging but has parts of awesome in each track. A&R man to quote Petty, "...I don't hear a single." But some of Jon and Chris' finest choir boy. 😊

[@mattleppard1964]

My dad’s best friend’s sons went to the school Chris where Chris was a choirboy ❤

[@ryanr5319]

@@mattleppard1964 that's really cool. You can tell they have a good program. 😇

[@markjacobsen8335]

This is my favorite album of all time, but the first 30 years of owning it, I barely listened to more than side 4 and bits and pieces of the other sides. Then one day I realized I had fallen in love with the whole thing. Long live "Tales From Topographic Oceans"!

[@philsmith2444]

I loved your reaction when the Mellotron kicked in. Imagine being Alan White and this is the first album your new band puts out. Talk about being thrown into the water and being told to sink or swim!

[@nancymjohnson]

To me, this Yes music…actually most of it, is completely timeless! I love this band so much!! So glad you are listening to this lp

[@fernandotor3266]

Tales is glorious album. Justin.. you will like ritual for sure

[@krisdoggett483]

Nice reaction, Justin. I could see you were digging it. You really are starting to get it 😅 Who are these people telling you to skip it? It couldn't have been Yes fans, unless they were afraid of your reactions 😂

[@fernandotor3266]

Guitar work is beyond...

[@gwyles4550]

Ritual is certainly not to be skipped.

[@toddc28]

Of the four songs on the album this is my favorite and perhaps the most accessible. I believe they did play it live with more frequency than the others. I remember hearing this and Ritual live a few times in the early 2000’s.

[@oldgoldandblack1]

This is actually the first time I’ve heard the studio version of this song. I’ve always liked the song overall, though there are really cool parts I wish were longer and others I wish were shorter, if that makes any sense.

[@AquaticDot]

Agreed. Some sections drag, and others like the one playing 17:00 - 1745 should have been far, far longer.

[@jeremygray1331]

I am going to enjoy revisiting these tracks with you. It’s been a few years since I’ve listened to the whole thing start to finish. I think this first side was always my favorite.

[@Dandroid61]

I'm probably biased, but this is definitive Yes. You might need to listen to it a few hundred more times!

[@mattleppard1964]

Carved some me-time for this. All I wrote yesterday … that’s my comment again ❤

[@ono1dij]

My Top 3 Yes albums, just incredible... Excessive, ambitious, grandiose? Yes, and it's great... I love Bill, but Alan did a tremendous job on his debut with the band, and everything sounds cohesive, melodic, and flows so well... I understand those who don't like it, but the adjectives that they put as "negative", to me they seem positive, it is a great work, and to enjoy quietly paying attention to it... The first full Yes album I heard (I only knew Owner of A Lonely Heart from the radio!!!) was Close to The Edge, about 30 years ago, the second was Relayer (I bought them together), and I loved them immediately, later I got Fragile and Tales, and they drove me crazy, from then on they passed to be one of my favorite bands... And Tales has a very special place in my life, and I like that others find something that also moves them when listening to it...

[@philcasselli6534]

Sorry, I don't know how else to get a comment to you. Some other reactors I follow (biscuit and another dude) stumbled across Boston yesterday. It is so cool to hear them react.to this album You will have the same but deeper and more interesting because you are a musician. Neat to get different perspectives on any song BTW

[@fernandotor3266]

Thanks Justin. Finally reacting to this monumental prog work

[@bukeksiansu2112]

Take me years to enjoy this remarkable album, the hardest Yes for me

[@normandaubry]

BTW, I forgot to mention that I think that Alan White’s greatest performance is on the next album, Relayer.

[@richardfurness7556]

Too many sections lack the energy and tension of previous recordings. When the more up-tempo passages appear they feel forced and end far too quickly. It's as if they wanted to remind us every so often that they were still a rock band. But when you've got Rick Wakeman on your team multitudes of sins can be forgiven. He can make any old rubbish sound great, and my God does he put in a shift here to rescue this piece of music! His incomparable mastery of the Mellotron complements Jon's lyrics and imbues them with an emotional depth they don't always deserve, something Steve Howe - for all his virtuosity - never quite manages to do.

[@crystal-ice555]

This album is something no-one will get first time but It matures with age. This is Yes epic and you either get it or you don't. I liked it in the beginning but it seemed rambling like moving down a river with bends and rapids and it takes many listens to remember it. I love this one.

[@josephprus5011]

Starlight, movement, reasons Release forward Tallest rainbow Sun shower seasons Life flower reasons They move fast, they tell me, But I just can't believe that I can feel it There's someone to tell you, Amid the challenge we look around in unison with you Getting over overhanging trees Let them rape the forest Thoughts would send our fusion Clearly to be home Getting over wars we do not mean Or so it seems so clearly Sheltered with our passion Clearly to be home They move fast, they tell me, But I just can't believe they really mean to There's someone, to tell you, And I just can't believe our song will leave you Skyline teacher Warland seeker Send out poison Cast iron leader And through the rhythm of moving slowly Sent through the rhythm work out the story Move over glory to sons of old fighters past. Young christians see if from the beginning Old people feel it, that's what they're saying. Move over glory to sons of old fighters past. They move fast, they tell me, But I just can't believe they really mean to. There's someone, to tell you Acourse towards a universal season. Getting over overhanging trees Let them rape the forest They might stand and leave them Clearly to be home Getting over wars we do not mean We charm the movement suffers Call out all our memories Clearly to be home We've moved fast We need love A part we offer is our only freedom What happened to this song we once knew so well Signed promise for moments caught within the spell We must have waited all our lives for this Moment moment Past present movers moments we'll process the future, but only through him we know send flowered rainbows Apiece apart chased flowers of the dark and lights of songs to follow and show all we feel for and know of Cast round You seekers of the truth accepting that reason will relive and breath and hope and chase and love For you and you and you.

[@CanAlternateLostTape]

When someone asks me why I did or chose something, I like to reply "life flower reasons“

[@bobsavage3317]

My favorite album. ☮

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Bam! The greatest show on earth. As always, fine job, forgot the gray. This will be the first time in a long time that I'm not listening to the whole album. Really, the only way one should hear Tales.

[@MyCrazyDogs32]

They didn't have these broken down by parts on the album like they did for Starship Trooper, I've seen All Good People, Close to the Edge, or And You And I. The original album released started immediately with the chant. When Steven Wilson remixed Tales, he used that version. Steve Howe played a Gibson ES-345 on the first three sides, and he played a Les Paul Jr. on Ritual.

[@TheReaperMan275]

I just thought of something else to add: none of the tracks have subtitles. They talk about different sections to the songs but they are not actually titled the way "Close to the Edge" had i, ii, iii, iv. So there are no subtitles after "The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)", or for any of the other 3 sides.

[@yes_head]

They actually do have subtitles, for example "Dance of the Dawn" is the subtitle for this one. But you're correct in that there's not the suite-like structure with differently named sections, like "Starship Trooper" or "Close to the Edge" had. That actually makes these pieces flow more seamlessly in my brain, even though there are definite starting and stopping points for sections within the album sides. I guess for whatever reason (time? writing credit disputes?) they chose to just not bother.

[@TheReaperMan275]

@@yes_head I hear you. They gave up naming subtitles for most of their future epics as well e.g. "The Gates of Delirium", "Awaken" "Mind Drive", etc.

[@BobSiefken]

I hope we get to see your respect for Alan White grow during these TFTO reactions. He really shines on some pieces.

[@frisco4758]

Agree with your review. There are parts of The Revealing that are quite good while there are other parts that meander too much. This and Ritual are more accessible to the listener. The Ancient and The Remembering are hard tracks to enjoy. I've never returned to them after a few listens.

[@DanPemberton]

I think you're right about Bruford. Love White, but ya know...

[@bf99ls]

Good review for a first time listen of a very complex piece. Bought it the day it was released, and it underwhelmed me (after Close To The Edge). That said, it is a monumental ‘concept album’, which a lot of the music press hated. “Pretentious, pompous, self-indulgent”, were the sort of terms that were thrown at it, and before long at ‘prog’ in general. A lot of Yes and prog fans became embarrassed to admit they liked it: peer pressure from school and student friends into proto punk and meaningless pop ditties. Not my favourite Yes album, but arguably their greatest artistic achievement.

[@mcasualjacques]

i dont really have a musical ear but Jon seems to in majority use chords and harmonies with dissonant notes/combos, BUT in the first 1/3 of the song there's more 'pure' melodies and they sounded well let's say very pleasing.

[@JJ8KK]

Siberian Khatru this album ain't. The thing about this Jon Anderson project is that each of the 4 sides have stretches that are rather excellent, where the pace picks up & rock music is heard but then it subsides again. Taken together, there's probably enough of those great sections from all four side to make up an impressive album, but that ain't what happened. It is, quite frankly, the harder rocking edge that I always liked about YES, but there isn't quite enough of it to turn this album into another YES masterpiece _in my opinion._ Upon the first listening, this was my favorite of the four sides, but after repeated listenings, Side 2 The Remembering became my favorite, the side I'd play when I was in a mood for Tales. The melodies on The Remembering are the best of the four & the Chis Squire moments are the best of the 4 sides, as well (in my opinion).

[@scottzappa9314]

I tend to agree, this seems a little artsy fartsy to me. Give me any of the early stuff besides this.

[@waynerandall9073]

Ritual (side 4) is the best!

[@EnoVarma]

Well, I'm surprised. This was much nicer than I remember. They don't sound fresh anymore, and it's pretentious as hell, but all of it is nicely balanced, and it flows smoothly. I think the caveman was pretty spot-on. Would have been a 10/10 reaction with a cat cameo.

[@kennethenos2716]

Tip of the Prog Hat to you Sir ! points for courage 💯 Youre doing this RIGHT-one track at a time. There is so much to say about this album, firstly, it follows all 3 original studio albums AND Yessongs, so the timing of it just sucked. Yes were at the peak of their powerful global notoriety, so this album was definitely NOT what everyone was expecting. But some things demand to be written. There's a weird tug of the soul, very subtle, that some of these harmonies always existed somewhere out there in the Cosmos, and Yes just happened to be the receptive conduit for receiving those sounds. Mystical. Maybe its just me 🤷 Also, its a super bizarre coincidence that GENESIS released a similarly controversial double LP virtually at the same time, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway". Which resulted in Peter Gabriel's departure 🤔 Like many other fans I hated this record it was a terrible disappointment. But I was 10 years old and starting to get more into KISS AEROSMITH UFO RUSH QUEEN etc. I shelved this album for a decade, and then one evening I decided to have a puff puff on a chuff chuff, put the headphones on and try to be Non-judgemental and just listen with an open mind, no bias. It finally clicked. It really is like a 4 part rock symphony, which does all tie together as a cohesive whole. Like painting pictures with music. Walking through a gallery exhibit. I have since taught myself to play the entire album on bass, guitar, and some of the keyboards. So from a musician's perspective, its a HUGE challenge,and almost unbelievable that people can have the skills and patience to write and produce Epics of this magnitude, even if they did almost go completely mad, lose a key member, and build wooden replicas of moo moo coweys in the studio to achive the desired result 😂 It will probably never happen again on this level. Neal Morse and Transatlantic have come close though. Then there's the point to consider that this music was mere inches away from being completely destroyed and lost forever on the highway by an oncoming BUS WOW 😮 So, one could glean that the Universe WANTED this music to be birthed into the World, for better or worse. Sides 3 and 4 will surely kick your ass, make you nauseous for a minute, and leave you wondering "what the hell were they thinking?" LOL like you said, some things simply require repeated listenings, to finally discover order amongst the chaos 😂✌️ (props to my buddy Steven Wilson for his exquisite Remixing/Remastering job on this one)

[@mcasualjacques]

I was thinkin "in a very stretched way that Zappa would possibly not appreciate he was doing Prog Rock, let's say Progressive-Non-Glam-Non-cosmik-Contemporary-Rock, there, Zappa woulnt murder me for calling him progrock. At 6:00 the guitar sounds a bit zappesque, then there's lot of synth, then there's some pretty great guitaring going on. Loved the Harmonies, well there's 2 or 3 Jon Andersons in the choir. maybe that's called 'vocal stabs'

[@bf99ls]

At 18:27 into your video, Rick’s synth motif might be familiar to fans of the US detective show The Rockford Files, which first aired about one year after this album. Almost note for note for about 10 seconds. To my ageing ears at least.

[@yes_head]

I kind of wish you'd listened to the original version without the ambient intro, but they did improve the overall mix on later releases. It was a bit compressed originally, especially Alan's drums. But what I think draws so many people to this music is, besides these huge melodic themes and the soaring vocals, is that it does tackle these BIG IDEAS. The best description I've seen of Jon Anderson is that he's a searcher. In later years he's gotten caught up in new age, 'airy-fairy', crystals and beads type stuff, but this was well before that, back when he was just another English rock musician who was following Indian spiritual teachings. There's a great interview where he says "After 'Close to the Edge' the press said "What's he going to do next, set the Bible to music?' And I thought, all right suckers. I'll show you. It CAN be done." This was on the tail end of the hippie/utopian era, a few years before punk and during the glam explosion, so this kind of music was still tolerated. IMO "Close to the Edge" is still the grand-daddy of all Yes epics, but this one still succeeds overall. The seams are more visible, and the criticism that it suffers from padding is hard to deny. But the main themes and melodies are pretty hard not to like. And you can probably now see how this whole thing was basically the Jon and Steve show. Unfortunately Chris is in much more of a support role on Tales, and Alan was still finding his way. That's why some feel 'Relayer' is a better album since it goes back to the format of 'Close to the Edge', but the band chemistry is better overall (even with a new keyboard player.)

[@richierich398]

So this is my first time hearing this song. And while I always understood what you meant by songs needed multiple listens, I truly get what you mean. This is a lot to take in. I will say I do like it upon first listen, but it feels more disjointed than previous, yes songs that I know. Maybe I’ll get it more upon multiple listens.

[@roygaiot8105]

Yes there are a lot of nice spots but it's the spots In between those that weigh it down. I agree with your comment regarding Bruford. The beginning half would have sounded better with him. And yes, I miss Chris' grindy bass up front. (sorry I hit save before I was finished) Their transitions here are more your typical 70s prog type switches - not as crafted as there trademark transitions. I also don't care as much for the sounds Wakeman was using on his keyboards. I really want to like this album but there are just so many little things that get in the way of that. Anyway, I'm done now and thanks Justin for Hearting my unfinished comment.

[@andyshan]

Great you're doing this. The very idea of skipping this album, and indeed their next album also, which is a bit like some of this album on steroids, would not give you an appreciation of how groundbreaking this band were at the time. For those who loved it on it's release, it became the gift that keeps on giving!

[@semchen9]

You'll like, 'The Remembering' (Side 2), see, 'The Ancient' (Side 3) as Filler, and I hope,.. laud, 'Ritual' (Nu Somme Du Solei), (Side 4).

[@MJM1309]

Tales A forgotten GEM

[@tonyetchells6051]

If you miss Bill Bruford, wait till you hear Alan White go ballistic on "Ritual"

[@jeffwood32]

It's still great music

[@wendellwiggins3776]

YES set such a high bar for themselves. Even parts that are magnificent compared to most other groups are viewed as slightly below YES standards. I've had that impression in reference to some late 70's YES albums. NEVERTHELESS, there's nothing about this song that lets me down. Melodically & rhythmically, it's such a rush & lifts me way up and beyond yet every section can't be driving, dynamic, dramatic & intense. It MUST ebb and flow, attack and retreat & have contrast. It's impossible to imagine what Bill may have done with his more overtly distinct style but I know he would not have enjoyed the process of making this record. Alan has a much more congenial personality so better suited for this music. Keep this in mind as you proceed. TFTO is essentially one long novel with 4 huge chapters. With any book not every chapter has or should have the same vibe. YES, expertly changes things up dramatically but each side conveys different messages, so the mood & pacing of each have their own unique EBBS & FLOWS suited for the concept being conveyed. It's NOT just riffs, hooks and runs for their own sake. The music ITSELF is telling a story in tandem with the lyrics. Actually, knowing ahead of time what each SHASTRA is about could help & be far more valuable than reviews who never "dive deeper" (LOL) into the 'depths" of the music!

[@danarchuleta1154]

I don't place much stock in Critics, but ....Critics either loved or hated TFTO. One, I read who reportedly "loves Yes," said that the self-indulgence of this album is only equaled by the Oscars (paraphrase). So many tasty segments! Can you believe Rolling Stone puts Steve Howe at #123 of 250? The guitar in TFTO is shape shifting! Even with the length and complexity, I'd never skip TFTO. Alan talks about adhering to recurring thematic elements in his playing on TFTO (I don't remember the source....)

[@stephanechamberland8486]

Easily my favorite song on that album. This song is in my number 3 favorite song by Yes after Close to The Edge (pronounced Close to "dee" Edge not "the" ;-) and The Gates of Delirium. The intro was not on the original album.

[@TigerMtnKing]

🤩

[@mikeb3365]

Great song. I could have used more of the up temp riffs or sections. Nice transitions as always. Not sure but it had to take a long time to put this album together. Complex stuff.But there are other songs I didn't get into. Yes, started to really change for me at this time and I like their classic stuff better. Remember, this song was probavly listened to with lots of cannibus.

[@yes_head]

By today's standards they actually recorded everything pretty quickly -- like 3 months. If Peter Gabriel tried something like this we'd all be long into our dirt naps before he was finished!

[@akaFrits1]

I think you’ll have to wade through side 2 and 3, before you get to solid ground on side 4 again.

[@mikevandenboom5958]

Intro reminds me of Blade Runner music

[@jeffschielka7845]

😎

[@rumourhats]

If Bill was still in the band, there is no fucking way, he would have agreed to drum on something like this. This is the difference between post-Bill era - Yes went total new-age prog, more sloppy, muddy, etc.

[@christopherhuot2826]

I dare you to count the number of changes in this song 😅

[@karelvandervelden8819]

They took pop music here to another level. Still misunderstood and underrated. I was dissapointed when Relayer came out afterwards. Close to the edge is also way better than Relayer.

[@jpirard]

Telling you to skip it is myopic. It is fucking brilliant. This was White's studio album initiation. Bruford would have been lost.

[@genestippell1833]

Your analysis is pretty close to what wakeman said about the album. There were sections that needed more work and as you progress through tales, sides that had too much padding and couldve been trimmed down. He said parts of tales the band just didn't put the effort in that he was accustomed to. 4 sides is a lot of music and in those days these bands spent half their time touring. It probably was too ambitious of a project. Fragile and Close to the edge came out fairly close together, so with all the touring involved there, to then dive into a project like tales was unrealistic. Btw... Love the tv in the background! Was waiting for walter cronkite to break in with Neil Armstrong stepping out of the lunar module.

[@TheReaperMan275]

The ones who told you to skip this album are not true Yes fans. Period. As for Alan White, he continuously improves album by album. On their next album, _Relayer,_ he's a complete beast. Especially on "Sound Chaser" but also on "The Gates of Delirium". Great reaction for a first time listen, btw! _Topographic Oceans_ is one of those albums that tends to grow on you, the more you listen to it.

[@normandaubry]

I disagree with folks that told you to skip it. This album isn’t perfect, but there are moments of true beauty and brilliance on it. The second side is the one I like the least. BYW, few people fall in love with it at first. If you like many things about this song chances are you’d get to really like it after more listens.

[@TONE11111]

In 1978, our main Record shop had a bargain bin, full of unwanted LPs.. the majority of these were festooned with tales, relayer and tormato... hardly anyone sold back their "Going for the One" disc.

[@2407paul]

Imho this is Yes' most adventures epic, I absolutely love it. But the swelling guitar intro at the start which they glued on 40 years later wasnt really needed.

[@johng.8517]

There's a better live version on The Keys to Ascention album.

[@GES8215]

all these songs on this album suffer from occasional transition issues. I think some filler came into play to get from one part to another. I assume with the scope of the compositions you sometimes have to say ok lets just do this here so we can get to the next part.

[@diverdown631]

Justin, what's up with the poltergeist TV?

[@JustinPanariello]

so no?! others have said they liked it. I got an email from someone not liking it... i figured I'd try it.

[@diverdown631]

@@JustinPanariello did you get the reference?

[@dhfenske]

I kind of had that thought! I couldn't place the movie or show it was reminding me of, but it did put off kind on an eerie vibe. Now I totally remember Poltergeist. Thanks.

[@JustinPanariello]

i'm so not a movie guy lol no i've not seen Poltergeist.

[@diverdown631]

​@dhfenske come to the light!

[@diverdown631]

It did have some nice sections, but I can best describe it as, it didn't go anywhere.

[@curtisduncanmusic7645]

This is weird. I have the original vinyl of this record, and the introduction on your reaction is nothing at all like the beginning of the record. Strange.

[@yessongschile]

... mucho prejuicio con esta obra. Sin duda es un trabajo que hay que digerir poco mas pero si no se supieran las historias de como estaba el interior de la banda nadie andaría diciendo que es una obra para "omitir". Para mi lo único que faltó en lo macro es una orquestación que introduzca mas música nueva a esta odisea.

[@donnelson6694]

When I first heard this album I really liked it. However, after multiple listens, it became burdensome to my ears. I think if they had taken the really nice sections and developed those ideas into 3 or 4 songs it would have been much, much better.

[@michaellynch2497]

It's just very long

[@scottzappa9314]

This is Yes, huh? Interesting, along with all the religious stuff. Not compatible with radio for about 50 years now, which is why I haven't heard it there. Not exactly radio friendly hits we got here. I might call this trying too hard to make a masterpiece. Didn't hate it but IMO it's not there with their best stuff. Very few music is. No don't skip the albums please. I thought you liked Alan White better than Bill Bruford?

[@fernandotor3266]

Justin. You have to listen this several times...

[@bf99ls]

At 18:27 into your video, Rick’s synth motif might be familiar to fans of the US detective show The Rockford Files, which first aired about one year after this album. Almost note for note for about 10 seconds. To me ageing ears at least.