In the first lines, there are some (I hope) painful typos. Still, you managed to summarize everything without weighing down the review. 4 stars, I hope you gave them to the director.
I can’t, on the other hand, agree with everything. It’s true that in the 1980s, people learned to craft a sparkling and smiling image for the trendiest bands, but in the following decade, a skillful creation of a tortured and stripped-down look emerged, while in our decade, crafty managers lean towards a radical-chic image. It’s all still artificial – and honestly, I find the hedonism of the 80s much more entertaining, as at least in its intentions, it was sincere (people acted flashy and did nothing to imply otherwise).
The album is not terrible (personally I’d give it a 5.5/10). They will do worse later on... In live performances, however, they have always proven to be impeccable. Of course, more than Wakeman, the significant absence was that of Steve Howe.
But why does Rabin lash out at the Asia? I vaguely remember the live documents from that period when Anderson was throwing photon sticks. Squire, always powerful, and Rabin good but cool. The Yes (if we want to call them that) from those years didn’t really excite me much. The absence of Howe, in fact, is fundamental.
Congratulations on the review, truly well written. Unfortunately, this live is nice, but nothing more. Even though Yes are among my favorite bands, I don't feel like giving more than a passing grade to this live. PS: what would you say about Derecensire Keystudio, also by Yes?
I didn't see the live performance, but "90125" is a delightful album that can be addictive for long periods. I agree about the look of Yes during those years (witty, perhaps spontaneous, absolutely unwatchable).
Wakeman was bulky, I’m not saying it, it’s a fact. His stunning stage presence became unbearable for everyone at some point during that time; they had to slim down first with Downes and then with Kaye. Then Wakeman recently claimed that he would have liked to record "90125"...
Okay, I know I'm not an assertive person (i.e.: I prefer "No" to "Yes"), so... I may not be well-versed in "progressive" culture, but to claim that Steven Soderbergh is Canadian seems like a gratuitous assault on a people who, poor things, already have to be ashamed of various Bryan Adams, Céline Dion, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, James Cameron, David Cronenberg (maybe not that one!...). And that's quite a lot of misfortunes for a country that has barely 30 million sentient beings, so let's leave their half-baked homegrown talent to the Americans, please!
It's truly embarrassing to consider this period of Yes. The continuous changes in direction, lineup, and image adjustments of the '80s actually served to keep a group alive that had probably already given its best in the '70s and maybe would have been better off stopping there. Yet I myself, pleased by the return of Howe and Wakeman (and effectively the reformation of the classic lineup), eventually came to realize that not all bad things, sometimes, come to harm. This live album is what it is; a flash from that very brief timeframe, the '80s, when looking good was more important than building elaborate or complex sound images. They, Yes, managed to stay afloat as many have written above, amidst frizzy hair and annoying and/or youthful declarations or "easy" musical compositions. Rabin, however, was truly a Great Guitarist....
Really a great concert! I find the reinterpretation of old classics, paired with the new pop tracks from the excellent "90125," particularly interesting - I agree with the common opinion that Rabin is a great guitarist. Unfortunately, the comparison with a genius like Howe tends to unfairly overshadow him (I must admit that I underestimated him at first as well): just look at the extraordinary performance on Starship Trooper to change your mind... different style but the same skill. - Finally... the DVD (or the VHS that I have) is much better than the incomplete and amputated version released on LP and the very first CDs.
Rabin is a great musician, but Howe's originality is something else. I would say Rabin is a performer while Howe is an inventor. I really like the Yes of the eighties, especially the ones from Drama with the Buggles and these ones at the same time. Maybe it's because I like all the artists involved in the various Buggles, Yes, Asia, Gtr projects, etc. If you want, read my review (especially the beginning) of "Alpha" by Asia, where I explore the theme of prog-rockers in the '80s in search of a second youth.
No, we really don’t agree here. On a site that criticizes "anything", the comments for this album (album??) by Yes (Yes????????? Please, they don’t even have the dignity to remove that acronym) make me cry. P.S. Bulky doesn’t mean poor; Wakeman was one of the best prog keyboardists, but he was definitely "bulky".
I like the review, I agree that they look ridiculous dressed like that now, but Alan White still wears that sparkly jumpsuit... at 60 years old!! All rock bands flirt, hook up, and will always hook up with some girls backstage, moving right along. The episode with Tony Kaye is sad because no one would expect such behavior from Yes, but they’ve definitely done some questionable things. Still, it was in very poor taste to include that. The backstage footage is terrible; who was holding the camera? An alcoholic Soderbergh?? This DVD is interesting because it shows the “organic” Yes and how they moved during the time of their great revival. I remember they were about 27 with Rabin to 37 with Anderson, so mature but still young. Alan White was 34, for example. Not aging well. You didn’t dwell much on the technical aspect of the DVD, which is well-shot; the direction is very modern considering the year. They sound like gods, the audio is perfect. The stage is hi-tech with not a cable in sight, definitely ahead of its time; if it weren’t for the Spandau Ballet hairdresser look, you’d place it in the mid-90s. From this perspective, it’s an excellent product. Some young whippersnapper today would do well to take this DVD and understand how to play at certain levels, which are now sadly gone... for the worse. London... I like you as a reviewer, but it seems that Yes has disappointed you and you’re using the '80s period to bury them. You can’t forgive them for the post-Howe-Wakeman era. Am I wrong? But even then, they were of a cosmic kitsch. Dressed like minstrels and in pirate trousers. Ridiculous often and willingly even back then. Well done, though.
il giustiziere
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18 nov 08Unfortunately, this live is nice, but nothing more.
Even though Yes are among my favorite bands, I don't feel like giving more than a passing grade to this live.
PS: what would you say about Derecensire Keystudio, also by Yes?
Pibroch
18 nov 08Prog
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8 nov 09This DVD is interesting because it shows the “organic” Yes and how they moved during the time of their great revival. I remember they were about 27 with Rabin to 37 with Anderson, so mature but still young. Alan White was 34, for example. Not aging well.
You didn’t dwell much on the technical aspect of the DVD, which is well-shot; the direction is very modern considering the year. They sound like gods, the audio is perfect. The stage is hi-tech with not a cable in sight, definitely ahead of its time; if it weren’t for the Spandau Ballet hairdresser look, you’d place it in the mid-90s.
From this perspective, it’s an excellent product. Some young whippersnapper today would do well to take this DVD and understand how to play at certain levels, which are now sadly gone... for the worse.
London... I like you as a reviewer, but it seems that Yes has disappointed you and you’re using the '80s period to bury them. You can’t forgive them for the post-Howe-Wakeman era. Am I wrong? But even then, they were of a cosmic kitsch. Dressed like minstrels and in pirate trousers. Ridiculous often and willingly even back then.
Well done, though.
London
14 apr 10che!?
13 dec 12