To be fair, I’m not a big prog fan these days. I’ve started to develop negative opinions on Genesis, and the Mars Volta can be exhausting & overwhelming. I don’t love Porcupine Tree, and I’m not a huge fan of Godbluff & Still Life. Gentle Giant wasn’t my thing, as well, and Jethro Tull is ok. There is prog that can be over the top, bombastic & geeky, but I’ve always liked Yes. Yes is absolutely one of my favorite prog bands, and they’re definitely one of the most important bands for that genre. The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge are excellent albums, and they transcended prog in so many ways.

I love the vibes/melodies for those albums. The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge have happy, uplifting interpretations of prog that really added a lot to the genre. Those records have cheery, feel-good tunes/sections that were joyful and fun; even when things were very technical, Yes excelled at incorporating optimism & enthusiasm into their music. “Yours Is No Disgrace”, “Starship Trooper”, “Roundabout”, “And You and I” (and more) made you feel great; The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge encouraged you to get out there, jump around and live life to the fullest.

There was incredible instrumentation, too. Steve Howe’s guitar playing speaks for itself; he is absolutely a virtuoso, and I love how his style has bits of country. He nailed acoustic parts, too, and Chris Squire’s basslines are phenomenal! Chris played these muscular, nimble basslines that were ridiculously complex, elevating the role of the bass to amazing extents. Chris’ tones are brilliant, and Bill Bruford’s drumming is classy, extremely technical & very creative. I love Bill’s jazzy bits, and his beats went above and beyond the typical rock drummer. The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge have masterful instrumentation, and Rick Wakeman’s keyboards added an elegant/classical feel to Fragile & Close to the Edge.

The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge have tight structures, too, along with excellent songwriting and distinctive moods. Whenever I listen to those albums, I’m stunned by the structures of the songs; the technicality, odd time signatures, etc. never got in the way of the song. Everything is there for a reason, and The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge have epic adventures. The Yes Album is very balanced, with smooth sounds and a more modest feel, and Fragile is a great distillation of Yes’ classic era. Fragile has the solo pieces and an upbeat, vibrant feel, with ambitious parts that were presented in a tight way, and Close to the Edge has gorgeous, extremely lush sections with psychedelic tinges.

The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge are classics, and they’re among the best that prog can offer for you. I’m more of a punk/alternative/experimental guy these days, but I can’t tire of The Yes Album, Fragile & Close to the Edge.