90125

I always thought the best way to start a fistfight with a Yes fan was to announce to them you hated Tales From Topographic Oceans. Instead, what I'v ...

90125
Provided By:The Daily Vault

90125
Yes
Atco Records, 1983
http://www.yesworld.com
REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/02/2001
I always thought the best way to start a fistfight with a Yesfan was to announce to them you hated Tales From Topographic Oceans. Instead, what I've learned isthat feelings run deeper for other albums -- and those feelingsaren't always positive.
Take 90125, for example. There are some diehard Yes fans whoconsider this album to be the worst dreck the group ever put out,shunning their progressive rock roots and selling their soul to thedevil of Album-Oriented Rock radio. Then there are those who saythe introduction of South African guitarist Trevor Rabin was agodsend to a band who hadn't had a hit for the longest time.
No matter how I review this record, there are going to be someYes fans who will be pissed off at what I have to say. (Then again,they're usually pissed off any time I review something by Yes; theystill haven't forgiven me for what I said back in 1997 about Tales From Topographic Oceans.) So let's try to put emotionsaside and tackle 90125 as it is.
On one side, 90125 is one of the most approachable Yes albums in theirentire discography... namely because they do indeed turn away fromprogressive rock in the form they had been long identified with.Guitarist Steve Howe was no longer in the band (which had fadedinto the background after 1980's Drama), and the usual chunky guitar sound he provided wentwith him. Into his shoes stepped Rabin, who was more of atechnological whiz, working guitar synthesizers into the mix. Alsoback in the fold were keyboardist Tony Kaye (who left after The Yes Album) and vocalist Jon Anderson (who jumped shipafter 1978's Tormato).

Click here to read complete Review



Local Articles
Entertainment
Home